The Map Pin Junkie's 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 4

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

For Day 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas my gift recommendation makes a great package decoration! A globe ornament is one of the best gifts I've given. When I presented it to 'he who shall not be named' several years ago, I had it tied to a box that contained plane tickets for our next trip. Every year, it gets hung on the tree and we can reminisce about all the trips we've taken solo and together. 

Lots of retailers offer globe ornaments, but I particularly love the antique feel of this Age of Exploration version from 1WorldGlobes.com. At $20, it is a faithful reproduction of a globe designed by Didier R Vaugondy, cartographer to Louis XIV in 1745. Swap out the hanging string with a festive ribbon for even more holiday flair. I used a length of wired green velvet ribbon to give it extra 'zhuzh'.

Give your sweetie the gift of the world with this charming little orb! If you don't hang it on a tree, try hanging it on a door knob or drawer pull to add charm to your surrounds. I can never have too many globes and believe that having globes and maps around keeps world travel vibes in the air so opportunities to travel will come your way. So far, my plan is working! 

Happy Gift Giving!

Blood Moon - September 2015

Enjoying a bit of time at home, I was super-stoked for the Blood Moon this month! The view was pretty great from my own backyard and while I couldn't find my tripod, the rock I used seemed to work out well.

The mystery of space has always appealed to me and I was in hog heaven as I watched the entire eclipse. While it didn't bring the end of the world, the zombie apocalypse, or other prophetic bad news, I did notice my neighbors were a bit weirder than normal. =)

I could post the entire collection and bore you to tears with 100 images that only vary slightly, so here is my favorite of the bunch. Lucky timing, I caught a plane moving through my frame.
(as always, please respect image right. do not use without linking back to me, thanks!)