Wardrobe Wednesday: The Best Purses for Travel to Avoid Theft

Let me start by saying the probability of being robbed when you are abroad is very slim. As long as you use common sense, keep an eye on your things, and avoid bad areas you won't have to worry. So I just want to make it clear, even though I will be talking today about theft I don't want you to become paranoid and think it is the norm when traveling. I personally, as a solo female, traveled all over Europe and China and never once had any incidents.

But that's not to say it doesn't happen either. While sitting at the beach and enjoying a lovely day in Barcelona, my friend had his backpack stolen. It was literally sitting right next to him and was gone in mere seconds. He ended up losing his passport, wallet (with money and two credit cards), Iphone, and two cameras. Not only was it a hassle to get all his paperwork sorted out so he was allowed back into France but it was also emotionally distressing. He told me that if I hadn't been there to calm him down he probably would have had a panic attack.

So today I'm going to tell you my tips and tricks for looking less like a target and not worrying about theft while abroad, all based on your travel bag choice! You'll know you've found a good bag if...

It has cross-body straps
A bag that has a cross-body strap is your best choice when it comes to selecting a purse. Bags that go over one should and clutches can easily be grabbed from you if a robber decides to become forceful. Another theft trick I've heard of is riding by on a scooter and grabbing women's purses right off of them. A Cross-body strap won't allow someone to take your purse quickly and, honestly, if you don't look like a quick target, a thief will move on to someone who looks more vulnerable. Also this sort of bag will allow you to free up your hands and not have to worry about it.

It doesn't have dainty straps
Another easy target for theft are purses with dainty straps. If the strap of your bag is just a thin piece of material it will be easy for thieves to snip it and walk off with your purse. Choose something that's thick and sturdy like leather. Not only is this safer but it's also more durable and will be able to stand the wear of travel.

It looks hard to get into
Anything that looks like the slightest bit of a challenge won't be worth a thief's time. If you're carrying an open top tote, for example, a thief can easily slip their hand in and be gone. A purse that has a flap on it, however, will acquire a little more time. I've found that purses with zippers and buckles (even if they are decorative) have deterred any attempts of theft.

You can keep an eye on it
I know many travelers choose backpacks but I can't stand them. You can't see your things and they're an easy target for theft (just ask my friend- while traveling Pisa she went to open her backpack only to realize that all of her pockets had already been opened and emptied!) If you can't see your belongings, you've just made yourself into an easy target. Keep your bag close to you and in your line of vision. If you're in a crowded space (museum, subway, etc) and can't see your bag I've found that one protective hand across the top of my purse has stopped any attempts of theft.

Do you have any other tips? What's your go to bag for travel? 

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The First Step

So today's post isn't travel related but I had to share that the day of May 11th, 2013 marked the culmination of four years of study at Miami University. On that day I graduated with a degree in French and East Asian Languages and Cultures, becoming only the second person in my family to graduate college (after my mother).

This day marks not an end but a beginning. I am so excited to go out into the world and pursue all my dreams. I won't bore you with a recount of my years at university but I will say it was an amazing experience. 

So I guess it's time to scratch 'graduate from college' from my bucket list and start working on all the other goals!

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Indian Burial Grounds and Amish Country in Southwest Ohio

Senioritis has hit me hard these past few weeks. As I post this now I'm in the home stretch of my final exams and then it's off to a summer of freedom!

But last week I was growing weary of my studies and my friend was itching to go somewhere so we hopped in the car and headed over to The Great Serpent Mound in Peebles, Ohio.

Has anyone ever heard of this before? I'm not sure this effigy mound is much known outside of Ohio which is surprising considering that this site marks the beginning of American archaeology  Oh, also the mounds are over 2,000 years old.

The form of the main mound is that of a winding snake with the end of its tail in a tight coil. Its mouth is opened at the other end to swallow an egg shape mound. In height it's a mere 3 feet tall but in length it's 1,370 feet. There is a small tower on the grounds that you can climb to get a view of the whole thing.

