Tag Archives: travel

Aug31

New England Fall Fun

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New England Fall Fun

Hello everyone and welcome to another fabulous post in my Falling For Fall series compliments of the sweet Ashley from Ashley Beth Beauty! One of the most well traveled areas in the US when fall time hits is New England. The beauty of the leaves changing on thousands of trees makes it an obvious travel spot, so what better way to learn more about New England than from a local?! Today, Ashley will be telling us about some amazing places to visit on your next NE vaca:

New England Fall Fun

Hey everyone! Today I’m going to talk about some different activities to do during your visit to New England this fall. From leaf peeping to apple picking and learning about the history of early America, there are many activities to do here, like the following:

New Hampshire’s White Mountains: If you want the ultimate fall experience in New England, visit the Omni Mount Washington Resort. It is in the heart of New Hampshire and there are plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy. The hotel itself is absolutely beautiful with the most breathtaking views. Since you are in the middle of Mount Washington, there are great hiking trails nearby with difficulty levels ranging from beginner to expert. If you have little ones, check out Story Land or Santa’s Village, which are both theme parks with shows, rides, and attractions. Another option is the Cog Railway. It is a three hour round trip train ride that will bring you to the top of Mount Washington. Talk about leaf peeping!

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Salem, Massachusetts Witch Trials: The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Salem, Massachusetts in the 1600s. Now the town of Salem brings the history and stories of these people to life. You can visit everything from the Salem Witch Museum to the historic House Of The Seven Gables. These are amazing activities for the history buffs, all while experiencing the beautiful foliage of Massachusetts. This city is located on the coast so you can learn a little history, shop, and check out Pickering Wharf.

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Vermont Maple Syrup Tour: Sugarbush Farm in Woodstock, VT is a 550 acre farm, which is run by the Luce family. You can visit this farm and learn about the process of making and collecting maple syrup. They also make cheeses that you are welcome to sample. Not only do you learn a lot at this farm, but the views are absolutely amazing. You can hike along the trails and the ride up to Vermont is just gorgeous. Visit here during the fall, and the leaves and clear sky will make for great photos and memories. Check out their website for more information at http://www.sugarbushfarm.com !

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Hope you all are inspired to take a fall trip to New England!

Xoxo

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Thank you so much again to Ashley from Ashley Beth Beauty for providing us with some fabulous New England travel info! Where is your favorite spot to visit in the fall? How does the area that you live in embrace autumn? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Playbuzz

Aug30

A Tale Of Two Scarves

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A Tale Of Two Scarves

Hi everyone and welcome to an ode to one of the it staples in every girl’s fall wardrobe – scarves! This piece is written by my friend, Embery, over at Cozy And Sage and I just know that all of you are going to love it. Please be sure to check out Embery’s blog for more if you enjoyed her post for my Falling For Fall series! Take a look:

A Tale Of Two Scarves

Scarves have always reminded me of fall. The cool crispness of the air and the snuggly warmth of a well-worn stole under my chin as I sip a warm caffeinated beverage and watch the autumn breeze play with the falling leaves is my ultimate pastime. Scarves work just as well for me in the office as they do out on the town. I always feel like I (hopefully) look not only a bit more sophisticated, but perhaps also a bit more prepared for the day enveloped in a proper scarf.

Every scarf that I own seems to have some sort of narrative attached to it, a little snippet of my life that is evoked every time I pull it from my closet. These are two of them:

 The Paris Scarf

My scarf obsession was born on an overseas trip to Paris almost a decade ago now. This burgundy and green darling emerged from the hustle and bustle of the shopping scene along the Seine as my very first scarf purchase. Desperately attempting to fit into Parisienne life, I purchased several stoles while I was there and wore them with gusto about the city during that September. In many ways, my very intentional nod to French fashion paid off, and I was often accepted as a local, initially. Of course, my obvious accent and my clearly American quirks gave me away almost immediately after I opened my mouth, but I found the people there to be quite forgiving. At least I felt more French draped in my new acquisition.

This “Paris” scarf, as my husband and I now refer to it, has accompanied me to many days at work, as well as countless trips to local coffee houses in pursuit of something (or anything) containing pumpkin and nutmeg. Whenever I wear it, I am reminded of those chilly fall days in Paris, seeking out coffee and Cȏtes du Rhȏne. This particular scarf is a polyester blend, I believe (although it did not come with a tag) and wears lightly, yet quite warmly, perfect for the cooler months. I generally wear it looped around my neck twice, sometimes twisted just a little, and then add a simple knot.

