tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21325401848076271982024-03-13T09:08:50.625-07:00The Windblown EarthThe blog of two friends on a journey to see the world.The Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-5182970957067757502016-04-24T09:13:00.001-07:002016-04-24T09:14:18.066-07:00Photo Sunday: We are Going Back!Hey all! In two weeks time YC and I are heading back to Singapore! We will be there for about three weeks. One of YC's best friends is getting married, so we are going back for the wedding.<br />
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In honor of our second Singapore trip, here is a picture from our last trip!<br />
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One of my favorite parts of Singapore is the Marina Bay with the glowing giant trees. They are gorgeous at night. I can't wait to walk through them again.<br />
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I can't wait to go back! Eeeee!<br />
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-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-2912700078823030332016-04-03T07:15:00.000-07:002016-04-03T07:15:57.038-07:00Photo Sunday: North Carolina WaterfallsI'm actually writing a Photo Sunday on Sunday, aren't you so proud!<br />
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This post comes to you from a park in North Carolina.<br />
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I enjoyed hiking through the mountains and waterfalls in North Carolina. I always love a good waterfall. This one you can get really close to, as you can see in the photo, if you climb up the big rock. I enjoy our Big Foot like poses as well. Why is Big Foot always walking like that in photos? Maybe his legs are stuck like that.</div>
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Anyone else big on hiking? Love waterfalls as much as I do? I need to ask my godmother what the name of this park is again, I've forgotten.</div>
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-Alisa</div>
<br />The Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-87079660877314739692016-03-24T13:31:00.000-07:002016-03-24T13:32:35.861-07:00Charleston Take Two! Hey all! Sorry I haven't been around much. Honestly it's not just being busy; I've been in a blogging slump. Sometimes it's hard to maintain a blog when you aren't sure anyone is reading. I'm trying to get myself to write anyway though.<br />
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I stated this blog for myself: to chronicle my adventures so I could look back and to practice my writing. So I bribed myself with coffee, lectured myself a bit, and dragged myself here to write this.<br />
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Little rant over.<br />
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<i>So darn cute.</i></div>
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So let me tell you. Charleston, South Carolina is one of my favorite cities. Not just in the U.S. either, though it may well be my favorite in the U.S. so far.<br />
I absolutely love Charleston, and the second time there just increased my love tenfold. Sadly though, I think Charleston is somewhere I'd rather visit than live (though I'd consider the outskirts). This is because every time I'm there the tour guides talk about how Charleston gets tons of floods, could be hit with a giant earthquake any time now, and apparently catches fire quite easily. I admit I am a big chicken, but those are too many possible disasters for me. So maybe I'll live on the outskirts or somewhere else in South Carolina and just continue to visit.<br />
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I will definitely be visiting again. I can never get enough and there is always more to see.<br />
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I was so stoked that YC was able to come along this time; I wanted to show him Charleston. I'm glad he quickly fell in love with Charleston as much as I have. It is a hard city not to love.<br />
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<i>Kind of nice having family along to use as photographers. haha</i></div>
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Not only are the buildings adorable, but the waterfront is lovely to walk along. Apparently there are also almost no mosquitoes, and I did not get bitten while there so maybe that's true. Charleston is one of the most historic cities in the world as well. They go all out, to an insane amount, like replacing cobblestones in the exact same spots if they do sewer work.<br />
It does make for a gorgeous city.<br />
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Charleston also has some amazing food. Good old southern comfort food, yummy but not the best for your waistline. I felt so full the whole time, but totally worth it.<br />
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Out of all the places we went, we enjoyed Poogan's Porch the most. The price isn't over the top and the food was exceptional. The wait staff was also super friendly and helpful. Our waitress asked the bartender to make a mixed drink she thought I might like that wasn't on the menu. Little things such as that just made the restaurant feel so welcoming. The building it is located in used to be a house and has a homey atmosphere, and is super unique looking.<br />
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<i>I don't eat meat, but YC's duck looked awesome. It was apparently amazing.</i></div>
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My whole family enjoyed their food immensely. The above pictured duck was the biggest hit. Their grits with cheese are amazing as are the fried green tomatoes (my favorite part of southern food).<br />
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I definitely recommend hitting up Poogan's Porch, taking a horse carriage ride, and visiting the market. The horse carriage rides are a lovely way to take in a lot of the city (I've been on them twice now and it was different information every time). The market is the best place to buy souvenirs. They have work from many local artists including jewelry and paintings. My goal is to eventually be able to afford one of the phenomenal paintings of rainbow row.<br />
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Honestly, the best part of Charleston is how photogenic the city is. It is worth at least a day trip to wander the city and check out the buildings, churches, and wrought iron gates. I'll finish up this post with some more pictures of the lovely city.<br />
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<i>Exploring the streets by horse.</i></div>
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<i>One of the many pretty churches.</i></div>
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<i>Look at that awesome metalwork.</i></div>
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<i>The waterfront makes for great pictures.</i></div>
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<i>Have any of you been to Charleston? Were you as impressed by the city as I am? Any other cities I should check out based on my love of this one?</i><br />
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<i>-Alisa</i>The Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-18692243449937193052016-02-04T13:31:00.000-08:002016-02-04T13:32:20.344-08:00ApologiesHey guys.<br />
