Barcelona, Spain

Although I’ve visited Europe several times before coming to live in Grenoble, each time I visited in the past I would go to the same places that I’ve already been to such as France and Italy. Although this isn’t a bad thing, I definitely wanted a taste of what the rest of Europe is like after falling in love with all that I had already seen. Before leaving for France this time I knew that I wanted to branch out and experience even more places in Europe during my four months here, one of those places being Spain. So for my fall break my friends and I decided to head to Barcelona for a couple of nights. En route to Barcelona, I had no idea what to expect but was excited to see what this new city and country had to offer. As soon as we arrived at the hostel the people working there invited us to go out for a pub crawl and explore some of the different bars in Barcelona while simultaneously exploring the city, which we of course said yes to. We started off at a tiny little bar around 10pm and eventually made our way to a dance club on the beach of Barcelona where we danced, drank and enjoyed the view until the early hours of 4am. Personally I’m not the type of person to usually go out that late partying with friends but apparently that’s what everybody in Barcelona does, which we learned during our early morning tram rides back to the hostel as we would pass plenty of other party people making their way back home.

Barcelona reminded me of the craziness of Las Vegas, except with a rich culture and beautiful architecture everywhere you go. During my visit I was able to visit Park Güell, a huge park filled with the beautiful art and architecture of Antoni Gaudí, explore the city with friends and of course go to the beach. During my time in Barcelona I not only fell in love with the city, but with the people that I encountered along the way.  One thing that I love about traveling, especially while using hostels, is the people you encounter along your journey and what you can learn from them. During these past 2 months spent in Europe I have met some of the coolest people with some of the most inspiring stories. In some cases I was only able to have a short conversation with them on a plane/train/or bus ride, but with others I was lucky to spend a couple of days with them and get to know them more. After spending half of my vacation in a hostel in Barcelona and meeting some awesome people from all around the world, I was able to hear some awesome stories. I got to talking to one of my friends who worked at the hostel and asked him how he ended up here. He told me that one day he went to a travel agency and asked for the cheapest flight they have. He didn’t care where in the world it was he just wanted to get out and experience different parts of the world. To me, that is one of the bravest things somebody can do. I got to talking to another girl staying at the hostel about the teachings of the book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne and the power of manifestation (STRONGLY recommend this read!). She told me that each year she makes a vision board of the things that she wants to accomplish and puts it in a place where she can see it each morning when she wakes up to have as a constant reminder of the goals and dreams she wants to manifest in her life. She said she would imagine herself accomplishing all of her goals each morning when she woke and used the power of manifestation to accomplish every single goal on the board each year. After meeting all of these people from different parts of the world and hearing their stories, I feel inspired to go and branch out myself more. I realize that everybody around me knows something that I do not, and that people truly are your best resource in this life. The people that I’ve met have made me realize even more that the only thing stopping me from achieving what I’ve always said I’m going to do is myself. Conquering your fears, indecisiveness, and doubts and just deciding to go and do it. This life is too short to not spend doing the things you love and have always dreamed of doing.

Serradifalco, Sicilia

Growing up with a full Sicilian mom, I was constantly surrounded by and celebrating my Italian culture as a child. It is something that I have always been very proud of and now love to celebrate and express it myself as a young adult. My mom raised me as a true Sicilian, celebrating all of the typical traditions such as the Sicilian feast of seven fishes each year on Christmas Eve. Since I was a young girl, this has been and continues to be my favorite family tradition. Each year on Christmas Eve my family and I all cook together to create a delicious 4 course meal with seven different types of fish. To me this is what being Sicilian is all about, cooking delicious food all together as a family. My whole life I experienced my Sicilian culture and always dreamed of being able to visit Serradifalco, Sicilia, the town that my family is from and still lives in today. I was able to do that for the first time four years ago with my family and finally met my family in the small quaint town of Serradifalco. This trip was something that I will never forget, it’s one thing to celebrate your culture with traditions, but it’s another thing to actually be able to see upfront your roots and culture. I fell in love with the town and promised myself that I would return someday. This past weekend I was able to do just that…

