Kalapaki Beach, Kauai, Hawaii, Wanderlust Wednesday

Wanderlust Wednesday: Kauai, Hawaii

On April 27, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn US Travel, Wanderlust WednesdayLeave a comment

When I was ten years old, my family took a week-long trip to Maui. This trip stands out as one of my all-time favorites for a multitude of reasons. As a small-town Midwesterner, everything was so exotic and new to me on this gorgeous, vibrant island. The things that stick in my memory most are staying in a vacation rental on the ocean and hunting for geckos on the path to the beach, jumping off the top of a waterfall and hitting the water square on my ass (making sitting painful for days), doing the hula at a luau in a small, grass skirt, and taking a sailing cruise, spotting dolphins leaping through the clear blue waves. Of course I want to go back, this time to Kauai. I’m confident that the experience will be just as magical as the first time. The trip is not yet booked, but if it was, here’s how it would all shake out:

North Shore Off-Roading, Kauai, Hawaii, Wanderlust Wednesday — *Photo Courtesy of Kauai.com*

What I would see and do:

First of all, rent a car to explore the island as much as possible
HIKE! Kauai is rich with state parks like Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon
Sail out into the open sea
Attempt to surf at one of the many gorgeous beaches
Seek out all of the waterfalls, like Hanakapiai Falls and Wailua Falls

What and where I would eat:

Loco Moco – a local delicacy consisting of rice, a meat patty, egg and gravy
Tide Pools at the Grand Hyatt – a romantic, fine dining establishment
Gaylords which is located in an old mansion, and offers an amazing selection of seafood

Where I would stay:

Koa Kea Hotel and Resort because it looks exactly like all my Hawaiian fantasies.
Kauai Beach Resort for it’s budget-friendliness and the gorgeous beach next to it
Hanalei Colony Resort for it’s seclusion and ocean view rooms

Boat Tours, Kauai, Hawaii, Wanderlust Wednesday — *Photo Courtesy of Kauai.com*

When I would go:

Late Spring/Early Summer when airfare is cheaper and the weather is prime.

How I would get there:

Alaskan Air is actually the best option financially from Chicago, with the catch that there is a stopover in Seattle.

Helpful Kauai Blogs:

Alex in Wanderland – “Hiking Kauai’s Kalalau Trail”
Forget Someday – “7 Days in Paradise: Kauai”
Hula Land – “15 Things to Do in Kauai (that are completely perfect)“
Well Plated – “What to Eat, See, and Do in Paradise“

Have you ever been to Kauai, or any of the Hawaiian Islands? What did you think?

Grand Rapids Revisited, RebeccaWanderlusting

Grand Rapids, MI – Day 2

On April 23, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Michigan, US Travel1 Comment

Our second day in Grand Rapids started a little later than planned; we hit the breweries a little harder than expected the night before. As soon as we could drag ourselves out of bed, we packed up and checked out. Our first stop of the day was Cherie Inn for breakfast.
This adorable European Style restaurant is located right near Brewery Vivant in the East Hills Neighborhood. There was a bit of a wait for a table which we spent exploring the flower shop next door (New Design Floral) and scheming for the rest of the day. Once we were seated, we quickly ordered coffees to shake us out of our hangover fog. Mike ordered the chicken and chorizo omelet for breakfast and I got the biscuits and gravy which was hearty and delicious.
The Cherie Inn seemed to be an institution in Grand Rapids, and the crowd was a testament to its long standing status as the cozy breakfast nook of choice. From there we moved to the Eastown Neighborhood, parking down the street from Eastown Antiques. I don’t know if we were doing it wrong or what, but we never had to pay for street parking in Grand Rapids. It’s a good thing, but as a Chicagoan, I’m always a little bit suspicious of free parking. Eastown Antiques was amazing. It was a perfect mix of the messy treasure hunting and curated knickknacks from the day before.
I probably could have bought out the store if I had the resources too, but got a small globe and vintage bracelet instead. The employees were wonderful and it was an overall fantastic antiquing experience. We walked around the block a bit, stopping in The Mitten State (Michigan themed T’s and such) and Flashlight Alley (an interesting store of oddities). We wanted to try one of the famous Yesterdog’s, but were both still pretty full from breakfast, so we split the namesake dog. I have to say…. It was just alright. Maybe we’re just partial to the mustard slathered, topping covered hot dogs from home. Our last stop in Eastown was Argo’s Bookstore, a used book shop with a solid comic book collection and an endearing haphazard organizational system.
After we browsed through the books, we hit the road again and headed towards the Downtown Market. The market is housed in a huge, two story building. The first floor contained vendors, shops and restaurants and the second floor had a beautiful greenhouse, classrooms and a cooking demonstration room.
We wandered between the rows of vendors, admiring the beautiful baked goods, smelling the handmade candles and flower stands and trying to stop our mouths from watering over all the amazing-looking food. Being more thirsty than hungry, we stopped into Grand Traverse Distillery to take a peek at their small batch vodka and whiskey.

