Category — Travel

In the next two-and-a-half weeks I have to move into a new apartment, get all of my work done and lined up for the two weeks I’ll be out of town after that, and then as a reward, I fly to Europe.  I’m totally in a panic.  Nothing is ready.  My health has hit a bump in the road.  Our house is only half (okay that’s a stretch, I’ll give myself one-third) in boxes.  The goal is to have movers show up at our doorstep next Monday, but I am nowhere near ready for that.  The movers may be at our doorstep, my hair in a messy ponytail, pillows scattered across the floor, boxes still needing heavy duty tape, no one to watch the dog, and forgive me, but likely the ugliest pair of sweatpants I own (i.e., the ones I vow to never pack, to wear only on moving day, to throw out immediately upon move-in at new place, only to throw them in a bin for their reemergence at our next move in day), a.k.a., my worst nightmare.  And boy do we have plenty of moving to do.  Not that I’m complaining; I dove in headfirst to the married life of an MD/PhD’s spouse (and he really is the best); from what I hear, we still have years of hospital hopping (and city hopping to go with that).  And I planned the big apartment move just before our European Adventure – which was sort of unavoidable with hubs starting rotations two days after we get back from said vacation.  I’m a masochist.  What can I say?

But you know what — my organized-meets-disorganized chaos … it kind of works for me.  Actually, it really works for me.  I organize and plan and make lists, and then as the weeks and days to the events near, I run around like a crazy person, forgetting to put on mascara or match my pants to my top.  But in the end, it all sort of falls into place.  Obviously not without some hiccups, but life’s hiccups are what make us better, stronger, and a whole lot funnier.  And I am sometimes a mess.  And sometimes I don’t brush my hair.  So far, so good.

How do you keep it all together?  Especially when your “to do” list is miles long and all of your “planning” is not very helpful at all?

Here’s a big beauty secret of mine:  I love drugstore beauty finds.  And Walgreens stores now boast their own local Beauty Advisor (available for beauty questions, advice, and shopping help in the Walgreens Beauty department) … just like a well-versed representative behind a department store beauty counter.  How’s that for awesome?  This time I was on the hunt for Neutrogena products to help enhance my beauty/skin care for Spring and Summer.  I’m set to travel in a few weeks, and I’d heard only good things about Neutrogena, so naturally the Neutrogena® Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes were a must.  (These handy wipes take it all off – seriously, they dissolve all traces of dirt, oil and makeup – even waterproof mascara – for clean, fresh skin in one easy step … perfect at the end of a travel-packed day).  I also snagged a few Summer-ready nail polish shades, a handful of travel essentials, and the Neutrogena® Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20 in Healthy Blush (the perfect pinky shade).

My Walgreens Beauty Buys:  Neutrogena® Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes // Plastic Travel Containers // Essie Nail Polish in Summer Shades (colors: Secret Story, Meet Me at Sunset, Hip-Anema) // Airplus Aloe Infused Moisturizing Socks // Neutrogena® Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20

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I’ve already gone on about the more dramatic street-style versions of maxi dresses and skirts, but what about those everyday maxi dresses that we all live in in the hotter months?  And, in just a few weeks hubby and I are headed on a two-week jaunt around Europe (sooo excited!), and I’m convinced that casual maxi dresses are the perfect outfit for day-to-night.  [By the way, what would you pack for tourist-driven travel (a.k.a., sightseeing) in the hotter months?]

This weekend, hubby and I are taking a really quick trip to Orlando to celebrate my very fabulous friend’s big birthday; in Disney World, to be exact (and I’m totally giddy!) But I am the world’s worst packer, particularly when it comes to shorter trips. Try as I might, I normally wind up packing a luggage, an actual full-sized luggage, for most one- or two-day getaways, even when the luggage is barely filled. This weekend, I’m determined to pack only the essentials in a throw-in-the-backseat carryall, more specifically: the weekender bag.  I have an older version of the Deux Lux Sequin Weekender Bag, but it’s beginning to get a bit worse for wear … it’s a sad sad day when the sequins start to fall off … of anything, really.  So I’m eying a few of these luxe new weekender bag styles — torn between a rich-looking leather duffel and something a bit more funky and colorful.  Do you have a go-anywhere weekender or duffel bag that you swear by?

The Weekenders: 1. Deux Lux Sequin Berlin Weekender Bag // 2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Preppy Nylon Pearl Weekender // 3. Deux Lux Striped Raleigh Weekender Bag // 4. Sole Society Cassidy Medium Weekender // 5. Sam Edelman Marais Alix Weekender Duffel Bag // 6. CLARE VIVIER Adam Weekender