My name is Alyssa. I'm short and a scorpio so that's an exciting combination. I'm a Graphic Designer in Chicago and absolutely love what I do. I paint, I play ukulele, I craft (like a lot)...I even have my own Etsy shop to sell what I make because I just don't have room for everything.

I love food. I love experimenting with new recipes. I'm vegan so it makes it especially challenging and fun, and I assure you, I can make some super tasty dishes. You can even ask my hubby, Andrew.

Which, btw, yes, I'm married. Andrew and I are a young married couple and enjoy adventure together! We travel and host together and have so much fun doing it.

Here's to new adventures and new friends! Excited to meet you :) Cheers!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I want to travel more than anything in the world. I don't just want to visit, though. I want to experience who the people are and really absorb the culture.

I also want to provide the same for travelers. I want to create beautiful friendships far and wide with some of the best people I'm sure I'll ever meet.

Interests

I'm a vegan, but not annoyingly so. If you stay with my husband and me, we promise not to judge if you eat meat or dairy. But just know that any meal we cook you will be vegan but oh so delicious! We know how to make a mean lasagna, tacos, and green bean casserole.

I want to visit everywhere I can, but my top 5 are Spain, Italy/Greece, India, Africa, and Egypt.

I love mountain hiking, and really pushing my limits athletically. Many of my top places to travel are due to the landscape and amazing hiking spots.

• dancing
• mexican food
• vegan
• organic food
• live music
• hiking
• nature
• africa
• gaming
• indie music
• india
• europe
• spain
• egypt

Music, Movies, and Books

I love Indie love songs. They speak to me on a very deep level and I just love playing them on my record player (call me a hipster, I dare you).

We LOVE horror movies - not gory, just spooky. But if that's not your thing, we love other genres too, such as action movies, and/or rom coms.

Books include a lot of dystopian, romance, classic fairytale or fantasy. Some of my favorites include (and I know it's a cliche) Hunger Games, Divergent, Midnight Pearls (a mermaid tale), Grim Bro's fairytales, etc.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

hmmmm what's amazing for me might not be spectacular to other people. I think the most amazing thing I can think of is that I traveled to Scotland for 4 months on my own when I was just 19. I grew up a lot on that trip. I found out that I absolutely need to travel to satisfy my wild heart. I discovered that I can be an extrovert when I need to be (and make great friends because of it), and I also found out that I'm willing to try new things...like surf...In freezing water in the winter. Who knew???

Teach, Learn, Share

I have so many stories to share about my life and what I've learned thus far, specifically as an individual who from a very early age, was on a journey to find herself.

For whoever visits, I can teach you how to play the ukulele (sorta well) and my husband can teach you everything you'll ever need to know about bicycles (he's a professional bike tech).

I would absolutely love to learn more languages, at least the basics. I would also love to learn more about different cultures - there's such a rich history in every part of this world that I have yet to explore.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share my tips as a Graphic Designer. If you want to learn a little bit about photo editing, photography in general, videography, or even design layout, I'm your girl.

My husband, Andrew can share everything you need to know about mountain, road, or any other bikes. He is a fit tech. He knows what the perfect bike is for every situation and can help you find great deals on beautiful high end types, too :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Bahamas, France, Scotland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Scotland