Jenn's Travelogue Blog

Cozying Up

2012-02-12T21:39:00.000-06:00

On the eve of what is rumored to be our first snowstorm of the winter, I was thinking of all the places I like to be when it's cold outside. I am hoping for a work from home day with Brian tomorrow, especially good because he'll spoil me with a really good hazelnut latte. I also love a cozy spot to eat a delicious meal. Here are a few of my favorites:

A few weeks ago we discovered Julian, a cute American bistro in Brookside. I had the seared trout on fluffy acorn squash and the chocolate ganache with stout caramel. They were both delicious but the best part of my meal was definitely my drink, Horchata Nut. If you're in the neighborhood, it's totally worth it just for one of those.

Another cozy place that I love is Pot Pie in Westport. It's great for a romantic meal (in case you are still looking for a place to celebrate Valentine's Day in the near future) and sometimes you can even catch some live music with a delicious meal. Known for it's Pot Pie (shocking, I know), they also have many other wonderful dishes on their ever changing, blackboard menu.

Although I'll admit that I like the Parkville location best, Piropos is wonderful either way. From the Argentinean food and wine to the fireplace and the live piano music, this is a great place to have a winter special occasion. Their attention to detail on everything down to the importing of Argentinean butter, leaves you feeling like you may have just left the country, which in my world is a wonderful thing. Thanks for checking in and I hope you stay warm!

Fun in Freeport

2012-02-06T08:39:00.001-06:00

Being home for a long weekend gives me about enough time to see some people I need to, rest a little and get out to see one favorite place. This trip my parents and I went up to Freeport for some fresh air and some window shopping. Freeport, the home of L.L.Bean and many good outlet stores (ie. not like the outlet malls off of highways), has also added many new restaurants and local shops that I hadn't seen. A couple of my new and old favorites were:

I hadn't heard of this bakery before, but we visited one of Wicked Whoopies cafes and had a whoopie pie, which, as you may know from my last trip to Maine, is a must. Also, you can order them online and have them delivered - maybe even for Valentine's Day if you're looking for a treat!

Tempting as it was, I did not eat the giant whoopie pie I was holding above. I went for the smaller, mint one pictured here.

This shop, sea bags, sells different styles of bags made out of recycled boat sails. The result is beautiful and durable bags ranging from yoga mat bags to laptop cases. They were out of iPad2 cases but I sent them an email to see if I could snag one.

Finally, no trip to Freeport is ever complete without a pint at Gritty McDuff's. I started out liking it because of the name, but the beer won me over. Yum!

Back in Maine

2012-02-04T11:52:00.002-06:00

Maine in the winter, to many people, may sound like a bad time to visit. Snow on the ground, cold air blowing, streets frozen, etc. However, if winter is going to be cold, you might as well be in a place that understands how to cope with the shorter days of the year. I came up for a variety of reasons this weekend and on my first day experienced a few:

Our first stop after the airport was for lunch at Anjon's (next to a marsh, which was frozen over). Two lobster rolls for $10, what a deal! And as you might remember from this post, these are the correct version of lobster rolls, as well.

My mom and I visited Soakology a couple of years ago and I have wanted to go back ever since. This trip, we made appointments for my first day of the trip in order to help me relax for the weekend. We had the "Maine Woodsman Remedy" which was a foot soak with reflexology. I'm not sure what it had to do with men in the woods, but it was wicked nice.

Right around the corner from Soakology is Foley's Irish bakery where Brian and I had gotten our wedding cake, 10+ years ago. I was so excited when I saw it, because it had closed and re-opened just recently. I wanted to buy the top of a wedding cake to recreate the one that we'd had to eat only two weeks after our wedding (instead of the requisite one-year anniversary) due to our cross-country move to California following the wedding. I'm not sure I could fit it in my bag though, so I ate a brownie instead.

Out of Reach

2012-01-30T08:13:00.000-06:00

I remember when I first starting flying and tracking my own frequent flier miles. I remember thinking that if I could only get to 15,000 miles, I could go anywhere in the continental U.S. for free. As I flew more and edged closer to that once elusive number, the minimum number of miles went up to 20,000 and then 25,000. And now, even if you have enough miles, you-are-never-going-to-find-a-seat-with-those-miles. I mean, sure, someone gets the seat on the plane but it's probably not going to be you, unless you want to stay in whatever place you are flying to for free for three weeks or just need to get there and stay there forever - lovely one-way ticket dreams.

It's not a surprise that the whole system is rigged toward those with the luxury (or the corporate credit card) of booking flights on the same airline all the time. Since I go with whatever is cheapest, I have nine frequent flier accounts. The only "good" thing about it is when one of my trusty airlines gets purchased by another one and WHAM!, my miles get added together. I know it's not really the point to earn free flights, but it sure is fun and the sense of accomplishment you get isn't bad either. What is bad, is the nightmare you then have trying to book your reward ticket. However, if you fly Southwest, the trips add up pretty quickly and the tickets are super easy to book. Let's just not get started on expiration dates...

Thanks for stopping by!

Haiti Highlight

2012-01-24T16:54:00.002-06:00

Now that I have had a few days to think about my trip to Haiti, I think my favorite moment was when a group of orphans organized a room full of bottles. The bottles will be used by the community to store the purified water they purchase from the new kiosk at the orphanage (from the filtration system that was being installed). Besides being cute, they gave me hope for Haiti and showed how small people can make a big difference. The group I was with started the process and these kids quickly took over, which was awesome!

The orphans in action!

Haiti Reflected

2012-01-20T20:54:00.000-06:00

For people who wonder what I was doing and why, here is the story in pictures:

Many children in Haiti are living in the care of orphanages. They, like everyone else in the world, deserve to have a chance at a bright future.

In order to have a bright future, people need basic things like food, education and access to clean water. The groundwater situation in Haiti, and many other places in the world, is very poor. The water coming from wells is full of bacteria (much of which comes from a lack of toilets) and dissolved/undissolved solids, like salts and heavy metals. Some people collect rainwater (or in this case, runoff water) for drinking.

Another option for water, is a filtration system that will take out the bacteria and some of the solids. This system was like the one that we were installing at one of the orphanages. There was a solar powered element to this system as well, which operated the filtration and, in some cases, the well pump.

Once the filtration system is installed, the orphanages can use their excess clean water as a way to generate revenue to maintain the water system, take care of the orphans and share clean water with the rest of the community.

In all, it was a very interesting solution to consider and see in action. The orphanages are very excited about getting clean water for their kids and the kids are learning about why untreated water makes them feel sick. We taught some basic hygiene classes to the kids and had a celebration with them when the filtration system was finally working properly. I look forward to learning about more solutions to the water crisis in the future. Thanks for checking in!

Culture Shock

2012-01-18T20:39:00.000-06:00

I've been home for about 20 hours. In that time I have whirled myself back into the motions of my "normal" life quickly - laundry, shower, sleep, eat, drive, work, eat, work, drive, pay bills, etc. However, I am also feeling some additional layer to all of this - almost like I am going through these things physically but also watching myself go through them at the same time. Maybe that makes no sense, but I feel like I am adding some perspective to the whole experience of travel, besides just going somewhere, seeing things and continuing along my merry way.

This isn't the first time I have felt this way, but maybe it's the first time I thought about it in a way that I could articulate. It's that feeling of being in one place that looks, smells and lives one way and then going to a completely opposite place in the span of 10 hours or so. Even walking into my house gave me a reality shiver (I also actually shivered since I was going from 90+ degrees in Haiti to 17 degrees in Kansas City). Driving my car after a week, selecting a sandwich at a restaurant, knowing it was safe to drink out of the tap, etc. got me thinking more about how to take a trip with you in more than just your memories.

I gave myself a break on this trip and didn't keep a journal. I usually keep a rigid, task-oriented journal when I am away in the hopes of being able to relive the trip over and over again in the future. It wasn't that I didn't want to capture this trip, it was more of an experiment, and an effort to give myself a break. I liked it. It was easier to think my own thoughts without agonizing over whether I would sound whiny or silly in decades to come as I referred back to my journal entries. I had more time to think of things outside of what was at hand. I even had times when I thought about nothing.

It's different being back home, but I think it's getting easier to take people and experiences with me in a way that is more than trivial. I know it will take me more practice to really grasp and live out that whole "world citizen" concept, but I'm getting there. Thanks for checking in!

I'll be posting more photos soon, but here is one that I liked and wanted to share. These girls were part of the group I referenced in my last blog post.

One Day More

2012-01-16T14:35:00.001-06:00

Today we spent the day in Port-au-Prince visiting orphanages, churches and schools that either have working water systems or want one. One of the orphanages had a large group of girls who had been rescued from a human trafficking ring. Despite being through a lot, they were trusting of us and desperate for hugs. It was heart-breaking to think about what they had been through. They sang songs and played games with us. I was grateful to the orphanage for being there.

In other news, the weather here has been beautiful. We drove by the remnants of the Presidential Palace and got to see a lot more of the earthquake damage. My friend that I came down here with is finally feeling better after being sick for three days. It was interesting to experience Haitian health care after reading a book about global health care while I was here for a policy class I have next semester. We are leaving tomorrow morning but we won't be home until late. Looking forward to sharing photos with you soon!

From Haiti

2012-01-14T15:50:00.000-06:00

Just a short update from Haiti to say we're doing fine. It's been an interesting trip so far and I will have plenty of stories and photos to share when I get home. While we were here, the two-year anniversary of the earthquake took place. Although we haven't been in Port-au-Prince much, it was easy to see that the aftermath is still widespread, with 2 million people still displaced and the economy struggling. Hope you are all well and I hope to have more updates soon!

2012-01-10T15:20:00.001-06:00

Landed in Haiti! Let the heat begin! Spending the night in Port-au-Prince, heading up to Santillus in the morning.

Additions

2012-01-08T13:04:00.002-06:00

As I have been preparing for my trip to Haiti (the day after tomorrow!) I have come across a couple of new things that I am excited to try out in the field. Several of them were already featured in my 'Wish List' post (you can read about my new silk sleep sack, my super lightweight shoes and the wi fi SD card there if you want), thank you elves for those. Here is what is going:

I am not sure these were on my mind because I read that they were good or bad, but I thought I would give them a go. I got one of each flavor in case one seems better than another. They have Omega fatty acids, are low in sugar and are lightweight, so they made the bag.

Because we are limited to carry-on bags, I needed some help with limiting my liquids. Since I need bug-spray and sunscreen, I decided to try some solid shampoo. I am bringing a hat too, just in case that was a bad idea.

It's been my experience that some places lack adequate trash options and, short of littering, I have thought about packing plastic bags to carry trash until I find a place to dispose properly of things. I figured there must be a biodegradable option out there and found these 3 gallon bags which should be perfect. I can take a few with me and have lots left over for my next adventure.

Finally, my last new thing I am taking is the first season of Pan Am. I saw previews over the summer but with school and work, haven't had a chance to see it yet. Looking forward to checking it out.

I am restraining myself on how many clothes I pack this time - since it will be in the 90's during the day, it makes it easy to know what I won't need - pants, long-sleeved shirts, coats, etc. All of my homework will be done, as of tonight, so I will only carry my Kindle and my iPod. I am really looking forward to this trip, not only to see Haiti and work on this water filtration project, but also to have a break from the busyness that has been the past six months of life. It feels good to be off again, after the streak died in December too! Thanks for checking in!

Resoluted

2012-01-02T10:35:00.001-06:00

I don't normally make New Years' resolutions. Since I find myself always trying new things and trying to get better at other things, I think setting time-frames on such goals is too oppressive. However, I know there is huge payoff for writing down goals, even without any idea when they might actually be accomplished. Last year, after reading the book The 4-Hour Workweek, I wrote down some goals on a Dreamlining sheet on my trip to Liberia and thought nothing of it. Then, a year later, I looked back at it and realized that a lot of my goals had been realized, even the ones that seemed far-fetched like quitting my old job and working where I currently am working.

This year, short of writing down a bunch of giant goals and seeing what happens, I want to focus on one thing: failing better. As a competitive perfectionist I have a hard time dealing with my own screw-ups. I am not always reasonable with myself when I make mistakes. I somehow think I should've/could've peered into the future and known better. I know that doesn't even make sense, but I do it and then beat myself up afterwards for whatever I didn't do correctly.

The funniest thing about all of my failures is that I somehow think that they shouldn't happen to me because I try so hard not to mess up. But, I'm human. I know people, and I, do things they didn't mean to do and the world keeps turning. Mistakes are things to learn from and we all need to deal with them in a way that is reasonable. Need to remember that this year, it will make me a lot nicer to me. Thanks for checking in and I hope you have a very happy 2012!

Time Flies

2011-12-29T19:33:00.000-06:00

So, I'll admit it, I have done a bad job at updating my "In the Meantime" section of the blog. It seemed like a good idea at the time, especially since I imagined swaths of uninterrupted time where I would be sitting in coffee houses, sipping lattes and having nothing else to do but update the 10 people who are reading the aforementioned updates. However, this hasn't been the case. With homework and real work (yay, love my contracting gig!), I am far busier than I was before with one solidly, full-time job. This has left me with little time for the rest of my life, like traveling, blogging, seeing friends, etc.

Time has flown so fast, in fact, that I leave for Haiti in 11 days, and I had to look that up on my calendar because I couldn't remember. Yikes! I need to figure out what to pack and it will be my biggest challenge yet as I am bringing only one backpack! One backpack may sound like a lot, but once you factor in all the bedding, snacks, medical supplies, etc., it fills right up. I am sure that I will share with all of you, my lovely readers, my progress. Until then, I hope you are doing well and I will talk to you again real soon!

Risky

2011-12-27T20:01:00.000-06:00

One of my friends blogged awhile back that in the absence of traveling she continues adventures by trying new things. This is a school of thought that I also subscribe to. However, I also realized recently that it can be just as much fun to help other people try new things that you already have experienced. By acting as a guide, you can take away some of their fears, encourage them and let them know what to expect. I got to enjoy this yesterday when I took my third grade friend, Charity, ice skating for the first time. (She is not new to the blog, her first appearance was here.) She was a little scared at first and deemed ice skating hard but she said at the end that she would go again, so that, I think, is a success! Thanks for checking in!

Travel Bucket List

2011-12-24T11:02:00.001-06:00

I know bucket lists are not new and I have been checking things off mine for quite awhile. However, I recently realized that a good majority of my list includes travel-related things, not surprisingly. Since that is the case, I made the "bold" decision to split off my travel items into their own list. I thought I'd share my list and ask you to share your travel desires in return. Here goes my unnumbered list - in order to avoid ranking:

Drive the Kentucky Bourbon Trail with Brian - and end up in Nashville for some epic music enjoyment
Go to Antarctica, preferably on a National Geographic cruise, which includes research projects and a giant price tag
Go to Paris, eat the best croissant of my life, take a train to southern France and volunteer at this workaway
I know it's a little travel cliche, but I really want to stay in an over-the-water bungalow in Fiji, any one will do
Drive New Zealand in an motor-home
Visit Big Sur, California and staying in a yurt like this
Go to Tokyo to see the Tsukiji Fish Market, among other things
Attend a Moth story-telling show, somewhere in the U.S.
See the Olympics live, preferably in an awesome place, like Brazil for the 2016 Summer Games (made even more interesting by the fact that this will be the first time any South American country has hosted the Games)!
Spend a week working on a dude ranch, maybe in Wyoming since I have yet to visit there
Take a European, eco-friendly riverboat cruise like this and bonus, I could add three or more countries in one trip
SEE INDIA, and lots of other places but that's about as far as my list has gotten

Where do you want to go or what things are you wanting to experience? I could always add a few more items to my list...

