Category: Personal

An Artist’s Tale: Travel, Art and a Letter from Me || ThereGoesSaraRose.com

Introducing An Artist’s Tale, a monthly snail mail club with collectible artwork, illustrated travel letters, and activities paired with a new art tool. We’re beginning with New Orleans, with a different place to explore each month and a community to share your photographs and creations.

TRAVEL. CAPTURE. CREATE. ThereGoesSaraRose.com

I started An Artist’s Tale, a monthly snail mail club, to share my travels in more depth and give you ways to use the ideas they inspire. Creating a physical version of the travel, art, and food shared on this blog has always been the goal. Each edition includes artwork to collect, an illustrated letter, stickers, and a zine with activities and an art tool to use with them.

The club follows the same process behind the work you’ve seen here. In the New Orleans post, photographs documented details such as the French Quarter’s blue street tiles. In Color Persists, flower photographs became color references. An Artist’s Tale takes that process further by giving you activities based on the colors and design of each place, then a community where we can share our photos and artwork. We’re starting with New Orleans. Each month will focus on a different place from my travels, with new artwork and activities to explore together.

Meet An Artist’s Tale, my monthly snail mail club!

My mission is Travel. Capture. Create. This is where all three come together. Each month and each place, through my travels and photographs, we will follow the colors, design, and details that inspired me there. I’ll draw from my existing experiences as well as future ones. There’s plenty in a single trip to keep working with long after the suitcase is unpacked.

The art we encounter might be a painting, but it could also be architecture, a carefully planted garden, or the lettering on a sign. I want to spend more time with those details, show you how they become artwork, and give you ways to try that process yourself.

Each monthly envelope includes:

  • Kiss-cut stickers featuring my original artwork.
  • A collectible 4×6 travel-art postcard, printed from my original artwork.
  • An illustrated, place-inspired letter that goes further into the experience.
  • A mini activity zine, with interactive activities.
  • A new artist’s tool each month.
An Artist's Tale Snail Mail Club October 2026 by Sara Rose
An Artist’s Tale | Snail Mail Club, October 2026. By Sara Rose.

The first edition is inspired by New Orleans and will be mailed in the first week of October. Travel and art are the main focus of the club, with food woven into the stories and inspiration. As shared in my earlier posts, I rely on accounts from individuals I’ve met on my travels, giving context my photos alone cannot provide. That matters to me as this club grows: sharing my own observations while crediting the people whose work and knowledge help me understand a place.

Last Day to Sign Up for October’s Edition

Share your photos and artwork in my Discord and Instagram, linked in the zine. I’d love for us to compare what caught our attention, trade ideas, and see what everyone makes. All experience levels are welcome.

Today, September 30, is the last day to join for the first October edition. Join during October and you’ll receive November’s edition, etc. Monthly editions are mailed during the first week of the month, and postage is included.

Blog posts will also resume twice a month, and the podcasts are returning too! You’re welcome to keep following here, whether or not you join the postal club.

What’s one detail in a familiar place that you’ve started noticing lately?

Join An Artist’s Tale

Join An Artist’s Tale at AskSaraRose.com and choose the U.S. or international monthly subscription to keep receiving each new edition: An Artist’s Tale

Sign up by 11:59 p.m. Pacific tonight, September 30, for October’s New Orleans edition. Sign-ups during October receive November’s edition. Each edition is mailed during the first week of the month, and postage is included.

Share your photos and artwork in my Discord community, linked in the zine. Let’s compare what caught our attention, trade ideas, and see what everyone makes. All experience levels are welcome.

Blog posts will also resume twice a month, and the podcasts are returning too! You’re welcome to keep following here, whether or not you join the postal club.

What’s one detail in a familiar place that you’ve started noticing lately?

Join An Artist’s Tale and choose your monthly subscription to keep exploring with us by mail.

Love Sara’s Photos? Own Your Own Here!

2025 Wrap-Up in Full Color || ThereGoesSaraRose.com

2025 was a year of quiet growth for There Goes Sara Rose. This wrap-up reflects on global readership, the most-read travel stories, and a creative shift toward observation, design, and alignment — including a look at what’s coming next with Color Persists: Volume 1.