The cheerful bartender/shopkeeper explained the company and offered to make us a summery cocktail of cherry vodka and lemonade, which of course we couldn’t refuse (especially at only $5 a pop). The cocktail was so good and we had fun chatting with its creator, comparing rents in Chicago and Grand Rapids and discussing all of the breweries in the area. Once we had our fill of the Downtown Market, we headed to Vertigo Music to celebrate Record Store Day.
They had an excellent selection of new and used albums, as well as CD’s and DVDs. I appreciated the fact they decorated their store to celebrate the occasion. Soon we made our way to the intriguing shop next door: Woosah. I loved it immediately. It is a print shop that makes various clothing items, accessories and some paper goods.
I got a Woosah patch and a notebook and ensured that they had an online store (they do, it’s here) before we left. We made one last stop before heading home: Madcap Coffee; a hipster’s paradise with a minimalist menu and fantastic coffee. I had the Café Miel, which was an amazing blend of espresso, milk, honey and cinnamon.
We also got a bag of coffee to take home and enjoy. We made our way home from there, sipping our coffee and enjoying the afterglow of a great trip. Once we got there, we caught each other looking up apartments for rent in Grand Rapids. I don’t anticipate moving there any time soon, but it sure is a sweet dream.

Thanks for a beautiful weekend, Grand Rapids.

Have you ever been to Grand Rapids? What did you think? Where was your favorite spot?

Grand Rapids, MI – Day 1

On April 19, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Michigan, US Travel6 Comments

I don’t know if it’s because of the first reappearance of warm weather or all of the brewery visits, but I absolutely loved our time in Grand Rapids, MI. While it was a pretty short trip, we certainly made the most of our time there. We left early Saturday morning after stopping for coffee, and arrived in Grand Rapids around noon (because of the hour time difference). We started at the Frederik Meijer Sculpture Garden, where it seemed everyone else was starting as well.

There was a line to get in, a $14.50 entrance fee and another line to move through the butterfly sanctuary. BUT! Once we got outside into the sculpture garden proper, we were very happy. The walk through the park was really, truly lovely. The weather was perfect and the sculptures were spread throughout the park so there wasn’t so much of a crowd.

We waltzed through the sculptures and headed to the Japanese Garden to walk around the pond. It was beautiful and tranquil. The walk took us past multiple waterfalls, a gorgeous gazebo, a Japanese Tea House, and a life-size zen garden.

After we had taken it all in, we decided we deserved some lunch and headed to the Electric Cheetah. There was a twenty minute wait, which we spent out in the sunshine. Once we were seated, we perused their extensive root beer list and both chose the Brix Soda Co. The root beer gave us enough pep to devour our amazing “Hot Goat Blast” (goat cheese, cream cheese, veggies and naan) appetizer.

For the main course, I ordered the “I’m not your bro, bro” sandwich which was chicken, bacon, and provolone deliciousness, and Mike had a gigantic reuben sandwich. The Electric Cheetah was everything I wanted it to be: fun décor, delicious food, great service, and root beer to spare. After lunch, we walked down the block to The Sparrows coffee shop for a little more caffeine. The café was super cute inside and they have a bevy of unique periodicals and magazines. They also have an outdoor seating area that was perfect for days like the one we were enjoying.