Thursday afternoon as soon as I got out of classes for the day I hopped on the tram and headed to the airport, ready for my short weekend trip to Italy. Serradifalco is a tiny town smack-dab in the middle of Sicily, so it isn’t very easy to get there, but I was ready for the long trek. I hopped on my plane to Rome and was able to spend the night there with one of my childhood friends who is studying there for a semester. We stayed up late drinking wine and catching up about our travels throughout Europe. It was the first time I saw a familiar face during my time in Europe and it made me feel at home. I only got about two hours of sleep before I had to get up and find my way to the airport for my flight to Catania, Sicilia. So off I went, searching aimlessly through the city of Rome for the airport before the sun had even rose. I ended up taking the tram in the completely opposite direction and found myself in an area that I had no familiarity with. With no other idea in mind, I hopped on the tram returning back to where I came from. A woman entered the tram and sat next to me and, hoping she spoke either English or French, I asked her for help. By some stroke of luck she spoke French and was also heading to the train station that takes you to the airport so she told me to follow her there. On our way we were able to chat for a bit and get to know each other. Once we parted and I was waiting for the train to the airport to come and, just to make sure so I wouldn’t be lost again, I asked the old man sitting next to me if this train was heading to the airport. He answered me in perfect English and, out of curiosity, I asked him where he was from. He told me that he is from Texas but works for the United Nations and is living in Rome for the next year or so for work. He told me of all of the places that he’s lived and all of the adventures he’s had in these different places. After exchanging stories and getting to know each other for a bit he had to get off the train for his stop, we said a quick goodbye and off he went. This is one of my favorite things about traveling, meeting people from different parts of the world and hearing their unique individual stories. Everybody in the world knows something that you do not and has experienced things that you haven’t, so it is very refreshing for me to speak to different people and listen to their stories.

Since I got myself so lost in the beginning, I was running through the airport to catch my flight to Catania and made it just in time for the last couple of minutes of boarding. I landed in Catania and was finally in Sicilia, however, I still had a bit of a ways to go before being with my family. I hopped on a bus to a town called Caltanissetta, where I met up with my cousin who drove me to the tiny town of Serradifalco. As we drove into town two cars passed and stopped once they saw my cousin and I, the men got out of their car in the middle of the street and began introducing themselves to me in Italian. Cars behind them were honking, but that did not seem to phase the men at all as they continued to speak with my cousin and I. This is something that I love about small towns, everybody seems to know each other. Once we arrived at my cousins home I was greeted with a four course traditional Sicilian meal, which of course included limoncello and cannolis promptly after. The rest of the day consisted of exploring Serradifalco and eating more and more food at dinner with my entire family and their friends. Although only one of my cousins speaks English, it did not bother me that I couldn’t understand them. I could feel a sense of welcoming, family, and love and that was all that I needed.

The next day my cousin woke me up bright and early for a bus ride to the beautiful beach city of Palermo, Sicily where we were staying for the night with her friend. We spent the day walking around the city exploring the beautiful architecture of the churches and later on met up with a couple of her friends, who did not speak English either. Off we went to the beach where I was able to swim in the Mediterranean for the first time. It was cold, but I didn’t care, I missed the ocean so much and was so happy to be reunited with it’s beauty. That night my cousin and her friends took me out for a night on the town. We went from bar to bar and eventually ended up at one where there was music playing throughout the streets and people dancing all around me. In this moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of joy. Here I was, experiencing the culture that I had grown up with since I was a young girl with my family and new friends.

The next day we headed back to Serradifalco to say my goodbyes to my family. This was extremely difficult for me, knowing that I won’t see them again for at least another couple of years. After shedding some tears together and promising that I will return soon, it was time for me to make the long trek back to Grenoble. During the bus ride to the airport I had some time to myself to reflect on my weekend. Throughout my entire time abroad so far, this was by far my favorite trip that I’ve been on. Not only was I able to experience my roots, I was able to do so with my family who welcomed me as if I had never left. After being on my own and not seeing my own family for quite awhile, the hospitality and love that they showed me meant the absolute world to me. I’ve never felt so at home in a place that I’ve only visited two times and was beginning to get emotional thinking of not having that feeling of family and home for my next two months spent abroad. After reflecting for awhile I realized that I could find that same sense of home within myself. They always say that home is where the heart is, and I carry my heart with me through all that I do, everywhere that I go. Although I find myself 6,000 miles away from my physical home, throughout my time abroad I have become my own home. I am a believer that home is not a place, it’s a feeling of welcoming, love, and acceptance. I am at home in this body, in this heart, in this soul. I welcome myself with arms open wide, without judgement, with nothing but love and acceptance. My hope is that you too can find your own sense of home within yourself and welcome it with arms open wide.

