20-Something Entrepreneur: Jena Viviano

November 14, 2016 Whitney Saxon

A few weeks ago, I introduced you to one of my favorite 20-something entrepreneurs, Robyn. Today, I am so excited to introduce you to my friend, Jena Viviano.

Jena runs a blog + career coaching business. She speaks a whole lot of truth about her faith, career advice, entrepreneuring and much more. When I'm around Jena, I always notice that she embodies her last name so well, since viv means live in latin - she's lively and unafraid to live boldly. It's inspiring.

Below, she shares a little bit about her experience as a slow-cooking, 20-something entrepreneur. She's always refreshing and I hope you enjoy her amazing perspective!

Let's start with an easy one. What is your morning routine? How do you get the day going? Do you snooze? Do you drink coffee?

Oh! This is my favorite. Ever since I was little, I've been such a morning person. Even on the weekends, you can find me getting up before 8AM. Typically speaking on a weekday, I'll get up around 6AM and head to the gym or go for a run outside. I live in NYC along the Hudson River, so especially in the summer months, the runs are gorgeous!

Once I get back from exercising, I'll start brewing some coffee and hop into the shower. After I get out, like clockwork, I'll pour myself a cup and pour one for my roommate, Brandy. Before I get ready for work, we both have our quiet times - currently we're reading through the Year of the Bible with SheReadsTruth. It's been an amazing way to start our day and an activity we do together. I'll also journal for about a half hour before changing and heading out the door for work. Oh and I'll probably eat some breakfast somewhere in there! I find that if I follow this routine, the rest of my day is setup better and I'm more at peace. That's the goal - definitely nowhere near perfect.

You write a lot about finding the right career path. It seems like you have it all together when it comes to knowing what you want to do with your life. Has it always been that way?

I wish! Definitely not. I honestly didn't have any strong desire for any one career path for most of high school and college. But I think what helped me "get it together" post-college was that I realized very quickly what I didn't like. I hit a wall with my first job out of school where I was incredibly unhappy with the path I chose. So, I decided to get incredibly curious about all the different opportunities out there. That curiosity has helped me synthesize my own strengths and how that can align in my job. I became an expert in Jena Viviano and therefore became an expert in my own career.

Now that you're in the latter half of your 20s (!), if you could, what would you tell yourself at 22? What do you wish you'd known?

Don't get hung up on that boy. Ha! Just kidding (but actually...). No, I would tell myself that your life is going to be wilder and more blessed than you could ever imagine, so stop trying to control everything. When I was 22, I was so wrapped up in the future and trying to calculate every step - with my career, friendships, relationships. I forgot to actually enjoy the moment. To actually live my life. I spent too much of my time planning it! Ultimately, I would tell my 22 year old self that it was all going to be okay - in fact, it's going to be a lot better than I could have ever dreamed. So chill out girlfriend!

What was the most influential book you read in your 20s (so far)?

I have so many books that I love, so it's hard to pick just one! From a professional perspective, the book that really changed the way I looked at work and business is The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. I learned a ton about lifestyle design and passive income and it's been the catalyst to start my own side hustle. On a personal level, the book that really rocked me was Anything by Jennie Allen. It completely reframed the way I look at God and how I want to live my life as a Christian. An absolute must-read! (And if you've read it and want to talk about it - let's setup a Skype sesh ASAP!)

What's the biggest misconception people may have about you from reading your blog?

I think the biggest misconception people have about me is exactly what you said earlier - that I have it all together! I can assure you that is the farthest from the truth. Just ask my friends who've known me for years. I still make mistakes as it relates to my career + life. Every. Single. Day. I'm learning just as much as the next person. I'd like to think of my life as a sequence of bloopers, but I need to do a better job of making sure people don't only see the highlight reel.

For so many of us, our 20s can be one big comparison trap. How do you keep yourself from constant comparison? The internet makes it so hard!