From there we zipped over to the highly anticipated (to me, anyways) antique stores. As we approached the large warehouse across from the Amtrak Station, I thought perhaps our Google Maps had made a mistake. But no, this HUGE warehouse was just what we were looking for and was chock-full of antiques. I couldn’t wait to explore it. The warehouse was comprised of three different shops: Warehouse One, Lost + Found, and Century Antiques.

I loved exploring the zig-zagging booths of antiques, piled high in Warehouse One and Century, but I really loved the beautifully curated antiques and furniture at Lost + Found. Though rummaging the booths and treasure hunting are a few of my favorite things, there’s something to be said for a well laid out antique store.

Once I had my fill of heirlooms and trinkets, we headed to our hotel to check in. I know I said we were staying at the City Flats Hotel, but it turns out they had overbooked themselves and needed to bump our reservation. So Mike upgraded us to The JW Marriott Grand Rapids instead.

Our room was gorgeous. It had a huge fluffy bed, a city view and a prime shower. Needless to say, we were pretty happy with the change. After reading ourselves for a night on the town, we hit the road. We drove over to Brewery Vivant in the East Hills Neighborhood first. It is a beautiful brewery, with a great outdoor area and a regal dining room with stained glass windows.

We ordered the Vivant taster which included the Farm Hand, Triomphe, Big Red Coq, and Undertaker beers. We also got the marinated olives and the bone marrow to go with our beverages. It was my first time trying bone marrow and I hate to admit it, but it wasn’t for me. Mike liked it though. The beers, however, were all amazing. We bought a 4-pack of the Undertaker to bring home with us.

From there we parked back at the hotel and walked over to Founder’s Brewery. As it turned out, we were there the night of their annual Black Party, celebrating the success of their black beers (stouts, porters…). We bee-lined for the bar and ordered a couple ales (palm reader for me) and settled in to enjoy the live music.
The band, The Animal Years, was fantastic! In fact, they were so good, we are going to see them again on Thursday here in Chicago.

We stuck around until the end of their set and then headed to our next brewery: Grand Rapids Brewing Co. I ordered the Violet MacMillan, a cranberry beer that tasted like ale mixed with cranberry Sprite in a really delicious way. At this point in the night, we were ready for something cheesy, so we ordered a couple of small plates. We got the BBQ quesadilla and a chorizo pizza bread concoction that really hit the spot. The atmosphere of this brewery was more sports bar-like than the other two, but we enjoyed our time there and Mike was happy he could catch up with the hockey game on that night. Our last stop on our self-guided brewery tour was The BOB, a multilevel super bar situated in downtown Grand Rapids. We started in their brewery on the basement level where I tried the Blondie beer and discovered where my craft beer limit ends.

We made our way up to the rooftop that we spotted from the street, walking past what looked like some sort of rave and multiple bachelorette parties. The floor with the roof top terrace provided city views and a sliver of the Grand River. We sat and drank our beers and gushed over the beautiful city. More beer, 14 holes of Golden Tee and a truly awful cover band later, we headed back to the hotel to crash into our heavenly cloud of a bed.

To be continued…

Wanderlust, Travel Inspiring Books, Top Five Friday

Top Five Friday #11

On April 14, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Top Five Friday, Travel BooksLeave a comment

5 More Travel Inspiring Books

I’ve touched on this subject once before, but books and travel are two things that I happen to be very passionate about. I like to read about travel and read while I travel. I read for travel inspiration and sometimes for travel validation (as in, YES! That’s it! That’s why all my money goes towards plane tickets and hotels!). Whether the books are fiction or non-fiction, informative or not so informative, I’m happy if it is wanderlust-inducing. Here are five more travel inspiring books to inspire your next adventure:

