Featured Blogger Friday: "Life Abroad"

I'm ecstatic to bring you the very first Pretty featured Friday blogger, Life Abroad.  Travelers & photography lovers, you especially are in for a treat here.

Heather is a twenty-something Canadian who started blogging one year ago to chronicle her adventures moving to the Netherlands with her boyfriend and traveling Europe.  Her travelogue-style posts & gorgeous photographs capture the the expat life in wonderful detail, making me feverishly desire to grab my passport and head for the nearest airport.  As we established yesterday, this feeling isn't rare for me, but Life Abroad somehow whets my travel appetite while inspiring me to plan future expeditions.

Passengers, please fasten your seatbelts & turn off all electronic devices (well, except for your computer) while I present my Q&A with Life Abroad:

Why she started her blog:  I started my blog as a way to keep in touch with friends and family while being overseas. It was also a way to chronicle my adventures here, and to help me remember all of the new experiences I have had since moving to the Netherlands.

What inspires her: My inspiration comes from the beauty that surrounds me in Europe. Whether it's strolling through a market, dining at a sidewalk cafe, or boating down the Amsterdam canals, I find inspiration in the photographs that I take and the experiences that I have. I've attached some of my favourite inspiring photographs:

(Pretty note:  SO BEAUTIFUL.  Where is the nearest airport???)

Hobbies outside of blogging: Outside of blogging, my hobbies include photography, traveling, tennis, scrapbooking, and shopping!

Goals for her blog & "in real life": Besides daily posts on life in Amsterdam, I would like to focus my blog more on specific restaurant, touring, shopping, and spa reviews in the city. I think it's always nice to have insight on a city from a local person, and read things that aren't found in tour books. I get lots of e-mails asking for specific recommendations on things to do in Amsterdam, and I'm always happy to help out fellow travelers. My dream job would be to work as a professional travel writer, exploring the world and documenting my adventures. 

In real life, I am starting a Masters degree in Business Administration at the Rotterdam (Erasmus) School of Management. I would like to combine my love of travel, writing, and photography with business in the future, although my exact plans have yet to be figured out! 

What should readers know about her before visiting her blog:  Before visiting Life Abroad, I would like readers to know that I am just a regular 20-something who embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. I think that moving abroad was a huge leap, and it has definitely been a constant challenge. Getting accustomed to a non-English speaking country, moving in with my boyfriend of 3 years, and figuring out what I want to do with my life has been such a learning experience. Perhaps people who are interested in what happens when you pack your life into two suitcases, hop on a plane, and set up a new life in a foreign country will enjoy reading my blog :)

Darlings, please head over to Life Abroad immediately and give Heather a Pretty welcome!  You can also follow her on Twitter here. 

Note: If anyone else is interested in being a featured Friday blogger or have a blogger you would like to suggest, please peruse my original guidelines here & leave me a comment including your email address.

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While we're on the topic of honoring bloggers I admire, I hereby send a long overdue, smoochy thank you to Mom X 2, The Preppy Princess, Princess Freckles, and NYC HIT for honoring the Pretty with festive awards. 

- Ms. Mom & TP, of course you both have long been favorite bloggers of mine, so I'm particularly pleased and touched by this.  Thank you.

- Ms. Freckles & NYC, I'm new to your blogs, but am loving getting to e-know you; thank you so much!