As a kid, I loved biographies. I loved learning what made people successful or unique or celebrated. There was even a phase when I read every famous person's Wikipedia page because I wanted to know how they achieved their level of success. My little obsession wasn't just because I thirsted for knowledge - I wanted to know what I had to do to become like someone else. To morph into someone else. That translated over into very many areas of my life - I compared myself to my friends who were thinner, had boyfriends, cooler jobs and bigger groups of friends. And you know what? All of that comparison did nothing for me. It didn't help me attain any more clarity or achieve any higher level of success. In fact, it did the opposite.

It wasn't until the past couple years where I started to remind myself daily that God made me unique and that THAT was celebration enough. How cool, right? He picked me to have brown hair instead of blonde. A badonk instead of boobs. A feisty personality instead of a sweet-as-pie demeanor. I was meticulously pieced together by the God of the universe, a reflection of his creativity and imagination. When you start to look at it through those lens, the comparison starts to fall away and instead you see the beauty in the unique nature of everyone around you - including yourself.

What do you consider play? And! What are your creative outlets?

I love writing. And singing. And having chats over wine about life with my best girlfriends. I'm an avid reader and a coffee shop connoisseur. If I had it my way, ever day would end with a bonfire and deep, meaningful conversation. I guess you could say, that whenever I'm creating, building or dreaming - that's when I'm in my "space of play."

Our Honeymoon: Paros & Antiparos

November 11, 2016 Whitney Saxon

Accommodations:
St. Andrea

Activities:
Rent ATVs and tour the island
Snorkel on Santa Maria
Explore Naoussa
Visit Antiparos

Restaurants
Open Garden
Taverna Glafkos
Beach House

When we left Santorini, Chris and I both found ourselves wishing we had more time there. As we boarded the ship to Paros, we felt sad to watch the island and all its magic disappear into the abyss.

However, this feeling didn't last long. We quickly learned that Santorini is amazing, but Paros is OUR JAM. It's more rural, less populated and, at its core, still primarily a fishing island. Santorini is touristy and caters to the vacationer. Paros is slow, simpler and stole our hearts within minutes as we ventured in to the wide, open farmland.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at St. Andrea, which we highly, highly recommend.

Oh, St. Andrea! We dream of this place. This is not a resort for those who love ornate details. It's all about clean, white lines and simple, elegant details. It's what my dreams are made of! The pool, the food, the coffee, ah! It was perfection. The service was incredible, too.

We loved where it sat on the island. We walked into Naoussa for coffee and breakfast in the morning if we didn't want to eat at the resort, which was the perfect distance. It was an easy cab ride at night, as well.

The vibe of the island is so very relaxed - the cab drivers encouraged us not to pay and to "just give them money later." Chris and I laughed at the thought of trying this in Chicago or Atlanta: hey! could we pay you some other day? Chris was so caught off guard by their relaxed demeanor that he bought the driver ice cream the first night. Needless to say, she was a little confused :)

What We Did

After doing so many activities in Santorini, we intended to lounge by the pool in Paros. But then! We discovered it has just as much to do (if not more). We spent about 20 minutes by the pool the first morning and then I looked at Chris and said: wanna go explore? And he said yep! And threw his book down.

Rent ATVs and tour the island

The first day, we rented ATVs to explore the island. We had the good fortune to end up with one that only went 24 mph. This was good because I was mostly completely terrified of it. It was the perfect way to see the wide open, rural island, which is too large to try to cover on foot.

Spend a day on Santa Maria

We loved Perivolas & Kamari, but they had nothing on Santa Maria. The soft sand, bright, teal water and mountain views were unlike anything we'd ever seen. We rented two chairs for the day, which was $10 :) We also rented snorkel gear so we could explore under water. It was bath-water clear!

We had drinks and snacks by the ocean and dreamed of buying a house on Paros. Someday, someday :)

Explore Naoussa

Naoussa is a tiny fishing village lined with whitewashed houses and bright flowers. The white, stone streets wind around and around, creating a maze of restaurants and shops. We loved every bit of it. It is worth saving some time to explore.

