Living in a new country often brings about unique experiences and challenges. There are so many things I find myself doing now that I never thought I would. It’s a journey filled with moments that make me pause and wonder, “What in the world am I doing?” I thought it would be fun to share some!
Trusting strangers with my dog in Belgium every time I travel.
Back in the US, we had friends and family to watch Mallow. There were also options like doggy daycares and apps like “Rover” for finding someone to watch her. However, with trusted friends/family conveniently located in the area, emergencies were never a concern. Moving to Belgium changed that. This year, we actively sought out strangers on Facebook to care for Mallow during our travels. Meeting them beforehand has become a pre-flight ritual, and we’re grateful to have found three trusted sitters who provide regular updates and pictures during our travels!
A picture of Mallow from one of our dog-sitters. They took her to a town called “Ghent” to an outdoor concert. We haven’t even visited Ghent yet!
Adopting a “Whatever comes on the meal” mentality
I’ve never considered myself a picky eater, but I used to be the girl always requesting substitutions or alterations to my meals. Whether due to a language barrier or a cultural norm, I’ve embraced the European approach of eating whatever is served. This is a stark contrast to the American dining scene, where customization is the norm. Of course allergies are the exception (I am allergic to almonds so I have to be super careful).
Walking everywhere.
A 35-minute walk to the restaurant for dinner, regardless of the weather or distance? Absolutely. Rain or shine, hot or cold, walking has become my preferred mode of transportation. From grocery shopping and dining out to visiting bars, getting coffee, or heading to the local hardware store – I walk everywhere. The only time I opt for driving is to and from work, and if the distance is too great, I take public transit. Traffic here is also awful. In fact, last year Brussels was named the city with the 14th worst traffic in the world and the 7th worst in Europe.
Using simple words and phrases in English.
Since most people living in Brussels are from all over the world (my friend group alone consists of people from Belgium, Turkey, Kenya, Italy, Albania, Brazil, Finland, Canada) English is our common language. However, with English not being the first language for many, I’ve adapted by using simpler words and phrases. Expressions like “piece of cake” or “cold turkey” often end up with people looking confused. Most people here actually speak at least 2 languages fluently, and it is not uncommon for people to speak 3, 4, 5, or more languages. I’ve also adjusted my vocabulary by opting for simpler words like “strange” instead of “peculiar”. Interestingly, this adjustment sometimes leads to momentary lapses in memory when I’m back in The States or speaking with native English speakers.
Paying for water AND to use the bathroom.
Yes, it’s true. In most European countries you have to pay for your water. When you request water at a restaurant, you’re usually presented with the choice between still or sparkling (I always opt for still). At restaurants, access to the bathrooms (often referred to as water closets or toilets) is usually complimentary. However, the scenario shifts when you find yourself at a bar during the late evening, enjoying drinks. Even in this social setting where you’re a customer, there’s a restroom fee. It’s one of those nuances of daily life here that takes some getting used to.
Living in Europe has totally changed up my lifestyle, making me way more open to different ways of living. I’ve come to appreciate that the way I grew up and what feels normal to me is just one of many ways to live. It’s been quite the eye-opener!
The number one thing on my travel bucket list that I wanted to tackle while living abroad was going to Cappadocia, Turkey for the “World’s Best Hot Air Balloon Ride”. So in the beginning of this year, I went onto Google Flights and searched the cheapest weekend to fly from Brussels to Turkey…and September it was!
To be honest, Turkey had never really be on my radar. I have a whole list of places that I want to go, but it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that the hot air balloon ride caught my attention. The truth is that Americans tend to have a negative perception of Turkey and it can get tied in with the Middle East, being perceived as dangerous. Also, it is quite a far journey from America. I can honestly say that there was not one moment during our 5 day trip to Turkey where I felt unsafe. Of course, there are extremists in every country (we’ve certainly seen that in the US), but we talked with each of our tour guides and they said that you are free to choose your religion in Turkey. I feel like I learned a lot about the culture and the people, and really believe that everyone should go to Turkey once in their lifetime.
I have two Turkish colleagues that I regularly hangout with, not to mention there is a large Turkish community in Brussels. I have been around many Turkish people and tried many traditional Turkish dishes. Plus, my friends sent me with some great recommendations for our trip of things to try and places to see. I will be honest and say that I did not do enough of my own research before this trip because I a) did not know we needed a visa to enter Turkey and b) did not know about the dress code when entering mosques. Luckily we were able to get our visas upon arrival and I bought a scarf to cover my head and shoulders and Ben changed into pants for most of our touring.
Blue Mosque right near our hotel
We flew into Istanbul first (rated the 2022 best international airport…I seriously could live in the airport lounge there) and spent 1.5 days there. Honestly, you need much more time than this, however the main purpose of this trip was to get to Cappadocia, which you have to fly to Istanbul first anyways. The sun was shining and it was HOT. We went from chilly Brussels to weather back to summer it felt like! We walked that city up and down, exploring the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Gulhane Park, Grand Bazaar, and stopped at Sehzade Cag Kebap which was rated #9 on the Best Dishes of the World in 2022 & featured in The New York Times.
kebap for dayssss
Then we spent the evening on the Bosphorus Strait, an internationally significant waterway that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara (the divide between Asia and Europe). For only $44 each, we spent the evening on a yacht watching sunset with snacks and non-alcoholic drinks included. I’m linking this here because it’s something you have to do if you ever visit Istanbul. Overall, Turkey was extremely affordable.
sunset yacht cruise on the Bosphorus! to our left was Asia, to the right was Europe
Another thing I wanted to mention is that during this entire 5 day trip, we each had 1 beer (2 if you count the airport beers). Most of the places we went for meals didn’t offer alcohol on their menu, but we weren’t necessarily seeking it out either. I believe this is partly due to the high taxation on alcohol and also the conservative culture here. Regardless, this trip was proof that you can have an amazing time without it. Don’t worry though…we used all our calories on the food there anyways.
