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Saturday, June 27, 2020

6 Reasons to Choose a Self-Catered Getaway

This year is super weird, and a lot of us aren't going to be taking traditional vacation, because many states have seen huge upticks in Covid-19 cases, some states are imposing a two-week quarantine, and even if you can visit, there won't be anything to do, because most states aren't out of Phase 1 yet. Last week I talked about self-catered vacations, and we might take advantage of one as well. I love a vacation rental and I usually use Airbnb {<--use that link for $40 off!}. 


There's a time and a place to opt for a hotel, but as a budget traveler, being able to save money on food and saving my sanity by not being in everyone's pocket 24/7 is very important. Here are my 6 reasons to choose a vacation rental.

You get a kitchen

This means you can cook your own meals! Now, keep in mind, I don't go on vacation to cook, especially since cool new foods are the best part of traveling to me. I do, however, hate getting up super early, so I tend to load up on breakfast foods. This allows me to spend a little more time in bed, plus I save money on morning dining. We usually spend at least one dinner in, either making something easy or eating leftovers, which we were able to bring back, because we have a fridge and an oven.

In many rentals we've stayed in, they've also included grills, so we could BBQ if we wanted. This is great if you are traveling in the warmer months. If you travel with kids, having a place to prepare and store foods can be imperative for your sanity and saving money.

You (generally) have a separate bedroom

Listen, I don't need to have a different room with a bed, but it's nice. I'll settle for separate, defined spaces, just so I can get away from my travelmate(s) for a minute. I adore my husband, but we don't always want to be in each other's faces. A hotel room normally has a bed and one chair. If you're lucky, you get a tiny table or a desk. Even if you bring back leftovers, you can't really sit anywhere comfortable. If you have to do work or just want to play on your laptop, there's not a good place to do that either. 

I don't always go to bed at the same time as people I travel with. It's nice to have a table where I can type away, a couch to relax on, a bed for sleeping purposes that doesn't also double as a terrible chair, or a room where I can just hang out alone in that isn't the bathroom. 


You can choose your amenities

I have a small list of must-haves when I travel: WiFi, TV, a shower (if I'm traveling to Europe where not all places have one), and laundry facilities. I get these things in a timeshare property, but I can also choose these things specifically when searching for a vacation rental. For example, we're going to Edinburgh and London in the fall and I want to pack light. Because of this, it's especially helpful to have access to a washer and dryer. I've had to go to the laundromat in the past and while it wasn't the most annoying thing, it cost quite a bit in London. 



You can choose your price range

Sure, you can do this with hotels, but for the same price, you can search for a vacation rental that is in a location desirable to you, plus includes all the amenities you hope to get in a place to stay. If you can get all this for the same price or a little more, you're still saving money on baggage fees, food, laundry, and possibly entertainment, because you have room to spread out and play games and/or watch movies.

You can feel at home

This is the number one reason I enjoy a vacation rental over a hotel. Feeling weirdly displaced when you travel is hard. I like to feel like my space has a home. I don't need a maid to come in and clean up after me every day. I want my space to feel cozy and comfy and lived in. I can make a rental feel like my home until I leave. I can spread out my stuff, not worry about anyone coming in to clean (where I have to clear up things before I leave each morning). 

Having what equates to a small home or apartment makes me feel like I'm a traveler instead of a tourist. Like I'm living like a local. Some come with free parking, some are in buildings with extra security, some have pools or gyms. The best part is that if you don't want these things, you rent a different place and don't pay for them, unlike when you stay in a hotel that offers them for everyone.


You have a true local on-call

One thing you usually don't think about is having someone you can contact for an inside look at your destination. Yes, there's the front desk or concierge at a hotel, but when you rent from a local, it's easy to pick their brain to find out where they like to go and what they'd recommend seeing to an out-of-towner. They probably aren't rich and they certainly don't get kick-backs for pointing you in the direction of an activity or restaurant. Some live steps away or welcome calls/texts or leave detailed folders with all the cool stuff for you to peruse. I always get awesome suggestions this way. 

