Guest Post: Fully Alive 101

Adventure
10/12/2016

Guest Post By Kimberly Babin

Fullyalive101 is a conversation about health and wellness in mind, body and spirit. We believe that joy, success, and happiness all come from curating a life that explores fun, unique and creative ways to live FULLY ALIVE, to live the life you were born to.

When I was a child, there was this really unique series of books called Choose Your Own Adventure. They didn’t have one set outcome, they didn’t have one ending, and that is how we can view our lives, because we largely are capable of writing our own story, we are essentially the author of our own lives.

Yes, there is going to be the unexpected, the thing we never could have planned for, but when we look at it with a sense of adventure, we can see it as a plot twist rather than a setback, and it is always that curve ball and how it is overcome, how it’s dealt with that makes for a really great story. That’s the kind of book we want to read, and that is the kind of story we can write for our own epic journeys.

The human spirit is filled with a sense of longing, a thirst to explore, to take on new adventures, not to just visit unknown territories, but to see sights with new eyes. It is when we act on our desire to explore, to grow, to change, to become better… we begin to develop a sense of awe, of wonder, and we begin to gain an understanding of our infinite possibilities.

Our passion and drive and curiosity expands with each step. We aren’t here to submit to the mundane, to resign to our circumstances, we're here to change and transform them and to become more alive each day. When we develop a sense of adventure, of seeking, of doing, of curiosity we develop our power to choose, to create to curate.

We have this innate power to become fearless, to replace stagnation with forward movement. Our fears become transformed into faith, our limiting beliefs that once told us we must resign to the mundane, break down and are left at the side of the path as we journey forward.


Guest Blogger: Kimberly Babin
“When we begin to tap into our human spirit, our own unique potential, and our divine nature of resilience, we can begin to uplift humanity; that is living fully alive”
Kimberly Babin is a writer & blogger, inspiring speaker, and the creator of Fully Alive 101. A firm believer in the human spirit and human potential, she has immersed herself in the art of becoming greater: greater than our fears, greater than our limiting beliefs, greater than who we were yesterday. An avid researcher, reader, yoga & meditation enthusiast, Kimberly believes that everyone can live a vibrant life in mind, body & spirit.

Why I wanted to go to Jury Duty..

Yes, it's true, I wanted to go to Jury Duty this week. Once I realized I had been picked, it felt like I had won a lottery of sorts. No, it's not just about the idea of being apart of one of those juicy court hearings that you see on tv (admittedly that WAS in the back of my mind). It wasn't about being able to miss work, although I did look forward to catching up on some research and reading I've been meaning to do. It wasn't about being able to step away from all my stressful day-to-day thoughts. 

I was excited about Jury Duty because it is one of the reasons why I love this country.
Now, I don't want to give the impression that I am a huge patriot and I ignore all of the injustices taking place daily here, and I'm not trying to romanticize all of the terrible, tragic things that are happening to undeserving people.
But, regardless, there is a lot to love about America.
To me, Jury Duty represents democracy, justice, and freedom of the people.
Of course it could be implemented better, of course! Everything could, really. But there is something so beautiful about looking around me and seeing people of all different races, ages, education backgrounds, classes, opinions, wealth, and opportunities sitting with me as peers, getting 100% of the same say as one another.
Isn't that just a little beautiful?
Okay, so it is scary that all of these strangers might have totally different morals and biases than me and we may be deciding on very serious consequences for someone, but it all comes back to what makes America so wonderful.
Who's to say that my one option is correct or that my individual bias, or education has given me the right answer in a specific case? Nothing. But with 12 minds, morals, backgrounds and options working together, we can reach the most balanced decision possible.

It's a beautiful thing.

I don't really get to see how my individual vote changes an election, or how my tax dollars really make a difference, but when I sit in the chair at the courthouse with all my peers, I feel like I am making a teeny difference in what makes America a democracy.

Each of us will probably have to serve on a jury at one time or another, why not change your perspective about the whole thing and instead see what an instrumental part you get to play that week.

Marketing to Emotion

Today I did a lot of research for our target audience, for SEO, for content marketing, etc, etc.
All and all I think what marketing is all about (and this is going to sound obvious) is building value.
Bare with me here.
I know this sounds all easier said than done, but if I am stepping back and taking a look at the bigger picture of every marketing campaign I've seen and everything that has appealed to me, it's really about very few things:
a) Making my life easier (cleaning, errands, work)
b) Lessening my stress (money, obligations, time)

Side Note: People will pay a lot of money to save time

c) Making something feel achievable or attainable (beauty, money, luxury, fame)
d) Giving me valuable information (step-by-step, how to, cheat sheet)
c) Making my concerns valid... then offering a solution (debt, debt, debt)
e) Appealing to my emotions (I know, super broad-- Fear [of missing out], jealousy, desire)
f) Puts me in control (or so it seems)
g) Makes a promise (guarantees a result)

I'm sure I'm missing some things here, and I will probably add to the list as my research gets more thorough.

But here's the thing, once you know what appeals to you, now you can start to break that down, figure out what makes it appealing, and determine how this can help you create a effective marketing strategy with whatever brand, product or message you have.

The initial face mask

This was legit my dog's reaction
when she saw me with
the bubble mask on.

Just a short note: I once bought a face cleaner online because of a tutorial from a stranger. This doesn't seem all that strange, right? But it was. It was the first time I had ever bought anything because of a tutorial (and the last). It was not a product that I would have ever used. It was a random person that I had never seen before. And it was on Facebook (one of those random "related" videos that pop up after you watch one video). This was a totally unusual and impractical decision for me... So why did I do it? Well, first, she was a super likable and relateable person, that seemed trustworthy. The face mask bubbled on her face and she displayed all of the same reactions I would have. Second, the product was affordable enough to be an impulse buy. Third, other people were liking, and commenting on the video, vouching for the product and encouraging my initial inkling.
Did the product change my life? No... But learning from my own purchasing impulse did.

Then it got so bubbly!!

