One of the first snowfalls of the winter in Toronto on the day I’m leaving. There’s been so little so snow this year and it really is pretty. I’m almost sad to be leaving. Almost.

Amazing views below as we approach Los Angeles. Look at those mountains. Incredible!

Does it get any better than dusk at the beach? No. No, I don’t think it does.

What’s a trip to LA without a stop at In N Out Burger? The LAX location is amazing for planespotting. And no, I didn’t eat both those burgers. I had help.

I don’t play but it’s so nice to sink your toes into the sand and watch a game of beach volleyball.

One of my favourite spots: Under the pier in Manhattan Beach.

Speaking of travel, my iPhone is my constant companion when I’m on the go – it ensures I can stay in touch with friends and family, provides endless amounts of entertainment and then there’s those great photography apps. So protecting it from all the potential perils of travel is essential. I’ve tried a few different cases and have settled on a new favourite.

The Nomad Traveller Case from Cygnett is perfect for a travel junkie like me. Not only does it protect my phone but I just love the design. It reminds me of a departure board at an airport. (I’ve been to six of the 11 destinations listed – so it also reminds me of places yet to visit!) And at just $18.99, you can’t beat the price. I also love how slim it is. It snaps easily into place and doesn’t add too much bulk to the iPhone’s sleek design.

Prior to discovering this case, I was using the Kate Spade New York Agenda case.

I love the whimsical design but the case adds a lot of bulk and weight to the iPhone. It’s also twice the price of the Nomad case, at $39.95.

Now that I’ve tried the Nomad case, it wins hands down for its original design and slim fit. It’s the perfect case for the girl (or guy!) on the go!

What iPhone case do you use?

I recently stayed at the Viceroy Miami and found the best shampoo and conditioner combo I’ve ever used at any hotel.

These Neil George hair products (from LA celebrity hair salon Neil George) were amazing. Not only do they smell good enough to eat, they left my hair silky, shiny and without a tangle to be found. It was so nice not to have to tug my hairbrush through a mass of knots and break my hair in the process. Even better, the room had full-size bottles of all the products. This was great for me because those little hotel-sized bottles of conditioner are nowhere near enough product for my long hair. But don’t think you can stuff these freebies in your bag when you leave – the shampoo and conditioner will cost you $45 each.

Thanks, Viceroy for the great hair products!

I love these simple, stylish ballet flats from OKA b. I have the ‘Taylor’ model in camel (although they do have a model named ‘Natalie’; maybe I should have gotten those!) and they’re one of the best shoes I’ve found to travel in. These shoes are flexible and oh-so-comfortable, probably because they feature an ergonomic footbed enhanced with massage beads, which cushion your feet as you walk. They’re easy to slip in and out of easy to clean – you can easily wipe them clean when you’re in a hurry, but can you believe they’re machine washable as well?

Available in a variety of styles and colours like Licorice, Cranberry, Hot Chocolate, Jade, Popsicle Pink, Fuchsia, Camel and Cherry, and priced at just $45, they’re your perfect travel companion. And … they come packaged in a delightful gift box, making them that much sweeter! For more information, visit okab.com.

What’s your favourite shoe to travel in?

{1} Longhaul Scorpius Hard Rollercase
I bought this little guy at Marks & Spencer on a trip to London last year. I needed to replace the one I’d arrived with and found this in an unlikely shop. But it has become my favourite carry-on suitcase. I love its hard body. I thought it might be inflexible and difficult to really stuff, but that’s not the case. It’s far roomier than I had expected and the four wheels … why has it taken so long for us to figure out that suitcases need four wheel drive? It moves so easily and smoothly. I can push it through the airport with just one finger. And sometimes I do. Just because I can.

{2} Longchamp Le Pliage Bag
I recently wrote about Longchamp’s Le Pliage bag but it’s back on my list for its enduring form and function. It’s a great travel tote but its best quality is that it folds into an envelope shape making it enormously packable. I would never leave home without this.

{3} Louis Vuitton Neverfull in Damier
This recent (and I know, extravagant! I hope my fiance doesn’t read this blog) Merry-Christmas-to-me purchase became a fast favourite. Louis Vuitton’s Neverfull in Damier is a great carry-on bag not only because of its obvious style but because of its sheer size. It’s a tote-style bag so if you need compartments, this isn’t the bag for you. But so far, I haven’t found that to be a drawback. It’s roomy enough to fit my laptop, Kobo, makeup bag and wallet as well as all the other odds and ends that seem to end up in there. But the bag is built to hold up to 300 lbs (yikes!) so as long as you can lift it, fill ‘er up!

