Archives for July 2015

5 Secrets to Spicing Up A Small Wardrobe

July 31, 2015

It’s no secret that I love having a small wardrobe. Whether it’s my summer capsule or my travel pieces, simplifying my closet has helped me in so many ways. (Read the full story here.)

A simple closet doesn’t have to mean a boring closet, however. I think that dressing up can be a fun exercise in creativity and that’s a good thing. While I spend much more of my time nowadays focusing on things that matter more to me, I still enjoy putting together a good outfit.

So today, I wanted to share 5 of my secrets to making a 40-piece wardrobe look polished and personal!

10 Simple Living Tips For Millennials

July 29, 2015

We millennials are starting to get a reputation.

And it’s a conflicting one.

On the one hand, we’re known for our courage, determination, and desire for justice in this world. On the other, we’re noted for being constantly distracted, absorbed in our technology, and unable to focus on one thing at a time.

The truth is, I see both in my own life and the lives of others in our generation. We’re more interconnected globally than generations past, opening our eyes to the biggest issues of our day. It’s not news to us that the world is large and diverse; it’s our reality. At the same time, this access to global information at the tip of our fingers leaves us distracted. Some of us never knew our neighbors growing up, or the feel of a local community gathering.

Some people think that this over-connected, image-driven culture is a problem we need to solve. I think it’s a reality we need to accept and use for good.

So where do we start?

Effortless No-Squeeze Lemonade with Basil

July 28, 2015

Summer is THE time for lemonade, right? There’s nothing quite like that sweet-tart nectar we guzzle on sweltering hot days. And, when it comes to lemonade, the real stuff is where it’s at! I understand the appeal of Minute Maid concoctions, but real lemons taste so much better.

If you’re like me, then you may have grown up with citrus juicing contraptions of all kinds. They’re fun, messy, and rather laborious. Can we make lemonade without squeezing the heck out of lemons for a few drops of sour goodness?

The answer is yes.

I bring you a no-squeeze lemonade spiked with basil leaves bound to make your lemon-loving friends shout for joy!…Continue Reading

10 Places to Visit in Historical Quito Ecuador

July 27, 2015

We are back from Ecuador! After spending 3 weeks mostly in historical Quito, I’m ready to share some of our favorite spots. What a special place– Quito has the largest historical center in South America, with some of the most beautiful churches and buildings!

If you find yourself in Quito, I highly recommend spending at least a full day, if not two, in the historic center. The days in Quito are usually exactly 12 hours long, but not without variation! As the sun breaks through the clouds you will see the most glorious light, and the bluest skies! It’s definitely worth it to hang around all day to admire the colorful architecture.

Quito, though it has its problems, feels relatively safe. People tend to mind their own business here, and you likely won’t run into any over-enthusiastic sales people. By keeping a low profile and being smart about our valuables, we didn’t have any issues at all!

10 Places to Visit in Historical Quito

Lessons I’ve Learned From Kids Who Live With Less

July 24, 2015

We’re finishing up our time in Ecuador today. We’ve spent the past 3 weeks at Casa Victoria, volunteering with children in a low-income neighborhood in Quito.

I can’t wait to write more about our travels in Ecuador, but first I want to share about the kids we’ve worked with. They need encouragement, love, and a firm hand just like all other kids, but there are a few values they hold that I really appreciate.

In fact, I’ve noticed these trends among underprivileged children around the world. As a volunteer, I’ve spent time teaching children in Asia and Latin America– children who were not necessarily in crisis, but certainly came from low-income families. I’ve learned that their owning less, though often seen as a disadvantage, can yield some beautiful lessons.

Lessons from Kids Who Live With Less

Clutter-free Travel: 5 Tips for Shopping Abroad

July 23, 2015

It’s sad but true: we’re often emotionally attached to the clutter that fills our homes. That’s why we’ve held onto those things for years–they hold some meaning and memories we’re afraid we’ll lose otherwise.

Travel is a huge culprit when it comes to accumulating stuff. Nothing captures this reality better than the term, souvenir shopping.

And why should we be surprised? Whenever we travel, we carry a tiny percentage of our belongings with us– giving us the illusion that we don’t already have too many things at home.

Plus, part of the travel experience for many of us is to shop at our destination. For better or for worse, shopping is often equated with touring, and it’s hard to resist.

