Kristen Suzanne

I’m Going to Write Fiction

December 11, 2018 By Kristen Suzanne

I’ve decided to try my hand at writing fiction.

Confession: I have no idea what I’m doing.

I never excelled at telling Kamea bedtime stories. That was Greg’s department. I certainly never considered myself as a fiction writer. The gall! Thinking of myself as a storyteller just didn’t register on my radar. Frankly, I didn’t think I was creative enough.

But… I know better. My father-in-law is Shad Helmstetter (author), and I know to watch my “self-talk.”

Here are my thoughts. I love to read. I love to write. Whether it’s blogging, journaling, emailing, or making a million to-do lists. Plus, making a living with words is attractive. I’m a digital nomad traveling the world with my family, and I’m immersed in many unique experiences. I’m surrounded by new material every time I step out our front door.

My Favorite Coffee Shop in Porto Portugal – C’alma – Digital Nomad Life

December 6, 2018 By Kristen Suzanne

C'alma Specialty Coffee Room — C’alma Specialty Coffee Room – Porto, Portugal. We love this place.

I found a fabulous coffee shop in Porto last week called C’alma.

We’re still in Porto for the next couple of weeks. It’s a lovely place (read why it’s a great place to visit or live here). We walk the streets regularly, and they’re filled with cafes and coffee shops beckoning me with aromas, cute chairs outside under umbrellas, and seeing everyone enjoying their espresso with each one we pass.

But not all cafes are great for digital nomads.

Thanksgiving Dinner at MUU in Porto, Portugal (Digital Nomad Family)

November 23, 2018 By Kristen Suzanne

As digital nomads, we celebrated Thanksgiving at MUU in Porto, Portugal.

It wasn’t too strange celebrating Thanksgiving without the rest of our family.

In past years, we would always celebrate with our moms (together) for Thanksgiving dinner, so there’s only 6 of us sitting around the dinner table. It was always super casual, but we still cooked plenty of traditional recipes, leaving leftovers for days.

But, because our holidays were always pretty casual, I actually wasn’t too concerned we wouldn’t be there this time. I figured our moms would miss us a bit, but it wasn’t going to be a big deal that we weren’t there.

Besides, we just left Arizona.

It’s possible the reason I didn’t feel guilty about it is because we just left Arizona after having spent over a month there. We chose to go home in October for a few reasons, including voting and choosing a time for international flights that wasn’t overpriced.

By going in the fall, our time spent there helps soften the fact that we wouldn’t be there for Thanksgiving (and winter holidays). As a result, we were able to see family close to those holidays, and still get to enjoy our digital nomad family life living abroad.

Everyone is happy. :)

I finally get a break from cooking.

Living in Porto we have a tiny kitchen, with minimal cooking equipment. There are also no turkeys around. Or cranberries as far as I can tell.

We decided to give me a much needed break from cooking Thanksgiving dinner (I’m always the main home chef every year), and we went out to an amazing dinner.

That’s what this post is about: Thanksgiving dinner at MUU in Porto, Portugal.

My Favorite Travel Clothes Are Perfect for Everyone – Digital Nomad Life (Plus Video!)

November 20, 2018 By Kristen Suzanne

travel clothes shirt — My favorite travel shirt by Scott eVest

My Favorite Travel Clothes

When we travel we try to bring as little as possible, while still making our lives comfortable.

Though if I’m honest, I push myself pretty hard to reeeeeeeeally only bring what is necessary and very little.

Still, the funny thing is that my backpack and purse are heavy!

When I have a long day of travel, my shoulders and neck ache like a mother-f-ckr, and I vow every time to prune more. But, it got to the point where there just wasn’t anything else I could take out.

I had to come up with a better solution.

Ukulele Music Lessons for Our Daughter While World Traveling (Digital Nomad Family)

November 17, 2018 By Kristen Suzanne

We homeschool (worldschool) our daughter while we travel the world.

As a digital nomad family, we are continuing our daughter’s education by homeschooling (including plenty of worldschooling). Music lessons are now part of the curriculum. Ukulele, anyone?

You’d think it might be difficult to world travel as a digital nomad family, while taking music lessons, packing an instrument, and maintaining minimalism.

In other words, we travel the world with backpacks and only one checked suitcase in an effort to decrease travel drag. How can we travel with a musical instrument?

8 Reasons Why I Love Porto For My Digital Nomad Family

November 13, 2018 By Kristen Suzanne

We arrived in Porto, Portugal this week.

And, I’m in love.

In fact, I fell in love with Europe when I came to Porto.

The short of it: Porto is beautiful, safe, friendly, hilly (good for my bum!), cheap (for Europe), and has wonderful weather.

Why did we choose Porto?

We chose to live in Porto for six weeks as a digital nomad family for a few reasons.