Go to Antiparos

Antiparos is an island off of Paros that sits less than a mile away. It could, easily, be a post of its own. It was my favorite day of the trip! It's a $5 ferry ride from Paros to Antiparos and takes only a few minutes. You can bring a car or ATV on the boat, or rent one upon arriving to Antiparos.

It's a superrrsmall island that, our waitress told us, until a few years ago, was basically still like Robinson Crusoe. Much of the island still does not have electricity.

We ate at the Beach House, which is also an inn. We absolutely would stay here again if we could. It was so beautiful.

We swam in a cove, rented SUPs and laid by the water. We drove an ATV all over the island and wrote down the phone numbers for the houses for sale - just in case, you know!? We went to Captain Pipinos, where they hang fish from the ocean along the docks, preparing them to be cooked.

Where We Ate

Open Garden

Because Naoussa winds around like a maze, we initially didn't realize we could eat dinner next to the sea. We ate at Open Garden the first night, which is in the heart of the city - enclosed between other restaurants. We sat outside on the little deck, drinking white wine and eating lemon honey chicken.

Taverna Glafkos

The second night, we turned a corner and stumbled upon a whole row of restaurants that overlooked the water. We tried out Taverna Glafkos and then we loved it so much we went back the next night! We ate grilled cheese, which is not to be confused with a grilled cheese sandwich. They took a block of white cheese, cooked it straight on the grill and served it with figs and honey. I still dream of it, y'all.

The Beach House

The best thing I ate the entire trip was the tuna burger at the Beach House. It came straight from the ocean and I still think about how amazingly fresh it was. I've tried to recreate it since returning, but it can't be done. They served it with ginger and fresh veggies. Pure magic!

After Paros & Antiparos, we took a boat over to Athens, where we spent a whirlwind 24 hours before flying back to Atlanta.

If you like this post, you might like this one, too: Our Honeymoon in Santorini

Our Honeymoon: Santorini

November 9, 2016 Whitney Saxon

Accommodations:
Mill Houses (Firostefani)

Activities:
Hike to Oia
Swim in Amoudi Bay
Sunset in Oia
Kamari & Pervilos Beaches
Wine tasting
Sunset Cruise
Watch a sunrise

Six weeks before our wedding, Chris and I cancelled our honeymoon to Tulum, Mexico, because of Zika. We don't have plans for a baby in the immediate future, but knew we'd regret it if one of us got sick and we had to delay starting a family down the road.

On a sunny, March day, we sat on the couch with my brother, Duke, and brother-in-law, Ryan, and began researching, four laptops & coffees in tow. Well, where do you want to go, Whit? Chris asked me as he scrolled through Lonely Planet.

Without taking a breath, I asked him: Do you want to go to Greece? We'd tossed it around before booking the trip Tulum, but had both agreed we wanted a shorter flight post wedding, knowing we'd be exhausted. But, wanting warm weather + no Zika meant we either had to stay in the US or go far, far away.

Within the hour, we'd booked two roundtrip tickets to Athens. I kept saying, oh my gosh, we're actually going to Greece! The quick shift in plans leaving me in a state of shock.

We flew into Athens (which Delta now flies direct from Atlanta, badaboom!) and immediately boarded a puddle jumper to Santorini.

Our stay at The Mill Houses included airport transfers, which most island hotels do. As we drove from the airport, it felt like we just kept going up and up and up into the blue. We went higher and higher, leaving the ocean behind us as we climbed into the sky.

Our driver parked and led us across a busy, cobblestone road. We climbed what felt like hundreds of stairs, winding around corner after corner and then, suddenly, everything opened up to the brightest, white buildings that lined the brilliant blue horizon, every vista overlooking the ocean.

