• I started and finished an online class on Child Development through our local community college.
• The husband and I traveled to Hamburg, Germany for my cousin’s wedding ceremony for a week and spent a lot of time with families from all over the world.

• Earlier this month, I finished doing a maternity shoot with my trusted photographer friend Natalie (NatalieAlvarado.com) it was a ton of fun! Stay tuned for the photos later <3 but here are some low-resolution sneak peaks!

• Last weekend, we just wrapped up our baby shower with our dear friends (35 adults and 12 kids and 3 infants lol) and had a blast. I’m very proud of coming up with the idea of hiring a florist (Flowers A La Carte in this case) to have a flower arrangement workshop as my party favor!

Now, I am back today with a new post! In view of our recent trip to Hamburg, Germany, I learned of many hacks (some through painful lessons) that make a pregnant woman’s travel much more comfortable & easier.  That’s what I’d like to talk about today:

6 Pregnancy Travel Must-Have’s for Flying

1. Compression Socks ($15.98 via Amazon)

This is a common and self-explanatory tip. Get them anywhere you can, just not last minute at the airport because they’re always a rip-off at the airport. The reason behind wearing compression socks is to keep your pregnant lower limbs from accumulating so much fluid and from swelling. When you have a lot of swelling combined with long periods of inactivity, that’s when you risk for developing a DVT  (deep vein thrombosis) goes up.

2. Resistance Bands ($25.97 via Amazon)

If you read up online, you will find that it’s commonly recommended that you get up and walk around when you board a flight. Really, you should do that from prolonged periods of sitting, regardless of whether you’re on a flight. But space is limited when you are in flight, and that’s why the resistance bands come in super handy! To get some exercise (especially leg and quad exercise), you simply have to pop one of these on. In the discreet comfort of your own seat, you can get some leg exercise in without troubling your fellow passengers!

3. Babymoov Pregnancy Belt ($30.75  via Amazon)

This is maybe the SINGLE MOST LIFE-CHANGING pregnancy product I’ve purchased so far. It’s my most recommended pregnancy travel must-have. After about 28/29 weeks, I haven’t been able to live without it (outside of flying too). But when we went to Hamburg, I found this belt to make all the difference when I was trying to get comfortable in flight. What it does it make you ROUND around the middle of your torso so that it’s easier for you to lean against any surface. We had the luxury and privilege to board the flight in business class this time (thank you, United points!) and to my surprise, I still needed the Babymoov belt and was not comfortable without it. Now in my 33 weeks, I cannot sleep without this belt around my waist, and I have been able to do without a pregnancy pillow which is much bulkier and harder to store post-pregnancy!

4. Evian Mineral Water Spray ($12.75 for two via Amazon)  (1.7 oz, TSA compliant)

This water spray serves two functions, one more obvious than the other. It helps with moisturizing your skin during the ever-so-drying cabin air (and always works better in conjunction with lotion). But the pregnant body (at least mine) goes through these fluctuating temperatures… on our flight to Hamburg, I woke up multiple times feeling super hot, which never happened before I was pregnant. So the spray actually helped to cool my skin temperature down, and in turn, had an overall cooling effect.

5. Wired Headband (4 pack for $9.99 via Amazon) 

There’s no other time than during pregnancy that you need simple, easy-to-use, and quick methods to look put together. These wired headbands happen to be one of these shortcuts! I can totally see myself carrying this into my post-partum days. Basically, this is a way to keep your hair (esp. the pregnancy hormone induced little whispy hairs!) out of your face. It’s a little bit of a something that adds a bit glam to your ensemble. For me, I couldn’t wear my usual clothes anymore, so I needed new ways to add more glam to my looks.

6. Slippers/Sandals ($40 via ASOS)

Again, one of those no-brainers because you will probably not fit into anything else at this point. You lower limbs will also swell to some extent while you are in the air, due to the reduced gravity and cabin pressure change. Get comfortable shoes that you can slip in and out of easily. You will appreciate it so much… One additional thing is that if you expect a lot of walking on your trip like my Hamburg trip turned out to be (which I was not anticipating), get shoes with cushions. I didn’t, and I was OK the first day (we walked at least 10K steps around the city center in Hamburg). But on the second day, my lower back started to hurt and it was not fun…

7. Means of hydrating + access to snacks

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes around my 26th week of pregnancy. So on top of all the forbidden food and drinks for pregnant ladies, I’ve had to REALLY watch the type of food I consume. But even if you are lucky to have avoided GD, keeping yourself hydrated and fed is super critical during pregnancy. When traveling via flights during your pregnancy, I would definitely encourage you to pack granola bars, protein bars, dried fruits, anything that are small and compact and can provide some quick calories. And of course, bring a water bottle. Many airports are equipped with water fountain these days, so you don’t have to worry about buying water or finishing it quickly before passing through security.

