Gift Guide: For the Traveler

Happy Monday my friends! I can't believe we are so close to Christmas. Not only am I excited, but I need to get my tail into gear to finish up my shopping! This might be the latest I've waited in YEARS to finish up everything. Major stress for me. Anywho, I'm back with another gift guide. This one is targeted for the traveler in your life and is sure to bring some joy! Whether your recipient is traveling for work or an avid traveler for fun, these are my favorite gifts for the frequent traveler.

Ornament. I am always looking for unique souvenirs when I travel, and this is a wonderful way to commemorate a trip! Especially if you took a trip with your friend to somewhere special.

Travel Jewelry Case. This seems like a life-saver. My jewelry always ends up tangled, no matter how hard I try to keep it separated. It's especially frustrating with my dainty necklaces! I love all of the compartments to keep everything organized. One of these has already made its way onto my Christmas list.

Passport Cover. Animal print passport cover. Need I say more?

Packable Rainboots. These seem so convenient. I hate packing bulky items, even if I know I'll need them on my trip. Foldable rainboots are the PERFECT remedy to rainy travel.

Laundry Bags. When I travel, I always struggle with how I'll store my dirty clothes. I want to keep them in my suitcase, but I don't want to soil my clean items. These laundry bags would alleviate my issue for sure!

Toiletry Kit. Kits like these are everywhere, but you can't get any more feminine or adorable than Lilly Pulitzer! I particularly love this print.

Travel Brushes. Packing makeup brushes can be another space killer in your bag. I love that this kit comes with magnetic brush tips that you just switch around with the base so they are still comfortable to use.

Eye Mask. I love these. Especially when I travel (I always have trouble sleeping away from home). You can use it on the plane, or when you're staying at your destination. They take a little getting used to, but make falling asleep so easy.

Duffel. This bag is SO adorable! I love the stripes. I think that it looks roomy, but would still make a nice carry on bag if you're taking a short trip. It's always nice to travel in style!

Travel Shawl. Can you say cozy? Not only does this look dreamy soft, it really is the perfect fix for airplane temperature woes. You can wear it onto the plane- so it doesn't take up room in your luggage- and looks absolutely perfect to cuddle up in to catch some ZZZs on your trip.

Luggage Tag. While I don't have one of these yet, I am always envious of the creative ones I see in the airport. This is a great way to personalize and identify your luggage quickly when it's on the conveyor belt with 15 other identical bags!

What are your gift ideas for the traveler in your life? 

5 Packing Tips for Business Trips

Hi hi! Today I wanted to talk to y'all about a small, but important part of my job- business trips. More specifically, I want to talk about packing for one! Week-long business trips are something that I do 2-3 times a year. So pretty rarely. But one of the biggest challenges I've run into is how to pack for the meetings. We usually head out to attraction destinations- I've attended meetings in Las Vegas, Orlando, and Scottsdale. These locations are mainly warm, so packing for the trip can be a little tricky.

Layers are key. For those of you who haven't been to a corporate meeting hosted at a hotel, let me set the scene for you. You are bustling around with hundreds of other people packed into conference rooms chattering all day. You may or may not change rooms depending on your meeting agenda. Hotels see large groups of people and decide to BLAST you with air conditioning, regardless of the temperature outside. I understand that it would be terrible in the rooms without the flow of the air. However, I am cold-natured and this is my worse nightmare. I pack plenty of layers that can be worn in different combinations to keep warm through the meetings.

Bring conservative post-meeting attire. While it's absolutely necessary to let loose after meetings end for the day, executives are also going to be around the hotel. I recommend either wearing your meeting outfit to the evening activities or packing something more comfortable yet still conservative for the evening. At my company meetings, everyone generally hangs around the hotel bars and it is a wonderful time to network. Be comfortable yet still try to look professional! You never know who you might run into!

