Is Pinterest social media? Is there a method on how to find friends on Pinterest? I delve into all these answers to help you understand a bit more about the platform - keep reading! So, what is Pinterest? Pinterest is an image-sharing social media platform. In order to use the service, users have to create an account. If you don't have an account, it'll prompt you to login before it'll allow you to use any of the features. You can use your Google account to log in or create an account with your email & password.

Photos, videos, & GIFs can be saved into what are called pinboards.  The user can create their own boards or participate in group boards. People can use the toolbar to search for what they are looking for. Click here to see my Pinterest boards & the groups I'm in as an example. Over the years I've created a range of pin boards due to my interests at the time; I've also joined many groups & been invited to participate in group boards.

Everything 

Gifts 

Videos 

Animals and pets 

Architecture 

Art 

Cars and motorcycles 

Celebrities 

DIY and crafts 

Design 

Education 

Entertainment 

Food and drink 

Gardening

Geek 

Hair and beauty

Health and fitness 

History 

Holidays and events 

Home decor 

Humor 

Illustrations and posters

Kids and parenting

Men's fashion 

Outdoors 

Photography 

Products 

Quotes 

Science and nature

Sports 

Tattoos 

Technology 

Travel 

Weddings 

Women's fashion

Each of the Pinterest categories comes with a bunch of other subcategories. For example, under the DIY and crafts section, you'll find related topics such as Hacks, Woodworking, Beadwork, Jewelry making, Quilting, among others. You can always search for other terms as well. How to tie-dye clothes with bleach. Black & white photography of Sweden. Chocolate & coffee oatmeal. 

If you don't know what you're searching for, start with something vague such as "travel tips" & then it'll prompt you if you want to be more specific. It might show Europe, Packing, Amtrak train, International, Japan, Hawaii, Solo, Iceland, etc. It helps refine the search to be more relevant for you. Now when we're talking about is Pinterest social media, this is where it's a bit different. 

You can use Pinterest solely for imagery, inspiration, or to access the search feature like you would for Google. Whereas people might use Facebook to post about their life or they might use Instagram to get followers their business, many people use Pinterest for its search capabilities & its wealth of information.

Start by doing some initial searches. Then you might find some users whose content you really like or relate to. If you feel inclined, you can follow them so you'll see more of the things that they post. If you're trying to find out how to find friends on Pinterest, type in their name in the search bar, go to their profile, & follow them there. If you can't find them or perhaps they have a different name, just ask them for their username or their link. That's the easiest method on how to find friends on Pinterest.

What in the world is Pinterest?! Is Pinterest social media? Is there such a thing as Pinterest training? How to find friends on Pinterest? So maybe you have read all this & you're still totally confused. That was me. I used to Pinterest for quite a long time before I figured out how it works so I totally understand the frustration. Now I've been using the social media platform for years & even work with my clients on their accounts. If you need a Pinterest manager, fill out my quickie questionnaire. I'm not a Pinterest marketing agency but I'm a human being who specialized in Pinterest. As a Pinterest manager, I've used Pinterest marketing for clients such as a bohemian towel brand, a travel influencer, a fitness trainer, & even a therapy practice. See my blog post about How I Help People as a Blog Coach & Consultant.

Beauty at a bargain is the best. Isn't it? I was searching on Amazon for some products to bring with me on my Europe trip & I found Italia Deluxe on Amazon. I've never heard of the brand before, but it had rave reviews. Most people rated their experience 5/5 stars with only a fraction giving it less than that. I was impressed. Really impressed. So I took the leap.



The set comes with 12 lip liners for just under $10. There isn't much information on the brand save for some things I found in the comment section. These liners are reportedly not tested on animals but do contain beeswax. According to the packaging, Italia Deluxe is distributed by City Cosmetics Inc. in Los Angeles, CA. Each liner weighs .08 ounces.

Take a look at these glorious swatches. I'm seriously dazzled. I have a range of colors, many of which I would never have purchased myself.  But I love them. The variety of hues gives me the opportunity to experiment & expand on my makeup. I get to step out of my comfort zone. Would I normally buy a nude lip liner? No. Did I like it? Very much so.


These are the colors I got (left to right): Burgundy, Fuchsia, Natural Beige, Plum, Mango, Hot Red, Brown Sugar, Dusty Rose, Magenta, Cabaret, Toast, & Natural.

Traveling abroad is one of the most amazing things you can do in life. You get to witness how other people live their lives, what they eat, how they speak. There's really nothing like it. One of my favorite things about traveling is trying local foods, new foods, & getting out of my usual routine. The thing to consider is that you're already paying a huge chunk of change for your plane ticket. The question therein is: how do you eat cheap & on a budget while traveling abroad? Don't worry I've got your back with plenty of tips to lead you on the right track. Here's to eating well & eating cheap!

Do your research

If you have some sort of Internet access look online to see what food is out there. You can check out Yelp, browse reviews, & search for affordable options in your area. There's no way that you could possibly know all the restaurants & cafes yourself, so to do a little bit of research & narrow it down. Be sure to consider the pricing, portion size, & distance from your current location.

Understand tipping

Tipping practices vary per country. Some don't require or expect tips at all. Some include tips into your check. Make sure you learn & understand how it works. Over time, you'll save a pretty penny if you know the tipping culture.

Go to a grocery store

Heading to local grocery stores is one of my favorite things about traveling. I will never forget Albert Heijn, a Dutch supermarket. You have no idea how many times I went into that store to buy delicious juice, cheese croissants, & lentil avocado salad. Their prices were cheap & made for the perfect picnic. Grocery stores & markets are the way to go because you get to grab something to-go or make, cook, & assemble your own meals. You can also buy coffee or tea bags to save you from picking up one every morning.

Pack your lunch

You're out & about all day exploring the city & its many wonders. Save some cash by bringing lunch with you. It's just like the old days in elementary school; packing your lunch will keep your cost down. The fun challenge is finding a lovely place to eat your lunch. Picnics are everything when traveling abroad! I'll never forget the quaint garden lunch at a picnic table in Copenhagen or the lovely lakeside picnic in Amsterdam. Those packed picnic lunches were some of my favorite memories from traveling abroad.

Eat before you're super hungry

I admit I made this mistake many times. Learn from my mistakes. In order to save money while you're traveling the world, eat before you're super hungry. If you're about to faint from hunger you'll likely visit the first place you see regardless of its price. That doesn't really help if you're on a budget. Be sure to get some food before you're starving.

Have a snack on hand

This kind of goes hand in hand with the above tip. Always always always have a snack with you. Keep it in your purse, your backpack, your fanny pack or pocket if you have to. If you have a snack with you you won't immediately be tempted to lunge at the first sight of food. A banana, cup of cereal, or mixed nuts ought to do the trick.

Ask a local 

Engage with the locals & inquire about their favorite restaurant, cafe, or underrated eatery. Ask about budget-friendly options in the neighborhood. Locals know a hell of a lot more about the city than you do. Take their advice & run with it. You have no idea how many times asking a local about something totally enhanced my overall experience.

Eat at the hotel

If you're at a hotel, motel, hostel, Airbnb that includes a meal, take advantage of it. In Paris, my mom, sister, & I ate breakfast every day at the hostel. That saved us about €10 per person per day. You can buy souvenirs, macarons, museum tickets, or what have you with that money. The more cash you save by eating on a budget when you travel abroad leaves more room for other options.

Use a kitchen

Does your hotel or Airbnb have a kitchen? Take advantage of it. Cook your meals at home. We all know this is one of the best ways to eat on a budget in general. As a broke college student, I took pride in being able to scrummage up food with whatever I had in the house. You can obviously supplement that by going to the grocery store.

Refill your water bottle

In some countries, you have to pay for water at the restaurant or they may not give you any at all. I remember sitting down for lunch in Denmark & specifically asking for tap water only to find out that they charged for it. Lesson learned. Buy a water bottle & refill it. You'll save a lot of money on water alone.

Drink outside

Europe is pretty chill about drinking outside or in public. Stop by the store & pick up a bottle of wine, some beer, even juices rather than buying them at a restaurant at a markup. I spent €6 on a beer at a restaurant. Then I got wise & bought an even larger beer at the market for about €2. Do a little research on the laws about drinking in public in your country.

Go to the Market

I always like to visit the farmer's market wherever I may roam. Whether I unintentionally happen upon one in Milan, Italy or perhaps a very purposeful promenade through Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona, Spain. Markets & farmer's markets tend to have almost a wholesale price for produce, veggies, & other goodies. Plus, they're as fresh as can be.

Luxembourg is the capital of the small European country of the same name. To avoid confusion it's often called Luxembourg City. The country borders Belgium, Germany, & France so it's the ideal destination if you're heading to any of those places on your trip. The city is known for its medieval fortifications & is one of the largest fortresses of modern Europe. Pretty cool, huh?

Luxembourg is a city full of history & beauty. I only spent the day there but was able to experience enough to whet my appetite. It was a sweltering day -- the kind of hotness that leaves you sticky & uncomfortable. Humid. It was so different compared to the influx of rainy & cloudy days spent in Copenhagen & Amsterdam.




Le Chemin de la Corniche is a must-see because it overlooks the old city; that was probably my most favorite thing in Luxembourg -- being able to witness so much history in one spot. I'd recommend spending one to two days in Luxembourg if you're making a visit. It's the perfect amount of time so you can enjoy all the sites without feeling overwhelmed.

Hello friend! I hope you're having a thoughtful, interesting, productive day. The last several weeks zoomed by in a ridiculously rapid haze of writing, creating, clients, emails, & making moves. During all the hubbub, Fred & I looked for flights throughout Europe. I get a lot of questions asking how I afford to travel. My secret? I use Google Flights as my own personal flight scanner. 

Sinking House near Montmartre by the Sacre Coeur.

It's a strategic process. I used Google Flights to search for tickets to Paris last year. I used it to find the best prices to Portland, Oregon. I've used Google Flights for several trips & it's my favorite way to save money on flights. We used Google Flights to book our latest trip too. In October, I headed to Spain, Germany, & Norway using tickets found via Google Flights! 

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Play Around With Airports

In an ideal scenario, we'd fly out from San Diego International Airport since it's the closest airport to us, but sometimes you can save $200+ from flying from LAX.  It adds several hours of travel time but $200+ can make all the difference if you're on a budget or trying to travel affordably. Play around with the closest airports to you & to your destination to see price fluctuations. For example, roundtrip tickets from San Diego to Paris cost $560, whereas roundtrip Los Angeles to Paris is $360.

Keep Your Dates Open

You're less likely to get a good deal if you have to travel during a specific timeframe. If possible, keep your dates open. Check different dates & compare prices. That's why our winter trip to London was so affordable. Cloudy, frigid, with a dash of snow, but holy moly, Christmastime in London still warms my soul when I think about it. Because we keep our calendar open, we accidentally booked Bucket List moments every time we travel: Christmas in London, Autumn in Portland, Spring in Paris, Halloween in Oslo.

Check for One-Way Flights or Multi-City

We kept it simple by booking roundtrip flights the first couple Google Flights excursions. 7 nights in France. 9 nights in London (10, if you count the night we spent at London Gatwick Airport). If you're keen to explore multiple cities or countries on your trip, one-way flights or multi-city option is your best bet. It cost us a little over $29 for our flight from Barcelona to Berlin. $29. Less than a tank of gas & I'm off to a new country.

Be Aware of Flight Times & Layovers

The $506 roundtrip LAX to Amsterdam flight with a 3-hour layover seems perfect until you look at the fine print: you have one stop in London where you have to transfer from London Heathrow Airport to London Gatwick. You'd have to deboard the plane, take your luggage, get a ride to a completely different airport, go through customs & security in 3 hours?! Sounds like a missed flight to me! Be aware of flight times & layovers on Google Flights. You might find a great price but there might be some sort of weird layover or stop or time. After playing around with dates more, I found a $493 roundtrip LAX to Amsterdam flight with 1 hr 45-minute layover in Philadelphia. Now that's doable.

Book Directly With the Airline

Google Flights gave you affordable options & now you're ready to make a purchase. Heck yes! Save dollars when you book directly with the airline. Go to their website, search for your exact flight, date, & time, then make the purchase from there. Don't forget to sign up for any rewards to maximize potential savings.

Did these tips help you? 

Now that I booked my affordable flight tickets, time to find Airbnb accommodations, research things to do, eat, experience, & start my countdown! You have a trip planned? Have you used Google flights to find cheap flights? Do you use a flight scanner?

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