Sakura in Kyoto (+ Travel Tips for Japan)

Location: Kiyomizu-Dera Temple and Shrine, Kyoto, Japan
Top: Topshop | Denim: J Brand 'Maria' | Bag: Valentino | Scarf: H&M (old)
Shoes: Splendid (also on major sale at Nordstrom Rack in limited sizes | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Watch: Michael Kors

I'm so excited to start sharing some my photos and outfits from Japan with you! As most of you probably know, the week before and the week or two after a longer vacation are the worst. I've been running around like crazy trying to make sure things are under control at work. As soon as I got back, I had to grind through a killer week of legislative work, trials, post-work events, and getting through the piles of stuff on my desk, plus all the stuff that had accumulated at home. That left very little time for blogging, so that's why these pictures are showing up here a couple weeks after our trip.

We had a wonderful time in Japan and would highly recommend it to anyone who's ready to see a lot of beauty, technology, food made of fish, and a totally different culture. We loved being immersed in a new world of sights, sounds and tastes, especially during the incredibly gorgeous cherry blossom season. While Japan's natural beauty is stunning on its own, the cherry blossoms just made everything feel magical.

Girls in kimono at the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple and Shrine

The main temple house at Kiyomizu-Dera

Travel by train:

While we spent about a day and a half in Tokyo adjusting our body clocks, our first big stop was Kyoto, which was only 2.5 hours away on the express bullet train ("shinkansen"), the Nozomi Express. We loved the train system in Japan. Once we got our bearings a bit, it was easy to figure out, and it's such a nice, comfortable way to travel. We purchased first class seats when we could--they were not too much more expensive, but they gave us tons of space, a drink and snack service, and a nearly empty train car.

We couldn't take the shinkansen everywhere we went, but the local trains were nice, easy-to-access, and always on time. The best way for us to navigate the system was to use the "public transportation" option in Google maps when you navigate from one point to another. It would tell us how long it would take, which trains (and platforms sometimes) we should board, and how much it would cost. The tickets can be purchased as needed with a quick ATM-like transaction (in English!) at a computer before you enter the area to go to the platforms.

Quick tip: don't arrive at a train station with just enough time to get on your train--the train stations, especially the bigger ones, have a plethora of shops, food stands, restaurants, gift shops, clothing shops, bookstores, and even whole department stores inside the station. Leave yourself enough time to wander around the train station and check out all the fun stuff you can sample and buy before you board your train.

Where we stayed:

We arrived at Kyoto Station, and the hotel we chose there, the Kyoto Century, was an easy two-block walk from the station. The hotel staff was extremely helpful and gracious, and it was nice to be able to converse with them in English since our Japanese is pretty much non-existent. Although the rooms were small, the location near the train and bus station was very convenient, and we had a huge, delicious breakfast at the hotel every morning, which was great for long days of walking and sight-seeing.

I had looked at a lot of higher-end options in Kyoto, but booking them was a challenge due to the high demand for rooms during cherry blossom season (generally the last week of March through the second week in April). If you want to go the traditional route, staying in a ryokan, or Japanese Inn, is such a fun and interesting experience. The ryokans I had seriously considered were in Gion, the old city: The Hatanaka and Kinoe (here's a handy list of the 20 best ryokan in Kyoto if you're interested). Luckily, we got to stay at a beautiful ryokan with a hot spring (onsen) up in the mountains in Hakone as soon as we left Kyoto.

What we ate:

Japan has so much variety in its delicious cuisine. While we were in Japan, we had sushi, ramen, yakitori, kaiseki, izakaya food, and lots of desserts made with matcha green tea (I've come back obsessed with it and have been drinking it nearly every day!). They use so much of what's in the sea in their cooking, and it's all so yummy. While we were in Kyoto, we celebrated our second anniversary at a fancy kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine) restaurant called Chihana, and while we enjoyed our meal there, the kaiseki meals we had in our ryokan in Hakone were better.

On many days, we would just stumble into a ramen or sushi shop and order something, and unfailingly, we got really excellent food for the price. Japanese food is pricy, so it was good to balance fancier meals with noodle shops and conveyor belt sushi when we could. We also tried to check out at which restaurants it seemed like the locals were willing to stand in line and then line up with them. The results were always worth the wait. We also found that searching for well-liked restaurants on TripAdvisor or Yelp was another way to make sure we got a great meal, which segues nicely into my next tip below.

Staying connected:

There is no way we could have had such an easy, smooth trip through Japan without our smartphones. They were maps, translators, quick guides to sights we were seeing, and a way to communicate with each other in case we were separated--something that was definitely possible when we were in big cities with giant train stations and tons of people everywhere. On our first day out in Tokyo when we arrived, we found the nearest Bic Camera, which sells tourist SIM cards. Since both of our iPhones are unlocked, it was easy to insert a new Japanese data SIM with a preloaded amount of data on it that would be good for several weeks. This took about 30 minutes and cost about US$35, and it was worth every penny. I know I've given this advice before on previous travel posts, but for us, this is the best way to take a lot of the hassle and stress out of our trip.