So, while you may have to forgo much of your normal vacation activities, you can at least go out and take a city tour (walking or driving) and see the outside spaces and have food from new restaurants, even if it's just take-out or delivery. 


Will you be taking a self-catered vacay this year? If so, where?

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

LGBT-Friendly Travel Brands for Your Next Vacay

Happy Pride Month, you guys! I've been doing my best to be an ally and get some info out about great travel destinations, and now I'd love to talk about some awesome travel brands that have the LGBT community covered by contributing to great organizations, sponsoring Pride events, and making sure their companies are both inclusive and diverse, creating a safe space for all people, no matter their sexual orientation, identity, and gender. 

photo credit
This is by far not a complete list, but these are some of the most outstanding brands when it comes to inclusivity:

Aggregates

Expedia
From their inclusive television commercials to their destination overviews for gay and lesbian travels, they offer the chance to read up and then book right on the site.
Orbitz
Need a one-stop shop for LGBT-friendly hotels, resorts, destinations and events? Orbitz offers up their own guides to make your vacation the best ever.


Airlines

airberlin
A member of the IGLTA, an active member and contributor to LGBT nonprofits and community campaigns, airberlin takes pride in have a diverse and inclusive staff from over 60 countries.
Alaska
Pride flies nonstop with Alaska and they have a list of resources for great Pride celebrations in cities they fly in/out of, including an events calendar and special discounts. 
American
American is one of my favorite airlines, but they are also a fantastic company on the inside. They the first airline to include sexual orientation (1993) and gender identity (2000) in its nondiscrimination policies for employees, it has criticized anti-gay legislation, and scored 100 on the Human Rights Campaign index.
Delta
Pride Takes Flight Here at Delta and they offer plenty of resources for folx to find the perfect vacation destination for them and also tout their employee equality culture and denounce anti-gay legislation and discrimination.
JetBlue 
The first airline to allow same-sex couples to accrue airline points together also supports amazing non-profits like the Trevor Project, National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, and the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, and sponsored the Pride events their HQ of Long Beach, CA.
Southwest
Southwest is the official airline of several LGBT organizations, including GLAAD. Their tagline is "we support the LGBTQ Community, because we are the LGBTQ Community." Learn more on their LGBTQ Outreach page. 
United
The only other airline to earn a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign index, United is a gold partner of IGLTA and airline partner for the Gay Games of Cleveland.
Virgin
The entire Virgin brand is headed by Richard Branson, a proud and loud ally. They are an official sponsor of San Francisco Pride.




Hotels

Airbnb
I love a good vacation rental, and I'm a big fan of Airbnb. They have Project Lighthouse to uncover and overcome discrimination throughout their community and rentals. They also offer lots of experiences for LGBT folx.
Caesars Entertainment Corp.
Not only do they partner with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and IGLTA, but they also have scored 100 on the Corporate Equality Index many years in a row and even have their own microsite for their LGBT travelers. 
Choice Hotels
In 2019 Choice Hotels was named "Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality" for 9th consecutive year. With another perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index, they have a long list of resources for employees, including Choice PRIDE that aims help create and maintain a supportive work environment.
Commune Hotels
Commune has a brand called Joie de Vive that has sponsored the San Francisco Pride celebration for many years, their Thompson Hotels on the east coast offers specials for NYC's Pride celebration. Both brands are TAG-approved, an LGBTQ-owned and operated Travel Advocacy Group.
Hilton Hotels
Stay Hilton. Go Out. Like several other companies, Hilton received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and is a platinum partner of the IGLTA and an official partner of the Washington, DC Pride parade and GLAAD media awards. Check out their Hilton Pride microsite.
Hyatt Hotels
Not only does Hyatt celebrate equality, but they have a Facebook page dedicated to it entitled HyPride, that promotes their HyPride program and their LGBT initiatives.
IHG Hotels (Intercontinental Hotel Group)
While fighting for marriage equality and and against anti-gay legislature, IHG joined the Human Rights Campaign in their efforts for LGBTQ rights, and has sponsored Atlanta's Pride festival since 2011 (as that is where their headquarters are located).
Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group
The first hotel to sign on as the first national hotel sponsor for the Trevor Project, is also a member of IGLTA and is TAG-approved. All of their employees are given yearly trainig on how to make their hotels more gay-friendly and accepting.
Marriott International
In my photo above, I'm wearing one of Marriott's #LoveTravels shirts. I saw my friend Troy wearing one (Troy writes for a lot of travel sites and also runs The Gay Traveler, where he specializes in LGBT travel) in an Instagram post and I asked about it. He was kind enough to send me an extra. Not surprisingly, Marriott also received a 100 score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. You can read more about #LoveTravels here.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Starwood's W Hotels were the first to offer same-sex marriage packages in New York, but also frequently support Pride events and LGBT organizations around the globe.
vrbo
The vacation rental booking site is owned by Expedia.


