My stay in London was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Being surrounded by so much history, culture, and iconic places was so inspiring and rejuvenating. Also, having a flat to myself made the entire stay even more fun. Getting to cook my own meals every night and just have a week to take some time to relax was exactly what I needed.
Between running around London and seeing all of the magnificent sights, I managed to find myself in my happy place: Lush.
Now I'm usually excited to be in any Lush, but this Lush was even better because it was the Oxford Street Lush. Aka the biggest Lush in the world. Now, if you know me at all, you know that Lush is my weakness. I can go in there planning to get one item and come out with half the store in my basket. And of course, Oxford Street Lush was no exception at all. This is an absolute must go to for anyone who is a fan of Lush.
As soon as I walked in the door, there was a lovely employee there to greet me. He even let me clean my glasses off with a handkerchief that he had! It was pouring rain outside, so it was so wonderful to walk into the warm environment of Lush. When you walk into the store, it is like heaven on earth to a Lushie. It is a three floor store with every Lush product that you can imagine. There are even products exclusive to only the Oxford Street store. The bright colors of all the bath bombs, bubble bars, and soaps make it seem magical. Then add on the perfect scents of all of the new Christmas products, and you are taken away to the enchanting world of Lush instantly.
I wasn't in the store for even one minute when an employ came up to me and offered me a tour around the whole store. I of course said yes, and then we were on our way. The employee was called Lottie, and she was just so passionate about her job and the company as a whole. We started out on the lower level of the store, which was filled with an array of skin care products from fresh face masks, to moisturizers, to massage bars. Lottie even sat me down and tried out one of the massage bars (Therapy) on my arm. It was fantastic.
After we picked up a few things on the first floor (massage bar, solid perfume, and a fresh face mask), we moved on to the main ground floor. This was the floor that was filled with hair care products, makeup, and shower products. Also, every floor had gifts sets all around as well. The first thing we did on the second floor was go to the hair lab. The hair lab was a little section of the shop that allows the employees to try out hair care products on their customers. So of course I was up for that! Lottie washed my hair using the Jersey Bounce shampoo and then conditioned it using Jungle conditioner. While the conditioner was setting in, she even gave me a lovely scalp massage! After we rinsed the conditioner out, she used the hair moisturizer R&B, and then styled my hair for me. Afterwards, my hair felt absolutely amazing, so I had to pick up the products that she used.
Next, we went to the third floor, and this is where I just went crazy with the products. Bath bombs. So many bath bombs. And bubble bars. And bath melts.
There were so many bath bombs, melts, bubble bars, and fun that I have never even heard of before. It was like a Lushie's dream come true. I started out with the bath bombs, basically picking up every Christmas one they had. Then I picked up a few of the Oxford Street exclusive bath bombs as well. Next was bath melts. This store in particular had so many exclusive melts. So of course, I had to get some of those as well. They had melts like Cloak of Invisibility, Shark Infested Custard, and Monsieur Gustav. Bubble bars and soaps were last on the top floor. For soaps, I picked up one of the Christmas special ones called Snowcake. It is a shimmering marzipan-scented soap that just screams Christmas. Then some of the bubble bars that I got were Bar Humbug, The Magic of Christmas, Five Gold Rings, Flowering Tea, and Little Dragon.
Once I was done picking up WAY too many bath products, we moved back down to the main floor and went towards the makeup! On our way over to the makeup, Lottie and I stopped at the toothy tabs. Toothy tabs are little tablets that you use in replace of tooth paste. Theses are made mostly with essential oils and seed powder that help in cleansing your teeth. I've used toothy tabs before and loved them. The one that I picked up this time was called Bling!. Bling! is made with a refreshing Brazilian Orange Oil that makes the tab taste of orange and gives you a great fresh start to your day.
Once we finished with the toothy tabs, it was makeup time! Lottie was so kind and asked if I wanted her to do my makeup (free hair AND makeup treatments, yes please!!). First, she took my makeup off using the cleanser, Ultrabland. I really enjoyed this cleanser, as it made my skin feel super clean and still hydrated. Then she used the Breath of Fresh Air water toner on me before getting started with the makeup. For foundation, she used the shade Light Pink. It matched my skin perfectly! Then she used a blusher in a plum color, and the Eyes Right mascara in Black. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the products she used and ended up getting the mascara and foundation. The mascara didn't make my lashes feel dried out, and is now one of my favorites!
Lastly, we headed to check out. This was the scary part for me, as I had just spent WAY WAY WAY more money than I had intended, but I almost knew that was going to happen anyways! All in all, this Lush was absolutely PERFECT! The employees were wonderful and there was always someone there to help or answer any questions needed. Oh I cannot wait for the day that I can be back in this lovely Oxford Street Lush!!!
P.S. Not all of the products bought were for me. Actually about 5 were for me, the rest were sent away to friends and family :)
If you're ever in the stunning country of Norway, you'll probably find yourself in its capital at some point or another. Oslo is an ever-growing city with its own unique feel and style. A few weeks ago, I found myself settled in this city for a weekend. At first, I didn't think that a weekend would be enough time for me to explore this city at the extent that I wanted to, but I was wrong.
Seeing Oslo in a weekend is absolutely possible, and probably preferable.
Before I came to Oslo, I was told that it was not that impressive of a city, especially for a capital. I disagree.