The Professional Look

My next scarf investment came years later from Macy’s at a time when I had finished school and was just becoming comfortable in my career. After years of studying and working in the trenches as an intern, I was finally beginning to grasp what being a professional meant. Rather than toiling away, working based off of other’s scientific decisions, I was at last making my own. After surviving the gauntlet of my internship, I was consequently being seen as an expert in my own right, rather than a lackey. To this day, I feel more scholarly and a little more erudite (optimistically, I realize) when I adorn myself with this piece.

Although the color is not particularly fall-ish, this scarf wears much too warmly for spring and is definitely a cold weather staple for me, as most of my wardrobe gravitates towards blues, browns, and black. This is an infinity style-scarf from Calvin Klein and is 100% acrylic. This one layers beautifully over light sweaters as well as long sleeve t-shirts. At times, this scarf can feel a bit bulky and occasionally I will use a pin or broach to keep it closer to the body and prevent it from interfering with my favorite fall beverage. I like to wear this one a bit twisted, as well, as it tends to keep the look slightly crisper and cleaner.

These scarves are still in my rotation, and every autumn when I pull them from their summer sleeping area, I am reminded vividly of these times in my life. Every scarf of mine bears a story, and these have been two of them. I hope you have enjoyed my post and thanks so much to Sarah for the opportunity to share it here! (You’re welcome! -Sarah)

Stay cozy! 🙂

Many thanks to Embery of Cozy And Sage for sharing her Tale Of Two Scarves with us! How do you style scarves into your outfit? What color is your favorite scarf? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun28

Movie Maven: A Lil Red Guide To Film Festival Etiquette

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Movie Maven: A Lil Red Guide To Film Festival Etiquette

Hello everyone and happy Hump Day! Summer brings about a variety of activities that some people spend the whole year looking forward to. Vacations, concerts, baseball games, and film festivals. I am sure that most of you already know that I am an avid movie lover. Of course, my favorite genre is horror by far but I love it all. Psychological thrillers, foreign films, comedies, rom-coms, the occasional Western, action, documentaries – you name it. The world of film is an all inclusive, creative, free for all with something for everyone, which is what makes it so beautiful.

Asking me about my favorite films always results in a five minute babble of my “I could watch this every day and not get bored” flicks. Every movie that you watch has the potential to become your new favorite and that’s what makes going out to the cinema, renting from the RedBox, and attending film festivals so exciting. You are twenty minutes in previews away with entering a new world for an hour or two. And even if the flick was the worst thing ever, you still got to eat popcorn and candy for the duration of the film. It’s a win/win for everyone.

A night at the movies is fun – but could you imagine a day at a film festival? A day devoted entirely to the up and coming films for the year? Talk about heaven! And another cool part about attending a film festival? The traveling! July 19th through the 22nd is the Anthem Film Festival in Las Vegas. And the movies that are seen in Vegas are sure to not stay there for long! Be sure to check out Vegas.com for the best hotel and flight packages for your stay and then let’s talk some film festival pro tips:

Be A Social Butterfly!

You already have one thing in common with literally every single person at the festival – a love for film. This sounds like the perfect icebreaker to me! Chat it up with anyone and everyone after the credits have rolled because you never know who you’re going to meet. From directors and actors to behind the scenes workers and industry professionals, a film festival is the best place to network if you are interested in any aspect of the vast world of cinema. Get your business cards ready and spread your wings, you beautiful and capable butterfly.

Dress To Impress:

You know how I said that you never know who you’re going to meet at a film festival? If not, let me repeat it: YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU’RE GOING TO MEET AT A FILM FESTIVAL!!! Dressing to impress is absolutely crucial for this reason. During the day, you can get away with a comfy cool look – an oversized button down, skinny jeans, and ankle booties are a great start. And don’t forget to bring a cardi for those chilly showing rooms!

The evening is a different story, though. Let your night time look transform you just as if you were walking the red carpet at a major premiere (Okay, maybe not that extreme, but you get the point!). Wear your best LBD and a killer pair of heels and then top it off with a bold red lip and a bejeweled clutch. And remember, it’s all about confidence and class with a heaping helping of personality when you’re strutting your stuff in your evening attire, honey.

Take Notes:

Having a notepad and a pen on you is a must. Keeping track of the films that you saw during your whirlwind of a day is vastly important when it comes to networking and the post film Q & A sessions. Write down your likes and dislikes, questions that you had throughout the screening, and important themes that you picked up on during the movie. All of your thoughts will make excellent conversation starters at the refreshment stand or while hanging around for the next film to start. Not only that, but surely you will want to remember such an exciting day, anyways, and jotting down notes throughout your experience is a great way to keep your memories fresh.