Moral of the Story? Emotions are EVERYTHING. People trust other people WAY more than they trust products and if they can watch someone display the same emotions they are feeling, that will hook them.
Bonus: Here's the video!

Comment Your Thoughts! 

Enjoying Life Throughout the Ups and Downs

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I truly did.

Ryan and my Date Day yesterday,
complete with a Banana Split!

It was the most relaxing weekends I have had in a while, and I had quite a bit of time to reflect on what gives me happiness and satisfaction.

I started reading The Energy Bus and it has really caused me to think about negativity. I really try to be an optimistic person. As I stated in my last post, I wasn't always this way, but I slowly began changing my negative thoughts into positive ones and eventually it changed my perspective on everything. That being said, I really think that I have some room for improvement. It is time to start putting others first and it is time to stop stressing about the things that are out of my control. I also need to make more goals and have more of a vision, in order to steer my bus in the right direction.

I haven't been able to sleep very well for a few weeks, just tossing and turning and worrying about all the things I need to get done and worrying that I will not be able to complete everything, or I will disappoint others with my work or they will feel like they wasted money by investing in me... I worry about not having time to relax and about relaxing too much, and lately I have been worried about worrying. It is ridiculous. I have no idea when I got back into this spiral of negative thinking, and it is not always there, but it seems to want to keep me company at night, when I am at my most vulnerable.
Right on the edge of sleep, I have a anxiety filled thought that zaps me awake, and I lay there, exhausted and stressed, with thoughts of potential failure jumping through my mind like the sheep I can never seem to concentrate on counting.
Yes, I know I am not the only one that struggles with this, but it just seems like I've gotten so far with eliminating my negative thoughts and I feel so disappointed that I may be recessing back into this spiral of negativity, which makes me more negative. The constant migraines aren't helping, but I'm sure the stress isn't helping the constant migraines either.

But here is the thing. I can change. I have done it before many times, and I can do it again.
First, I will start by stopping myself from complaining more. I will stop from beating myself up about having these negative thoughts. I will also surround myself with more positivity. This weekend was so wonderful because it was filled with loved ones, and that is exactly what I need to make priority.
It is easy to forget and put pleasure as the last thing on the priority list, but it is necessary to make it one of the most important things on that list. It is the motivation that keeps the ride fueled.
I will also express my gratitude more frequently. I will start now.

My handsome man

My mother

I am grateful for...

My friends

My wonderful family

My best friend

My puppy

My beautiful grandmother

My adventures

Journey on, my friends, and stay forever grateful and positive. 

My Fully Alive 101 Guest Post

This guest post can be found on the Fully Alive 101 blog!

What is does living fully alive mean to you?

To me, my life is slowing becoming exemplary of living fully alive.

I meet new friends on a daily basis, I take little adventures constantly, I like who I see in the mirror, I come home to an amazing puppy and wonderful boyfriend, and I work a fantastic job. Already, at the age of 24, I know what drives me and I know where I find solace. I am true to myself and I try to be the best version of myself possible.

I know this all may sound pretty braggy, but believe me, it is far from it.

I wasn't always like this, in fact, the Summer of years past is quite different from the Summer of today.

The Summer that tied
her value to others.

I used to be a complainer. I used to blame my problems on others. I picked fights with my boyfriends and love ones, swinging from one relationship to the next. I used to vent all over social media and take the friends that chose me, liking the attention and not being selective enough with who kept me company. I used to roll my eyes when I was given advice and scoff when I would be disciplined by teachers and bosses. I used to wake up the wrong side of the bed, a lot. I would get so angry when someone would question me. And I used to suck everyone around me into my cloud of dissatisfaction.

So what changed? 

My perspective, mostly. My desire to live a more 3 dimensional life, my willingness to disregard my ego, and my shift into becoming more introspective and spiritual rather than judgmental and logical.

I started genuinely loving people, not the unhealthy relationships that I had been dragging with me, instead I consciously made an effort to surround myself with passionate, positive, and like minded people, especially fellow women. And I loved them with no expectation or thought of what they could do for me.

I started forgiving myself. I forgave myself for being too critical, for being so anxious all the time, for jumping from one relationship to the next, for finding myself in my significant other, for the drugs I had abused my body with, and for all the many, many mistakes I had made.

The "Give No Fucks"
Summer.

I started hearing an inner voice, you know, the one so many people claim to hear? I had never hear it before because of all the other things I had let myself get distracted by. It was so small at first, and as I practiced the art of listening to it, the voice started to grow. I started understanding what "following your gut" really meant and how to start doing just that. I started putting myself out there and living with a "no regrets" philosophy.

I started putting my value in myself and not in those around me. I started choosing my significant others carefully, and knowing that if that relationship wasn't forever, it would be okay. 

I stopped trying to control everything and everyone around me.

The biggest thing I started doing was saying no to the toxic things and saying yes to the opportunities I wanted.

I am by no means saying that I am perfect. Far from it. I am constantly evolving and fluidly changing. I am not the person I will end up being ultimately and yes, sometimes I do make mistakes and question my choices, but I am so happy with who I am and who I am becoming. I have found my inner guidance, and I found my passion.

You deserve happiness, but
no one is going to do anything for you.
You have to make it happen.
So make it happen.

This shift did not occur overnight, it took years of watering my open-minded garden. It took meeting strangers and taking advice, finding role models and mentors, going to counseling, quitting the jobs I didn't like, taking myself on a solo two month cross country road trip, and making small decisions every single day to become who I am today.

You can do it. It starts right now. Who do you want to become? 

It doesn't have to be one big huge shift. It just has to be a bunch of tiny shifts in the right direction.

Go, become who you want to be. Nothing is holding you back.

Journey on, friends. <3

Of Course I Forgot to Post Yesterday

One single, pitiful day after I committed to posting everyday, I completely drop the ball.
It is difficult not to get frustrated at myself for not being able to keep a habit for even one day, but you know what? That's okay. I am back on the horse today, and even though it is a Friday and weekends are not terribly routine driven, I will try to post again tomorrow.

This is going to be more of a journal entry type blog post-just a warning.