The next morning at 3:45am we got picked up for our flight to Cappadocia! I wouldn’t even say we slept…it was more of a nap. The flight was only an hour long, but it was quite the journey to get there. Upon landing, we technically left Europe and ended up in Asia. The airport shuttle took us to our hotel where we dropped off our bags with the front desk. The hotel was essentially in a cave and only had 6 rooms. The front desk kept our belongings outside in their corridor, so I just prayed that they would still be there when we came back. We began our North Cappadocia Tour where we toured the Open Air Museum, Uchisar Historic Castle, Pasabag Monks Valley, Deviant Valley, Avanos Pottery, and Love Valley. The land formations we saw were formed approximately 3-9 million years ago.
After a full day tour, we were taken straight to the quad bike tour for sunset (we went through a company who booked everything for us and put together a full itinerary, they didn’t miss a beat!) We went through various parts of the desert and went to a high view point to watch the sunset. Common theme here- I always need to end up on a boat and watch the sunset as many times as I can on each trip.
At one of the stops Ben and I stopped to just to take it all in. I looked at him and said “Can you believe we are ATVing through the Turkish desert?!?!?!?” I swear this life we are living feels like a dream. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t recognize how amazing this opportunity is and how grateful I am that we get to experience this together.
just a little bit dusty
After the ATV tour ended, we had dust in about every crevice so we took a quick shower then walked into town for dinner. We absolutely love Turkish food, and had another great meal. We headed to bed early because we had another 3:45am wakeup call LOL (I think we slept an average of 4 hours per night so ya girl definitely got cranky towards the end of the trip…Ben can confirm 😉 ).
I could barely sleep anyways because I knew that the hot air balloon ride was just hours away!!!!!! We got picked up outside of our hotel at 4:30 (yes I did fully do my hair and makeup before this) and were on our way. We picked up a few others and were dropped off in a field while it was pitch black out LOL. The hot air balloon companies began their set up, and before we knew it, the sky was illuminated. We climbed into what seemed like a basket made of wood with 18 other passengers and 2 pilots.
look at this basket…how is this sturdy?!?!?
It was in this moment I started to think about what it would actually be like to take flight in this contraption. The balloons fly from ground level to 3,000 feet above ground level, depending on wind direction and speed. The max. altitude is 6000 feet, which the pilot said we reached. He also mentioned that he cannot control if we go left or right, only up or down depending on the wind. Each flight they take ends up landing in a different area, where the crew meets us for landing. Ben was silent in fear and I was trying not to giggle. Once we got in the air, I was overtaken with immense happiness as I looked out and saw the 150 balloons flying simultaneously. No pictures could ever do this justice!
After a safe landing, we got dropped back off at our hotel where we used the 2 hour buffer to take a quick nap and get some breakfast. We spent the rest of the day on the South Cappadocia Tour where we explored the Red & Rose Valley, Cavusin Village, Underground city, Pigeon Valley, Goreme Town, and Ortahisa Panorama. The bus driver on this tour never spoke one word until the last stop. He then shared with us that he is a photographer in his free time and then proceeded to put Ben and I in ridiculous poses which I will share below. It was soooo funny.
like WHAT was happening here
Then we headed back to the airport in Cappadocia to fly to Istanbul for one more night before going back to Brussels. It was safe to say that we had seen Cappadocia from North to South and most importantly survived our hot air balloon ride! We left Turkey with full hearts, full stomachs, and absolutely exhausted. Ben & I agreed it was our best trip yet this year, and I would recommend going to Turkey to anyone.
Can you believe it? It’s been almost 8 months since I touched down in Brussels, and time here seems to have its own agenda! I feel I can adequately provide recommendations for what this unique city has to offer.
If you’ve never been or don’t know much about it, Brussels is like that place you’d land in blindfolded, and you’d swear you’ve been transported to another dimension. With a population of around 1.2 million, representing 180 nationalities, and conversations happening in 108 different languages, this city is a true melting pot. This diversity is what makes Brussels’ food and culture scene so amazing.
Most of my recommendations have revolved around the city center, where I call home. But don’t let that stop you from venturing into other eclectic neighborhoods like Ixelles.
Here’s my list of cool things to do, places to check out, and delicious restaurants to hit up in Brussels!
Things to do & Places to see
Grand Place is a 14th century city square completely encircled by historic buildings and is the most magical place in Brussels in my opinion. This is a must see at night when the lights are on and the gold sparkles off the buildings. You can find City Hall here, too!
Mont de Arts is a historic site in the center of the city. Featured on nearly every post card from Brussels, it is an extension of the King’s Square and connects the upper and lower city. There’s a terrace there where you can grab a coffee or cocktail and look at the view.
Parc du Cinquantenaire is a 19th-century city park with floral gardens & fountains and features art, auto & military museums. This expansive park is the largest in Brussels and holds a special place in my heart because we lived a stone’s throw away for the first month before we found a long-term apartment.
St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral is Belgium’s cherished national church, standing tall in the magnificent Brabant Gothic style. The best part? You can step inside for free and witness the historic setting where Belgian royal weddings and funerals have unfolded over the years.
Royal Palace of Brussels/Royal Parc – The Royal Palace was once the official palace of the King and Queen of Belgium. It is not used as a royal residence, as the king and his family live in the Royal Palace of Laeken in northern Brussels. Although it is currently closed due to renovations, it is still worth it to walk by and take a stroll through the Royal Parc. There is a chill place to grab a drink or a snack in the Parc called Radio Kiosk.
Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert is an elegant shopping center that is surrounded by places to dine and drink
Others may say to visit the Atomium or go see Manneken Pis. In my opinion, these aren’t things I would go out of my way to see.
Food & Drink
For me, good food plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall experience of visiting a new city. If you’re ever in Brussels, expect to not eat healthy…we have way too many carbs and sweets. During most week nights we eat at home, but here are my fav places:
Typical Belgian
Nüetnigenough is located in the city centre. They have less than 10 tables and there is often a wait, but the food is absolutely delicious. Belgium is known for their beef stew and this place has the best one (and we’ve tried a lot!)
2nd place is Aux Armes de Bruxelles which is a little more upscale and has an extensive menu. Warning: this place gets HOT so if there’s not a table outside in the summer, skip it!
Friture (fry) and waffle stands will be all throughout the city! The friture stands typically have over 30 sauces you can choose from- my personal favorite is andalouse. My go-to waffle toppings are Nutella, whipped cream, and strawberries. (I seriously walk by these places on a daily basis and have to resist the temptation…). The best tip I have is go to a busy waffle place! That means you’re almost guaranteed a hot, fresh waffle.
Italian
Pasta Divinais just a few steps from the Grand Place. The owners are an adorable older couple from Italy. The wife is in the kitchen while the husband walks around to each table to share the history of the restaurant and make his recommendations. Expect to wait a little bit but usually there is live music in this area!
La Piola has been voted one of the best pizzerias in Europe several times. It is Neapolitan style, so each person typically orders their own and it is delicious. It is located inside of the Wolf Market which offers 17 different restaurant choices and local beers. It is a fun place to meet with a group even though it can get very crowded.
Asian
Au Bon Bol is my favorite Chinese/ramen restaurant where you see the staff literally making the homemade noodles right before your eyes. My go-to is fried noodles with beef. Just walk right in and seat yourself, but the upstairs can get super warm.
Fastfood/late night food
1st place is in the city center, a Turkish place named Capadocia. The feta kofte wrap hits the spot every time and they are open all night long.
2nd place would go to Plaka which is a fast food Greek restaurant right near Grand Place and their kebabs/pitas/plates are super delicious. You can’t beat their prices & they’re open super late too!
Hidden Gems
Tonton Garby started off as a cheese shop 20+ years ago and has involved into a tucked away sandwich shop that has over 2,000 Google reviews. There’s guaranteed to be a line out the door, but the owner makes sandwiches until he runs out of fresh bread each day. Each guests is made a personalized sandwich from the choice of bread to every last topping. His sandwiches are delicious, affordable, and memorable. I took my mom here when she visited and the owner made it such a special experience for us!
Bars
DeliriumCafe holds the Guinness World Record for the most beers offered with 2004 choices. They obtained the record in 2004 and don’t plan on losing it anytime soon. Delirium is an entire street filled with different types of bars – shot bars, tequila bars, beer halls where you can even get a meter of beers to sample. This place is super fun to show all of our guests.
Place Jourdan is an entire street filled with places to get drinks, dine, or grab fries from the famous Maison Antoine.
Place du Luxembourg (aka “Plux”) is where to go on Thursday nights! It is a square in the European Quarter of Brussels where people head straight from work and stay all night. People grab a blanket and a bottle of wine and in the evening it is a great bar scene and has places to dance.
La Luck is a game bar with Canadian cuisine. The entire upstairs is dedicated to reserved tables for game-lovers of all kinds. You tell the staff what kind of games you are interested in (how many players, collaborative, strategic, board game, dice, etc.) and they tailor select a game based on your interests. They explain the game while you sip on your coffee or cocktails, it is super fun!
More time in Belgium?
Bruges is an hour train ride from Brussels and is an absolute must. If you haven’t been to Europe, this town is essentially everything you would picture Europe to be…it honestly feels like stepping back in to time. It’s a small medieval town, filled with picturesque canals, 13th & 14th century architecture, and cobblestone streets. I had the best Belgian waffle there and took a dreamy canal ride.
Before you go…
Chocolate shop and bring back chocolate for your family, friends, coworkers, everyone. Known as the Chocolate Capital of the World, the chocolate here is indescribable. My favorite chocolate shop are Leonidas and La Belgique Gourmande. Leonidas is great for gift giving and La Belgique Gourmande is great for grabbing a bag/box and filling it up self-serve. You can also make your own personalized chocolate bar! Fun fact: There’s 320+ chocolate shops throughout Belgium LOL
Did you see the Grand Place at night? Non-negotiable.
Did you have a Belgian waffle? You really can’t come to Belgium and not have one…
I am probably forgetting some things and I am sure I will discover more along the way, but please reach out if you are planning a trip. I love getting to share this special place with my friends and family!
I haven’t blogged in 2.5 months and that’s because summer has been a whirlwind. Who would’ve guessed that I would still be as busy as usual even though I moved halfway across the world? (Okay the answer is probably everyone who knows me lol) In the time since I have written last…
We’ve had 7 visitors (shoutout to my mother-in-law, Roni, Shannon, Paddy, Justine/Steph, & Gabby)
Celebrated my 26th birthday
Been back to The States 2x (Illinois, Michigan, Texas) where I was in two weddings
Had my first Euro business trip to Lyon, France
Been on 2 personal Euro trips (a weekend in the south of Belgium with my coworkers and met a friend in Budapest)
Ben has had 2 Euro trips (Rome with his mom and met a friend in Ireland)
I am honestly tired just typing all that LOL. Summer has flown by per usual, and this week marks 7 months of living abroad! The weather here hasn’t felt very summer-y though. According to the Brussels Times, this July was the rainiest July in 35 years. I am not even surprised considering Ben and I have the WORST luck with weather…traveling to the top of the Swiss Alps and it being too snowy we couldn’t see past an arm’s length, hiking at sunrise to a lookout in Tennessee and only seeing fog, snowing on our wedding day but being hot and sunny the day after…the list goes on hahah. Any day that we have sunshine here in Brussels, you can bet we are going out for long dog walks and drinks on the terrace of our favorite local spots.
