Washington D.C. in photos

January 15, 2016Leigh Anne Zinsmeister 2 Comments

When I was planning my recent trip to Washington D.C., there was very little I definitely had to do or see. I’ve heard from many people – basically anyone who’s been – that there is so much ground to cover in D.C. that I’d have no chance of seeing everything in a mere three days. So aside from two requests – a nerdy journalism venture to the Newseum and a nostalgic meal at Nando’s – I decided to leave myself at the mercy of my host and good friend Courtney, who has visited D.C. countless times and moved there in November.

The White House

The Washington Monument

The Lincoln Memorial

The many monuments along the National Mall were, of course, a priority. Our designated sight-seeing day turned out to be foggy and dreary (oh, east coast winters), but it was still cool to see things that I’d only ever seen in photographs. The Lincoln Memorial, especially, is so much grander in person that I could have ever imagined. I can’t wait to go back in the spring and check out the views from the back of the memorial – I’ve heard they’re incredible, but we couldn’t even see across the river last weekend.

Naturally, the next day – originally forecasted as a rainy one – was mostly sunny and clear, so we went back to the Mall for sunset.

The Newseum, of course, was heaven for a nerdy writer like me. I could have spent days there, and in fact might get myself a membership next time. (It pays for itself in three visits, and I can see this being a stop every time I’m in town!) Here, all of the day’s front pages are displayed. It was a really interesting day to go, as we were smack in the middle of NFL playoffs, and it was also the day after Rolling Stone published Sean Penn’s interview with El Chapo. There was a really interesting mix of front pages!

Chinatown

Nando’s is a chicken restaurant founded in Johannesburg, and it would be an understatement to say I became addicted when traveling in Africa last fall. Tragically, there are no locations in New York, but there are many in the D.C./Maryland/Virginia region. I dragged Courtney and her fiance here for lunch one day and was pretty much the happiest person on earth.

Thanks for having me, Courtney! And thanks to JJ for putting up with my presence on his couch all weekend. I can’t wait to come back and explore more of D.C.!

What did I miss that you think I absolutely need to see next time? For more on my Washington trip, see my video here.

Washington D.C. in video

January 13, 2016Leigh Anne Zinsmeister 1 Comment

You probably know by now that one of my goals for 2016 is to take 12 trips. Twelve! It sounds like so many, especially considering that I have a full-time job and a relatively tiny income for New York City. But I am determined to make it happen, and especially to show that it is possible to travel even if you have time and financial restrictions.

Last weekend, I got a jump start on my 12 trips by taking the Megabus down to Washington D.C. I am fortunate to have long weekends built into my work schedule – two every month! – and I try to take advantage of these by taking vacations without using any paid time off. I was able to leave New York early Friday morning and get back Monday afternoon, just in time to be in the office by 5 p.m. Altogether, the travel portion (transportation and accommodation) cost me $26 – because I am also fortunate that my good friend Courtney lives in the District! Traveling to visit friends and crashing on their couches is my favorite way to save money (and I also love hosting my friends in Brooklyn!)

It was my first-ever trip to D.C. and we struck the perfect balance of sightseeing (my only request was a visit to the Newseum, which happened), and catching up. Here’s a little glimpse into the excitement!

Washington D.C. from Leigh Anne Zinsmeister on Vimeo.

Thanks for a great weekend, Courtney! Stay tuned for photos, stories, and a delightful guide to Washington D.C.

Currently: January 2016

January 10, 2016Leigh Anne Zinsmeister 1 Comment

Disclaimer: I’m writing this on Thursday, because on Friday I’m hopping on a bus to DC – my first trip of the year! I hope you enjoy this little look into my life lately.

Reading: The Girl on the Train – and as everyone has already told me, it’s terrible but addicting. I’ll probably be finished with this by the time you’re reading, in which case, next up is Modern Love.

Wearing: Jeans, short sleeves (so I don’t overheat in my parka on the train), a blazer, ankle boots. Getting dressed in the winter is hard.

Buying: Plane tickets on plane tickets on plane tickets. I just added the Bahamas to my winter travel lineup: Three days at a place called Paradise Island with a dozen great friends? Yes please.

Listening to: Currently re-watching Parks & Rec (always) but this afternoon I finally started season 2 of Serial (back on the podcast bandwagon!) Also, I really want to start listening to audiobooks – any recommendations?!

Eating: I replaced my afternoon muffin with some cantaloupe… because I’m meeting my best friend for dinner tonight and we’re planning to order every kind of french fry. Balance.

