Je Suis Charlie

January 8, 2015

I had another post planned for today but as I sit here tonight (writing this Wednesday night) after the horrendous events of the day in Paris, I can’t help but know that this post is important to write and one that I feel is immensely due considering my love for the French capital. It’s no secret on this blog that I adore Paris and France in general and in my love for it, my heart goes out to everyone there, everyone involved, everyone that’s outraged, everyone that is completely broken hearted. I too am broken hearted because once again our world is rocked with violence and ignorance and completely senseless horrors. Once again we are brought to our knees, once again blood is spilled in our cities, once again the horrific beliefs and acts of a small minority in our world cause hurt in the majorities. Once again our safety is tested, once again our strength is tested, once again we are forced to ask why and how can these such atrocious acts happen in our current world?

Terrorists today have the power to take a moment from us, to do incredible harm and to lash out at a world they don’t have any right to occupy any part of, but what they cannot take from us is our faith, our resolve, our morals, our rights, our belief in a better world, in a world that someday might exist, in a world where senseless violence does not occur, a world where the next generation might not know bigotry, where they might not know hate.

I have seen hundreds of pictures on this story as news has trickled in, but perhaps the most moving are the crowds gathering all over the world to stand up against this horrendous act. Thousands of people, from different countries, different parts of the world, people that didn’t know the victims, but people that have banded together to hold up signs proclaiming “Je Suis Charlie,” the hashtag that has swept the internet in solidarity of this tragic event. 3 gunmen committed heinous crimes in Paris on Wednesday morning, but thousands and thousands of people have rallied against them, thousands have answered the call to come together, to tell the world that this is not alright, that this cannot keep happening. These 3 gunmen, just like their leaders and followers are, they are a small, tiny and cowardly percentage of the world and what we must remember today and always is that we as humans have incredible power to come together, to fight to save our world from violence and hate and ignorance. We have the power to come together, just like so many have come together to show support for Paris in their time of need, to change this world we call home, to promote love and understanding and build a better society than the one we have inherited.

And so I will close with prayers and thoughts sent toward Paris, toward France and to all those immediately affected by this horrible crime. But I also will send my prayers and thoughts to humanity, that we may find a better way, that we may find the power in coming together, the power in fighting for a better world. May Paris find a way to heal tonight and may everyone across the world know we stand with them, Je Suis Charlie.

Where to Travel Throughout the Year

January 6, 2015

One of the things that is often hard to gauge when planning travel is when it’s best to travel to certain places, what the weather will be like in different times of year and to plan a trip based on the kind of weather/atmosphere you enjoy. For instance, Nick and I prefer to travel in off times of year for a number of reasons (it’s cheaper, less people and cooler weather) but you have to gauge the situation based the specific place you’re looking at traveling to. So to make it easier and without having to do a ton of research, I’ve made a list of the places I would suggest for each season throughout the year. Take a look, pick a place and the rest is history!

India: Our visit in February was the perfect weather in this gorgeous country with crisp blue skies, temperatures in the 70’s and less smog than in other times of year.

Thailand: For a visit to this SE Asian nation when the weather won’t knock you over with humidity and heat, early in the year is the perfect time to visit. Bangkok is slower and quieter than during peak travel times and it’s cool enough to not suffocate.

Northern Italy: For a trip through places like Milan and Verona, the early Spring months are the perfect time to explore this gorgeous region. March – April will still be cool here but you’ll find pleasant temperatures and a quiet version of these tourist hot-spots.

Morocco: March and April are quite pleasant in this Northern European oasis. Temperatures will raise into the 80’s during the day, perfect to explore. Try to miss out on the weeks of Europe’s Spring vacations as it gets a large crowd then, but try early March or later into April for a great escape.

