Showing posts with label adventures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adventures. Show all posts
A post long time awaited as the end of summer approaches, but still daydreaming in awe of being able to explore one of the greatest natural monuments in North America this past month! You forget just how beautiful this country is when you've been isolated to the great plains for over a year. Seeing it in pictures never does it justice, but I thought I would share a few snapshots of our much anticipated family vacation of the summer.
Yosemite National Park
My dad was invested in this trip, so much that he had planned three separate days in both Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks which are located just outside of Sacramento, California. With mid-90 degree days, we were lucky enough to have a well air-conditioned house so we could reset and recharge for days of hiking, swimming, lots of sight seeing, but unfortunately—no bear sightings. Although, maybe it was for the best?
My absolute favorite moment was when we first arrived and drove through Tunnel View which gives you an insane panoramic view of El Capitan and the Half Dome as your drive through the inside of a mountain. We were truly expecting crowds as everyone and their families had planned outdoorsy vacations this year, but to my surprise, we had the view to ourselves. It was like looking at a painting and I think we were catching flies because all of our jaws instantly dropped.
The altitude and thinner air, not to mention driving around curvy mountain ranges, was definitely not something we were used to. I would say for the average person who doesn't stay active (or live in the mountains) on a daily basis might struggle a bit with all of the strenuous hikes, so I was grateful that all of us were able to trudge up to some of the more steep viewpoints. Not to mention the epic waterfalls we were able to scale—maybe not like Alex Honnold free soloing El Capitan, but close.
Vernal Fall was definitely the most difficult hike we took because you had to hike up about an extra 1,000 feet from the footbridge which was already 400 feet from sea level. With rocky, slippery stairs and trails, I felt like Lara Croft sitting on my hands and knees basically hoping I wouldn't just fall into the abyss and rocky waters down below. I was proud of my sisters and even my dad for thinking it was a good idea to hop the safety rail just to get this amazing picture of us all conquering the waterfall. My mom was smart and waited for our return at the bottom. We were all definitely ready for a drink after that.
Sequoia National Park
We saw and did as much as we could in Yosemite and said goodbye to the stellar Tunnel View as we made our way south to the Sequoia National Forest. Our journey took us to what was the more conventional and traditional abode—a cozy cabin! A step up from our normal tent we use, so I can say that it was a bit of luxury having a more updated cabin (with running water and electricity wow!). Apparently those who booked cabins only weeks in advance got the cabins without either, so I was grateful my dad knew what was up.
Just when you thought you've seen a really big tree in your neighborhood...this doesn't even compare. Our first destination was Mariposa Grove which is a mile hike to this meadow of massive redwood trees. We were joking that our kitchen was not even the width of these beasts. The General Sherman Tree was like looking at something from Avatar. It was the world's largest tree by volume, 275 feet tall and 36 feet in diameter. There was a very big windstorm recently that had taken a couple unlucky redwoods out from under the ground and caused a lot of damage to the grove.
The rangers are particular about letting natural disasters occur on their own without manipulating the grove unless it obstructs pathways, so there were a lot of huge tree trunks lying on the ground which was devastating. Preserving these giants has been an ongoing feat because their bark is very durable and is actually waterproof so a lot of construction companies like to use redwood for decks, patios, and roofing. I can't even imagine what it was like trying to transport these bad boys during the colonial era when logging trucks and cherry pickers weren't around.
Holy Water
After long days of hiking more than we expected (I wasn't complaining), it was about time to cool off so we headed to Hume Lake for a much needed beach day. The water up there is incredibly clear—so much you can see the minnows breezing past your toes as you enter the water.
Hume Lake in Kings Canyon was actually a part of a Christian camp, which we only found out after we got there, but it was open to the public and I swear it was like the place to be! We were able to find a secluded little beach and picnicked while kayakers and paddle-boarders passed us in this little inlet we found.
As for food during the trip, we were thankful that the campground we stayed at had a little market for us to pick up pre-made salads and sandwiches for us to take on our hikes. There were some families who brought coolers of food and were able to use gas-powered skillets to cook due to fire laws, but I knew my parents wanted to relax and not worry about preparing meals while we were up there.
Giddy Up
Our last adventure of the trip was booking a spontaneous horseback riding tour because when is the next time you'll be able to ride horse back in the Sequoia? I was hysterically pleased that both of my parents were in for the ride.
So, we headed to the Horse Corral Pack Station for an hour long trail ride. Luckily, we have all had some riding experience (thanks to Girl Scouts), but you always have a little nerves when you're riding a random horse that knows the trail better than you do.
Thankfully, the horse I rode was an award-winning American mustang named Coffee.
He was a trooper and like him, we both wanted to just gallop away from our single-file line and be free, but alas we all did our jobs of guiding our horses up and down the mountain—for the most part. We were more worried about crossing paths with rattlesnakes or bears, but again, we got lucky on that front.
