Saturday Spotlight: Sarah Sees the World

September 19, 2015 by Angie 6 Comments

Whew, another week come and gone already? Seriously, time flies when you’re all grown up. However, another week means it’s time for another Saturday Spotlight-and they’re one of my favorite things throughout the week! I LOVE showcasing other bloggers, and I LOVE when my readers find a new friend from it. There are so many fantastic bloggers out there that you may not even know about yet, and I hope I can find the ones you connect with and introduce you.

Today I have a very fun blogger named Sarah. Sarah blogs over at Sarah Sees the World. What does Sarah do? See the world, duh! Just kidding… Well, she does do that, but mostly she travels and blogs about it! What a fun life-I’d love to do more travelling and writing about it here. Based out of New Zealand, Sarah loves sharing things she finds along her journeys. She loves to showcase delicious food, great coffee, wine, and even exercise. A travel blogger who has time to exercise? I’m convinced Sarah is secretly Wonder Woman. Talk about dedication!

Anywho, I interviewed Sarah so you could get to know her a little better. Please take the time to read the following Q&A, leave a meaningful comment, and even visit Sarah! Also, if you’re a small(ish) blogger or handmade shop that could really benefit from a little exposure like this, feel free to fill out this form HERE. I love to give out the first spotlight free to those who need it most. 🙂 Don’t worry big-time bloggers, I’d love to interview you too-you can purchase a Saturday Spotlight from my Sponsor page!

What inspired your love of travel?

Growing up in New Zealand we’re in such a small country which is so geographically isolated from the rest of the world that travel can easily become a bit of an obsession.

I started off close to home with my first trip overseas to Australia with my parents when I was 14. I subsequently visited some of the Pacific Islands as well as seeing more of Australia before I finished Uni and was basically hooked – each time I went somewhere I just wanted to travel more and further.

Where has been your favorite place to visit so far and why?

So hard to pick a favourite but I did love Croatia – it just seemed really underrated as a destination. It was cheap, beautiful, had stunning beaches and the people were friendly.

Where was your least favorite place to visit?

There hasn’t been anywhere I’ve really hated but there were some smaller places I’ve stopped in Italy while travelling the country which were not particularly memorable, would perhaps have taken a different route had I known and I would certainly not visit again.

If you could live permanently in anywhere, where would it be and why?

I love London (especially in Summer) and would love to live there, but also be able to spend the southern hemisphere Summer in New Zealand. Full time summer is the dream with the chance to see all my family and friends and travel easily throughout the world as I pleased from these bases would be the ideal.

How did your blog, Sarah Sees the World, get started?

I started blogging as I had been reading a few blogs and wanted my own space on the internet. I started a blogspot blog in 2011, and it took a year or so to find my way and my niche before Sarah Sees The World became closer to what you see today. Meanwhile I was travelling a lot at the time and writing about it as I went.

I think a lot bloggers start by sharing with their friends and family initially and grow from there. I was much more comfortable sharing with strangers than people who know me!

Do you buy souvenirs or keep mementos of your travels? If so, what are some of your favorites?

I’m not a souvenirs girl as I’m naturally not a hoarder but someone who prefers to own as little as possible so I could pack up and leave whenever the opportunity may arise to live elsewhere in the world.

What I have bought on occasion though are Christmas tree decorations and my favourite is a Delftware one from Amsterdam.

What tips do you have for better packing while traveling?

You never need as much as you think you do! In the past couple of years I’ve taken to hand luggage only for shorter trips when I can to save on hassle and baggage costs. If you’re not sure you’re going to need it, don’t take it!

If you could offer one piece of advice to any newbie traveler, what would it be?

Don’t overplan or cram too many activities into your itinerary as you’ll likely come to regret it.

