Since I sold my home in 2007, I have spent the vast majority of my nights in hotel and hostel rooms around the world. I spent almost 9 years traveling around the world non-stop, even after I stopped traveling full-time, the better part of each year was spent on the road. Even in 2020, I …

Read moreWhat Does A World Traveler Do When He Can’t Travel?

The post What Does A World Traveler Do When He Can’t Travel? appeared first on Everything Everywhere Travel Blog.

This week I am joined by Jen Leo, Spud Hilton, Chris Christensen and this week’s guest Anietra Hamper. Anietra Hamper is an award-winning travel writer and photographer with a penchant for outdoor adventure and fishing for some of the largest fish in the world. Prior to writing for travel publications, Anietra spent 18 years as …

Read moreThis Week in Travel – Episode 262

The post This Week in Travel – Episode 262 appeared first on Everything Everywhere Travel Blog.

You all know how much I love outdoor living spaces and today I’m joining a group of blog friends and we are all sharing our ideas on how to make the most of your porch or patio. If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you know how much I enjoy being Read More

The post 5 Ways to Cozy up a Porch or Patio appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

I don’t normally take the time to watch videos… but now is the best time, right?   And I found this topic fascinating.

This guy, 50 years ago, built an entire living complex for himself, his wife and two sons that is self sustaining.  50 YEARS AGO he did this!  The man takes you on a video tour of his beautiful house nestled in the CA redwoods… just amazing.

Click here to watch the video.

Click to watch video

Read the original article here.

Click to read original article.

Here is a full description of the above video and the story of Charles Bello:

In 1968, Charles Bello and his wife, Vanna Rae, moved onto 240 acres of redwood forest looking to live a simpler life off the land. They had spent their savings to purchase the land so they got to work building their home themselves. Their first structure was a panelized A-frame that they erected in 5 days (with help from a couple family members). Total cost was $2,800.

The property is a half-hour drive down a dirt road and it was bare land when they arrived so Charles and Vanna Rae built their own infrastructure: roads, bridges and went decades without refrigeration nor phone (they eventually installed PV panels and cabling for phone lines).

After 15 years in the A-frame, they built a cabin in the woods and there they lived for a decade until the trees began to block out their views. In 1991 Charles (who once apprenticed under famed architect Richard Neutra) designed the Parabolic Glass House. With a curvilinear wood roof and two curved walls of windows, the home feels enveloped in trees.

Charles and Vanna Rae built it for $8,500 with timber they milled themselves, using salvaged materials for everything from doorknobs to stoves. The couple relied on photovoltaics, solar thermal and gas for power and a dug-in greenhouse attached to the home provided much of their food. By canning and preserving, they could go for months without going to a grocery store. Their two boys were homeschooled. The couple supported themselves selling Christmas trees.

Nearly all the old growth trees on the property were logged in the early 20th century, but Charles has spent the past half century restoring the land. He and his wife set up the Redwood Forest Institute in 1997 to manage and preserve the forest. He has carefully selected 1,000 trees to be preserved for 2 millenia as the next generation of old growth.

HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY!

The post Man Has Lived Off-the-Grid in the NorCal Redwoods for 50 Years. (Amazing video of what he has created!) appeared first on Horse and Man.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

Your purchase with R.W. through this link helps the Bucket Fund!

When you shop @AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to Horse And Man Inc.



Supporting The Bucket Fund through Amazon Smile is HUGE for the horses. Please choose HORSE AND MAN when you make your Amazon purchase through this link. THANK YOU!

I hope you all are enjoying this nice weather if you’re here in the Atlanta area particularly. It’s been so spring like for several weeks and it’s so nice to have a long spring instead of jumping right into hot weather. Mark and I are finishing up our patio project, getting lattice on the stairs, painting and staining all the back side of the shutter wall I shared with you last week and I was hoping to have the big reveal of the new screen porch/patio space this weekend, but I’m waiting for a couple more things to come and then I have to clean it all up, decorate, take pics and write the post, so I will need an extra week for all of that. I promise it will be the following weekend.

