I ate my way through Louisville and lived to tell the tale

Louisville (Looavul? Looeevile?) wasn’t a new destination for me, I’ve been a few times before, but on this trip I made a concerted effort to try new places and things I hadn’t before. It was a work trip so I still had to be at a desk for 8 hours a day but I definitely used my free time to explore all I could and man, what a super cool city! I’ve got a new crush and his name is Luhvul, Luahvool, Lurv… something like that. I flew in on Sunday morning so I had most of the day free to wander. First stop was of course lunch because I was hungry after waking up too early on a Sunday for my flight. I tried out a hot new joint called Biscuit Belly and the brunch crowd was poppin’.

It had the cayootest decor inside, the colors were bright and fun with a casual vibe. You are asked to look at a menu while you wait in line then order when you get to the register and take a seat wherever to wait for your food to be brought out. The menu is overwhelming and I wanted to try so much more. It’s a great place to go with a larger group so you can order a ton of stuff and share, pancake corndogs anyone?? I got the Edgy Veggie and had them add bacon because I DO WHAT I WANT! It was divine, rich AF, and I couldn’t finish it all no matter how hard I tried. Again I’ll stress, go with a group and order everythiiinnngggg.

They also have their own Belly Blend by Heine Bros coffee which cleared up any hesitation I had about eating here because Heine Bros is the beessssttt

After lunch I was almost uncomfortably full so decided to walk back towards my hotel to move my body a bit and see if there was anything cool along the way. I passed the Angel’s Envy distillery and popped in to see if they had a tour. I will never say no to a distillery tour, I find the process fascinating, the smell intoxicating, and especially in bourbon central, each distillery has it’s own unique take you can learn about. Angel’s Envy didn’t have any tours but did offer a tasting for $10 and how can you pass that up? They finish their bourbon in port barrels which gives it a really distinct flavor I found delicious.

We got three pours and a piece of locally made chocolate to pair with it. my goodness it was tasty.

The tasting was fun, informative and really personable. We all sat around a big wooden table and got to chat as a group. Our guide walked us through how to get your palate ready for the liquor by taking a sip and swishing it around to get the burn going so the second sip was smoother and by the time you get to the third you’re able to really pick up on lots of flavor notes in the bourbon. After extensive research I can say my preferred way to take it is with a splash of water or a single ice cube. After we got our buzz on we were allowed to walk around the distillery room where again, it smells amazing, and the big copper pots are so pretty. Do they make candles that smell like mash? I could get into that.

The rest of the week were full days of work with a few free hours a day to explore the culinary scene of Lurrgghhveerrrhh. And it was glorious. SO. MUCH. GOOD. FOOD. For a quick meal on the cheaper side, Taco Luchador was the shit and I could stuff my face for twelve bucks. The fish taco, mole chicken taco and elote were all killer, don’t pass on the elote. Mussel and Burger Bar was another affordable lunch option, the BBQ burger was everything you want in a burger. Didn’t get to try them, but the mussels have a great reputation. Proof on Main is super funky, great for a fancy cocktail. It’s connected to 21 c Museum where you’re allowed to bring your drink along while you stroll. Very cool spot. Doc Crow’s is great if you want some smoked meat baby, or a nice cocktail. If you’re looking for some lighter fare after eating rich for days, this is not the place. Good. But heavy. Looking to treat yo self to a fancy dinner? The Fat Lamb was perfect for that. The staff were insanely nice, the food was incredible (huge portions), and the scene was modern and chic. I got the scallops and polenta (GAAHHH) and splurged on the cannoli dessert. I felt like a GD queen. Scroll through the carousel below to marvel at all the things I ate in a week’s time. I know, impressive right??

A new addition to the city, at least since I was there a handful of years ago, are the scooters. Locals seem to find them a nuisance because people act a fool while riding through the streets, but as a visitor with no wheels I LOVED them. I signed up for Lime they also have Birds which are essentially the same thing. They are motorized scooters that run on electricity and they are everywhere in downtown Louisville. You pull up the app, locate a nearby scooter, reserve it and scan the QR code to unlock it. I rode them to work a lot of mornings, cruised to go have lunch and even to the CVS to pick up some essentials. They are a green affordable option, every ride I took was less than $3. I’m a New Yorker and don’t mind a walk but the humidity was ungodly while I was there and if I can avoid sweat beating down my full face beat, I will. I’m in a larger body, not super agile, and my fitness level is pretty low right now. I’m working on building it up! But currently I greatly appreciated this easy option of stepping on and hitting the gas rather than say a bicycle ride that would end me.