Get to know Sarah’s blog a little bit better with these posts:
8 Must Visit European Cities for First Timers
Festivals Around the World – What, When and Where?
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
The Yacht Week – Greece

Follow and keep up with Sarah here:
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Bloglovin

Angie

Angie is a coffee-fueled writer, artist-wanna-be, and over-worker who currently resides in a tiny fixer-upper near Salt Lake City with her boyfriend and 70lb rescue pittie. She works full time in Customer Service/Computers, part-time in retail and fashion, goes to school part-time on and off, maintains this and another couple of blogs, as well as volunteers with rescue dogs. In her free time, what little of it there is, she likes to read, play nerd games, craft and create art, and spend time with all of the awesome people in her life.

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Photography: Muttart Conservatory Amour de Paris Pyramid-Edmonton, AB

July 21, 2015 by Angie 15 Comments

For the last installment of photographs from the Muttart Conservatory, I have the Amour de Paris Pyramid. I already shared the Tropical Pyramid, the Arid Pyramid, and the Temperate Pyramid, and I saved this beauty for last. They filled it with plants that remind you of Paris, and it was lovely! J’aime!

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Photography: Muttart Conservatory Temperate Pyramid-Edmonton, AB

July 15, 2015 by Angie 12 Comments

After sharing the Muttart Conservatory’s Tropical Pyramid and the Arid Pyramid, I have two left to show you. This one is the Temperate Pyramid, filled with things that survive lots of temperate climates. Lovely flowers, and bright green trees.

Photography: Muttart Conservatory Temperate Pyramid-Edmonton, AB

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Photography: Muttart Conservatory Arid Pyramid-Edmonton, AB

July 8, 2015 by Angie 12 Comments

Since I shared the Tropical Pyramid of the Muttart Conservatory last week, I figured I’d go right on to the Arid pyramid this week. Living in Utah, we see a lot of cacti because we’re technically a desert, but it’s always cool to see things that are even more insane than we knew of before. One of the coolest things was the Crown of Thorns cactus, I’d never even heard of that before yet it’s crazy beautiful.

Photography: Muttart Conservatory Arid Pyramid-Edmonton, AB

I feel like I’d love more cactus plants or arid plants in my home, but I’m terrible with them. I can keep tropical alive, but I think I over-water most arid plants. I still have one little Jade that’s working to come back from almost dying, but that’s it.

Do you have cacti in your home or area?

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Photography: Muttart Conservatory Tropical Pyramid-Edmonton, AB

June 23, 2015 by Angie 30 Comments

Back at the end of May I was able to go visit my best friend in Edmonton, AB. He moved to Canada almost a year ago, and it was my first trip up to visit. One of the places we visited? The Muttart Conservatory. We’re both HUGE plant/flower nerds, so it was so much fun to go through the four different pyramids and look at all of the pretty plants.

The first pyramid we went into was the Tropical pyramid. It was filled with all kinds of tropical plants, including something called a Corpse Flower, or if you want to get technical, the Amorphophallus Titanum. It is called a corpse flower, because when it blooms it smells like decomposing flesh, and we were informed by another patron that he had been there the week before when it was flowering. They then chop it off as it starts to wilt (probably due to smell), and they only bloom every 7-10 years, but you can see how it looks as it’s growing before flowering in the next photo after this one:

There were so many gorgeous flowers in there. So many I’d love to fill my home with (definitely not the corpse flower), and the pyramid was wonderfully humid and tropical. I also enjoyed taking a great shot of Josh’s new friend Chaslee as she took selfies for her boyfriend who is back in Chicago. It was a great time!

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

On My Way to Canada

May 6, 2015 by Angie 31 Comments

Well friends and readers, I’m ditching my day job and hitting the road with momma Pam (Josh’s mom) for a nice week and a half road trip and vacation to Edmonton, Alberta. It’s a 16 hour drive from Salt Lake City to Edmonton, and I’m pretty sure we’ll crash a night in Montana on the way, but by Thursday night I should see my best friend in the whole world again and get to experience a new city! I’m so excited!

