Dream Big Live Bigger

Michelin Chef (in my kitchen) 🍴 Professional Singer (in shower) 🎤 Aware of what I'm doing with my life (in a distant future, maybe) 🙈 Famous and successful artist (in my dreams) ✨ Your girlfriend (in your dreams) 💕 Believer that life is better with friends family and peanut butter (with or without moderation) California living > California dreaming London l Santa Barbara l France

[littlewanderlustie]

Why, America?

Hey America, so you’re cool and I like living in you but I just have a few questions I wish you could answer for me

🔸Why do all your dollar notes look the same? I’m always so scared of giving a 20 instead of a 1…

🔸Down the same line, your coins are so confusing, why is the ten cent coin (or, dime) so small, even smaller than the 5 and the 1? Makes no sense

🔸Why are all phone contracts so freakin expensive?! No free competition or what

🔸Same with health insurance

🔸Why allow me to get married, join the army, vote, buy property, work, rent a hotel room, take out a loan, open a bank account, buy cigarettes, smoke… But not drink? :(((

🔸Why does it take 5 hours to get to San Francisco by car but 10 hours to do the same journey by train?

🔸Why hate on me if I don’t tip in a restaurant (not that I’ve done that yet)? I’m poor too you know

🔸Why are your taxes not included on the prices you see on labels do that keep giving a bad surprise every. single. time. I don't always go around with a calculator you know

🔸Why so many commercials?

🔸 Why does 'how are you?' not actually mean 'how are you?'

🔸Why add high fructose syrup to literally everything? Why oh whyy you are breaking my heart

I still don't completely get you, but I like you anyway, so we're good♥️

[littlewanderlustie]

It's only been a couple of days since I set foot in my new home, but I can already say that all the hardships, all the time and effort it took to get to here, all of that was so worth it, and I regret nothing. Santa Barbara is beautiful, the campus is gorgeous, people are lovely and the weather is just goddamn amazing. What more can I ask for I've already met some really nice people and made a group of frenchy friends and I love it, we've been hiking, sunset watching and swimming, and loads of exciting trips and events are still to come. It's great to know I am not here alone and that all around me people are open minded and willing to explore and have fun Because of all this I'm not homesick at all (yet), nothing compared to how depressed and lonely and negative I was two years ago in France. I guess the ☀️🌴setting🌴☀️helps a lot 😁 If there is something I have realised it is that this year will be what I decide to make of it. Today, I could have stayed inside watching series or in snoozing in bed until noon, but I chose to go out with friends and go for a long scenic walk ending at the beach where we stopped for a swim, taking great pictures and making great memories along the way. It is entirely up to me to make the choices that will make this year one of the best of my life, and this goes for in life in general; embrace all the funness 💕 I am not expecting to feel this way all year and I know there will be ups and downs, but for now life is good, and I'm just plain freaking happy

[littlewanderlustie]

Made it to LA! 😁✨🌴 so happy to be here now the adventure begins, enjoyed a great day out in the city around the Walk of Fame, Hollywood and the Griffith Observatory (the point where the picture was taken, felt mad hiking aaaall the way up literally melting under the sun, but the view is spectacular it’s so worth it)

A few first impressions & observations along the way - Jet lag sucks - The weather is amazing, hot in the day and still warm at night, tee shirt and shorts all day long yay 👌🏼 - LA is HUGE! To think I thought London was big but damn.. This city is on a whole other level - Cars are massive.. Oh that stereotype - People seem really nice and friendly and far more open to conversation than in London from the few I’ve been in contact so far (don’t want to generalise anything though) - Having a British accent makes you stand out big time - Somehow I feel like I know the place already because of all the photos films images I’ve come to see of the place, it’s not that different to how I imagined it all - Starbucks here are literally identical to the ones in London which surprised me, but then I’ve no idea what I was really imagined would be different - Chipotle is SO GOOD - Going in a bar seeing all these amazing drinks on the menu and people around me enjoying some yet not being able to have any gave me the feeling of being on a diet and walking into the Hummingbird Bakery - If I’m rich one day I want a house in Bel Air

