Happy Anniversary Los Angeles: A LAnniversary to Remember

Today is my one-year anniversary of living in the greater Los Angeles area, or as I like to call it, my LAnniversary. Exactly one year ago, I boarded the plane in Detroit, Michigan. Hugging my family goodbye and wiping away the tears, yet brimming with excitement as I embarked on yet another adventure, I started the next chapter of my life. Los Angeles, you’ve gone above and beyond this past year. Thank you for the wonderful memories, and I look forward to making many more. Cheers!

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Standup Paddleboard Yoga: Pushing the mind and body to new limits

Prior to moving to California, I had tried standup paddle boarding (SUP) and I had practiced yoga, but never at the same time. While living in Amsterdam, standup paddle boarding was something I always wanted to try, but I never had the opportunity or made the activity a priority. Naturally, I have always liked to stay active by doing Pilates, going hiking, or doing high intensity interval training, but yoga was something I had done only a handful of times, on and off over the years. So how did I get into SUP Yoga? Read more to find out!

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Travel Highlights: Trips I made within Europe while living overseas

After living for six years in the Netherlands, I am blessed with many incredible memories and friendships. Moreover, travel has always been a large part of my life. Before I moved in February 2011, I visited Europe three times. England was my first European experience and that was the trip that actually sparked my desire to move abroad. When I moved to Amsterdam, though, naturally I wanted to keep exploring. I felt geographically closer, and my thirst to experience the world – my wanderlust – continued to blossom and grow. Plus the Dutch capita provides the perfect gateway to explore the rest of Europe. Read about the adventures I embarked on while living overseas.

6 Ways To Move Abroad: Tips to live overseas

Over the years, many people have approached me saying, “I wish I could live overseas!” or “how amazing would it be to move abroad and live in Amsterdam” or “I am so jealous of your life living in a foreign city!”? It is possible. I didn’t say it would be easy, but it is possible.

When I first moved to the Netherlands, my company hired me as an intern and then later extended my contract as a highly skilled migrant work. Once I decided to work for myself, my then partner and I had a samenleving (living together) permit. Because I have my own business registered in the Netherlands, I could have stayed on the Dutch American Friendship Treaty. To help provide some ideas on how to move overseas, I’ve outlined a few options in the following blog post. Read on!

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Time for a New Adventure: From Amsterdam to Los Angeles

Due to changes in my personal and professional life, my social media activity has been on the back burner, but now, as I’m settling into my new home, I want to provide some insight. Wait, new home, you ask? Yes, you heard right. Ready for it? I moved to Los Angeles! Read on to find out what sparked this move and what I’ve been up to for the last six months. Cheers to the next chapter!

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How to Use Maps to Remember Your Travels

You will always carry your precious travel memories with you, in your mind, in the form of pictures, and if you are feeling creative, in other outlets. Used creatively, maps can preserve trip memories and make for great artwork. This article outlines a few ideas to incorporate maps into your household decorations. Showcase all the places you’ve visited in this world. Have you featured any of these in your own home?

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Falling in Love with Fallingwater, a Frank Lloyd Wright Masterpiece

Hello again! As you may have seen from my social media or in my blogs about Chicago and Michigan, I’m in the States for multiple reasons, one of which is a Midwest book tour. However, in the middle of the book tour, personal reasons led me to Pennsylvania to visit family. On the way back from visiting my aunt and uncle, we stopped to see Fallingwater in southwest Pennsylvania. This piece of property – the house included – was love at first sight. Read on to learn about the history of this masterpiece.

Jessica Lipowski Wins A One Lovely Blog Award

Thank you to Hannah Henderson for the One Lovely Blog Award. Read on to find out what this award means, as well as learn seven interesting facts about me, Jessica Lipowski.

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The Amsterdam Bucket List a.k.a. Wander List Challenge

Last week I was sitting along the Amstel river, and I saw a group of girls jump in the water. I thought to myself – a fleeting moment I experienced many times before – I’d never done that. That sparked an idea. Amsterdam is an amazing city, home to some internationally-renowned attractions and unique experiences. Even though I’ve been living here for five years, I’m going to create a bucket list (although I prefer the term wander list) of all the musts in Amsterdam. This is a great list to use (I warn you – it is long), whether you are living in the city or are just visiting for a few days. This city swept me off my feet, and I know you’ll love it, too. What’s on your Amsterdam list?

What’s So Special About February 14, 2016?

Today, on Sunday, February 14, 2016, Jessica Lipowski raises a glass to honor three special milestones: Valentine’s Day and love, her five-year anniversary of living in the Netherlands, and sending out Beta copies of her book “Flavors of Life” to Beta readers. Read about her experiences, and toast with her to the past, present, and future.