How to win at the game of travel

As the holiday season is approaching, it almost vacation time! Time to get out of the house, out of the work place, and out of school to relax and take some much needed time off. What you don't want to do is spend your entire trip hauling around a suitcase that weighs as much as a car, or that's bigger than your closet itself. Its important to save space, whether that means leaving a few items behind that you don't really need, or getting creative when it comes to packing the things you can't live without.
One thing you can try is rolling your clothes instead of folding them to take up less space. This trick it super easy and will allow you to pack more clothes, without wrinkling them or shoving them into your suitcase or bag. For an added plus, throw in a dryer sheet to keep them smelling fresh.
Pack your dirty shoes in a shower cap so dirt doesn't get on your clothes and thread your necklaces through a straw to stop tangling along the journey.
Next, don't worry about saving space for your iHome. You can turn any cup into a speaker for your phone by dropping it in and letting it echo on the sides of the cup. Dance party, anywhere.
If you are traveling to a different time zone, chances are your sleep schedule will take a toll on you. If you want to avoid jet lag, try exercising a lot the day before you travel. Then, once you land, get lots of fresh air, especially if you are in high altitudes. This wears your body out if its not used to it naturally. I like to go for a long run a few days before hand, and if I do a lot of walking, try to get extra sleep during my trip.
If you tend to get chilly on the plane ride, try packing a light weight scarf in your carry on. Use it as a little blanket or pillow on the ride and once you arrive at your destination, you have the perfect accessory to add to any outfit.
When it comes to bringing makeup and face products, this tends to be my biggest hassle. Most of them are too big to fit in my bag and if I'm flying its not even regulation to have anything over 3 ounces. Contact cases make great storage for on the go. Just squirt some of your favorite foundation in the case, a little goes a long way, and screw the cap on. Good to go.
If your are going to a place where pick pockets are a problem, you want to put your extra cash somewhere safer than a wallet. Empty out an old chap stick container and roll up the bills to fit inside. Perfect hiding place. I mean you've probably already filled your contact case with lip balm, so keeping money in the empty lip balm only makes sense.
Happy traveling!

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Fall trends worth trying

This fall is bringing in lots of new clothing and hair trends, both good and bad. There are some I like more than others, and some I would never wear myself. One thing is for sure, no one is afraid to experiment with various colors, lengths, and trends this fall.

Hats are an interesting piece to play with in an outfit, but its also an easy thing to get wrong. Adding a beanie to an outfit is almost always a plus. But you can't forget about all the other types of head wear. Fedoras, floppy knit hats, baseball caps, and headband are all things that add personality and a fun element to an otherwise boring outfit. I love the way the grey beanie looks paired with this dark colored flannel shirt. In the picture you can see how she layers this with a cream colored hoodie underneath. Add a pair of dark wash skinny jeans, some white Chuck Tailors and this makes the perfect outfit for autumn.

Embracing classic prints seems to be another huge trend this all. When you get tired of floral from spring, try hounds tooth for fall. This pattern has been huge on the runway lately. The great part is that it goes with almost anything. And I love this paired with bright colors like red and royal blue. You have to be careful however, too much of this pattern can be overpowering to the eyes. Try to keep the print small or limit it to a single piece instead of the entire outfit. This picture shows a great option for a more formal pairing with the black mixed with the pattern. Notice how she keeps the waist high.

One color I have always loved but never think to wear is emerald green. It looks great paired with other jewel toned colors like amethyst (a purple color). You see this a lot on the runway as well. This color is great for fall, as well as spring and summer. Light emerald is great for casual attire and darker emerald can be turned into a sultry formal outfit. This spring dress is simple but has a beautiful cut at the bottom, giving it the flare that makes it a perfect go-to for a day out. For fall, just throw on a cardigan, add a pair of fun sandals and a neutral tote of bag and you're good to go.



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Can wearing bright colors improve your mood?

Do you ever have those days where getting out of bed seems like the most impossible task on the planet earth? We all do. And when it comes to dressing myself on these days, it always seems easier to throw on a pair of dark jeans and a grey sweater. Something simple, something.. boring.
I mean the last thing I want to do is attempt a trendy outfit when I can hardly stand to shower in the morning.

Liana Satenstein, a writer for vogue magazine, posted an article on this yesterday where she tells of her wardrobe "transformation" from a boring black and grey color scheme to mixing wide array of colors and textures to add personality to her outfits.

The article deserves a read, if you are interested I have it linked here.

Her experiences are not only motivational for other girls to start expressing themselves through their clothing, but raise an interesting question... Does changing your day to day wardrobe really have an effect on your mood?
I found this to be an entertaining research project,
here is what I came up with:

While it isn't directly proven that clothing we wear can effect the outcome of our emotions, what we do know is that there has been a long history of the use of color for therapy in ancient civilizations, this is known as chromotherapy. Red being used to stimulate the body and increase blood circulation, orange to increase energy levels, and so forth.
However, that being said, most modern psychologists are skeptical of the idea, especially of its lasting effects over long periods of time. But even if it is all "just in your head", does it really matter?
Even if you are skeptical of the idea, its worth a try.
As far as my personal experience goes, the difference is minimal, but not to be dismissed as irrelevant. I would say however, that my mood reflects not only in the colors of the pieces I'm wearing, but more in the cut, shape, and style of the pieces themselves. If I feel confident in a particular outfit, I don't think it would make a difference what color it is.
If you do tend to lean towards the side of a neutral color palette, its not hard to work bright pieces in with accessories. Your clothing choices should represent who you are, and you should be proud to wake up in the morning, open up your closet, and flaunt whatever it is you may choose to wear that day.

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