[princessornotprincess]

We’ll always a find a way littlewanderlustie <3

[maomi]

[littlewanderlustie]

Goals for my time in Cali 🌴💕

💎 Visit Santa Monica ✅Venice Beach✅ & Beverly Hills✅ 💎 See the Hollywood Sign (🎶this is all so crazy..)✅ 💎 Walk down the Boulevard of Fame - and hopefully spot a celeb down the way✅ 💎 Disneyland 💎 Universal Studios!✅ 💎 Swim in Pacific Ocean✅ 💎 Attempt surfing✅ 💎 Road trip! ✅ 💎 Visit Portland/Seattle 💎 Go to Vegas on my 21st ✅ (but before my 21st) 💎 Hike in Yosemite Park✅ 💎 Go to San Diego✅ 💎 San Francisco ✅ 💎 Visit one other State✅ done 6 more so far! 💎 Go to Mexicooo 💎 Stay focused and organised during lectures and revision sessions, and do my best academically ✅ 💎 Take two subjects I know nothing about✅ 💎 Maybe, mayybe somewhere down the line figure out some sort of plan for my career or future 💎 Go see bae in Missouri at some point, budget permitting🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 (Iowa) ✅ 💎 Try a new type of cuisine and some local dishes✅ 💎 Celebrate Thanksgiving ✅ 💎 Get a tan ✅ 💎 Beer pong! (Buuut not until March, because I’m back to being underage meh)(just kidding) ✅ 💎 Join a campus team/club > the excursion club!✅ 💎 Try a leisure/sport I’ve never done✅ 💎 Go to a proper college football match✅ 💎 Keep up a healthy routine and a clean diet ✅ 💎 Regularly workout and go swimming once a week ✅ 💎 Build some friendships that’ll last more than just a college year✅ 💎 Ultimately, be and stay happy and strong

Hoping to be ticking these off as the year unfolds 😍

[happy-healthy-positive-inspiring]

[littlewanderlustie]

Three days from now...

This time in three days I’ll be in Los Angeles. Woah. Put like that, it’s still so insane and hard to believe As far as I can remember I’ve dreamt of going to America. About ten years ago I recall clearly saying this to my sister, that one day I would go, I would make sure that happened. She laughed at the time, so I wrote that commitment down in her diary and signed it - only half joking. And now here I am, ten years on. Leaving in three days. Do I regret it? Absolutely not (well, maybe I will in a year from now when I’m back in London washing dishes to pay off my massive loan but let’s not think about that quite yet). Am I scared? A bit, but the excitement and adrenaline that’s now kicked in beats any negative feeling. I will go out there and be strong, be fearless, be adventurous and spontaneous - in the you only regret the risks you don’t take. It’s been a long and stressful process, from getting a visa to sorting out courses accommodation or flights, but it’s all worth it. I’m pretty sure my time over there will fly but at times the distance from my precious ones will be very much felt, who doesn’t get homesick? Anyway I’m just making the very most of my last days here with my family awaiting the big day and that 11 hour flight 💪🏼✈️☀️💕

[littlewanderlustie]

Intro 💕

Hello lovely beautiful people! I’m Laura and I’ve created this blog essentially to share and remember the amazing experience of a year abroad in Santa Barbara, California. I’m leaving in FIVE DAYS (😱😱) it’s coming round so soon and I still can’t believe it’s actually happening! This is a once in a lifetime thing for me so I intend to enjoy it to the fullest and remember as much as I can of it ✌🏼also to discover and share what it’s like living the other side of the Atlantic, I’ve heard so many clichés and stuff but first hand experience beats any preconceived idea doesn’t it :) Also use this to post random stuff, recipes. health self help and relationship related ponders, any advice I feel is worth sharing and maybe more personal things if my heart is so inclined Peace love and peanut butter 😘

[gomcgill]

You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen.

Paulo Coelho (via mysimplereminders)