So yesterday was a fantastic day, really this whole week has been great for networking, learning, getting empowered, inspiring others, and enjoying myself.

Last Friday, I went to a Chamber event and a wonderful marketing consultant. Beth, talked about effective communication. I loved her talk and was secretly hoping that she would be my marketing mentor. I accidentally introduced myself twice, an hour apart, which was quite embarrassing.
I ended up getting my first press release gig that day, and found out that a fellow member of junior league, chamber, and leading ladies was trying to freelance, and I tried my best to inspire her to go for it.

On Monday, Mary gave me permission to go to a Book Launch Conference in LA! By myself! Next month! She paid for the ticket, airfare, and hotel! And then I found out that a friend I have never met (a fellow wanderlusting, gut following, 'fuck it' tribe member) lives in LA and wants to meet up! And then my cousin (who I also have never met,except through Facebook) asked if I wanted to get together. Yes!

Tuesday, I went to a Jon Gordan seminar and was blown away by his talk. I wrote so many notes, that I think my pencil was smoking. I will have to transcribe all of my notes in a future blog post (note to self: keep track of future blog post promises). Then I asked him a question that he had posed to us earlier (and was later told that I won for questions that day... I know, I need to practice more humility). Because I asked a question, I got a free book and he signed it at the end! :)
Mary then introduced me to a fellow local motivational speaker, Lesley, that I was going to see on Thursday.
Then I went to a lunch that a colleague had won from the radio station. A local speaker, Habeeb, gave a wonderful presentation about the talk. At the end of this, I gave him my card, told him about Mary and told him that Ryan would be applying for a job at his organization.
Later that night, I went to my first Junior League event. We were given tshirts, and asked to go door to door passing out "Kindergarten preparation kits" to kids. I met wonderful people and forgot how much I loved volunteering and making a small impact on others.

Yesterday, I went to a real estate thing to see Lesley speak. Since I work for Mary's personal development side, and not her debt collection agency side, I felt a bit out of place representing Midstate... at first. Then Lesley recognized me and sat right next to me. We talked for a while and when she (nervously-- yes, public speakers get nervous too-Eeek!:)) went up to speak, she asked me to take some pictures for her.
Then at the end, I made my rounds, exchanging cards and catching up with people, when I came across the owner of a local nonprofit. She had gone up to speak before Lesley and had ended up crying when she talked about the children that her organization helps. She also caught my eye a couple times during the talk. I ended up telling her about my own attempt at starting a nonprofit, Stand Up Illinois, to raise awareness for sex trafficking and such. She got so excited. She gave me her book and told me that maybe our organizations could partner, and she could pay me to be the director of Stand Up Illinois within No Child Unloved. Whaaa...?! Yes! This would be a dream come true, given, but I told her that I had no intention of leaving Mary yet, so she suggested part-time work, and told me to think about it. I certainly am!
Then after work, I went to a chamber event to network and I met so many new people! And got to catch up with old chamber connections. Everyone I knew and talked to said they got my marketing consultant email (which I sent to about 300 of my contacts). On lady I had met at Leading Ladies told me that I was "unforgettable" and after she met me, she was trying to figure out if she could give me a job somewhere at her bank, then she said that I was too creative to work at a bank. Haha
This creeper dude, Mike, that I met at the Rotary bar crawl told me that I had been "bitchy" last time we met because I (fairly politely) had told him that he was "in my space" when he consistently leaned too close to me at one bar. I apologized for coming off rudely and told him that I was just honest. Later, in the middle of my conversation with an old PR gentleman, he very rudely, shrewdly and inappropriately violated my personal space by coming out of no where, and pulled my sitting body close to his groin area. It was completely fucked up. I was shocked he laughed it off and told the old man, "Don't worry, it's an inside joke" then walked away. I was so caught off guard. I tried to re-orientate myself and told the old man, "He violated my personal space and apparently thinks its funny to do it again. Anyway, where were we?"
I just moved on from that and continued networking and connecting, later meeting a great older gentleman that runs a retirement financing and accounting (or something?) company. Jeff called himself a "one-man BCP" which is hilarious, because that is where Ryan just applied.
We had wonderful chats about his road trips last year, and my own adventures, and aliens and what not.
It was really great.
I also looked down at my phone and Lesley had texted me, thanking me for taking pictures and telling me that I have a "bright future". Eek!
Everyone else went to a bar afterwards, but it was already 8:00p and I wanted to go lay in bed and watch Parenthood. So I took off and when Ryan got home, I was so excited to tell him about my day and the communication skills I had learned that we didn't stop talking until after midnight.

Today, I got into the office and promptly had a conference call with Beth, the marketing consultant I saw on Friday, to discuss branding for Mary. I sent her my 12 month marketing timeline, and the website proposal I had sent the website designers to gauge our brand. She was blown away. She told me that she wasn't trying to give me a big head or pander to me, but she had never seen anyone detail the marketing plan and do so much research. And she told me that she didn't want to talk herself out of a job but that I didn't need her help with this brand. She told me that she would be happy to mentor me wherever I needed help! EEEK! And told me that she would send some examples of branding statements that she had made for my reference. THEN she told me that she is constantly hiring freelance writers and she was so happy to have met me. Yippie!

I really think that I have been put on this Earth to connect people, and to remain positive, passionate, honest, humble, and empowered in order to empower others to do the same.

Life is so great when you say yes to opportunities, meet everyone there is to meet, genuinely care about them, persevere, and stick your neck out as much as possible!

Go, kick some ass peeps! And leave me a comment about what you're up to! :)

One Post Everyday

As you can tell, I am terrible at posting one blog entry every single day.
It is so difficult to fit it in-between the networking, workshop attending, Netflix watching, headaches, working, socializing and so on. It just becomes lost in all the noise and all of the priorities that seem to creep up the list.
I just don't feel inspired, or I want to write the perfect post instead of just crying out in mediocrity. And to be completely candid, I also don't know if I'm a good writer, and I am afraid of the feedback... or even lack there of.
But then I did some research for how to get motivation to blog and I found out that *GASP* I am not alone in my struggle, worries, procrastination, and insecurities.
The number one piece of advice I got was to just SUCK IT UP and write one thing everyday. And when you hit the publish button on that one thing every single day, it becomes public and you have to suck it up even more.
Because life is going to be over in the blink of an eye, and so why not just put yourself out there and JUST DO IT.
Do I want to be a writer? Yes.
So how does one get better at writing? They write. Duh.
Every single day. It's called discipline and I am going to prove that I have an ounce of it.