To the side there are smaller mounds which have the actual bodies of Native Americans. The whole things is built along a cliff which scientist believe was created by a meteor.

The most mysterious thing about these mounds is, well, everything! Archaeologists have studied the site since the 1800's but have come to no solid conclusion about who built it or why. Of course, I'm sure all these holes have been fun for alien theorists to play with. 

I have my own personal theory behind the meaning of The Great Serpent mound (other than aliens!)

Now, I don't know much about Native American cultures, but in many other cultures serpents represent vitality and the circle of life (snakes shed their skin and are "born" again). As well, eggs represent fertility and life. I think these symbols in combination with that fact that the effigy points at the sun on the summer solstice is sort of a message. "From this day forward, it will only get darker and winter will come but that doesn't mean life won't continue. The spring will come again and we will be reborn."

It's kind of beautiful if you think about the fact that they were burying their loved ones with this symbol. That though they have passed, they lived on eternally in this symbol of life.

After enjoying the lovely afternoon sun we headed over to the Great Serpent Mound Museum which was tiny but has some interesting information about the geography of the area as well a small gift shop. We asked the woman what else there was to do in the area and at first she suggested a hiking trail but, seeing as I was in a short skirt in flip flops, we asked if there was anything else. She suggested going to Amish Country, which, in my opinion, a short skirt and flip flops are only slightly more appropriate.

Just down the road from the tiny town of Peebles is authentic Amish Country. During our trip I realized I really know nothing about Amish people. There are several shows now a days depicting Amish youth rebelling against their upbringing but I've heard that, like much reality tv, it is mostly staged and doesn't reflect actual Amish culture. The Amish we met on our trip all wore traditional clothing and I even heard them speaking Pennsylvania Dutch but at the same time they seemed comfortable using machinery and electricity.

If there's one thing I did learn about the Amish, though, it's that they make ridiculously delicious food! After cruising and enjoying the Ohio countryside, stop at Miller's Wholefoods (960 Wheat Ridge Rd. West Union, OH 45693 ) to pick up some great eats. I could have stared all day at their amazing variety if jams, jellies, and preserves. I ended up getting some beef jerky and colby cheddar cheese and it was delicious (and so well priced!) Step over next door to the bakery as well. The pretzel rolls I got were soo good. So good, in fact, that my friend tried mine then stepped back in the store to buy some for herself.

In all it was a lovely and relaxing little day trip and a great way to step away from my books and catch some fresh air. While it may not have been the most riveting of adventures it was fun to finally see the mounds that I had been taught about in elementary school.

What do you think the Great Serpent Mound represents? 

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How to Make Money while Traveling the World

So as I've mentioned I've made the decision to go off and travel the world this autumn. My plans are indefinite and I plan to travel at my leisure. I know I have strength and the commonsense to get about but everything always comes back to one issue: money.

While I'll be trying to live as frugally as possible (couchsurfing, eating cheap, looking for free attractions) there's no denying that travel has a negative effect on one's wallet. Especially considering the fact that I'll be starting my trip with only a couple thousand dollars and have student loans on my back most would think I'm insane to start such a trip at this time. But I'm not crazy, I swear!

I don't intend to be constantly moving. Travel does not mean being in a different city everyday. Quite the contrary, I plan to travel slowly, dedicating up to several weeks per country and stopping every two or three months for an extended time.  And what will I be doing in this  extended stop? Working!

I've been working ever since I hit the legal age to work and I've never been adverse to hard work if it means earning something I want. In this case, I'll be using my extended stops to earn more travel. So, as a traveler, what kind of jobs can one work to gain some cash and continue one's travels?

The Classy Options

Tour Guide
This would be a great option for me when I end up in Europe since I've studied the culture and history so much. It wouldn't be too hard to find a company who's looking to hire on new tour guides. Just take a quick jaunt around the city, get oriented, and pitch yourself to a company. Considering the fact that I speak several languages, I think it would be an easy pitch.

