Currently // Springtime!

March is here, and with the beginning of this month have come a ton of changes around here! With that, it is time for a bit of a catch up post with what I am currently up to! Of course, I had this post all typed up and ready to publish yesterday morning - but a quick trip to the ER changed that plan! Without further ado, here is more information on that trip - and the rest of life lately!

Feeling grateful for our healthcare system and the amazing ER docs from yesterday. For the last week, I've felt the most sick I have in a LONG time. Given the timing of when I came home from Mexico, I was convinced I had Zika virus- but a trip to urgent care on Friday confirmed it wasn't Zika. After a weekend of not getting better, I went back to urgent care Monday afternoon and they promptly sent me to the ER for further examination. While my afternoon consisted of an IV with fluids, steroids, antibiotics, and pain meds, I was released in the evening to go home and (hopefully!) fight it off at home. All of the doctors, PAs, and nurses in the ER were amazing and did a terrific job. Personally, I absolutely hate going to the doctor and have a HUGE fear of needles, so if I ever say that I need to go to the doctor, my hubby knows I'm really hurting. I had the best care today and am so grateful for the professionals that helped me out!

Studying like a crazy person! My last semester of grad school starts today (woohoo!) and I am taking three courses to finish it up. I thought I was busy when I was taking two, so we will see how this goes! Luckily each of the courses seem to be interesting (so far at least!) so hopefully this semester won't be as bad as it could be.

Playing lots of hockey! It's almost playoff time for the team I play on with my Dad, and they have had a few guys out lately so I've been able to sub in for several games. I've always said that playing hockey is the highlight of my week, and it is definitely still true!

Minneapolis is such a beautiful city!

Thrilled that we are back in Minneapolis! Nick and I officially made the move back a little over a week ago, but since then I've been essentially laid up in bed sick or just trying to get caught up with the move. I'm so excited to be back in Minneapolis and close to family and friends! It (rightfully so) feels like it has been years since I've lived in the city, so I am so excited to be back!

Enjoying wedding season! I've got several friends getting married this fall, and I am so excited for them! I am the Matron of Honor (gosh I'm old!) in my best friend's wedding, a bridesmaid in another wedding, and have several others to attend. Last weekend when we arrived in Minneapolis we hosted an engagement party for my best friend, and it was such a smashing success! It's always so nice to see people happy, in love, and to celebrate that!

Worrying about if I'll be able to keep up my grades. Thus far in my MBA I have received straight A's. Between taking three courses this semester, and having them be probably the three hardest courses in my program, I am a little nervous as of to whether I will be able to maintain straight A's or not! No matter what happens though, I am just excited for 10 weeks from now when I will be able to say I officially have my Masters Degree!

Appreciating my terrific husband. While I was dying sick with a 102 temp, he was really there for anything I needed- from running out to purchase a thermometer (can't believe we didn't own one!) to getting me specific flavors of Gatorade/Powerade, Popsicles, cleaning the condo, and not minding me sleeping for about 48 hours straight he was amazing. Then after that debacle it was urgent care Friday and Monday followed by the trip to the ER. He was right by my side, doing his best to make me feel better - or at least smile (laughing was painful!) - through it all. Thanks hun!

Wishing that being late for things didn't exist. People being late has always been one of my biggest pet peeves, and it still holds true today! Fortunately, I've learned to be prepared, and typically anywhere I go now I am armed with my iPhone, a notebook, and a pen. This way, even if people are late I am still able to get some work done and be productive.

Looking forward to planning our next vacation! I truthfully have no idea where Nick and I are off to next- and likely won't be able to plan anything until after I graduate- but I know the trip will be well deserved!

just over a year ago, we were living in Sweden!

In disbelief that it has been almost a full year since we left Sweden. When we left, we didn't know that we wouldn't be returning, so it was a big change when we ultimately decided not to head back over. Now, I can't believe how quickly the last year has gone!

Loving having some spring weather! Today has been a beautiful, sunny, 60° day here in Minneapolis. When I haven't been sleeping, I have thrown open the patio door and windows to get some fresh air in throughout the apartment. A big spring cleaning has been taking effect for the last week since arriving home, and I'm looking forward to eventually being done with cleaning and having everything be nice and organized!