So here I am, having adventures and journeys, but not exactly leading the life I want, but it doesn't matter. I'm going to suck it up and write about all my days anyway.
So welcome to Summer's New Epic Journey.

The one where she has many mini journeys, thoughts, desires, tips and stories.

My posts will vary:

• Some of these posts might be fiction (I will add a disclaimer to those) because I would like to write my first fiction piece.
• Some of these entries might seem journal-ish.
• Some of the entries might be stock full of tips.
• Some might just talk about my motivation that day.
• Some might talk about the inspiration I got that day or the people I met.
• Some might be memories of my previous adventures.

I do hope you enjoy this journey with me, but ultimately I will need to remember that this blog is about loving what I'm writing about, not getting praise and comments from my readers.

That being said, feel free to leave me a question, comment, or feedback.

So wish me luck!

#OnePostEveryday #SummersEpicJourney

Just the Tip(s)

Some people requested just the tips without my trip recap at the beginning.

Here You Go! :)

• Tip 1: Study Up. I highly recommend doing some research before you start your own epic journey. Where exactly do you want to end up? What are some fun things along the way? Do you know anyone along your route? Are there cool road trip apps you should download (yes, yes there are... here's a quick Yahoo link, but later I will write about my favorite travel apps)? How much money will a trip like this take? Will I be okay crashing in my car or should I get hotels? Which states am I allowed to sleep in my car? Is there good travel advice online (hello, there!)? How long can I go without a shower? And so many other things you should ask yourself (and research) before you go.

Where I thought I was going to go on
my two month road trip.

• Tip 2: Try to Remain Positive. I feel like this is kind of a life tip, because life has its ups and downs, but if you can keep a positive attitude about things, you'll end up seeing solutions that you never would have seen otherwise. This is especially important when you're on the road, because things have a way of not going as planned. You will need to be flexible and a positive to enjoy the experience completely. When I first started my road trip, I was pretty certain that I would be heading to the East Coast, too. But then I fell in love with the West, and because I was flexible, I just went with it. There will be times when you want to have a tiny panic attack or when you're so exhausted that  you want to just quit, but cheer up, Buttercup. You're on an epic journey. So what your charger isn't working. Oh well, you dropped your camera... You ran out of gas? Okay. Live it up and remain positive. Life is a bed of roses, there will be some thorns, and if you're allergic, take some Claritin. You are living a good life and you're as free as a bumble bee. Roll with the punches and enjoy the ride! (Sorry for all the clichés, I'm disgusted too).

Where I actually went: Part One.

• Tip 3: Loosen Your Agenda. Plan a loose route so you have objectives, but expect some changes in your route. The best time I've had on road trips, is when I decide to make a random stop, take a different route, and talk to strangers. The worst road trips I've had were dictated by deadlines and anxiety. Whenever there is someone in the front seat saying, "We have to get __ by __. There is no time to stop" you know that you are in for a stressful tip. It is, however, important to have some ideas of destinations or desired stops in mind When you are driving nonstop for hours, the only things that catch your eye are food and places to crash. Having a loose agenda helps you make fun stops, while allowing room for other random destinations, as well. If you're going to have a set schedule, keeping it loose will also helpful for figuring out how many hours you need to drive in one particular day, and how flexible you can be with that schedule. Make sure you create some cushion room in your schedule so that if you start feeling really tired one day, you can pull over early and you won't be behind schedule.

Part Three.

Part Two. 

• Tip 4: Yawns are Stop Signs. Stopping as soon as you get tired is very important for a successful and enjoyable road trip. Not only is dangerous to drive when you are tired, it is completely unnecessary to do so when you've created a loose schedule and are taking the trip for pure enjoyment (or to add enjoyment to an already scheduled trip). If you are traveling solo, you will probably need naps during the day, between driving. Don't freight, just pull over and lean your seat down. If you nod off while driving, you're endangering everyone on the road and nothing is worth that. Pulling over to the side of the road, at a rest stop, in a hotel, at a gas station, etc to get some shut eye will not inconvenience anyone and your body will thank you. 

• Tip 5: Budget Budget Budget. Use Cash. *edit* So this worked for me, but it doesn't work for everyone. This is something I recommend if you're prone to spending frivolously. Unless you are a fantabulous budgeter and have crazy cash back on your card, I recommend keeping track of your money and stopping yourself from overspending by getting it in cash (or putting it in specific accounts, if your card lets you do that). Put aside cash in different labeled envelopes, and carry an emergency credit card. Budget beforehand so that you can put aside the right amount of money for each part of your trip. One for Gas (probably your largest envelope), one for food (my second largest), one for souvenirs (if you're into that sort of thing), one for hotels/camping (if you need that. I slept in my comfy backseat, but there are also more comfy inexpensive alternatives.), one for shopping/entertainment (again, if you're spending money on that), one for your destination(s), one for emergency (this one is the most important). If you are using a credit card, do research on it. Get one with cash back on things you will be spending on your road trip (5% Gas Cash Back? Yes Please.). Look at that interest rate, too. If it's interest free after the first year, that's great but look at how much the Annual APR is after that first year too, so it doesn't screw you. Make sure you have credit card cash set aside too so you can pay it off as soon as you rack it up. And make sure you have a low limit so that you're not over spending.

One of my delicious salads.

