I'll take you in my backpack

2/7/18 I've been meaning to write this post for a really long time. I've had it drafted in various forms, notes on post-its, memos in my phone, reminders set. I'll be honest, things just got away from me and I slacked! I always have people asking me for recommendations or seeing things on my Instagram story and asking me about them, so I decided to compile a list of my FAVORITES, my must haves! I try to travel carry on only, so these are all items that I have found either essential, or helpful in one way or another! I'll list them in no particular order! **Ebates. First and foremost whenever you're shopping online you'd be foolish not to use this! It's free money for some shopping you're going to do anyways! Sites offer various percentages back on your shopping trip. The sites change their percentages and sometimes offer bonuses so check back often! Just to give you a little idea, I've gotten $656 (don't judge I like to shop!) back from ...

12/27/17 Woke up for breakfast and guess who is starting to really warm up to me...Olek! In addition to being pretty playful, he decided to sit down under the table at my feet and when Ogie called for him to leave he refused to move! No plans for today, which is kind of nice after such a packed and busy first week and a half here in Bali. I had sort of just intended to walk into town, maybe stop at a coffee shop (that never happened) and then get a pedicure and keep walking around and just do whatever. I walked into town and stopped at a shop that had beautiful fabrics in the window. There was a sweet older woman in the shop, probably 2 feet shorter than me. Nannook was her name. She was so helpful and obviously wanted me to buy something. I initially wasn't going to buy anything in Bali, but after wearing Sarongs for the majority of the trip I thought maybe a pretty sarong (that I could convert into a scarf) would be a neat thing to take back. Nannook then started showing ...

12/24/17 Christmas Eve in Bali. I'd choose nowhere else at this point in my life. Yesterdays down day was in part because of today, a big trek. I did a little bit of research leading up to this and knew that it would be intense. I read somewhere that it was 1700 steep and uneven steps up to the top of Lempuyang Temple. That you aren't to use foul language or complain about the hike because if you do you won't be afforded the stunning views at the top. Also those who have a sick heart or who are mourning shouldn't make the trek (pilgrimage is actually what they call it) because they will not make it as their heart is heavy and not able to carry them to the top. My heart is very happy and healthy and in a good space, I made sure to really focus my mind before starting the day, and most importantly to focus on controlling my language! When I convinced Made to do this trek with me (rather than sitting in the car and waiting) he thought that it was 500 steps. I tried t...

12/22/17 If I could summarize today I would simply say that today was something that you can't pay money for, that you can't put any kind of value onto,  something that I'll hold close to my heart forever, and something that I'm so eternally grateful for being able to experience. With that, I'll carry on with the details and let you figure out what all of this vagueness is about! Today started off pretty similar to other days, with the exception of a little visitor for breakfast. Ogie usually comes by himself but today his dog Olek joined him. Olek is a small white dog, slightly skittish but also very curious. I went to go pet Olek and she ran off but the second I turned around she ran behind me to come investigate. Sneaky little bugger. Today is Ogie's big ceremony, the second of 3 in his wedding ceremonies. In the first ceremony just the parents go to meet one another. The man's family goes to the future wife's family and they meet and talk ...