And truthfully, that's a great summary of what I've been up to (and will be up to!) over the last/next few weeks. It has been a blur of moving, hosting the engagement party, being sick, and prepping for my last semester of grad school. Busy but amazing! What have you been up to lately? And fun plans coming up or exciting things going on in your life?

What I Learned at 25

Looking back on 25 and what I learned at age 25!

25, you were a good, albeit challenging, year. I learned a lot from you. Each year that we live we learn more and more things. For example, I've always known that you should save money, that things don't go as planned, that you have the key to your own happiness, that you should stay close with your friends and family, etc. However, despite knowing these lessons, the meaning doesn't always hit home immediately. I learned a lot of things when I was 25. So, on the morning of 26, I want to talk about what exactly 25 taught me!

LIFE DOESN'T ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED
Now, I'd like to think I knew this before 25. Heck, I'd experienced this several times between switching jobs last minute, moving from one country to another unexpectedly, meeting my husband right when I had thought I wouldn't date for awhile - the list goes on. I certainly had enough moments when life didn't go as I planned. And then 25 hit, and it seemed to be the year that every 'plan' I had jumped right out the window. As a type A personality and a planner in general, this was - and still is - difficult for me. But hey, 25 definitely taught me that just because life doesn't go as planned, does not mean it is a bad thing!

Dancing with the random man twice your age while sailing the Caribbean is always a great idea!

EMBRACE THE SMALL MOMENTS
When life doesn't go as you planned, it is all the more important to embrace the small moments. Maybe your weekend plans got cancelled, but that just means a few extra minutes to lounge in bed and snuggle with your significant other. Perhaps you made a mistake when booking a hotel and end up paying twice what you thought it would be. I bet you'll never make that mistake again! Rather than focusing on the negative, choose to look on the bright side and find the good in every situation.

TAKE A BREAK WHEN YOU NEED TO
I have a lot going on in my life, and very rarely do I ever give myself a day off. Between work, my MBA courses, this blog, and obligations to my family and friends, I've got a lot going on. Which is why it is ever-so-important to schedule time off and shut down for awhile to just relax and live in the moment. Being busy is not always a good thing. Our bodies, minds, and souls need to have some time to recharge every once in awhile. 

Choosing to be the pilot of my life!

FOCUS ON WHATS IMPORTANT
This relates to every aspect of life, whether it is in your personal, professional, or academic life. I've learned when I feel myself getting upset over something to ask "Will this matter in one year? In five years? In ten years?" These simple questions help me to take a step back and focus on what is really important. 

IT'S OK TO NOT BE OK
None of us are superheroes all the time, and life can be difficult. The loved ones around you will be there to listen to you when you need a helping hand. If others can't help, it is 100% OK to take a hot bubble bath with a glass of wine and have a good cry. Sometimes we just need to let it all out!

IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, CHANGE IT.
And if you can't change it, change your attitude. You have the power to make yourself happy, you just have to choose to be happy. If you don't like something, and you can't change it, find a way to change how you think about it so that you are more happy with it - or, at least, less unhappy about it. Happiness is a choice, and it is important to choose happiness EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

So there we have it with what I truly learned at 25! Of course, many of these things I knew before turning 25. However, I didn't start embracing them, and believing them, until this point in my life. Life is a learning process, and it is important to always be learning in order to continue growing. As it is (likely) clear to see, 25 was a challenging year for me. A lot of things didn't go as I had wanted them to, some were in my control and others weren't. However, despite 25 being a challenging year, there were also a TON of great things! I started out my 25th year living in Sweden with my amazing husband. We moved back to Minneapolis, to Des Moines, and back to Minneapolis again. I traveled to the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and had several great trips right here in the good ol' USA. I learned a lot about my relationships with my family and friends. All in all, 25 was a great year and I learned a lot. However, I am beyond looking forward to this new year. Cheers to 26!

Absolutely Hooked! Review: Spear Fishing Today in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Last week while in Playa Del Carmen, Nick and I had the opportunity to try out something brand new that very few people have done in their lifetime. This unique activity - definitely worth experience anytime you are in the Playa Del Carmen area - is spear fishing! If you have seen the James Bond movie, this is exactly what you should be thinking of. It is a combination of fishing, hunting, snorkeling, and so many great things.

