Tag: Life

Journal

Journal | 2.1.20

Site of the sit-ins in Greensboro, NC

Have you seen today’s Google Doodle? Today marks the 60th anniversary of the Greensboro Sit-in that took place at the Woolworth’s Department Store (above) in Greensboro, North Carolina – which we had the chance to visit last weekend. I’ll share more about our visit to the site, now the International Civil Rights Museum, in an …

Journal

Journal | 1.15.20

Alyssa is standing on the sidewalk in black skinny jeans and white shoes. There are cat or dog paw prints embedded in the concrete

Happy… Wednesday? Sure, why not. It’s been a kind of weird, gloomy week here in Charlotte – weirder still because it immediately followed a beautiful, 70°F Sunday that we’re told is highly unusual in January. I’ve been trying to take it easy as much as possible to get ready for our trip to Baltimore this …

Home, Reflections

Beginning Again: Intentions for 2020

A young green plant sits in a white pot on top of a bamboo rack

It didn’t hit until recently that a new decade is beginning, I guess because we’ve already experienced so many new beginnings recently. 2019 was a big year for us, with an interstate move, our first big family vacation together, and injuries that impacted both travel and our day-to-day quality of life. With these changes, it …

Journal

Journal | 12.14.19

A small bowl with a piece of incense paper burning in the middle

Oh, hey. I promise I haven’t forgotten about this space – or you. It’s been a busy few weeks moving up here and getting acquainted with our new city, and it hasn’t necessarily been an easy or smooth transition. I was rear-ended a few days after we moved, and managed to throw out my back …

Journal

Journal | 10.27.19

Alyssa taking a photo in the mirror before her trip. She is wearing a black tank, black wide leg pants, black boots, and a red bandana. In her right hand is her carry on suitcase.

What. A. Month. Truly, it’s been an emotional rollercoaster around here. Thursday, October 3 was my last day at my job, where I’ve worked for the past seven years. It was a long day, and I felt a bit overwhelmed by the turnout at our office gathering. I don’t relish being the center of attention, …

Journal

Journal | 9.29.19

Alyssa strikes a pose and hits the Gators marching band drum

Happy Sunday! It’s been a while, huh? If you read my latest newsletter, you know why things in my personal life, have been, well – a little all over the place (which would probably be a good alternate title for this blog). It’s a bit frustrating to me that it spills over into this space …

Journal

Journal | 9.15.19

Oh, hey—Happy Sunday! The blog has been a bit quiet, which means life has picked up the pace again. Among other things, our time lately has been spent planning a trip to Spain and Italy next month with Michael’s family. This is probably the shortest timeframe in which we’ve booked a longer trip like this, …

Travel, Travel Tips

How I Afford to Travel: Budgeting Tips and Tricks

Alyssa shakes coins out of a piggy bank

As I’ve mentioned before, I often get asked how Michael and I fund our travels, though rarely directly. Most people ask, “How do you get to do all that?” rather than, “How can you afford it?” But the underlying question is clear. We won’t pretend we haven’t had some privileges in life, but we also …