Other than the weather, things have been pretty great! I am still loving my job. My HR team and coworkers have really welcomed me, the projects I am working on have me feeling motivated and creative, and I’m excited for some new programs I am working on that will launch this fall (or as they say here ~autumn~). I am still getting use to using the European way…discussing the weather in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit, measuring distance in kilometers instead of miles, speaking in French/Dutch to make small talk and do simple tasks such as ordering a morning coffee and croissant. Every day here really feels like I am living in a parallel universe…and I love it! I really feel like I have adapted much easier than I expected. (I might never want to come back…jk…maybe…)
Visitors
So when we announced that we were moving abroad, nearly everyone in our lives said that they were going to come visit. I really didn’t expect that as many people would come visit, just because of how busy life is/the expense/getting time off of work/far flight/etc. But we have been blessed with so many visitors! At this point, I can confidentially say that we are professional tour guides of Brussels.
Earlier in June, my mother-in-law came to visit for 10 days. It was her 1st time in Europe and she absolutely thrived!!! She is gluten and dairy free in America, but she could eat WHATEVER she wanted while she was here without having stomach issues, rashes, fatigue, or any other symptoms. Can we just take a minute to realize that the hormones and preservatives that are put into our food in America are not okay? Anyways, her and Ben went to Rome for a few days. I stayed back to work and care for the Mallow. Although I was jealous for three full days straight, I was so happy for the two of them to have that time together. After they returned, we had a ton of fun showing her around and eating all things gluten and dairy filled! I am really lucky to have such an awesome mother-in-law, because I know that’s not the case for everyone!
My next visitor was one of my closest college (university) friends, Shannon. This was also Shannon’s first time in Europe. We spent 5 days together exploring Brussels, the medieval town of Bruges, and one over night seaside. It was my first time seeing the Belgian coast, and it was beautiful. I felt so honored that Shannon came to Europe just to visit me! I visited Shannon once in Colorado where she lived for a couple of years, and we always have the best time. We don’t see each other often, but we have the kind of friendship where we pick up right where we left off.
One of my best friend’s, Alex, her mom and sister were traveling around Europe trip and added on a couple of days in Brussels. It was so great getting to spend time with Justine and Steph. We had a classic Belgian meal and they discovered life without air conditioning. When Alex and I both studied abroad in Barcelona in 2017, Steph came to visit. I thought it was funny how we have had drinks together in 2 European countries! I love the Enright fam and can’t wait for Alex to come visit next 😉
My most recent visitor was another friend from college (university), Gabby. We met up in Budapest and had an absolute blast! Budapest is such an incredible place. We did an e-bike tour of the entire city, went to our first music festival, stayed up wayyyyyy too late, but managed to relax during the days at the famous thermal baths. More to come on the trip to Budapest!
Ben had two friends come and visit, too! One of Ben’s best friends that he played hockey with lives in Sweden, Roni. Roni was also a groomsmen in our wedding. He has already visited 2x, which is so cool that they get to see each other this often! Ben had another friend come visit, Paddy, that he coached with for the Glenbard hockey teams. They went to Ireland for a weekend and visited the Cliffs of Moher. I am sure that with all the time Ben and I spend together, he enjoyed this guy time!
It is always so special for us for our friends and family to experience our daily lives here in Brussels. We loveee having visitors. I have each of them sign our guest book and describe our travels and the time together. Fun fact: I haven’t read any of the entries. I want to save them until the end of my time here…I told this to Ben and he thought I was crazy. We will see if I can last the whole time without peaking in the book!
Trip#1 back home
I can’t believe I have already been home twice! The first time was in June for literally only 4 nights because I am crazy. When I told my European friends that I was going home for that short of a time they laughed at me LOL. Typically when people travel that far, they go for at least a week or two. The first trip home was because I was in charge of my cousin’s bachelorette party and to attend one of my best friend’s bridal showers! Both events were so so fun. I literally drove from the bachelorette weekend in Michigan straight to the bridal shower in Chicagoland, changed in a random bathroom, and carried on. I was dying of exhaustion but laughing along the way. I also managed to see my high school friends, my childhood best friend, and spent some time with family. You can never doubt my commitment to the people I love, that’s for sure!
I flew home absolutely exhausted and had no chance but to adjust to jet lag and repack because I had less than a 24 hour turnaround for my first business trip! As someone accustomed to traveling within the United States, I was very excitement when I found out I would be going to Lyon, France. True to my organization’s values, the travel policy encourages us to choose the most environmentally friendly means of transportation. Instead of taking a plane, which would have been the obvious choice, we opted for a high-speed train journey. This not only reduced our carbon footprint but also allowed us to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. (We will just skip over the part where my boss’ Louis Vuitton suitcase was stolen). During our stay in France, we dined at a Michelin-starred restaurant. What amused me was that, unlike in America where we would typically order an Uber, we happily embraced a 30-minute walk to and from the restaurant. It was a pleasant reminder of the European lifestyle and their appreciation for the simple pleasures in life. This trip also provided an opportunity to engage with our European works council and strengthen our partnership with union representatives. My boss and I stayed an extra night to explore the town and went out for a nice meal and drinks, too!
Lyon is the culinary capital of France!