I think this city is full of beauty and culture all around; all you have to do is look for it in the right places at the right times.
Now, Oslo is chock-full of historic museums, but I'm not going to talk about those museums here. Since I left home, I discovered that I'm not as big a fan of museums as I thought I was. No, this is how to explore Oslo in a weekend, just by roaming around and finding these amazing places while getting lost in the beauty of this city.
The city is full of beautiful parks (and I always look for a gorgeous park to spend some time in when I travel). One of the first things I recommend doing on you're weekend get away in Oslo is roaming around some of these parks. Whether its Sofienberg Park, Birkelunden, St. Hanshaugen, or just a random little park across the street from your flat, it is definitely worth your time to go explore at least one of these parks.
Another park that you can go to is the Palace Park. You can pass through this lovely park when you go see The Royal Palace. Not only are the palace and its surrounding park gorgeous, but you also get an amazing view of Oslo from the palace steps. Tours of the Royal Palace are available as well.
I'm someone who is quite impressed by towering old buildings and beautiful sea views. That's why I so enjoyed roaming around Akershus Fortress for hours. Between all of the history of the grounds and the view that you get of the Opera House and the harbor, this is a photographers dream place in Oslo. While at the fortress, you get to walk through the grounds and really get a feel for it. The fortress is right on the water, so you can just sit and marvel in it all while looking at the stunning view.Warning, the grounds can get a bit creepy if you're there at night.
The Vigeland Park is up next on the must see's of Oslo in a weekend. It is a sculpture park that displays the works of Gustav Vigeland. You will find yourself spending hours in the park, marveling over the creations of Vigeland. There is so much detail and precision in every sculpture. And with 212 sculptures located throughout the park, you'll see why it is so easy to lose track of time here. It is also quite a popular place for picnics.
And of course, while you're in Oslo, you have to eat. In my opinion, the best place to eat in Oslo was suggested to me by one of my friends from Tromsø. It is a burger joint called Illegal Burger and they have probably the best burger that I have ever tasted. They are loacted on Møllergata, but you have to pay very close attention to where the building is, as it has no sign or branding on it at all. But once you find it, you'll be very pleased.
Lastly, possibly my favorite place in Oslo, we have the Opera House. The Oslo Opera House building in itself is a sight. It is built so that you can actually walk up the building and onto the roof. Once you're on the roof, you are left with stunning views of the water and the city. I highly suggest getting to the Opera House roof right before sunset, so that as the sun goes down, you will have the best view in Oslo.
This is how I spent (and very much enjoyed) my weekend in Oslo. It was quite perfect for a budget traveler like myself. I hope if you get a chance to get away to Oslo for a weekend that you get to see all these beautiful sites of the capital as well!
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!
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!
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!
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!
Yesterday, it became 2 months until I leave for my year of travel. As I thought about how quickly 2 months go by, I started going through a checklist of everything I need/needed to do to prepare for my travels. Planning to travel long-term is exciting and extremely overwhelming. But if you have an idea of how to go about your planning, you'll be much less stressed out. So, I put together a checklist of everything important that will need to be done before leaving on a big trip.
Validate your passport
You're not going to get far without a valid passport! And if you don't have a passport yet, it is time to get one. Make sure that you have enough room in your passport for all of the stamps you'll be collecting.
Apply for needed visas
Not all countries will require a visa, but it is safer to just be prepared and search to see if the countries that you are visiting require one.
Go to the Doctors
It's important to make sure that you can medically handle this trip. This will also allow you to make sure you have all your vaccinations needed to enter certain countries. Schedule appointments with your dentist, eye doctor, general doctor, etc. to make sure you are all set to go.
Make copies of important documents
Passport, driver's license, visa, and anything else important. Make 2 copies of these; one to bring with you (and keep in a separate place from the originals) and one to leave at home with your parents or other family or friend that you trust. That way if you happen to lose the original, it will be a lot easier to get you a new copy.
Sell your stuff
This is a good way to get rid of all your extra belongings that you're not bringing along and a quick easy way to get yourself a bit more cash for your trip.
Re-direct your mail
If you can, re-directing your mail to your parents would be the easiest option. But for the most part, you should be able to re-direct any important mail to your email instead of getting a hard copy. This will make your life way easier.
Get travel insurance
This is so important. You never know when things will go wrong. And when they do go wrong (cause let's be real, they probably will) you want to be prepared for anything. Having travel insurance will help you get any medical attention that you need and help you get home in case of an emergency.
Get foreign currency
It is so much easier and way less expensive if you get the foreign currency at your bank before you leave rather than at the airport. Just have a small amount of currency with you when you land and you should be good.
Notify your bank of your travels
Let your bank know that you will be overseas for a long period of time. If you don't let them know, they may think that your account has been stolen, and they may freeze your account until you get in contact with them. This could definitely put a damper on your trip if you're trying to use your card and it freezes.
Notify your employer
This one, I have yet to do. And frankly, I am so nervous about this! You'll want to give your employer at least 2 weeks notice. If you are resigning from your position, I also suggest writing a letter of resignation. I'll let you know how this one goes for me.
And there you have it! I hope this checklist helps you as you plan for long-term travel! Also, I am (obviously) back from my blogging hiatus! It's been a few months without blogging, but as my trip gets closer, there's just so much more to blog!
