The Best Day of My Life: Our Winter Mountain Wedding

So, I have a confession.

I was one of those girls.

You know the ones I’m talking about. The ones with the secret Pinterest boards. The ones who binge watch all the wedding reality shows on TV. The ones who dream about their wedding – the dress, the setting, the ring, the guy – their whole lives.

I know it’s very cliche and unoriginal, but it was me. Continue reading “The Best Day of My Life: Our Winter Mountain Wedding”

Learning to Scuba Dive: My Solo Bachelorette in Bali

Kneeling on the ocean floor, my instructor gave me the signal. My stomach felt knotted and heavy. I lifted my hands to my mask, but couldn’t make them take any further action. I reached for the board and pen my instructor kept tied to his belt.

Nervous, I wrote. Continue reading “Learning to Scuba Dive: My Solo Bachelorette in Bali”

On Teaching and Travel

A lot of teachers travel. The best teachers love to learn. Travel draws those kinds of curious personalities.

It doesn’t hurt that a perk of the job is a few extra weeks off a year than most. I’m tempted to go on an aside here about how teachers earn more than those weeks off in overtime worked during the school year… but I’ll resist. Continue reading “On Teaching and Travel”

3.5 Years Later, Shut Down Again

During the last big government shutdown in 2013 I was working for the NPS as a Park Ranger. As a direct result of the shutdown I decided to leave the NPS and switch careers completely. Continue reading “3.5 Years Later, Shut Down Again”

Photos of Fiji

IMG_20170714_092308933_HDR Continue reading “Photos of Fiji”

The Perfect Sydney Weekend Part 2: Bondi Beach & Manly Mornings

Click here for part 1!

Day 2

We weren’t really sure what we wanted to get up to on our second day in Sydney, but upon meeting up the night before our friend Doug convinced us we should leave the city center to visit him in the eastern suburbs. He offered to take us on a tour of some of Sydney’s best beaches, and we were happy to take him up on that offer. Continue reading “The Perfect Sydney Weekend Part 2: Bondi Beach & Manly Mornings”

The Perfect Sydney Weekend Part 1: Kings Cross, Surry Hills, and Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge

I am obsessed with Melbourne. I’ve been living in this amazing city for 15 months now and I have nothing but stellar things to say about it. It will forever be one of my favorite cities in the world, and it is definitely my favorite city in Australia.

That being said, when most people summon Australia in their heads, it’s Sydney that comes to mind. So when Tom unveiled his Christmas present to me was a weekend trip to New South Wales, I was pretty stoked. Tom lived in Sydney for a summer in college, and we had two good friends living there at the time. This meant that I would not be short of excellent tour guides for my first time in this famous city. With their input, we crafted the perfect 3-day weekend itinerary: Continue reading “The Perfect Sydney Weekend Part 1: Kings Cross, Surry Hills, and Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge”

New Zealand South Island: The 1 Week Road Trip Itinerary

It’s no secret, single reader, that I am not a speedy traveler. My natural pace tends to be slow, and I have been so blessed in the past with the time to stay and explore. When given the option, I would much rather spend a week really getting to know one place, as opposed to moving every night in order to cram as much of a region into my visit as possible.

But life doesn’t always give you that option, does it? Continue reading “New Zealand South Island: The 1 Week Road Trip Itinerary”

Views from the Great Ocean Road

Road trip selfie!

This blog has been sorely, sorely neglected – and it’s not for lack of content! I’ve been travelling loads this year, but between work and wedding planning, I’ve been kept away from my old hobby.

Well, it’s officially spring break here in Melbourne, and I’m determined to update you all at least a little bit! Continue reading “Views from the Great Ocean Road”

Where I’m From

Recently I celebrated my one year Melbourne-versary – that is, the anniversary of my arrival in Melbourne one year ago. I came into this adventure hopeful, but unsure as to how I would cope living so far from home, and how I would do with this giant unknown. Over the last year however, Melbourne has completely won me over with her special southern charms. I’m all settled into life down under these days. Continue reading “Where I’m From”