Laura Roberts's Blog, page 19
May 6, 2018
What’s on your Travel Bucket List?
The Buttontapper Challenge is back! This month’s challenge is Seussily titled “Oh, the Places We’ll Go!” and will feature a new destination, daily, with inspiration from film and literature.
Today we’re not traveling to a specific destination. Since it’s Sunday, a day of rest, I’m challenging you to think about your Travel Bucket List: all the destinations you’d like to visit in your lifetime. Where do you really want to go? What do you absolutely have to see before you kick the proverbial bucket?
Let’s create a Top 10 List (or Top 5, or Top 20… or even Top 100 if you prefer!) and share some of our favorites.
Here’s my list, in no particular order:
10 – Italy
Photo by Florian Dornauer on Unsplash
As you may have guessed from my inclusion of both Florence and Rome, in addition to Italy at large, I am very eager to travel to Italy at some point. My parents recently went on an anniversary trip touring the Florence area, along with my aunt and uncle, and they all had a great time. They brought me back a bottle of authentic Italian olive oil, which was lovely, but now my hunger for Italy has only increased. My husband and I keep on watching Rick Steves’ Cinque Terre episode and drooling, and we definitely have to visit Venice before it’s completely crumbled into the sea, so all I can really say is bring it on!
9 – Ireland
Photo by Philipp Baumann on Unsplash
There is something incredibly romantic to me about the idea of trekking across a country on foot. Especially a country that’s as beautiful as Ireland, with so many natural wonders – as well as the occasional castle – to stumble upon throughout the journey. And, of course, this island’s love of storytellers is not lost on a writer, so visiting some of the country’s historic sites and soaking up the home of so much English-language literature is appealing as well. I’d love to simply ramble around Ireland and Scotland for a while, exploring the countryside, reading, and scribbling in my notebook. Edinburgh is another destination I’d loop into this trip, where I’d hope to be able to do quite an extended stay.
8 – Japan
Photo by Sorasak on Unsplash
The culture of Japan just seems like such a contrast to the culture of the US, and thus this island country is another place I’d love to visit. (I do have a lot of island destinations on my Bucket List, don’t I?) Kyoto is a city I am particularly interested in visiting, since it seems like such a mix of the quiet calm of nature and man-made hubbub.
7 – New Zealand
Photo by Tobias Stonjeck on Unsplash
For reasons similar to my interest in Ireland, New Zealand seems like a country I’d just like to ramble around. Tolkien fans have apparently been crowding the country since the Lord of the Rings movies came out, but I’m more interested in the laid-back lifestyle and lush green spaces.
6 – India
Photo by Julian Yu on Unsplash
The Taj Mahal, a monument to eternal love, is slowly being destroyed by both air and water pollution. I definitely want to see this endangered landmark before it sinks into the earth for good. (That’s not the Taj, pictured above, but the Moonlight Gardens or Mehtab Bagh, which supposedly has the best view of the Taj Mahal but with much smaller crowds. Thanks to the photographer, Julian Yu, for the tip!)
5 – China
Photo by Robert Nyman on Unsplash
Two words: Great Wall.
4 – Iceland
Photo by Tom Grimbert on Unsplash
Björk! Blue Lagoon hot springs! Northern lights! Skógafoss – the tallest waterfall in the country! What’s not to love about Iceland?
3 – Peru
Photo by Babak Fakhamzadeh on Unsplash
Llamas! Machu Picchu! Glaciers! Mountains! Deserts! Beaches!
2 – Mont Saint-Michel
Photo by Okamatsu Fujikawa on Unsplash
It’s an island accessible by road or walkway only during low tide. If you don’t have a rowboat once the tides come back in, forget it. Ideally, I’d love to be here during a Supermoon!
1 – Galapagos Islands
Photo by Jose Aragones on Unsplash
I clearly have an obsession with islands, so the Galapagos is definitely one of my biggest Bucket List items. Ancient sea turtles! Snoozing sea lions! Leaping lizards! Blue-footed boobies! Colorful crabs! The birthplace of the theory of evolution! Darwinism in action! ISLANDS!