Hawaii: I go to Hawaii for work numerous times of the year and I lived there a while as well, so I’ve seen every season come and go in the Islands. My favorite time of year there though is during the Summer. If you want to make sure you’ll have good weather without a ton of rain, this is the time of year to go. While the temperatures are pretty much the same year round here, I happen to really love the early mornings and evenings during the Summer in Hawaii which produce gorgeous colors in the skies and the options for great weather.

Nice: For a touch of Southern France, late Spring is the time to go. You’ll hit the warmer weather coming into season and if you go before the Summer crowds arrive, it will be the perfect region to explore.

Pacific Northwest: The West Coast of the US is perhaps at it’s peak during this time of year. Temperatures are still cool in the mornings and evenings but daytime highs can get warm and you can explore everything that this gorgeous region has to offer.

Victoria and Vancouver, BC: While this technically could fall under the Pacific NW above, these 2 lovely Canadian cities are gorgeous this time of year. Missing most of the rain, the weather is pleasant and these cities (both on water) are beautiful when the sun comes out.

Paris: I’ve seen Paris in all the seasons of the year and my all time favorite time to visit the City of Light is in the early Fall when the colors are beginning to change and when the temperatures hover around 65-70 F. The city is also quieter this time of year than in the Summer when the majority of crowds are visiting.

London: For many of the same reasons as Paris, London is my favorite in the Fall. There is nothing quite like wandering Hyde Park as the leaves are falling and taking in the magic of this gorgeous city when the air is getting crisp.

Napa: While this part of California stays fairly warm year round, the Fall is magical as the vineyards are changing colors and omit a golden hue across this part of the state.

Amsterdam: Wandering the canals of the mystical Dutch city with waffle cookie in hand while the leaves are changing and falling from the tree lined streets, there is perhaps nothing better. Bundled against on the oncoming cold and exploring with someone you love is perfect in Amsterdam this time of year.

Rome: For a bit more of a warmer climate, Southern Italy or in particular Rome, is lovely in the early Fall. Temperatures are lower than in the Summer to make it easier to wander the age-old streets of Roma but still warm enough to indulge in all the gelato you want to.

Scotland: While the weather may be a bit harsh for some in Scotland in the Winter, I find it’s incredibly beautiful on those Winter days when the sky is peaking through and there is a deep chill in the air. Somehow this gorgeous land looks even more beautiful in the Winter towards the end of the year and places like Edinburgh and St. Andrews seem to have even more charm.

Ireland: For many of the same reasons as Scotland, I found Ireland incredibly gorgeous in the Winter. With plenty of rain, the green is an incredible shade of the color, the sheep are fluffy and white, the little towns eerily seeming out of a fairytale.

New York City: There are few times of the year that NYC is more magical than in the month or two leading up to Christmas. With lights all over, skating rinks, Christmas trees and window displays galore, November and December are magical in this infamous city.

Iceland: For a winter wonderland destination this time of year, Iceland is the place to go. You’ll get snow, horses and friendly locals for a winter escape in Iceland.

How to Travel Better This Year

January 5, 2015

Each year I feel like I learn a million lessons while traveling, lessons that come often when plans go awry or when a trip feels a bit more like work than it should. Traveling is hard work, there is no doubt about that. It’s exhausting, sometimes unsettling, and while I totally whole-heartedly believe that the benefits outweigh the negatives, it’s still something that requires us to constantly update our travel lessons as we go. I’d consider myself a pretty seasoned traveler at this point and yet, each and every trip I go on, I feel like I learn a new lesson for future trips. Here’s my top 6 tips for how to travel better on your next trip and throughout the year ahead.

Invest in Good Luggage

One of the top tips you’ll hear from travelers over and over again is to invest in good luggage. Those cheap suitcases you pick up somewhere for $40 might work for a trip or two, but rest assured, over time and with repeated use you’ll notice the wear and tear very quick. I invested last year in the Tumi Tegra Lite carry-on and it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. While an investment, the ease of traveling with this bag has made my trips that much easier and I know I’ll have it for years to come because it’s built so well.