“The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost” by Rachel Friedman: I read this book on the way to and during my Washington, D.C. trip. I loved it so much. Rachel Friedman writes in a way that makes you feel like she is sitting next to you, regaling her travel stories over wine. The book tells of her travels to Ireland, Australia, and South America. I loved the honesty she uses in her writing, it makes the whole story that much more relatable.
“Footloose American” by Brian Kevin: This book details the adventures of the author as he follows the same path Hunter S. Thompson traveled through South America. In traversing through Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, Mr. Kevin hopes to gain clarity and a new perspective on life in America. Though it seems a little too factual at times, the adventures and mishaps he comes upon make it a fun read.
“American Gods” by Neil Gaiman: “Why is a theological science fiction book on this list?” you might ask. But, if you’ve read it you know that this book dances around the continental United States, detailing roadside attractions and doling out suspense. It also deserves a place on this list because the author, a British man, traveled all over the U.S. by train and car to write this book with the knowledge he gained.
“On The Road” by Jack Kerouac: Is it cliché that “On The Road” is on this list? Maybe, but it would also be weird if it wasn’t. I read this book in San Francisco, which was pretty perfect considering that is where a lot of it takes place. While at times Mr. Kerouac’s writing can lean towards pretension, the story is well-written and entertaining. This book is a classic inspiration for travelers striking out on their own.
“The Paris Wife” by Paula McLain: I read this historical fiction novel on the beaches of Miami. It kept me so interested that I was sunburned by the time I was finished with it. “The Paris Wife” is the story of Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley, and their time together in Paris, France. The book is equal parts 1920s Paris glitz and wistful love story. It’s an intimate and interesting look, fiction or not, into Mr. Hemingway’s private life.

What are your favorite travel inspiring books? Where have they inspired you to travel?

Trip Planning: Grand Rapids

On April 11, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning2 Comments

This weekend, Mike and I will be making the three hour journey from Chicago, IL to Grand Rapids, MI for a little weekend getaway. It’s been a few weeks in the making with a couple of missteps but we are finally going! This budget trip is a much needed vacation, as you can tell, these past few weeks have been interesting to say the least. It will be a wonderful distraction to be able to explore a new city for a couple of days and relax in a different setting. We have both never been there, so I’m excited to see what Grand Rapids has in store for us. I am trying very hard not to over-plan, something that I am guilty of doing for a lot of trips, so we can explore the city at our leisure. Right now, our only plans are to sample beers at some local breweries (specifically Founders Brewery and Brewery Vivant), explore the Eastown neighborhood, take in the Frederik Meijer Gardens, and check out the many antique stores in the area. I love antique stores, so for me, the best part about driving there and back is that I can buy all of the antiques that our car can carry! I’ve read that Grand Rapids has a great culinary scene, so I’m sure we will have some delicious meals while we’re there. I am particularly looking forward to Electric Cheetah and Cherie Inn, both of which have rave reviews. We’re going to be staying at the City Flats Hotel, which is a very cute Boutique Hotel that happens to be close to a lot of things we want to check out. The weather will be a touch warmer than it is here in Chicago, so I can finally break out some of my warmer weather clothes! Here is what I’m packing for the 30-odd hours we will be there:

(1) pair of black pants
(1) t-shirt
(1) tank top
(1) skirt
(1) cardigan
(1) pair of pajamas
(2) pairs of socks
(2) pairs of undies
(1) bra
(1) scarf
(1) hat
Make-Up bag with the usual suspects
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Hair brush
Paul Mitchell Salt Spray

Because we are driving, we’ll also have a bag for the car with snacks and water and my current crotchet project. And let’s not forget the road trip playlist, here are the jams:

“Smooth Sailin'” by Leon Bridges
“Alive” by Sia
“Have Mercy” by Erin Allen Kane
“Walk Through Hell” by Say Anything
“Uptight (Everything is Alright)” by Stevie Wonder
“True Love Way” by Kings of Leon
“Hands to Myself” by Selena Gomez
“Latch” by Disclosure & Sam Smith
“Let it Go” by James Bay
“Cheated Hears” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
“Tracks of My Tears” by Aretha Franklin
“French Navy” by Camera Obscura
“Animal” by Neon Trees
“Lemon Eyes” by Meg Myers
“Cry to Me” by Solomon Burke
“***Flawless” by Beyoncé
“Here Comes Your Man” by Pixies
“Dancing on My Own” by Robyn
“Cupid” by Sam Cooke
“Now, Now” by St. Vincent
“A Decade Under the Influence” by Taking Back Sunday
“Blister in the Sun” by Violent Femmes
“Closer” by Tegan and Sarah
“Roll Up Your Sleeves” by Meg Mac
“Starlight” by Muse

It’s approximately an hour and half of music, which is precisely my allotted time before Mike will take control of the radio for the rest of the trip.

