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Tag: decorating tips

How to Choose the Perfect Furniture for Your Apartment

Recently moved into a new space, and wondering how to choose the perfect furniture for your apartment or condo? Say no more.

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A hotly requested topic. Let’s get into it. Day A hotly requested topic. Let’s get into it.

Day 14 of 30!

Have you ever quit a job without another one lined up? Because well, now I have 😅 And it was terrifying. I worried my reason wasn’t good enough, or that I’d be judged, or that I’d be countered with an offer I couldn’t refuse and then have to cancel the whole career break idea indefinitely. I started playing around with all kinds of “correct” things to say, but ultimately, I just told the truth.

And what I discovered is that the big, scary, impossible thing I had been dreading for months was not that big and impossible after all.

With that said, remember that you don’t NEED to give a reason (or the full reason) when quitting a job. It’s a nice courtesy, but it comes down to your comfort, your relationship with your boss, and your industry. In my case, I felt very comfortable sharing the full reason and am grateful to have felt supported in the decision I made. 

Regardless of what you do or don’t share, watch the full video for my 3 key recommendations that are CRITICAL to convey if you want to leave a job on the best possible terms 🙏🏽

And if you, like me, ever felt embarrassed or like you don’t have a good enough reason to take time off, this is for you 🫶🏽 Planning to quit a job to take a career break is just as dignified and exciting as quitting one job for another.

I was terrified going into it, but walked away from this conversation feeling so proud. 

Stay tuned for part 8 - we’re moving to Australia!!! #GoingForTheGap 

Career Break | Career Break in Your 30s | Gap Year | Quitting Your Job | Work and Travel | Sabbatical
How many of these places in California have you vi How many of these places in California have you visited, or want to? Swipe + see my mini list below! 

PS - we’re on day 13 of 30, recapping my career break & move from Los Angeles, USA to Melbourne, AUS! 🫶🏽

I lived in California for 12 years and can’t believe it took me nearly 6 years of that time before I started exploring this absolutely jaw-dropping state –

1. Los Angeles ⭐️

Must See: the santa monica pier, go to a free jazz concert at LACMA in the summer, and take an urban hike (followed, of course, by a lazy brunch)

2. Death Valley ☀️

Must See: Zabriskie Point, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes (at sunset), and Badwater Basin

3. Big Sur 🌊

Must See: Bixby Creek Bridge, Pfieffer State Park, and all the coastal trails along the way

4. Lake Tahoe 🌲

Must See: Emerald Bay, Sand Harbor / Secret Cove (SUP from Chimney Beach!), and all the epic breweries

5. Yosemite National Park 🚗

Must See: Half Dome, Upper Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan

6. Channel Islands 🐋

Must See: Catalina for the buzzy day trippers and beach clubs, Santa Cruz for the hiking and kayaking, and Anacapa for birdwatching and feeling like you’re at the edge of the world

And this is just the beginning. don’t even get me started on the wine regions, the central coast, san diego and all of northern california above the bay. I could go on and on. California is HUGE and there are still so many places and parks I have yet to visit!

I feel so nostalgic looking at these photos, but I’m excited to start road tripping around Australia and mapping out my own favorite places here next 🤍

Whats your favorite road trip near where you live?
Packing to move to Australia took MONTHS, and was Packing to move to Australia took MONTHS, and was much more emotionally charged than I expected.

Day 12 of my 30 day posting challenge! 🥳

Although I’ve moved countless times in the last 12 years, this time, every little decision felt heavier. Like we were uncoupling ourselves from this identity - our lives in Los Angeles - with no promise of what the future would hold. It’s strange to think about how our things are really just comfort zones, armor we wear to protect who we are.

Who do we become when those things go away?

Today it’s like I’m back in college. All our belongings fit in a 4x5 ft storage unit and the 4 suitcases we brought to Australia. In some ways, it’s terrifying. But it also feels fresh. Like I’ve peeled back a layer and allowed myself to try on something new.

Because some of you have asked, here are some of the practical steps we took to pack up our lives so I could take a gap year abroad:

1. Donated / sold / rehomed all our furniture and life gadgets that could easily be replaced on FB Marketplace, Salvation Army, etc. This took 2 months.
2. Recycled anything I hadn’t worn or used in over a year. This happened slowly over 6-8 months.
3. Moved the rest into a small storage unit, which will cost us just over $100/month for the year ahead. This took 3 weeks.

(Side note – I’ve also met people who have done a gap year by subleasing their home (if they own one) which is another great way to make a career break work financially and doesn’t involve getting rid of anything)

All of this has been an exercise in letting go. It may be harder in your 30s, but it’s not impossible. I’m officially living proof! #GoingForTheGap

In part 7 I’ll answer another question I got a lot - how did I tell my job? 😬 stay tuned! and thank you so much for the support so far! it feels SO good to finally get to bring you all along on this journey 🥰

Travel Tips | Moving Abroad | Moving to Australia | Working Holiday Visa | Career Break in Your 30s | Work and Holiday
Packing to move to Australia took MONTHS, and was Packing to move to Australia took MONTHS, and was much more emotionally charged than I expected.