What about you?
What destinations are on YOUR Bucket List? And have you ever been to any of the destinations on my list?
The post What’s on your Travel Bucket List? appeared first on Buttontapper Press.
May 5, 2018
Exciting Edinburgh: Oh, the Places We’ll Go!
The Buttontapper Challenge is back! This month’s challenge is Seussily titled “Oh, the Places We’ll Go!” and will feature a new destination, daily, with inspiration from film and literature.
Today we’re traveling to Edinburgh.
But first!
As some of you keen-eyed readers will notice, I’ve skipped a few days here on the blog, and we’ve whizzed right past Chicago and Dublin. Here are two tiny stories I posted on social media, in case you missed them elsewhere:
You can also dig through my Chicago From A to Z posts if you’re particularly missing the Chicago layover!
What makes Edinburgh unique?
The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is a medieval city filled with Gothic architecture.
Photo by Nicola Gadler on Unsplash
Photo by Michael D Beckwith on Unsplash
Photo by Nicola Gadler on Unsplash
Please note that it isn’t pronounced as written (“Eden-burg”) but “Ed-in-borough.” Ah, the English language. So confusing, so crazy, so unpredictable.
But back to the city itself, if you’re a Harry Potter fan, there’s no better bookish place to visit!
Photo by Nicolas Charlone on Unsplash
Films featuring Edinburgh
Some films set in Edinburgh include the animated film, The Illusionist:
Additional films set in the city:
The 39 Steps
Avengers: Infinity War
Chariots of Fire
The Da Vinci Code
Shallow Grave
Trainspotting
Books about Edinburgh
Some books you might enjoy about life in Edinburgh include many of Irvine Welsh’s titles (including the aforementioned Trainspotting), as well as:
44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith
The Existential Detective by Alice Thompson
A Good Hanging by Ian Rankin
How to Make a Golem and Terrify People by Allette J. Willis
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
A Method Actor’s Guide to Jekyll and Hyde by Kevin MacNeil
One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson
The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg
Have you ever been to Edinburgh?
What did you most enjoy about visiting this city?
The post Exciting Edinburgh: Oh, the Places We’ll Go! appeared first on Buttontapper Press.
May 2, 2018
Beautiful Barcelona: Oh, The Places We’ll Go!
The Buttontapper Challenge is back! This month’s challenge is Seussily titled “Oh, the Places We’ll Go!” and will feature a new destination, daily, with inspiration from film and literature.
Today we’re traveling to Barcelona.
What makes Barcelona unique?
Barcelona is a Spanish city and the capital of Catalonia. Unlike the rest of Spain, where Spanish is primarily spoken, in Catalonia the primary language is Catalan.
Did you know that Spain actually has four official languages? They are Catalan, Castilian, Galician and Basque.
Barcelona is home to many amazing architectural sites, many of which are designated as World Heritage Sites, such as Antonio Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia:
Photo by Danil Sorokin on Unsplash
Photo by Claudio Testa on Unsplash
In addition to its cultural contributions, Barcelona is also a great place to hit the beach! Barcelona’s beaches have been named some of the top 10 city beaches in the world by National Geographic and the Discovery Channel.
“Platja del Fòrum, Spain” photo by Chema Photo on Unsplash
Films featuring Barcelona
One of my favorite films set in Barcelona is L’Auberge Espagnole – a French-Spanish film about a bunch of different students who all share an apartment during a year studying in Spain. The film touches briefly on the Catalan/Castilian language divide, as well as the melting pot of languages spoken within the shared household, and of course the various stereotypes people from different cultures have about one another – and how to handle them when you all live in close quarters!
More films set in Barcelona include:
Biutiful
Barcelona (1994)
Barcelona: A Love Untold
En Construcción (Work In Progress)
Food Of Love
Inconscientes (Unconscious)
Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown)
Pourquois Pas Moi? (Why Not Me?)
Books about Barcelona
Instead of shamelessly stealing a list from Rick Steves’ website, I recommend you go there to check out his suggestions! And to those I will add:
The Angst-Ridden Executive by Manuel Vasquez Montalban (isn’t that a great title?)
