My Peace Love Life

Tiki Time!

7/26/2018

Hello fabulous darlings!
A couple weeks ago I was fortunate enough to attend the Trash Diva Atlanta One Year Anniversary Tiki Party! I was able to attend this amazing event with my fabulous ladies of the Georgia Pinup Posse, which made it a thousand times more memorable!

First there were free mai tais in coconuts, along with great sales at the North Highland Avenue location of the beautiful Trashy Diva stores!

Next we were treated to a completely fabulous burlesque show at the stunning North Highland Inn and Ballroom. I have never quite seen anything like it!

We even saw a black cat laying around. And did I mention that it was Friday the 13th?!

The rest of the night was spent taking pictures, dancing, and laughing!

Don't forget to come on out to the Georgia Pinup Posse's end of summer yard sale! I'll see ya there!

Peace Love and Tiki Time
Jess <3

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Be Strawesome...use Glass Straws!

6/27/2018

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Lately I have gotten really jazzed up about the environment, and doing everything I can to help stop polluting our air and oceans. I have always recycled, but lately I decided that I needed to do more, and get into re-usables as a way of life. There is a new blog post coming your way soon with lots of fun re-usable items that I have found and tested out.
But today I am going to talk about straws. Yep, little plastic straws!
If you are not yet aware of what disposable plastic straws (and other disposable plastic things) are doing to this earth, here is an excerpt from Strawesome's website;
"In the beginning, there were plastic straws everywhere and people thought this was good because straws helped suck things up faster and easier without messes. You could find plastic straws almost anywhere a drink was served.
But soon plastic straws were found in places that were not so good. They were found used and thrown away along streets, on the beach, and even in the waterways. Used plastic straws were everywhere. But it got worse.
Plastic straws were found in the bodies of animals that lived out at sea (like in turtles’ noses). That was terrible to discover, but then something unimaginable and worse was found….the Pacific garbage patch! It was a huge collection (like hundreds of tons) of plastic things floating on the ocean the size of Texas! Someone did some research and discovered that millions of straws every day were being used once and then thrown away. And most everyone didn’t even realize what they were doing. Who’s great idea was this? But it got worse. Plastic was discovered to be toxic and non-decomposable. It was both unhealthy AND not going anywhere, EVER! Yikes!!!..."
If you haven't seen the many videos floating around Facebook and Youtube where plastic straws are being pulled out of turtles noses, and turtles are being pulled out of the ocean wrapped in plastic and garbage, go and watch those now.

Have you watched the videos yet? Or can you just picture it in your head and realize how sad this all is. Yes? Me too. So, what are we to do?!
Well, right here I have for you the solution to the plastic straw epidemic! Glass straws!
Taken from the Strawesome website, here is how Strawesome's glass straws got started;
"A creative glass artist made a straw from glass. Huh? A glass straw? What is that? Is it a bean shooter? Is it a crack pipe? No silly, it is a straw you drink from. Kinda like all those plastic ones you use all day long, but these are non-toxic, can be used over and over again, and look way cool like art. Oh, I get it. That’s a great idea! Freaking brilliant! I can’t believe no one thought of this before. Since I don’t want to use plastic straws anymore, can I get a glass straw? Can I get a bunch of them for my family and friends? Can I get long ones, short ones, bent ones, and colored ones? Please? Pretty please? Yes! Of course! We would love to! How about we work together and spread the word to everyone we know that there’s a solution to this plastic straw problem and make the world a better place in our lifetime? Sound like a good idea? Yes! Let’s do it!
So Strawesome was born and people on earth lived happily ever after with their glass straws and healthy planet."

I have had my Strawesome glass straws for a couple months now, and I. LOVE. THEM!
These straws are so unbelievably smooth, I love the feeling of drinking out of them, they make even the blandest water exciting! And when I'm drinking something with ice, the straw gets super cold, and makes the drink even colder, and even better tasting! Yay! Plus Strawesome is a small business which you know I love!
I bought four of them, gave one to my Mom (she loves it, she sent me the picture below and said, "I like drinking out of this straw! :D), gave one to my husband, and have two for myself!

