WHO WANTS TO TAKE ME TO NICKELODEON RESORTS?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a pineapple under the sea? Now, you might be able to get a little taste of what it's like. 

Karisma Hotels presents the Pineapple Villa in Punta Cana: 

Beyond these gorgeous Spongebob-inspired rooms, "private butlers take care of your family's every need." You read that right: private butlers, people. 

You can learn more and book your stay here. The villa can accommodate 4 adults and 2 children or 2 adults and 4 children (sounds perfect, right Dad? Mom? Wealthy family in search of a new 21-year-old daughter?) with 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. 

If you need me, I'll be out by the infinity pool. 

P.S. Dad, if you're reading this, is it ever too late to help your 21-year-old daughter live out her childhood dreams? I don't think so...

A BAD CASE OF WANDERLUST

I love traveling. In an ideal world I would be able to spend a year just exploring. There are so many places I want to see and things that I want to do abroad. 

My freshman year the first project we had in my production class was making a TV poster with an idea of what your show would be about. I decided mine would be an ABC Family show about friends that went on a summer road trip before college that turned into so much more than they ever expected.

As someone who has a passion for television and telling stories, this was the perfect project for me. I won't go into specifics about the show--who knows, maybe one day I could be in a position to pitch this idea. It could happen!

Sometimes I wish it was more common to take a gap year between high school and college. One of my good friends visited Australia last winter break, and she said that a ton of people did that there. I think it would be such an amazing opportunity to learn more about the world. Perhaps, you might even learn something about yourself along the way. 

Now, the idea of traveling for an extended period of time in my life seems impossible, other than through study abroad, because right after college I'll have to find a job and start paying off student loans. But if you did it before college, you wouldn't have to worry about paying anything off. 

That list that I am holding in the top left corner is an actual list that I have been working on for years of all of the places that I want to visit in the world. I started it a couple of years ago with the hopes that one day I would find the time/resources to be able to visit these places. Since then, I have already been able to cross a couple of places off the list.

But it's not enough! Next spring I intend to study abroad in Europe, which may be just the cure I need for my wanderlust. I know it will never truly go away, but a girl needs to try to ease it, doesn't she?

Where do you want to travel?

Related: Why Spring Break in DC is Better than in PCB

Christmas is Coming

 It's that time of year again, and I couldn't be more excited. The snow is finally falling, Christmas music is playing in every retail shop you go in, and the stringed lights are lining the streets. This weekend, I got to go to Chicago for the first time, and it was one of the best days I have had this semester. It was finally started to feel like Christmas.

With an Eggnog Latte in hand, and an open agenda, I set off to explore the city with friends. We went straight to the Bean and took our cliche pictures in the reflections. We headed to Michigan Avenue and went straight to the shops, spending hours admiring clothing and jewelry--even though none of us actually bought anything all day.  We even got a free sample of the peppermint bark from the Ghirardelli chocolate store.

I felt like the typical tourist, in awe of the magnitude of the buildings--I walked with my neck turned up, trying to take it all in. It felt like a movie, maybe because there are so many different movies set in Chicago, and maybe because as I looked around me, it felt magical. We watched the people ice skating in the park, and it seemed like there wasn't a better way to spend the morning.

There was a point in the day where all we could do was sit, exhausted by the constant walking and the over-stimulation of the buzzing city. But even when we were resting, I was enjoying it. This was a break from a reality, without homework or the stress of worrying about tests and papers. It was the best way to commence the holiday season and spend time with the girls. We realized that after a few minutes of browsing in stores, we would stop and start talking in the middle of the crowds. It was like we traveled 2 and half hours on a school bus to have extended girl talk.

There isn't another way that I would have rather spent my Saturday. The Christmas season is here, and all my wishes are coming true.