Hi and welcome to Oh! Travelissima.
I’m a writer and over the past few years, I’ve had the incredible fortune of being able to explore various parts of our wondrous planet. My list of dream destinations is still unfathomably long and the screensaver on my computer is of the delightfully quaint Cinque Terre, of which I daydream frequently. But in the last little while, I’ve visited destinations I’d only ever dreamed of and seen faces and places I’d once thought impossible. I’ve done things I’d once have adamantly insisted I’d never so much as contemplate. I’ve learned the rewards of risk and now more fully understand the value of following your gut instincts. I know that fear can be healthy and spontaneity can be life-changing. I’ve learned that people all over this planet are so different and yet so much alike.
My travels have inspired me to write this blog to share some of my experiences with you. So please, pull up a seat, grab a cup of joe and join me, won’t you? I hope you enjoy the ride. Questions? Comments? I invite you to post your feedback; I look forward to hearing from you and starting a dialogue about travel and what it means to you. I want to hear all about your experiences, too!
When I’m not on the road (let’s face it; there’s only so much a girl can travel!), I’ll share my fave products that help make travel easier, more efficient and yes, more stylish!
David Brown
June 3, 2009 at 4:48 pm (15 years ago)I like your blog and i am a traveler as well. When i travel, no matter how long, i never check in my luggage. So that means i have to pack lite. One of the products i use is a product called mysmartpac (www.mysmartpac.com). It is an emergency kit that you use on location and dont have to travel back home with it.
Viv and Jill
June 3, 2009 at 8:03 pm (15 years ago)Hey Natalie!
Great job and love reading your posts. So many places… so little time;-)
Do you mind if we link you to our blog and website?
Keep on travelling and keep on writing. Good luck.
Viv and Jill
AKA: WJ
http://www.wavejourney.com
http://www.wavejourneywomen.blogspot.com
FVES
June 13, 2009 at 3:30 pm (15 years ago)I’m looking forward to checking in to your new blog; I’m an enormous fan of JohnnyJet.com, but have never quite understood how he can travel with so few things, i.e., because I have to tune out when he talks about the benefits of traveling with minimal luggage (they don’t sell Louboutins everywhere and often times they are the only shoe that makes sense ;-), I’m looking forward to tuning into the ‘she side’ of the same travels.
Good Luck!
F.V.E.S.
trendytravelista
June 18, 2009 at 9:16 pm (15 years ago)Hi F.V.E.S.
Thanks for your comment! I know exactly what you mean! However, I must say that I’ve learned a lot about packing efficiently from Johnny Jet! There’s definitely a way to compromise, meaning you can both pack smart AND have everything you need! It’s not always easy, but it’s possible! 🙂 We once traveled to Hawaii, Australia and back to Los Angeles for 16 days and I did it all with carry-on luggage. More importantly, I didn’t feel as though I was sacrificing my sense of style or leaving essentials at home. Perhaps this should be the subject of my next blog post!
Kari
July 6, 2009 at 10:37 pm (15 years ago)Fun blog! I’m a traveler too though unfortunately funds have slowed down activity recently but I love to hear about others travels and love the good tips. And its good to know that I might not be the only out there that would value pink polka-dotted matching suitcases!
trendytravelista
July 6, 2009 at 10:41 pm (15 years ago)Thanks so much for the feedback, Kari! It’s so nice to hear from readers! I hope you enjoy the virtual ride and no, you’re not alone in your love of pretty, girly things! 🙂
michele
August 3, 2009 at 2:24 pm (15 years ago)Hi Natalie! I like your blog. The pictures came out great – I need to go to Istanbul now (after Male I suppose….)
trendytravelista
August 3, 2009 at 8:15 pm (15 years ago)Hey Michele,
Thanks for checking out my blog — glad you like it! Flying British Airways business class was awesome, as was Heathrow’s Terminal 5! We’ll stay in touch!
Chuck
September 25, 2009 at 3:12 pm (15 years ago)Nat:
I have been following your traveling adventures via Johnny Jet’s website. Keep up this awesome blog! It’s been refreshing to read your take of things. I just bookmarked you.
