New Orleans Travel Essentials

Though traveling is a blast, sometimes packing for big trips can be a bit nerve wracking. And as I'm sure many of you guessed by my post earlier this week, I'm heading down to New Orleans for one kick ass summer vacation before I head back to class at Point Park University! So, in light of getting ready for my vacation and packing (though I'm totally doing it at the last minute due to my crazy work schedule lately--yikes!) I figured I'd share all my travel essentials for my eight day trip with all of you. So let's pack our bags and get to exploring!

First Things First: What You Need at the Airport & For On Your Flight

Though most of these items are common sense, I personally am always a bit over prepared and always keep a check list of the important things I absolutely need to have handy when I arrive at the airport. So, think of this as your "traveling basics" check list, and make sure you definitely have ALL of these items before leaving your house!!

Checklist before departing:

-Plane ticket (duh, but you'd be surprised how many times I've had to turn around to grab my phone because I forgot it at my house)

-Liscense, I.D., or Passport

-Medical card (just in case!)

-Phone

-iPad, tablet, laptop, and other electronics

-Chargers for all electronics

-Camera & battery charger (yeah, this could go under electronics, but I'm a photographer let me have this one)

-Glasses or contacts (for those of you who are like me and are blind without them!)

-Sunglasses

-Reading material

No, I Didn't Wake Up Like This: Beauty Travel Essentials  

Let's be honest, not even Beyoncé wakes up flawless . And for many of us (myself included) the stress of traveling increases when we start to think: "Oh my god, they don't have my hair care routine in travel size, or my face wash, or--wait, no, they don't even have any brands I like in travel size!" Well, don't fret, (because if you're anything like me you didn't just think of picking up travel size containers to pack your essentials--thanks mum.) because next up is the complete list of anything you could possibly need for beauty and personal care while on vacation!

Beauty & Personal Hygiene Checklist:

-Travel sized bottles (found at Walmart)

-Travel sized mouth wash

-Travel sized toothpaste

-Toothbrush

-Face wash

-Any other face care products (in my case, I use Differin Gel)

-Face Moisturizer

-Chapstick

-Travel sized deodorant

-Travel sized sunscreen

-Travel sized body wash

-Shaving razor

-Travel sized body lotion

-Small bottle of perfume

-Pads, panty liners, and/or tampons

-Any medications (birth control, allergy medicine, etcetera)

-Hair dryer

-Hair straightener

-Brush

-Hair ties

-Foundation (My go to is bareMinerals original)

-Versatile eye shadow palette (My go to is Maybelline's City Minis Palette) 

-Mascara (My go to is CoverGirl Plumpify) 

-Eye liner (My go to is Revlon's basic black eyeliner pencil) 

-Blush (My go to is "My Rose" by Dior)

-Blending sponge (check out this one from RealTechniques, I love mine!) need link to article + product

-1-3 different shades of lipstick

-Travel kit of makeup brushes (check out this one from RealTechniques, it is my go too!) 

 Last But Not Least: Clothes For Vacation 

Even though I pretty much covered my top favorite outfits for vacation in my last Style Guide post, I figured I would throw in a few extra suggestions along with the ones I already made Monday! And I mean, this is a style blog after all, so what would this post be with out some fashion essentials?

Clothes & Accessories:

-8 pairs of bras and underwear (two strapless bras included in this!)

-2 sets of pajamas

-2 sets of workout clothes (sports bra, tank, and shorts sets)

-2 tee shirts

-2 camis

-4 pairs of shorts

-2-3 nice dresses (e.g. For a date night or a girls night out)

-1 maxi dress

-4 pairs of socks

-2 pairs of sandals

-1 pair of versatile comfy shoes

-1 pair of heels

-1 pair of sneakers (in my case running shoes)

-Large purse to travel (for on the plane-- need one? Check out my go to travel bag here!) 

-Small clutch or bag for evenings out or out exploring the city you are visiting (Need one? This one is my favorite from my sponsor SheIn) 

-SmartWatch, Apple Watch, Fitbit, or other fitness tracker (Need one? This is the one I have, and though it was a cheap buy, it works great and I love it! You can get others like it here.) 

