Two years ago, my life looked very different-I was very different. I was living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and working at a global advertising firm, slowly climbing my way up the corporate ladder. I had all the trappings of a seemingly successful adult life: a 401k, company benefits, a good job, a… [Read More]
The Dark Honeymoon: A Visit to the Paris Catacombs
After an hour spent taking cell phone pictures and taunting sparrows, my husband and I found ourselves at the front of the line to see the Paris Catacombs. We were on our belated honeymoon, more specifically on a three-day trip to the City of Love after tours of Frankfurt, Heidelberg, and Freiburg. Holding hands,… [Read More]
A Personal Story: The Ghost of Christmas Future
It’s Christmas Day in Chicago and my family and I have just finished unwrapping presents by the fireplace as the warm glow cast by the twinkling lights and jumping flames lights up our living room. We’ve exhausted my Christmas playlist as we happily carry our pile of opened gifts to our rooms. It’s a… [Read More]
An Open Letter to the Ghosts of Friends I’ve Traveled With
In many ways, the collapse of our friendship feels like a one night stand where I play the part of the overtly romantic person who seems to think our exchange meant the world and you play the role of the one who woke up early and simply walked away. I know it’s more complicated than… [Read More]
7 Natural Life Hacks I Picked Up While Traveling
I’ve just arrived in Jamaica and am absolutely aching to swap my jeans for shorts and my sneakers for flip flops and enjoy the warm weather. My room at the Round Hill Hotel is not ready when I arrive so I head for lunch by the ocean and decide to try an order of… [Read More]
Pre-Departure Travel Musings & Confessions
Most travel bloggers would have you think we sashay into the airport with our floppy hats and iPhones as we snap picture perfect passport photos. Me on the other hand, I tend to show up frazzled! As I get ready to head on my Topdeck tour of Morocco for ten days, let me take a moment to confess some of my pre-departure quirks.
Runaway Bride: Life After Calling Off My Wedding
It’s been almost a year now and time has given me the gift of perspective as I reflect back on my decision to not walk down the aisle. Like the calm after a storm, the dust has settled and today this 27 year old runaway bride has chased her dreams of travel writing from Colombia to France.
A Traveler’s Love Letter
Sometimes words fail me at a time like this when emotions are simply too blinding to be contained by mere syllables. You have lit up my life like a shooting star that dazzles the darkest of nights and holds all the promise and whimsy of the world. I have traveled throughout South America, kayaked with… [Read More]
The Friends we Have (and Lose) in our Twenties
In your twenties you watch as a parade of friends cross the stage of your life in a brilliant display of meaningful friendships, short lived encounters and superficial acquaintances. It’s been said that our twenties are the most formative years we’ll experience for it is only in our twenties do we truly grow and learn who we are and what we want out of life. All of a sudden friendships become less about quantity over quality, and surrounding yourself with people who make your life better becomes paramount.
The Stigma of Being a Traveler
Recently, the folks at College Humor released a new video of what it’s like to have one of those friends who seem to have a bottomless bank account and an unwavering sense of wanderlust. Admittedly, the video got me thinking about what it means to be a traveler (as well as hoping my friends never see me coming off as airy and flippant like the cartoon-ish girl in this clip).