Falling In Love With Tromsø, Norway

It seems that everywhere I travel to, whether it be Boston, Austin, Reykjavik, or Oslo, I always seem to fall in love with that city. It's like each city casts a spell on me and I become mesmerized by its fascinating sights and different people. Every country, city, town, and village I visit always takes a little piece of my heart forever. I have become pretty used to this routine of falling in love with places for a short period of time and then having to depart from them. Usually I don't mind it, and I'm content with leaving a place with the hopes that I will one day be able to return. But recently, I have fallen for a city harder than ever before.

I just finished spending a magical 10 days in the beautiful northern city of Tromsø, and it stole my heart completely. 

Tromsø is located in northern Norway, 350 kilometers (217 miles) inside the Arctic Circle, so for a girl who had been living in Texas for 3 years, it was quite cold. And I loved every second of it. The air was so fresh. It just made you feel alive as soon as you walked out the door. 

My heart belonged to this beautiful place the second I laid eyes on the scenery around me. Everywhere you turn, you are surrounded by gorgeous towering mountains that are so captivating, its so hard to look away. And to make this sight even better, I got to see this gem of a city covered in a blanket of white sparkling snow. There is nothing better than waking up, looking out your window, and seeing mountains as far as the eye can see covered in snow (especially if it's been quite a few years since you've seen proper snow!). No matter where you go in Tromsø, you will be blown away by its beauty.

And then of course, there are the Northern Lights.
If you're lucky enough to get a clear night in the city, you can actually see the lights from inside the city. They may not be bright inside the city, but you can still see them. A good place to see the auroras on a clear night is Prestvannet Lake; just a 15 minute walk from the city center. And they are the most beautiful, fascinating sight you will ever see in your life.

The one thing that may have been better than the amazing scene that is Tromsø, is its people (and maybe its drinks?). While in this city I met so many new and beautiful people every single day that I was there. They all kindly welcomed me into there lives, whether it be for a day or 4 days. Some were even kind enough to welcome me right into their homes. I know that I have made some life-long friends in Tromsø! So thank you to all of my new Norwegian friends for teaching me about your culture (and mine), your country, and for sharing in some great times!

Now that I've told you about all of the reasons that I fell so hard, I thought I would show you. Here are a few shots from my trip to Tromsø that captured my heart. I hope you enjoy and are inspired to see this beautiful place for yourself one day.

Special thanks to Steph, Suzanne, Theresa, Mariana, Aleks, Sondre, Ole, Jonas, Torstein, Petter Pan, Katie, Josephine, and all the other friends who welcomed me in Tromsø! You're all wonderful human beings and I can't wait to see you all someday again!

What I Learned From My First Week Of Solo Travel

If you would have told me 3 years ago that I would be travelling the world on my own today, I probably would have just laughed in your face. 

I never even pictured myself leaving New York. But I did, and now here we are. I have just completed my first full week of being a solo traveler, and I have been absolutely loving it.

You never truly know what the world will be like outside of your comfort zone until you just go. And once you do go, I can almost guarantee that you will never want to turn back. Walking into the unknown will become your favorite thing to do. Eating local delicacies and having no idea what they are will become normal. Living out of a backpack, having new friends come in and out of your life everyday, basically eating whatever is cheapest, and coffee, lots and lots of coffee, will be how you live now. 

In this past week, I have learned more about the world and about myself than I have in my whole life. 

Here is what I learned from my first week as a solo traveler.


Mountains are hard to climbLiterally and figuratively. It is hard to climb a mountain! Especially when it is hailing and you do not have the best shoes on for hiking up a mountain. It's also hard in the figurative way of facing challenges, especially when you're on your own and have to work through the problem by relying on only yourself.

But climb every mountain because the view is always worth itThere is no better feeling than reaching the top of a mountain, or making it through a tough situation, and turning around to look at how far you have come and to see the beautiful view. It will leave you speechless. 

Trust yourselfWhen you are out somewhere in the world all by yourself, you have to learn to trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't right. You also have to learn to believe in yourself. No problem will be too difficult to overcome if you trust and believe in yourself.You're the only one you can trust and rely on when you're traveling solo anyways!

Talking to strangers is okayWhen we're young, we are taught no never talk to strangers. Well forget that rule. Talk to strangers. You never know where a simple conversation will lead. That then stranger could end up becoming your best friend or the love of your life. If you never talk to them. you will never know. And people aren't all out to get you. Most people are actually quite kind.

Getting lost leads to great findsSimply walking around a new city by yourself without a map or any directions is now one of my favorite things to do when I first get to a new city. You stumble upon some of the coolest little shops and hidden gems of a city. It also helps you get to know the city better and feel more at one with it and its people.

Your adventures will inspire othersIn the past week, I have had multiple people tell me that what I'm doing is so inspiring. At first I didn't understand why it was so inspiring to others. But then I realized why it was; I am out here living my dream and doing what most people only say they will do or dream of doing. And watching someone follow their dreams and actually live their dream truly is inspiring. 

Don't stress over what you cannot control
You're probably going to miss a bus, get the wrong train, and lose your bag at least once. And when those things happen, it sucks, but there is nothing you can do about it at that moment. So let it go, laugh it off and move on!


The world isn't as cruel as people tell youIf you watch the news today, all you'll see is horrible sadness. But if you actually get out into the world, you will realize that that sadness is only a small part of what this world is made up of. There is so much love and joy out in the world just waiting for you to find it. All you have to do is make that first jump!

