Six hours I have six hours until I need to be on a flight to the UK, followed by three days “on”, a day to fly home, two days of laundry, groceries, and prep then four days in Chicago, five days in Rome, and one week home. Then it’s on to one week in NewContinue reading “Into Everyone’s Life A Little Motivation Will Fall”
Tag Archives: Adventure
One Day in Rome
The thing which never happens, has happened! On my upcoming trip to Italy I will have 24 full, unscheduled hours – all to myself. No colleagues to entertain No meetings to attend No children to attend to Just me, my map, and an ungodly amount of Frascati I’ve visited Rome before, years ago, and afterContinue reading “One Day in Rome”
One Year in Review
The LaBelleValise blog is now one year old. This blog started as a travel log on all the places work, life, and wanderlust takes me and over the past year the adventure has been better than I hoped. Here are a few of the highlights Istanbul, Turkey Chester, UK Chicago, Illinois New York, New YorkContinue reading “One Year in Review”
Cruising? A Supposedly Fun Thing I Thought I’d Never Do Again
When I read the late David Foster Wallace’s essay on cruising in Harper’s, Shipping Out, On the Nearly Lethal Comforts of a Luxury Cruise, I laughed with the deep understanding that comes from having been there, and felt all of that. Yet, two months ago, there I was, planning a cruise with my family forContinue reading “Cruising? A Supposedly Fun Thing I Thought I’d Never Do Again”
My 30 Day Adventure: Prologue
My 30 Day Adventure, as I’ve taken to calling it, has now ended, with an extra 10 pounds, three new passport stamps, and so many emails and unpacked bags awaiting me I wish I could start the trip again just to get away from it all! That said, when I think back on where IContinue reading “My 30 Day Adventure: Prologue”
Kids Cruise Packing
Plenty of websites give direction when it comes to packing that cruise carry-on, or providing extra tips for things to bring along to make your trip easier, there are even websites focused on how to sneak booze on your cruise ship. But, when it comes to packing lists for kids, the resources are limited. ForContinue reading “Kids Cruise Packing”
A Code No One Understands
Sitting in a noisy corner of a quiet bar there’s a story tickling the corners of my mind, a song of Pirates, Cowboys, and runaway mothers on spring break – abandoned in a forbidden and foreign place. There are lying lies, and the damn liars who tell them covetous addicts, and drunks, Telling stories without telling the storyContinue reading “A Code No One Understands”
The Spring Collection
American designers launch their collections twice per year: the Fall collection is introduced at fashion markets in the spring and the spring collection in the fall (a calendar disconnect which makes it nearly impossible for me to speak about a collection without pausing to correct myself first). The spring launch is out of sync withContinue reading “The Spring Collection”
Purple Haze and Lackadaisical Labor Days
Once upon a time, labor day weekend, a full tank of gas, and a topless baby blue CJ7 were all it took to make me smile in that way that made my cheekbones hurt. I know I was that girl, but I don’t remember her much anymore. I remember tucking my hair under a grimy knitContinue reading “Purple Haze and Lackadaisical Labor Days”
Delightfully Chaotic
“She is delightfully chaotic; A beautiful mess. Loving her is a splendid adventure.” – Steve Maraboli A colleague once introduced me as “the most fascinating whirling dirvish” she’d ever met. It was one of the greatest compliments I have ever received. Although, perhaps what she meant was, “She’s a chaotic mess, but at least she’sContinue reading “Delightfully Chaotic”