I love this time of the year and I find anatomically incorrect Halloween decorations especially amusing. All holidays have traditions that don’t seem to make too much logical sense. Like, how can Santa fit down a chimney after eating so many cookies? Why is there a human-sized Easter bunny and what is it doing giving…
Month: August 2020
Photography 101: Cheap Tools for Aspiring Photographers
Photography 101: in a world where most people have a smartphone, there are many people who dabble in photography. I am one of those people. In the past I had a DSLR and even enjoyed organizing a few super amateur photo exhibitions. Finally, I decided to step it up and actually learn about photography! While…
10 Insanely Expensive Nerdy Gifts on Etsy
Full disclosure – I am a total nerd and would buy every single insanely expensive and nerdy gift on this list, if I had the money. Unfortunately, I don’t, but it’s still fun to browse and see what’s out there! If you’re a broke nerd like me, maybe you’ll enjoy this list of super expensive…
10 Hilariously Useless Apps (& Their Priceless Comments)
These days, we all rely on so many incredibly useful apps. We use apps to communicate, shop, bank, lose weight, watch videos, listen to podcasts, the list goes on. These apps are all incredibly useful and it sometimes seems like we can’t live without them. But there are nearly three million apps on the Google…
7 Myths About Waldorf Schools: Alternative Education
There are so many myths about Waldorf Schools that just plain aren’t true. I went to Waldorf School in Rhode Island from Kindergarten until 8th grade, then for four years in high school in New Hampshire. Now, I teach second grade at the very same Waldorf school I attended! I think it’s safe to say…
Eco-Friendly Travel: Youth Time Magazine
Becky was about 10 years old when she read two books that had a lot of influence on her. The first was a non-fiction book about the destruction of the rainforest. The second was a novel that made her fall in love with the Amazon, “Journey to the River Sea” by Eva Ibbotson. Combined, these…
15 Creepy Places to Visit this Fall: Haunted Halloween
Yes, it’s still August but I’m already thinking of all the creepy places to visit this fall! Although, when I say visit, I don’t necessarily mean in person. It is my goal to see all of these places at least once when it’s safe to travel again. Until then I will plan, research, and tell…
The Arsonist by Stephanie Oakes: Book Review
I finished The Arsonist by Stephanie Oakes last night and I have no idea when or if I will ever stop raving about it. Never have I been angrier about a review on Goodreads. Not that 3.99 stars is terrible, but it just isn’t fair for this mind-blowing book. I will do my best to…
Understanding Cryptocurrency: Youth Time Magazine
Cryptocurrency has been around for almost 12 years. In 2008, an unknown person or group of people going under the name Satoshi Nakamoto invented it. It made the headlines; and many people bought some, then Soo forgot about it while it grew in value. Today, a single Bitcoin is worth almost $12,000, and there are…
Independence Day of Ukraine: August 24th, 2020
Independence Day of Ukraine takes place on August 24th, 2020, one day after Ukrainian Flag Day! Independence Day of Ukraine is the main state holiday in modern Ukraine, celebrated on 24 August in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence of 1991. That’s a year before I was born! Is it appropriate now to show off…
Ukrainian Flag Day: August 23rd
Today is Ukrainian Flag Day! It is celebrated annually on August 23rd. It was on the day of dawn of independence in 1990 that a blue-yellow flag was hoisted above the capital’s city administration. After the failure of the coup in Moscow on August 23, 1991, a group of Ukrainian MPs brought a blue and yellow flag…
Saturday: Rest Day? Bad Luck Day? History of the Weekend!
Saturday is personally one of my favorite days of the week! I work a regular Monday – Friday job so the weekend is my downtime. But Sunday is way too close to Monday for my liking, so I live it up or rest it down on Saturday. However, not everyone likes this day that was…
Moving to China: 10 Reasons to Consider Relocating
Moving to China is something that my husband Isaac and I did on a whim. We were happily living in Prague, Czech Republic but we were bored and had never explored Asia. Isaac is a teacher, so when he got a spam email suggesting that he apply for a job in China he laughed and…
Blogging Masterclass on Udemy for $15
The Blogging Masterclass is the second class I completed on Udemy, a global marketplace for learning and instruction. It is a great place to find online classes with certificates on a every topic you could possibly imagine. I discovered Udemy while researching free online wine classes but today it is often advertised on Hulu. The…
Human Cyborgs: Neil Harbisson – Youth Time Magazine
The definition of a cyborg is a person whose physical abilities are extended beyond normal human limitations by mechanical elements built into the body. Based on this loose definition, many humans can be considered cyborgs. However, there are people who have actually been legally recognized as cyborgs. Neil Harbisson may have been one of the…
15 Octopus Facts: 8 Tentacles, 3 Hearts, 9 Brains
These octopus facts show just how fascinating these creatures are. Despite my love for all things cuddly, especially dogs, the octopus is my favorite animal. Although surprisingly, they have a lot in common with each other, but I’ll get into that in just a bit. Octopuses (not octopi!) are interesting animals and there is so…
10 Pumpkin Scented & Flavored Things
After three heatwaves this summer, pumpkin scented and flavored things have a bigger appeal than usual. As September slowly approaches, a pumpkin spice latte sounds more necessary than basic! Although it is difficult to picture the humidity disappearing and the leaves turning colorful, fall is just around the corner. Normally, I try to hold on…
10 Czech Cities To Visit From Prague
There are many great Czech cities to visit. This beautiful country may be small, but it has a lot more to offer than it’s amazing capital city of Prague. Plus, because it’s so small, you can get to all of these places hassle-free. Rent a car or get a super affordable bus ticket and explore…
National Roller Coaster Day: August 16th
National Roller Coaster Day takes place annually on August 16th. This is a popular time for people to visit theme parks and enjoy their favorite ride. Even though that might not be possible today, we can still celebrate roller coasters from a distance. Plus, there are some fascinating facts about these large metal beasts that…
World Honey Bee Day: Raising Awareness
World Honey Bee Day is celebrated globally on the third Saturday of August. On the surface, bees seem like one of your typical insects, however, bees have been declared the most important living beings on this planet. That’s right, not just the most important insect, THE most important LIVING BEING. And their rapidly declining population…
Burčák: Why Do Czech’s Drink Wine Before It’s “Ready”?