In any case, Nick, myself, and two other guys in our group decided one afternoon to try out spear fishing. We met Leo, the founder of Spear Fishing Today, right on the beach in Playa. After a cold morning on the water, the guys all decided to go rent wet suits in order to stay warm while spending the afternoon in the water. After this, we loaded up and headed out into the ocean to give spear fishing a try!

After one of the first dives. It was a COLD day out, thus the wetsuits! That is Nick's frozen & exhausted look.

Once we reached our destination, Leo asked each of the guys about their experiences with fishing and knowledge of Caribbean fish. As the three guys in our group were brand new beginners to spear fishing, Leo talked for 10 to 15 minutes on safety procedures and best practices while spear fishing. For myself, somebody with no experience whatsoever spearfishing, I had initially been worried that it could be dangerous, especially with a group of beginners. After listening to the safety talk and instructions, I was impressed with the system that SpearFishing Today had worked out and how well they took care of their customers. In any case, after the instructions it was off into the water the guys went!

The boys headed out to the first site! Water is absolutely beautiful!

For those unfamiliar with spearfishing, essentially what you do is have a mask and snorkel, along with a spearfishing gun. In pairs, you take turns with the gun and dive down into the water, looking around for fish. When you see one, you wait until it approaches you or you get close enough, and then - bam! - you are able to shoot your spear at the fish in hopes of getting it. Of course, most fish will fight back, which is why in deeper waters your gun and spear will be attached to a buoy.

In any case, enough from me - let's hear about the experience from Nick!

Nick is quite excited!

To say that I was excited about spearfishing would be a complete understatement. I love to fish and also love to hunt, and as Samantha mentioned earlier this seems like a great combo of the two. Leo who is a native of the Netherlands is absolutely amazing in everything he does and his attention to detail is top notch.

As Samantha also mentioned it was myself, and two other guys from our group. There was also a more advanced spear fisherman named John who joined us on the trip. I paired up with John and the other two guys from our party paired up. We all suited up and followed Leo into the ocean. We started out in a fairly shallow area so that we could get the feel of things and I think Leo wanted to make sure that we were comfortable in the water. I had done a fair bit of snorkeling before so this was very similar. Just float on the surface, put you face into the water and breath through a tube. I quickly found out that I had pretty good lungs and could spend a fair amount of time underwater checking out the coral structures where fish like to hide.

Myself watching John dive down. It was impressive to see how far down he could get! Thats a sunken ship below him!

We used the "buddy system" at all times. When John was underwater with the speargun I was watching him and following from the service. When he would surface, he would pass the gun to me and then I would take a big breath and it was my turn to dive down. I was amazed at the amount of life there was under the surface. It was like swimming in a tropical aquarium. While diving, I was able to see barracuda, trigger fish, grouper, parrot fish, pufferfish, manta rays, and sting rays - and this is all in addition to the beautiful coral reefs! When spearfishing, it is important to note that it is very selective. You do not shoot beautifully colored reef fish, sharks, rays etc. We are only after appropriate sized game fish (basically anything that is silver or white).

On the way up with a triggerfish in tow!

I left my hand in this shot to give you an idea. And right now, John was probably only 15 meters down!

One of the highlights of my trip was seeing the manta ray. It was just on the edge of my vision, and I looked below me. All of a sudden I could see this huge manta ray, swimming on the edge of this coral reef with a steep drop off. It was almost majestic to watch the manta ray float by me and then down into the ocean's abyss, and made me feel absolutely tiny. Definitely one of the coolest aspects of spearfishing is that not only are you able to hunt/fish, but you are also able to have cool experiences like this and see unique aspects of the ocean you might otherwise never get to see.

You can see the second shot being performed!

Leo with the barracuda

The second fish of the day!

After about 30 minutes we all felt comfortable and went out a little deeper to a sunken ship. At this location the water was so blue and beautiful and we could just barely see the bottom. After some time, we were able to shoot a very nice barracuda. After we got the barracuda, Leo made the most amazing ceviche for us on the boat and we had an amazing lunch before heading back. Leo gave us some large filets from the barracuda to take home. We ended up giving our fresh fish to the security guard at our condo. We told him to come over when he got off his shift. He showed up promptly at 7pm and was so happy to get the fresh fish. As you know, Mexico is a poor country and our whole group was happy to give him our fish. He didn't speak a word of english but his gratitude was amazingly apparent.