Tearjerker Tissues:

Alright, let’s get one thing straight: Literally no one wants to hear you with the sniffles after ugly crying when the handsome lead bites the dust, Linda. Do us all a favor and bring a travel tissue packet. THANKS!! (This goes for everyone – not just Linda!!)

A Good Attitude:

Are you going to love every film that you see? No. But raving negativity after the film ends is certainly frowned upon in such an esteemed setting. Differing opinions are fine, but voice your love or distaste appropriately. The movie that you hated could be the favorite film of the person sitting beside you. An appreciation for film in general and the time, money, and talent that’s involved in that world goes a long way during your chats in line at the ladies, the refreshment booth, or the post film Q & A. Remember that you’re in a professional environment and showing respect is always going to be a do as you go about your day at the festival.
If you’ve never attended a film festival before, the Anthem Film Festival in Las Vegas is a great place to start! What are your film festival do’s and don’ts? What are a few of your favorite flicks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Featured Image By: JoeyBLS Photography
Jun3

Summer Travels On A Budget

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Summer Travels On A Budget

Hello everyone and welcome to my darling friend, Amy’s, post for my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series. Amy is the author of the blog, An Ambivert Lifestyle, and it is AMAZING so definitely take a look and give it all the love. As you guys know, my life motto is “ballin on a budget” so, naturally, Amy’s post about embracing a travel lifestyle while being smart with your cash speaks to me on a spiritual level. Take a look at Amy’s how to guide on how to make the most of your moolah on your summer vaca:

Summer Travels On A Budget

Traveling isn’t an easy task. Planning and preparing for the trip is one of the most stressful things that you can do to yourself. From working more hours and skipping nights out to save up to unexpected costs before your trip also contributes to this stress. Personally, as a full-time student and a full-time employee, it is extremely hard, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve to traveling on a budget and finding great deals. Being a college student and a frugal spender, I like to explore deals on flights on the internet, books, personal experience, and word of mouth.

Finding Deals on Flights

  • Student Universe – This company provides less expensive flights for students. They work with 80+ airlines to get cheaper flights listed than anywhere else. This site is truly magical. Not only do they provide deals on flights, but they also offer deals on tours, hotels, and group travel. For members, they provide even more deals for special rates.
  • Private Browsing – This is super important! Whenever you are searching for flights, go on “Private Browsing” on whatever internet browser you use. Airline companies pay big money to know what consumers are searching, so if you visited a certain flight over and over again, they increase prices so you can buy faster.
  • Skyscanner – This helps you scan flights of your choosing through all the different airline companies. You can also see prices on different dates, as well, for convenience.
  • Booking flights on Wednesdays! – This is such an easy trick. Almost all of the time, flights will be consistently lower than the rest of the weekdays since they consider this day to have the most amount of seats available, so prices are lowered to fill the planes.
  • Check social medias and your email! – Usually, airline companies will email deals and promo codes for flights for a period of time. These have saved my bacon many times.
  • Get a refund! – No, really! If you purchased a ticket and the fare has dropped since you bought it, call/email them to ask for a refund for the difference. It may not always work, but the fact that it has worked with certain airline companies is amazing! Websites such as Yapta and Orbitz track your purchased flights and let you know. Easy.
  • Champ through several stop flights – It isn’t easy and most of the time it isn’t fun. The majority of the time these stops are red eyes. It sucks, but being able to spend a couple hundred dollars to be able to buy that souvenir for you girlfriend’s cousin’s mom is worth it. Just make sure you pack a couple of books to beat boredom or play online games while you wait. If you are a fan of casino style games, look into some blackout bingo reviews because it’s a fun game to pass the time with.
  • Airfare Errors – This is your best friend. Websites such as AirFare Watchdog and Secret Flying can be used to allow you to beat the system and stalk for mistake fares.

While Traveling Do’s

  • Research ahead of time – If you travel to a foreign land, it’s best that you research where you want to go first instead of winging it. I have spent so much more money than expected when I have winged it.
  • Look up places that do not charge admission – You’d be surprised at how many museums do not charge admission fees throughout the world. I always do this when I go on vacations because it gives you something to do that’s fun, while keeping money in your pocket.
  • Foreign Exchange at your bank – Some people don’t know this but some banks will actually let you exchange currencies right there. Sometimes the rates are cheaper than when you’re traveling and it’s convenient to have the currency of the destination before you even get off of the plane.
  • Carry cash & don’t use your card – Having a fixed amount of cash on you helps BIG time with budgeting on a day-by-day vacation. It helps you not over spend and prevents binging on those miniature Eiffel Towers or flower shaped gelato. Plus, if you use your card, chances are that your bank will charge you an international fee.

