Travel

What Verizon’s #Bettermatters Hashtag Means To Me.

As a travel blogger a smartphone is absolutely necessary. You can catch a shot, edit it and share it in 60 seconds. Seems simple doesn’t it? I thought so. For the last two years I have been blogging I have used my Iphone on the road with AT&T as a mobile carrier. Recently I partnered with Verizon on their #bettermatters campaign and I am here to tell you do NOT just need a smartphone.

#Bettermatters to me means not settling for average. It means staying connected whenever and wherever I am. Since switching to Verizon I have seen a significant change in my data speeds. This means I spend less time on my phone and more time doing what I do best! As a solo female traveler my parents and family feel comfortable knowing I have service in remote locations. Efficiency and safety matters!

In Thailand I took the most amazing shots but guess what? No one knew because my overseas data package was just too damn expensive for me to afford it. My new Google Pixel and Verizon data plan allows me to share in real time. That means no more uploading 5 pictures trying to share my amazing pictures at one time. Your data should be just as reliable as the phone you are using. Why spend 700+ on a phone to have mediocre data service? Your experience matters. The next time you’re ready to buy a phone remembers #bettermatters. For everyone who is enlightened and ready to switch over Verizon also has a Trade in Device program!

college Home Travel

4 Undeniable Truths About Living With Roommates (+ How to Deal)

written by Sidney Walker

More people are living with roommates than ever before. Whether you’re in a dorm for the first time, living in a small space in a big city, or sharing a house, if you have roommates, you can be sure these situations will come into play at some point.

Shared expenses can become an issue. Ideally before you move in, make sure you discuss how the rent and other bills will be paid and by whom. Use a system like Venmo or Splitwise to easily make payments to each other and keep track of bills.

Shared spaces are not always fun. Your delish leftovers? Might not see those again. That pricey shampoo you just splurged on? Your roomie is super excited about it too! Some boundaries are difficult to set, and better to try and avoid arguments from the get go. Get yourself a Shower Locker to keep your personal care products organized and secure.

Not everyone has the same definition about cleanliness. What one person considers tidy, another might find disheveled. Towering trashcans and sinks full of dishes are the stalemate in a classic game of “not my turn.” Again, set rules from the beginning about who will handle what chores and when.

You will learn all sorts of interesting things about your roommates. You’ll see, hear, and smell the good, the bad, and the ugly from your roomies. As long as they’re not consistently interfering with your happiness, try to use these experiences to remember we’re all perfectly imperfect humans.

At the end of the day, preparation and communication are key! Despite potential differences, living with other people can be a great experience and will create fond memories.

college Travel

For The Millennial Who Craves More

written by Briana Phillips

I quit my job and moved to Spain last month. I was working for a marketing company in Atlanta for a little over a year and I just wasn’t satisfied; so, I took an opportunity to move to here and teach English. I don’t speak Spanish. I’m making half of what I was making in Atlanta and I have no interest in teaching long term. Will I be able to get another job in marketing when I return or will fresh graduates be more appealing? Would it be wiser to just stay and get the experience that higher paying companies look for in prospective candidates? I didn’t think about that before making my decision to leave and I still don’t. That lack of concern is one of many things millennials are criticized for.

Millennials, a term that defines a group of individuals born between 1977 and 1995, has somehow morphed into a term used to cast judgement and express discontent with the way we choose to live. The aforementioned years encompass individuals between the ages of 21 and 39, so I’ll be clear and say I’m speaking for us ‘twentysomethings’. We hop from job to job rather than finding a decent job with decent benefits and sticking with it. We’re spoiled by the convenience of technology; why can’t we grab a newspaper or book instead of downloading an app? Do we even watch the news? How can we possibly know what’s going on in the world when we don’t flip on the news station at dinner time? We were given a clear set of instructions from our parents and grandparents on how to live our lives, all we had to do was follow them. Graduate high school, go to college at 18 knowing exactly what it is you want to do for the rest of your life, graduate college in four years, get a job, start a family and live happily ever after.

I graduated from high school and immediately set off to college where I double majored in business marketing and communication, and minored in public relations. I’d be in law school right now if it weren’t so expensive and my undergraduate loan debt wasn’t so high. So instead I wasted a year working an entry level marketing job only to figure out that it wasn’t what fulfills me. So, in total I spent five years living out the dreams of my 18 year old self, trying to make it fit. It’s a lot of pressure for an 18 year old to have to decide what to do for the rest of his or her life, and then you can’t even have a well-deserved drink to cope with this pressure. Shitty, right? It was in 2014 while I was studying in France for a semester that realized I wanted to go down an entire different path. I was able to see a different way of life; I was around people who weren’t rushing to graduate and start a mundane life. But in my eyes, it was too late to change my mind. I had one semester left and there was no way I was going to disappoint everyone that was cheering for me.