Embracement

2011-12-22T17:58:00.000-06:00

I saw my first snowflake of the season today, which was even more fitting, seeing as today is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. I found this photo of a snowflake and started reading more about snowflake physics, you can check it out here. I have always loved the idea that all snowflakes are unique but I used to think it was sad that they were only around for a moment - especially when you're catching them on your tongue. All that beauty, gone in a second.

That got me thinking about life and how all the best moments seem to fade quickly in lives full of the mundane or necessary. I try to battle this off and find true enjoyment in much of life, whether mundane or not, but it's not always easy. I hope that as all of you wind down your year in whatever ways and traditions you celebrate, that you find yourself savoring the moments that bring you the most joy. Happy Holidays to you all!

Missing

2011-12-19T21:16:00.000-06:00

Wow, I can't believe what a blur the past couple of weeks have been. I am officially done with my first semester of grad school and I am enjoying my first evening without homework - although I have been getting my binders ready for next semester, I know, it's sad. I did get a massage earlier this evening so I haven't been all work and no play. I'm all ready for my upcoming trip to Haiti - just got my flu shot and malarial meds. I can't believe another year is almost ever. I think it's been one of the best ones yet! I don't have anything too exciting to say at the moment, but I wanted to say hi to those of you out there wondering where I'd been and let you know that I am back to blogging!

Looking for Snow?

2011-12-14T08:54:00.000-06:00

Big, open lounge with lots of comfy chairs.

We may not have gotten any actual snow yet in Kansas City but on November 4th we did see a new restaurant/bar launch that provides something even better - fancy, frozen drinks! When my friend Sarah mentioned on Sunday that she had just tried a new place called Snow & Company, I was there the next day. I love trying new places and love it even more when my friends suggest places that I would like.

Too many drinks to name them all, we ordered the mini-flights for just $10 and they offered us free samples as well. All infusions, syrups, etc. are homemade in house, which I love and they were all delicious! My favorite was the Christopher Elbow Sexual Chocolate - even if I did feel a little dorky ordering it out loud.

We ate dinner there as well - which was yummy. Brian had a Sweet & Salty panini, which he raved about, and I had the hummus plate which I also liked. In all, it was a great pre-movie date place or a good hang-out after work with your co-workers for the holidays or any other time. Check it out and thanks for stopping by!

Wish List

2011-12-08T17:42:00.000-06:00

I had written a post a few weeks ago about where to shop local in Kansas City for great gifts for those on your list. I forgot to include with that post some of my wish list for Christmas - I know that it's kind of a kid thing to do, but I was trained right as a child. We would get the giant Sears catalog in the mail and cut out pictures of the things we wanted and glue them to a sheet of paper. I think that, along with packing and re-packing my school supplies leading up to the first day of school each year, was my favorite childhood activity.

(I should mention that my list is much-pared down this year, as Brian recently surprised me with an item off of my Travel Toys post - an iPad - for an almost-made-it-through-the-first-semester gift.) If I could have anything, I would want my whole entire family to be all together in the same place - parents, siblings, grand-parents, aunts, uncles, etc. But I think that will have to wait, as for things you can actually buy, here is my list:

This silk sleep sack would be perfect for my upcoming trip to Haiti, where Brian's down sleeping bag will undoubtedly be a little too warm.

I want to read this book (Hints to Lady Travellers) that "combines archive material from a book of the same name first published in 1889 with anecdotes from well-known modern female travelers to offer a fascinating insight into the way that travel has changed for women over the last century." So interesting and perfect for my coffee table!

Those who know me, know of my sweet tooth. I found this website recently that sells boxes of candy by era as well as individual hard to find sweets. I'd go for the 90's box myself, Santa. Yummy!

This wireless SD card is good on so many levels. First off, it's orange, which is always a plus. Second, it eliminates my laziness of hating to actually upload photos to edit. And finally, it would allow me to leave my laptop behind and upload things directly to my iPad, I think.

Rounding out my list is this pair of Sanuk slip-ons. They are comfy (I think I've tried them on five or six times but never pulled the trigger on buying them - trying to decide between these and some TOMS as my go to comfy travel shoes. I think I've decided on these.)

And, there you have it, my list. What are you hoping for this year? Thanks for checking in!

Stay Well

2011-12-06T09:52:00.002-06:00

I was reading an article this morning about staying healthy when you fly. I think some of the points were really good, but others were a little too much - like, adding yogurt to your breakfast routine the morning that you fly - um, I am lucky if I eat breakfast at all. Anyways, if 40 months of straight travel taught me anything, it was how avoid getting sick while on-the-go. I really can't recall coming down with anything after being on a plane, even in Africa. Here are my tips:

Stay hydrated - I usually start drinking more water than I really want to the day before a flight. Cleaning out my own body of any toxins is a good way to make room for a few unwanted germs from my neighbors.
Try Airborne - I might be a little superstitious about this one, but I think it helps. Just put one tablet into a little water right before you go and drink up the fizzy goodness of vitamins and minerals, yum!
Eat well - As mentioned in another post, I always travel with healthy snacks. This isn't because I am a health-nut. I just know that eating the best things when germs may be trying to attack my immune system is better than french fries or chips.
Wash your hands - This is a no-brainer for most people, but it really can help - when you start to think of all the things you touch on a plane/airport that have been touched by other people it can make you a little sick.
Do some yoga - Yoga, over the past few years, has been the one thing that has kept me the healthiest. Not only does it wring the toxins out of my system but it also keeps me calm, which is a much welcome bonus.
Go easy on the caffeine/alcohol - Caffeine can undo your amazing hydration from earlier easily and alcohol can not only dehydrate you but lower your immune system. I usually avoid them both when flying but it's hard to resist those free Southwest drink coupons when you've earned a free flight!
Sleep - Getting enough shut-eye is the best way for your body to recover or prevent illness. By making sure you get good rest, you increase your chances of staying well to enjoy your travels, and return home ready to take on the world.

As for staying healthy in a hotel room, that's another story, maybe I'll share some of that later on. Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

Milestones

2011-12-03T17:12:00.002-06:00

Well, I think it's official - "The Streak" is ending as of November 2011, month #40 of continuous travel. A nice round number to end on, I think. The rules were simple - just travel somewhere by plane at least once a month. This continued for a very long time, 3 and 1/3 years. It was a great run but between school and work, I won't be getting away until January 2012, I know, it's just around the corner. It's only frustrating because I have a free ticket to travel but not the time to go. That isn't to say that you should stop reading, I will undoubtedly still be exploring my own city and surrounding areas and finding travel tid-bits to share but all good things must come to an end, and then start over! In case you're curious about where the 40 months of travel were spent, here's the official list:

2009

Seattle, WA

Boise, ID

Macon, GA

Anderson, SC

Alpena/Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Nashville, TN

Madison/Racine, WI

Pennsauken/Sparta, NJ

Danbury, CT

Washington, D.C. (2)

San Francisco, CA

Billings, MT

Las Vegas, NV

Lawrence, MA

South Portland, ME (2)

Annapolis, MD

Portland/Corvallis, OR

New Haven, CT

Miami/Vero Beach, FL

2010

Seattle/Portland, OR

Nashville, TN

St. George/Salt Lake City, Utah

Reno/Tahoe

Michigan (6 cities in one week)

San Jose, CA

Madagascar

New Jersey

Miami, FL

New York, NY

Raleigh/Durham (2)

Orange County/LA/Pasedena

Washington, D.C.

Atlanta, GA

Houston, TX

Lanai, Hawaii

South Portland, ME

2011

South Portland, ME

Colorado Springs, CO

Monrovia, Liberia

Austin, TX

Washington, D.C.

Nashville, TN

Milwaukee/Racine, WI

Omaha, NE

Wichita, KS

New Orleans, LA

Sedona, AZ

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Pasadena, CA

Grand Lake Stream, ME

El Paso, TX

New York, NY

Miami, FL

Chicago, IL

Las Vegas, NV

Travel Buddy

2011-11-30T08:53:00.001-06:00

Over the past few years I have mostly traveled alone, primarily because of work. However, I have been lucky enough to go on six trips this year with my favorite person ever. He's not only easy-going in real life but on vacation too. He always lets me sleep in, even if it means missing something we planned on doing, and often brings me breakfast in bed. He's up for pretty much anything and patiently lets me shop, even though I know he would rather be doing anything else. I got lucky to find someone so great. Cheers to you, Brian Beard!

Brian found a friend at Madame Tussaud's.

A Non-Gambler's Vegas - Part III

2011-11-29T07:56:00.000-06:00

After walking around the Strip for a day or two you start running out of options - besides eating and shopping, of course. We decided to spend the day looking for some random and cheap fun, which we found. Here's what was on the agenda:

The last time we visited Las Vegas we stayed at the Bellagio. We were able to see the fountains from our window but that didn't compare to seeing the show from the sidewalk.

We walked down the Strip to see the two newest hotels - the Aria and the Cosmopolitan. Next to the Aria there were several galleries. We stopped in and admired the latest work of Chihuly, the same artist that made the ceiling sculptures in the Bellagio.

We stopped at a discount ticket broker and bought some tickets to the Titanic exhibit at the Luxor - mostly because I wanted to go see the Luxor and it seemed like a better idea to go down there for two reasons. They wouldn't allow photography inside the exhibition, so you'll just have to imagine the giant iceberg they had inside that you could touch. Also, we were handed a character card when we arrived and were told to check and see we you lived at the end on the survivor's board. I was very excited that both Brian and I lived - although it was weird, other people sort of looked at me strange when I was cheering.

We signed a waiver saying we wouldn't talk about it too much, but Brian and I did take two surveys each and scored $40 in paper checks. We taste-tested beer and a t.v. show I hope will never air.

We had dinner at Joe's (not Crabshack) and then dessert - yummy peanut butter pie and a latte. A pretty good way to end the day. We walked our legs off and were asleep before 11. Thanks for checking in!

Thankful Winner

2011-11-28T11:08:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday! Vegas coverage will continue tomorrow (and it was an interesting, discounted day - we even got paid cash money at one point, without gambling a cent) but in the meantime, we have another winner! I used the random number picker again at random.org and the lovely winner is my blogger friend Julie from Roving I. Congrats! Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts on thankfulness - good stuff. Have a wonderful day everyone!

A Non-Gambler's Vegas - Part II

2011-11-27T11:54:00.000-06:00

We started off the day with breakfast at the Bouchon Bakery. Even though it was breakfast, I couldn't resist ordering a raspberry macaroon. I've been seeing these amazing little creations in magazines for the past couple of years but hadn't come across any to try, sad lack of French bakeries in Kansas City.

The Neon Museum was really cool. I couldn't stop taking photos. The Boneyard, where good signs go to die and get rehabilitated. The tour guide shared the history of all the signs, a lot of classic Vegas mob stories. I would definitely suggest checking out this off-the-strip attraction. After we visited the museum, we walked several blocks to the downtown area, The Fremont Street Experience. I had never ventured to the original Vegas attractions before and it was fun having a look around.

After our downtown adventures we took the bus back (another successful public transportation experience!) to the strip and went to dinner at SUSHISAMBA, a Japanese, Brazilian, Peruvian restaurant located in the Palazzo. The food was delicious and I would highly recommend making a reservation.

After dinner, we headed to a tent in front of Caesar's Palace to see the new variety show, Absinthe. It was small and intimate and we were feet away from multiple live acrobatic acts. The show as a whole was amazing, save for a few off-track segments that would have the more conservative attendee blushing. The crowd was open to the oddities that were the announcer and his sidekick and the rest of the show was highly enjoyable and awe-inspiring.

A Non-Gambler's Vegas - Part I

2011-11-26T11:01:00.001-06:00

To some, my choice of a holiday in Vegas sounds odd. But it's one of those destinations where you have little choice but to relax. Since we don't gamble, drink until the wee hours of the night (usually) or chase down women - we get to find the other gems that Vegas has to offer. This consists mainly of good entertainment (like comedian, Jim Gaffigan last night), delicious food (our dinner at First Food and Bar) and some good local stuff (like Ethel M Chocolate's where you can take a tour). Every now and then you need one of those getaways where you have nothing to do but sleep in and eat too much - you're not missing out on too many once-in-a-lifetime moments. Here are a few photos from our day:

The Strip is alive with the hum of the holidays. The Venetian in particular had gone all out to welcome in the Christmas season. This giant tree caught my eye. It was even cooler at night - with each glass ball lighting up four different colors and the tree base lighting up silver underneath. We spent most of the day walking around with the Black Friday crowds. We scored a new pair of jeans for Brian at 40% off, which in our household was a double win.

Our dinner at First (in the Palazzo) was incredible. It redeemed Vegas food after a lackluster meal the night before at the Harrah's Oyster Bar (not even blog-worthy, people). I had a gimlet with some fresh ginger, the chopped Cobb salad, the Doritos Mac N Cheese and half of Brian's homemade doughnut sundae. I was so full at the end that I felt a little sick, but it was worth it!

After dinner we headed to the Mirage to see a very funny show by Jim Gaffigan. We burned off all our dinner calories from laughing so hard - at least I think that's an exercise principle Mr. Gaffigan would endorse. Thanks for checking in!

Thankfulness

2011-11-23T10:10:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is a bit of a cliché time to share what you're thankful for, since we have things to be thankful for all the time. However, I'll concede that it is better to do it once a year than not at all. I have a lot of things on my list of things I am thankful for but I like the simple ones the best. Being able to read and write - this page, a book, a grant proposal, a letter from a friend, etc. Most of us do this all the time, but just imagine for a moment what you would do if you couldn't read and write...blows my mind.

I am thankful for the clean air I breathe, the toilet I have to use and the safe water that I drink. These things are just there for me but that is certainly not the case for many people around the world. The clothes on my back, the food in my stomach and the shoes on my feet. They keep me warm and healthy and are far more plentiful for me than millions of others on the planet. A little while back I blogged about a contest that was going on for the founder of TOMS, Blake Mycoskie's book - Start Something That Matters.

So, I won two free copies of the book - one to read and one to give away - which follows TOMS model of buy one pair of shoes or sunglasses and a pair of shoes or sight is given away. If you are unfamiliar with TOMS you need to be, this social enterprise is doing some pretty big things. I saw Blake speak at SXSW last year and really enjoyed hearing about how he started up his business. The book also highlights several other businesses that are working to solve social issues through good business models.

