Little kid excited.

Over the last couple days it has really started to hit me that I am actually leaving. Before it felt pretty surreal but now that we are counting down just days I know it is really going to happen. I have this feeling of not really being able to sit still or calm down because I am so darn excited. It is crazy to think about all the experiences we are going to have and all the people we will meet. I have honestly never looked forward to something so much and really know that the whole adventure is something I need right now.

For some reason I woke up yesterday feeling so stressed about getting everything ready. There are so many things I am unsure about when packing and planning. I get nervous that I'm going to be over there at some point, so confused and no one will be able to speak English to help me. There are so many questions when I'm packing. How cold is it actually going to be? Will I really not need a cell phone? How heavy will my bag actually be? Do I need another pair of shoes? As hard as its been to pack, I need to realize that whatever I bring or don't bring, I'm going to survive and have the time of my life.

I'm also feeling a lot better because I've decided to sublet my room. It will definitely help financially and I think I've found someone that will really enjoy living here and it will be a great way for her to get to know Seattle. I'm sure the boys will also love to have her!

I talked to a family friend yesterday that went on a trip to Europe in August. She was so, so helpful and made me even more excited. She warned me to pack as light as possible and to make sure to talk to as many people as I can. If we have a route planned at all (which of course we don't) she says it will definitely change. We will meet many other travelers that we will go along with at different points throughout our trip. I am really looking forward to all the interesting people we are going to meet and the many things we will learn from them. I've been warned many times that I might fall in love. Don't know that that's going to happen, but you never know!

Cayce and I are going to take a big trip to REI today and get a few more things that we need. We also received our Railpasses in the mail yesterday so will be planning a rough route. Maybe at least planning out second destination :). The more I read and look at the map and pictures, the more I am interested in spending a lot of time in Spain, Portugal and hopefully Morocco. Looks like a ton of fun and perhaps a little warmer than the freezing temps up North!

One thing I've learned: when in doubt, ask Rick Steves!

Hello blogging world.

I've been inspired for a few reasons to finally create my own blog. As an intern at Wishpot I had my first experience blogging. I've never considered myself a writer but I really enjoyed blogging and learned I may not be as bad as I originally thought. As the writer of the Handmade blog, I loved that I could write about arts, crafts, and all things indie all day long! I learned so much about the world of blogs and the many things that they have to offer. Throughout my experience at Wishpot I came across many blogs that I enjoyed and continued to visit daily even after my internship was over. I was inspired by the amazing work of the bloggers at Design*Sponge, Creature Comforts, and SF Girl by Bay to create my own personal blog.

I will also be using this blog as a record of my travels. In a couple weeks I will be leaving for a backpacking trip throughout Europe. My best friend Cayce, the best possible travel partner I could imagine, will be accompanying me on the adventure. I plan to visit internet cafes and use this blog often as a way to update my family and friends on my location and experiences.

I hope that at some point I will share something you enjoy and at least something that may brighten your day. I've always been someone who never lets my thoughts get too far from me. I am incredibly hard to read and don't particularly enjoy sharing my feelings with others. I've come to learn it's something I need to work on and perhaps sharing to my computer screen for whoever to read may be the perfect way to do that. We all need a little inspiration every once in awhile and I hope that this site will offer some for you. I won't promise on providing any sort of "life advice" besides one thing. Always go left.