Followand how they tell the story of who is lola
when i got wind of this blogger relay series going on, and then asked to join #teamBLUE by Christina from Jandal Road, i actually didn’t struggle much with which 3 memories i would pick. even though i’ve done my fair share of traveling, 3 really stand out for me and do a great job of representing who i am and what i believe in.
thanks to Christina for being our team captain and to Lowcost Holidays for sponsoring this campaign. the goal of the campaign is to have the longest chain of memories – one blogger passes the baton to next and so on. AND if you win the gold then you may win some great prizes too. if you’re interested in following along you can by following the hashtags #BloggerRelay and #teamBLUE on Twitter.
now onto my memories that make me moi
my minxy mouse encounter: DISNEY WORLD
Growing up in Texas, as a family of 6, we would drive EVERYWHERE for our family vacations. Florida was a popular destination as we could go to the beach or Disney World after a couple of days driving. i’ll be honest with you, i was a BIG fan of both of these vacation destinations. Florida is still one of my favorite places because of my childhood memories and fondness for the state. anyhow, i digress. this favorite travel memory is about me FINALLY meeting Minnie Mouse. here it goes…
even though we went to Disney as a family on several occasions, i somehow, after multiple visits, never seemed to be able to find her, shake her paw & get that precious photo-op. it was an inside joke within our family and an obsession of mine. i’d see her in the distance running off with Mickey and not be able to catch up. OR she’d be swarmed by a crowd and need to take a break from the heat of the Florida sun just as i was about to have my turn. it was RIDICULOUS the luck i had with that sassy mouse!
never was there a happier adult-child! (and i mean lola not the kid in the costume)
fast forward. many years later, my mother suggests we have a girls weekend at Disney. my mom, my sister & me. OK! sign me up – here’s my chance AGAIN!! going back to Disney as an adult was great. it brought back a flood of happy childhood memories and how magical the place can actually be. i found myself teary on many an occasion. AND i no longer had to chase that minx of a mouse all over the park. at this point, Disney had wised up and had the popular characters on continuous rotation over at the Toontown Fair. i waited patiently in line. over 30 minutes at least. they let in groups of 10, then you go one at a time to get your photo-op. i was so excited. i would be the first in our group of 10. it was finally my moment and unscripted i said “i’ve been waiting all my life to meet you!” WHAT?!?! this is a teenage person inside a mouse costume. i said to my mother “you better not mess this photo up!” my mom broke down laughing and said that the whole experience of me & my mouse encounter made the trip worth the expense. i proceeded to leave the meet & greet tent and buy myself a princess hat because, after all, i felt like one. the rest of the day little girls all over the park asked for my autograph!
why is this one of my favorite travel memories? it shows that even if it takes multiple attempts and many years, DETERMINATION CAN & WILL PAY OFF!
if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere: NYC
i am a determined & strong-willed person. i’m sure you can see that just from my Minnie Mouse meeting determination! 😉 so after several visits to the fine metropolis of New York City, i announced to the world that i would be moving there a few months down the road. ya know, after i paid off my post-college credit card debt & saved some money for rent, etc. it took me about 6 months but in that time i’d been working connections for roommates, places to stay while i apartment hunted, got a temporary job at the Gap as a back-up until i landed a “real job” and was working my “real job” connections too. NOTHING WAS GOING TO STOP ME FROM GOING FOR MY DREAM. much, much, much to my parents dismay.
look at that crown! not the Lady Liberty’s – MINE!
so, one day in late January, i took my one-way ticket and boarded an airplane to my future. the contents of my life were already en route via UPS in boxes. i just had to get to the big apple and find a place to call my new home. as soon as i landed i met up with a college-pal-turned-future-roommate and we began our apartment search. as it turned out we found the place we lived for the next year that very first day. AND, as they say, the rest is history. i did work at the Gap until i landed my first “real job” working in PR at a multimedia company.
now you are thinking…why is this a favorite travel memory?? because lola went for her dreams and succeeded. AND i made it there, so, you know…I CAN MAKE IT ANYWHERE!!
some of the best couple of months of my life: EURO TOUR VIA EURAIL
after some time in the big apple, i decided it was high-time for a new challenge and, heck, i was changing jobs & apartments anyway so why not just pack up all my stuff into storage and go off for a few months on my own to a continent i’ve never been. seems to make perfect sense, right? well…i did to me. again, not my parents so much but they knew me pretty well by this point in my life and didn’t try to hold me back.