Now for the giveaway! In addition to giving away a copy of the book I am also throwing in a $20 gift certificate to the TOMS website in celebration of my thankfulness of you and so you can start giving back through the purchase of something TOMS-related. All you need to do is leave a comment and share what you are most thankful for. The drawing will take place on the night of Sunday, November 27th, so enter now and have a Happy Thanksgiving (for my U.S. readers)!

Winter Break

2011-11-22T08:21:00.000-06:00

So, as of yesterday morning, I am the proud owner of a plane ticket to Haiti! I am going to a village in the mountains with my friend Morée from dLO Water and a group from an organization called Living Waters for the World. We are going to be working on installing some water filtration systems with the community members from a village near Santilus, Haiti. I am also going to help Morée get some video and still camera footage of the project, the people and the landscape of Haiti.

In addition to the 2010 earthquake, Haiti deals with the problems that come with being the poorest country in the Americas. The people of Haiti hava endured years of political, economic and human rights turmoil that have made life there extremely challenging. Haiti ranks as number 158 out of 187 on the Human Development Index. The Human Development Index is a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education and standards of living for countries worldwide. It is a standard means of measuring well-being, especially child welfare. The people of Haiti deserve access to the same things that we sometimes take for granted, like a clean drink of water and I look forward to seeing how that becomes possible.

It's been almost a year since my trip to Liberia and I look forward to another radical cultural immersion experience. I am excited and nervous, as I don't know what all to expect, but I know that it will be a great way to spend part of my break between semesters. Thanks for stopping by!

Whoa-no

2011-11-19T19:12:00.000-06:00

a tiny rant:

Okay, I don't want to say I saw this coming but I've been opting out of the body-scanner screenings for a while, due to privacy and health concerns - plus I love the dirty looks I get when they have to go get someone for the full-body massage that is now the new pat-down. Now, in a recent move to protect consumers, Europe has now banned the body scanners in their airport security. This is a pretty big deal because up until now we had a unified security plan with the EU to maintain uniform safety regulations for "friendly" skies. Europe has started using a different kind of scanner that doesn't emit harmful radiation - the U.S. uses these as well, in addition to the "harmful" scanners. I wish we could all just get along and agree to play nice in the air. Flying can be enough of a hassle without the added risk of getting cancer.

Holiday Help

2011-11-17T08:25:00.001-06:00

We have an over abundance of chain stores (and restaurants for that matter) in the Midwest, maybe everywhere. I try to balance this out by finding local gems and being flexible about when I shop. I realize it isn't always convenient to shop inside the hours of 9am and 5pm, but most independent shop owners are the only staff and they can't work all the time - however, some stay open later near the holidays. To work around the hours I plan a lunch break dash, combine a trip with a doctor's appointment or sometimes ask someone to put something aside for me to pick up right before closing.

In preparation for the holidays coming up way too soon, I'd like to bring you a holiday shopping guide. I've included some in-person and online options for KC businesses - that way you won't feel left out if you aren't going to be in Kansas City any time soon. Enjoy!

Love these prints for your wall - or you can get them in card sizes too.

Hammerpress ~ This store, located on Southwest Boulevard in downtown KC, is also a working letterpress shop. I went in there yesterday to pick up some new thank you notes and a card for a friend and left with those and some Japanese Washi tape and the cutest driftwood magnet for my cubicle at work. They have great gifts for most everyone on your list - the hard part is not buying too much for yourself.

L to R: Dark Chocolate, Whiskey Walnut, Mango Ginger

Christoper Elbow ~ Who doesn't love to receive chocolate as a gift? I usually buy my chocolate gifts from Christoper Elbow at The Roasterie Cafe or Glacé, but I included the link in case you wanted to buy some tiny edible art from anywhere.

Love this Desert Falcon Necklace

Scarlett Garnet ~ In need of jewelry that is beautiful and affordable? You have to check out Scarlett Garnet. You can shop online or you can check out their cute boutique in downtown KC, on 18th Street in the Crossroads.

A Thyme for Everything ~ This gourmet food shop in downtown Lee's Summit is chock full of yummy foods, spices, pastas and all of the tools you need to cook them. They offer classes with local chefs - a gift certificate to one of those would make an excellent gift.

Doherty & Sullivans ~ Also, in downtown Lee's Summit, this Irish goods store has the most beautiful dishes (not pictured on their website), clothing and jewelry straight from Ireland. They also carry some European groceries, home decor items and in the past, have held Irish Gaelic language classes in the store.

Three Dog Bakery ~ For those of you with pets in your life who might deserve a treat, I love the Three Dog Bakery. It's set up like a regular bakery only with offerings for your four-legged friends. You can even have your pet's name put on little bones and cakes - if your pet is into that sort of thing.

Love this map of San Francisco.

Best Made Company ~ Okay, this isn't local to Kansas City but I recently discovered this New York site and I can't get enough of it. From their vintage extension cords to their amazingly beautiful, useful axes - their style is incredible.

I could go on and on, but that's a good start. Where will you be shopping for the holidays?

Making Memories

2011-11-15T06:55:00.000-06:00

My dad and I all ready for some backpacking, circa 1992.

Vacations in my household growing up centered mostly around camping. We camped as a family but my dad also took my brother and I separately on backpacking weekends about every other year. We would hike up a mountain we'd been looking at on a map for months, bringing along everything we'd need on our backs. The kid left behind on these trips got to have time with my mom - shopping, eating dessert for dinner, watching movies past our bed-time, etc. It was a good deal either way.

As I got into high school I started working, dating, playing tennis, etc. and those trips started to fade away. We still did things as a family, but weekends were busy. When I was in college my dad and I started talking about taking a backpacking trip around Europe as my graduation present. We never made any finite plans but we always talked about it like it was going to happen. My dad even bought me the backpack for it for one of my birthdays leading up to the trip. And then, I met my husband and the plans changed to paying for a wedding instead of a trip and we never went.

Brian and I moved to California right after the wedding, and then on to Kansas City shortly after that. My parents still live in Maine. I get to see them about once or twice a year, which is great, but it's hard to fit in a lot of quality time when you're trying to see all your relatives at once. My mom and I have gone on a couple of trips together over the past few years - a Mediterranean cruise, a road-trip from Maine to Kansas City and back to Maine, a work trip I flew my mom down for - but my dad is usually working.

I started thinking about all this over the weekend and was getting a little misty-eyed about it. I was thinking about how I hate hearing those sad stories about people who once made plans and something happened and they never got to go/do wherever/whatever. I decided that I was going to change what (up to this point at least) was starting to sound like one of those stories.

So, my dad and I are taking a trip next September to Yosemite National Park to do a volunteering vacation through the REI Adventures. Neither of us have been to Yosemite before and I am excited to check it out together. I realize that to some people doing manual labor and tenting sound nothing like a vacation, but for my dad and I, it will be perfect. Thanks for stopping by!

Fall in Weston

2011-11-14T07:52:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite places to go in the fall is Weston, MO. Something about the small downtown reminds me of the towns back home in Maine that I grew up visiting. This weekend I didn't have class so it seemed like the perfect chance to go up for a day with my husband and my in-laws. It was a little warmer than it should be this time of year, which is fine by me, albeit a bit windy. We met for lunch at the Avalon Cafe and walked around the shops - all starting to get dressed up for the holidays.

Along the way we bumped into Father Christmas, out spreading some cheer. I have gotten into the good habit of asking people for permission before I snap a photo and Santa just asked that he have time to fluff his beard up first.

My favorite shop downtown is Mort's Classic Cameras (open Wed-Sun, 12pm-5pm). Mort has cameras from all eras for sale and fixes them too. He also carries amazing prints of Orval Hixon's photographs, old sheet music and 45's.

We finished our day with dinner at the America Bowman Restaurant/O'Malley's Pub. Unfortunately their website was wrong and the live music didn't start until later in the evening than we planned to be there, however, that was salvaged with a sampling of all of their local brews. I liked them all except for the Amber Lager (complete with jalapenos - yikes!).

Yes, these are mini-glasses, no pints here.

On My Mind

2011-11-10T16:37:00.000-06:00

This week:

The runoff election results for the Presidential race in Liberia are expected to come in as early as today. The current President - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is expected to retain office. Her opponent chose to boycott the runoff election claiming that ballot fraud had taken place during the initial election.

I listened to a Radiolab podcast this week on my way to work that was talking about all the horrible diseases one can pick up in South Sudan. It wasn't the main point of the podcast, as it swung into something far more personal for the story-teller, but it was the part the stuck with me the most. Especially the gruesome details of the guinea worm. [I know some of you might be eating right now so I won't go into detail but when you have a chance you should read this.]

At work I learned more about people's everyday struggles to find clean water and a toilet as I helped craft a report for a donor.

I felt stressed as I tried to figure out how to get all of my homework done, in an effort to create a little free-time between work and school.

And then, I realized how dumb number four was. I mean, I am all for fun and free-time, but sometimes I amaze myself at how narrow my focus can be. I have all of these giant issues looming around me and I am concerned about having too much homework? Geez. But at least I noticed. Hope you're having an enlightened day too!

Fed Fun

2011-11-07T07:58:00.000-06:00

On Friday my Economics class spent the day at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. (As some of you may already know from reading my profile, I am a big econ nerd and I love learning about things like monetary policy, fun!) Anyway, as part of our day there we got to visit the Money Museum, see inside the vault of money, watch people counting money and money getting shredded (which gets recycled in a number of ways - one of which is this cute little sack of money to the left that in total is about $165, and they give them away for free.) We also got to watch an hour-long video on the history of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks - I am no history buff but I found this video gripping (again, I am a nerd).

The only downside to the day was that since we were hearing talks from some pretty important people at the bank throughout the day, we had to dress up. Dressing up to me sort of carries with it some notion of needing to act more grown-up, so it was with some hesitation that I partook in the art project in the museum clearly designed for the younger visitors. I am glad I did though, I think it broke the ice with some of my new, professional, classmate friends. Any of you that live near, or plan to make a visit to a city with a Federal Reserve Bank, should check one out. Even if you're not a nerd, I think you might like what you find.

My handmade Buffalo bill.

At Your Service

2011-11-02T08:23:00.000-05:00

Cooking with Teresita in Buenos Aires. (It's me behind the hair-curtain, measuring some flour for some homemade empanadas.)

I met a woman this past weekend, at the conference I attended in Chicago, who is going to be traveling to Argentina soon for a vacation. I also spoke with someone from a blog comment who is traveling to Thailand shortly. Both of them were interested in hearing some ideas on what not to miss. These two interactions got me thinking that there are lots of wonderful places and adventures that I have been on prior to starting this blog.

I was hoping that if you had any questions or were wanting any recommendations on things to do/see, places to eat, activities to try, etc. in any of the places I have been that you would ask. You can leave a comment, tweet me, sky-write to me, whatever. I would love to help! And, if there are places I haven't been to yet, I just might know someone else who could give you some personal tips. Just ask away!

And while we're on the subject, here are my not-to-be-missed recommendations for Argentina:

Mendoza:

We stayed at the Villaggio Hotel which was on a quiet little street in downtown Mendoza. (Brian was thrilled that they had an English-speaking front desk staff.)
In order to see wine-country the right way, we booked a wine tour w/tour guide with The Grapevine - if you go, ask if Fabio is still giving tours, he was amazing!
We ended our time in Mendoza with one of the most memorable meals in our life-time (for a variety of reasons) - a 15 course meal at 743 Bistro. The head chef of many of the vineyard's restaurant kitchens has this test kitchen in his home, quite the treat.

I loved that you could see the Andes from many of the vineyards we visited in Mendoza.

Buenos Aires:

The cooking class was one of the best things we did in the city (see link above).
The antiques fair in Sal Telmo was a wonderful combo of people watching, spontaneous tango and musicians. This takes place on Sundays.
We went with a tour group to a club soccer match (River Plate vs. Boca Juniors), it was crazy fun and we were glad we took the tour-book's advice to go with a group that knew what they were doing.
We also spent half a day wandering around the Recoleta Cemetery - one of the most fascinating places in the city. It's a little spooky, a lot historic and unlike anything I had ever seen before. You could see bones in coffins and cats all over the place!
Finally, I would definitely recommend renting an apartment for a purely authentic experience (made much more so by the fact that we don't speak Spanish). We rented a great place in Palermo Viejo through ByT Argentina.

Rushing Chicago

2011-11-01T09:18:00.000-05:00

I don't like incredibly short trips, but when I booked my trip to Chicago I wasn't sure what my work situation would be and I didn't want to have to ask for time off at a new job if I didn't have to. Hence, a 36 hour trip to the Windy City.

The biggest downside was that since I was going for The Independent Sector Conference, I was to be inside for the majority of the trip and couldn't explore very much of the city. I did get a couple of things in, however, so here they are:

1) I took the train, albeit with a tiny bit of help!
2) We walked a little bit of the city on our way to and from brunch, the only meal eaten outside of the hotel.

3) We (my friend Moree and I) ate brunch at a place called the Grand Lux Cafe. The mocha I had was delicious and the red velvet pancakes with chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting were amazing.

4) From the Swissotel, where the conference was held, we had this incredible view of the Navy Pier. You could take a water taxi out to see it up close for only $4. We almost did this but the weather was a little chilly and I didn't have the right outdoor attire with me.

As for the rest of the weekend, it was spent learning about networking, harnessing your personal power, managing change in the workplace and actually networking with non-profit, foundation and public sector professionals. It may have not been the most relaxing activity to take part in during my only weekend off from school, but like I was just saying a few posts ago, I'm a sucker for a challenge. Thanks for checking in!

Creeping Chicago

2011-10-31T07:47:00.000-05:00

A Mexican red knee (I think her name was Harriett), a docent from the Field Museum and me.

I spent this past weekend in Chicago at a conference with a friend of mine (more on that tomorrow). I just got back and wanted to share this Halloween-esque photo with you. Also, if you are in Chicago and you have kids, the guy on my right (above) highly recommended a sleepover at the museum - he said all the bugs/arachnids/etc. would stay in their cages.

Local Yocal

2011-10-28T20:59:00.000-05:00

I love talking to people who are true locals, the ones who grew up and still live in the town they always have lived. They have a unique love for their community and think other people are crazy to ever move away. I like that they open small businesses and become invested in the local economy and can offer recommendations for days. Brian and I recently had our weekly date night at such a place in Downtown Lee's Summit a couple of weeks ago at the Red Door Wine Store. We talked to the owner about his business and the other comings and goings of the downtown businesses, I always like to know what is new and notable. We brought in our own snacks, as the store has no food, and enjoyed a glass of wine and a beer.

Our picnic on the left (yes that is our marble cheese cutter, you can't cut cheese well without one!) and out of the window of the store, the sunset behind William B. Howard Station Park - all 0.4 acres of it, including the caboose.

Switching gears to some local shopping now. I was talking to one of my UMKC classmates who just moved to K.C. from Atlanta and we were talking about the best places to buy shoes in the area. She asked if I had ever been to Bob Jones in downtown K.C. and I said that I hadn't, that is until today. I am not sure what took me so long to check it out but it is definitely worth a visit, especially if a man in your life has shoe needs and/or wide shoe needs. I loved the "back rack" of women's sale shoes, and all the purses and accessories. Have you been yet?