{4} Radley London Pocket Bag
I found this crossbody bag at Radley London in, you guessed it, London. It’s the perfect day-bag for sightseeing days when you just need to carry a few essentials with you. But even more importantly, it’s so flat, it’s easy to throw into a carry-on suitcase without taking up much room.

{5} Mesh Fold Over Clutch
This mesh fold-over clutch continues with my theme of flat bags. My sister gave this to me for Christmas and it’s now my go-to evening bag when I travel. Chic and stylish, this is another bag that won’t hog all the room in my suitcase … room I need for other essentials!

What are your favourite bags to travel with?

{photo via Johnny Jet}

Heading to Hamburg earlier this week (with a three-hour layover at London Heathrow’s T5), I decided to wear a maxi dress, jean jacket and flip flops. I think I’ve found my new travel uniform. It was stylish but oh-so-comfortable and a breeze to get through security – no belt, no laced shoes. I honestly felt like I was wearing jammies. Jeans are only comfortable to a point but even the most worn-in pair starts to dig into your hips somewhere over the Atlantic. I don’t think there’s anything more comfortable than a maxi dress and it looked great, too. Throw on a jean jacket for warmth on the plane and you’re set. Simple.

What do you wear when you travel?

Moleskine messenger bag
For anyone who reads my blog regularly, you know that I travel with carry-on luggage only. I hate the hassle of checking luggage (never knowing if it’ll actually make it to your destination with you and hanging around baggage claim for far too long). This comes with its own challenges (packing light can be tricky but it’s totally doable), but the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I’ve got a small hard-case suitcase that’s just perfect but finding the perfect second piece has always been a challenge for me.

Enter Moleskine’s messenger bag (conranusa.com, $129.95). This sizable tote is my new travel essential. The adjustable strap is comfortable on my shoulder and it’s roomy, providing space for all the things I like to keep close at hand: passport and tickets (natch!), Kobo (more on that later), magazines, snacks and most important of all, my laptop. The bag will fit a laptop up to 15” and has an ivory velour lining for added protection. It’s got an elastic closure so that you can secure the bag shut. But really, what I love most is the sleek look of this bag. Not only is it functional when I travel, but it’s stylish.

Kobo Touch
I really don’t know what I did before I had my Kobo (indigo,ca, $139). Actually, I’ll tell you what I did. I lugged heavy books around with me when I traveled and if I finished my book, I’d have to buy a new one and lug two heavy books around with me. My Kobo has simplified things and now I can carry a library of up to 1,000 books with me at all times! Lightweight and easy to read, the new Kobo Touch is a great update to the e-reader so many people love. It’s got a touch screen so flipping pages is fun, and with a quick tap of the finger, you can change the font size and zoom in on PDF files. It’s got WiFi capability too so you can download books on the go. If I forgot my Kobo before taking a trip, I swear I’d just go back home. It’s an essential.

Black and white stripes
I’m all about stripes this season. And this striped Raglan Sleeved Sweater (Jacob, $39.50) is a versatile option when you’re traveling. Throw it on with a pair of jeans and it’ll add a touch of French flair to your look. Or wear it with a pencil skirt and wide belt for a great evening look. The key to traveling with carry-on only is to pack pieces that are versatile and this is one of my faves.

Juicy Couture Petal Flower Flip Flop
Traveling typically means lots of walking. You know those days when you’re touring around old European cities and you want to see anything and everything you can? Comfortable shoes are key. But who wants to wear their running shoes? Not me! These Juicy Couture flip flops (revolveclothing.com, $49) are unbelievably comfortable. I’ve never found a flip flop with a sole that’s as cushiony as these and I can walk for hours and hours in them. Plus, the flower detail on the side makes them super-cute and flexible for both daytime and nighttime wear.

Longchamp bag
My boyfriend gave me my first Longchamp bag and I was hooked! It folds up neatly, making it compact and flat so it’s perfect for shoving in your suitcase – it takes up next to no room at all! Unfold it and it’s a great bag for taking on your day travels. It’s light and roomy and the nylon exterior is easy to clean with a damp cloth. The Planete model pictured here (see longchamp.com for pricing) is an ideal tote for the stylish traveler.

