Joyful Thinking

Queenstown and the Beauty of Its Adventure

By: Samantha Joy October 23, 2014October 27, 2014

Traveling My Worldadventure, adventuretown, bungy, bungyjump, kawaraubridge, newzealand, queenstown, southisland, travel1 Comment

Flying into a place like Queenstown doesn’t feel like you’re still somewhere close to the place you departed from. And for some, maybe they’ve come from far away, yet I was only an hour and half plane ride and within the same country and I was convinced I had landed…

Rugby vs. American Football

By: Samantha Joy September 29, 2014

Lovely ThoughtsAuckland, edenpark, footballvsrugby, haka, newzealand, rugby, sportsLeave a Comment

Although I would never claim myself as a sports fanatic or football maniac, i’ve seen my fair share of high school, college, and professional football games. And although it is great and all…. I think rugby is by far more entertaining to watch. Not only are the buff men in shorter shorts, the referees are…

Stripped of My Element

By: Samantha Joy September 18, 2014July 30, 2020

Lovely Thoughtsculture, dance, dancer, element, hiphop, hiphopcommunity, humbled, newzealand, parrisgoebel, polyswagg, travelLeave a Comment

In the dance world there is nothing better than feeling of dancing in your element. And when I say that I simply mean the feel of the dance matches the confidence that shows within and throughout your body. The music hits each move you make at just the right moments and the style is something…

Coromandel

By: Samantha Joy September 15, 2014

Lovely Thoughts, Traveling My Worldbeaches, beachhouse, coromandel, girlfriends, girlsweekend, newzealand, weekendholidayLeave a Comment

For the majority of my life I think it is safe to say I’ve had a fair share of close guy friends that keep me in line, are blunt when they need to be, and act gross and silly to make things comfortable. This is wonderful and I wouldn’t trade a single one of them…

Good eats, Good vibes, Good coffee

By: Samantha Joy September 8, 2014

Lovely Thoughtscafe, coffee, courtenaystreet, deluxecafe, food, foodie, goodvibes, hipster, sixbarrelsodaco, sodapopshop, thelittlewaffleshop, wellington1 Comment

If I had to describe Wellington to a Californian, I would choose to illustrate it as a mini San Francisco. It definitely pulls from the beauty found in art, old fashion, renewal, and culture. Almost “hipster” in a way… although I hate using that word because it feels like there are a million and one…

Twas’ a Windy Weekend in Welly

By: Samantha Joy September 8, 2014September 8, 2014

Lovely Thoughtsnakedbus, newzealand, roadtrip, travel, weekendtrip, wellington, windyLeave a Comment

With quite a bit of rain. Nevertheless our sunny Sunday made up for all the activities that the rain may have conquered on Friday and Saturday and therefore I can confidently say that we got the most out of our weekend in Wellington that we possibly could have. Naked Bus: I will begin with our first…

Baduzzi

By: Samantha Joy September 1, 2014

Lovely Thoughts, Traveling My WorldLeave a Comment

Beauty, intelligence, and artistry in a spoonful… or shall I say many spoonfuls. Baduzzi, an Italian restaurant located on the waterfront in Viaduct Harbor of Auckland city, has successfully created the best Tiramisu known to mankind and you would be a fool not to visit this place and taste for yourself a piece of this…

The Truth About My First Night

By: Samantha Joy August 26, 2014August 26, 2014

Lovely Thoughts, Traveling My Worldchange, contemplation, courage, distance, judgement, newzealandLeave a Comment

My intention for posting this is somewhat depleted by the fact that I forgot to post it on Monday, August 25th which would have marked me living in New Zealand for two whole months exactly. However, because I have saved this particular piece of writing for this long already, I figure it still counts for…