The Art of the Perfect Weekender Bag

Whether you are a seasoned traveler or going on that last minute business/recreational trip, there is an art to the perfect weekend bag. I have always been an opportunist when it comes to weekend trips so if someone invites me last minute to anywhere, I have a system of what to pack in a hurry. If you are like my mom or sisters, then you are packing too much!  First! Find the perfect bag!The perfect weekender bag is the size of a carry-on. Trust me, you don’t need any bigger because you don’t need to pack as much as you think you do. It is possible to pack all your stylish clothing options and be able to fit everything you need into your bag. I use my monogram leather bag.If you need a place to start check out these bags!

Sole Society Cassidy BagMadewell Transporter Bag

Pre-Planning!

You should always have a pre-packed essential toiletries bag. If we are talking bare necessities, at least have:

•  a toothbrush
• toothpaste,
• travel size Shampoo & Conditioner
• a comb
• a razor.

 This will save so much to always have something to grab and go. SO many people forget to grab a tooth brush because habitually we keep it in the same place all the time and the brain lapses and forgets that you now need to take it with you. That’s why we want to keep a spare, solely to take it with you when you leave. 

SO HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED!

CLOTHING

• 1 nice going out outfit (Whether this be a dress or nice slacks and a button down) don’t forget a nice pair of shoes!

• 1 sleep outfit

• 1 workout/outdoors outfit including shoes!

• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 Bathing suit (you NEVER know and when you find that need one, there’s no easy or cheap solution all the time)
• 1 jacket/sweatshirt/sweater. Whatever you prefer that is suitable.
• # of days you will be gone in both Pair of socks and pairs of underwear
• # of days you will be gone in undershirts
• 1 pair of your most versatile shoes (make sure they are broken in!)
• Your favorite Sunglasses!

Seasonal Summer

• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 pair of sandals

Winter

• *1 winter coat
• 1 hat
• 1 scarf
• Tights
• 1 pair of boots

WEEKEND NECESSITIES

(THIS CATEGORY IS DEFINED BY YOU! AND WHAT YOU NEED WITH YOU)

• A book!
• A notebook and pen
• A camera
• Preferred gadget (computer or iPad)
• Charging accessories for all your electronics
• Chapstick

How to Manage A Wanderlust Heart When You Can't Travel

If you are like me, then a wanderlust heart constantly burns for adventure. You often find yourself moping around looking at pictures online wishing you could be anywhere else but sitting at your desk. Especially those who have traveled before, who miss the travel high or travel bug as some people describe it. You miss the time when you felt like you were truly living and everything else now feels like prison, but hey! At least you’re making money! You say to yourself.As down as these feelings may bring you, there are plenty of ways to manage a wanderlust heart and your travel desires while maintaining your desk job in the times when you can't travel

EXPLORE YOUR CITY

I currently live in Los Angeles, which is massive! Spend your weekends, driving to a new part of town that you are unfamiliar with, whether it be a new coffee shop, or an outdoor market, or even some outdoor activity. The “travel bug” is really just a way to describe the feeling that people get hooked too when they go someone new and all their synapses are being triggered because they are taking everything in. So go forth explorer and see all you can in your own city in the meantime 

DAY TRIPS

Day trips are another great way of satisfying the desire to explore. According to Combined statistical Area data, there are about 166 major Metropolitan areas in the whole of the US. That means that day trips and weekend trips  to the closest metropolitan area  from anywhere in the U.S. is feasible to do in half a day at the most! Grab a close friend to make the trip more memorable. If you live in California like me, there’s almost every type of terrain you could get too in 5 hours. 

PLAN AND SAVE FOR YOUR NEXT BIG ADVENTURE!

This may seem hard to do at first because you just want to take off to anywhere but focus on one place that you can afford and plan for. Pro-tip! Take your Holiday during the off-season. September-February is always cheaper flights and even cheaper accommodations (ONLY EXCEPTIONS – Christmas and New Years) Check out my past post about cheap places to fly too in 2015 here Also use Google Flight Matrix to find the cheapest places to fly too from your home airport. 

READ TRAVEL BLOGS

I know it is not quite the same, but when you find a travel blog that you connect with, it feels as if you are going on their journey with them. Social media has become so integral in visually connecting you to people in this world, and sometimes their stories are so inspiring and when you find that local blogger you love, it can introduce you to new things around your own city or neighboring cities that you did not know about before.My favorite bloggers are::Brooke Saward – World of Wanderlust – Her enthusiasm for life and travel matches my own so wellRosie –  The Londoner – She makes me miss the time I was living in LondonYvonne Derksen – The Tourist of Life – I love her style and she has such a great perspective on lifeTrevor Morrow – Trevor Morrow Travel – I have to support my good friend Trevor. He has fantastic outdoor trips that you can take in style and constantly inspire me to try every single one of the activities! 

DECORATE YOUR SURROUNDINGS WITH TRAVEL/WANDERLUST MEMENTOS

It sounds silly so compare, but I have found that all the items that I have whether it be my wanderlust ring or my world city themed calendar to the kick ass globe my sister made for me remind me that there is a whole wide world out there and I can’t wait to travel it.  

Travel More

 I'm currently waiting in the Virgin Amercan Louge at LAX to borad my plane to Portland. It has been almost a full year since my last plane trip and I am buzzing. I miss the security line, I miss the airline uniforms. I miss the self-contained environement of an airport. I miss travelling. As others have said before, once you catch the travel bug, it becomes an addiction and I am high on life as I watch the planes descend and ascend on the Apron. First fun fact of my trip, calling the runway the tarmac is actually incorrect. Airports stopped using tarmac in the producion of its runways. It is really called the apron, but as in all things, tarmac stuck and that is what most people know it by.

Moving forward, I miss ... this, sitting in an arportsoaking up the sensation of just travelling. I used to board planes all the time and now that I've taken up my current job, I remain landbound and officelocked. I've spent so much time at my computer reading travel blogs and lifestyle sites I feel like I finally get to experience everything I've read, which is why I am curently inspired to write about it all now. I also have to credit Brooke Saward and World of Wanderlust for inspiring me that itis possible to actulize your dreams even when it does seem like a pipedream.This journey is short but it is for good reason. My baby sister just turned 21 and my twin and I are visiting her in Portland to celebrate. I came up with the idea more as a passing thought of how awesome would that be and my twin sister is really the one that pressed it to happen. So here we are visiting our baby girl, both terribly excited to see a city that we both find fascinating. I mean, Portlandia really put the city into the conscious of the mainstream and even if Portlandites...portlandians? Portlandeers? find the newly revampedourism annoying, I find the fact that Portland specializes in Craft Breweries and Craft Cideries, AND CRAFT MAC & CHEESERIES to be my kind of city!I cannot contain my excitement. My favorite thing to do is explore new cities and find out how they operate. Its the sociological and cultural differences I have always found appealing and exciting to learn and if Portland is one of the hipter centrals of the US then bring it on. Say what you will about hipsers, but they are everywhere and they always know all the good places to eat and drink. My current journey begins here. moreupdates to follow...