Monday, December 31, 2012

Empire State of Mind



"Now you're in New York, These streets will make you feel brand new, Big lights will inspire you, Hear it for New York, New York, New York!"...you know the rest, at least I hope you do. You know that Alicia Keys, Jay-Z song that makes you really want to go there when it comes on the radio, or rather when it came on the radio. 
So, why am writing about New York? Am I in the Big Apple for New Year's Eve...no, I sure wish I was though! I'm writing about it because I will be going there next week for 3 days and 2 nights. 
I LOVE New York City, ever since I was little I have loved that city. Definitely one of my favorites. I have always wanted to live there when I grew up and maybe I will after I experience some more of the world and live in Australia for a while. We will see where my plane tickets and mind take me! 
There is so much to do today...including a special New Year's Eve dedicated post later this afternoon.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

To Amsterdam We Will Go!

We just added a new destination to the May-June 2013 travels: Amsterdam, Netherlands...so scratch what I said before about going there in March.

Have any of you been to Amsterdam? How did you like it and what would you recommend doing there?

The countdown to May-June 2013 begins...but I'm excited for the in between's too!

Travel on wanderlusters!

The Second-to-Last Day of 2012

The days are flying by and right when I'm in bed each night I think "Ah I need to post on the blog n....tomorrow..." then tomorrow comes and well, you get it.

But I am posting now in the spare few minutes I have to myself since being home for some of winter break. I'm so excited to be going back already, mostly because my good friend (from high-school in America) is coming to stay with me for a few days in Prague and I get to show him around. Also, because all the fun travels of 2013 will be kick-started by I go to Rome at the end of January. Don't get me wrong, I love America- being home and all but I have the urge to travel each day that 2013 nears us.

So far, the travels set and stone planned for 2013 are: 
January- Rome, Italy
February- Berlin, Germany
March- hopefully Amsterdam, Netherlands OR Dublin, Ireland for St. Patrick's Day
end of March-April- Bangkok and Phuket Bay, Thailand
end of May-June- Budapest, Hungary; Paris, France; Barcelona, Spain then home to America for the summer.

I've been keeping my fingers crossed for a few months now because in January or February I find out if I get to go to Perth, Australia for my fall 2013 semester. My two best friends and I are all wanting to go so we've been dreaming and hoping everything works out. We will see what happens!

Hopefully I made your eyes happy with a new...long...post!

Travel on wanderlusters and happy second-to-last day of 2012! Blog you all tomorrow.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

A Merry Christmas from a MIA blogger!

Wow, I have been so MIA! Only because coming back home to America to surprise everyone took a lot of time and energy.

Truly priceless the looks on my best friend's faces and everyone else's. I've always wanted to surprise people, but I would always crack...I, for the first time, didn't crack and my plan worked out perfectly.

So I'm home for the holidays...being back though makes me realize how much Prague is my, new, home and how much I miss that beautiful city. Granted, I will be back in a few short weeks but I guess it takes leaving to fully appreciate everything that city has to offer...even hard uni work/papers.

The next few weeks here will be spent with my lovely, and very missed, friends. Relaxing and watching my American TV shows is also on the list...plus tons of Chipotle burrito bowls. I think I've had 7 since I got in last Sunday. Sad, I know.

MERRY CHRISTMAS/HAPPY HOLIDAYS wanderlusters!! I am so glad I decided to start this blog this year and hope that 2013 will bring some good posts and a ton of new readers to the blog. I want to thank everyone who has read so far and has kept coming back. I promise some fun, good travels and video blogs will be coming in 2013.

One of my Christmas presents actually was a ticket to Thailand in April. SO EXCITED. I have always wanted to go to Thailand. I think that was my favorite present this year. I am so grateful, not only for that but to be surrounded by such great friends and to have been given the opportunity to start this new chapter of my life in Europe.

Here's a final Merry Christmas from my little brother and I...we celebrate Christmas on the 24th since my mother and her husband are both Czech and grew up celebrating on Christmas Eve.


