There's No Place Like Oz

Today, half a world away from me, hundreds of curious, excited, hungry Aussies were supposed to queue up for Adriano Zumbo’s Macaron Day. I was going to read the stream of #Zumbo tweets and Macaron Day 2011 blog posts with envy, recalling my first Macaron Day experience last year. But Macaron Day 2011 has been […]

For as long as I remember, fall has been my favorite time of year. The colors, smells, flavors, and weather make me smile. Some friends and family gather for a football tailgate When I was in Australia, one of the the things I missed the most was autumn. Now, I’m missing Australia but LOVING living […]

Whether they’re words, sights, sounds, or smells, I’ve experienced several distinct, powerful moments that served as inspiration to travel. Just a few minutes ago I was reminded of one of those moments. I found a note I wrote before my trip to Australia about an experience I had in early 2008, and I can’t help […]

This is the second post in the What’s Next series, in which I share what life has in store post-Oz. This post has been a long time in the making! I’ve written several drafts, but every time I’d sit down to write, the words wouldn’t come. I’m hoping today is different. Over the last five […]

A few years ago I found myself at a local restaurant with three friends — two visiting from London (on their first trip to the US) and the third had recently returned to our hometown of Charlottesville after living in Japan for two years. As the three discussed the plans I had to show the […]

This is the first in a new “What’s Next” series. In upcoming posts, I’ll share the biggest, life-changing lesson I took away from Australia and how it’s impacted my first five months back in the USA — and of course in the months to come. There’s No Place Like Oz is not my first blog. […]

Recently I packed more for a 1-week trip to London and for 1 week at the beach than I did to start my year-long adventure in Australia. How is this possible?! 1) On shorter trips, I tend to pack more “just in case” items and articles of clothing. Perhaps on longer trips I know I […]

Dear Adriano Zumbo, Happy Monday to you in Sydney! How are things going in the Inner West (and Manly)? Busy brainstorming ideas for Macaron Day 2011? I bet you and your team are doing just that. You don’t know me, though I wish you did. One year ago I stepped through the doors of your […]

This is the second post in the new “No Place Like” series in which I highlight places that have blessed me with a feeling of “home”. As I write, I’m sitting in a beach cottage at North Carolina’s Outer Banks (OBX), waiting for coffee to finish brewing and the griddle to be free so I […]

Last week I promised that the next post (i.e., THIS one) would be about lifestyle changes I have been working on post-Australia and what I hope my future holds. That’s not happening today. I’ve wanted to begin that series for weeks now, but every time I begin, I freeze. I’ve written several outlines and even […]