To be fair, the people of instagram who warned me not to know I’m a clumsy ass and this could have been disastrous. Thank goodness these things were easy to operate and I didn’t crash into anything.

The one downside to this trip was Trump made an appearance at The Galt House to speak to a group of veterans, the same hotel I was staying at which made for some awkward elevator rides. Louisville is a progressive city surrounded by a sea of red and they were not happy he was visiting. One of my Uber drivers told me he was taking off the night before to drive to Cincinnati because he didn’t want to be anywhere near that orange ass. The city was a ghost town the day Trump arrived; most people stayed home to avoid the street closures and congestion, except for the few nut jobs who rolled in trying to sell their MAGA hats and blue lives matter pins. Maybe it was the collective disgust for Trump’s visit or I’m just more comfortable traveling solo these days but I had some incredible conversations with the people of Louisville. We talked about art, politics, gentrification, education, the environment, anything and everything. It is a vibrant city full of culture, great food, fabulous drinks and wonderful people. I had such a fantastic time and hope I get a chance to visit again soon.

Love you Loooeeeeviiiilllllleeee MUAH!

Florence, I Love You

Firenze! Two days was not enough. I fell in love immediately. I’m sorry Iceland, don’t be jelly, you’re still my #1 <3 But we agreed to see other people and wow, I can’t wait to go back and soak up more of this gorgeous city.

View from Ponte Vecchio and I mean just look how gorgeous. i meant the view but also those sunglasses are killer right?

We took a train from Termini Station where we had just spent the last three nights in Rome. I’m glad I went, it was iconic. We saw the ancient ruins, the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and all that good stuff. Got my fill and I’m not trying to go back anytime soon. It was so touristy, which is fine, just not my favorite vibe on a trip and I can only handle so much of it before I want to scream. I’ve worked in Times Square for about nine years and it’s a literal nightmare. No shade to Rome. It’s just not the energy my stressed out anxious little heart craves when I’m escaping my world to visit another.

Look at these smiling faces Even after the gory history lesson of the colosseum. my expression is saying, ‘I’m super disturbed right now but still want a cute pic’

Maybe a part of me knew deep down that Rome wouldn’t quite hit the spot and whispered “if you visit elsewhere, you will love it more” like I was Kevin Costner building a baseball field or something. Since Florence was only a 90-minute train ride away we figured why not see both?! Round trip tickets with ItaliaRail were about $100 each and it was a really comfortable. No regrets packing two beloved Italian cities into one whirlwind of a trip, but would do some stuff differently if I had a redo. I’d tack on one of the train rides straight after or just before a flight to cut our travel days down from four to three. We spent three nights in Rome, trained to Florence for 2 nights, then back to Rome for 1 more night before flying home the next morning. I was SPENT by the time we got back to Rome for our final night. I don’t know how my travel buddy did it, she went to Vatican City on that last day. I was donezo by the time we got to our Airbnb and spent the afternoon with my feet up watching bizarre Italian T.V. So my take on a twofer: it can and should be done but be strategic about your travel days.

This was the last of several flights of stairs to our apartment in Florence ‘The Tower’

This was our key to ‘the tower’ which i found incredibly amusing. I don’t think I’d stay somewhere with such a hike again but this place was super charming with all it’s old quirks.

Florence is completely walkable which was lovely. We went everywhere by foot including from and to the train station. It was rough dragging our suitcases but it was only for 15-20 minutes tops so we managed. We stayed in a character of an Airbnb, it was called the tower and had 75 stairs leading up to it, but was located right off an adorable square with lots of restaurants, shops and gelaterias nearby. It was heaven to stroll out the front door and be eating my way through a cup of gelato within a few minutes. The city streets were so peaceful without cars zooming all around. Even though it was bustling I didn’t have the same level of anxiety I am prone to get in crowds (see above bitch fest about Times Square).

This is my fave pic of Florence. The historic duomo peeking through this little street with people all around and not a car in sight.

We visited the Galleria dell'Accademia and saw the famous statue of David which of course was impressive. We booked our tickets ahead of time which saved us from a much longer line to enter. My favorite part of the Museum though was the music section. They had all these old instruments, Stradivarius strings and some odd ones I’d never seen before. The audio guide would play clips of what the displayed pieces sounded like which I really enjoyed. My favorite was the pair of hurdy-gurdies because come on, hurdy-gurdies, it’s just so silly. I think an hour or two is enough time to explore this smaller space. We didn’t have enough time to see the Uffizi Gallery but next time I will make sure of it.