Also there's always the option to set up your own tours and work freelance. Put up signs in hostels and wait for people to show up. If prices are reasonable, people won't pass you up. Or use sites like Vayable to organize tours and look more reputable.

English Teacher
I definitely plan to be doing a bit of this to fund my travels. Some may say you need to find a company to work with but all the contracts and time constraints can get messy, especially for someone who intends to get up and move to another country in a couple months. That's why when I get to South East Asia I intend to do some freelance English teaching. Throw up a couple signs around a college campus that say "native English speaker", "experienced teacher", and "first lesson free" and I should be getting some clients in no time. The possibilities for this career are great because you completely dictate your hours.

The Not-So-Classy Options

Hostel Worker
This job requires a little more work and has less free time but it's a job. Hostels are constantly hiring people as they come and go to help run the front desk and keep things tidy. Again, I think they fact that I speak four languages could be a great selling point and help me get the job. While this option doesn't provide the most mobility, it would definitely be fun to meet people from all over the world.

Waitress/Bartender
I can't say I have any experience with either of these jobs but that doesn't really matter. Bars and restaurants along the tourist path love hiring foreigners. One, I speak English which, from the bar owner's point of view, is great for drawing in other English speakers and making them drop money. Two, especially in Asia, having a foreigner makes your bar look cool to the natives. Why was I always given free beer when I went to bars in China?  Because the owner knew if I was having a good time, I would keep coming back and that would attract other people to come to this "fun" and "happening" bar, too.

The Trashy Options

"Come to my club!"
Is there an actual job title for these people? You know, the ones that come up and bother you while you're relaxing on the beach and start shoving papers in your face. "Come to my club! It's so fun! Discount for you!" Harassing tourists as they try to enjoy their time off is not glamorous work but it is a paycheck! Once again, being a native English speaker is a plus for this job since it makes other English speakers feel less creeped out when you approach them. Lacking an accent makes you seem more trustworthy when in reality, you have no idea what kind of shady club I'm sending you to.

Floor Whore
Again, a title that I coined since I don't know what else you would call a girl paid to be at a club. You've probably seen them before if you've been to any of the party cities in Europe; those unbelievably hot girls that seem to be there alone and just dance and dance all night. These ladies serve the purpose of making the club look happening and also getting men to drop money on drinks. Not sure I actually have the courage to attempt this job, however. Besides, I'll be living out of a backpack so I don't think anyone would be tempted to buy a drink for my sweaty, travel-worn self.

Anyways, these are just a couple job ideas that I came up with while researching jobs that allow constant travel. I love the flexibility that they allow and the fact that there are so many jobs that facilitate foreigners with out work visas (yay for under the table jobs!) 

What job would you work to earn money while traveling?

Image Sources: 1, 2 & 3

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Weekly Wonder: Sunset with Mao

I just adore cheesy photo opportunities, so when I saw this Chairman Mao mannequin we had to snap some pictures. I just love his pose! It's like you just told him a really good joke and now he's laughing and just enjoying your company so much. 

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Making the Scariest Decision of My Life

"I was a coward. I went to war."

Above is one of my favorite quotes of all time. It comes from the book The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien which tells in a semi-autobiographical nature the experiences of O'Brien during the Vietnam war.

The quote comes from a passage in which O'Brien recounts finding out that he had been recruited for the war. In desperation to avoid being shipped off, he flees to Canada. Just before arriving at the border he stops, turns around, and goes home while thinking these words to himself.

Ever since reading this book those words have stuck with me. Every time I did something I didn't want to do- didn't enjoy doing but felt I had to because it was expected of me- that quote echoed through my head.

Should I be satisfied with this? A comfortable life following a traditional path amounts to what? Having a stable job, home, and meeting the expectations of others adds what value to my life? Are these comforts worth living a life of cowardice?

I will not be a coward.

That is why today I made the scariest decision of my life. Even though I already have a job lined up for after graduation, I've decided to forsake it for a life of travel. I will graduate in May, spend my summer working at home to earn some money, and then go.