TRAVEL. CAPTURE. CREATE. ThereGoesSaraRose.com

2025 Wrap-Up: Quiet Growth, Real Momentum

Somewhere along the way, this little corner of the internet stopped being just mine and started becoming ours. In 2025, readers found their way here from all over — across the U.S., the UK, Canada, Europe, and even as far as Singapore and Hong Kong — often through posts written years ago that somehow kept traveling. That’s because you kept reading, sharing, wandering, and coming back. For the first time since this site began, it feels right to say this has grown into an international community — built slowly, organically, and entirely because of you.

JetPack geo statistics for ThereGoesSaraRose.com, 2025.
JetPack statistics for ThereGoesSaraRose.com, 2025.

These were the most-read blog posts in 2025:

Thank you for being here — for reading, sharing, and carrying these stories with you. Every visit, every quiet moment spent exploring a post, is what allowed this space to grow at its own pace. I’m grateful you’re part of this journey, and I can’t wait to see where we wander next.

2025: The Reframe

This year was about alignment. I moved to a new city I love, worked through graduate school, made new friendships, and developed a clearer understanding of how creativity fits into my life. Travel remained part of my world, but it shifted into something more observational — something I returned to when it felt healthy and meaningful rather than obligatory.

The posts I shared this year — about Point Lobos, Monterey, Santa Cruz tides, Sacramento food walks, and art spaces — reflected where I was in real time. They weren’t meant to be guides or itineraries; they documented place, presence, and attention as I experienced them.

Much of the work this year happened quietly and off the blog: graduate school and thesis development, therapy and long (sometimes difficult) conversations with friends, starting a research study and documenting that process at IDFieldGuide.com, developing my professional design portfolio, and writing Color Persists: Volume 1, to be released in January 2026. That clarity changed how I create and allowed this blog to function as a living archive rather than a performance schedule — exactly how I want it to exist.

Where Travel Meets Design

Travel matters to me as a designer because it expands how I see. For the past five years, alongside everything shared on this site, I’ve been photographing flowers and plants everywhere I go. These photographs were never meant to be souvenirs; they’ve always been references. I use them the same way artists have always used nature: to study color, contrast, texture, and light.

Over time, that practice became a personal design library, something I returned to again and again in my work. This year, I decided to make that library accessible to you.

What I’m Releasing: COLOR PERSISTS

As 2025 comes to a close, I’m excited to announce I have finished production on COLOR PERSISTS: Volume 1, based on a collection of photography that has grown quietly alongside this site. It will be available globally in January 2026.

The book is built on how I actually work as a designer. Over the past five years, I’ve photographed flowers and plants during my travels and used those images as ongoing design references. This book offers a curated version of that same library. Below is a small preview of Color Persists: Volume 1 – including the cover, note to readers, an example of the colors in this book, and about the author pages.

  • Color Persists: Volume 1, Cover.
  • Color Persists, Message to Readers
  • Screenshot
    Color Persists, Custom Color Wheel
  • Color Persists, About The Author

It includes 75 close-up photographs, each paired with five hex codes pulled directly from the image, for a total of 375 color references grounded in real environments. Think of it as a digital paint book, a working palette built from observation rather than trends. The focus is intentionally up close. Instead of documenting where I went, the book documents what I noticed: color, texture, and detail. In that way, it functions as both a micro travel record and a practical design resource.

The book will be available as a softcover 5×5, printed on high-quality luster paper and designed to be used as a reference tool rather than decoration. This is Volume 1, a snapshot of the last five years. The goal is for each year to eventually have its own volume of color to choose from, but this one stands on its own.

I’ll update this post with the link when the book is available to the public. Happy New Years Eve!

— Sara Rose

Love Sara’s Photos? Own Your Own Here!

Point Lobos, Pauses, and the Power of Creative Return || ThereGoesSaraRose.com

After a season of stillness, I returned to the cliffs of Point Lobos—and remembered exactly why I started this blog. Between grad school deadlines and IDFieldGuide.com, I’ve been building something bigger than content. I’ve been building capacity. Here’s what’s been growing behind the scenes, and what’s coming next for ThereGoesSaraRose.com.

