“Our goal is to kick Amazon’s ass!” The president of the online division stated excitedly in 2011. At the time, I was working as an online merchandiser at a 100+ year old, iconic, luxury store based in Dallas, Texas. I was 27 years old, newly married, a part-time graduate student, full-time corporate employee, and confused as hell. Many of us were. “Amazon isn’t even in the luxury space! We sell Chanel! We sell $2000 Givenchy boots! Amazon isn’t OUR competition.” Our new boss wasn’t a luxury expert, or even a retailing genius, he knew tech. And well, he knew what was coming around the corner…

E-commerce Merchandiser to Executive Traininee to Couture Assistant Buyer. It was quite a ride-especially for a Dallas-native like myself. My mom, also a Dallas-native, shared fond memories of her adventures visiting the ice cream shop near the Neiman’s (common for us to call it in The Big D) in downtown Dallas as a teen.

I left the buying office at Neiman Marcus in 2013 to accept an offer at a larger big-box retailer geared toward shoppers on a budget. As tough as it was to leave my dream job in luxury as an assistant buyer in the couture division, it was an offer I absolutely COULD NOT refuse. I then worked for 2 years with the big-box corporation as a men’s assistant buyer before a new CEO took hold. Then came the inevitable restructuring phase, followed by mass layoffs. I was 9 weeks pregnant at the time; the stable/salaried one in the family with health benefits as we expecting our son. The layoff was terrifying, immensely devastating, and left us scrambling for medical insurance (COBRA-continuation of coverage which doubled our health insurance premiums, plus 6 weeks of severance pay kicked in) and we were uh, all set I guess? Awesome timing the universe had for us. Needless to say, this was the end of my career in corporate America. That retailer, a long-time Fortune 500 company has since filed for bankruptcy, has been restructured to smithereens, and went private back in 2020-The Covid Effect tightened its grip on an already-struggling 100+ year old retailer which at one time has been in nearly every single mall in America. It is now owned by Simon Property Group (yes, THAT group which owns most every mall in America)-bought for pennies on the dollar by their landlord.

And since 2015, wow oh wow what has happened to the world of retail, and fashion, and media. No seriously, what.has.happened? Every retailer I’ve worked with over the years since 2000 has either completely gone under, filed for bankruptcy, or has been sold for parts. Some of these companies have been 100+ year old businesses, mind you.

I’ve seen the world of retail from the POV of a cashier at Linens N Things at $8/hour in 2000 when I was 16, to mall commissioned sales associate at Bebe during college, to placing PO’s for $20,000 couture gowns to buying 100,000 units of men’s blue polo shirts manufactured in Bangladesh at a cost of $3.17 per unit (that last one’s not exactly my proudest moment😑).

I grieve because, well…American retailers gave us more than a place to buy “stuff”, stores & malls were third spaces, a hangout, AN EXPERIENCE! An experience for shoppers, a community meeting space for employees, a way to interact with the world. An exchange of goods and services, sure. But also a HUMAN exchange. Our standards have gone…uh somewhere. Our expectations have dropped, and the 2 hour shipping window has taken place of our, dare I say….humanity? Human exchanges. Humans conversing, humans interacting. Humans being humans. We’ve traded our humanness for a screen, automatic sign-in, and drone delivery.

I get it, life is busy. We love convenience. We need answers like, yesterday. We need the package to arrive gift wrapped on our door before we get out of bed in the morning. Quick n Dirty. Gimme it NOW.

And here we are. We’re left with the amazon effect. Plastic. Mass produced. Cheap n Dirty. Knock-offs, and “gimme it yesterday & don’t look me in the eyes” culture. And in 2026, dahhhling, even an amazon-sponsored met gala.

🪦🥀Is the American Retail/Fashion/Luxury Experience dead & gone? Is our humanness dead & gone? Can any of it be salvaged?

And can we continue to fight like hell to preserve what’s left of the experience here in Europe? In countries like Spain (where I’m grateful to call home), where mall culture and brick and mortar retail experiences are still robust and thriving. I certainly hope so.

Growth isn’t just in the travel, but rather in the lessons of sitting in the discomfort that often comes along with the unfamiliarity of it all.

Peace doesn’t come simply from changing your zip code, it takes some grueling work & even pretty thick skin at times.

