After finding out I was pregnant only a few weeks after moving to Paris, I immediately dug into the complexities of maternity in France such as getting a local medical card, finding a doctor and a place to give birth. Like every pregnant woman, I was swiftly warned about avoiding certain foods. But somehow these restrictions are harder in France than elsewhere. On this list of no-no’s were: Unpasteurized dairy products, alcohol, caffeinated drinks, under-cooked meats, fish and eggs. Deli meats, cured meats, and cold leftovers of any kind are also forbidden. Avoiding many of these items in my new home is a challenge because consuming them was the very benefit I was most looking forward to as I moved…
Musings and Misc
Upon moving to Paris in October of 2016, there were quite a few things on my agenda. To name a few, I needed to open a bank account, get a local phone number, sign up for local health coverage, take steps to get my visa finalized, decide on what part of town to live in, look for an apartment, and look for work. Something that was not on my to-do list was conceiving a child! My husband and I had, what felt like, a really awesome plan. For our first few months in Paris, we planned to test out different neighborhoods via Airbnb as a way to ultimately decide where to live. The idea was to give each neighborhood at…
Hello dear friends, I have some big news. After moving to London earlier this year to join my husband, we have moved once again. This time to Paris!! It has been nearly two months. And I kept the news to myself because I wanted to live the experience whole-heartedly – not thinking about pictures to share or videos or blogs to make. I wanted it just for me. This move wasn’t easy. Somehow when I moved to London from Los Angeles a few months after our wedding it was an incredibly smooth transition. I had already spent quite some time in London – visiting the sights around town and also getting to know our neighborhood, meeting local characters, choosing my…
Yesterday I watched Midnight in Paris on a plane. It was my fourth time watching this Woody Allen film. When it first came out, I had watched it three times in a row because it resonated so deeply with me. The protagonist is a writer struggling to find fulfillment in life. He blames his discontentment on not being born in an inspiring era – specifically not being able to experience Paris in the 1920’s. In a strange turn of events, he accidentally finds a way back into the past to that very time and place, encountering long-passed idols such as Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Cole Porter. On these midnight jaunts to his most desired moments in history, he learns that it’s…
Over the years I have received messages from viewers and readers asking me how to become a professional traveler. In response, here are my tips that I wish someone had given me when I was starting out. First of all, there are so many ways you can work within the travel industry. Don’t just focus on becoming a travel blogger who is essentially a mobile entrepreneur and small business owner. Choosing this path is a very distinct lifestyle decision that one should make deliberately. It requires an entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to forgo benefits of working inside a company. If you are already enticed by travel blogging but you don’t have the ability to travel right now, begin locally.…
Here are my top ten gifts for travelers this holiday season. This list is for men and women who are both leisure travelers and business travelers. These are products and services that I personally enjoy as a frequent traveler or that I really want myself! You won’t find any globe lamps or necklaces shaped like the continents. These ideas are specifically to address real needs and wants of travelers. 1. Stylish compression legwear I know, it’s not the sexiest part about travel but it’s a real consideration. Since my early twenties, I have had a problem with swelling in my legs when I fly on long-haul flights. This is common for many people of all ages on flights as…