belmontlumodev

belmontlumodev

home.

Home. It is the place that you are supposed to feel entirely at peace. A place where you are loved, accepted, and comfortable. As of today, I have been home for one week. However, home feels different now. Don’t get…

Barbie Cars and To-Do Lists

When I was a little girl, very few things in the world scared me. Spiders usually prompted a yelp followed by a few tears, and I could never simply walk up the basement stairs after turning off the lights. Darkness…

open mind, open heart

I have officially made it through what I thought was the hottest month, July, only to find out that August is actually supposed to be the hottest month! Wish me luck! A few weeks ago, I had the sweetest treat…

I have this hope

Mid-July I sat down to do a quick assessment of the projects I’m working on now and planning for the future, trying to identify goals and value creation as the summer wraps up. While each project has a specific goal…

Lionesses

I HAVE A ROUTINE NOW! …it will probably change knowing Dominican culture and just the ins and outs of working in a non-profit, but as of right now…I have a routine! That said routine looks like: 7:30am – waking up…

wins and learns

There’s a famous quote by Nelson Mandela: “I never lose. I either win or learn.” We stand by that at 2nd Story Goods, calling things that some might see as losses “learnings” instead. I am learning to apply that philosophy…

The Finale of My Everest Journey

Rough Conditions After Phortse the conditions of each village continued to worsen. Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorak Shep were all impoverished communities filled with makeshift buildings and isolated from anything other than tourists seeking to reach Everest. The prices of even…

Tiny Wurm, Big World

Welcome to my very first blog! I am slowly learning how to put the stories, ideas, and thoughts I encounter into words for you to not only read, but to experience for yourself. I am honored that you are willing…

The Dark Side of Everest

Following Namche Bazar, the environment changed quite drastically. Villages became more remote, access to common utilities was rare, and the climate more unpredictable. To Phortse We embarked on a 7.5 mile trek to a very small village called Phortse. This…