Compounding this dilemma is the fact that local industries often rely on foreign tourists to bring money into their small economies. Artisans, restauranteurs, guides and hotel owners “need” us for business.

So how do we travel in a manner that cherishes those experiences without lugging home a suitcase full of things we don’t need?

5 Tips For Clutter-Free Travel

10 Simple Ways to Prioritize What You Love

July 22, 2015

I’ve noticed a trend among the adults I know. Most people seem to spend much time doing something that they neither care about nor enjoy.

Furthermore, many tell me, “I would do more of X if I only had the chance.”

What’s ironic about that? X usually stands for something involving a contribution to the world, or a life-enriching experience. So, qualitative as my data might be, many people give up on contributing to the world or enriching their lives because they feel that they just can’t.

So, what’s the deal? Is it that our current rhythm of life doesn’t allow us to do these things? Is no one chasing their dreams?

I understand that we have limits, and I’d be the last to say that an epicurean approach to life is the right one. But I think more of us need to consider whether our priorities are reflected through our everyday living. Do we really want to travel? Do we really want to spend more time with our loved ones? Do we really want to be healthier?

I’ve often found myself complaining that I “just can’t” do something. And maybe I’m right sometimes. But I’ve also realized that I can make space for my priorities. I can be intentional about choosing what way my life is going to go.

You either run your life, or your life runs you.

You either run your life or your life runs you. 10 ways to prioritize what you love via…

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Friend, you and I have much more freedom than we allow ourselves to believe. Let’s start prioritizing what we love, one step at a time….Continue Reading

Why I Shrank My Closet (and quit obsessing over my image)

July 20, 2015

I’m going to tell you part of my story today.

Ever since I was two or three, I loved the idea of being pretty. I wanted long hair, earrings, and dresses. There’s little explanation as to why I was so conventionally “girly;” my mother didn’t push those ideas onto me and I watched very little TV. Still, I dreamed of being a princess and looking beautiful everyday.

For a short stint in elementary school, I tried being a tomboy. It didn’t really work. That’s all I have to say about that.

And for most of my teenage years and into college, I cared deeply about dressing well. I subscribed to promotional emails from fashion houses, cosmetics companies and every department store I had ever frequented. I shopped often and spent a lot of money. I was basically addicted.

No matter how many times I changed my image– from Free People boheme to Ann Taylor polish– I never felt like I had gotten there. I always wanted more.…Continue Reading

5 Ways to be Generous within Your Financial Limits

July 17, 2015

“I want to be generous one day, when I’m more financially comfortable,” so many of us say.

“I’ll volunteer more of my time, when I get to where I want to in my career,” we also add.

“I’ll help people get opportunities, when I have all the connections,” we promise.

Why do we do this? Probably because we think that we’re not rich yet. We think we don’t have the resources to help others yet. We think there’s a point when we will wake up and say, “I have more than enough now. Now, I can help others.”

The problem with holding off generosity

A wise friend once told me that our actions shape our desires. Let me repeat that: our actions shape our desires.

Don’t we often expect it to be the other way round? We allow our desires– our wants, needs, wildest dreams– to shape what we do and say.

But, what we do and say also shapes who we are. We are creatures of habit, you and I, and if we deliberately make choices that push us in a certain direction, we begin to become those choices.

So what’s the problem with holding off generosity? Why can’t we wait till we’re making a comfortable income to donate? Why can’t we wait till we’ve landed our dream job to spare time for others?

It’s because when we’ve reached that point in our lives, our desires will have changed. That’s right: if you have a generous heart today– which I know you do– it doesn’t mean that you will STILL be generous 20 years from now.

You have to act on that generosity immediately. Otherwise, 20 years could go by without an act of generosity– and perhaps by then, that desire will be but a faint memory.

Generosity is dangerous

10 Simple Ways to Be Brave Today

July 15, 2015

We often talk about courage on a grand scale: the courage to chase our dreams; the courage to live simply; the courage to challenge the unsolvable problems of our day.

But how do we muster up that courage, when we live within the confines of our obligations daily? Why not learn to intentionally choose courage everyday?

I’m currently staying with a couple who run a community program for children in a low-income neighborhood in Ecuador. I’ve been so inspired by their quest to bless and nourish this neighborhood, where even some cab drivers in the city refuse to come. That’s identifiable courage.

But how do they do this on a daily basis? They make brave choices– both great and small. A momentary decision can be minute in comparison, but nonetheless courageous.