just wait and see how differently i’ll look in front of the Louvre next time!
i’m a planner, so again, i saved up and plotted my attack – chasing the better weather as i headed to Europe in March and left in May. it was one of the most thrilling times in my entire life. i knew where i was generally going next but not everything i would see & do OR where i’d be sleeping each night. that made it exhausting too and by the end of my couple of months i was ready to get back to a normal routine of sorts. many friends met up with me along my journey and, of course, i made new friends everywhere i went. it was incredible in every way!
i love this travel memory because it was life changing. I WENT OUT ON A LIMB INTO THE UNKNOWN & RETURNED MUCH RICHER & WISER THAN I EVER EXPECTED.
so, there you have it. i would like to add, by this year’s end i expect a couple of these memories could be knocked off by new ones. i have 2 BIG trips coming up that i believe to be opportunities of a lifetime. i head off to Cambodia in two weeks to build a house for Habitat for Humanity. this is similar to my 3rd favorite memory in that i’ve never been to Asia and i’ve never done a house build. i think it’s a fantastic example of putting myself out on a limb into the unknown & i fully believe i will be richer & wiser from the experience. my second big trip is with my wonderful friend, Leah, of Leah Travels all over Europe from November 5 to December 5. having the opportunity to revisit so many of the special places from my prior Euro tour with my travel partner in crime is something i never dreamt i’d be able to do. i’m beyond excited to share in the precious memories from my past and make new ones with Leah! you’ll want to stay tuned to this plot line for sure! the Minnie Mouse story can never be outdone 😉
thanks for reading my special travel memories!
the travel memories baton was passed to me by Henry from Fotoeins – check out his FAB memories from New Zealand. AND i get the pleasure of passing the baton now to a lovely chap, Tom, of Waegook Tom. we ALL cannot wait to read your favorite memories, sir.
Go #teamBLUE – let’s capture the gold!!
Yay for tagging me! Keep an eye out…I’ve tried to keep it PG-rated. The X-rated version will be discussed over margaritas in Boston 😉
Love your travel memories, especially the Minnie Mouse one! I went to Disneyland Paris when I was 18 and a girl from my then-work gave me the mission of getting Minnie’s autograph for her. 18 year old me jostling between a bunch of six year old girls to get that precious signature. Minnie, you are an elusive lady.
Waegook Tom recently posted…Top 10 Eats in Southeast Asia
no kidding, Tom. Minnie Mouse was my arch nemesis until i finally got that photo op. 😉 now it’s just a hilarious memory that i’ll never forget!
Europe has this kind of effect on people, no? It certainly was life-changing for me, too. I can’t wait to get back, particularly in Germany in December for their Christmas markets.
I’m looking forward to seeing what your journey in Cambodia will be like, through photos and through your own words – it all sounds like a fantastic opportunity.
Thanks for your kind mention, and gooooo Blues!
fotoeins | Henry recently posted…3 Places to Eat in Central Saigon
thanks Henry. i’m so excited for my upcoming travels and the stories i’ll have to write about post-trips. how am i ever going to top these two adventures??
Leah says {laughing and wiping tears of happiness from her eyes}: I really love that I’m not the only person crazy enough to put a picture up from the time of big hair and high-waisted jeans. I barely recognized you without the boa, however. I love these travel memories, and I especially know that we will shatter the last two. Nothing will ever compare to your Minnie Mouse stalking spree, but I’ll try my hardest to give you a trip you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
{Leah exits stage left}
Leah Travels recently posted…The Weird and Wonderful in Tokyo
hahaha! yeah…that picture of me in NYC needs a re-do. i look like either a bad madonna or meg ryan ala ‘when harry met sally’.
i have NO concern whatsoever that our Euro tour will be nothing short of my best travels yet!
Great stuff…as a Disney nut I love the one with you and Minnie…and yeah, awesome hair with Lady Liberty:)
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted…The Omni San Francisco – Classic Perfection
Thanks DJ. yeah…that hair is just a little ridiculous. it’s funny…i’ve begun to wear my hair crazy curly like that again. will i look back at myself now and think the same thing? has history taught me nothing? HAHA
Great memories Lola! It’s so often the things we don’t plan so thoroughly but just get out and do it that we remember so well and have such a lasting impact – like making a move to pursue our passions!
