live fabulous Archives - Page 9 of 12 - Rhymes with Fabulous

July 22, 2015

How to Buy Souvenirs

In my many neuroses about traveling, you may not be surprised that I think a lot about how to buy souvenirs. For example, I was traveling with a friend in Bulgaria this year and we found an adorable handicraft shop (in the lobby of Bulgarian National Art Gallery and Ethnographic Museum in Sophia, in case anyone is interested). Turns out Bulgarians make delightful pottery, woven rugs and these adorable red thread friendship bracelets. Who knew? After a few minutes hours in the shop, we had our purchases lined up. After careful consideration, my friend bought an amazing set of dishes, mismatched in that purposeful, whimsical way and complete with…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

July 20, 2015

Star Magazine is Ridiculous

I am I am a little late to this conclusion but here it is: Star magazine is ridiculous! The ridiculousness has gone somewhat over my head because I do not often read gossip magazines. No judgement, just not my thing. I generally actually don’t read any kind of magazines-I’m too cheap and prefer to spend my extra time and money in convenience stores and airport shops agonizing over which combination of candy will make me “least fat”. Not a lot of spare energy left for the whole “Jennifer is pregnant/not pregnant/overweight/now anorexic” cover wars. Which Jennnifer, you ask? Not the point. (And…all of them). The point is, even if…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

July 19, 2015

National Ice Cream Day

Happy national ice cream day! Any reason to party is a good reason to party, they say. And National Ice Cream does really does inspire a party. Some have argued the holiday should be extended out to include the entire month of July. (Spoiler alert, this request comes from the International Dairy Foods Association.) But there is no denying that Americans love ice cream. In fact, we consume 1.4 billion gallons of the stuff each year. Any anyway, I love made-up holidays that center around doing tremendously unhealthy things. When is national “food-from-aerosol-cans day”? Because I will need to stock up on Readi Whip. And Cheez Whiz. And request the…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

July 18, 2015

Saltwater Cures All Things

Why do we say saltwater cures all things? I have spent the last two weeks flopping between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, wondering about this idiom. Finally, I decided to do some research. My findings are below! Saltwater Cures All Things (A Scientific Evaluation…sort of) First of all, in the sea we find the endless possibilities of adventure. I’m a sucker for a good adventure. Also, there is the mysterious refreshment of a saltwater dip on a summer day. Sea salt has magnesium in it, which relaxes your muscles and allows for deep sleep. Second, in tears we find refuge and peace. This release of salt from your…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

July 13, 2015

Summer Trip Planning Tips

Lately I’ve been thinking about summer trip planning tips. I miss writing every day, I miss the routines of September to June, but summer vacation has been rife with wonderful adventures. Best of all, I’ve had a myriad of types of trips: in hostels, in friends’ apartments, in classy(ish) hotels. Just incase previous posts have not made it clear, I’m a neurotic mess when it comes to planning trips. I provide these tips in the hope that I can prevent you from becoming a neurotic, too! Also, I’m late to a fado show in Porto, so I need to make it quick. Here is my five minute best: Summer Trip…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

July 4, 2015

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! Celebrating the holiday overseas always feel a bit more contemplative. Last year I was in Jackson Hole, WY (as American as baseballapple pie the Kardashians ) for a day full of fireworks, barbecue and some deadly arrangement of lemonade, vodka and blueberries. It was fun but not in a “deep-thoughts-about-my-country” kind of way. More in a “lets-get-drunk-and-go-tubing” kind of way. Overseas, there is more time to consider what the 4th of July actually means–why we take the time off work to celebrate. Here is the bottom line: America is amazing. For example, we have tremendous civil liberties, thousands of miles of beautiful country and…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

July 3, 2015

Summer Routines

Welcome to July. What a glorious month, when time seems to actually slow down as various vacationers find their rental keys tucked under the doormat/decorative frog/whimsical and ironic hipster gnome/whatever and unlock the possibilities of the restful summer weekend. I have come to the conclusion reading over the viewing stats of RWF carefully meditating in the summer sun, that summer changes routines. I think it’s an important concept to embrace–it helps delineate the passing of the year. Here are some of the changes I notice in myself: Changes as I Embrace My Summer Routines 1. Coffee. I don’t drink as much coffee in the morning during summer months. It’s nice…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

June 7, 2015

The Art of Oversharing

I’m no Picasso, but I must say I’m quite good at the art of oversharing. (pause for hysterical laughter) The reason is simple: I have no filter. A lack of filter/talent for the art of oversharing is different from not being able to keep secrets. I’m actually quite good at keeping secrets BUT I need to be told explicitly to keep my mouth shut. Why? Because in regards to my own information, I will happily discuss the insertion of IUD devices with everyone on the whole internet or my latest thyroid maladies with my cleaning lady (she doesn’t speak English so who know what she thinks I’m talking about anyway,…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

June 6, 2015

How to Beat the Heat

Here is a fun little fact I learned this weekend before I had properly considered how to beat the heat: Spanish summer heat induces panic attacks. Most importantly, Spanish summer heat induces panic attacks in me. A friend asked me (at 9 PM, when it was safe to venture out-of-doors) if the temperature in Madrid wasn’t comparable to the heat in New York City. I responded by glaring at her while I violently rubbed ice cubes over my wrists calmly saying I thought the type of heat must be different. Or the weird, Franco-induced Spanish time zone must make the afternoon hotter. Or something. Because I havenever in my life felt…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

May 25, 2015

Living Abroad

There are some difficult things about living abroad. In fact, recently I have been in a sort of anti-fabulous funk. It might even be referred to as feeling…ordinary. Gross. The kryptonite of fabulous. I work, I cook dinner, I desperately try to make time to exercise….boring, Boring, BORING. Deep in the wallows of self-pity and trying to consider things that may make me feel more fabulous, my mind wondered to living abroad. The question of the day: Is living abroad really all that fabulous? Travelling is fabulous. Exciting flights, new people, duty-free shopping important cultural experiences, etc. But in order for actually living abroad to be fabulous you need to…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

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