Strolling through the city after the Galleria dell'Accademia with no itinerary, gelato in hand (because of course, you have to stop and try every place that looks good), was the perfect way to spend our first evening. I Fratellini was this awesome sandwich place a short walk from Piazza del Duomo and is a must. Super simple ingredients but good quality and such a bargain if you’re on a budget. For only a few euros you get a solid meal and for a couple more you can add a glass of wine. Sip on your glass stall side where adorable wooden shelves hang just for the purpose of resting a wine glass. Or take it to go and work on that vino while you continue your evening stroll.

Day two we went to Mercato Centrale which was amazing. To get to this indoor food market you have to walk through the San Lorenzo Market which is packed with vendors selling leather goods where I bought a beautiful leather bag. It was stunning so I haggled with the guy for a good price and voila, new overnight bag. At Mercato Centrale, the downstairs level is full of stands where you can buy goods like pasta, cheese, bread, meats, and any food thing you can imagine. Then upstairs is where you get your grub on. You grab your food, find an open seat where servers walk around taking drink orders. If you’re going to ask me if I want a cocktail while I’m on vacation in Italy, I’m going to say yes please one Aperol Spritz. Downstairs was where I got most of my takeaway gifts and goodies. The aged balsamic vinegars and pistachio cream I got were to die for.

After we had our fill of the market or more like we couldn’t fit any more food in our stomachs or purchases in our bags, we went back to our apartment to drop off our haul and freshen up for drinks at Ponte Vecchio. We had a little time to kill before we had to meet up with friends who were also visiting so we went to this adorable little vintage boutique, Lady Jane B. It was the sweetest place. The owner was so kind and generally cared about the merchandise she sold and her customers. We bought some sunglasses and she was so sweet to let us each pick a pair of earrings out as a gift. It is a tiny little place but chock-full of quality vintage goods. These little unique Florence keepsakes were wonderful reminders of our time there.

After riverside drinks at sunset (yes ugh, it was a dream) we walked across the bridge and had dinner on the other side of the Arno river or, Oltrarno which literally means the other side of the Arno. We shared a Steak Florentine at The Antico Ristoro di Cambi. I don't normally eat a lot of red meat but I am always game to try local foods when visiting a new place. Years ago I was vegan very briefly, then vegetarian for a while, then slowly kept introducing more classes of meats back into my diet. One of the big reasons was because I was traveling more and didn't want to miss out on getting the full experience of new places by having a limited diet. So bring on the big ol' steak. It was done right, was good quality and I dug it.

The next day we only had the morning free before we had to catch our train back to Rome. We ended up going once again to the other side of the Arno to walk the Boboli Gardens. It was beautiful with some really pretty views of Florence. It was a pretty intense hike for me. I hadn't been in the best shape of my life and it was the end of our already exhausting trip so I found it to be a bit tough. But I made it! If you visit just know it's going to take some extra energy to hike these grounds so make sure you're ready and be kind to yourself. If you need to rest at almost every bench stop like I had to, no shame, whatever gets us to the top!

Before I wrap this up, two things need mentioning. The first is this cannoli needs a shout out as it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. When you visit Ponte Vecchio, stop at Ginos Bakery. It will be on your left shortly after you cross the bridge. On our walk to Boboli Gardens this coffee cannoli called my name and I am glad it did because we are living happily ever after. The wedding will be next fall.

It was the best cannoli I’ve ever had and no cannoli has ever come close. Add the chocolate covered espresso beans and it’s everything you could ever want.

The second thing worth mentioning is beware if you fly with Air Italy. Their armrests do not go all the way up which I found very frustrating. Both I and the friend I traveled with are bigger than the average bear and it was really uncomfortable not being able to lift the armrest all the way up on a 7+ hour flight. But the biggest takeaway...you should visit Florence and have a wonderfully magical time and maybe let me know when you're heading there because I am dying to go back again. Ciao!

That's Money Honey

Bargain shopping is in my blood. It's like a sport for the women in my family. So it makes sense I'd love the budget part just as much as the travel. I'm a cheap ass.

I was raised by a single mother who had to be frugal for survival's sake. Don't get me wrong; I had a wonderful childhood. My mom was fantastic, our family was supportive, and I never went without. But money was tight, and us kids knew what was necessary and what was extra. Like grocery shopping was necessary, brand names though were extra. Haircuts, necessary. Going to a professional stylist? Extra (oh yes I got more than one perm at the college beauty school).