Metallic embroidered scarf
Never leave home without a scarf or pashmina. It’s practical for chilly evenings, especially when you’re all decked out and don’t want to wear a sweater. But depending on where your travels take you, it’s also an essential. Some mosques, temples and churches require tourists to cover their shoulders before entering. So on hot days when you’re sporting a sundress or tank top, it’s handy to have one of these tucked in your bag just in case. This white embroidered scarf (Banana Republic, $62.99) is a good option.

What are your travel essentials?

The Blue Lagoon is a must for all visitors to Iceland. The blue waters are fed into the lagoon from a nearby geothermal power plant. Stop here on your way to or from Keflavik Airport for a rejuvenating swim in this geothermal seawater that will revive your mind, body and spirit. The waters are known to have a positive effect on your skin. And it’s just so cool!

The 50-kilometre drive from Keflavik Airport into Reykjavik is breathtaking. The scenery is rugged and quaint structures like this one can be seen along the way.

These stone figures stand guard along the coast.

Making our way to the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, my boyfriend Johnny Jet and I got (temporarily) stranded on the glacier. The wheels of our massive jeep got stuck in the ice and snow, but as you can see from the photo, we weren’t too concerned. And besides, the sun didn’t set til around midnight so we weren’t concerned about it getting dark too quickly up there!

We made it! Snowmobiling atop Mýrdalsjökull glacier was an experience I’ll never forget. High in the mountains, it’s like being on top of the world and just a stone’s throw from Heaven. Tour company Arcanum gives you everything you’ll need to prepare for your extreme winter adventure: snowmobile, insulated coverall, helmet and facemask. And … we’re off!

Lamb is one of the most popular meat choices in Iceland but it’s hard to eat once you’ve made friends with one of these little guys! Along the side of the road, on our way to Eyjafjallajokull volcano (better known as E15 for its impossible-to-pronounce name), we met this furry friend. He ran straight towards me and, well, we bonded.

Horse meat can also be found in many Icelandic menus. This beautiful horse and many more stopped to say hello as we passed by.

Seen from the restaurant at the four-star Hotel Ranga, a secluded and exclusive hotel situated about 100 kilometres east of Reyjkavik, this Icelandic moon lit up the sky. While I was visiting, the sun didn’t set til close to midnight. It was a sight to behold.

If Iceland isn’t on your list of places to visit, I urge you to add it now. The scenery will take your breath away at every turn and you’ll never forget your experience here, in the land of fire and ice.

{photography via Johnny Jet}

{photo via oscarprgirl.tumblr.com}

Delayed at the airport – I know the feeling that ensues. Love how this photo captures that. Photo credit: Jerry Schatzberg, 1957.

Two short weeks later, it feels like that was months ago. I always feel that way when I return from a trip. The memories linger of course, but so quickly, it all starts to feel like a dream. Luckily, it wasn’t a dream – and I’ve got the photos to prove it! I’m missing Paris – so let’s take a virtual stroll together. Here’s how one long day of walking the city went down:

It’s only natural to start at the Eiffel Tower. My boyfriend John and I stayed at the 122-room Renaissance Paris Le Parc Trocadero Hotel, a beautiful boutique hotel with a garden courtyard in full bloom, just a short, five-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower viewing platform. Just the sight of the Eiffel Tower thrills me. No matter how many times I see it, it still makes my pulse quicken.

Even the Metro signs ooze romance and old world charm. Not to mention the architecture. Walking the streets of Paris gives me whiplash.

We stumbled upon The Alma tunnel, on the north bank of the River Seine – the site of the accident that robbed the world of Diana. All along the stone overpass are messages for Diana from people all over the world. An intense sadness washed over me as I stood there.

My visit to Paris was just one week after Will’s and Kate’s wedding. This most poignant and heartfelt message to Diana was heartbreaking.

No trip to Paris is complete without a stroll down the Champs Elysees. In Paris, even the street signs seem photo-worthy.

How could we not stop at Laduree? The Parisian pastry shop, known the world over for its delightful macaroons, dates back to 1862. The macaroons – crisp on the outside and filled with a smooth, soft ganache filling – quickly became Laduree’s most famous offering and the queue snaking through the shop indicates that almost 150 years later, we still love them!

The Arc de Triomphe at the Place Charles de Gaulle. Designed in 1806 to honour those who fought for France in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.

The Louvre at night is peaceful and soul-stirring. We sat for a long time admiring the view, unable to tear ourselves away.

When in Paris … just eat the pastries. The treadmill will be there when you get home.

We ended the evening at Notre Dame before walking home along the Seine. Pure perfection. Au revoir, Paris. Until next time.