Use Points and Miles to Cut Cost

It’s taken me a while to wrap my head fully around the options out there to use credit card and mileage points to pay for travel successfully but I’ve finally figured out how to use them best for my own travels. I’ve found that one ways flights, hotel stays and rental cars work the best for me in terms of leveraging my points for free travel. Everyone will use them differently for what works best for their style of travel and give yourself time to learn the ins and outs but following blogs like The Points Guy really help to speed that education along.

Reach Out

Another thing I’ve really put into action this past year with my travels was to reach out to places we were heading such as airlines, hotels or restaurants in destinations we were traveling to and asked to offer services in exchange for reviews and publicity. As bloggers, with large social media followings and the power to make or break a part of our trip as we write about it very publicly, companies are often very willing to work with you to ensure a good review of their service. I’ve reached out and worked with numerous airlines, hotels and restaurants in the past year and I can’t wait to work with even more in 2015. The trick to this is to have a system setup for the exchange before putting it into place on your site and know what you can offer them before reaching out. After that, all it takes is a nice email.

Learn a language

I can’t tell you how many times knowing another language (or even bits of one) helps while traveling, even to places that you might not expect it to be handy. Learning a language helps our brain pick up on things differently and while traveling, you’ll pick up words or phrases of random languages as you travel just by opening your mind to that idea. Take classes, learn on your own, or keep up with a friend who speaks the language you’re learning and you won’t be sorry for it.

Use Your Time Off (All of It)

I recently read that some 40 million vacation days were left over by Americans last year, unused. That to me is totally absurd. Those vacation days are there for a reason; we work ourselves so hard (myself included) that those days are meant to be our stress relievers, our days off to see the world, to lay at home in our pajamas and watch bad TV or to simply unwind. For me, I jump at the chance to see as much of the world as I can every year and using my vacation days helps me do that… so if you want to travel and say you don’t have the time, figure out how many vacation days you have and use EVERY SINGLE ONE!

Learn to Use your Camera

I’m guilty of this a lot because I have a photographer usually traveling with me (Nick) but it’s so important. Read the manual or read blogs with tips for your specific camera and learn to use the features on it. You’ll not only take better pictures but you’ll be quicker with it on the go and be able to capture some amazing memories.

Travel Wishlist for 2015

January 2, 2015

As 2015 gets going this week, I’m looking ahead to all the places I’de love to make it to this year. I love this time of year, when the new year begins and the 12 months ahead are full of possibilities. While not all of these destinations will probably happen this year, I love to have a specific list of my top places each year so that if time opens up or we have a chance to add to our already fairly full travel schedule for the year, we can look at our list and pick a place quickly. My travel priorities this year are to visit some old favorites (i.e. Iceland hopefully) but also to add more exotic locations (i.e. Bali and Spain) to our plans as well as some new continents (i.e. Australia) to add to the list! So in no specific order, here are the top places on my list to try to get to in 2015!

Photo via Adelante

Our first major trip of the year will take place in early March and we’ll head to Spain and Portugal (with a day in London as well) for 10 days. I am so excited to explore Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Granada and Lisbon, but perhaps what I’m looking forward to the most is all the Spanish food I can get! Bring on the paella, rossejat, sangria, potatoes braves, spanish tortilla and cafe con leche!

Carmel has been a place I’ve been wanting to get back to for a while. I visited as a teenager and Nick has been a few times for golf, but we really want to plan a weekend escape here along the cliffsides and ocean sometime this year.

We’ve been meaning to make a trip over to Eastern Oregon, specifically the Bend area, for forever now! I haven’t been in years and Nick’s brother lives there and works at a fantastic restaurant we’ve really been wanting to try. I’m hoping to make the weekend trip over there sometime in the Spring.

We’re in the process of trying to make an Iceland trip work over Memorial Day in May. With the new direct Iceland Air service from Portland to Reykjavik starting in May, it will make it so much easier for us to make an Icelandic escape. We’re hoping to make the trip work and include a drive up to the North of the country since we didn’t get to see that part when we went in Winter a couple years ago.