Mark Wiens recently posted…Photo: Ancient Hypostyle Hall at the Temple of Karnak
thanks Mark! yep. i’m a planner. it’s hard for me to stray away from that but i COMPLETELY agree that the unexpected things are the things i love the most about my travels.
There’s nothing like seeing Europe with a Eurorail pass – such a great way to see so many countries and exciting to contemplate the possibilities of where you can travel.Sounds to me like you have lots of great travel ahead so perhaps this question would be answered differently a year from now.
Leigh recently posted…A World-class Hike:The Rainbow Range in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
hi Leigh. it was a great way to go so many places in Europe and afforded me loads of flexibility to change my plans as i met people and wanted to adjust my itinerary. AND, i know my answers will be different a year from now. that gets me soooo excited 🙂
Great memories pre-Lola and the pictures are a bonus! (The pre-boa era is sort of like Bruce Wayne becoming Batman- I’m just sayin’). I always enjoy your view of life and travel! Great trips coming up. All the best.
Mark Crone recently posted…Dubai – New & Old
dear Mark,
THANK YOU for reading my post and commenting. i love your comparison of me to Batman. the idea that i transformed into something akin to a superhero is just about the best compliment ever!!
xo – lola
Love these memories. We too drove everywhere and spent our winter vacations at Disney and Florida and I definitely had hair like that. (we lived parallell childhoods) My parents spend the entire winters there now. It is the early memories that really have an effect on our lives and shape our travels.
Have a wonderful time in Europe and with Leah, sounds like quite a year coming up!
Deb recently posted…Two Weeks Left to Win a Trip to San Diego
thanks Deb for the well wishes! i do have quite a remainder of the year coming up. PINCH ME NOW!!
i love that you also had the same sort of childhood!! it would be great to connect again with you at TBEX EU and chat longer this time 🙂
Great travel memories Lola, especially the Minnie one. So glad you finally were able to hug and get the photo with her. 🙂 You’ll remember that forever. Look forward to yours and Leah’s adventures!
Aaron recently posted…Photo of the Week: San Francisco’s Ferry Building.
hey Aaron. yep. that Minnie memory is a classic!! Leah & i cannot wait for our adventure and sharing it all with you and whoever else enjoys silliness 🙂
YAY for DISNEY!! I love these memories & a bit of insight into the wonderful world of Lola!! We need to make some memories together! xx
Scarlett recently posted…The Scarlett Guide To… Faking A Dinner Party
dear Scarlett,
we WILL make memories together, i have NO doubt about that. i hope it will be sooner rather than later, girlfriend! 😉
xx
Love the memories…especially the New York City hair. But that Europe trip does sound so amazing.
John recently posted…Travel Rinse Repeat Roundup August 14th, 2012
hi John. thanks for your comment 🙂
YES…i know, i know. the crazy hair! kind of embarrassing but whatever.
stay tuned to the Euro tour!!
I love your Minnie Mouse memory! That’s O for Awesome. It’s almost like me seeing Patrick Stewart in the theatre when he was Captain Picard when I was a kid 🙂 And do let me know if you’re in London during your Euro trip, would be great to meet you and Leah!
Christina recently posted…Scenic spot on your New Zealand road trip: pit stop at Kekerengu
thanks so much, Christina! we will definitely be in London for at least 24 hours and would love to meet you. we are hoping to put together a little happy hour or something with other bloggers!! i will keep you posted, for sure 🙂
What is this? Lola before the boa? I love it! You’ve definitely had some great travel experiences. Your Minnie Mouse picture is definitely my favorite. Can’t wait to see your pictures from Europe!
Tawny- Captain and Clark recently posted…N Seoul Tower is Quite the Trip. [video]
yessssss. the boa didn’t enter on the scene until i started travel blogging! it is TRULY my lola signature. well, that, and my lil lola barbie 😉
the pictures from Europe are going to be classics!! just wait…just wait!
Looks like they were very dear and cherished memories to you. You must have had a wonderful time.
