Many months ago, I asked my husband for just one small thing for my birthday. (I’m turning 38 in May. 37? 38? Definitely 38. I honestly can never remember how old I am which means I am just old I guess.) I wanted him to arrange for me to have headshots taken by someone other than me. It’s like the whole shoemaker’s children thing, right? I have no photos of my children printed, and all of the headshots I have of myself are outdated and taken with the forward-facing camera on my iphone so I have that whole exaggerated fivehead thing happening. I asked him months in advance because I knew that I needed to ask, beg, and remind to make this happen.

“Uh, so, I don’t think I am going to get your headshots for your birthday.”

{Insert stink eye here}

“Because it looks like we’ll be spending your birthday in Santorini. Here. We have a press trip.”

{Retracts said stink eye}

If we’re being honest, I’m basically a horrible traveler.

Actually I’m fairly a good traveler once I’m, well, AT the airport. Trips require actual booking before I know about them. I love to travel, I’m not a monster. We have had incredible experiences over the last few years in St. Lucia, Ireland, Italy. And I love our press trips. We get thrown into cities and get to experience them like the locals do. Of course, we threw some super touristy things in there because how can you visit Ireland and not kiss the Blarney Stone or visit Italy and not stay in the hotel that Don and Betty stayed in in Rome visit the Colosseum?

But bringing myself to actually make a trip happen is problematic at best for me. I come up with reasons why I can’t leave the kids, why I can’t miss work, why it’s not a good time, why it’s too expensive, why NOT. I have even canceled trips at the last minute. A friend’s wedding? Nope. A trip to Israel for a family bar mitzvah? Didn’t happen. Finally getting to see New Orleans? Canceled. Spending time at my parents house in Scottsdale? I have never been.

Visiting my sister in Seattle?

Has yet to happen.

I have plans, of course. A family trip. A trip with one of my besties. One all by myself. Imagine.

My son went last year all on his own, and had the most amazing time.

My daughter will be spending some of her summer there.

And I?

I will likely be enjoying the city from afar unless someone goes and books my ticket for me.

Luckily, there are companies like Hole in Wall who can make sure I can do just that — visit Seattle without having to actually visit. Founded by a pair of travel lovers out of San Diego who love exploring a new city through its hole-in-the-wall joints, they are obviously zoning in on my brainwaves, or know people like me. The ones who have troubling leaving home.

This awesome carefully-curated subscription service just launched in December and featured San Diego, Seattle, and up next? Quebec! Subscribers can order one-off boxes or sign up for subscriptions in 6-month (so 3 boxes) or 12-month (6 boxes) increments. And they want to give a box away to YOU! All you have to do is two simple things: 1) follow @HoleInWallBox on Instagram and 2) tell me what your dream vacation city is.

Now if only they could have somehow fit my sister and brother-in-law into the box. 

I’m totally going to actually make it to Seattle this year. I’ll plan it, after I get back fro Santorini. Yep.