Never be afraid of the unknown. Be fearlessLife is one big "unknown". This is the best thing I learned from my travels thus far. You cannot be afraid of this life. Everything that you've ever wanted and dreamed of is just right on the other side of fear. Be fearless. That doesn't mean you can't be scared of things in this life. Being fearless means being absolutely terrified of something, but doing it anyway. 


I would say that I had a pretty successful first week of my new life as a solo traveler. I am so looking forward to the weeks/months that are ahead of me. Go out and live the adventure friends!

Iceland - Perfect Place For First-Time Solo Female Travelers

About a year and a half ago, I read a blog post by one of my favorite travel bloggers, Adventurous Kate. Her post was about why Iceland is the best place for a newbie solo female traveler. By the time I finished the post, I was already looking up flights and accommodations for Iceland.

Now, a year and a half later, I took all of Kate's advice and have just finished my first international solo adventure, in Iceland.

Since I was so inspired by Kate and her reasons for why Iceland is the perfect country to test the waters of solo travel, I decided I would put my own spin on the same post topic. So, from a solo travel newbie no more, here are my reasons why Iceland makes the perfect place for first-time solo female travelers.


No matter where you go, people speak English
Travelling alone internationally for the first time can be very intimidating. Especially if you start off in a country where English is very rarely spoken. In Iceland, almost everyone speaks both Icelandic and English. Most of the signs are also in both languages, so it is very easy to communicate here.


There are so many day toursOne of the quickest and easiest ways to make friends while traveling solo is to go on day tours or excursions. You'll soon realize that there are so many other solo travelers out there. While I was on The Golden Circle day tour, I met a girl who I became friends with and then spent 2 more tours/excursions with the next day. Just by talking to someone or asking them to take your picture on a day tour could lead you to awesome new friends.


Reykjavik is a very walkable and safe city
When you first start travelling alone, another fear is that you won't know how to find your way in a new city. Reykjavik, however is a very safe and walkable city. You are able to get lost all over town, and still find your way back.


Iceland is great to explore on a layover
A lot of people I met in Reykjavik were just there as a stopover to another country. Travelers would have about a 2 day or so stopover in Iceland, and then fly off to their destination. This is a great idea because you can easily explore Iceland in a weekend.


It is one of the most beautiful places in the world
If you're just starting out as a solo female traveler, you might as well start somewhere absolutely amazing! There are so many natural wonders to be seen in Iceland, it is like you have gone to another planet. Between the lava fields, the volcanoes, the geysers, and the Northern Lights, you are bound to leave in complete awe of this country.


I am so glad that I started my new journey in Iceland. It helped give me the confidence that I needed to know that I can make it on my own. Now, it will forever hold an extremely special place in my heart!

If you ever travel to Iceland, I hope it treats you as well as it treated me! Happy travels!

Flying With The Northern Lights

If you have ever read this blog, you'd know that seeing the Northern Lights is where everything started for me. That was my main reason and motivation for leaving a comfortable life for one of constant movement and change.  As I'm writing this, I'm on my third flight of the day, on the first day of my new life. And what just happened on this flight was everything I wanted and more. It was magical.

Flying With The Northern Lights 
What it's like to become one with your dream. 

Right now I have no idea what time it is, and I think we're flying somewhere over Greenland. Not going to lie, it has been a long day of running around airports, waiting in long security lines, and getting almost no sleep for 2 days prior. So let's just say I was really looking forward to sleeping on this overnight flight to Reykjavik, Iceland. 

But what just happened on this flight makes me so happy that I wasn't able to fall asleep. 

Just as the not so comfortable seats of a budget airline were starting to get the best of me, the flight attendant came over the intercom announcing that she was going to turn all the cabin lights off because there is a show going on outside of our windows.

As all of the lights went out, I looked out my window and was in complete awe. It was my dream becoming a reality. 

The Northern Lights were right in front of me. Brilliant green colors moving around and dancing in the sky.  It wasn't like we were just observing them though. It was as if we were part of them. Dancing through the sky with them. 

And for those few minutes, we were just one with the beautiful display of lights. It was the most magical moment that I have ever experienced in my life. Even now that we are past the Auroras, the sky is still putting on a show for this flight. I have never seen more stars than the amount that I am looking at right now. 

I wish everyone had the opportunity to witness what I witnessed tonight. Thank you for a beautiful start to my new life, Auroras! 

20 Reasons For Dropping Everything To Travel

This post was inspired by Marshall from Living Spontaneous. Marshall just quit his job and is about to embark on the journey of a life time, so he decided to list his 24 reasons for doing so! And since I am about to do the same thing, I figured I would share with you my reasons!

On October 16, I'll be saying goodbye to the comfortable life I know and starting a new life of travel. As the months start to dwindle away, I'm getting BEYOND excited and realizing how crazy cool this opportunity is. So, to get a little more inside my head, here are the 20 reasons behind my year of solo travel.

20 Reasons For Dropping Everything To Travel

1. Because I still can - I have absolutely nothing holding me down to one place right now. Might as well see as much as I can while I have no real responsibilities right?!

2. The world is changing. In my opinion, there's never been a better time to travel!

3. Life can be cut off in an instant. It's scary, but it's true. We never know when or where it will be our time to go. We must live every day to it's fullest. It's not like we're gonna make it out alive anyway!

