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Post by monklady123 on Mar 10, 2023 13:35:14 GMT
We don't have a very "sentimental" Christmas tree so I've never done ornaments. Mostly I don't collect anything, but of course always a gazillion photos. lol. Also, I usually try to find a refrigerator magnet. I keep them all on the side of the fridge that's not really visible, and I rotate out the ones that go on the front.
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Bridget in MD
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Jun 25, 2014 20:40:00 GMT
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Post by Bridget in MD on Mar 10, 2023 13:48:54 GMT
We also do ornaments. Now the kids even bring me ornaments from the places they travel. we also purchase ornaments when we go on travel. but i am funny about ornaments brought to me. My mom does this ALL the time. I don't really use them bc its not my memory, and it really doesn't mean anything to me, on a trip she went on.
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anniebeth24
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Jun 26, 2014 14:12:17 GMT
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Post by anniebeth24 on Mar 10, 2023 14:02:02 GMT
Generally Christmas ornaments and preferably ones that are handmade. But it depends on the country too. In France, I search out vintage and antique tastevins. On trips to African countries, I’ve picked up various table linens of kente or kitenge and really enjoy setting tables reminiscent of our travels. Thank you for teaching me a new word. I had to Google tastevins. The sommelier on our recent river cruise had one. I'd never seen one prior to that and definitely didn't know its name.
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Post by Tamhugh on Mar 10, 2023 14:53:21 GMT
I buy Christmas ornaments also. My mother-in law raised all boys and loved when she had daughters-in-law to buy for. She used to buy us all jewelry when she traveled. I have hummingbird earrings that she bought me in Bermuda, a Murano glass pendant from Italy, and a Faberge egg pendant from Russia. When I wear them, I always think of her.
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Post by buddysmom on Mar 10, 2023 15:00:49 GMT
Locally made Christmas ornaments; sometimes it's hard to find ones that aren't made in China. And I still send postcards to my DD and she has them on her wall.
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Post by Jennifer C on Mar 10, 2023 15:11:55 GMT
Christmas ornaments. And if someone travel's and asks if I wanted anything, I ask for an ornament and I get them to sign and date it if possible.
Jennifer
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Post by padresfan619 on Mar 10, 2023 16:12:22 GMT
Ornaments and shot glasses. Also if a restaurant offers matchbooks I always take one. I have a large glass jar filled with matchbooks from my grandparents travels that I add to.
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Post by mbanda on Mar 10, 2023 16:15:37 GMT
We also do Christmas ornaments and magnets. I keep the magnets on the file cabinet in my office/scraproom.
I also try to pick up stickers if I think they will work on a scrapbook layout for the trip.
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lavawalker1
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Jul 9, 2021 21:41:57 GMT
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Post by lavawalker1 on Mar 10, 2023 16:40:16 GMT
Christmas ornaments. I have enough now that I can decorate my Christmas tree just in souvenir ornaments if I want to! I also bring home coffee mugs as a souvenir.
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Post by kmcginn on Mar 10, 2023 16:46:55 GMT
For mw it's refrigerator magnets. They are small and easy to transport. They remind me of the trip when I look at them on my fridge!
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Post by jenr on Mar 10, 2023 16:51:09 GMT
Bookmarks. They are inexpensive and don’t take up a lot of space in my luggage or at home. I keep them in a shallow wood bowl. I love this idea! Very unique!
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Post by auntkelly on Mar 10, 2023 17:05:35 GMT
I love to visit art museums when I travel and I love coffee table books. Therefore I buy coffee table books from art museums we visit on our travels.
I wait to purchase them until I get home. That way, I don’t have to lug them around while I’m travelling and I can buy them used.
I also love to buy postcards, especially at museum gift stores. I throw them in a stérilité box and drag them out and look at them every once in a great while. My kids have been told they are free to toss them w/out guilt after I die.
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craswell
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Sept 28, 2016 13:45:06 GMT
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Post by craswell on Mar 10, 2023 18:38:19 GMT
I try to bring home a piece of small artwork when we travel, often from a street vendor or local shop. Something postcard-sized or a little bigger. I have a pull down shelf in my kitchen (meant to hold a cookbook) where I display the art I've collected and I switch it up every month. It's a nice way to remember past trips. I also buy a book whenever I travel to a place that has an independent bookstore and either include a store bookmark or write a note in the front reminding me where it was purchased, so that when I eventually read the book, I am reminded of the trip.
