Daydreamer Diaries: July 2022

Musings

I spend a lot of time thinking about why I love to travel, and I’ve managed to come up with some pretty deep reasons over the years. And then this month, Hulu started streaming Mary Kate and Ashley’s 1999 masterpiece, “Passport to Paris.” I rewatched it for the first time in 20 years and can confirm: it is still a masterpiece haha. It got me thinking that maybe the reason I love to travel isn’t that deep at all. Maybe it all comes down to my 8-year-old brain seeing the magic of two young girls (dressed to impress) spending spring break in Europe, meeting supermodels and cute boys, standing up for what they believe in to state officials, trying local delicacies while maintaining their love of McDonalds, visiting museum after museum, eventually bored but still learning and coming home changed by the experience. It makes me laugh that such a movie could have an impact on my life, but after seeing it again after all these years, I realize it definitely sparked something! And for that I’m grateful because I’ve had so many adventures around the world since, including in Paris. The unselfconscious wonder and want we feel as children is still somewhere in us as adults. Take this as your reminder to tap into that feeling, get out in the world, and play <3.

Podcasts

I listened to a bunch of episodes from We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle this month. I’m more of an Abby Wambach fan than a Glennon fan, but I love their discussions and the guests they bring on. I wanted to highlight a few episodes!

• Liz Gilbert Shares the Whole Story for the First Time (May 9): I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Gilbert. I’ve read all her books and have followed her life pretty much ever since I read Eat, Pray, Love. Side note: I read Eat, Pray, Love when I was fifteen, and I can guarantee that also impacted my life and desire to travel lol. Anyways, I’ve always loved Liz, her writing, and her courage to live life on her terms. This episode was a lot of never-before-heard information about her relationship with and the death of her most recent spouse, Rayya. She opened up about so much that she hasn’t before and shared many well-spoken touches of wisdom. It was intimate and I loved every minute.
• Why Elizabeth Gilbert Disappeared & What She Came Back to Say (May 11): Part 2 of the conversation started in the episode above. She spoke so beautifully about the end of Rayya’s life and how she grieved. I always feel like I learn little gems of wisdom every time she talks about her story. It was so interesting to get “caught up” with Liz and see where’s she at now.
• There were 2 great episodes with Dr. Lori Brotto, a Professor in the UBC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Research Chair in Women’s Sexual Health (June 13 and 15).
• Natalie Portman: How to Know When to Say YES (July 6): I loved this episode and had no idea that Natalie Portman was involved in women’s soccer! This conversation was fascinating on so many levels.
• Billie Jean King: Abby’s Hero Shares Her Hardest Battle (June 22): So inspiring and emotional! For those who don’t know, Billie Jean King is an absolute icon and started the movement for women’s equality in sports in the 1970s. She was a world no. 1 tennis player (the movie “Battle of the Sexes” is based on her life).

Reads

I’ve been following Elizabeth Holmes on Instagram for a while now (not that Elizabeth Holmes ha). She’s a writer and royal fashion enthusiast, and to be honest, I’m kind of surprised that I’ve been so engaged with her content. I’m not the biggest royal fan– I’m not sure where I stand on the role of royalty in the modern world. But Elizabeth’s thoughts about their fashion has been fascinating to me. You can’t deny that it’s fun and can be very powerful.

I recently picked up her book, HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style, which is an extension of her Instagram commentary about The Queen, Diana, Kate, and Meghan and how they use fashion to make statements and convey messages without having to say anything (because most of the time, they’re not supposed to). I definitely recommend following Elizabeth on Instagram to get a feel for what she does. But if you’re already a big royal fan, go ahead and get her book right away. You will love it! I learned a lot, and it even made me think about what I’d want my own “uniform” to look like and what I’d like to say with my own style. The section about Meghan was the most inspiring to me. There are now a few pieces I have my eye on. 🙂

In Case You Missed It

Solana Beach Travel Guide I visited my old stomping grounds during my vacation in May and was inspired to write this post. Love Solana Beach with all my heart!

Indianapolis Walking Tour My most recent upload on YouTube. Join me for a little travel escape while you walk on the treadmill, work from home, or have dinner. Help me get to that 1,000 subscriber mark– I’m at 33 right now haha!

Words

“Every truth you tell is a kindness even if it makes people uncomfortable, and every truth you don’t tell is an unkindness even if it makes people comfortable.”

–Elizabeth Gilbert to Glennon Doyle