“Kel, you only regret the things you don’t do in life; you never regret the things you do, even if they are expensive.”
Val, my long-time friend, offered those words of wisdom to me as I planned my first trip with Linnie 14 years ago. She inspired me to make it a dream trip, and I have never forgotten her statement. In fact, it resonates with me even today.
This blog has been years in the making…
Linnie and I have discussed it at least 3 to 4 times, mostly during some of our amazing adventures, but we never put our ideas to paper, so to speak, because we are two working girls holding down jobs and trying to manage life. Finally, after a friend saw our photos from Africa and asked me to plan her trip to Kenya and two of my students’ parents reached out to me about my itineraries in Germany and Poland, the light went off and plunged me into action. We must start this passion project, I thought. And so, Dish and Discover was born! This blog is for readers who might want to travel, cook, or dine or need advice on products but don’t have a lot of time to read reviews or figure out logistics. Our goal is to provide first-hand knowledge of our experiences and pass on information to save people valuable time. Let’s face it– planning a trip, for instance, takes research, and research takes precious time. It is so easy to sit down and read a review or two only to look at the clock and realize hours have passed. Think of this blog as a shortcut! Everything we review, we love, and we explain why. If we don’t like a place, a restaurant, a product, or find that they are mediocre, we will not write a review. A review from us is special; it represents a homerun! It is our mission, and we continue to learn, make mistakes, find some gems, and provide that information so readers can benefit from our process. Be patient and check back often as we continue to add to our content.
Our Story in a Nutshell:
It was 2008. I had just been through a very sad divorce, and Linnie was in nursing school studying so hard as well as facing some trials and tribulations of her own. I had enough Skymiles for two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the world and couldn’t face my first Christmas alone. I called Linnie and asked her if she wanted to travel somewhere, and she immediately said yes. I asked her to choose the location, and she chose France with a side trip to Switzerland. The planning began!
We had a couple of months to save, but as the list of ‘places to see and things to do’ grew, I knew I would have to find a way to make enough money to afford the trip. I started tutoring on the side and saving every dime. One “must-do” was having dinner at Le Jules Verne at the top of the Eiffel Tower. It was a meal I really couldn’t afford, but my friend Val intervened and told me to work harder and save more because the experience would far outweigh the monetary strain. “Kel, you only regret the things you don’t do in life; you never really regret the things you do, even if they are expensive.” She was referring to this trip and doing it right, spending the money to make it momentous. To this day, Linnie and I reference that meal, that night, that trip. It turned out to be one of the most special experiences we have had on any trip, and the money was well spent on the memories made.
How Do We Afford To Travel?
When we first started, neither of us really had the money to do it. Linnie is now a nurse anesthetist and has spent years paying off her student loans. She worked 80 hours a week, nights, holidays, and weekends to afford her loan payments and travel habit. I found that side gigs like tutoring and teaching summer camps allowed me the freedom to travel. I budgeted– I saved for two years for my Africa trip, a trip of a lifetime. If I can do it on a teacher’s salary, and I am single with one income, anyone can do it. And, of course, there is always my friend Val’s statement that continues to inspire!