We had some of our nicest weather in Kyoto (and some inclement weather too), so I happily got to wear my off-shoulder blouse I had brought with me, and I even busted out my platform sandals in the sunshine. Walking down cobbled, uneven streets like the ones in Gion in platform shoes is a little sketchy, so I had my trusty Cole Haan flats (in the photo below) with me as well.

At the entrance to Fushimi-Inari Shrine, home of thousands of torii gates; jumpsuit via Topshop

Walking through Gion, the old geisha district

Hope you all enjoyed my Japan tips and photo diary from Kyoto. I'm planning a few more Japan posts with more info on this gorgeous country soon, so stay tuned. When I travel, I always try to take lots of photos and videos and post them to my Snapchat story (I posted a couple minutes' worth each day while we were in Japan). If you have Snapchat, add me (username: helloframboise) to see the very latest of what I'm up to. There are also a few more Japan pics over on my Instagram.

Thanks so much for reading. Hope you had a great weekend--happy Monday!

x, Tam

Arizona Weekend

Top: Anthropologie | Denim: J Brand | Shoes: L.K. Bennett (a few sizes left on Gilt)
Bag: Chloe (available at Nordstrom or Farfetch, where I got mine)
Bracelets: Loren Hope, Vita Fede | Watch: The Horse

Sean and I had so much fun visiting friends in Arizona this weekend. If you've been following my Snapchat (username: helloframboise), you probably saw that I caught some of the Phoenix Open golf tournament, ate some of my favorite foods, and got to go to my bestie's gender reveal party (she's having a boy!). It was wonderful to get a break from the cold and soak up a little sunshine.

Hope your weeekend was just as fun!

x, Tam

Santorini Whites

Tee: J.Crew | Jeans: 7 For All Mankind | Sandals: Jack Rogers | Bag: Valentino | Scarf: H&M | Hat: J.Crew | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Watch: kate spade

The last week and a half since Sean and I returned from Greece has been a frenzy; unfortunately, this means I've had no time for recent outfit photos. Coming back from vacation is always tough, but this time was extra difficult as I only had about five days to do my final preparation for a week-long trial. Hope you don't mind another outfit post from Greece instead of a fall fashion look today. Colorado has been wonderfully warm and sunny lately, so I haven't been wearing much of my fall wardrobe anyway, but it looks like things should be cooling down this week.



These photos are from our last day in Santorini. A hazy morning turned into a beautiful sunny day that wasn't too hot. We spent the day wandering through some shops in town and taking lots of pictures of the stunning views. I love how serene all the blue and white looks everywhere.

I was pretty excited about wearing white on white on white so far after Labor Day. I'm on my second incarnation of these impeccable white jeans after wearing my first pair a ton over the last few years. The "slim illusion" fit is so flattering and comfortable, and they hold their shape really nicely. They are my go-to jeans for shorter flights (long hauls mean leggings for me). I still need to hem this pair, but rolling them up is easy and casual.

Hope you enjoyed today's post! Happy Monday!

x, Tam

Morning in Oia

Dress: J.Crew | Shoes: Splendid | Clutch: Clare V | Belt: Madewell | Sunglasses: Karen Walker
Watch: kate spade | Earrings: bought in Greece

Today I'm sharing an easy vacation look from my stay in Santorini last week. To get these tourist-free shots, Sean and I got up early and caught the morning sun streaming down on Oia. This area was right outside our door--so pretty! I'm not much of a morning person, but these peaceful views were definitely worth the lost sleep. (For more info on where we stayed, what we ate and more, read my mini Guide to Santorini from earlier this week.)



I received this dress right before I left for Greece and didn't really give it a good try-on at home. What I realized when I unrolled it (always roll, don't stack clothes in your suitcase) was that it was pretty wrinkle-prone. Hanging it in the bathroom while showering helped, but it never seemed to get out the deep wrinkles. While J.Crew has it styled on their site without a belt and buttoned up to the collar, I found that wearing it that way visually shortened my legs and overwhelmed my frame--not to mention how it emphasized the stubborn wrinkles. I unbuttoned the top few buttons, belted it at the waist, bloused the top a bit, and rolled the sleeves for the most flattering fit on me. The shirttail hem is a cute on-trend detail, but I found the dress to look a little long in the front and a bit short on the sides for me.



I'm wearing my favorite summer shoes with this outfit. Those of you who have been reading over the summer have probably seen these quite a few times now. Although I mostly wore flats to better navigate uneven sidewalks, these platform slides were sturdy enough for shorter walks.