It’s now two years later and I’ve finally mustered up the courage to see what’s on the other side of the wall I’ve built and told myself I couldn’t climb. For those of you who can’t find contentment in your current place, I know the anxiety of switching it up can very intimidating. But you can do it and you should! If I could retrace the steps that got me here and write a manual to guide you I would. I’ll actually work on that but meanwhile, I challenge you to figure out what you would be in life if it weren’t for fear and assess the risk versus the reward of going for it.

Written By: The Bald Babe

Social Media Pages: @TheBaldBabe

https://www.instagram.com/thebaldbabe/

https://twitter.com/thebaldbabe

college Grad school Home Travel Uncategorized

5 Holiday Inspired Hot Beverages To Help You Get Through Fall!

written by Sidney Walker

millennial travel blogger

The fall has a lot going for it and no I don’t mean Football season! People are finally starting to get over the scorching heat hell we call summer yet It’s still not so cold that you can avoid yard work like leaves. Thanksgiving can be hectic and tiring but the rewards of family gatherings are more than worth the effort.

Most fall activities happen outdoors. The idea is to have a cup that keeps your hot beverage warm and has a lid so you do not spill and get burned. My favorite on the go cup is Dixie® To Go -The Official Cup For Crushing It. The more important idea is to have a hot drink that warms you and gets you into a mood to celebrate fall and fall activities.

These five Holiday inspired hot beverages can help you get through the fall because they are warm and can be enlivening or soothing. You can always find coffee or tea in my Dixie® To Go cup because the leak-resistant lid & insulated layer gives me the confidence while traveling.

Turkey Coffee

This one is really easy. Just fill the Dixie To-Go Cup with each person’s favorite coffee. Slap a turkey sticker on the cup or the lid. This idea is great for football game drives as well. All you need is a sticker for your cup that is from your favorite team. This idea beats paying a small fortune for a team cup that you inevitably lose. You tell the folk you love how much you care by doing the decoration yourself.

Chocolate Grog

Nothing warms and soothes like hot chocolate. The possible exception to the soothing may be a dash of flavor. This is easy to do. Make your favorite hot chocolate or buy it. Add a slug of each person’s favorite spice or flavor to the hot chocolate before you put the lid on.

Spiced Wine

This is a traditional holiday favorite. You need to make this before an event and store it in a thermos or hot drink container if you are taking it on the road. The idea is to make enough so that each person gets a dose of the spice. All you do is warm your favorite red wine with cloves, cinnamon, lemon, and sugar. Warm does not mean boiling or you lose the alcohol in the wine. Shake thoroughly before serving into cups that can hold warm drinks and keep them warm.

millennial travel blogger

Wassail

This is a bit complicated to make. The idea came from celebrating the harvest in ancient times. Core apples and put brown sugar in the hole where the core was. Cook at 350 degrees for one hour and add one cup of water for four apples. Toast cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice berries for two minutes. Add orange peels, nutmeg, dry hard cider, ginger ale, Madeira, and unsweetened cider to the mixture. Boil for 2 minutes. Simmer for one hour. Add the apples and cook for 10 minutes. The alcohol is cooked off so this one can be enjoyed anywhere.

French toddy

The is an apple falvoring that comes from France called calvados. You use a half and half mixture of cinnamon and sugar to garnish the rim of the cup. The drink is 95 percent apple cider that is heated. Garnish with a cinnamon stick. This drink is unique and has an autumn taste.

Whats your favorite holiday inspired beverage?

I was selected for this paid opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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college Travel

Campus Shevival Review : For the On-The-go Student/Traveler

written by Sidney Walker

The pains of being on the road and being in college can be very similar. Sometimes you just don’t have the time or patience with huge bulky items or inconvenient products. Luckily Campus Shevival has a solution for us on-the-go females! I partnered with Babble Boxx with the latest Campus Shevival program that offers survival kits. My reviews on the box are below, all reviews and statements are my own opinion.

FUJIFILM INSTAX Mini 70 Review

I received the canary yellow FUJIFILM INSTAX Mini 70 during a partnership with Babble Boxx. The latest and greatest addition to the FUJIFILM INSTAX family is the sexier version of one my favorite FUJIFILM INSTAX cameras, INSTAX Mini 8. Since this isn’t my first FUJIFILM I was really excited about the upgrades the INSTAX Mini 70 offered that I don’t have on the Mini 8. The FUJIFILM’s INSTAX Mini 70 comes in Canary Yellow, Moon White, Island Blue, Passion Red, Midnight Black and Stardust Gold . I would have never purchased the canary yellow but I love the pop of color and Im excited I was forced to try it out.