“It was when I stopped searching for home within others and lifted the foundations of home within myself, I found there were no roots more intimate than those between a mind and body that have decided to be whole.” -Rupi Kaur

Until the next adventure…xxx

only some of the beautiful architecture in Palermo

The Mediterranean

Serradifalco, Sicilia

saying goodbye to my cousin

All homemade Sicilian pastries

Bruxelles, Belgique

There are of course plenty of awesome things that come along with living in France including the food, the relaxed lifestyle, and the people (to name a few). However, of my favorite things about living in Europe so far is how easily you can go and explore surrounding countries. The opportunities are endless, so where do I go first? There are so many to chose from, and so many that I would love to see and explore. For my first trip outside of Grenoble, my friends and I decided to make a mission to Belgium for the weekend.

Belgium definitely isn’t the closest place to visit, so we had a pretty intense travel day ahead of us. After our classes on Thursday, we had a couple of hours to kill before our midnight bus to Paris later that night. So off we went to a soirée with some friends that we met in Grenoble, with our backpacks full with everything we could possibly need for our weekend trip. After drinking a few beers, meeting some cool new people and putting our french skills to the test we headed towards the bus station only to find out upon arrival that it had been delayed an hour. However, this couldn’t put a damper on our weekend, we spent that hour listening to some tunes and practicing our french together. Once our bus finally arrived we all fell asleep almost immediately for the long 6 hour bus ride. Before we knew it we all woke up in Paris at 6am before the sun had even rose, with 7 hours to kill before our car ride to Brussels, Belgium. We find the closest park next to us, which ends up being the Jardin du Luxembourg, and watch the sunrise. We spend the rest of our time in the city enjoying the sun while having a picnic in front of la Tour Eiffel, with lots of wine, cheese, and bread of course. Before we know it it’s time for the four hour drive to Brussels.

My favorite way to travel and explore different places is by doing what the locals do. We got the opportunity to do just that in Brussels thanks to my friend who has two good friends who live in the city and know it very well. Despite this, of course we still went to the famous Delirium Village to get beers and explore the bars, ate plenty of chocolate and explored the Grand-Place of Brussels. Our second and last night in the city we were invited to go to our friends’ house for dinner, and of course we said yes. We weren’t expecting a lot, but when we arrived we were amazed at what we saw. An apartment that took up the entire third floor of the building with seven people in the kitchen preparing a dinner for us. We spent the night speaking french, drinking wine, and eating one of the most delicious homemade meals I’ve ever had. Sitting there laughing and talking with all these new friends that I just met, I couldn’t help but feel so at home in a place that I had never been before. It was so refreshing for me to meet good people that were so welcoming after just meeting me that day. By the time the night and the weekend was over, we didn’t want to leave this beautiful eclectic city or our friends. Despite this, I now know from now on I will always be welcomed with open arms by my new friends in Belgium.

The voyage back to Grenoble from Belgium was definitely not a walk in the park. We left around noon from Brussels back to Paris, where we had 9 hours to kill until our returning bus to Lyon. Our first time in Paris was so enjoyable for us because it was a sunny day and we took off to Belgium before night fell. This time it was different. It was raining on and off the entire day, we had nowhere to go but the streets of Paris, and our bus didn’t leave until 1:30am. Despite this, my friends and I kept our optimism and roughed it out for our long layover in Paris. At one point we probably actually looked like homeless women on the side of the street bundled up in our blankets with nowhere to go. Once those nine hours were up, we were actually happy to be on the long bus back home. Our bus arrived in Lyon later than anticipated in the morning and we ended up missing our bus from Lyon to Grenoble. Of course this was stressful for us, especially because we had to be on campus for class in an hour. But after all we’d been through this weekend, nothing could stop us. We purchased train tickets back to Grenoble, spruced ourselves up during the one hour train ride, and made it to class just in time.