-1 Dress watch

-1-3 different pairs of earrings

-1-3 different bracelets

-1-3 different necklaces

So, what are some of your main travel essentials when packing for a big trip? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Want updates on my vacation in The Big Easy? Be sure to follow me and check my story on Instagram at @StarkRavingChic. Later babes, see you on the 27th with an outfit of the day once I'm back from vacation!

Xx, Bree

P.S. I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

Spring Break Style Guide

Woooh! I don't know about you guys but I am more than ready for spring break. Admittedly, this is mainly because I can't wait to head down to Delray Beach and visit John, but also because after working so hard this semester thus far I am ready for a little rest and relaxation. Though assuming many of you are like me, just because you're on break doesn't mean you're going to stop styling and looking you best, so in light of this mini vacation I've decided to share some of my favorite style trends for spring break 2017!

Love this bikini? You can get it and other awesome pieces for 25% off when you use my promo code "starkravingchic25" at checkout!

Shimmering Siren

Okay, so I'm sure this is a bit of a no brainer for spring break (especially if you're headed to a beach destination) but I figured it wouldn't be right not to add two of my favorite bikini trends of the year to this list! The first being wild patterns and lots of adornments. The first bikini I chose is actually one I will be modelling and featuring on here from my sponsor, Swim Classy, after my spring break vacation with John. The reason I chose this bikini is because I love the sequined and beaded detailing. If you're the kind of girl who loves to be the star of the show, there will be no missing you in this dramatic duo! (It also works great under a netted dress--but more on that when my outfit of the day post goes live.)

To add a little extra shimmer to this bedazzled bikini, I decided to pair it with this gorgeous layered necklace by Nakamol.  The reason I chose this necklace to style with this bikini is because I felt that the layered gold chain would complement the swimsuit's silver sequins perfectly. I also loved the extra details of the round drop pendants, which are perfect for adding just a touch of extra sparkle.

Just in case you need a bite to eat after you hit the beach, it'd be wise to have a cover-up handy. So the reason I chose this see through cover-up is because much like the necklace, I felt this cover-up's gold accents would complement the bikini's silver sequins very well. The other reason I chose this see through cover-up is because I figured if you have on a statement making swimsuit, why on earth would you want to cover it up completely? (Also a huge trend this season is actually see through outfits, meaning your unmentionables have just become mentionable!)

To complete this look, I stayed true to this outfit's gold accessories and chose these simple metallic slides. The reason I chose these sandals is because I liked the way they complemented the gold in the cover-up, and also because they are simple and not too over the top. The reason why I wanted a simple pair of shoes is due to the fact though this is a show stopping outfit, you still would be styling it at the beach so comfort is most definitely key!

 

 

Beach Bum Babe

For my next beach look, I decided to style something for the more sporty girl, and chose this simple triangle, color block bikini. The reason I chose this swimsuit is because I loved the color block on the top and because of its over all practical design. Though I adore the first suit, it is definitely more suited for lounging and sipping cocktails on the beach, not so much for the girl who likes to go out and swim in the ocean! This bikini though is perfect for that due to its simple design and extra support top. (Note that this bikini isn't a halter but is instead designed like a bra, therefore preventing a possibly wardrobe malfunction.) 

Next up for this outfit, I chose to pair this swimsuit with these sporty black shades. As I covered in my last travel essentials post, sunglasses are a must for the beach. The reason I chose this pair though, is because I thought that their sporty vibe matched the look of the bikini perfectly.

The cover-up option I chose for this fun bikini are these simple netted shorts. The reason I chose these shorts is because I liked the fun and flirty vibe they gave to this cute swimsuit, and also because athleisure is HUGE trend this year, and these shorts just fit the bill perfectly! These shorts are perfect for grabbing a quick bite to eat on the boardwalk after a long day full of fun in the sun at the beach. 

Lastly, to complete this sporty look, I chose these fun, laser cut, gladiator sandals. The reason these sandals are a good fit for this outfit is due to the fact they are lace up, which gives these shoes a very athletic feel and completes this look perfectly.