Peace isn’t always shiny & sparkling, it doesn’t smell like palo santo or nag champa. It may take a lifetime to find, but oh what an incredible journey that can be🕊️

•You’ll be in a constant

state of learning & problem

solving each day, so

give yourself grace

•Stay grounded in who you

are & where you come from

while evolving into this

new version of yourself

•Temper your

expectations & learn

to be flexible

•Everyone has an

important

role in the family

•Absorb & welcome

the culture with

open arms by listening

more than speaking

(the 2 ears & 1 mouth doctrine)

•As taxpayers in Spain, we pay into the socialized medical program, but still hold private insurance. This ensures that any MAJOR diagnosis or surgery/hospital stay will be covered. We have found several great doctors & dentists here locally. (Our son is even starting his orthodontics treatment plan soon!😬🦷)

•Back in the US, a hospital stay or unexpected surgery could very well bankrupt a family living in the middle income range. Thankfully, here this has not been an ongoing source of anxiety for us.

But this time it’s different. It’s reimagining a dream of a place to lay our heads. A place so customized and curated that the energy of possibility fills each corner. We envision not a new life, but an extension of the former. A pathway not yet marked by the prints of muddy, unfamiliar boots. A path not drawn by generations of doing the same. But one paved in the dreams of all we hoped to grow more accustomed. The excitement in the unknown, the beginning again, the risk of tearing it all down to build it back stronger and marked in our blood, sweat, and endless imagination.

It’s a LOT. It’s just a lot.

When it feels like too much, the answers are inside of you in the stillness & the silence. When you don’t know which way to turn, go inward. The first time, it will suck. I can almost promise that it will suck. But don’t give up on yourself.

It takes practice to sit in such discomfort, but it will strengthen you for the task ahead. Because everything coming around the corner  in the US will require a clear mind, strong will, and lots of discomfort.

✌🏽& 💛 -B

April 28, 2025 12:30pm-3:30am April 29th

Whether you were dancing in the streets, or doomsday prepping for the apocalypse, Monday’s multi-national power outage certainly has caused us to think a bit deeper about…well everything!

I’ve found that coming from Texas, we were actually more prepared for this than we even realized. Texas has power grid issues every summer AND winter, so as Texans, we’ve actually lost power more times than we can count!

Preparedness is the key to easing anxieties around situations such as what was experienced on Monday, so here are a few tips from a proper Texan now living in Spain:

Keep a large plastic storage container in a closet or garage easily accessible with the following:

📝Batteries, flameless candles, & traditional candles🕯️water, non-perishable proteins, water wipes for “bathing”, shelf stable milk, dried fruits, nuts, WINE obvi, solar lights for the front porch, flashlights, CHARGED portable battery backs for phones.

A few items we’ll be more prepared with in the future:

A stash of efectivo (cash💶), gas in the car, PLUS: solar lights for the front porch, more non-perishable canned goods.

I know you all have a ton of questions and concerns, and I know there’s an urgency now. So let break down some lessons we’ve learned in the past 6 months we’ve been here in Spain.

Is moving abroad right for my family?

As parents, we know our children best, so making the move as smooth as possible for them will look different for every family. You will know what’s right for your family based on how easy it is for them to adjust to change and how receptive they’ll be to a new, completely foreign life.

• Bring your kids along on the initial trip to visit, research neighborhoods, interview at schools, and apply for the visa. Making them feel as if they’re a part of the process, rather than just “along for the ride” can be incredibly beneficial. This is even more impactful if they’re an older child or teen.

• If moving with kids, align your move with the start of the school year. Friend groups and parent communities get a jumpstart at the beginning of a school year. If choosing to make the move during the holiday break in December, the whole family might be missing out on these crucial social opportunities. Finding community while living abroad is one of the most important items on your to-do list. Don’t neglect it!

• Pre-K and younger kids can typically do well with Spanish schooling, since they’re still acquiring basic language and speaking skills. An adjustment period may not be as much of a concern for children this age. The key is to create consistency within the home life as much as possible, and that stability will spill over to their other environments.

Some other things to consider:

• Working US hours vs local hours & dividing household/family duties

• School drop-off/pickup (walking, driving, school bus)

• Enrollment in familiar activities & extracurriculars will help ease the transition

• Time of year to make the move due to the school calendar (European countries have start and end dates much different from schools in the US).

• Previewing/scouting potential relocation areas with your kids can be helpful, so organize your travel in a way that makes the process fun too! You’re also “selling them” during this trip. Emphasize the fun you’ll have together while learning about the world and different cultures

• Choosing a school: Private/Public/International schools in Spain

• School interviews & entrance evaluations may apply

• Financial planning for School Tuition & fees

Life is the same…but SO ELEVATED with new experiences. 🇪🇸

Has it been easy the entire time? NO!

Are we still homesick on occasion? YES!😅

Moving abroad isn’t always a fairytale, and anyone portraying it as such might be leaving out some important real world details. TRULY.