TRAVEL. DESIGN. SHARE. ThereGoesSaraRose.com

Hello, I’m back!

When I stepped away from posting about travel, it wasn’t because I stopped loving it. I stepped away to rebuild, reroute, and reimagine how creativity shows up in my life instead of “living for the weekends”. The intent was always to return when it felt right, after a season of silence.

Sara and Fang. Monterey Beach, California. 2025.
Sara & Fang. Monterey, CA. ©2025

That is not to say any of the last few years were easy. To uproot yourself after pivotal losses…from what you are comfortable doing to the life your soul aches for…can be mental war, takes time, help from others, and an endless amount of patience with yourself. I wanted clean, sea-salt air in my lungs, and surroundings that were thriving with nature and wildlife…a place that inspired creativity and healing. And most recently, Point Lobos delivered. But before we get to that… let’s talk about what’s shifted.

Part I: Why I Went Quiet

It wasn’t just burnout. What I needed was an intentional introspection, a full system reset. I asked myself: “What does a future that lets me do more of what I love, look like? What changes do I need to make so I can thrive and not just survive?” That answer led me to a new job, then a new location and graduate school.

Graduate School & Growth
Sara Rose at CSUMB in front of a banner. Orientation weekend, August 2024.
CSUMB, Orientation AUG 2024. ©2024

I have been pursuing a Master’s in Instructional Science & Technology since August 2024. If you couldn’t tell from this blog, I love sharing things I’ve recently learned with others. I already loved changing the reader’s perspective, so this academic program was right up my alley. I am studying at a California State University near a paradise-like location with so many places to explore. Now, I’m deep in my research thesis, and you can follow more of that journey at www.IDFieldGuide.com. This has made for long days. There are timelines in every corner of my life. There is writing and more writing. I have been exploring and rediscovering what lights me up in between moments of intense emotions. I have begun to understand how healing a beautiful environment can be. At times, I have never been more at peace.

I initially felt lost, but I was growing. Strategically. Intuitively. So yes, this blog paused. But beneath the surface? So much was taking root. And now — it’s blooming again. This space has always been my soul’s portfolio. The camera never stopped clicking. And have I got stories to share.

Part II: Point Lobos

Let’s just say this: if you ever forget why the world is worth writing about, go to Point Lobos. The wind moves differently there. The land shifts from forest to cliff. Then it changes from tide pool and to black beaches. It’s like there is a new secret every few steps. It’s a protected land for a reason. Check out photos of what it looked like through my eyes below. You can also check out my socials for videos. More coming soon!

Point Lobos State Reserve, Entrance.
(Sara Rose, ©2025)

We were the last to enter the park before a sign went up, Parking Lot Full. “Oh geez, Fang. Are we going to have to turn around?” I ask, fully expecting a reply. My dog responds with his typical husky, harumph. “I hope not either,” as I pull forward to the ranger’s booth. $10, the appropriate Service Dog quiz later (pets are not permitted in the Reserve, check out more of those details here), and we are on our way to the Bird Island trail. Upon arrival, there are immediate beautiful views, and they continue throughout the rest of our afternoon.

  • Parking Lot at Bird Island Trail, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
  • Point Lobos State Reserve, Bird Island Trail. Sara Rose, 2025.
  • Bird Island trail beach, Point Lobos State Reserve.
    Bird Island trail beach, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
  • Bird Island Trail - Point Lobos State Reserve
    Bird Island, end of Bird Island Trail. Sara Rose, 2025.
  • Close up of Bird Island, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
  • Bird island Trail, Point Lobos State Reserve.
    Bird island Trail, Point Lobos State Reserve.
The Hike

Not only was the trail to Bird Island much easier than anticipated, it was fairly accessible as well. We ended up with more time and energy than I thought; As this was more of a walk on the edge with fantastic views, I opted for another trail. Near the end of the Bird Island trail, it splits off into different options. One is a steep staircase that leads down to a beach, a short walk to Bird Island, or a third route up the hill to the South Plateau. We decided to take this upper trail.

