Happy Wednesday, loves!

October has been busy so far – I even noticed just yesterday that I never flipped over my calendar from September! October has been a mix of tough and fun, fast and slow – as you can see, I’ve been slacking on my blog. I’ve had moments of writer’s block and moments of just sheer emotional drainage – but I’ve also had times of rejuvenation, and I’d love to share one of those with you!

I got to spend a wonderful 6 days visiting my best friend, her boyfriend, and their adorable cat (Hi Tilly!) in Los Angeles. Sophie moved to L.A. a year ago and this is my second time visiting her. I love L.A. – how fast the city moves, how vibrant the people are, the electric flow and vibe through each neighborhood. I love exploring new restaurants, window shopping, finding hidden murals. More than anything, the city pulses with new possibilities and perspectives.

I also have to give the biggest shout out in the world to Sophie. We’ve been friends since high school, and she’s one of the people with whom I feel the most comfortable. I can be 100% myself around her. We are silly, we are serious, and being with Soph always puts my mind at ease, as spending time with a great friend should.

So what did we do in L.A.? Well, we had a BLAST. If you’ve read my blog, you know I’m obsessed with drag, and especially RuPaul’s Drag Race. We were lucky enough to attend a show at the famous Hamburger Mary’s in West Hollywood and see (and meet!) the insanely gorgeous and talented Scarlet Envy from season 11. We also saw Ongina, an original cast member from season 1. We had our inaugural DOFF (Day of Fall Fun) at The Grove in downtown L.A., where I was chosen from the crowd to judge a pig racing competition (yes, yes – you did read that correctly!). We also ran across one of my favorite authors, Jason Reynolds, in conversation with LeVar Burton. If you haven’t read anything by Jason, please check out his YA books! I’d recommend Long Way Down and All American Boys.

OF COURSE, I’m eternally grateful to Soph for letting me drag her to every coffee shop in L.A. in search of the perfect iced latte! We visited two of my favorites, Alfred Coffee and Coffee For Sasquatch, and also tried out Go Get Em Tiger, Groundwork Coffee, and Dinosaur Coffee. What can I say? I’m Lattes+Lace, and I’m coffee-obsessed!

So let’s talk about traveling when you’re plus-sized. Do I get anxious before flying? YES, YES, AND YES. Planes were not built for people in mind (they were built for profit!) and definitely not for our curvy bodies. I already have anxiety, so to calm my mind before flying, I do some research (enneagram 6 here representing!). I check SeatGuru for reviews of my specific plane, and I pay for early bird check-in on airlines like Southwest that have open seating policies. You can also research COS (customer of size) policies for specific airlines – Southwest is known for having a very good policy! I also repeat a mantra to myself: “I am worthy.” It’s easier said than done, but I remind myself that I’m worthy of being on that plane, of travel, of seeing the world, just as much as my fellow non-plus-sized travelers. I arm myself with a tablet of downloaded Netflix shows, lots of water, and a sweatshirt (it can be chilly in those planes!).

Have you traveled anywhere recently? Where are your favorite spots to visit? Drop your comments below!