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leeny
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Post by leeny on Mar 10, 2023 18:42:00 GMT
Postcards - I always use one or two in my travel scrapbook. Pressed Pennies - Love these! Giant Pencils - When my kids were little we collected these on our travels. Gave them something to focus on while looking in gift shops.
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Post by roundtwo on Mar 10, 2023 18:48:29 GMT
Another Christmas ornament collector here. We try to find things that are made locally and represent the place we are visiting. Sometimes it is tricky to find an ornament and in that case, I look for something that I can alter, for instance, a key chain or sometimes a magnet that I can add a hook.
When we visit an extra special place, I also try and find a small painting or a note card that I can frame.
And lots of pictures!!
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sharlag
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I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
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Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Mar 10, 2023 18:51:44 GMT
Coffee beans! I love searching out coffee shops to get locally roasted beans. A plus side is there's no indefinite storage solution to maintain (or dust!). Yes! Coffee for sure. Also Christmas ornaments with the destination name or theme
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StephDRebel
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Post by StephDRebel on Mar 10, 2023 21:30:47 GMT
Art. We try to search out places where local artists are and find some sort of something to decorate with. I'll also do jewelry and clothing items made locally.
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Post by birukitty on Mar 10, 2023 21:43:55 GMT
I make travel scrapbooks so for me I always look for postcards, brochures, maps, tickets etc. Postcards are great for a photo of a sight I wasn't able to shoot due to rain, crowds of people or difficult angles. I'm such a perfectionist sometimes. Of course I also take a ton of photos on every trip-that's most of the fun of a trip for me. I also like to buy refrigerator magnets. And books too-although I got out of hand doing this during my last trip to Poland and Germany. I was using a rail pass, switching hotels every 2 days and l ended up having to buy a backpack to haul all of my goodies in-ended up with 35 lbs of paper goods by the time the trip ended! Next trip with a rail pass-no books! I love the idea of collecting bookmarks though
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Post by Basket1lady on Mar 10, 2023 21:58:52 GMT
I have a whole wall in my office that is sketches, drawings, paintings, post cards, greeting cards, and the like. I've bought from street vendors, official gift shops, stationary stores, galleries... I try to buy at least one from each place that we go. They all have a similar hand drawn feel and I frame them all in black frames, so it works.
DH started collecting coasters in our travels. He has about a dozen that he rotates through and has found some really unique ones. I like to find ornaments, but they are less common in Europe. So I have metal bookmarks shaped like the Eiffel tower from MonoPrix, a wooden tulip from Amsterdam, a miniature prie dieu from Rome--if it's small and nicely done, I can adapt it. And I have a whole drawer of scarves from all over.
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Post by Basket1lady on Mar 10, 2023 23:37:07 GMT
I make travel scrapbooks so for me I always look for postcards, brochures, maps, tickets etc. Postcards are great for a photo of a sight I wasn't able to shoot due to rain, crowds of people or difficult angles. I'm such a perfectionist sometimes. Of course I also take a ton of photos on every trip-that's most of the fun of a trip for me. I also like to buy refrigerator magnets. And books too-although I got out of hand doing this during my last trip to Poland and Germany. I was using a rail pass, switching hotels every 2 days and l ended up having to buy a backpack to haul all of my goodies in-ended up with 35 lbs of paper goods by the time the trip ended! Next trip with a rail pass-no books! I love the idea of collecting bookmarks though I take a photo of the book and if I still want it by the time that I get home, order it then. I love all the books that you find in the gift shops, but no way am I carrying them around. Although I did buy a cookbook when we were in Scotland from The Bad Girl bakery. In my defense, it wasn't available from Amazon US!
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Post by Karene on Mar 11, 2023 1:28:06 GMT
T-shirts that remind me of our trip every time I put them on. A guide books for certain places (museums, castles, historic buildings that we visited). We are really into photography and take tons of photos. One of my perks at work is free photobooks, so I always make photobooks of all our trips.
