Hi! Thank you so much for checking out my blog! As you may have guessed, I LOVE travel and fashion! You know that quote, about pursuing that which sets your soul on fire?? Well, travel and fashion set my soul on fire. I started this blog as a way to express these passions, and to help inspire others to travel more and have more fun with personal style. I hope that after reading this section, you will know me a bit better. Then when you get to the end, send me a message and subscribe so that I can get to know you!
We started from the bottom, now we here – Drake
Understanding where I came from is an important part of understanding who I am today, so let’s start at the beginning! I was raised in a low-income family in the Midwest. My universe, and that of my family was very limited. We all lived simple, blue collar (at best) lives, in a radius of no more than 20 miles from our hometowns. Somehow, despite these humble roots, I was an ambitious and precocious young child with eyes on the stars. No one in my family with a college degree? I am going to the University of Michigan! A mother who had never been on an airplane? I am going to travel the world! A wardrobe primarily bought at garage sales? One day I will wear couture!
My first area of focus was on education. I was always a bit of a book worm, even in a place where many of my best friends became pregnant as teens and never finished high school. I certainly made my fair share of mistakes, and flirted with taking the “wrong path” a few times growing up, but I never strayed too far from my goals and was able to perform well academically. I graduated as Valedictorian of my high school and was accepted to my coveted school, The University of Michigan! I earned my Bachelor’s degree and my Master’s degree from U of M, and it lived up to every expectation. I think my early focus on education helped me learn how to dream bigger, set goals, and take the steps necessary to achieve them. It helped me feel like not only could I make my dreams come true, but that I was also worthy of them.
While in graduate school, I met my now-husband Travis. I lucked out again by finding a partner who so perfectly compliments my strengths and weaknesses, and supports all my crazy ideas (I mean, ambitious goals). He is handsome, smart, and funny. My absolute best friend, favorite travel partner, photographer, and the best dog daddy in the world.
We travel because we need to, because distance and difference are the secret tonic to creativity. When we get home, home is still the same, but something in our minds has changed, and that changes everything. – unknown
Growing up I never knew anyone who had traveled the world, but I have dreamed of doing just that for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl, my mother and I would visit the library, and I would borrow all the National Geographic videos (VHS in those days!) that they had on the shelves. I always fantasized of seeing for myself the birds of paradise in the rainforest, tribal customs in Africa, temples in Thailand, and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean.
Now, I have traveled all over the world, and yet the more I see, the longer my wish list gets! Wanderlust is such a perfect word, because once infected, it truly is a deep yearning to see more, do more, explore more. I don’t believe my wanderlust will ever be satisfied, but I plan to search the world until I feel full.
My earliest travel experience was when I went out of state with a sponsor family in elementary school to a national dance competition. I waved goodbye to my parents and never looked back! Then in high school, I traveled to Mexico with the Spanish class. During this trip to Mexico City, I saw true poverty for the first time and it opened my eyes up to different cultures and ways of life. Then in college I sealed my fate when I studied abroad in Spain. My study abroad experience changed my life and infected me with a wanderlust that I have yet to shake.
Keep your head, heels, and standards high – Coco Chanel
As a child, I also found that no matter where you live, if you dress with style, you can choose how you are perceived! I loved being able to fool other people regarding where I was from simply by knowing how to dress well. My love of the power of clothing began there. I learned to read on my mother’s tabloids, and my favorite section was always the fashion page! I even remember mailing a letter to the magazine “applying” to be a fashion review editor…I was like 9 years old (haha!). I did not get the job.
I have been cursed (blessed?) with expensive taste, but have yet to earn an income that matches. I can pick out the most expensive item in any list. Its uncanny. So, I have needed to develop an impressive skill set of bargain shopping, searching for deals, and dressing to look like a million dollars on just a few bucks.
Now, I am an adult whose day job is as a mental health and addiction therapist/social worker. I live in a Michigan suburb with my husband Travis, and our adorable dog, Olive. I still have a limited budget, and yet my travel and fashion experiences have only gotten bigger with time.
I am starting this blog to document my travel experiences, to try and encourage others to travel beyond the familiar, and inspire people to know that whatever your background, you too are worthy of seeing the world. Unlike many of the glamorous full time travelers we see on the internet, I have a regular job and life. I believe we can all be better people if we see beyond our own lives. Throughout my travels, I have also learned a great deal about how to plan trips and vacations and will share this knowledge and these resources with you as well. As a lifelong shopper, I have also found ways to dress myself with style at incredibly affordable prices. Finally, if you’d prefer to see my original photography in addition to (or instead of) reading my ramblings here, please visit and follow my instagram.
Now that you know all about me, send me a message and tell me about you! Then, scroll to the bottom of this page, and subscribe to my email list and become one of the Leah Little Travel & Fashion tribe!
Leah Little has a full time job as a social worker, and has managed to travel the world while wearing beautiful clothes by knowing how to score deals in travel and fashion. Learn more about her journey here. Join the Leah Little Travel and Fashion tribe by entering your email to subscribe to be the first to learn new ways to enjoy the best in travel and fashion for less. Say hi and send her a message!