• Tip 6: Plan Your Calories and Suck Down Your H2O. As I was coming back from my two month road trip in Missouri, I saw a billboard that said, "Road Trip Calories Don't Count." I wish that was true. It is hard to eat healthy and affordably on a road trip, so make sure you have a game plan before going in. If you want to eat out every meal, make sure that's within your budget, or you're okay with eating junk fast food (or both). On my first road trip, I didn't want to spend too much money on food, but I didn't want to make food, so I stopped at Taco Bell for Katina burritos everyday for almost a week, I figured that it had veggies and meat, but I felt disgusting by day 4. I started stopping by the grocery store and picking up kale and a couple other veggies. Only buy as much as you're going to eat that day. I paid about $6 for a salad pretty much every day for about a week before I transitioned to cans of soup and PB&Js with oats. I started loving soup. First it was cold chunky soup, but then I started putting the cans in the back window so they would be hot by dinner time. I always tried to eat a can of soup somewhere beautiful, like overlooking the grand canyon, which made soup taste like a Chinese buffet. Eating local food has more of an appeal to some people, so if that's the case with you, just make sure you budget for it before your trip and stick to your budget. Also, bring water, buy water, refill your Camel back, whatever you find most convenient to keep yourself hydrated, do it. I got a polar pop refillable cup, and most gas stations let me fill it up with water and ice for free-zee. This is even more important to remember if you are driving to/through mountains and deserts. Even when you think you're not thirsty, drink anyway. Bonus health tip: Keep sunscreen handy (and on). Even/especially while you're driving, lather that shit up. Your skin is highly exposed to the sun for long periods of time while driving, and being sun burnt is not a good way to spend a road trip and is super easy to prevent. Do some sunscreen research to see what kind is best for you.

My trusty tent
(Thank you for letting me borrow this, Walter)!

• Tip 7: Stay Comfy and Know Where You're Going to Crash. If you're going to be sleeping in your car, get some stuff to comfort it up. I got some memory foam bathroom rugs, a bed cushion and a comforter laid across my backseat. If you're long-term traveling, bring a backup set of sheets and a pillow case because you never know when you might spill a can of soup on your bed (whoops). I usually bring a tent, just in case, but it is more difficult to pitch a tent at a rest stop or when you're exhausted from driving all day. Also, know where you want to stay. If you're sleeping in your car, I recommend crashing at rest stops, hotels, or a super grocery store (Walmart/Hyvee). These places are generally legal, well lit and safe. If you're pitching a tent, I would recommend finding a campsite nearby. There are somesnazzy apps to help you. There are also apps that can help you find a place to crash, but you generally have to know when you'll be arriving at that destination. These apps include: AirBnB, Couchsurfing, WarmShowers, and a few others. Wherever you crash, you need to stay safe, trust your intuition, and don't sleep anywhere sketchy, and on that note:

Did I mention I broke up a trucker fight in Idaho?
Yeah, not fun.

• Tip 8: Be Aware of Your Surroundings.Try to find your sleeping spot before you're too exhausted so that you can be sure that it's safe and so that you can gage your feelings about the place. I am all for recreational marijuana (and am pretty vocal about it) and am down to have a couple drinks here and there (when not driving for a day or two), but make sure that you are being safe. Driving and arriving somewhere sober is a must for the safety of a lone traveler. You need to keep a sober and aware eye out for your own good. Also, if you are packing something smelly (cough cough) make sure you know that state's laws concerning what you're carrying. Also, for your safety, make sure you're packing some sort of heat. I don't carry a gun (I'm pretty sure it's illegal to carry an accessible and loaded weapon cross borders, and I don't really trust myself with a firearm), but I do carry mace and a knife just to be on the safe side. I have also taken martial arts. I recommend having a bit of self-defense knowledge if you are a lone traveler, just in case. I have also heard of people carrying wasp spray because it shoots further and is more accurate than mace. Safety first: even if you really want to sleep somewhere, don't fight any intuition you have against staying there. I was at Joshua Tree and was so excited about waking up surrounded by mountains, but I just kept feeling unsafe whenever I tried to go to bed. I was bummed but decided to drive to the local Walmart and sleep there. It's better to be safe than regret it later. Never put yourself in an uncomfortable situation. Which leads me to my next tip:

• Tip 9: Follow Your Gut. Follow your gut while picking your destinations, your stopping points, which strangers to talk to, etc. If you are in tune with your gut, it will tell you exactly how to take your trip, where to look for adventure, and which opportunities to say yes to (probably, most of them). Even if you don't listen to your gut about your travel spots, I highly, highly recommend listening tuning inward when it comes to safety. As I stated in the last tip, even if a place seems perfectly safe, don't fight your gut if it's telling you to find a different spot. This is a bit different from the common nervousness that arises when you first start sleeping in your car, but make sure that when that gut tells you to go, you listen.

• Tip 9: Document Your Experience. You are in for an amazing adventure, so make sure you bring a journal or notebook and make it a point to jot down something everyday. A stream of consciousness, a list of things you did, a piece of advice you got, the people you met, how exhausted you are, whatever it is: write it down, because you'll want to look back on these epic moments. When all else fails, I try to just write down what my five senses are experiencing. Write what you're smelling, tasting, hearing, feeling, and seeing. This will help bring you back to this moment years later. If you're a blogger, write a few things every couple of days and post it online. If you like photos, take a couple wherever you go, and take some video too. But don't focus too much on the shots or video, this is about being in the moment and experiencing things first hand. Few things piss me off more than tourists stopping somewhere, taking a couple pictures and immediately leaving. Soak it in, meditate on the Grand Canyon, drink a beer watching the sunset. Feel it all because I guarantee that your pictures will pale in comparison to that moment of bliss.

Say hello to my new puppy

• Tip 10: Just Say Yes. I know it sounds a little Anti-D.A.R.E., but when life hands you weed infused lemons... I'm just kidding, of course (unless Life is a really trustworthy and hot guy, and your gut is telling you to go for it). But what I mean by this, is if your gut isn't against it, go for it! Say yes to opportunities and live in the moment. You're on a grand adventure, embrace it! Life is so incredibly short, don't squander it by saying no to things because they scare you.

I met these girls at the random back
woods party in Lake Tahoe. 