After this long weekend I couldn’t help but feel so accomplished and proud of myself. My friends and I were all able to navigate our way through two major cities that we were unfamiliar with, and even happened to make new friends along the way. Although this weekend definitely had some bumps, I wouldn’t change a single thing about it. These are the times that I find out more not only about other places in the world, but about myself. These are the times that I realize not to doubt myself or my abilities and also realize that everything I need is already within me.

We are all capable of so much more than we think we are. Have faith in yourself, have faith in your abilities, and most importantly have faith that these abilities will provide you with all that you need in this life. Until the next adventure…xx

finding our way through Paris

sunrise at Jardin du Luxembourg

Delirium Village

La Tour Eiffel

Grand Place, Bruxelles

La vie en le cœur des Alpes: Life in the heart of the Alpes

Un papillon: a symbol of self transformation. A caterpillar wraps itself in a cocoon and, after only a few short weeks, it transforms into a completely new, unrecognizable being.

After living in the city of Grenoble, France for the past three weeks I feel as though I’m finally settling into this new lifestyle and environment that I’ll be in for the next four months. Upon arriving in the city I was a little taken back, it was not like what I was expecting at all. I was expecting a quaint little town in the Alpes of France. What I saw was a hustling and bustling city placed in the middle of three different mountain ranges. The city was WAY larger than I anticipated. Despite my surprise, I was still so excited to settle into this new and exciting place that was unfamiliar to me. After exploring the city and the Alpes for a little bit, and definitely getting lost a fair amount of times, I began to feel like a local. Everywhere I turn I get a view of one of the three beautiful mountain ranges surrounding the town. As someone who feels most at peace being around nature, being able to hike and explore the different mountain ranges of this beautiful town puts me at ease.

Although blindly moving to a completely new place that is extremely different than what I’m used to has it’s scary moments, it’s all part of my own journey of self transformation. As I’m experiencing more and more cultures, people and places I know that my decision to move to France and study the language for these next couple of months is something that I will always remember and never regret.

We’re all on our own personal journeys of self transformation, experiencing such different things and living such different lives. Thank you for following along with me on my own journey les papillons.

À bientôt Californie

It’s safe to say that this summer has been spent enjoying the beautiful state of California that I call home. While I’ve been taking plenty of trips to the beach, going on road trips, and embarking on various other adventures I’ve been recognizing and growing my love for this truly Golden State more and more. Although I’ve been enjoying home and all of the amazing things it has to offer I am about to embark on one of the biggest adventures of my life. In about five weeks I’ll be taking off from LAX to Grenoble, France where I will be living and working on my French language skills for four months. This trip will be my first time really truly being on my own in a whole new setting that I am unfamiliar with, with people that I’ve never met before in my life. Despite these things, I couldn’t be more excited to start this new and exciting chapter of my life.

Living and learning in another country is something that has always been a dream of mine since I was a young girl. I have always embraced and loved my European culture and it only took one visit to the beautiful continent to completely fall in love with it. Although my family in Europe and America speaks mainly Italian, I chose the French route. Still… Italian is definitely the next language to learn on my list! I started taking French classes as a young teenager and did NOT like it at first. The language just didn’t click with me at all and it was really difficult for me to follow along in class. Fast forward 5 years later, and I am still taking French classes and have declared a French minor. Learning a new language is tough at first, but don’t give up and I promise to you it will be worth it.

Throughout these past five years I’ve been lucky enough to put my language skills to the test on two different trips to France where I was able to visit various places such as Paris and Normandy. During these trips to France I formed a deep-rooted love for the French culture, language, and way of life. My first trip to France was centered around Paris where I experienced many of the typical tourist things like the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, and Lourve. However during my second trip I was able to travel to Normandy, the French countryside where there were less tourists and more French-speaking people. My visit to Normandy was especially special for me and the memories hold a special place in my heart and mind. This was the first time that I was put in situations where I had no other choice but to put my French language skills to use. Yes, this was very nerve-racking but this experience really made me feel like I was emerging myself fully in the French culture. As I walked along the streets of an outdoor market in Normandy, where they sold just about anything from fresh fish to a pair of shoes, I conversed with the local vendors and couldn’t help but feel like I belonged there. Today I always dream of returning to Normandy and possibly living there one day… who knows what the future has in store.

