Life Archives - Page 7 of 15

Thursday Three

March 19, 2015March 19, 2015Samantha Gratton

What a week it has been, full of new experiences and beauty. We’ve loved (almost) every minute of it.

1. Strikes happen. Flights get cancelled and have to be completely rescheduled. Taxi drivers cheat and steal or simply just get lost. Demonstrations and protests shut down entire streets. ATMs refuse to accept debit cards with no explanation. Language barriers create difficulty or total miscommunication. All of this can (and did) happen when you travel.

2. Travel is hard, but in my opinion, it should be. Several people asked if we were working with a travel agency or having a company book a tour for us when we first talked about our trip. At the time I didn’t get it, even though planning took a ton of time and effort. Part of what I wanted out of this trip was to learn and discover another country and another culture and that can’t happen if someone else is doing all of the work. You learn most when you have to read the map, squeeze onto the subway, order food in another language, find and catch the train, attend a local event instead of a tourist show and ask questions. Sure, you might get lost and walk a mile out of the way or look ridiculous while you fumble your way through. But when you get it right the next time, you’ve earned a sense of achievement and an experience that a resort or tour company can never provide. (Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and a place for vacations where you just need to relax without having to think, but I see them as two separate things.)

3. Go anyway. There is something about travel (true travel) that opens up your perspective in a way nothing else can. It brings new ideas, new opportunities and new appreciation. You go to learn about somewhere else but find out more about yourself along the way. The hard questions are bound to come out as you consider what you really think and what you want your life to be about but they are a welcomed challenge to figure out. So along with the challenges and even the pain, travel when you can.

Travel on the Cheap: Hostels

March 16, 2015March 9, 2015Samantha Gratton

For much of our trip to South America this spring we are staying in hostels, and I have had so many questions about it. I think sometimes hostels are known as these places college kids go to party and all of the furniture is a testament of such happenings. Well, sometimes that’s true. But to say that all hostels are like that is like saying all hotels are just like a Super 8. It simply isn’t a fair representation.

In college, I had the opportunity to study abroad a few times so I spent time in my fair share of hostels. When you only have class on Tuesdays and Thursdays for three months in Europe, you see a few hostels. Sure, sometimes I stayed in a bunk bed and brought my own towel. I also met people from all over the world who became my best friends for the a weekend. I can’t say I have kept in touch with all of them, but they surely made my visit all the more meaningful. I also stayed in hostels that were essentially hotels but posted their information on hostel sites to get more people to stay there. My point is, the possibilities are endless. One hostel will not be like the next. Sometimes it’s worth it to book a hotel and sometimes your greatest experience will come from a hostel.

Here’s what you should know about hostels:

You might make amazing friends or you might just stay for a night and go about your way on your own without meeting hardly anybody. Each hostel has its own vibe, but it’s also dependent on who is staying that evening.
Hostels may have rules, like a curfew to be back in bed by, an age limit (either too old or too young) or time during the day you are not allowed to be in the hostel (usually so they can clean). Make sure you understand the rules before you book, but also know that these rules aren’t all bad.
Many have rooms full of bunk beds but some also have the option of a private room with twin beds or a double bed. Check the booking options but also realize that you pay per person staying.
Some are upfront about being a loud environment–if this is what you want, great! If not, heed their warning and don’t be surprised. Others can be quieter so check the reviews to get a good feel for what you might experience.
Hostels are all over the world, which means they are also in the United States!

My hostel experiences have ranged from okay to awesome, so I would definitely recommend looking into it. As long as you understand the setting and shift your mindset from what you might expect at a hotel, you’ll be good to go!

*Some of the above links contain affiliate links. I have stayed in plenty of hostels and stand by everything I just said. Should you happen to decide to book a hostel through one of these links, then I get a percentage of the sale.