My bro and I at the fair, being very diplomatic. We wouldn't have dared ask mom for any fair food. We knew it was out of the question and she had plenty of PB&J's in her backpack.

As I grew up and had an income of my own, those budgeting skills were gold. I was fortunate to reach a point where I had enough to spend on extras. But every time I did this guilty voice in my head would say, 'don't waste your money on that!' I have to remind myself if I find value in something then the money is worth spending. I'm lucky to be financially sound and why not enrich life when I can by spending some dough, amirite?!

Still, I don't like spending money on something if I KNOW I can get it for less. The first trip I planned for Amsterdam was a balance between 'oh that has a value' and 'hold on, can I get it at a better price though?' First, I decided I wanted to go somewhere, scoured search engines (Kayak is my go-to) and set up airfare alerts for a bunch of destinations. (Hopper is an amazing app that watches fares and suggests the best time to book for the lowest price). Then when the fare was an 'OMG can't pass that up' price I bought a ticket, and there was no going back

Amsterdam

Ugh, take me back. I loved Amsterdam and fit in so well it was stupid. Since I look very Dutch, I got asked for directions a ton and one time I was able to point them the right way.

Going off season saves $$ plus I'm easily overwhelmed by crowds and enjoy visiting during less popular times like winter when it's colder than most people like. New York is cold too so if I have to bundle up why not do it somewhere new? I settled on December; it's at the beginning of winter when the weather is milder and Christmas is pretty big in the Netherlands which meant decorations, lights, seasonal markets and lots of gezellig (the Danish have hygge, and the Dutch have gezellig). Also, NYC during Christmas might be magical but working in Times Square throughout the season is a GD nightmare which makes it a perfect time to use that PTO.

Amsterdam Light Festival

The Amsterdam Light Festival (not the festival of lights like I kept saying - very different) is a display of artwork using light as the medium. Chosen designs are displayed along the canals in the city center. I didn't get to but a night cruise during the festival would be way cool.

Since I was going alone, I opted for a hostel room with Stayokay Vondelpark. I would use them again. It wasn't the most poppin' party place (no smoking), but it had everything I wanted at a great price. I opted for a private room with an en-suite bathroom because I find value in being alone at the end of the day and it was worth the extra cash for this introvert. As a larger lady, I'm also not keen to climb onto a top bunk in any of those dorm rooms. I did pull the mattress off the top bunk in my room (it accommodated up to two people) and doubled up for some extra cushioning. It helped a lot, those hostel mattresses are flimsy, and I have a lot of LBS that need cradling.

Breakfast was included, which I always prefer. Not only is it budget friendly but also gives extra motivation to wake up early and get going. I'm pretty sure it's technically against the rules, but I did pocket a few items each morning to have lunch later. And I was not the only one. I saw a lot of reusable containers come out at breakfast every morning and felt like I was underprepared with only my Ziploc baggies.

Included Breakfast

I mean come on, slices of bread, meat, and cheese? It was like they were trying to tell us to make a sandwich for later. And hard-boiled eggs and pears were perfect for on the go.

Since the budget was of the utmost importance on this trip, I got an I amsterdam city card. It included unlimited public transport for 96 hours, free or discounted entry into a ton of museums and a free canal cruise plus discounts to other restaurants all for a little over $100. There are options for 24, 48 or 72 hours at lower prices but since I was there for five days figured I'd go with the 96. Just be sure you pay attention to when your transit portion runs out and use your canal ride before it does. I was a dummy and thought the canal ride was part of the museum entries and didn't use it in time. I love going to museums and frankly hate going with other people unless they like to take their sweet ass time too. So all those included and discounted entries were a dream. I went to SO MANY.

Van Gogh's Paints & Palette

It was so freaking cool to see Van Gogh's actual palette and paints in person and I def got a little emotional. It was just so surreal.

• Rijksmuseum - obviously impressive. It's HUGE, and if you want to see a lot, you'll need a full day at least. The Hercules Segers exhibit was fascinating; I spent 2 hours just on that.
• Stedelijk - super funky modern art and a trip to walk around. Visit a coffeeshop beforehand if you really want to trip out if you know what I mean...
• Van Gogh Museum -  incredible. Van Gogh is one of my faves, and it was delightful to see so many of his works.
• Dutch Resistance Museum - is a must see. It was tiny, so you could do it in a couple of hours time. It was full of stories about different ways the Dutch people resisted Nazi occupation, in whatever ways they could. Some were big organized groups while others were small individual acts. Walking through less than a month after the 2016 Presidential election, I was raw let me tell you. It was inspiring, and thought-provoking and I recommend stopping by if you can. One of my favorite things I did.
• Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder - aka Our Lord in the Attic Museum - a very cool bit of history. It's a clandestine Catholic Church from when Catholicism was illegal in the Netherlands and preserved immaculately. Worth checking out regardless of being religious or not and a fascinating example of tolerance, something the Dutch do well.
• Rembrandt House Museum - cool but if I could do it again, I would have skipped it and spent more time at Rijksmuseum.
• Amsterdam Museum - an excellent way to get a grasp on the history of the city - informative and if you're a history buff you should go. It was one of the first museums I went to, and it set the scene really well for exploring the city the rest of my stay.