I am so excited to go on this weekend getaway, and I am extra happy to be able to travel with my favorite travel buddy again. See you soon, Grand Rapids!

Have you ever been to Grand Rapids? Any recommendations?

Movie Night In

On April 9, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips2 Comments

We can’t all travel all the time, unfortunately. However, luckily for us, movies provide an escape substitute in a pinch. Sometimes it’s nice to sit back, cuddle up on the couch and watch someone else’s travels (and maybe let them inspire your own adventures). If you couldn’t guess, my favorite kinds of movies are always adventure movies with a touch of romantic comedy thrown in for good measure. For our movie night in, we always require boozy beverages and popcorn, a big blanket and a exciting film. See below for our movie night popcorn recipe:

½ cup popcorn kernels
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp garlic salt
½ tsp cayenne pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

Pour oil and popcorn into a saucepan, set heat on high and cover
Have a paper grocery store bag ready for when it starts to pop
Once the kernels starts popping, pour the popcorn into the bag and return to heat, repeating the process until all of the kernels are popped
Melt the tbsp of butter in the same pot and drizzle melted butter over popcorn in bag
Add in seasonings and shake
Enjoy!

While I usually enjoy a glass or two of wine (Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, yum!), Mike tends to gravitate towards whiskey drinks. Here is one of his favorites: Whiskey Ginger:

1 oz Whiskey
3 oz Ginger Beer
Twist of Lime

As I said, we usually like to watch travel adventure movies. While there are a lot of really great ones, and maybe some that fit the genre better, here are some of my favorites:

Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark – This has been one of my favorite movies since I was a kid. Who can resist a young Harrison ford racing around the globe, fighting Nazis, getting the girl, and looking handsome? I certainly can’t. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is THE BEST action/adventure movie out there.
Favorite Scene: Any one where Marion is a badass, especially when she joins the fight in her own bar after drinking some dude under the table.
Romancing the Stone – I just recently saw this movie for the first time and I instantly loved it. It’s a classic 80’s rom-com meets adventure movie. Set in Columbia, this movie features a young Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas, who star as an unlikely couple that need to fight their way through the jungle together. It’s a little bit cheesy but very fun.
Favorite Scene: When the two main characters meet amongst the bus crash that lands our leading lady in the middle of the Columbian jungle.
Only You – This is one of my all-time favorite movies. Marissa Tomei jets off to Italy to meet her so-called soul mate and winds up in a full tour of the country trying to find him. Bonnie Hunt joins her and adds to the female-driven adventure. The 1990’s kitsch + Robert Downey Jr. + all that beautiful Italian scenery makes for a winning combination.
Favorite Scene: When Bonnie and Marissa get lost and run out of gas, leaving them to split a bottle of wine and some honest conversation in Tuscany.
James Bond: Spectre – All of the James Bond movies involve travel and plenty of adventure, but Spectre has such an abundance of beautiful scenery that I couldn’t NOT include it here. It’s filmed in Morocco, Mexico, Rome, Austria and of course England; what’s not to like? It doesn’t hurt that Daniel Craig is such a fox.
Favorite Scene: The opening scene during Day of the Dead in Mexico, so beautiful!
The Darjeeling Limited: I love most of Wes Anderson movies for their whimsical story lines and gorgeous color palates. I especially love this one because it speaks to my wanderlust and shows India for the beautiful country that it is. I love the idea of traveling by train, but have yet to try it out. For now I’ll have to watch Darjeeling Limited and dream about bar cars and train beds.
Favorite Scene: The one where everything was colorful and beautiful and I loved the main characters…oh wait, that’s the whole movie.

What are your favorite movie night refreshments? What’s your go-to adventure movie?