Places to Stay Without Breaking the Bank

  • Air BnB – This is already a given, but I love them so much that I had to put them on this list.
  • Hostel World – Hostels are the cheapest way to travel. You get to meet different people traveling that will probably become your international long term friend. Hostel World allows you to look up every single hostel in the area that you’re traveling to. You get to compare between different hostels, prices for a private room and dorms, and amenities. They have a Best Price Guarantee as well, so they will provide the cheapest rates for every hostel.
  • Home To Go – Not too many people know about this page. It’s a very user friendly site where you get to look up Bed and Breakfast type places. They provide last minute deals and discounts up to 75% off for their members for certain places.
  • Tripping – This is a sight that lets you look up vacation rentals, hostels, rooms for rent per night, hotels, etc. Similar to Air Bnb.

Extras

  • Lonely Planet – Unique site that provides travel books and videos about different countries and their activities such as beaches, food and drink, art and culture, and adventure travel. They also provide services such as travel insurance, adventure tours, car rentals, flights, hotels, sightseeing tours, and airport transfers and shuttles. Another perk of this website is that they provide tips, as well.
  • Like A Local – This company is so great! This site allows you to be able to contact locals in the area that you’re traveling to be able to get suggestions, tips, and even ask to meet up. They provide suggestions for tours, food, nightlife, shopping, and sightseeing all at your fingertips. On top of that, you can also pay a local to be your tour guide for CHEAP. I’m going to be traveling to Munich at the end of May and a local posted that they charge 2 euros an hour to be your guide. I’m SHOOK. But it gets better, you are also able to download their phone app and purchase an offline, no internet, and no roaming charges map for $1.99 per city that can also use your GPS to locate where you are. If you’d like to be a guide as well in your home town, you can also sign up with them and be paid!

The most important part of traveling, of course, is that you have fun and enjoy! Only be on your phone to take pictures and make a new friend and take in every opportunity that you can to soak in and appreciate your new surroundings.

Wow! Thank you so much to Amy for such fantastic, invaluable tools to use while traveling on a budget. For more on Amy’s upcoming travels, be sure to check out her blog! How do you ball on a budget? Where are you traveling to this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun1

Ford And Fiat Battle For The Ultimate Small Summer Car

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Ford And Fiat Battle For The Ultimate Small Summer Car

Let loose the rays of ultraviolet, may the buds that sprout shoot into blossoming flowers that drench the world in their splendor, and may the sound of puppies playing and children laughing swamp the world. Summer is finally here – and about time, too. The wind, rain, and unpleasant gray clouds all have bowed to the supremacy of the sun and ran away. Times like these make you want to go on a holiday with your best friends and never come home.

Nothing can replicate the feeling of a summer vacation that’s totally in your own hands. No scheduled flights to catch, no delayed trains, no sleeping on the floor of some godforsaken terminal somewhere. Now, all you need is the perfect little car to drive you to all of the vacation hot spots. But If you’re in the market for a small car, which one should you pick? The honest answer is that there are a multitude of choices but none of them dominate the others in the field; it’s all relative. However, here are two of the totally beach ready cars that you can consider:

Dancing With Urbanity: Fiesta de resistance. Ever since Ford shrunk their Focus model and the Ford Fiesta was born, they’ve made a perfectly reliable, fun, scoot-mobile. The design is really quite unique as the car’s rear is taller than the front and has a sweeping slope angle towards the front of the car. The indented lines run from the trunk, down the side doors, and onto the top of the bonnet and into the headlights. The Fiesta is a four door car with great legroom for your friends in the back seats. It has a peppy little 1-liter Ecoboost engine which has great low-rev grunt, which makes it the obvious choice for little streets which require a decent amount of torque for quick bursts of acceleration.

Drinking and driving is a very serious issue and some people can get carried away on holiday. If you know someone who may fall prey to vaca temptation and you can see they need help, you could reward them with a road trip holiday in one of these cars after they’ve been to a place like https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/alcohol-abuse/. Nevertheless, Ford have always made strong and sturdy cars, and the little Fiesta is no different with the Euro NCAP crash tests giving it a staggering 91% protection rating for adults and similarly astonishing 86% for child protection. When you’re driving in countries you’re unfamiliar with, knowing that you’re safe behind the wheel should an accident befall you is something that travelers are understandably putting high up on their list.

