Behind the Curtain: May 2016

I’ve come to look forward to these monthly posts about what I’m into beyond travel because there’s so much more to my life than where I go, despite the fact that it’s something I love. It’s funny how many people respond with their obsessions or agree with mine! As with last month, I’m sharing the things I’m obsessed with at the moment. Thanks for following along! Be sure to share what you’re loving this month below! Even though I almost forgot this month…

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Reading

This time allowed me travel time to actually read, so I finished reading People Who Eat Darkness and Me Before You. The first was very dark and research-heavy but was a fascinating story about Japan’s culture of “hostessing.” The second was a quick read and sob story but well written.

A girl on my cruise offered it to me when she finished it. The next big read is Gone With the Wind, which has been on my to-read list for years but was bumped up after recently visiting the Margaret Mitchell House. To see what else I’m working on, check out my Goodreads Profile here.

Listening

I’m not even half way listening to the audiobook at All the Light We Cannot See and I must admit that it’s harder to follow this way. But I am determined to finish it as I’ve heard so many rave reviews of it. I downloaded, but haven’t yet listened to, a Spanish language podcast in hopes of learning more and being able to speak more than a few words.

In terms of music, I’m obsessed with some acts I saw at a festival in Atlanta recently including St. Paul and the Broken Bones, The Head and the Heart, and Florence and the Machine.

Watching

Game of Thrones is back! This seems to be the best season so far and is asking the questions I’ve wanted to know for multiple seasons. It’s taken long enough, especially after a few bloody seasons. I’m also still making my way through True Blood.

I’m at the later seasons that I hadn’t seen prior because I didn’t have HBO. Thanks Amazon Prime! I’m also ready for some of my favorite Netflix shows to come back. I have the date for Orange is the New Black already written down in my planner.

Loving

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While I haven’t been as good this month as previous months, I’m still loving my rowing class. There’s a real sense of community and despite the hour-long class, it’s one of the few workout routines I can actually stand. I’m also loving how doing research allows me to see my hometown in new ways.

For example, I finally made it over to a famous Vietnamese bakery and restaurant on Buford Highway, Atlanta’s international corridor. It tasted just like Hanoi and the owner is from Nha Trang!

Working

I’ve tried to be very diligent this month in terms of work, so I finished most of it before going on each trip. But at the end of this month, I’ve come through with two big assignments from pitches that I did not expect to land. Stay tuned for those soon!

I also worked on a few stories for the new JetBlue blog, updated content for Afar and wrote new stories for Her Packing List, The Knot, and Eagle Creek. I also did my first paid social media campaign, which I’ll write about soon! See what else I’m working on via my Contently profile.

Traveling

Where didn’t I go this month? Since my last BTC post, I went to Santo Domingo, Hot Springs, and Aiken on press trips. I spent a few days on an Atlanta staycation. Then I went to Miami, where I hopped on one of the first Fathom cruises to Puerto Plata for a few days of community impact.

Then it was back home for a few days before going to Athens, Georgia for my sister’s graduation. And this post will come to you from Colorado and Wyoming, where I’m spending the next two weeks traveling with my other sister and attending a wedding. June will hopefully be more relaxed!