Thursday, November 23, 2017

what I'm thankful for this year

Photo by Jeremy Gallman
Next to Easter, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Both holidays don't require gifts. Their whole purpose is to get together with your loved ones and eat A LOT of food. Of course, there's the whole thing about Jesus rising from the dead and the British and Native Americans coming together for a feast, but both of those things probably didn't happen.

But what does happen, without fail, every year is my family getting together to eat lots of food and laugh and then complain about how we over-ate.

I'm going over to my aunt's in a few hours, so, for now, I'll make a list of just a few things I'm thankful for. 


  1. the Hannah Montana movie (it's on right now and I'm reminded that it's a cinematic masterpiece)
  2. country music
  3. my dad
  4. wood burning stoves
  5. books (currently reading Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver)
  6. secondhand books that don't cost more than $1
  7. international friends that call to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving (isn't that the most thoughtful thing you've ever heard!?)
  8. the fact that I can say I have "international friends"
  9. long email chains with aforementioned friends
  10. 61% of Australia that voted in favor of same-sex marriage
  11. Niall Horan's album
  12. Mary J. Blige
  13. my legs. they took me around 18 countries in 2017.
  14. my chacos, who touched the ground in those 18 countries. 
  15. my education
  16. the privilege to travel
  17. air-conditioning
  18. dogs
  19. science and modern medicine 
  20. plans for the near-future 

No matter where you are in the world, I hope you eat good food and hug someone you love today.

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Consume This #5

Photo by Ronaldo Arthur Vidal
Consume This is my monthly curated list of interesting links to things for you to read, watch, and listen.  If you come across something you think I’ll like, tweet at me.

R E A D I N G

why it's time for me to leave new york

how to travel like a travel writer

can constant podcast listening be bad for your brain?

if you can't find a partner that supports your career goals, stay single

you have to build your purpose

wearing men's button-down is another facet of the manic pixie cool girl

W A T C H I N G  &  L I S T E N I N G

demi lovato's new album

kind New Zealanders send author John Green thousands of coins

I went to a festival on my own