I remember feeling almost overwhelmed with so much blue and white everywhere. The beauty was so abundant; my brain couldn't process it.

Before we left, I worried all of the pictures of Santorini would get our hopes up too high - edited to be brighter and bluer than they really could be. It was just the opposite. I was reminded that man-made photos can only capture God-made beauty so well. Some things are only meant to be experienced in real time - to be breathed in deeply and to allow our eyes to rest easily upon them. Santorini is one of those places.

We spent five nights in Santorini and five in Paros. When we left Santorini, we both felt like we could have stayed another week and still barely have scratched the surface of all the island has to do. The entire place feels like magic. Everything is beautiful and clean, the locals are crazy accommodating and the lifestyle is just as relaxing. Not to mention the food! And coffee! Most days, we found ourselves drinking a carafe of hot coffee in the morning by the pool, then capping off the afternoon with an iced frappe (instant coffee + milk). It was pure bliss.

Below are a few things we did + notes about our lodging.

Where We Stayed: Mill Houses, Firostefani

We stayed at Mill Houses, in Firostefani, which we could not recommend more.

Firostefani sits between Fira and Imerovigli. Many people recommended stayed on the tip of the island, in Oia. While we LOVED Oia, we actually preferred staying in Firostefani. It's quieter and less crowded. I am easily overwhelmed by a lot of stimulation, so I loved being able to experience Oia, but have a little bit more breathing room with our accommodations.

At Mill Houses, each room is its own little cave house, with a mini kitchen, table, balcony and loft (if you wanted four to sleep instead of two). The service was incredible and, each morning, they set up breakfast for you wherever you ask. Some mornings we ate on our patio by the pool, other mornings we sat on the edge of the hotel, overlooking the bright blue ocean. It is dreamy.

What we did:

Hike to Oia.

Many, many people told us to hike from Fira to Oia. Almost everyone we met suggested it. What I learned is: 10,000 customers can't be wrong. It was easily the most beautiful hike I've ever done.

It is hard to believe this is not hyperbole, but, with each turn, we were even more amazed by the views. We expected, at some point, to think: oh, that's nice. It never happened. Every single time our heads exploded at the bright blue, the sleek, white buildings.

The entire trek is ~6.2 miles and you don't need a map. Just keep winding along the Caldera and follow the trail of people. (Get details on it here: Hike to Oia)

Swim in Amoudi Bay.

Once you get to the tip of Oia, you can descend to the bottom of the cliff, where you'll pass tons of donkeys carrying tourists back up to the top (kind of sad to see).

You will pass through little fishing restaurants, which, if we hadn't just eaten before doing so, we would have absolutely stopped. They are quaint and happy, with row boats tied to their docks and big fish hanging over the sea, ready to be cooked.

Once you get to Amoudi Bay, you can swim in the Aegean Sea. Since it was only May, the water was crazy cold. It was easily the saltiest water I've ever swum in; we reveled at the way we floated easily. If you swim away from the shore out toward the little island, Agios Nikolaos, you'll find an old, white chapel. It is breathtaking and worth every bit of the cold swim.

Watch a sunset in Oia.

On behalf of the rest of Santorini, I'd like to set one thing straight: a sunset anywhere on the island is absolutely stunning. You can't go wrong with the cliff views as the sun drops behind the ocean anywhere you go. But! A sunset in Oia is an event. It felt like everyone on the island migrated to the tip of Santorini to see it. People climbed on roofs (of other people's homes, hotels, restaurants), sat on high, high ledges and crammed shoulder-to-shoulder the streets to watch.

Chris and I took a bottle of wine and sat on a ledge as we oo-ed and ah-ed. If you're going to attend, be sure to arrive about an hour early to get a spot.

Kamari and Perivolos Beaches.

If you've grown up going to the Pandhandle in the US, you're accustomed to soft, white beaches. Imagine the exact opposite in Kamari and Perivolos. The sand is black, made of big, hard rocks. The beach is lined with tavernas and shops.

