Exploring New York City in the Summer

August 27, 2013

Nick and I had an amazing weekend in New York City. And though, while quick (we took the red-eye Friday night and left Sunday evening), we enjoyed every minute of our brief trip. This wasn’t our first time to New York so we planned the weekend just to wander around the city without a true agenda. The weather was gorgeous, low 80’s, no humidity and bright blue sky both days we were there, which made it perfect to walk around and take in the city.

We started Saturday morning bright and early, after arriving at 7am at JFK, we headed to our hotel to drop off our bags. After that, we headed out for the day (until we could check in to our hotel at 3). We started with breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien at Bryant Park, then we spent a while just hanging out in the park, watching the people and Nick snapping photos. Bryant Park is one of my favorite spots in Manhattan, perhaps because the buildings that surround it are so unique and beautiful… such an urban surrounding to the small park.

Next, we jumped on the Subway and headed uptown to the Upper East Side and Central Park. We stopped at the Apple Store (one of Nick’s traditions) and then headed up the edge of the Park, stopping to get Laduree macarons along the way. Then we meandered our way through Central Park as we’d never walked all the way through to the Upper East Side before. And what a gorgeous day to wander through the park! We eventually stopped for a bit and just laid on the grass and enjoyed the day.

Afterwards, we walked back through the Park’s East edge and jumped back on the Subway to head down to Madison Square Park for Shake Shack for lunch. We’ve always wanted to try it and had recommendations from friends in NYC, so we decided to just wait the line out and do it. I will say, it was well worth it if you have the time to wait.

By this time, it was around 3pm, so we headed back to our hotel to check in and grab a quick nap. Around 5pm, we grabbed a car on Uber and headed to Brooklyn. Last time we were in NYC we explored DUMBO and loved it, so this time we decided to check out the area under the Brooklyn Bridge near Brooklyn Heights. We wandered around the pier, had some ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, and then watched the sunset over the Manhattan skyline. It was truly a lovely and magical way to end our first day back in the city.

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Coming Home as a TCK

August 19, 2013

I’ve talked before about my background and growing up in Middle East, my heritage as a third culture kid (TCK) and a bit about what my childhood was like abroad. But in the span of the last few weeks, I’ve been reading so many posts from other bloggers on their struggles living abroad as expats, their learning experiences and the obstacles.

It’s interesting for me to read those posts, because although I spent a huge portion of my life as an expat, I never felt like one, until I moved back to America, the country that bore its name on my passport. And while my time as an expat in a foreign country was as a child, I think that in a way that sheltered me from all those things that make expat life hard. But when we returned to the States, that’s when I realized what it meant to relearn things, to have to figure out those things that I never had to before, those things that every American kid just knows. There are still things that go way over my head. My husband laughs when, in conversation with friends or family, things like 80’s/90’s tv shows or cartoons come up. I have no idea what they are talking about and Nick has to explain it to me. (We didn’t have current tv/movies in Saudi growing up).

I sometimes feel like I missed out on those whole decades while we were overseas, but I also feel like those decades spent abroad, those decades that we were expats were the years that defined who I am more than any others. They taught me things about the world that I never would have known were it not for my childhood abroad, and while it did make many things difficult, it has given me a perspective on the world I wouldn’t change for anything.

It takes a lot of courage and a lot of confidence to master life in another country. It takes a lot of patience too. I think that living in another country is one of the best things you can do for yourself as a citizen of this world. It’s an experience that is unmatched by anything else and an experience that will open your soul like nothing else. I know that someday I’ll head back overseas and it’s an experience I look very much forward to. I guess what I’m trying to convey here is that the rest of the world doesn’t have to be scary, it doesn’t have to be hard, it doesn’t have to be the unknown. At the end of the day, no matter where you put your finger on a map, those are people just living and loving like us, those countries are trying to do what they can for their people, and those places are all part of our growing interconnected global community.Coming “home” to the States for me as a child tested me in ways that many expats can tell you about: unsure of local customs, unaware of pop culture, feelings of being unsettled or not fitting in. All of those things I remember like they were yesterday and all of those things also created something in me that has stuck with me through all these years.

When I look in the mirror now, as a TCK all grown up, now living in the country that met me with such a chaotic few years way back when, I see all the countries that have built me, I see all the faces of people from all different walks of life, all different ethnicities, that have gotten me where I am today. When I look in the mirror I see the American that I never really knew existed until half way through my life, I see the little pale girl in the Arabian desert that built my foundation, and I see the home that I’ve finally found all around me.
It took me a very long time to find “home,” but I’ve learned that no matter where you go, “home” isn’t a physical place, it’s something within you that gets sparked when you finally figure out who you are and embrace all the places that got you to today.

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What to Wear On the Airplane

August 15, 2013

More What to Wear posts for more destinations here!