In the meantime, enjoy all these great shares from my blog friends. You can get inspired for fixing up your deck or patio space, container gardening which is so big this time of year, organizing, hanging plates and gardening tips. It’s that time of year, so hope you enjoy! 

The post Home Style Saturday 188 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

I’ve put up the lowest prices possible to boost the Bucket Fund and maybe find a treasure for your Mother for Mother’s Day (or yourself or a friend… )!

Oscar and Goliath.

EVERY DONATION COUNTS!

–All pieces here were artisan crafted for the the needy horses featured in the  HORSE AND MAN BUCKET FUND!

To follow us on our beautiful, updated often, FaceBook page, click here!

Shipping (within the continental USA) included in all prices!

NEW!

TAHITIAN SEAS NECKLACE! Only $38!

Start Spring with this lovely POP of color! Czech glass beads in warm sea tones with varied sizes and Tahitian colors. So pretty! Crystal closure. 19″.

To purchase, click here!

SHELTER IN PLACE SALE! 40-50% OFF! CREAMY GOODNESS was $42, NOW $28!  SOLD!

I love these simple pieces because they look so elegant alone – or layered! Creamy translucent Czech glass beads with a sterling silver heart charm at crystal closure. 16″

ROSY LAVENDERS necklace was $48, NOW $30!  SOLD!

Such a soft and pretty colorway Czech glass beads in rose and lavender tone and graduated sizes with a sterling silver heart charm at crystal closure. 17″

To purchase, click here!

SANGRIA WINE necklace! Was $48, now $30!  SOLD!

Czech glass beads in Sangria and amethyst with copper heart charm at crystal closure. 19″

To purchase, click here!

SHELTER IN PLACE SALE! CLASSIC WHITE PEARL 8MM necklace was $48, now $32!

Czech glass beads in white (8mm) with sterling silver flower charm at crystal closure. You will wear these every day! I do! 17″

To purchase, click here!

SHELTER IN PLACE SALE! 40-50% OFF! ROMAN COIN necklace! was $58 NOW $40!

ROMAN COIN with Czech glass beads in neutrals with agate nugget closure. Necklace is 18″ Pendant an additional 1″

To purchase, click here!

SHELTER IN PLACE SALE! 40-50% OFF! AVENTURINE NUGGETS was $85 NOW $44!!

GRAB THIS if you are a rock hound like me! Healing Aventurine nuggets with crystal closure. 19″

To purchase, click here!

JUST IN FROM POLAND! Lovely mini daisy!    Only $48.  NOW $34!

Gorgeous mini daisy encased in glass and bronze. Dainty, delicate, lovely. LOVE THESE!  Pendant is 1″ long and .5″ wide.  Chain is 32″.

To purchase, click here!

SHELTER IN PLACE SALE! 40-50% OFF! ASIAN TURQUOISE NECKLACE! was $90, NOW $48!

Gorgeous Asian Turquoise nuggets with larger turquoise nugget at closure and Sterling Silver flower charm. Really Pretty! 17″

To purchase, click here! 

LOOK WHAT CAME IN?!!    PERIWINKLE FLOWER ONLY $58!  NOW $46

Large Periwinkle flower pendant encased in glass with a bronze bezel. One of a kind! Pendant is 2″ long and 1″ wide. LOVELY!  Chain is 32″

To purchase, click here!

SHELTER IN PLACE SALE! GEMSTONE AMETHYST ROUNDS!! was $110, NOW $55!

Gemstone amethyst rounds in varied colors with handmade Sterling silver flower charm at amethyst nugget closure. Wow! 21″

To purchase, click here!

NEW FROM POLAND! Large Captured Dandelion pendant!    Only $68!  NOW $48

Gorgeous, one of a kind, captured dandelions in glass with a bronze bezel. So pretty! Pendant is 2.3″ long and 1.5″ wide. This is a robust and lovely item you will wear all the time!