How did you spend Christmas Eve/Christmas day? What did you get? 
Travel on wanderlusters!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Tragedy Strikes in Newtown

I'm sitting here writing this in tears, as a big sister to a little sister in kindergarten and a little brother in 2nd grade.

I took a nap this afternoon only to wake up to the horrific news of what happened in Newtown, CT. My heart instantly ripped into two. I cannot even imagine the devastation the families of the children and teachers killed and the whole community of Newtown. No, I am not a mother but I am a big sister who has two elementary school siblings and my heart and thoughts go out to every one affected by this tragedy.







I don't understand how someone can wake up with the urge to kill so many innocent people, let alone YOUNG CHILDREN. Why? Why, why?! For the sake of the country I grew up in and where my friends and family live, I hope this prompts change. I sincerely hope this was finally the last straw after all the shootings that occurred throughout America just this year, 2012. Watching Obama wipe the tears from his eyes, pause for a few seconds between words and say his final words really makes me hope that change will finally be made.

I cannot imagine living in fear everyday, I cannot imagine sending my child or brother and sister to school worrying about if this will happen again. I just can't. This is why change needs to be made. No parent should EVER receive a phone call that their 5-10 year old child has been shot in school, a place that is supposed to be safe, a place that gives them a future.

Again, my heart and my thoughts go out to the families and everyone affected by the Newtown school shooting this afternoon.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

You Know...

Those mornings where you wake up...sick...? The WORST mornings. Yup, well that was my morning. However, I'm done with uni until February so that made this morning a little bit better. 

The whole month of October I was really miserably sick and finally got better for the month of November but looks like it's back. WOO!
Anyone else feeling under the weather? The bitter, windy cold doesn't make it any better either. Well, I'm escaping on Sunday for a while so hopefully I will get better in Norway...

It's weird thinking these are my last few days in Prague for a few weeks. I already miss it!

Travel on wanderlusters!

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Spotted: Tom Cruise

On the Charles Bridge yesterday afternoon! Now where is little Suri?!

Today, on the walk to the National Library, we were stopped in our tracks when we saw they were filming a movie right outside of the library. So, of course we stopped and stared, waiting patiently for some A-list celebrity to come running in the scene. We left minutes after to the Christmas market then came back and right when we came back they were filming a scene...couldn't tell if it was Tom Cruise but it sure looked A LOT like him.

Whatever movie they are filming, they are trying to portray it being in the Netherlands, nope, it's in Prague. The fake street signs and Netherlands license plates were added to make it seem like it was in the Netherlands.

It's beaaaautiful and sunny today but I get to spend the entire, FREEZING, afternoon in the library studying for finals next week. I just looked up from typing this and realized an extremely creepy lady with a "I'm going to steal you and throw you in a cave" grin was staring at me from across the library. Okay, then.

Travel on wanderlusters!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Lazy Fridays...Love 'Em

You want to know what I did today? Do you really, really, REALLY want to know?

I did three things and three things only: drink hot wine, eat tons and tons of carbs and sleep, er, nap...

My beautiful Colombian friend is here in Prague for the weekend so we started out early this morning, stopping to get hot red wine at a Christmas market by my house, then proceeding to Bohemia Bagel and then the Old Town Square Christmas market. Half way through, I bailed to go home and study, which turned into a 4 hour nap. Yeah, it was one of those days.

Did I ever mention that whenever I get hot wine, it ALWAYS spills everywhere on me? After the first sip, it's downhill from there. It's 10AM and I'm treating myself to a cup from the gods and BAM! burning screaming skin and wine stains in my white wallet and leggings. Also, when I was making sweet, sweet love to my nutella crepe today, everyone was watching. Strangest thing ever. People would stop in their tracks and crane their necks around to see what I was eating, people would walk by and make comments or noises...jeeze people have you ever seen a chocolate crepe before?! If not, get yourself educated to chocolate crepe-logy.

Then I proceeded to come home and pass out for several hours, waking up extremely disorientated.

Off to show my lovely the Golden City at night.

Travel on wanderlusters!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Paris Comes to Prague!