Italian Magnificence: The Fiat Punto is one of the iconic cars of the latter part of the 20th century and now is a staple car for those looking at an affordable little zipping machine. Pointy, small, agile, and totally adorable – the Punto uses a 1.2 petrol engine. Italians are known for their automotive engineering and this little car is no exception. The engine has as strong block, so it will tend to rev out a lot. But most small cars are made to be loud shouty things when you really put your foot down! The style is very sleek and curvy, perfect for the voguish girl who wants to make a statement driving through town. The proportions are incredibly well sized and timed; the Punto wouldn’t look out of place driving through Monaco. And get this, it has a combined 60 miles per gallon capability; that means more miles as you navigate through the city.

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Pretty!

A vacation isn’t complete without a cool car to drive around in. And with so many new options on the table – the problem won’t be finding one but deciding on one model!

Featured Image By: Cherylholt

May31

Summer Bucket List Ideas

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Summer Bucket List Ideas

Hi everyone and welcome to day two of my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series thanks to the darling Charlotte of CharlieeStar. Charlotte is one of the most sweet as can be girls that I have had the pleasure of working with and her blog is a real treat! She is just starting out in the blogging world, so please make sure to check out her page and give it some love! In this post, Charlotte is going to provide us with some super fun Summer Bucket List Ideas, so take a look and enjoy:

Summer Bucket List Ideas

Hey guys,

After reading that Sarah (lifewithlilred) was looking for summer guest writers, I jumped at the opportunity! So before I get into my post I’d like to say a thank you to Sarah for letting me appear on here! Anyways, who am I? Well I’m Charlotte from CharlieeStar. I’m a UK blogger focusing on lifestyle, beauty, and relationship posts! Seeing as summer is just around the corner, I thought that I’d do a post on potential Summer Bucket List Ideas. Basically, these are the things that I think I would like to do this summer and I thought that you might be able to take some inspiration from them, too! I think I’ve done enough rambling now so let’s get into this!

Beach BBQs:

Luckily for me (or unluckily depending on how you look at it), I live about 15 minutes away from the beach. This means, that in the summer I have a pretty obvious area to hang out. But don’t be fooled, the beach is always mobbed by tourists. This is why the first thing on my bucket list takes place in the evening. BBQs on the beach sound so basic, but they’re such a great way to hang out with your friends and enjoy the warmer summer evenings. By the evening, the gathering tourists will be heading back inland for dinner or whatever it is that tourists do. Meaning the beach is quiet and the world feels like yours. There’s no limit to this just being a beach activity though! If you don’t live near a beach, then you could hold the BBQ in a nearby field or even in your back garden.

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Catch Up On Some Reading:

I love reading but never seem to have enough time for it! That’s why this summer I want to take some time to read. I’ll be publishing a ‘What’s on my summer reading list’ over on my blog so please feel free to follow me and look out for that if you are interested!

Star Gaze (With Haydn):

My boyfriend (Haydn) and I are a long distance couple so we don’t have endless amounts of time together, but a peaceful night under the stars together listening to music and eating snacks sounds perfect to me. If you’re not in a relationship, you could totally do this with your close friends, your dog, or even just you. Although, if like me you do live in the UK, you’ll probably need to take some blankets so you don’t get hypothermia.

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Enjoy The Area:

This probably sounds really old person like, but I want to make better use of the area I live in. I love going for walks or riding my bike, so this summer I want to do more walks around local rivers and in the countryside or take my bike out. Even on days where my friends are busy, I still want to motivate myself to actually do something with my days. Contrary to popular belief, you can have too much Netflix – trust me!

Work On My Blog:

Of course, one of the main things that I love doing is blogging! I started in January as a way to do something more productive with my spare time. I haven’t grown a ton (as I’m writing this I have just over 100 followers), but I’d really like to. Over the summer, I’ll hardly have any school work so I want to use some of my free time to learn about how to be a better blogger! (If you’ve got any tips please let me know! You can comment down below or message me on Instagram @charliestarblogs) If you haven’t got a hobby or want to put more time/effort into the ones that you do have, summer is the perfect time to work on them.

Movie Marathon:

I know that I just stated how much I love being outdoors, but I’m a ‘homely’ kinda girl at heart and a movie marathon is likely the only marathon I’ll ever complete! Either with my girls or on my own, I want to put my pajamas on, snuggle under a duvet, and binge watch a good series (TV or movies). Does this count as something to go on a bucket list? I think so!

