Hi Guys!
I hope you’re having a great start to your week. Since my blog is new, I wanted to give you an inside peek to what it’s like for me living overseas and the things I do. A good number of people have this perception that I live this lavish life in Europe, lounging around all day, sipping wine while my husband brings all the money home. I want to tell you that it’s not at all like that, like at all!! I’m in a small town called Ventspils, Latvia. Where in the world is Latvia???? Well, if you turn the globe around and focus on Russia, then look a little left and a little down, there you will find Latvia. Before Jon signed to play here, i had never even heard of Latvia. Well, maybe once, because I knew Kristaps Pzoringis was from here. Other than that, I couldn’t tell you where it is on the map.
I can’t tell you how many countless number of conversations I’ve had with people that go like this:
Them: “ So where is Jon playing?”
Me: “We’re in Latvia”
Them: “Where in the hell is that?”
Me: “Over near Russia”
Them: “Oh ok ok” (meaning, “dang that’s far” or “yea i have no clue where that is”)
Haha.
I always get a kick out of seeing people’s reactions when I tell them where we are and seeing them try to even pronounce it. My sister swears I’m in Russia. Last year, Jon was an hr from Milan, a major city in Italy. Our town was small, but I could walk to the train station, hop on the train and be in Milan in under an hour. Life has completely changed. There are no trains here and we are 2 hrs away from Riga, the capital of Latvia. Ventspils is a beach town, on the coast of the Baltic Sea. This is a summer destination for Latvians thanks to its long beach and beautiful water. We were able to go the beach the first few weeks we were here and it really was nice!
Me, Myself and I...with no Beyonce
Jon practices twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening so I spend a lot of my time by myself at home. In between his practices, we’re either watching Netflix or he’s napping or playing video games. I even started playing Fortnite. Crazy, I know. When we first got here, I was going to the gym but then it went under renovations ya’ll!!! U know how hard it is to motivate yourself to a do a home workout?? Hard. Real real hard.
Now, I spend most of my days working on my blog and trying to get a workout in. We’re going on our honeymoon in just about 3 months and I have a lot of physical goals I want to achieve before then!! Who else doesn’t want to be naked and snatched on a beach somewhere in Bali?! I can always use accountability partners!
I’ve come to love cooking and trying out new recipes that I find online. We have a small kitchen and we don’t have a normal size oven so it’s been fun trying to figure out what can fit in the “smart oven/microwave” and what can’t. We’re on a pescetarian diet right now so that’s allowed me to get really creative in the kitchen! Cooking is a way for me to just be myself. It also is a big money saver. There aren’t a lot of places to eat out here but cooking allows us to focus more on groceries and less on eating out. Below are just some of the things I’ve cooked (or Jon has made) while we’ve been here! Leave a comment below if you have any questions about any of these dishes or how to make them!
Knowledge is Power!
I read, a lot! Me and my thoughts don’t get along and whenever I feel like I’m wasting my time, I’ll grab a book and curl up on the couch. I just finished reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, which has REALLY inspired me to become financially literate. When I’m not planning our honeymoon, writing a blog post or working out, I’m reading about investing and financial education pieces. When Jon is done playing basketball, he wants to go the entrepreneurship route and I’m down for the ride! Right now, I’m educating myself so we can start investing our money properly and in ways that will generate more income for us. In this day and age (and economy), working a 9-5 just for the government to take half of your hard earned money is absurd to me. People can barely afford retirement anymore and I can’t fathom. Entrepreneurship and multiple streams of income is the way to go!
I also love listening to sermons and podcasts. My favorite pastor I listen to currently is Pastor Sarah Jakes-Roberts (T.D. Jakes’ daughter). She is PHENOMENAL. Her sermons (and podcast “Woman Evolve) really speak to me. She’s relatable and she’s real. She doesn’t sugar coat. I highly recommend her podcast too!
Since the gym has been under renovation, I’ve had to workout at home. I do hip hop dance/tabata workouts on Youtube for my cardio and before you judge, do one. You will literally pass out. Which is what I need, I guess. 😉
Check out my favorite Youtube Cardio Workout here!
These are just some of the few things that I do to occupy my day. Every day is a new chance for me to structure my day in the most productive way. I’m still a work in progress, but I’m slowly but surely getting there. It’s not easy when you spend copious amounts of time to yourself in a place where there is not much to do. It’s part of the reason I started this blog. I want a way to reach more people!
If you take nothing else away from this, take this: Everyone has one life to live. Once it’s up, that’s it. Make the most of your days. Make the most of your time. Start that business plan. Start that blog. Start that book. Start that job application. Whatever it is, do it! But, be sure to remember that your happiness is what matters. Don’t forget about yourself in the process. You only get one body and one mind. Feed it with knowledge, fuel it with nutrients. It’s never too late to start a new goal or pick up where you left with one. You’re not alone!!
It’s almost March which means I’m one month closer to being home!! I can’t wait!!!!
XOXO,
K. Marie
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Rich dad, Poor Dad was a great book!! I want to read it again.
& I love Sarah Jakes too. She’s so real.
Thanks for sharing your experience ❤️
Sarah Jakes is the best!!