I wanted to go

to the moon on a spaceship

or on a cloud car.

2.

I learned how to be

a woman from Miss Piggy

and her lady ways.

3.

When I was little

I wished to be a mermaid.

Oh wait, I still do.

Dylan and Alaina write a daily haiku blog. You can find a new haiku every day at ooohhhaiku.tumblr.com or every Thursday, here at HelloGiggles.

Featured Images via Alaina Buzas.

The post 3 Haiku: Childhood Dreams appeared first on HelloGiggles.

Too many books and

never enough time to read.

I should quit my job.

2.

Days spent between stacks.

I wanted library love

but you never came.

3.

 My favorite book

YA read, a story of

tea and trivia.

Dylan and Alaina write a daily haiku blog. You can find a new haiku every day at ooohhhaiku.tumblr.com or every Thursday, here at HelloGiggles.

Featured Images via Alaina Buzas.

The post 3 Haiku: Library Love appeared first on HelloGiggles.

I want to slow dance

with you underneath some lights

outside or something.

2.

Just beer and flannel.

All I need a man to have.

Sense of humor, too.

3.

Twenty-five, single.

Loud laugh and fine enough looks.

Beware: Sarcastic. Dylan and Alaina write a daily haiku blog. You can find a new haiku every day at ooohhhaiku.tumblr.com or every Thursday, here at HelloGiggles.

Featured Images via Alaina Buzas.

The post 3 Haiku: Let’s Date appeared first on HelloGiggles.

I got a fur coat

From a thrift shop last year.

Who is Macklemore?

2.

Just call me Rick Ross.

Every day I’m haikuing.

Ladies is pimps, too.

3.

Festival magic

like R. Kelly upstaging

Phoenix. Remix win.

Dylan and Alaina write a daily haiku blog. You can find a new haiku every day at ooohhhaiku.tumblr.com or every Thursday, here at HelloGiggles.

Featured Images via Alaina Buzas.

The post 3 Hop Hop Haiku appeared first on HelloGiggles.

Kate McCulley is one of these inspirational women. At 26, Kate decided to leave her job and pursue her passions – traveling and writing. She saved money and spent six months traveling Southeast Asia. While traveling, she started Adventurous Kate, a solo female travel blog, and has been documenting her travels and life ever since.

I have known Kate for a few years, meeting her through her sister, a good friend of mine from college. I have been a fan and avid reader of Adventurous Kate since first glance and got to catch up with Kate in the beginning of February.

Dylan: So, to start off, where are you writing to us from right now?

Kate: I’m in New York City! I’ve had a very busy fall, with trips to South Africa, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Scotland and France. It’s nice to spend time at home with my family and catch my breath for a few weeks.

D: And where are you heading next?

K: At the end of the month, I’m heading back to London, where I’m now based and where I spend roughly half my time. This spring, I’ll be spending time in Berlin and the Netherlands for the first time, and will possibly be returning to Spain and Ireland as well.

D: Before starting Adventurous Kate, had you traveled a lot?

K: By American standards, quite a bit. I started the blog writing about my past experiences: a semester abroad in Florence, a few more trips to Europe, a solo trip to Buenos Aires, and several trips in the US, Canada, and Mexico. By European or Australian or South African standards, however, that would be around average or perhaps even a bit low. The traveling culture is so different outside North America. Taking a gap year to travel the world — whether before or after college, or even mid-career — is regarded as a standard rite of passage in many other countries.

D: I know you’ve talked a lot about leaving your job and starting this blog at 26 – in my eyes, living the dream. Can you talk more about this decision? Was there a specific moment when you knew you had to leave your job and travel the world?