I saw these Portland Trailblazer shirts at a Pride event several years ago and went home and immediately ordered 2.

Transportation

Amtrak
You can Ride with Pride with Amtrak and they also want to help you Ride to Pride, by showing you all the great destinations with awesome Pride events that are worth traveling for. They even provide a great link for more LGBT education.
Carnival Cruises
Carnival Cruiselines strives to treat everyone equally and extend the FUN to every single cruiser. The earned a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index and participate and sponsor both the Seattle Pride Parade and Southampton Pride.
Lyft
Lyft does their best to support and employ the LGBT community. With equality in the workplace, they also contribute money to important organizations like StoryCorps' Stonewall OutLoud campgain and the ACLU, and they put their commitments out there with upLyftOut.
Uber
Not only do they get you to all the Pride events safely, they also sponsor Pride events in major cities in the US.

I hope you're all having a wonderful June and Pride Month, even if festivities are postponed this year. Just remember, Pride isn't cancelled, and you can find ways to support the community and also celebrate safely. And if you want to plan your trips beyond how to get there and where to stay, check out this list from journey of 12 LGBT+ monuments celebrating history. 


What are your favorite LGBT-friendly travel brands?

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Planning a Coronavirus Summer Staycation

Well, ya'll. It looked for a minute that we might be getting close to being able to travel this summer, and if you're into outdoors and hiking, then you might be interested in road tripping to less populated places like National and State Parks. For the rest of us, who want to travel, but are also seeing worrying spikes in destinations we want to travel to, and know that most borders are closed to us, here's what we can do close to home.

Head to the beach/lake

While we can't go on our annual Vegas t
rip this summer, we have been thinking about what we can do close to home. Many beaches and lakes are great alternatives, because there are much fewer people, especially during the middle of the week. You're able to social distance while still getting away from home and soaking up some sun. I'd definitely try to keep away from the popular areas, just to stay on the safe side, but being outside is really helpful, too. 

Take a self-catered break

If you don't mind making your own food and your own entertainment, then this might be the way to go. Since many things are not open, or aren't safe to do, your vacation is going to feel a lot different. By staying in a vacation rental instead of a hotel, you'll get a nice change of scenery without being around a ton of other people. Bring your own cleaning products to sanitize throughout your stay. A lot of travelers are going this route right now, just to get away from home and relax and recharge.

Create an outdoor oasis

Take a portion of your vacation budget and invest in making your backyard, porch or balcony a space you want to hang out in and enjoy. Whether that means new furniture, a firepit, a movie screen, cool lighting, or an above-ground pool. Make it a space you are excited to hang out in, and then order some delivery food and it'll be super relaxing and also can get your kids out of the house and off their video games. get some backyard games out there and you've got the makings of a summer full of awesome family memories.

