Julie Rose / juliedevivre.com

12/06/2026

Most people picture the same thing when they think of an African safari: lions, elephants, and an endless savannah like right out of the Lion King.

But after spending months exploring six African countries, I learned safari is far more diverse — and far more customizable — than I ever imagined. Planning one can be more complex than you think.

Here's what I wish I'd known before my first trip.

Most people picture the same thing when they think of an African safari: lions, elephants, and an endless savannah like right out of the Lion King. But after spending months exploring six African countries, I learned safari is far more diverse — and far more customizable — than I ever imagined. ...

07/06/2026

Rejection is the BEST ✨💞💫

Seriously! I love being rejected.

Rejection is CLARITY.

I put myself out there. I raise the question. Make my interest known…

And sometimes, I’m kindly redirected.

Well, I’d rather know than wonder.

I’d rather know than invest in a fantasy.

I love rejection — because it removes ambiguity, mixed signals, false hope, and emotional limbo.

A clean “no” is compassionate. It doesn’t hurt my feelings.

And when asked or pressed, I do the same: I deliver rejection notices too.

That’s not cruelty — that’s respect.

⚡️ Several rejections from my past still stand out in my memory. And truthfully?

Every time it’s happened to me (and yes, it does), it stings a little less.

Now, when I’m rejected, I’m almost gleeful.

I breathe a sigh of relief — I can relax into KNOWING.

👉 Rejection is data!

I deeply respect people who have mastered the art of direct communication and clean rejection — and coincidentally, I sometimes keep these men as friends, now with an updated memory of investment and understanding…

…while I remove the ones from my life who strung me along (or worse).

Not everyone is supposed to choose me. (It’s usually not personal anyway.)

…just as I rarely identify someone I’d be open to choosing.

⚡️ Mature adults can survive rejection without collapsing.

A rejection clears the way for emotional investment elsewhere… because you never know who or what may be right around the corner.

Keep the faith, single people ✨💞💫

04/06/2026

💫 How I make the NoMaD LiFe work, spending 90% of the year abroad 🌎

I’ve been a for SIX YEARS, splitting my time between somewhere in the world and Mexico (where I have temporary residency). Here are answers to some of the questions I get most often:

🏠 GOING “HOME”

I put “home” in quotation marks because I don’t really have one. When I’m in the U.S., I stay with family in Kansas, which is also the address on my driver’s license. But I don’t have my own bedroom, bed, or space, and I didn’t grow up here. While I feel less displaced than elsewhere in the world, I wouldn’t say I feel at home either.

📦 WHERE’S MY STUFF? (AND MY DOG?)

I store a few bins of clothing at my mom’s house, along with my SUV. When I visit, I rotate clothing in and out, and reactivate my auto insurance.

My mom also takes care of my beloved Penny pup when I’m overseas. When I’m in Mexico, she comes with me because I drive from the U.S. (an adventure in itself)!

💰 INCOME

I fund this lifestyle through a combination of investments from selling my house in 2020 and income from my growing work-from-anywhere travel advisory business.

What I’ve discovered is that full-time travel often costs less than a traditional life in the U.S., and as long as my investments grow faster than I withdraw, the math works. Even without contributions, thanks to the magic of compounding, my net worth has grown roughly 40% over the last five years (I’ve written extensively about on my blog, juliedevivre.com).

🏥 HEALTH CARE

I have an ACA health plan in the U.S. and use travel insurance or pay out of pocket when I’m abroad.

❤️ DATING

My geography is flexible. If I come across the right person, I’m open to spending more time wherever he happens to live. Bonus points if he’s too. (Stories on my blog, of course!)

➡️ WHAT’S NEXT?

I’m heading back to Mexico this year, and one thing I’ve learned is that community > constant movement. These days, I’m prioritizing friendships and relationships, which may mean spending longer stretches in one place.

Nomadism is not a one-size-fits-all lifestyle. But like I always say: you can try it on for size 😊

Any questions? 💓

26/05/2026

I’ve recently been asked (again): “Would you give up the nomad life for the right relationship?”

And I think the question misunderstands me a little.

…because sure, I’ve been a for 6 years and counting.

BUT — nomad life was never the point.

The point was building a life that felt true to me.
A life built around freedom, curiosity, growth, adventure, autonomy, and being fully alive.

And when I meet someone out there in the world who genuinely aligns with me?

OF COURSE my life would change.

How could it not?

Love changes people.
Partnership changes people.
A shared life requires movement, compromise, adaptation.

And not in a way where it’s a sacrifice or a trade-off.

The irony is, I actually have MORE flexibility to build a life with someone than many people do — because living nomadically means I’m not tied to a country, city, house, office, or routine.

A lot of people understand commitment through permanence and structure, and struggle to understand what commitment looks like outside of a conventional life.

❤️ I see commitment as mutual choice.

And I want a relationship because it makes an already beautiful life even better, not because I need any rescuing from my own.

And here’s another thing people get wrong:

I don’t see trying a relationship as “giving up my lifestyle.”

Nothing in life is permanent anyway:

Not cities.
Not jobs.
Not identities.
Not relationships.

You meet someone.
You explore.
You see if your lives fit together in a meaningful way.

And if they do?
Amazing.

If not?
Life continues.

Bottom line: I am not my lifestyle. I’m a woman who’s living boldly in truth and curiosity, who also happens to be traveling all over the world.

I also believe relationships are meant to be lived in the same room — not primarily over the internet.

Real life. Shared space. Physical presence. Actual effort.

So FYI, this is not an invitation to slide into my DMs 🚫

It’s just a reflection on how differently I think about love, freedom, milestones and commitment now, than I did ten years ago. What do you think? 🤔

25/05/2026

✨ Ljubljana, Slovenia ✨ pssst… you don’t pronounce the j’s 😉

21/05/2026

My travels in Transylvania 💫 Sibiu and Timișoara ❤️

What have I discovered after one week in Transylvania?

Contrary to Bram Stoker’s branding, it’s not vampires, dark gothic villages, perpetual fog, horror movie energy, or dangerous Eastern Europe…

…instead, it’s pastel-colored Saxon facades, grand mountain scenery, cozy coffee cafes, farmers’ markets, fortresses, and medieval squares

Frankly, I can’t believe it’s not more of a destination for what it actually IS… vs. what the Dracula marketing will have you believe.

Transylvania is clean, colorful, charming, scenic, economical, culturally layered, and oh so underrated!

What an interesting country you are, Romania — unique among your neighbors. I’ll be back 🤗🇹🇭

19/05/2026

TRANSYLVANIA: ONE DAY, 3 CASTLES 🏰🇷🇴

There’s a lot of talk online about which castles nestled in the Carpathian mountains are worth your time… and here’s my honest opinion!

From Brașov, I took a one-day tour visiting Bran Castle (aka Dracula Castle), plus Castles Peleș and Cantacuzino — two I’d never even heard of before.

First off: it’s easy to get to Castle Peleș independently by train, since the station is very close to the castle. Bran Castle is a bit more complicated. But honestly, I often appreciate the convenience of an organized tour vs. DIY — avoiding unnecessary hassle is worth a few extra euros in my book.

Bran Castle was the first stop and, sorry to burst everyone’s bubble: there’s basically zero evidence Dracula ever lived there. Honestly, the castle itself was underwhelming too. Admittedly, I didn’t know what to expect, but as someone who’s seen a lot of spectacular castles, I was… unimpressed. The real history is also less exciting than the folklore: it mainly served as a medieval fortress guarding a strategic mountain pass between Transylvania and Wallachia.

The second castle, Peleș, is usually the crowd favorite. It’s grander, more decorative, and far more ornate — built in the late 1800s as the lavish summer residence of Romania’s first king, King Carol I.

Each castle cost about $22 USD to enter.

From Peleș, we also visited Sinaia Monastery, a 17th century Orthodox monastery inspired by a pilgrimage to Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai. I’ve now visited both — in the same year! — which feels pretty cool.

Finally, we stopped at Cantacuzino Castle, which I discovered was the filming location for Nevermore Academy in the Netflix show “Wednesday.” I’ve only seen one season, but honestly… excellent casting choice for a spooky series. You can pay to enter the interior or just visit the gardens/grounds, and I opted for the grounds only ($5.50).

What I’d tell travelers:

If you came all this way specifically for Bran Castle and Dracula folklore, go.

But if you’re like me, I’d only recommend it after spending time in adorable Brașov, combining it with the nearby sights, and setting expectations accordingly 😆

In case you're curious, here's the tour I took!: https://www.viator.com/tours/Brasov/Tour-of-Castles-and-Surrounding/d23067-5604781P1?pid=P00070072&uid=U00278631&mcid=58086¤cy=USD

17/05/2026

Brașov, Transylvania 🏰… the adorable Romanian town I never knew I needed to visit 😍

Deep in the Carpathian Mountains lies the medieval fairytale town of Brașov, a few hours from Bucharest.

It’s a place where you can spend hours wandering through the cobbled streets taking photos of the clean and colorful storefront facades, hike Mount Tampa up to the giant BRAȘOV sign, and enjoy the Vlad Dracula mythology (which, sorry to burst your bubbles, is not rooted in any evidence).

After a few days in chaotic Bucharest, quiet and cozy Brașov (the s is pronounced with an “sh”) was just what I needed. I absolutely LOVED the walkable old town, cute cafes and sidewalk culture, and fresh mountain air and scenery.

Romania 🇷🇴 has really surprised me so far… more to come 💙💛❤️

14/05/2026

🦁 AFRICA IS CALLING… and we’re down to the final spots! 🌍🦍

If my recent Tanzania content has been awakening something in you… this is your sign.

Over the past 3 years, I’ve spent about 2.5 months on safari across 6 African countries, from the Masai Mara and Serengeti to Kruger and Chobe — experiencing everything from mobile camping to ultra-luxury safari lodges. I’ve learned what makes an truly extraordinary… and I built this itinerary around exactly that.

This isn’t a rushed “see Africa” trip.

This is a premium, full-board East Africa adventure through FOUR incredible Kenyan parks and reserves:

🐘 Amboseli National Park
🦏 Lake Nakuru National Park
🦒 Lake Naivasha
🦁 The legendary Masai Mara

PLUS:
✨ Lunch with local Nairobi families
✨ A return visit to our beloved Maasai village
✨ Visits to renowned elephant orphanage Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and giraffe conservation center Giraffe Center, Nairobi, Kenya
✨ Optional sunrise hot air balloon safari
✨ Premium 4★+ accommodations throughout

And for those wanting to go even bigger…

🦍 OPTIONAL UGANDA EXTENSION:
• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
• Chimpanzees in Kibale
• Additional cultural experiences with local communities

I truly believe this is one of the best-value premium safari itineraries out there, which takes advantage of lower season and group rates. Full board, vetted local guides, seamless logistics, unforgettable wildlife, and a trusted team I’ve personally traveled with and brought clients to before.

Past travelers have said:
“The whole experience was so unique and nothing short of amazing. I will treasure it forever.” — Klavdia
“A stunning safari. Beyond expectation.” — Linda
“A wonderful experience I will always cherish.” — John
“Perfectly balanced adventure, culture, and relaxation. Highly recommend.” — Dee Dee

Webinar replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvPHs4eQIOg&feature=youtu.be

Itinerary: https://juliedevivre.com/travel-with-me-safari/

Because Africa changes you. And once you’ve been… you’ll understand why I keep going back. 🧡