Of the moment // 3.9.18
One of the reasons why I blog is simply to have the space to write: getting things “on paper” helps me to process my feelings and organize my thoughts. I also love having a record of my life over the past few years: a place that holds all of my stories, my photos, the ups and downs of travel. But sometimes, I also just want to remember and share the little things that brought me day-to-day joy. Every Friday, I’ll give you a peek into the book I currently can’t put down, a great restaurant discovery, a fun new product or an inspiring quote: a few things that I think you might enjoy before we all take off into the glory that is the weekend!
In celebration of International Women’s Day yesterday, I was featured in this super fun Passion Passport piece of female travel storytellers. I kind of forgot what I had written for my answers until I reread this piece, but I was pleased with the advice I had come with on a whim: “Don’t be afraid to embrace your quirkiness: the strange and wonderful things that genuinely get you the most excited will be what set you apart from the rest of the crowd.” I still go through funks of comparison envy, especially when it feels like everyone else is getting bigger deals and crazy trips and encouraging people that OF COURSE you can get all of these wild perks if only you follow your dreams, etc etc. But I’ve found that much of my success has been not in trying to emulate what everyone else is doing, but being passionate about the things that actually get me genuinely excited, like reading and solo travel and encouraging other people to travel (but not necessarily quit their job). Anyway! Just a reminder to find the stuff you love, embrace it, and don’t feel weird about it if no one loves it quite as much as you do.
Looks
Just here for one more unsponsored plug for RTR Unlimited since it was a dream for my recent trip: it was so fun to have these super bright and colorful pieces for my trip! To be honest, neither of them fit well enough that I would have ever considered buying them: the blue and red dress was a little short, and the floral print maxi-dress was a bit bulky (especially in the chest area!). But they were still gorgeous pieces and a great way to spice up the vacation wardrobe!
Shows
If you’re not watching UnReal yet, you’re missing out! The third season came out a couple of weeks ago, and I am already totally sucked in. I watched the first and second seasons before I started watching The Bachelor, and now that I’ve somehow become part of Bachelor Nation, the show is even more interesting. Moral of the story: whether or not you’re addicted to reality TV, UnReal is totally compelling and worth watching.
Eats
Better Buzz is a fantastic San Diego coffee chain, and they just opened a gorgeous new location in Hillcrest! We’re currently trying to work out of a coffee shop one morning a week: as much as I love working from home (and think that David makes the best coffee in town), a change of scenery can help jog my creativity AND it gives us a reason to check out the many wonderful coffee shops around town. I’m obsessed with the design and great natural light at this one, and also love their signature “Best Drink Ever” made with creamy vanilla.
Reads
Although we did A LOT of exploring in Mexico City, I also took full advantage of that living room hammock to relax and get some reading done. First, I sped through Janesville: An American Story (just in time for my book club last night!) and actually found it SO interesting. It follows the town of Janesville, Wisconsin in the years after the 2007 recession: Janesville was a long-time home to a major automobile factory that closed, and it’s also Paul Ryan’s hometown. It follows a variety of families who were (hugely) affected by the closure of the plant, and it led to a really interesting discussion. Highly recommend. The Female Persuasion was a somewhat lighter read, but still hada lot of relevant discussions around feminism and female friendships.
Words
“Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there’s no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.” —Laini Taylor
This weekend, Jillian is coming to San Diego for our fourth annual girls weekend: I can’t wait to show her all of my favorite latte spots, and–of course–we’re going to frolic in the flower fields! We’re also staying at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, which is going to make it feel like such a true relaxing getaway!