To purchase, click here!

LEARN AND MOVE ON pendant necklace! Was $425, NOW $215!!  WOW! SOLD!

AMAZING handmade turquoise, garnet and sterling pendant from Sweetbird Studio that says “Learn and Move On”…Necklace is an assortment of Czech glass beads, sterling chain and turquoise nuggets with turquoise nugget at closure. Sterling silver handmade heart charm dangle. 16″. Pendant is an additional 2”.

THE MOST IMPRESSIVE STERLING NUGGET PIECE! was $550, NOW $295.  WOWOWOW

You will love this piece – such a DEAL! This is a handmade sterling silver heavy nugget bead necklace. Gorgeous. You can see in the pic that I wear my similar piece all the time! Unique and one of a kind! Constant compliments. Wear alone or layered. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME BEING STUCK IN THE HOUSE! 17″

To purchase, click here!

The post One extra day to help the babies…and maybe get a gift for your Mother! appeared first on Horse and Man.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

Your purchase with R.W. through this link helps the Bucket Fund!

When you shop @AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to Horse And Man Inc.



Supporting The Bucket Fund through Amazon Smile is HUGE for the horses. Please choose HORSE AND MAN when you make your Amazon purchase through this link. THANK YOU!

You all loved this feature of Loren’s cute cottage home, so I’m sharing it again today! 

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Today’s Feature Friday is a fun share. I met Loren on Instagram, she doesn’t have a blog, but she has a pretty page on Instagram called Blue Barn and Cottage. I just love her story and her cute ranch home that she’s completely renovated and I knew you all would too. I’ve asked Loren to introduce herself, so here she is!

The post Feature Friday: Blue Barn and Cottage appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Posted: 4/30/2020

It takes a village to keep this website going. From tech and coding to design to fixing bugs getting readers books when downloads fail to scheduling social media or running the forums, I have a lot of help. I simply couldn’t run the website, write, travel, eat, sleep, or anything in between if I didn’t have the support and help of an amazing group of people.

It’s not just me writing and posting about my travels. I have a big group of full-time staff helping juggle everything.

I realized a lot of you don’t realize that so, today, I wanted to introduce the team to you.

So, without further ado, here’s they are:
 

Erica

Erica has been working for me for almost six and a half years and is the events director of The Nomadic Network, our travel community. She keeps this community thriving. In her own words:

I grew up in Connecticut and went to school in Virginia. During a quarter-life crisis at age 21, I chose to finish my last year of college on an adventure in Qatar! From that moment on, my life revolved around traveling cheaply with the money I earned from waitressing. That budget got me to teach English in Isaan, Thailand, and South Korea; farm on St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean and Costa Rica; and volunteer in rural Zambia. At age 26, I returned home to Connecticut, determined to get a job in travel. Soon after, I met Nomadic Matt at a travel meet-up in NYC, and the rest is history.

I whole-heartedly believe that traveling makes friends of strangers, and the more friends there are in the world, the more peace there is in the world.

