Travel and Food

Asheville, N.C.: White Duck Taco and Vortex Doughnuts

June 27, 2016 Leave a Comment

When I last lived in the United States, I thought all the adventure was to be found in other countries. I dreamed of Europe and distant places. But I’ve returned with new eyes. Adventure is here and now.

Naturally, I ate my way through Asheville, N.C.

White Duck Taco Shop

It seemed that everyone I ran into mentioned this taco shop to me. They either wanted to go again or they were suggesting that I go. After hearing all about this place multiple times over, I knew going was imperative.

Between my friends and I, we ordered 9 different types of tacos. We passed them around, savoring the flavors and marveling at the ingenuity. I didn’t regret a single bite, but maybe two tacos would have been enough!

I just loved White Duck Taco's menu. So FUN. — I just loved White Duck Taco’s menu. So FUN.

The below flavors were the ones we tried from their menu.

Black Bean <- delicious

Jerk Chicken <- amazingggg

Spicy Buffalo Chicken

Fish

Lamb Gyro

Thai Peanut Chicken <- this one was easily my favorite (tropical salsa!!!)

Steak & Cheese

Bangkok Shrimp

BBQ Carnitas

L to R: Black Bean, Fish, and Thai Peanut Chicken

We couldn't finish all of them, but we did a pretty good job. — We couldn’t finish all of them, but we did a pretty good job.

The space was really cute, too. We sat at a table that had once been a door, and a part of our seating was an old pew. It’s so fun to see old things re-used in this comfy and interesting way.

Vortex Doughnuts

While visiting Asheville, N.C., I realized that National Doughnut Day was coming up. A doughnut shop was not on the agenda for our visit, but we couldn’t not celebrate this fabulous day. A quick internet search showed us our options, and after lots of back and forth, we settled on Vortex.

My friend and I entered this shop, and our eyes grew as big as doughnuts. The staff greeted us, but we asked to just look for a while. So much to take in!

oh, you, beautiful doughntus — oh, you, beautiful doughnuts

Bike seats and handle bars! What fun creativity!

The doughnut round-up...a bit more than I expected — The doughnut round-up…a bit more than I expected

Fresh strawberry creme-filled doughnuts. Divine.

I only meant to purchase three doughnuts, but I walked out with nine! Go big and go home?

What I absolutely adore about Asheville, N.C. is their almost fanatical commitment to quality and local ingredients. It’s hard to feel bad eating delicious food when you know that what your eating promises to have no artificial nastiness.

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I look forward to the day where this standard of excellence is a given in every city and town.

Do quality and local ingredients matter to you? Does it effect your decision to eat somewhere?

6 Steps to Live Your Dream

June 13, 2016 Leave a Comment

I’ve developed 6 Steps to Live Your Dream because a friend and I were recently discussing how fear can choke out your hopes. Dreams only become reality when you mix in a bit of practicality. And there is always fear.

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Is there something you want to do but you’re too afraid? Your list of worries and what could happen is just getting longer? The “what ifs” haunt your sleep? Yeah, me too.

Fear is normal. Fear is sometimes even healthy. Fear helps us to be cautious and weigh the outcomes of an action. Fear is a type of inner boundary.

But is fear keeping you from potentially making your most cherished hopes reality?

When fear's got you like, let's hide. — When fear’s got you like, let’s hide.

Step 1. Name your dream.

When I lived in Austria, I wanted to visit other countries. I was scared, though, because I’ve heard the stories of young women traveling alone. It’s a real and sometimes crippling fear.

Is your dream illegal? If not, what’s keeping you from pursuing it? If it’s fear, why? What’s practical about that fear? What can you do today to start preparing to make your dream into a reality?

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Step 2. Plan your dream.

I decided that I wanted to travel despite my fears so I wrote a short list of countries I wanted to visit. Then, I started to research safety for single women.

How can you plan your dream? Would writing a list help make the steps to your dream more manageable? Should you write reminders in your planner or online calendar to keep you accountable?

Step 3. Invest in your dream.