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tincin
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Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Mar 11, 2023 2:37:43 GMT
I try to purchase an original art piece. In Iceland I was at a flea market and found a piece of painted driftwood with all these hidden faces, in Botswana it was a handmade nyami nyami stick, in Zimbabwe it was a hand crafted necklace, in South Africa it was an original art piece, in Ireland it was hand crafted slate hanging. So much fun looking for original art.
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tincin
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Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Mar 11, 2023 2:39:56 GMT
Postcards - I always use one or two in my travel scrapbook. Pressed Pennies - Love these! Giant Pencils - When my kids were little we collected these on our travels. Gave them something to focus on while looking in gift shops. I do pressed pennies as well. It so much fun when I spot one.
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Post by smasonnc on Mar 11, 2023 12:47:18 GMT
Coffee mugs. I have several carrousels in my cabinet with coffee mugs from places that I love. Each day, I open the doors and I'm faced with wonderful memories. It's a great way to start the day.
I also buy art and Christmas ornaments.
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Post by peace on Mar 11, 2023 18:59:29 GMT
I own a couple of souvenir stores. People still buy magnets, coffee mugs, ornaments, shot glasses, t-shirts, stickers, jewelry, keyring, photos, postcards, and local artists items. That is what we sell the most of- but we do still have an occasional person who would like one of those collectible spoons. We actually have a few left from the previous owner (she used to buy in massive quantities).
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Post by birukitty on Mar 11, 2023 22:21:04 GMT
I make travel scrapbooks so for me I always look for postcards, brochures, maps, tickets etc. Postcards are great for a photo of a sight I wasn't able to shoot due to rain, crowds of people or difficult angles. I'm such a perfectionist sometimes. Of course I also take a ton of photos on every trip-that's most of the fun of a trip for me. I also like to buy refrigerator magnets. And books too-although I got out of hand doing this during my last trip to Poland and Germany. I was using a rail pass, switching hotels every 2 days and l ended up having to buy a backpack to haul all of my goodies in-ended up with 35 lbs of paper goods by the time the trip ended! Next trip with a rail pass-no books! I love the idea of collecting bookmarks though I take a photo of the book and if I still want it by the time that I get home, order it then. I love all the books that you find in the gift shops, but no way am I carrying them around. Although I did buy a cookbook when we were in Scotland from The Bad Girl bakery. In my defense, it wasn't available from Amazon US! That's an excellent idea and what I'll certainly do in the future. Back then for that trip 5 years ago, I'd gotten my very first smart phone for the trip and was still learning how to use it. I didn't even occur to me to look up those books and see if I could get them at home. From what I bought I was almost certain they wouldn't be available at home and then shipping would cost a lot too. But obviously doing a quick check on an Iphone while you are there makes the most sense.
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Post by gar on Mar 11, 2023 22:25:23 GMT
I’ve never ever heard of anyone buying a Christmas decoration (ornament) as a travel souvenir 😁 but it obviously common for Americans. Don’t you have to search hard to find them in summer??
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Post by Basket1lady on Mar 11, 2023 22:31:15 GMT
I’ve never ever heard of anyone buying a Christmas decoration (ornament) as a travel souvenir 😁 but it obviously common for Americans. Don’t you have to search hard to find them in summer?? We were just in the UK for 3 weeks in August and September and they were in all the shops with souvenirs. Way more than I found on “mainland” Europe. They were mostly painted globes and stuffed fabric ornaments.
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Post by gar on Mar 11, 2023 22:37:47 GMT
I’ve never ever heard of anyone buying a Christmas decoration (ornament) as a travel souvenir 😁 but it obviously common for Americans. Don’t you have to search hard to find them in summer?? We were just in the UK for 3 weeks in August and September and they were in all the shops with souvenirs. Way more than I found on “mainland” Europe. They were mostly painted globes and stuffed fabric ornaments. Really? That’s funny - obviously I don’t look In souvenir shops or at souvenirs 😁 I would never have thought of looking for Christmas decorations on my travels.
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cycworker
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Jun 26, 2014 0:42:38 GMT
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Post by cycworker on Mar 12, 2023 1:35:11 GMT
Ornament if I can find one. Always a magnet, bookmark, or shot glass. And usually a small water globe. Maybe even a t shirt.
It really depends where I am
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