4. Love - I have a deep love for the Earth and its inhabitants. I want to show people that there is still love out there all over this beautiful planet. Love is the most powerful thing we can feel and I want to spread all the love I can.

5. Fear - I'm not necessarily afraid of the journey in front of me, but I know I will encounter fears along the road. And honestly, I am looking forward to facing those fears.

6. I'm terrified of ending up alone. So I'm doing the one thing that will help me overcome that fear; facing the world alone.

7. Yet I'm in love with being alone. It's weird, I'm terrified of ending up alone, but I like traveling with only myself. I find it a lot less stressful only having to worry about myself, my belongings, and my plans.

8. The unknown makes me feel more alive than anything I've ever experienced. Not knowing what the next day or the next hour will hold, or where I'll be tomorrow is exhilarating!

9. We weren't meant to stay in one place forever. This Earth is HUGE! There is no way that we as the inhabitants are only supposed to live in one city or one country for our entire lives.

10. I want to be able to experience and live in other cultures. Every culture is so diverse. I love seeing how other cultures live, what they eat, how they dress, everything. I want to be able to live like a local all over the world.

11. There's no education like a global education! You learn SO much more about a country and it's culture by actually being in it rather than reading about it in a textbook. I believe in stepping out of the classroom and actually living the lesson.

12. I will be forced to rely on me, myself, and I.

13. Life is not about how much money you have in your bank account. I think experiences are worth so much more than a job that pays big bucks. Money doesn't buy happiness, love does!

14. I'm a people person. And people watching is one of my favorite hobbies. What better place to do it than around the world?!

15. And with that, I want to be able to meet and interact with as many people around the world as I can. I love hearing about people's lives and their stories.

16. I'm excited to only live on what I can fit in my backpack. Less is more right?

17. I want my dreams to become a reality. And my dream is to travel, to see this incredible planet we call home.

18. One day I want to be able to tell my kids about the world I saw. I want them to be able to dream and know that they literally have the world waiting for them to explore!

19. One of my favorite views is from thousands of feet above the ground. I love flying and am always amazed when seeing the world from above.There is a thrill like no other while soaring through the sky!

20. If I don't go now, I know I'll regret it later. I have had countless people tell me that not traveling is their biggest regret in life. That is something that I never want to say. Even if I get out there and absolutely hate it, at least I will be able to say I tried it. My dream is right in front of me, and it's time for me to make it a reality.

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed the reasons behind my future travels. I have some pretty cool news to announce soon! I can't wait to tell you guys about it! Hopefully I'll be able to announce it in this coming week or the next. I'm so excited for what is ahead! So many great things are happening!!

xx

And I Don't Really Care If Nobody Else Believes

This past August, I decided that I wanted to change the course of my life and travel the world solo for a year. The decision may have been made official in August, but my heart knew far in advance what it wanted. 

And, as with everything in life, many people had their different opinions about my plans. A lot of my friends and some of my family were super supportive in this. But some were not totally on board with it. My parents, for example, were quite against me traveling the world on my own when I first told them. It took a lot of convincing, and basically telling them that there was no way that I was not doing this, before they finally realized that this was going to happen. After that, I told them the logistics of my plan, why I wanted to go, and showed them the community of people who travel solo. And soon, they were just as excited for my trip as I was. Now my parents are fully supporting me and really encouraging me to follow my travel dreams. 

Unfortunately though, there are still some family and friends who have told me that I ought to re-think my world travel dream. So how does one deal with that and try to show them why this is so important to you?

Well, I'm currently trying to figure that out. I think I am going to try my best to open up their eyes; show them that, while this world does have a lot of hate and violence in it, it also still has a lot of love. That's one of the things that I want to show people. Yes, there are bad people in the world which we live, but not every soul is bad. I'm going to try to get my point across to all of the naysayers and make sure they know that I believe in myself and my journey. I understand that not everyone will get it, but I do want my family to believe in me and the path that I have chosen.

I guess I just don't understand why they think this won't be my best choice. I am choosing to do something that is not considered "normal" for a 20 year old girl, but that does not mean that it is the wrong path in life. Those who have had a negative opinion about my travels have even tried to tell me that I am just running away from life, or that I'm "lost". But the truth is that I'm running towards life and creating my own reality. Instead of living in the norm, I will be out exploring the world and taking in different cultures, experiences, and life lessons. What path could be better than that?

I'm going to gather up articles and blog posts from other solo female travelers and travel bloggers in general, and make a list for all of my non-believers to read (if they want to). And if they still think that all of this is not a reasonable thing after reading about other's journeys, hearing my reasons for following my heart, and realizing the world is not as terrible as they think, then I've done all that I can.

While I would love to have all of the support in the world, I went into this knowing that was not going to be the case. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and that is perfectly fine. 

In the end, this is my journey. I have done extensive research (for over a year now!) on travel and solo female travel, and all of the countries in which I'm planning to visit. I know what I am capable of. I have a good head on my shoulders. I have confidence in myself AND I DON'T REALLY CARE IF NOBODY ELSE BELIEVES. I know I can do this and my heart if fully in it. That's all that truly matters.

