Welcome to Wander by Weekend!
Do you ever find yourself looking for a change or something to break the routine?
Want to really make the most of your paid time off this year?
Craving a weekend getaway?
Maybe you have a destination you’ve always dreamed of visiting but it feels out of reach?
Going somewhere you’ve never been before can be scary. The idea of planning it all yourself is overwhelming when you don’t even know where to begin.
I completely understand. I felt the same way most of my life. Now, my goal is to share my stories, photographs, and experiences as I journey around the world to help make travel feel more accessible to everyone.
Hi, I’m Star
I’m a full-time engineer with a passion for adventure
Welcome to my blog! However you came across my site, I’m glad you’re here.
For those of you that may not know me, allow me to introduce myself. I’m a normal girl, living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with my fiancé, Brenden, and two cats, Oliver and Echo. I’m a spicy food lover, thrill seeker, and travel addict.
All my life, I have been driven by that intangible “something” – that frustratingly difficult to articulate buzz that reaches right into your soul and becomes a part of you. It’s a thrilling blend of self-discovery and fulfillment. How is it evoked? By having new experiences.
I believe that we are each born as a blank slate in a way and that our experiences define us; that everything we encounter throughout our lives has an effect on us and the way that we respond to each situation we face both derives from and builds upon the inner code that makes each of us unique. No one else behaves, thinks, or feels exactly the same way you do because what you experience and how it makes you feel, is exclusive to you and you alone.
Your experiences can shape your beliefs, behaviors, and aspirations. They can determine what you’re passionate about, what drives you, and what you like, dislike, or fear. With each new thing we try, we get to know ourselves a little better; you never know when or where you could find your purpose in life or discover a lifelong passion. Your next experience could change your life.
There is so much to be learned from this giant planet of ours. Maybe, if we spent more time leaving our comfort zones to experience different cultures, challenge ourselves, and try to see the world from another perspective, we could all understand each other a little easier and make this world a better, more peaceful place.
Why Wander by Weekend?
As I began planning my own trips, I discovered the world of travel blogs. In these blogs, I found helpful resources but I also started to notice one particular trend – almost every blogger had a similar story of leaving a past life behind and living as a nomad. I, like many people, began to believe that, to be a travel blogger, you had to quit your job, sell all of your belongings, and leave everything behind in exchange for a life of endless travel. I’d be lying if I said a part of me didn’t dream of that – departing from all that is comfortable and stepping into the unknown – it seems like an exhilarating, inspiring destiny. As appealing as that seems, however, I am compelled by another path.
I am drawn to my home base, Pittsburgh, the city in which I was born and raised, where I am surrounded by the people that I love most. My relationships with my family and friends are irreplaceable. I love my career; I enjoy what I do, and want to excel professionally. My life is not perfect but it is perfect for me and I don’t want to sacrifice it in order to travel the world. Most people I know, like me, want to explore this world and all that it has to offer but aren’t going to trade in their current life for a passport and suitcase. So… Who says we have to choose one or the other?
This is what lead me to begin Wander by Weekend, a blog for those of us that are not eternally wandering for a living but still have no intention of living an ordinary life. Join me on my mission to prove that you can travel the world and fill your life with unforgettable experiences without sacrificing a home life and rewarding career.