 

 

All Things Yellow

One huge color trend you will be seeing this spring and summer is a whole lot of yellow. Personally, I'm in love with it and am ready for a much needed pop of color! For this outfit I chose to style this gorgeous sundress. The reason this dress was my pick is because I love its shape as well as its lace and laser cut detailing. This dress would be the perfect choice for a lunch date with your ladies or your sweetie at a quaint, uptown restaurant. 

To accessorize this look I chose to style it with this cute little clutch. The reason chose this clutch is because even though it is yellow, it's a much more vibrant yellow than the dress which adds a nice contrast for this monochromatic look.

To complete this yellow ensemble, I chose these adorable yellow and navy pompom pumps. The reason I chose these pumps is because they match the pale yellow of the dress almost perfectly, and because the navy strap and the pompoms complement the yellow, and break up the outfit a bit.

 

Sea Side Stripes

For my next outfit I chose to highlight two big trends on the runway for spring and those would be one shoulder blouses and loads of stripes. For the first part of this outfit, I chose this chic, one shoulder, choker blouse. The reason being is because its fun, casual, and subtly sexy. The reason I'm loving the one shoulder trend is partly because I'm definitely a 90s chick at heart, but also because it's just such a great way to show a little skin while still being modest. This blouse would be absolutely, perfect for a seaside brunch with your besties.

Speaking of seaside brunch, one thing you can't go without for this occasion is a chic pair of sunnies! So I decided to pair this look with these gorgeous aviator sunglasses, just to add a touch of glam.

To add stripes to this look, I decided to add these chic, striped, gaucho pants. The reason I chose these pants is because I loved their earthy tone which is perfect for a causal day strolling along the boardwalk. These pants are also great for warm weather due to their light and airy material, which is perfect for keeping you looking and feeling cool for a warm, breezy day by the beach.

To put the finishing touches on this outfit, I chose to pair this relaxed and casual look with these simple tan sandals. The reason I chose these sandals is because they match the pants well and add a simple chic touch to the outfit.

 

In A Cinch

In this next look, I decided to showcase yet another runway trend from this season and that would be waist cinchers. Though we normally don't think of waist cinchers as being something to wear over clothes, they can actually look quite chic when paired with the right garment! For this look I chose to use this simple white dress, due to the fact a patterned dress would be much too busy paired with a cincher, and I also chose white because I felt this outfit would be great for afternoon cocktails, so I wanted to keep it light and casual.

To give this simple look a little shimmer, I decided to pair it with these gorgeous Perry Street,  liberty drop earrings as well as this etched arrow necklace by SLATE. The reason I chose these pieces is because I liked their steampunkesque charm and felt that they complemented the waist cincher I chose for this outfit.

The cincher I chose to pair with this look is this gorgeous, brown, satin finish waist cincher. The reason I chose this cincher is because I wanted this look to have a nice earthy feel for the beach, and I also felt that a black cincher with this white dress would have to harsh of a contrast for this spring break look.

To complete this look, I chose to add these tan, over the knee peep toe boots. Again, since I wanted this outfit to have an earthy vibe, I decided to I keep true to my neutral color scheme when pairing these boots with the rest of this outfit. The reason I loved these boots was that the have a soft feel to them which complements the dress perfectly and I also really like the wood detailing of these boots' heels, which is a also a nice touch to this earthy outfit.

 

 

 

The Bold Shoulder

For my final look I decided to style this off the shoulder, ruffled sleeve blouse. The reason I chose this blouse is because much like the one shoulder trend this season, off the shoulder is also a huge look for this season. The reason I liked this blouse so much though, is because of it's dramatic sleeves and the bow at its bust. I felt that this blouse would be perfect for a stroll along the boardwalk with friends, but would also transition perfectly for a night out on the town. The reason this is, is because of this blouse's fun and flirty feel.

To accessorize this cute and flirty top, I decided to pair it with these bold sunglasses. The reason I chose these shades if because I loved the pop of color that they added to this outfit.

To add a little more depth to this outfit, I chose to pair it with this Frida Collar but Jenny Bird. The reason I chose this piece is because much like the sunglasses, this necklace adds a nice pop of color to this bold look. I also chose this necklace because though bare shoulders are all the rage this season, bare necks are not. So this piece adds color and balance to this look.