Watching: Same as last month! I’m almost done with Veep, waiting for Mindy Project to come back so I can root for Mindy leaving Danny, but generally watching a lot less television than I used to.

Planning: All those vacations… sort of. I’m actually just planning to wing all of them.

Excited for: I’m excited for my trip to DC, of course, but I’m equally excited for next weekend: Three glorious days off and no commitments (beyond a coffee meeting, two church services, cleaning the apartment…)

Wishing: That it could be spring already… even though, yes, it’s been cold for exactly three days. OVER IT.

In 2016 I’m also adding some goals updates to these posts!

Books read: 1/52

Trips taken: 1/12

This month’s challenge: No alcohol! This is going really well and I’m also enjoying saving some money.

How is 2016 treating you so far?

2016, let’s do this

January 1, 2016Leigh Anne Zinsmeister 6 Comments

I’ve never been so excited for a new year and so uncertain about what it holds at the same time. Last year taught me that even if you’re expecting a year of peace, God could throw a wrench called Africa right into the middle of it. And the year before that taught me that sometimes you do know the big things that lie ahead – but the downfall is that you can rush too hard to close your current chapter. So this year, I don’t know quite what I’m in for – and for the first time, I’m rather all right with that.

Still, I’m a person who likes to have goals (not resolutions), and so here’s what I’m hoping to accomplish in 2016 – with the complete understanding that plans could change and render some of these impossible. That’s the fun!

#Take12Trips

“Every traveler has a home of his own and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering.” – Charles Dickens

I was completely shocked when putting together my 2015 roundup that I only left New York City FOUR times last year. While I’m a big believer in everyday adventures and taking advantage of your own city, I’d like to get out more – a lot more – this year. The #Take12Trips challenge started over on Need Another Holiday and since then I’ve seen it pop up on lots of other blogs. Twelve sounds like a lot – three times as many as last year! – but I already have three booked in the next three months, so we’re right on track! (DC, San Francisco, Phoenix: See y’all soon). I’m so excited to see more of my country!

Read 52 books

“It is always better to have read too much than not enough.” – Ann Patchett

In 2015 my goal was to read 30 books. Then, in the spring, my friend Samy invited me to be a part of her One Book A Week project. I’ve been a regular contributor, but a book a week felt really overwhelming at the time. But! I read 38 books in 2015, and that included some doozies that took several weeks, and also included some time off here and there. So I now believe 52 books is totally feasible for me, and I can’t wait to get started! I have a whole stack of books ready to go, a loaded Kindle, and a library card.

Love people better

“Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something and has lost something.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Love is my word of the year for 2016. I’m planning to focus on my relationships, on being a better friend, sister, daughter, etc. Mind you, I don’t think I’m bad at being these things, but this year I’m going to be more intentional than ever about supporting and encouraging the people in my life – and cutting out the gossip and other toxic habits.

30-day challenges

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art – write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” – Neil Gaiman

My friend Misha gave herself a different challenge every month last year, and even from across the country I can see the world of difference it’s made in forming her into the person she wants to be. So this year, I’m following suit. I had great success with little challenges like this last year: 21 days without social media, 40 days without alcohol, 21 days without television streaming. I’m excited to pursue them more intentionally, taking little steps throughout the year to improve my health, spirit, career, and overall well-being. I’m kicking it off with one I already know I can do, from experience, but desperately need to do again: January will be booze-free.

It looks to be a wonderful year, and I’m so glad you’re all along for the ride. Happy New Year!

2015 in review

December 31, 2015Leigh Anne Zinsmeister 2 Comments

2015 is drawing to a close, and it has been quite a year. I’m not going to sit here and tell you how fast it went, or that I can’t believe it’s over, because you already know and everyone says the same thing. I said a year ago that 2015 was going to be a year of commitment and stability, and I was right: I’m writing to you now from the same Brooklyn apartment, where I live with the same roommate (plus one!) after a long day at the same job. It was a good year, don’t get me wrong – but I’m looking forward to some excitement in 2016. Before that, though, here’s a glimpse of the past 12 months in this delightful life of mine.

January & February

I’m clumping these two together because they were frankly the same: Work, schlep home in the snow, repeat. Before winter began I joked about hibernating from first snow to my mid-April birthday, and it ended up being a little more real than I anticipated. My friend Nicole did visit in February, and we ate our way around Manhattan for two days, which was a nice way to break up the monotony of the coldest New York February in nearly a century!