Feel Body Confident:

This is one that I thought a lot about before putting it onto my list. I mean, it’s not something that you can do for fun in the summer but it is something that I want to feel? IDK. This summer, I want to stop worrying that my boobs are too small to wear some of the cute crop tops out there or that my back acne is gross so I shouldn’t wear low backed tops. I want to wear the clothing that I think looks cute and feel confident doing it! After all, we’re all beautiful in our own way and someone will always love the flaws that you hate.

Thank you guys for reading my little list. I think I broke a lot of the bucket list rules but that’s okay, we’ll just roll with it. These are all of the things that I want to do/achieve but what about you guys? Let me know in the comments below! Once again thanks to Sarah for letting me appear here on lifewithlilred!

*Pretend my sign off is cool*,

Charliestar xoxo

Blog: CharlieeStar

Instagram: @charliestarblogs

Thank you so much again to Charlotte for sharing her Summer Bucket List Ideas with us! What are your summer goals? How do you plan on spending your summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May30

What DO I Wear?! Beach Chic Edition

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What DO I Wear?! Beach Chic Edition

Helloooo everyone and welcome to the very first post of my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series compliments of the darling, sweet, talented, gorgeous K.M. of Ankhor You. K.M. is a dear blogging friend of mine who I absolutely adore and it would BEHOOVE all of you to go check out her page because I can promise you that you will love her just as much (but definitely not more) as me. K.M. is a mermaid princess and she is going to teach all of you a thing or two about Beach Chic attire. Check it out and enjoy:

What DO I Wear?! Beach Chic Edition

“I look my best when I’m totally free, on holiday, walking on the beach.” Rosamund Pike

When Sarah mentioned that she was doing a summer series with guest bloggers, I knew right away that I not only wanted to take part, and was incredibly honored she wanted me to, but I had a pretty good idea of what I was going to write. Summer is my jam, especially if it includes anything to do with the ocean. If I could live in a bungalow by the beach and write the rest of my life, I would be one happy mermaid. #Lifegoals

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Summer time isn’t just my happy place, but it’s my favorite kind of fashion. Maxi dresses, beach cover ups, flip-flops, skirts, bare legs – I love it all. All year, I wait for when I am finally able to shed the heavy coats and toss my espadrilles aside while letting my feet play in the sand. At this point, I wouldn’t say love but more like borderline obsessed.

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Summer Fun:

With the warmer weather comes endless activities from sea glass hunting, visiting light houses, to taking a schooner out on the ocean. And, of course, lounging in the sand catching rays is a must. While many of these activities can be considered casual, your style does not have to be. Nope, beach wear can be classy and chic, transitioning from a day in the sun to a night out on the boardwalk. Of course you want to be the epitome of a fashionista. After all…Pictures!

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Summer Trends:

Keeping with the unofficial Summer anthem of “let’s show some skin”, the trends aren’t just an emphasis of off the shoulders and cut outs, but bralettes and cropped tops littered the racks and runways this season. It is summer after all, and we want to be cool in our looks and our body temperature!

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// Sunglasses: Tory Burch // Shirt: Anthropologie // Skirt: White House Black Market // Shoes: DSW // Necklace: Seamilligan Designs // Cuff: Light House Studio Designs // Clutch: Alaina Marie, Bait Bags // 

It can be daunting wearing just a bralette, after all how many of us have Giselle Bundchens abs? Be honest. But, stores like Anthropologie are offering a variety of cropped tops and bralettes, from barely there to just a hint of peek-a-boo skin.

Added to that, high waisted skirts and pants have made a comeback in a big way, pairing well with the “let’s just wear half a shirt” shirt. It also gives us the option of showing a little less skin if we so choose.

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The Look:

I found this billowy cropped blouse at Anthropologie and the rest is history, especially when this blonde saw that it came in navy. Move aside black, navy is the IT color for blondes. While it might seem a tad naughty librarian, this shirt is incredibly versatile and pairs well over a camisole, if you want to be trendy, but demure. Tied and fitted at the waist, the kimono like sleeves offer another glance of skin when the arms are raised in the classic “touchdown” stance.

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Having planned a day of fun with my mer-twin at Eastern Promenade in Maine, I knew no amount of donuts or frappucinos were going to stop me from rocking this shirt. (You go girl!! -Sarah)

Channeling the high waisted trend, I opted for a white embroidered skirt from White House Black Market. Shorter then I normally go for, it was flirty and fun, perfect for a debut in the sun. Because of the wide elastic band, I could wear it higher up or lower depending on how much skin I wanted to show, or how many mimosas I had slung back at brunch. (AYYYY – also from Sarah)

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Accessories Perfect For a Mermaid:

The navy and white created a blank canvas to accessorize however the mood struck. I could go ultra glam or keep it nautical. I decided on the latter, choosing jewelry and accessories that had ocean ties.