Pros:

Selfie Mode : Perfect for the selfie obsessed millennial. This mode allows the camera to automatically adjust the focal length and brightness so your selfies look flawless. Now you can share your selfies instantly with your family and friends!
Selfie Mirror: This new addition lets you check your hair and makeup so you don’t have to waste film by retaking selfies 🙂
Self Timer: Self explanatory. This is probably one of my favorite features since I travel alone and would love to capture moments with me in them too!
Tripod Mount: Also self explanatory. This allows you to keep your shot steady while running into the photo 🙂
Landscape Mode: This feature allows you to get the perfect wide landscape shot with the appropriate light and exposure that wasn’t possible before!
Instant satisfaction: The beautiful print outs are a great idea to decorate your dorm, office or locker to keep your loved ones with you.
Smaller size: The FUJIFILM’S INSTAX Mini 70 is a lot easier to slip into a purse or carry around compared to my Mini 8 that is extremely bulky!

Overall the FUJIFILM’S INSTAX Mini 70 is fun and easy to use. FUJIFILM’S made a already great product even better for a selfie obsessed and adventurous generation 🙂

Facebook: www.facebook.com/fujifilm.instax

Twitter: @Instax

Instagram: @fujifilm_instax_northamerica

Just completed my post on the new INSTAX mini 70 courtesy of @campussurvivalkits #instax #instaxmini70 #babbleboxxcollege #fujifilm

A photo posted by Sidney 🍍🌴😊 (@thtwalkergrl) on Aug 26, 2016 at 11:50am PDT

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula FlipBalms {Cocoa Butter Formula + Lip Balms= Flawless moisturized lips :)}

If you are a COCO butter baby like I am then I suggest you stop what your doing and run to the nearest Target, Kmart, or five Below to grab you a Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula FlipBalms! Seriously, its that good. I may be a little biased in the fact that I use palmers daily to keep my skin hydrated ,so naturally I trust them with moisturizing my lips.

The new Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula FlipBalms are free of Parabens, Phthalates and other harmful ingredients that typically make me hesitate when trying new productions on my sensitive skin.

The three fruity flavors – Juicy Watermelon, Creamy Coconut and Ripe Mango – are each packed with pure Cocoa Butter, raw Shea Butter and Vitamin E.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula FlipBalms easy application allows you to moisture no matter what activity your are doing. The new “flip to open” packaging design will change the way you apply lip balm forever. Don’t just take my word for it, try it!

www.palmers.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palmers

Twitter: https://twitter.com/palmersworks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palmers/

Simply Sensitive Summer’s Eve® Cleansing Cloths

Feminine hygiene is essential to maintain the physical and internal health of our bodies and Simply Sensitive has made an on-the-go solution for times when discretion is welcomed. Personal Care has never been easier with the Simply Sensitive cleaning cloths made to help control unwanted odors and bacteria while on the go.

Pros:

Cute and small packaging that fits in your wallet, purse or pockets
Hypoallergenic and alcohol-free
lightly fragranced and quickly wipe away odor-causing bacteria.

Simply Sensitive Wipes are also available in scents Island Splash®, Sheer Floral®

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/summerseve/

GreenPan Mini Ceramic Non-Stick Square Egg Pan

This Non-Stick Square pan is heaven on earth! Anybody that knows me, knows that cooking is not my strong point so the more specific the tools and resources the more comfortable I feel ! This is perfect for a college student struggling to learn to cook or that’s always on-the-go!

Ceramic non-stick formula
Easy to clean
Quick and Even heating! My eggs cooked evenly for the first time!
Stay-cool non-slip handles

https://www.greenpan.us/

Back To School Promotion Discount Offer:

– 8/14 – 9/4

– 20% off

– Free Shipping

– Promo Code: SCHOOL20

www.facebook.com/GreenPan/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoriginalgreenpan/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/greenpan_intl

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/GreenPan/

Zebra Pen Assortment

Im already a huge fan of Zebra Pens rapid dry formula for when Im on the road! The price is great for what you get and the cute colors are definitely a deal breaker. They even have a Breast cancer Awareness pink barrel. Spreading awareness in style is always a plus!

http://www.zebrapen.com

Overall I am very impressed with my package. I have already incorporated using these products on a daily basis and I would definitely recommend them for the on-the-go college student!

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media.

What do you think of this survival box?

Follow Sidney on Instagram!

Sidney 🍍🌴😊 (@thtwalkergrl) * Instagram photos and videos

Home Millennial Tips Travel

Top 10 Cities Where Millennials Are Living Alone

written by Sidney Walker

Zillow ,the home and apartment search engine, asked me to reach out to share this new data on the Top 10 Cities Where Millennials Are Living Alone.

Across the United States, almost 9 percent of millennials live alone. While this number has been declining since 2005, likely due to unaffordable rents and rising home prices, there are, however, places throughout the U.S. where millennials are living independently. In cities like Austin, and Richmond, year-over-year employment growth is up by nearly 4 and 5 percent, presenting a strong labor market, making it a desirable destination for millennials. And, in New Orleans, nearly 16 percent of homes are available for millennials making a median income of $40,000.