Make sure you do before departing for your trip:

• Check your airline’s policy and limitation on when you may not be able to travel with them anymore
• Obtain a doctor’s note, depending on the stage of your pregnancy
• Check to make sure there are no on-going epidemic like Zika
• Get an aisle seat, if possible.

The post Pregnancy Travel Must-Haves for Flying appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Why We Chose The Cayman Islands for our Babymoon

My idea of a perfectly relaxing vacation, which is everything a babymoon should be, involves 1) nothing on the agenda 2) clear & blue water & white sands 3) short enough flights (pregnancy-related swelling is not fun). Pretty simple, right?? I thought it was. But ZIKA has to be wreaking havoc almost everywhere in and around the Americas that offer the kind of beach destinations we are interested in. So, I found this website that lists out 10 Zika-free beach destinations to visit in 2018 and went from there. We narrowed things down to Bermuda and the Cayman Islands and ultimately picked the Cayman Islands because it’s a shorter flight from San Diego. Here’s why we picked the Cayman Islands for the babymoon, in summary:

1. Short enough flights from San Diego, CA. We flew to Houston for 2.5 hours, and then from there flew to Grand Cayman for another 2.5 hours.
2. The Cayman Islands has been declared Zika-free & safe to travel to by the CDC in 2017.
3. In the summer, the beach water in the Cayman Islands is consistently in the 80’s.
4. The Grand Cayman is a relatively small place. From the airport to the Kimpton Seafire resort was a 15 minutes Taxi ride (that cost $32 USD), and most of the restaurants/other major hotels are located off of the Seven Mile Beach which in reality is about 6.5 miles. It doesn’t take much time to see things in and around the resort.

Why We Chose the Kimpton Seafire Resort 

I’ll be quite honest, it was through the blogs where I came across the  Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa. Especially the VeganMos and Bonv0yage Bitches. We were looking for a hotel that 1) has the right aesthetics 2) is relatively new or recently renovated 3) has their own private beach. Ritz Carlton, which many travelers tend to compare the Seafire Resort to, was simply too expensive. So we picked the Kimpton Seafire knowing that 1) it was built and opened in 2016, 2) it’s located at the northernmost end of the Seven Mile Beach and away from the hustle-bustle of the cruise tourists, and 3) it’s super photogenic. Just look at their Instagram account.

How Kimpton Seafire Resort Truly Wowed Us 

With nothing on our agenda for this babymoon except relaxing and enjoying ourselves, Kimpton Seafire turned out to fit the bill more than 100%. We were given a room on the 10th floor, and apparently, the Seafire Resort building is the tallest building in all of Grand Cayman, so we had the view of the entire stretch of the Seven Mile Beach.  The resort staff and the service they provided was impeccable. For example, when we arrived in the Taxi, bellman Paul greeted us with our first names as we stepped out. We were truly impressed that they customized their service to this level. Another example was regarding asking for extra water for our room. I phoned them ahead of time to let them know I am 22 weeks pregnant and with the heat in the Caribbeans, need to hydrate very often. When we checked in to our room, there were  8 bottles of water already in the room. Two days into our stay, we called and asked for more water, and this time what showed up was a whole case of it – 24 bottles, LOL. Needless to say, we didn’t need to ask for more water for the remainder of the trip.

Activities During Our Kimpton Seafire Resort Stay

With nothing on our agenda, here’s how we enjoyed the 4 days and 3 nights stay at Kimpton Seafire Resort, on our babymoon in the Cayman Islands: we took advantage of every corner of this beautiful resort!

• 1st (half) day // Took a breather and checked out the facilities and the beach. We arrived at around 4:30 PM that day, and Seafire Resort’s main restaurant, Ave, doesn’t open until 6 PM. So, we kept busy by touring the resort and the beach, and came back to Ave and enjoyed a meal of Mediterranean style seafood goodness.

• 2nd day // This day was dedicated to beach activities. We slept in, got to breakfast (in Ave as well but this time it was their breakfast buffet) at around 10:30 AM, and got all the food we wanted by 11 because that was when they stopped serving food. We made the mistake of starting the day a bit late because by the time we got to the beach it was somewhat crowded (still much better than other hotel’s beach) and super hot already. Nevertheless, we frolicked by the beach, swam, snorkeled, and chilled by the beachside on lounge chairs and hammocks.