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I wanted to rock my favorite tassel necklace by SeaMilligan Designs made from blue safety sea-glass. I then added a cuff made out of a lobster gauge from Lighthouse Designs. Rounding out the nautical accessories and to hold my things and maybe any sea glass I found, I grabbed my bait bag clutch by Alaina Marie. And, finally, for shoes I chose my lace espadrilles, that I could easily take off so that I could dip my feet into the (chilly!) water.

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The Finished Look:

All in all it was a trendy, yet Beach Chic look, that I could show off both on and off the sand. It is also an outfit that I could throw over a swimsuit or wear for a night out on the boardwalk. Much like most of the items that I buy and style, the options are endless for this look, as well as the individual pieces.

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Thank you SO MUCH again to the lovely sea princess, K.M., from Ankhor You for starting out my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series with a Beach Chic bang! How do you style a beach ready look? What are some of your beach essentials? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May25

Vaca Style Tips For Every Occasion

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Vaca Style Tips For Every Occasion

So, you’re a traveler? You love to jet off to new places and foreign lands and have a good time? That’s awesome, because there is nothing better than broadening your horizons and enjoying life. But, before you leave, you need to make sure that you’re ready. Nope, that doesn’t mean that you have your passport and visas in order, although that is imperative! In this sense, we’re talking about style. After all, you have to look good while you travel, or else that holiday romance might never happen! Hello, European boys!

Luckily, you can always turn heads while traveling with these tips:

Pack A Series Of Outfits: Naturally, there is never enough space when you start to pack. But, that isn’t an excuse! For centuries, travelers have been finding new and creative ways to jam things into their rucksacks, and you can do the same. Nay, you should do the same. If you’re away for a while, the outfits that you pack will get to feel weathered and tired. As a result, you might begin to develop the wardrobe blahs, feeling like you lack that little something something. By taking everything from sundresses to hot pants and all of the pieces in between, your wardrobe won’t start to feel boring while you’re away.

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Be sure to pack some sunnies!

Only Wear Casual Clothes During The Day: Another reason clothes start to feel old is because you are wearing them too much. While you’re away, you won’t think twice about wearing an evening outfit during the day. Indeed, it might be necessary if you haven’t got any clean clothes. The problem with this, is that they lose their shine a lot quicker as a result. The solution is simple: keep evening wear for the evenings. Then, when you get ready, you will have the same feeling like every other time you go for a night on the town.

Take Accessories: Just because you’re abroad, doesn’t mean that you can’t accessorize. In fact, you should do it more when you are in a foreign land. What do you know about accessories? Well, the first and main thing is that they are style enhancers. That means that they are the perfect side dish to making an okay outfit look great. Seeing as your outfits are bound to lose their appeal, a few accessories could help you step up your game. All you have to do is pack a handful that goes with most items. A word of warning: don’t go overboard and pack them carefully to avoid them getting tangled. No one wants to spend a morning in Rome undoing a necklace knot!

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Pretty!

Refresh Your Style: What you take with you isn’t what will come back. Most people throw things away and buy new things while they are on the move. And, it’s an excellent idea. Okay, there might not be an H&M on the high street if you’re thousands of miles from home. Still, the local markets always try and cater to the tourists, so there should be some cheap items that catch your eye. In fact, they’ll be dirt cheap if you learn how to haggle properly.

Style is important when you’re traveling in a new place. It will take you from the girl sightseeing to the sight that people are gazing at! Happy travels!

Featured Image By: Flickr

May24

Keeping Safe When You Are Traveling: A Complete Guide

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Keeping Safe When You Are Traveling: A Complete Guide

Who doesn’t love to travel? Whether it’s for a vacation, business, or to visit your family, travel educates and entertains. Unfortunately, some trips do not go well and are ruined by accidents or ill health. Here’s a quick guide to how you can keep healthy when you are away from home and what you can do if something goes wrong. But fingers crossed that it doesn’t, of course!

Be proactive and prepare before you go:

Be realistic about your health and your physical limitations before you travel. This is especially important if you have chosen to travel by air. There are some people who should not fly and they include:

  • Babies under 2 days old
  • Women who have passed 36 weeks of pregnancy
  • People who have recently had any type of surgery
  • People who have recently suffered a stomach, eye, or head injury.
  • People who have recently had a heart attack or stroke

If you have any sort of health condition it is always a good idea to talk to your doctor before you leave, just in case.