Travel in style. In my experience with business trips, we are expected to fly in on the morning of our first meeting day. This means that we will be seeing people in the arriving airport to get transported to the hotel and be expected to sit in meetings after lunch. For my first trip, I traveled in the outfit I wanted to wear for the day but planned to shower at the hotel before our meetings. Big mistake. I didn't know that everyone would be completely done up even though they got to the airport at 5AM! Since my first mistake, I shower the night before and wear light make-up for my flight. I will typically wear my glasses on the plane so I can sleep (don't forget your travel pillow!) but fully ready myself in all other aspects! In addition to feeling more put together at the airport, I have enjoyed having the extra time to rest or get settled into my hotel before my meetings instead of frantically getting myself ready upon arrival. 

Create a packing list. This is huge for me. I have always suffered from over-packing when I travel, even when I was a little girl. Due to the clothing that I bring for work and the length of my stay, I need as much room as possible in my suitcase! Writing a packing list (and sticking to it!) helps me ensure that I'm bringing exactly what I need and helps me leave what I don't need at home. I've also found that preparing a list helps me create outfits with pieces that I can mix and match. I think that's truly my trick to packing less! I've also found that if I make my list a few days in advance, it is more reasonable. Without the pressure of a time crunch, I can make a well-thought out list that covers all of my bases.

Bring all of your chargers. While this should be a no-brainer, the last thing you want to do is show up to a company meeting with uncharged technology (especially if you were enjoying some in-flight entertainment). I have a laptop, iPad, and phone for work- so I need to make sure that I have the right chargers! I think that while chargers are important, they are easily forgotten. Make sure you add them onto your packing list!

While these ideas just scratch the surface, I find them to be helpful when planning my trips. I hope they help you pack for your next business trip too!

  
***This post is linked up with Tutu Tuesdays! Check out more great posts here!***

What are your travel secrets? How do you keep from over-packing? Do you have any travel essentials?

2 Podcasts You Need to Listen to

Hi guys! I just had the best weekend out in Dallas, although I did manage to come home with a cold. Hopefully it will pass soon! But until then, this girl is going on the chicken noodle soup diet (chicken and stars to be exact because I am a child). One of my favorite recent discoveries, especially for traveling, has got to be the Podcast app. I have heard so many people talk about it, but just recently hopped on the bandwagon.

My favorite part so far has got to be the simplicity of it all. You just need to make sure that you download enough episodes for the duration of your travel while you still have a WIFI connection- as some of the files are too large to do over your regular network. Once downloaded, prepare to sit back and enjoy your ride! As I've mentioned, I'm new to the Podcast world, but I'd love to share my 2 favorites so far. And PLEASE if you have any that you love, let me know about it in the comments! I'm almost caught up on my current podcast and will have to wait for the more recent installments to be finished up!

First, one word. Serial. The first season of this series absolutely sucked me in! I have always been a fan of Law and Order/ Criminal Minds type shows, so this was a great first Podcast series for me. I am so thankful that I came into it after the series was completed, because I don't think I could stand to wait in between episodes! I was a little disappointed with the ending, (don't worry, no spoilers here!) but partially expected it due to the nature of the case. In addition to the story, the show is well-written and nicely produced. I'm really excited for the second season to come out and am curious about which case with be selected. You can read more about the series on their website.

My next recommendation- and current obsession- is Disney Story Origins. As a serious Disney fan, this was an excellent discovery for me!! The show takes the familiar Disney stories we grew up with (and the newer ones) and explores them side-by-side with the myths that inspired them. If you have ever found yourself humming "Colors of the Wind" or "I'll Make a Man Out of You", this is for you. There is usually one episode per movie but sometimes, for the more in-depth stories, they are split into multiple. I honestly have a hard time picking a favorite, but I really enjoyed "Aladdin" and am loving "Alice in Wonderland" right now. You can read more about the series on their website as well.

I absolutely love having something to listen to in the airport or during my flight. I love to read during trips as well, but it's always nice to switch things up. As I mentioned, I'm almost caught up to the DSO podcast and welcome any recommendations you may have. Please leave them below!

Do you listen to Podcasts? Which is your favorite? Have you listened to either of these?

Rehoboth Beach Getaway

Hi and happy Friday readers! This past weekend I took a girls trip out to Rehoboth, DE to go to the beach! I've been feeling pretty down lately and I think that I just needed a healthy dose of "vitamin sea". We packed up the car and headed about 3 hours East to get just that!

