Welcome to the 531st Metamorphosis Monday!
Recently when I shared this adorable bow hat I had just ordered…
…I received a few comments/emails about the travel map I have hanging just below the hats. Today I’m answering your questions about this map, how it works and an updated view.
I snapped this picture early this morning so the light is still really soft here in the office. Isn’t it wonderful how the sun slowly wakes us up each morning with a soft light that grows and grows to its full glorious self by mid-day? Love that!
I love how the new hat looks hanging here in the office. It adds a fun pop of color to this reading corner. It’s wonderful how hats can be both functional and decorative! They are pretty to see, but also remind me of the places I’ve been and the adventures that lay ahead. (Bow Hat is available here in 4 colors here: Packable Sun Hat.)
To answer the questions I received regarding the travel map hanging below the hats, I bought this map a few years back when I had just begun to travel. I thought it would be a fun way to keep up with the places I’d be visiting. I had never traveled outside the U.S. until 2015, so I couldn’t wait to get started!
These are the countries I have traveled to over the past three years, excluding Mexico, a country I visited when I took The Property Brothers cruise back in 2015.
In the past three years I’ve visited Italy, Germany, Ireland, Holland and Belgium…
…Morocco, Kenya and Egypt. It’s a lot of fun scratching off the gray to see what’s hidden underneath once you’re back home from your travels.
I’ve given this map to friends who love to travel and it’s always a big hit. One friend framed his and hung it over his bed as a reminder to dream big and travel more! Love that!
I like how the map includes little tidbits of information about some of the popular features and landmarks in each country.
If you love to travel or you’re looking for a gift for a friend who does, check out this scratch-off bucket list map. (Map is available here: Bucket List Travel Map.)
My goal over the next few years is to uncover more of that big expanse of gray! I’ll be scratching off England this July, along with five Between Naps On The Porch readers who have joined in on that trip. I’m so looking forward to meeting them all!
What trips do you have planned this summer or this year?
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Metamorphosis Monday
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Feel free to link up Before and After posts that are home, gardening, decorating, crafting, painting, sewing, cooking, fashion, travel or DIY related. Please do not link up to the party if you’re only doing so to promote/sell a product.
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Thanks so much for hosting!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Have a great week, Debbie!
My husband and I are taking an Avalon River Cruise in April to Paris and Normandy! My father-in-law arrived at Omaha Beach on D day in WWII, so that will be the highlight of our trip, I’m sure. I have gleaned many good tps for our travels from your excursions out of the country. Would love to hear comments on European river cruises from your readers.
Wow, that sounds like a special trip, Donna. I took a cruise when I went to Holland and Belgium. We visited one of the cemeteries over there where U.S. soldiers are buried. Our guides often mentioned how grateful they were for our help during the war. That was a really sad day, visiting the cemetery.
I love traveling with you Susan! Looking forward to your next adventure!
Thanks, Jenna! XXX
That map is wonderful and would make a great gift. Thank you for the idea. I wonder if you will be hooked on England the way I am since 1992. It all started with a 6 day barge trip on the Thames through Wind in the Willows country. That barge no longer exists but friends (actually my former boss with whom I will be visiting this summer) bought a Dutch barge a few years later, refurbished it and now it does a luxury trip in that same area of the Thames and with the captain of the barge I was on in 1992. I introduced them. Google Magna Carta barge and find their web page. Pricey but anyone would live that trip.
I’m sure I will. The retired college professor who put this trip together has been 18 times, so I know it must be pretty amazing! How amazing that you introduced them to each other…love that! You should get free barge trips for life! 🙂
We leave for Scotland and the Cotswolds in two weeks in honor of our 45th anniversary. We are doing a Rick Steves tour in Scotland and the Cotswolds on our own. The highlight will be meeting a 1/2 sister for the very first time. We’ve known about each other but this will be our first meeting.
Oh Toni, the Cotswolds are enchanting. I’m sure you will never want to leave. I’m intrigued by your comment about meeting a 1/2 sister for the first time. During WWII my father was stationed in the UK for a brief time. This was before he met and married my mom. In the early 1990’s my parents were contacted by a woman living in Bristol, England who was pretty sure my dad was her father. Sure enough when we met her there was no way she was not my dad’s daughter. She looks so much like him. I must say it was such a surprise, not only to my father, but to me as well. I’m wondering if your story is similar mine?
Hello..,I had known for sometime that I had 1/2 sisters in England and Wales. But I actually never knew how to contact them until one replied to the online guestbook with the Funeral home when our father had died. (I did not meet my biological father until I was 30 years old) so did not know about my 1/2 sisters or 3, half brothers (wife #3) until my father and I met. Life holds some surprises!