And now, back to food. When we were at the Red Door Wine Store, the owner suggested that we check out a place called the Canoe Club in Lake Lotawana (same town as Marina Grog and Galley) after we were mutually complaining about all the chain restaurants in our area. [Note to any restaurant entrepreneurs - please open a good one in Downtown Lee's Summit. We need you!]

Calamari, fish tacos and sweet potato fries at the Canoe Club.

The Canoe Club was so good! They had live music, cheap drinks (w/a variety of microbrews to choose from), yummy food and our waiter was super nice. It's not very often we find all of those elements in one place. We will definitely be back. Hope you have a great weekend!

Balance

2011-10-27T11:15:00.000-05:00

I am in the middle of studying for a looming financial accounting exam and trying to get over writer's block for an econ term paper, so naturally I am also thinking about taking a vacation. Ever since I got the gift of miles from my old job, I keep thinking about where to go and how to use them. As I peruse through options, I am realizing just how difficult airlines make it to use frequent flier miles and I get discouraged and get back to my studies, or in this particular moment, blogging.

Then other thoughts come along, like the fact that Brian just realized that he has 40,000 Delta miles, thanks to a quick last minute online purchase to keep them from expiring. I also have 40,000 Delta miles. So, I think the best plan would be to take the gift of 50,000 miles and split them between the two of us and get away to some place good like Europe or something like that. Of course, then the challenge is finding the time to get away from both our jobs, school, etc. in a way that is advantageous to both of us.

That's when I give up again and wander in a new direction, wondering what I am doing back in school. I ponder if it would have been better to have just spent my time traveling to get the experience I will need for the work I want to do later on. And then I remember that I am practical and do things by the book, for the most part, and that I am making the right decision - while simultaneously trying not to calculate how far the money spent on tuition could have taken me.

Sometimes I think about whether this book is right and all the experience you need can be had in an un-schooling sort of way. And then I admit to myself that this is why it's good I am in school - because I always want to know more about everything and I'm a sucker for a challenge. I just need to find a little balance...oh yeah, and some patience. Thanks for stopping by!

Tour-ists

2011-10-25T14:21:00.002-05:00


Perfect snack: iced sugar cookie (had to restrain myself from asking for the one with orange frosting since it seems silly that I'll just be eating it) and a Brookside Bob (a light mint mocha).

I'm not going to lie, life has been a little crazy lately and I have allowed myself to get a little more stressed out than I would like to be. I am getting swept away by school and work - both of which I am loving - and not finding a lot of time for my de-stressing activities. However, today (after three really long days in a row) I got out of work early and had some time to kill before an evening meeting for school. So, I headed to my favorite local coffee shop - the Roasterie.

I started thinking about how much I like their coffee and the tour you can take of their roasting facility and then I realized that I hadn't mentioned that on the blog before, even though I have taken the tour twice. So, if you live in Kansas City or you are going to visit at some point, you need to register for the free Roasterie tour and you'll see what I am talking about. Also, right around the corner from their factory is the Boulevard Brewery, which you can also take a tour of. They take online reservations for their free tour and tasting - but book early as they fill up fast.

I think tours are such a fun and unique way to learn about a place or the interesting things that happen(ed) there. In fact I just booked a tour for our upcoming trip to Vegas to the Boneyard at The Neon Museum. I love old signs and I am excited to check out this graveyard for some of Vegas' greatest creations.

It's your turn! What are your favorite tours to take out-of-town guests to in your city? Thanks for stopping by!

Getting Deals Part III

2011-10-20T08:11:00.000-05:00

If you can stand it, I have a few more tips to share! Here goes:

Saving Money on Meals ~

Once I have a destination in mind, or a trip booked, I start thinking about where I might want to eat. (Shocking, I know.) I sometimes use Restaurant.com to buy gift certificates really inexpensively. Typically they sell them for $10 or $15 for a $25 gift certificate but you can always find discount codes (by Googling: "discount code for restaurant.com") for 60% off that price or more. SO, you pay $4-$5.60 for a $25 meal.
Another option is scouting out the city you'll be visiting on Groupon.com. They don't have as many cities listed but you can usually find some pretty good restaurants featured. This can also be a great way to save money on entertainment or spa services in your destination location.
It's always a bummer and a bit of a waste to eat a meal that you don't particularly like. I know there is always a chance of this but using an app like Yelp to read reviews really makes a big difference; it's rarely steered me wrong.
This might be a little old-school for some, but think about sharing a meal. Especially in the U.S., where the portions are usually ridiculous.
Sometimes it's not as fun to eat in a restaurant for every meal, especially if you are on a budget. I suggest a picnic or two. Many grocery stores stock one-size servings of things you don't have to cook and you can have a healthier meal in a lot of cases as well. Enjoy the scenery in your vacation spot by dining al fresco!

Saving on Activities ~

Many cities, especially ones with lots of tourist attractions, will give away (or sell for a nominal fee) a coupon book for attractions. These can be great BUT only if you were wanting to do the activity in the first place. Don't fall for the deal and find yourself hating the Wax Popcorn Scarecrow Museum afterwards. (yes, I made that up)
Ask for a discount - this is another place where mentioning AAA, student status, military service, etc. can pay off. Usually just a dollar or two but they add up over time.
Find fun free things to do. Lots of cities are publishing guides, articles and blog posts on ways to enjoy their location for free. I have found great things this way and there is no guilt if you want to leave early or do four of them all in one afternoon.

I think that will be it for me, for now. I could probably go on for days. Thanks for reading along!

Getting Deals Part II

2011-10-19T08:05:00.002-05:00

Continuing the savings tips from yesterday, I'll move along to lodging which can often be the bulk of your expenses, especially on a longer trip. And prices don't tend to vary as often as airfare. I know some of you are very travel-savvy folks so, as always, feel free to chime in with your own suggestions! Here are some tips for saving money on lodging:

If you know where you want to stay and can't/won't stay anywhere else ~

Compare on different travel sites (Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, Travelocity) to see what the best price is, and call the hotel and get their best price. I often find that "deals" for conference hotels are more expensive than if booked on your own.
Ask for any discount you might be eligible for: AAA, military, student, bulk (if traveling with a group)
Book late (as long as you aren't worried they'll be booked solid). The closer they are to having dates with empty rooms, the more likely they will be to negotiate with you. This is a phone interaction, you won't be able to do this online, unless you are trying the next tip.
If you are getting down to the wire and you haven't booked yet, try using LastMinuteTravel.com to find your desired hotel and book it there.
Sometimes just booking early, paying a little more and having peace-of-mind can be a pretty good deal too!

When you're open to a little more adventure ~

I won't go into too much detail since I've talked about this before and before that, but book with airbnb! Searching for new places to explore on airbnb has become a new obsession of mine. I will be using this again very soon and this time I want to stay on a boat!
Take a gamble on where you'll stay by using Priceline or Last Minute Travel (as mentioned before) where you can book by hotel or select an area, a price and a star rating and see what you get!
Going to a conference? Grab a roommate - maybe someone you know or a friend of a friend. You won't be in the room much anyway so split the tab instead of getting your own place. Don't know someone who's going? Network on Twitter or through the conference's social network platform (if available).
Don't get stuck on stars. Go off of guest reviews instead. Many times I will see a hotel with four stars that has a user rating of 3/10 - obviously something isn't matching up there. True, hotels can cheat and put in rave reviews of their own, pretending to be guests, but if there are 50 reviews or more it's a safe bet that actual people wrote most of the reviews.
Stay with a friend, some family or a friend of a friend. If you need time to work and get away explore fun nearby coffee shops! I always want people to stay with me, you're not imposing in the least and you get a great tour-guide with a local host.
You don't have to be in Europe to find a hostel! Here's a listing of U.S. hostels - or if you need listings for the entire world check out this site.
Rent a house, condo or an apartment. This is especially good for groups, families and long stays where you will want to save money on eating out at every meal. Good sites for this include Vacation Rentals By Owner, HomeAway and ResorTime.
Rent an RV! I have been wanting to do this for awhile and just read a great road-trip article on a woman doing this with her friends in the latest Budget Travel magazine. Look out blog winner weekend, this one might be next!

Getting Deals Part I

2011-10-18T07:37:00.002-05:00

My recent post about our $348 vacation sparked some real-life conversations on how to save money when traveling. I also forget sometimes that my obsession with travel and saving money aren't shared by everyone and that some of you might want some advice on the topic, so here goes. Today's topic is airfare:

Buy as early as you can and know that prices will typically increase as you get within 3, 2 and 1 week before flying. I usually see fares going up on Fridays, so booking on a Thursday can be cheaper.
Flying on Tuesdays and Saturdays are usually the cheapest. Consider when most people are traveling for a weekend (Friday-Sunday), business (Monday-Thursday/Friday) or week vacations (Friday-Friday), etc.
Sometimes booking two one-way tickets can be cheaper, Kayak.com now allows you to search and book fares easily this way.
If you want to try and score a free ticket or voucher in an oversold situation:

Scan the waiting area, look busy?
Position yourself near the ticket counter while you wait
Be alert, don't have your headphones on
As soon as they announce they "might" be in an oversold situation, march up to the counter
Politely as possible, ask what they're offering (vouchers, accommodations, meals, etc.) and when they can get you home (I have asked before if that is the best they can do and have been upgraded to first class and received more money in vouchers as a result)
Evaluate in your mind if you can afford to take the perks vs. hassle being offered
Get your name on the list and wait

On rare occasions, booking a package deal (car, airfare and/or hotel) can get you a lower rate but only if you really want the other items in the bundle. It takes longer but I always price each separately to see if I am really getting a good deal.
Book directly through the airlines' websites - they avoid the middleman fees from Expedia, Orbitz, etc. and pass the savings onto you in many instances.
Consider the frequent flier benefit - booking the cheapest fare is great but having miles (like I do) on ten different airlines doesn't do you a whole lot of good unless you really saved a significant amount. Picking two or three main airlines is better for accumulating some miles you may be able to use later.
Be aware of alternate airports you can fly into and estimate the costs of transportation with a local bus, taxi, train or public transit company to the place you are traveling too. A little hassle can sometimes save you a lot of dough.
Consider the baggage fees (especially on longer trips). They can vary from airline to airline and round-trip can tack on as much as $60 for one bag onto the cost of your ticket. Airlines rely on you forgetting about this since you pay it later on. If you have to check bags, checking in online ahead of time can save you a few dollars. (Or fly Southwest, where bags fly free!)

Hope you got a new tip or two! Tomorrow we'll talk lodging. Thanks for checking in!

World Food Day

2011-10-16T13:20:00.000-05:00

Today is World Food Day, a worldwide event to discuss the world's food insecurity issues. There have been similar events in the past about global environmental issues, poverty and water. Mainly conducted through social media, the theme hopes to raise issues and start a global conversation about people's perspectives on the topic. I probably would have more to say about the issues highlighted in the past but I had to think more about food.

I obviously eat, enjoy and blog about food, however, I have not been one to ever go without it. My pantry is stocked full of food and sometimes things expire or go bad and they are disposed of without even being opened. I definitely try to minimize these events but they do happen and they make me feel guilty. I should probably reflect more often about the fact that I don't worry where my next meal is coming from and that I have choices about when and where I eat. I am pausing now to do just that, maybe you can join me.

After that, I hope to think about ways to help and do my part about raising a little awareness. Here are a few facts for you to ponder from The World Food Programme:

Not there Yet

2011-10-13T08:48:00.000-05:00

Liberians in Nimba County wait to cast their vote on October 11th.

On the coattails of co-winning the Nobel Peace Prize, the current Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, awaits the next chapter of her country's history along with almost 4 million other Liberians in the country and many still abroad. In order to avoid any errors, and to minimize the chance of violence, the results from Tuesday's election won't be officially announced until October 26th (although there are reports of preliminary results being announced today and so far Sirleaf is leading). At that time it is still possible that the election is undecided (and no candidate has received the required 50% of the votes) and a run-off election will have to take place.

A run-off election occurs when two parties are two close to call and another election is needed to decide - if needed, this will be held on November 6th. In the interim there are worries about violence resurging (the U.N. peacekeeping troops stationed there are set to leave September 30th unless they are voted to stay). However, it's been peaceful so far and there is still hope and excitement in the country about rebuilding a new Liberia and moving forward together. Here's to peace to all Liberians and hoping that progress continues!

Cool Contests

2011-10-12T07:52:00.001-05:00

As you know, I love contests - hosting them, talking about them and best of all - winning them. Here are a few great ones that I came across yesterday that I thought you might like too!

Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS shoes (and now sunglasses), just wrote a book about transforming your life and your business and he's giving away free copies to bloggers to read and give one away. Hopefully I'll get picked to give one away, but just in case you're interested in entering your blog too, check out the contest here.

Japan is trying to boost its tourism trade in the wake of the earthquake, nuclear problems, etc. They are currently trying to raise enough money to give away 10,000 free round-trip airline tickets to bloggers willing to travel there and share their experiences through social media. If the funding gets approved, the contest will start in April 2012. I think it sounds genius and I would be stoked to go. I also love that three people in my life sent me a link to the article today.

CBS Sports and Southwest Airlines are teaming up to give away a four day ski vacation for two to Park City, Utah. The deadline to enter is January 3, 2012 and you need to travel before the snow melts on March 31st, 2013.

Good luck on those! Thanks for checking in!

Dine Around Town

2011-10-11T08:05:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have read my blog for awhile, you know I love to eat out. My friend Rachel had asked, in my 300th blog post contest, for some more local, Kansas City information on the blog, so here you go!

My delicious lunch today at Hien Vuong Restaurant in the River Market reminded me that I have been meaning to share some of my favorite restaurants in Kansas City with you via the blog.

I am sad to not have photos of more of my favorite meals but here are my top five restaurants (in no particular order) right now in Kansas City:

Room 39 - I love this restaurant (at least the Midtown location as I haven't been to the Leawood location yet). From it's cozy atmosphere to yummy craft cocktails to friendly staff (although the first time we dined here they were hoping by our reservation that we were related to James Beard, which we're not) to delicious, seasonal 4-course menu offerings (currently for the low price of $39!) Room 39 has never disappointed. Perfect for a special occasion too!
Reiger Hotel - I mentioned this restaurant in a post back in July and at that time I hadn't tried it yet. For my birthday my former co-workers took me there for lunch. It was so good! I had the most amazing tuna melt - I know, it didn't sound that exciting to me at first either. They have great lunch prices and portions. Now I just need to get there for dinner. I love the historical setting the most but the food is a very close second.
Fiesta Azteca - This place was originally recommended to me by my friend Liz and she didn't steer me wrong. Originally located in Raytown, the restaurant moved to a larger space in Lee's Summit almost a year ago, which is better for me! I love that the owners are in the space to answer questions and give recommendations, which Brian loves, but me? I always order the chile relleno, why mess with perfection?
Siki - Alright, I'm sorry to have another south of the city pick but it's where I live so just come down and visit! This little sushi place is so good. From the outside, and from parts of the inside, you may not be inclined to pull over and enjoy some sushi but I promise, you can trust me. The spicy crab salad alone will have you won over and you'll be telling friends about it too.
Succotash - This place originally won me over when I saw their logo, so cute! They used to be located in the River Market but have since moved to Hospital Hill. Their eclectic style of food and decor can be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch or lunch. They always have something different to try and put an interesting twist on old favorites. I am also a fan of their baked goods - especially the foot tall rainbow cake, yum!