With the percentage of 23- to 34-year-olds living with family members increasing 46 percent between 2000 and 2013, you’re probably curious where millennials can afford to live alone.

Below is a list of the top 10 places for millennials to live independently.

Richmond, VA
Pittsburgh
Buffalo, NY
Columbus, Ohio
Virginia Beach, VA
Cleveland
New Orleans
Austin, Texas
Kansas City, MO
Oklahoma City

I recently visited New Orleans and I had an amazing time.Several times while I was traveling I pictured myself living there.What city shocked you the most?

By Miriam Bornstein

Travel

20 Safety Tips for the Financially Savvy Millennial Traveler

written by Sidney Walker

Millennials are changing the way the world travels by opting to choose cheaper destinations and skip the frills for luxury accommodation. Traveling on a budget is essential for some debt ridden millennials that are looking to explore the world while struggling to stay financial savvy. Being economically efficient is great but it is essential that you do not compromise when it comes to safety.

20 Safety Tips for the Financially Savvy Millennial Traveler

1) When taking taxis from an airport to your hotel, travel in the more expensive airport taxis and ensure that the drivers have official identification. Never take a taxi waiting outside the airport grounds.

To bypass this security concern sign up for a Uber account with the code daniellew736 and get $20 of your first ride!

2) When traveling from your hotel to the airport, go with a taxi recommended by the hotel.

Again, use Uber or Lyft if you can.

3) Try not to arrive in a new city or town late at night.

This can just go wrong in a number of ways. It is much easier getting checked in during the day time and security at night in certain areas is just horrendous.

4) Travel in a group if possible.

Since when is traveling in numbers not a good idea?

5) Learn the basics in the local language before you arrive. Don’t expect that people will speak English.

English is becoming more widely spoken these days, but you want to be sure. You should always check on these things before your arrival.

6) Keep your valuables hidden.

A money belt is great if it is an option that you willing to look into. There are many different styles of money belts. One of the most popular is an “over the shoulder” style wallet on a strap that you were underneath your top. This makes it very difficult for a thief to make off with your valuables.

7) Avoid going on your own to remote areas/ruins where tourist would be expected to go.

Seek local advice or take a guide.

8) Read the guide books and talk with other tourists to find out which areas are best avoided.

9) When leaving bars/party’s late at night take a taxi home no matter how close your hostel is.

Outside most bars you’ll find a policeman or bouncers. Usually these people know all the taxi drivers and can recommend a safe one.

10) When arriving in a new town, keep to your original plan and stay in the hostel that you have decided on.

Don’t let the taxi driver persuade you that your hostel is fully booked and that he knows a cheaper and better one. He’ll be working on commission and the hostel probably won’t be in a safe part of town.

11) Even better, when arriving lane/train in a new city, try to reserve your hotel in advance, preferably with a hotel that has an airport/station collection service.

12) Don’t wear expensive looking jewelry.

13) On public transport have your day pack close to you at all times, preferably with the straps around your legs or padlocked to the luggage rack.

On buses your backpack will normally go outside, either on top of the roof or in the external luggage compartments. On long distance buses ask for a receipt for your bags. On short rides just keep a careful eye out each time the bus stops to off-load bags. In the event of having your bags stolen, stay with the bus – you will probably require a declaration from the bus company accepting responsibility for the loss in order to claim any money from your insurance company.

14) Leave your valuables in your hotel safe when making day trips or longer tours.

Obtain a receipt not just for your money belt/wallet etc. but for its contents, with each item listed.

15) If you have to leave your passport and credits cards together, place the credit card in a sealed envelope and sign your name across the flap.

This way when you return you will know that nothing has been tampered with.

16) If planning on going to market areas, crowded streets, fiestas etc. don’t go with all your valuables. Leave them in the hotel.

If you’re planning on buying something expensive keep your money safely in a money belt. Try to be discreet when opening it! To protect small change in your pockets you can stuff a handkerchief in after.

17) If the pavements are really crowded, especially in market areas, walk in the road.

18) If you suspect someone is following you, stop and stare them in the eye until they go.

If you really get a bad feeling about a place, go with your first instincts and leave. Bag slashing is rare nowadays but for added safety you can wear your day pack on your chest.

19) If your book bag in on your back try to walk without stopping.

If you need to stop, sway your pack gently from side to side so that you can feel if anyone is tampering with it.

20) When putting your bag down on the floor, to take a photo or just to sit in a café, remember to put your foot through the strap.

Not only will it be impossible to snatch, you also won’t forget it! This is the most common type of theft – tourists forgetting bags in cafes and on returning to ask if anyone has seen it, you’ve guessed it, it’s gone.