I’ve decided to start practicing more courage in my daily life. It’s not everyday that I get to travel to places like this and drink in the goodness of serving others. When I’m working or tending to other obligations, it feels like I don’t really need courage. So I made a list of things you and I can do– on practically any day– to be brave. And I focused on relationships and service, since those are the areas where we can regularly choose courage, and do the most good….Continue Reading

Our 3-Day Kyoto Itinerary

July 14, 2015

When I wrote our quick guideto Kyoto, I felt like I had to keep it reasonably short– namely, limit the number of photos. But I can’t stress enough how photogenic Kyoto (and the rest of Japan) really is! Everywhere we turned was a potential snapshot, and it required little cropping or editing to get them to look beautiful.

You can spend many, many days in Kyoto without getting bored; with over 2,000 temples (many with gardens) it would take years to see them all. Whether you have years or only a few days, Kyoto is a must-visit, and Travel & Leisure agrees. We took our time in Kyoto; we didn’t rush to see absolutely everything, because I am partial to slow travel. So, without further ado…

Is There Still Space for Your Dreams?

July 9, 2015

When it comes to work and career, it can be a bit overwhelming to look at all of your options. You probably have ~~many choices~~ more choices than you think: stay at your current job, start a side-hustle, get a new job, wait for a promotion, quit and do something totally different, do multiple jobs, go back to school, join the circus. Ok, maybe not the last one.

But what happens when someone asks, “What is your dream? Are you pursuing it?”

I’ve always found follow your dreams to be a particularly annoying platitude. Follow my dreams? What does that even mean?

More importantly, it is intimidating to look at others who appear to have followed their dreams, and done so successfully. There are so many entrepreneurs whose lives have dramatically changed because they built their business in the right place at the right time (with the right people). There are even more individuals on traditional career paths who seem to have won the prize– the only prize.

In other words, the potential competition is discouraging, to say the least. It can be scary to look upon someone else’s successes; we’re tempted to think, why should I even try? She’s already got this.…Continue Reading

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Travels

July 7, 2015

Travel can carry a lot of weight, especially if you don’t get to do it very often. Once we’ve selected our destination, paid good money for flights and hotels, and finally arrived, the question tends to be: how do I make this worthwhile?!

The odd thing about travel is that it’s a leisure activity that can induce a lot of stress. Vacation time and resources are precious; in the meantime, being in unfamiliar territory can be scary.

Traveling with other people can also be a pressure cooker, because everyone wants to get the most out of their vacation. The truth is, all of us (even within the same family) move at different paces and have unique interests. This can end in conflict if we’re not prepared!

So how do we go about making the most of our travels?

More specifically, how do we travel with depth and vision? Because the greatest value in travel is allowing that new place to change us: to give us a new perspective, to refresh our tired soul, to inspire our thirsty minds.

Most of us do not want to be the tourist that comes back with hundreds of photographs but not a single ounce of inspiration. We want our travels to have an impact– we want this rare opportunity to carry meaning. Whether it’s 3 days in a new city or 3 months overseas, here are 8 ways to get as much as you can out of your adventure!

A glimpse of Quito Old Town! — A glimpse of Quito Old Town

10 Best Snapshots from Japan

July 6, 2015

As I sift through our Japan photos, I have to ask myself: is there any place more photogenic than this?

So I decided to select only 10 snapshots that come with a good story or memory from our time in Japan. After reading this I hope you’ll feel compelled to visit one day! And if you have not read my other Japan-related posts, you can find them here.

If you’re asking yourself, “Should I go to Japan?”, take a look at these photos and you tell me!

1) Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

This bamboo forest was the bane of my existence for about 24 hours. We just could not find it! There’s an entrance to the forest that many people go to, and it looks kind of like this– except there are other trees and tons of electricity lines everywhere. We thought that was it… and that the famous bamboo forest had been totally overhyped. One early morning Aaron and I went to that beginning section of the forest, looking for it. We then searched in the wrong direction and found ourselves in a quiet residential neighborhood, disappointed. It was not until the 3rd time we looked for the forest that we wound up in the right place– here! It’s not overhyped after all!…Continue Reading

Archives for July 2015

5 Secrets to Spicing Up A Small Wardrobe

10 Simple Living Tips For Millennials

Effortless No-Squeeze Lemonade with Basil

10 Places to Visit in Historical Quito Ecuador

10 Places to Visit in Historical Quito