Has anyone else ever dealt with this? If so, how did you handle it?! Please let me know!

xx


THE LIST!!
Not all those who wander are lost - World of Wanderlust
The Solo Woman Traveler Manifesto - World of Wanderlust
Everything you need to know about solo travel - World of Wanderlust
Don't be afraid to walk alone - Lauren Marinigh
Why all women should travel solo - The Blonde Abroad
How to make friends while traveling solo - Adventurous Kate
Top 10 travel safety tips for women - Adventurous Kate
7 common travel myths that are wrong - Nomadic Matt
Women shouldn't be afraid to travel alone - A Wandering Sole (via Nomadic Matt)
Why I became a solo female traveler - Be My Travel Muse (via Nomadic Matt)

Travel Inspired Tattoos

*Photo credit to InstagramQuotes

I am personally a lover of tattoos. I have 2 of my own at the moment, but as we all know, once you get one, you want so many more. I think that they are one of the coolest ways to express yourself and your creativity. Sometimes they have deep meanings, and other times they really have no meaning at all. To me, that's the coolest thing about tattoos. I love looking at other people's tattoos and wondering if they have a meaning behind them.

Now a days, having tattoos is fairly common. This is especially true for us free spirits and seekers of adventure. So, for a little bit of inspiration (travel and tattoo), here are some of my favorite travel and adventure inspired tattoos!

1. The Compass

Pinterest

2. The Map

Choose Directions

3. The Plane

 

Pinterest

4. The Paper Plane (I'm actually planning on getting a paper plane tattoo on my right wrist in the near future :)

Tumblr

5. The Wanderlust

Follow Pics

6. The Birds (this is my actual tattoo!!!)

7. The Inspirational Word (Also my tattoo!!!)

8. The Skyline

Bonjour

These are just some of the travel inspired tattoos that I absolutely love. I could spend hours looking though travel tattoos. They inspire my wanderlust like nothing else!

Do you have any travel tattoos?! Or tattoos that inspire you?! Let me know in the comments!
Until next time!

xx

Weekend Getaway: Boston Highlights

This time last week, I was back on the East Coast enjoying the pouring rain and freezing weather. I was in America's walking city, The Hub; Boston, Massachusetts! I was there for the Women in Travel Summit and had an amazing time. This being my first time in Boston, I tried to do as much exploring as I could in my packed weekend. Also, the fact that Boston is such a compact city made this a lot easier for me. Just about everything is within walking distance.

So, without further ado, here are my weekend in Boston highlights!

Logan Airport

Now, you're probably thinking "why is she including an airport?", BUT I am a sucker for a cool airport location. Flying into Boston's Logan Airport, you first have to go out and fly over the Atlantic before landing. I love those types of landings. During those few minutes of flight over the ocean, you get a gorgeous view of all the small islands off of the Massachusetts coast. Great for people who love to take a million photos while flying.

Hostelling International USA, Boston

This weekend was my first time staying in a hostel. I was not expecting much at all, but HI Boston blew me away! It was one hell of a hostel! With free breakfast every morning, free wifi, a TV room, and loads of comfy places to hang out, it's the perfect place to chill out after a day or night of exploring the city. And the staff was really nice as well. But now I have to lower my expectations for all the other hostels I'll be staying at in the future! If you are ever in Boston, I very highly recommend staying at HI Boston.

Fire & Ice Restaurant

Located on Berkeley Street, this restaurant was a great place to start my weekend in Boston! My cousin came down from Maine to go to dinner and a movie with me and she took me here to eat. I loved the feel of the restaurant and the way that it functioned. You pick out all of the ingredients that you want (any kind of pasta, meat, vegetables, grains, anything you could think of!) for your dish, put them in a bowl, then pick out any kind of sauce or seasonings that you want, put them in a separate bowl, then give them to the cooks working in the big circle grill in the middle of the restaurant to cook up for you! And you could go back for as much food as you want. The food was delicious and so was the dessert! 

On Location Tours: Boston TV and Movie Sites

If you ever wanted to see the city of Boston and all of it's TV and movie history, On Location Tours is definitely for you. It is about a 3 hour bus tour that goes all around Boston to all of the sites of your favorite movies or TV series. The tour guides really know what they are talking about, and they take you to the famous L Street Tavern for some mid-tour drinks! Since I was only in Boston for a short amount of time, I felt like I got to see a good portion of the city because of this tour. They also host their tours in New York City! Visit http://onlocationtours.com/tour/boston-tv-movie/ to book your tour today!

Boston Common

I had one morning where I was free, so I decided to take a stroll through the snowy Boston Common. Boston Common is the oldest park in the country and is where the Freedom Trail starts (while I did not get a chance to actually walk the Freedom Trail, I heard it's great especially if you're a history fanatic). The park is beautiful and a lovely touch of greenery in the city. It was great to be able to explore the park on my own before spending the next two days in conference sessions.

Our Lady Of Victories Church

This church was one of the most beautiful churches I have ever been in. I went to mass here on Saturday evening and was in awe when I walked in. From the outside, the church doesn't look like much, it almost blends in with the other houses around it. But once you get inside it is amazing. Every little detail is unique and makes the church beautiful. This church is tucked away on Isabella Street and is definitely worth a visit.

Winsor Dim Sum Cafe

In the heart of Chinatown on Tyler Street, is some of (in my opinion) the best dim sum you can get in Boston! Oh, and it's super cheap too! Myself and 3 of my roommates went out to Winsor one night, ordered a bunch a food, and the bill all together was only $40 with tip. How incredible is that?! I highly recommend.

