Category Archives: Travel

Jan23

If Your Future Isn’t Too Clear, Why Not Consider Taking a Gap Year?

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If Your Future Isn’t Too Clear, Why Not Consider Taking a Gap Year?

Taking a gap year before or after college tends to be quite a European thing that I want in on. But more and more of us over here are choosing to take a gap year before we study. Take Malia Obama, for instance. She has planned to take a year out before she starts her freshman year at Harvard. So if you think that it sounds like a good idea to you, then you probably don’t need any more convincing. But if you are not sure, here are a few ways that taking a year out will benefit you:

You’ll Do Well at College: A lot of people think that it will be hard to get back to school after taking some time out. But in fact, reports from colleges have shown that students that take a gap year have a higher grade point average than those who don’t. So it won’t be as hard to get back to hitting the books as you might think. If you go straight from high school to college, it could be the first time that you’ve been away from home. So because of that, your grades might not be as high as they could be. But after a gap year exploring the world, you’ve already been away from home and got the partying out of your system, so to speak.

You’ll Explore With No Other Obligations: When you go exploring on a gap year right out of high school, you will be doing so at the prime age. After college, you might have debt to pay off. Any longer after college you might have a commitment like a mortgage or children, which makes it harder to just get up and go. If you do want to see some more of the world, then taking a gap year is the best time to do it.

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Wooooo!

You’ll Experience New Cultures and People: One of the benefits of travel is that you get to experience new cultures. It benefits people massively to be able to travel and see how other people live. You can do this by staying with local people through programs for gap years and by looking for things like Homestay accommodation. Then you get to see things in a much more authentic way, rather than through a hostel or hotel. You’ll get to experience the foods that people have on a daily basis, as well as how things work over there with schools or religion, for example.

You’ll Learn Life Skills: It isn’t just a big party when you are on a year out. You will look for ways to work or volunteer so that you can make the most of the country that you are in. You can also learn life skills like budgeting, cooking, cleaning, and navigating your way through foreign transport systems or driving on the other side of the road. All of which give you life experience that will prepare you for the new stage of your life in college.

Featured Image By: Flickr

Jan19

Need To Shed Some Extra Weight? Here’s How To Beat The Baggage Allowance!

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Need To Shed Some Extra Weight? Here’s How To Beat The Baggage Allowance!

So you’re going on vacation. It’s an exciting time right? Ah, yes, there is the stress to think about. There are flights to book, hotels to secure, and activities to plan. Not to mention the dreaded packing! If you’re going away this year, you might want to travel light. Baggage allowance is always getting less and less. Plus, having a heavy bag to drag around is never fun! If the idea of traveling light gets you weak at the knees, you’ve come to the right place. This guide should give you an idea of how to pack light without doing yourself out of your must have essentials!

Clothes: Clothes take up a large part of any suitcase. As you’re going to be away from your wardrobe, the temptation is to take more than you need. You want those outfits just in case, right? Wrong. Don’t pack more than you need. The key is to take outfits that can work for many occasions. Instead of packing an outfit for each day, pack a capsule wardrobe. That way, you can mix and match the same outfits to give yourself a whole new look! For a week’s trip, you shouldn’t need any more than three outfits for the day, and three for the night. Don’t look so shocked! It’s entirely achievable if you do it right.

Don’t Take the Library: Vacation is the perfect time to catch up on your reading. Who doesn’t love the idea of lounging by the pool and getting lost in a whole other world? Even so, books are weighty. Take those hefty hardbacks out of your bag straight away. The best thing you can do for your holiday reading is to take a Kindle along. They’re easy to transport, and come with the bonus that you can buy a book while you’re away without hassle! You could even find out about the best free books on Kindle and save yourself some money!

Buy Essentials When You Get There: Bear in mind that there will be shops where you’re heading. Well, unless you’re going to the middle of nowhere! For the most part, all towns have a store that at least sells the basics. Leave behind those heavy shampoo bottles. You’re sure to be able to find suntan lotion there, too, so don’t worry about that, either! These are substantial additions to your baggage that you could do without. Buy them once you get there, and leave them behind for the next person when you leave! Check, too, to see whether your hotel provides hairdryers. If yes, you can leave yours at home.