I finally returned home after traveling for a week straight, and it’s safe to say I learned my lesson that I took on too much. I came home and was sooo sick. Because I don’t want to miss out on these big life events for the important people in my life, I maybe overcommitted and underestimated the toll it would take. What I am slowing starting to realize is that my life is here, for now. That is definitely my current challenge so if you could be praying/sending me good thoughts about being present and accepting that I can’t be everywhere at all times for everyone…I would greatly appreciate that.
Trip #2 back home
A couple weeks later in July, I headed home for the second time. My second trip was still extremely busy, but this time I scheduled in a spa day to force me to relax. Ben and I flew home for my cousin’s wedding where we got to walk down the aisle together as the Matron of Honor & Best Man (so fun to do that together!!). We even gave a combined speech, which I thought was really funny if you ask me. It was so nice to see all of my dad’s side of the family and many of our friends at the wedding. A few days later, Ben flew back to Belgium to take care of Mallow because it is nearly impossible to find a dog sitter in the month of July. We had to ask 9 different people before we could find someone who wasn’t traveling in July! I flew to Dallas, Texas where I was the Matron of Honor in my high school best friend’s wedding. Although it was HOT, it was seriously one of the best days ever. I think I cried 3x that day just watching how genuinely happy she is was.
Two beautiful brides!
I flew back to Brussels the day after her wedding and had a travel day from hell, where I was stranded in London for 14 hours. I was so exhausted from the past week that I literally paid (way too much) to be able to shower and sleep at the airport for a few hours. After finally making it to Brussels, Ben picked me up at 9pm and I went into the office the very next day!
Other Exciting News
I got tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour in Milan, Italy for next July!!!
Ben got a job!! More to come on this because I want him to be able to share all the details
I used to be someone who started packing for an upcoming trip nearly 2 weeks in advance. I would clean the entire house and make my bed so that when I returned, I would return to a clean home. Over time, I’ve turned into someone who ends up packing the night before a trip, throwing random pieces of clothing into a suitcase, and leaving my house an absolute mess. Maybe because I am always on the go, but now I have a list of my travel go-to’s to set every trip up for success. I thought I’d share the info (and some links) of my 5 must-haves for all my travels.
1. Earplugs
You never know if your accommodation will be in a loud neighborhood, if your neighbors will be partying all night, or if the person you’re traveling with is going to snore all night. I have tried many different kinds of earplugs, but silicone is the best! These earplugsare made of high-grade silicone material. Their super comfortable shape adjusts to your ear. Not to mention, they are washable, reusable, and hypoallergenic. My favorite part is that they are connected, making them much harder to lose.
2. Sound Machine
My family used to make fun of me because I would pack a box fan on every road trip to help drown out the sounds. If earplugs may not be your thing, or you want to make sure all the sounds are drowned out, this portable sound machineis for you! You can adjust the volume and choose from bright white noise, deep white noise, or gentle surf.
3. Sleep Mask
If you can’t tell, I like to be comfortable sleeping! Sleeping masks not only block out light, but they can even help reduce headaches and wrinkles. Any sleeping mask will do, but I use this silk mask. If you have a skincare routine, silk masks are less absorbent than cotton, poly satin, or foam material, allowing your skincare products to stay on your face. Just make sure you wash them from time to time!
4. House Slippers
I always pack my slippers because you never know who was in that hotel room/Airbnb before you. (Especially pet-friendly accommodations!) Additionally, slippers provide extra grip and traction for slippery surfaces. I’ve gone through many slippers, but these soft plush furry slippersare my favorite. Fun fact: My bridesmaids and I actually changed into these on my wedding night so we could be comfy on the dance floor!
5. Faux Wedding Band Set
I have heard horror stories of people who have lost their wedding rings, had them stolen, damaged, or fallen off in the ocean. Especially in bigger cities or foreign countries, muggings are more common. I wear a wedding band set from Amazon for most of my trips. It looks similar to my actual wedding band. You can find something comparable to your wedding band if you want to be sure you return your prized possession home. You never know, so I’d rather be safe than sorry.
Finally, I always try to remember to pack ibuprofen, Dramamine, a lint roller, dry shampoo, and a collapsible water bottle.
My sister has just returned to the US after living abroad since October of 2022. After graduating from Belmont University with her bachelor’s in social work, she wanted to take some time off instead of beginning her master’s right away. For the past 7 months, she has been an au pair for a family in Italy, and then did some solo traveling through Portugal.
First, I am sorry to our mom and dad for both of your kids moving across the world around the same time LOL. I cannot imagine how difficult that is as a parent…I hope it brings you both comfort that Grace and I have seen each other much more than ever before. She came to Belgium three times, I went to Italy once, and we met in France for a weekend. I was especially grateful to be able to visit where she was working and living, which was a small village in the mountains of Trento, Italy. I was able to see what her daily life consisted of and meet the family she was working for.
Second, something that was really special for me was that I helped her pack to go to Italy and helped her pack to return back home. (Literally made her try every single thing on in her closet and Ben rolled all of her clothes to be able to fit it all in 2 bags). I can confidently say that the same girl who I helped pack up back in October is a different person. Her courage, independence, strength, and adaptability is truly admirable.
Third, the truth is that living abroad is amazing, but it is full of challenges. You are away from all of your comforts, far from everyone you know, your stability is gone, everybody around you is speaking a different language, the culture is different, the food is unique, etc. You must be able to adapt on the fly, and you are challenged physically, mentally, and emotionally. (I plan to elaborate on this in another blog post) I am a big believer that we are exactly where we need to be, all a part of God’s plan. Because Grace and I were both going through similar experiences at the same time, we were able to relate to each other on a level that most people can’t.
All in all, I want to tell my sister that I am so proud of her journey and personal growth.
My mom came to visit and after showing her around Brussels, we took a weekend trip to Prague, Czech Republic. Here is how we spent just 48 hours in this medieval city, and some dos and don’ts if you ever plan to visit.
so thankful for this time with my mom!
