Not that anyone actually needs inspiration to travel, but when your suitcase is collecting dust and you have no trips planned for the foreseeable future, a gorgeous typography print on your wall will perk you up and get you motivated to put a few extra pennies in the travel fund.

So, I saved you the time of scouring Etsy, and found these darling prints by some very talented artists. Don’t want to invest? At least pin them on Pinterest, and give them some love…oh, and while you’re there, follow me!

Via MaeChevrette on Etsy

via Flourish Café on Etsy

via EinBierBitte on Etsy

Via HereandThereShop on Etsy

Via KeepCalmShop on Etsy

Via TravelRelated on Etsy

Via AmyRiceArt on Etsy

Via vol25 on Etsy

via LazyDaisy7 on Etsy

When you live in a bustling, congested port city, sometimes you just want to get away. To escape the noise, the pollution, the people, and find solace in a quieter, simpler place.

This place for me was Jimena de la Frontera.

Jimena is the type of fairytale Spanish town that seems straight-out-of-a-postcard. White-washed villages have always captured my heart, but Jimena’s regal position perched high up on the foothills of the Serranía de Ronda commands your attention.

As a town that carries “de la Frontera”, Jimena’s name is a reference to the Moorish occupation of Spain. Other white villages like Arcos de la Frontera and Vejer de la Frontera all make up what was once the border between Muslim-ruled and Christian-ruled Spain.

In fact, Jimena has seen occupation by many: the Phoenicians, Iberians, Carthaginians and Romans.

However, nowadays, things are much more quiet and these towns make up the famed pueblos blancos (white villages) of Andalucía, though not all carry “de la Frontera” in their name.

The pueblos blancos range from chic seaside resorts, to quiet nature retreats. Visiting Jimena is definitely a gorgeous way to connect with nature.

With stunning views that stretch all the way to the Bay of Algeciras and Gibraltar, I didn’t tire in taking in my surroundings:

And though everyone like to describe small towns as “charming”, Jimena absolutely encapsulated the word.

It was oozing it.

After trekking to through the steep hills of town to where the castle is located, I found the perfect spot for a picnic and went for a leisurely walk grueling hike back down the other side…

Stay tuned to see what I encountered!

So all you fellow iPhone owners are likely familiar with the app Instagram. If not, it’s an app that turns your blah camera phone photos into something a bit more eye-catching with fun filters.

Anyway, a fellow blogger, Jenni of Story of My Life, started documenting her day-to-day life via Instagram, compiled them into a weekly round-up and has encouraged other bloggers to participate. So with no further ado, here’s life lately through the lens of my iPhone:

A walk around the neighborhood at sunset. Love the bright colors+Spanish architecture.

Meanwhile, back home in Seattle, snow dumps in my parent’s backyard.

Guilty pleasure: trashy magazines to build my Spanish vocabulary. :)

Cous-cous and a lentil+curry soup drizzled with coconut milk. Courtesy of mi amiga. :)

Weather in Spain in January. That’s Morocco in the background!

Who can resist the bi-annual sales in Spain? Not this girl.

Coming from Seattle, I’ve promised myself to never take the sunshine for granted. Especially in winter!

Sunrise from my balcony.

Here’s to another lovely week!