A few years ago, my boyfriend took a cycling trip to the Dolomites in Italy. The Dolomites are part of a mountain range in northern Italy. He was fortunate to see various landscapes, quaint towns, and ride the Stelvio Pass. If you want to learn more about my boyfriend’s cycling adventures, check out his blog:…
How to Fall Asleep Every Night With No Effort
Lately, there’s a lot to keep us awake at night. The big you-know-what-virus. Fragile economy. Travel uncertainties. For many of us who do freelance work, earning a living seems precarious at times. Worries can occupy our minds and keep us from falling asleep. We can’t underestimate the importance of adequate sleep. According to the National…
Photo Friday: I Miss Prague
Prague, Czech Republic, is one of my favorite European cities. It’s so cosmopolitan and friendly to visitors. If or when this COVID thing ever ends and travel can resume, I strongly suggest this city if you haven’t been before. I think it’s a great first city for people traveling to Europe for the first time….
Photo Friday: Ode to Ritter Sport
You can tell by tasting the chocolate how the people who produce it are doing. –Alfred T. Ritter
Keep Your Mental Health When Working from Home
Working from home is no longer a sign of laziness or lack of professionalism. Whether it’s for a sticks-and-bricks company or for yourself, remote working can be fulfilling and provide the flexibility that keeps your work and personal life in balance. One factor that often gets overlooked, however, is keeping your mental health while working…
Photo Friday: A Bit of Australia
My boyfriend took a trip to Australia a few years ago. He took some great pictures, and I asked to share some of them with you. Near Cairns, Queensland Near Cairns, Queensland Near Cairns, Queensland Near Cairns, Queensland At a nature preserve. The guide told them the koala bear just woke up. Sydney Opera House…
Photo Friday: July is Ice Cream Month
Making ice cream at home with NO machine
Don’t Let Anybody Tell You What to Do
I never liked getting unsolicited advice. I’m not talking about turning away good advice or not listening to friends who have my best interests at heart. I try to remember that my friends who offer advice want to support my path to my dream. I would do the same for them. However, it seems like…
Photo Friday: June is Great Outdoors Month
June is Great Outdoors Months. To end the month on a high note, here are some of my favorite outdoor scenes.
How to Sell Yourself If You Don’t Like to Sell
Do one thing every day that scares you. Eleanor Roosevelt Whether it’s interviewing for a job, selling a product, or gaining a new client, it would be nice if we could rely solely on our expertise and experience to succeed. Unfortunately, the real world doesn’t operate that way. Getting others’ buy-in usually requires selling, and some…
Photo Friday: I’m Glad It’s Summer
The first day of summer is Saturday, June 20. Enjoy summer while you can! Finally . . .
How to Be Productive Instead of Busy
When I bump into someone I haven’t seen in a while, we exchange the usual, “How’s it going?” greetings. In response, I habitually say, “Oh, I’m keeping busy.” I’m sure that’s a stock phrase for a lot of people. But think about what it means to be busy. Busy keeping up with email, busy editing blog…
Photo Friday: Images of Grandma
For no reason in particular, I’ve been thinking of my late maternal grandmother, Bernice Temme Seier. The top picture is of her (woman on the right), her father, and three of her siblings taking a lunch break on the farm. This is her later in life. She’s third from the right, with family. Mom told…
Develop a Productive Morning Routine as a Freelancer
I’m a morning person. I’ve trained myself to wake up by 6:00 AM. At this time of year, the early morning coolness and lull feels good. It’s quiet time I have all to myself, and it eases me into my workday and increases my chances of a productive morning. You might not be a morning…
Photo Friday: Sample of Bavarian Food
During our 2019 trip to Germany, we visited Neuschwanstein Castle near Füssen, and then we took Germany’s intercity express train, Deutsche Bann, to Nuremburg. This was a great way to experience some Bavarian cuisine, which includes a lot of meat, potatoes, and noodles–foods that are common within the region’s cold and more rural climate. If…
I Quit My Job and I Feel Great
I did it. I mean, I was true to my word. I quit my job of six years and now I’m freelancing. That was over a month ago, and today I still feel great. At my last job I had great pay, a generous leave package, and the best damn health insurance I’m ever going…
Photo Friday: Food from Spain
There’s no better way to get to know a country than through its cuisine. When we went to Spain in 2018, we barely scratched the surface when it came to the places we visited. The food is a diverse, rich reflection of Spain’s complex history. Barcelona Seville Granada Madrid If you’ve been to Spain, please…
Hoarding and Collecting: What’s the Difference?