Leave Room: You may be working towards a baggage allowance, but it’s important to leave yourself space for the flight back. We all like to spend a little money during our vacations. Don’t leave yourself unable to take back your new purchases! Too often, we have to leave behind something that we love because we don’t have room! Take your vacation purchases into consideration when you’re packing and save yourself the worry or the heart-wrenching separation from one of your favorite things.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov24

Keep Yourself Fit & Healthy On Vacation By Following These Top Tips

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If you are someone who loves to travel, you’ll know that it’s all in the preparation. Many of us spend days or even weeks planning even the most finite details of our trips – everything from landmarks we’re going to visit to places we plan to eat at. This can really benefit our trip, as if we go away with a plan of sorts, we are more likely to get the absolute most out of our holiday.

But there is one aspect of traveling that is arguably the most important but one that most of us tend to bypass in the planning stages. This is our personal health and the prospect of injury or illness overseas. Of course, plenty of us still get health insurance that covers us abroad. But more often than not, we are on a limited plan – and some of us don’t even bother at all. If you are leaving your home country to travel overseas, here are some ways in which you can ensure that your health is still a top priority.

Learn Important Phrases: If the country you are going to speaks a language that is different than your own, you’ve probably already learned the basics: hello, please and thank you, among other things. However, it can also be really worth your while to learn other phrases that have to do with healthcare. Being able to ask where the nearest emergency room is is something that’s invaluable should you get into any kind of trouble.

Or, if you have a pre-existing condition that could potentially flare up, it is best to know how to explain this to locals. If you don’t feel confident enough to speak the language out loud, why not get a medical identification card made up? This card should be written in the local language, so speak to a professional translator. It should detail your blood type, plus any illnesses you have and any medication you are taking.

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 Pixabay Image

Have a Doctor on Speed Dial: If you become concerned that you are getting unwell on vacation but don’t think it is serious enough to go to the local hospital yet, it can be worth contacting a doctor native to you. You can now download an Online Doctor App where you will be able to chat with a medical professional from wherever you are in the world. Often, it will only be a minor issue that you needn’t worry about. But it can always be helpful to get a second opinion, even if it’s just to put your mind at rest.

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 Pexels Image

Be Careful When Drinking the Local Water: There are some countries where it is advised that tourists do not drink the local tap water. More often than not, it doesn’t mean that the water is dirty. It just means that it is so different from what the tourists may drink at home that it could cause their bodies to react adversely. The local people’s bodies, on the other hand, have got used to it and are therefore able to cope. If you are in any doubt over whether the water at your destination is safe to drink, always buy bottled water instead.

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Drink up!

What are some of your tips for traveling abroad? What do you recommend for people who have health concerns? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct11

5 Reasons Why It Pays To Live Somewhere Sunny

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Did you know that being in a warm, sunny place can improve your mood? Put a smile on your face, get some Vitamin D in your life, and contemplate on more reasons why a sunny location can really pay off:

5 Reasons Why It Pays To Live Somewhere Sunny:

We all know it’s true that many people enjoy living in colder parts of the world. The idea of spending a lot of time in the snow and enjoying skiing is a happy one for lots of us! The thing is, those of us that live in sunnier climates often lead healthier and better lives! Here are the reasons why:

  1. You’ll be at your happiest: The idea of building snowmen outdoors or sitting by warm fire inside might sound fun to some of us. But, when temperatures drop well below freezing for months at a time, that fun soon wears off. Sunshine is a proven way to help our body temperatures get more well regulated. Plus, the sun provides us with much-needed Vitamin D to stay healthy. And it’s obvious you will feel happiest when you’re not shivering all the time!
  1. You’ll enjoy your job more: Because happiness levels get boosted by the sun, you’ll have a better quality of life. That also rings true for where you work. Why? You’re less likely to end up working in an unhappy environment!
  1. You can drive a convertible: Fed up of driving a car that hasn’t even got a sunroof? Imagine if you could drive around with the wind flowing through your hair? Well, if you lived somewhere sunny, you could enjoy the benefits of convertible ownership year round!
  1. You won’t need to use a dryer at home: If you’ve got a large family in tow, that usually means spending a lot of time washing and drying clothes! The advantage of living somewhere sunny is that you can dry your clothes for free outdoors. Now there’s no need to buy a dryer and you can keep your electricity costs down too, as a result!
  1. You can power your house for free: Last, but not least, when you live in a sunny area you can convert the sun’s energy into electricity! Take a look at America’s top ten solar cities to see the places that benefit the most from solar power below:

Infographic By: Semper Solaris San Diego

Oct11

Vacation Purchases

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Vacation Purchases

Hello everyone and happy Tuesday! I have regrettably been home from the beautiful Asheville, North Carolina for about a week now but with some fab purchases made during my vaca, it makes transporting my mind back to the fun I had just a little bit easier. I stocked up on one of my favorite beauty products as well as added some super cute new accessories to the mix so take a look and let’s discuss:

The Haul:

  • Appalachian Naturals Complexion Bar
  • Two fringe bandanas from Francesca’s

Beauty Bar: When I was in Asheville in June, my mom and I must have spent at least an hour in Appalachian Naturals which boasts a wide assortment of handmade beauty products. We still have a ton of body bars left but I was in need of another one of their complexion bars. I began using my first bar in June and I am still not done with it yet, which just shows you how long lasting their products are. This beauty bar is one of the best things that has ever happened to my skin and leaves it feeling (and looking!) like a million bucks. I can’t recommend the products of Appalachian Naturals enough and urge all of you to check out all of their amazing goodies on their website!

Bandanas: One of my favorite accessories are bandanas. I love wearing them with flannels, jackets, T’s, dresses, – basically any clothing item that you can imagine. I think that they are so fun and edgy and they add just the perfect amount of grungy cool to any look. My family went shopping at the outlet malls while in NC both times and a Francesca’s had opened shortly after we left in June. Shopping in the relatively new store was a lot of fun and when both my mom and I saw my two new bandanas, we instantly knew that they were mine.

Of course, the black one was a must for me and I’m actually wearing it right now with a black sweater and a camouflage trench coat from Urban Outfitters. But, at buy one get one half off, I figured I might as well indulge in other style as well. I don’t own a white bandana because I never really cared to but I really like my new one! What made me love it so much is that not only does it have cloth fringe but it also has metal chains hanging from it, too. I had never seen anything like these new additions to my wardrobe and I am having such fun incorporating them into my OOTDs. My new bandanas instantly transform any outfit and I am so pleased with my Francesca’s purchases.

I didn’t return from my vaca with a huge haul of goodies but I could not be happier with the items that I took home. They are the perfect little mementos from my trip and I look forward to getting great use out of all three items.

So there you have it, my Vacation Purchases! What has been your most recent treat yoself item? What is your favorite local store to shop at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct8

Vacation Photos

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Vacation Photos

Hi everyone and happy weekend! I arrived back home in good ol’ CFalls, Ohio this past Wednesday after a wonderful week away in Asheville, North Carolina with my family. We had an amazing time hiking, horse back riding, apple picking, EATING, and shopping! My family had visited Asheville in June and we liked it so much that we just had to come back and this time our two dogs, Ollie and Gem, joined us for the festivities. 🙂 ❤

Take a look at some of my favorite photos from our fall vacation:

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^^^ So. Much. FUN!!

Fun fact for ya, the butterfly, hummingbird, and duck pictures are all made out of LEGOS! They were being featured at the North Carolina Arboretum and they were so incredible! Asheville treated the Mushenheims so well and my only regret is that I’m not there right this minute! Have a fab weekend, everyone! Much love. -Sarah

Oct7

Get Inspired With These Exciting Startup Ideas In The Travel Sector

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Get Inspired With These Exciting Startup Ideas In The Travel Sector

Get Inspired With These Exciting Startup Ideas In The Travel Sector:

Those with dull, dreary jobs often have two dreams they regularly think about at work. One is getting out of the 9-to-5 and starting their own business. The other is traveling the world. If this sounds like you, then here’s a good idea- create a travel business!