On one of our Hawaii trips this year (maybe in August) I really want to jump over to Kauai for a night. Neither Nick or I have been and while we spend a lot of time on Oahu and we’ve both been to Maui, I really want to check Kauai out for its lush greenery and a different island feel. We’ve been wanting to do this for a few years now and never have had the chance, so maybe this year!

For our 10 year anniversary in October this year, I really want to do something special for a long weekend. I’m thinking an escape to NYC and then driving upstate somewhere would be the perfect getaway. Anybody have any fabulous places upstate New York or nearby they want to recommend for an anniversary getaway?

Photo via

For our trip in November, originally we were thinking of an extended trip through Europe, but due to other conflicts and things that have come up, we’re now thinking of a trip through Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia, particularly Bali. Bali has been consistently getting higher and higher on my list and with an Oberoi hotel there (the incredible hotel chain we stayed at in India in Udaipur and Agra), I’m ready for a few days of relaxation on this beautiful island!

Photo via

On our way home from our trip in November, I’m hoping to stop through Hong Kong for a quick layover and a little bit of time to explore. The city has been on our radar for a while and I would love to add another country to our list and check out this colorful and well known city!

10 Things to Do this Year that Will Change Your Life

January 1, 2015

Happy New Year!!! It’s the age-old adage to make resolutions for the new year ahead, to look forward and make goals for yourself to accomplish. But, I know for me at least, as much as we want to keep them throughout the year, often times life gets in the way and things come up, leading us off that goal-oriented path. So this year, as we look forward to the new year ahead, instead of making resolutions, maybe it’s better to just make plans. Making plans is so much more concrete and holds us to do those things that might scare us, that might push us out of our comfort zones but that ultimately make us better people and better citizens of this world. So this year, here are 10 things you should plan to do that will forever change your life!

1. Visit a country you’ve never been to before.

Whether this means driving over the nearest border of a country near your own (i.e.. Canada from the States) or traveling abroad for the first time, you’ll never regret this decision. Seeing a different country will open up your perspective.

2. Take at least 3 days off of work in a place you love.

One thing that I hear over and over (especially from Americans) is that they can’t take time off of work. The thing is, it’s not healthy to do that. As humans we need to recharge, to de-stress and get a change of scenery. Take a few days off, go someplace you love and don’t worry about it. A few days away from work isn’t going to matter in the long run.

3. Don’t overfill your calendar.

I’m guilty of this a lot. I book myself too much, extending myself when I really don’t have the time. This goes for booking travel as well as your day to day schedule. Give yourself time to breath, to recharge, to have a moment.

4. Book a plane ticket on a random afternoon in the middle of the week.

One of the most exhilarating feelings is to just book a plane ticket in the middle of a weekday. You can plan it out or just do it spontaneously, but either way, it’s a feeling that will put you on a high for a while!

5. Explore your surroundings.

One thing that people always say to me is that they can’t afford to travel, that they don’t have the resources or the priorities to do it. The thing is, traveling doesn’t need to mean flying across the world. It can also mean booking out a weekend a month to explore your own area and surroundings. There are gorgeous places all around us and it’s those that are willing to look at those places with a different perspective that will get the most out of it. You’ll be surprised by how much beauty you’ll find around you!

6. Upend your priorities.

We all get bogged down at times with our priorities and responsibilities and it’s easy to get tired and stressed out. On those days when you just want to throw your hands in the air and say “screw it,” do something completely out of the ordinary. Go out to a fancy dinner or a movie on a weeknight. Upend your priorities even if for a few hours, it will make a world of difference and chances are you’ll remember it as a great memory down the road.