My leopard clutch is also one of my top must-bring pieces for travel. It fold flat for easy packing, it can add interest to simpler looks, and the leopard goes with pretty much anything else I bring. It's been a staple on my packing list since I got it earlier this year and still looks great after crisscrossing the globe with me.





One of the best parts of blogging is meeting other bloggers and connecting with people from all over. I've been following Fran and her blog, Franish, for a couple years now, and I was thrilled to realize we were in Santorini at the same time. Fran and her family joined Sean and me for some sunset-watching on our deck, a couple bottles of Greek wine, and a yummy dinner at Floga in Oia. It was so nice to meet Fran, especially because she is even sweeter and more genuine in person than she is on her blog. Make sure you check out her Instagram for more gorgeous pictures from her time in Santorini!

Happy Friday!

x, Tam

Read my Guide to Greece: Part I | Part II | Part III

Santorini Sunset in Oia [+ My Guide to Greece Part III]

I'm back with more from Greece today! After our time in Crete (see Part I and Part II of this guide for more on that), Sean and I climbed aboard a Hellenic Seaways high-speed ferry and made our way to Santorini, one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Dress: J.Crew | Shoes: Joie | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Watch: kate spade | Earrings: bought in Greece

Where we stayed:

After a lot of research, we rented a villa via AirBnB in Oia, the most picturesque of little towns with amazing sunsets every night. When we arrived at Villa Matilde, the stunning view pictured in these photos greeted us. We've had excellent experiences with AirBnB in Paris and New York, and we were similarly pleased with our accommodations this time around. Our host was friendly and helpful, and she had a friend who acted as a porter to help us carry our bags and get settled on the island. The house was clean and charming, and a maid came in daily to make beds, refresh towels, and do some light cleaning. We had initially wanted to book a smaller place and were disappointed when our top choice was taken. Because it was the end of the season, our host was willing to negotiate a bit on the cost of this larger apartment to make it more feasible for just two people.

Getting around:

We pre-scheduled a transfer from the seaport to our villa and from the villa to the airport on our way out. This was easy and hassle-free, especially given the crazy crowds at the seaport as hundreds of people made their way off the ferry. We worked out a price ahead of time through Maria, our AirBnB host, which was nice as the cabs and minibuses on the island don't seem to have meters or set pricing. Oia is visible from Fira, where our ferry docked, but it takes 45 minutes over winding mountain roads to get between the two.

In hindsight, I would recommend renting a car if you are up to the challenge of driving. There is a bus system around the island, but during peak times, bus queues are very lengthy and buses are crowded.

What we ate:

We were fortunate enough to find some outstanding restaurants in Oia, all easily walkable from our villa. Our first night, we ate at Fino, a restaurant that specializes in big gourmet-tiki cocktails and contemporary cuisine. It was a nice change of pace from traditional Mediterranean fare, and it was cozy, intimate, and not overly crowded. We particularly enjoyed the eggplant soufflé and tuna tataki starters.

On our second evening, we had the pleasure of dining with one of my favorite bloggers, Fran of Franish, who happened to be in Santorini at the same time we were. Fran and her family were just delightful, and we loved our dinner at Floga with its upscale Mediterranean food and ocean views. (Update: see the obligatory blogger meetup photo and what I wore here!)

On our last evening in Santorini, we made our way down to Katharos Lounge, an out of the way spot which is actually on the water as opposed to on a cliffside, with a beautiful view of the sunset. They don't serve a traditional dinner, but they do small plates to share, which is one of our favorite ways to dine. If you can, snag a table on the oceanfront patio at sunset and watch Santorini work its magic while enjoying your meal. You could also go swimming at their adjacent beach during the day, with snack and drink breaks on the patio at your leisure.

Quick tip: finding good restaurants is always a fun challenge when traveling--I've found that checking TripAdvisor and reading through reviews there is a great way to refine the search and make sure we'll have a good experience while dining out. As someone with food allergies (tree nuts), I also make sure to look for reviews about how a particular restaurant accommodates dietary restrictions.

What we learned:

As I said above, I think this island is truly one of the most unique and beautiful places in the world. The downside is that many, many other people feel the same way. Even at the end of the season, Oia was very crowded, and there was a nearly-constant stream of tourists marching through the narrow streets and past our villa to catch a glimpse of the lovely view. We were happy to have our own private outdoor spaces to enjoy the beauty without the crowds, but venturing out of our little bubble meant joining the masses eager to see Santorini for themselves, especially at sunset. We found that the early morning was a great time to take photos and explore the island without the hordes of tours from the cruise ships that would come in daily.



Crowds aside, I felt very sad to leave Santorini and am hoping we'll be able to make it back sometime in the not-too-distant future. Cheers to gorgeous sunsets and bubbly Greek wine!