"So where can I find these beautiful looking straws?" I'm so glad you asked!
Strawesome.com is where you can see how exactly they are made (so cool!), find out how to clean them (super simple!), design your own glass straw (wow!), and lots more! Click on the banner below, the banners on the sidebar, or any other banner in this blog post, to get started shopping for your very own Strawesome glass straw!

Strawesome's Mission Statement;
"The world is plagued with plastic debris and toxins in our oceans and water ways, on and in the soil of our land, and in the bodies of animals and humans. It is a major problem. Rather than just give up and 'deal with it', Strawesome was born to do something about it. Since March 2009, we have been working towards sufficient awareness and action to forever eliminate the need for single-use plastic drinking straws. Our mission is to provide the world’s most artistic, eco-friendly, and health-conscious drinking straw. Combined with a lifetime warranty and great customer service, there’s every reason to join the alternative straw movement and eliminate the need for single-use plastic drinking straws. Will you join us?"
I will! But what is the best way to make an impact with these glass straws? The first thing is to buy a couple for yourself.

Once you've received your glass straws in the mail, you need to make sure to use them! As with anything new, remembering to use them does take some getting used to. I started keeping them in a pocket in my purse, so I can use it at work, and when me and the husband are out and want to make a quick stop to eat, I have both of our glass straws with me! I started putting them in fabric chopstick holders, it works brilliantly! They also have pouches and to go cases that you can purchase on the website. I also keep some in the house for when we're making mixed drinks or smoothies, it just tastes and looks so much more fun!

Now that you have your very own Strawesome glass straw and are doing your part in saving the world (and the beautiful turtles!), is there anything else you can do? Of course there is! Start buying glass straws for everyone you know! Glass straws make such great gifts! Instead of buying someone something that they probably won't use, and don't need, get them a gift that they will use every day, and give them the gift of knowing that they are helping save the planet! Wow! Ok now that everyone knows what I'm getting them for Christmas...

The next thing you can do is start spreading the word!
Share all those sad turtle Facebook videos, but instead of just sharing them and leaving it at that, talk about re-usable glass straws as a solution!
Start a conversation! Tell people about your experience using re-usable glass straws.
Share with your friends why #plasticsucks.
Make a vow to cut back on plastic products, and cut out plastic straws completely!

Webmasters Earn Money Here!

Want to go one step further? Become an affiliate for Strawesome! Click the link above to get started making money while helping to save the planet!

How great are these pinup pictures of me with my Strawesome glass straw?! They were taken by the wonderfully talented Brooklyn Brat Photographer, and my hair was done by the amazing Miss Candice Hair Extraordinaire (If you are in the Atlanta, Georgia area definitely check them out!).
Let me know all about your Strawesome journey, I can't wait to hear all about it, and see your pictures!
Stay tuned for another blog post about using re-usables to save the planet!

***This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking one of the affiliate links, this blog receives a small commission. The price when clicking through my link is the exact same as going directly to the website. It just gives this blog a little appreciation. Thanks for your support!***

Peace Love and Strawesome
Jess <3

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Our Atlanta Apartment

5/3/2018

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Hello friends! Well we've been in our apartment in Atlanta for about a year now, so I thought I would show you around our humble abode via a virtual tour!

Let's start with the living room!
Our living room has a fun travel theme to it that I just love. It all comes down to the details.

...Moving on to the kitchen and dining room.
The kitchen and dining room both have a cute retro coffee and bakery theme to them.

Next up on the tour is my office.
My office is where all the magic happens! All the household budgeting, my blogging, all goal-making and recording, my craft headquarters, and also where all our shop documents, and office supplies are kept. For that reason, it is the most cluttered part of the house; the walls are covered in calendars, to do lists, budget lists, yearly goals, and all things inspirational. The top of the desk holds all kinds of papers, folders, my laptop, odds and ends, and dry erase boards.
It is very music themed; Starting with Cat Stevens and Led Zeppelin posters, my guitar propped against the wall, and it is home to my record player and my awesome record collection.
I absolutely love this room!

And now the bedroom.
Our bedroom is pretty simple. Just our king size bed, bed-side tables, dresser, a chair, and a table that holds our noise machine, essential oils, candles, and flowers.
First we start off with the walk-in closets! Because obviously they're awesome! I'll just show you mine.

Decorations from our wedding.

