Claudia Larrow is a mother of two with a passion for budget travel, and a budding entrepreneur in the financial services industry. She writes for her blog, Vagablonde Life, where she hopes to inspire women and moms on their journeys of self-discovery and adventure.
What is Your Special Offer?
Get my e-book for FREE: Fly Away Moms: The Ultimate Guide to Saving Money on Travel.
Also offering 50% off any coaching package.
How should people get in touch with you?
Website: www.vagablondelife.com
Instagram or Facebook: Vagablondelife
Email: myvagablondelife@gmail.com
How and when did your business get started?
Vagablonde Life started in January of this year. I had been thinking about starting a blog for a long time as an outlet and place to document my travels. I also could not get the idea out of my head that I might one day be able to build a business that would allow me the freedom and independence to be able to travel more and work from anywhere. The idea was to start blogging as a hobby with the hope of monetizing down the road. It got to the point where I was thinking about it so much, I didn’t have all the answers about what it would look like; I just needed to start! I figure if I fall on my face, at least I tried and I can stop wondering “what if.” That's how I approach most everything in life: I’m more likely to regret the things I didn’t do or didn’t try, than what I did. I don't like having regrets.
When did you know you wanted to start this business/pursue your passion?
When I divorced a few years ago, I did a lot of reflecting on my life and it dawned on me that I had a story to tell that other women and moms might relate to. If I could inspire women and moms to pursue their passions while also pursuing one of my own at the same time, it's a win-win!
Traveling has always been really important to me. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up but my mom is from Brazil and her whole family is there. She managed to get my brother and I to Brazil to see family. I had my first birthday there, I went back when I was 9 and when I was 15. As an adult I’ve been back a couple of times as well. This experience opened my eyes to a whole world outside of my own.
When I went to college, I knew I wanted to study abroad. I went to Costa Rica for 6 months and it was a life-changing experience for me. I used to be incredibly shy. I was actually diagnosed with social phobia in grad school, after struggling with social anxiety my whole life. This experience forced me to get completely out of my comfort zone. I moved in with a family I didn't know, attended college courses with locals, became immersed in an experience where I didn't speak the language very well and I didn't know anyone or anything. I gained confidence and went home knowing that I can do anything. It was the hardest and the best experience of my life.
From then on, I was hooked on travel. It gives you such amazing perspective on yourself, on the world, forces you to do the things that scare you, adds thrill and excitement in your life in ways that staying at home can't, and it builds confidence.
Fast forward to my late 30s. I had just had my second child and it has been many years since I had been able to have a real adventure. I think a lot of moms can relate to how your world gets turned...
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Nov 1 20227 min