As I prepare to leave for my big trip I feel many different emotions such as excitement and happiness, but also can’t help but feel nervous at times. A different country, different people, different school, truly being on my own for the FIRST TIME!… These are things that I am going to have to adapt to once I arrive in France. Although it can be scary to think about these things, I know that I am going to be just fine as I adventure throughout Europe for four months fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine. And until then, you can find me soaking up the beautiful California sun for as long as possible.

To the many adventures in this life, and many more to come… Thank you for following me on this journey.

Avec beaucoup d’amour… G

Camping on the Coast

A couple of weeks ago I called the California State Parks number in hopes of reserving a campsite at a local campground for a weekend in July to celebrate my boyfriends birthday. What I didn’t expect, was that almost all of the campsites that I had in mind were booked all throughout summer.

Camping Tip/ Sidenote: Don’t be like me and wait until last minute to try to reserve a camp site.

I was naming off what seemed like an endless list of campgrounds in my area, and finally just googled California campgrounds and named off all of the ones listed. I saw a site that caught my eye, Salt Point State Park, and asked if there were any sites available for the weekend I had in mind. With some stroke of luck, I was told that there was one woodside campsite available. I jumped at this opportunity no questions asked and made my payment. After getting off of the phone and looking at more pictures of the beautiful campsite and surrounding area I realized it was located in Sonoma County, California which is eight hours away from where I live in Southern California. Although this was a long car ride for only a short weekend, I was still up for the adventure and ready for the long trek.

As a kid I used to go camping once or twice a year with my dad, my friends, and their dads in Joshua Tree. Those weekend camping trips with our dads were something that we always looked forward to and loved doing for years. Now that we’re all older and not able to go anymore, I’ve been dying to go camping for what seems like forever. Once Friday morning came around we were up and ready to head North by 6am, with our coffees in our hands and the jeep packed up with everything we could possibly need for our little weekend getaway. The eight hour drive seemed to go on for ever and ever, but the scenic views and each others company made it enjoyable. After finally getting off of the 5-Freeway, we cruised through several different quaint beach towns including Bodega Bay, Petaluma, and Jenner offering us beautiful views of the ocean and lush green landscapes. Personally, the feeling of being surrounded by tall trees and Mother Nature brings me peace of mind.

Once we finally arrived at the campsite we unpacked the car, set up camp, and made ourselves at home. Our campsite was surrounded by tall lush green trees that made the air smell like fresh pine. It was the perfect little set-up for our weekend away that we were looking forward to for the past couple of weeks. The second day we woke up early and went for a hike to Gerstle Cove, which was only about a mile away from our campsite. The hike led us through the forest to a big field of flowers and straw where you had a beautiful view of the ocean. The crisp Northern California ocean breeze was definitely chilly for us two Southern Californians, but it was a nice change of scenery for us. After our little hike, we sat down on the rocky coastline and enjoyed the view that the beautiful coast had to offer us, spending a large chunk of time there before heading back towards our campsite. Salt Point State Park is a very large campground with lots of different hikes and sites to explore. We weren’t able to explore all that much of it given that we were there for such a short amount of time, but in the future I’d definitely love to travel back to Salt Point and explore more of the beautiful NorCal coast.

Camping is a great way to get away from the stress of daily life and enjoy time spent with the beauty that is Mother Nature.

“Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.” -William Wordsworth

Until the next adventure….. G

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Boat Life

Every year for the Fourth of July my family and I spend a couple nights on Santa Catalina Island. We’ve been doing this for at least 5 years and it’s always a weekend I look forward to. Every time I visit the island I feel like I’ve just entered a different country, even though it’s only about an hour and a half boat ride from Newport Beach. With it’s exotic feel and beautiful beaches, visiting Catalina has never been a disappointment.