I’m putting my foot down. From here on out, I will no longer collect anything. I used to be a collector, not of valuable paintings or artwork, just . . . things. When I was in college, I started collecting coffee mugs. As a University of Nebraska student, I just had to have a mug…
Celebrate World Whiskey Day the Self-quarantine Way
Happy World Whisky Day, everyone! Do you crave a good bourbon, Scotch, Irish, rye, or something else? For me, it has to be double-oaked bourbon. Do you prefer your whisky straight or in a cocktail? Either way for me. Do you enjoy sharing a good whiskey with friends, but recent Twitter images of unmasked patrons…
Believe Me. You Really Don’t Need These Kitchen Gadgets
Decluttering the kitchen is one of the most satisfying tasks you can ever accomplish. It’s been tough for me, but the more I do it, the easier it is to discard the kitchen gadgets I once thought I needed to be a better cook and to keep from going out to eat all the time….
7 Easy But Exceptional Ways to Cope with Coronavirus Cabin Fever
Happy April! This will be a quick post. In case you’re not yet sick and tired of Googling, Tweeting, discussing, or hearing the phrase social distancing, I thought I would weigh in on the global conversation. If you’re sick of it, that’s okay. Hear me out anyway. Did you know that the World Health Organization…
4 Ways Daydreaming Can Get You Through the Tough Times
Is daydreaming a distraction from work, or work a distraction from daydreaming? Marty Rubin It’s Friday happy hour. The waiter brings over the shishito peppers, which are bright green and blistered from roasting. We’re just finishing our patatas bravas, which taste just like the ones we sampled for the first time at Madrid’s Mercado de…
Can I Still RV Full-Time During a Coronavirus Outbreak?
Hello! Unsettled Essence here. I’m finally digging myself out of my lethargy and working on my next post. In the meantime, I’ve thought about how the Coronavirus threat has changed my day-to-day life–I’m teleworking full-time, I can’t go out for a nice dinner, and I can’t hang out and play cards with my boyfriend at…
The 5 Best Ways to Clean out a Peanut Butter Jar Like a Boss
Do you recycle your food jars or toss them straight in the trash? What about messy containers like peanut butter jars? Are they still worth the trouble to wash out? You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know how to clean out a peanut butter jar. You can be practical or more creative…
One Persistent Step at a Time: What Jeff Olson’s Slight Edge Taught Me About Success
There was a guy named Steve who dreamed of being in show business. Comedy was his specialty. But when he was younger, he didn’t stand out in any unique way. He couldn’t sing, and he had no rhythm. For Steve, the road to fame was a slow, uphill struggle. Nonetheless, over time and through perseverance,…
4 Ways People Sabotage Their Progress: How to Sidestep the Traps
I have a shortlist of goals to keep me on my path to full-time RVing. One of them is saving enough money to buy a decent used rig. Recently, I reviewed my January budget and, no denying it, I fell short on my RV savings goal. At first, I was dumbfounded: What happened? After trying…
6 Signs Your Life Is In a Rut, and How to Dig Yourself Out
Last December, I was stopped at a red light on my way to work. I thought about beginning another day at my job . . . and I started to cry. I realized then that I was at a breaking point. Recently I was on Inc.com, and I read 6 Telltale Signs You Need to…
Let Go of That Sentimental Item Without Feeling Guilty About It
As a lifelong book lover, it’s been hard downsizing my library. I can’t have all that book weight slowing down my future RV and taking up valuable space. After many months, I’m proud to say that I’m now down to about a dozen books. One book that I’ve held on to for a while is…
I agree with Rick Steves . . . Leaving America has made me a better American.
Many Americans are afraid to leave the United States. Our media can make the world look like a really scary place, but I think there’s much more out there to love than there is to fear. Whenever I visit another country, I get a look at the United States through a fresh lens. I find…
Book Corner: Ten Years a Nomad
Do you like to read? I hope so, because you’re looking at my first monthly installment of Book Corner. Once a month I’ll give you the low-down on books that inspire me, as well as teach us an aspect of hitting the “reset” button on life and pursuing the dream. I read Matthew Kepnes’s book,…
Making the Most of a Flight Cancellation in Vilafranca del Penèdes, Spain
by Doug McNamee at Bicycle Day Trips “Today’s flight has been cancelled due to a problem with the navigation system.” This was the last thing I wanted to hear while waiting to board my flight back to the United States. My girlfriend and I had just spent two weeks in Spain where we visited Barcelona,…
With this carry-on, you’ll never have to check a bag again.