Outfit: Forever 21 Duster Kimono in Medium

Outfit: Forever 21 Duster Kimono in Medium; Target “A New Day” Sandals in size 9; also available in royal blue

Outfit: ASOS maternity swimsuit size 8

Outfit: Forever 21 Duster Kimono in Medium

• 3rd day: Spa & lounge day // I had the opportunity to enjoy a prenatal massage at the Seafire Resort on the morning of the third day. So we woke up around 9 AM, got ready for the spa (meaning I didn’t have to do anything to get ready) and showed up at the spa at 9:45 AM. I am a regular resort spa partaker but I haven’t done prenatal massages before. So to my surprise, the message bed they had for me had a little cushion on it, molded in the shape of a belly and 2 breasts. I could lay on the massage bed face down and not have to worry about squeezing the little one! How considerate is that!

For lunch, we ate at Coccoloba, their beachside restaurant. It was great food and the variety that we get a lot in San Diego. It was refreshingly delicious!

Disclaimer: A sincere Thank You to Seafire Resort for gifting me the prenatal massage session. It was truly wonderful and one of the best massages I’ve had.

The post Babymoon in the Cayman Islands // Kimpton Seafire Resort Review appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Outfit Details: c/o Mint Julep Doing Something Right Vest (size medium) & c/o Mint Julep You Call The Shots Pants (size medium)

Where do I begin? After 8 years of working as a Corporate America employee, I recently transitioned out of the only world I knew. I am working for myself, officially! It’s been almost two months and I sometimes still have to pinch myself that I am actually living that full-time blogger life! So far, the full time blogging life has been liberating, rewarding, and refreshing but it’s not without challenges. This life is everything that I’ve imagined, yet still, nothing like I thought it was going to be.

In today’s post, I will share some of the behind the scenes stuff of what’s been happening in Cubicle Chic HQ. And of course, the less-than-glamorous details of the life of a newbie full-time blogger.

So, what is it REALLY like?

Honestly, it was initially a bit overwhelming to realize how much freedom I have. What’s the most difficult to deal with is the fact that meetings no longer run my day. I realized the rigidity and the formality of the corporate world that I thought was restrictive, actually provided structure and routine for my work days. The lack of it in my life now threw me off initially– I thought I could just go about my breakfast and morning coffee routine, then go straight into writing mode every single day. WRONG. I wandered around the house, contemplated if I should vacuum the carpet, read the 17 books laying around waiting for me to finish, or play with the cats for just 15 minutes. I’d inevitably end up doing whatever was on the path of the least resistance. Lo and behold, it was to play with the cats for 30 minutes (it was never JUST 15 minutes…) Every thought about getting more coffee, juicing for myself, grabbing a clementine for a snack, turned into a detour of something else, and I’d lose track of time. By the time I remembered the task I was supposed to be on, 2 hours had gone by.

To be 100% honest, I am still trying to find a routine that works for me. As of right now, I am still kind of winging it every day. On top of the new schedule and related discipline that I need to develop, I have also been dealing with a bit of a health issue. More on that later, but it definitely has not been easy. If you know of any productivity advice for freelancers, please let me know!!

Outfit Details: c/o Mint Julep Doing Something Right Vest (size medium) & c/o Mint Julep You Call The Shots Pants (size medium)

If you could wave a magic wand and change something about the blogging life now, what would it be?

A fixed schedule.
The Will Power to do it all.
Some more funds to make spending on my business feel less of a pain.
People that understand what I’m going through. Someone who’s been through this that can share with me what it is that lies in my path ahead.

Are you thinking about hiring a business coach?

Someone recently asked me during a conversation about my blog and business “if I had mentor or a business coach” and I was a bit dumbfounded. Obviously, my answer was no but as I was answering “No.” I realized how silly that is. Why have I not thought about getting a business coach or mentor? On this path of so many unknowns, why did I think I could, or that I should go at it alone? The woman that I chatted with promised to send me a few contacts so I could seek out some expertise. I also started to chat with others in hope of finding someone I can look to as a mentor… but neither front has proved fruitful so far. But I have not given up! If you know a good business coach or blogging coach you’d like to recommend!

That’s a lot of things that haven’t gone your way. What are some silver linings?

I am practicing re-framing more, and this is one example. When things don’t go my way, I re-frame my thinking my counting my blessings. And good gracious, I am SO. BLESSED.

First of all, amongst all of the slacking and procrastination, I did manage to read a lot of books. Books on positive psychology, books about Native Americans, books written by Virginia Woolf and Oscar Wilde (I’m on this 19th century classic English literature hunt) and read more Real Simple and The Atlantic magazines than what are sitting in my living room available. Intellectually, my tank is feeling very full.

We were also able to go on our honeymoon in February to Hokkaido and Maui which was an absolute BLAST. It was a much-delayed honeymoon since our wedding in March 2017, so we made sure we were unplugged, fully present in the moment when we were away. We enjoyed every bit of the trip with memories that would last a lifetime!