  • South Plateau Trail sign, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
  • Roots of fallen Monterey Pine, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
  • Lichen + tree at Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
  • Granite Point Trail sign, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
  • Granite Bay at Granite Point, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
  • Granite Point trail, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
  • Carmel Mission, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025
  • Granite Point trail beach, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
  • Granite Point Beach, Point Lobos State Reserve.
    Granite Point Beach, Point Lobos State Reserve.

The trail was much longer, and more steep, with twists and turns through the forest. It felt like we traveled through Middle-earth to a new realm entirely. On the other side of the Reserve, the trail resumed to a more beaten path. However, the beaches were small rocky bays with dark sand. They were not bright and sparkly but eerily breathtaking in their own way. The old Carmel Mission stood starkly against the fog and deep green of the local trees. This place makes me feel as though I have been yanked into the past, into a California barely disturbed. I know I will have to come back soon and explore more of this breathtakingly stunning Reserve.

Learn more about The Point Lobos State Reserve, here!

My dog can’t read but I am still going to give him credit for being the best hiking partner I can ask for. When I was struggling, and I’d grab his harness handle and say, “Let’s go!” he pulled me up a steep path without hesitation, like it was the most fun game he can imagine. On the flip side, he goes slowly with me down slopes and stairs, he walks behind me on command when people are approaching us on the trail. We do still have a lot of learning to do together. But my dog is one of the most significant changes to my life (as of July 2023) and I can not imagine a better canine friend. Kudos to Fang and to many more fur-lined adventures!

Part III: What’s Next

ThereGoesSaraRose.com isn’t just reviving – it’s evolving. It’s not a polished blog, expect:

  • ✈️ Updates from my past and current travels. Yes, I make time to go outside even in between all the due dates!
  • 🎓 Behind-the-scenes commentary about grad school, the book release, IDFieldGuide.com, life pivots, and messy wins. Make sure to check it out if YOU are interested in digital education design!
  • 🔥 Reflections about creativity, transitions, burnout, joy, and starting over.

Closing Note:

To those of you who stuck around: thank you.

To those of you just landing here: welcome.

To the next version of me reading this post months from now: you did it again!

Let’s keep moving. Creatively. Curiously. Always.

Sara Rose

Love Sara’s Photos? Own Your Own Here!

Empowering Play: Women-Led Games 2024 🎉|| ThereGoesSaraRose.com

2024 is a landmark year for women in gaming, with innovative titles from developers like SnapFingerClick and live streams from women in STEAM like myself, Sara Rose (NerdGlassesLLC on Twitch). Join as we celebrate the women reshaping our gaming experiences!

TRAVEL. CAPTURE. CREATE. ThereGoesSaraRose.com

Happy Women-Led Games Showcase 2024! As we near the closing of the week, I would like to congratulate all women working in the gaming industry, you are some of the most talented and resilient individuals I have had the pleasure of working with! Congratulations to SnapFingerClick, a game development company made up of over 70% women! Awkward 2 (by SnapFingerClick) is as one of my most memorable games on Twitch! So last but not least, congratulations to my Twitch Channel, NerdGlassesLLC and my Twitch community for being featured on Steam and Awkward 2 during this awesome week!

Steam, “Women-Led Games” week and NerdGlassesLLC featured playing Awkward 2! ©2024

Share your favorite Women-Led stream or game company in the comments, below or THIS SATURDAY for my return to Twitch! Check out our PRIDE stream Saturday 6/15/2024 at 12:00 PM PST for a colorful, interactive, 12-Hour event!

www.Twitch.tv/NerdGlassesLLC live stream on 6/15/2024 ©2024

So, how does one create? To design something that is aesthetically pleasing and useful? That begins to tap into the world of a Multimedia Designer and Developer, an entire skillset, ever growing and rolled together.

Now, try this concept on for size: How does one review the stream objectively – when the product … the service …. is YOU? When you pour your heart into and project that your dace is literally on, it becomes more about tamping down your own demons. Getting used to the sound of your voice in editing, to stop cringing at silly moments that you actually enjoyed. Never in my life had I needed to look at myself so unbiasedly and realized, I was very judgmental on myself!