Trident Booksellers & Cafe

If you love food and books, this is the place for you. Trident is a book store inside a cafe. It was so nice to eat while being surrounded by thousands of books! While waiting for your table you can browse around for your favorite book upstairs and downstairs. If you ever get the chance to visit Trident, I recommend getting a freshly squeezed lemonade and the deluxe grilled cheese (yes, it is as good as it sounds). This book cafe is on the enchanting Newbury Street in the Back Bay area of Boston.

Picco Restaurant

A pizza place like no other! In the South End on Tremont Street, Picco has some of the best, most unique pizza I've ever had (and I'm a New Yorker!). If you want a pizza with a bunch of delicious toppings and a super crispy crust, go to Picco!!! They also have a large selection of beer and wine. Oh and they make their homemade ice cream right in the back of the restaurant! I found it was a super unique twist on normal pizza and ice cream. Next time I'm in Boston again I will definitely be back for some delicious food and dessert!

And there you have it! I loved the time that I spent in Boston, and these places and experiences just made it even better. If you have ever been to Boston, what are some of your favorite places to enjoy the city?!

How To: Kill It At Your First Travel Conference

 *Photo credit to sheswanderful.com

This past weekend, I attended my very first travel/blogging conference (woo!) in Boston, Massachusetts; Women in Travel Summit. Now before I start this how to, I would just like to thank Beth Santos and everyone else involved in the Women in Travel Summit. You all put together such a fun, inspirational experience for all of us there!

I've never been to a travel conference (or any conference for that matter), so I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into. Before I went, I was really concerned if I would get anything out of it and if the other women there would be way more traveled than I was.


As it turned out, I had absolutely nothing to worry about. As a new traveler/blogger, it was one of the most beneficial experiences of my life. I met so many new people, explored a gorgeous new city, and learned some extremely valuable tips and lessons. So, here's how to kill it at your first travel conference:

• Be open - this is probably the best way to get the most of your experience. If you are open to trying new things and listening to people's different opinions, you will leave your conference having learned more than you ever expected.
  
  
•  Make friends with your hostel (or hotel) roomies - for me, this one was especially easy because we were all in Boston for WITS. But even if you are not there for the same reason as your roommates, still make friends with them! You never know where a conversation can lead. Who knows, maybe they live in your favorite European city. If you befriend them, maybe you'll have a place to stay next time you're in their city! Also, shout out to Hostelling International Boston and to my roommates of the weekend for being so awesome!
  
  
• Talk to new people each day - At least one new person each day! It is so important to make connections at these events, especially if it is a travel event. Like I said before, you never know where a conversation can lead! Make as many friends as you can, and try to keep in touch with them after you go your separate ways.
  
  
• Go exploring - Especially if the conference is located in a city you've never been to! Take some time to go out on your own and explore the city you are in. Take their buses and trains, walk their streets, ask the locals where to eat. Just explore!
  
  
• Have confidence - "Confidence is key". Super cheesy, super right. Be confident in yourself and in your beliefs. Know that you are there for the same reason as all the other conference goers. They may be more traveled than you, or more experienced in the blogosphere, but they are there to learn just like you. So hold your head high and be proud!
  
  
• Ask questions - In school, my teachers used to say "There's no such thing as a stupid question". And in this situation, that saying holds true. Ask as many questions as you need to. You are there to learn and to grow. You won't look stupid, you'll look like you are serious and passionate about travel and your blog.
  
  
• Take notes - This is so important to do!!! Whether its taking physical notes, or taking pictures of presentations, you should leave the conference with as much material as you need so you can put it all to good use. Also, it is good to take notes to share with others! Sometimes there are more than one session going on at the same time and, to my knowledge, we can't be two places at once. So find a friend to exchange notes with!
  
  

• Tell people about yourself - It's your first travel conference? You're pretty new to the travel and blogging scene? You're quitting your job to travel the world for a year? Tell people these things! We're travelers. We're bloggers. We love a good story!
  
  

• Listen to other people's stories - Just as it is important to tell people your story, it is just as important to listen to others stories. I heard so many inspiring stories this weekend that have made me want to go to so many new places in the world.
  
  

• Have fun - Last, but not least, HAVE FUN!!! If you're going to a travel conference, you're probably going because you love to travel. So have fun while learning about what you love! You're surrounded by so many like-minded people. They understand your wanderlust. These are your people! Go out there and embrace every second of this experience.

I hope these tips were helpful! I will definitely be attending more travel conferences in the future. Especially WITS'16 in Irvine, California!! Thanks to all the amazing and inspiring women I met this weekend. You're all changing the world by doing what you love to do, and it is awesome.


Do you have any other tips on how to kill it at your first travel conference?! Let me know in the comments below :)


xx

Living With Less

The past 2 years, I have become quite a spender. As soon as I would get paid, it would be off to the mall or Sephora. I would end up blowing my whole pay check. And I would never be satisfied. I wanted the best of everything. I had the money, so I was going to spend it.

It was around June of 2014 that I realized how bad I had gotten. I would spend hundreds of dollars in Sephora, buying new makeup products at least once a week, when I already had a whole box full of products that I didn't need. Clothes were also a problem for me in the same way. I would just keep on buying and buying, never becoming satisfied with what I already had.

But being that I am going to be traveling the world for a year with only a backpack, I decided a few lifestyle changes were necessary.

I have decided to start living with less.