More to Explore...
Being with nature has a special place in my heart. Not only because I am passionate about the outdoors, natural conservation, and of course animals, but over the years nature has brought me so much joy and nostalgia from all of the fun memories I've had with friends and family. There's nothing like being able to experience wholesome moments with them in beautiful places.
The simple life is waking up and trudging out of our cabin just to watch shooting stars at 3 a.m. or discovering secret dunes at our special campground. I knew I've always had a connection with the outdoors and being able to share that with those I love made it all the more worthwhile.
There are many national parks on my bucket list and more scenic beauties I want to discover. I wouldn't ever want to limit my future family's exposure to our nation's beauties, but also being able to allow others to appreciate and value it just as much as I do. I live in the city, yes, but my heart yearns to just create a lifestyle that is surrounded by nature all the time.
My hope is that we can continue to respect and value our protected parts of nature, and I know this post wasn't about my stance on the climate crisis (don't worry I can dedicate a novel to it later), but seeing these places in real life makes you wonder about all of the ridiculous politics that controls whether or not we get to see these skyscraper trees or if they actually turn them into concrete skyscrapers. So, my advice to you is, go out and explore.
“Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”- John Muir
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It's crazy to say that I'm already a week graduated from DePaul. When they tell you freshman year that time flies by in college, it never really dawns on you while you're cramming for exams until you submit your last project of college on a random Monday evening. After I *virtually* graduated last week, I was able to rejoice and relax with close family and friends for about two days until my internship at Golin started. So, I thought I would give everyone a little beginning of summer update.
The New Job!
I haven't officially introduced Golin, but for those of you who may not be familiar, they are a progressive PR agency in the heart of the Hancock tower. Their biggest client is McDonald's, although there are countless others such as Wal-mart (their newest and what I've been working on), Crayola, José Cuervo, and Allstate to name a few others.
As an insight and analytics intern, and during this six month virtual internship, I will be cross functionally working with the strategic planning and analytics team to do trend reporting and social listening to inform the best insights and observations on all brands they are currently working on. I have been welcomed with open arms and I cannot wait to learn from the best in the industry!
Summer Happenings...
While my internship is going on, I have been able to make the most of my summer evenings: heading downtown to local beaches, celebrating with some Top Golf, reconnecting with school friends, eating good food (mostly pizza), going on late night drives, and taking spontaneous weekend getaway trips. Having a lot of places open, especially roof top bars and being able to go to Cub's games, has made this summer already feel like we are back to normal. It's made me realize just how good it has been and how grateful I should be with the people I have around me.
This summer I actually have a couple of trips planned. The first being our annual summer camping trip up north in Petoskey, Michigan. Since I will be working, it won't be our usual ten day excursion, but we will still be able to celebrate my dad's birthday weekend up there and I'm so excited to get back to the lake—our happy place. With that, I will also be visiting my old college roommate up in Detroit, so I will be making all of the rounds up north this month!
I've made it a goal to visit as many national parks in my lifetime, and I'm so excited to be able to head out west to the Yosemite later this summer with the fam (and because camping isn't enough outdoors for us!). My dad has really been the planner for this, as it was his dream to visit, so we'll make the most of it for a week and hopefully not get eaten by bears LOL. As far as that, those are my big summer plans and this new chapter has me feeling excited and ready to learn. I will definitely be soaking it all up (including that vitamin D) and making the most of these long summer days ahead.
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Nobody told me that finding a job would be easy, and I never expected them to. Entering the job force after the peak of a pandemic and economic downfall is not something I imagined myself having to navigate. Let alone virtual interviews and lots of 'em. It feels like the weeks are just counting by interview after interview and application after application. I realize that everyone's job search looks a bit different, so I thought I would update you all on how my "progress" has been and ways I've continued to stay motivated after you've made that interview.
To be quite honest, nothing can prepare you more than just doing the interviews themselves. I've been lucky enough to have guides that have helped me anticipate what interviewers are going to ask or how I can cater my questions, but you don't know until you apply yourself and try it out. I know how intimidating it can be, especially meeting random executives and managers via Zoom.
Keep Going...
I have already had a couple leads so far with some companies that I love who have offered me follow-up interviews, pending applications are still in the works, and yes, I have received a couple of rejections already. The point of it being, you keep going. Keep applying. Keep interviewing. You never know what door might open, and you will never know, unless you keep pursuing opportunities and maintain your connections.
Keep Connecting...
And if it's connections that you don't have, actively participate and engage with your past co-workers, classmates, and professors. Initiate conversations with those around you who might also align with your passions and career aspirations. Don't just talk to them for a connection to a job, though. Follow-up, check in, and make sure that they know you're here to make an authentic connection with them and not just a transactional exchange. We can finesse all we want, but employers, recruiters, and professionals in your industry are going to recognize your effort to connect and want to learn more about you.
