Journal

Journal | 12.1.18

It’s December! This is my favorite time of the year, but also the time of year when my anxiety peaks. I plan to take it a bit slower than usual this holiday season by being kind to my mind and body, enjoying the quiet moments (simply sitting and enjoying our fresh tree with a mug …

Belgium, Destinations, Travel

Beyond the Basics: A Weekend Travel Guide for Brussels, Belgium

Alyssa and Michael in Brussels City Center

Brussels was the city I was least excited to visit on my recent trip to Europe: I’d heard the city was crowded and dirty, and that it has a reputation for being a bit dangerous. I might have even only trekked in for a day trip or skipped it entirely, were it not for the …

Belgium, Destinations, Travel

Like a Fairytale: A Day Trip Guide to Bruges, Belgium

The Bruges Belfry in the sunlight

Sharing a day-trip guide to Bruges, Belgium Bruges (or Brugge) is indeed, as you may have heard, like a fairytale. Located in Flanders, just 25 minutes by train from Ghent, the historic center of Bruges has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its medieval architecture and is well worth a day trip. …

Travel, Travel Products, Wish Lists and Gift Ideas

The Best Cyber Weekend Deals of 2018: Travel Edition

Alyssa sits on the floor in a room with her laptop and a notebook

Happy Friday, friends! (Or rather, Happy Black Friday!). Today I’m sharing a curated roundup of travel-friendly items on sale this weekend from retailers all over the web. I know you’re already bombarded with emails (even my very clean email inbox had thirty sales emails in it this morning) and blog posts on the subject, but …

Travel, Travel Tips

Dinner Party Survival Kit: 20 Travel-Themed Conversation Starters

Alyssa sets a vegetable tart down on the Thanksgiving Table

Happy Thanksgiving! I’m so grateful for you all, and I hope you’re spending this day surrounded by loved ones. I’m keeping things short and sweet today with a list of twenty travel-themed questions you can print, cut, and pass around to your friends and family to answer and share. Have a small group? Each person …

Belgium, Destinations, Travel

The Ultimate Travel Guide for Ghent, Belgium

View of Ghent from Gravensteen

My top picks for a weekend in Ghent, Belgium – including all the best places to eat, drink, and shop!

Belgium, Food, Recipes

A Recipe Inspired by a Trip to Belgium: Sugar-Studded Liege Waffles

A tray of liege waffles

While in Belgium recently, I can’t even begin to tell you how much time Michael and I spent hunched over our phones, searching for “Best Liege waffles in *current Belgian city*,” which is probably good because it would really be an embarrassing number calculated in hours, not minutes. All in search of an ultimately elusive …

Destinations, Luxembourg, Travel

36 Hours in Luxembourg City

Luxembourg

I think I got off on the wrong foot with little Luxembourg. My journey by train from Amsterdam was met with sudden route changes, extending my transit time from the better part of a morning to a full seven hours – which meant I was filled with a bit of regret before Michael and I …