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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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New York 1999 - Statue of Liberty
January 17, 2014
in Life List, New York, North America, travel, United States

New York, circa 1999.

I've been so busy working a temp job the past two weeks that all I want to do when I get home is curl up with Food Network. So I haven't had much time to write. And I'm certainly not traveling at the moment. But,...

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Eat a burger cooked in 100 year old grease at Dyer’s Burgers in Memphis.
December 27, 2013
in food, Life List, North America, Round the World, Tennessee, travel, United States

Eat a burger cooked in 100 year old grease at Dyer’s Burgers in Memphis. (Life List #77)

I'm pretty sure I first heard about Dyer's Burgers while reading Hamburger America (a roadtripper's bible of road food stops) some years ago. The restaurant on Memphis's Beale Street is known for it's deep fried hamburgers. But the patties aren't just cooked in any old...

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Memphis, Tennessee
December 23, 2013
in North America, Round the World, Tennessee, travel, United States

Walking in Memphis.

I flew home from London in early December and promised myself that I would spend the next month doing nothing but catching up on work and spending as close to nothing as possible (the whole laptop thing put me behind in both money and productivity)....

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Brookfeld Zoo
October 6, 2013
in Chicago Life, Illinois, North America, United States

I apparently never had to leave Brookfield…

I apparently wasted my time and money by traveling the world. I could have seen all the best things from South America, Asia, Australia, etc. etc. right in my home town. Lesson. Learned....

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Steak and Fatty Flank Pho at Pho Viet Anh in Seattle, Washington
February 13, 2013
in food, North America, Round the World, travel, United States, Washington

Suppers in Seattle.

Really, all I ended up doing in Seattle was eating. And that I am OK with...

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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?