belgium

Photo Diary: Christmas in Belgium

December 23, 2019 by jessica Leave a Comment

As someone who loves Christmas, it’s no surprise that kicking off the holiday season in Europe has been something I dreamed of for years. While Germany would have been the obvious choice, a relatively inexpensive flight and hotel package out of Madison made Belgium an attractive option for our getaway. Plus, it gave us a chance to restock our dwindling supply of Cantillon. Priorities.

This was our third trip to Brussels, which made the nine-day trip as low-stress as possible during the busiest time of year because we didn’t need to spend the first couple of days orienting ourselves in the country. We knew how to use public transportation, we knew where to go without getting lost, we knew what favorites we wanted to revisit, and which day trips to go on (Amsterdam, Bruges, and Antwerp). We stopped at our favorite bars and restaurants, ate our weight in frites, drank world-class beer, and reveled in the holiday spirit by way of twinkling lights and Christmas markets. Not surprisingly, a day in Bruges was the most magical. Bruges is one of Europe’s most well-preserved medieval cities, escaping destruction during World War I and II. We’ve been to the city twice before and each time I’m struck by how fairy tale-like it is. Adding in strings of lights and a Christmas market in the city center took it to another level.

Here are a few photos of the most Christmassy moments of our trip. I’m working on a full Brussels travel guide to post in the new year, along with a Google map for your own trip planning. I’m also going to post day trip recommendations for Amsterdam and Bruges now that we’ve been a few times. I hope your holiday week is the merriest!

Christmas in Antwerp — Christmas market in Antwerp

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Dress Your Tech With a Custom Case

December 22, 2016 by jessica 3 Comments

The approaching new year brings on a sense of rebirth and renewal — and that’s most evident in the irresistible urge we have to take stock in our lives and, of course, our wardrobes. In addition to sifting through your clothing and accessories, and ditching things that no longer feel like you (or at least the “you” 2017 will bring), I’d also suggest giving your tech a face lift with a custom case from Casetify.

Creating a custom case is easy. All you need to do is select your phone model, the layout of your design, and choose from your photo library. You can either connect to Instagram, Facebook, or upload images from your computer. It will arrive seven to 10 days later with free standard shipping. I chose the single-panel design to show off one of my favorite photos from Brussels. I love that the washed-out sky created a white background for the phone case. And in the spirit of the new year, it’s a constant reminder to prioritize travel and finally book a 2017 adventure.

Casetify custom iPhone case (c/o) | Banana Republic sweater (sold out; also love this and this)

LBD in Brussels

May 23, 2016 by jessica 7 Comments

Dress: Banana Republic (old; similar style in burgundy and peach)
Sunglasses: Karen Walker c/o Shopbop
Clutch: Tory Burch (similar)
Shoes: Soludos
Rings: c/o Julie Vos; Lulu Frost
Necklace: H&M (purchased in Antwerp; haven’t found it online or in stores yet)
Bracelet: Hermes
Lips: Stila “Bella”

Tory Burch in Brussels

May 16, 2016 by jessica 25 Comments

I bought this Tory Burch dress last summer when my foot was broken and wore it quite a bit with sneakers while I was on the mend. It wasn’t until I spotted this Michael Kors version that has many of the same features — a batik-inspired design and a flattering center stripe — did it dawn on me that I never did share photos. In the Brussels-bound suitcase it went! In these photos, you’ll see that it was an easy choice for sightseeing, but it has really been a versatile piece overall. I’ve worn it on weekends with sneakers or sandals (just snagged these), and to work with loafers (also ordered these last week). I suspect the Michael Kors dress would be just as lovely.

In other news, we went on our first house-hunting adventure with our real estate agent yesterday morning and toured four duds. I guess I naively thought we’d find “the one” on our first day out, especially since one of the houses looked so perfect online and it’s in our ideal area. The panic isn’t setting in yet, but we are on a tight timeline to find something. Our lease is up on Aug. 1. It takes around 35 days to close on a house, so we’re looking at finding something before mid-June — which is when we’ll need to resign our lease. If we have to stay in our apartment another year, it wouldn’t be the worst — we’d just live as frugally as possible to increase our down payment or save up renovation money — but it’s not ideal. Please send good house-hunting vibes our way!

Dress: Tory Burch (similar)
Sunglasses: Karen Walker c/o Shopbop
Bag: Tory Burch (similar; obsessed with this new arrival)
Shoes: Louise et Cie (also love these metallic flats)
Ring: Lulu Frost
Bracelet: Hermes
Lips: Stila “Bella”

My Heart is With Brussels

March 23, 2016 by jessica 4 Comments

I am deeply shocked, saddened, and appalled by the terrorist attack in Brussels yesterday. Many of you know that Dave and I traveled to the Belgian capital two years ago and plan to visit once again in less than four weeks.

I came across a poignant editorial on Travel + Leisure yesterday about the importance of traveling after an attack. Closing borders, minds, and hearts is at the root of terrorism. It’s understandable that we yearn for comfort and safety and after an event so tragic — and it’s something that presidential candidate Donald Trump preys on relentlessly with his own messages of hate — but we can’t let it stop us from being curious and open-minded about the world.

That said, we do plan to be vigilant about watching the news and keeping abreast of travel alerts in the weeks leading up to the trip and while we’re overseas. I suspect that in a month Brussels will be more secure than it has ever been. If something happens, we’ll adjust our plans accordingly and venture to a new city. Taking a financial hit on the hotel and the flight to Brussels from Copenhagen isn’t that big of a deal in the long run. It’s only money. I’m hopeful that our plans will remain in tact and we have the opportunity to once again explore this beautiful part of the world.