7. Start a savings account for a life-changing trip.

Can’t afford to take that life-changing trip in 2015? That’s ok, but start saving for it. The longer you put off saving for it, the longer down the road it will be. Even if it’s just $10 a month, start a specific savings account for it and start saving. Just looking at it on your account online will make you giddy, knowing you’re working toward it!

8. Do something you’re afraid of.

Whatever it is, do something you’re afraid of this year. When you conquer your fears, you’ll feel amazing!

9. Take day and weekend trips.

Getting away from the grind of life is often needed, so when you finish that big project or when your anniversary is coming up, grab a loved one and head away for the day or weekend. Even if it’s just an hour away, a change of scenery is never a bad thing.

10. Take a leap of faith.

Some of my favorite memories are moments when I threw caution to the wind and took a leap of faith. It’s not always easy to do but often in life, we need those moments to book a last minute flight or surprise someone we love on the fly to inspire us. Inspire yourself this year!

London By Day

December 31, 2014

London is one of the most vibrant cities in the entire world, and for those of you who have been lucky enough to travel there or even live in the city; you’ll know how overwhelming it can be for newbie travellers. That’s why researching this bustling urban jungle before you leave for your journey is essential, so you’ll know what to expect and can prepare for London as best as possible.

But this isn’t going to be your average list of things to check out while on holiday in England’s capital city. We are going to cover some of the more quirky aspects of the city for our readers.

Museums

London has a plethora of museums that provide its patrons with a wealth of knowledge, and the best part about it, is that the majority are free to enter. Take the British Museum for instance, which has a myriad of exhibitions on throughout the year, including the BP exhibition Ming: 50 Years that Changed China which is currently on show until January 5. The museum is open 7 days a week and attracts thousands daily.

One of the World’s Oldest Pubs

The Lamb & Flag in Covent Garden is said to be one of the world’s oldest pubs having first opened its doors to the public in 1623. The pub now attracts many visitors due to its history and its prime location. With the pub or inn as it was referred to in the Tudor times, being very much steeped in tradition, its décor is reminiscent of yesteryear in this quaint drinking establishment in the middle of London’s West End.

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

As far as theatres go in London, few are more famous than the legendary Theatre Royal on Drury Lane. Currently the theatre is showing their adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory over the Christmas period.

The Theatre Royal is the oldest theatre in England that is still open to the public. Redesigned by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1672, the theatre has consistently put some of the biggest productions on in the whole of Europe.

Heston’s New Venture

If you have any downtime at London’s Heathrow airport while waiting for your flight, revel in some of Heston Blumenthal’s “quintessential British food” that his new venture will be serving. Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal launched his Perfectionists’ Café this year at Heathrow Airport as reported by Parking4Less. The restaurant will showcase his culinary flair while adopting a wholly British menu – serving fish and chips and other notable British dishes.

Blumenthal joins fellow celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey in launching a restaurant in the airport with the Scotsmen opening his Plane Food restaurant recently, too. So, if you’re travelling to the airport on your way back home, you need not worry about the standard of food that you’re going to be served if you don’t mind spending a little bit extra with the Perfectionists’ Café and Plane Food just two of the newly opened restaurants that the airport boasts.

*This post was written and contributed by supporters of True Colours.

Still Light : A Look Back at 2014

December 30, 2014

As the year comes to a close, I have to say I’m ready to let 2014 slip away and look forward to a brighter 2015. This past year taught me a lot, perhaps more than many of the years that came before it. I started 2014 in my own little world, in a time period in my life when everything seemed pretty amazing. My loved ones were healthy, our travels incredible, our apartment lovely. It felt like we were on top of the world, with everything working out pretty amazingly. And then month by month about mid-way through the year things just sort of got complicated. And for a few months there towards the end of the year, it sort of felt like nothing was going to swing our way. Between months where everything seemed to break in our apartment, to travel issues galore, to my mom’s on-going battle with cancer, a family emergency after Christmas, my best friend’s father dying way too young and a few of my own health issues along the way, the end of 2014 wasn’t my greatest.

