It’s been a while since I wrote a personal blog post, so I thought I couldn’t wait to catch up!
You may have noticed that last week was a worryingly quiet week for The Travel Hack. Only 1 post in 7 days. What on earth is happening!?
What is this…
Home, Sweet Home…
The main reason things have been so quiet is because I’ve been busy moving. I’m writing this article with both excitement and frustration. Sam and I bought a house. That’s it! However, I made an offer 5 months ago and still don’t have the keys. Boo.
The house is a cute old chapel next to the river. The house had been vacant for over three years and was left in ruins. We couldn’t afford a house in this area, so this is good for us, but it means we have to tear down the entire house and renovate it from scratch. Once again, cue aroused frustration.
After years of seeing Kirsty and Phil, the ‘location, location, location’ home buying gurus, I was very excited to step onto the property ladder. I couldn’t wait to finally have a house to call my own and decorate it the way I wanted. My Home + Travel Pinterest board has grown to nearly 200 travel-inspired photos of his, so I’m looking forward to using all of these ideas!
I had no idea that buying a home could actually be time-consuming, tedious, and incredibly frustrating.
For the time being we are living with my parents in North Wales. We are rotten and spoiled with a never ending stream of homemade cakes and 3 course dinners so we can’t really complain. Thankfully, you can blame your bump for your tummy!
Freelance Fabulousness…
If you subscribe to my weekly newsletter, you’ll know that November was the best month ever for blogging and freelance work!
When I first quit my job and went freelance, I was told that everything would be easier after a year. This really turned out to be true. Suddenly you’re flooded with requests from old and new clients, and you feel like you’re finally in a strong position to negotiate. It’s a great position to be in right now and I’m looking forward to another great month with everything on point.
This extra work has limited my travel and I spend most of my day typing on my laptop.
Of course, this can be good or bad, but I think it’s time to relax and enjoy the weekend.
Future Travels…
Next weekend I’m going to Gothenburg to see the Christmas market. I’m really looking forward to getting into the Christmas spirit by heading to Liseberg Amusement Park, home of Sweden’s largest Christmas market.
Other than that, I have no other travel plans. Jeez!
I was reluctant to book a trip because I didn’t know how I would feel at this stage of my pregnancy. I imagined I would have a big bump and feel tired and clingy, but I still feel exactly like my old self, just with a little less energy.
Baby update…
I wasn’t updating much because I was afraid of jinxing myself. This is ridiculous, I’m not even superstitious (well, I tell myself I’m not superstitious).
Next week I will be entering my third trimester and I couldn’t have asked for a better pregnancy. We’re both happy, healthy, and staying as active as possible, but we also spend a lot of time on R&R.
The baby started kicking all the time, wriggling around, and reacting to noises, which really freaked me out. Apparently a fan of the White Stripes, he goes crazy when his dog barks.
The Travel Hack at Home…
Thanks to our new home and baby, I’ve been toying with the idea of introducing a new section on my blog called “The Travel Hack at Home.” I would like to write about my days outside of traveling on my blog.
It’s about cooking travel-themed dishes, decorating my new home with travel-inspired ideas, travel-themed books I’m reading, trips closer to home, and more from The Baby Hack. Everything from the latest information.
Please let the opinion of everyone!
The end of an autumn walk in Wales.
Photo posted by Monica Stott (@thetravelhack) on Nov 11, 2014 at 10:38am PST
Guest posting on The Travel Hack
Starting next year, I will be accepting guest posts on The Travel Hack. I won’t be traveling as much after my baby is born, but I want to keep my blog full of exciting travel adventures and tips. If you are interested in guest posting on The Travel Hack, please send an email to [email protected]. I will send you the details.
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