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The Carry-On Chronicles

Inspiring you to live your best life through travel.

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15 Ways Successful Travel Bloggers Build Blog Momentum When They’re Not Traveling
7 Stunning Central Park Instagram Spots You Can’t Miss
Where to Experience the Magic of Woodstock, Vermont in Winter
Instagram Guide to Palm Beach Island
Top Instagram Spots in Assos Village, Kefalonia

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thecarryonchronicles

(Potentially) Unpopular Opinion: I’ve found myse

(Potentially) Unpopular Opinion: I’ve found myself wanting to surround myself with positivity more than ever, as in people and activities that uplift me. Sure, there’s a lot of awful ish going on in the world right now, I’m not trying to deny that. But it doesn’t personally serve me to dwell in it.
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Telling people that they can’t be positive all the time and that it’s in some way dishonest - if that’s truly how they feel - is just as wrong as telling people not to be sad/mad/anxious. All feelings are valid, this is not a competition, and you’re entitled to feel whatever feels right to YOU. Positivity is an active - and sometimes difficult - choice, but I make an effort to choose it each and every day.
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📸: Me (tripod)
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#lagosportugal #portugal_gems #portugalovers #portugalguide #portugalvisuals #portugalia #portugal_vision #portugaltravel #portugal_passion #darlingplaces #postcardplaces #prettylittletrips #journeysofgirls #inspiringwanderers #babeswhowander #shetravelz #thewanderingtourist #girldiscoverers #girlsdreamtravel #theeverygirltravels #ladiesgoneglobal #thedreamytravels #shetravels #wanderwoman #abmlifeiscolorful #femaletraveler #damestravel #prettylittleiiinspo #allpinkeverything #roamingwomen

When this is all over, may you never take for gran

When this is all over, may you never take for granted the warm sunlight on your skin, the foamy tide washing over your toes, or the mountain air caressing your face.
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Where will you go first when you can travel again? I’m looking at you, Mediterranean 🌊👀
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📸: @brown.eyed.flower.child
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#discoverspain #spaintourism #spaintravel #spain_photographs #speechlessplaces #femaletravelbloggers #babeswhowander #shetravelz #prettylittletrips #travelgirlsgo #thewanderingtourist #girldiscoverers #travelcolorfully #sheisnotlost #girlsdreamtravel #theeverygirltravels #travelinladies #girlsthatwander #damestravel #journeysofgirls #ladiesgoneglobal #theviewfromhere #makeitblissful #forgeyourownpath #outdoortones #thedreamytravels #abmlifeiscolorful #myhappyviews #shetravels #wanderwoman

“What seems to us as bitter trials are often ble

“What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.” -Oscar Wilde
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I like to challenge myself to find the positive in everything. Tbh, I’ve actually discovered a bunch of silver linings in my little bubble in the midst of this current world crisis…
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1️⃣ Since people aren’t traveling right now, I feel less pressure to post on Instagram just to please the algorithm. I’m also not as concerned about whether a photo is “Insta-worthy.” I’m just happy to have found some gems from my past travels that I can share with you now.
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2️⃣ This whole situation has made me more appreciative of the travel experiences I have had.
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3️⃣ I’m seeing more genuine captions on here as a result of people sharing their struggle. It’s a refreshing change from “Twirling in [insert city here].”
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4️⃣ I’m seeing less ill-fitting sponsored posts.
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5️⃣ It’s been amazing to feel the support from my little travel community. I’ve had some deeper conversations via DM which have helped me get to know my followers on a human level.
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6️⃣ I feel more connected to my extended family members than I ever have, as we’ve been doing Facetime calls and checking in.
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7️⃣ I actually feel MORE creative in terms of blogging. This whole experience is forcing me to think outside the box and continue serving my audience in new ways. I didn’t even realize this consciously, but before this happened, I didn’t feel super motivated to write. I was tired of pumping out Instagram guides and felt like I lost my voice. I finally feel like I’m creating content that’s meaningful to me.
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Now I challenge you: What are some positives you’ve been able to take away?
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📸: @brown.eyed.flower.child
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#discoverspain #spaintourism #spaintravel #spainvacations #spain_photographs #darlingplaces #femaletravelbloggers #babeswhowander #shetravelz #prettylittletrips #postcardplaces #travelgirlsgo #thewanderingtourist #livetotravel #postcardfromtheworld #girldiscoverers #travelcolorfully #pinktrotters #sheisnotlost #girlsdreamtravel #theeverygirltravels #travelinladies #girlsthatwander #damestravel #journeysofgirls #ladiesgoneglobal #thetraveltribe #fromwhereistand #makeitblissful #thinkpositive