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell
The Lonely Hearts Club by Raul Nunez
Have you ever been to Barcelona?
What did you most enjoy about visiting this city?
The post Beautiful Barcelona: Oh, The Places We’ll Go! appeared first on Buttontapper Press.
May 1, 2018
Welcome to the #ButtontapperChallenge for May: Oh, The Places We’ll Go!
The Buttontapper Challenge is back! This month’s challenge is Seussily titled “Oh, the Places We’ll Go!” and will feature a new destination, daily, with inspiration from film and literature.
Today we’re traveling to Amsterdam.
What makes Amsterdam unique?
The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is built on a series of canals – rather like Venice. The city itself is located about 6.6 feet below sea level, so this is a common cityscape:
Photo by Sávio Félix on Unsplash
Bicycles are quite important to the culture of Amsterdam, since there are many narrow streets and bridges best crossed on foot or by bike. Most locals regularly use bicycles as one of their main methods of transportation throughout the city, and you’ll see bikes everywhere you look.
Photo by Nick Scheerbart on Unsplash
Additionally, tulips are traditionally associated with the country at large, so you will often find these beautiful fresh flowers for sale in the markets. Visit in the spring if you’re interested in attending one of their tulip festivals!
Photo by Alice Achterhof on Unsplash
On the slightly more R-rated side of life, Amsterdam is also well-known for its Red Light District and marijuana-based coffeehouses.
Photo by Old Youth on Unsplash
Amsterdam is also home to several excellent museums, including the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House.
Films featuring Amsterdam
Many films have been set in Amsterdam, including the recent adaptation of John Green’s incredibly popular YA book, The Fault in Our Stars.
Other Hollywood films set in Amsterdam include:
Diamonds Are Forever (a James Bond flick, starring Sean Connery)
Girl With a Pearl Earring (focused on the life of the Dutch painter Vermeer, and featuring Scarlett Johansson as the titular girl)
Layer Cake (a British gangster movie, starring Daniel Craig)
Max (a 2002 drama about a Jewish art dealer who teaches a young Adolph Hitler about painting, featuring John Cusack)
Ocean’s Twelve (a sequel to Ocean’s Eleven, featuring much of the original cast, this time attempting to steal a Fabergé egg)
Still Smokin’ (a Cheech and Chong flick about, you guessed it, smoking weed)
Books about Amsterdam
As you may have guessed, there are also many books set in Amsterdam, such as the aforementioned The Fault in Our Stars and Anne Frank, the Diary of a Young Girl.
Other books you might be interested in reading, either set in or written specifically about Amsterdam, include:
Amsterdam by Ian McEwan – a Booker Prize winner
The Dinner by Herman Koch
The Fall by Albert Camus
My ‘Dam Life by Sean Condon
Yoga for People Who Can’t Be Bothered to Do It by Geoff Dyer (frankly, I am adding this one to my To Read pile based on the hilarious title alone!)
You can also check out The Guardian’s list of the 10 Best Books Set in Amsterdam. Although it’s from 2011, it’s still quite a good list for those thirsty for more Amsterdammery.
Have you ever been to Amsterdam?
What did you most enjoy about visiting this city?
The post Welcome to the #ButtontapperChallenge for May: Oh, The Places We’ll Go! appeared first on Buttontapper Press.
April 30, 2018
Online Dating from A to Z: Zen and the Art of Online Dating
Welcome to the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. This month I’ll be working my way through the alphabet, one day at a time, on the subject of Online Dating. If you’ve never visited my blog before, I’m happy you’re here! Be sure to check out my previous A to Z Challenge posts and the books that were inspired by them for more alphabetical fun.
Z is for Zen and the art of online dating.
When it comes to online dating, patience and persistence are key. To sum the correct attitude up in one little word, I use “Zen” to describe that balance of engagement and entropy, lightness and heaviness, giddy excitement of the chase and disappointment with dull dates.
What does it mean to be “Zen” in the face of online dating?
