Hello World!

My name is Marta Malek, a travel, food, and bargain enthusiast from Chicago! I absolutely love exploring different cultures, especially at a bargain! Did someone say free99? Kidding, well kind of!

I moved to Chicago at the age of 7 with my Mom from Krakow, Poland. We didn’t have much growing up (though I didn’t know that at the time), but in spite of that, my mom somehow always found ways to save enough money for travel. Whether it was a road trip to Mackinaw Island, Wisconsin Dells, or a bigger trip like Mexico, my Mom taught me that no matter what financial situations you face, with a little ingenuity, travel was not only possible, but necessary. So when at the age of 14, I finally went on my big trip to Mexico, I realized that I had a passion for travel and food. I believe that travel opens your mind to the world and through travel and exploring other cultures food and sweets, you truly appreciate the diverse world we live in. Unfortunately, to many it often feels like travel is a luxury, not a necessity. I started this blog to share the tips and tricks I have learned over the years on how to make travel practical and affordable. I want my readers to know that travel, no matter what your budget is, is possible!

So why the blog name? I have always been in love with everything French. French food, culture, and wine. Bon voyage means good journey in French and I believe everyone should have a good journey where ever they go! Other Sweet Things (OST) is meant to capture my love for sweets, different foods from all over the world, but most importantly travel bargains!!! Although on occasion I might throw in some other bargains, cause there is nothing sweeter in life than finding an amazing bargain! 

I currently live in Chicago with my loving husband Ramzie and our sweet puppy Bourbon. 

Bon Voyage!