300 Followers 1-month after NerdGlassesLLC began on Twitch! ©2020

Not withstanding the hiccups Twitch.tv, Discord or video games struggled with during lockdown, I wrestled with my own demons. However, we all did something amazing during that time stuck at home, we reached out to each other-online. We had fun, we made friends. With the support of others on Twitch and my college project, the NerdGlasses channel and community (“The Nerd Herd”) grew overnight.

Throwback to NerdGlassesLLC Event in 2020 ©Sara Rose

Then, the “impossible”, happened. Twitch hired me as an Affiliate streamer six days after I started streaming! The next few years brought more twist and turns than I thought possible. And here we still are, enjoying every moment. This story is not new to those who have been part of the journey – what may be new is the personal struggle to continue to create consistent content after lockdown.

Multimedia Artist & Streamer in Charity Event hosted by EonsOfIan ©EonsofIan/NerdGlassesLLC 2020

Jump to 2021, Sara Rose has went there and back again, as I’d always intended! I pulled away from regular game streaming and I did the best thing I could think of: I traveled to grow and heal and shared it with you, here! http://www.ThereGoesSaraRose.com was born. One of the biggest trips of my life happened, 16 States in 16 Days!

Twitch 2021 Recap ©2021

Although not everyone in my life agreed on my travel plans – I am happy to say, The Nerd Herd (the name of our Twitch Community) was always a balance and held me accountable. Truly listening to everyone in an online community is the reflection no one asked for, and sometimes the truth is as harsh as the mirror from old fairytales.

Sara Rose traveling to HEAL ©2021

Looking back, I jumped in the deep end of content creation, didn’t I? What makes me happy coming BACK to Twitch.tv? The need to learn, accept help from friends the promise to myself to always have fun FIRST. I believe Twitch is the melting pot which gives a creator the space incubate ideas and to continue helping others.

Remembering this stream began as a school project, I have an INCREDIBLY exciting announcement to share with YOU still yet! Mark your calendar and join the LIVE Event for FUN, ART and INTERACTIVE GAMING at Twitch.tv/NerdGlassesLLC at 12 PM PST for a 12-Hour Stream to find out more!

Discord & Twitch stream Announcement ©Sara Rose, 2024

Love Sara’s Photos? Own Your Own Here!

🛡️💪 Prioritizing Safety as a Travel Blogger 💪🛡️

Stay safe! In the face of a relentless stalker, I refused to let fear silence my creativity but I had to ensure my safety. Join me as I share my journey of survival and rediscovering the joy of content creation. Together, we’ll rise above adversity and inspire others to reclaim their passions. #TriumphOverAdversity #ContentCreation

TRAVEL. ART. FOOD. ThereGoesSaraRose.com

Hello, fellow travel enthusiasts and nerdlings! I must share a personal experience that shook me to the core. I stopped sharing any personal content, all but disappeared from the internet, until recently. My perspective has changed and you deserve to know why. It is not a happy tale; It is a public record and I now must share it with you, the reader to clear the slate. I have gone through enough that I’ve learned being vulnerable is crucial to growth.

As a travel blogger, I’ve always cherished the freedom and excitement that comes with exploring new destinations. However, there are times when the unexpected happens, and our safety becomes the top priority. If you feel like you are ever in a similar situation get help, and find support here. In this blog post, I want to shed light on my encounter with someone who tried to scare me, stalk me, or even hurt me, and how it led me to prioritize my well-being over content creation.

The Disturbing Reality

Just like any other travel blogger, I’ve always strived to create captivating content and share my adventures in some form. However, in 2021, my journey took an unexpected turn. A family member of mine got very ill and required end-of-life care. I agreed to help.

In the middle of caretaking and content creation, I was receiving disturbing images, controlling messages, and death threats in separate social media DMs. I assumed this was Twitch viewer(s) being trolls, a common occurrence at the time. It was a distressing situation that went on for far too long.

It reached a point that required immediate action. The point was while I was live streaming in Los Angeles, this person began to message me in live chat. I noticed the difference in messages from the rest of the viewers and knew, “SO YOU ARE IN LA RIGHT NOW, ARE YOU?” and “I CAN SEE YOU,” eerily similar in tone to my social media trolls. As a new Twitch user, however, they made a crucial mistake. They accidentally created their Twitch username with their real name.

This was someone I knew.