Super excited that my child-hood friend from the States is coming to visit me in Prague for the weekend. She's studying this semester in Paris so we agreed she had to come to Prague since when I went to Paris she was away for the weekend.

With the on and off snow today in Prague, it most definitely feels like Christmas time here! Hopefully that will not put a halt in going up to Prague Castle and exploring this weekend. Pictures posted on Sunday!

Off to get some hot red wine and start the loooooong journey to the airport...

Travel on wanderlusters!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

It's Christmas Time in Prague!

You could smell the GINORMOUS Christmas tree from kilometers away. Literally. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.







Tonight was my first time at the huge Christmas market in Old Town Square here in Prague. Amazing. No other words describe it. I'll try my best to describe it for you wanderlusters: strollers and children running around everywhere, Christmas music humming in your ears, people laughing, eating and snapping zillions and zillions of pictures, the smell of fresh crepes, waffles, pastries  smoked sausage and roasted potatoes. Oh, cannot forget the nose warming roasted chestnuts.

It was straight out of a fairytale...or movie...the lights were phenomenal and the hot wine served at every corner kept us warm all night. Today and tomorrow is Saint Nicolas Day(s) here in Prague where little devils and angels run around the streets and knocking on people's doors asking for candy, sounds like Halloween right?! If you aren't paying attention when turning a street corner they can actually scare the living crap out of you and make you spill your sugary hot red wine all over you.

To have a tree like that in my living room...next year, it's happening. Wanderlusters if you are in Europe, you MUST come to Prague for the Christmas markets, they are breath-taking. If not, make sure to plan a trip here one winter in the future.

It's time for bed, my week has been filled with an exam, late night business meetings, organizing and planning, studying and indulging in hot wine and crepes. Talk about sleep deprived.

Travel on wanderlusters and Merry early Christmas!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

December 21st...


For those of you still anticipating 'doomsday' or the end of the world on December 21st...you can come out of your deep protection holes in the ground (yes, people really have those), sit back and relax because it's NOT happening. The face on the calendar is still kind of creepy though...

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/government-promises-world-won-t-end-dec-21-192819519.html#more-id

Breath easy and travel on wanderlusters!

P.S. get ready for Christmas market pictures tomorrow!

Monday, December 3, 2012

The Email That Changed My Spring Semester

So, while sitting in a coffee shop this evening, having our first official "business" meeting and organizing the blog/website/clothing line...I check my email, mid-sip from the holy grail (the coffee is heaven and in a grail shaped cup)...and what did I receive?

A big, wonderful, CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations what though? Congratulations I'm pregnant? Congratulations you looked like a smelly mess today? Congratulations there's a llama farm in the middle of Prague with your name as the title? No no no silly. Congratulations because I got the fashion internship I was crossing my fingers for about two months for! 

I did a loud wiggle in my seat, accompanied with some squealing which caused the really confused stares, which then was followed by some fist-punching in the air. Yes, Jersey Shore style...

The website is called CollegeFashionista and it's fantastic. For students who are in college and love fashion instead of just going to class in stinky, wrinkly PJ's and sweats. The website is for students in colleges all across the United States and even internationally. I discovered the site when looking through blogs and was really hooked. I then wondered if my school, in Prague, was featured...it wasn't. So, I was ballsy and decided to email the founder and suggest Prague be included. I received an email back saying I should fill out and application and give them a sample of what I got (photos and writing).


A month later, I get the acceptance email. I am so so thrilled to be part of the CollegeFashionista family and start the Prague universities' page. This is also pretty exciting for my business partner and I because we are hoping that some of the students in our university will begin wearing our DIY clothing line so it will promote our new DIY community and clothing line. So many fantastic opportunities, I am more than grateful for them.

If you haven't checked the site out, you most definitely should. Pretty inspiring! 
Check us out:

Travel on wanderlusters and happy Monday/Tuesday!

Monday mornings...are the worst.

Have you ever had one of those "Oh shit, I woke up late and am going to be really late" moments? Yeah...pretty sure we all have.