It’s a hard time to be a travel blogger. For all

It’s a hard time to be a travel blogger. For all of my fellow blogger buds who are struggling right now (especially with your blog traffic), I got you! Here’s how:
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1️⃣ My goal is to continue providing relevant value for my fellow bloggers in the midst of this crap situation. That being said, I just hit publish on my latest blog post. This 5.1k-word beast is packed with 15 actionable tips for building your blog momentum when you’re not traveling. Whether you’re sitting in quarantine, working from home, or simply going bonkers in the midst of all this, I invite you to come distract yourself (and hopefully learn a thing or two).
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2️⃣ Now, more than ever, I’m reminded of the importance of community over competition. As you know, travel blogging has been majorly impacted by this global crisis and it’s understandably a struggle right now. But I’ve been so inspired by how this incredible blogging community has been joining together to share each other’s posts. So, in the spirit of community, I want to continue the chain of support. If you read my latest blog post (link in bio) and pin it, send me a DM with a screenshot of the pin on one of your boards (or in the Tailwind scheduler) and I will do the same for you.
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No matter what, the writer’s spirit can never be broken. Let’s continue to thrive together!
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📸: @stefpap86
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. #chania #crete #chaniacrete #cretegreece #instachania #visitgreece #greecetravel #discovergreece #greece_moments #greecestagram #femaletravelbloggers #babeswhowander #shetravelz #prettylittletrips #postcardplaces #prettycity #livetotravel #travelgirlsgo #thewanderingtourist #postcardfromtheworld #wonderlustgreece #sheisnotlost #girldiscoverers #darlingplaces #worldofwanderlust #travelcolorfully #girlsdreamtravel #theeverygirltravels #travelinladies #pinktrotters

On one hand, it feels weirdly disingenuous to shar

On one hand, it feels weirdly disingenuous to share dreamy travel photos considering all that’s going on in the world right now…
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...But on the other hand, it feels incredibly therapeutic. Just like my other passions in life – theater, film, the arts – travel is a form of escapism for me. And now that the walls are closing in on everyone’s travel plans as this virus continues to spread, more than ever I find myself needing that escape. So I’m going through some “oldies but goodies” from my favorite country that I never had the opportunity to share on here.
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This one is from Fiskardo, on the remote island of Kefalonia. Reflecting on Greece brings a smile to my face because it’s one of those special places where my heart feels at home. There’s an interesting dichotomy on the Greek islands – one part zest for life and another part peacefulness and serenity. Remembering these special moments is helping me get through this chaotic time.
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How do you satisfy the need for a mental escape?
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📸: @stefpap86
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#kefalonia #kefaloniaisland #greecestagram #greece_moments #visitgreece #discovergreece #greece_travel #greece_vacations #greecetravel #reasonstovisitgreece #greeceislands #babeswhowander #travelgirlsgo #shetravelz #postcardfromtheworld #livetotravel #prettylittletrips #girlsthatwander #thewanderingtourist #damestravel #theeverygirltravels #travelcommunity #darlingplaces #worldofwanderlust #travelcolorfully #girldicoverers #girlsdreamtravel #travelinladies #pinktrotters #sheisnotlost

Last Central Park shot, but heading back to the ci

Last Central Park shot, but heading back to the city on Monday to capture some fresh content for you guys!
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It’s funny how I can travel the world, but I’ll always refer to NYC as “the city.” Growing up on Long Island, I would visit the city often to take classes, see shows, and check out museums. It was sort of a normal part of my life and I always imagined I would one day live in an apartment in the West Village.
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Fast forward many years later, and I’m a homeowner in CT. I value my privacy/solitude/space so much that I can’t imagine trading it for the chaotic city life...but when people ask, I always say I’m from NY because that just feels more honest to me.
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That said, Stef and I hardly ever go to the city now unless we’re creating content. People seem to care much more about the concrete jungle than they do about charming CT 😆 Going into the city now is one part hassle (because of the distance/traffic) and one part nostalgic. Funny how places mean different things to you over time...who can relate?
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📸: @stefpap86
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#centralparknyc #centralparkmoments #newyork_instagram #newyorklike #thisisnewyorkcity #nyloveyou #igersofnyc #igersnyc #nyc_explorers #instanyc #visitnyc #unlimitednyc #newyork_ig #visitnewyork #explorenyc #travelnyc #travelgirlsgo #girldiscoverers #babeswhowander #travelcolorfully #ihavethisthingwithpink #pinktrotters #travelgirldiary #prettylittletrips #darlingplaces #prettylittleinspo #springvibes #ilovespring #journeysofgirls #girlswhowander

