A European's Guide to Shopping in the USA

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A European's Guide to Shopping in the USA

July 15, 2019

The USA is shopping paradise for many of us. Huge stores, wide spaces, perfect decor… Americans sure know how to lure you in. Even window shopping is a real pleasure. I still remember how these stores amazed me the first time I was in the US 10 years ago. I was coming from a small city back then and they literally made my jaw drop. 

For those who may be headed to the US, I've created a complete guide to shopping in the USA so when you get there, you can shop like a pro.

WHAT TO BUY IN THE USA: WHAT’S CHEAPER AND WHAT’S NOT

American brands are cheaper, European ones are not.

Tech items, which tend to be rather pricey, are much cheaper in the US. If you need a new Apple gadget, you want a Roomba vacuum or a new lens for your camera, put some money aside and wait for your next US trip, you will save a lot of money.

The same goes for retail and skincare products, brands like Clinique or Abercrombie are way cheaper in America.

SALES TAX

One thing to always have in mind is that the price tag does not include the sales tax which varies from one state to another. For example, in NYC most purchases are subject to an 8.875% sales tax. However, some items are excluded from the sales tax such as clothing and shoes under $110 or unprepared foods for instance.

MY FAVORITE STORES

Every time I'm in the US, I pop by all of the following.

• Anthropologie: I'd say this is my favorite one. The loveliest apparel, skincare and homeware all in one place. I love the mixture of cultures and styles of their products. It's like someone with impeccable taste finds the best products around the world and puts them all in one place.
• Abercrombie & Fitch: probably the most famous American clothing brand among young Europeans. They have rebranded in the last few years and have left a little bit aside the "perfect" American poster boy image. Due to controversy in the past, they have become more inclusive and now offer sizes for different body types.
• J.Crew: clothes and accessories to curate the perfect preppy closet.
• Free People: boho-chic style for the modern hippy.
• Kate Spade: this one is a bit more high end. Here you can find ultra feminine colorful clothes and the most fun accessories. 
• All American designers Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren
• WilliamsSonoma: if you like cooking like me, you can't miss this place. Here you can find every single item for your kitchen you can think of.
• PotteryBarn: go here for beautiful homeware and furniture. The only bad thing about this place is that many of their items won't fit in your suitcase... 

MALLS & DEPARTMENT STORES

The most popular malls and department stores in the US are the following:

• Target
• Westfield
• Bloomingdale’s
• Macy’s
• Nordstrom
• NeimanMarcus

You can also find many outlet malls throughout the country that are worth checking out because they offer designer clothes at affordable prices.

MOST POPULAR STORES

According to a survey these are the most popular stores among Americans:

• Old Navy and Forever 21 are very popular because of their affordable and fashionable apparel.
• World famous lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret
• Activewear brand Lululemon

SALES CALENDAR

If you are lucky enough to be in the US around these dates, you can save even more money on your shopping.

• President’s Day Sale: February
• Memorial Day Weekend Sale: May
• July 4th Summer Sale
• Back-to-school/Fall Preview Sale: end of July – beginning of August 1
• Labor day Weekend Sale: September
• Columbus Day Weekend Sale: October
• Thanksgiving Eve: November
• Black Friday: November
• After Thanksgiving Weekend Sale featuring Midnight Madness: November
• Cyber Monday (online): December
• New Year’s Eve Sales: December
• New Year’s Day Sales: January

SHOPPING FROM EUROPE

I like to check out the online stores of my favorite shops every now and then and I often feel tempted to order something. However, you shouldn’t consider shopping from Europe, online shopping on US sites is not worth it. Even though all sites offer international shipping, the taxes and shipping costs will add up almost as much as the price of the items you are buying.

Do you shop when you are abroad? What are your favorite brands?

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20 Unique Things to Buy in Spain

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20 Unique Things to Buy in Spain

February 18, 2019

I like to buy unique things when I travel, special items that you won't find at a regular souvenir shop. I have an Aboriginal art silk scarf and a hand-painted boomerang from Australia and an embroidered table runner from Santorini. That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about. I mean, there's nothing wrong with touristy souvenirs but I like having one of a kind objects.

When you think of things you can buy in Spain, fans and flamenco dresses quickly spring to mind. But, come on, Spain is much more than that! We have amazing craftsmanship, our food is recognized internationally and we produce the best olive oil in the world. This is what I want to talk to you about today. On this post you are going to find a list of the best gifts to buy for those seeking unique things to help you remember your Spanish vacation that no-one else will have.

Without further ado, here are 20 unique things to buy in Spain.

What should I buy in Spain?