This past week, I spent all of my free time going through everything I own. I took all of my clothes of out my closet and drawers, collected a large pile of shoes from around my room, and took on the big box of makeup. I figured that I would start pretty slow and then do another clear out in about 3 months. After all, I'll only need a small amount of clothes come October!

In the past, I always had a problem whenever I tried to get rid of some of my stuff. I would be so attached to everything I owned. And in some ways, I still am. But this whole journey for me is a learning experience. I have learned a lot about letting go this year. Now, I'm not as mental about leaving my possessions behind.

Once I was finished going through all of my belongings, I had 4 fully packed garbage bags of clothes to donate, 5 pairs of shoes left in my closet, and only the makeup that I have recently been using daily.

The feeling I had once I was done, was freedom.

It was so freeing to not have to worry about all of that junk taking up space. I now felt like there wasn't material things holding me back as much anymore. Before I cleared my stuff out, I didn't even realized it was holding me back. Life suddenly became so much more simple, just by getting rid of unnecessary objects.

Just by donating half of my stuff, I already know that living with less is a lifestyle that I want. I cannot wait to go through the same process in another 3 months and free myself even further.

Don't let material things hold you back. Learn to set yourself free and come to see how life can be so much easier and simpler if you just let it be. I don't think I'll ever be able to go back to the way I was living. This clear out gave me so much hope for the future and my travels ahead...

xx

Anything Could Happen

Once upon a time, there was a young, 17 year old girl living in Staten Island, New York. This girl loved her home city and all of her family and friends that lived there with her. She wanted to spend the rest of her life in this city, surrounded by all of her loved ones. But this, was not to be the case at all.

The girl was about to be torn away from all of her family and friends, and her beautiful city. She was moving to Sugar Land, Texas with her parents, brother, and sister. It seemed as though her world was falling apart.

On July 5, 2012, the girl said her goodbyes to NYC and all of the people in it, hopped on a plane with her little sister, and flew to the far away land of Texas.

The first 2 months were the hardest for the girl. This place called Texas was like an entirely different world from what she had know back home. There were no buses to chase, no subways to ride, and nothing was of walking distance. Not only that, but she had no friends in this new home. The girl spent her first 2 months here crying herself to sleep. If only she knew how her life was about to change..

Before moving, the girl was quite close minded and would never stand up for herself or voice her opinion. All she wanted to do was blend in and follow the crowd. If she thought something was cool, but her friends did not, she would change her opinion to match theirs. The girl started to become miserable. She started fighting with her family all of the time and started doing terrible in school. But she was only doing it to herself. The girl had the power to change her life; she just didn't know it yet.

But after about 6 months of living in her new home of Sugar Land and being away from her old, toxic life, the girl started to realize how much of life she was missing out on. Since being away from all of her friends and family back home, she started to become very independent. She was learning that she did not need to follow a crowd, or change her opinions so that others would agree. She was becoming herself; who she was meant to be.

Dreams were being shattered, while new dreams were forming. The girl was making a life for herself all on her own. One day, she decided to make her new dream of traveling the world a reality.  Since opening herself up to a brilliant, new way of looking at life, the girl didn't want to waste on more second of her life not striving to be the happiest version of herself possible. And she knew that to be her happiest self, she had to follow her heart, and her dream. She was going to travel the world. Alone.

So, she told her family of her plan to quit her job and travel the world on her own. At first, they were not very comfortable with the girl traveling on her own. But the girl knew that she could handle this on her own. She wanted to do this on her own.

So, she started her journey of planning a year to herself. During her planning, she looked back on her New York self and realized that if she would have never left, she would not be chasing her dream and following her heart around the world. The girl probably would have stayed in New York for the rest of her life. She would have went to college (something that she realized she didn't have to do, so she never went), got a job, maybe would have got married, had kids, and played the game of life. If it wasn't for moving to Texas, her heart and mind would have never opened up. She would possibly still be that same girl she once was. Who knows where her life would have led her. All the girl knew at that moment was that she would not be as happy as she was now. Even though she had to leave her family and friends, she was still happy. At the time, that was exactly what the girl needed. She needed to be independent. On her own. Happier.

And so, while the girl still misses her family and friends, she could not be happier that she had no choice but to leave her home. If there is one lesson that the girl took away from the past 3 years of her life, it's this: sometimes the worst of situations seem like an absolute nightmare, but turn out to be the best thing to ever happen to you. Always have an open heart and mind. Never doubt yourself. You write your own story. Go live your adventure.

xx
"Look how far I have come without anyone holding my hand ... There's still so much to learn, so many dreams to earn, but even if I crash and burn ten times a day I think I'm here to stay, I'm gonna find my way"

Lessons Learned From NYC

*Photo credit to my cousin, and awesome photographer, Kacie Horstman. Check out her links!!!
Kacie's Twitter, Instagram, YouTube

The city that never sleeps, the melting pot, the Big Apple, the city so nice, they named it twice.

New York City.

Having been born and raised here, spending almost 18 years of my life here, this city will always be my first home and my first love. It's a place where you can find everything you ever wanted, eat some of the best food there is, and meet the most interesting people. Some people can thrive here, while others can't make it.

Living here, you get to be more exposed to the world then a lot of other places. You just never know what you may see when you step out of the door! So of course, I was bound to learn quite a few lessons from this superb city.