Plan ahead for injuries and illnesses:

You will be responsible for hospital and other medical arrangements during your trip so double check your health insurance and make sure that you are covered for the entirety of your vacation as well as the location you are traveling to. Should you be planning a longer stay, it is a good idea to enter a search for “health insurance quotes florida” (or your vacation destination) in case a medical emergency arises. No one wants to imagine anything going wrong on a trip, but it is far better to be safe than sorry. In addition, think about where you will access treatment if you become ill or injured. Compile a list of USA emergency dentist locations and hospitals in case something goes wrong. This will cut down your stress levels if you are in need of treatment while you are away, as you will already have a place in mind.

Take your own first aid kit with you for minor emergencies. Stock it up with band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and cotton wool so that you can treat cuts and scrapes. Include any prescribed medication and some pain killers. Some basic first aid knowledge is essential so have a read up on what you should do in an emergency. You also need to know when you should call a doctor. In general terms, you need to call medical assistance if you have diarrhea AND a high fever, have been bitten or scratched by an animal, or have been in an accident and are seriously injured.

Let your friends and family know when you will be going, where you will be going, and when you intend to return. Always carry details of your next of kin and your medical requirements with you. You can store these in a mobile phone or in card form in your wallet. Steps like sharing your location gives everyone much needed peace of mind so be sure to drop a pin to your family while you are traveling. Remember that some areas have spotty reception so it might be a good idea to have a personal hot spot with you so you can always be connected. Share the resources you are using like the rental service you are working with should you check out our go to cabin spot in the mountains as well as important contacts like the property manager or local police and hospitals. All of this information will hopefully not be needed but it is crucial that you pass it on.

Look after your health while you are away:

It is easy to get carried away on holiday and take risks that we would not take when we are at home. Some sensible precautions will go a long way towards making your trip a safe one. Limit your alcohol intake and use sunscreen when you are in hot and sunny climates. Be especially careful if you are on the coast or in the country as there are additional hazards. Be aware of your surroundings and think about the dangers that you might face and how to avoid them as necessary.

Vacation is meant for fun, not catastrophe. Have a back up plan in place for peace of mind while you have a good time!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May23

Keeping Yourself Entertained On Vaca

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Keeping Yourself Entertained On Vaca

Are you one of the lucky ones heading abroad on your vacation this year? Whether you’re on the road, in a hotel, or on a cruise, there can be moments, particularly after a long day of exploring, when all you want is to settle down and relax. An evening in the hotel with Netflix or a good book can be just what the doctor ordered after you’ve been on your feet all day sightseeing. But staying entertained and ensuring that you don’t run out of things to do while you’re abroad isn’t quite so easy as when you’re at home. Here are just a few ways that you can make sure that, even in your downtime, you’re fully fighting the boredom blahs:

Don’t Rely On Books: If you love to get a jump on your summer reading list while on vaca, books can become far too cumbersome. Whether you read while you travel, relax by the pool, or just as you go through life, it might be time to invest in a bit of a technological helper. Rather than packing a book a day into your luggage, a Kindle is a cheap, lightweight, and easily transportable alternative. With literally millions of books to choose from, all accessible online, you’ll never be caught short without a book again.

Keep Some Entertainment Downloaded: Sometimes WiFi is obscenely slow, and sometimes *gasp* you just can’t connect at all. The worst thing in these situations is to have no backup plan. Keeping a few shows downloaded onto whatever device you’re using can be a real lifesaver in moments of boredom. Netflix has options to download now, as do many other video hosting sites. And be sure to double check that your Spotify Premium account is up to date before you set off so that you can still access all of your favorite music, even when WiFi isn’t an option.

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Netflix Is Your BFF: When you need some reassuring familiarity and an evening to yourself, it’s all about Netflix. Whether you’re entertaining young ones or just chilling on your own, being able to get a few of your favorite shows online is essential. While Netflix, ordinarily, won’t work abroad, using a VPN enables you to bypass that. Check out securethoughts to find out exactly how to do it. Then, all of your favorite shows are just a button-push away.

Portable Chargers Are Everything: We rely so heavily on electronic devices in this day and age, from smartphones to laptops and tablets to Kindles, that it’s not surprising that portable charging devices are growing in popularity. When you’re in an airport or hotel room, chances are that you’ll have access to power, but when you’re on the road, public transport, or walking around the city, it could be a bit more tricky. Keep a fully charged portable power supply in your handbag all of the time, and you’ll never find yourself caught with the power out again.

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Is your device fully charged??

Traveling the world doesn’t mean that you don’t want a few moments of R&R every now and then, and if they take the form of your favorite books or TV shows, it’s always best to be prepared. Happy traveling!

Featured Image By: Pexels