• 10 Tips for Packing Light & Thinking like a Minimalist

    October 19, 2018 - By 

    Less stuff = less stress. Period. Packing fewer things means fewer decisions to make, less to carry around, and less to clutter a hotel room. Packing light doesn’t mean I spend the trip wishing I’d packed something; the total opposite! It has as much to do with my mental approach to travel as it does my actual preparedness; a combination of developing thoughtful strategies to adapt in the moment and also finding key, versatile items. (See post on staying mentally flexible while traveling here) Learning to pack minimally has been one of the most beneficial aspects of this travel year. Here’s…

  • YELLOWSTONE | Say Yes to Self-Care

    September 23, 2018 - By 

    I sat in the back of a comfy SUV with two of my beloved road moms in the front. We were on our way to spend the afternoon at Yellowstone National Park, and as we drove I felt my “peace zone” spread over me. Without a home base, I find myself feeling relaxed and experiencing the comforts of home in many different places, usually in the care of others, and usually as the result of prioritizing care for myself. I had left the after-party early the night before to ensure a good night’s sleep, ate a good breakfast, and did…

  • MONTANA | Experience Overload

    August 30, 2018 - By 

    I had to acknowledge that my brain and heart can’t capture the quantity and magnitude of these experiences in such a short amount of time without mindfulness, documentation, and carving intentional time to reflect and breath.

  • MONTANA | Savor the Journey

    August 17, 2018 - By 

    The girl on the plane described Montana as “the most beautiful place in the country” and I smiled politely but was not convinced. We arrived at Big Sky at night, and upon opening the curtains the next morning… I got it. Rolling hills, rock formations, mountains, meadows, forests, lakes… and all huge. The sheer number of beautiful landmarks everywhere is staggering. It’s truly our country at its finest, and I’m so happy to say I’ve experienced it firsthand. I was eager to get out and do some hiking, and it wasn’t until we were being dropped off at the trailhead…

  • Michigan west bay old mission

    Hustle vs. Drift: When to take your hands off the wheel?

    July 29, 2018 - By 

    I heard a podcast once that spoke about fighting the “drift.” It advocated not being swept up in life, but instead to seize it. I have the exact opposite problem: I seize it so hard that I don’t always let life unfold organically.   Who do you trust when you take your hands off the wheel? And how often do you trust it/her/them? This is a work in progress for me. I’ve seen time and time again my patience be rewarded with a scenario that was far better than I could have envisioned, but I also fear the complacency of too…

  • Colorado mountains, handling uncertainty

    COLORADO: Finding Calm in Travel Uncertainty

    July 20, 2018 - By 

    Most mornings I wake up feeling like I know next to nothing about the conditions I’ll face or how the day will unfold. This level of uncertainty is waring, and has created a need for me to be that much more diligent about the things I can control. Honestly, rather than this crazy travel year making me more relaxed, I feel like it’s given me a certain amount more to “worry" about, because being overly-prepared is often the only way I’ll stay healthy, reasonably comfortable, and get things done in the face of so many unknowns.

  • Healthy Travel Meals: What I pack and what I pick up

    July 6, 2018 - By 

    Eating healthy while traveling is a challenge, but it can be done! It involves bringing certain snacks with me, carefully selecting what I buy, and being extra resourceful with what’s provided to create healthy meals. As I write this I’m watching several super-fit and otherwise healthy people indulging on Cinnabon and TCBY, and have to remind myself that they’re likely on vacation and in a completely different frame of mind than I am as a full-time traveler. “Have that Cinnabon, Becky! You’ve waited all year for this vacation!” I, however, am sitting in the airport on a normal Tuesday, and for…

  • L.A. | Superficial or Super-chill?

    June 27, 2018 - By 

    New York, Nashville, and LA are known as the three pillars for the music industry. They each specialize in slightly different markets and industries, and I had my guard firmly up against all of them for different reasons. My admitted presumptions: Nashville: Cutthroat and competitive. New York: Highly skilled but no money to be made. LA: Superficial. Examples of these stereotypes definitely exist, but I’ve also been very lucky to experience the beautiful, contradictory sides of each as well. I was so pleasantly surprised by Nashville’s community-based approach to music (more here), and now have also been lucky to experience…

  • Life is short – Go to LA

    June 15, 2018 - By 

    I crash-landed onto my bandmate’s couch after an exhausting but rewarding day of teaching. I had finally stopped, but my brain continued its inner debate about whether a last-minute trip to California simply to “relax” was a good idea. It seemed so silly, yet I found my “reckless brain” fighting hard to convince my “rational brain” to book the flight. I was torn. A series of events had brought the idea for this short visit to the surface, and my curiosity to re-experience this particular city wasn’t letting go. It was a warm Michigan evening and still light out at…

  • Find cheap flights and book smart travel online

    How to find cheap flights and book smart travel online

    June 2, 2018 - By 

    I love air travel, but it can be so stressful. You can’t be late, but airlines can. It’s expensive, so there’s a lot on the line. Booking flights has to be done early and is very permanent (most airlines charge a $200 change/cancel fee), so it’s kind of a perfectionist decision-maker’s worst nightmare. This year I find myself having to make a decision most weeks about where I’d like to spend my 1-2 days off, and it’s really hard to predict that months in advance! Here are my tips for finding cheap flights, avoiding fees, and booking smart: Embrace Southwest.…