Outfit Details: c/o  Mint Julep Doing Something Right Vest (size medium) & c/o Mint Julep You Call The Shots Pants (size medium)

We Took A Getaway Trip to Paso Robles In Mid-March

This was the first weekend-getaway that we took with me being a freelancer. And because my weekends are no longer breaks when I stop working it was important that we stay at a business-friendly hotel. The Springhill Suites hotel in Paso Robles was everything a work-from-home freelancer could hope for – fair pricing, business-friendly hotel facilities, friendly and super responsive staff. The rooms we stayed in was very spacious and demarcated into a living space and a working space. I love that about hotels – even when you’re traveling you have a sense of work/life balance!

It was a simple but refreshing trip. At the Springhill Suites in Atascadero, I felt like I was treated like a queen! The complimentary breakfast next was basic but nutritious and fulfilling and that was all we needed for the weekend. Thank you so much for the treat, Springhill Suites!!

Conclusion

Finishing this blog post actually made me feel like I am catching up with my inner SUPER SUCCESSFUL blogger. I vow to bring you more valuable posts more frequently in the upcoming months. Don’t be a stranger.. drop by and say hi when you visit Cubicle Chic! <3

Disclaimer: I was provided a 2-day free-of-cost stay at this Springhill Suites facility in exchange of my honest review. Because of the rain that weekend, we ended up staying for one day which was a shame. I wish I’d spent more time at this beautiful facility!

The post The Freelancing Life as a Full Time Blogger & My First Weekend Getaway appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

First, a Quick Life Update

For those of you who follow me on Instagram, perhaps you have caught me mention here and there about my walking away from my full-time job in this February. And yes, I did! In the best way possible, I kissed goodbye my 8-year tenure in corporate America. I still am working for my last employer on a project/contract basis, so I am definitely still on good terms with them. More on this subject later this month (or April). I am sure you are very curious! As of now, I am just getting used to calling myself a full-time blogger.

Packing for a Trip in Sub-Zero Temperature

But in today’s post, I’d like to talk to you about how to pack and dress for a trip in sub-zero temperature! It’s a bit belated, yes. After all, spring is like, literally just the corner. OK, I stand corrected. Today is the first day of Spring upon a few seconds of Googling. If you live in the southern hemisphere and are contemplating still visiting the snowboarding/skiing mecca in Asia – Hokkaido, you still might find this article helpful!

To make the process informative and easy to understand, I’ve created my first ever Youtube video. GASP. Yes… I’ve talked about forraying into video making the whole Youtube thing for years and I’ve FINALLY taken the plunge and made a little bit of something! If you want to know what the must-have gears and clothing you have to bring with you when you go on a trip to sub-zero and snowing temperature, click on the 2-minute video below!

A quick summary if you don’t want to watch the 2-minute video:

• A trusted hat to protect your head from snow
• A scarf to cover up the space between your chin and the opening of the jacket
• A pair of snow boots with strong traction and grip so you don’t trip and fall on the snowed-in ground,
• A down feather, insulating jacket to keep your body warm, and lastly
• A pair of gloves to keep your hands warm!

Our Honeymoon & Second Visit to Hokkaido, Japan

If you’ve been a reader long enough (like 2-year long), you may recall that Hokkaido was where my then-boyfriend proposed to me in 2016! Yes, we loved Hokkaido and the snowboarding experience there we had to return to it 2 years later as part of our honeymoon trip. I have to say, Hokkaido was every bit as amazing as we remembered it to be – the food, the snow, the snowboarding, the resort… ah, I can go on and on and on. Here, without further ado, are the highlights from our honeymoon trip to Hokkaido Japan!

Replicating our proposal scene:

One of the things that I deeply regret (well I can’t really regret it because it wasn’t my choice, to begin with) was the fact that 2 years ago, his proposal was not captured on camera! So this time we had the opportunity to return to this amazing park in the city of Sapporo, Maruyama Park, I just had to attempt to re-enact the day of the proposal. LOL!

Our two favorite foods in Hokkaido: Niseko cheese tarts and Takahashi yogurt

Taking advantage of the beautiful natural light everywhere…because of snow!

The best, I MEAN THE BEST KAITEN SUSHI EVER

Hokkaido was actually the second half of our honeymoon, following a few days of stay in Maui. And you guessed it… that will be in the next blog post! Until then… have a great Tuesday, guys!!

The post How To Pack For A Trip In Sub-Zero Temperature || Our Honeymoon in Hokkaido, Japan appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Whether you’re flying for work reasons or going home to see family during holiday season, airplane travel is sometimes unavoidable in this day and age. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I travel a decent amount for work as well as leisure. Earlier this year, we’ve discussed how to dress for airplane travels and how to keep your sanity during business trip, Now, I want to share with you my secret weapon, ace up my sleeve, and the one and only method that’s TRIED AND TRUE… my “anti-sickness essentials” kit! 