Travel 101: Packing List

March 10, 2015October 23, 2015Samantha Gratton

After quite the ordeal to find the “perfect” bag, we finally resolved that these Osprey bags were almost exactly what we I wanted (let’s be real…I did all the researching and second guessing on bags here). While the intention was not to match or anything, these turned out to be the best travel-friendly carry on backpacks for us. They are carry on sized, can open all the way up for easier packing and have a good amount of support through the straps for walking around all day.

For Her – Osprey Farpoint 40 | For Him – Osprey Porter 46

(More about travel backpacks here)

What to Pack:

Snacks – SO many snacks. With a long list of food allergies/sensitivities/whatever you want to call it, I don’t exactly know what I will be eating when outside of my home. So, Lara Bars, Think Thin, Trader Joe’s Fruit Bars, trail mix, KIND, Luna Bars and so many others become trusty companions rather quickly. But even without food challenges like mine, it’s always a good idea to pack plenty to eat on the go.
Important documents (duh) – For this trip, it’s a passport, plane ticket, immunization records and the receipt of the reciprocity fee (saying we paid the money required to enter the country).
Printed itinerary – this one doesn’t always make the list for people, but I think it should. We have a mix of planned and unplanned days ahead, but it’s nice to have it all in one place. Ours includes all the information (and directions) to each of the places we are staying (we’re staying in six different hotels/hostels in our time there!) as well as information on a few things we’d like to see or do. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it helps put it all in once place.
Phrasebook – yes, they still make these. Lonely Planet has an excellent line of phrasebooks that are ideal for travel.
Notebook (Noticing an old school theme here yet? things like paper and books) As much as we love technology, they can at times be less reliable, plus they can become a liability. Who might want to steal my computer? On the flip side, who would be interested in grabbing my tiny notebook? This is for random notes and thoughts along the way.
Camera – I already gave you the full run-down on this one.
Clothes, shoes, toiletries. You know, the things that you pack no matter where you go. Nothing groundbreaking really other than the fact that we are fitting it all into one backpack each. Packing layers is key. So is rolling your clothes and supposedly, packing cubes are all the rage these days. We’ll try out a few packing cubes, but don’t think you can’t pack light without one.
Clever Travel Companion Shirts – We’ve tried the money belts before and think they are okay. This is the first time we are trying the shirt/tank with a pocket built-in, and I feel pretty good about it.
Small bags – I’m sure you’re thinking, we get it, you’re only bringing backpacks. But we aren’t going to want to have our full backpacks with us while hiking through the jungle or climbing a mountain (are we doing those things? time will tell). Therefore, we’ll each be bringing smaller bags as well to take around during the day. I’ll be using my Keen purse I bought a few years back and the hubby will be bringing a tiny backpack that folds up super small. Both have great pockets with zippers – what I consider to be an absolute must for a day bag.

What We Didn’t Pack:

Large suitcase – I promise I didn’t do this just to be difficult. I’ve packed large suitcases in the past (like when I studied abroad for an entire semester) and it can serve a purpose. But it can also get in the way. With the amount of moving around we’ll be doing, it seemed best to keep things simple.
Current cell phone – meaning, don’t try to get a hold of me while we’re gone. We are bringing old phones for the purpose of wi-fi when it is available, but otherwise there didn’t seem to be a need to bring our actual phones, especially considering how common pickpocketing is.
Engagement ring – GASP. Don’t worry. I’m still married. Also, still wearing my wedding ring. My rings are antiques and not exactly the kind of thing you can replace. I never got my rings soldered together, so sometimes it’s nice to leave the engagement ring home in a safe place.
Computer – I am not going to Argentina to blog or send emails, believe it or not. When you only have one (small) bag, you are also forced to prioritize, and a computer did not make the cut. We’ll have access to computers in some of the places we’re staying if absolutely needed, but it’ll be good to take a break. I’m sorta looking forward to that kind of freedom from technology.

For more info about travel bags specifically, I wrote an entire post dedicated just to travel backpacks, luggage, and daypacks. I’d say that’s a great place to start, and it makes a huge impact on your overall packing strategy!