Participate in Zoom activities

Whether you want to learn a new activity like cooking, get fit, or mix and drink and participate in pub trivia, there's so much available through Zoom right now. We host a weekly brunch for a group of friends, just so amid the monotony of working from home and getting grocery deliveries there is at least one thing that's fun to look forward to. Often we choose a theme and we dress up or find an appropriate background, then we share what we made four our meals and just chat for an hour or so. 

Have a small "Quarantine" party

Last weekend was my husband's birthday, which he was sure was going to be lame, but I wanted to make it special. Usually we do something fun, like have people over for a party or go to an escape room and out to eat. I was seeing a lot of people doing drive by parties and graduations, and people bemoaning not getting to travel, so I came up with a travel party. I purchased some props, including an airplane backdrop, decorated our front yard/house, set up a snack and drink cart and then made some antipasto skewers and two different kinds of sliders that I wrapped up in tin foil and served in to-go containers with a Biscoff cupcake (like the cookies you get on the plane). 


I told everyone we would be wearing masks and social distancing. When people arrived, they got their picture taken "in the plane" and were served food and they could either leave or hang out on the lawn for a while. Souvenirs were available (we gave out sleep masks and passport stamp books) as a thank you for coming to celebrate. We had about 14 people rotate by, and it was really fun and safe. 


Tips for your party: Keep it short and manage expectations. I let people know that we'd be out between 12 and 3 and they could come by anytime during those hours, say hello, get some food in a to-go container, and have a little fun. Keep it outside and let people know that social distancing will be observed. By letting them know this and to-go containers will be available, it lets people know that you won't be letting people in the house if at all possible.

Sightsee in your own city/state

I bet there are a lot of outdoor things in your city you haven't seen yet. Beautiful parks you haven't visited. Street art you didn't know was there. History you haven't absorbed. One of my favorite ways to see the city is through a virtual scavenger hunt. You download to your phone, solve puzzles to get clues to the next spot, and learn about spots you've never even seen. Do some research or ask friends for suggestions on what to see near you, charge your phone, gas up your car and go check it out. I mean, I walked around my neighborhood to find joy, you can do that, too.

What are your plans for summer vacation?

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Doing the 30-Day Challenge to Get More Site Traffic

This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Traffic Secrets”. The opinions expressed below are my own.

I've been blogging for nearly 10 years (on Shereen Travels Cheap - I have had blogs before this one) and gaining traffic has always been a big challenge for me. I have been wanting a tried and true way to increase my traffic, and the 30-day challenge of Russell Brunson's Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers 


Russell Brunson is the author and CEO of software company ClickFunnels that has made hundreds of millions of dollars to date. By using tried-and-true methods that work on and off the internet, he and his partner, Todd Dickerson, have amassed a following of over a million entrepreneurs, so if it can work for them, why can't it work for my little blog? The purpose of this book is to show how sales funnels can keep customers buying more, whether you have a book of your own, software, a product, or a service. 



Traffic Secrets walks you through what to do every day for 30 days in order to connect with your Dream 100, gain more subscribers, own your list, and get those on the list to buy from you; hopefully, more than once.

I have tried other methods, half given to me during webinars that then ask for an outrageous amount of money at the end for the "true step-by-step", but Russell Brunson gives you every step you need in this book, plus you can get the other two books in this series for just the amount of shipping, if you want to become an expert in sales funnels. 


In just the first half of the book, I learned to identify people I want to be connected to, work with, and hopefully even get them to promote me. It's called the Dream 100. Basically, you make a list of your dream customers, who you then try to develop a relationship with before you ever sell yourself (or your product) to them. 

By leveraging Facebook groups and other social media platforms, and then signing  up for newsletters, and reading blog posts that your Dream 100 may have written, you get to know them and their product, so you can know how they can help you and you can also help them. You want to create a symbiotic relationship that's beneficial to both of you, and then you do that over and over again before you start to market to them. 
So, it can be a lot of work, since much of your "homework" is actually research, but it also helps you network and learn more about yourself in the process, giving you the tools to implement these lessons with every product you have, no matter how the internet or social media changes. This is what everyone wants: an evergreen system that helps them gain customers, the right customers, no matter what they're selling.