To be honest, it’s a case of a lot of different things happening in my personal life, things that are out of my control, things that have literally brought me to my knees, crying on the floor, things that very physically have tested me greatly. I pride myself on being strong, on holding it all together when it’s falling apart around me and these past couple of months as 2014 has come to a close, have taught me that while strength is important, so is vulnerability, so are those moments when you are literally hanging by a thread. It is in those moments that you truly know you’re alive, when you look around you and wonder how you can possibly have this much strength at all, how you can possibly still be standing when your world is breaking apart in front of your eyes. When you hear someone you love crying, when you don’t know what the future holds, let alone the next few days, when someone you love is in pain, those moments when it seems like you can’t take any more, those are the moments of this life that we are at our purest, when we know there might only be a sliver of light at the end of the tunnel, but there is still light.

Life, I have learned all too well this year, will not always be wonderful. Sometimes it is sad and tragic and heartbreaking and downright mean, sometimes it’s fragile and trying and gut-wrenching. And we will all go through times in our lives when we feel these emotions, when we aren’t sure what to do next, when we are tested with each breath we take, but it is up to us what we learn from it and how we move forward. For me, I know this trying period in my own life is not over yet and might be far from it, but while the light might seem so far away sometimes, there is indeed still light and we must never forget that, we must never stop fighting.

But years like this do happen to us all, years when you wonder how we’ve gone through months and months without really thinking, with nothing seems to swing your way, months when it seems like it’s just obstacle after obstacle. 2014 taught me a lot of lessons, lessons that I think I’ll carry with me always, lessons that seemed to alter the way I thought my life would be, the path I saw ahead and changed what really is important. But ultimately 2014 taught me that we might encounter times in our life when not everything is good, when we are challenged beyond what we thought we could do but at the end of the day, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, there is still light.

2014 In Review

December 29, 2014

Every year I like to look back at the past year, where I’ve been, what experiences I’ve had, what places made an impact on me. This year we did a lot of travel, both personally and professionally. We traveled near our home and explored some beautiful spots in Oregon, Washington and California this year including Astoria, the San Juan Islands, Santa Barbara, Eastern Washington and Leavenworth. And we traveled far to 3 different continents and 9 countries, some new and some returning to old favorites including an incredible trip through India, Cambodia and Thailand, weekend trips to Denver and New Mexico, multiple trips to Hawaii for work as well as a return work trip to Korea, and a whirlwind tour of Northern Europe including stops in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges and Paris.

We had trips that were seemingly perfect and life changing and others that were just a little “blah” and had a lot of issues. We had trips that were spontaneous to visit family and others that we spent much of the year planning for. And at the end of the year, looking back, I learned a lot of lessons about travel this year, many I’ll be implementing going forward. But at the end of the day, I feel very fortunate to have seen much of the world this year, to have traveled both by myself and with Nick and very blessed to have grown to love many more places in this beautiful world.

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2014

I’ll be taking the next couple days off of blogging for the holiday, to soak up the season and enjoy it with those I love. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy holiday season everyone!

Christmas Festivities in Leavenworth

December 24, 2014

Happy Christmas Eve! We spent our weekend this past week taking in all the Christmas festivities in the little town of Leavenworth, Washington. This little town is straight out of Bavaria, with wood beamed architecture, German street names and German food. It’s been on my list to visit for a while and I’m so glad we got the chance to make the trek up there. Normally it’s only about 1.5-2 hours drive from Seattle but this weekend, the day we visited it was snowing heavily in the area and it took us about 2.5 hours to make the drive from Seattle to Leavenworth. The roads were pretty slick and it ended up being a pretty long day with the weather conditions to drive there and back to Seattle in one day. But alas, we enjoyed a few hours in Leavenworth with snow falling, Christmas carolers singing, and wandering the little town in the winter wonderland it was!

Have a wonderful Christmas and here’s some festive pictures to get the festivities started!