Whatever You Do, Don't Give Up
Who ever needs to hear this, me included, don't let turn downs and rejection letters diminish your qualifications and self-worth. Imposter syndrome can be so real when we are scrolling through LinkedIn seeing everyone's exciting announcements and job wins, so much, we digress and doubt everything we've ever worked for. The truth? There are a lot of other factors that play into the job hiring process, so don't take it personally.
I know I haven't been in this industry for long, but long enough to know that everything might seem like it's fine and dandy and out of the blue you get turned down. There were some companies already that I knew I might have dodged a bullet with, so I would just trust the process and continue to pursue more opportunities. The right company or job will find you, but that means also putting in the work, moving past rejection, and applying yourself 110% no matter what.
Writing this post has already helped me realize that this process of finding a job is not going to be an easy one, but I have what it takes to be prepared. I know the qualifications I have and the work that I've done—so, don't ever let a recruiter or employee tell you otherwise. At the end of the day, doing these interviews and applying yourself is going to pay off and you will know yourself more than you ever did going into it. Don't lose hope. I'm right there with yuh!
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It felt like just yesterday we were going into lock down, being introduced to face masks, Tiger King, and were given the promise of what was supposed to be a two-week break which turned into a year of struggle, sadness, and anger. I always come back to my blog in reflection of this year because there was just so much that tested me and my mentality that writing it down seems to be the easiest way to cope and grow from it all. As I'm writing this, I'm listening to Kacey Musgrave's "Rainbow" and one of her comforting lyrics struck a cord in me:
Well the sky has finally opened
The rain and wind stopped blowin'
But you're stuck out in the same ol' storm again
You hold tight to your umbrella
Well, darlin', I'm just tryin' to tell ya
That there's always been a rainbow hangin' over your head
No matter the dark clouds we face, there will always be sunshine waiting for you on the other side. As we near into the season of blooms, rain, sunshine, mud, and everything in between, I am looking forward to this new change in seasons no matter what turbulent weather it brings. No matter what disaster of a year we face, there is always something to look forward to. And I'm marching towards it with a spring in my step. Here are some things I'm looking forward to this month:
01. Brighter days and longer evenings are an uplift from the seasonal depression that isolates us indoors at 4 o'clock, not to mention winter. Everything looks so drab and dreary around my neck of the woods, so in its most simplest form, blooming nature and sunnier days are going to keep me motivated.
02. Rotating my wardrobe. I have been wearing the same three pairs of pants this winter because my endeavors are limited to grocery shopping, dog walking, and the occasional trip to Starbucks, but other than that I don't think I've been around enough people for them to notice that I've worn the same pair of jeans over and over. Spring just expands the options from jeans and a sweater to a possible dress and a sweater or at least a blouse of some sort. I'm ready to put the snow boots away!
03. Developing a new fitness routine that I'm actually motivated to do. I spent so many years doing yoga that I think I dreaded doing it in my basement these past few months. Going to a studio acted as a place of solace and routine, so the thought of having to try and continue to be motivated in my freezing concrete basement was never something I succeeded at. I started running, which I found to be a great way to decompress and just release my emotions through a blasting Lizzo song. Perhaps this spring will be a time to try something new, I need to get out of my comfort zone (safely, of course), so I want to make it a goal to at least find a new type of exercise or activity that I can routinely enjoy doing this spring.
04. Continuing my reading journey. In 2020, I read 17 books in total. Most of them were a blend of non-fiction and fiction, so I've been proud of my openness to try so many different genres as well like historical fiction, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, and much more. This year, I want to read at least a book a month. I am currently reading Yaa Gyasi's Transcendent Kingdom which is an emotionally raw and intimate book about a Ghanaian family living in Alabama. The main character, Gifty, is a sixth year PhD candidate in neuroscience at the Stanford University School of Medicine who studies the neural circuits of depression and addiction in mice. Their behavior mimics the same experiences she has faced with her brother, who suffers from an OxyContin addiction, and mother who suffers from a deep depression. It parallels between mother nature and human nature through science and religion in a refreshingly relatable way.
05. I am finishing my second to last quarter of senior year strong. With 24 more days to go, I am reflecting on the good ol' days as a freshman and how I imagined I would spend my last year of college. Probably partying or thinking about jobs, but mainly focusing on the latter. It has been great being able to put my energy towards figuring out what I plan to see myself doing, and the support from my professor's and past employers has helped immensely. For my last quarter of senior year, I will be taking copywriting, advertising campaigns, climate change communication, and of course, wine education and management. An elective that only seniors (of age) can take, but since it will be virtual, I'm curious if we will be able to try any of the wines. Perhaps ordering a bottle or two will be considered our "reading material". I'm excited to have a laid back last quarter and celebrate by learning something new about the drink that has gotten me through this year. Cheers!