I'm writing this post as an apology. I know I haven't posted in ages (since December) and I feel bad. I kept thinking that I should at least do a Photo Sunday, but then I kept not doing it.<br />
A lot has been going on in my life, and I've been super busy...and when I wasn't busy I didn't really feel like posting.<br />
In all honesty, I'm not sure how much I'll be on this blog for a bit. Because!<br />
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I am going to grad school! Well hopefully. I got accepted to a grad school, but I need to get student loans, housing, and a visa before I'll consider it set in stone. So I'm not going to announce where I am moving until it's 100%. While I may not post a whole ton in grad school, when I do post they will be longer and I will be traveling a lot.<br />
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<i>Here's a super cute picture of my dad's new puppy as an apology. Perhaps I'll just post tons of puppy pictures until I have something else. haha</i></div>
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There will be some longer posts coming up in the next couple months.<br />
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<b>March</b>: I am going back to Charleston, this time my stepdad and YC will be joining my mom and I. Look forward to a more detailed Charleston post this time. We will be spending two days there.<br />
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<b>May</b>: YC and I will hopefully be going back to Singapore (yay!) for one of his best friends' wedding. I'm hoping that we will be able to schedule in a layover in Japan or Taiwan.<br />
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<b>Summer</b>: My mom and I are hoping to make a trip up to Boston and Salem before I leave for grad school.<br />
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Hopefully I'll also get my butt in gear for at least some Photo Sunday posts. Regardless, I at least plan on posting long posts and tons of pictures for the aforementioned posts!<br />
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So sorry again for my vacancy. I swear grad school planning stress is going to kill me.<br />
I promise to try to post more.<br />
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HUGS!<br />
-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-72052076264561680362015-12-13T13:54:00.001-08:002015-12-13T13:55:31.184-08:00Photo Sunday: Tom and JerryHello all!<br />
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Anyone else totally in the Christmas spirit? I love the holidays and I am so pumped.<br />
This weekend was my grandpa's birthday, so I got to go up and hangout with my family all day Saturday. We ate and drank a lot.<br />
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One of the big holiday tradition drinks my family makes is called a Tom and Jerry. From what I gathered, it is whipped eggs, warm milk, and a shot of rum.<br />
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I think they taste like Christmas. Very alcohol-y Christmas. Also, that napkin says group therapy and has a bunch of wine glasses. My family is super classy.<br />
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Does your family have any special holiday foods or drinks? Do you know why a Tom and Jerry is named that? I have no idea.<br />
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-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-59409188578948189852015-12-07T17:51:00.002-08:002015-12-07T17:52:17.979-08:00Photo Sunday: Etsy is the BestHello all! Sorry I've been getting really behind on posts. I'm the worst.<br />
With the holidays coming up (god I have no money anymore) and some big changes on the horizon (I'll let you know when it is 100% sure), I have been a bit scatterbrained.<br />
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I'm sorry.<br />
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Today's post has to do with all my holiday shopping. ETSY! I adore Etsy. I find the best stuff there, and the personal touch is the greatest.<br />
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Look at those charms! So cute. I ordered a present from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/skeletaldropkick?ref=shop_sugg" target="_blank">Skeletal Dropkick</a> for Christmas and received an email saying it was shipping late. And by late, I mean perhaps one day later than they advertised. The lovely shop owner sent me an email apologizing and promising me a small gift as an apology. Tada charms! The owner sent me these gorgeous charms as the apology!</div>
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This is why I love shopping Etsy. The sellers on Etsy go above and beyond. Honestly I hadn't even noticed the order shipped late, nor would I have really cared. I will never say no to cute free charms though.</div>
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I mean seriously. Look at that pufferfish.</div>
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Does anyone else love Etsy? I would buy all presents there if I could.</div>
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-Alisa</div>
The Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-85134987079648020092015-11-22T14:36:00.000-08:002015-11-22T14:36:22.438-08:00Photo Sunday: Dilated Pupil MonsterHello all! Sorry I skipped last week's post. With all that was happening in France, I didn't feel like posting anything.<br />
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I don't have anything super exciting this weekend either, so please still love me.<br />
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I went to the eye doctor on Saturday because I didn't want to miss any work. I'm such a good employee.<br />
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When they dilate my pupils I always end up looking like some sort of alien or monster. There is barely and color left! It makes me feel trippy, but it looks pretty cool.<br />
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Sorry I don't have anything more exciting, I'll try to get up to something soon.<br />
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Hope all you Americans are pumped for Thanksgiving! Wooooo!<br />
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-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-37755630670720197452015-11-09T14:15:00.000-08:002015-11-09T14:17:02.570-08:00Photo Sunday: Fall FashionHello all, sorry my Photo Sunday is once again on Monday. I'm the worst.<br />
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Today's photo is about fall fashion! Does anyone else love fall clothes more than any other clothes? I love the fall colors, like maroon, dark green, and mustard. I love that plaid fits in so perfectly. I love sweaters and scarves. And boots! I much prefer pants to shorts, especially yoga pants.<br />
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Fall fashion is best fashion.<br />
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This outfit is exactly why I love fall. Boots, plaid pants, and a giant maroon sweater. Love.<br />
Fall is my favorite season, for so many reasons.<br />
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The fact that I actually seem fashionable in fall is one of the main ones.<br />
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Anyone else love fall? Fall fashion your favorite fashion?<br />
Pumpkin all the things?<br />