Williams Bay, Wisconsin, Lake Geneva, Day Trip

Day Trip: Lake Geneva

On April 4, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn US Travel, WisconsinLeave a comment

Lake Geneva, WI is the perfect place for a day trip or weekend escape. Whether you’re coming from Chicago (one and half hour drive), Milwaukee (less than an hour drive) or anywhere in between, this little city will charm you.

I took the train the train from Chicago to Fox Lake (the end of the line for the Milwaukee District North Line Train) where my parents picked me up. My family and I have been visiting Lake Geneva since I was really young, and it’s a special place to us. My parents met at The Riviera (which used to house a bar called Top Deck), my sister got married at Horticultural Hall, and we used to drive up every summer to enjoy the lake on our boat. So, when I asked if they wanted to meet there for the day, of course they were all in.

My parents and I first drove to William’s Bay to take in the view. We stopped into Daddy Maxwell’s for coffee to go, which I would not recommend doing. However, I would recommend sitting down for breakfast there though! The food looked delicious and the restaurant was quirky and fun with a round dining room. We walked up the pier in Williams Bay; it was a quick stop due to it being very windy. The view was gorgeous though, the sun was shining, the lake and sky were both blue as could be. From there, we drove into Lake Geneva proper, and parked by The Riviera, which was just opening up for the season. It was exactly how I remembered it, with the kitschy souvenir stores, the Italian ice, the candy store, and the smell of fresh popcorn wafting down the length of the building. I can remember being in love with the candy store and their wall lined with containers of delicious treats.

I bought some salt water taffy for old times’ sake. My sister, brother-in-law, and beautiful baby niece met us at Popeye’s for lunch. No, not Popeye’s the fast food fried chicken chain – Popeye’s on Lake Geneva; home of delicious house-roasted rotisserie chicken and the best burgers in Wisconsin. It’s a nautical-themed restaurant with good fish fry and a selection of local beers (including New Glarus Spotted Cow, my favorite). I split a cheeseburger with my mom and it was so delicious. They put Merk’s spead cheese on it, which is life-changingly good.

After lunch, we shopped on Main Street a bit, popping into the cute boutiques and outdoors-y stores. We stopped into Geneva Jake’s and Clear Water in search of a Lake Geneva shirt for the baby. After shopping for a bit, we walked over to Horticultural Hall, which is the beautiful wedding venue on Broad Street where my sister and her husband got married. It had a pretty little garden outside that was blooming with these tiny purple flowers (Glory of the Snow). We were there to visit the brick with their names and wedding date etched on it within the path to the hall’s front door. It was displayed prominently in the center, close to the door. Once we found it, they drove back to my parent’s house, it was a little too cold for the babe.

From there, I dragged my parents back to Main Street to check out a couple of stores we didn’t get to before. This included two adorable boutiques with pretty jewelry and cute clothes (Edie Boutique and Blooming Byrds) and The Lake Geneva Antiques and Art Bazaar. It’s no secret I love to browse through thrift stores, so they let me peek around until I was satisfied. The dual level antique store was fun to browse through, but we left empty handed. We crossed the street to Kilwin’s Confectionary for a couple of scoops of ice cream. This place has all sorts of goodies, ranging from homemade caramel to chocolate covered fruits to ice cream. I had Lake Geneva Mud, which was delicious.

We finished our little day trip with a walk along the Lake Path, which goes all the way around Lake Geneva, 21 miles in total. The houses along the lake are huge and gorgeous and gave me some major life goals. My favorite is the Stone Manor, which used to be many things (a private residence, a girl’s school, a restaurant…), but is now a set of six luxury condos. It was a relaxing walk with a fantastic view of the lake; if you’re planning on making the trip out to Lake Geneva, definitely include the Lake Path in your plans.

There are many ways to enjoy a Sunday, but being on Lake Geneva has to be one of my favorites. I’m so happy we were able to visit the beautiful town that holds so many good memories for us. A big thank you to my family for coming with me! See you soon, Lake Geneva!

Have you ever been to Lake Geneva? What did you think? Do you have a favorite day trip spot?