I'm about 2/3 of the way through the challenge and am finding so many good ideas that I never even thought of trying for gaining readers. While I've made connections with other bloggers, I've not gone through to make a list of ones I want to emulate or connect with on a higher level. I've also not utilized Facebook groups in the way I should, because I always put it off due to not having enough time. Apparently, I'm wasting my time consuming social media instead of producing social media.

At first, I found this offensive, but the more I thought about it, I realized that it made sense when you think about your name being out there more often. Stop scrolling endlessly through Instagram and post more to Instagram. Stop engaging on so many other posts, when you can be more engaging and thoughtful on fewer posts. I think that makes a lot of sense when you really dig in.



I will be making more time in my schedule to go back and do some of these steps more thoroughly, because I think that's important, especially when I'm given every tool I need and just need to do my part of it. Seeing how this has worked for so many others, it will definitely be helpful to have put in all the effort when I really need it, and also when I start doing the same for a company I work for. I feel more empowered and armed with a lot more useful knowledge, thanks to Traffic Secrets.

I can't wait to get through the last third of the book and learn every secret. You can follow along with my 30-day challenge on Twitter. You can also get your free copy of Russell Brunson's Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers, you just pay shipping costs and then you're on your way.


What are some of your biggest struggles in gaining traffic to your website or your product page?



This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Traffic Secrets”. The opinions expressed above are my own.

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How To Choose Who To Go Travelling With

If you’re spending quarantine planning your next big adventure, whether a road trip or a luxury hotel visit, you might be wondering who to take with you. Travel can be a test of a friendship or a relationship, and no matter how well you get on with someone at home, that can all change when you’re sharing a hotel room. Here’s to choose the right travel companion. 

Image - free for commercial use

Choose Someone With Common Interests

If your idea of a good vacation is exploring the local area and checking out museums, you need a travel buddy who enjoys the same things. If your vacation companion would rather stretch out by the pool all day, you’re likely to have arguments about what to do, and end up getting on each other’s nerves. 

Choose someone who enjoys the same things as you, or at least someone you are happy to compromise with and take it in turns to choose different activities. Before you agree to go away with someone, check out some travel advice for the area you’re thinking about visiting and make sure there’s something for both of you there. 

Discuss Your Budget


Everyone has different ideas about what is reasonable to spend while you’re on a vacation, and it’s important to discuss the limits before you go. If you have more disposable income than your friend and like to treat yourself to expensive dinners and cocktails while you’re away, you’re going to fall out with a travel buddy on a tighter budget who prefers to seek out a bargain meal. Have a chat about budget first and agree on what you’re willing to spend when you’re out together. You can always take yourself out without them if you’re looking for a pricier treat. 

Match Your Personalities


The fastest way to fall out is to head off on vacation with someone too different from yourself. If you like to plan everything in minute detail, you’ll definitely end up annoying a free-wheeling friend who prefers to just head out and see where the day takes them. Make sure you choose travel companion who you have lots in common with, feel comfortable with, and are able to talk to for hours a day without running out of things to say. 

If you go with someone who has a similar personality to you, you’re more likely to agree on what you want to do, where you want to go, and be able to spend all that time together without finding one another irritating. 

Avoid going away with anyone who is too opposite to you. At home, their zen-like approach to life might be a great counter-balance to your talkative, excitable nature, but if you’re together for an extended period without a break, these differences of personality can easily lead to clashes. 



Choosing the right person to travel with is important if you want to have a good time together and still be the same good friends when you come home. Much like living together, enjoying each other’s company socially is not a guarantee of success. 

Monday, June 15, 2020

Thoughts On Always Eating After 7PM

This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed below are my own.

It takes 21 days to make or break a habit, which might seem like a lot of days in a row to do something, but once you get past those three weeks, you've got a new lifestyle that makes you feel better about yourself. Over the last month, I've been using the new diet tactics in Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion and it's changed the way I think about food. 