I’ve only been out of the country once before, in 2006 right before they made it necessary to have a passport to cross the boarder. That was only a few blocks into Tijuana-and it hardly counts since all we did was see a doctor and get some street corn. This time I have my big girl passport and I’m headed to a new city in a different direction. I’m really excited!

If you have any tips for what to do or see up around Edmonton, leave it in the comments below. I’ll check back!

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Places to See in Manhattan

March 26, 2015 by Angie 1 Comment

Manhattan is a famously fabulous area of New York City, with plenty of things to see and do that you can tick off your bucket list.. Here are just a few places that should grab your attention.

New York Historical Society

The New York Historical Society is both a museum and a library, and it’s one of the major historical and cultural institutions in the United States. At over 200 hundred years old it’s also New York City’s oldest museum! The museum hosts exhibitions and collections that reflect not just New York City and State, but the US as a whole. The Patricia D. Klingenstein Library is home to a staggering two million manuscripts, while the Children’s History Museum is aimed at showing youngsters that history can be fun too. Lectures are held in the museum, which also has programs and resources that bring the past into the present.

At the Heart of America’s Theatreland

For theatre goers, visiting Broadway will prove to be an unforgettable experience. With dozens of top class venues putting on beloved shows it’s no wonder that Broadway is known around the world. It’s unquestionably the most important location regarding theatre in the US, and, with Broadway’s wide range of shows there’s bound to be something that will appeal to everyone.

American Museum of Natural History

On the Upper West Side is the American Museum of Natural History. It’s really like several museums rolled into one, and there’s even a planetarium here. Whether you’re interested in dinosaurs or space this museum will have something that appeals – and don’t forget to visit the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life and be awestruck by the near 100 foot long model of a blue whale!

The Empire State Building

Any visitor to Manhattan should take the opportunity to visit the building that King Kong climbed all those years ago! Synonymous with New York City, the Empire State Building is, of course, one of the world’s most iconic buildings. Though it’s an impressive sight from the outside, inside the Empire State Building you will be able to marvel at spectacular views of the city and, weather permitting, for miles around.

The magic of Manhattan captivates all that live and visit there, from musicians, to artists to those just looking for a big break. Be a part of it and discover its fascinating history by touring its incredibly enlightening museums.

Image by Hrag Vartanian, used under the Creative Commons license.

Compensation was accepted for this post, which was written by a guest writer.

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Photos: 2015 Oregon Trip Part 3

February 25, 2015 by Angie 5 Comments

Sunday morning we got up and had breakfast, but we were feeling tired so we scrapped our plans to drive up to Florence and opted to stay a little closer to home so it would be less travel and less work. Instead we grabbed a sandwich for lunch and decided to head over to Eel Lake. We went to Eel Lake last time and had a great time, but it’s always great to go again. On the way we stopped off first at Bastendorf Beach for a bit.

And here’s this patient soul again. He’s so great about these photos.

After that we made our way towards Eel Lake, but we had to make a quick stop so I could take a picture of this creepy cop car. They’ve placed it there to slow people down on the 101 but man theirs a super creepy dead-looking dummy in it.

Eel Lake was beautiful as ever, but this time the salmon were really active and jumping around in the little breeder area. So I got some really cool photos of them jumping up and down and it was pretty cool to see.

Then we headed almost right across the street to Hall Lake and hiked back to a pretty little private waterfall that Mr. Bingo found and loves. It was fun getting there because the path was washed out and it required some extra hiking/climbing skills. I wanted to practice getting the running water smooth but had forgotten my tripod-so I just tried it handheld.

Mr. Bingo at the Waterfall at Hall Lake in OR

That evening we went back to the house and grilled fresh tuna and we had Marionberry pie and spent a little extra time together. The next morning I packed up, loaded my rental car, and headed back to reality. That was really rough, and by the time I got home I was both exhausted and sad and fell asleep around 4:30PM-only a half hour after my plane got in.

Can I just go back now?