13 Facts about Me

1. At 15, I helped build a schoolhouse in Nicaragua.
2. 1. I cooked an American Thanksgiving feast for my Thai co-English teachers in Thailand where barely any of the mashed potatoes, carrots and peas were eaten so my host-grandmother fed in to the monks for the following week unbeknownst to me.
3. I’ve cut off my hair and donated it to Locks of Love, twice!
4. I once hunted for possums on the island of St. Vincent with a bunch of Rastafarians. We caught four and made soup. I was a vegetarian at the time.
5. In Costa Rica, I stayed at in a sustainable living community called Rancho Mastatal, where I learned how to farm yuca, make beer out of turmeric, and build a house out of cob.
6. I spent 11 days on a coconut water only fast at a yoga retreat in Cambodia, twice
7. I taught English in South Korea for 14 months and was able to easily save enough money for 21 months of non-stop travel. I also taught the students how to use “boo” colloquially.
8. This music video I made used to be one of the top hits when you searched for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
9. In Zambia, my friend and I were given a live chicken as a present. We were vegetarians, so we traded it for a pair of second-hand jeans in the town’s market.
10. I got 19 people (the students and teachers on a FLYTE trip) into an airport lounge in Ecuador for free. I think that’s a travel hacking record!
11. My college education was entirely free. How? I got a ton of tiny scholarships (I applied for everyone I could get my hands on) that added up, being a Residential Assistant in the dorms, and studying in Qatar actually saved me money (in the most expensive country in the world).
12. In Korea, I dated a guy who spoke no English and we basically communicated through drawing pictures and reciting American rap lyrics.
13. Last summer, I took a trip to Tunisia with some friends. I wish I could have stayed longer – what a cool country!

Chris O.

Chris joined the team as the part-time manager of the forums back in 2015. Since then, he’s transitioned to full-time and has branched out into the Superstar Blogging program and helps me with all of our various admin tasks. In his own words:

I grew up in a small town in Ontario, Canada, and spent my formative years listening to punk rock, reading Star Wars novels, and generally getting up to no good. After ditching my lifelong plan to be a lawyer, I decided to give travel a try. I headed to Costa Rica on a whim and have never looked back! It wasn’t long after that trip that I took a break from university (where I was studying history and theatre) to move to a monastery in Japan in 2007. I’ve more or less been wandering around ever since. Some notable adventures include taking the Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia and Mongolia, walking the Camino de Santiago twice, and going on a 10-day road trip around Iceland with complete strangers.

When I’m not traveling, I live in Sweden and can be found reading, writing, or hanging out with my rescue dog, Grimo.

13 Facts about Me

1. I spent nine months living in Buddhist monasteries.
2. I lived in a tent for a year.
3. I was once stalked by a jaguar and chased by a crocodile — on the same trip.
4. I haven’t had alcohol in 16 years.
5. I’ve broken all my fingers and toes, and my nose three times, and I’ve fractured both my wrists.
6. I worked on an organic farm for 11 years.
7. I co-owned a restaurant in Canada.
8. I grew up next door to Avril Lavigne.
9. I wrote a book (and am working on another one)
10. I played inter-mural Quidditch in high school and was our team’s Seeker.
11. I have a Star Wars tattoo.
12. I’ve been vegan for 15 years.
13. I have a scar from a fight that broke out over which Norse god was “the best.”

Chris R.

Chris, aka The Aussie Nomad, is a (kinda) former blogger who does all the tech and development work for the website. He keeps it running, fixes any errors you find, and deals with my constantly changing design desires. In his own words:

I’m living the good life in Western Australia by the beach with my amazing family. I got into the world of blogging after quitting my job, backpacking around Europe and, as all Aussies do, undertaking a working holiday in the UK. Like all of us who travel and fall in love with it, nobody wants to go home afterwards.

That adventure got me into creating a travel blog many years ago, which is how I first came to know Matt. I have since repurposed my IT skills from my old life and formed my own business to help out other bloggers with their websites.

13 Facts about Me

1. I love Belgian beer (and I even married a Belgian).
2. I’ve worked with Matt the longest out of anyone here. (Take that team!)
3. I took off to backpack Europe when I was 29.
4. I’m an advocate for Vegemite and believe all visitors to Australia must try this national treasure.
5. One of my favorite activities is to take a long road trip, especially with family and friends.
6. I have no idea how four-way stop signals in the U.S.A. don’t all end up as accidents.
7. I do not drink Fosters. It’s a terrible beer. No one in Australia actually drinks it.
8. I like to think of myself as an amateur photographer.
9. I failed kindergarten as I wouldn’t say goodbye to the teacher.
10. My first job was working in a supermarket.
11. I can’t sleep on a plane – no matter how long the flight is.
12. I can name every Thomas the Tank Engine character thanks to my son.
13. I don’t drink coffee or get people’s love for it. Tea all the way!

