Manhattan Beach Layover

Yesterday was literally the longest day of my life – 39 hours long! We made the most of our last day in Tokyo: had lunch at Surashino Hore, the oldest Soba noodles restaurant in the city, and ran around Roppongi Hills buying souvenirs and gifts. The flight out of Tokyo was at 8 p.m. on Sunday, December 30, and I arrived 10 hours later in L.A. at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 30…time travel?

Determined to make the most of our five hour layover in L.A., we took a cab to Manhattan Beach. Walking on the pier and lunch in the sun was wonderful.

Manhattan Beach

I’m happy to be back in Chicago today and I can’t wait to celebrate my favorite holiday tonight!

Robot Restaurant in Tokyo

I LOVED Robot Restaurant! We were running quite late and so literally ran through the streets of Tokyo to make it to the show on time. It was well worth the workout!

I originally read about Robot Restaurant on TimeOut Tokyo. We traveled by subway to Shinjuku, the nearest station. Shinjuku station is enormous. Even with clear directions and a Japanese speaker (my brother!), we were so turned around that we almost missed the show―not fun. We were (slightly embarrassed, but) very glad we asked our hotel to call and make us a reservation, it was a full house. Don't go for the food, but drinks are inexpensive and the experience is awesome!

One bonus picture...

 Ok, just one more, it's so hard to stop!

Christmas in Japan

Commercial Christmas is very much celebrated in Japan. Decorated trees, hilarious costumes and Xmas sales are everywhere. Christmas Eve is considered a date night and fried chicken is the must have meal—some of the KFCs take reservations!

We spent Christmas in Hakuba, a mountain ski town, and were sad to find no KFCs nearby. Luckily fried chicken was on the (breakfast!) menu at a cafe just a few minutes walk from our hotel.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is opening my stocking on Christmas morning, so I got everyone fun socks (from Gap and Urban Outfitters) and filled them with little things like candy, chapstick, gum, etc. I found a Kate Spade bracelet that might as well have been made for my mom, brought marshmallows for my brother (he's a man of simple means and my family loves marshmallows...we grew up with a marshmallow drawer in our kitchen), and got a voucher for Tim to print one of his favorite trip photos on canvas (GroupOn and LivingSocial regularly have deals for canvas prints!). I got myself a Madewell bracelet :) I saw it and fell in love, a 30 percent off sale sealed the deal.

The Do-It-Yourself Magic Growing Tree was a hit! It was a very different, still very lovely, Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas from Hakuba!

Hakuba Winter Wonderland

Talk about a white Christmas! We spent three nights in Hakuba, near Nagano, to celebrate Christmas and ski in the Japanese Alps! Our hotel was a few minutes walk from the Happo-one ski area. It was absolutely gorgeous.

I grew up skiing in the Midwest, so whenever I have the chance to mountain ski it is such a huge treat! However, I am more accident prone than most. On our second day I fell within minutes of arriving―in the parking lot without my skis on yet―and then again later while getting off a chairlift. So while I enjoy skiing, I simultaneously feel it's a bit terrifying. I do my best to stay away from anything remotely resembling black diamond run material and I know when to call it a day and head to the chalet (or perhaps better yet today, the onsen in our hotel!).

Mt. Fuji

I compare my first trip to Japan to an episode of The Amazing Race. I traveled the main island top to bottom with friends and had so many amazing experiences that it is hard to believe I was there just five days.

Seeing Mt. Fuji was the only thing on my list that I missed, so on this trip we made it happen on day one! We ate a traditional Japanese meal on the mountain, road a gondola up to some sulphur springs, and took a pirate ship across Lake Ashi...for no historic or practical purposes whatsoever, just because it was awesome. Sunshine Tours was really fantastic.

Tokyo Bound: In My Suitcase

Tim and I are on our way to Tokyo! When we arrive...at 8:05 p.m. tomorrow...we will meet up with my mom and brother to spend 10 days in Japan! This is my first time spending the holidays far from home. I'm excited to surprise my family with their stockings and our ultra portable tree. :)

This is me, so far.

I grew up Minnesota nice

My dad taught me the value of hard work and always doing my best. My mom continues to remind me not to take myself too seriously. My brother shows me how important it is to be passionate about my interests. Together, we know how to have a lot of fun.

Life changed when my dad was diagnosed with ALS

My family started a foundation to raise money to help fund aggressive ALS research. I gained a strong understanding that the people in it are the most important part of my life. Learn more about ALS.

Chicago was close but not too close

I moved to Chicago where I fell in love with writing for public relations and advertising through my courses at DePaul University, not to mention with the city and many of my fantastic friends.

I went around the world in 100 days

I circumnavigated the globe on a ship. It was absolutely as awesome as it sounds. My Semester at Sea essentially served as a sample platter of the world, each place as amazing as the last, each providing a million reasons to return but an understanding that each new adventure I have will teach me more about the world and the people in it, including myself.

Now I work in nonprofit communication and am in business school

I love my job at Feeding America! I get to go to work every day with wonderful, creative people to help people in our country. In September 2012, I started my first quarter of evening classes to earn my MBA at the Kellogg School of Management.

I’m at my best when I’m busy

For now I am taking full advantage of living, laughing, loving, learning, lounging and lunching in the Midwest’s finest. I have way too much fun in Chicago to leave for any extended period of time, but I love to stay connected with my friends and family through trips and other adventures.

   

Welcome

Years ago I started a travel blog to document my 2007 trip around the world. Catch it yourself was a place for me to post pictures and share my thoughts—my many, many thoughts—with family and friends while I was away.

Today I’m ready to share my adventures near and far in a new and more streamlined way. My goal for this blog is to inspire travel and a love of life.