Once I chose my first travel destination (Paris!), I purchased my transportation tickets and accommodation (I love airbnb). I knew that if I didn’t set the dates in stone by putting down the money that I wouldn’t go. I’d procrastinate, and allow fear to tie me up.

Where can you put your money so you follow through on your own dream? Does that mean booking an appointment somewhere? Or setting aside time for your dream?

Step 4. Live your dream.

When I arrived in Paris, fear and exhilaration kept me breathless. I need to admit that I went to my airbnb flat and took a nap because I was so overwhelmed and my courage had cost so much energy. But when I woke up, I was still in Paris. And it was time to explore.

6 Steps to Live Your Dream — My beautiful Parisian airbnb flat.

What can you do to accept yourself as you live your dream? Is there a moment where you need to be kind to yourself or should you push yourself harder? What will help you be brave?

Step 5. Structure your dream.

I knew that while in Paris that I had to see the Eiffel Tower and I wanted to eat one of those adorable sandwich cookies. But I also didn’t want to rush from attraction to museum and back again. Once again, I prioritized.

What will you regret if you don’t make it a part of your dream? What will help to reach your expectations for your trip or your dream? How can you plan your time and resources so you do what you truly want?

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Step 6. Learn from your dream.

When I returned to my Austrian home from Paris, I realized that Paris was not as scary as my fears told me. I also suddenly knew that I was capable and able to care for myself on my own in a foreign country. Not everyone was out to get me. Most were just living their lives as I lived mine. I share more in depth about Paris in Awakening in Paris.

What did you learn from making your dream a reality? Did you learn something about who you are? Did you learn what you won’t do next time? What did you learn about fear?

Yes, it can be so hard to make dreams into a reality (also depends on the type of dream), but don’t ever allow your fear to hold you back from something like traveling or whatever else is on your mind.

My biggest regrets are the moments where fear overpowered courage.

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Welcome to Buena Vista, Colorado

June 9, 2016 Leave a Comment

Welcome to Buena Vista, Colorado!

This is the space where I allowed my soul to catch up with my body (aka got over jetlag). After thirteen months in Europe, I wanted a sanctuary for my first landing in the USA. Buena Vista, Colorado, offered such beauty.

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Mountains, trails, food, views, and an eccentric movie collection.

If you have the option, I suggest you rent a cabin or small house a little bit outside of the town of Buena Vista. The little space that my friend found for us had a breath-taking mountain view out the window.

We also creeped on a herd of goats from our window one afternoon, and other guests wrote in the guestbook about seeing bears and hummingbirds. I kept hoping, but goats were our only visitors.

Buena Vista offered wonderful food options and a quaint little town to explore. My friend and I frequented The Buena Vista Roastery daily. I adore chai lattes, and theirs was the best chai latte I’ve ever had. I opted for the spice chai, but they had other options as well.

Thank you, Buena Vista Roastery, for ruining all other chais for me.

We also ate at the House Rock Kitchen. I loved the vibe of the place, not to mention the delicious food and presentation. My rule of thumb when it comes to food it to order something I wouldn’t make at home or that I’ve never heard of. Choosing a favorite is not against the rules, though!

The Mushroom burger with pumpkin pesto aioli

Colorado and Buena Vista definitely has a culture all its own. Never have I ever seen so much hiking and athletic wear on a general population. I was sorely aware of my signature green sweater and converse shoes.

But, you don’t need fancy clothes to enjoy a hike.

And the view. I couldn’t have been happier for such a clear day.

The Buena Vista mountains being all glorious

But you know, these Colorado-ians (hmmm?), they are serious about their outdoors. I spotted this guy outside of The Buena Vista Roastery, and he had me giggling into my hand.

And this sign caught my attention, too. We found it to be true when it snowed hard one day, and my friend stepped up to the sidewalk and had snow cold-bless her head. She was fine by the way. Just wet.

If you visit Buena Vista, Colorado, you must hike, you must drink chai from The Buena Vista Roastery, and you must eat at the House Rock Kitchen.

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Truly, Colorado does crack up to be as amazing as people say.

P.S. Drink lots of water