“In general, healthy fats can also help increase feelings of fullness and satisfaction because they regulate appetite through a number of mechanisms, including the release of appetite hormones. What’s more, combining fat with fiber has been shown to further increase the satiating potential of fat. The satiating power of fats is often one explanation offered to describe why some weight loss trials have shown that low-carbohydrate (and higher-fat) diets tend to lead to greater weight loss than low-fat diets.”
Over the course of the month, I've learned to cook and eat foods that keep me fuller longer and I can eat large portions of. It's given me more energy and focus, as well as making me feel better about myself and feeling healthier. It wasn't hard to change the when I was eating, as I already was doing intermittent fasting without realizing it. It's easy when you aren't a breakfast person already. Based on surprising science, Always Eat After 7 PM debunks popular diet myths and offers an easy-to-follow diet that accelerates fat-burning and allows you to indulge in your most intense food cravings: Eating the majority of your calories at night. 

Bestselling author, Joel Marion, is a fitness expert and nutritionist debunking the myths underlying traditional dieting and offers a simple, highly effective weight loss program. I think this diet is easy for everyone to follow and make it work for them and the foods they enjoy. I finally learned to take time to prep food to make cooking easier on me, and I sat down to meal plan in order to make the most of my shopping trips and using ingredients in more than one meal for the week, also saving me money.



Joel gives you the tools to change your eating habits for the better, feel good about it, and get excited about your meals. Most diets give you a sense of foreboding, because the restrictions on what you can and can't eat are strict and unappetizing. Knowing that you can't eat your favorite foods and that you can only eat a small amount of what you can eat just makes you sad, but with Always Eat After 7PM allows you to eat those foods you love and also tells you when to eat them so you get the most out of your diet. I know it will be simple to keep it up, because it's easy for me to follow.

Want to get started on your own weight loss journey, or just feel better about yourself, get fit, or have more energy? Now's the time to start! Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion is now available to purchase. Learn more about the book and how to purchase here.

Learn more about my journey by seeing my previous posts:

What's one food you can't give up?




This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed above are my own.
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Saturday, June 13, 2020

Saving for Vacation with Swagbucks

As a budget traveler, the more money I can save on my trip the better. If you are also looking for ways to add money to your vacation fund or save on luggage or other travel goodies, then look no further than Swagbucks. Here are just a few ways to get points that you can trade in for gift cards or Paypal credits:

How To Contact Swagbucks – The Daily Swag

Use Coupons

Swagbucks has coupons for things you want to buy at the grocery store. Get points for both printing and redeeming them.

Take Surveys

On your downtime, or while you're watching TV, or standing in line, take some surveys to earn Swagbucks. There is always a great list of surveys that fit into whatever time you have free.

Watch videos

Interested in celebrity news or new movies or current events? Watch featured videos to easily earn Swagbucks. I don't always love the videos, so I have them play in the background while I'm doing other things.

Web Search

If you use Swagbucks to search the web, they randomly give out Swagbucks. If there's a special event going on with collector's bills, you can earn even more than usual. 

Get Cashback in Swagbucks

I have SB on my Chrome browser where it will pop up the cashback button on eligible websites. If the cashback is better than Rakuten or has better coupons, I'll use that and then get my cashback in the form of Swagbucks. This can really help you rack up points quickly for payouts.

Sign up with this link and get 300 FREE Swagbucks (that's $3!) when you accrue 300 SB in your first 30 days. I've been using Swagbucks for 10 years or so, and I used it mostly for free Amazon gift cards for travel gear and party supplies. It really allows me to get more for my money. 


How would you use your free money from Swagbucks for your vacations?

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

The Best Destinations for LGBT+ Travelers

Happy Pride Month, everyone! As a person who travels to learn new things and meet new people, I want everyone to be able to travel safely and enjoy the world. I also know that there are places that are better than others when it comes to inclusivity, If you're an LGBTQIA traveler, this can be pretty obvious upon arrival. I'd love you all to be able to visit destinations that welcome everyone warmly, so I've found two infographics that show domestic and international places to put at the top of your travel list.