We’re so grateful to be here together and BEYOND happy with the decision to move to Spain. Our neighbors & the locals here in our community are NEXT LEVEL in terms if kindness & have been so helpful & welcoming to our little Texas family🙏🏽♥️🇪🇸

The beautiful immersion of Spanish cuisine & culture has given us the gift of an expanded worldview-just as we hoped and knew that it would.

The easy access to public transportation & accessible travel to other parts of Europe has made our lives so much richer because we get to travel and actually enjoy the destinations, rather than rushing to every tourist spot for only a quick pic.

With my husband working US hours we’ve has to shift some household duties, but it’s nothing we haven’t been able to handle😉 We spend more leisure time together in the daytime👩‍❤️‍👨, then pickup our little guy👦🏻 after futbol training in the afternoon.

We’ve found a great vet & doggy hotel for our little (15 year old pup) Izzy🐾 so when we travel she’s well cared for and happy!

Our gym is AMAZING & the cafe is a great place to sit and get some work done in the early afternoon before heading to the school to pickup our son. As a fitness instructor, I’m not working here in Spain quite yet because I’m still not 100% comfortable with my Spanish, but going to the gym to take classes has me feeling more and more comfortable each day. Maybe this spring I’ll be ready to jump back in!

We enjoy our weekends at the school futbol matches & lunches or beach walks afterwards. We spend A LOT of time outdoors now.

We’ve met some incredible friends (& parents from the school) so we love our time playing padel with them while the kids are in school, or just hanging out at the park on the weekends with the kids.

We’ve had family members come to visit us & have a few more planning to come later this year♥️.

Was moving to Spain worth it? I’m asked this quite often actually.

For the experience of stepping out of our comfort zones and into a life fulfilling in ways we couldn’t have ever dreamed of….YES. It was well worth every minute of uncertainty and fear. It was well worth every penny it took to get to this place (both literally and geographically, AND emotionally.

Peace & Love,

Bianca

1. Be sure to keep up with regular pet visits and vaccinations leading up to your move date.

2. Locate a USDA certified vet in your area and make an appointment to discuss specific requirements regarding your destination.

3. Research breed restrictions and microchip type required (The EU will require the 15 digit international microchip and coordinating vaccinations under that specific ID #)

4. Health screening and pet travel certificate must be sent to the USDA and approved within 10 DAYS OF TRAVEL (This timetable is incredibly sensitive and could determine whether or not you will be permitted to board the flight)

   

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TRANSPORTATION

1. If possible, plan travel according to season, as warmer climate destinations may have restrictions during warmer months.

2. If moving to s country overseas, research US airline carriers allowing pets on transatlantic flights. *As of September 2024, Delta & United were the only US carriers permitting pets on transatlantic routes. North and South America will have other various requirements which may not be as restrictive due to the flight duration.

3. TSA approved pet carriers and size restrictions will determine if your pet will be permitted to fly in-cabin. The pet must be able to fit comfortably under the seat in front of you and must remain in the carrier for the duration of the flight. (with the exception of certified service animals)

4. Reference each airline’s pet travel information page for detailed information.

Source: United Airlines

5. When booking pet travel, call and speak with the airline before booking tickets to ensure each flight has pet available space prior to booking passenger seats on the flight. There is typically a pet limit on each flight.

   ---

PET TRAVEL AGENCY ASSISTANCE

1. AirPets International is recommended for special circumstances and breeds. They can provide quotes, recommendations and even book flights for pets. Airpets WILL NOT book passenger air travel. Larger breeds may require special travel circumstances, therefore pets may be on a separate aircraft.

Airpets International

2. Additionally, they will manage the required quarantine period mandated in some countries.

3. Airpets can facilitate the USDA health travel certificate by acting as a liaison between you, your USDA Vet clinic, and the USDA Agency. The filing of the USDA health certificate is time sensitive according to date of travel.

4. Free downloadable guide is available at AirpetsInternational.com

Read more

As a family of 3, we left our Texas home of 4000 sqft on .3 acre in a traditional Dallas suburb for a 1300 sqft townhouse with a shared pool in the south of Spain. Our visas were approved while we vacationed in Spain during June, and we soon returned home to Texas on a mission to book our one-way ticket back to Spain by the start of school. 60 DAYS. We had 60 days to clear the clutter, sell and donate many of our belongings, and secure tenants to rent the house fully furnished.

Read more

Leaving the comforts of the only place you’ve ever known as Home will yield a range of outcomes, so knowing yourself & the needs of your family is one of the most important steps in the ENTIRE process.