Burčák, also known as young wine, is a popular late summer/early fall beverage in various European countries. But Burčák is not just young – it is partially-fermented wine in an earlier stage of production. Czechs feel strongly about the six-week Burčák season and some even believe that it is healthiest to drink at least seven…
National Prosecco Day: August 13th
National Prosecco Day takes places every year during the middle of August. It is supposed to remind us to relax, sip a chilled delicious beverage and enjoy what is left of summer! It is a super popular beverage all over the world and by the end of 2020, the worldwide consumption of Prosecco is expected to…
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney: Book Review
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney is one of a handful of books that I have read at least 10 times. I first read it in late middle or early high school and I enjoy it just as much now as I did then. In fact, I’m overdo for a re-read…
Medical Tourism for Healthier Adventures
Travel of any kind can be a healing experience for mind, body, and soul. Research shows that the simple action of planning a trip can alleviate stress and boost happiness. Plus, if you travel to a sea-side location, you get extra health perks from the ocean air. Medical tourism, however, takes this one step further….
Facebook Marketplace: 5 Annoying Situations
If you have ever sold an item on Facebook Marketplace, you are familiar with the the annoying situations that often come up. Smooth transactions with fewer than 10 back-and-forth messages are incredibly rare – usually one of these situations happens instead. Read on to cringe with me! 1. The One Who Never Answers *crickets* This…
Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten: Book Reads
Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten is a book that I put down after a chapter. I was binging psychological thrillers and this seemed too young for me at first. The characters are in high school and I graduated nine years ago, so I just couldn’t relate. A few months later, I picked…
Violet by S.J.I. Holliday: Book Review
Violet by S.J.I. Holliday is a unique book that grabbed my attention from page one. Not just because it was incredibly dark and mysterious – there was a gross perverted Russian man involved. I loved that the book was set on a trip in various countries, most of which I have been to! It was…
Switching Homes: Unexpected Hurdles When Buying & Selling
Switching homes can be extremely exciting, but also quite stressful. As a homeowner, you think you already know a lot of the things you will need – gotta get your documents in order, you’ll have to contact an agent, and you’ll need to have a lender in mind to get a new mortgage. When my…
Eco-Friendly Fashion Battles Pollution: Youth Time Magazine
The fashion industry is one of the world’s biggest polluters, accounting for 20% of the world’s water waste. Natural materials take a shocking amount of water to grow, but the alternative is equally horrifying. Polyester is often used in clothing because it is cheap and flexible, plus it is used as a “vegan” leather alternative….
International Beer Day: August 7th
Today is International Beer Day! Imagine my frustration learning that my birthday, August 6th, is National Root Beer Float Day (yuck) while the day after is so much better? Yes, complaints have been made to my mother. If my birth was an Amazon purchase I would have given her 4 stars. ‘Giving me life was…
Tesla 101: Is Owning a Fully Electric, Self-Driving Car Worth It in 2020?
Humans have been dreaming of cars that drive themselves and fly for years. The only flying Tesla, so far, is the one that Elon Musk launched into space in 2018. Earth-bound Teslas do not have the ability to fly, at least not yet. They can, however, drive themselves with incredible accuracy. These pricey vehicles are…
10 Freebies You Can Get On Your Birthday
Getting freebies is always fun, especially on your birthday! It’s my birthday today, which you may not care too much about, but there are businesses that do. It turns out that lots of places will actually reward you for being born. There are hundreds of companies that will give you freebies on this special day….
No Power for 3 Days (Isaias): What to Do?
Whelp, turns out that Isaias was not overhyped by the media after all. Although there was only about 15 minutes of rain and strong winds where I am located, it caused extensive damage. It brought down a giant tree branch that got tangled in our electrical wires. Plus it took out the power all over…
Antoine Repessé: Motivational Zero-Waste Photography
Antoine Repessé made a big impact on my life with his photography of the daily waste that regular people create. I was completely unaware of the effect of my consumerism until about three years ago when I met a group of passionate zero-waste individuals in Shanghai. Around the same time I coincidentally discovered Antoine Repessé’s…
Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman: Book Review
Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman was on my ‘to read’ list ever since I read her first book, Something in the Water. So apparently people have given the author a hard time because Catherine Steadman is originally an English actress. She is best known for playing Mabel Lane Fox in series 5 of ITV drama…
10 Nautical Decor Items for Your Beach House
Nautical decor items can get a bad rap because they can be kitschy. But I am moving to a house by the beach and I don’t care what anyone says, I will have some nautical decor items all over the place! Whether you are decorating a beach house, a house that you wish was a…
National Mustard Day: Weird Food Facts
National Mustard Day is not my go-to thing to celebrate on August first. I usually begin this month pre-celebrating my August 6th birthday! But why not celebrate this wonderful condiment that dates back to ancient Greece? Learn about the different types of mustard, unusual uses for it and the many lies that come with it….
TheTravelBugBite 