I know I'm insane but I can't stand the idea of working for four years to complete college only to sit down at a desk for the rest of my life, telling myself that one day I will travel. I refuse. I refuse living a life that's not fulfilling. I refusing wasting a single second doing something that I don't love, something that doesn't make me happy to be alive. I refuse the traditional path and the notion that it is the safest way to live. I refuse to be a coward.

Also, beyond the fact that this decision goes against all traditional rationale, there is another reason this choice is so scary: money. I do not come from a family with money. We scraped by through my childhood and I only afford college due to many scholarships and loans. I'll be graduating with about $20,000 of debt.

But that doesn't matter to me. I know I'm strong enough to handle this. I know I'm smart enough to accomplish anything I try. Every fiber of my being is full of conviction. The only question now is "where to first?"

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Wardrobe Wednesday: How to Pack Fashionably Light

So you're heading off for a summer time vacation? Time to start packing! If you're like me and love clothes it can be pretty hard to narrow down your wardrobe and decide what to bring with you. For all you girls out there wondering how to pack light and still look fashionable, this is or you! Check out how I style 9 pieces to make 9 different outfits!

Click to enlarge photos.

As you can see, I used the rule that I mentioned before when I discussed how to pack for small trips. My key pieces are neutrals (black, brown, white) and I picked two accent colors (blue and coral). These colors are perfect for summer and I love how playful they look together! 

Also, I used a lot of patterned pieces in my looks. This helps add some variety and visual interest to this capsule wardrobe- rather than nothing but plain, boring colors.

For shoes, one pair of flats and one pair of heels, both in neutral shades, are all you need to match every outfit. Recently I've been loving socks and how they can completely change an outfit so get some statement socks to help change up each look!

As you can see, the main key is to have variety in your pieces that are linked by subtle similarities. Use different shapes (body con and slouchy fit) to make many looks. From cafe to beach to museum, I have an outfit for each occasion!

What are you packing for summer vacation?

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The Weekly Wander: Yellow Crane Tower

The following is a guest post written for my dear friend Ashley of See Ash Run for her series The Weekly Wander. Check out her blog to read the full post!

I had no expectations when visiting this tower. All I knew about Yellow Crane Tower was that it was very old and that it was the symbol of the city of Wuhan.

It turned out only one of those facts were true.

Climbing the hill to the tower

The tower itself is only about 30 years old and is a recreation of the original tower that stood there thousands of years ago. Understandably- time, wars, and revolutions led to the tower being destroyed and rebuilt no less than ten times. The tower now is a kilometer from its original location and bears little resemblance to its initial design.

To read the rest of this story, head on over to See Ash Run!

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How to Study a Foreign Language

Whenever I tell someone my majors they always look so surprised.

"You study three foreign languages? Wow, that's amazing! I could never do that- I'm so bad at languages."

In all honesty, I'm kind of embarrassed to admit my major. To me, studying French, Japanese, and Chinese feels like a cop out because personally, it's so easy. College is supposed to be hard, grueling, and hours of studying yet I found myself gliding through my four years of undergraduate studies with barely any all-nighters.

And while I chose my studies because I'm passionate about learning foreign languages, many students are forced into attempting this task merely to fulfill graduation requirements. These courses demand lots of work outside of class and are often looked at as needless stress. For those of you who struggle to comprehend foreign languages, I hope I can give some insight.

Also, I don't claim to know everything about studying a foreign language. I've never really studied linguistics, I don't know the mental processes of comprehending language, and I don't know which part of the brain controls language abilities. I will, however, say that over the past 10 years of my life I've studied four languages and have almost always received A's. Here are my personal tips for how to succeed at learning a foreign language.

Stop telling yourself that you can't learn a language
People think I was born with a natural talent for learning languages but that's not true. When I first started learning French in middle school I hated it. I thought it was stupid, pointless, and in general it just didn't make any sense. I couldn't conjugate a verb to save my life. Whenever we had tests, I would write all the vocabulary words on my hand because I wasn't able to memorize them. Nothing I learned stayed in my head.