Travel is never as glamorous as it seems and I’ve been on enough long haul flights to realize that no matter how cute you look stepping on the plane, pretty much everyone looks like hell when you get off after hours of stale air and bad food and no sleep.

However, there are ways to have some semblance of “travel style” on airplanes and I’ve always been of the belief that traveling shouldn’t mean you have to limit your style. When traveling, style doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t be comfortable either, so here’s some ways you can be both stylish and comfortable when traveling and my best tips for being stylish even when traveling on an airplane.

I’m never without a scarf.

No matter where I travel, a scarf is part of my travel outfit. It can serve as a blanket in-flight, an accessory to add color to a neutral travel outfit or folded up as a make-shirt armrest or pillow. They are also a great way to change up outfits while in a location and can make your whole look feel entirely different from day to day, even with the same coat or sweater. Plus they will always keep you warm!

Some of my favorite scarfs: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Wear neutrals as your base and accessorize with luggage, purse and scarf.

I like to travel in black or navy as my base colors. Dark colors don’t show wear like light colors do, so when you step off that 10 hour flight, your black pants won’t look wrinkled like lighter colors might. I usually travel in black or navy leggings, with a long t-shirt or sweater, depending on the season, then a coat or jacket and a scarf.

travel style what to wear in the airport

Travel in layers.

Weather can be totally different from your original location and your destination where you’re coming from, so layers can help with this as well as allowing you to adjust your own temperature along the way. I generally have 3 layers at my disposal for a flight, a t shirt, a sweater and a coat/scarf. That way, depending on the destination and all those stops along the way, I can be prepared for whatever temperatures may arise.

Wear comfortable shoes.

Nothing is worse than your feet hurting as you’re walking the mile long airport terminals. Wear comfortable shoes that you’ve already broken in. My ballet flats or Converse low-tops are my go-to travel shoes. You also want shoes that are easy to take off for security as well as comfortable on the plane.

Be stylish with your luggage.

When I started traveling often, I knew I wanted to invest in a good set of luggage that would last me quite a few years and also a set that fit my personality. I invested years ago in a Tumi hard side carry on and it’s the best decision I made for my travels. My carry on holds a ton, rolls easy and Tumi has been amazing on things like replacing wheels and the handle for free over the years as it’s gotten a little worn down from use. I love my white suitcase because it’s easy to spot always and feels totally unique among a sea of black suitcases.

Similar to my Tumi Luggage: 1 | 2 | 3

Paris in July : Day 3

July 11, 2013

I spent Sunday wandering around Paris and checking out a few things I haven’t seen before in my previous trips there.

I started my day with my Parisian ritual: a croissant and Orangina in the park behind Notre Dame. Them I headed to the Luxembourg Garden, a place I can’t believe I’ve never checked out before.

It’s a gorgeous place and I want to take Nick back there the next time we are in Paris.

Continuing on, I made my way back to Notre Dame for a long leisurely lunch at another of my favorites: Le Petit Pont Cafe. I enjoyed a sandwich mixte and watched the people going by.

Following lunch, I headed to the Right Bank, following the path of the Seine and then crossing over at the Louvre for a stroll through the Tuileries.

I stopped and grabbed a spot in the shade there and spent some time

checking email and catching up on things.

Finally I headed down past Concorde and took in another sight of the Eiffel Tower from the Right Bank, then headed up the Rue St. Honore to grab a final bag of macarons at Laduree ( a couple for me and a box of Nick’s favorite flavors to bring home to him).

Finally I headed back to my hotel, grabbed my bags and headed back to

Gare de Nord to catch my train back to London.

My couple days in Paris were lovely and while I actually prefer the city cooler and less crowded in other times of the year, it was a lovely visit to the City of Light.

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London and Paris in July : Day 2

July 10, 2013

I began the second day of my trip with a morning walk in London.

My train to Paris left at noon so I took advantage of being up early (from lovely jetlag) and wandered down to Buckingham palace and around the Royal Quarter.

After heading back to my hotel and then to St. Pancras to catch my train,

I arrived in Paris for the rest of the day.

I have to say, the train link between London and Paris is fabulous and having it been my first time taking it, I would totally recommend it.

After arriving in Paris, I checked into my hotel, my wonderful regular place Le Hotel Notre Dame. Then I headed out for an al fresco lunch at my favorite St. Regis on the Ile St. Louis

The city was absolutely packed and very warm so everyone was outside enjoying the sunshine.

Following lunch I made my way through St. Germain to do some

work errands and ended the journey at the Eiffel Tower to take in my favorite spot in Paris.

I ended my day by picking up macarons and a baguette on my way back to the hotel and ate them in my room while I watched the sun set behind Notre Dame Cathedrale from my window.

A perfect end to the day in my favorite place, Paris.