Here are 10 lessons I learned from New York City:

1. No matter where you go in the world, you will never, and I mean NEVER find better pizza. If you have ever had NY pizza, then you know exactly what I am talking about. Sorry Chicago, our pizza is the best! And me being from Staten Island, my favorite places to grab a slice are Denino's and Brother's! And in the summers, you go right across the street from Denino's to get some Ralph's Famous Italian Ices (aka where I worked my first job for 4 years (':)

2. Not all New Yorkers are mean and rude. Are we most of the time always in a rush to catch our bus or the subway? Yes, but that doesn't make us rude! The people of New York can be helpful and kind, just catch them at the right time, not when they are in a rush!

3. There is no need to own a car in NYC. I never had my license when I lived here. There is absolutely no need. If you need to get somewhere you can either walk there, take a bus, train, subway, The Ferry, or a taxi.  I really believe that if you live in any of the five boroughs of the city, having a car is a waste of your money! Take public transportation people!

4. Umbrellas are useless. Now, this one may not apply to everyone, maybe just me, really. Being that I took 2 buses to and from school everyday, rain was never my friend. And neither were umbrellas. For some reason, every time it rained and I wanted to use an umbrella, it would be terribly windy, therefore my umbrella would blow over and break. In my four high school years, I probably broke a good 20 umbrellas before giving up and just trying to find a tree to stand under near my bus stops. Thanks for all the times I was soaked all day in school, umbrellas. You taught me it's better to just dance in the rain.

5. There can be beauty found around every corner. In NY, there is so much art everywhere you look. Between the brilliant skyscrapers, the amazing street art, and the talented subway performers, creativity is all around you. This is the reason that so many people are inspired by this city. It shows us that anything is possible and life is full of beauty.

6. Stressing over traffic will not make it go away. I definitely learned this the hard way. The Staten Island Expressway used to make me so stressed out anytime I had to get on it because there is always so much traffic. Most of the time in New York, it does not matter the time of day, there will always be some kind of traffic. Whether it's trying to get over the Verrazano Bridge or trying to get onto a packed subway or bus, stressing out over it is not going to be any help to anyone. You'll eventually get where you need to be, so just chill out, listen to some music, and relax!

7. There is no other group of people in the world who love their city as much as New Yorkers do. Every New Yorker you meet will tell you that there is no place like their city, like home. I can say, first handed, that this is so true. Everyone dreams of one day either visiting NYC or living there. Being in this beautiful city, you soon begin to see that every person, no matter how different they may be, loves their city and will always stand strong with it.

8. There is so much diversity in our world. Living in this city, you get to see more diversity in a day then some people do in there whole lives. You get to be exposed to so many people on so many different walks of life and see how they are all just trying to get through the day. Some of the richest people walk down the same street as the poorest of the poor.

9. You have to work hard for the things you want. Living in New York is expensive. Yet so many people do it. For a lot of people living there, living in that city is a dream. And they are willing to work like crazy to achieve their dreams. Because if you are not working for what you want, you will drown in this city. No one is going to simply give you what you want. Thank God my parents raised my siblings and I like this, because I know quite a few people who were handed everything they wanted while growing up, and now expect that from the world, but are learning the hard way that you have to work for what you want!

10. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. This always seems to give me a boost of confidence. I lived in this city. I made it 18 years there. Leaving this city was one of the hardest things I had to do in my life. But I left knowing that I was prepared to take on the world because of the lessons this city taught me. Leaving NYC was hard, but it was a huge game changer for me. If I never left this city, I would have never realized that I don't want New York to be my only home. I want the world to be my home. And I have New York City to thank for that.

This city made me strong. It made me a dreamer. It made me a New Yorker for life. While I'm sure that I will leave my heart in many cities around the world, NYC will always, truly, have my heart. Thanks for being my home for 18 years. But also thanks for kicking me out and opening up my heart to the world. Until we meet again, New York!

*My old home in Staten Island*

xx

"A Budget Traveler's Bible"

Hello! I feel like it's been quite some time since I wrote a post. But here we are now!

On Friday, I went to this cute little bookshop in Houston to attend a book signing/talk for Matt Kepnes's (Nomadic Matt) book, "How To Travel The World On $50 A Day", and it was pretty awesome.

I've been a reader of Matt's for a few months now. Once I found his site, I literally spent weeks reading every post on there. Anything that I had questions about, or was concerned about when it came to traveling, was all in his posts. When I needed to decided which travel credit card to get, the first place I went was to Matt's post on credit cards. When I was trying to pick out a backpack to travel with, the post on how to pick a good one helped lead me to my perfect match.

Also, when I was very much doubting myself and considering not taking the year off to travel, because no one was supporting my decision, I emailed Matt and he very quickly responded and calmed my nerves. He probably doesn't know this, but he gave me that little push and boost of confidence to follow through with what my heart was set on, even if no one was supporting my decision at the time. (Now my family thinks that it is the best idea ever and are behind me 100%!)

So, as you could imagine, I was pretty excited to go to this book signing. I met some cool people there who are all on different travel journeys of their own. Some where very seasoned travelers, while others, were just about to start their journey, like me. Oh, and there was free wine!

Before signing everyone's books (there was quite a large turn out!), Matt gave about an hour talk on the book and just traveling in general, and then let us asks questions. I really enjoyed this, because it was much more personal. He told us some awesome stories about some of his early adventures as a traveler, and the mistakes that he has learned from. Hearing Matt's stories and knowing that he started out just as some of us have, made me really feel like I can do this.