Spencer recently posted…Great Hotels of the World #14 – Mandarin Oriental Miami
indeed, Spencer, indeed. whenever i travel, i always have a wonderful time. it is like oxygen for me. i need it to live 🙂
Aww, loved your travel memories, especially the NYC one!:-)
Jess @UsedYorkCity recently posted…Wander Off-Broadway And Experience The Affordable Side Of Theater
thanks so much, Jess! yes. NYC was a big adventure for me that i am so proud i took a chance to do. i often reflect on it and it gives me strength to JUST GO FOR IT with many other things in my life 🙂 i bet you get what i mean!!
Thanks for sharing your fave travel memories Lola – must have been fun going back through all the photos and reminiscing too, love the Minnie Mouse story and the fact that you bought a tiara to celebrate – so fun!:)
Fiona recently posted…The Photo Edit: Lake Como, Italy
hi Fiona. that Minnie story is just too funny and ALL true. i kept that princess hat for a long time. i have no idea where it is now or i might have to put it on at this very moment. it was PINK after all 😉
Lola, had I known about your Minnie Mouse thing, I would have dressed up like her FOR YOU. THAT’s the kind of bud, paparazzi, purseholder, and security that I am. And, Lola, I hope Habitat is life changing for you as that trip to Europe many moons (but not too many!) ago. Growth and new horizons are beautiful things.
Raul (ilivetotravel in Twitter) recently posted…A Photo Essay of the Center of Moldova’s Capital: Chisinau
Raul, you are a TRUE GEM of a friend. 🙂
i think Cambodia AND my Euro tour with Leah are both going to be life changing for me. these two adventures are propelling me toward my future. i can feel it!! i SO AGREE that growth & new horizons are beautiful. wise man!
Love love love this!! And love the Carrie Bradshaw photos 😉 It is so good that you have been so determined in your life and worked towards goals – I bet that nothing can match the satisfaction when you start savouring the consequences – be that your first flat in manhattan, or landing in Paris.
I would love to go to Disney as an adult… shall we?
@mrsoaroundworld recently posted…So hard to leave San Diego, California
thanks so much, Mrs. O. what you said captures exactly how i felt after writing this post. sometimes exercises like this make you reconnect with yourself and realize what’s really important. i like charging off into uncharted territory and succeeding. it may not go smoothly at first but i don’t take NO for answer. nothing has been more rewarding than earning my success. 🙂
looove this!! the first time i went to disney world, i was two years old and my parents still make fun of me because after we got home, i told anyone who would listen, “i met mickey mouse.” like it was elvis or something. xo! the romantic
the lazy travelers recently posted…going for the gold: our top three travel memories
i think Mickey is like Elvis to little kids!! 🙂 i met Mickey almost every time i went to Disney but Minnie, well – i had to really work for the mouse! what i didn’t tell was, ironically, that same year i had to go to California for work and met Minnie on the other coast at Disneyland. my work associates arranged it for me at a happy hour after they learned my Minnie obsession story! funny, right?!
Lola, not one of your memories involved a cocktail or a boa…that’s insane…. Actually, I really loved the New York piece… As a native to the city I just love hearing how people need to come here, and make it here… And to me, that says a lot about you, and it is probably why I am such a fan 😉 well, that and the cocktails.
stay adventurous, Craig
Craig Zabransky recently posted…Two Local Drinks to Sample in Amsterdam
hahaha Craig! next year i can do a re-do of this post because, as i said, i think #2 and #3 will get knocked off. then, doll, the photos will feature my hot pink boa & cocktails 😉
NYC was a game changer for me. i think it is for anyone who lives there – good or bad. i would encourage anyone who is young and starting out and interested in moving there to GO FOR IT. there is almost zero downside. my motto is “you can always go back to what you know”.
I am so glad you finally got to meet your mouse. It is always fun meeting up with a mascot.
Traveling Ted recently posted…Wat a mangy dog in Chiang Mai, Thailand
me tooooo, Ted. now i can move on to meeting other idols of mine 😉
I am totally digging NYC and Paris and the fact that you had a goal and went for it! Love that. I know Cambodia will be a special trip for you too.
Pola (@jettingaround) recently posted…Photo of the Week: A street in Oaxaca City, Mexico
thanks Pola! leaving tomorrow… i think my trips for the remainder of this year are going to be life changing 🙂
I took a trip similar via EuroRail and couldn’t agree more that it makes for an unforgettable month of travel! Having no plans is a great adventure in itself.
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