What are you looking forward to this month?
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Less than a month to go...
Congratulations! We've almost gotten through this dumpster fire of a year! Although it was one of the worst and probably most unforgettable years I've lived through so far, I have to say that a lot of growth came out of it. I wanted to share a roundup of what I've learned and dealt with because I even enjoy sharing my dullest moments with you all. Isn't that what my blog is for?
Getting a Grip of My Anxiety
I feel like I might have hit the highest of the highs on my anxiety meter this year, and I'm not alone either. There would be days filled with sitting at home in the company of family and Netflix movie binge nights and other days where I would just hit a wall and want to be in bed all day. Not only that, but even looking at the news and reading the headlines would give me the smallest bit of motivation to find something positive about the day ahead. I found myself worrying, dwelling, and manifesting the wrong negative emotions when all I needed was a reminder of what I already have and the support that surrounds me.
When all things came burning down, I knew that someone had it worse than me. That I could put my energy towards helping others as much as I could—I found that recycling my anxiousness for compassion during these times was the best way out of an emotional rut and I will be forever grateful for that.
Finding a Dose of Sunshine
With all the bad times, come good times. I am a believer that darker days will eventually turn into brighter ones. We've seen the best of people come forward this year and it seemed like a little part of humanity was restored. On a smaller scale, I felt more connected with the people I've had strong bonds with (even from a distance). Whether it be safe outdoor get togethers, camping, bike riding, dog walking, or what have you. I've always felt joy being outside. In the words of one of my favorite co-operative companies, REI, "A life outdoors is a life well lived".
Home for the Holidays...
Being an Advocate for People and Togetherness
On almost graduating from college, I have learned a lot—like more than I could even remember from day one of freshman year. In my communications program, we were told that connections are one of the most important assets for building a career in public relations. I have always considered myself to be somewhat of a people pleaser, but at times, less of an advocate for people. A lot of kids in my major were focused on the hustle, and I would be lying if I didn't say I was too (and still am). With that, I felt like my interactions were less authentic, less human, and sadly just a business transaction with an individual. It's a selfish way of communicating—only listening to respond or to gain something from someone and not as a way to learn from one another. Uplifting peoples' voices and building togetherness is something I want to be an advocate for and continue challenging others to do the same. We need to hear each other because what harmony can we ultimately create without it?
A Better Outlook
In spite of everything, life can turn out to be a real shit show and this year was only the beginning to what could be. However, I reject that mindset. Why anticipate the worst when we could be living the best goddamn life we've dreamed of? A life lesson I've been preaching to others and not myself. When the best of reality gets to me, all I can think of are destructive "what ifs" and "when" something might happen. With the amount of self-help books I've skimmed, wasting all that energy on things that might not even occur is not a healthy way of living. This year taught me that positivity is a better scapegoat than eating Ben and Jerry's at one in the morning because all doom is bound to come. I found a better outlook on the possibility of finding better—becoming better. I'm not a changed person per se, but that doesn't mean I can make changes, have setbacks, and look forward to better ones (changes, of course).
New Motivations
The itching for a new year on the calendar has me setting aside new goals, prioritizing the work that needs to be done on myself, and becoming more inspired to realign with my passions that were put on hold. This holiday season was what we all needed. Cheer, togetherness, and comfort. How ever life becomes uncomfortable and less joyful, is when we need to bond tightly and not take the life we're given for granted. As imperfect as the days can be, I wish that everybody's new years are brought with light and love. X
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I have become indifferent to rainy days, mostly because nothing requires me to go out and about these days, but often times I enjoy listening to the rain out my window. There's no pining dread of having to leave the house anymore and do your hair just for it to get humid and frizzy. However, one reason I haven't been fond of rainy days is because my productivity level plummets and my motivation level digs itself a deep hole. Rainy days get a bad rap because we associate happiness with sunshine and warm weather—what's not to love?
On days when the storm hits, and in Chicago sometimes weeks, it's important to not treat rainy days as necessarily bad days. I know a lot of people who find joy from laying in bed all day, watching Netflix, and getting all snuggled up. As much as I wish that's what is was like on a Thursday morning, there's work to be done and things to check off the to-do list. At least in my mind, it's easy for us to hit the snooze button when there could be so many great things happening around us. As someone who loves to be engaged in new activities and adventures, there have been a lot of socially distanced events and things to do in the city on a not-so-sunny day.
Things to do during fall in Chicago...