That was my morning this morning, the morning of my final exam for Sociology. I had the brilliant plan to stay up all night then I decided that I needed a two hour nap from 2am-4am. So, I set my alarm but did not realize my phone was on silent...woke up and it was snowy and light outside (7:40am)....my exam started at 8:15. Keep in mind that it takes about 30-45 minutes to get to school on a good day.

Got ready in record breaking time (3 minutes) and was out the door. When I was walking I realized how ridiculous I looked; fur hat, no make-up, glasses, chapped lips, sweater leggings underneath huge, grey velvet, baggy sweats, long sleeve shirt and hoodie, gloves, huge parka jacket and my red studded motorcycle boots. Yeah, I looked like a discombobulated disaster.

I ran up the stairs at school and got there at 8:14, time was on my side this morning thank god. It was the worst feeling though, waking up and just having to rush and study on the tram. I swear I always wake up early on day where I can sleep in but on days that are really important, I almost ALWAYS wake up really late. Note to self: make sure my future wedding is in the afternoon.

Well, that was my wonderful Monday morning; Happy Monday wanderlusters! Maybe some of you experienced the same this morning?

Travel on wanderlusters!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Find Me on WordPress.com!

I extended to WordPress.com as well, so check out the posts on there! I will also be posting here, many of the same posts but this expands my audience a little bit.

http://travelingwithwanderlust.wordpress.com/

Travel and read on wanderlusters!

My Online Jewelry Boutique: Mixed Signals

As of this afternoon, I opened up an online jewelry boutique called 'Mixed Signals'. Check it out!

https://mixedsignals.kitsylane.com/index.php

Travel...and shop...on wanderlusters!

"10 out-of-this-world places"

While checking my email and drinking my MullerMilk this morning, I came across this cool article: http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/10-out-of-this-world-places.html

"10 out-of-this-world places"






1. Salt Flats Bolivia
2. The Chocolate Hills, The Philippines
3. Rio Tinto, Spain
4. Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
5. Spotted Lake, British Columbia
6. Socotra Island, Indian Ocean
7.Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
8. Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
9. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
10. Simpson Desert, Australia

Pretty cool, right?! I know where I want to go next, what about you wanderlusters?

Travel on wanderlusters!

Swedish House Mafia in Praha




Oh, of course, I need to post about Swedish House Mafia this past Thursday. Pure epic madness. That is the college in me talking. Well, it was by far the best concert I have ever been to. Think a lot of jumping up and down like a crazy person, screaming, lights, bass pounding through your bones and just madness everywhere. It was great to just let loose before finals. The guys were great, very interactive with the crowd and sure blew us all away their first and last time in Prague. Pretty cool being able to say I was part of that experience. My ears pounded for about two days but hey, who cares right? It was Swedish House Mafia so it's okay.

Tip of the day: If SWHM comes to your city, or a near-by city...GO! Don't think about it, just GO. You won't regret it.

P.S. The peace sign in the last photo is me! A friend caught the picture, pretty awesome, right?!

Travel on wanderlusters!

'Of Eyes and Hands'

GREAT NEWS!! Today, my friend and I decided to start our own DIY website/community for other DIY designers. We will start out on a blog (which I am creating after this post and will feature in the next post) and it will turn into a website where we display our DIY line (name still pending), as well as other DIY designer's clothes.

The blog/website will be called 'Of Eyes and Hands'.

We are really excited about this and it all happened over a fantastic bowl of Pad Thai...which is my favorite meal in the world...it's never to early to start your dreams is what I keep reminding myself.

Thought I should break the news here first! Travel on wanderlusters!

P.S. The beautiful Christmas market is officially open in Old Town Square so Wednesday (after some of the finals craziness is over) we are going to wander there, take pictures and I'll dedicate a post to it.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Blue River


My dad's girlfriend just open an online jewelry boutique called Blue River and it's filled with the latest style jewelry from up-and-coming jewelry designers. I browsed through it this morning and there's quite a bit I want...Christmas is coming! You also get free shipping until 2013, so shop away!

Here's the link: https://blueriver.kitsylane.com/index.php?file=shop&cId=1&page=all

Who ever said wanderlusters couldn't be jewelry lovers either? Travel..and shop...on wanderlusters!