So, there you have it, round up number 1. There are many more where that came from, but this post is making me too hungry to continue. Until next time, thanks for stopping by!

Weakness

2011-10-08T07:19:00.001-05:00

I keep telling myself that I need to stop, that I need to be realistic and let it go. Life is getting crazy busy and I need to grow up and be practical. But alas, my friends, I cannot, at least for now. Month #40 (November 2011) of the streak has been booked. We are going to Vegas for Thanksgiving. I just couldn't pass up round-trip airfare and four nights hotel for two for the low, low price of $438. For those of you concerned about my magical powers of manipulation of the family budget - Brian was in before he knew the price.

Using some of my sweet perks that I had piling up and some great deals for flying on a holiday and returning the Monday after the weekend, albeit later than you really want to arrive home on a work night, makes for a huge difference in airfare and my free night through hotels.com didn't hurt either. Granted we're not staying anywhere fancy, but Harrah's is rated at 3+ stars, is on the Strip and has high customer reviews. And, as I've said before, if I don't have to lint roll my own sheets, I'm happy.

To those of you not excited about a trip to Vegas, especially since I was hoping for Costa Rica, this whole thing is structured around not only continuing "the streak" (in a budget-friendly way) but also to see Jim Gaffigan (comedian). I heard he was going to be there for Thanksgiving and given his amazing food-related comedy, I thought it would be a great way to spend a turkey-free holiday (for me anyway). Brian also wants to see Penn and Teller and we might see the Lion King too. Who knows, we'll get to discount show booking shortly, anyone have any tips on that? Thanks for checking in!

Behind the Scenes

2011-10-05T16:23:00.002-05:00

When I set out to do my last blog contest I was obviously on a budget, but I still wanted it to be fun for you guys. I decided to try and solicit some companies for some of my favorite items to give-away, especially since I had written about them all in previous posts. I just randomly emailed their customer service departments, which may be why I had low response rates, and asked if they would like to send me anything in return for a mention on the blog and a link back to their site. I knew it was a shot in the dark but I figured it would pad my prize-pack, which was made up mostly of things I got with rewards points from my credit card and my MyPoints rewards (if you haven't used that site before, you should).

Last week when I was in the Keys, I got a short email asking me where to send the stuff (not sure what stuff it was, but I supplied my home address anyway). Then yesterday I got a package (don't you just love mail?) and this was inside:

6 sets of Outdoor Products' 3-Pack Ultimate Dry Sacks. These are amazing! I hiked up a waterfall in Jamaica with my camera in the blue bag and it was perfectly dry when we got to the top!

So now, I have more things to give away! I'll make it really easy, the first six people to comment on this post will get a set mailed to you - what a deal!

Also, Brian sent me a link to this article last week about people who competitively collect countries like you would baseball cards, I think you might like it too. Thanks for checking in, hope you're having a lovely week!

Inland Waterfront

2011-10-03T08:07:00.000-05:00

Ever since moving away from the coast (Maine and California) to the Midwest, I've missed being by the water. (This may have some impact on the travel locales I visit as well.) Then I discovered a little treasure nestled into my neighboring city that let me feel a little more at home. Every time I visit the Marina Grog and Galley in Lake Lotawana I think, "why don't I come here more often?" The setting is perfect - whether for a beer and an appetizer on the deck or some fine dining inside - to enjoy the view and get away for a little while. We went there this weekend and I finally remembered to take photos to share with you.

We had the calamari and the artichoke/crab dip with our beers (which are cheap - $3-6/bottle). Also, if you go, you have to order the chocolate lava cake at the beginning so you can enjoy it at the end, so good!

Sitting underneath the umbrellas, looking at the sun set over the trees and the dock floating in the water - I'm not sure it gets much better than that. Oh yeah, it was 72 degrees too, just perfect.

I forgot my camera so the first two photos were from my phone and Brian took this one with his phone.

I saw this boat coming into the dock and switched over to my retro camera app, which I love, and snapped this final photo. Thanks for checking in. Hope your week is adventure-filled!

Miami Spice

2011-10-01T13:53:00.000-05:00

I had the fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and the Trio salad with hearts of palm, candied walnuts and apples.

On the last day Stefanie and I headed back up to Miami, a four hour drive in total. It was also Stef's birthday, so after getting repacked and relaxing for a little bit we headed out to meet up with some of her friends for a birthday dinner. We went to a place on the water called Trio on the Bay. The place was huge (inside and out) and the food and drinks were great. The view of the city from our waterside table was amazing but there weren't a lot of people there eating. They opened about six months ago and apparently do a huge weekend business. If you are in the neighborhood I would definitely recommend checking this place out - and no wait for a table!

There was also a culinary event going on that Trio was a part of called Miami Spice. Miami's top restaurants participate to bring three course meals for $22 lunch and $35 dinner. The event runs from August 1-September 30, so it's over for now but it will be back if you care to join in on that. A great way to try out fancy places for a reasonable price. Thanks for stopping by!

Best of Key West Continues

2011-09-30T07:20:00.000-05:00

After the events described in yesterday's post, our day continued with a trip to the Key Lime Shoppe for some Chocolate Covered Key Lime Pie on a Stick. (Hmm, this is my second blog post that contains chocolate covered pie. Not a bad repeat I guess.) It was delicious!

Stef and I by the water at the Sunset Festival.

Every night in Key West the daylight ends with the Sunset Festival. In addition to the beautiful views of the sun setting over the water, there is also a mini street fair with performers, artisans and people watching. Very fun time.


After the sunset festival we had some pizza and headed up to the rooftop bar at our hotel for a beverage. Patrick, the bartender, made this amazingly smooth Key West Lemonade cocktail that he was willing to share with you: 1 part citrus vodka 1 part raspberry vodka 1 part sour mix 1 part cranberry Splash of soda water Shake with ice and serve.

We then headed to our walking ghost tour with Jay from The Original Ghost Tours. I have to say that I was not that scared, which was fine by me - especially after having gone on a really scary one in Savannah that had me putting glasses of water around the room to keep away the ghosts I didn't believe in. It was however, historical and interesting and our tour guide was great. We met him after the tour at a local bar to hear more stories. Somehow that adventure lasted until 5:30am. I can honestly say I can't remember anytime that I stayed out that late. But you only live once and if you go to Key West, why not, right? Thanks for checking in!

Best of Key West

2011-09-29T16:57:00.001-05:00

We packed so much fun into one day that I may need to make it two separate posts - I guess we'll see...

Key West is the end of the line for Route 1 - which runs from here to Maine. This was my first time to this end.

Our next stop of the day was the Hemingway House. We took the guided tour and got to see where Ernest Hemingway did the majority of his writing, in the upstairs room of the carriage house (pictured on the left, I am pretty sure I would write prolifically if I had such a beautiful setting too). Hemingway also had many six-toed cats on the property that he loved. Today there are 44 descendants living on the property, many of them occupying the house pictured on the right (an exact replica of the main home).

We next stopped at the Harry S. Truman Little White House. This was all the more exciting for me considering that we have the Truman Library in Kansas City. Apparently, and rightly so, Truman preferred Key West to Washington, D.C. and spent winters at his other "White House". We had so many other things to see that we didn't go on the tour but I bet it would've been cool!

After that we headed to the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum to learn all about the discovery of the wreckage of the Atocha, a ship bound for Spain from Havana in 1622. The bottom floor of the museum was devoted to that exhibit - note the 78 carat emerald in the top right corner, gold bars and ornate necklace/belt - beautiful! The second floor was devoted to pirates, an English merchant-slaver ship - the Henrietta Marie which sank in 1700 and finally some small displays about Liberia and the American Colonization Society. It was an incredible museum that I would highly recommend. There was also a discount pass available for this museum and the Hemingway House for $23.

Okay, seriously, at this point in the day we were just about to have lunch, so I will stop for now and fill you in on the rest of the day tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by!

Pon-Tuesday

2011-09-28T09:22:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was our pontoon boat adventure. The weather was perfect for a day on the water and, despite a lot of jellyfish, snorkeling. Stef & J.M.'s friend, Donahue, took one for the team (statistically speaking) and got stung in the stomach - he referred to himself afterwards as "jelly belly". [In case you wondered, he refused all offers to pee on the sting to take the pain away.]

While snorkeling we saw the 8' tall underwater Jesus off Key Largo - Christ of the Abyss. [Thank you to the Florida Keys website for this lovely photo.]

My lovely hosts, J.M. and Stefanie.

After we left the pontoon adventure, Stef and I drove down to Key West. I am so excited we are going to be spending two days down here. Last year Brian and I made it halfway down the Keys but ran out of time and had to turn back. We checked into our hotel and headed out to explore the town. We ate dinner at Caroline's Cafe and hit up Fat Tuesday's for a frozen beverage (pictured above). We walked around, took in some live music, got a great deal on some flip flops and called it a night. In all it was a pretty perfect day. Thanks for reading along!

Wild Florida

2011-09-27T06:56:00.000-05:00

I'm in Miami visiting my good friend Stefanie. The first adventure on the itinerary was biking Shark Valley in the Everglades. We narrowly beat the rain and saw lots of wildlife. I couldn't capture this but dragonflies were racing us on our bikes as we tried to escape the mosquitoes.

Respecting the 15 foot rule, plus not wanting to lose a hand, I posed from a safe distance with an alligator.

After working up an appetite biking, we headed back to downtown Miami for some lunch - tiny $1-$3 sandwiches at 100 Montaditos. I had three little sandwiches - a roasted veggie, a four cheese and an almond/Nutella for dessert. Yum!

During lunch the skies opened up and monsoon-rained on everything. We headed home, hung out and rested up for our pontoon boat adventure tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by!

The Winner and A New Obsession

2011-09-26T07:52:00.002-05:00

First off, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who entered the contest, and to those of you who started following on Google Friend Connect. And now, without further ado:

And then, a site to share with you - Student Universe. This dangerous discount travel site is my first foray into using my newly minted student status (although it's for teachers too, I believe). The site has your regular, run-of-the-mill travel stuff but then it has this feature called FarePlay which allows you to, "Find deals in a new way! You don't need to know where you want to go. Just that you want to go. Tell us where you are leaving from and we'll give you some deals." Thank you Student Universe, don't mind if I do!

Finally, if you have been wondering what I've been up to since quitting my job, you can follow my progress here. Thanks for checking in and have a fabulous week!

Art in Life

2011-09-23T07:46:00.000-05:00

Birds on a wire in Williamsburg.

I've been trying to get better at taking good photos. In the past, I have been one of those people who always forgets my camera, usually because I don't like having to carry it around. Now that I am blogging, I've been much better at remembering it and trying to do different things with my pictures - not just taking photos of people for example. When in New York this past weekend, I was taken by all the creative graffiti. It reminded me of a documentary I really like called "Bomb It" about graffiti around the world, you should check it out if you like that sort of thing. Here are some of my favorite shots from NYC:

Jessica finds a friend.

Robot hug.

Too bad B.S. had to take over but the underlying sentiment is still good.

My favorite Picasso-esque building.

Thanks for stopping by. Also, don't forget to register to win the 300th blog post contest. Drawing is on Sunday night!

The Rest of NYC

2011-09-22T08:13:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, we met up with some good friends from college and their 2 year old daughter, Angelina, for some brunch at Bubby's Pie Company. I had been to the Brooklyn location before but this time we visited the original location in Tribeca.

I am sure they make other delicious things at Bubby's, but I am only interested in the pancakes for breakfast, brunch or anytime I can get them. Between our table of 4.5 we ordered three kinds, from left to right: blueberry, sour cream w/strawberries (my pick, so good!) and banana walnut.

After brunch we walked down to see the progress being made on One World Trade (Freedom Tower). We would have liked to have gone in to see the 9/11 Memorial but there aren't visitor passes available until mid-November - so if you are planning on visiting at some point go online and reserve your pass now.

After doing a little shopping in the city, Brian and I headed back to Brooklyn for dinner with Jessica and Brian. (Oh yes, we made it to and from Manhattan on the subway*!) We ate at a delicious Italian place called Fiore. The lighting was a little dim (hence the sort of odd colored food picture) but it was cozy and relaxed. We shared a bottle of wine and this amazing appetizer - Calamaretti fritti con zucchine corccanti (or fried calamari and zucchini). Back at their apartment, Jessica's Brian made us a cocktail, a nice way to end the day.

On Monday Brian and I walked down the street to the Blue Bottle Coffee Co. It reminded me of how nice it would be to walk more places at home, especially good places. For lunch we went to Pies & Thighs with Jessica before we headed to the airport. Pictured is my grilled cheese and Arnold Palmer and Jessica's Chicken Biscuit.

In all, it was a wonderful weekend - cool fall weather, good friends, the general hum of the city, people watching, minimal subway hassles and my second pared down packing challenge a success - had everything I needed and more. Thanks for checking in!

*Our subway travels were made easier by using HopStop, a great suggestion from Jessica. They have other cities besides NYC and helps you plan your route, pick up times, etc. for your public transport/taxi/bike/walking needs.

300th Post - A Prizepack!

2011-09-21T08:02:00.002-05:00

I interrupt my regularly scheduled programming (more on NYC tomorrow) to bring you another blog contest. Hard to believe that 100 more posts have flown out of my keyboard since last time but it's true - today is the 300th post! I just wanted to say thanks again for reading, commenting and following along with my adventures. You mean a lot to me and to say "thank you" the way I like (giving gifts) I bring you my travel essentials prize pack! (Don't worry, blog winner weekend be back soon, it's just on a little break this time around. I also thought it would be nice for my international readers to have a chance to win too!)

Includes: Laptop Messenger Bag (City Map Print), International SMASH Journal (with three other SMASH items), a GoToob (a new way to travel with liquids, awesome!), $10 Starbucks gift card, Vera Bradley travel jewelry box, Wet Ones and Cottenelle Wipes (must have always!), first aid kit, Coleman soap sheets (so handy), a Schick Intuition razor, yummy 3-pack of spearmint gum, Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2011 book, a waterproof bag (perfect for your electronics/camera while boating, camping or just walking in the rain), a cool journal, a year's subscription to Budget Travel magazine, Hendrick's Gin playing cards and drink recipe book (an ode to my favorite travel games and craft cocktails) and a year's subscription to the website Workaway.info.