Raimee

Raimee does all of our social media and content marketing. She schedules posts, tweaks my terrible photos so they look good on Instagram, builds out our content calendar, analyzes data, edits video, creates digital marketing campaigns, and designs our social media graphics! In her own words:

When I was just 14 years old, I took my first international trip to Honduras and Belize with my family. Ever since then, I’ve been hooked on experiencing new cultures, connecting with people from all walks of life, and learning about myself and the world through the power of travel! After graduating with a degree in advertising and marketing from Michigan State University and four years as a digital marketing specialist, I realized that corporate life was not for me. My insatiable need to experience the world beyond a desk led me to search for a job-related to travel. I’ve followed this blog for many years, and now I get to work for it remotely while I strategize, manage, and report on the social media accounts — and I love every second of it!

13 Facts about Me

1. I’m obsessed with Harry Potter. I’ve read each book at least 10 times. If I told you how many times I’ve watched the movies, you probably wouldn’t believe me.
2. I once hung out with Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter!) at a Red Wings game in Detroit, and actually kept my cool the whole time (side note: He’s a SUPER nice guy!)
3. Visiting the Harry Potter studio tour in London was one of the best days of my life.
4. My mom was obsessed with the 80’s horror movie Evil Dead directed by Sam Raimi, so she named me after him.
5. After having visited about 30 countries, Iceland is still my favorite.
6. My biggest travel dream is to take a road trip around New Zealand!
7. I try to read 1-2 book(s) EVERY week!
8. I used to play the saxophone (and I wish I still did!)
9. I conquered my fear of heights by jumping off a cliff in Croatia — twice!
10. I love languages and was close to being fluent in German during college.
11. I’ve acted in a few independent and short films and as an extra in some network TV shows (I even have an IMDB page!)
12. In another life, I would have been a film director/producer. Maybe some day!
13. My favorite number is 13.

Carmela

Carmela is the Executive Director of our non-profit FLYTE that makes travel accessible to underserved youth from across the country. She handles anything and everything from fundraising, working with our partner schools to plan student trips abroad, connecting with our incredible donor community, and managing our volunteer team.

Born and raised in New Jersey, I had the privilege of taking my first international trip when I was 3 to visit my family in the Philippines where I refused to ride the local jeepneys because they didn’t have seatbelts! Since then, my love for travel has evolved. In 2012, my husband, Raymund, and I took a round the world honeymoon that was supposed to scratch the travel itch (lol). We came back home to NYC for a few years before taking the leap to become full-time remote workers, and have lived all over the world ever since.

When I’m not running FLYTE, I love planning trips (even if they’re not my own), practicing yoga, hiking, rock climbing, reading, eating, and eating cookies (which are their own food group, in my opinion).

1. I LOVE Math! I have a degree in it, taught statistics to college students, and few things make me happier than a well functioning Excel spreadsheet.
2. I come from a family of educators. My parents were both teachers before they immigrated to the US from the Philippines in the 70’s. Before I left to travel, I worked for the Chancellor of NYC Public Schools, the largest school district in the country, and now running FLYTE is pretty much my dream job because it combines my love for education with travel.
3. The Notorious BIG and I share the same birthday. Juicy is one of my favorite songs.
4. I still don’t fully understand how to use Twitter.
5. I like suspenseful movies & TV shows, but hate the feeling of being in suspense, so I often read what happens before watching so I can relax and enjoy my viewing experience.
6. My favorite cartoon is Alvin & the Chipmunks. I still have an Alvin doll that I was gifted on my 1st birthday. It bears no resemblance to the actual Alvin Seville anymore.
7. I attended an all girls high school and a women’s college – that environment there largely shaped who I am today.
8. My guilty pleasure is watching Terrace House – the Japanese equivalent to the Real World.
9. My dad has an identical twin brother and they used to play tricks on me and my cousin when we were younger. It’s equally funny and traumatizing.
10. I hate raisins, especially in cookies.
11. I’m an only child, but have over 30 first cousins. I love them as if they were my actual siblings.
12. Raymund and I met in Hawaii. For that, and many other reasons, it’s my most favorite place in the world.
13. I know every lyric to every song from the Sound of Music.