When high school came around and I had to fulfill my language requirement I decided to give French another go. At least I had a little bit of experience with the language, right?

But something was different this time. I knew that failing this course wasn't an option if I wanted to graduate so I said to myself, "Yeah, I can do this." And then I did. That simple attitude change of believing that I could learn a foreign language, instead of closing myself off to the possibility, is all it took to increasing my language comprehension skills. Suddenly I could retain vocab words and apply grammar just because I studied with confidence.

Stop thinking of it as a foreign language
By looking at language as something alien and weird you're preventing your mind from comprehending it. Instead, think of it as something more relatable. Language is actually closely related to math so why not think of a sentence in Spanish as a math problem instead of a foreign language? The same logic used in W+X+Y= Z can be applied to Subject +Verb +Object = Comprehensible Sentence. Basically if you can do any other study that requires logic and reasoning, then you can study a foreign language!

I  personally am very bad at math so instead I think of foreign languages as word puzzles. Fill in the blanks to solve the puzzle, if you will. Thinking of language as a game not only makes learning easier but also fun.

Live the language
Ideally this would mean going to a nation where the language is spoken, if possible. I cannot stress how much more quickly you will learn a foreign language in real life situations rather than sitting in a class room. Those simulated conversations that you practice are nothing like the real world. If you can study abroad or even just spend a summer as an au pair, do it!

If that's not an option, do what ever you can to expose yourself to the language. My good friend in France had amazing English; she understood slang and her pronunciation was spot on. When I asked her how she learned English she said she just watched Friends.

To improve your own language skills, do as much as you can to surround yourself with the atmosphere of that language. With the internet there are thousands of places to watch foreign tv shows and listen to foreign music. Universities also offer lots of options from clubs to social events where diversity is celebrated. The chance is high that you will meet a native speaker to practice with.

Pretend you're a teacher
This exercise requires a little bit of role playing but the results are two-fold. Firstly, it gets you to speak out loud. This is pivotal to understanding a language and being able to recall things later. If you only ever read something, you'll never recognize it when it's said out loud. Talk to yourself and pretend you're leading a class. Creating that audio memory will help you recognize spoken language and make it easier to recall things when being tested on paper.

Secondly, this will help you recognize your weaknesses and what you need to practice. Do you truly understand a grammar point? If so, then you should be able to explain it to someone else. If you find yourself stumbling to "teach" something then you don't really know it. Study these points until you're able to thoroughly "teach" them.

Don't stress over being precise
Native speakers don't speak perfectly. They slur words, use slang, and omit entire fragments of sentences so there's no reason that you should feel bad about your abilities to use a language. Be confident in knowing that  you probably know enough to get by just fine in a foreign country, even if your grades might not reflect it.

When I was in China I had only studied Chinese for a couple months but even so I got around alright. If I wanted someone to take a picture of me, I'd simply say "Qing wen, ni keyi..."/"Excuse me, can you..." and then point at my camera. Sure, I didn't know how to say "take a picture" but it was never an issue.

Learn some culture
Language makes more sense when you understand the point of view of a native speaker. If you're studying a foreign language you should try to learn something about the history of the people, their foods, their literature, their politics, even their body language. All of this will enrich your understanding of the language and help you better convey your ideas.

Make your own sentences
Sure, you could just memorize the sentences in your text book. That will get you through the tests at least. But if you genuinely want to learn a language, this will not be enough. The true way to understand a language is to apply grammar ideas to your own unique sentences.

So your book teaches you the sentence "I study Chinese 3 times a week." Take that sentence and look at the form. Now apply it to a new sentence. Can you accurately say "She cooks food twice a month". If you've correctly identified the pattern then you should be able to make that sentence. Finding patterns and using logic to form new ideas is essential to being able to comprehend a language and hold a conversation.

Do you have any tips for studying a foreign language?