If you already have the balls to go on a road trip solo (or with friends), then you are ready to go on a random hiking trip, take a detour to a national park, go solo to dinner, say yes when someone offers you a surfing lesson, camping trip, soul fest tickets, a radio interview, a dog in the Rocky mountains (namedRocky Road Trip, of course), a deep sea fishing experience (even if you end up seasick and getting pinched by a tasty crab), a day trip to Canada, a free shower, a hot meal, a country concert, ice cream, a bag of weed, wild flowers, a firework show, a World Naked Bike ride (this is a thing), asks you for a ride (especially when they are on their dirt bike in the middle of the Sequoias, or on a Mission from God), or invites you to a massive random party in the back woods of Lake Tahoe. Every single one of these things, and then some, happened on my road trip, simply because I said yes, followed my gut, and had a positive attitude. Say yes to opportunities, say yes to taking a life changing road trip, say yes to saying "Fuck it" and say yes to the new and better version of yourself.

I said yes to a random surf lesson
and had the time of my life!

I hope these tips helped! If you would like to listen to the audio version of this, here's the Sound Cloud Link! :)

I met this girl in Colorado and she
became my bestie!

I have met some amazing people, heard life changing advice, had the most extraordinary adventures and will never be the same because of the epic journeys I have been on, and will continue to have. I highly encourage you to go on your own life changing, soul searching, "fuck it" saying journeys and I hope that I can help you along the way!

I will continue to post travel tips and answer any questions that I can!

Summer's Road Trip Tips

For those of you that are disappointed that I did not keep blogging during my first epic journey, I apologize! It was a wonderful trip filled with so much adventure that I did not know how to capture it all in my blogging. If you would like to follow the journey on Instagram or Facebook, follow the hashtag #SummersEpicJourney.

So here we are, over a year after I began my first Epic Journey. And what has happened since then?
Well, a million and one things, really. 
I learned SO much during my cross country solo road trip. 
Here is a recap that I posted on Reddit (r/roadtrip) after my trip:

 I did end up sleeping in my car, in rest stop, Walmart, apartment, and (mostly) hotel parking lots. I made my backseat into a really comfy bed with a couple of comforters (one I gave to a hitchhiker along the way), a bed pad, memory foam rugs (from my bathroom and kitchen), and a couple sheets. As I headed further west, I invested in a National Parks Pass and slept in mountains, parks, and woods. Over the course of two months, my destinations were: Osceola, Wi (where I started my trip by working at an organic community farm), Lake Superior, Minneapolis, Iowa City (Yes, I ate at Zombie Burger), Fort Collins, Denver, Boulder, the Rockies (where I 'accidentally' adopted a dog: Rocky Road Trip), Gunnison (met some awesome people), the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, West Yellowstone (ending up in Idaho Falls, where I had to break up a trucker fight inches from my car), Boise, the beautiful Idaho mountains (where I got stalked by a creepy dude, who eventually gave up), Seattle (yes, I put gum on the wall and met some awesome people), Vancouver, Mount Rainier, Portland (yes, I ate Killer Burger, met awesome people and went on the World Naked Bike Ride/with an invisible bike), Lincoln City, Or (where I spent a night on the beach), Highway 101, the Redwood Forrest, Fort Bragg, Mendocino (where I went deep sea fishing in the Pacific, learned to surf, stayed with my amazingly chill aunt and uncle and was offered lots of free weed), Sacramento (where I stayed with my cousin, was given tickets to the Soul of Sacramento and offered more free weed/California is a great state), San Fransisco, Lake Tahoe (where I stumbled upon an amazing party in the backwoods and met some more awesome people), the Sequoias (met a fellow cross country road tripper), Yosemite, Fresno (stumbled on a country concert and met awesome people), Death Valley, Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon (south), and Zion. I was exhausted at this point, tired of sleeping in my car and missing my now boyfriend, friends and family. So I beelined home through beautiful New Mexico, upper Texas (stopping at the Cadillac Ranch), Oklahoma, Missouri and then back to Illinois. Side note: the night I got back, my (now) boyfriend and I went up to Detroit and spent my birthday in Michigan and Indianapolis so I could be somewhere fun when I turned 23.

I followed my gut and said yes to every opportunity which was amazing. I had the time of my life.

I journaled the whole time and took tons of videos (some of which were just stolen with my old iPhone/they wouldn't transfer to my computer). I also had everyone I stayed with make me a CD of their top 18 (my lucky number) cruising songs, and decorate the CD (unfortunately they were all stolen from my car when it was broken into a couple of weeks ago).

I want to write a book about my adventures in the future.

I am currently working with my boyfriend on the groundwork for a tiny home for us to travel the country in (message me if you have experience, I need all the advice I can get!).

TL:DR I did lots of cool shit and met people in my solo, two month cross country road trip. Cheers!

After I got back, I became the Store Manager and Marketing Director of an Escape Room Facility in Champaign, Il, which I helped open and brand, then recently left to pursue new endeavors. I am now working as the Marketing and Development Director for Mary Shores, a motivational speaker and self-empowerment author. 

I will eventually quit everything so I can travel the world, have tons of adventures, and meet a bunches of people. I'll keep you updated on that.

Just google search "Aliens Guy"

In June, I went on a second, shorter Epic Journey (#SummersEpicJourneyPart2) to a massive Alien Convention in Joshua Tree, CA. I slept in my car, followed my gut, and said yes to all opportunities. It. Was. Epic.

Yeah, that's Giorgio Tsoukalos and I on the right. 

And yes, I made a grilled cheese with former Broncos player, Simon Fletcher (Here is the video evidence).

So while I was on my last epic journey, I decided that I would really like to share the things that I have learned while traveling cross country, alone. Especially as a young female.

I have been on one two month cross country road trip, one two week cross country road trip, and several solo mini road trips, and random road trips with friends.

I would like to open this blog up to questions, and I will answer you in future blog posts!

I will start with the tips that I came up with while driving back from Joshua Tree.
Disclaimer: These are tips for things that worked for me (often through trial and error) and that I learned along the way. What works for me, won't work for everyone. If you have any suggestions, feel free to comment!