BTW…u might have the inside scoop. Is JJ ever going to lead a small group of his travelers aboard to Sydney like he said?
Chuck
Keep Calm and Carry On USA
September 29, 2009 at 3:28 pm (15 years ago)Hi Natalie,
I found your site when searching for blogs that featured Keep Calm and Carry On products, and was exicted to see that your writings focus around your traveling experience. I am writing from Keep Calm and Carry On USA, where we sell a variety of Keep Calm and Carry On merchandise. One particular item that may be of interest to you is our Keep Calm and Carry On luggage tags. You can take a look at them here: http://www.keepcalmandcarryonusa.com/keep-calm-and-carry-on-luggage-tags.html .
bart
October 6, 2009 at 1:31 pm (15 years ago)Hi Natalie,
Great reading about all your travels! Some of the places you wrote about I have visited, and some are on my wish list!
Maybe you can contribute some articles to the wikipedia of guidebooks http://www.writingtravellers.com?
Best
Bart
Bria
October 15, 2009 at 2:31 pm (15 years ago)Hi! I am a travel obsessed fashion design student from Vancouver, BC.
Currently I am developing a line of fashion forward travelwear: compact & packable, wrinkle free, and using great fabrics with technical properties (like merino wool, and coolmax) but in a very modern and fashion forward way. ie. reads like a regular stylish and very versatile wardrobe with an edge, and incorporates hidden security features for your travel necessities
I would love to get some feedback/your thoughts (and your readers’ thoughts) on whether you might purchase clothing like this, what is important to you when packing for a trip, how many items or what size of suitcase do you take on trips..etc Also what fabric properties would be important to you. And anything else you want to add!
Any and all comments will be immensely helpful!
starlagurl
November 2, 2009 at 3:12 pm (14 years ago)Hey Natalie, I didn’t know where else to send this.. I can’t find your email address.
Just a heads up: I added your travel Twitter feed to TravelPod’s list of top 500 travel tweeters here: http://twitter.com/travelpod/list
Follow it back if you like it!
Louise Brown
TravelPod.com Community Manager
trendytravelista
November 17, 2009 at 11:51 pm (14 years ago)Just did! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Newchristine
November 9, 2009 at 1:16 am (14 years ago)Love reading your blog (and pics,too). Few years back we got the opportunity to travel to few places.. but I really wanted to go to Santorini! someday.. someday..
trendytravelista
November 17, 2009 at 11:50 pm (14 years ago)Hi Newchristine,
Thanks for your feedback! If you have the chance, do go to Santorini! It was such an experience — and if you do go, you have to take the donkey ride up! It may seem like a questionable choice at first but it’s definitely part of the fun!
boomergirl
November 9, 2009 at 9:44 pm (14 years ago)Great blog and I loved your Keep Calm and Carry On story and I agree poster is gorgeous especially against that wall! So I gotta ask- why didn’t they release the poster in wartime and where did they discover it in 2000?
trendytravelista
November 17, 2009 at 11:48 pm (14 years ago)Hey boomergirl,
Good questions all! 🙂
The best way to answer is to give you this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_Calm_And_Carry_On
I adore the poster too — not just because I LOVE the Union Jack as a design element but because of the history behind it, too! The message has become so popular, you can find all kinds of things stating Keep Calm and Carry On (t-shirts, mugs) but I’m partial to the poster.
Eduardo
November 30, 2009 at 8:10 pm (14 years ago)Great Blog Trendytravelista!
You may want to check our new website http://www.celebrityspringbreak.com, we’re doing some really nice travel experiences for college students in Dominican Republic and Miami soon!
Cheers and keep traveling!
Patrick
December 21, 2009 at 4:23 pm (14 years ago)I just came across your website, wonderful reads on here… Congratulations on your travel ventures, and very friendly and informative website.
Pat
Angela
February 2, 2010 at 4:25 am (14 years ago)Hello Natalie
I’ve been browsing the internet in search of websites that may be interested in developing a link partnership with us. We are 77diamonds.com, an online family run loose diamonds and bespoke diamond jewellery company in London (UK).