This prize pack can be yours, all you need to do is enter! The rules are easy and it's open to everyone. Here's what you need to do:

Comment on this post with your name and something you like about the blog or something you'd like to see more of in the future. (Yes, you can do both if you'd like.)
Follow the blog with Google Friend Connect (to the right). This will earn you an additional entry in the drawing. (If you have a different username than your actual name [Example: Google user name = Boongal46, real name = Sally] , let me know that when you comment is so I can count it.)
The drawing will be held on Sunday, September 25th, at 10pm (Central Time) so you don't have long!
The winner will be announced on Monday, September 26th!

That's it, pretty easy, good luck!

A Saturday in New York

2011-09-20T07:52:00.000-05:00

After our trip out to Governors Island we headed back to Brooklyn where we enjoyed the rest of our day, mostly eating and hanging out - a perfect Saturday combo for me! Check it out:

This weekly street-fair-meets-food-carts gathering was an eclectic mix of delicacies. From fried anchovies to Indonesian Cashew Brittle your taste-buds could be entertained for hours at Smorgasburg.

Since it was the first day of Oktoberfest, we headed to Radegast Hall & Biergarten for some beer, food and music.

Looking for a some good old-fashioned fun, we headed to The Gutter for some friendly competition. The Brians each won a string but Jessica and I didn't do too shabbily - I even got four strikes in one game!

Across the street from the bowling alley we found this dumpster in the park. I, of course, couldn't resist snapping a photo and sharing it with you. Only in NYC, people. Thanks for checking in!

Reminiscing in New York

2011-09-19T07:16:00.000-05:00

I'm not usually one at a loss for words or at a loss for what to do next, etc. However, when we took the ferry out to Governors Island and went ashore to one of my childhood haunts I was a little overwhelmed to say the least. Oddly, I even felt like I might cry. I only lived there for three years but you know how when you're a kid and think things are way more monumental than they really are? Especially during the formative years? Yeah, anyways, it's like that. Here are some photos from the trip out, the rest of the day will be coming tomorrow.

You can rent bikes to ride around the island now, although at $40/hour for this set of wheels we opted for a photo and nothing more. (Brian and Jessica in the front; Brian and I in the back.)

I didn't live here but I do remember playing on this playground a few times with a friend of mine who did. It's sad to see all these big brick buildings falling into disrepair and being used as a firefighter training school.

I rode my bike on this sidewalk many times - and tried desperately from falling into "doggy island" on the right-hand side.

Some remnants from the Coast Guard days on the island still stand for now. The photo on the right was where we went for groceries, haircuts, dry cleaning, etc.

We lived here, in New Brick Village - or at least that's what we called it, having moved previously from "Old Brick Village". The trees are starting to reclaim their land as you can see.

I was so excited to see that you could walk into my old church, St. Cornelius Chapel. But then I was kind of sad that they had taken out the pews and put in a modern art exhibit. Why?

Iconic view from the island - Lady Liberty and the Staten Island Ferry.

Manhattan from the island. (Mom, notice the ferry terminals in the center.) That's it for now, thanks for checking in!

Eating New York

2011-09-17T08:42:00.000-05:00

Okay, I won't really be eating New York but why not try? There are so many great options. Here are some highlights from our first day in the city:

We arrived at around 11am and headed out to pick up some lunch. We walked down to Saltie's, a cute little, nautical themed sandwich shop. I had the delicious tomato salad above with a watermelon juice, a perfect meal.

After lunch Brian, Jessica and I headed out to visit the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. It is available by guided tour only so we picked the "Getting By" tour which focused on life in the tenement house for immigrants during The Panic of 1873 and The Great Depression. It was a very info packed look back at how hard life used to be for immigrants and we talked about how things weren't so different today.

After the hour-long tour, we walked over to the Economy Candy store with floor to ceiling offerings of every candy under the sun including a one pound Sugar Daddy, not that I like Sugar Daddies, but still! I did buy some sour cherries and Bottlecaps, Brian bought some black licorice.

Naturally, after a visit to the candy store we headed to Jessica's favorite cupcake place, Sugar Sweet Sunshine. Best cupcake of my life - Ooey Gooey - dark chocolate cake with chocolate almond butter-cream frosting. I almost went up and bought another but I controlled myself.

Cool graffiti mural across the street from Jessica and Brian's place (yes, this weekend there will be two Brians).

Finally, (my) Brian and I ended the day with a dinner date at Samurai Mama. The Veggie Gyoza was delicious, as was the spicy tuna roll and the spicy ginger margarita. A nice, cozy place for a date even though you are dining at a large table for 30.

A quick checkup on my public transportation progress: we took a cab from the airport to Jessica and Brian's apartment (no points), we took the subway into the Lower East side and back (+2) - with Jessica (-2). So, the days ends where it began. Better than backsliding I say! Thanks for checking in!

Bits and Bobs

2011-09-16T06:31:00.000-05:00

Bit 1 ~ Yesterday I was reading one of my favorite friend's blogs and I kept thinking how genius her post was and how I wanted to share it with anyone who doesn't read her blog. My friends are relocating from KC to Baltimore for ten months and have two of the cutest/smartest/funniest little girls on earth. They wanted to find a way to keep the girls busy so my friend Katie crafted these for them:

These binders are chock full of creative activities and excitement. You can read all the details here.

Bit 2 ~ We are leaving for New York City this morning and best of all I found out that the tickets Brian booked are direct! In addition to our trip out to Governors Island and meeting up with some friends from college, we have wide open spaces of time to enjoy and explore the city. However, I originally had selected the dates to visit on account of this event but after making the plans mentioned I realized that it didn't really fit into the schedule after all, plus we'll save $100 on tickets. It's kind of nice to just show up and see what happens but I can't help but think we might miss out on something.

Bit 3 ~ I just discovered this week that TSA has a blog. If you want to know all they want you to know about TSA you can check it out here.

Bob 1 ~ Last year I got kind of spoiled (okay fine, fully spoiled) and spent Thanksgiving in Lanai, HI with Brian. I realize that with me not working and in school, the budget is not as accommodating of my adventurous ideas for this Thanksgiving. However, I just can't get this place out my head:

This airbnb "private jungle villa with pool", located in Costa Rica, looks like the perfect place to spend a holiday with my hubby. High in the trees and away from it all, for $49/night it's hard to pass up. You can see more photos here and maybe if you book it for Thanksgiving weekend I will have to give up my quest for it by default. My budget will thank you!

Bob 2 ~ This doesn't seem that impressive, Kansas City was just voted #17 in Travel and Leisure's "America's Best Cities for Foodies". Not impressive at all until you look at the cities ahead of it! Whoa, go KC. Yummy!

Bob 3 ~ Hmm, I'm not even sure I know what a bob is. Oh well, thanks for checking in and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Packing Challenge: City Style

2011-09-14T09:23:00.000-05:00

Alright, I survived my first pared down packing experiment back in July/August, however in all fairness I was packing for a week in the woods. This had to be the easiest one to start with. I am now heading into round two - a four day weekend in New York City. Shockingly, the city is far more stylish than the middle of the woods. This challenge is compounded with weather (high low 70's/low mid 50's) and the fact that I am not entirely sure what all we'll be up too, which necessitates some flexibility in my wardrobe selections. Here is what I came up with:

Exactly one dozen toiletries - really glad I don't wear makeup, it saves me from lugging around more.

Okay, I realize that three pairs of pants is probably a bit much but I had a regular and a fancy pair of jeans picked out and then I spotted my long forgotten (over the summer) pair of grey cords and had to add them. Then, NYC is going to recognize me by this jacket because I'm only packing one.

Two sweaters and three fancy tanks.

Then we have jammies (shorts and a t-shirt), two other t-shirts, five pairs of socks and three pairs of shoes - all relatively comfortable to walk all over the city in.

I like to pack one "outfit" where I have something planned for the day after I arrive so I at least look put together on one day. I really should have added white tank tops to my post on things I never leave home without.

Finally, I won't be packing into my hiking backpack this time, but am opting for something that will be easy to handle on the subway and the sidewalks. This is the smallest suitcase I have with wheels so I think it will work as a carry-on just fine. I haven't decided what to bring as my other carry-on but I'll probably go with my laptop backpack (hands-free!).

In addition to the 38 items pictured, I am also bringing 7 undergarments, my laptop, camera, iPod, sunglasses, a book, two magazines, my wallet, a small purse, my idea journal, a pack of gum, a couple of granola bars, two shoe bags, one Space Bag for dirty clothes and a pen. This brings me to a grand total of 63 items (including my other carry-on bag, in case you were counting) and a bit of anxiety as I wonder if I packed enough stuff. I am sort of surprised at how hard this is for me but I think it's good practice. Thanks for checking in!

In the News

2011-09-12T07:50:00.002-05:00

Cool, two things I'm loving made the news this morning! The first is an article about our trip to the Mexican border and the other is about the organization I am interning with. Thanks for checking them out!

Article from the Catholic Key can be found here. The NBC Action news story on dLO Water can be found here. Hope you have a terrific week!

Vagabonding

2011-09-09T07:01:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading this truly fantastic book that gives you everything from the ideology to the how to's of vagabonding - defined as long-term travel. The thing I like most, even more than the idea of taking off on long, uncharted adventures, is the practical wisdom the book offers readers, regardless of whether you actually end up leaving home or not.

I was particularly struck by the section on "Meet Your Neighbors" where the author was discussing the importance of getting beyond your fellow traveler's company to meet and spend time with the locals. In this section historian Dagobert Runes is quoted, "People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home." I found this sad but true, although I have definitely started talking to more strangers and asking people where they are from when I am around home. I meet the most interesting people that way.

The other nice thing about this book are all the personal stories from vagabonders and the lists of resources and tips from the author. Also, the far flung places discussed are enough to make any traveler drool. So in conclusion, and not to sound too much like a Reading Rainbow book report, this book is a quick and interesting read that I would highly recommend. What have you been reading lately?

Confession

2011-09-07T08:06:00.001-05:00

I have used this blog in the past to highlight some attributes of my travel personality and share my addiction to travel in general. I have shared pet peeves, quirks and my own public service announcements - in the hopes that someone would read them and finally understand how to not annoy fellow passengers. I have not shared any of my fears associated with travel, until now. I am a public transport-phob (or a muniphobic) but not for the reasons you might think. This is not about germs or rubbing elbows with strangers, it's more about the process in general.

When I was in high school I had a summer job across town. I usually rode my bike to and from work, because although I was working for my dad at the time, he left WAY too early for my liking and I figured I was being very grown up by doing it my own way. For some reason, I decided to take the public bus home from work one day. Public transportation wasn't overly popular where I grew up so I had never used it in Maine. (When I lived in NYC as a kid we had used it often but my parents where always in charge of the details on that.) On this particular day I rode the bus will full confidence that it would eventually go where I needed to be let off.

I was wrong, of course. The bus finally stopped on yet another side of town from where I lived and the bus driver told me I needed to get off as it was the end of the line. I panicked. I actually needed to be home for something that night and this was before the era of cell phone technology. I remember walking/running home, probably crying in anger at how I had failed at this bus thing. It was not my finest moment.

Since then, having grown up, purchased my own cars and bought a house in the 'burbs, I still am not in a position where public transport is a part of my life. So, when I travel to a place where buses and subways are the norm I freak out a little bit. If I am with other people I play it cool and pretend I know what we're doing and where we're going, secretly hoping that I can sponge off the other person's transportation-related skills. But I'm not always with other people and I know that this phobia is limiting - trust me, I have walked sometimes more than one human should in a day just to avoid navigating which line to get on. Brian and I even had an incident on our honeymoon in Dublin with a bus snafu and a giant walk back to our hotel.

I am sharing all this now because I am determined to fix my problem. Since I am going to be in NYC, Chicago and D.C. in the near future I am going to have some time to practice and hopefully get over this silly problem once and for all, hopefully. I just thought writing it down would allow some of you to ask me how it's going from time to time and I will try to remember to share my progress. Maybe we can help each other. Do you have any travel phobias?

Aimless

2011-09-05T09:13:00.000-05:00

I was driving home on Friday from south of Kansas City. I followed the sign above only to find out an hour later that I had actually traveled south, instead of north. This was discovered this when I arrived in a town that I had not been to on my way down in the morning. That's part of the problem with driving in Kansas, it looks the same no matter what direction you are heading. Anyway, I was more than frustrated to discover that my one hour drive home was turning into a three hour drive. You may be wondering how such an idiotic thing is possible, as I was, but there were no highway markers along the road alerting me to my mistake.

After I cooled off from being angry with myself - for wasting time, gas and making my leisurely evening very hectic, leaving myself no time for dinner, etc. - I thought about the following (which I think sort of redeemed the event for me a little bit):

How often are we cruising down the road of life with little regard for the direction we're headed in? Misreading, or ignoring, signs that would keep us on track or lend help when we were entering new territory? When we do screw up, why don't we cut ourselves a little slack or get a little perspective on things before cursing everything around us, or just ourselves? I know I could do better at all of these but at least I am noticing them. I guess that's the first step. Thanks for checking in and I hope you have a great week!

Backyard Roadtrip - Take 2

2011-09-02T08:39:00.000-05:00

Along the way up to Hamilton and back, about an hour and a half each way, there are countless treasures to check out and explore. If I had more time I would've seen them all but there's always next time. Here is what I found:

On the way up north ~

My first stop was in my hometown of Lee's Summit, MO. Proper caffeination is important on road-trips and I love any excuse to visit the Whistle Stop Coffee and Mercantile in our downtown area. Pictured is their delicious mocha and three mini lemon biscotti, a steal for only $0.35 each!

My next stop was in Liberty, MO to pick up a half dozen cupcakes at 3 Girls Cupcakes. I normally follow them on Twitter, as they travel in their cruiser all over Kansas City stopping to sell their goodness to the locals, however, due to some car trouble they weren't out delivering the day I passed through and I arranged a morning pickup at their house. They are so delicious and their flavors are inventive.

On the way back ~

Brian's mom joined me for another day of adventure as I headed back home. Our first stop was at the James Farm and Museum where Jesse James was born in Kearney, MO. We had a 30 minute tour of the home and explored the museum on our own. Pictured here is the James' family home and Jesse's tombstone (a replica because people kept chipping away at the original for souvenirs). Jesse's mother buried him in the front yard so she could keep her eye on him. I love what she had put on his tombstone.

We then headed to Excelsior Springs, MO and stopped at the Ventana Gourmet Grill for some lunch. I had a delicious Veggie Special sandwich. This place also has a live piano bar on some evenings.

After lunch we visited the Hall of Waters, also in Excelsior Springs. This place was quite interesting. Currently it acts as a city hall and a mini-museum to the by-gone days of when this building was a mineral water bottling plant, a mineral spa, a water bar and a swimming hole (with a one foot deep pool in the basement).

We obviously had some fun at the Hall of Waters. We sampled some of the mineral water at the water bar pictured at the top/right. Then we headed into the non-functioning spa and tried out some of the equipment. It was a working spa up until a couple of years ago, sad it wasn't still open now. The million dollar building (built for that back in 1937) was quite impressive and opulent. It's not a place you'd be at long but if you are in the area it's totally worth seeing.