K: I was 22-year-old recent college graduate when I first heard about a man who traveled around the world for a year in his mid-20s. I was smitten with the idea of a trip like this for myself and immediately began planning and saving. But as time went on, I started spending my savings elsewhere, especially on trips to Vegas with my friends. My dream seemed far away. Then in January 2010, at the age of 25, things unexpectedly fell into place. Within a span of two weeks, I lost my job, I lost a freelance job, my relationship ended, and a certain Massachusetts election did not turn out in my favor. I took it as a sign: it was time to leave Boston. The problem? There was no way I could afford my dream yearlong trip around the world! So I changed my priorities: I decided to travel the wonderful, fascinating, and dirt-cheap region of Southeast Asia for seven months instead. I saved $13,000 in seven months and left that October. During that time, my blog took off, and from the advertising and sponsorship, plus supplementing that with freelance writing and consulting, I began making enough money to live off it full-time. I haven’t gone back to a “real job” since!

D: Have you ever regretted that decision?

K: Not for a moment.

D: You’ve traveled all over the world? What has been your favorite trip and why?

K: Last year, I went to the Shetland Islands, northeast of Scotland, for Up Helly Aa, a Viking celebration of fire. It was incredible — Vikings in traditional dress built a beautiful boat and paraded it around with flaming torches before setting it ablaze. After that, we danced all night to traditional Celtic music and watched costumed Shetlanders perform wacky, hilarious dance routines to songs like Party Rock Anthem and Moves Like Jagger. Before and after the festival, we explored Shetland — a barren, stark, and breathtakingly beautiful place that doesn’t get a lot of visitors.

D: I want to talk to you about an article that I recently read by Sarah Hepola. It talks about the importance of every woman traveling alone at one point. Do you agree, Should every woman should try traveling solo? 

K: I love traveling solo, and I think it can be confidence-boosting, therapeutic, and even life-changing for so many women. But the truth is, solo traveling isn’t for everyone. There are plenty of women out there who would hate it, and plenty more who would rather hide in their hotel room the entire time than venture out on their own. I try to encourage women, if not necessarily to travel solo, to venture out of their comfort zone. If you’ve always traveled to beach resorts in Florida or Mexico, why not go to Costa Rica for a bit of rainforest adventure mixed in with your beach time?

The post An Unconventional Life: An Interview With Adventurous Kate appeared first on HelloGiggles.

A few months ago, The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook finally came out! It is page after page of drool-worthy photography and recipes. Buy it for yourself or buy it for a friend (in hopes that they will cook from it and invite you over to eat). I finally got mine in the mail last week and have been hidden in it since.

But really, isn’t this the most beautiful fruit dessert you have ever seen?

Check out Smitten Kitchen here and order your own copy of the Smitten Kitchen Cookbook here.

The post Item Of The Day: The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook appeared first on HelloGiggles.

I guess that is an obvious statement. I mean, does anyone not live for the weekend? I could not leave my house for 48 hours and still be happy on Saturday and Sunday. I could go out every minute of every day and be happy! Whatever the weekend activity, I am mostly just thankful it’s the weekend.

To celebrate, here are seven haiku about my favorite time of the week:

I

Look! Here comes Friday.

I’ll count down ’til 5 p.m.

to watch Parks & Rec.

II

Up early today?

Farmers market FTW.

Check out this goat cheese.

III

We’ll go out on Sat.

I’ll be useless on Sunday.

Maybe Monday, too.

IV

TGIF Friends!

Oh wait, it isn’t pay day.

Guess it’s still Ramen.

V

Rihanna, Ke$ha,

my girls Gwen, Pink and Fergie.

Ladies do pregame.

VI

How is it midnight?

Oh gosh, it’s officially

Sunday. Now I cry.

 VII

Sunday already?

But I had so many dreams

for this weekend. HMPF!

The post Haiku: The Weekend appeared first on HelloGiggles.

My dad bought me a pair of Lobers Headphone Earmuffs. These babies are part adorable winter accessory, part practical music listening device and all wonderful. I’ve been wearing the red and black pair every day on my walk to the subway and the sound is incredible. Plus, they keep my head warm! What more could a girl who chooses to live in freezing weather ask for?

Grab your own pair of Lobers Headphone Earmuffs here.

The post Item Of The Day: Lobers Headphone Earmuff appeared first on HelloGiggles.