How to Survive Long Travel

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I love traveling!

I didn't make this meme, but I apologize for the missing 'l' in 'acutally'

...but when we fantasize about travel, we imagine direct flights with no delays, no turbulence, gorgeous views out of our window seats, and plenty of yummy snacks and cold drinks from friendly stewardesses with bright smiles and pleasant voices.

Anyone with any significant travel experience can attest to the fantasy-reality disconnect. But I still love travel! I love meeting new people, seeing new things or old things that I haven't seen in a while, trying exotic fruits and veggies and interesting vegetarian dishes, and just enjoying the sense of adventure and long walks in new places. There's so much to see in our big world!

The next 2.5 weeks are going to be full of all sorts of crazy (and long) travels - I'm taking the train back to NYC today after a summer in Boston, then I'm packing up my apartment in NYC and saying goodbye to my NYC friends before flying to Berlin on Thursday. That is, fortunately, a direct flight from JFK to TXL, but when I arrive on Friday I'll have to take two trains to get to the lovely village in northwestern Germany where my family lives!

After enjoying a wonderful 1.5 weeks with them, I'll take two trains back to Berlin, sleep in an airport hotel, take a really early morning flight with a layover in Dusseldorf to arrive in JFK in the late afternoon. After doing the whole immigration thing, I'll go through TSA again to catch a flight to Boston that I booked separately!

Fingers crossed that there are no delays, or that could get tight...I'll probably Uber to my new apartment in Cambridge, where I'll have two days to unpack the moving boxes and my suitcase before I start my new job on the marketing team of a tech startup!

Phew.

With so much travel and a bit of hectic ahead of me, here are some of the top tips that I've accumulated over the years of travel - my first international trip was before my first birthday!

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The Best Acai Bowls in Boston

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I love acai bowls! They're fruity, sweet, refreshing, creamy, and have some yummy crunch from the granola.

I love the combination of different textures and flavors from the blended fruits, chopped fruits, and granola. I love that they make a perfect breakfast, snack, or light lunch. I love that they're portable and delicious and satisfying without weighing me down or making me sleepy (the opposite of what a lunch should do, especially on a work day).



NYC is an acai bowl heaven, but I've been in Boston all summer and am making the move here (or, rather, Cambridge) full time in just a few short weeks. Luckily for me, moving to Boston might mean that I give up some of my NYC favorites (at least unless I move back some day) like Juice Generation, Magic Mix Juicery, and Juice Press. But I don't have to give up acai bowls!

There are several places in Boston where you can get an acai bowl. Here are my two favorites!

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How to Survive a Cross-State Move Without Your Parents!

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The mark of adulthood is figuring out how to do more and more by yourself that you used to have your parents' help for. Most of us had parental help moving to college and many had help with their move from college to the city of their first job.

But as time passes after that first major move of complete adulthood, parental help with future moves becomes less and less likely. Your parents might leave the continent, like mine, or they might just decide that they're getting too old to play moving service for you and that you're getting old enough to learn how to do it on your own.

Moving is a useful skill to pick up, especially if you're someone who likes trying out new cities or doesn't get too attached to a specific place and prefers to follow opportunity. I'm moving back to Cambridge, MA from NYC for work and this is my first major move without any parental assistance and without the option of storing belongings at my parents' house (see above: they left the continent).

With the recurring millennial question of 'how can I do this grown up thing with minimal headache,' here are my tips for pulling off a snag-free major move by yourself!

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What to Consider For Your Apartment Search

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I feel like I am constantly moving or apartment hunting. Is it just me? I think it must be a millennial thing.

There are so many things to consider when choosing an apartment. Even if you enlist the help of a realtor, you have to make sure you're getting what you want and not what they're trying to get rid of.

As an all-too-well seasoned apartment hunter, read on for the top factors that I consider in my hunt!

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How To: 5 Tips for Cooking for One

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There are so many benefits to cooking your own food, at least now and then.

 - You learn and practice a handy life skill
 - You know what is in your food
 - You set the cleanliness and food safety standard for how your food is prepared
 - It's generally at least a bit cheaper
 - It's fun!

There are more, but this post isn't about sellilng anyone on the benefits of cooking at home over eating out all the time. Most people already know that cooking, at least now and then, is a good idea. But with our busy lives, sometimes finding time is tricky!

When you cook for a family, it's easy to cook in a way that's both time efficient and money efficient. When you're cooking for just one person, it's a lot harder to cook in a way that makes sense. If you aren't careful, cooking for one can be a lot more expensive and wasteful than eating out. That undercuts the point of cooking!

Here are my top tips to save money and time while having fun cooking for a one-person household! Cooking doesn't have to take a lot of extra time or be inconvenient, even for the busiest person.

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10 Fun Facts About Providence, RI!

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Did you know that Providence Rhode Island is just over an hour away from Boston on a commuter rail train for ~$10 each way?

I lived in Boston for three years during my undergraduate studies and have lived in Boston for a few months at a time off and on since then, but I never realized how accessible Rhode Island is! It makes an excellent choice for a long weekend getaway.

If you're planning a trip, or need motivation to do so, here are some fun facts about Providence!

1) Roger Williams founded Providence in 1636 after he was forced to flee from Massachusetts Bay Colony due to religious persecution.

The new city was to be a bastion of religious freedom and tolerance. How awesome is that?

2) "What Cheer?" is the city motto!

That's such a delightful greeting. Imagine walking around town and greeting people with "what cheer, friend?" I'm pretty sure it's impossible to sound angry while saying that, just like the words 'cuddles,' 'yay,' and 'sparkly.'

...in reality, people don't actually walk around saying 'what cheer' in greeting to everyone. Bummer.

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Independence Day Eats!

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It's Independence Day weekend!

...sorry, I couldn't resist the patriotic pickup line.

I'm celebrating the long weekend with a trip to Providence, Rhode Island. It's under two hours out of Boston and can be reached with just the red line and the commuter rail, so you can get there for $20 round trip. Not bad for a long weekend getaway!

I'll share photos of Providence later, but for now here are some great holiday-themed foods to bring to your Independence Day barbecue, potluck, or any other celebration that requires food. Enjoy the yummy red, white, and blue!

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