Want to hear these tips instead? Check out my Sound Cloud! :)

Tip 1: Study Up. I highly recommend doing some research before you start your own epic journey. Where exactly do you want to end up? What are some fun things along the way? Do you know anyone along your route? Are there cool road trip apps you should download (yes, yes there are... here's a quick Yahoo link, but later I will write about my favorite travel apps)? How much money will a trip like this take? Will I be okay crashing in my car or should I get hotels? Which states am I allowed to sleep in my car? Is there good travel advice online (hello, there!)? How long can I go without a shower? And so many other things you should ask yourself (and research) before you go.

Where I thought I was going to go on
my two month road trip.

Tip 2: Try to Remain Positive. I feel like this is kind of a life tip, because life has its ups and downs, but if you can keep a positive attitude about things, you'll end up seeing solutions that you never would have seen otherwise. This is especially important when you're on the road, because things have a way of not going as planned. You will need to be flexible and a positive to enjoy the experience completely. When I first started my road trip, I was pretty certain that I would be heading to the East Coast, too. But then I fell in love with the West, and because I was flexible, I just went with it. There will be times when you want to have a tiny panic attack or when you're so exhausted that  you want to just quit, but cheer up, Buttercup. You're on an epic journey. So what your charger isn't working. Oh well, you dropped your camera... You ran out of gas? Okay. Live it up and remain positive. Life is a bed of roses, there will be some thorns, and if you're allergic, take some Claritin. You are living a good life and you're as free as a bumble bee. Roll with the punches and enjoy the ride! (Sorry for all the clichés, I'm disgusted too).

Where I actually went: Part One.

Tip 3: Loosen Your Agenda. Plan a loose route so you have objectives, but expect some changes in your route. The best time I've had on road trips, is when I decide to make a random stop, take a different route, and talk to strangers. The worst road trips I've had were dictated by deadlines and anxiety. Whenever there is someone in the front seat saying, "We have to get __ by __. There is no time to stop" you know that you are in for a stressful tip. It is, however, important to have some ideas of destinations or desired stops in mind When you are driving nonstop for hours, the only things that catch your eye are food and places to crash. Having a loose agenda helps you make fun stops, while allowing room for other random destinations, as well. If you're going to have a set schedule, keeping it loose will also helpful for figuring out how many hours you need to drive in one particular day, and how flexible you can be with that schedule. Make sure you create some cushion room in your schedule so that if you start feeling really tired one day, you can pull over early and you won't be behind schedule.

Part Three.

Part Two. 

Tip 4: Yawns are Stop Signs. Stopping as soon as you get tired is very important for a successful and enjoyable road trip. Not only is dangerous to drive when you are tired, it is completely unnecessary to do so when you've created a loose schedule and are taking the trip for pure enjoyment (or to add enjoyment to an already scheduled trip). If you are traveling solo, you will probably need naps during the day, between driving. Don't freight, just pull over and lean your seat down. If you nod off while driving, you're endangering everyone on the road and nothing is worth that. Pulling over to the side of the road, at a rest stop, in a hotel, at a gas station, etc to get some shut eye will not inconvenience anyone and your body will thank you. 

Tip 5: Budget Budget Budget. Use Cash. Unless you are a fantabulous budgeter and have crazy cash back on your card, I recommend keeping track of your money and stopping yourself from overspending by getting it in cash. Put aside cash in different labeled envelopes, and carry an emergency credit card. Budget beforehand so that you can put aside the right amount of money for each part of your trip. One for Gas (probably your largest envelope), one for food (my second largest), one for souvenirs (if you're into that sort of thing), one for hotels/camping (if you need that. I slept in my comfy backseat, but there are also more comfy inexpensive alternatives.), one for shopping/entertainment (again, if you're spending money on that), one for your destination(s), one for emergency (this one is the most important). If you are using a credit card, do research on it. Get one with cash back on things you will be spending on your road trip (5% Gas Cash Back? Yes Please.). Look at that interest rate, too. If it's interest free after the first year, that's great but look at how much the Annual APR is after that first year too, so it doesn't screw you. Make sure you have credit card cash set aside too so you can pay it off as soon as you rack it up. And make sure you have a low limit so that you're not over spending.

One of my delicious salads.

Tip 6: Plan Your Calories and Suck Down Your H2O. As I was coming back from my two month road trip in Missouri, I saw a billboard that said, "Road Trip Calories Don't Count." I wish that was true. It is hard to eat healthy and affordably on a road trip, so make sure you have a game plan before going in. If you want to eat out every meal, make sure that's within your budget, or you're okay with eating junk fast food (or both). On my first road trip, I didn't want to spend too much money on food, but I didn't want to make food, so I stopped at Taco Bell for Katina burritos everyday for almost a week, I figured that it had veggies and meat, but I felt disgusting by day 4. I started stopping by the grocery store and picking up kale and a couple other veggies. Only buy as much as you're going to eat that day. I paid about $6 for a salad pretty much every day for about a week before I transitioned to cans of soup and PB&Js with oats. I started loving soup. First it was cold chunky soup, but then I started putting the cans in the back window so they would be hot by dinner time. I always tried to eat a can of soup somewhere beautiful, like overlooking the grand canyon, which made soup taste like a Chinese buffet. Eating local food has more of an appeal to some people, so if that's the case with you, just make sure you budget for it before your trip and stick to your budget. Also, bring water, buy water, refill your Camel back, whatever you find most convenient to keep yourself hydrated, do it. I got a polar pop refillable cup, and most gas stations let me fill it up with water and ice for free-zee. This is even more important to remember if you are driving to/through mountains and deserts. Even when you think you're not thirsty, drink anyway. Bonus health tip: Keep sunscreen handy (and on). Even/especially while you're driving, lather that shit up. Your skin is highly exposed to the sun for long periods of time while driving, and being sun burnt is not a good way to spend a road trip and is super easy to prevent. Do some sunscreen research to see what kind is best for you.

My trusty tent
(Thank you for letting me borrow this, Walter)!