Finally, we ended our day with a stop at the Oooey Gooey Chocolates shop. I tried frozen peanut butter chocolate cheesecake on a stick. Brian's mom is an even bigger chocolate fan than I am, so I think it was a pretty great way to end our day. Thanks for checking in!

Backyard Roadtrip - Take 1

2011-09-01T07:58:00.001-05:00

Sometimes when I am not able to go very far, I like to be a tourist in places close to home. I hadn't been up to see where my in-laws had recently moved, so I decided to make a trip of it. I will bring it to you in two parts, first up Hamilton, MO, where the in-laws live now, and north to Jamesport, MO where we spent rest of the afternoon. (Tomorrow I will be highlighting the stops along the way up and back.)

Hamilton, MO - Known for being A.) Home of the Missouri Star Quilt Company and a giant quilting machine (pictured) - and even though I don't even know how to quilt I found it quite lovely. I thought if I did ever pick up quilting I would select the pirate patterns and prints, too cute! B.) A location with one restaurant, other than a Subway, called Past Times. The fried cheese balls with ranch dressing were delicious! C.) The birthplace of J.C. Penney, and home of a museum bearing his name. The likeness of him, pictured above, scared me a little when we walked in. I liked the book pictured - Business Training Course. I wonder if I could sub that in for grad school?

The signs of Jamesport and a calf.

Our adventures in Jamesport, MO included walking around town checking out the antiques stores, an herbal remedies shop, a bakery and the Wholly Cow custard and fudge shop (best peanut butter/chocolate fudge I've ever had). Jamesport is home to the largest Amish population in Missouri so there were lots of buggies in town (hence the "no hitching" sign) and beautiful furniture for purchase.

We also drove a little farther north, and checked out a dairy farm where we met the calf (pictured) and sampled the local cheeses. The turn off to the cheese farm was at the corner of the third sign above. (Sorry, I couldn't help myself, that's what it was.) I bought some Jalapeno cheese to bring home to Brian. In all it was a pretty fun day even despite the temperature in the 100's. Thanks for checking in!

Traveling Twitter

2011-08-30T07:56:00.000-05:00

Many of my favorite bloggers and magazines have done posts and articles on their favorite blogs which I have thoroughly enjoyed. They got me thinking about where else I gather my news, tips and ideas about travel and I thought about my favorite Twitter accounts to follow. If you have been reading this blog for awhile you may remember that I only recently started using Twitter, having resisted for awhile. Since making the addition of this social media to my life I have been pleasantly surprised at how much I like it.

I have found out about news way before I would've before, got a free book, found out about concerts and events and have been able to interact with new and interesting people. I am still learning but so far it has not disappointed, especially for travel. Here are some of my favorite handles to follow:

@airbnb - Their tweets are mostly about new properties that you can stay at but they are always out of the ordinary and amazing - a luxury houseboat that gets towed to different places on a river in Thailand anyone?
@budgettravel - I love their magazine, so it's not a huge surprise that I like their tweets. However, they post many of their Real Deals (awesome budget friendly vacation packages to exotic locales) and make me want to get away almost everyday.
@lonelyplanet - Like their paperback travel guides, Lonely Planet gives readers the off-the-beaten path kind of travel insight that I love. Their Twitter feed takes their advice to another level by giving followers great links to travel blogs, travel trends and news.
@frugaltraveler - The Frugal Traveler from the New York Times is one of my favorite travel blogs, his Twitter feed brings his trips to life in real time, includes anecdotes not always reported on the blog and alerts me to new posts.
@visitkc - I like knowing what is going on around town and this account yields a wide variety of fun, local events for me to check out.

Who do you follow for travel-related goodness on Twitter? I'm always looking for new and thoughtful content. Thanks!

Tennessee Honey

2011-08-28T18:05:00.000-05:00

I hadn't posted a drink recipe in a little while so I thought I would share my weekend discovery with you. On a recent trip to Nashville (you can check that out here, here and here) I was introduced to Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, so smooth and sweet! I returned to Kansas City and couldn't find it anywhere. On a Friday night trip to Gomer's, to find a ginger liquor I've been looking for, we found some. (We also found the ginger liquor but I couldn't bring myself to making such a large and lush-like purchase, gotta space those investments out, right?) I had picked up some ginger beer earlier this past week (two cans for $1 at Hyvee!) and was hoping to a fun way to mix it up.

I searched online for recipes and found the following on the Facebook fan page for Tennessee Honey. It was delicious and brought me back to Nashville instantly. Check it out:

Jack & Swarmy

1/4 part lime juice or lime wedge squeezed (I improvised with lemon juice to avoid another trip to the store)

1.5 parts Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey

4 parts ginger beer

Stir (as to not upset the ginger beer carbonation balance too much) and pour over ice.

Enjoy!

Hope you have a fabulous week and if not, maybe temper it with a Jack & Swarmy! Cheers!

Finally Going Back

2011-08-26T09:10:00.000-05:00

I know it's a t-shirt cliché, but I ♥ New York City! Last summer I was there for work and I had reminisced on the blog about a memory from my childhood. I was lucky enough to have lived there from kindergarten through second grade, which although short was that time in your life where you are impressionable and can actually remember things that went on (as opposed to being 2 years old). After my family moved away we continued to visit NYC about once a year and I continued to love it and learn more about what makes it so unique. I am taking Brian there in three weeks and I am hoping to give him a tour of some of my favorite things.

Arial view of the island, courtesy of The Trust for Governor's Island.

I am most excited to show him where I used to live - Governors Island, just off lower Manhattan. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal to show someone an island you grew up on but it was a military base for 200 years and has been closed since 1996. After it closed, the rumor mill started up - it was going to be given to NYU for research, they were going to build a resort there for the uber-riche, it was just going to be closed...and finally, what really happened - it opened as a public park after it was sold to the State of NY for $1. They have recently built some of the park and have lots more plans to go before the whole island is a glorious and historic park (still maintaining many of the old forts, canons, mansions, etc.)

A walk near Colonel's Row, best trick-or-treating spot ever! (Photo courtesy of The Trust for Governor's Island.)

I bet it's changed a lot since the mid-80's. I am sure P.S. 26 (my elementary school) has been torn down, in addition to our military housing, the bowling alley, the swimming pools, the ferry station where my mom used to sell her banana cake, etc. It will be a little sad to see (or not see, I guess) but I am hoping some things remain that I can point out and feel familiar with. I will be sure to report what I find there when we go. As the island closes up this weekend in anticipation of Hurricane Irene, I have memories of boarding up our windows there in anticipation of Hurricane Gloria - I guess some things never change.

The view from Governors Island - this was what we saw out of our living room window growing up. (Photo courtesy of The Trust for Governor's Island.)

Interested in checking it out for yourself? The free weekend ferries from Manhattan and Brooklyn make it easy and affordable to go out and have a look around, pack a picnic and enjoy the view of the Statue of Liberty from the prettiest island on earth. Thanks for checking in!

Travel Hacking

2011-08-25T07:51:00.000-05:00

I listened to a story recently on NPR's Planet Money about travel hackers. (You can listen to it here.) Basically, travel hacking is a way to get cheap or ideally free flights, hotels, meals, etc. [For the record, I think hacking sounds shady and I wouldn't want to do anything that wasn't legitimate.] While some people profiled in the piece went to insane lengths to get travel for free, others seemed downright enterprising.

It, of course, got me thinking about how I might get in on that, especially since my current travel stash of rewards is nice, but small, and the family's income is currently going to tuition and bills. Here are a couple of websites that gave me some more information on how people go about hacking the system:

Flyertalk - "interactive community that provides up-to-date information on travel-related loyalty reward programs"; I mostly found the site overwhelming but following them on Twitter has been interesting so far
One Mile at a Time - this blog has advice on a little bit of everything and is organized by airline, I find the posts interesting and helpful
Travel Hacking Cartel - this pay for service site somehow gives you ideas and/or access to getting frequent flier miles without flying; not much for free content but seems like a good and lazy way to get started
Travel Hacking Blog - this gives some quick tips on ideas on how to get started and things to consider when on the road

Yesterday I saw on Twitter that Kayak was allowing people to get their "Hacker Fares" - basically allowing a search of two one way tickets to and from your desired destination and book on separate airlines if that was cheaper. I think the easiest way, in my newness to the subject, is to get no annual fee credit cards that offer travel rewards for using your card once (and then canceling the card after it gets paid off). According to some of the recent pre-approved credit card offers I have been receiving lately, the airlines are definitely onto that idea and are charging an annual fee for the best reward deals.

Then I came across this article today which talked about "cards that every traveler should consider." I am going to research their list further but noticed that they left off the Capital One Venture card. I think travel hacking may be going mainstream, if the abundance of all these articles and information is any indication of it's growing popularity. How about you? Ever done anything you would consider travel hacking before? Thanks for stopping by!

Restructuring

2011-08-24T08:46:00.000-05:00

This is just a quick post to let you know that if you are interested in what I am up to as I redirect my life's path, I will be keeping track of the goings on on this page here.

In other news, I am happy to report that "the streak" has been once again extended to 38 months with a trip booked to New York City with Brian in September. (I already had a quick trip to Chicago planned for October.) I realize that at some point I am going to have to give this up, but not without some effort first. The worst thing about school and not really knowing when I will start working again is not being able to schedule trips out very far. I will be taking a small road-trip next week and maybe another the week after that, so I'll be out and about.

I appreciate you checking out what I am up to and hope life is going well for you!

In the Meantime

2011-08-23T10:22:00.001-05:00

Today is my third day at home since I left my job (yay, for traveling the other three weeks of that time) and I am starting to realize that it's very easy to find things to do. Some of you may be wondering what I am going to do now that I am not employed, besides going to grad school. For those of you who know me, I know you are not worried that I will find some way to keep myself occupied. I recently blogged about the world water crisis and how I am hoping to get involved with that. I am excited to announce that I started an internship yesterday with my friend Moree's biodegradable bottled water company (dLO Water) that raises money to support clean water projects around the world.

I am going to be helping out with their social media efforts and anything else they need while I figure out my next move career-wise. I am excited to be joining this team and to start learning more about what we all can do to bring clean water to those in need. dLO just finished a new promo video that will give you a little more information on them, check it out:

Good Times

2011-08-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

In addition to several other places I mentioned recently I have also been wanting to check out the Livestrong Sporting Park. When my friend Alicia asked if I wanted to see Bush with her there - in addition to Incubus, Neon Trees, etc. - I was all in. Unfortunately for Livestrong, I found the venue to be a bust as far as hospitality and navigation goes. However, the bands, weather and seats were great. I'll probably give it another try sometime for what they were built for - football (aka - American soccer).

From top left (clockwise): Gavin, my free berry plate from the dessert bar (my thanks to the servers who didn't know how to charge me for "just berries"), Alicia and I chilling in the good seats and the stage for Buzz Beach Ball.

Despite some awkward moments standing in the middle of a mini drug den and dodging crowd-surfing feet while Bush played, it was a solid show. Alicia had been waiting 15 years to see Bush in concert and was not disappointed. Incubus was as good as I remembered from my college days (despite the slow ballads thrown in for good measure) and the awesome female drummer/backing vocalist for Neon Trees made my day. In all, it was a great day. Thanks for checking in!

Leaving Home

2011-08-19T09:42:00.000-05:00

UMKC's mascot bush on campus.

In one of my classes this past week, our Organizational Leadership professor introduced us to the three main steps of the spiritual journey:

1.) Leaving home - escaping the shackles of convention

2.) The quest - entering wilderness, plunging the depths, confronting demons

3.) Returning home - armed w/gifts earned during the journey

He also likened these steps to paralleling virtually all movie plots. As I thought about my first week of ~~boot camp~~ grad school, I thought about traveling and all the journeys I have been on. Walking on campus for the first time yesterday, trying to find where I could procure my student ID, I felt like a stranger in a foreign land. I had to stop and ask for directions, walk farther than anticipated due to poor parking/map coordination and endure the Kansas City heat - which rivaled any African heat I have experienced. But despite that, I am excited to be starting on another wild ride because who knows where I might end up and the gifts I will end up carrying. Thanks for checking in!

Hotel Living

2011-08-16T09:05:00.000-05:00

So, this week I am back home in Kansas City, but I am living at the Intercontinental Hotel for a one week residency to kick off grad school. As a compliment to long days in the classroom, we are lucky enough to be eating good food and sleeping a couple of floors below! I love hotel living - especially having someone make my bed and when the hotel is nice. The Intercontinental ranks fairly high in my book for things like cleanliness (no other people's hairs lying about), ample outlets (a big plus in my book), king-sized bed (so I can sleep my favorite way - like I was dropped off a building - or a star, depending on how you look at it) and best of all, this...

...a towel elephant! I thought you only got these on cruise ships. I was hoping on day two it would morph into a different animal but I found an elephant still sitting in my chair when I got back after the end of the day. Maybe I should find out how to make a different animal and leave it for the maid as a trade. Thanks for checking in!

Recent Read Roundup Take 2

2011-08-15T06:58:00.001-05:00

As I have been doing my pre-homework for grad school which, by the time you read this started yesterday, I have also been trying to work in some reading for fun. I have only gotten through two chapters in one of the books I was looking forward to in my last recent read roundup post, but managed to pick up a couple of others.

The books I just finished:

My friend Julie (from Roving I) suggested this book to me when we had our recent meetup. She said any traveler had to read this and she was right. (Especially since I grew up hiking on parts of the Appalachian trail.) This tale of two friends discovering the woods in mid-life was charming and filled in some interesting details of American history as well as the history behind the famed trail that runs from Maine to Georgia. I even had a dream/nightmare about hiking during the period I spent reading the book.

I won't lie, I did not pick out this book on my own. It was one of the books I had to pre-read for school for a class on leadership. I was not that excited about it but as I started reading it I kept thinking about a) how much my dad would love it (having been in the Coast Guard) and b) how good it was. This harrowing tale of the 1914 failed cross-Antarctic expedition left you wondering how everyone survived. (I'm not giving too much away, as it is in history books, but I would suggest it to those of you who love a great, heroic tale and those of you who, like me, would like to make it to Antarctica someday.)

This book was the perfect read for me - funny and timely. Reading it just as I was leaving my job was a nice encouragement. The author of the book, and also author of the blog gapingvoid, interspersed wisdom about living your dreams with his ingenious little cartoons. A quick read that is definitely worth checking out, especially if you are working on a little "evil plan" on your own.

And two books I am hoping to get to soon:

This book explores the past 8,000 years of human impact on the planet. Nice and depressing. Hmm, this won't make me angry at all I'm sure.

A Night Out In El Paso

2011-08-13T07:42:00.001-05:00

As promised, here is the rest of Thursday's adventures...

This is the house we stayed at during our visit - the Sisters of St. Joseph House. It had a great view of the city below.

Our group graciously allowed me to indulge my inner foodie and we dined at a place downtown called Crave Kitchen & Bar. Luckily, for the second night in a row, Yelp did not disappoint. Everyone enjoyed delicious food as we sat out on the patio and enjoyed the weather. My portobello mushroom burger was probably the best I have ever had and was accompanied by a sweet and spicy cucumber salad and a ginger lemonade.