Day 12 of my 30 day posting challenge! 🥳

Although I’ve moved countless times in the last 12 years, this time, every little decision felt heavier. Like we were uncoupling ourselves from this identity - our lives in Los Angeles - with no promise of what the future would hold. It’s strange to think about how our things are really just comfort zones, armor we wear to protect who we are.

Who do we become when those things go away?

Today it’s like I’m back in college. All our belongings fit in a 4x5 ft storage unit and the 4 suitcases we brought to Australia. In some ways, it’s terrifying. But it also feels fresh. Like I’ve peeled back a layer and allowed myself to try on something new.

Because some of you have asked, here are some of the practical steps we took to pack up our lives so I could take a gap year abroad:

1. Donated / sold / rehomed all our furniture and life gadgets that could easily be replaced on FB Marketplace, Salvation Army, etc. This took 2 months.
2. Recycled anything I hadn’t worn or used in over a year. This happened slowly over 6-8 months.
3. Moved the rest into a small storage unit, which will cost us just over $100/month for the year ahead. This took 3 weeks.

(Side note – I’ve also met people who have done a gap year by subleasing their home (if they own one) which is another great way to make a career break work financially and doesn’t involve getting rid of anything)

All of this has been an exercise in letting go. It may be harder in your 30s, but it’s not impossible. I’m officially living proof! #GoingForTheGap

In part 7 I’ll answer another question I got a lot - how did I tell my job? 😬 stay tuned! and thank you so much for the support so far! it feels SO good to finally get to bring you all along on this journey 🥰

Travel Tips | Moving Abroad | Moving to Australia | Working Holiday Visa | Career Break in Your 30s | Work and Holiday
In 1.5 years of coliving in Los Angeles, I have co In 1.5 years of coliving in Los Angeles, I have come to appreciate that...

1. More Space Does Not Equal More Happiness.

I don’t need as much square footage as I thought in order to be satisfied. Just a comfy sofa, a kitchen to call my own, and a functional workspace will do the trick.

2. Coliving Reminds Me to Value Community.

We’re taught to believe we need to create distance. Soundproofing. A bigger yard. Tall fences. But there’s something grounding about coliving that makes you feel a sense of belonging you otherwise wouldn’t. Like living in a hostel long-term and recognizing familiar faces over time.

3. Where I Spend My Money (or don’t) is Exclusively Up to Me. 

I value my own personal space, but I value funneling my money into experiences more. People often tell me they wish they could travel as often as I do but don’t always see the logic or practicality behind the things I’ve given up in order to do so.

4. Being in Sync with Your Partner is The Most Important Thing.

Jacob and I are SO good at sharing space, and I do not take that for granted. This living arrangement couldn’t work if we needed separate rooms to disappear to or if our work from home schedules were vastly different.

5. Coliving Can Be a Clever Hack to Save Money.

I wish coliving wasn’t necessary at all and housing wasn’t such a ridiculous financial burden. But in expensive cities like Los Angeles, coliving is just another tool in the toolkit, particularly if you don’t have other “hacks” available to you like finding a roommate or living with friends or family for a temporary period.

And my biggest realization of all? The things that used to make me feel like I was falling behind (the house, the kids, the whatever) aren’t even things I really want (yet) anyway. 

Society has a way of making us feel like we’re falling behind but having free will to define our own timelines to the extent that we can is a privilege! And I didn’t want to share my sabbatical journey without first reflecting on our coliving journey and one of the biggest money-saving hacks that allowed us to have a debt-free destination wedding and move to Australia in the same year.

Day 11 of 30!
Want to know what the heck a Working Holiday is? L Want to know what the heck a Working Holiday is? Let’s discuss! 👇🏽

PS - if you’re seeing this reel, you don’t follow me yet, but if you’re seeking work and travel tips like these, come follow along on @racheloffduty! 

When I first learned about this visa, I was 25. And the idea of moving to Australia lived rent-free in my head ever since. But it wasn’t until the week before I ‘aged out’ that I finally took the leap and applied. 

What can I say? Procrastination makes me do the darndest things 🤓

I’m breaking this down because if you are an American in your late 20s or even 30 years old and wondering if it’s too late to take a career break... first of all, no, you absolutely aren’t. And while Australia might have its working holiday age restrictions (30 for USA, 35 for some other countries!), this is only one example of the many, many ways to take a career break. 

Have you ever considered taking a career break?

Travel Tips | Travel Sabbatical | Career Break | Gap Year | Australia | Moving to Australia | Working Holiday Visa | Work and Holiday
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