There are all kinds of ideas for a startup in the travel sector. Some of them are relatively easy to start and run. You can mix your passion with your work and get a lot of enjoyment out of it. It can also be lucrative- the travel industry is a large and growing one. If you’re considering starting a business in the travel sector, here are some of the best ideas.

Open A Hotel: People always need somewhere to stay when they’re traveling to different places. That’s why starting a hotel is always a smart business idea. Whether you want to start a budget hotel in a tourist area like Berlin or a luxury hotel in a tropical location like Rio (you can read this blog for ideas on how to start a business in Brazil if this is something you’re thinking of doing), it’ll be a rewarding project.

Of course, buying and setting up a hotel will take a lot of money. You’ll need to rack up funds from business loans and possibly investors, as well. If you can create a great place to stay and market it to tourists, you can start making a lot of money fast. The best thing about it is you can live out a dream by residing and working in a luxury location. It’s one of the best ways to start a business overseas. It’s a fantastic startup idea if you have the ambition, passion, and funds.

Start A Travel Agency: Travel agencies offer a range of services to help people find and book holidays. Although physical travel agencies are dying down, online travel agents are bigger than ever. You can set up a website to offer flight and hotel price comparisons.

Travel agencies usually make a commission from getting users to book flights or accommodations with companies. You could also provide consultancy, where you design an entire holiday package for a customer. It can be competitive to get into, so you might want to appeal to a niche market. For instance, instead of focusing on average consumer holidays, you may want to focus on business travel or cruises.

Create A Travel Blog: One of the simplest ways to profit from traveling is to start a travel blog. It takes minimal costs and anyone can do it. It’s easy to create a blog with a service like WordPress and start posting interesting articles about your travels. You can create a travel blog as a hobby but building it into a business will take more effort. You’ll need to find ways to profit. This might involve advertising travel products and services for other companies. You can also offer advertising space on your blog and increase profits by getting more views.

You could also expand to other sites. Many travel bloggers post video content on YouTube of their travel experiences. You can make money off of YouTube views and also attract more users to your blog. Those who build up followings can even get sponsors so you can truly live the dream of being paid to travel.

Where is your dream location to travel to? Who runs a travel blog of their own? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image Photo Provided By: Wikimedia

Oct3

Monday Update: The Travel Tag Edition

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Monday Update: The Travel Tag Edition

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! I haven’t done any of the fun tags and awards that I have been nominated for for awhile but when my super cute friend K.M. tagged me for the Travel Tag, I had to give it a go! I am hopefully crossing the ocean in the spring of 2017 to the UK for a graduation gift to myself so travel has been on my mind constantly. Before you read my answers to K.M.’s travel themed questions, please be sure to check out her wonderful blog at Ankhor You! I love chatting with K.M. via comments and Facebook and I am sure all of you will adore her just as much as I do!

Q & A:

You are leaving tomorrow to start a life in a new country, where would you go?

FRANCE!! Mais, oui. I have been studying French since high school and I am nowhere near fully fluent but I am very dedicated to becoming so. I love everything about France – the people, culture, language, food, scenery – EVERYTHING. So, needless to say, if you don’t hear from me in a while, just know that I have packed up and gone away to France.

You can take someone for a weekend away to the place you had the best holidays ever, where would that be and who would you take to go with you?

Hmmm…Since a weekend isn’t a very long time, I would probably spend the weekend with my sister at Cedar Point. Cedar Point is about two hours away from yours truly and my sister and I both love amusement parks so I can totally picture us staying in one of their hotels and having a big adventure weekend at the theme park. I have never been there during the Halloween season, either, so I think that that would be so much fun!

You can get married wherever you want to, your budget is limitless, what is your choice?