Tip 7: Stay Comfy and Know Where You're Going to Crash. If you're going to be sleeping in your car, get some stuff to comfort it up. I got some memory foam bathroom rugs, a bed cushion and a comforter laid across my backseat. If you're long-term traveling, bring a backup set of sheets and a pillow case because you never know when you might spill a can of soup on your bed (whoops). I usually bring a tent, just in case, but it is more difficult to pitch a tent at a rest stop or when you're exhausted from driving all day. Also, know where you want to stay. If you're sleeping in your car, I recommend crashing at rest stops, hotels, or a super grocery store (Walmart/Hyvee). These places are generally legal, well lit and safe. If you're pitching a tent, I would recommend finding a campsite nearby. There are some snazzy apps to help you. There are also apps that can help you find a place to crash, but you generally have to know when you'll be arriving at that destination. These apps include: AirBnB, Couchsurfing, WarmShowers, and a few others. Wherever you crash, you need to stay safe,

trust your intuition, and don't sleep anywhere sketchy, and on that note:

Did I mention I broke up a trucker fight in Idaho?
Yeah, not fun.

Tip 8: Be Aware of Your Surroundings. Try to find your sleeping spot before you're too exhausted so that you can be sure that it's safe and so that you can gage your feelings about the place. I am all for recreational marijuana (and am pretty vocal about it) and am down to have a couple drinks here and there (when not driving for a day or two), but make sure that you are being safe. Driving and arriving somewhere sober is a must for the safety of a lone traveler. You need to keep a sober and aware eye out for your own good. Also, if you are packing something smelly (cough cough) make sure you know that state's laws concerning what you're carrying. Also, for your safety, make sure you're packing some sort of heat. I don't carry a gun (I'm pretty sure it's illegal to carry an accessible and loaded weapon cross borders, and I don't really trust myself with a firearm), but I do carry mace and a knife just to be on the safe side. I have also taken martial arts. I recommend having a bit of self-defense knowledge if you are a lone traveler, just in case. I have also heard of people carrying wasp spray because it shoots further and is more accurate than mace. Safety first: even if you really want to sleep somewhere, don't fight any intuition you have against staying there. I was at Joshua Tree and was so excited about waking up surrounded by mountains, but I just kept feeling unsafe whenever I tried to go to bed. I was bummed but decided to drive to the local Walmart and sleep there. It's better to be safe than regret it later. Never put yourself in an uncomfortable situation. 

Which leads me to my next tip:

Tip 9: Follow Your Gut. Follow your gut while picking your destinations, your stopping points, which strangers to talk to, etc. If you are in tune with your gut, it will tell you exactly how to take your trip, where to look for adventure, and which opportunities to say yes to (probably, most of them). Even if you don't listen to your gut about your travel spots, I highly, highly recommend listening tuning inward when it comes to safety. As I stated in the last tip, even if a place seems perfectly safe, don't fight your gut if it's telling you to find a different spot. This is a bit different from the common nervousness that arises when you first start sleeping in your car, but make sure that when that gut tells you to go, you listen.

Tip 9: Document Your Experience. You are in for an amazing adventure, so make sure you bring a journal or notebook and make it a point to jot down something everyday. A stream of consciousness, a list of things you did, a piece of advice you got, the people you met, how exhausted you are, whatever it is: write it down, because you'll want to look back on these epic moments. When all else fails, I try to just write down what my five senses are experiencing. Write what you're smelling, tasting, hearing, feeling, and seeing. This will help bring you back to this moment years later. If you're a blogger, write a few things every couple of days and post it online. If you like photos, take a couple wherever you go, and take some video too. But don't focus too much on the shots or video, this is about being in the moment and experiencing things first hand. Few things piss me off more than tourists stopping somewhere, taking a couple pictures and immediately leaving. Soak it in, meditate on the Grand Canyon, drink a beer watching the sunset. Feel it all because I guarantee that your pictures will pale in comparison to that moment of bliss.

Say hello to my new puppy

Tip 10: Just Say Yes. I know it sounds a little Anti-D.A.R.E., but when life hands you weed infused lemons... I'm just kidding, of course (unless Life is a really trustworthy and hot guy, and your gut is telling you to go for it). But what I mean by this, is if your gut isn't against it, go for it! Say yes to opportunities and live in the moment. You're on a grand adventure, embrace it! Life is so incredibly short, don't squander it by saying no to things because they scare you.

I met these girls at the random back
woods party in Lake Tahoe. 

If you already have the balls to go on a road trip solo (or with friends), then you are ready to go on a random hiking trip, take a detour to a national park, go solo to dinner, say yes when someone offers you a surfing lesson, camping trip, soul fest tickets, a radio interview, a dog in the Rocky mountains (named Rocky Road Trip, of course), a deep sea fishing experience (even if you end up seasick and getting pinched by a tasty crab), a day trip to Canada, a free shower, a hot meal, a country concert, ice cream, a bag of weed, wild flowers, a firework show, a World Naked Bike ride (this is a thing), asks you for a ride (especially when they are on their dirt bike in the middle of the Sequoias, or on a Mission from God), or invites you to a massive random party in the back woods of Lake Tahoe. Every single one of these things, and then some, happened on my road trip, simply because I said yes, followed my gut, and had a positive attitude. Say yes to opportunities, say yes to taking a life changing road trip, say yes to saying "Fuck it" and say yes to the new and better version of yourself.

I said yes to a random surf lesson
and had the time of my life!

I hope these tips helped! If you would like to listen to the audio version of this, here's the Sound Cloud Link! :)

I met this girl in Colorado and she
became my bestie!

I have met some amazing people, heard life changing advice, had the most extraordinary adventures and will never be the same because of the epic journeys I have been on, and will continue to have. I highly encourage you to go on your own life changing, soul searching, "fuck it" saying journeys and I hope that I can help you along the way!

I will continue to post travel tips and answer any questions that I can!

Please comment below if you have any questions you want me to answer, or topics that you want me to cover in my next post!

Also, I plan on having guest blogger Ryan Blair in one of my posts. He has been to dozens of music festivals and has taken a bunches of solo road trips. If you have any questions for him, feel free to comment below, as well!

Journey on, friends!