We arrived around 10:30AM and found the cutest coffee shop called Dreamer for a mid-morning snack. I got a cold-pressed juice and was basically transported to heaven! This had a tropical juice-stand feel with a feminine twist. I absolutely loved their coffee cups and couldn't leave without a photo!

 

This beach was absolutely packed! I am used to the SC/GA/FL coasts, and have never seen a beach so full of people. We lucked out and found the perfect spot, rented chairs and umbrellas, and got settled. I was very nervous about frying since I haven't spent a ton of time in the sun this summer and was careful to reapply my sunscreen frequently! Thankfully, I made it out with a light tan and no burns! Wahoo! We read, chatted, tanned, went swimming, took walks, and pulled out some rusty gymnastics skills in some clear spots far down the beach. It seriously was a blast!

For dinner, we ate at a cute little restaurant called Fins. We had delicious cocktails and even tried oyster shooters before dinner. Once we got to our table, we had a delicious feast of raw oysters and entrees. I had grilled fish tacos that were the Bomb.com! I have never enjoyed fish tacos that much in my whole life. If you ever head to Rehoboth, I recommend them!!!

Who can pass up a cute pineapple photo opp?! Not me!

For breakfast, we headed back to Dreamer for juices and bagels to eat on the beach. I listened to my church sermon from my iPhone (I love technology!!) and was totally at peace on the beach. I was completely overwhelmed with contentment and gratitude for everything that I do have in my life. It's amazing how good preaching can really change your outlook. I snapped the below photo in hopes of capturing my feelings and to serve as a reminder that I can find peace if I try.

I'm already dreaming of being back with my toes in the sand!

A little confession/peek into my life.. I absolutely love salt water taffy! I hadn't tried it before going to Savannah for the first time in middle school and I've been hooked ever since! It's almost a curse though, because nothing compares to fresh taffy! Whenever I go to the beach, I always try to find a candy shop that makes their own and stock up. I keep a little candy bowl on my coffee table and like to keep it stocked with these pretties.

 I couldn't leave without a bag of fresh sweets!

I'm so thankful that this trip was able to happen! I already can't wait for the next one, I hope it's soon!

Have you taken a girls trip? What is your favorite trip? Are you going to squeeze in one last trip before the end of summer?

Beach Weekend Essentials

Hey y'all! I hope this week is going well for you. Can you believe it's already August?! I'm freaking out a little bit. This year has been a wild one and I am just in shock that it's already the 8th month of 2015. This past weekend, I took some of my own advice and headed out for a spontaneous trip to the beach with a few girlfriends. I had the most rejuvenating time! We packed up the car and drove to Delaware for what was supposed to be a day trip, but we ended up finding a hotel vacancy and turned it into a little weekend getaway. More to come about my trip on Friday- be sure to check back! We had packed contingency bags just in case we were able to find a room but to say we were ill-prepared is an understatement! While you definitely need fewer items for a one night stay, there are a few things you shouldn't forget. To help you avoid my same issue, I wanted to put together a list of essentials for a quick beach getaway!

Well-packed beach bag. A beach bag is the first essential for a beach trip- for obvious reasons! You need a bag that you're ok putting on the sand and won't be upset if sand gets in. A few things I don't want to be caught on the beach without are sunscreen, chapstick (with SPF), a snack, headphones, a sunhat, and a coverup! Here are a few cute ones out there:

Towel. I'm a fan of the over-sized towels or beach blankets out there! It's nice to spread out. Also, if you're going with a group it helps you to claim more space on the beach. This is super helpful on some of the more crowded beaches.

Reusable water bottle. These are great for the beach- especially if it's insulated! That way, you are able to get some refreshing sips of water while you're out in the heat. There are usually water fountains to refill at, or if your beach has nearby restaurants you can full up at their drink stations! There are so many cute bottles out there, I couldn't help but share a few!

Beach read. I've been making reading more of a priority, and the beach is absolutely one of my favorite places to read! I'm not sure that there is better place. The sounds of the beach in the background, the warm sunshine... total relaxation! I'm usually able to get through my books quickly because I'm undisturbed when sitting out on the sand! Check out some of my reads as of late here.

