round trip travel and lifestyle blog

Lifestyle

If Your Brain’s a Tangled Mess, Read This

The snooze is real, like too real.  I seem to be hitting that button more and more these days, and I’m counting down the hours until Thanksgiving break, maybe even minutes.  Life has felt like 25/7 lately, and I know I’m not the only one feeling stress of the pre-holiday rush to get everything done.  If you feel like there’s not enough time in the day and your brain is totally fried, here are some tips to manage your stress.  (And soon enough, you’ll be eating turkey and pie!) A clean space means a clean mind As a kid,...

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Round Trip Roundup: OCTOBER

It wouldn’t have been right to do it any sooner.  But fall is officially in full swing, which means I can bust out my fall-scented candle.  This pumpkin nutmeg scent not only makes my home more cozy but also reminds me that it’s finally fall.  I look forward to new seasons: the pumpkin scent of fall, the snowflakes of winter, the crisp mornings of spring and the spontaneity of summer. But when it comes to anticipating seasons in my life, fear sets the tone.  It’s not the way it used to be.  Why can’t things go back to the...

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The revised & redesigned 40 Ways to Travel Better

About a year ago, I published my first book, 40 Ways to Travel Better.  Publishing a book is both exhausting and exhilarating.  For the past several months, I’ve been hard at work revising, updating and redesigning.  I teamed up with graphic designer, Catherine Reifschneider, and I’m obsessed with her redesign. Here’s a bit about the book: I’ve had my share of adventures — lessons, mistakes and all. Like that one time I accidentally dined and dashed in France and realized it awkwardly late — like across the street late. Or the time I told a guy that I was...

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Travel Needn’t Be So Posh

Cramped on a blanket in the park on a Sunday afternoon, we sat discussing French while eating croissants and gourmet cheese.  It’d been a gloomy day, and I really didn’t feel like driving all the way downtown for this French honor society rendez-vous.  But I’m so glad I did. Even though our little group spans in ages, backgrounds and friendship circles, there’s something about coming together with a group of unfamiliar faces and discussing something you love.  I shared my castle story (you know, the one time I spent a long weekend in a French castle), and no one’s...

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Round Trip Roundup: SEPTEMBER

As crazy of the beginning of the semester, there’s nothing like routine for a type A gal like me.  Settling into my new home has been so sweet with fantastic roommates and cozy space.  Some people crave excitement, and while I do too, I take such pleasure in the daily processes like my morning routine of making my bed and journaling each morning.  Looking back on the month, here’s my top 5: 1. Taylor Swift’s Reputation Tour There’s nothing like belting out “Blank Space” with your sisters in a stadium with thousands of other fans.  This month I went...

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Self-Publishing Review: Why I Switched From Amazon Publishing to Blurb

I’m ambitious, honestly maybe too ambitious at times.  I’ve always had an interest in writing, journaling and creating.  (In the sixth grade, I made my own newsletter for the boy band fan club I created.)  And that desire has only intensified as I’ve taken classes and matured as a person.  In 2014 I started my blog, and that writing itch hasn’t gone anywhere, which is what led to wanting to self-publish. Today I wanted to share my self-publishing experience with Amazon Publishing vs. Blurb. This post includes affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission from clicks/purchases,...

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11 Best Movies About Travel

I’m living in the restless in-between, when adventures and new places feel both distant in the past and far-off in the future. While nothing cures that melancholy like booking a flight, the next best thing to satisfy that wanderlust craving is to queue up a series of travel-themed movies. While your wallet and commitments demand that you stay a homebody, your spirit can travel the world with characters who set the bar for jet-setting. (Okay, and a few who are the opposite of #goals.) You can take in the same sights and scenery without the overpriced souvenirs. Perhaps the...

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Round Trip Roundup: AUGUST

This month was crazy flurry of chaos, and I’m really looking forward to getting in the swing of September.  August didn’t look the way I expected, but there is still such good to celebrate.  Here’s my top 5 for the month: 1. Book launch Anotha one.  This month I launched my new book, the Travel Thoughts Journal.  It’s a 12-day guided travel journaling for deep, meaningful experiences.  Each day includes new prompts and space to tape or glue in fun things you pick up throughout the day. 2. Piercing New hole, who dis?  You know those things you keep...

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Travel Thoughts Journal is on the market!

We all have thoughts and stories to tell, but getting them on paper is a whole different issue. And our travel experiences aren’t immune to this writer’s block. It’s during these weeks that we’re flooded with emotions and experiences we know we’ll cherish, but oftentimes these moments become foggy just months after we return home. You may not be a writer by profession, but your thoughts and stories matter.  And now you have the space to document them with unique questions to kindle your mind. I released the Travel Thoughts Journal, a 12-day guided journaling experience to achieve deep, meaningful...

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Bienvenue

Hey there, I'm Kristin, a Missouri girl living and working in southern France. I love planning weekend trips, sharing my best expat tips and sipping iced coffee.

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