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SAMANTHA KARAM
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What I'm Wearing This Fall: Petite Traveler's Edition

Layered looks with lots of (stain-resistant) personality

I’ve curated a fall wardrobe that can handle any weather, pack down into a carry-on, keep me both warm and cool, and also look presentable enough to make a great first impression.

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tags: Clothing, Fashion, Logistics
categories: Advice/Experience
Tuesday 11.03.26
Posted by Samantha Karam
 

What I Actually Spent on Travel This Quarter: Q3 of 2026

This is a full breakdown of my recent travel expenses, with the honest numbers behind my 30th birthday trip, my bachelorette party, and a few local adventures from this Summer and early Fall.

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tags: Finances and Budgeting
categories: Advice/Experience
Tuesday 10.06.26
Posted by Samantha Karam
 

How to Travel With A Full-Time Job

How your email (sometimes) finds me.

Travel is a core tenet of my identity. I’ve prioritized it in every season of my adult life because it lights a fire in me that cannot be replicated anywhere else. I’ve also been working some iteration of a full-time job (sometimes a job and a half) since I graduated university. So if you’re also living with wanderlust while holding down a more traditional work/life balance, this post is for you.

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tags: Solo Travel, Itinerary, Logistics, Reflections
categories: Advice/Experience
Tuesday 09.22.26
Posted by Samantha Karam
 

10 Things I Love About My HUSBAND

Low-quality placeholder pic until the professional ones are edited :’)

Newlywed bliss is real, y’all.

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tags: Reflections
categories: Advice/Experience
Tuesday 09.15.26
Posted by Samantha Karam
 

I Felt Rich This Weekend

Never turn down the chance to sit on a dock at sunset with your homies.

This Letchworth trip was the last hurrah for my 30th birthday, the final candle to blow out at the start of this new decade. I turned 30 on May 30th, but only this past weekend did the celebrations finally end. For two whole months, I’ve been reminded of how much love there is for me to receive.

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tags: Reflections, Nature
categories: Advice/Experience, North America
Tuesday 07.21.26
Posted by Samantha Karam
 

I Have A Chronic Illness: Here Are 5 Misconceptions I Want to Dispel

I’ve navigated my chronic illness and the powerful misconceptions that come with it for years now. In honor of Chronic Disease Awareness Day (July 10), it’s important to me that I explain the power of your words, your misconceptions.

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tags: Reflections
categories: Advice/Experience
Tuesday 07.14.26
Posted by Samantha Karam
 

From the Archive: How I Travel With A Chronic Illness

It’s no secret that I crave a life full of adventure, but I bookend every adventure with long-ish periods of gentle recharge.

That’s because I live with a chronic illness called ulcerative colitis.

Last week, I had a routine procedure to check the status of my disease, and I’m happy to report that I’ve officially hit 5 years of remission!!

To celebrate this massive milestone, I took the week off from writing.

Instead, here’s a previous post where I share what it’s like to live with chronic illness and how I travel the world in spite of my diagnosis.

I’m so proud of how I’ve navigated these past 5 years. I’ve learned to honor my body in all of its states. I’ve learned to be vulnerable and transparent, to lean on my support systems, and to mitigate inflammation like an absolute champ.

Enjoy this post from the archive, and I’ll be back next week.

Thanks for being here, and 3 cheers for 5 years! :)

How I Travel With a Chronic Illness

Originally published: December 9, 2025

I’m writing this post to celebrate and validate other people who live with chronic illness.

I also wanted to address questions I’ve received from the healthy people in my life because, whether it stems from concern or ignorance, we often attach limitations to people with chronic health conditions.

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tags: Reflections
categories: Advice/Experience
Tuesday 06.23.26
Posted by Samantha Karam
 

Thoughts On Turning 30 & Reflecting on My 20s

Culturally, we act like the start of your 30s is the start of your decline. Especially for women, there is this societal pressure to always be perceived as a 20-something. We are told that our value diminishes as our age increases.

But I’m just getting started.

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tags: Reflections
categories: Advice/Experience
Tuesday 06.02.26
Posted by Samantha Karam
 

What I'm Wearing This Summer: Petite Traveler's Edition

Dressing well in the summer poses a unique challenge when you’re petite, perpetually cold indoors, and always on the move. Read on for summer outfit inspo, regardless of your height, and insights on how these specific pieces work for my body, lifestyle, and values.

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categories: Advice/Experience
Tuesday 05.26.26
Posted by Samantha Karam
 

America's Suburbs: A Critique & A Love Letter

I have mixed feelings about the car-dependent suburbs of America. I wish they were more walkable, community-driven, and diverse. At the same time, I have a deep nostalgia for Suburbia because it was my world for the first 19 years of my life.

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tags: Reflections
categories: Advice/Experience, North America
Tuesday 05.12.26
Posted by Samantha Karam
 
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