Travel Tuesday Contributor: Ech & Will

A huge thank you to Ech for being my first guest blogger while I am traveling this summer! She actually lives in Italy, so read on for some insider tips to a great local spot! And be sure to check back every Tuesday for more guest posts about fabulous trips around the world.

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Hi, I'm Ech from Ech & Will. I'm a proud Air Force wife living in Italy with my husband, Will. Our blog is all about our adventures in traveling, marriage, the military, and everything in between. Right now my husband is deployed, so lately I've been blogging a lot about just me. I love making connections with new people so stop by when you get a chance and say hi!

Now that the weather is getting better and better, it’s time to start planning lake and beach trips with our friends. One of our favorite spots is Lake Barcis (pronounced like March with a “B” and “is” like the beginning of Istanbul). We literally drive through the Italian Alps to get to Barcis. The tunnels are so long they have huge industrial fans throughout to keep air flowing. There’s pretty much everything there: hiking, camping, boating, boardwalks to stroll, a playground, big grassy areas to spread out over, picnic tables … everything.

The water is glacier-fed (a.k.a. really, really cold), so there are not a lot of swimmers. But it’s great for a quick, refreshing dip on scorching days. Every once in a while, the town will host speedboat races and concerts. I think last year they held a crash course for people who wanted to try out canoeing.

Usually the vibe is relaxing. Everyone is just lounging around, soaking in the sun. As with most of Europe, the women sometimes go topless. It’s rare, but we’ve seen a few brave women baring it all. Usually the Americans are tossing a football or Frisbee around while the Italians like to circle up and play “Keep It in the Air” with a soft volleyball or mini soccer ball.

Every time we visit, the lake looks different. The first time, it was a greenish color.

Last May it was bright, almost-glowing blue.

And in the fall it was a murky white color from the recent rain.

I like to wander into town for a gelato (see below), so so perfect for hot days … or cold days. If we don’t plan ahead and bring a cooler, there are a few restaurants and shops to grab food or drinks. It’s a really small town, so there’s not a ton of things to do, but it has the essentials. Parking can get a little tricky on the busy weekends, but we’ve never had a problem finding a spot. If you’re in the Aviano area, I highly recommend spending the day up at the lake.

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Thanks again for sharing your photos and experiences, Ech! Follow her on Twitter at @EchandWill.

The Return of Travel Tuesday!

Yes, that's right! Now that my traveling consultant days are coming to an end, I'm bringing back Travel Tuesdays! The next six installments will be guest posts, as I will be semi-backpacking in Europe for the next six weeks. After that, I will return to a weekly link-up with travel-related topics, and I can't wait to hear all your travel tips and stories when I get back in June. :)

For now, here's a little sneak peek of my trip so far:

Check back for the first guest post from Ech & Will next Tuesday at 10 a.m. EST! And remember to follow me on Twitter and Instagram if you want live updates of my journey!

Guest bloggers needed!

This blog has been pretty quiet this month, and I have a feeling it will remain quiet throughout the summer. (Remember that six-week European backpacking trip I mentioned earlier? Well, it's starting next month, and I don't think I'm packing my laptop. Gasp.) So, I'm looking for guest bloggers! Of course I would love posts that match my blog content (primarily travel and books, but also post-grad life or collegiate life if you are still a student!). Please email me at semicharmedkol[at]gmail[dot]com with your blog information and post idea(s), and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

Note: Guest post submissions are now closed. Thanks to everyone who emailed me!

Too good to multitask.

While traveling this year, I've developed the habit of watching television on my iPad while blogging/working on my laptop, or vice versa. I can rarely ever watch my favorite shows on television, but luckily most channels have free apps that allow me to watch shows the morning after they air. Sometimes, I stream a mindless show on my Netflix account while working (think How I Met Your Mother or Glee), but there are three shows I can't multitask while watching because they are just too darn good.

1. Scandal

I was expecting a trashy scandal, but instead I got intelligence and wit! Score!

In case you missed it ...

