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Arequipa, Peru
August 7, 2014
in Arequipa, Latin American Adventure, Peru, Round the World, South America, travel

Arequipa, Peru: I’ve been here before.

"This is Antigua." That's all I could think when I entered the main square in Arequipa, Peru. Both were surrounded by walkways of arched columns where touts would constantly hassle you to book a tour, eat at their restaurant, buy some sunglasses. Both were flanked...

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Sandboarding in Huacachina, Peru
July 30, 2014
in Huacachina, Latin American Adventure, Peru, Round the World, South America, travel

(Not) Sandboarding in Huacachina, Peru.

Huacachina, Peru is a weird little outlet in southwestern part of the country. The town, if you can even call it that, centers around a natural lake, and that is surrounded by giant dunes of sand. It's a vintage relic, really, one of those places...

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Lima, Peru
July 28, 2014
in Latin American Adventure, Lima, Peru, Round the World, South America, travel

Welcome to Lima, Peru. And the start of a new identity crisis.

I want to move to New York. Or Portland. Or Austin. Or Seattle. Maybe. I thought about that as I sat under a sculpture of two giant lovers embraced in a kiss in Parque del Amor, "Love Park," in the Miraflores district of Lima, Peru. Parque...

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Val Bromann - Choosing Figs
July 21, 2014
in New York, North America, Round the World, travel, United States

A walk in Gowanus with Amber.

I didn't know Amber until I showed up on her doorstep three years ago to crash on her air mattress in Brooklyn for a few nights. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago and I was moving in again (this time upgraded to a...

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New York
July 18, 2014
in New York, North America, Round the World, travel, United States

Things to do in New York.

It was my sixth time in New York but the first time I stepped back and thought, time and time again, "I could live here." I could live in New York. I really think it had to do with the advent of the smartphone, allowing me...

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Life List: Walk cross the Brooklyn Bridge
July 16, 2014
in Life List, New York, North America, Round the World, travel, United States

Life List #183: Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

The one touristy thing I had on my New York to-do list was to take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. I was planning to go solo, but, when my friend Kristin told me that she'd never done it before either, we decided to meet...

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Brain Bash at the Beach Brain Eating Contest
July 14, 2014
in competitive eating, New York, North America, Round the World, travel, United States

Brains.

Every time Molly Schuyler does something, I can count on at least five people sending me a link to it. Which probably says something about both my reputation and hers. There was that time she ate 363 chicken wings in 30 minutes. And that time she ate...

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2014 Nathan's Famous July 4 Hot Dog Eating Contest
July 10, 2014
in competitive eating, Life List, New York, North America, Round the World, travel, United States

Life List #206: Compete at the Nathan’s Famous July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest.

I was a celebrity. Being approached on the street for photos. Getting asked for an autograph at a bar. Receiving random high fives from the crowd. Being told by a mass of self-proclaimed groupies that they were rooting for me. For me. A self-proclaimed groupie myself. I...

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Coney Island, New York
July 3, 2014
in New York, North America, Round the World, travel, travel news, United States

Three years. Back where it all began.

Where I stood to watch 3 years ago. Where I will eat on Friday. Three years ago today I boarded a one-way flight to New York to attend the July Fourth Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest and begin my 'round the world trip. At the time...

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My upcoming travel plans. And why they will go out the window.
June 27, 2014
in Round the World, travel

My upcoming travel plans. And why they will go out the window.

Booking plane tickets makes me nervous. I can spend hours searching Kayak and Skyscanner for the perfect place, the perfect price, but, even if I find a great deal, can never bring myself to book. Even if I know that I have to be somewhere...

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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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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!


Your information will be used to send you our Life List e-book and subscribe you to our bi-monthly newsletter. View our full Privacy Policy.



            


MEOW | Is Val in Chicago?