Photo by Alex on Unsplash
To me, Zen is about balance in all things. Like the symbol of the yin and yang that combine black and white in an eternal swirl, online dating can be messy and chaotic, as well as gentle and sweet. It’s important to keep things in perspective, to focus your mind, to train for meeting your potential life partner by treating each date with genuine interest and respect.
To maintain balance is, as with all things in life, the key to happiness. Being able to let go and laugh about bad dates, rather than take them too much to heart, is a good skill to cultivate. The ability to not take things too personally, even when personal rejection is common, is another great skill.
In the end, online dating will always be what you make of it. You’ll get out exactly what you put in. So go out there and live your best life – online and off – and find another person to share it with!
Join me next month!
This is the very last entry in the A to Z Challenge for 2018, but don’t forget to sign up for my mailing list to keep up with my posts next month. I’ll be continuing my alphabetical journey, this time globetrotting through literature in film with the theme “Oh, the Places We’ll Go!” You can learn more about the cities I’ll be writing about below. See you in May!
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April 28, 2018
Online Dating from A to Z: Yearning to Say YES
Welcome to the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. This month I’ll be working my way through the alphabet, one day at a time, on the subject of Online Dating. If you’ve never visited my blog before, I’m happy you’re here! Be sure to check out my previous A to Z Challenge posts and the books that were inspired by them for more alphabetical fun.
Y is for YES!
As we near the end of this alphabetical tour through the wonderful world of online dating, let’s talk about saying yes.
The best thing I ever did during my online dating career was to say “yes” to the guy that eventually became my husband. Even though I wasn’t sure we’d get along, and for some reason I was convinced that he’d be an obnoxious egomaniac (his artsy, black-and-white profile picture gave me that wildly incorrect first impression), I said yes when he asked if I’d like to get coffee. I took a chance. And guess what? He turned out to be awesome!
So my best dating advice is to say yes, even if your initial instinct is to say no. Barring any truly serial killer vibes you get from someone’s profile (and no, I’m not encouraging anyone to ignore real red flags), I honestly think that going against your first impressions of a person can be a great idea. After all, who knows what people think your profile is saying – some of which you might never have intended it to say?
Give people a chance and you might just be surprised.
Yes, you can find love online! But first you have to say yes to a date.
Want more online dating tips?
Sign up for my mailing list to receive a list of my Top 10 Tips for Meeting the Guy or Gal of Your Dreams!
The post Online Dating from A to Z: Yearning to Say YES appeared first on Buttontapper Press.
April 27, 2018
Online Dating from A to Z: Examining the X Factor
Welcome to the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. This month I’ll be working my way through the alphabet, one day at a time, on the subject of Online Dating. If you’ve never visited my blog before, I’m happy you’re here! Be sure to check out my previous A to Z Challenge posts and the books that were inspired by them for more alphabetical fun.
X is for X Factor.
X is the letter of uncertainty. X marks the spot, but X is also the variable in any equation. X is about that je ne sais quoi that all good relationships have in common, but that are almost impossible to describe.
The X Factor is what ultimately makes you decide you’re in love with someone, rather than simply passing the time.
As a wise man once said (okay, it was Pastor Cal on Married At First Sight): you don’t fall in love, you decide to love. Love is an action, a verb. It’s a choice you make, not a feeling. You don’t have to wait for it to wash over you, nor for a slip and fall into it; you get to make the decision, take the chance, ride the ride!
What makes someone decide they’re in love? It could be because they are simply tired of dating, are ready to settle down, enjoy your company, or have embraced you from head to toe – flaws ‘n’ all.
Love can be a confusing sentiment, for many. That’s why I devoted an entire month to examining love in all its many forms, back in February of this year.
There’s passion,
And compassion,
And there are 8 different types of love , for the ancient Greeks, and 5 different Love Languages for us modern folk…
Long-term couples can explore familiar love, as well as romance,
And there’s even patriotism – love of country!
All of these things contribute to the X Factor of Love.
On the other hand, there’s also an Ex Factor: the thing that makes you decide you’re definitely DONE with someone, and ready to move on!