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-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-82116980495697686842015-11-01T12:45:00.003-08:002015-11-01T12:46:46.010-08:00Photo Sunday: Halloween Pictures!Hello all! Did you have a good Halloween? I did!<br />
YC and I dressed up as Glenn and Maggie from the Walking Dead, and I personally think we rocked it. :)<br />
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Because I can't contain myself, here are a ton of pictures of us from Halloween. You're welcome!<br />
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<i>I know it's not super in character, but this picture is my favorite.</i></div>
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<i>Looking badass. Don't worry, it is a BB gun. We don't play with real guns.</i></div>
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<i>I may have had way too much fun with editing...</i></div>
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<i>Look how awesome our costumes are guys!</i></div>
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<i>YC looking inside his shirt. hehe</i></div>
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<i>This filter on Snapseed is so perfect for Walking Dead pictures.</i></div>
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<i>My favorite picture of just me.</i></div>
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I love Halloween. I also love having a boyfriend to make dress up with me. Couple costumes are the best. </div>
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What did you guys dress up as for Halloween?</div>
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-Alisa</div>
The Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-30510371627922086912015-10-26T14:02:00.002-07:002015-10-26T14:03:01.929-07:00A Weekend in BaltimoreLook at me, two posts in one day.<br />
You're welcome.<br />
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A weekend in Baltimore wasn't much time, especially with only one full day. We really went to visit family though, so sightseeing was a secondary priority. Family-wise, this weekend was jam packed.<br />
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<i>Probably the coolest thing we saw.</i></div>
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I think my favorite sightseeing moment was visiting Edgar Allan Poe's grave. I'm not as huge of a history dork as Hope, but there's something about seeing something historically significant that is just inspiring.<br />
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I'm not a huge Poe fan myself, but I enjoyed visiting his grave.<br />
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The whole graveyard is quite interesting, which graves so old they're nearly worn away. Not going to lie, the place is rather creepy.<br />
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<i>A apparently gravity defying slab.</i></div>
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<i>The graves of children from one family, as you can see they were very young.</i></div>
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Our other big tourist moment was going down to the harbor and walking up Capitol Hill.<br />
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The view was definitely worth a visit. Baltimore is an attractive city.<br />
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<i>Look how pretty the harbor is.</i></div>
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<i>That building is adorable.</i></div>
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We also ate some crab, of course, which was delicious. I hate cracking them open though, so my second cousin did it for me. She likes to "tear those suckers apart".<br />
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While I didn't see a whole ton of Baltimore, I got to spend a lot of quality time with my family. I'll definitely have to go down to visit again, and to see more of the city.<br />
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All in all, I had a lovely weekend, and I enjoyed my taste of Baltimore.<br />
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<i>Have you been to Baltimore? Any suggestions for where to visit on my next trip?</i><br />
<i>-Alisa</i>The Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-56009841046773327812015-10-26T13:46:00.000-07:002015-10-26T13:47:23.235-07:00Photo Sunday: Best Pho EverHello all!<br />
I was only home for about an hour this whole weekend, so sorry for the Photo Sunday on Monday yet again. Oops.<br />
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I spent the weekend in Baltimore visiting some family, which will get it's own short post.<br />
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This Photo Sunday though, is about the yummiest pho I've ever eaten from a small spot in Baltimore that my second cousin took us too. She wasn't lying when she said it was the best.<br />
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Look at all those vegetable and tofu! Tofus? Is the plural just tofu?<br />
I could barely reach the noodles until I ate half the vegetables, but it was worth it. It was so good. So much flavor and so well cooked. The tofu and vegetables were perfect.<br />
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It almost made me wish I lived in Baltimore.<br />
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Anyone else a huge pho fan? It is my cold weather comfort food. Anyone know any other great places to get pho? Other than you know, Vietnam, which I will get to eventually.<br />
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-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-61583843912269192152015-10-12T12:59:00.000-07:002015-10-12T12:59:47.546-07:00Photo Sunday: I Love AutumnHello all!<br />
Autumn is my absolute favorite season! I love being able to wear leggings, jeans, sweaters, scarves, boots...the whole nine yards. I love that it is finally cool enough for me to wear my hair down without overheating. I love the changing leaves. I love pumpkin flavored things (I don't care that it's a white girl stereotype! Delicious!) I looooove Halloween. You have no idea. Playing dress up is the best.<br />
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Another added bonus of autumn is that now when I wake up for work the sun is always rising right out the window. It's hard to be too grumpy about getting up for work when you wake up to this.<br />
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Anyone else as in love with autumn as I am? What are you guys being for Halloween? Do you embrace the pumpkin?<br />
-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-36115786374573692272015-10-06T14:07:00.000-07:002015-10-06T14:07:31.423-07:00Book Review: OutlanderHey all! I did one book review ages ago, and I figured I should get back into that.<br />
So here is my second book review, for <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10964.Outlander?ac=1" target="_blank">Outlander</a> by Diana Gabaldon.<br />
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<i>I was too lazy to retake a picture of my book, so I had to take a picture of my old picture on Instagram...I'm lazy.</i></div>
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I'd heard awesome things about <u>Outlander</u> from multiple people, and had it on my to-read list for ages. I'd just never gotten around to reading it. After receiving an Amazon gift card, I decided it was time for <u>Outlander.</u><br />