The truth is that the airplanes that we travel in are filthy, filthy, FILTHY environments. Yes, they filter the air and yes other modes of public transportation are equally filthy. But there’s something about being in close proximity to the screen in front of you (which has been touched, sneezed on, and been in contact with GOD-knows-what), and being in that confined space for more than 5 hours that amplifies the effects of the germs. How many of you always get sick from traveling, especially via air? I know I used to. And with the advice of my genius fiancé, I now carry with me these 5 travel anti-sickness essentials. They have again and again prevented me from catching a cold/flu ever since I started using them religiously.

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post. I happen to use a lot of Target products I think they’re easily found everywhere! Also, I am not a medical professional, nor do I have clinical evidence that these products are the causative agents that keep you from getting sick. These statements are only based on my experience and what has worked for me. 

Let’s look into what they are and what they’re for: 

1)      Hand sanitizer – to keep YOU clean

If you’re the type that is always unconsciously touching your face, rubbing your eyes, picking on that unripe pimple (ew…), you need this hand sanitizer by your side at all times.

I personally sanitize my hands (only when I travel, I have to admit) at least once every 2-3 hours when I’m traveling. That means I’m sanitizing my hands when I come out of the bathroom, when I pass through security when I’ve taken my passport back from the customs people, when I’m settled into my seat on a plane. Basically, whenever my hands have come in contact with other things, I sanitize them right afterwards.

2)      Sanitizing wipes – to keep your environment clean

This is my special weapon against the germs that you’re practically BURIED in when you’re in a plane. Yes, that includes first class. People go to sleep in those luxurious pods, too, don’t be fooled into thinking they’re cleaner! But for most of us, sitting close to the screen in front of you, arms of the chair, the window next to you, you’re being exposed to alllll sorts of germs left behind by the passenger ahead of you. To combat that, the first thing I do after I settle down and buckle up, is that I take out the sanitizing wipe, and just wipe the entire around that my hands could possibly touch. INCLUDING the air vents over your head! This is a good habit to get in wherever you are, truthfully, if you want to develop an anti-sickness lifestyle.

3)      Surgical masks – to prevent breathing in germs

This accessory is not for the faint of heart. And yes, I am recommending it to you poor unfortunate souls who EW ALWAYS getting sick. I am going to be honest in that I very rarely indulge in this practice myself. I tend to do this more on international flights where I am sleep deprived AND buried in germs. Because let’s face it, who’s not going to stare at a person that looks like this?

But trust me when I say that in those dire situations where I was forced to wear the surgical masks, it helped me avoid getting sick and combining this with all the other tricks I’ve shared with you, at the very least, gives you complete peace of mind. So it’s ugly, yes, but it’s also a really effective cold prevention accessory!

4) Immune System Boost – keeping you HEALTHY

I mean, if this supplement basically tastes like carbonated orange juice, why not? That’s how I feel about taking supplements like Airborne or EmergenC. Yes, in most scenarios you are just making your pee more nutritional than normal (most of the extra supplement you take is excreted in urine because your body doesn’t need it) but if it tastes so good and give your immune system a well-deserved boost for cold prevention, just do it!

5) Zinc supplement – nipping a cold in the bud

Despite some controversies about using zinc a remedy, it’s worked for me whenever I’ve felt the early onset of cold symptoms. I take it for about a day or two, and to me it feels like I nipped the cold in the bud. WebMD generally recommends it for shortening the common cold as well.

P.S. Please beware that there are other controversies and side effect of zinc supplement when taken in excess. Educate yourself on these side effects before taking them, and remember: moderation is key!

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post. I happen to use a lot of Target products I think they’re easily found everywhere! Also, I am not a medical professional, nor do I have clinical evidence that these products are the causative agents that keep you from getting sick. These statements are only based on my experience and what has worked for me.

The post Business Travel Must Have: Anti-Sickness Essentials Kit for Air Travels appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Who I’m thankful For This Season

Sorry I’ve been MIA on the blog for a couple of weeks now… life was kicking my butt with work-work, family business work (which took me to Amsterdam… did you see that on Instagram?), wedding planning, and prepping for all the holiday content that’s coming up. But tis the season of our collective favorite time of the year, aren’t you excited??

I do want to take a moment to say something, especially to YOU, my reader, who’s reading this paragraph right now. I don’t think there is anything better I can ask for, than to create a connection with you purely via words. If you think about it, that’s something amazing especially in a world where reading is becoming more and more archaic. Thank you for taking the time to read my writing, to care about what I have to say… even if you’ve never left a comment or a message, I want to give you a big virtual hug and say THANK YOU!!

Now Onto My Must-wear Travel Piece! 