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Weekly Wonder: Going to Hogwarts

Sadly the station was under construction so I only got to take a photo with this jank mock-up when I visited King's Cross. Still, it was fun to pretend!

Have you ever visited a movie/book location before?

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A Day in Yellow Springs; The Perfect Itinerary

For the first beautiful day of spring my friend and I decided to make a day-trip to Yellow Springs, Ohio. You've either A) never heard of this town or B) correlate this town with one word: hippies.

Well, yes, B is pretty true. Yellow Springs is one of the most liberal and funky towns you will ever come across. The people are extremely friendly, the buildings are bright, energizing colors, there are posters for tribal African belly dancing lessons, and music fills the air as musician jam out on the sidewalk.

Something about the sense of community and relaxing lifestyle that the citizens embrace is so refreshing from my life of nonstop working and studying. This town has held a special place in my heart ever since I first visited when I was 16 years old so I knew I had to go back again. This time I take you with me as I show you the perfect day itinerary so that you can experience all of Yellow Springs!

Late Morning

When we first got into town it was about time for lunch and we hadn't eaten anything yet that day. We stepped into Sunrise Cafe which was packed and had an hour wait. Though the menu looked amazing we went back out onto the street and ended up chatting with a local. After talking about the beautiful weather, he advised us that the place to go if we wanted good food would be Ye Olde Trail Tavern.

As you can see, the tavern is the oldest building in Yellow Springs and the second oldest restaurant in all of Ohio. This tavern had a home-y log cabin look but also had a lovely patio where my friend and I enjoyed our food and the spring weather. For my meal I wanted to try something I'd never had before so chose to get the fried bologna. Doesn't that sound so American? The food was great and soooo filling. As well, our incredibly sweet waitress made the experience all the nicer!

After your meal, enjoy a jaunt around the town and check out all the beautiful and unique shops. You can go to eco-friendly grocery stores, buy locally produced art and clothing, get a tarot card reading, or just stock up on your incense. The actual downtown area is very small (just two streets) and can be toured thoroughly in a hours time. Also, keep an eye out for yarn bombings and beautiful graffiti around the streets. Don't be afraid to go behind buildings and down alleys to find little troves of amazing guerrilla art.

Afternoon

Next you've got to head to Glen Helen, an amazing and immense nature reserve, so you that you can see the spring for which the city was named. And, being that it's a natural spring, you can drink right from it! Check that of my bucket list! The water was cool, fresh, and tasted slightly of metal. I was informed later that the spring water is rich with iron and this is also the reason the rocks around it are colored orange.

Besides the spring, there are many other features to enjoy at Glen Helen. Check out the old dam, visit the raptor rehabilitation center, see Hopewell Indian mounds, get lost in the pine grove, or relax by the cascades. Come here in the height of summer to enjoy all the green foliage!

Next, cross the street and head over to Antioch College. This adorable campus is small and cozy and can be toured in a short amount of time. Pop inside the buildings if you can and check out the awesome graffitted walls of the dorms. This extremely liberal liberal arts school is so cute, I could transfer there now!

Evening

After that, head on over to Young's Jersey Dairy to check out a working dairy farm. Besides petting baby cows and goats there are lots of other activities. This is a great stop for families as there are batting cages, putt putt golf, and a playground to entertain children.

Or just enjoy the amazing food! They're known for their milkshakes but also offer all kinds of other confections and have a bakery as well. I got sea salt caramel ice cream in a chocolate dipped waffle cone. Yum! After that we went to the store and picked up some fresh cheese as well as a delicious cranberry honey mustard. I highly recommend it!

We decided to finish our day in Yellow Springs in a relaxing manner. First we stopped into the lovely book shop Dark Star Books. They have a great collection of modern books and comics as well as older, rare books. It was great fun perusing through their collections and reading old books on fashion (Ugh, 90's! What were you thinking??) After that we sat at a table along the sidewalk and enjoyed our cheese while listening to street musicians in the warm spring air. I couldn't think of a more perfect ending!