For the bottom half of this look, I chose to pair this blouse with this cute, denim pencil skirt. The reason I chose this skirt is because I wanted to stay true to the top's playful feel, without taking away from it, so I thought this simple, denim pencil skirt would do just the trick! Due to this skirt's casual look, this bold blouse actually dresses up this skirt a bit, which is a perfect balance for each of them. And much like the blouse, this skirt is also a great piece that transitions well from day to night.

Lastly, to finish off this look, I decided to pair these fun pompom sandals with this outfit. The reason I chose these sandals is because like the other accessories, they add just the right amount of color to this look and would be a comfortable, but stylish choice for a day (or night!) out.

What are some of your favorite spring break looks? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me them at @StarkRavingChic! Have a rockin' outfit that you just have to show off? Feel free to tag me in a post or in your in your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! If you love the jewelry I featured in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

Also, In case you haven't heard, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

Spring Break Travel Essentials (Feat. Amazon)

Between the first half of this semester seeming to fly by, preparing for midterms, and day dreaming about having a vacation, I'm sure most of us simply cannot wait for our spring break. Though some of ours may be longer than others, I'm sure we are all more than ready for that sweet week long break. (In John's case three day long break--you're really cutting into our vacation, Keiser University.) So in preparation for John and I's mini vacation to Fort Lauderdale, I thought it would be nifty to write a little post covering some of my must have, beach destination travel essentials!

The Basics

Okay, so I know most of us know to travel with the things above when we head to the beach for vacation, however, I myself forgot to pack sunglasses one time when I went down to Delray, and that is actually how I ended up with the Ray-Bans above. (Yes, John still teases me about that.) So since I'm sure I'm not the only one who can be super forgetful, I figured I should highlight the importance of having the following: 

• Bikini: Though I will be diving into spring break styling next week, I added this bikini because for one it will be featured in my style guide and two, because who goes to the beach without a swimsuit? 
• Sunglasses: Though this was semi-covered above, sunglasses are so important, especially in sunny climates, to protect you eyes from the harsh light. The reason this is particularly important for me is because I tend to get awful headaches when exposed to very bright light. Let me tell you, they don't call Florida the sunshine state for nothing.
• Cell Phone: I feel as though this one is pretty obvious, but when travelling to a new place, it's always a good idea to have your cell phone handy for safety reasons. 
• Cell + Card Carrier (preferably water proof): Considering no one wants to lose their phone or identity, having a compact waterproof case for your cards and phone is definitely the way to go.
• Gum: Personally I am an almost constant gum chewer. Partially because I like to have fresh breath, and then just out of habit. However, for my single gals on vacation, you never know who you might meet, so best not to smell like your last meal (or beverage) am I right?

Reusable Water Bottle

Though I'll be the first to admit that I do not drink enough water (I'm trying to get better with that though!) I can't stress how important it is to stay hydrated--especially when out at the beach laying under the hot sun (cue the importance of sunscreen too). So a good way to keep hydrated it to have a reusable water bottle. This way, you can just fill it up at a drinking fountain and be on your way.

Portable Charger + Extra Cords

Going along with having your phone for safety reasons, that phone won't do you much good if it's at 10% battery and you are still a half hour away from your hotel. With that being said it would be wise to snag a portable changer so you and your friends can keep you phone charged on the go. Also, a few extra charging cords are a plus too, because if you're anything like me you're probably constantly losing--I mean misplacing yours.

Wine/Bottle Opener

Funny story: The first time John and I ever went on vacation, we had a romantic evening in Orlando. However, when we returned to our hotel room from our actual date and wanted a night cap, much to our dismay we didn't grab a twist off bottle of wine, and had no corkscrew to open it. Honestly, we had, had enough and this mishap probably saved us from being incredibly hungover the next day, but at the time we both felt kind of stupid for not planning ahead. With that being said, if you're planning on popping bottles in your hotel room, make sure to pack a bottle opener (or get twist off bottles--that just didn't have the same ring to it for a heading).

Advil

Lastly, Advil, or any over counter pain reliever, is a good thing to pack just in case of any kind of body aches and pains you may encounter. Nobody wants to be sick on vacation, much less so with a hangover headache.

What are some of your beach vacation essentials? I'd love to chat about it in the comments below, or you can tweet me about them at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree