This Week in the World: Week 18

Happy Sunday, and Happy Greek Orthodox Easter to those who celebrate! My friend Victoria (who is half-Greek) is hosting a celebration in her garden later today for a few of us and I’m excited to embrace her culture while dining on some delicious Greek food! Being outdoors here in London is becoming nicer and nicer everyday, especially now that the beautiful wisteria is blooming!

If you’re new here, ‘This Week in the World’ is a weekly recap of content ranging from around the globe. My hope is that each week, no matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to feel more connected to it: through news, travel, food & wine… really, anything that appeals to the culturally curious. Let’s dive into the content I sourced for week 18.

TRAVEL NEWS, UPDATES + INSPIRATION

• June 9th is the set date that Americans can start visiting France again.

• Flights to Europe are more expensive than they used to be. Here are 13 affordable places to visit in Europe (both cities and countryside) to keep your trip within budget.

• Another country to add to your list: Americans will now be able to travel to Spain starting in June.

• Africa’s Elephants are in peril—but could travel help protect them?

• Delta is back to selling 100% of the seats on their flights, which means gone are the days of always having an empty seat next to you (sigh).

AROUND THE WORLD

• It is absolutely heartbreaking to see what is happening in India right now. Here are some ways to help and where you can donate to help those in crisis.

• Scotland’s election is this week (6th of May) where Nicola Sturgeon is up for re-election. I enjoyed this podcast on how if she is re-elected, it would likely mean another referendum for Scottish independence.

• The days are getting longer and warmer here in the UK (and American travelers will likely be able to visit without quarantine soon!) Here are 7 glorious outdoor spots to enjoy a cocktail and enjoy the sunshine here in London.

MISCELLANEOUS

• It may sound silly, but I’m so excited I got a UK credit card this week! (Fellow expats will understand why this feels like quite an accomplishment!) Since I was already a US Amex cardholder, I had no issue opening the British Airways Amex here in the UK. If you spend £20,000 each year, you also receive a companion voucher (and if you apply using this link, you will receive 9,000 Avios points if you spend £1,000 in your first 3 months).

• Are you keen to build your wine cellar but don’t know where to start? One of my favorite wine shops in London, Barry Brothers & Rudd has a great program where you can pay as little as £100 per month to have experts build and store your cellar. It’s a simple way to build a collection of wine perfectly tailored to your taste, and you can “cash out” to collect your wine at anytime. I think it’s such a smart idea and am considering starting one myself!

• Plastic gets to the oceans through over 1,000 rivers (way more than what we originally thought). Here’s what you can do to help.

• Can you have alcohol after the COVID vaccine? (The question all wine enthusiasts are asking right now).

• 6 documentaries on sustainability that will make you think twice about what you buy.

WANT ALL OF THIS DIRECTLY IN YOUR INBOX?

BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER!

That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!

xx

Whitney

This Week in the World: Week 13

Hello again! It’s a “pour another cup of coffee” morning over here, as the UK finally sprung forward to begin Daylight Savings last night (we’re two weeks behind the US). I’m very pleased that it will be light out until 7:30pm tonight (and pretty soon it will be light until after 9pm here! I love British summertime!) We have some gorgeous weather ahead, which is great because starting tomorrow we’re allowed to have picnics outdoors with up to 6 people from other households! And pretty soon (April 12th) our shops can reopen and we’ll be allowed to dine outdoors at restaurants… I can hardly wait!

If you’re new here, ‘This Week in the World’ is a weekly recap of content ranging from around the globe. My hope is that each week, no matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to feel more connected to it: through news, travel, food & wine… really, anything that appeals to the culturally curious. Let’s dive into the content I sourced for week 13.

TRAVEL NEWS, UPDATES + INSPIRATION:

• Want to go to Europe this summer? Here are your options.

• Why I remain hopeful about the future of travel.

• Craving a bit of culture? Here’s how to make the ultimate Japanese comfort food: udon noodles.

• Travelers are sitting on more than $10 billion in airline credits — here’s what do to do before they expire.

AROUND THE WORLD:

• New Zealand parliament passed a new law this week that allows couples who have a miscarriage or stillbirth to be eligible for paid bereavement leave. I think Jacinda is so great and appreciate so many of the policies she has implemented over the years!

• These two reporters write about gun violence in America as their full-time jobs (and have been doing so for over a decade). I enjoyed this piece they wrote on why everything about America’s gun debate is wrong.

• I am highly sensitive when it comes to animals so I had to take a break before I could finish… but Netflix’s ‘Seaspiracy’ is going to change your thoughts on seafood forever. I know how much we all love food, but I believe it really is so important for all of us to be more mindful consumers (reducing the amount of meat we eat can have a huge impact on the planet... and there are tons of delicious vegetarian options!) But beyond our diet alone, all of us have a responsibility to use as little plastic as we can. As I saw it put “we don’t need a handful of people living zero-waste or vegan lifestyles perfectly… we need millions of people imperfectly making some effort.”

• London sprung forward last night (our Daylight Savings begins 2 weeks after the US). Here’s what happens to Big Ben when the clocks all change.

• Here’s a simple explanation of what happened at the Suez Canal.

• I saw my friend Rebecca share that Paris will be the first to commit to staging a climate-positive Olympic and Paralympic games when they host in 2024. Very excited to see this!

WEEKLY FAVORITES:

• FAVORITE LISTEN: All men need to play a part in ending violence against women, and this podcast highlights what that can and should look like.

• FAVORITE FIND: Speaking of violence against women, I ordered a Birdie Personal Alarm to keep on my keychain to feel a bit safer whenever I’m walking alone. You can use code BLONDEATLAS at checkout to save 10%.

• FAVORITE SAVES: A few Instagram posts I loved and saved this week are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE AND HERE.

WANT ALL OF THIS DIRECTLY IN YOUR INBOX?

BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER!

That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!

xx

Whitney

This Week in the World: Week 2

Wow. This week was… a lot. Trying to briefly summarize what happened at the US Capitol feels like a gross oversimplification. I still feel a bit frazzled wrapping my head around what happened and all the commentary that has followed since. When things like this happen, I try to find the balance of keeping informed so I can learn, while also not overstimulating my mind to the point where anxiety completely overwhelms me. So I wanted this week’s round up to reflect that balance: some information to help you learn, and some information to help you reset.

If you’re new here, ‘This Week in the World’ is a weekly recap of content ranging from around the globe. My hope is that each week, no matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to feel more connected to it: through news, travel, food & wine… really, anything that appeals to the culturally curious. Let’s dive right in to week 2.

WORLD NEWS

• Following the attack on the Capitol, I really enjoyed listening to the commentary from these podcasts.

  • Pantsuit Politics “An Attempted American Coup”

  • The Daily "An Assault on the Capitol"

  • The Daily "How They Stormed Congress"

  • Today in Focus "The storming of the Capitol and the end of the Trump era”

• Also in response to the attack on the Capitol, I really enjoyed reading THIS BuzzFeed article by Stephanie McNeal, articulating why influencers have more power than you may think.

• Morgan Harper Nichols is always so poignant, but THIS article on unity really stood out.

TRAVEL NEWS + UPDATES

• Missing exploring? Me too. I loved watching some of THESE Condé Nast Traveler Videos from the "Walking Around In" Series

• Have plans to go to Mexico? The CDC says you should cancel.

• Lots of people are asking about predictions for travel in 2021. I think THIS article makes a lot of great points.

• I really do believe we are getting closer as this vaccine rolls out… but please remember to be wise and safe about any travel plans you make. I'm always here to help you navigate travel planning to ensure you're being safe and are fully aware of policies. And until then, I have lots of online courses to help curb your wanderlust!

WEEKLY FAVORITES:

• FAVORITE FOLLOWS: Especially after a week like this, I'm glued to informative accounts like @emilyinyourphone, @sharonsaysso, @jessicayellin who do a great job of informing on important issues.
  

• FAVORITE SUSTAINABLE TRAINERS: I know a lot of people are really into Golden Goose, but I am such an advocate for TWO amazing sustainable brands instead: I’ve worn THESE Veja trainers for 2 years now and last year, also added THESE Everlane ones to my repertoire. Both are so versatile, great for travel and can easily be dressed up or down.

• FAVORITE SCENT: I shared this on stories a few weeks ago, but THIS Diptyque "London" scent takes you to the heart of the Columbia Road flower market (since we can't physically go there now). Its unique notes of heliotrope, lilac, juniper and hyacinth are warmed with a touch of spice.

• FAVORITE READ: A few years ago I did the 30 day “Me and White Supremacy” workbook that Layla Saad started as an Instagram challenge (and has since turned into a bestselling book!) I try to re-read a chapter at least once every week or two because I’m continuously reflecting on new examples in life that I can learn from. After seeing white privilege in full display this week, I think this is a great tool to dig into.

*Another favorite read this week was THIS POST written by Danielle Moss on “How to Support Someone Immediately After a Cancer Diagnosis.” Even if you don’t know anyone dealing with a diagnosis right now, I think this is such an important read to be mindful of supporting others in their grief in ways they actually need (hint: they don’t always align with your best intentions) .

SUSTAINABILITY:

• Composting was a practice that I started in 2020 and now am hooked! If you’re looking for a way to reduce your environmental impact, I highly recommend giving it a try. HERE is some more information if you’re interested in giving it a go yourself (TIP: if you live in a flat like me or any space without a yard, try keeping a bag in your freezer to collect the food scraps to eliminate any odors!)

• I’m planning to join THIS Somm Session (an online wine course with Borough Wines) that’s spotlighting sustainable wines! Borough Wines started “Sustainable Wine Solutions” and is constantly optimizing their sustainability efforts (including offering wine on tap so you can bring a reusable bottle to refill).

• When you spend less, you waste less! I recently decided I want to try “No Spend Days” throughout 2021… essentially committing to not spending any money on those particular days (THIS article is old, but it gives you an idea). So often we buy things we don’t even need, and those eventually end up in a landfill… so not only is this habit good for your wallet, but it’s also good for the planet!

WANT ALL OF THIS DIRECTLY IN YOUR INBOX?

BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER!

That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!

xx

Whitney