Two business travels back to back have left me even more convinced that this poncho is EVERYTHING a girl needs on a flight, especially when traveling through airport security and needing to stay light and compact.

 Boots: Public Desire Backpack: ASOS Square Leather Backback

It’s made by Miilla, which is a wholesaler and their clothing is available through Poshmark. This poncho is absolutely high quality and is made of a microsuede-like material. It’s got pockets, and a hooded hat you can wear when it’s raining. The best thing about it is that when you are trying to sleep on a flight, this is essentially a blanket!

I don’t think there is any other outerwear you can wear that will top the utility of this poncho, let alone how cute it is! To be honest I never hopped on the poncho bandwagon in the last few years because they always looked…too much like ponchos?? I just never liked any styles of poncho until I saw this one.

So what do you think? Where are you traveling to this holiday season, and what do you always wear on your travel days??

 Boots: Public Desire Backpack: ASOS Square Leather Backback  Boots: Public Desire Backpack: ASOS Square Leather Backback

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post!

All Photography by Justin Tsai Photography

The post My Must-Have Travel Piece appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Thanks to a few business trips, in 2016 I’ve traveled alone more than I had done in my entire life previously. I’ve journeyed through Munich, Neuschwanstein, D.C., and Boston, all by myself.

Before you want to cue Celine Dion’s All By Myself for me…. Hear me out.

Initially, I traveled alone out of necessity – I was already there, instead of staying in the hotel all day, I might as well go out and explore. But over time I realized I actually LOVE travel solo which is a huge surprise because I am one of those people that could never shop alone or go to a restaurant alone (not the case anymore but more on that later.)

Traveling solo, I realized, is incredibly liberating. 

 Coat: H&M Boots: Public Desire Backpack: ASOS Square Leather Backback  Coat: H&M Boots: Public Desire Backpack: ASOS Square Leather Backback  Coat: H&M Boots: Public Desire Backpack: ASOS Square Leather Backback

Traveling alone is amazing because it allows you to..

1)      Do what YOU really want to do

If you want to explore a corner in the city, you make a turn. If you are intrigued by the décor of a coffee shop, you walk in. If you see a high tower on the top of a hill, and wonder what it’s like to be in it…. You climb it! There’s no people’s interest level to consider, you just gotta do you.

For people that are always saying “but I don’t know what I really want in life” – take a trip solo, go to places by yourself, and listen to your gut telling you what you REALLY want to do, and hone in on your self-listening skills. It’s a very common but profound practice!

2)      Have no distraction and be present

This doesn’t mean you can’t text or email friends once in a while, or even yelp or google places to go. I think there’s a reverse, good kind of FOMO when you’re traveling alone because you’re afraid of missing out what’s right in front of you. Somehow when we are traveling with others, when we know they’re taking photos, or they can tell us about what we missed if we just got distracted for a minute… it’s still being “captured” and can be “replayed.” When you travel alone, if you didn’t see it with your own eyes, you’ve missed it.

Without any friends or family to talk to by your side, when you are at your destination, or a spontaneous visit to some unknown part of the place you’re visiting, you are there. It’s you and that lake, or you and that castle, or you and that view; there’s nothing in between. I call this the “I am here” moment… when you are fully aware and present of yourself being in a new environment, and fully appreciating the moment. It’s an amazing feeling. You should try it.

3)      Learn to be a mindful & responsible traveler

I for one am guilty of relying on friends and family for directions and ideas when I travel in a group.  I know someone will come up with the place to go to, directions to get there, and what to do when we get there. I tend to just go with the flow in a group.

When traveling alone, this approach won’t take me anywhere. I have to proactively plan, look things up, and know where my destination is. I am also notorious for being a very forgetful person who loses her belonging everywhere she goes. Traveling alone forces me to develop ways to keep myself more responsible and mindful of my belongings because I can’t count on people reminding me that I left my sunglasses in the café, or I dropped my ferry ticket behind me when I stopped to take pictures, or that I left my camera on the bus I took. If these examples sound really specific, it’s because they all have happened to me. But strangely, it never happens when I am traveling alone. It’s because I am actively watching my belongings as move about.

4)      Make new friends (if you’re lucky like me!)

 My friend Kay and me, in Munich

Striking up a conversation with a stranger may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the key here is to be open. Be friendly, and smile a lot. If you do this, people will come up to you.

When I was exploring Munich this year in May, I wandered into a Jimmy Choo on Maximillian Strasse, a super high end, Rodeo Drive kind of place. I was just randomly browsing the beautiful shoes, thinking maybe for my wedding I would wear one of these beauties. A friendly sales girl started asking me about what I was looking for, what I liked, etc. We went on to talk about my wedding, and eventually where I’m from. It had turned out that her parents are from Taiwan, and so am I… Next thing you know, we are looking at our schedule to get coffee the next day.

