Travel Day

Top: Old Navy  Sweater: LOFT similar here  Jeans: Citizens of Humanity (on sale!)  Shoes: Chinese Laundry  Scarf: Forever 21  Bag: Ralph Lauren similar here  Sunglasses: Ray-Ban  Watch: Michael Kors  Bracelet: J.Crew similar here

After a crazy, fun weekend, I am heading back to the skies today and flying home. I could not have asked for a better week in Houston but am so excited to sleep in my own bed tonight... as always happens after a long week of travel. Because I feel like I am in the air so much these days, I have come up with my go-to travel outfit: comfy jeans, flats, a baggy sweater, a scarf and a huge purse. All of these play a small role in spending the day in comfort while cooped up for hours on a plane. 

I am a huge HUGE fan of flying with a scarf because I am always freezing on the airplane. I actually wore this outfit last week on my trip down to Houston and found myself using this scarf as a blanket. It is great for versatility and it's super lightweight. I am telling you, scarves are quickly becoming my favorite article of clothing. 

Also, the other key piece in this outfit is a huge purse. I like to check my bag (thanks, Southwest! Love the free bags!) and carry just my purse through TSA and around the airport. The problem I have is I travel with my planner, my iPad and my computer. Plus I like to bring an (empty) water bottle and some snacks because airport food is just never appealing to me. Well, except overpriced Jamba Juice.

Packing for a Week-long Trip

With all of the travel I've been doing for work lately, I have come up with a few must-haves, especially for a week-long trip. Here are ten of my top picks:

1- iPad (+ a cute case). I mean, seriously. Where would I be without my iPad? It is pretty much all I use on the plane and it's great for catching up on blog posts, magazines and listening to music all at once. I currently have a hot pink case but am obsessed with this Kate Spade one.

2- Nail polish. While I find that many times before a trip I will schedule a nail appointment for a new shellac polish, it's always nice to carry a bottle with you in case of chips. Light colors are perfect for this because they don't show chips as easily. And, who doesn't love white nails in the summer?

3. Crop Top. Normally, I wouldn't say this is a must for a week-long trip but this versatile piece has really grown on me. It looks cute with skirts and can also be worn over a bathing suit to the pool or beach. I strongly recommend packing one of these bad boys for any trips this summer. Also, gold jewelry. You didn't think I would have an outfit post without it, did you?

4. Versatile skirts. This Kate Spade one is one of my absolute faves and seriously goes with 90% of my wardrobe. Having flexibility in the the pieces you pack is key to getting the most out of your limited suitcase. I am traveling to a few cities over the next week and pairing skirts with different shirts is going to be essential for my outfit success.

5. Dresses. Dresses. Dresses. I think most of what I pack when traveling is dresses because they are so easy to wear to work and out for drinks or dinner afterwards. Plus, they work well for casual weekend outings or playing tourist. It's no secret I've been loving navy this year and this dress is no exception. Plus, if you are sitting in cold conference rooms all day, this pairs well with a cute cardi. 

6. A cute cardigan (or four). As I mentioned, many times conference rooms are cool while the temperatures outside are scorching. I highly recommend never leaving the house without a cardigan in your bag. You never know when you will need that extra layer. I am a huge fan of grey but I tend to always pack a black one and a white one just in case. 

7. A clutch. For those nights that turn out to be a little later than just dinner. Always make sure you have one just in case. And who doesn't love a bright colored clutch to spice up the night? 

8. A watch. I know that almost everyone relies on their cell phone for the time these days, but I am a huge fan of wearing a watch. Especially while flying. I am one of those people who counts down the minutes until I can get off the plane and it's much easier to watch the time creep by with a watch on my wrist. Plus, they are a great accessory.

9. A bathing suit. It's summer. Hotels have pools. This one is a no-brainer. Also, I am quite into leopard lately and have a bathing suit identical to this one.

10. Leather sandals. I have been living in my Sam Edelman pair this summer but wouldn't mind adding these Tory Burch lovelies to the mix. They match everything and look like they would really hold up. Leather sandals are a must for any major summer travel.

Anything else I should add to my list?

 

Don't forget about my event at Veritas Empowerment Boutique next week. Get the deets here.

Travel in Style

When looking through past blog posts for inspiration, I realized how frequently I post about travel. I have outfit posts about traveling in style here, here and here as well as my 10 Things to Pack for an Overnight Work Trip post. I decided that instead of another outfit post, I would narrow it down to 5 tips to remember when traveling, all of which I will be putting to work tomorrow when I head home for 9 days.

1. Never get on a plane without a DKNY Cozy. Seriously. This sweater can be worn in so many ways and is the perfect way to layer up for a cold flight. Need a blanket? Done. Need a scarf? Done. I mean, this sweater is so versatile it even has an app.

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2. Always download movies from iTunes. I am not really sure how I ever made it on long plane rides before iTunes was around. Sure, I read magazines and books but having access to movies or tv shows I' need to catch up on is so worth it. Even when movies are $5 and shows are $3, I find it is well worth the money to have the plane ride fly by. Also, they don't use up too much battery on your computer so you can still use your computer for other things such as catching up on work or drafting future blog posts.

3. Make sure your purse is stocked with the essentials, just in case they lose your checked bag. I always carry my glasses, prescriptions, socks, some touch-up makeup (mascara, powder, gloss), cell phone charger and some snacks. I tend to fill my purse up, but it's nice to only carry the one bag through the airport. Some must-have snacks: gum, beef jerky, and something salty-- lately I've picked either popcorn or chex mix. It really just depends on my mood.

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(I found these hilarious socks and HAD to post them)

4. One app that I discovered on my last trip was passbook. I know that it comes standard on iPhones, but have you ever used it? It is a great way to keep all of your travel documents in one place-- boarding passes, car rentals, etc. They pull up quickly and look much fancier than the other e-boarding documents, plus you don't have to search through email forever while getting through security. Be sure to use passbook on your next travel day. You won't regret it.

5. Invest in quality luggage. I can't stress this tip enough. For most of my life I traveled with bargain luggage that I found on sale at Macys. Boy, did I miss out. This past summer, I splurged on a new Samsonite bag with wheels that spin 360 degrees. It is lightweight and very durable. I actually snagged it at TJMaxx (who knew they had such a great selection) and knew my travel days would instantly be improved after making this purchase. I can pack more due to the lightweight material and it easily rolls on any surface. I am not sure how I survived those first twenty-something years of my life. Having nice luggage makes every step of travel easier. Plus, TJMaxx tends to have pretty decent-sized bags, all for around $100-- not a bad price for nice luggage.

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Do you have any travel tips that you swear by?

Travel Day

Top: Merona  Tights: Jessica Simpson  Boots: Bandolino  Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Today I decided to stick with comfortable clothes as I am spending the day flying back to DC. I have a long flight from San Fran to DC and I am prepared to watch a couple movies and catch up on magazines. I had a great time visiting my family for the weekend but am ready to get back to my daily routine. 

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

Also, here are the winners from my last giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will be emailing you later this week to get your mailing addresses.