This was my sick family member.

I knew this person was not capable of actually traveling to Los Angeles due to medical issues so I continued the rest of my trip. I tried to play tourist in between applying to jobs and collecting good content. Looking at myself through a photographer’s lens though, it was evident how the news affected this girl in the photos, still trying so hard. I was a shell of myself.

Sara Rose at The Paul Smith Pink Wall. (2021, S. Rose)

Prioritizing Safety

In the face of this alarming situation, I knew I had to take decisive steps to protect myself. My mental and physical well-being became my utmost concern. I tried to find out the reason for this disgusting behavior from this family member but now that the mask was off, the obsession and hate had no boundaries. The onslaught continued but became more personal. When they told me they tried to hire someone to hurt me, I reached out to the authorities. A detective was assigned and a case began. Months later, after self-representing in court, I successfully obtained a life-long restraining order in 2022. There is no guarantee a person like that will obey a restraining order, but they do lose access to firearms. It was a challenging decision, but one that was necessary for my safety and peace of mind.

The Interruption

As I embarked on this journey of waiting for the court system and the trial date, I had to put my travel and live stream content creation on hold. I was not ready to share the betrayal and the abusive patient/family behavior. I still have yet to wrap my head around what family can do to their blood. While it was a difficult decision, I knew that my well-being had to come first. It became a period of reflection, self-care, and regaining control over my life. I am immensely grateful for the support I received from my loved ones and the legal system, which played a vital role in ensuring my safety.

Moving Forward

After making some life changes, and getting the mental health support I needed, I am in a different mindset. Now that I have taken the necessary steps to protect myself, I am gradually getting back into content creation. However, this experience has taught me a valuable lesson: We cannot hide from our story while traveling or creating. We travel and create to understand life. Creation is a voice of authenticity not to be stifled. Prioritizing Mental Health and personal safety, even in the world of travel blogging, deserves all the time it takes. It’s crucial for all of us to be aware of our surroundings, trust our instincts, and take necessary precautions to stay safe during our adventures.

Sara & Fang, Now. (9/2023, S. Rose)

What YOU Can Do!

Stalking is a serious issue that can cause immense distress and fear. As a live streaming travel blogger, your personal information and whereabouts are more accessible to the public, making it crucial to take proactive steps to protect yourself. If you find yourself being stalked or harassed, here’s what you can do:

1️⃣ Prioritize your safety: Your safety should always be the top priority. Trust your instincts and take any threats or concerning behaviors seriously. Reach out to your local law enforcement authorities to report the incidents and seek guidance on how to protect yourself.

2️⃣ Document evidence: Keep a detailed record of all stalking incidents, including dates, times, locations, and descriptions of the events. Save any messages, emails, or social media interactions as evidence. This documentation will be invaluable when seeking legal protection.

3️⃣ Seek legal advice: Consult with a lawyer who specializes in stalking cases to understand your rights and legal options. They can guide you through the process of obtaining a restraining order, which can provide legal protection and establish boundaries between you and the stalker.

4️⃣ Strengthen security measures: Take steps to enhance your personal security. This may include adjusting your social media privacy settings, using pseudonyms, being cautious about sharing personal information, and considering additional security measures, such as installing surveillance cameras or alarm systems.

5️⃣ Seek support: Dealing with the aftermath of stalking can be emotionally challenging. Reach out to friends, family, or support groups who can provide understanding, empathy, and guidance. Consider seeking professional counseling to help you process the experience and regain a sense of security.

Remember, you are not alone in this journey. Many resources are available to support you through this difficult time. By taking proactive steps, obtaining a restraining order, and prioritizing your safety, you can regain control over your life and continue pursuing your passion as a live-streaming travel blogger.

As I resume my blogging journey, I want to emphasize the significance of vulnerability. Stay strong, stay vigilant, and never hesitate to seek help when needed. Your safety and well-being matter above all else. It’s essential to be vigilant, trust your instincts, and take immediate action if you ever find yourself in a threatening situation. Remember, your well-being is paramount, and it’s okay to put content creation on hold to ensure your safety. Let’s continue exploring the world, but let’s do it with caution and a strong focus on personal security. Safe travels, my friends!