What do you think? What would you like to do in Yellow Springs?

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Weekly Wonder: The Great Wall of Baijiu

Baijiu: (Noun) (pronounced bye-Joe)The most horrendous thing you could ever possibly drink.

This beverage translates literally to "white aclohol" but is often called "rice wine" in English. But to call this drink wine is an absolute lie. It's more like a cleaning product. Or paint thinner. Or the most rancid thing you could image. But despite it's horrible taste, we bought it anyways. Why you ask? Simple math:

-One Chinese beer (2% alcohol)= 5 yuan
-One bottle of baijiu that is twice the size of that beer (40%-60% alcohol)= 10 yuan.

Do you understand now? Our Western bellies just couldn't get drunk off of beer alone without filling our bladders first!

We mixed baijiu with literally everything to try and hide the taste. Our best combination was 1 part coke, 1 part sprite, 1 part grape juice, and 1 part baijiu. I know that concoction sounds rancid but it's the only thing that vaguely worked!

The picture above is one of the rooms of an intern from my summer in China. Across the top you can see every bottle of baijiu we drank that summer. Every day the cleaning lady would come in and just look at our bottles and shake her head.

Would you try baijiu?

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Looking at Porn in Public at the Amsterdam Sex Museum (NSFW)

*Note; some of the following images and content are not safe for work.

When I first arrived in Amsterdam it was still the early morning and a chilly winter day. I had no map and very little knowledge of the city but I knew I wanted to get out of the cold. So when the very first museum I came across was Venustempel, or Sex Museum, I just had to go inside. If you just clicked the link to check out the info on this museum, you are currently being serenaded by a non-stop loop of 'Erotic'. You're welcome.

19th century pornography on the interior of a letter box 

This museum can be found just a couple blocks over from the infamous red light district and costs a mere 4 euros to enter. The first floor starts out with novelties: faux cakes shaped like penises, corsets, chastity belts, and a large neon sign saying "red light district" followed by a recreation of a 19th century street with hookers waving to you out the window. Yes, they move- as well as the men coming to look at their "wares". After getting through this kitschy mess, move upstairs where the rest of the museum has a more traditional design.

Source

As the museum's website states sex is "the most natural thing in the world and is probably also the most historically well-documented thing in the world." This is showcased in the museum's collection of sensual paintings and sculptures which are actually displayed very tastefully. Sex is shown through the ages, from ancient Greek pottery to the invention of photography and the mass production of pornography. Which, I don't know about you, but there's something very humanizing about seeing these works. Like, you read text books about people from hundreds or thousands of years ago and it's so easy to forget that they were humans, too. And then you go to this museums and you're like "Oh, this ancient Greek guy was drawing naked chicks, lol!"

Something a little more contemporary

In the end, I really enjoyed this museum- if only for the giggle. I mean, who wouldn't smile at giant, penis-shaped chairs? From serious artworks to novelties, it was a fun and invigorating way to start my trip in Amsterdam and totally worth the stop if you're bold enough!

Would you go to a sex museum?

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Wardrobe Wednesday: Never Too Much Time

You may not have known this but originally Driftwood and Daydreams was a fashion blog! It's true- I started this blog some two years ago to showcase my personal style and follow trends. And while I loved fashion and blogging, keeping up with all the fashion blogs and trends was just too time consuming so I closed Driftwood and Daydreams to focus on my studies.

Now I've brought it back to talk about travel, my greatest passion, but I still have an immense love for fashion so I've decided to start incorporating my hobby back in with the weekly feature of Wardrobe Wednesday. I hope to bring you some inspiration from my own closet and offer you tips for packing and travel style.

Today's outfit has become one of my favorite looks lately. If I could wear this shirt everyday, I would. Can you believe I found such a beautiful, casual top at the thrift store! I'm obsessed with how chic and clean the lines are and the accent of buttons down the back is so amazing!