The master bathroom.
The master bathroom has a beautiful gold and black color scheme.

The second bathroom.
The second bathroom is very plain, but I love it because it is where I take my baths.
Here is where I take all my beautiful bath photos you see on my Instagram.

I hope you liked our home!

Psst! Did you know that I'm now a Strawesome affiliate! Check them out via the banner above!

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Decadent Raspberry Cheesecake Mousse (Vegan!)

3/22/2018

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Hello my lovely readers!
Today I will be sharing with you my very own raspberry cheesecake mousse recipe. Oh, did I mention that it's vegan?!! Yes indeed!
So for those of you who eat vegan, or simply can't eat dairy, look no further for a way to satisfy your cheesecake cravings (cheesecake is one of the things I've missed most since giving up dairy).
This recipe uses simple ingredients, is easy to make, plus it's super healthy for you! It makes for a great breakfast to start out your day, a wonderful mid-day snack, and it will wow your dinner party guests as a stunning dessert!

A word about ingredients;

-To ensure this recipe is as healthy as possible, be sure to use 100% pure maple syrup. Most "maple syrups" sold at the store use high fructose corn syrup and a bunch of other nasty stuff. Read the ingredients before you buy, it's more expensive but so worth it.

-Coconut cream can be found in the Asian aisle at the grocery store. Thai Kitchen is the best!

-Use fresh raspberries! They're no good thawed out and all mushy. Plus they're healthier fresh!

Recipe for Vegan Raspberry Cheesecake Mousse

-Soak 1 1/2 cups cashews in cold water in the fridge, overnight.

-The next day, drain and rinse your soaked cashews. Blend them until creamy in a food processor (I just use my Ninja!).

-Once your cashews are nice and creamy, set them aside.

-Open a can of coconut cream. Spoon the creamy white part into a bowl, leave the watery stuff at the bottom.

-Using a hand-held mixer, mix until it stiffens (it will be kind of like whip cream).

-Fold in 2 tbs maple syrup.

-Fold in the creamy cashew concoction.

-Taste, and if you'd like it sweeter, fold in another tablespoon of maple syrup (I did).

From here, you have two choices. You can spoon your mixture into adorable dessert glasses (like these here that my awesome neighbor Hank gave me!) and eat right away, or refrigerate overnight before eating. If you eat it right away, it will have a more cheesecake feel, but if you eat it after being refrigerated overnight, it will have a more mousse-y texture. Both ways are very good! I ate some right away, put the the rest in the fridge, then ate some in the morning! Don't forget to top with fresh raspberries!
This recipe filled both glasses, plus had enough the next day for two more glasses.

Me and my husband's favorite way to eat this is spooned on top of graham crackers for a fun breakfast! Try it!
I hope you enjoy your very own vegan raspberry cheesecake mousse!

Peace Love and Vegan Mousse
Jess <3

Join Us on Our Next Travel Adventure with saigon om

2/22/2018

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Normally I would take a little time here to talk a bit about how my life has been going lately, or give some sort of introduction about what I'm going to talk about, but honestly, I am just too excited for that, so I'll get right to the point!

I am super duper excited to share with you guys, that I have teamed up with the rad people from saigon om to plan our next travel adventure! In October, Nick and I are going to... beautiful Vietnam! Six days of yoga, mindfulness, and self discovery in tropical paradise!

Yes this is for real! I had to pinch myself when saigon om agreed to this partnership, because I have been dreaming of doing some sort of yoga/meditation retreat for years. And the fact that I have the opportunity to do it on a beach in Vietnam is just way too amazing!

What is this saigon om I keep talking about? saigon om is a holistic wellness school run by Sarah Martin and Hang Nhan. They offer teacher trainings and retreats in yoga, mindfulness, Reiki, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and massage in Canada, Australia and South East Asia. saigon om has an impressive array of classes and training sessions happening this year, and there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out their full schedule and events for the year.

This incredible 6-Day Yoga & Mindfulness Retreat is going to be held at the dreamy Full Moon Village Resort in Mui Ne, Vietnam, October 25-30, 2018. This resort has a private beach, a stunning pool, and is a TripAdvisor award-winning resort!