Flip flops. It's so useful to have a pair of rubber flip flops when visiting the beach! I usually don't like to bring expensive shoes just in case they get wet or messed up another way! Sand can be cruel.

Thankfully, I had most of these packed. I did forget my water bottle and was seriously regretting it every time I had to pay $5 for water! But you've gotta stay hydrated on the beach. Hopefully you'll be perfectly prepared for your next getaway, and I hope it's soon!

What are your beach essentials? Did I miss anything?

Dream Travel Destinations: US Edition

Hi readers! I hope you had a lovely weekend. I've been itching to take a trip to the beach this summer. Let's be real- I am always wanting to head to the beach! But traditionally, summer is the perfect time to get away. While I have a decent number of vacation days left for 2015, I'm not really in a place at work to take a large chunk of vacation this summer. So I thought I'd plan out some dream vacations in an attempt to satisfy my travel bug for a little while!

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1. Alaska

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This destination has been on my list probably since I watched the movie Balto for the first time. Growing up in Georgia, the idea of snow everywhere was completely foreign and magical to me. Although it's a fairly touristy destination, I love the idea of exploring nature and seeing once in a lifetime sights! I imagine taking a cruise (I'm nervous about planning a trip like that all on my own) and being able to spend plenty of time taking in the sights at each destination. Also- who doesn't want to see the Northern Lights?! It truly seems like a fairytale trip.

2. Seattle

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Seattle is a city that has held my interest for quite some time now.  It's on the totally opposite corner of the country and seems unlike anything I've ever seen before. A few things that would definitely be on my to-do list: visit Pike's Place market, take a walk along the waterfront or maybe a ferry ride, stop by the Space Needle, enjoy a cup of coffee at the original Starbucks, and go on a hike in Mt Rainier Park.

3. Chicago

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 I'm not sure when this jumped onto my list, but I've heard excellent things about Chicago! It seems to be full of culture and yummy food- which are right up my alley as far as trips go! I'd love to visit the Art Institute and see the famous pieces. If possible, I'd love to take a bike tour or maybe plan a self-guided bike tour through the city. So many places (DC included!) have excellent bike-share programs that make this an easy way to explore a new city. Obviously, I'd have to snap a photo with the famous Cloud Gate sculpture!

4. Hawaii

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 I've yet to make it out to Hawaii, so naturally this tropical paradise is on my list! I absolutely want to spend some time laying on the beach here, but I'd love to dive into all of the nature-based activities offered out there! Kayaking through sea caves, visiting hot springs, seeing volcanoes, exploring glass beach, viewing the water falls, hiking in the forests, and so much much more is absolutely calling my name! I'd have to spend a substantial amount of time here to knock it off my list (and to justify the cost of the flight! YIKES!).

5. Maine

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 Maine is another destination that's been on my list for quite some time now. I had a friend growing up who would go to Maine every summer and come back with the best stories. I absolutely know that I need to eat lobsters and blueberries while I'm there, but I'd love to see as many lighthouses as possible while there. The coastline is supposed to be absolutely beautiful so it'd be a great time to work on my photography skills. The towns dotted throughout the state seem adorable, so this would be a great romantic get-away to go cuddle up in some B&Bs in between the exploration!

What places in the US are on your list? Have you been to my top 5 destinations? Did I miss any good activities/attractions?

Sweet Homecoming + Weekend Recap

Although I was just home for Thanksgiving, this trip home for Christmas couldn't have come fast enough! I decided to drive the trip home so I could have my car to run around and visit people while here. The drive is about 10 hours from NoVA to my parent's house in Georgia. To say it was long is an understatement! I look forward to doing road trips with passengers again after this experience. At the end of my drive, I was able to perk up from excitement when my car started picking up my favorite radio stations from home! Just fills me with nostalgia and happiness. I have truly enjoyed being home so far- not only is it warmer weather, but I have been able to spend precious and large amounts of time with my family and friends.