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I loved it! There is so much detail in this book, both historical and cultural. The only reason I ever really read romance books is for the historical fiction. I love historical fiction, and historical romances do it so well. This book definitely falls into the historical romance genre, but there is enough action in it to qualify as straight up historical fiction and adventure as well.<br />
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For the most part I loved the main characters, though there was a scene in the middle where I got so frustrated with both of them that I had to take a break. I eventually forgave their actions and was re-hooked.<br />
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I can't wait to read the next book in the series.<br />
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<i>Have any of you read <u>Outlander?</u> Any other historical fiction recommendations for me?</i><br />
<i>-Alisa </i>The Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-49061822797196887212015-10-04T08:22:00.002-07:002015-10-04T08:23:10.948-07:00Photo Sunday: Princess DressHey all!<br />
I'm using this Photo Sunday to show off a pretty dress I don't get to wear, and to complain about a lack of fancy balls.<br />
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My hair looked ridiculous, so I cropped my head off.<br />
Look how pretty the dress is! I looked like a princess. The wedding I was going to wear it for isn't fancy enough though, so no dress.<br />
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Which brings me to my second point: We need more fancy balls! There should be masquerade and other such balls held somewhere. That way I can still have a reason to wear princess dresses. If I ever become rich (unlikely) I am going to have a ballroom and host balls!<br />
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Especially masquerade balls. They seem so fun.<br />
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Anyone else wish people held balls for them to dress up for? Just me?<br />
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-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-9379459152643698392015-09-29T13:13:00.002-07:002015-09-29T13:14:23.478-07:00Photo Sunday: Team Snap 5KHello all. Sorry this Photo Sunday is so late. I wasn't home at all this weekend, and then I was busy yesterday. (Plus I've been reading <u>The Martian</u> and I can't stop)<br />
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On Sunday I participated in the Team Snap 5k for Brain Tumor Research for the second year. I walked, because running is death.<br />
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Of course we dyed our hair purple again. This year YC did it for me, and he did a great job. Though, I managed to get it all over my neck and chest washing it. Sigh. No purple is not the brain tumor awareness color, but Jamie likes it. Jamie is the teacher I walk for, that the whole race is for. She is an amazing person who stays upbeat no matter what life throws at her, brain tumor included.<br />
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This year over 500 people participated. Jamie's speech at the beginning nearly made me cry. She is the most amazing person I have ever met.<br />
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You should all definitely consider donating to brain tumor research, or participating in a walk for awareness. Or something.<br />
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For amazing people like Jamie.<br />
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Lots of love.<br />
-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-145167767465846132015-09-13T12:27:00.000-07:002015-09-13T12:27:51.049-07:00Photo Sunday: I Got a HOPE!Yesterday I walked in to my house to find Hope at my table! My family, Hope, and YC planned it for months. I had no idea she was coming home.<br />
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Needless to say my weekend was made. She will be here for two whole weeks!<br />
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In her honor, here is my absolute favorite picture of us.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BCh8NvUSoU/VfXNsXhvyQI/AAAAAAAABWY/QYqH084Klk0/s1600/6733_246632240007_684420007_7533559_4404338_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BCh8NvUSoU/VfXNsXhvyQI/AAAAAAAABWY/QYqH084Klk0/s640/6733_246632240007_684420007_7533559_4404338_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hope does not enjoy this picture as much as I do. I think it is the best. Also, we look exactly the same even though this was high school. Love it.<br />
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Be prepared for a post about our wonderful reunion extravaganza!<br />
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Anyone else have as super awesome of a weekend as I did?<br />
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-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-37395077798031518842015-09-08T13:56:00.002-07:002015-09-08T13:57:48.606-07:00Mother-Daughter South Carolina TripHey all! Summer is officially over and I'm back working in elementary school. Five days in and I'm already exhausted, anyone else?<br />
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I finally have some down time today, not much mind you, but enough to write a blog post!<br />
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The last week before school started my mom and I took a trip down to South Carolina to visit my god parents.<br />
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<i>Me and my mommy at the rainbow row.</i></div>
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My god parents moved to South Carolina when I was in middle school (I think, I kind of forget) from Canada. We used to visit them first in Canada then in South Carolina every year. As my brother and I got older, and my god siblings (is that a thing?) did as well, we drifted apart. Before this summer, it had been a couple years since our last trip down.<br />
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My godmother is probably my mom's best friend, they've been friends since high school. So mom and I decided to make a trip down at the end of August. The drive is roughly 10 hours, but it was worth it. I'd forgotten how awesome my god parents are, and we had a lovely time. We are even planning on dragging YC and my brother down in the spring!<br />
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<i>The old wrought iron gates are gorgeous.</i></div>
<br />My god parents' daughter goes to university in Charleston, so we took a day trip up to the city. It was hot as hell, but it is an adorable city. If you picture the old south in your mind, Charleston probably matches the image perfectly. The city has done an amazing job of preserving the old charm.<br />
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<i>See those puddles? It poured unbelievably hard about five minutes before this picture.</i></div>
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The city is great for leisurely walking through to see all the sights, but the horse carriage rides are nice for if you want to see some of the more spread out sights. The drivers are very knowledgeable and I recommend the carriage ride mostly for listening to their stories. We would never have known about the super creepy old prison if we hadn't taken the carriage ride.</div>