We drank coffee by the ocean, while talking about all of the people in our lives we wanted to force to go to Greece because they'd love it so much. We bought a beach blanket, climbed on the big rocks and walked along the shore. You could easily stay at one of the beaches all day - enjoying drinks and nightlife. We did both beaches in one afternoon and found ourselves yearning for a little more time to explore each one.

Wine Tasting

There are a bajillion wines tours in Santorini. We weren't quite sure about doing one - I'm not a huge wine connoisseur (it makes me so sleepy!) and we thought it had potential to be a little cheesy. First of all, the cheese was the best part (was that joke cheesy?). Second of all, we were wrong. The apps, the wine, the views, the sunset! Totally worth it. Santorini produces its own white wine that is super light and wonderful (and, somehow, didn't make me tired). Chris is an exclusive red-wine guy and he even loved it.

Sunset Cruise

Again, we weren't sure if this would be romantic or touristy. We loved that we got to see Santorini from a different vantage point and cover a lot of ground quickly - they showed us the red and white beaches and we got to swim in a hot spring, which was amazing.

I would say, if it's in the budget, we both would suggest a private cruise. It was lovely, but we both thought it would have been a good splurge item.

Watch a Sunrise

The sunset gets all the hype in Santorini. But the sunrise is worth a look.

Chris and I have a tradition that, on our last day of vacation somewhere, we get up to watch the sunrise. It's sort of painful when the alarm goes off but is always, always worth it. Santorini is asleep until at least 8 a.m. When we got up at 5:30 to watch the sunrise, it felt like we had the entire island to ourselves. The white streets were empty as we listened to roosters crow all across the island. We both felt like we'd snuck something by the other vacationers - how are we the only ones out here? We kept asking.

What we wish we'd known:

You don't have to plan ahead on activities: There are wine tours, sunset cruises and donkeys a-plenty. Being the planner he is, Chris booked everything ahead of time. We learned that this is not the Santorini way. We could have shown up without a plan for any of it and they would have quickly accommodated.

There is no hummus: Am I the only one that didn't know this? Hummus is Mediterranean, not Greek. I learned it the hard way when I ordered it and was promptly told otherwise. So, if you want hummus, go to Turkey. And then eat your hummus with some turkey :) and crackers!

If you like this post, you might like this one, too: Our honeymoon in Paros & Antirparos, Greece

Do The Thing You've Been Talking About Doing

November 7, 2016 Whitney Saxon

I mentioned that in October, Chris and I got disappointing news. We'd held on to hope that something was going to happen this winter and it was taken away swiftly one afternoon. We were both sad, but, as I sat with it, I told Chris I felt like we'd been playing Twister. We'd been putting our hands on red and blue and our feet all the way across the board on green and yellow. We were tangled up, trying to touch all the dots on the board.

When we got the news, I felt like God was saying: Hey guys, I've been asking you to put your hands and feet on green this whole time, but you're not trusting me. You don't believe that just green will be enough for you.

I've noticed, lately, that we do this a lot in life. We try to do everything, all the time. We ignore it when we're being called to go all in on something, wondering if maybe, just maybe, we can hold on to everything at once.

It reminds me of when I knew God was asking me to take a break from dating, but I felt so scared. I tried to bargain, wondering if I could sort of take a break, but maybe sort of still be dating, too.

But, I've learned that when we actually go all in on the thing we're being asked to do, the results are so much sweeter. When I finally quit dating, I met Chris. Was it hard? Yes! Was it scary? Oh yeah. But did I miss the red and blue dots on the Twister board once I finally put my hands on green? Not for a second.

I don't know what you're being called to do today. Maybe it's at work, maybe it's time to finally get out of that bad relationship. I don't know what's tugging on your heart, leaving you feeling scattered and stretched too thin. But I do know that, every time I've listened to the quiet, inner voice, leading me toward something, I haven't regretted it.