Quit Your Job and Travel the World: How we did it and you can too!
A lot of exciting stuff has been happening to Ian and me this past month. Many of you already know about some things from following us on Facebook or being a Lonely Speck subscriber. (Thanks for your support!) But I still wanted to document all the neat things that are going on with Ian and me here on the blog. So I made a list! Continue reading “Our List of Awesome: 5 Crazy Cool Moments From Our Lives This Past Month”
It was a busy day. I’d sung at least thirty rounds of the “hand-washing song,” created an hour’s worth of child’s flower crowns, and devoured the first Milky Way candy bar (it was cheat day!) that I’d tasted in as long as I can remember. We’d just finished volunteering with friends at the Arts and Literacy Festival in Santa Monica. But this was the moment I was waiting for.
I’ve wanted this since college, and I finally mustered the courage upon our latest return to Los Angeles. After two months abroad in Costa Rica and Mexico, we returned to the States with me itching for change. The day after our plane touched down, we hung out with a few of our best LA friends — two of which happened to have nose piercings — and I made my decision. I’d do it the next weekend, and for fun, they’d come too!
I hopped up, like a child visiting the dentist, onto the reclined chair that would support me while the needle went through. I chuckled as I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror — flower crown still in place — and leaned back in my seat to listen to an overview of the piercing steps and my only instructions: keep your eyes closed. Want to watch the gnarly video of my nose-piercing experience? YEAH ya do! Continue reading “Diana’s Nose Piercing at Ink Monkey Tattoo & Piercing (Los Angeles, USA) [Bucket List Item COMPLETE]”
Well my, my… what do we have here? Looks like a Liebster Award nomination from the fantastic Tomy and Marina of Made in Moments. To the two of you: Thanks for nominating us! We shall accept and continue the Liebster tradition by passing the torch to 5 other bloggers (see who we’ve nominated below).
To our readers: You’re probably wondering just what exactly a Liebster Award is… In short, it’s a way for bloggers to support other bloggers by calling them out on their own blog and challenging them to answer a list of questions. Why should you read this post? It’s a great way for you to get to know us a little better, from our answers to the 10 questions Made in Moments has set forth for us! (Plus I’ve forced Ian to answer the questions, too, so you’ll be hearing thoughts directly from him for the first time EVER on this here blog.)
Read on for some fun facts about Ian and me, plus our list of Liebster nominees. Continue reading “We Got Liebster’d! 10 Questions Answered + Our 5 Nominees”
Want to give your Airbnb listing a boost? Attract more travelers with a 5-star hosting average! Whether you’re brand new to Airbnb or you’ve got some hosting experience under your belt, these tips can help. Just think, with a 5-star hosting average, you’ll be able to take your pick amongst all the inquiries that will roll in!
What other benefits are to be had from a 5-star rating? Well, just to name a few:
I wanna hold your hand! — Ensure you’ll get good reviews by following these easy guidelines. From your guest’s first inquiry through the time they submit their review, this list will handhold you through the process. Now let’s get started! Continue reading “How to Be a 5-Star Host on Airbnb”
As budget travelers, we search for budget accommodations (on average $600 or less per month). But that doesn’t mean we’re frequenting skeezy hostels or crappy motels. Even a year after quitting our jobs to travel, we’ve continued to avoid the summer camp housing scene. If you’re searching for a way to make travel more affordable without kickin’ it bunk-bed style, Airbnb could be your answer.
If you’re searching for a way to make travel more affordable without kickin’ it bunk-bed style, Airbnb could be your answer.
To sustain our traveling life, we book most of our accommodations through Airbnb, a website I HIGHLY recommend for finding unique and affordable places to stay. It’s especially great if you’re traveling to an unfamiliar place, as a helpful host can be priceless when you’re exploring someplace new. We typically book what I refer to as a “home away from home” — a private room in a local family’s house or apartment — but you can find everything from private vacation rentals to shared rooms to traditional bed and breakfast inns on Airbnb. They even have some crazy cool accommodations like tree houses and geodesic domes! Continue reading “How to Find a Safe, Comfortable and AFFORDABLE Place to Stay on Airbnb [Budget Travel Secrets]”
Quitting my job set the stage for it all, as this year our full-time traveling dream became reality. New beginnings and new experiences made our year exciting and challenging, and a lot hard work resulted in some pretty big achievements.
Have a look with us, as we review this whirlwind year! Continue reading “Our Year in Review: Transition to Travel Life [2014]”
It was early January 2014. The holiday season was now behind us, and it was back to life as usual. On Monday I’d return to work after 10 consecutive days off. But I didn’t want to go.
The topic had come up several times over the course of the year. Preliminary conversations had begun. Ian had resigned from his steady, full-time job the year before to try his hand at entrepreneurship, and together we dreamed about both of us having that freedom. But it didn’t feel like a real option until that day. Continue reading ““It started with a date” – The Coffee Shop Conversation that Doomed My Desk Job”
Not long ago (10 months to be exact) I quit my full time job with no real back up plan. A Pepperdine grad with a marketing degree, I’d landed a job at a beachfront office 3 years prior, getting a steady paycheck working in my field. Sounds great, right? Well, not when you’ve got a nagging desire to escape and set your own rules. I bought a one-way ticket to Europe and put in my notice, with vague plans to become my own boss and do something I could be excited about. And I haven’t looked back.
After 10 months of nomadic bliss, here are 10 reasons I’ll never regret taking that leap. Continue reading “10 Reasons I’ll Never Regret Quitting My Job to Travel”