Bruges was such a dreamy destination during my first solo trip a few years ago. I visited the Netherlands and Belgium just one week after one of my pups died unexpectedly, and I was nursing a very bruised and battered heart. I can't tell you how nourishing and healing the trip was. Getting to spend peaceful time alone in such beautiful surroundings gave me a chance to sit with my grief, to reflect when I needed to reflect and to distract myself when I couldn't think about Luna any longer. I spent just two and a half days in Bruges, but they've become some of the most memorable of the trip. Not because I did anything especially noteworthy, but because when I think back on that time, I feel peaceful. The city was good for my soul.
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I was one of the last people admitted to the Bruges belfry the day I visited, and I enjoyed some late-afternoon views of the bustling market square from the tower. If people-watching were a sport, I'd try out for the Olympic squad: I could sit and observe for hours. I spent a while at this window, watching the crowds contract and expand below, the muted sounds of gathered people — chatter, laughter, shouting — just barely reaching me. 〰️
This photo reminds me of one of my favorite parts of solo travel: being alone, but not alone. Knowing there are dozens-hundreds-thousands of other people nearby, each with their own secret quiet heartache or joy or any of the other emotions we all feel so strongly, yet tend to keep inside. Knowing that if I wanted, I could say hi, make conversation, maybe sit down to share a drink and a story with someone, to share my grief and my gladness. I don't always do it, but I could.
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I'm a week away from my next solo venture, this one to Denmark. The past few months have been challenging in a lot of ways, and I feel like I haven't properly exhaled in a while. I'm looking forward to doing so. Here's to new adventures in new places... even if those adventures are just people-watching.
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#fbf #latergram #travelphoto #travelpic #travelphotography #solotravel #solofemaletravel #vegantravel #bruges #visitbruges #brugge #belgium #wanderlust #travelgirls #girlslovetravel #girlswhotravel #womenwhotravel
I turned 32 on Friday and celebrated with my first dinner at @fancyradishdc. 💃🏻 More to come on the blog, but: SO. GOOD. Steven and I shared five “medium plates,” which was the perfect amount of food. (We opted not to get dessert because Steven had made me a birthday cake 🎂, but if you’re anticipating ordering dessert, I’d recommend just doing four savory dishes between two diners.) We had rutabaga fondue (!) served with a pretzel 🥨 roll and house-made pickles; a lox-like chioggia beet toast; the eponymous fancy radish with a yuzu-avocado purée; shaved brassicas; and the delightfully spicy dandan noodles. 🍜 Nearly everything was so creative and nuanced, including our cocktails. I haven’t had #vegan food quite like this before! 🌟 .
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#veganfood #veganfoodshare #vegandc #dcvegan #vegansofig #vegansofinstagram #vegandining #plantbased #fancyradish
Vegan bruuuunch! ☕️ I spent a whirlwind weekend in Rhode Island celebrating a dear friend’s engagement and my nephew’s sixth birthday. But I still made time for brunch at @grangeri right before I left! The Grange is my favorite #vegfriendly spot in Providence, and although the service was S-L-O-W on Sunday, I still enjoyed chowing down on this cauliflower and winter veggie hash topped with poached tofu (!). 😋 Served piping hot with a fantastic mustard-y vegan hollandaise, it was a treat… and somehow super filling. I brought home leftovers, which I then had to leave in my parents’ fridge when I flew back to MD. Hope you enjoy cold toast, Mom and Dad! 🍞🤷🏻♀️😂
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#vegan #veganfoodshare #veganfood #whatveganseat #veganfood #veganfoodblogger #vegansofig #vegansofinstagram #veganblogger #latergram #veganeats #eatyourveggies #rhodeisland #providence #tofu #brunch #veganbrunch #veganri #rhodeislandveganawareness #pvd #veganprovidence
In the middle of a hectic, stressful, scary two weeks, this easy, pantry-friendly #vegan minestrone was a lifesaver. 🙂 Sometimes you need comfort food to get you through! The recipe (which is really more like a recipe template) is up on the blog if you care to look, but it’s so simple. The key is to use lots of #nooch and spices to add depth of flavor, and to cook your pasta separately so it doesn’t get mushy and gross. (Or maybe that’s just my texture issue speaking!) Use whatever veggies you have in the fridge, whether that’s a half jar of fire-roasted red peppers, a wilting bunch of kale, or some sad old broccoli. 🥦🥕🥬 It doesn’t matter. It’ll still be delicious. And if you can carve out a few minutes to sit down and savor a bowl, it’ll be even better. 🥣
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#vegansoup #veganrecipe #veganfoodshare #veganfood #whatveganseat #veganfood #veganfoodblogger #vegansofig #vegansofinstagram #soup #minestrone #pantryfriendly #foodblogger #veganblogger #latergram #simplerecipe #homemade #wholefoodplantbased #plantbased #wholefoods #letscookvegan #healthy #nutritionalyeast #veganeats #eatyourveggies