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Photos: 2015 Oregon Trip Part 2

February 24, 2015 by Angie 22 Comments

The weekends of my trips to Oregon are the best. Mr. Bingo has Saturday and Sunday off so we get to go out on adventures. We got up and had pancakes, and then we hit the road in my little rental car and headed south. The first place we stopped was Port Orford where we headed right out to the dock and took some photos of my one true love-the Pacific Ocean.

There were all of these cool old boats docked there, and an adorable little restaurant next to them.

And look at this handsome fella-he’s so patient with me and all of my photo taking.

After Port Orford we headed down the road looking for some hiking and enjoying the scenic route. We found a trail, but were warned it was really long and I really wanted to be closer to the ocean and not just back in the forest. So we hiked for a minute and then turned around and went back to find something else. We found a cute little path out to Arizona Beach.

After that we decided that we were definitely hungry and we headed back into Port Orford and stopped at a great little restaurant called The Crazy Norwegian which had a 100% rating on Urbanspoon. It was really good, and if you’re ever that way you should eat there. After that we headed up to Cape Blanco. I went to Cape Blanco a few years ago with Josh and Kristina and we had such a great time that I wanted to take Mr. Bingo there. He’d been by there last year, but hadn’t gone in the lighthouse so we thought we’d take the tour… But it was closed and the wind was crazy.

Then we drove through the campground where I’d stayed all those years ago and went down to the beach where Josh and Kristina and I had so much fun at before. It was still just as beautiful, and also windy.

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Photos: 2015 Oregon Trip Part 1

February 24, 2015 by Angie 20 Comments

For the long President’s day weekend I was lucky enough to hit up my favorite relaxation destination-the coast of Oregon. I mean I really should be a Pacific Northwesterner-I NEED the green, the coast, the cool weather, the moisture-and if I go to long with out it I get a crazy itch and have to book a trip. I’m lucky to have friends I can stay with so it makes it a better possibility.

Well it had been about a year since I’d been so I was definitely feeling the itch-and this time I rented a car to have a little more freedom and not make Mr. Bingo drive the two and a half hours each way to pick me up both times. This also allowed me to stop off in Florence and have dinner with my old neighbors Seneca and Navi-who moved there a while back. They took me to a little restaurant called Homegrown where we had some wonderful food and my new favorite cider which is an apricot cider they make in Bend, OR. I really wish I could find it here.

After dinner I headed down the coast to Coos Bay where Mr. Bingo lives. I was really grooving on the independence of having my own car and even though I’d forgotten to write down his address I thought for sure I could find his house on my own. I’d been a few times, though I’d never driven and by this point it was dark, so I did get a little lost on the way. However, I did make it before too late and it was nice to show up with my suitcase in hand and have done it on my own.

There’s just something magic about driving down the 101 at twilight with that sea-soaked air and your music blaring that speaks to my heart. I have so much love for it. Psst-Beth-look what I was driving. It was a great little car!

It was pretty late at that point so Mr. Bingo and I hung out for the evening. The next day he had to work so I worked on a few things and then I went out and took some photos in the yard. Before we decided to head out for lunch at a local Chinese place he wanted to try (good food but weird atmosphere) we looked out the window and saw this little guy stopping by to say hello.

I couldn’t get quite the shot I wanted through the windows so I wondered if I could sneak out the front door without him noticing. With very careful and quiet sneaking (it took a while) I was finally out on the porch in my stocking feet and face to face with my little friend. He stood their staring at me for a few minutes until he decided he’d had enough of the paparazzi and ran off into the bushes.

So then we went to lunch at the little Chinese place, which had tasty food but there was no music or ambiance so we just sat there wondering if the cook was killing people in the back or something. Then we took our fortune cookie numbers and headed to the gas station to play them in the lottery. We didn’t win. Sadly. When we got back to the house Mr. Bingo had some working to do so I went out to take photos in the yard. I was working on playing with lighting since I’ve recently learned how to work the aperture and Fstops and ISO and all that fun business. So here are a few of my favorite photos I took in the yard.