*Affiliate links used above. We really do use Amazon a whole bunch.

Thursday Three

March 6, 2015Samantha Gratton

This week’s three is coming in late due to an impromptu gig. I’ll leave you with the short and sweet.

1. Care for your community. The people on your street, the co-workers near your desk, the families at your church–whoever it may be, make sure to take time to care for them however you can.

2. Take the opportunities that come your way. There’s always a reason, excuse or insecurity to say no, but saying yes opens up a whole new set of possibilities. You never know.

3. Enjoy the day. Every day there is something–something bad, something good, something crazy. No matter what it is, try to take at least a minute and enjoy it.

Do More

March 3, 2015March 3, 2015Samantha Gratton

Have you ever felt like your day was completely crammed? And at the end of the day you were totally exhausted? What if someone asked you right then to do more?

Do more with your life. Make it matter. Make an impact.

There are days when that request sounds near impossible. I feel maxed out and unsure of what more I have to offer. I feel so useless and defeated in that moment. It seems futile, so I resort to just doing what I know.

Doing what I know feels so safe. Sometimes even meaningless. I know how to write. I know how to connect people. I know how to organize details. Those are things I do, and do regularly.

Here’s what I’ve found: doing what you know CAN allow you to do more. I do those things anyway, right? So why not do them for the benefit of someone else? Why not take those strengths and skills and make them mean something? I can take my natural tendencies and channel them in a way that helps someone, encourages, supports, loves.

Suddenly, I am doing more with my life, making it matter and making an impact.

It’s not always about the time or the length of the to-do list. Doing more does not necessarily mean adding more stress or checkmarks. Doing more can simply mean doing what you do in a more meaningful way.

This Week’s Three

February 27, 2015February 27, 2015Samantha Gratton

Just like that it’s been another week, and I missed Thursday’s post yet again. I just can’t keep up for some reason this month. I think it has something to do with having a ton more projects/work plus an upcoming trip to plan and prepare for (more on that super soon!).

1. The snow came and it was real this time. I know I mentioned a bit of winter weather last week and for many parts of the country having snow two weeks in a row is not quite newsworthy. In Raleigh, it feels more like the world is coming to an end. Schools have been out for almost a full two weeks, the grocery stores have no bread and time stops. I have photographic evidence…(unfortunately for me, I really was out of groceries the night before the storm hit).

2. Travel is amazing. The problem with travel (or beauty of it), is that it never feels like you can do it enough. This week we hosted another couchsurfer who had done plenty of travel as she is a video producer with National Geographic. You couldn’t help but get a little wanderlust while talking to her. So often I think we feel our lives are “set” in the path we’re going but then when you re-assess, some of those constraints and plans are not as restrictive as you think. I love that about travel. It forces you out of routine and opens up a new world of thoughts and possibilities.

3. I think that possibly, maybe I’m falling for you… Remember that song by Landon Pigg? It came out a little after we met. The very first time we met was at a Battle of the Bands (sounds epic, right?). But the second time we met it was at a coffee shop. From there on out, we continued to get to know each other and later fall in love as the hubby worked in four different coffee shops over the course of several years. Each had their moments, but that first coffee shop will always remain special to us. So many memories were shared there, conversations had for the very first time and hours of me sitting, just watching as he worked behind the bar. Last night there was a latte art competition at our favorite local coffee shop in Raleigh, and he threw his hat in the ring. Nerves may have gotten the best of that latte, but I had the best seat in the house just reminiscing about years ago.

And then, he made this video of the night. Because he’s amazing. And his current career path has a lot more video in it. Can you find us in it?

Chasing After It

February 23, 2015Samantha Gratton

Have you ever felt like you were chasing to find yourself? Or have you ever observed someone at a transitional time in life and thought, “they are just confused and trying to find themselves”?

We grasp for the things that are in front of us. The things that seem obvious or come most easy. The things that others have that we want. Or even, the things others want that we can achieve.

