Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Have you ever experienced writers’ block? That staring-blankly-at-a-white-page zoned out look? I’ve been in a writing slump lately and hoped a bit of personal travel would help. While it helped to recharge, the brain cells still needed a sumpin’-sumpin’… a spark. Not sure what it is, but even after a trip to Paris and visits with out-of-town friends and family, I’m still on the hunt for the elusive spark. I’ve started and stopped a half-dozen writing projects in as many weeks. I’ve recently started a 3-day Business Blogging Badass Challenge with Anne McAuley that had me thinking of all the “stuff” in my overflowing inbox, all the potential content! Every week I get tons of stories in my inbox. So I scrubbed, I hemmed, I hawed. Finally…here’s a small collection of links we love, digital finds, favorite stories, tips & hints.
Older parents rock!
We never intended to be older parents. Since we didn’t marry until our early 30s, we knew we’d be a bit older than other parents when our child/children reached schoolage. What I never expected is that I’d be (1) in my 40s and (2) retired from one career when our daughter entered kindergarten. I don’t think it takes a research study to tell me that being older and having more financial means to provide for my child has an impact on our overall lifestyle and yes, happiness. But it’s still an interesting 2-minute read.
Older Parents are happier parents according to German researchers
Click To Tweet
http://www.thelocal.de/20150706/older-parents-are-happier-parents-claims-study
Just in time for summer festivals: A beer and food pairing guide
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
When it’s hot and humid, sometimes a cold beer is the perfect drink to accompany the different foods available at the different festivals here in Germany and around the world this summer. I wish this infographic was a bit bigger as it’s a Tweet from The Wine Wankers in Oz. (Maybe they’ll see this and post a full image? One can only hope for a pocket-sized version…)
And what festival would be complete without the local version of a hot dog?
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
One of my favorite traveling food critics, Andrew Zimmern, waxes poetic about the ultimate hot dog. Here’s his ultimate hot dog… recipe! Pssst… it’s more than just a grill or a pot of water on the stovetop!
Andrew Zimmern’s ultimate hot dog
Solo travelers will appreciate this next piece!
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
As an introvert who loves to travel but hates crowds, I’m lucky that my husband shares similar tendencies. It’s only recently that I’ve taken to traveling solo and have enjoyed London, Berlin and Paris for a few days at a time to recharge. If you wondered how an introvert travels solo, take a few minutes to read World of Wanderlust’s guide to understand the introverted wanderer.
12 Tips for the Introverted Traveler
Bargain lodging doesn’t have to be a flea motel
I love a bargain and am always on the lookout for unique places to stay. If I’m traveling solo or with my child, I also look at places that are relatively safe but offer a bit of culture outside the door. This collection of hostels around the world makes me want to book a ticket.
10 Awesome Hostels around the World
Campers and caravans: the ultimate roadtrip
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
I worked with a family guy who loved to travel around the US in his luxury RV. His twin boys loved being able to stretch out while mom or dad drove the huge RV, sometimes towing their car, from state to state, coast to coast. I enjoyed hearing the stories and especially hearing about how much money they saved by staying in campgrounds than in expensive hotels. Maybe one day, we’ll join the camper craze! Conde Nast traveler recently reviewed the best campers for summer road trips.
Summer project: Closet Detox
The Chalkboard online magazine is a new favorite addition to my daily feed and I’ve been following the Closet Detox this summer. My goal is to get a capsule wardrobe started by the time summer ends. However, I need a serious closet detox first!
RIP Chuck
I’ve been following one of the original mom bloggers, Heather Armstrong of Dooce.com for years now. I admit, I started following her because of the fantastic and funny photos of her dog Chuck. If you are an animal lover, do not read this without a box of tissues nearby.
Read Dooce’s tribute to Chuck “How I wish I was not here”
Taylor Swift on repeat
This week’s most addictive tune on endless loop in our home, thanks to the wee one who’s a big Taylor fan.
Thanks for reading! I hope to do this on a regular basis to jumpstart each week. Comments are always appreciated (unless they’re totally snarky and rude or you’re a spammer, then you’ll get the big D).
xoxo, Melody
The post ChitChat pack 1.1 – Links We Love appeared first on Global Family Treks.