Tag: travel hacks

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Travel

Traveling for a Work Trip

Hello everyone! Happy April, Happy Wednesday, Happy Day!

There are so many things to be happy about. I hope you are having a fantastic week and have something to look forward to! I have a busy weekend ahead with lots of spring fun. Tis the season for all the outdoor fun (when the weather cooperates)

Last month, I traveled for a week for a big work project, it was a success and I grew a lot both personally and professionally. I learned a lot along the way when it comes to packing and planning. Here are some things that I learned while traveling for an extended amount of time for work. You can also apply a lot of these tricks for traveling for long vacations or to see family, but I have a feeling your needs may be a little different depending on your trip. Here’s some helpful planning and packing tips.

  • Make Two Separate Lists- One list for all personal items or things to bring and the other for work items and keep the lists separate. I love my notes app and use it multiple times a day to refer to different things. Whenever I am going on a trip, I will start a new note for that trip and keep all the to-do’s, lists, notes, and reminders there. This way they are all in one spot that accessible to me wherever I go.  Create a list of all the personal items you need or want to bring; think clothes, accessories, toiletries, items for your purse, odds and ends etc. Then create a second list for any special work items you need or want to bring from work or home; think chargers, work laptops, planners, equipment, things from your desk drawer or items you may need specifically for that trip. This helps keep you organized for extra items you may need and it also keeps everything in order. Also, be sure to keep track of any receipts or expenses you may need to write up at the end of the trip.
An example of one of my lists for personal items
  • Separate your Work and Personal Items by Bag or Pouch– If you are traveling with lots of extra work items, try to keep them separate in their own pouch or bag. This makes packing and unpacking easier and it makes it easier when you are doing a recon to make sure you have everything. When I traveled for work, I had all my equipment and work gear in bags separate from my purse and suitcase. It made it so much easier for packing and unpacking for what went home and to work. I also used my Simplified pouches to separate my chargers, headphones, notebooks and pens. I highly recommend using pouches or smaller bags to keep things organized.

I love my Simplified pouches
A look at all my work and personal bags
  • Bring your Favorite Snacks or Sweet Treats. If you are on the go or may have some downtime, bring the taste of home with you with your favorite snacks. I also like to pack something sweet or salty and snack packs that travel well (think protein bars, trail mix etc.). You may not be eating your regular meals so having something filling and something you enjoy is important, plus if you have a sweet tooth like me, ending your day with something sweet is never a bad idea.
I love to bring a taste of home with me
  • Bring Extra Items, but Pack Smart-You never know where the job may take you. Always pack an extra outfit, hair spray, hair ties, chargers etc. You never know when something could do wrong and the last thing you want is to not be prepared especially when it comes to work. I also found traveling with extra Ziploc baggies is so helpful for corralling items like chargers or snacks, and can be thrown away. I always like to triple check to make sure I have everything, but when it comes to work, there’s nothing wrong with packing more to make sure you don’t forget anything ahead of a big project or presentation. Also, be sure to pack smart, choose outfits that can be mixed and matches, colors that complement each other and when it comes to makeup, try to switch up your routine and minimize it by only bringing on pallet instead of multiple, or use travel brushes instead of your large ones. This saves on space and forgetting about things.
I used one pallet for my cheeks and eyes, so easy and a brush with two different sizes
  • Bring/Do Things that Make You Feel Like You– If you are going to be gone for an extended amount of time, bring things that make you feel your best especially if you have down time. Chances are you won’t be working 24/7 and you may have some downtime. If you are in the middle of a great book, bring it with you, if you love to workout, pack your gym clothes and see if your hotel has a gym to use. Do some research about the place you are going to and see if there’s any good restaurants to try or things to do if you have down time. When I traveled for work, getting in some movement every day and doing my morning and evening routine by reading and journaling helped me stay grounded when I was on the road.
I loved getting movement in every day

I’m by no means an expert traveler or work traveler, but these are some tips that I found to be extremely useful when I was traveling and I think they can be used whether you are out of town for work or play.

If you travel a lot for work, what’s your travel advice? Do you have any tips or tricks you would like to share. I would love to hear them! Have a great Wednesday and I’ll see you back here on Friday for another edition of Friday Favorites!

Categories
Travel

Helpful Travel Hacks and Hints

Hi everyone and happy October. I hope your next few weeks are filled with fall fun, whether it be in the form of decorating, warm foods, walks, or corn mazes.

I’ve been spending as much time as I can outdoors while the weather is still nice.

I have been in a season of travel, from longer trips to weekend getaways and have been picking up some travel hacks along the way. 

If you are in a season of travel too or preparing for one with the holidays approaching, here’s some helpful hints I have picked up.