Religious Artwork

I laughed so hard at this cow at Rijksmuseum. He clearly thinks the virgin mother story is bs and I was living for it.

My entire trip to Amsterdam was pretty much just museums, smoking jays in coffeeshops and eating war fries on the street. And it was perfect. If you are supes thrifty, you can do an Amsterdam getaway on a very modest budget. The entire trip -  flight, room, transportation, food, all of it - cost under $1,200. If you do go, be sure to get at least one freshly made stroopwafel (they are delicious & iconic), eat as many Flemish fries as possible (a million toppings to choose from but I recommend the war fries for sure) and have a blast!

We did Iceland as a weekend getaway and it's very doable

I can admit when I have an unhealthy obsession, and currently, that obsession is Iceland. I visited for the first time solo this past December, fell in love, then went back again last month with one of my besties because... well I have a problem.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss waterfall in the winter.

Gullfoss waterfall in the summer.

It's just, ugh, where do I even begin? I'm not a religious person but the closest thing I have is nature, and the understanding energy is always recycled, never created or destroyed. To me, that's the higher power that connects us all. (Oh yes, I'm super hippy dippy so get used to hearing crazy shit like that).

Kleifarvatn Lake

I mean come on, Joan Osborne, if God had a face, it would look like Kleifarvatn Lake and yes I would want to see.

Iceland is full of untouched nature so she's basically a holy land and it FEEDS MY SOUL. Fun fact: it's illegal to drive off-road in Iceland because of the damage it causes to the land. And it is strictly enforced so don't be a dummy and drive off the marked roads when you're cruising in your rental car seeing all the majesty. #1 it's rude AF and #2 you'll get fined. Also yes renting a car is the way to go. It's the cheapest way to get everywhere you want, the most flexible because you don't have to stick to a tour schedule and it's pretty simple to navigate the roads. Just make sure your google maps doesn't have 'avoid highways' checked because then it becomes incredibly difficult to navigate the roads. Your travel buddy might turn on you, and you will get the shadiest side eye you ever saw.

Gullfoss Selfie

Luckily we made it through without killing each other and got to take this super cute pic in front of a waterfall. Aren't we adorable?

Rental places have manual transmission options which I prefer, they are at a lower rate and get better gas mileage. So you can save some dollars if you're cool driving a stick. In December I used Geysir. They were great, the car ran well, and even their lowest cost option had hookups to play music from your phone which was amazing when you're driving an epic road trip. Their office was one of the stops on the airport shuttle which made it very convenient to pick up and drop off. They also take debit cards if you don't have a credit card to put down, as I did not.

This summer I tried to get an even better bargain, and we went with Cheap Car Rental Iceland. I know, the name should have been enough but I vetted the reviews and it seemed a safe bet. It was alright, gave us the bare basics we needed to move from point A to point B. It was just much less convenient than I would have liked. The trunk was hard to open, the engine rattled like a dementor sucking out a soul, there was no way to play music and the guy who ran it was pretty mansplainy and used the phrase, 'I'm not racist' right before saying the first of many racist comments. And they weren't one of the stops on the airport shuttle, so you had to wait for their person to pick you up. It's an option if you really need to pinch that penny. I don't think I'll use them again. The music is a deal breaker for me.

Rental Car

I was so happy to say boy bye to this jalopy. We thought She would leave us for dead in the middle of nowhere.

Some more helpful pointers:

• If you are in the NYC area, you can snag a round-trip ticket to Keflavík for $300-$400. Icelandair and WOW both offer fares in that range regularly. Prices are higher the farther from the Atlantic you are. Sorry west coast, the east coast's got you there.
• Waterproof and wind resistant items are best, including shoes - it's incredibly wet and windy, and you don't want to be miserable. On our excursions I wore stay dry leggings from Old Navy, a tee or sweater, some Ahnu hiking boots and the only waterproof jacket I could find in July from dun dun dun... Costco! (Did you know they deliver? It's life changing, check your zip code). The jacket was great, the only issue was the largest size barely fit, but I made it work. Just no sitting when zipped up.
• Eating and drinking out is expensive - grab groceries for breakfast and snacks (we loved Bonus and got tons of candy to bring home).
• Spend money on lunches - always order the catch of the day - it will be delicious and half the price it would be for dinner.