My name is Bianca y con my familia somos estadounidenses en España!🇪🇸

Life in Spain is beautiful☀️, but there’s a LOT to consider when deciding to move abroad. Leaving the US, in theory sounds amazing, but it won’t be for everyone (and that’s OKAY!).

I usually share a few tips here & there about how important it is to deconstruct American life along the way. With such a major life change as this (moving abroad), one can never be too prepared. It’s a great place to start, even if you’re not ready to take the leap✈️📦

A few places to start;

1. GET PASSPORTS

2. BEGIN TO DECLUTTER & CONSUME LESS

Muchas gracias y bienvenido a mi página de SUBSTACK🧡✍🏽

LET’S CHAT about some things to

consider 💬

•What are your motives?🤔

•Have you landed on a location yet?📍

•Who will be moving with you?🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒

•Are your pets coming?🐶🐈

•What will you do for work?

•Have you considered which type of visa you’ll pursue? 📃

•What will you do with your belongings?📦

There’s a lot to consider, and YES it’s okay to feel overwhelmed! The mental and emotional strain of moving abroad can be positively debilitating, but it doesn’t have to be.

Let’s have a chat☎️

-Peace & Love, Bianca

While the entire process itself can take 3-6 months, our process had a few more layers of steps.

First comes the decision to move.

We first identified that we were ready to move from Texas in Spring of 2022. Then came the arduous process of getting both partners on board with the “Where & When” of it all. After researching and traveling to 2 different states, some realizations were had, and we decided to move outside of the United States.

O Canada!

We began the visa process in late summer of 2023, and by November we had submitted all of the papers.

Fun Fact: To apply for residency in Canada, you need to take an English Proficiency Test. This test covers, reading comprehension, writing, listening, and speaking.

With the deadline of November 2024 looming, and no response about our Canadian residency application, by March of 2024, we decided it was time for another plan.

¡Viva España!

A few friends who had recently relocated to Spain served as amazing resources throughout this process. Friends who didn’t even know one another, moved to differing places within the country, and have varying familial and Visa circumstances both had nothing but lovely things to say about life in Spain. We knew we had found our place, so it was time to book the call with an attorney. Again, our personal resources had helpful recommendations, and so it began…

From there, it was a whirlwind 9 months from starting the conversations to getting our Spanish residency card in-hand.

March 2024-first call with attorney

March-May 2024-gathering documents (FBI check took nearly 2 months, plus required apostille)

June 2024-Travelled to Spain & attorney submitted the 3-year DNV application

(submitted June 4, approval received June 20)

September 2024-moved to Spain

September 2024-January 2025 Arrival process to receive T.I.E residency card

Are you interested in learning more about how to begin the process?

Let’s book a call:

https://calendly.com/bloomabroadvisa/30min

or

If you’re not yet ready to make the move, let’s keep in touch:

Google Contact Form

Peace & Love, Bianca

• 10 years: general period

• 5 years: for granting Spanish nationality to persons who have obtained refugee status

• 2 years:

  for nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal or persons of Sephardic origin

• 1 year:

a) persons born in Spanish territory,

b) persons who have not duly exercised their right to acquire Spanish nationality by option,

c) persons who have been legally placed in the custody, guardianship or foster care of a Spanish citizen or institution for 2 consecutive years, including those still in this situation at the time of application,

d) persons who, at the time of application, have been married to a Spanish national for 1 year, with no legal or de facto separation,

e) the widow(er) of a Spanish national if, at the time of death of the spouse, there is no legal or de facto separation,

f) persons born outside Spain to a father or mother, or grandparent, provided all were originally Spanish.

Source: https://administracion.gob.es/

-Children will need both parents present to obtain a passport

-Adult passports are valid for 10 years, Minor passport are valid for 5 years

-The cost is around $160 (expedited processing for an additional fee)

-Processing times 4-6 weeks (routine) and 2-3 weeks (expedited)

-Urgent processing requires proof of international travel within 14 days

U.S. Department of State (source)

Begin to research locations.

Reference the Global Peace Index courtesy of VISION OF HUMANITY to identify a preliminary list of nations most fitting for your circumstances.

GLOBAL PEACE INDEX

Gather important documents for every family member.

-Birth certificates

-Social security cards

-Marriage license

*Please note that some of these documents will require specific timeframes to prove validity depending on the country. For example, a marriage license is needed to prove current marriage status in the case of applying for dependent status for certain visas.

Slow down and B-R-E-A-T-H-E.

Remember to remain organized and mindful of your goal. The process will prove to be challenging and may test your patience at times. Remain focused on the WHY, and keep a clear vision and an open heart. There will likely be mistakes and missteps, but don’t worry, we are here to help.

BLOOM ABROAD VISA