Salt Lake City, Utah, Work Passion Project Balance, RebeccaWanderlusting

Balancing Work & Passion Projects

On March 30, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Travel Writing1 Comment

I absolutely love writing this blog. It’s a passion project that I devote a lot of my time to. That being said, it can sometimes be a source of frustration. I work full time at a hotel, so when I am not at my job that pays the bills, I’m usually home working on rebeccawanderlusting.com. This results in a lot of late nights and weekends staring at my computer and scribbling notes in one of my thousands of notebooks (am I the only one who hoards notebooks like they’re an endangered item?). I don’t mind working hard in my free time, because I’m hoping that someday this blog will be my only job. But for now, I’m constantly striving to find a balance between my work work and my creative work. This is especially prevalent this week, as I’ve had to come to work while my some-what broken website waits for me at home. As I am approaching the year anniversary of my blog being a serious project, keeping a balance is more important than ever. So, without further ado, here are my best tips for balancing your passion projects with your full-time job:

Compartmentalize: Don’t let your job stress seep into your blog time and vice-versa. I won’t lie, there have been a few times when I’ve done something blog related at work, but it’s always rushed and never productive. It might seem like a good idea. but the quality of your creative work will be better when you’re not rushing to hide it any time your boss walks by. Keep each thing separate and be present in whichever job you’re at.
Keep Notebooks at Your Desk: Not to do full on projects in, but to jot ideas in. If inspiration strikes while you’re at work, make a note so you can come back to it later. Whether it’s a blog idea, to-do list, or photo shoot inspiration, write it down so you don’t forget. I have one notebook that travels with me to and from work that is solely for ideas and things. This keeps everything in one place and makes it easy to return to your good ideas.
Create a Creative Schedule: Make your life a little easier and create a schedule or editorial calendar to keep yourself on track. In fact, take it one step further and work AHEAD. This way you aren’t rushing last minute to finish a project or publish a post. That can be pretty stressful, and you wouldn’t want that stress to bleed into your full-time job and affect that too.
Stick to Your To-Dos: I have such a bad habit of making my to-do list a mile long. This makes it very hard to stay on task, as I’m always stressing about the next thing I have to do. What I’m now learning to do is to keep my to-do list short and sweet, prioritizing things that absolutely need to get done first. Make your tasks realistic and attainable, your future self will thank you.
Have Semi-Working Lunches: Carve out five or ten minutes of your lunch time to check your emails and update your social media accounts if you need to. Don’t use up your whole lunch, but do enough to satiate your need to work on your creative projects. I have thirty minutes for lunch, so I tend to check emails and Instagram in the last ten minutes, after I’ve finished eating.

So far, there have been tearful nights when I just want to give up and go to bed, stressful days where both jobs seem like too much, and creative lulls. BUT, I wouldn’t trade this in for a million boring, relaxing, work-less nights. I love being able to write this blog and I bet you love working on your creative projects too. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here in the first place, now would we?

How do you balance your full-time jobs and your creative projects? What do you find works the best?

The Perks of Solo Travel

On March 29, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn solo travel, Travel Tips, Trip Planning4 Comments

I don’t always travel by myself, but when I do, I revel in the untainted freedom of it. There is a certain beauty to exploring a new city on your own. It’s not that I don’t love traveling with my friends or with my boyfriend, but there is a special place in my heart for travelling alone. One could argue that seeing a new destination is best when you have someone to share it with, but I feel like sometimes I appreciate it more when I discover new places on my own. It’s so gratifying to successfully navigate an unfamiliar destination without relying on anyone but yourself. I’ve done it well and I’ve done it not so successfully, but there is no doubt that I will keep travelling solo as long as it’s an option. Below are my favorite perks of solo travel:

Being in Control of Your Own Schedule: Your time is 100% your own and you can fill it with whatever you want. There is no need to compromise what you want to accomplish because it’s your trip. If you want to lay on the beach all day and read trashy romance novels, you can do that. If you want to eat at the same restaurant for breakfast lunch and dinner, you can do that too. Your trip, your decisions, whatever makes you happy is what you can and should do.
Meeting Amazing People: It’s always easier to meet new people when you’re by yourself than with a group; maybe because you seem more approachable or maybe because you’re more open to your surroundings when you are alone. Whenever I travel alone, I meet the kindest people who are always ready and willing to help with directions, give restaurant suggestions or chat for a while about the city we’re in, or anything at all.
Never Being Bored: I think my biggest pet peeve about telling people I’ll be traveling alone is when they ask, “Won’t you be bored? What are you even going to do there?” The answer to this annoying question: I’m going to discover a place that is completely new to me, I’m going to try exciting new foods, I’m going to get a feel for the culture and the people. I will be so busy enjoying these new experiences that I won’t even think about boredom. How could anyone be bored on vacation, alone or otherwise?
Gaining Confidence: When I took a solo road trip to Asheville, NC, I was testing a lot of personal limits. I’m not a super comfortable driver, but I made it there without incident AND once there, I drove up and down mountains. MOUNTAINS. This was a very large step outside my comfort zone, however it is kind of necessary to force yourself out of your comfort zone when you travel alone. There won’t be anyone else there to do the uncomfortable things for you. You have to count on yourself for the whole trip, but then again, that’s how you find out what you’re made of.
Never Waiting Around: How many times have you tried to plan a trip, but couldn’t find anyone with the time or funds to go with you? If you travel alone, you only have your own schedule and budgeting to worry about. This makes choosing when and where you’re going a whole lot simpler. There’s also the plus of not having to compromise where you want to go with your would have been travel companions.
Learning a thing or two: Traveling alone is a wonderfully eye opening experience. You’ll learn to be comfortable on your own, and that’s a solid life skill. You will also learn how to consistently budget, the value of a back-up plan, how many pairs of shoes is too many pairs to pack, and, not to mention, how amazingly helpful Google Maps is. If nothing else, you will come back with the knowledge that this is something you can do. You can travel alone, enjoy a new place and enjoy yourself in the process.

Traveling solo is really an amazing and invaluable experience that everyone should try, more than once if possible. Yes, it may change you, but only in the best of ways.

Here are the solo trips I’ve taken lately: Asheville, Miami, Washington, D.C.

Have you travelled solo before? Where did you go? What did you like best about traveling alone?

Travel, Change of plans, RebeccaWanderlusting

When Plans Fall Through

On March 29, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning5 Comments

Sometimes, no matter how meticulously you plan, travel plans fall through. Maybe something unavoidable came up, forcing you to cancel, maybe you’ve found that you’re in a little over your head financially and need to dial it back, or maybe you just lost interest in that particular destination. Whatever the case may be, it’s okay to change plans. It happens. Heck, it’s happened twice to me in the past month. I’ve rearranged travel plans to better fit my budget, and I’ve done the opposite and splurged on a trip I will need to save up some more money for. They actually go hand in hand, really.

Back in December, Mike gave me a trip to Toronto for my birthday. Over the past three months, this thoughtful gift turned into a little bit of stress for both of us. First it was because we had to keep changing the date due to work conflicts (my fault), then we couldn’t decide whether we should drive or fly there; these little things kept nagging at us. Plus it was starting to get more and more pricey. It just wasn’t coming together. It felt like a sign that this trip just wasn’t meant to be, so we cancelled it. We still wanted to have a long weekend though, because we both had already taken the days off of work. We needed somewhere closer, cheaper, and with enough points of interest to keep us busy, but not enough to overwhelm our short time there. Enter: Grand Rapids, Michigan, home of Founder’s Brewery, Frederick Meijer Gardens, good food and antique stores galore! You might think, “that is the most random place for a romantic weekend getaway,” but it fit the bill perfectly for us. And to be honest, I’m actually a little more excited with this change because it came together so seamlessly. The fact that it will be a cheaper long weekend is a big plus for me due to my second change of travel plans this month. I’ve scrapped a budget friendly trip for the fall to splurge on a eurotrip to Iceland and Copenhagen (more on that later).

So the moral of this story is, someday, a trip that maybe you had been looking forward to will fall through, but that does not mean an equally great if not better situation might come up. The great thing about travel is anywhere you go is bound to have at least one great attraction, restaurant, book store, or whatever interests you. Every destination has it’s merits.

Has this ever happened to you? How did you overcome cancelling your plans?