How we got there
We flew on RyanAir out of Brussels Charleroi airport. This airport is a 45 minute bus ride from the city center, so I gave my mom the full experience of taking the underground metro to get to the bus to then get to the airport. The flight was only 1.5 hours, but then we had to taxi about 35 minutes to our hotel in the city center of Prague.
Where we stayed
K+K Hotel Central Prague – this was such a great location! We were just a stone’s throw away from old town. The rooms were comfortable, the decor was elegant, and the hotel had a small bistro for cocktails and appetizers. We didn’t have time to use the amenities, but I heard there was also a sauna. I would definitely stay here again.
Where we dined
Okay, so the truth is that I didn’t love the food in Prague. I really think Prague would be one of my favorite cities ever…but since I am such a foodie, this was a disappointment for me. The food is very heavy, featuring lots of meat and potatoes. I did try a chimney cake, which is available on basically every corner. My recommendation would be to grab some extra napkins for this one!
expectation v. reality of eating a chimney cake
What we did there
Explored Old Town This is the center of Prague, dating back to the 10th century!!! It features many monuments, Gothic buildings, and the Astronomical Clock. I paid to climb to the top of the clock to see an overview of the city, which is something not to miss!
Walked around the Vltava river and crossed Charles Bridge The Vltava is the longest river in Prague, which can be crossed by 17 different bridges. The Charles Bridge is the oldest bridge in Prague, built in 1357! This medieval stone arch bridge has over 30 statues displayed. We walked over the bridge both during the day and at night. At night, it was very dark and you could really feel the spooky/medieval vibes.
Lobkowicz Palace and Prague Castle The Lobkowicz Palace is part of the Prague Castle complex, housing the Lobkowicz Collections and Museum. We skimmed through here, because we wanted to spend majority of our time in the castle. The Prague Castle actually holds the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest coherent castle complex in the world. What is even crazier is that it was built in the 9th century…where it was occupied by kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and Czechoslovakia’s presidents. The self-guided tour we purchased allowed us to tour St. Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, Old Royal Palace, St. Georg’s Basilica, and the private museum in Lobkowicz Palace. This was truly an amazing experience.
Historical River Cruise Naturally, we had to spend some time on a boat! We opted in for a historical river cruise. Boats depart every 15 minutes all day long, so you can join this activity at any time. We beat the rush by doing it in the early afternoon. We learned some interesting facts, too. Did you know that from 1948 until the end of November 1989, the country was under Communist rule? Kind of scary to think about considering that wasn’t really that long ago.
How much we spent
Hotel: $355 total
Airfare: $255 total
Flibco bus to and from the airport: $36 each
Lobkowicz Palace and Prague Castle Entrance Tickets: $20 each
45-Minute Historical River Cruise and Refreshments: $20 each
Food/drinks
Prague was very affordable, which is the reputation of Eastern Europe.
Dos & Don’ts
Do: Exchange your native currency to Czech koruna/crowns. If you don’t do this beforehand, you can do it at the airport or take money out of ATMs throughout the city. There are several places that are cash only
Don’t: spend too much time in the Lobkowicz Palace, keep walking up the hill and explore the other grounds that are a part of the castle
Do: Use Uber if you need a ride! It is cheaper (and safer) than taxis
Don’t: wear hats or sun glasses when touring churches, museums, and historical buildings because it is considered impolite
Do: carry €,50 or €1 to be able to use public restrooms
Raise your hand if you can say “I have been to Paris before but didn’t see the Eiffel Tower”. I’ll wait…
Fun fact: Before this trip, both Ben and I could say that we have been to Paris before but didn’t see the Eiffel Tower. At the end of February 2020, Ben and I departed on a trip to Europe to visit my sister who was studying abroad in Italy and my best friend Carly who was an au pair in Germany. Right before we left, the first outbreak of the c-word occurred in Italy, and we rerouted to London. This was unfortunate because we didn’t get to see my sister, but London is one of my favorite cities ever! By the time we made our way to Germany, Trump had announced a travel ban and intense c*vid regulations. So, we cut our trip short…we took a speed train from Germany to Paris, checked into our hotel, took a shower, then headed straight to the airport to fly back to Chicago, all without even seeing the Eiffel Tower!! Long story short, Paris was on our list to get back to.
An anniversary weekend in Paris sounds like a dream, right? Well, where I go, chaos seems to follow. A national strike has been taking place in France after their President forced a bill through parliament without a vote that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64. Workers across the transport, education, fuel and utility sectors have have been striking, leaving the streets filled with piles of garbage and minimal public transport available. Protestors were gathering, rioting, and starting fires. Police were using tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray. We avoided these areas, walked until our feet bled (literally), but we still had the best time! I do recognize the struggle that that France is facing, and do not ignore my privilege.
How we got there
Originally, we booked a speed train on Thalys to Paris which only takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. However, due to strikes, our train was cancelled. But hey, 1 year ago was the week before my wedding and THAT was complete chaos too (main photographer canceled 3 days before, personalized wedding dress hanger cracked in half, easel for the welcome sign broke in half, my dog got sick, my cousin’s flight was canceled, my hair straightener broke in the middle of getting ready for my rehearsal dinner, the list goes on…) We ended up driving, which only took 3.5 hours. Ben used to make weekend trips to visit me in Michigan during undergrad and that took 3.5 hours…now we can drive 3.5 hours and end up in Paris. A dream!
Where we stayed
The City of Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements, and we stayed in the 15th, just a stones throw away from the Eiffel Tour at Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel. This was definitely a splurge for us! But it was worth every penny. On Saturday morning, we ordered room service and ate on our balcony. I never understood why people ordered room service until we had it included our honeymoon in St.Lucia last year, and now I love it!