TV exhibits celebrities and stars of all forms, and we wonder how they got to be so special. Much of society suggests that we “find ourselves” in college, be it by binge drinking or by hitting the books. Flinging ourselves at fleeting moments of opportunity or striking rich overnight seems to not only be the goal, but also the method of success in society.

Maybe we’re trying to find ourselves in all of the wrong places. What if finding yourself really meant continuing to work hard and make a life for yourself where you already are? Instead of the what or the where, think more of the core truths. Perhaps questioning the values and notions we hold most dear, both now and ten years from now, will lead us to who we are today.

Many Things

February 3, 2015Samantha Gratton

I often get asked what my blog is about and all I want to say in return is, “many things.” It’s about life, it’s about dreams and goals. It currently talks more about jobs and a little about travel because those are the big things in my life right now. When I’m going through a reading phase I review a few books. What started as a chronicle regarding a cross-country move developed into a space to share my hopes and disappointments as I navigated the life to follow. I have done my fair share of questioning what my real purpose is at times. I can’t say that I am incredibly fashion-conscious nor do I spend enough time crafting, but I dabble in both from time to time (but don’t ever expect a recipe…that is just not my thing). This blog is all the things because it’s about life. Where I am right now and what I’m thinking through.

I have a hard time committing to just one thing with my life. “My thing” will never be any one thing that I just listed off. In fact, very few people have just one but sometimes we feel like it should be that way. I am many things and sometimes I move on sooner even than I ought to do tackle the next life lesson or big project.

No, I cannot do just one thing. But I can aim to make all of those things glorify God.

I won’t say this is a blog that just writes all about being spiritual, nor will I ever say my faith is off the table when it comes to talking about life. This is where I write about all the things and it would be a shame if I didn’t acknowledge the biggest thing in my life.

I’ve found that being upfront about things seems to make it easier on everyone. So, in case you were wondering what my blog is about–it’s about so many things. Because that’s what life looks like, so many things.

Farewell Parenthood [the tv show]

January 30, 2015February 2, 2015Samantha Gratton

If you haven’t watch the Parenthood, the tv show inspired by the movie, then you should. That, or you just shouldn’t read this post because that’s all it will be about. I promise it will be heartfelt (and also completely void of spoilers).

Like many people, I watch my tv in a delayed fashion on Hulu or Netflix. Normally this is no big deal, but on (rare) big occasions I have to shut down my social media accounts to avoid the spoilers. On Thursday, I had to walk away to from all the tweets about crying through the series finale of Parenthood. To be honest, I’ll likely cry through the whole thing, too.

Sure, it’s a good show and it’s a drama so there’s intense family situations that can manipulate your emotions. But I’m about to get real sappy here and tell you why else it’s special.

Parenthood is special because it is a show that at one point or another covered a family situation everyone has experienced. Maybe within a given week it seems like too many situations are happening at once (true) but at the same time, it feels like so many of the moments come from a place of reality. We all have that “discussion” with our spouse, friendship with our sibling, conflict with a parent, chaos at a family dinner and day where we question what is happening in our lives.

I was first introduced to the show during the commercial breaks in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Parenthood was to debut on NBC soon after the games, and something about it pulled me in. We watched the first episode (it might have even been during primetime…Hulu was still a new thing back then). A couple weeks later, we got engaged. From that point on we found ourselves discussing the situations during the commercials and pausing it in the middle of the big moments.

It was our pre-marital counseling in a sense (we did also go to actual pre-marital counseling where we read a book together and talked with a pastor). Potential life situations were unfolding before our eyes right as we were about to commit to sharing a new life together. How would you handle that? Would you allow your daughter to do that? How would you tell your son about that? What would you do if…? Is that a healthy relationship? How do you maintain that? You see his side of the argument? But what about hers?

We could feel the emotion and intensity of some of these experiences, but without the pain of it being our own experiences, we could talk through it logically. We watched this family face trials as well as thrive these past five years. In a small way, we did the same. Our life should hardly be on tv, but we had our share of new experiences, monumental moments, difficult decisions and everyday conversations the past five years as well.