My family was able to secure reservations at the Art Institute to visit the new Monet installation of over 60 of his iconic pieces. Art museums, and museums in general, are always my place of choice on a rainy day. It's always refreshing to become exposed to new mediums, new art, new work, and new ideas. I always fall in love with the intricate landscape paintings he's done, especially the Lilypads. Living in Chicago has allowed me the luxury to visit these exhibitions that not many people often get to see, and they had just recently opened the museum in September to the public, click here to learn more.
Fall Feels...
Lately I've been feeling the fall vibes more than I usually do. Fall can sometimes make me feel more anxious than other months because of the impending doom of winter, but this year was different in that I was excited for my senior year to start. When I'm working on homework or even writing on the blog, I always have music playing—my fall vibes playlist, of course. There's something cathartic about selecting all of the sweater weather songs and artists who just fit the mood of rainy days, falling leaves, and cozy nights in. From Fleetwood to Vance Joy to Maggie Rogers, I've got you covered. Follow my fall feels playlist on Spotify, here!
I have got to stop thrifting when I'm bored, but I just can't help myself. The thrill of the thrift is SO REAL. I have found some pretty good items when I'm least expecting it. The top items I look for are picture frames, blue Ball mason jars, and books, books, and more books. I am not a book worm. I never was and I never will be. However, books are so much cheaper at thrift stores! Who knew. Books allow me to escape. Escape Tik Tok, the news, my own thoughts, and I can delve into a world unbeknownst to me. Thrillers are the best page turners and for awhile I struggled to lift the page past the cover. I am currently reading The Girl On The Train, by Paula Hawkins. It's a bit dated and I'm definitely late to this train, but so far it gives me chills before I go to bed.
This one is kind of a doozy, but updating your resume and getting your career sh*t together always helps, and a rainy day is perfect for tackling it. Either that, or building a portfolio or archiving your emails is always a productive way to spend a rainy morning. I know you don't want to do it, but let me tell yuh, your future self will thank you! Rainy days don't have to make you sad, and they don't have to be unproductive either, but I hope some of my suggestions inspire some new fun ideas for making the most of the seasonal blues. The weather's changing, but that doesn't mean your mentality should suffer because of it. What are some things you do on rainy days?
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The end of summer has come a bit unexpected. The days feel longer, but the weeks seem to just pass by as I wonder what it was like back in March when everything felt so uncertain and summer plans were put on hold. It goes to show just how fast your life breezes by when you're planning your days out long enough until you can finely just breathe.
This summer for me has been quite the eventful one. With my advertising internship at FCB Chicago coming to a close, I was positive that going into my senior year (virtually) will reveal the same opportunities—maybe even better ones. All we can do is hope for the best, but sometimes you have to absorb the current moment for it to reveal its beauty. I spent a lot of my time at the beginning of this year waiting and waiting for things to become known and set for my future. I dwelled on it so much that it consumed me and what I truly wanted to be doing. Whether it be spending much needed time with family or taking a pause, this summer has been quite the road to recovery from what had been a very frightful spring.
I turned 21 this past weekend and I could not feel more fit to be my age. Maybe it's me figuring out what to do with my hair, or this newfound sense of ambition I have finishing college, or the endless amount of possibilities for what my life could be like one year from now, five, or even ten. I couldn't be more excited to begin what will be the best time of my life. Who doesn't love their 20s anyway?
Since being 20, I've gotten tattoos, ridden a motorcycle, travelled abroad, and have done many radical things you'd do in your 20s, but I've also done a lot of adult things already like updating my license! I'm in no rush whatsoever to keep on aging, though. I am certain in the fact that I am capable of great things that I set my mind to. It often becomes my greatest weakness when I want to accomplish so many great things, that I become burnt out and overwhelmed by it all. However, I've found joy and reassurance in spontaneity and not always having a plan figured out.
Going into my senior year of high school and college both have had their own parallels. One being, I have no idea what the future holds. Unlike high school, where my decisions were based solely on the college I was planning to go to, I have the freedom to choose where I go and what I do on my own terms. A degree is one step, but who knows if I'll travel off the beaten path. My head is high up in the clouds, but one things is for sure—I'll always find my way back home.[All pictures taken by my lovely cousin, Lindsay Livingston, on the Oregon Trail in Baker City, Oregon].
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Like writing a song or a poem, I struggle to find the right words to describe the love I'm given. And if you're wondering, no I have not listened to Folklore. They say (whoever they may be) that by your late twenties or early thirties you should have found your "true match" or what ever you hope that means. But that's not the love I'm talking about. I'm talking about the unspoken, annoying, and unconditional type of love. Love we salvage for ourselves and love we ration for others.
I'm not a love expert, and usually hate the four letter word for its ambiguity, but people are driven by it. People are in this world because of it.