Such a simple outfit calls for statement jewelry so I threw on this gold & jewels necklace that I've been ignoring for far too long as well as stacks of bracelets and watches. People always ask me why I wear two watches when I do this look. In truth, I just think they're beautiful and wear them just as any other bracelet but to be cheeky I respond "You can never have enough time!"

For more of my style you can follow me on Chictopia or LookBook. 

What's your favorite go-to outfit right now?

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The Do's and Don'ts of DC

After my trip to Washington DC, I kept hearing a phrase echoing in my head when reflecting on certain attractions; "I wish I had known not to do that!"

For even though I had a week in the city, I was trying to be economical with my time and do the most that I could. I can only imagine how hard it would be for a tourist who only has two or three days in this city. What should one see? Eat? Shop? These are things that you can't afford to waste your time figuring out when the days are limited.

That's why I put together this simple list of do's and don'ts for traveling Washington DC so you can know what attractions are worth your time and which will leave you feeling unsatisfied.

Do got to all the museums on the Mall
This is a no brainer! The most well-known museums on the mall are popular for a reason so don't avoid them just because they seem touristy. The Natural History Museum and The National Air and Space museums are actually really fun (even as an adult) and can be done as quickly or slowly as you like. Plus it's all freeeeee!

Don't eat there!
Just don't! I tried my best to avoid eating in the Mall area but at one point I had free time in the afternoon and I thought, the prices can't be that bad, right? Big mistake! I ended up paying 7 (+tax) for a slice of crappy pizza at the Museum of American History just because I didn't bother to wander out into the city a bit to get food. Lesson learned!

Do go to the Old Post Office
In all honesty, DC doesn't have that impressive of a skyline but going up the tower of the Old Post Office is still pretty cool. It's a fun chance to see DC from above and look at the amazing grid work of the city. This tower is pretty much the only place in the city that you can see it from above.

Don't bother with the shops there
Nothing of interest is in the Post Office itself. If you have kids, this may be a good place to rest up while they play in the arcade and get food but other than that it's just gimmicky souvenir shops not worth your time.

Do research cherry blossom timing
Seeing as I went just a week before the Cherry Blossom Festival I assumed I would be able to see the little pink flowers but I was wrong. Nature had other things in mind and there was hardly a bud on any of the trees. Apparently they didn't even bloom for the festival. Cherry trees usually blossom in mid-March but it's best to do your research. Follow the bloom watch to see when they're actually opened!

Don't go to the actual festival on the Tidal Basin
If you want to shop the stalls of the festival, that's fine. But if you just want to enjoy the cherry blossoms without the crowds there are many other places in the city where you can see them.

Do dedicate a fare amount of time to the National Art Museum
When it comes to allocating time, this is one museum to which you will want to devote several hours. As I mentioned in my post about 'the best museums in DC that you skipped', the works in this museum are amazing and plentiful. When it comes to choosing which activity to do I would chose this over...

Don't go to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
It's cool in theory to see money be printed but the tour itself was incredibly boring. Plus, you have to go earlier than you actually want to reserve a ticket and then return later in the day for the tour. It's really more effort than it's worth.

Do appreciate other cultures besides American
As a Midwest girl, I don't get a whole lot of chance to experience other cultures so the museums of DC were a great chance to "travel" while in America. The several museums of the Smithsonian cover every continent so why not give them a look? Just because you're in America, doesn't mean you won't find something of interest in the less frequented museums. For instance, I absolutely loved the Freer Gallery of Asian art!

Don't assume what you'll like 
Following that train of thought, don't assume you'll like something just because you're familiar with it. I thought I would like the National Museum of American History but ended up bored as hell (and I'm a museum lover!) Other than the awesome WWII propaganda posters, I could hardly find anything to hold my interest and walked through the exhibits rather quickly.

In all honesty, there's so much more I could share but I feel like there's a certain point when one goes from helpful friend to pompous know-it-all so I'll just leave it here for today. If you'd like more tips on what to see and do in DC, just let me know- I still have so much more to say!

What do you like to do in Washington DC? Let me know!

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