Long story short, we became friends and toured around Munich the next day, and are still in touch today. She is moving to NYC later this year and might even come to California to visit me.

Isn’t this just amazing?

5)      Find confidence and a new you

If you find traveling alone scary, well, you’re not alone (haha). Typical thoughts are as such “what am I going to do with myself?” or “How do I know where I’m going to go?” or “What if I get really bored by myself?” or “Wouldn’t it be dangerous?”

These are all legitimate concerns, and it takes intention and preparation ahead of time to deal with them. In this process, you will learn to have faith in yourself, know that you are in control of your destination as long as you are prepared and willing and that even if things go unplanned, you can troubleshoot or go with the flow if need be.  There is something that is not just liberating, but inspiring and growth-inducing about this very process. You learn to trust yourself in a way that you haven’t before, and that makes you confident.

Traveling alone, by default, also gives you a lot of time to be with yourself. It sounds like an oxymoron, but the truth is in our busy lives, we rarely spend alone time with ourselves. When we are, we feel the urge to fill it with our computer, phone and apps, and TV. When was the last time you asked yourself the same questions you ask your friends and family, “How have you been?” or “Are you happy with your life?” or “What’s been on your mind lately, is there anything I can do to help?” A lot of these questions lead to discovery about where growth and improvement will come from in life, and are an incredibly critical skill to develop in life.

So, have I convinced you a little bit? Let me know if you want to start planning a trip solo now, or you’ve done it before, and where did you go!

All Photography By Justin Tsai Photography

The post Why I Fell In Love With Traveling Alone appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Traveling is one of the biggest perks that comes with people with jobs in sales and marketing. Some may argue that not all would consider needing to travel a “perk” per se, but it’s a fact that you get to visit places you otherwise don’t have a reason to visit, have your meals paid for, rack up mileage and hotel points, own the title of “a jet setter”, and cultivate a global sense of the business world. It’s just cool and totally glamorous.

Right?

Well, let me share with you some of my recent experience with amped up traveling schedules and how it’s affected me personally, and professionally. It’s not meant to be a complaint, but the realness behind all the glamorous Instagram travel photos.

Juggling travel plan and work meetings

It’s simple, really. Life doesn’t stop revolving when you hop on a plane, certainly not your work life. It’s not uncommon when you have to time meetings and conference calls around your flights. It’s very disorientating and disruptive. This is where prioritization and delegation skills come in. Are there people that can call in on your behalf? Are you absolutely required in that meeting? Is it possible to reschedule that meeting? I personally try to clear my schedule when I have a flight to catch, just so I can better deal with last minute changes in itinerary and accidents and mishaps that are bound to happen at airports.

 Backpack: ASOS; similar: here, here, and here. Dress: ASOS, similar: here, here. Suitcase: Rimowa Salsa Air Shoes: Adidas Tubular

Time zone adjust

To this day, I still don’t know how some people do it, when they hop off of an international flight and just go straight into work mode. But often times that is what our current work landscape requires of us. I’ve delt with just a few hours of time difference such as that between east and west coast in the U.S., and also international time zone changes from California to Munich. I’ve found it helpful to build a few personal days before and/or after your scheduled business meetings, just so you have some time to wind down, get some rest, and freshen up before actual meetings.

Catching the bug

Airports and airplanes are notorious for being the perfect medium to spread germs. Confined space, dry air, close proximity to each other are all threatening for the immunity challenged. That’s why I always load up on vitamin supplements like Airborn or emergenC, and make sure I bring along Zicam in case I need to nip a cold in the bud. I also make sure I have some form of pharmaceutical sleep aid with me in case I need to force myself to sleep. Sleep, and good sleep, is absolutely necessary in combating jet lag and keeping sickness  at bay, especially during busy travels.

Discomfort on a plane ride

 Suitcase: Rimowa Salsa Air Shoes: Adidas Tubular

Perhaps this should be a career goal for me, to one day be able to by default, travel business class without needing to get lucky. Business class is just a better world to be in, period. Unfortunately, it’s not the reality I live in, where I can travel business class freely. To make my traveling more comfortable, on stop of ALWAYS WEARING SNEAKERS (see current fave on the right), I usually bring my Cabeau evolution pillow – NO JOKE, this pillow transformed sleeping on a plane for me. Basically made the impossibility, which for me is to fall asleep on a jam-packed plane, to a t total possibility. (this is not sponsored in any way, purely sharing it with you as an enthusiastic neck pillow lover!)

P.S. Check out my last post on how to travel through airports with grace and style!