Nomadic Matt

And, finally, there’s me. You probably know a lot about me after twelve years of blogging (sometimes I forget how long it’s been), but here’s a quick refresh:

Growing up in Boston, I was never a big traveler. I didn’t take my first trip overseas until 2004. That trip changed my life and opened me up to the possibilities the world had to offer. One year later, I went to Thailand, where I met five backpackers who inspired me to quit my job and travel the world. In 2006, I left for a yearlong backpacking trip — and have been “nomadic” ever since.

13 Facts about Me

1. I love politics as much as I love travel and will debate for the joy for it.
2. I love to cook.
3. When I was in high school, I was my state’s champ in “Magic: the Gathering.” I know — super nerdy, right? It got me a free trip NYC with my friend (who came in number two!).
4. I always worry about the future and often use my time back home to develop skills needed for the Zombie Apocalypse. Shout-out to my prepper friend Vanessa for teaching me about seeds!
5. I once met Paul Giamatti on the streets of NYC and he was as grumpy as I imagined.
6. I am an unabashed Taylor Swift fan.
7. I don’t drink coffee.
8. I believe aliens exist. It’s mathematically impossible they don’t.
9. I’m terrified of flying.
10. I learned to swing dance so I could throw myself a Gatsby-themed birthday party.
11. Both sides of my family came through Ellis Island and you can see their names on the wall where they list all the immigrants.
12. I used to be the head of a program by the Massachusetts Sierra Club that promoted energy efficiency.
13. I went to college to be a high school history teacher.

***

So there you have it! The Nomadic Matt team! It’s weird to think this blog I started to simply be online résumé for freelance jobs now requires eleven people to run. I always thought the more systems, automation, products, and passive income I set up, the easier it would be. I could just sit on a beach. But it seems the more we do, the more we create, the more projects I tell the team we’re taking on, the more help we require. I guess that is the nature of the beast but I would have it no other way. I love what we do here. We help a lot of people realize their dreams.

And a guy couldn’t ask for better co-workers to help make that happen.

P.S. – We’ve launched a new Patreon where you can get stories and tips I don’t share on this blog, a private Facebook group, phone calls with me and the team, live Q&As, postcards from the road, signed copies of my books, and much more! Click here to get access!

The post Meet the Team: The Many Faces of Nomadic Matt appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Today’s Fashion over 50 is a compilation of leopard! I know I’m not the only one who likes a little leopard or animal print in their wardrobe, am I? I’ve got plenty of this fun print to mix in with shoes, belts, tops and even a raincoat. I think everyone needs a little leopard or animal print in their closet, so I hope you enjoy these fun finds. The sales out there online are really great and I keep seeing more and more good clothing sales every week. 

I hope we will be able to get out and about more in the coming weeks and the stores start to open back up again. I miss Homegoods! I’m working on that porch this whole week and hope to share it with you next weekend when I get it all photographed to share. We’ve had some absolutely gorgeous spring weather this week! 

The post Fashion Over 50: Animal Print Fashion Finds appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

I hope you all enjoyed the patio post and all that’s going on in our backyard this week. I’ll be finishing up the backyard and getting ready to share all of that with you very soon, so can’t wait to share it all. We are so enjoying that space on the new screened porch so much. It’s going to be our favorite summer spot for sure. 

Today I’m sharing more home decor inspiration with you on Style Showcase, so I hope you enjoy all these great ideas from my friends. Now is a great time for projects!

The post Style Showcase 27 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.