Slicing the barracuda up

Barracuda with ceviche ingredients

Work in process...

Completed ceviche! Just one of the small bowls we munched on!

On our way back in after eating the ceviche John was telling me that he was going back out again in 2 days and I really wanted to join. He said he was taking the ferry over Cozumel and the fishing there was very good. He talked about these "triggerfish" that were plentiful and very good eating. I spoke with Samantha and she gave me the go ahead so 2 days later I was on the boat again. I think it is safe to say that I have caught the spearfishing bug and I will absolutely be doing this at any and every tropical destination that we visit.

All of us with the barracuda!

And there you have it, from my hubby himself on his experience spearfishing! If you ask him, he will claim that I stole all of his words about the experience - but truly, I was just telling about my experience from above water watching the guys!

beautiful sunset on the way back home!

**Disclosure: We received a complimentary or discounted experience in order to facilitate this review. As always, this did not affect my review in any way and all opinions remain 100% honest!**

Viva La Mexico : A Recap

stunning sunrises at our condo!

I'm back from sunny (or, as was the case of much of my trip, not-so-sunny!) Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. A few weeks ago it was decided that Nick and I needed to get out of dodge and soak up some rays. We planned the trip with two terrific couples that we know, and it was such a great getaway with them! Now that I am home - and busy like crazy! - it is time for a quick recap of our time!

morning stroll on the beach!

We stayed at a gorgeous, beachfront condominium building located right off 5th Avenue (the main drag in Playa Del Carmen). The condo was spacious, but certainly the best part about it was the location and the infinity pool! Each morning I enjoyed watching the sun rise - and with views like the one above, how could you not?! Normally I try to avoid waking up early on vacation, but in this case it was well worth it.

beautiful infinity pool leading up to the ocean!

The first couple days of the trip were spent relaxing and trying to soak up the sun - despite the cool weather. We did manage to catch a couple of $20 70-minute long massages on the beach (so amazing!) and a few amazing meals.

Tour of an authentic, current day Mayan village

Our first outing was an incredibly unique and special tour by Local Quickies. In case you haven't heard of them, Local Quickies is a smaller group from Playa Del Carmen focused on providing unique, personalized excursions that take on a much more local feel (hence the name). We were told not to think of it as a tour, rather as an afternoon hanging out with friends- and really, this is what it felt like! We spent our morning snorkeling in Akumal Bay with beautiful sea tortoises, then got to go swimming in a private cenote, followed by time relaxing in beautiful Tulum and a catamaran ride on the largest catamaran in the Caribbean back home!

Beautiful barracuda caught while spearfishing! 

The following day, Nick was beyond excited to go spearfishing with Spear Fishing Today. He loves both fishing and hunting, and had decided that this looked like a great way to combine some activities. Despite a rather cold start to the day (hence, the wet suits!) all of the guys loved their first time spearfishing and even catching a nice barracuda. One of the coolest parts for the guys is that part of the trip took place right outside of Xel Ha / Xcaret, so they were able to experience some great snorkeling as well! Nick enjoyed it so much that he even went out again a few days later and was able to get several other fish!

check out those stalactites and stalagmites!

On Friday evening, both of the amazing couples we had traveled with had to depart and head back to real life, leaving Nick and I with a few days to relax on our own! Friday evening was spent visiting one of the most unique restaurants in Playa Del Carmen, and likely one of the most unique restaurants in the world! Alux is an entire restaurant that is situated in a cave, complete with stalactites and stalagmites - that are still actively growing! It was such a unique dining experience, and definitely one of the best restaurants in Playa.

Beautiful buildings in Cozumel, Mexico

Finally, I had the opportunity to visit and explore Cozumel for my first time! I really didn't know what to expect when I was headed to Cozumel, as I know tons of people that absolutely love the town and other people that say it is simply a resort island. Personally, my one short visit to Cozumel was enough. While there were some beautiful buildings and great restaurants/bars, there really didn't seem to be anything that is absolutely drawing me back. Have you ever visited a place like this?

palm trees - this sight never gets old!