Our daily schedule will look a little something like this:

Qi Gong, Walking & Sitting Meditation: 6-7am
Fruit & Tea/Coffee: 7-7:45am
Lecture: 7:45-8:30am
Morning Yoga: 8:30-10am
Brunch: 10am
Free Time / Beach + Pool Time: 11am-4pm
Evening Yoga: 4-6pm
Mindful Dinner: 6:15pm
Noble Silence: 9pm - 7am

How incredibly magical does that sound!

Sounds pretty amazing right?! Well there are still spots available, and we would love to see you there! That's right, you could be doing yoga on the beach with us in just eight short months! And yes, that is the resort pictured above!

The cost to attend the retreat which includes; 5 nights ensuite villa accommodation, daily vegetarian brunch and dinner, and all activities listed above, is $675 USD per person for a shared twin/double room, and $875 USD for a single room (that does not include the cost of airfare or visas).

If this sounds like something you would enjoy, why not come along! This is a vacation that will not only be a blast, but be sure to enrich and change your life! Email Sarah and Hang at saigonom@gmail.com with any questions, and to sign up for the retreat! Be sure to tell them that you were referred by Jessica LaPinta from My Peace Love Life Blog.

saigon om's Instagram
saigon om's Facebook
saigonom.com
Full Moon Village Resort's Facebook

I will be attending the retreat with my wonderful husband, and once the retreat is over, we will be spending another week exploring this stunning country, for our long overdue honeymoon! So I am doubly excited about this trip!

Sound amazing but think you can't afford to travel the world? Be sure to check out "My #1 Secret to Saving Money for Travel" blog post. It will change the way you think about saving money for travel, allowing you to save enough money to travel anywhere in the world, be it to Australia, Fiji, or Vietnam!
Have a wonderful week lovelies!

*Huge thank you to saigon om for sponsoring this post*

Peace Love and saigon om
Jess <3

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Outfit of the Day; The Varsity

1/15/2018

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Last week me and the husband went out and explored Atlanta a bit. We ended up at The Varsity, a piece of diner history. Opened in 1928, this place is a downtown Atlanta institution, and with two stories and a gift shop, it is the world's largest drive in restaurant! It serves classic (greasy and deep fried!) yummy diner foods! It was featured on the Travel Channel's Food Paradise Show, pretty cool!
Now on to the outfit details! Diner pictures to follow!

What I Wore;

- A Batman top that my Mom bought me for Christmas

- Annabella shorts that I bought at Goodwill for $3.00

- My Doc Martins that my husband bought for me for $25 at a flea market

- Black sheer tights that I received for free for modeling them

- My purple sweater from Say What? that I got at a garage sale

- My wonderful pink earrings that my Mom got me a couple Christmases ago

- My beautiful new haircut is from my new salon, Melrose and McQueen

Shop My Look;
Love this look? Recreate it with these products!

Photo credits go to this handsome stud right here!

The dining room was almost deserted when we go there, which was awesome! The food was greasy and delicious-get the onion rings! OMG! The vibe was laid back and old school, which I loved almost as much as the onion rings!

We had a really great time at The Varsity, and I would definitely add this to your list of things to do in Atlanta!

25 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Traveling

Peace Love and The Varsity
Jess <3

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Bathrooms around the World

12/4/2017

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Today's post is dedicated to bathrooms!
The humble bathroom; we all use them, hate cleaning them (well I personally don't really mind, but I'm a weirdo that likes to clean!), and simply can't live without them!
I have traveled a lot, both in the United States, and around the world, and have seen some crazy bathrooms! I never realized however, how many pictures of bathrooms I had actually taken, until I discovered Rate My Loo on Instagram. Rate My Loo posts great pictures of bathrooms from all over, if you need a daily bathroom fix, go check them out!

The first bathroom on this bathroom tour of the world, is one that I hold dear to my heart; the bathroom in my first apartment in China!
I absolutely adored this bathroom! There was no distinction between shower and toilet! You could literally turn the shower on, move the nozzle a little to the left, and shower while sitting on the toilet! What more could you ask for?!

This next one is a little (ok a lot) more primitive! But as I always say, the primitive-r the
fun-ner (ok this is my first time saying that, and I'm pretty sure neither of those are actual words but, you get the point!)! So check out this super fun bathroom! This gem was located in a remote village in Vanuatu called Takara Village.
No need to flush,everything just drops straight down into this hole in the ground!