Oh, and we also talked about our favorite places in New York to get pizza! No one can top NY's pizza! (And bagels, but that's another story..)

The whole event was great. I left there feeling more inspired and confident in my decision to travel then ever before. And when I got home that night, I nearly finished the book.

One of the praises for the book says "The bible for budget travellers.", from BBC Travel, and they could not have summed this book up any better. If you are trying to travel on a budget, whether it be for 2 weeks, or a year, this book is your go to for everything you need. It is broken down into 3 parts; Part One: Planning Your Trip, Part Two: On-The-Road Expenses, and Part Three: Breaking It Down By Region. And it also has appendix's for travel companies, a suggested packing list, and vaccinations. The book shows that even if you are not rich and don't have a lot of money, you can still travel! It all comes down to budgeting, saving, and learning how to find everything at a price you can afford, while still being comfortable.

All in all, this book is amazing. If you need tips or suggestions on almost anything while planning a trip, I highly recommend getting Matt's book AND reading his blog. It's pretty cool how someone can run a successful blog and write multiple books just by living out his dream.

To any traveler out there who hasn't read any of Matt's stuff, you're missing out on some of the most helpful tips you can get! Thanks for all the inspiration and help, Matt! See you on the road!

xx

Songs That Inspire!

I love listening to music whenever I travel anywhere. Whether it's in an airport, on a bus, walking, or stuck in traffic on my way home from work. Music can make things go from a boring drag to a fun concert in your head. 
Music is also something that inspires my wanderlust. So now I give to you, my top 17 songs that make me want to hop on a plane and travel! I highly recommend to give them a listen if you have the chance. (Note: some of these songs have absolutely nothing to do with travel, but a memory associated with travel.) 

1. 53 Steps - Rachel Platten
"I am 53 steps from my apartment, I've memorized the cracks that age the road. I couldn't quite grasp what my heart meant, but I think that it was telling me to go"  This song makes me want to drop everything and run away to travel forever. 

2. Nothing Ever Happens - Rachel Platten
"A ticket out sits on her shelf, but gathers dust upon itself. Cause chasing shots is for the brave, maybe soon she'll feel that way"   Rachel Platten's songs are the definition of inspiration. I just want to quote this whole song!! This is probably the song that most inspires me to go. Every line in the song speaks to me and my wanderlust. A dreamers song!

3. Ready To Run - One Direction
"This time I'm ready to run, escape from the city and follow the sun"   This song is about following your heart and your love to wherever it/they are in the world. For me, I see it as following my dream. Wherever it may be in this world!

4. I Lived - One Republic
"I owned every second that this world could give, I saw so many places, the things that I did, yeah worth every broken bone, I swear I lived"   This song reminds me of why I love to travel...to live! It's all about making sure life doesn't escape you.

5. 3x5 - John Mayer
"Didn't have a camera by my side this time, hoping I would see the world with both my eyes"  

6. Boom Clap - Charlie XCX
"Boom clap, the sound of my heart, the beat goes on and on and on and on and"   This song is in here because it plays in the scene of The Fault In Our Stars when Gus and Hazel first touch down in Amsterdam. So, it will always remind me of Amsterdam. And one day when I visit, this will be the song that I play as I arrive!

7. The City - The 1975
"Yeah you wanna find love then you know where the city is, the city is"

8. Daydreaming - Paramore
"Not that won't remember where I'm from, just don't want to be here no more ... It's not enough ... I'm gonna go ... Where the rest of the dreamers go"

9. Disconnected - 5 Seconds of Summer
"I admit I'm a bit of a victim in the world wide system too, but I found my sweet escape when I'm alone with you, turn down the static sound of the city that never sleeps, here in the moment on the dark side of the screen"   Just makes me wants to quit technology and run away!

10. Independence Day - 5 Seconds of Summer
"I'm not gonna waste my life away, this is my independence day"   \m/

11.  International Smile - Katy Perry
"That girl's a trip, a one way ticket, takes you miles high, so high, cause she's got that one international smile"   I mean, come one, it even has the word international in it! It's a must for any travel lovers (especially good for girls!).

12. Let Me In - Grouplove
"All this time been trippin' and slippin' around, you got me, now I'm swimmin', swimmin' in clouds"

13. Long Way Down - Tom Odell
"It's a long way down, you know it's a long way down, feels like a long way down, love it feels like a long way down"   This is going to sound extremely weird, but my favorite place to listen to this is actually on a plane. Cause, I mean, it really is a long way down!

14. Simple As This - Jake Bugg
"Oh, the answer, well who would have guessed, could be something as simple as this, something as simple as this"

15. Starlight - Taylor Swift
"Don't you see the starlight, starlight, don't you dream impossible things"   Another song for dreamers! This song always reminds me to chase my dreams, cause without our dreams, we sometimes lose sight of the important things in life.

16. Why Not - Hilary Duff
"You keep waiting where you are, for what you'll never know, let's just get in to your car and go, baby go, so why not, take a crazy chance, why not, do a crazy dance, if you lose a moment you might lose a lot, so why not, why not"   These lyrics just say it all.

17. Fight Song - Rachel Platten
"And I don't really care if nobody else believes, cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me"   Yes, another Rachel Platten song! I highly suggest listening to her music. She is one of my absolute favorites and deserves all the success in the world! And if you want to feel empowered or inspired, Fight Song is the song for you!!!

Well there you have it! I hope these inspire you as they inspire me!

xx