Atlanta has gotten a permanent Ferris wheel called the SkyView Atlanta since I've moved away and I have been itching to ride it. I had a lovely girls night with two of my best friends from college, and we took a gondola in the SkyView for a spin! I won't lie, I was really nervous the first time we went around and especially when we stopped. I am afraid of heights but wasn't really worried because I thought being inside the gondola "pod" I would be more comfortable. Thankfully, this was true after a little time had passed and I really enjoyed the ride! Atlanta is one of the prettiest cities I've been to and I'm totally in love with it. Unfortunately, my iPhone photos don't do it justice but here are a few photos from the ride!

I think it was festively lit for Christmas!

The famous "pencil building" as we all called it in college!

My boyfriend flew in Saturday morning and I helped him get a little more Christmas shopping done. Even though it was just 2 weeks since his DC visit, I was still so excited to see him! Before earlier this month, we had gone 6 months {!!!!} without seeing each other! That is way too long in my opinion. While we were out shopping, I found a GREAT deal on a beautiful new pair of Sam Edelman boots. They were on fabulous sale at Nordstrom and I have been looking for a new pair of black riding boots- it was destiny! My new boots are the 'Penny' style and can be seen on Nordstrom's website as well as my Instagram:

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They really are fantastic and I can't wait to wear them more!

On Sunday my guy's mom came down to pick him up {he is from Tennessee} so I will have to wait until this Saturday to see him when I go up to celebrate Christmas with his family! I haven't seen them since last Christmas so that will be really great for me. Christmas time is always hard because there are so many places to be in a short amount of time. My parents are divorced and re-paired so I have 2x the amount of people to visit with around the holidays. Yet another reason why having my car down here is helpful! The hustle and bustle of it all is always fun although there are a ton of moving parts. Thankfully my family is flexible and understanding so it makes things easier for me!

I am hoping to find time to get my gifts wrapped up later today or tomorrow- I got really cute patterned red wrapping paper and an assortment of ribbons to spice things up. I'll get some photos up here as soon as I get it all wrapped! I seriously just can't believe Christmas is THIS THURSDAY!

Are your holidays jam-packed? How do you juggle seeing all of your family? Have you put the finishing touches on your gifts yet? I hope you had a wonderful weekend and if you have any thoughts please share them in a comment below!

The best travel companion

Happy Friday, world!

Since my decision to move away from home, traveling has become a bigger part of my life that it ever has been before. Between trips home, having money from a stable job to take vacations, and traveling for work I've been on the move more than I have in my entire life. Although the airport can be a stressful and busy place, I find solo travel to be pretty enjoyable. I love having the opportunity to reflect on my trip ahead of me or the memories I just created as I await my plane. Another thing I love about traveling is the opportunity to get into a good book. I haven't found anything that makes a flight go by faster than a great read! 

When I was in college I realized that while I found reading to be pleasant, I never picked it as a recreational activity. I never read books for pleasure, had any lying around, or invested in a digital reader. The extent of my reading at that point in my life was textbooks and required reading for school. That disappointed me. I made the decision to put energy into finding good books and actually setting aside time to read them. My first step was buying a Kindle. It was an excellent choice for me at that time because I could bring one item and have multiple options all in one place! This was great for the beach or any traveling I happened to do.

After college, I found myself using my Kindle less and staring at the empty spaces on my bookshelf I kept in my room. Although the Kindle afforded more convenience and options, I was beginning to miss physically turning pages and having a concrete collection of the books I loved. It also proved more difficult to recommend a book to a friend. It's much easier in my opinion to recommend something and then let said person borrow it. They are more likely to read it since they don't have to seek it out! And truth be told, I love being on the receiving end of that! 

While I still keep my Kindle around for trips to the beach, {it's so much easier- especially on those windy beach days!} my favorite travel companion is a nice paperback book. They don't take up too much space or add excessive extra weight, and one book is plenty for the kind of travel I do nowadays. I picked up a new book a few weeks ago before a girl's weekend and am enjoying it so far. It's called 'The Paris Wife' and is a novel about Hemingway and his wife. 

I will be sure to let you know what I think after it's finished. If you're looking for a new book, here's a few I've read recently that I enjoyed: 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn, 'Wild' by Cheryl Strayed, 'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green, and 'The Life of Pi' by Yann Martel.

What are your favorite travel reads? Do you have a specific travel ritual that you love?

Have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo. T