Going in the complete opposite direction of the bathroom above, we move on to one of the most amazing bathrooms I have ever visited!
It's no wonder this beauty is so amazing, it is located in the best airport I have ever been in, South Korea Incheon Airport.
Now, if you've never been on a 13 hour flight before, then you simply can not realize the true luxury of a bathroom that has a shower in it, that is located in the airport where you are about to have a 12 hour layover, right after said 13 hour flight! Oh, and it was free to use! Yes, this bathroom was true bliss.

Ahh the squatty potty...No collection of bathrooms would be complete without it!
For anyone who has done extensive traveling in Asia, I am sure you've come across a one!
The squatty potty is actually a really healthy and smart way to poop (it's all about the pooping posture! You can actually buy a "squatty potty" to replicate this posture in your own home!) but sadly, as China is becoming more and more westernized, they are doing away with a lot of the squatty potties.
Here are some more pictures of the glorious squatty potty...

This is a bathroom in a bar/music venue in China! I'm pretty sure this was the owner's cat, he was just chillin' in there all night!

This is for real! It was hanging in a bathroom! I think in Singapore.

Some abandoned bathrooms in Vanuatu.

I thought this was cool! This was on the outside of a bathroom in Waihai, China.

Me and my friend Rachel goofing off in a bathroom on an airplane!

Hey there hilarious sign in a Starbucks bathroom in Xi'an, China!

I believe this was in Vanuatu.

Soooo....this is a real thing I found! A feet-washing point at a McDonalds in Singapore.

Our lovely shower and toilet area while we were staying in a little village in Vanuatu.

I still have no idea what this was about! Hahaha. I found this while at a music venue in Cleveland, Ohio when we were watching Panic! at the Disco.

This bathroom! Hehe. This was at an outdoor music festival in Xi'an, China.

Peace Love and Bathrooms
Jess <3

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Travel is My Education

10/18/2017

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A short poem I wrote, called "Travel is my Education"

"Travel is my education.
Language books, are my text books.
Airplanes, my school bus.
The locals are my professors, fellow man, my classmates.
Watching the sunrise is my homework, and swimming in the ocean is my gym class.
This world is my classroom, and with pleasure each day I attend,
with eagerness I await,
and with joy I heed, the lessons it loves to teach."

Be sure to keep up with all my travels here!

Peace Love and Travel
Jess <3

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We adopted a dog!

9/28/2017

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I am beyond delighted to introduce to you the newest member of our family; Rocco!
He is a four year old terrier chihuahua mix, and he has completely captured our hearts!
I have been wanting a puppy for a while, and finally decided that now was the time; our lives are stable, we have good jobs and enough money, a place to live, and the Atlanta Humane Society had just taken in over 400 animals from shelters in Texas and Florida!
So on September 13th we made a trip to the Atlanta Humane Society. Tears filled my eyes as we walked up and down the aisles, all the dogs looking up at us through the glass, begging us to take them home and give them a family.
I wanted to adopt all of them, but unfortunately couldn't. But I found my precious sweet Rocco, and we have given him his forever family!

So adorable and so happy!
He loves to play and cuddle. He is so perfect for us, and I am so in love!

As of late I have become super passionate about animals; helping put an end to animal cruelty and neglect, stopping the vicious cycle of puppy mills, and ensuring that every animal out there has a loving and stable home.
Adopting Rocco was the third step I took in my fight for animals. I have also begun to take a closer look at labels, and not support companies who do animal testing. I also give monthly to the ASPCA, they are doing some amazing things in helping stop the abuse and neglect of this country's animals!

Each year, 2.7 million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized in the United States, simply because too many pets come into shelters and too few people consider adoption when looking for a pet. The number of euthanized animals could be reduced dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them. When you adopt, you save a loving animal by making them part of your family and open up shelter space for another animal who might desperately need it.