On the trip this year my family and I did something different, we decided to live on a boat during our stay in Catalina. My parents used to live on a boat as a newly married couple, so they’re always down to get out on the ocean (or any body of water for that matter). So off we went to Catalina bright and early from Newport Beach with lots of family, friends and food. My sister and I sat at the top of the boat where we could get a full view of the ocean. Although it was freezing cold up there as the wind was blowing against us and the gloomy clouds came out, seeing the view of the ocean from up above made us forget about how chilly we were. We rode along, cozied up in big blankets, with nothing in sight but the sea. I started watching the white caps of the waves as they smacked back down on the water, creating more waves. As a Scorpio, I was enjoying being in my element and admiring how powerful yet peaceful it is. My sister and I noticed several birds soaring along the ocean, and I couldn’t help but think that they must be having a lot of fun. It was a peaceful boat ride into Catalina and the sun peaked out from behind the clouds to greet us just as we arrived to the island. One thing I love about Catalina is that the people living there take such good care of the island that they live on, and it’s extremely noticeable that they do so. The water is bright blue and you can see the beautiful bright orange Garibaldi fish right through it. There are numerous hiking trails to do, all with beautiful scenic views of the island and ocean, and of course the beautiful beaches too.

During our time on the island my family and I went on a hike to the Catalina botanical garden, which consists of thousands of different plant specimens from all over the world. Along the hike, I noticed various species of birds and admired the eclectic houses on the island. Once we arrived at the garden my family and I spent a large chunk of time walking around and looking at all of the different plants. Hundreds of different kinds of cacti, plants and flowers surrounded us as we explored and took in the beauty of it all. Being in nature on this island each year is something that I always look forward to. Catalina is such a peaceful getaway from the craziness of daily life and reminds me to take my time to lay back, relax, and do those things that make me feel centered and happy. Spending a couple of nights on a boat with family was an awesome experience that I would definitely do again in a heart beat. Not only did I get rocked to bed by the ocean each night, I woke up to the beautiful view of the island each morning as I dipped my feet in the water while drinking my morning cup of coffee.

My hope is that you all will implement daily things in your life that you enjoy and makes you happy. Maybe by taking a short n’ sweet vacation or even doing something as simple as sitting outside and soaking up the sun… the choice is yours to make.

You, more than anybody, are deserving of your own love and affection.

Until next time les papillons… G

Beach Days

Every once in awhile everybody wants a quick and easy escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I’m a firm believer in making time to do things that you enjoy, that takes your mind off of the craziness of life, and that allows you to relax and just be. In Southern California one of the best ways to do this is a day trip to the beach. What better way to escape the responsibilities of life while simultaneously basking in Mother Natures’ beauty? Being in nature can also be a huge stress reliever for those that enjoy it. Living in San Diego County, there are so many different beaches to choose from that don’t require driving too far. Some of my favorite beaches to visit in San Diego County are Cardiff-By-The-Sea, Moonlight Beach, and Del Mar. Whenever I’m in Orange County I love visiting Laguna, Newport, and Seal Beach. These are a few of the many beaches in Southern California that you could visit during your time here.

This past week being my spring break, I wanted to take advantage of the sunshine and time-off by making as many day trips to the beach as possible. Out of all of them, my favorite being my day spent in Del Mar with my best friend who was also back in town for the week for spring break. I picked her up early Thursday morning and off we went towards the coast. Intending on spending the whole day there we brought big blankets to lie down on, various kinds of fruit to snack on, and paint and canvases to paint on. The sun was shining brightly for us, leaving us sun kissed and beaming with big smiles. It seemed that every time we turned our heads the most adorable dogs were prancing down the shoreline. Although the water was still a little frigid, we didn’t mind as we dipped our toes in the water and enjoyed the end of winter and the beginning of a new and sunny season. With the sunshine on my skin, paint brush in my hand, and best friend by my side on the beach I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.

Give yourself the relaxation time that you need and deserve by having a nice long beach day. Even if you don’t live near the beach, you can destress by spending time in nature or doing something relaxing that you enjoy. In todays’ society everybody is always on the go, always making plans, and not making enough time for themselves. This is something that is extremely important for your mental health. So take advantage of your surroundings and treat yourself to some good quality you-time, because you deserve it les papillons.