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<i>Apparently the most haunted prison ever. Now it has art classes in it.</i></div>
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The food in Charleston is wonderful. I'm sure most of it is super unhealthy, grits and fried green tomatoes I'm looking at you, but man is it yummy. Plus pralines!! Oh my god. I had never tried pralines before. They taste like happiness. I recommend trying them at one of the stores by the old market, they had free samples and they're still warm.</div>
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The old market is worth a visit as well. Their is a lot of local artwork there. I got an oogle for YC, which is a tiny clay figure that supposedly wards off evil spirits. It is adorable.</div>
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<i>More rainbow road.</i></div>
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We only did a day trip to Charleston so we missed a lot of the sights, and we couldn't go on a ghost tour. In the spring we are going to stay the night so we have more time to see everything and can go on a ghost tour! I refuse to do the prison ghost tour though. That place is way too creepy.</div>
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<i>Looking up at Chimney Rock.</i></div>
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We also took a day trip up to North Carolina to hike Chimney Rock. When we were little we hiked Chimney Rock and my god brother (totally a thing) tripped and ripped off his whole toenail. This time was much less traumatic.</div>
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Chimney Rock is less of a hike and more of stair climb. Most people just hike up to the namesake to take some pictures, then head back down. So the top of the rock can be a bit crowded, but the view is worth it.</div>
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<i>Since I have a Photo Sunday dedicated to just the view, here is me and the view!</i></div>
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Honestly though, just pause here and then continue the climb. The best views are from the top of the mountain. Plus, only like 5-10% of the crowd continues up to the top. You'll have a lot more space to yourself, and you get even better pictures.</div>
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<i>My view from the top while we ate out packed lunch.</i></div>
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Packing a lunch to eat up at the top was my mom's great idea. It was nice to sit and look out over the mountains for a little picnic.</div>
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<i>My god father takes much better pictures than my mom. I cannot trust her.</i></div>
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<i>Misty mountains are the best.</i></div>
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Our little vacation was lovely and I can't wait to go back. We hiked, explored a historic town, and drank quite a bit of wine. All of my favorite things.</div>
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Next time I go down to South Carolina I'll do a more intensive post on Charleston, since I'll be spending more time there.</div>
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For your enjoyment, proof my mom cannot be trusted with pictures:</div>
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<i>Where are my legs, mom?! Pictures from the waist up are not flattering, mom. </i></div>
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<i>Have you been to South Carolina? Charleston? Did you think the city was as cute as I do? Have you done a ghost tour? I'm a bit nervous.</i></div>
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<i>-Alisa</i></div>
The Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-87976202342346384552015-08-30T19:40:00.001-07:002015-08-30T19:40:57.743-07:00Photo Sunday: Chimney RockHello all!<br />
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School is back in session, so my trips will be a little farther in between for the next couple months. Luckily I do have some plans on the horizon!<br />
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Just last week I got back from a trip to South Carolina to visit my god parents (who are awesome). This Photo Sunday comes to you from a side trip to North Carolina to visit Chimney Rock. This is my favorite picture from the hike.<br />
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There's nothing like the view of misty mountains from atop a mountain. I love hiking, and while Chimney Rock is more stairs than actual hiking, it is still a pretty good workout. Most people drop off after the chimney part, so if you climb to the actual highest point you'll have a lot less people to contend with.<br />
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Chimney Rock is gorgeous and I recommend a visit.<br />
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Soon I'll be writing up a longer post on Chimney Rock and Charleston with tons more pictures. Be prepared!<br />
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-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-33785838903271749912015-08-26T15:47:00.001-07:002015-08-26T15:56:12.203-07:00Montreal Like a Local (ish)Hey guys! Sorry I haven't posted much, but I haven't been home a lot. YC and I spent five days in Montreal and then I went to South Carolina with my mom for another five.<br />
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YC and I adored Montreal! I think part of the charm of Montreal was staying a cute little Airbnb. We were located in a neighborhood near the botanical garden, and I think we were the only tourists in the area.<br />
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<i>The lovely botanical garden.</i></div>
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The botanical garden was only about a twenty minute walk from our Airbnb apartment, which was super convenient. While I can read French, neither YC or I currently speak a lick of it. The first day there, after all the driving, we weren't up for figuring out public transport. Being able to walk to the botanical garden made it our top choice for the day.<br />
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Also, on our first night a little old man ranted at us in French and did not desist no matter how many times we said we didn't speak French. It was rather disconcerting. After that incident, everyone else we encountered was bilingual.<br />
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The botanical garden in Montreal is huge and very easy to get lost in. We spent a couple hours meandering around the grounds and trying to find different areas. I was a bit disappointed that the giant flower sculptures I had seen pictures of were only a brief display two years ago. Regardless, the botanical gardens were gorgeous and definitely worth a visit.<br />
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<i>Boar sculptures made of branches</i></div>
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<i>Trying to figure out how to get to the Japanese garden</i></div>
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<i>Getting lost in the Alpine garden</i></div>
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<i>Huge red flowers. Probably the size of my face</i></div>