Throughout my life I have done a great deal to not take for granted the amount of love I've been given. Friends, family, and the people I meet all have different stories to tell. I can only find myself gracious and humble, knowing that this great life is made a little bit easier by it. How selfish could I be not to accept it? Not to acknowledge it? Or to even suppress it?
. . .
Even in a sky full of grey, we bloom
. . .
I take note of the people I meet: the things they say, the things they do, the things they don't do, and have never been the type of person to just walk away from a boring conversation because I know that everyone has something to give. I do realize though, that there are those specific few people who do not deserve the love I give. One of the truest and most unfortunate realities of life.
We imagine the type of life we want to live, cutting out the pieces and putting them together to form this perfect big picture. This picture perfect love story. And I've realized, I'm not living a love story—I'm living my story and I'm going to write it.
Sometimes we need to ease up on love. We give it a bad rap. We expect so much from it and from people. We find ourselves blind to what forms it manifests. I've even taken the love language quiz and you should, too. I'm not sure how much this quiz is backed up by science, if any, but it has definitely got me thinking. Our actions reflect our feelings and emotions, so much so, that my two tied love languages are "acts of service" and "words of affirmation". To put it lightly, my vacuuming the house, reorganizing the linen closet, creating a garden for my mom, or developing a blog for my 92 year-old grandfather are some examples of random acts of "service" to name a few. It could be my maternal instincts, obsessive cleaning behavior, or just the satisfaction of knowing I did something for someone else to make their lives a bit easier.
However, "words of affirmation" are quite the contrary to acts of service, because sometimes actions don't speak louder than words. It's ironic because as a writer, I am so in tune with language and written sentiments that I often find them more endearing than just a hug or a gift at all. I'll be honest, I like hearing or reading the encouragement, the reasoning behind the affection, and maybe it's because I like having the proof? Not that I ever go looking for it, but I feel like a lot of people give the type of love that is confusing, undefined, and at times discouraging. No more guessing games—just say it.
I found love, and I was never able to really see it or accept the way I was given it. I kept worrying and counting my life on one type of love, finding that one person to get it from, but it's all around me. Finding those tiny blips of joy, laughter, conversation, and connection with a person are closer than you think. Don't be afraid to write your own love story and wait for the love you rightfully deserve.
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If I could wake up every day to the smell of crisp leaves and campfire I would. Maybe that's what heaven smells like.
Well, this weekend I was in heaven. Every couple of years or so, my family rents a cabin up in northern Wisconsin to stay and get away from the business of the city. When we aren't camping in Peninsula State Park or in Petoskey, Michigan, we find that this is a nice escape in the middle of October. It's the perfect fall getaway.
We were lucky with the timing of this trip because everyone in my family was able to go (except for Cooper, unfortunately, he had to stay home). I was able to catch an afternoon train, Emily was able to also catch an afternoon train, and Melissa was able to meet us there on Friday with my parents waiting for us with a cozy fire and all of the Wisconsin cheese curds we could have dreamed of.
Fish Creek is one of those really quaint beach towns, kind of touristy, but it's on the edge of the Peninsula and a little farther north of Green Bay. It's got small farms, pumpkin patches, privately owned marinas, beer fests, boutiques you'd never really buy anything from but go in and look anyway, and cozy little coffee shops that overlook Sister Bay. However, what I love the most is just how vibrant the trees are this time of year up there. Chicago never gets the rich oranges and reds that scream "FALL IS HERE". We got really lucky with the weather, it was mid-50s and sunny pretty much every day.
Friday
On the first full day, we explored the area around our cabin a bit and were happily reminiscing the memories we had made from visiting so long ago. We used to bring a lot of our close family friends with us and would have crazy memories of playing intense card games, swimming in the Lake, or getting lost in the forest.
Where to go pumpkin picking...
We had originally planned to go pumpkin picking at one of our favorite pumpkin farms, Schartner's Farm Market, but they (sadly) didn't have the mules to carry us into the patches as it was a low season for them this year. However, we were still able to pick out some pumpkins from the previous batches and were just as pleased with the selection they had on the trailers. I would still highly recommend this farm during their high-season at the beginning of October.
We walked around Main Street and visited all of our favorite candy shops and antique places. It began to get dark very early there, at around 6, and we were all really hungry and picked up some delicious pizzas at our favorite restaurant, Wild Tomato. I would suggest ordering takeout from them to avoid the long waits because it's a poppin' pizza joint!
Saturday
After waking up to a big fireside breakfast in our cabin, we had planned to start the morning off easy and headed off to go explore more of Peninsula State Park and hike around the scenic beach shore and Eagle Bluff area.
Where to go camping...
This was one of our other favorite camping spots because they had everything: a fishing pier, bike trails, kayak and paddleboard rentals, and a large outdoor amphitheater that we got to watch our favorite Northern Sky Theater performances at amongst the brushing pine trees and twinkling stars. Although we did not get to see a show this year, it was great to be back in a place that is filled with memories and has continued to be maintained for years.