Happy Wednesday! I have two very quick things for you today:

1) If you missed it yesterday, I blogged about my spring wishlist over at Live Beautifully. Jen had a great idea for a series of guest posts, and I was more than happy to participate!

A little sneak peek of what you can see over at Jen's blog.

2) I'm almost done with Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and I don't think I've ever highlighted so many passages on my Kindle before. I created a little graphic out of one of my favorite quotes thus far:

Photo of Piran, Slovenia, via Conde Nast Traveler; design by Megan

What have you been up to this week?

Spring into Chevron

When I first started linking up with {av} for Friday's Fancies last January, I had no style. I have since developed minimal style, and I'm proud to say I could put together a very similar outfit to the one below from my current wardrobe, except for the skirt. I am definitely on the hunt for some flirty skirts for this spring!

Spring into Chevron by mcszr3

The best part? Each of these items (except the watch) costs less than $50!

How did you celebrate the first day of spring? Personally, I snowshoed up a small mountain in Vermont with some Alpha Delta Pi sisters from UVM. It was beautiful and I wouldn't have had it any other way!

P.S. — Check back on Tuesday for my spring wish list with Jen from Live Beautifully!

Literary Junkies: March 2013

I know, I know. Another bookish link-up? This might as well be a book blog. I promise I have some non-book posts in store soon, and I hope to catch up on my European adventures by the end of the month. If you didn't see my photo post of Vienna this weekend, you should definitely check it out. There's more where that came from! But until then ...

Today, I'm participating in my first Literary Junkies link-up, hosted by By the Porchlight and Pink Heels Pink Truck. I've been active in the Facebook group for a while, but this is the first time I've actually sat down and written out my answers to the monthly link-up. Enjoy!

  1. What are you currently reading? Tell us about it.
  

Photo via @mcstroup on Instagram

  Nothing! I know, what an embarrassment, especially on the first week I've actually participated in this fun link-up. I recently opened up my copy of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close on my Kindle, but I haven't read a word. I also bought The White Queen by Philippa Gregory for only $5.99 on my Kindle yesterday, so I'm hoping to break into that one soon.

Cityscape on Camera: Vienna, Austria

Over winter break, I had the pleasure of spending a few days in Vienna, Austria, and I wanted to share some photos with y'all. If you follow me on Instagram, you've already seen these first four photos, but there were plenty more waiting on my iPhone to be uploaded. :)

Clockwise from top left: The Christmas market near our hotel; tiny mocha drinks; the gorgeous interior of St. Stephen's Cathedral; and Hofburg Palace.

Vienna City Hall, the backdrop for the Christmas market.

The Book Chat: Favorite Setting

I'm guessing I'm going to be in the vast majority of book chatters today when I pick the Wizarding World for my favorite setting. I usually try to stay away from the Harry Potter books for Book Chat prompts, considering I used them so often for my 30-Day Book Challenge series last year, but nothing else compares this week.

It's not just the beauty of the setting that caused me to pick the Wizarding World. Yes, Hogwarts is majestic and mysterious; and yes, Diagon Alley is bustling and bursting at the seams with magical glory; and yes, Hogsmeade is quaint and full of character. Even the evil settings in Harry Potter have a terrifying beauty about them (I'm thinking The Cave).

Source: oldfashionedreaming.tumblr.com viaMegan on Pinterest

Advice Needed: Stylish Walking Shoes for Europe

I don't know if I've mentioned this on the blog yet, but I'm in the midst of planning a six-week backpacking trip across Europe with my sister, brother and boyfriend this summer. (Eep!) I've been searching for the perfect pair of shoes to wear on this trip: A pair that matches everything, isn't too bulky to pack and will keep my feet comfortable even after walking down cobblestone streets for hours on end each day. I then realized I have the perfect people at my disposal to help me with this conundrum: my loyal readers! I know many of you are avid travelers, because that's probably what attracted me to your blog in the first place, so I would appreciate any tips or insight you have! I've highlighted a few options below, but I'm definitely open to suggestions.

Photo of Prague by Tambako by Jaguar; design by Megan