We’ve watched it from the very beginning and simply dread the end. I know it has to end, everything comes to an end at some point. But I will genuinely miss it and hate to say goodbye. I don’t want to overhype its significance, because in truth, it is still merely a tv show. That said, it has had an impact. I can honestly say that it had a part in shaping some of our young marriage.

Farewell Parenthood. Thank you for showing us the dramas or hardships life can bring by forcing us to feel the tension but keeping it light-hearted enough that we kept coming back. This was a story about family learning together how to live together. A good family but never the impossible “one big happy family.” Regardless of critical acclaim, you created a show that many will cherish with their own families. May you stay, forever young.

Travel Essentials: Around Town Camera

January 27, 2015January 28, 2015Samantha Gratton

With an upcoming trip to Argentina this spring, you would think that I’ve been nonstop planning. The thing is, so much more goes into a trip than simply itineraries. I have researched everything from the type of backpack I want to buy (the plan is carry-ons only) to the many hostels that will house us for an evening or two. There is so much to prepare beforehand, but guess what you have to show for it all in the end (other than taking the trip of a lifetime and the memories that you will cherish forever)? It’s the pictures.

Here’s the thing: I love taking pictures, but I hate lugging my camera around town. You would think having such a great camera (we own a Canon 7D) and a love for photography would result in a camera being around my neck and in my hands at all times. But the reality is, it feels like such a commitment. I know that sounds ridiculous, but unless I am going somewhere with the intention of shooting something in particular, I take more photos on my phone than with my nice camera. I know I’m not alone here, I see you and your phone pics.

Bearing in mind that we will only be bringing oversized backpacks for our two weeks roaming abroad and our camera would account for roughly 23.7% of that space (give or take), it seemed logical to rethink the situation.

Introducing the Canon EOS M Compact System Camera! The perfect small camera that still allows you to use your fancy lenses (EF and EF-S lenses) but manages to fit in your purse if needed. Much research was done, but ultimately this met both our criteria and budget best.

What I love about it:

Purse and pocket friendly, at 9 oz it’s easy to bring just about anywhere
Interchangeable lenses, meaning we can use the lenses we already have with an adaptor
Video capability with full HD 1080p movie mode
Similar specs and quality to our current camera, including the sensor type, megapixels and video format
Lower price than many other mirrorless cameras

Why doesn’t everybody have one of these? Well, when you look for cameras there are a lot of things to consider. Ultimately, this made sense for us because we had already invested in Canon gear and wanted to be able to shoot both photos and videos in the most compact model possible. Being so small, it does not give off as much of professional vibe, so for someone trying to break into the photography world they could spend a similar amount of money and get a camera that is bigger and looks more serious. A few other companies are more known for mirrorless cameras so those in the market for a mirrorless camera might consider another brand first. Canon actually stopped producing this camera because of negative reviews from an initial autofocus driver issue (which was later resolved), so the price has gone down. These “negatives” to some were less important to us and helped bring the camera into our budget. (Note: If you are just looking for a basic point-and-shoot camera without interchangeable lenses, then that likely be the cheaper route and definitely simpler to use if you do not want to change a bunch of settings).

Admittedly, it is still an adjustment. The LCD screen in the back is a touch screen (which may eventually be really cool but it takes some getting used to) and there is no viewfinder because it is a mirrorless camera. It uses an SD card and has a different size battery than we currently have, so we’ll need to stock up on each of those. Thankfully, I have a few more months to work with it before putting it to the test. While we bought it primarily for this trip, it is a complementary second camera to the one we already have for future photo shoots or videos. So far, we have been incredibly pleased with this purchase. Now, if only we could decide what else to put in the backpack…

*Note: Affiliate links have been used above but we really did buy this camera and no one provided anything to me for free or at a discount. It’s a real review based on our experience and research. If you do decide to click on some of these links, I may get commission on the sale.