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<i>Chinese buildings in Montreal</i></div>
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<i>More Chinese style</i></div>
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We took the bus and metro into Old Montreal the next day, mostly to see the Norte-Dame Basillica. The cathedral was everything I imagined. The inside is gorgeous and the line to get in wasn't even that long. Even if you're not the religious type, me neither, the cathedral is worth a visit.<br />
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<i>Hard to pose with so many tourists</i></div>
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<i>Can't say we weren't contributing to the crowds though.</i></div>
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<i>The amazing inside! Definitely check it out</i></div>
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Old Montreal is very touristy and packed, be prepared. The prices for food are a lot higher then on the outskirts and there are tons of tourist traps. Don't let that stop you from visiting though. Old Montreal is adorable with stone roads and old fashioned buildings. I also tried escargot and maple taffy for the first time in Old Montreal, both are delicious. If you wander even a few streets away from the main thoroughfares the crowds thin out a ton. We found an perfect little maple leaf mug (we have started collecting mugs) and iced cider on a side street beside a museum.<br />
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One day in Old Montreal was enough for YC and I, so we spent the next day climbing Mont Royal. The view of Montreal from Mont Royal cannot be beat. We went on Tam Tam day, so there were people playing drums, smoking, and dancing at the base of the mountain. The crowd was a bit overwhelming, but it thinned out immediately once we started walking up.<br />
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<i>Check out that view</i></div>
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The food in Montreal was amazing as well. I already wrote a post on my adoration of poutine, but all of it was delicious. Our favorite restaurant was the <i>Pot Masson</i> on Masson street, a five minute walk from our apartment.<br />
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They offered small plates for 4,50 CAD each, as long as you bought a drink as well. Their mixed drinks were huge and tasty. I had one with Earl Grey tea, which I drank both nights we went. Every small plate I tried was so impressive. My favorites were the risotto and the oysters. I could have happily eaten there every night.<br />
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<i>The risotto with a glimpse of the Earl Grey tea, calamari, and oysters.</i></div>
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I think a large part of the reason we loved Montreal so much was having our own little apartment with Airbnb. I think staying in a hotel in the main tourist area would have been so much less fun. When we were tired we watched Netflix and cooked our own meals (also a great way to save some money).<br />
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I would love to go back to Montreal again, and I would definitely stay in an Airbnb again. Perhaps next time we will go in the fall. I bet Montreal is gorgeous in the fall.<br />
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<i>Has anyone else visited Montreal? Did you love it as much as we did? Were you impressed by the food as well? Did you wish you knew French?</i><br />
<i>-Alisa</i>The Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-84356679251888021152015-08-26T13:43:00.000-07:002015-09-07T12:41:12.241-07:00Liebster Award NominationHey guys! I've been nominated for the Liebster blogging award. It is a way for lesser known bloggers to get to know each other. Apparently it helps get the word out about your blog.<br />
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I was nominated by Claire Wang from <a href="http://www.adventureatwork.co.vu/" target="_blank">Adventure at Work</a>. I know her through Aileen Adalid's travel group on Facebook (<a href="http://iamaileen.com/" target="_blank">I am Aileen</a>). Thanks to both for this opportunity to get to know the blogging community.<br />
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Here are my question answers:<br />
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<i>How long have you been blogging?</i><br />
I've been blogging for about a year now.<br />
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<i>Can you give 11 random facts/pieces of trivia about yourself?</i><br />
1. I trained in Muay Thai for about four years, but recently quit due to issues with my gym. Hopefully I'll be able to start again once I move.<br />
2. Along the same vein, I once fought in a Thai boxing match. I won! The video is actually on YouTube somewhere.<br />
3. I have family all over the world, including: Italy, Puerto Rico, South Africa, the UAE, and the USA.<br />
4. I love reading to the point where it is kind of an addiction. I regularly stay up until the wee hours of the morning to finish a good book.<br />
5. I used to live on a farm where we owned seven horses, two cows, three dogs, and two cats.<br />
6. My favorite TV shows are: Supernatural, Doctor Who (though only up through Ten's run), The Walking Dead, Helix, Firefly, and Avatar the Last Airbender.<br />
7. My guilty pleasure would either be period romance movies or B horror movies.<br />
8. I wish I had natural red hair.<br />
9. I have Bachelor degrees in Psychology and Crime, Law, and Justice.<br />
10. I believe the Oxford comma is not an option and will fight to the death about it.<br />
11. I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up (which is a problem since I am technically an adult).<br />
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<i>What is your favorite travel story?</i><br />
This is a hard one. I would probably say when my best friend Jessi and I decided to do a Star Wars photo shoot at the house we were house sitting in New Zealand. We dressed up in our best spur of the moment Star Wars outfits and took absolutely ridiculous photos. I will include one for your viewing pleasure.<br />
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<i>This is what true friendship looks like...</i></div>
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<i>What do you love most about blogging?</i><br />
I like having this chronicle of my life and adventures to look back on. My memory is not the greatest, and pictures help me remember things. Add writing to the pictures and this blog is like a memory bank of my travels.<br />
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<i>Do you prefer to camp, stay in hostels, or travel luxuriously?</i><br />
I do prefer hotels to camping for sure. I hate camping. Tents make me claustrophobic and Supernatural has made me a bit afraid of Wendigos. I've never stayed in a hostel, yet, so I can't comment on that. My absolute favorite is staying with someone I know in their home.<br />
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<i>Why do you travel?</i><br />
I travel for the sense of adventure. I've always loved adventure and fantasy movies, and travel makes me feel like I'm on a <u>Lord of the Rings</u> adventure.<br />
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<i>What is the one country in the world you would like to visit? Why?</i><br />
