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Little Goat - Heart in My Hot Chocolate
February 13, 2014
in Bad Decisions, England, Europe, London, relationships, Round the World, travel, United Kingdom

On boys, babies, deal breakers, and bad decisions.

"Fuck the future. It would've been nice to have you in my present for a little while." A heart in my hot chocolate at Little Goat. If I'm going to be alone, I'm going to need chocolate.   I had been drunk the night before receiving that message,...

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Thanksgiving in London
December 21, 2013
in England, Europe, London, Round the World, Thanksgiving, travel, United Kingdom

Thanksgiving in London.

I'm thankful for all the amazing people I've met on my travels. I'm thankful for all the amazing people I've met throughout my life. I'm thankful that I've been able to keep traveling as long as I have. I'm thankful that I had friends in London to celebrate...

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Eating London Food Tour
December 19, 2013
in England, Europe, food, London, Round the World, travel, United Kingdom

Eating in London: From East to West

English food gets a bad rap sometimes. Before arriving in the country, I'd heard that the cuisine was bland and uninspired and unoriginal. I figured that I'd just end up eating fish and chips at a pub and call it a night. Every night. (Not...

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World Travel Market 2013
December 17, 2013
in blogging, conference, England, Europe, London, Round the World, travel, United Kingdom

How to give up on World Travel Market and just get drunk.

You could say that my time at World Travel Market (this big deal exhibition in London where tourism boards from every country set up big elaborate booths and travel bloggers go around trying to get free trips or "form relationships" or whatever) was a complete...

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WTM House Party
December 15, 2013
in blogging, conference, England, Europe, London, party, Round the World, travel, United Kingdom

WTM House Party

How bloggers roll...

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Street Art in Brick Lane, London, England
December 8, 2013
in England, Europe, London, Round the World, Street Art, travel, United Kingdom

Brick Lane Street Art in London, England.

I saw a lot of Brick Lane Street Art when I when I was traveling in London, England. A lot of street art. I mean, when in Shoreditch and walking around the Brick Lane area it's pretty hard to miss all of the walls full...

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Broadway Market, London, England
December 6, 2013
in England, Europe, London, Round the World, travel, United Kingdom

I went to London and I…

I started my trip to England with a stop in Harrogate to visit my friend Tom. After a few days exploring the north I went to London where I spent a week with my friend Dylan and all the other travel bloggers at World Travel...

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Hi, I’m Val. I spent most of my 20s in a standstill, unable to pick which path in life I wanted to take. I wanted the nomadic life of a traveler but also wanted the husband, the condo, and the teal couch. Unable to decide which life I wanted more, I did nothing. I lived my life in limbo. When I turned 30 I’d had enough of putting my life on hold and decided to start “choosing my figs.” So, I quit my job and bought a one-way ticket to Europe. After 3 years on the road I’m back in Chicago, exploring the city, learning guitar, decorating my apartment in too much teal, cuddling my cats, and planning my next adventures.

            

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR LIFE?


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Family portrait. Family portrait.
Checked in at 10:05. Was vaccinated by 10:10. Then Checked in at 10:05. Was vaccinated by 10:10. Then got some groceries because I was already at Mariano’s. 🤣
Got the one shot J&J this morning. Now I’ll go tuck my card in with the yellow vaccine book I’ve kept to record all the many random vaccines I’ve had to travel.
🏆 “I would like to thank the aCATemy” 🏆 🏆 “I would like to thank the aCATemy” 🏆

Happy fourth birthday to my Cat Of The Year, Rooney!

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#caturday #cat #cats #catslover #catsofinstagram #catstagram #kitten #kitty #adoptdontshop #kittens #kittensofinstagram #adoptasheltercat #everydayiscaturday #chat #gato #ilovecats #cutecat #catlife #catsofig #instacat #cats_of_instagram #igcatclub #catlady #catgram #catworld #catoftheday #catlover #ilovecats #instagramcats 
#crazycatlady
Things I love: 🤷🏼‍♀️ myself 🍕 pizza Things I love:
🤷🏼‍♀️ myself
🍕 pizza
❤️ heart-shaped food items

#heartshapedpizza #valentine #valentinesday #loumalnatis #pizza #pizzaparty #chicagopizza #deepdishpizza #pizzadiet #chicagoeating #chicagofood #chicagoeats #chieats
I follow too many of those Target shopping account I follow too many of those Target shopping accounts... 🤷🏼‍♀️
Happy Valentine’s Day ❤️ 🧇 
#valentines #valentinesday #waffles #waffle #heartshapedwaffles #heartshapedwaffle #heartshapedwafflemaker #target #targetstyle #targetfinds #targethome
I turned forty this week and let’s just say I wa I turned forty this week and let’s just say I wasn’t exactly looking forward to my birthday this year 😭😭😭 I guess I just always felt like by now I’d have everything a little more together than *looks around* this. I always try to write a birthday blog post each year so go to the link in my bio if you want to read more of me whining about getting old. 🤣
Today was my 40th birthday so I celebrated the bes Today was my 40th birthday so I celebrated the best way I could right now: by eating my feelings... 😭
1: cupcakes from @sweetmandybs
2: breakfast of a croissant from @laboulangeriechicago and my free birthday @starbucks
3: lunch of chicken and mashed potatoes and corn muffins from @honeybutterchi
4: dinner of pork belly and cauliflower from @thewarblerchicago
5: even more cupcakes from @mollyscupcakes
Am I going to “celebrate” my birthday today? A Am I going to “celebrate” my birthday today? Am I going to witness the start of a civil war?
Either way, if you need me today I’ll be in my bedroom crying under my covers.
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2006 –

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WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR LIFE?


Feeling stuck? Sick of living your life in limbo? Want to finally do all those things you always say you're going to do? Sign up for the Choosing Figs newsletter now to get a FREE e-book with tips on starting your own life list, inspiration for things to do in life, and worksheets to get your life goals out of your head and into action!


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MEOW | Is Val in Chicago?