My family loves how slow-paced it is up there—being able to just walk around and cruise our way around town as we pleased. Our afternoon consisted of a bit more shopping and dog petting. Fish Creek has some CUTE dogs. We also picked up some coffee at the Blue Horse Beach Cafe and watched the sailboats go by. We ended the night with dinner at the Cookery along the bay—I had one of the best cheeseburgers of my life. Who would have known Wisconsin does cheese and beef so well ;)
We didn't want to say our goodbyes to Door County. It was like it used to be: morning and night bonfires, waking up to bacon and eggs, going to the pumpkin patches and fall fests, stuffing our faces with Apple Cider Donuts, playing endless games of War, and having room and time to breathe in the clean and crisp northern air. All of us enjoyed our time together in one of the places we love the most.
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It felt like a dream.
One minute I was in Chicago, the next I was walking around the beaches of Cannes not missing any of Chicago's inclement weather, and breathing in the fresh French Riviera ocean air. A dream it was. Now that I'm finally home after three weeks, reminiscing all of the moments and memories I made, I think it's about time to share my adventures studying abroad in France, The Netherlands, and Spain. All countries have very different, rich cultures, and I was eager to explore it all.
My two professors, Juan and Marshall, worked very hard to manage a group of 15 girls and one guy. We were all very grateful to have two experienced travelers and prestigious DePaul advertising professors who taught us during our three weeks. The international advertising program consisted of our professors giving us briefs every Sunday catered towards a global client that we had to create an entire advertising campaign for—an opportunity to really build our portfolios on a global scale. Stay tuned because I will be including my final portfolio within the next week.
Advertising was not something I considered to be a career trajectory because if you're like a lot of people, all you want to do is skip an ad, mute the commercials, swipe past catalogs on your browser, and upgrade to no-ad premium subscriptions. All of which I have participated, but this trip made me see ads differently. Not as a way to sell or manipulate, but to share messages and facilitate authentic connections with people. Sure I'll still skip an ad, but this industry is really challenged by the way that ads shape our culture and an impatient one at that. It takes real talent to make people like advertising and it amazes me at how impactful a slogan, a word, a picture of a hamburger, or a puppy-monkey-baby can make #1 on Superbowl Sunday.
Cannes, France
This is me happy in my new French dress that I bought at a store called Mango.
The festival is commonplace for creative minds and innovators. There were brainstorming workshops and creative presentations that everyone was able to experience. Every day we were required to visit two talks and reflect on them as our daily homework assignment. We saw the CEO of Edelman, John Legend, Laura Dern, Big Sean, Katie Couric, Kerry Washington, Jeff Goldblum, and many more.
The parties were filled with complimentary food and drinks (which we definitely took advantage of), fun activities like photo booths and playground equipment, and a chance to mingle with all of the professionals and presenters there. Though some of us just danced the night away and forgot we were here to get work done. It truly felt like a vacation.
I also met a Youtuber Caspar Lee, who I used to watch when I was a tween and just shouted his name at Pinterest Beach. We walked around the streets with an abundant amount of shopping and amazing seafood and French cuisine—escargot, of course. It felt like I was living in a fairytale and all of my stresses went away. No one can be unhappy in a place like that. Not even the accordion playing man.
We also took a free day to explore the island of Sainte Marguerite and took a train to Monaco to celebrate my group's success as we won our first campaign, named France 20/20, and did we gamble? Well, I definitely splurged a bit that weekend.
This was taken on Twitter Beach alongside Juan Mundel (middle) and a visiting professor Julie Ferguson (left) on a warm, sunny day filled with engaging presentations and happy hour.
This was taken after my big girl purchase at Gucci and a much-needed refreshment in Monaco, Monte Carlo. You can tell how blissful I looked and felt.
I fell in love with France, swimming in the sparkling blue water, perfect sunsets, beautiful people, amazing parties, delicious food, and constantly exhausting the phrase "Merci beaucoup". I really want to go back and explore different parts of the country. It all went by a little too fast, but we were all ready to move onto our next city, Amsterdam.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
We arrived in Amsterdam during an inferno heatwave and were all wishing we were back at the beach, but we were also very excited to see the brownstones and canals as we bused up to our hotel.
Bikers dominated the streets and everyone was ready to see the new city, but also focus on our work this week. We were earning for a bit more structure in our schedule after all that partying and met at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences every day from 9 to 12 to work with some of the students we got to meet and hang out with after class.
One of the many canals and bridges I saw during my trip. The bikes border the entire bridge.