I really really want to visit Iceland. It looks like something out of a fairy tale. I think I would run around the whole time pretending I was on a fantasy adventure. Plus, natural beauty is what I enjoy most when I travel. Iceland is chock full of that.<br />
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<i>You are stranded on a deserted island-what is the one thing you couldn't live without?</i><br />
I'm going to avoid the obvious survival answers (like a boat). I think I would want to have a favorite book with me, or a whole library if that was an option.<br />
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<i>If money were no object, what would you do with your life?</i><br />
I would obviously travel the world. Other than that, I think I would start a bunch of charities for things that I care about.<br />
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<i>What is your favorite dish from abroad?</i><br />
I think I'm going to go with butter toast and kaya. Man I loved that stuff. I could eat it every day for breakfast.<br />
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<i>Where do you see yourself in five years time?</i><br />
Oh goodness. I have no idea. Maybe in grad school? Or perhaps finished with it. Definitely not here.<br />
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Well there are my answers! I have no idea how big of a deal this Liebster Award is, but if it introduces me to some new bloggers to follow (or introduces me to some followers), I'm in.<br />
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Now for my nominations:<br />
Xam at <a href="http://www.xamjulliarde.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">To Infinity and Beyond</a><br />
Celina at <a href="https://celinadurante.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Voguebites</a><br />
Sarah at <a href="http://notmytaboo.com/blog/" target="_blank">Not My Taboo</a><br />
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I only found three people interested in being nominated, so I only nominated three. The spirit is what matters, so I tried!The Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-87453263321937304652015-08-18T12:20:00.001-07:002015-08-18T12:21:42.651-07:00Photo Sunday: An Ode to PoutineHello all! I just got back from Montreal late last night, hence the super late Photo Sunday.<br />
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In Montreal I discovered a new love. POUTINE!<br />
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Mmmmmm. Look at all that goodness. (The grilled cheese was delicious too) In case you aren't aware, poutine is a Canadian dish consisting of french fries, gravy, and cheese. Fancy poutine often adds meat and other things, but as a veg head I went with the basic. I'm not going to lie to you, my tummy did not appreciate the gravy. My body can't really process meat anymore, and the meat based gravy made me a bit sick.<br />
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It was definitely worth it though. Poutine is such a guilty pleasure. You know it is greasy and not very healthy,but it tastes like magic.<br />
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So I don't care that my tummy does not approve of poutine. Poutine...I love you.<br />
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Anyone else a poutine lover? More on Montreal to come.<br />
-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-17790986972534994422015-08-10T07:02:00.001-07:002015-08-30T19:41:19.807-07:00Photo Sunday: My Favorite D.C. PhotoHello all. Sorry this post is a day late. I wasn't feeling very well yesterday and completely forgot to write this.<br />
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This photo comes to you again from D.C. and is my favorite one. Thanks to Jessi's husband Cam for the photo.<br />
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Jessi and I found home! You can pretty much tell where everyone at the WWII memorial is from, because they all pose with their state (or territory). Jessi may live in New Zealand now, but we all know she is a Pennsylvanian at heart.<br />
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Have you been to this memorial and posed with your state or territory? Almost the end of summer, where has everyone gone on vacation?<br />
Now I'm going to go back to watching Supernatural.<br />
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-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-62697767867957212502015-08-01T12:40:00.001-07:002015-08-01T12:41:33.255-07:00Photo Sunday: A Brief Trip to Pittsburgh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I know it is Saturday, not Sunday, but I am traveling the next couple days. It is time to take YC's parent to New York to fly back to Singapore. Tomorrow we leave for a night in Bethlehem and then on to NYC the next day. I'm not sure I will have enough time to write tomorrow, so instead Photo Sunday is a day early!</div>
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Plus this post will be a tad longer than my typical Photo Sunday.<br />
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<i>YC and I at the Waterfront</i></div>
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YC's parents wanted to see Pittsburgh, so we drove down for a short trip. We ate yummy seafood at Roland's on the strip before YC's parents dragged us to an outlet mall. Neither YC nor I enjoy shopping, so we just goofed off.<br />
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In the evening we visited the Waterfront. Not going to lie, my favorite part was finding really cheap books at the Barnes and Nobles there. I bought <u>The Ghost Bride</u> and <u>The Midnight Rose</u>. Both historical fiction pieces. I've already finished the first, and I liked it quite a lot though it was not what I anticipated.<br />
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The next morning we met up with one of my friends from college that lives in Pittsburgh for lunch. We ate at the Conflict Kitchen. I had heard of it before, but hadn't realized it was in Pittsburgh. If you haven't heard of it, the Conflict Kitchen only serves food from countries the United States are in conflict with. The country changes each month. July was Cuba, though we are on much better terms with them now. I love Cuban food, so I was pumped.<br />
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If you're ever in Pittsburgh, I suggest trying out the Conflict Kitchen. The food is quite cheap and yummy, plus you will learn something from the quotes on the boxes. I'm hoping that next time I'm down there the food is Middle Eastern, since I haven't tried the cuisine from that area.<br />
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<i>According to my friend: Hogwarts</i></div>
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Right next to Conflict Kitchen is the University of Pitt, which houses this gorgeous building. My friend was right, it is practically Hogwarts. The inside is full of arches, high ceilings, and random staircases. We only spent ten minutes looking around, but I could have happily spent hours. I want to walk around the university and all of its pretty buildings and parks next time I'm in the city as well.<br />
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So there you have it. Extended Photo Sunday on Saturday with TWO pictures!<br />