If you travel a fair amount you’re familiar with the hassle of boarding a full flight or being on a low-priority boarding list. The hassle is made worse if your carry-on bag is too big and has to be gate-checked. That means waiting in a line upon arrival to retrieve the bag, often causing you…
Five awesome reasons why you should see the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum
Ever wonder how old RVing is in the United States? Well, you can find out at the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, IN. Launched as the RV/MH Heritage Foundation in 1972, the Hall of Fame and Museum boasts 100,000 sq. ft. of space with historical RVs, walls honoring notable notables in the industry, library,…
Three compelling reasons to travel more this year
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page. –St. Augustine As an introvert, I’m not really good at small talk. But if you really want to engage me, tell me about the cool countries or cities you’ve been to. Having seen some wonderful places myself, I love talking…
A no-fail Home Decluttering Timeline to get ready for RV living
Deciding to make a life change is a major milestone. For me, that means getting out of my sticks-and-bricks apartment and transitioning to full-time RV living. For you, there might not be an RV in your future, but maybe you want to simplify your life and live with less. Intent is important, but you also…
4 easy ways to survive the 30-Day Minimalism Game
Yes, I’m still doing the 30-Day Minimalism Game . . . mostly. I forgot to purge 18 items on Tuesday, so I have to catch up somehow. Yesterday was Day 19, and here are the items on their way out the door: Why did I deviate from my goal on Tuesday? . . . Well,…
How 3 simple questions will help you shrink your work space for RV living
Preparing for full-time RVing means downsizing what you have and doing more with less. One task is to downsize your work space. I have a huge desk with a hutch that used to hold tons of office supplies. But working out of my RV will require a smaller work space and the ability to store…
How to downsize for your RV kitchen
One of my favorite things about camping is getting up early, brewing coffee, and then fixing breakfast. I can’t wait to do this in my very own RV kitchen. But you can imagine how space can be an issue. This means that to make the adjustment to RV life I have to start downsizing the…
Update: 30-Day Minimalism Game
As promised, I have an update on my progress on the 30-Day Minimalism Game. It’s Day 9, and today I got rid of: a rhinestone necklace a pair of rhinestone earrings a rhinestone bracelet a knitted bracelet a flower vase a pair of reading glasses a sleeping mask a tan wicker basket, and . ….
De-clutter with the 30-Day Minimalism Game
Getting rid of excess stuff used to be hard for me. I’ve been a pack rat for most of my life. It’s a trait I must have inherited from my father, who still keeps some of my old toys in the attic. I’ve hung onto old t-shirts, commemorative mugs, and other things for sentimental reasons….
Save time with a muffin in a mug
In my quest to do things on a smaller scale, I often experiment with cooking and baking. One of my favorite breakfast foods is a muffin. I know how to bake a dozen or two in the oven, but that takes time and planning–blech! Baking can also take up a lot of space, which is…
Being a Princess is Overrated.
I remember being about 4 or 5 and sitting on my dad’s lap. It was one of those tender moments from my childhood. On one of those occasions he asked me a question I’ll never forget: “Don’t you want to be Cinderella when you grow up?” Huh? . . . The little kid in me…
Things to make with duct tape
Before I began planning my RV life, I was addicted to buying in bulk. I felt like a prepper stocking up on tissues, toilet paper, toothpaste, and boxed food because it made me feel prepared. It also fed my desire to save money for trips and experiences, and for my dream RV. On one bulk…
I need a vacation from my vacation!
A couple of weeks ago my boyfriend and I were in Germany–Frankfurt, Füssen, Nuremberg, and Berlin. I turned 49 while we were in Berlin. To celebrate, we made our own chocolate at Ritter Sport, attended the Day of German Unity celebration near Brandenburg Gate, and enjoyed a wonderful Spanish tapas meal at Barcelona restaurant near…
How I made my boss laugh
The division director at my work intimidates the hell out of me. When it comes to my performance, he’s the last person I want to disappoint. But he also has this sense of humor that pops up on occasion and never ceases to cheer me up. Earlier this week I had to give a presentation…
Quit Asking Me, “What Do You Do?”
Several years ago I attended a lecture by a well-published scholar. I don’t remember her topic, but I’ll never forget something she said during the Q&A session. She told the audience that when she was just five years old, an adult asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. She recalled her…
Taking a detour: Prague Castle
Ever since I started on my RV transition, I’ve been exploring ways to earn income on the road. I really enjoy writing, so I’ve started looking for freelance blogging and content writing gigs. I’m not able to replace my current income yet, but I’m building my portfolio and gaining experience writing about several new topics. Below…
My Favorite RV Camping Hacks
I love reading hacks for RVing, camping, or being outdoors. And I thought I’d read it all. I rarely open new “hacks” articles anymore because I assume it’ll be the same information I’ve read over and over again. Wrong! Here are some hacks that I ran across recently that surprised me. To me they’re original. I…
Visualizing my RV life
I would visualize things coming to me. It would just make me feel better. Visualization works if you work hard. That’s the thing. You can’t just visualize and go eat a sandwich. —Jim Carrey, Oprah Winfrey Show, 1997 When I need to relax, I close my eyes and visualize future moments from my RV dream…
