living proof of God's grace & living free to share hope, encouragement & adventures
I’ll admit. I’m one of those people who can’t travel without buying souvenirs. Still, I tend to avoid the kitschy, tourist shop tchotchkes. Okayyyyy, so I’ll also admit that I do sometimes wind up with a cheap ol’ trinket that means nothing other than to prove I was there. That’s the exception to the rule, …
It’s common knowledge that people leave love locks in Paris. People, as in couples. Of course, I only seem to visit Paris when I’m single and solo—but I haven’t let that stop me from leaving a love lock each time. I may be fiercely independent, but I’m also a hopeful romantic. While I refuse to …
Continue reading Why I Left Two Love Locks in Paris When I Was Single
Since my previous travel bloopers were so well-received, I thought, Why not compile a list of top bloopers from some of my previous trips? So, I did. I think we all can relate to things not going as planned in life—and especially in travel because it puts us out of our comfort zones and daily …
It may not be Christmas when you're reading this, but it's never a bad time to talk European Christmas markets. When a $434 roundtrip flight to Brussels popped up in my inbox (thanks to Scott’s Cheap Flights) I could not pass it up. Initially, (to save up more moolah) I wanted to book the latest …
Continue reading Best Things About European Christmas Markets
If you’ve ever looked at my travel photos (or anyone’s travel photos) and thought, "Wow. Traveling is easy, exciting, glamorous, living your best life…" well, that’s not wrong. It’s also not the whole truth. Travel can absolutely be easy when you’ve put the work into planning the trip. Travel can obviously be exciting when you’re …
2018 exceeded my expectations. After three solo trips to Europe in 2017, I hoped to at least match that level of travel in 2018. And God gave me MORE. He went beyond my dreams. I’m learning, more and more, He tends to do that when we surrender to Him. Now, God knows I love travel …
Continue reading When God Gives You Abundantly More: A 2018 Recap
Wanna discover your travel personality? Travel solo. After traveling to Europe solo three times this year, I certainly proved that I am the ideal solo traveler. But, more importantly, I learned just what sort of traveler I am—which is really good to know for those times when I actually do travel with others. And, you …
Continue reading How Traveling Solo Makes Me a Better Travel Partner
When you look back on life, is it the unexpected moments that often stand out more than the planned? I think so. Of course, there are exceptions. There are always exceptions. But, in general, I think the stuff we don’t see coming makes for a more interesting story to tell and remember. Thinking back on …
International travel on a budget is easier than you might think! Prior to 2017, I’d reluctantly dismissed all thoughts of solo travel abroad—convinced it was too dang expensive. And yet, I took 7 international solo trips from January 2017 to November 2019. For Paris, I spent just under $1,000 on ALL trip expenses, and Barcelona …
Continue reading 7 Best Tips for International Travel on a Budget
Ever returned from a trip thinking about what you would have done if you’d had just one more day? Of course you have, right? It’s human nature to want just a little bit more. Ok. So we’ve established that you think about this, too. But, would you rather enjoy your favorite experiences AGAIN? Or, cram all …
adventure and the girl 