All in all, this trip to Mexico came at the absolute perfect time. With just two weeks left before starting my final semester of grad school and an impending move (that's right!), I definitely needed the time to relax. We were joined by two amazing couples and had the best time with them. So many fun activities were done, and I can't wait to fill you in on all of the details!

Hope everyone is having a great rest of their winter! Do you have any fun activities or vacations planned?

Why Blogging Is The Best Job Ever

Yep, I said it. Sorry full-time career, but as of right now, 100% blogging is the best job ever. Don't understand why? Well, perhaps you haven't started a blog. If only you had a blog, you would agree with this statement. Just take a look at this list of the 9 reasons blogging is the best job ever, and you will be sold!

1. I can blog anywhere. So as I am typing this, when it is currently -15°F (that is -26°C for the rest of the world), I don't have to leave my house today. Yes, blogging does give me an excuse not to leave the house. At the same time, I can do it from anywhere - meaning some of the more exotic locations that I've been working in include Thailand, the Dominican Republic, and yes, flying over just about any ocean in the world. Pretty awesome that I can blog anywhere I would like!

2. There is no dress code. This takes it back to that -15° weather outside - since I don't have to leave my house, I'm currently bundled up in my one-piece pajamas, and on top of that I have my full length robe on. #NoJudging, please. Very rarely do I actually type up my blog posts while fully dressed and ready to take on the world.

3. I get to work on my writing skills. I'll be honest, I never considered myself to be a writer for the first 23 years of my life. Once I started blogging though, it was a whole different game. Now I love to share my stories in a creative way, and to write however I feel. This is certainly not ever going to be a place where you see academic writing taking place (I get plenty of that in my MBA courses - 3 months left, BTW!)

4. You learn a lot. I've learned a ton about photography, framing, creating your voice, traveling the world, random tidbits when I'm researching anything I write about, and then a little bit about web design, HTML, and SEO. Just about every single post I write, I am learning at least several new things, and I know that these are skills that will help me out in the future. So, not only is blogging an awesome job, but blogging will also help you to develop career skills!

Working away while in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic!

5. I've networked and worked with companies and people from all over the world. Similar to being able to work from anywhere in the world, I've made successful partnerships with companies in Latvia, Sweden, Thailand, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and definitely right here in the U.S. How many people can say that they've worked with companies from around the world? Which brings me to my next point...

6. Blogging has, and will continue, to help me in my career path. I'll be honest, I don't have an exact idea of what I'll be doing 5, 10, and definitely not 15 years from now. Through blogging, I have a better idea of what I'd like to do- I'd like it to involve people, being in the tourism or travel industry would be ideal, and of course from my educational standpoint I love the marketing and customer service field. All of the skills that I've gained through blogging have helped me to receive various job offers, and I know that this blog will continue to help my career.

7. Blogging has kept a permanent record of my life, for myself and my family to look back on. Every once in awhile, I catch myself reading an old post of mine that I no longer even remember creating. It transports me to a different time in my life. Now, I'm fully aware that technically, for SEO (search engine optimization) purposes I should clean up my blog - but this is a part of my history now, and since my blog is for me and me only, it stays!

8. Through blogging, I've met 'friends' from all over the world. Everyone once in awhile in conversation, random destinations such as Poland or Iceland or Cambodia pops up, and I'm able to relate to the conversation and blurt out "oh! I have a friend that lives there!" Meeting all of these people has exposed me to so many different cultures and destinations - all of which I want to visit!

wine tasting while in Napa Valley! - all in a days work as a blogger!

9. The perks of being a blogger. I'm doing something I love - and it pays off! I started this blog several years ago simply to keep in touch with family and friends. Now, I've kept up with it because I love and truly enjoying doing it. More and more, I've begun accepting sponsored experiences and received payment for my work, and I'll be honest, a lot of my experiences are complimentary. Some might call these free perks, but I refuse to- I'm certainly working my tail off for them! Although, I can't lie, the money that I have been able to save by not paying for these experiences, or hotels, or upgrades, is quite nice!

For my fellow bloggers, what is the reason you love to blog?