That sounds wonderful, Toni! What a special trip that will be! ♥
I’m off to London then onto Paris this week. 1st overseas trip. So excited.
Oh, wow! Love to hear about it when you return, Peg! Have a wonderful time and please tell me all about Paris when you return. I’ve never been but hope to go in the future!
Thank you for hosting this week for us.
I thought I’ll share my buffets all done up for Spring-Easter.
Have a great week dear Susan.
Fabby
That sounds lovely, Fabby! Happy Spring to you! XXX
Very cute hat with the pink bow! I LOVE the scratch off map. I’ve never seen anything like this and it will make a wonderful gift for my friends who enjoy traveling. Thank you for the great post!
Thanks Sally, I’ve really enjoyed mine! It’s a constant reminder to get out of this office and see more of this big world! 🙂
Leaving for London and Paris later this week. So excited!
Oh, wow! Love to hear about it when you return, Peg! Have a wonderful time and please tell me all about Paris when you return. I’ve never been but hope to go in the future!
I LOVE this map Susan!…I can scratch off many states; however, not many outside the U.S. Thanks for hosting and Happy Spring!!!
I wish I could say the same! I need to work on seeing more of the U.S. So many states I haven’t been to, yet. Happy Spring, Shirley!
Hi Susan! I am glad you are scratching off so many places on your map! That is a great map and would be a great gift. I do NOT like to travel, so I don’t need one:) I am a terrible flyer and could never get across the ocean. Thanks again for hosting. I truly appreciate your parties.
Happy spring to you, Pinky! I understand, I know it can be a bit daunting. XXX
Look how much you’ve traveled in just a few years! Uncovering your map slowly but surely. Also didn’t March pass by a bit more quickly than Jan/Feb? As if it were only 3 1/2 weeks long, lol.
Trying my best to make up for all the years I didn’t travel…a lot of catching up to do! lol Yes, March flew by, even faster than February…how did that happen?!
Your England trip will be here before you know it. Eager to see your next adventure. I’m getting excited about our big drive out west and visiting with precious friends, we’re long overdo. I need to get a frame for my US map, and yes it is fun scratching off states I had not been to before, so it must be thrilling to do countries!
If I ever start traveling more in the U.S. (which I def hope to do) I would love to get a U.S. map to keep track. That’s so wonderful that you’ll be visiting with friends, Cyndi. Would love to hear more about your trip when you return!
I love the map and I am giving it as a gift to my 20 year old son. He has always loved maps and as a small child he would carry around a book of maps!He is getting ready to take his first trip overseas to – Hong Kong! He has traveled throughout the USA and loves seeing new places. Did you have the map framed professionally or did you use a ready made frame? I want to give it to him for his upcoming birthday and I think it will be really special for him to scratch off all the places he travels to throughout his lifetime.
Aww, that is so cool that he loved maps even as a child. Has he read the book, The Map Thief by Michael Blanding? It’s fascinating. If he hasn’t read it, I think he would really like it.
Yup, I took it to a local frame shop and let them frame it for me. It wasn’t cheap, around $125 but I knew it would be hanging in my office for all time, so I wanted it done professionally. I’m sure there are less-expensive ways to have it done.
Hope he loves it, Denise…I really enjoy having mine here in the office and it reminds me to travel and see more of this big world.
Love your idea of the map Susan! I will need to make one when I become an empty nester.
The hat is awesome . Took mine to Israel last year. Just received my map and it is being framed at Hobby Lobby. Can’t wait to scratch off where I’ve traveled. Thanks so much for sharing your found items. I ordered the purse holder for my daughter in laws and one said, “Mama Wanda. You find the neatest things!” I did tell her it was you who found them . I just take your suggestions. Thanks! Wanda
Where did you get the table that is next to the chair?
I purchased it from Pier 1 about 7 years ago. It was really part of a bedroom ensemble they offered, but I love it as a side table. They carried it for many years but I think they may have discontinued it a year or two ago. You can see it much better in this post where I shared it in detail and linked out to where I purchased it: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/another-piece-of-the-puzzle-welcome-to-the-126th-metamorphosis-monday/
I have always loved maps & I travel within the states a lot for work only to the Caribbean area for pleasure – I love this idea but don’t have anywhere to hang a map like this – I would love to find a journal or book form like this. If anyone has any ideas, I’d love to know!
I was curious about the frame and glass on your map – do you keep the glass on it or is it glass-less? I just got my map the other day! How cute and wonderful!
Thanks!
It’s just framed, no glass. since I wanted to hang it here in the office, I took it to a local frame shop and let them frame it for me. Enjoy it, Faye! I’ve really enjoyed having mine here in the office.