20 Unique Things to Buy in Spain: apparel & homewear 

Being the capital of Spain, Madrid is the best place for shopping. There's a plethora of gourmet shops, fashion shops and even antiques -you can find a spectacular one in Claudio Coello street- that you can have shipped home. I recommend you do some fashion shopping in Madrid, there are plenty of cool Spanish fashion brands!
Read my shopping guide for Madrid

Speaking of clothes, Spanish espadrilles are world famous. You can find them in ever color, shape and price. From affordable ones you can find in Alpargatería Casa Hernanz, to the luxury ones by Castañer that are all over the internet.
Read about great quality and affordable Spanish fashion brands

Fans (abanicos in Spanish) can be both a tacky souvenir or a hand painted work of art. It all depends on where you buy them. Back home you can display them on your living-room or use them on a hot summer day. How cool would that look? You can find this great fan store in Puerta del Sol in Madrid. Oh, and since you are there, I recommend you check out these two amazing high-quality hat stores in Plaza Mayor: La Favorita and Casa Yustas. The latter has the biggest selection of hats I've ever seen and it even has its own workshop.

Spanish embroidered shawls, or mantillas, can be a work of art. They can look amazing worn over a wedding guest dress or to a fancy dinner when you are back home.

If you are a music fan, or you know someone who is, a Spanish guitar is a wonderful gift. Guitarras Ramírez in Madrid is a family business that has been making guitars for generations.

Toledo is one of the must-see places near Madrid and it's famous for its marzipan which we usually eat for Christmas. In the same region you can find Oropesa and Talavera de la Reina both well known for their premium ceramics and embroidery. Fun fact: Gwyneth Paltrow used to come to Talavera to learn Spanish. Another place famous for ceramics and pottery is Sargadelos in Galicia.

Lladro is a Spanish porcelain brand exported all around the world. Buying it in Spain is cheaper and you can find designs that aren't available anywhere else.

In the region of Cadiz, in Andalusia, you can find leather goods in Ubrique and there's a great leather store in the beautiful Andalusian town of Vejer de la Frontera, unfortunately I can't remember the name of that one.

When someone mentions La Rioja, you immediately think of wine, right? This may come as  a surprise to you but one unique thing you can buy in that northern region are blankets. Ezcaray is a small town in La Roija well-known for its high quality blankets made of angora, mohair, cashmere or wool.

20 Unique Things to Buy in Spain: food

For me, the number one thing you must buy in Spain is food. However, make sure you check out the rules and regulations that your country has about food. For example, you won't be able to take jamon Iberico to the USA. Because there's nothing worse than having your gifts thrown away when you reach your homeland...

Depending on where you are going there are different local delicacies like Manchego cheese in La Mancha, saffron -the spice that gives paella its distinctive color and taste- both in La Mancha and in Granada, gin in Menorca or quesada (similar to cheesecake) in Cantabria. There are other things that you can find everywhere like jamon, turron, olive oil or wine.

If you can, take some jamon Iberico back home. This Spanish high quality delicacy is made from black pigs who are fed with acorn in the Spanish countryside. Taking an entire leg -and slicing it after- is tricky so opt for a packet of slices instead.

Turron -a.k.a. nougat- is our favorite Christmas treat together with marzipan. The main ingredient for both of them are almonds.
Read how we celebrate the holidays in Spain

Spanish wine and virgin extra olive oil are part of our Mediterranean diet and have unique flavors that you can't find anywhere else. Sherry in Jerez and red wines from the spectacular wineries in La Rioja are a must for wine enthusiasts. As for olive oil, Jaen in Andalusia is the best place to buy it.
Read about the best Spanish wineries

If you have a sweet tooth like me, you must try our pastries. Tip: buy your pastries from convents. Nuns are famous for making scrumptious sweet treats and you can be sure that they use the best ingredients.

Finally, I recommend food markets to try locale delicacies even though you will consume those goods before you go back home.
Read about the best food markets in Madrid and how to order coffee in Spain

What do you buy when you travel abroad?

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The Australia Series: The Grounds of Alexandria

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The Australia Series: The Grounds of Alexandria

August 21, 2017

This post could also be titled "Quest for the perfect breakfast". Even though this isn't the first place we visited on our honeymoon, I'm sharing this first because I was so determined to go there. I had read about The Grounds of Alexandria on a blog a few years ago and I promised myself that if I ever went to Australia I'd visit "The Grounds" as the locals call it. Fortunately my husband (it still feels funny to call him that) didn't mind commuting for 45' in Sydney to get breakfast because it was totally worth it.

The Grounds are on the outskirts of Sydney so you won't see many tourists here. We went very early in the morning so the busiest place was their cafeteria with people either enjoying breakfast or grabbing a coffee to go. Since we were starving we decided to refuel first and then walk around.

WHAT WE ORDERED
We both had the most original hot chocolate ever. It's called Deconstructed Hot Chocolate. You get a mug "stained" with chocolate and a beaker with warm milk. There's also some powder cocoa on the tray. Mix it all and you get the most delicious lab experiment ever.
We paired that with Mixed Berry, Apple & Coconut Cobbler and House Smoked Salmon on Brioche. One is sweet, the other savoury but equally scrumptious. We both agreed that this is the most delicious breakfast we've had in our lives.