Also: I lead my first community group at Liberty Church, spent a day on the Upper West Side, prepared for a blizzard that never came, and went 21 days without social media.

March

In March I finally snapped out of my Brooklyn routine and flew to Cleveland for a girls weekend with my family! It was just the spark I needed to snap out of my winter funk: I reunited with my mom, sister, aunt and cousin – and remembered just how cool my birthplace can be.

Also: I celebrated one year in New York City with the best friends I could ever ask for.

April

With April came the spring we had all been waiting for. I spent the month cherishing the opportunity to be outside, venturing to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens to soak up the sun and admire the cherry blossoms. April also brought my twenty-fifth birthday and all of the reflection that comes with such a milestone.

Also: The first-ever She Is Free conference, and Becca and I welcomed our third roommate, Faby!

May

May was supposed to bring a vacation, but I couldn’t get my act together in time and ended up with a New York staycation, one of my favorite things! Unfortunately, I got hit with a pretty bad head cold in the middle of it, and May got boring, but at least I wasn’t out of town when I got sick – and didn’t have to use sick days at work. Before I became bed-bound, I did see Mamma Mia!, visit One World Observatory for the first time, and pop by the Whitney – one of my favorite museums.

Also: I picnicked at Prospect Park for Memorial Day, and welcomed a slew of friends to my neighborhood as Crown Heights suddenly became “cool.”

June

In June my long-planned vacation finally fell together, and I headed off to Boston on my first solo trip. I had an incredible few days doing whatever the heck I wanted: Basically a dream come true!

Highlights included going to the top of the Prudential Tower, walking the Freedom Trail, and catching a game at Fenway Park.

July

I kept up my summer travel streak by hopping over to the West Coast to reunite with some of my favorites: I crashed with my college bestie Kathleen (also my unofficial blog adviser) met up with my aunt and uncle, and took a vow to never ever go two years without visiting California again!

Highlights of my LA trip include seeing the Venice Canals, visiting the Getty and hanging out in my favorite LA neighborhood, Santa Monica.

August

I kept still in August, but the excitement found me! My sister Ally came to visit over her nineteenth birthday, and we had adventures including a picnic dinner, a trip to Top of the Rock, and as much junk food as I could shovel into her health-conscious body. Hosting visitors is one of my favorite parts of living in New York (seriously, come visit), and I cherish getting to show off “my” city to people who have only seen the touristy parts before.

Also: I took a cruise around New York Harbor with my besties, started using Vimeo, and celebrated one year of A Genuine Delight!

September

The beginning of fall brought more visitors, with my parents and cousin overlapping their visits – and my best friend Jordan following shortly thereafter! There was a lot of sightseeing, including a one-day whilrwind, and catching up with loved ones. Bonus that I didn’t have to leave New York to make it happen!

Also: I launched my delightful guide to NYC!

October

October was the defining month of my year: I took my first trip to Africa, mainly to do missions work with Children’s Cup, but ended up having the most transforming week of my entire life. From hitting the plains on a safari to getting to know my sponsor child in person, I am absolutely not the same person I was when I left, and I have a suspicion this trip was really only the start of a journey for me.

No “alsos” here. Africa defined October – and 2015 – and that’s perfectly fine by me.

November

I was worried November would feel like my life screeching to a halt, but luckily I fell right back in love with New York City – and even with fall! I spent the month jumping in piles of leaves, eating tacos in the neighborhood, and celebrating Thanksgiving surrounded by loved ones – even if we don’t share blood.

Also: I checked “Go to the Macy’s Parade” off my bucket list, and tricked my travel bug into thinking I’d left the city by trekking out to Queens County Farm.

December

December has been blissfully, blessedly uneventful. I spent lazy days with friends, had some freelance work published for the first time in years, and celebrated Christmas in Brooklyn for the second year in a row. I really cherish getting to slow down when it feels like the rest of the world is going crazy!

Also: I ate my weight in snickerdoodles and saw a lot of Christmas trees.

Other highlights of 2015 include reading 38 books (on a goal of 30!), having my photos featured on Instagram by @travelmail and @nypost, and becoming a little more comfortable with commitment (to the city, to my job, to a blog). Tomorrow we’ll look to the year ahead – but for tonight, I hope you have the loveliest time celebrating all we’ve done in 2015.

Happy new year, friends!

A Life of Genuine Delight

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