Like is this even real?
Where we dined
JJ Restaurant – This old-school French restaurant in the 8th was delicious. It was a very small, old-school eatery with white table clothes and exposed beams. I had a steak and Ben ordered fish and we split a bottle of red wine.
Seb’on – This rustic-chic restaurant in the 9th only had eight tables, and has two rounds of dinner each night. The chef creates the menu each week depending on what is in-season. French food is quite unique, and not for everyone. I really liked the intimacy and ambience of this place.
Cafe Louise – Cafe de Flore is one of the most famous cafes in Paris, but unfortunately they do not take reservations. Because we had a full agenda, we opted in for breakfast at Cafe Louise, where we had fresh squeezed OJ, croissants, baguettes, and warm drinks. This place was super cute and delicious!
Angelina’s – This is a famous tea room from 1903, known for their hot-chocolate. We waited in line for 45 minutes, but it was definitely worth it! I love going for tea and this was Ben’s first time. If you don’t have time to wait in the long line, you can stop by the hot chocolate cart in front of the restaurant.
Au Petit Tonneau – This upscale bistro had great French onion soup. However, there it is just called onion soup (lol). We came in mid-day and didn’t realize that we were expected to order a starter, entree, and dessert. The owner made it clear to us that he was unhappy, so he certainly didn’t help with the famous stereotype that the French dislike Americans. If you’re French speaking and want to order a starter, entree, and dessert…then this is the place for you!
What we did there
Let me start by saying that I had waaaaay too ambitious of an itinerary. 48 hours in Paris was not enough, so I guess I will have to go back 😉 Here is what we accomplished:
Visit the Arc de Triomphe
Walk Av. des Champs-Élysées (famous shops like Louis Vuitton, Laduree)
Watch the Eiffel Tower at night sparkle at the top of the hour for the first five minutes
Photoshoot at Pl. du Trocadéro
Take a Seine Cruise
At a Crepe near the Eiffel Tower
Explore the neighborhood of Montmartre & see the Sacré-Cœur
Parisian Cabaret at Moulin Rouge
Louvre Museum (saw the Mona Lisa!)
Put a lock on the Love Lock Bridge (formerly Pont des Arts, now Passerelle Debilly) on our anniversary
Can you tell that I like the Eiffel Tower?!?
Dos & Don’ts
Do: make reservations for dinner and museums
Don’t: go to an upscale French restaurant unless you’re ready to eat at least 3 courses
Do: be super careful of pickpocketing, especially right near the Eiffel Tower and busy areas
Don’t: underestimate how big this city is. There is so much to be seen, and 48 hours was simply not enough!
Do: go to the top of the steps at Place du Trocadero for the best pictures of the Eiffel Tower in the background.
What we didn’t have time for but want to do next time
Walk through Luxembourg Gardens
Visit the Pantheon
More time allotted for the Louvre (the largest museum in the world)
Visit the Palace of Versailles
Overall, it’s safe to say that I LOVED Paris, and we had an amazing time together celebrating and reminiscing on our first year of marriage.
An expatriate (abbreviated to expat) is someone who resides outside their native country. As the capital of the European Union, Brussels attracts expats from all over the world. In fact, about 13% of the population in Belgium are expats. The idea of living abroad is a dream for many, but it’s important to keep in mind that expat life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. So what’s expat life really been like for us?
How we’re adjusting & settling in
Today marks 6 weeks of living in Brussels! We are official Belgian residents now, according to the paper work. We are settled into our apartment, but still waiting for the rest of our belongings. The shipment from home was in two phases: one air shipment and one sea shipment. We received the air shipment which had some of our clothes, shoes, kitchen essentials, and Mallow’s belongings of course. We still have yet to receive our sea shipment which contains all the rest of our belongings. I cannot wait to have our Peloton and workout equipment! Although we walk sooo much here, this is the first time in my life I have not had a gym membership. Also in the sea shipment is the rest of our clothes, shoes, decorations, household essentials, beauty products…all items that will make us feel more at home. The sea shipment is over 3,000 lbs and to be honest I can’t really remember what else is in it. Safe to say I probably over packed 😉 The estimated delivery is March 15!
What we have been up to
We have been working hard to find the best places to bring our visitors. I can confidently say that I know the best waffle and fry stand in the city center (and seriously I need to stop going here but they are so dang good!). We have already taken 1 weekend trip to Amsterdam, a day trip to Antwerp, and a day trip to Bruges. All of these places were unique in their own way, and I can’t wait to go back when the weather gets warmer. We’ve also had visitors already! Ben played junior hockey with Roni who lives in Sweden. My cousin Myriam was visiting Europe and stayed with us for a few days. My sister is an au pair in Italy through May so she also came for a weekend! Safe to say we have been busy.
What are the best things about living in Brussels?
Quality of life – the mentality here is about working to live rather than living to work
Delicious food and hundreds of beers – No matter what type of food you’re in the mood for – Belgian, French, Thai, Italian, Greek, etc. – you can find it in Brussels. I will say that the Mexican food options are lacking, but we make do with cooking at Mexican food at home
Centrally located – we are just a short train or plane ride away from Paris, Amsterdam, London, Germany, etc.
Other Pros:
Diversity – with over 184 different nationalities and 104 languages spoken, Brussels is the second most cosmopolitan city in the world after Dubai
Cultural scenes
Low crime rates
Public transit is everywhere. The only reason I have/need a car is because I work outside of the city
What are the worst things about living in Brussels?