NerdWallet has pulled together the top 10 American Cities where there is a considerable LGBT+ community. I'm very proud to live in Portland, where there is a wide diversity of people, and there is a lot of tolerance for differences between them. We have a lot of Allies as well, and our Pride celebrations are always amazing.

NomadCapitalist looked at a lot of different metrics and facts to bring the 10 most inclusive countries outside of the U.S., because everyone wants to travel the world. There's no reason to stay home where you know you'll be accepted when there's a whole world out there. Here are the top 10 countries to choose from, where there is a large list of options for the gay community (nightclubs, bars, etc), based on how comfortable it would be to move there permanently.


While I'm not part of the LGBT community, I am an ally and want to go to inclusive destinations as well. I feel like everyone should feel safe being themselves wherever they go, but I know there are places that don't feel that way, based on who people love, what they look like, or what gender they are. When we live and travel with open minds and hearts, we can really learn more about ourselves and others.

Have you been to a wonderfully inclusive destination on your travels?

Monday, June 8, 2020

My Journey To Always Eat After 7PM

This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed below are my own.

Are you trying to in shape from all the staying home you've had to do? Maybe get your summer beach body ready for when you can travel again? Well, me too.



“We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it boosts your metabolism, prevents midday hunger, and helps us lose more weight…The science isn’t really there. Breakfast could very well be the least important meal of the day!” This is music to my ears, since sometimes I don’t eat until 10:30AM, and then it’s just a snack and then I eat a normal lunch and dinner. I love breakfast, but I generally am not hungry that early in the morning and I don’t enjoy getting up earlier to make it, so I don’t. Breakfast is more of a social occasion to me.

In Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion I’m learning that my way of eating is not, necessarily, wrong, it just needs to be tweaked a little to make it more effective.


The Always Eat After 7 PM plan consists of: The 14-day Acceleration Phase to kick-start the program and see rapid results, The Main Phase where you’ll learn exactly which foods to eat when in order to achieve your weight-loss goals, The Lifestyle Phase to keep the weight off for good. 

I routinely drink coffee each morning, so phasing to black coffee is a bit of a struggle, but I’m trying. There are other drinks I can have for the morning, but I wanted to keep as much of my regular routine to start. I was already eating high quality meats when I choose to eat meat, so that hasn’t changed. I also have a fridge and pantry full of “super carbs” to help me make filling and nutritious meals to give me more energy and encourage more fat-burning from my body. Having these basics make me happy doing this diet already.

With intermittent fasting, I’m finding I have more focus and I’m less hungry throughout the day, even when it’s a “normal” meal time. “Intermittent fasting really shines when it comes to improving the hormones that directly affect your hunger, blood sugar, and metabolism. One is insulin. IF combats insulin resistance, meaning that it helps your body uses insulin more normally, thereby lowering your diabetes risk and boosting your metabolism.”

Joel Marion’s Always Eat After 7PM program makes dieting easy and eliminates 90% of reasons for resistance. It explains why you need to change your mindset to achieve your personal goals and teaches you to become the person you want to be and how to just start without putting it off, which is where most people fail right away.

I don’t mind cooking and eating well, but one of my roadblocks is knowing exactly what foods to put with other foods for the best results, but Joel breaks that all down for me and then gives me specific examples and recipes. We especially liked the Fiesta Chicken Skillet, the One Pan “Spaghetti” and Meatballs, and Pomegranate-Glazed Pork Chops. I’m loving the ideas I’m getting from these recipes for when I’m in the long-term phase. There’s, literally, something for everyone and good variety so you don’t get bored with your food options. No matter what you enjoy, you can eat it, and you may even find some new favorites. I know, I did.
Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion is now available to purchase. Learn more about the book and how to purchase here.

If you missed the first two of my posts, check out my introductory post here and why I chose Eat After 7PM here.

This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed above are my own.

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