Pretty Passport Covers

I have my passport and I'm ready to travel. My trip to England and Paris is just around the corner. Thank you for all your travel trips, when I shared a few months ago, I'm taking my first international trip! the beginning of September and let me just say I'm so thrilled I get to spend to weeks with my bestie in her new country is beyond exciting. In addition to thinking about what to pack and saving every penny until my trip so I can splurge on a few items [ hello skin care & charity shop treasures and maybe a new handbag! ] One item I really want for my trip is a cute passport holder! Here's a round up of five, that are just too cute!

Now I just need to choose the a passport holder! Do you have a cute passport holder and a bigger question, if you only have 24 hours in Paris, what would you do? 

Microwave Free Kitchens

Being a proud owner a small 1950's rancher with a petite kitchen, counter space in my kitchen is at a premium. When we first bought our home six years ago, our little kitchen was a L Shape kitchen with a floating fridge. We had so little counter space making dinners that lots of cutting was nearly impossible. After rebuilding our home in 2012, I re-designed the kitchen layout to a classic U Shape, took out a space sucking hall closet that gave both our kitchen and bathroom extra square footage and made very happy. I pretty much have double the counter space, but this time around I opted to go microwave free. 

We've been microwave free for two years and I don't miss having one. Since our kitchen is small [ visit our kitchen after

here

] I love having only the essentials out which include, my Kitchen Aide mixer, large glass containers, our Nespresso and Kitchen Utensils and toaster. I noticed almost all the kitchens, I love and pinned are microwave free too. Below are some fabulous microwave free kitchens. 

via

Pinterest

via

Pinterest

In case your wondering when its time to re-heat food, we typically use our oven or stove top, I've practically become a pro going this route. I am thinking about replacing our toaster for a

Breville Mini Smart Oven

, which is a perfect cross between toaster and mini counter oven, especially since it gets super hot in Sacramento, and I don't want the oven to 'heat up the whole house' 

Friends, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic, in your home are you microwave free? Could you ever go microwave free?