“The greatest gift you can give yourself is a little bit of your own attention.” -Anthony J. D’Angelo

Xoxo, G

SoCal vs. The Snow

Throughout the years, I’ve travelled to many places within California where it snows including Big Bear, Mammoth, Lake Arrowhead, and Wrightwood. However, living in Southern California, I’ve become accustomed to the warm sunny weather and frequent trips to the beach. We do have our cold, rainy days but it’s nothing compared to the weather in the town of McCall, Idaho where my sister and I travelled to this past week to celebrate our good friend graduating from college. Having experienced the snow many times before, I was ready to take on the below freezing temperatures of Idaho. What we weren’t expecting upon arrival was that Idaho would be experiencing the largest amount of snowfall that it’s had since the 80’s! Mother Nature was giving us a, not so warm, welcome!

Although it was a short trip it was filled with plenty of fun, friends, and experiences that I will always remember. One of those experiences being visiting a natural hot springs in the middle of the woods! Wearing bathing suits under our snow gear, we quickly stripped down and ran through the freezing cold to jump into the 109° hot springs. Icicles formed in our wet hair and eyelashes from the brisk winter air. The champagne and the hot springs were pouring and we were splashing all around enjoying every second. And this was only the first adventure. The next night we trekked 2 miles through the woods under a sky full of stars to eventually arrive at a small cozy tent called a yurt. As soon as I entered the yurt I was amazed at what I saw, a Bohemian decorated circular tent filled with food, friends, and endless amounts of mulled wine. A group of only three people awaited our arrival inside, ready to cook us an amazing five course meal. Now you may be wondering, what the hell is a yurt? A yurt is an ancient insulated tent that has been used by nomads as a dwelling for thousands of years and can be put together in only a couple of hours.

The entire night consisted of eating, drinking, and plenty of laughs. Let’s just say by the end of the night the people working there were ready for us to leave. On the hike back home through the woods, as I looked up at the stars I couldn’t help but feel so thankful for being able to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity with some of my closest friends. Although we were only able to spend a short four days in the small town of McCall, Idaho it is a trip that I will remember for the rest of my life. And hopefully return back in due time!

Until the next adventure… G

Inside the Yurt

The Hot Springs

San Francisco (Road Trippin’)

My first San Francisco visit was with my mom, who spent a lot of time in the city when she was younger and came to fall in love with it. So it seemed fitting that she would be the one to take me to San Francisco for my first time. During my first visit to the city my mom and I attempted to do the impossible and see all of San Francisco in one day. We hit all of the famous spots such as Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park, the Embarcadero, Haight Ashbury, The Golden Gate Bridge, and whatever else we could squeeze into our schedule. After this short but sweet trip with my mom I fell in love with the quirkiness of the city and wondered how a place that is only 8 hours away from where I live could be so different. That quirky and captivating energy that I experienced during my first visit is what sparked my desire to go back and share the “true San Francisco experience” with three of my close friends.

I just recently went on my third road trip to San Francisco with a few friends and had such an awesome experience. Being a true Southern Californian girl, I will drop everything at the mere suggestion of a road trip. Living in California, there are plenty of places that you could road trip to even just for a couple of days such as San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, San Diego, the Grand Canyon, Arizona, and San Francisco (only to name a few). Road trips may not be for everybody given that you could be stuck in a car for what seems like hours on end until you finally get to your destination, but in the end it’s always worth it.

Although we all ended up getting sick during our time in San Francisco, we made the best of it and set out to take on the city! We explored through the Japanese Tea Garden and other areas of Golden Gate Park, made the trek to Muir Woods National Forest to see the famous redwoods, and explored through the various districts in the city such as The Haight. And of course, it’s not a road trip to San Francisco unless you cross the Golden Gate Bridge too. Although there was more we wish we could’ve seen, we were only able to stay for the weekend. Despite this, by the time we were driving home we had already begun planning our next trip to San Francisco!

For my fellow travel bugs that have never been on a road trip here are some Road Trip Tips!

1. Go with a few friends so you can take turns driving

2. Bring blankets and pillows for when you aren’t driving

3. Make a good road trip playlist that will keep you awake

4. Don’t forget to keep an eye on your gas tank (especially on longer road trips)

5. Bring plenty of snacks and drinks

6. Leave early to avoid traffic

7. Start your morning off with coffee or tea to keep you awake throughout the drive

8. Dress in comfy clothes because you could be in the car for awhile depending on where you’re going.

9. Play some games with your friends to pass the time!

10. ALWAYS bring a map!

Open up those maps and follow your arrows les papillons, the world is waiting for you to explore it… G