The decor at Crave was very creative. All these knives, forks and spoons hung from the ceiling by twine and the definition of the word 'crave' wrapped around the walls in a nice script-y font.


After dinner we drove to Murchison Park to see the view of the surrounding area - El Paso and mostly Juarez and the Rio Grande. Lots of people were hanging out in the park along with some food vendors. A nice activity for our last evening.

Processing

2011-08-12T08:42:00.002-05:00

Estela and me. We spent most of the day together talking about the current needs of Anapra, buying prizes for kids with good grades and things for back to school.

Yesterday was another busy day - one I will split into two posts. Tomorrow you will hear about another yummy meal and see some great photos from our night visit to a park overlooking the city of El Paso and Juarez. But for now, I just want to reflect a little bit about our trip down here.

I get this feeling, when I am in a place like this, that I have a choice. I can either come to a place, hear about how other people live, reflect on how difficult some of the situations are and then walk away. Or I can really let it sink in and keep these people with me when I go - thinking of them, learning about their lives, writing letters to them, sponsoring their children in school, etc. It's really easy to make the first choice, getting so wrapped up in all the little details and dramas of my own life and make myself as comfortable as I can. That, to me, seems like the choice I need to fight off everyday.

It can also be easy, especially for me, to get pulled into so many directions of need that I get distracted. The drought in the Horn of Africa, the 884 million people who lack access to clean water in the world, children who aren't receiving a decent education, immigration, women who lack the resources to leave their abusers and nations at war - to name a few. My mind holds all of this and tries to decide what my priorities should be. I read articles and try to keep up with what the world is facing but it sometimes gets overwhelming. I tell myself it's better to start somewhere than nowhere.

I can't start to imagine how things are in Anapra daily, like the fear of nearby violence in Juarez, the concern about how much rain will fall and if the roof will hold for another season or if your job will last much longer knowing that there aren't any other possibilities available. We are left to listen, offer what we have to share for resources and make life a little better for both of us by building a community. I feel like a stranger to most of the people we met this week but it definitely doesn't have to stay that way. Thanks for checking in!

Don't Fence Me In

2011-08-11T08:10:00.001-05:00

So yesterday was spent at the border - half visiting with two groups of friends at the fence and the other half doing a ride-along with the U.S Border Patrol. It was a very interesting duo of events to have in one day. Since we took a million pictures I will let them tell the story...

This was the morning group - you can get the sense of what it was like to meet across the fence with our friends. We met for two hours and shared back and forth what life was like, a little politics and lots of smiles. We were being monitored closely by four Border Patrol trucks, so we were safe but watched. The sun was behind the clouds most of the time and a cool breeze blew. It was a little sad to not be able to see everyone properly and give them hugs, but we'll be back.

Some photos from our ride-along tour. Obviously you have the fence and the large picture on the bottom left corner is of Anapra from a hill. The top left photo is of Brandon, Matt and Sandy from left to right - they were all listening to Officer Scott talking about the fence. The right middle is a photo of the fence up close and then through the fence where you can see a rope and other items used by people trying to climb over. Oh yeah, and that's me in a drainage tunnel.

We ate dinner at a delicious restaurant (Lacey, you would've loved it!) called L & J Cafe. I had a delicious, albeit unphotogenic, bean and cheese burrito with green chile strips. And then we ended with some yummy sopapillas (photo by Brandon and don't worry Katie, he ate one for you too).

Our evening meeting at the fence included this little cutie, one of Estela's granddaughters. We also got to meet two of Estela's sons, see her husband and some more of her grandkids.

In all, it was a very good day. Definitely a lot to think about. Thanks for checking in!

Driving Texas - Day 2

2011-08-10T08:50:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was another pretty uneventful day of driving. We entertained ourselves mostly with NPR podcasts, finishing Bossypants and looking up things in the U.S. atlas - I know you're jealous. We finally located a Starbucks, which was probably the highlight of the day, besides arriving at our destination and picking up the other two people in our group from the El Paso airport. The place we're staying at is really nice - we all have our own bedrooms and the Sisters are very friendly. Here are a couple of photos from our day:

Driving through pretty desolate, flat land got me to looking up in the sky. I got lots of pictures of clouds and played that "what does it look like" game by myself - I thought this one was a pretty good dog.

We saw a ton of oil pump jacks so I had to photograph at least one.

The Sisters had all of our names on napkin rings when we arrived. I thought this was really cute.

So, we have a pretty big and hot adventure ahead of us - today we are having our first meeting with our Anapra friends across the fence and going for a ride-along with the Border Patrol. (This photo is to mark the whiteness of my skin to start with - I hope to be just as pasty when I depart.)

Driving Texas - Day 1

2011-08-09T07:16:00.000-05:00

So yesterday my friends Matt and Brandon and I drove from Kansas City to Dallas, TX on our way to El Paso/Anapra for our border meetings. It was a pretty uneventful drive - punctuated by me reading my accounting textbook and us listening to Tina Fey's Bossypants (a book you should check out) - not at the same time, of course. We stopped for lunch at a local burger joint outside of Tulsa called Arnold's. There was a problem with the translation between a grilled cheese vs. a cheeseburger and I ended up eating onion rings and a cherry limeade for lunch - definitely not one of my finest meals. (In Arnold's defense, the lady was apologetic about the mixup and offered me my money back or a takeout box full of veggies instead.)

We met up with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law in Dallas for dinner and a night's sleep. We dined at the Twisted Root Burger Co. - home of the best burger in Texas.

I had the black bean burger Chipotle, Guac and Cheddar style with sweet potato chips. Delish, but probably the second bad meal too many for one day. Very thankful for an iron stomach.

We have another long day of driving ahead of us today, 10 hours and 34 minutes to be exact, but I am excited to be driving across a different part of Texas (I've done the panhandle before, through Amarillo). Speaking of past roadtrip endeavors, this current trip will only rank fifth overall for longest roadtrips I've been on. In order:

5.) This trip (Kansas City to El Paso, TX)

4.) Kansas City to Endwell, NY (for a friend's wedding)

3.) Rochester, NY to Kansas City (for me to meet Brian's parents over spring break when we were dating)

2.) Riverside, CA to Kansas City (moving six months after getting to Riverside)

1.) South Portland, ME to Riverside, CA (yeah, all the way across the country and bonus - like in trip #2 - driving a moving truck towing a minivan! We figured that during this trip our three week old marriage would be made or broken, we are fortunate it was the former.)

Thanks for checking in!

airbnb - Take One

2011-08-08T06:52:00.000-05:00

A little while ago I wrote about airbnb.com and how we were going to try out the service as an inexpensive option to a hotel room when in Bangor. Unfortunately for airbnb.com, they have become more well known since then after a host had a really terrible experience (a tragedy really, I feel awful for her), you can read about it here. The good news is that airbnb has not only responded to the incident but apologized - a rarity it seems in our world. The even better news is that the service has added insurance for the hosts and has a list of other safeguards and measures to help protect everyone in the future.

Me chillin' on the Murphy Bed with my Kindle.

Our experience with our hostess, Rachael, was great. Everything from checking in rather early to comfort to friendliness of our hostess exceeded my expectations going in. I only wished we could've slept a full night but our early morning flight prevented that. The fact that the apartment was also within walking distance to downtown and only an $8 cab ride from the airport were much welcomed bonuses. The decor was adorable and gave me a few ideas for my own nest - now that I will have a little time off from working.

So, for those of you who want to keep your budget reasonable, meet a local person or two (although in our case Rachael is actually from right outside Kansas City of all places) and try something new, I would highly recommend staying at an airbnb property. Or you can just list your own place, which will allow you to save $17 off your first airbnb stay. Thanks for checking in!

P.S. Just wanted to say thanks to my newest followers on Google Friend Connect. To those of you who read along but aren't official on that yet, you might want to sign up (click "Join this site" on the right) as the next blog contest is coming up soon and that will get you an extra entry!

Best of Bangor

2011-08-07T07:06:00.000-05:00

Growing up in South Portland, ME I never spent a lot of time in Bangor (a two hour drive away). All I really knew about it was that it housed the "other" airport and the "other" mall in Maine. (Yes, you read that correctly, as the other of each are in South Portland.) I had been there over the years to pass through or to play state championships of tennis or run track. So, when Brian and I found out we'd be staying for an afternoon and an evening before our super early morning flight, I was excited to have a little more time to explore the "other" big city in Maine.

Our first stop, with Brian's family still in tow, was to Friars' Bakehouse where the "Best Whoopie Pie in Maine" can be had. The Franciscan monks did not disappoint.

We then dropped off our bags at our Airbnb.com apartment (more on that tomorrow) and walked downtown for some lunch (yes, on vacation we do dessert first). We had a nice lunch, right out of Italy, at Giacomo's.

After lunch we walked around the shops downtown and came across the cutest store - Metropolitan Soul. The owner was very friendly and had some great items - I couldn't pass the two above up. In case you can't read the photos very well, the notebook says, "He offered her the world. She said she had her own." and the super comfy t-shirt says, "It has something to do with giving back, while moving forward." I think those were made for me.

There were lots of other great shops, restaurants and bars we walked past but didn't have time to visit properly. A couple in particular that we would like to try next time are:

Nocturnem - a draft haus that features beers hard to find other places - there was a Japanese ginger infused pale ale that, had I not been too full from lunch, I would have loved to have sampled.
Bangor Wine & Cheese - while we did go in, we were limited by our luggage when it came to actually buying much. We did buy some delicious Q ginger ale to share with our airbnb hostess though, it was delish!
Bangor Outdoor Market - this outdoor gathering of vendors and live music on Thursdays runs for 10 weeks in the summer, we just missed it by about 12 hours.
American Retro - to be honest, the weather was just too nice to go inside and look through clothes, but next time I'm here I will definitely be checking this place out.

Finally, we ended our day with dinner at The Fiddlehead Restaurant. It was everything a meal should be. Amazing food, drinks and service - all under one roof. In random order - 1.) My main course - a dill pollen dusted salmon filet (amazing flavor) 2.) Our shared dessert - a lemon tart with a blueberry coulis 3.) Brian enjoying his Foghorn (a mojito with ginger ale) 4.) The most amazing tomato bisque and an egg/pine-nut/honey salad 5.) A lemoncello margarita - so good, I had to have two

Family Fun

2011-08-06T03:53:00.000-05:00

The best part of our vacation was spending unlimited time with our family and friends that had gathered up in northeastern Maine for the week. From the porch sing-a-long to the group swims to the giant feasts prepared, it was a great time for memory making and bonding. Here are some pictures of most of our group...

My dad leading the way in the boat convoy.

Every night is a potluck picnic - so much food, so little time.

Love that this looks unreal - like we're at Sears in front of a backdrop.

My mom in the background, Brian's mom on the left, Thomas, Brian's dad and Brian watching the Ukelele band at the GLS Folk Art Festival.

My little brother crooning with his band at the festival.

The sun setting over Grand Lake from our cabin's shore.

Saying goodbye to the lake and the beautiful weather.

Thanks for stopping by!

Seaside Escape

2011-08-05T07:52:00.000-05:00

I love St. Andrews by-the-Sea. It's simply the perfect nautical town. It reminds me of Ireland, so it's fitting that every time I have been there it's been a little grey and overcast. The tiny shops, colorful buildings and the dock out to the whale watching boats are stuck in time - staying the way you would want them to, year after year. We always take a day trip, usually to celebrate my late July birthday, when we're up in Grand Lake Stream. The only disappointment this year was that the coffee shops (all rumored to be amazing) were closed up for the day. Oh well, there's always next time, and Tim Horton's!

Love that maple leaf!

My birthday lobster dinner at The Gables. I even had the tail left over for a lobster roll the next day, yummy!

The sites of St. Andrews. Can't get enough of the weatheredness.

Or the buoys, love the buoys!

Finally, no trip to Canada is complete without a trip to Tim Horton's for a frozen cappuccino and a sour cream glazed doughnut.

Also, wanted to mention, in case you hadn't heard - Groupon and Expedia have formed a partnership that allows for great travel bargains. I mention it here because they currently have deals for Canada and Maine. Enjoy!

O Canada

2011-08-04T08:17:00.002-05:00

1.) Ganong was the first chocolate company to introduce the heart shaped Valentine box of chocolate in 1932. 2.) In the chocolate shop they sold lobster flavored potato chips - I had to buy a bag. Verdict - tasted like fish food not lobster. 3.) From L-R: Brian, my dad, Brian's dad, Thomas 4.) I think my mother-in-law is enjoying her trip to the museum with the unlimited samples. 5.) Brian and Thomas faced off on the chocolate packing game. Brian won, but was far off the company standard of 17 seconds.

On our way to St. Andrews by-the-Sea (more on that tomorrow), we stopped in St. Stephens at the Ganong Chocolate Factory and Museum - inventor of the chicken bones. For anyone who knows my mother-in-law, you know what a big hit (and a a must have) this was. Thanks for checking in!

P.S. The packing challenge is going well. I have had everything I needed, except for the silica gel I usually bring along for wet cameras (sorry, Scott). I definitely brought way too many clothes.

Wild Maine

2011-08-03T09:36:00.000-05:00

On Monday, after a weekend of fun festival festivities, it was time for a real Maine day on Grand Lake. After packing a giant picnic (of course) my family, including two sets of aunts and uncles, took to three boats and headed up lake to Columbus Island.

From my dad's Grand Laker canoe, Grand Lake stretches out before us.

On Columbus Island, the picnic unfolds.

I picked fresh blueberries so everyone in our contingency could have blueberry pancakes in the morning.

I think Brian likes Maine, don't you think? Thanks for checking in!

Some Clichés Are Good

2011-08-01T08:16:00.000-05:00

Over the years, every time I have told someone that I grew up in Maine they inevitably say, "Oh, I've always wanted to go there." I, in turn, follow up with, "Oh, you should go, it's the best place on earth - especially in the summer." They then ask me questions about how much snow we get in the winter, how much I love lobster and what the rocky coast looks like (as opposed to sand, people can't picture how you would swim in this situation, for instance). I love talking about the state so I answer all questions and hope that they someday will visit.

When we arrived on Friday - Brian and I after Brian's parents and brother, Thomas - my dad led the convoy up to Grand Lake Stream. But not before stopping to make sure we all got one of the world's best lobster rolls. My mom always ensures that any visit I make includes an authentic version of this lobster delight. As with any "fine food art", there is a right way and a wrong way to do a lobster roll. Not needing to dwell on the negative, the right way is fresh lobster meat, lightly mayonnaised (no Miracle Whip need apply here), overflowing on a buttered and toasted hot dog roll (a specific kind too, of course). What you end up is something that looks like this, the onion rings are just a bonus:

Just in case you're in Brewer, Maine on Route 9 - or you're my kind of person, wacky enough to go someplace just for the food - Eagle's Nest is your spot. Don't expect to be seated or served quickly though, as multiple signs from "the management" explained, "there is only one cook and one waitress per shift but your food will be worth the wait."