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London in July : Day 1

July 9, 2013

I am home from my long weekend trip to London and Paris and I’m going to start

my Day by Day posts from the trip.

While this trip was for work, I also got a chance to explore both Paris and London a bit more, if only for a short time. I traveled alone this time, which I will be doing more posts in in the coming weeks about, but ultimately realized I much rather would always travel with Nick, if possible.

Traveling without him just wasn’t the same!

On my first day of the trip, I arrived in London around mid day,

freshened up and then headed out to explore.

I wandered through Hyde Park, around Kensington and Chelsea and met up with

the lovely Betsy and Lauren to have ice cream at the V&A.

We had a fabulous time and chatted like old friends,

despite this being the first time meeting in person.

London was very warm and very crowded during my time there but I got to get all that I needed done as well as take in some sights and enjoy the city.

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What to Wear in New England in May

June 12, 2013

More What to Wear posts for more destinations here!

After our trip through New England at the end of May, the weather was less than predictable and ranged from the low 50’s to the high 70’s in just the 4 days we were there. Here’s everything that I wore and packaged for our trip when traveling through Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island in late Spring.

What I Packed:

-light raincoat with hood (I brought 2: 1 shorter and 1 longer)

-2 heavy sweaters, 1 light sweater

-skinny denim (that could be tucked into rainboots when needed)

-light scarves
-2 striped t-shirts for under sweaters and jackets
-1 light Summer jacket (no hood)

-cross body purse

-white Keds tennis shoes & white rain boots & oxfords (for dressier occasions)

-leather gloves (which came in handy in cold Maine)

What I Wore:

Travel style for New England at the end of May

Outfit Details:

Red Striped Shirt | Madewell Denim | Navy Boden Jacket (sold out) |

White Oxfords (similar) | Tan Dooney and Bourke Purse (similar)

Outfit Details:

Paige khaki jeans | Navy Raincoat (similar) | Burberry Rain Boots (Similar) |

Madewell Scarf (similar) | Ralph Lauren Orange Cross Body Purse (similar)

Outfit Details:

Madewell Denim | Madewell Jacket (similar)| Ralph Lauren Orange Cross Body Purse (similar)

Topshop World Scarf (similar) | White Converse Low Tops

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A Hotel Review of Le Meridien Nice

June 4, 2013

Le Meridien Nice – Nice, France

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This hotel was truly a joy to stay in. The views from our room were incredible as was the design and style of the hotel. Location couldn’t be beat and the service was top notch. This was actually one stay that we used a free night (on hotels.com) for and while it was more than we generally spend on hotels, it was a splurge worthwhile since we got one night pretty much free and only had to pay for the second.This is the place to go and stay if you want a lovely modern hotel with service and views that can’t be beat in Nice. Here is my honest Hotel Review of Le Meridien Nice in Nice, France.

LOVE

Check in – Check in was fast and simple. The hotel has a lovely lobby and check in is easy to find. We were checked in quickly and luggage taken directly to our room.

Room – Our room was fabulous here. Large for European standards, with a balcony and view overlooking the gardens next door and the Mediterranean. The bed was wonderful as was the little seating area with a table – so nice to have space to set things while traveling.

via

Bathroom – The bathrooms were gorgeous and large. No complaints.

via

Design – The design of this hotel was what made me book it in the first place and it did not disappoint in person. I prefer a more modern approach to design in hotels that I stay in and many large chain hotels tend to be more classic in their design. That’s why this hotel was a breath of fresh air. For a large chain hotel, Le Meridien in Nice was designed impeccably and the design was clean and simple but so effective and calming.

Food – We ordered room service one of the days we stayed here and enjoyed breakfast in our room overlooking the Mediterranean. The food was delicious and it came with a fantastic assortment of breads and pastries. The service was prompt and perfect.

DIDN’T LOVE

Nothing! – There was nothing we didn’t love about our stay!

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The Places I Have Called Home

June 3, 2013

While I speak a lot about Portland on this blog and a bit about my childhood abroad in Saudi Arabia, I realized I haven’t really touched much on the other places that have shaped me into who I am and those places that I have called home over the years. Each place has touched me in different ways and each place has had its own unique challenges and joys.

Places have such a way of showing us who we are, we click with some places, others not so much and there is something about where you live, the setting around you, that really creates so many lessons in our lives. I thought it was fitting to touch on each place I’ve lived and what I took away from it. As I begin, keep in mind that “home” for me has always been somewhat of a fluid concept. I don’t have a childhood home or town I can go back to and growing up, that was a struggle for me. But in the end, each place that I’ve called “home” has become a sort of connection for me I’ll always have.

1. Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia

This small ARAMCO compound situated right on the Persian Gulf on the Eastern Shore of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was my childhood home. I spent my days here at the beach with my family, swimming in blow up pools in my backyard and playing with the neighborhood kids. I grew up here among the sand dunes, the call to prayer and schwarmas in Rahima (a neighboring Saudi town). It was normal life, it was home, my first home at least.

My time in Saudi will forever shape me but the most important lesson I learned growing up as a pale, blue eyed American girl in the deserts of Saudi Arabia was tolerance and acceptance. I was different and while I knew that, I never felt like it hindered me as a child there. I met people from all over the world and grew up with them around me, they embraced me and I embraced them, no attention to their skin color or their nationality… we were all just people, trying to live the best we could.

My brother and I in our front yard in Saudi in a rare rain storm.

Interested in reading more about my childhood in Saudi Arabia?

See all of my posts on the country here!

2. Medford, Oregon, USA

When we moved back to the States, my parents chose Medford for a number of reasons. We wanted to be close to family in Oregon but far enough away to have our own lives. And they didn’t want to go from Saudi’s heat to the constant rain of Northern Oregon, so we settled in the mid-size city of Medford about 15 minutes from the California border. Medford was where I went to middle and high school, formed new relationships, and created an identity. It’s not a place I would now choose to live, but looking back, it was those years in Medford that opened my eyes to the world in ways my childhood never had. It pushed me, it challenged me. I went through deep longing for my childhood home, I found teenage freedom here and made mistakes, and I had friendships that challenged me deeply… as all teenagers do, I learned my own definitions for right and wrong. Medford for me was about lessons in personal beliefs, what I was willing to do and what I wasn’t.

Holding my first dog Maggie in Medford.

3. Portland, Oregon, USA

I moved to Portland for college and it is in this city where I reside again now, that I first truly fell in love with a place. It’s also the first place since Saudi that I really felt like “home,” like I belonged here. It’s also the city where I fell in love, got married, found myself and bought my first home. It’s a city that has taught me so much. It’s a city that showed me the rain that I love so much, a city that has held my hand through some of the hardest things in my life. It’s a city that has taught me love. I have learned patience here. I have learned that life is about so much more than jobs and money, Portland has shown me that life is about a great meal, spending time with those we love. It’s about long walks alone finding yourself and afternoons spent at coffee shops exploring your dreams. I credit Portland as the place that I really found myself, that I shaped my beliefs and the place that a little girl that grew up in the Middle East embraced the gray rainy skies of the Pacific NW.

Wandering around the Pearl District of Portland.

4. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

After college, I moved to Hawaii for a couple years to work. The islands have perhaps taught me the most of any place I’ve lived as an adult. During my time there, Nick was still in Portland and we carried on a long distance relationship. It was challenging to say the least and left many lonely nights in my apartment high above Honolulu. While my years there were tumultuous, they taught me more than I ever thought they would. Hawaii wasn’t the place for me, but it showed me things in myself I never knew existed. I learned the true meaning of endurance in Hawaii, in both my relationship and in my day to day life there. I learned that sometimes you need to take that leap and that’s perfectly okay, like jumping on the red eye flight back to Portland for the weekend 3 hours before it leaves. I learned that just because you might live somewhere most people dream of, it’s still life and while it may appear perfect on the outside, it’s probably far from it. I learned the importance of family and spent a lot of time with my parents, but also the need for the moments alone, watching the sunrise over Honolulu or a long coastal drive. I learned that it’s okay to not click with a place, but to appreciate its beauty and find the importance in other things.

The view from my apartment balcony in Honolulu.

Each place I’ve lived has truly changed me. Each place has taught me more lessons than I can count. Each place has installed something in me, and no matter where I go or what I do, I’ll carry each of them with me forever.

Exploring New England in Cape Cod & Rhode Island

May 30, 2013

The second full day of our New England trip, we drove South from Boston through Cape Cod and Rhode Island. Truthfully, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from those areas, and especially Newport, RI, I had low expectations. Wow, was I blown away! Newport turned out to be our favorite coastal area of the whole trip and what a gorgeous place it is! We’ll definitely be going back just to spend more time there.

Cape Cod was about what I expected and truthfully, after seeing Newport, I’d much rather skip Cape Cod and head straight to Rhode Island if I did it again. In Cape Cod, we made stops in Hyannis and Chatham, as well as driving through a bunch of other little towns too.

We ended the day with a stop at the Castle Hill Lighthouse in Newport. It was another mandatory stop for Nick and it did not disappoint. The views were stunning.

We finally made our way back to Boston, by way of Providence for dinner. It blows me away, coming from the West Coast, how close everything is on the East Coast. The areas we went through on Cape Cod and Rhode Island were beautiful and included some of my favorite moments of the trip which I’ll touch on next week.

I’m also going to be sharing more of Nick’s photos next week after he has a chance to edit them, so stay tuned!

Hyannis, MA