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Have any of you been to Pittsburgh? Did you like the city? Have you tried Conflict Kitchen?<br />
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-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-24295111202648003962015-07-27T16:59:00.000-07:002015-07-27T17:00:07.078-07:00Washington D.C.: Eating All the Food and Walking All the PlacesHey all! I've been a bit busy the past week or so, but I finally had some time to sit down and write up a blog post on D.C.!<br />
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Jessi, my friend from New Zealand, and her husband, Cam, visited for approximately a week. We hung around our hometown for a bit, showing Cam where Jessi grew up, then we headed down to D.C.<br />
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Since I'm sure more of you are interested in D.C., here is a post on everything we did there!<br />
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<i>My travel buddies and I taking a break on monument steps.</i></div>
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The drive down to D.C. from Pennsylvania isn't too bad. I always park at my friend's house in Gaithersburg, so the trip is about three hours. I go a route that is a tad slower through a state park, which is gorgeous. It probably wouldn't be possible in the winter, but it is a lovely back roads drive in the summer.<br />
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YC drove down the day after us with his parents, and he drove the whole way into D.C. He said it isn't a bad city to drive in at all. There is actually a fairly mild amount of traffic, in comparison to say New York City.<br />
His dad did sideswipe a parked car in their rental, but they only scratched it a bit...and let's admit, it is a bit funny.<br />
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<i>The reflection pool actually had water this time!</i></div>
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The first night we found our hotel in Foggy Bottom and had a delicious dinner at Roti Mediterranean Grill nearby. I had never had falafel before, which is rather depressing considering I'm vegetarian, but I can say I am a convert! I could have eaten all the falafel.<br />
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The next day was all the walking! We left the hotel around 10:00AM and did not get back home until 5:00PM. We walked nearly the entire time. My feet were so sore afterwards. I got to see the Washington Monument with the reflection pool this time though! So that made it worth all the walking.<br />
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Last time I was in D.C. all the monuments were so covered in people I couldn't see them, but this time the crowds were less intense.<br />
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<i>Jessi and I at the Washington Monument (credit for the photo goes to Cam)</i></div>
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<i>It was a bit dark in the Lincoln memorial, but still impressive.</i></div>
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We spent a huge chunk of the day in the National History Museum because all of us (read: especially Cam, he might be a museum addict) enjoy museums. Jessi and I moved through it a lot faster than Cam, but we all enjoyed the exhibits. I liked the mammal exhibit the best; there were mammals I had no idea even existed. The evolution of humans exhibit was pretty interesting too. I learned a lot.<br />
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<i>Pretending to make cave paintings.</i></div>
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The rest of the day was spent circling the lake and briefly visiting the other monuments. By the end we were all a bit peopled-out. I can only handle crowds for so long before I want to scream.<br />
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By dinner YC was in D.C. to meet up with us and we picked a place to eat. I ended up choosing Founding Farmers partially because of the location in Foggy Bottom, but mainly because that is an amazing name.<br />
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Let me tell you, the food was incredible. I have never been so all around impressed with a restaurant. The wait was a bit long, but Jessi and I sat at the bar while Cam walked YC back to the hotel to change. The service was excellent and so friendly. I had my first ever cocktail (they're a bit expensive for my taste normally) and loved it.<br />
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<i>Yummy! Thanks Jessi!</i></div>
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I forgot to take a picture of the actual food because I inhaled it so quickly. I tried fried green tomatoes for the first time and they were amazing. I don't even normally like tomatoes.<br />
For a main I had a vegetarian Reuben; mushrooms, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese. It was magic and wonder. Everyone else loved their meals too, especially the baconlollis. Yep, bacon lollipops.<br />
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<i>Thanks waitress for putting up with us.</i></div>
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Sorry this post turned into mostly a rave about Founding Farmers, but jeez. BEST. FOOD. EVER. I highly suggest it. So much. We even ate there for brunch the next day. It was that good.<br />
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<i>I remembered to take a picture of my brunch!</i></div>
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All in all, I do love D.C. It is a city I could actually imagine living in. It isn't super crowded, it is very clean, and the food is great. If only it didn't cost so much to live there. Maybe I can live in Gaithersburg or Rockville instead, they are both lovely as well.<br />
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<i>Does anyone else love D.C.? Anyone else eaten at Founding Farmers? I want that Reuben...sigh</i><br />
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<i>-Alisa</i>The Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132540184807627198.post-54598082322202035602015-07-26T12:36:00.001-07:002015-07-26T12:36:53.421-07:00Photo Sunday: Nearing the End of 30 Day Challenge Hello all!<br />
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As the title states, I am nearing the end of the <a href="http://yogawithadriene.com/30days/" target="_blank">30 Days of Yoga</a> I started with Yoga With Adriene. I've absolutely loved it.<br />
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<i>Loving me some downward dog</i></div>
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Sadly I had a couple days where I couldn't get on the mat (D.C. you hindrance), but I made it! Doing this challenge definitely has instilled a love of yoga in me. I follow so many yoga people on Instagram now, and I read so many yoga articles. I will be continuing my yoga practice for sure. I plan on using free internet stuff until fall, then hopefully I'll be joining a yoga studio.<br />
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Does anyone out there do yoga? At home or in a studio? Which do you prefer? I'm a bit nervous about doing yoga with actual people in the future.<br />
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-AlisaThe Windblown Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356553205879442604noreply@blogger.com0