Traffic
Weather (190 rainy days a year and little sunshine)
Extremely high tax rates, more that 50% for some. However, Belgians are entitled to a pension starting at the age of 65 (it works differently for expats but this is still something that could effect some expats)
The hardest part over all? Missing family and friends is without a doubt the hardest part. Ben and I are very intentional in our relationships and are use to hosting people at our home nearly every weekend. I know that moving away doesn’t mean we are going to lose that, but the truth is that sometimes it just sucks. We knew this would be something we have to navigate, but it doesn’t mean it’s easy. We are so lucky for the support and encouragement leading up to this point. Every time I feel lonely, I picture the 80+ people who showed up at our going away party!
What you can do to support us!
Come visit 😉
We love to receive mail! Both of our parents have our mailing address, or you can ask us. We can’t receive packages (otherwise we have to pay a hefty fee for customs), but letters or postcards are welcomed
We spent last weekend in Amsterdam and had an absolute blast! Here is how we spent just 48 hours in this amazing city, and some dos and don’ts if you ever plan to go.
How we got there
Amsterdam is only a 3 hour train ride from Brussels! We took the train after work on Friday from the Brussels-Midi station to Amsterdam Central station. We live just two stops away from Brussels-Midi via the metro. The train we took was just a regular train, not a high speed train. Some may opt in for first-class tickets to have more space, but I thought second-class was sufficient for only a 3 hour ride. We caught the late afternoon train back on Sunday, but there are plenty of options depending on how early/late you want to get back. I think next time we would drive, because it would be cheaper and the same amount of time. And by we, I mean Ben would drive 😉
Where we stayed
We stayed at the ibis Amsterdam Centre Stopera. This is a 3-star hotel and the staff were very friendly. The rooms were small, which is very typical for Europe. However, they were clean and that’s the most important thing to me! The name of the hotel was deceiving, as were weren’t really in the city center. We were only two stops away via public transport, but I think next time we would stay in Jordaan. Many people opt in to stay at hostels, which is a cheaper alternative if that’s something you’re into!
Where we dined
Rosario Cocina Mexicana – After dropping off our suitcases, this was our first meal on Friday night and it was incredible. All of their dishes are sharing dishes and are the size of a starter, so they recommend ordering 6. I had the best piña colada and tacos there. It had been sooo long since we had Mexican food! Definitely make a reservation because the restaurant is very small and jam-packed.
De Carrousel Pannenkoeken– Not even going to lie, we ate here twice LOL. This breakfast restaurant serves up famous Dutch pancakes with just about any topping you can imagine. The tables inside are set around an old-fashioned carousel ride, and you seat yourself once a table becomes available. I wasn’t sure if this was a total tourist trap or not, but I overheard someone behind me saying that he comes here often and brings visitors, too. Regardless, you have to eat Dutch pancakes at some point throughout your time in Amsterdam.
Moeders – On Saturday night, we had a classic Dutch meal at Moeders. Translating to Mothers, this place features photos of moms on every inch of each wall. I wish we had found this place sooner to bring a picture of my mom and mother-in-law. We had a hodge podge of stews, potatoes, apple sauce, cabbage, and finished the meal off with a piece of Dutch apple pie. Definitely recommend.
The Burger Room – This Wizard of Oz themed restaurant serves gargantuan burgers of all kinds, plus they have Parmesan fries and onion rings so you can’t go wrong. Loved the vibes in here and if you are nearby, I would recommend stopping here. But don’t go out of your way, as it’s very pricey and I’m sure there’s other great burgers in the city.
What we did there
Heineken experience & rooftop – this interactive tour through the former brewery and tasting room is a must do! It was seriously so fun and we even participated in a beer challenge & of course Ben won! We added on the rooftop experience which gave us a great view of the entire city. If you go in the winter, maybe skip the rooftop but I’m sure it’s amazing in the summer/warmer months.
Flagship Canal Cruise in Classic Boat – we had a live guide with drinks and Dutch cheese. Although this was more of a booze cruise, the canal ride was a great way to see the city and learn some fun facts. There’s plenty of options for canal rides based on your interests.
Ben said it was one of the best cheeses he’s ever had
Anne Frank Museum – this was truly so powerful. I was emotional through out our entire time as we learned all about Anne Frank’s life, walked throughout her house, saw where she hid for 2 years, and even saw her journal. It’s another reminder of how every day in our lives is a gift and we need to be appreciative of all that we have. If this interests you, book your tickets as far out as possible. They release the tickets for 6 weeks out and they sell out fast.
This bookshelf was kept locked every day and Anne Frank and her family hid here from the Nazi’s for two years.
Van Gogh Museum – learning all about Van Gogh and his troubled life was very intriguing. He struggled to find his way until he became a painter at 27. He only painted for 10 years until he ended his life. We added on the audio guide, but I would recommend you just do the highlights otherwise you can find yourself in this museum for 3 hours and there’s so much to do in a short weekend.
Me trying to be artsy lol
How much we spent
Trains tickets roundtrip = $90 per person
Transportation pass for 48 hours = €15 per person
Hotel = $440
Anne Frank museum = €16 per person
Canal ride = €30 per person
Heineken experience & rooftop = €25 per person
Van Gogh museum = €20 per person
Food costs = I don’t want to know lol
Dos & Don’ts
Do: make reservations for dinner and museums
Don’t: stand or walk in the bike lane otherwise you will get hit. Did you know there’s over 1.2 million bikes in Amsterdam? 20,000 each year are taken out of the canals (and resold)
Do: be prepared to be scarred for life if you walk through the Red Light District 😂
Don’t: walk into a “coffee shop” and expect to have coffee. It’s actually a cannabis shop. If you’re looking for caffeine, find a cafe
Do: carry around €,50 or €1 when going to the bars if you want to use the restroom. Unless you’re a guy, there’s public urinals on some street corners🤣
We had an incredible time and I’m sure we will go back with friends and family that want to visit!
Life with Liv 