A Taste of Bulgaria

A Taste of Bulgaria

Okay, so I am not in the capital of the Balkan nation of Bulgaria anymore. In fact, I am writing this from the thoroughbred capital of America, Kentucky! This weekend I am showcasing my online shop at a Wine, Women and Shoes charity gala to benefit Family Scholar House here in Louisville. As a little girl I…

Romanced by Romania

Romanced by Romania

It is my final hours here in Romania before a 3:30am bus to the Bucharest airport and then 8:05am flight to Sofia, Bulgaria. I am writing from the lobby of my boutique hotel, Bella Muzica, here in the charming medieval town of Brasov. Next to me is a bottle of local chardonnay chilling and a…

My Dinner with a Baron in Venice

My Dinner with a Baron in Venice

Perhaps this blog is better titled, “My Almost Dinner with a Baron in Venice.” I know. I am such a title tease. BUT it did almost happen. However, a rare Venetian snowfall happened instead which impeded my baron from undocking his boat from his palace on the Grand Canal. His message, “Jen, it is snowing…

Oh, The Places I Will Go…in January
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Oh, The Places I Will Go…in January

It is cold and cloudy here in Seattle so that means it is time for me to escape to cold and cloudy Paris! Hurray! My becoming regular buying/exploring/indulging-in-baguettes winter expedition to Europe will commence in a few short days, and my itinerary is chalk full of new and old favorite places to visit. While it may…

My Business Magazine Feature…24 Hours in My Life

My Business Magazine Feature…24 Hours in My Life

This month I traveled into the pages of the locally lauded magazine called 425 Business! In their September issue (which sounds soooo fashionable) they highlighted 24 hours in my entrepreneurial life in a three page feature. Those who know me well may do a double take at my documented 7:03am rise time…clearly this was an…

A Trip and Life Cut Short
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A Trip and Life Cut Short

I should be in Vietnam right now.  But I am not. Instead I am home in Bellevue, WA. My return stateside was prompted by a fateful call I received in a coffee shop in Saigon just twelve days ago. On August 17th my dad died an unexpected and tragic accidental death at my parent’s house…

Monsooning it in Sihanoukville

Monsooning it in Sihanoukville

I totally dug Thailand. Truly. But Cambodia…now Cambodia is something special (minus all these itty bitty ants that keep biting my feet as I type this). It is off the beaten path, beautiful, exotic, and *my favorite part* I still feel like I am discovering something. Filled with mystical ancient temples, ample undeveloped coastline, picturesque…

Island Life: Koh Samet, Thailand

Island Life: Koh Samet, Thailand

While life in Bangkok was a whirlwind (and much like the pace of life back home), life here on the tiny Thai island of Koh Samet has come to a complete stand still.  It is marvelous. And after three days, I am I finally able to ease into the slow existence that defines island life…just…

Four Nights in Bangkok

Four Nights in Bangkok

So if one night in Bangkok makes a “hard man humble,” what does four nights do to a soft girl (really only just soft to the touch)? It exhilarates and exhausts her! Bangkok was the first destination on my month long Southeast Asia tour, and it was the perfect introduction to this exotic part of the world…

Southeast Asia for August
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Southeast Asia for August

In less than 12 hours I will be settled in seat 59H on a Delta 747 aircraft headed to Tokyo. This will be my only layover in route to Bangkok, Thailand, the first destination of my month long trip to Southeast Asia. Just writing that gave me goosebumps. While I have researched, prepared and packed…