Switching It Up

I think this is one of my longest lags between posts. It's been a busy week and I have some more great discoveries to share. But before I get to that, I want to share with you what I am currently working on.

As some of you already know, I've hung up my teaching hat (for now, not forever) and have launched myself full-on into writing. Living life as a gypsy, moving every 2-4 years, finding consistent teaching jobs has been a challenge and so I find myself moved this summer to take action. No more countless hours spent searching school web sites, or tiresome interviews in which I have to explain why it is I move around so much. I am a woman taking the steps towards fulfilling my dream, and that means no more waiting around for life to happen.

This past week I signed up with media bistro to take their online Stiletto Boot Camp, an intensive, crash-course in how to write effectively and engagingly for women's magazines such as ELLE, Self, W etc. I am totally excited about this course as it has been a lifelong goal of mine to write as we live and travel the world, sharing my experiences with others. Freelance writing is something I can do from anywhere.

In addition to sharpening my skills, I've begun posting short stories on ThingsAsian, a web site offering up a variety of articles, facts, photographs, maps - anything to do with living and traveling in Asia. Check out my post on one our favorite restaurant finds while living in Tokyo titled, Yummy Yakitori.

I am also working on making this blog more beautiful and will eventually be adding in advertisements related to the content. I am scheduled to take a blogging class and hope to also connect with writers at Boston's local writing hub, Grub Street.

September is a month for new beginnings, new projects, and for me, a new attitude. I have a stack of reading to catch up on (see photo left), which I know will give me the inspiration I need to get busy and get writing.

Decisions Decisions

As autumn approaches, so does my love for all things leather, suede and cozy. I am obsessed with two fabulous options from J.Crew - the Walker ankle boot and the MacAlister wedge boot are topping my list of favorite footwear finds. Decisions decisions.

Back to Boston - Back to Reality

After four-and-a-half weeks on the road, we finally drove into our driveway last night. But it was not without a fight - we first stopped for dinner in town at our favorite restaurant, Pad Thai Cafe, before heading home. Above is a sample of the Starbucks Collector mugs (thanks Mike!) I collected on our journey west and then back east. It's a fantastic and functional way to display my hopscotch travels.

Hometown & a Haircut

For the past four years I have managed to schedule my visits back to Ottawa with a hair appointment. After several mishaps with stylists and colorists both in Japan and Boston, I've decided that for now, I will continue to be a committed client to Saab Salon in Ottawa, Canada. It is a family-run operation with a wonderful staff of professionals. In the ten-plus years I've been going there, I've had seven stylists, who have all done an amazing job with my thick, long hair. I highly recommend this salon to anyone looking for the ultimate hair experience. Thank you Frank & Nina:)

Down & Out in Detroit

We were told to avoid 8 mile while driving thru Detroit, Michigan. Ironically, we HAD to stop in 8 mile for a bathroom break as there was construction everywhere else. But to my surprise, I found the people here to be much more pleasant than those I encountered at our hotel in Ann Arbor the night before. The city is clearly in a time of major recession - abandoned properties line the highway, closed signs on stores- but I believe the people of Detroit will pull through.

Chicago- Smiles & Tall Buildings

When in Chicago, it is imperative that you do the Chicago Architecture Foundation boat tour. It is a wonderful way to see the spectacular and diverse architecture of the windy city. Also a must, is a walk through Millennium Park. Located in the heart of downtown, it serves as the city's playground for people of all ages and interests.

I couldn't resist snapping a photo of this man (see photo right) sitting on the sidewalk. His sign made me laugh. Instead of money, I gave him a bottle of water.

More from Minneapolis

We just had to stop and marvel at the amazing pieces at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. A must-see when visiting the Twin Cities.

Marvelous Minneapolis

I didn’t know what to expect of this mid-west city. I had heard wonderful things but was apprehensive to totally embrace the idea of Minneapolis as a bustling metropolis. My introduction to the city was a Wal-Mart, a so-so lodging and the Mall of America (crazy!) But once inside the city center, I was instantly hooked. People looked happy and healthy – walking, biking, and running along one of the city’s many beautiful parks. At noontime, café patios were filled with workers taking a break. My husband found a pizza place uptown called Pizza Lucé that served GF pizza. For the first time in years, I ordered bruschetta. Together, we munched our way through an entire half loaf of GF French bread, smothered in olive oil and fresh cut tomatoes. The entire meal was divine. Fresh, local produce is everywhere in this state, and the idea of eating local has really taking off. After a brief detour to Minnehaha Falls Park, we sadly said goodbye to one of our favorite stops on this cross-country tour.

Demolition Derby

Tonight we happened to be driving thru Glasgow, Montana on the night of the county fair. Not only did we get to experience small-town charm first-hand, we also witnessed our first demolition derby. Awesome.

Getting Down & Dirty in Glasgow, Montana

The best way to get a feel for a town is to attend a local going on, which is exactly what we did in Glasgow, Montana this evening. On our way into town we saw that the county fair was THE place to be with a wide selection of carnival-type rides, and a demolition derby. There was no admission fee, so we went directly to the bleachers and sat down beside Jo from Texas who had relocated here to, “get away from the hustle and bustle of Texas.” After witnessing fifteen minutes of full-on demolition we took in our surroundings, who were getting progressively more and more inebriated as the evening passed on. It was a rowdy but friendly crowd, and I am sure the night would get more interesting with each beer consumed, however, we were on a mission to get out of northern Montana by morning so we said our goodbyes to Jo and headed east.