The Ex Factor is much more easily defined. If you’re living in a perpetual Seinfeld episode, you might decide you just can’t deal with a partner’s close-talking, or their tendency to order the same thing at the restaurant every time, or because you think you caught them picking their nose while driving.
You can pick your lover, but you can’t pick your lover’s nose, am I right?
What kinds of things do you consider when choosing a partner for a romantic relationship, and what kinds of things have broken up your matches?
Want more online dating tips?
Sign up for my mailing list to receive a list of my Top 10 Tips for Meeting the Guy or Gal of Your Dreams!
The post Online Dating from A to Z: Examining the X Factor appeared first on Buttontapper Press.
April 26, 2018
Online Dating from A to Z: When Weird is a GOOD Thing
Welcome to the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. This month I’ll be working my way through the alphabet, one day at a time, on the subject of Online Dating. If you’ve never visited my blog before, I’m happy you’re here! Be sure to check out my previous A to Z Challenge posts and the books that were inspired by them for more alphabetical fun.
W is for Weirdos.
Online dating attracts plenty of weirdos. Sometimes this can be cute and quirky – a harmless weirdness perhaps better described as eccentricity or uniqueness. Other times, the weirdos can be downright disturbing.
Ultimately, that’s the topic of my latest book, No More F*ing Weirdos!, which aims to eliminate the wrong kinds of weirdos from your dating life through some practical, sanity-saving advice.
Since I’ve already shared the story of my Absolute Worst Date Ever, today I thought I would share the story of my Best Date Ever – the one that eventually led to my marriage!
This is just one example of finding a Good Weirdo when dating online, to help dispel the notion that all weird is bad weird.
The totally true story of my best first date
Although my Best First Date would ultimately be categorized as such, I was initially apprehensive about meeting up with my potential suitor, Brit. He first messaged me on Plenty Of Fish, saying that he thought would would have a lot of fun together, and that we should meet up.
It was a brief message, and although I normally ignored the men who messaged me with such short notes (especially the ones that only said “Hi!” or “Hey!” or “What’s up?”), I hopped over to check out his profile.
His profile picture was cute but artsy: an image of him posed on a chair, draped in a white button-down shirt, with a serious look on his face. He had a goatee, which I liked, but I wasn’t sure if he was right for me. His brief message, combined with the sexy photo, had me wondering if he was just another player like the dudes who said we’d have fun together, but only meant in bed.
I wasn’t looking for another one-night stand. I was looking for love. Was he?
I scrolled down his profile, where he mentioned that he was an artist and liked various abstract painters, including Picasso. Hmm.
And then I saw this picture of three tigers in a hot tub:
I had to laugh, as I’d seen this image online before with the caption “Hey, who turned off the bubbles?” It seemed to suggest he was down to chill, possibly in a homemade hot tub, and that he liked cats – all of which were pluses in my book.
He asked if I wanted to meet up for coffee after work. I think his first suggestion was at 9 PM on a Wednesday evening. I reluctantly agreed, unsure whether this was the best time to meet a total stranger for coffee, since it would certainly have to be a brief meeting. On the plus side, he had mentioned a job, which meant he wasn’t just a deadbeat would-be artist! So many variables…
When I told my girlfriend that I was thinking of meeting this dude for coffee late on a Wednesday night, her first response was “Hell no!”
The more I thought about it, the more I agreed with her. Why would he want to meet up so late for caffeine? Did he have an ulterior motive? Was he just going to pop in, take a look at me and run? It seemed a little weird.
To make a long story short… I stood him up!
Thankfully, he was persistent and asked to reschedule, this time for an afternoon coffee on a Friday.
I agreed to meet him at one of my favorite cafés, and the rest is history. We’ve been inseparable ever since, and our 10-year anniversary is coming up this June. I made this list of the Top 10 Reasons I (Still) Love My Husband for our 8th anniversary, in case you’re curious about more of his Best Date qualities.
Want more online dating tips?
Sign up for my mailing list to receive a list of my Top 10 Tips for Meeting the Guy or Gal of Your Dreams!