Amsterdam is a very unique city, after class, we would work on our campaigns promoting a new coffeeshop to arrive in Chicago, these are basically cafés that legally sell weed, which was a very interesting thing to experience. So many people smoke weed there, it smells in every alley. We also toured the canals, the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum, did the Heineken Experience and explored the brewery, and biked along the countryside to see some windmills.
I felt like Amsterdam was very similar to Chicago in some ways like the amount of traffic, the proximity of every bar and landmark, the diverse demographics, and so many different types of restaurants. Moroccan, Indonesian, Argentinan places, etc. Also, the canals were as murky as the Chicago River. Some days the weather was actually breezy and cool like the city. I was surprised at how I could feel a little at home there.
Amsterdam is known to have a lot of nightlife, so I was going to bed around midnight every night and the sun never set until 10:30. We kept saying that time never exists in Europe.
I really enjoyed having the whole day to do everything and not feel like I had to rush to do activities while it was still daylight. Amsterdam was very different than the two other cities. One that was more frugal, modernized, and progressive.
My favorite parts of Amsterdam were along the canals and finding small boutiques, thrift shops, bars along the water, and eating as many stroopwafels as I could before we left. I also really loved walking down the side streets in the residential areas and peeking through balconies and getting a feel of what living there was like. It felt like we were walking through a movie.
These were some of the Dutch students we got to meet, work with, and spend time with. I got close to the girl named Jette (pronounced yett-a) and two boys, Terry (left) and Nathan (right).
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona has a special place in my heart. I think I fell in love with it the most. For some reason, I found a connection with this city more than the others. I was able to speak and understand Spanish and could communicate with the locals. It was a revealing practice of my self-confidence and boldness, for sure. It's empowering to know a language and that's why I plan on continuing my studies with Spanish at DePaul.
After a while, I got very comfortable talking to people and asking around for the best tapas places. Our first night there we made it a goal to get tapas and sangria. Which inspired our last advertising brief which was to make McDonald's now serve tapas–McTapas. This was the hardest challenge for me because I struggled to elevate something that was already as good as it is, Mcdonald's, but now with tapas. I tried so hard to think of something more creative, outside the box, but sometimes maintaining brand equity in advertising has the most successful feedback.
I was on a mission to find an authentic painted fan and I found this beautiful one, along with two for my sisters, at a Mercería, which sells handmade fans of all colors and flamenco costumes. I made sure to bring it to our flamenco show—it also saved me and my friends from overheating.
We explored the historic alleyways of Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas and the shopping district, La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Gaudi's House, and scoped out where the Cheetah Girl's filmed their second movie and all of the markets where I got to try kangaroo meat (it does taste like jerky) and drink lots of sangria.
We had a rooftop pool at our hotel, so on very hot afternoons during siesta time (between 1 and 4) we spent swimming after class and some people even made it to the beach. I also loved just staring at the architecture around every corner of the city. Terra cotta roofs, intricate balconies, breathtaking cathedrals, I definitely got some inspiration from them. Our Fourth of July was spent seeing Flamenco dancers and treating our professors to a final salud at a local pub.
I was very fortunate to have had this experience. I mean, it was a trip of a lifetime. Every moment was just amazing and there is so much more that I want to share, but also keep for myself to remember. Thankfully, there were no problems, issues, breakdowns, injuries—nada. I made lasting friendships and connections with people that I will carry on forever. I would one hundred percent recommend studying abroad to any college student thinking about it. Apply now, do it, you will regret it.
I never had doubts about applying for this trip. I knew exactly how bad I wanted to go and I persisted. I remember being so nervous because we had to interview for this program and it meant so much to me. On one of our first nights in France, I was standing on an old church ruin on the hilltop Notre Dame d'Espérance overlooking Cannes and just cried. I was so grateful to experience a view so perfect and a trip that my whole family probably wouldn't be able to ever go on together. Traveling is expensive. This was not something I could just "come up with," but every penny spent was worth it and I am willing to pay that debt.
There can be so much worry that aligns with travel and I'm sure there are lots of other reasons, such as financial, for why it is so hard to drop everything and get on an airplane. However, as clichè as it sounds, I want to lead a life of adventure and knowing that I can get out of my comfort bubble if I just allow myself to be open and spontaneous. I have to work for it.
I learned much about patience, maturity, problem-solving, adapting to a new culture, communication skills, and more about myself in the past three weeks than I have in college for two years already. I knew I was going to learn something more about myself and knowing that I can do it on my own makes me motivated to reach for these big, life-changing decisions and take risks every once in a while. These are experiences that I will take with me through life.
Traveling can be a very emotionally challenging, personality revealing, stress enduring, and life-changing time—I have proved to myself that I can do it. I hope you've enjoyed reading the beginning of my travel journey. If you have dreams of travel, continue to work towards it.
Someone once told me that if you aren't scared of your dreams, then they aren't big enough.
Where should I travel to next?
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