Catch of the Day

ostabúðin had the most incredible fish dish I've ever eaten. They offer a lunch menu from 11:30 to 14:30. It had a cozy vibe with an attached shop you could walk around while waiting for a table.

• Might as well pick up a bottle of booze duty-free at the airport so you can make some 'getting ready' drinks - make sure you go through customs first and buy at the store they literally make you walk through to exit the airport. Don't waste your time being turned away from the two you'll pass on your way to customs like my dumb ass did.
• If you have a Costco card, you can use it to save money on gas (I love Costco as much as Oprah loves bread).
• Drive the golden circle - an easy day trip when staying in Reykjavik.
• Get a late night hot dog - I love Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur.
• Go to a geothermal spa or hot spring - Blue Lagoon is iconic but pricey, and there are many other cool places for less $$.
• Visit on the weekend Kolaportid flea market for affordable and unique souvenirs.

Lava Rock Jewelry

I finally got myself a piece of lava rock jewelry at the flea market - handmade by Sigal - Israeli Icelandic design. We also got handmade licorice and volcanic ash soaps and some more candy of course.

For real I could go on for pages and pages. I'll share more Iceland stuff later. If you are going on a trip soon, and have any questions, message me! I'd be happy to talk about my favorite place in the world to anyone willing to listen. Stay tuned for more about the land of fire and ice because I'M OBSESSED.

I TURNED THIRTY.... a couple of years ago

Turning the big 3-0 was pretty monumental for me, as I imagine it is for many. As a single woman whose eggs were withering away, who wasn’t happy with her job, who wasn’t happy with her body and was mortified daily by her country, I felt the need to do something BIG to show I was still in control GODDAMMIT. It was your average, ‘I’m turning 30’ life crisis, and I decided I'd do my own Eat, Pray, Love adventure to get through mine.

I had always wanted to travel but never did because HELLO, that shit is scary and expensive. But with the end of my 20’s approaching, I decided to take my first trip abroad before my life officially ended (R.I.P my youth). I found the cheapest ticket I could to an international destination and BOUGHT IT. Fuck having a credit card, fuck savings, fuck making plans with someone or plans at all, mama was going to Europe! I went alone to Amsterdam, and it was glorious. It wasn’t some cinematic miracle answer to all my problems. When I got home, I was still unhappy with my career, still unable to love my body and still enraged constantly by ‘murica. But I felt a little stronger and surer of myself. Being someplace new and unknown was scary and forced me to stretch in ways I’m not used to which I liked. I like growing, and learning and travel give me a huge dose of that. It’s also very humbling and makes me feel small. Seeing otherness reminds me I am not the center of the world and my way of life is just one in a billion. Which, weirdly makes me feel more connected to the world. And isn't a connection something everyone wants?

And because I got so much out of that first trip, I made it a priority to travel and vowed to use my passport at least once a year. I don't typically set specific goals and surprise, don't end up accomplishing much. That's why this was a big step for me as an adult; set a specific goal, make decisions to serve that goal on the daily and in the end have something to show for it. And I'm going to do it again but go a little bigger this time. My ultimate goal is for travel to become a part of my livelihood. I want a job that has travel opportunities or is remote enough to enable me to travel more often or the dream; travel literally is the job. I don't know how to make that happen. I figured a good place to start is to say it aloud and put it out there to the universe. Another goal tied into this is to love myself more fully as I am in this moment. I think happiness and success will be more obtainable if self-love is a part of that. Now, these are big goals that feel overwhelming to accomplish, and it's scary as hell so I'll start by focusing on just taking a few first steps. I commit to share honest content weekly and try to be as mindful of this two-fold objective as I can. Who knows if I'll reach my ultimate goal, but any opportunities that arise while moving in that direction have got to be worthwhile

Drinking a beer after a long day of really weird modern art in Amsterdam.

One of the weird pieces of modern art I saw at Stedelijk. It flipped between blasting ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ and silence. I could not stop watching it.

These are 'war fries' or oorlog which is mayo, peanut satay sauce, and raw onions. It seems odd but trust, they are amazing.