  • Packing Cubes– These packing cubes have been a game changer for me, especially for longer travels. I used packing cubes when I went to Rome and I fit so much in my carry-on. I had more than enough space for souvenirs to bring back and for all my clothes. They are also great for keeping dirty and clean clothes separated during and after your trip.
  • Travel Size Inventory- I have talked a lot about using sample beauty products when traveling. This is a great opportunity to use products you may be hesitant to try at home. I also try to use products that I am almost out of it and can throw away when I am away to save space coming back and to come home to fresh and fully stocked products. My motto is use it lose it!
  • Make a List and Take a Photo– I always make a list of what to pack when I leave whether it’s for a week or an overnight trip. I like to keep it in my phone, so I always have it with me. It also makes it easier when checking things off to make sure you have everything when you return. If you are a more visual person, lay out everything you want to bring and snap a photo. When you are ready to come home, check the photo to make sure everything is accounted for.
  • Pick a Color Scheme– I always try to be mindful when I am packing and that comes in the form of what I am bringing. I tend to choose a color scheme and stick with it. For example, in Italy, I wore black, white and red. This helped mix and match outfits and shoes. For a recent weekend away, I chose blue and white with a few accent colors, they were all neutral which made it easy to mix and match clothing items. Choosing a color scheme also made packing easier when you are only looking for a few colors, plus it helps with jewelry and accessories.
Black and white was my go-to colors for Italy
  • Bring an Empty Water Bottle– If you are flying or driving, bring an empty water bottle. This is very helpful when flying and you get thirsty as there are always places to refill your cups. If you are driving, it doesn’t hurt to have a cup to fill up at gas stations or rest stops, plus it saves you money and helps the environment.
This travel mug came in handy for a weekend out of town
  • Be Mindful of Your Bags– Think practicality over cute. I tend to be practical with what bags and luggage I am using, but I have fallen victim to choosing cute over practical and I faced the consequences. Rolling suitcases and backpacks may be the smarter decision when flying as opposed to totes. However, a tote could be great for a road trip for easy access for snacks and toys for kids. Always be thinking about what’s the best option for organization and practicality.
Practical for flying
Not as practical for flying…lesson learned

There you have it, some helpful hints that I have picked up when traveling. I am by no means an expert, so I am always open to new ideas. Tell me: what are some of your travel tips and advice? Let me know in the comments below! Happy Travels!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #108

Hello all! Happy Friday! I hope you all have had a great week and are excited to do something fun as we start to say goodbye to summer! This has been such a fulfilling summer filled with checking off bucket list items, continuing summer traditions, and new adventures. I’m not ready to say goodbye to summer, but all good things must come to an end.

I’ve been capitalizing on lots of walks over the past few weeks.


As we get ready for the weekend, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for another round of Friday Favorites! Here’s a list of things I’ve been loving!


Yoga– I’ve tried yoga a few times over the past month. I am used to more high intensity workouts with strength training, lifting and cardio, so this was a change in pace for me, but I’ve enjoyed it the past few times. I did a yoga on the beach which was a slow and gentle flow yoga for beginners. Then a week later, I did a sunrise yoga which was gentle, but more intense yoga. Both lasted an hour and I felt relaxed, refreshed, and stretched out. I don’t know if I’ll be incorporating yoga into my weekly workout sessions, but it was fun to change it up for a few weeks. 

Yoga to start the day


It Ends with Us– The movie, It Ends with Us starting Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is now out. I haven’t seen it yet, but I am anxious to see it. I read the book and the sequel by Colleen Hoover and I really loved it. I’m anxious to see how the movie compares to the book. I have read some reviews, but no spoilers. I did hear that Hoover makes an appearance. I’m hoping to see it in the theaters soon! I’ll report back with a review once I see it.


New Bridgerton Scent– As we say goodbye to one season of life and say hello to another, my body lotion and sprays are changing. I got some of the new scents from the Bridgerton collection from Bath and Body Works for my birthday and I’m finally getting around to using them. I really love this scent and the design on the bottle. The scent is called Diamond of the Season and it’s a subtle, vanilla scent with some hints of floral. The perfect smell to use when at the end of summer and start of fall!


Packing Cubes-I’m officially on the packing cube train. I have read about packing cubes for years from Mix and Match Mama and before my family trip, I purchased a set for my mom and I to share and they were a huge help. I used two cubes and they fit nine days worth of clothes tight and compact. On the way home, I used one for clean and one for dirty clothes. They gave me so much more space in my carry-on. I would definitely recommend getting them if you are a big traveler. I would even consider using them if you are using a tote bag if you don’t plan on using a suitcase to keep everything organized and neat. I know I will be using them for future travels. I got mine off Amazon!


Satin Lips Scrub and Balm– I’ve mentioned this numerous times, but whenever I go on vacation or go away, I always like to try new beauty samples to see if I want to invest in them. When I went on my trip, I tried Mary Kay’s Satin Lips Scrub and Balm. I used the scrub every night after I washed my face and used them balm through the day. The scrub felt good after a day of lip balm and glass. I found myself having to reapply the balm a lot through the day, but that also could have been due to the heat and drinking lots of water. I will definitely be using the samples on my next trip, but I think I will be sticking to my Sara Happ Lip scrub and balm at home every night.

That’s a look into some of my favorite things from this past week! What are some things that have caught your eye this past week? Let me know in the comments below! Happy Friday!