I hate to be redundant here but can somebody say “Paris”?

During your travels you can bring back home one animal as a pet, which one would you pick?

A MONKEY, A MONKEY, A LITTLE BABY MONKEY!!! While exploring the jungles in some far away, exotic country, I will befriend a tiny little monkey and have it come home with me. Its name will be Frank. 🙂

You can go back in time and relive one family trip, which one?

Oh, that’s easy. Definitely Universal Studios! My entire family is a big lover of amusement parks and we had the literal best time at Universal. Being at Harry Potter World was a dream come true and I would give anything to go back.

What is the first thing you would pack for a one year travel around the world?

Red lipstick and a year supply of hair dye.

What would your fantasy 100th birthday destination be and why?

Uhhh… I don’t really plan on making it to my 100th birthday?

During your travel you can learn one sport to become a pro, what would that be?

I would continue my figure skating education! I skated throughout my childhood and early teens and miss it very much!

I Nominate:

My Questions For You:

  1. Where are your top three places that you would like to travel?
  2. What is your favorite type of ethnic cuisine to eat?
  3. You get offered a plane ticket to a country of your choosing but you can only bring three items with you.Where would you go and what would your items be?
  4. What location does not appeal to you to travel to?
  5. Your BFF is a total adrenaline junkie and she has you pick between building an igloo in Antarctica, scaling Mount Everest, or zip lining one thousand feet over the jungle. What do you choose?
  6. Are you an over packer or an under packer when it comes to prepping for a vaca?
  7. Have you ever forgotten something totally essential while on vacation?
  8. What is your perfect vaca outfit?

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: The Travel Tag Edition! Thank you to my fabulous friend, K.M., for the nomination! How would you answer some of the questions that K.M. asked me? How would you answer some of the questions that I asked my nominees? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep30

Reader Map Update

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Reader Map Update

Hi everyone and TGIF! As you guys know, I love keeping track of all of the fantastic readers that I have in over ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE different countries via a world map and push pins in my room. I haven’t posted an updated picture of my map in a while so I figured that there was no better time than the present since I broke the one hundred and sixty barrier. Take a look! And also enjoy my featured image photo which is a picture of my boyfriend’s dog, Karma! I love her big ol’ puppy smile SO much! :)))

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^^^ Hurray! Hurray!

I am so very thankful for all of my fabulous readers located from all of the different ends of the earth and I feel so proud every time I look at my reader map. It used to hang on display in my room but unfortunately, the wire that runs across the back of the board snapped months ago and both my dad and I have yet to address it. Every time it gets brought up, the classic phrase “I’ll do it later” comes up but rest assured that it is propped up on a very special place on my floor. 😉

I hope everyone is having a great day so far! Stay tuned for some new posts coming from my vacation cabin in North Carolina! What is everyone up to this weekend? Any big plans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep29

See Ya Later!

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See Ya Later!

Hey everyone! Sorry I have been MIA, I have been and still am pretty sick. My sister had a nasty cold and cough, which transferred to my brother, which transferred to me, which I transferred to my boyfriend, which I’m sure will end up getting transferred back to me somehow because that’s just how things happen in my life. Anyways, I’ve had a cough, cold, fever, and aches from hell since Monday and I am still feeling fairly questionable today. Fingers crossed that those feelings subside by tomorrow, though, because my family is taking a little beginning of fall vaca!

Yeah that’s right! For the first time in twenty-two years of being alive, my family is going on two vacations in one year. We enjoyed being in Asheville, North Carolina so much in June that we just had to come back. This time we are bringing our two dogs with us to the extremely canine friendly city and are departing on Friday and coming home on Wednesday. This is something that my family has never ever done before and I’m seriously so excited!

This semester has been a bitch and a half but I have already gotten all of my work completed for the following week and am ready for some much needed R&R! Since I have been away from my beloved blog baby for so long this past week, I will be sure to get some writing done while I’m tucked away in a little cabin in NC! Have a fabulous rest of your week everyone and See Ya Later! 🙂