✨Blogger reflections✨ . As I’ve started plan

✨Blogger reflections✨
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As I’ve started planning my spring trips, I realized that my planning process has evolved pretty significantly. I used to think almost entirely like an Instagrammer. You’d find me stalking IG & Pinterest, scouting the best photo spots, and planning my outfits accordingly.
Although this is still a huge part of my planning process, I now find myself thinking more like a blogger.
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Current thought process: What can I write about in “x” destination? What do people want to read about that hasn’t been done a million times before – OR – how can I take what’s been written a million times over and put my own unique stamp on it? What keywords can I rank for? Will my pins match up against others in the same category?
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It’s funny because I used to find it impossible to think about what I would write BEFORE visiting a place…how could I possibly know what I would blog about before even seeing it? Back then, I drew my inspiration solely from visiting. Now I find myself planning trips around articles I feel called to write. But I always leave myself open to new writing inspiration along the way.
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How about you? Do you think like an Instagrammer, a blogger, a combination of the two, or something completely different?
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📸: @stefpap86
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#centralparknyc #newyork_instagram #thisisnewyorkcity #nyloveyou #igersofnyc #igersnyc #nyc_explorers #newyorkstateofmind #instanyc #unlimitednewyork #newyork_ig #visitnyc #visitnewyork #explorenyc #newyorklovers #travelnyc #femaletravelbloggers #travelgirlsgo #wonderlustocollective #forgeyourownpath #takemoreadventures #pursuewhatislovely #feelfreefeed #makeitblissful #shetravelz #prettylittletrips #roamingwomen #keepnaturewild #fromwhereistand #theviewfromhere

Throwing it back to warmer days in Palm Beach beca

Throwing it back to warmer days in Palm Beach because it’s the last day of February, woo! 🙌🏻 I don’t know about you, but once March hits, I’m already wildly impatient for spring! Soooo ready to soak up those sun rays and see flowers in bloom🌞🌸 💐
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What are you most looking forward to this spring?
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P.S. If you want to know exactly where to find this pretty spot, I’ll be sharing a swipe up in today’s Stories to my Palm Beach Instagram guide!
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📸: @stefpap86
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#palmbeach #palmbeachcounty #floridagirl #floridalifestyle #pinktrotters #ihavethisthingwithtiles #damestravel #shetravels #prettycity #babeswhowander #girlsthatwander #shetravelz #prettylittletrips #postcardplaces #livetotravel #travelgirlsgo #travelcolorfully #thewanderingtourist #postcardfromtheworld #travelcommunity #sheisnotlost #girlsborntotravel #travelhappy #thetraveltribe #girldiscoverers #traveldreamseekers #ladiesgoneglobal #journeysofgirls #darlingplaces #travelinladies

Been disappearing for longer stretches of time on

Been disappearing for longer stretches of time on here recently to focus on my blog...Although it takes a daily dose of humility to accept that I won’t grow on the gram again until I’m on more of a regular posting schedule, I AM finally growing in “Blogger Land” and it’s so, so rewarding to see! This February actually marks a record high of the most monthly sessions I’ve had since starting my blog! I think this calls for a happy dance 💃
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Quick little reminder for all of the ambitious folk out there: Typically, your various life goals will not all come to fruition at the same time. That said, the things you invest most of your time into will eventually pay you back! Keep hustling and shining! 💪🏻
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📸: @stefpap86
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#brooklynbridgepark #topnewyorkphoto #thisisnewyorkcity #nyloveyou #loves_nyc #lovenyc #what_i_saw_in_nyc #icapture_nyc #nycgo #nyc_highlights #igersofnyc #igersnyc #nyc_explorers #instanyc #unlimitednewyork #nycdotgram #visitnyc #explorenyc #travelnyc #travelgirlsgo #postcardfromtheworld #shetravelz #girldiscoverers #babeswhowander #prettylittletrips #travelinladies #traveldreamseekers #femaletravelbloggers #prettycity #seeyourcity