If you buy a dog from a pet store, online seller or flea market, you’re almost certainly getting a dog from a puppy mill. Puppy mills are factory-style breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of dogs. Animals from puppy mills are housed in poor conditions with improper medical care, and are often very sick and behaviorally troubled as a result. The moms of these puppies are kept in cages to be bred over and over for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever joining a family. And after they're no longer profitable, breeding dogs are simply discarded—either killed, abandoned or sold at auction.
These puppy mills continue to stay in business through deceptive tactics — their customers are unsuspecting consumers who shop in pet stores, over the Internet or through classified ads. Puppy mills will continue to operate until people stop supporting them. By adopting a pet, you can be certain you aren't giving them a dime.

My sister worked at a vet's office for a short time, and she got to witness the horror of puppy mills first-hand. She actually rescued a beautiful little chihuahua that a breeder brought in to euthanize, simply because she was to small to breed. That poor dog was traumatized, and months later is just starting to open up to other people besides my sister. She was definitely abused and neglected.

Here are some ways you can help;

-Give to the ASPCA
A monthly gift of $18 is nothing to us, but can make a world of difference to the hurting animals that the ASPCA helps every day.

-Adopt a pet!
Rescue animals make amazing pets. They will love you so much, and it is amazingly rewarding for you as well! Go to Adopt a Pet or visit your local humane society to find your new best friend.

-Begin boycotting companies who still use animal testing
Let them know that animal testing is not ok! Boycott them, and write to the companies as well, telling them they will not receive any of your business until they stop!

-Volunteer
Volunteer at your local animal shelter.

My boys!

Peace Love and Adopt don't Shop
Jess <3

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10 Reasons Why Vanuatu Must be on Your Bucket List

8/16/2017

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Vanuatu is a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of a ton of tropical islands. lt is actual paradise. Like, for real!
I traveled to Vanuatu when I was 19, and had the time of my life (it even made it onto my "Top 30 Moments of My 30 Years of Life" List!). It is a must to add to your travel bucket list, and if you don't believe me, I have 10 reasons why! But before we get to those, here are a couple Vanuatu facts, tips, and a small disclaimer.

Port Vila is the capital, and largest city of Vanuatu. We flew into Port Vila, which is what I would recommend you to do.
The currency of the island is the Vanuatu Vatu (VUV). An American Dollar (USD) is worth approximately 108.23 Vuv. I would recommend you to not exchange money in the airport, as the exchange rates are always sky high at airports. We exchanged money at the post office.
Most people in Vanuatu do speak English, so communicating in Vanuatu is not a problem.
Now for the disclaimer; as with any time you travel, it is important to be safe! Vanuatu, like any place in the world, has dangers. While there, I got caught in some treacherous waters while swimming, and also had to fight off a drunk guy on the beach. Just be smart, cautious, and always travel with someone.
Now, here are the 10 Reasons why Vanuatu must be on your Bucket List!

1. A string band will be waiting for you at the airport
Enough said!

2. The picturesque beaches
Want to go to a beach that is off the beaten track and not crawling with tourists? Vanuatu is the place for you!

3. The infinity pools
This is at Breakas Beach Resort. We actually did not stay here, we were living in a nearby house, but we would walk along the beach until we got there, and they let us swim for free (if we bought a drink!). I'm not sure if they still do that, but either way, it is a must visit, and there are plenty other infinity pools to dip your toes into in Vanuatu.

4. The Markets
Open air markets are the best. It is real life. It is the perfect way to interact with locals, try local foods, and there is always something interesting to be found!

5. The sunsets
The sunsets in Vanuatu, as with most other beautiful places, are spectacular!

6. Waterfalls
Waterfalls are pure magic, and Vanuatu's waterfalls are no exception!

7. The locals
These people are wonderful! So friendly, kind, genuine, open-hearted, and interesting!

8. The food
Because Vanuatu is an island, it offers plenty of fresh fruit, coconuts picked right off the tree, fresh seafood, and plenty of other interesting things!

9. The ocean
Yes I am aware that I already mentioned the beaches, but come on, look at it! The ocean deserves its own category on here! Look at that water!

10. Adventure is everywhere
When you are in Vanuatu, you know for certain that you are not in the United States. My favorite places to travel are the ones that seem to have been forgotten by time. The reason for this is that you never know what's going to happen. Everything, from going to the bathroom, to eating, to walking to the store, can (and probably will) turn into an adventure!