I'm excited to share more photos from Santorini and a quick guide to Athens in upcoming posts. Hope you enjoyed this installment of my Travel Guide to Greece!

x, Tam

My Guide to Greece, Part II: Chania, Crete

Continuing with my Travel Guide to Greece, today I'm sharing photos from our time in Chania, on the beautiful island of Crete. Chania is an old Venetian port with a charming old city surrounding it. My last post had some photos of the harbor at sunset, but it was just as pretty during the day.

Where we stayed:

We spent our time in Chania at the gorgeous Casa Delfino, a 17th-century villa that has been renovated and restored to a modern boutique hotel and spa. We couldn't have had a lovelier or easier stay here. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, and we loved having breakfast and relaxing in the quiet pebbled courtyard (see the photo below). We stayed in the Ottoman Suite, which has its own private hammam, or Turkish steam room, and we took advantage of the spa services available and booked a couple's massage. It was so nice to have an oasis to return to after a day in the bustling Old Town.

What we ate:

With the big, yummy breakfast included in our stay at Casa Delfino, we found we usually only wanted a light snack for lunch, and then a bigger dinner. We had dinner at Pallas, a contemporary restaurant with a fantastic rooftop dining area and view of the harbor. The food there was very good, and the service was relatively quick and attentive. Our second night, we ate at Oenopoeio, a charming little place off a pedestrian street in the Old Town. While the food was generally good, the service was poor, and we were somewhat disappointed since it had come highly recommended by a couple locals we asked.

Staying in touch:

Whenever I travel, I feel so much more comfortable knowing I can stay connected and in touch while out and about. I don't have an international phone plan at home, but Sean and I have found that we can easily and inexpensively purchase SIM cards while abroad. With a foreign passport, phone companies in many countries will allow travelers to buy inexpensive plans for 14-30 days with a few gigabytes of data and some calling minutes. When we were in Australia, our Vodaphone plans allowed us free international calls and up to 3GB of data for just $40 USD; here in Greece, we have 500 MB of data and 200 minutes of local calls for about $35 USD.

Dress: H&M | Shoes: J.Crew | Hat: Anthropologie | Bag: Longchamp | Belt: Madewell | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Watch: kate spade

The weather was warm and sunny, so I pulled out some of my summer favorites to stay cool and comfortable while walking around during the day. I found the striped dress I'm wearing at an H&M in Istanbul a couple years ago after the airline misplaced my luggage, and it's been a summer standby ever since. I love my Longchamp totes or traveling since they fold up nicely for packing and can carry a lot of necessities for days of sightseeing or beachgoing without weighing me down.



I'll leave you with this lovely shot of the sunset that Sean got as we were leaving the beach in Chania. Hope you enjoyed Part II of my Travel Guide to Greece (here's Part I in case you missed it). I'm in Santorini at the moment and can't wait to share some of the photos we've captured of the picturesque scenery here.

x, Tam

Hello, Crete! [+ My Guide to Greece, Part I]

If you've been following my Instagram and Snapchat, you probably saw that Sean and I are in Greece at the moment. It is absolutely, breathtakingly gorgeous here, and we have been loving every minute of our getaway. Since so many of you have expressed that you'd like to visit Greece someday, I thought I'd talk more in-depth about our planning and our stay in case that's helpful when you plan your trip to this lovely country.

It took us about 24 hours, including layovers, to leave from Denver and finally arrive on the island of Crete. We spent our first night at the Lato Boutique Hotel in Heraklion, getting a much-needed full night of sleep in a comfortable bed. We were up early to head out for a day of sightseeing and making our way to our next destination. We stayed at the Lato for a night on our way out of Crete as well, and I can definitely recommend its yummy breakfast, good location, comfy rooms, and reasonable prices.

Tee: J.Crew (I'm wearing an XXSP) | Shorts: 7FAM | Scarf: H&M | Shoes: Joie (so comfy for sightseeing!) | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Bag: Valentino | Watch: Michele | Earrings: Nadri

Packing for Greece

I usually save packing until the last possible moment, but Sean and I are headed to Greece very soon, and I am too excited to delay making my packing list. Besides my long-haul flight essentials, I'm packing my trusty Longchamp Le Pliage and favorite sun hat. I snagged a couple new dresses to take with me during J.Crew's recent sale (still going on!), including pretty lace shift and this chambray shirtdress that will transition nicely into fall.

Follow along via Snapchat (username: helloframboise) and Instagram while I'm exploring Greece next week.

x, Tam

Chambray & Sea Spray

Tunic: J.Crew (no longer available, but I like this one and this one, both on sale) | Bathing suit (under tunic): J.Crew | Shoes: Jack Rogers | Bag: Longchamp | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Watch: Michael Kors | Earrings: Nadri

Today, I'm sharing a look from last week's trip to the beach! Hope your week is going well!

x, Tam