Souvenirs - Lili on the Loose

31 10, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Ravenclaw Robes

By Lili|October 31st, 2015|Categories: Geek, Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2012, Book, clothes, cosplay, costume, Florida, Halloween, Harry Potter, Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, Islands of Adventure, Movie, North America, Orlando, Orlando Adventure 2012, Pottermore, Ravenclaw, Robes, Sorted, Sorting, ties, Time Turner, Universal Studios, USA, Wand, Witches, Wizarding World, Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Wizards|0 Comments

A few years ago I fulfilled a childhood dream of going to Hogwarts. I had already learned from Pottermore that I was sorted into Ravenclaw. For years I had thought myself Gryffindor but realized my mistake and found my home in the Claws. So I dutifully got myself my House gear when I went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Here I am dressed in my Ravenclaw robes, sweater, and tie for Halloween 2012 I'm your typical Ravenclaw student, I love learning so much I have a Time Turner! Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on

17 10, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Dia De Los Muertos Skull

By Lili|October 17th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2013, Central America, Dia De Los Muertos, Latin America, magnet, Mayan Encounter 2013, Mexico, Playa Del Carmen, purple, Skull|0 Comments

I use to have a list of items I collected from each vacation, postcards, shot glasses, art, music, snow globes, and finally magnets. I've since paired down my collections, but one of my favorite items I got in Mexico is a Dia De Los Muertos style Skull magnet. Its purple (my favorite color) and made of clay or ceramic and is pretty hefty for a magnet. On one side a Male rests. On the other a woman dances. And the top has a scene of birds, cactuses, and the sun. Souvenir Saturday is an

3 10, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Tasty Memory

By Lili|October 3rd, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2011, Apple, Candied Apple, Candy Apple, Caramel Apple, Carmel Apple, Girl’s Weekend, Las Vegas, Nevada, North America, Sugar Factory, USA|0 Comments

During a Girl's Weekend in Las Vegas, I stopped into Sugar Factory and fell in love with their myriad of candy and caramel apple options. It took forever to decide on which one to get. It being a quick trip, I completely forgot to eat it until I got home. And it was delicious. Sadly, Sugar Factory closed their location in Las Vegas but they often have small kiosks at various locations and airports, so if you see be sure to check it out! Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

19 09, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Drink Like a Pirate Day

By Lili|September 19th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: British Virgin Islands, BVI, Caribbean, St. John 2011, Tortola|0 Comments

"Fifteen men on the dead man's chest-- ...Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! Drink and the devil had done for the rest-- ...Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!" Today is National "Talk Like a Pirate Day!" or for others "Drink Like a Pirate Day!" Traveling the USVI and BVI via boat is the best way to experience the islands. While stopping in Tortola, BVI I picked up this large tumbler with a recipe for a Rum Runner. I certainly had a few that trip! Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

5 09, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Omamori

By Lili|September 5th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2004, Ai, Amelia Earhart, amulet, Anime, Asakusa, Asakusa Temple, Asia, Buddhist, charm, college, deity, en-musubi, evil, exchange program, Final Destination, gakugyō-jōju, good luck, Harajuku, Japan, kōtsū-anzen, Love, Love Charm, luck, manga, Meiji Jingu, Meiji Shrine, Movie, Nagano, omamori, prayer, protect, protection, Rei Hino, Sailor Mars, Sailor Moon, Sensō-ji, Shinto, Shrine, Sister Cities, Sister Cities Japan 2004, studying, Suwa, Suwa Grand Shrine, Suwa Shrine, Suwa Taisha, talisman, Temple, Tokyo, travel, TV Show|0 Comments

In Sailor Moon, one of the main characters Rei Hino (Sailor Mars), is a Shrine Maiden, and in some of the episodes she sells amulets. I remember watching this episode when I was young and I was very excited to go to Japan and purchase one of these charms! The Hikawa Shrine in Sailor Moon Called Omamori, these talismans are sold at Shinto and Buddhist shrines and temples and provide different protection or luck. They contain a prayer written on paper or wood and are contained within a cloth bag. The shrine or temple sell these in return

22 08, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Bodhrán

By Lili|August 22nd, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2009, at the heart of it Ireland 2009, Blarney Castle, Bodhrán, drum, Europe, instrument, Ireland, Irish drum, music, Tamborine|0 Comments

Bodhrán, an Irish Drum with a "tipper" to play it. I remember in middle school, my dad found his old drum set. I had fun watching him play, and even attempted some beats myself. So when I saw this drum in Ireland I brought it home so I'd have my own little drum. It is a Bodhrán, a drum that is opened at the back, and is nicknamed the "poor man's Tamborine". You can hear how it is traditionally played. I found this drum in the shops near Blarney Castle. The back of the drum. Souvenir Saturday

8 08, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…

By Lili|August 8th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2005, All in the family Italy 2005/2006, Europe, Italy, love letters, romeo and juliet, statue, Verona|0 Comments

Romeo and Juliet is one of the best known plays by Williams Shakespeare and takes place in Verona, Italy. In Verona you can visit "Juliet's Balcony" which is in a courtyard and use to have a statue of Juliet. It is said that those who touch her right breast you'll be lucky in love. So many people touched her breast that it destroyed the statue and was recently removed. People also leave pleas on notes or graffiti on the way into the courtyard also looking for Juliet's help. I found it a bit ironic due to how the story ends.

25 07, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Money Cat

By Lili|July 25th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 1997, Beckoning Cat, cat, Hawaii, International Marketplace, Japan, Lucky Cat, Maneki Neko, Money Cat, Neko, North America, Oahu, Sunburn, Sunburnt 1997, USA, Waikiki|0 Comments

It is a bit ironic that I was ripped off buying a Maneki Neko (Beckoning/Lucky/Money Cat) at the old International Marketplace in Waikiki. I was young, and didn't know you were supposed to barter in the open air tourist shopping bazaar. So when they gave me a price for this golden cat, I immediately agreed. I was just starting my obsession with Japanese culture and just had to have a Money Cat. But it was an expensive purchase...nearly all of my spending money...and at the start of the trip. My parents were shocked I spent so much on it. They

11 07, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Cable Car Snow Globe

By Lili|July 11th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2008, Cable Car, California, ghirardelli square, Good Food in San Francisco, North America, San Francisco, snow globe, The Mowgli's|0 Comments

I lost my head in San Francisco Waiting for the fog to roll out But I found it in a rain cloud It was smiling down -The Mowgli's This was my second snow globe that I got after deciding to start collecting. I picked this one up near Ghirardelli Square among other typical tchotchkes. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

27 06, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Sand Castles in the Sky

By Lili|June 27th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: California, castle, collections, HIMYM, How I Met Your Mother, North America, San Diego, Sand Castle, statue, TV Show, USA|0 Comments

My family use to live in San Diego when I was very little. Every trip that either they or I have gone, I have received a Sand Castle as a gift. Here is one of my favorites, and it is one of the larger castles. They are made from real sand! Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.