Sending you some sunny Central Park vibes this Sat

Sending you some sunny Central Park vibes this Saturday! 🌞I’m nearing the end of my NYC shots, but I’ll be heading into Brooklyn tomorrow to spend the day with some friends and capture some new content. Have you been to Brooklyn?
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📸: @stefpap86
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#centralparknyc #nycblogger #topnewyorkphoto #thisisnewyorkcity #nyloveyou #igersofnyc #igersnyc #nycexplorers #instanyc #unlimitednewyork #nycdotgram #visitnyc #visitnewyork #explorenyc #newyorklovers #travelnyc #travelgirlsgo #postcardfromtheworld #traveldreamseekers #shetravelz #girldiscoverers #babeswhowander #travelcolorfuly #prettylittletrips #travelinladies #sheisnotlost #ladiesgoneglobal #pinktrotters #girlsdreamtravel #prettylittleinspo

This picture perfectly represents how I felt wakin

This picture perfectly represents how I felt waking up today. The sun was shining through the curtains, I was all snuggly and warm, and then I realized it was Friday and a smile spread across my face 😄
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Although I don’t really have “weekends” anymore as I’m pretty much always doing something for my blog, the end of the week does mean no new freelance assignments for the next two days. Plus, tomorrow is my fav bloggy thing of all: “Blog Post Saturday.” This week, I actually get to enjoy it to its fullest because I’m not working my Saturday side gig at the same time 😆. Just me, strong coffee, and my laptop. Pure bliss😌 Are you familiar with BPS and do you participate?
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📸: @stefpap86
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#centralparknyc #centralparkmoments #topnewyorkphoto #thisisnewyorkcity #nyloveyou #loves_nyc #lovenyc #what_i_saw_in_nyc
#icapture_nyc #nycgo #nyc_highlights #igersofnyc #igersnyc #nyc_explorers
#instanyc #unlimitednewyork #nycdotgram #visitnyc #explorenyc #travelnyc #travelgirlsgo #postcardfromtheworld #shetravelz #girldiscoverers #babeswhowander #prettylittletrips #travelinladies #traveldreamseekers #femaletravelbloggers #prettycity

I’ve been having some interesting conversations

I’ve been having some interesting conversations with fellow content creators/bloggers recently about IG vs. blogging and how to balance the two. Here are some recent revelations I've had:
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1️⃣ Instagram is like Candy Crush Saga. It’s flashy and stimulating at its best and addictive at its worst. In the first hour after posting, likes roll in triggering an adrenaline rush akin to slot machine euphoria. As time goes on, that “high” tapers off, leaving you wanting more. So you return for the next fix. If you're able to break the cycle to focus on other aspirations, a sense of guilt can follow. Then the algorithm “punishes” you and you panic, thus setting the whole cycle back in motion again. That said, IG is great for ATTENTION. There are so many users you can reach, inspire, and build biz connections with.
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2️⃣ Now for blogging. Just this morning, I was telling a fellow content creator that the blogging world can be lonely at first. Unlike IG, there’s no Candy-Crush-Saga-style instant gratification rush. You don’t get many likes/accolades until you BUILD something and cultivate a community – and that can take time. But, once you do, the payoff can be HUGE. Plus, the lifespan of a blog post can be YEARS.
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3️⃣ So...what now? Figure out your goals and which is a better investment of your time rn. Both platforms give you an amazing opportunity to cultivate a community, spread your message, and live your biggest, corniest dreams. But you need to prioritize. Practice patience. Shake the addiction to instant gratification. Appreciate THE JOURNEY. Say “no” to things that aren’t serving your goals. Saying no today doesn’t mean you’re saying it forever. Stay focused on how amazing it will feel to achieve your goals. Or, you know, scrap this and do your own thing 🙃
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📸: @stefpap86
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#brownstone #thisisnewyorkcity #nyloveyou #loves_nyc #lovenyc #what_i_saw_in_nyc #icapture_nyc #nycgo #nyc_highlights #igersofnyc #igersnyc #instanyc #unlimitednewyork #nycdotgram #visitnyc #explorenyc #travelnyc #travelgirlsgo #postcardfromtheworld #shetravelz #girldiscoverers #babeswhowander #prettylittletrips #travelinladies #femaletravelbloggers #darlingplaces #prettylittleinspo

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