I am contacting you to find out if you’d consider selling text advertising space (link) on one of your pages. I’d be interested in a text link with words “Engagement Rings” linking to http://www.77diamonds.com. If so, could you please advise me on prices or let me know what other text link opportunities you offer.
I look forward to hearing from you soon and I hope you’ll be positive about this offer!
Best wishes
Angela Maria
Online Marketing
77Jewellery
enchantedtraveler
May 4, 2010 at 2:55 pm (14 years ago)Hi Natalie, just found your blog and it’s great! I love your quote above, “I know that fear can be healthy and spontaneity can be life-changing.” That is so true. It’s only by stepping out of our comfort zone that we can grow and learn. Above all else, travel is an education.
Keep writing, and keep traveling.
And if you want a dose of France, check out my France travel blog, http://www.enchanted-traveler.com
Mary Ann
@enchantedtravel
Makus
July 21, 2010 at 5:10 pm (14 years ago)Hello Natalie,
We’d like to get in contact with you since we like your writing. If you e-mail me I will tell you more details about our proposal that you might find interesting.
Kind Regards,
Markus
Kari
August 5, 2010 at 2:47 pm (14 years ago)Hi, Natalie–
I’m intrigued by the Scottevest. Did you order according to your normal clothing size, or did you use the sizing chart? I’m normally an XS or a S, but the sizing chart seems to run smaller.
Just wondering how you picked your size. Thanks!
Mark Church
October 13, 2012 at 6:00 pm (12 years ago)Hi Natalie 🙂
First, congratulations on your wedding and marrying someone who also loves to travel. Very cool! I heard about your blog via the Korean Air Twitter page. Second, Linwood’s latest is his best. His others are good but the new one should get him more attention.
Priscilla
June 18, 2014 at 5:41 pm (10 years ago)Hi Natalie,
I love your Toronto posts! They are fantastic. Do you have an email I can contact you on?
Thanks 🙂
Natalie
June 19, 2014 at 12:30 am (10 years ago)Hi Priscilla – thanks so much for your comment! I really appreciate it! 🙂 You can reach me at ohtravelissima@gmail.com. Have a great day ~Natalie
Lisa T.
September 9, 2014 at 10:46 am (10 years ago)Hi Natalie,
I really love your blog, I have it bookmarked for travel inspirations and product recommendations. Looking forward to more awesome posts!
Lisa
Natalie
September 22, 2014 at 11:15 am (10 years ago)Hi Lisa,
Thanks so much – I’m really happy to hear that you like the site 🙂
Susan Hartzler
December 9, 2015 at 4:12 pm (8 years ago)I would like to invite you to visit the CA Central Coast in 2016! I need an email address, please!
Maris Somerville
January 27, 2016 at 2:48 pm (8 years ago)I love your blog, Natalie. It’s fresh and elegant.
Natalie
March 9, 2016 at 12:10 pm (8 years ago)Thanks so much, Maris! I really appreciate that 🙂
Jessica Pasta
May 23, 2016 at 12:22 pm (8 years ago)Natalie,
It was a pleasure meeting you last week. I’m in awe of the many places you’ve already been since we met. How exciting! I had to comment on your screensaver as Francesco, Orzo (our dog) and I went to Barnes & Noble last week and bought a Cinque Terre 2000 piece puzzle! Cinque Terre is beautiful in person. I, personally, did the hike when I studied abroad in Florence a million years ago. We hope to finish this puzzle of Cinque Terre by night before 2017. Haha. We love keeping up with your journey. Safe travels!
Natalie
May 23, 2016 at 12:36 pm (8 years ago)Jessica,
I loved meeting you and Francesco as well and absolutely adore my sandals – thank you again for everything! I look forward to staying in touch and hope to see you again soon! XO
maria spanadoris
April 14, 2019 at 10:15 pm (5 years ago)I love your blog and found it to be an inspiration to my travel writing! thank you!