Not having a life while away

It’s difficult for some people to be away from friends and family for too long. When facing the stress and challenges at work, the absence of your closest loved ones may loom larger than normal. For me, I try to incorporate some form of workout during off time while on business trips. I make sure I have a list of Netflix shows (hello, OITNB season 4, anyone?) and Audible books I want to get to. Basically, I try to fill in the void. Perhaps for others, it’s learning to be okay with the void by meditating, or exploring the city you are in.

 Backpack: ASOS; similar: here, here, and here. Dress: ASOS, similar: here, here. Suitcase: Rimowa Salsa Air Shoes: Adidas Tubular  Backpack: ASOS; similar: here, here, and here. Dress: ASOS, similar: here, here. Suitcase: Rimowa Salsa Air Shoes: Adidas Tubular

All photography by Arielle Levy

What are your travel tips? What travel  plans are coming up this summer for you?

The post Business Travel – the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

I love to people watch at airports. What I love even more is spotting people who manage to stay stylish, calm, and composed while navigating through the chaos of security checks and luggage management. Watching them is fun and it brings me peace and joy in a weird way.

In years of airport people watching/stalking, I started to notice a trend among the “airport graceful”. The key is to have minimal carry-on luggage and wear outfits that are conducive to traveling. 

From there, I’ve developed my formula.  Here goes: A comfy dress, sporty sneakers, one personal item, and a easy-to-wheel-around carry-on suitcase. 

To combat the unpredictable airplane temperature, I usually bring a jacket/cardigan of some sort to help my stay warm. In this case, the jacket even serves as a cinching tool to give me some curves in this dress that otherwise has a bit of a tomboy-ish silhouette.

This sporty chic dress is by Tobi, it’s called Game On Trapeze Dress, and can be found here. Tobi is my new found online shopping destination, and for all first time shoppers everything is 50% off! Along with this dress, you can find other travel friendly pieces below on Tobi:

High Low Dresses, Mint Green Dresses, Coats, Black Dresses, Hoodies,  Scarves, 

What is your airport outfit go-to item? Please share with me!! I have multiple business trips coming up in the next few months. I will be paying hyper attention to business travel friendly outfit ideas and accessories!

The post How to Up Your Style and Grace During Airport Travels appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Since we are both avid snowboarders and ramen fiends, Hokkaido made the perfect sense for our winter getaway. The day was February 21, in Sapporo city, Hokkaido, Japan. The night before we had just arrived at this sub-zero land of snow for this snowboarding trip. We got up early at 5 AM due to jet lag, took our time to enjoy the breakfast buffet (omg so yum, and soup curry is to die for!), and then headed out to see Sapporo city!

I get this question a lot about the next part of this day trip…”Were you expecting it?”  We had gone engagement ring shopping about a month prior to the trip, so yes, I had some idea. Yet, I didn’t allow myself to indulge in the imagination of how he would propose because I still wanted to be surprised! And, surprised I TOTALLY was…

A 15 minute walk through Odori Park, 2 subway stations later, we were in Maruyama Park. Every corner of this park was covered in snow, and every surface was sparkling white. It’s hard not to feel spellbound by the sense of wonder when surrounded by nature’s beauty like this..

So we walked around the park, checked out a few shrines, saw where the tourists were (not super interesting, all the shrines, to be honest) and took a lot of pictures… And then we were on our way back to the quieter part of the park.

So for a while, we were just walking, taking in the beautiful scenario, playing with snow, taking pictures… at least I was. We saw this untouched part of the park where all the snow was fresh, and thought of exploring it.  As I stepped onto the fresh snow, I was really focused on not tripping over, or not stepping into a hole underneath all the snow. And Victor goes, “Jessica…”

I turned around. He was on one knee, with a ring box in his hand! He then said, slowly, with trembling hands and face, “You know I take a lot of time to make important decisions in life, big or small. But this decision was easy, and I always knew I was going to do this. Would you marry me?”

And of course, I said yes!

The entire proposal of course went by like a blur. I had to check with him again afterwards on what exactly he said… since I was in such a daze. The rest of the trip felt like a honeymoon. We had such great fun snowboarding, eating all sorts of Japanese food, figuring out our way around Hirafu Village, and even things like grocery shopping was so much fun.

I caught myself staring at my beautiful ring multiple times a day, feeling like the luckiest girl in the world!

I can’t tell you how excited I am to embark on this next journey in our life… with the best partner I could ask for by my side. Wedding planning is already underway, so far we’ve looked at a few San Diego wedding venues, interviewed a few wedding planners, and just started to look into florists… Can I just say WEDDING PLANNING IS SO MUCH FUN!!

For all of you San Diego readers out there who has gone through wedding planning, let me know if you have any recommendations for me!

Until next time..
Jessica

The post I Said Yes! || My Engagement in Hokkaido, Japan appeared first on Cubicle Chic.