The post Online Dating from A to Z: When Weird is a GOOD Thing appeared first on Buttontapper Press.
April 25, 2018
Online Dating from A to Z: Vices and Virtues
Welcome to the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. This month I’ll be working my way through the alphabet, one day at a time, on the subject of Online Dating. If you’ve never visited my blog before, I’m happy you’re here! Be sure to check out my previous A to Z Challenge posts and the books that were inspired by them for more alphabetical fun.
V is for….
Have you noticed that there are quite the preponderance of negative V words out there? Here are just a few of the V words that made a list of 100 words you’ll find on the SAT…
Vague
Vain
Vapid
Vaunt (to boast about or praise something excessively)
Vegetate
Venal
Vendetta
Verbose
Vertigo
Veto
Vex
It’s enough to make you want to vomit!
Thankfully, I found a number of positive V words on the same list. Here are a few I considered as the focus for today’s post:
Valiant (courageous when facing danger)
Vanguard (a creative group active in the innovation of new concepts)
Variables
Venerable
Venturesome (disposed to take risks – some might say this is actually a negative word)
Venue
Verify
Versatile
Verve
Visage (the human face)
Vulnerable
Ultimately, however, I decided to talk a bit about Vices and Virtues. Because what’s more interesting than digging up dirt on your potential partners? Oh, right: finding out about some of their awesome qualities!
Sometimes online dating can make you feel a bit like a detective hunting for clues to your potential date’s true personality. Are they really animal lovers, or are they just saying that because you said you own a pet? Do you really have the same taste in music, or have they just Googled the song lyrics you posted in your profile? Who the heck are these people, anyway, and how can you figure out whether they’re telling the truth?!
The virtue of game-play
Photo by Daniel Monteiro on Unsplash
An interesting way to try to unravel the mystery is to challenge them to a game of “Two Truths and a Lie.” Ask them to give you three statements about themselves, with two being true and one being false. Then you get to guess which is which.
Ask your would-be dates to give you some of their vices and virtues in the game, which is best played face-to-face so that you can observe their expressions as well as the tone of their voice for clues.
Just remember to come prepared with some truths and a lie of your own!
Want more online dating tips?
Sign up for my mailing list to receive a list of my Top 10 Tips for Meeting the Guy or Gal of Your Dreams!
The post Online Dating from A to Z: Vices and Virtues appeared first on Buttontapper Press.
April 24, 2018
Online Dating from A to Z: Uncovering Understanding
Welcome to the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. This month I’ll be working my way through the alphabet, one day at a time, on the subject of Online Dating. If you’ve never visited my blog before, I’m happy you’re here! Be sure to check out my previous A to Z Challenge posts and the books that were inspired by them for more alphabetical fun.
U is for understanding.
Something that can be in short supply when it comes to online dating is understanding.
What do I mean by that?
Given the way dating apps currently work, with most requiring people to swipe left or right on a profile after a brief scan, there’s a lot of surface-level activity happening. Unlike in the olden days of online dating, where one had to actually read through profiles to uncover potential matches, most people are now judging based solely on pictures.
The general effect is that we’ve created a virtual game of “Hot or Not?” for real people, and we’re spending our time online judging books by their covers instead of actually reading any of them.
Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash
Is this really how online dating should work? Isn’t there a better way?
My suggestion is that instead of simply swiping right on every guy or gal that isn’t model material, you may want to be a bit more understanding and open-minded. Look beyond the profile picture, and dig into their description to see if there’s anything worth pursuing.
Is this person attractive on the inside, rather than just the outside?
While I certainly can’t make anyone stop judging people based on a couple of images, I can highly recommend giving people more of a chance to get to know you. Sometimes a little patience is required. Sometimes a little understanding can go a long way.
What do you think? Have swipe apps ruined online dating, made us all more picky, or eliminated our desire to waste time on bad matches? What’s your understanding of the situation?
Want more online dating tips?
Sign up for my mailing list to receive a list of my Top 10 Tips for Meeting the Guy or Gal of Your Dreams!
The post Online Dating from A to Z: Uncovering Understanding appeared first on Buttontapper Press.
