In April of 2017, I created a website, It’s a Bonnie Thing. I don’t think I intentionally set out to be a travel blogger. There are already so many established travel bloggers out there like Nomadic Matt, The Blonde Abroad, My Life’s a TravelMovie……the list goes on.
Like the World Needs Another Travel Blogger
You know these pictures. The ones that make you jealous while you are sitting in a cubicle and it seems like everyone else is making it rich, traveling the world by posting all these amazing pictures of adventure, and beautiful places in the world.
Well, that is what happened to me. I became jealous of people I didn’t know living the life I wanted. I wanted to the girl in those photographs. So I decided to create my own dream life.
Why I became a travel blogger
For years, I traveled too much to have a consistent real job. I needed a week off a month and most jobs don’t work with that schedule. My husband travels a lot for work and I like to go with him, especially when it is a cool place I’ve never been before. In December of 2016, we earned the coveted Southwest Airlines Companion Pass which means you can pick a Companion to travel with you for only the taxes. My flights in the domestic US on Southwest are $11.20. It’s an opportunity to take advantage of and 2017 would bring a lot more travel to my life this year.
In college, my favorite channel was the Travel Channel. My dream job was to be like Samantha Brown. By 2016, I had tried every job I ever wanted except, Spa Review Critic, or a travel channel celebrity like Samantha Brown. Yes, I tried being a travel agent. Everyone asks me that, and it wasn’t for me sitting at a desk dealing with irate people complaining about a cruise, travel delays, or airline strikes. Planning my own travel, playing tour guide when people come to visit, staying in luxury hotels, and going places is what I am most passionate about.
In the Fall of 2016, I reviewed my journals trying to decide what is my next new thing. Owning my own business, publishing a book, traveling the world, pairing pictures with quotes were things I had written about for more than five years. It was time to focus and work on my dreams, not someone else’s. My number one, “If I could do anything was travel the world.”
“If you don’t build your dream someone will hire you to help build theirs.”
Tony Gaskins
The main reasons I decided to become a travel blogger are to share my passion for travel, my desire to share beautiful places around the world with others, help share travel tips from my experiences, and inspire others to live their dream life. In January 2017, I dressed up with a tiara for my 45th Birthday and wrote,
” You can star as a Princess in your own FairyTale.”
This was my mantra, my theme for 2017. Every NYE I set a theme for the year I wish to have. Creating the life I always wanted and dreamed about was a goal for 2017. If there is something you have always wanted to do in life, I will say, Go do it! I love what I do and making it a reality has been a dream come true. There is a saying, Create what you wish existed. Make your Fairytale your reality. There were times I truly felt like I was living Samantha Brown’s life but it was my own.
In 2017, I traveled more this year than ever before in a year. Fifteen trips this year on Southwest Airlines alone, a few road trips, and flights on other airlines. We traveled to Las Vegas, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Seattle, Orlando, Nashville, St. Louis, Maine, New Hampshire, Washington DC, Cabo San Lucas, Aruba, and Riviera Maya. Before I had my website up, I even attended my first ever Travel Blogging Conference, Women in Travel Summit held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Thinking back to how nervous I was, seems silly now. Connecting with so many women who shared the same passion was rewarding.
“The more accomplishments you achieve, the happier you will be.”
A huge goal of mine is to create an online boutique and self-publish a book. I’ve always kept a journal and I enjoy writing. A blog is a great way to start writing. Doing the things I’ve been nervous about made me feel accomplished this year. The more accomplishments you achieve, the happier you will be. I encourage everyone to try doing new things they have always wanted to even if you feel you suck at it. Why, because the more you do something the better you become. I know the world doesn’t need another travel blogger because there are others who have been doing it longer and are better than I am. What I can offer the world is my viewpoint because we all tell a story in a different way. We are all unique and have many different life experiences to share.
2017 Travel Blogging Recap
I’ve learned so much this year and I have so much more to learn. A travel blogger is a writer, storyteller, photographer, Instagrammer, videographer and carries so many titles. Sharing my passion and connecting with others was a highlight of my 2017. Traveling more was thrilling but also exhausting. I had Pneumonia for three months this year. Additional weight was put on due to dining out frequently. Traveling can take a toll on your health, I’ve learned because I’ve been sick more than ever before.
It was hard to keep up with writing when traveling so much. It felt like I did more laundry this year. Unpacking, doing laundry, and packing again was normal. Most of all, I learned how much I love being home. Traveling made me appreciate having a home to come home to and a familiar bed to sleep in. However, after two days at home, I couldn’t resist planning another trip. You know what, I loved every minute of it.
Travel Blogging Highlights of 2017
My Favorite Travel Photo of 2017
One of my favorite travel photos of 2017. It’s a Bonnie Thing
Top Five Favorite Travel Experiences of the Year
- Taking a road trip to Park City
- Strolling through the Public Market in Seattle
- Living out my Princess dream in DisneyWorld
- Going to the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
- Swimming with the Whale Sharks in Baja – definitely my favorite tour in 2017!
Favorite Hotel- The Cabo Azul, San Jose del Cabo
Favorite Spa Service- Grand Velas Riviera Maya
After nine months of travel blogging, do I want to continue in 2018? I haven’t made a dime or taken a sponsored trip. The answer is yes because I love sharing travel experiences and connecting with others around the world that share the same passion. Traveling and planning parties is what I do best. There is a big world out there to explore and every year it is a huge goal to see more of this amazing planet we are fortunate to live on. Doing what you love makes you love life!
Bonnie
Most liked photos on Instagram- Best 9
Best 9 on Instagram 2017
Travel blogging looks glamorous but my next post coming up is the Behind the Scenes which isn’t so glamorous.
Stay Tuned!
Travel planned in 2018 so far, British Virgin Islands, Quebec, Las Vegas, London, and Upper New York.