THE GROUNDS

With full tummies we ventured into the grounds to discover all the different areas. We started with the Soda Barn which is often used to host events.

Then met some new friends like the goats Ernie and Bert or Russell Crow (can you guess what animal is that?) among others...

We visited their delightful flower shop. It made me sad not to be able to buy any flowers here.

Finally we arrived at their latest addition: The Potting Shed. A "Please wait to be planted" sign welcomes you into a sea of hanging plants and terracotta pots.

As you can imagine, it was really hard for me to leave this place. I could be very happy if I moved in here.
xo Cristina

The Grounds of Alexandria
2 Huntley St, Sydney, New South Wales 2015, Australia
Tel.: +61 2 9699 2225
TripAdvisor

OUTFIT DETAILS
The espadrilles are from Replay (last seen here), I got them a couple years ago but I've seen that Sam Edelman has a similar collection available at the moment.

The sweater is from Des Petits Hauts, the jeans from Zara and the biker jacket from Massimo Dutti. It's all sold out but your can see similar options below.

Best Sandwiches in Madrid: La Sanducherie

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Best Sandwiches in Madrid: La Sanducherie

August 7, 2017

Don't be fooled by the gloomy sign, there's plenty of color inside... Let me take you into a world of color where you'll have the most delicious sandwiches and their famous truffled potatoes. Meet La Sanducherie, an inviting and modern spot in the center of Madrid.

At La Sanducherie you'll find characteristic flavors of food trucks around the world. The "sanduches" (Latin American name for sandwich) are created by three friends from Venezuela who share a love for traveling.

Instagram worthy restaurant and food. The bright colors lured us into La Sanducherie. We asked the friendly staff to recommend us the best sandwiches and we weren't disappointed. I ordered El Vikingo (the viking) which comes with smoked salmon, fried onion, chipotle and creme cheese. Jorge opted for having Travis Pastrami which is Ciabatta bread with pastrami, fried onion, rocket, provolone cheese and Dijon mustard.

I often wish that you could smell and taste the food I post on the blog because these sandwiches were SO good. Honestly, these are in the top 3 of best sandwiches we ever had!

We are still enjoying our honeymoon in Australia so I'm sorry but it will be a while before I can reply to your comments. Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see what we are up to.

Talk to you soon!
xo Cristina

RESTAURANT INFO
La Sanducherie
Calle Santa Teresa, 1
Madrid
Tel.: +34 917 00 27 02
Tripadvisor

CUTE DRESSES FOR EATING OUT

A Chic Fourth of July Picnic

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A Chic Fourth of July Picnic

July 3, 2017

Even though I've been back in Spain for a while now, I still like to observe American holidays like the 4th of July or Thanksgiving to keep memories alive from the time I lived in California. If you follow the blog, you know that year and the following trips to the Golden State have marked my life. I have a special place in my heart for the experiences I lived and the people I met there.

This year we celebrated the birth of America with a picnic. We prepared some typical American food like these patriotic sandwiches and fruit pie and added some of our favorite Spanish treats to mix the best of both nations. Obviously, we couldn't forget a bucket of Coca-Cola bottles and ice. We liked the idea of a picnic because it's something different from what we usually do and quite easy to prepare. All you need to do is to set up camp outside on a porch or in a backyard with a table decked out in red, white and blue and bring your favorite food and drink. It's colorful and appetizing. Success guaranteed.

HOW TO MAKE A RED WHITE & BLUE PIE
Ingredients:
Pie crust
Pie filling of choice (or a homemade pie of choice). I used: 4 eggs, 75 gr brown sugar, 50 gr ground almonds and 250 ml cream.
Strawberries
Blueberries
Bananas

Directions:

• Prepare the pie crust. Depending on the type of pie crust you will have to follow different directions. Mine is pasta brisa and needs to be baked for 10 minutes before pouring the pie filling. 
• Whisk together the pie filling ingredients and pour on top of the crust.
• Bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 180ºC.
• Let cool and decorate.
• Refrigerate the pie until ready to serve. 

OUTFIT DETAILS
Tommy Hilfiger sunglasses and scarf (sold out)
Hilfiger Denim shorts
Gioseppo sandals
El Ganso hat and towel
La Niña de la Comba basket

As for the outfit I chose the brand that features the most white, red and blue in the world: Tommy Hilfiger. It's one of my favorite American preppy brands along with Ralph Lauren. I love their timeless classy style and the quality of the garments. I never walk out of their stores empty handed. If you find it too traditional be sure to check out the Tommy Hilfiger x Gigi Hadid collection, it combines classic all-American style with a modern update.

How are you going to celebrate the Fourth?
xo Cristina 

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