5 Tips for a Successful Vacation

5 Tips for a Successful Vacation

I'm terrible at disconnecting and stepping away from work when I'm supposed to be 'On Vacation'. I'm getting better as I get older - but here are a few tips from a seriously Type A personality to help you LET GO and ENJOY your vacation.

Don't Over-Plan it:

This is my problem - I have a tendency to wayyyyy over plan things. Leave yourself enough wiggle room that if something fun & spontaneous happens you can do it - but also leave yourself room just in case something doesn't go exactly to plan. There's no point in being stressed out over little things when you are supposed to be on vacation!

Don't Under-Plan it:

Okay - contrary to what I said above, at least plan SOMETHING. Having a rough daily plan helps your day have a purpose. I mean even lazy vacation days have a simple daily plan!

Don't Be Afraid to do Things Spontaneously:

Yes, it may throw you off schedule. Yes, it may not be what you wanted to do. But guess what - life happens! Don't let potentially awesome experiences pass you by!

Step Away from Work:

No seriously - unsync your work email, and log out of all work accounts. Tell your boss and coworkers you'll be unavailable and you won't have access to a computer and phone service will be limited. It may be a lie - but my boss has a tendency to pester me while I'm on vacation/sick and I always feel some sense of duty to find a way to make it happen. Don't forget the word 'No' exists.

Don't Bring your Emotional Baggage at Home with You:

You are specifically on vacation to get away  from the everyday stressors and baggage that you carry with you. You can be the best and happiest version of yourself when on vacation - so do it! 

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Kohl's Haul - Dresses, Shoes, and Luggage!

Kohl's Haul

Okay so before you go all judgey on me because I'm posting two hauls in a row - this one was made in 2 trips. I went to Kohl's one day with my Gram and did the normal shopping thing, pull 6 dresses - hit the changing rooms - expect to hate everything. Problem: I didn't. I liked all 6. My gram ended up buying me 3 of these dresses because she's a saint and had Kohl's cash to spend. And then I ended up with more Kohl's cash ($80 between the two of us) and I made a second trip.

I also only know like 4 poses sorry not sorry.

I also bought some luggage for Chris's & I trip in August. It's a 3 piece black and white leopard print set. We'll definitely know it's ours when we are coming down the carousel.

The 2nd trip was a mission: get comfortable sneakers to wear while walking around Japan.

I ended up buying a pair of the most comfortable Skechers I've ever had grace my feet (listen they beat out the Nikes). Chris bought a pair of Nike running shoes that are super light and like the sneakers he's got right now (that are $120).

We got both pairs of shoes for $40. We had $80 in Kohl's cash and an extra $10. Now we just gotta break them in!

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Things To Do In New York City

Things To Do In New York City

I'm going to be honest - I only know of things to do in the city. There is an entire state outside of the city that I am not well versed in and have honestly not seen the rest of. But here is a list of my top Things to Do in NYC.

Life is crazy sometimes...

Lifes course can change in one moment

So this isn't going to be a happy-go-lucky feel good post. I had a "What's in my school bag - last semester" queued up - but I felt like this was a much more important topic to post about. You'll get the other post on Tuesday though - no worries.

So yesterday (and yes Alex - if you're reading, I'm talking about this) my friend and A.O.E. (Axis of Evil) sister had her biological sister get into a car accident. Around 2pm my time I get a call and its her saying "----- got into an accident. I... don't know what to do...?"

The thing is - what do you tell someone in that instance? I feel so terrible for the person who had to call my Mom and tell her that I had been hit by a car. It also brings everything - mortality especially - into a serious focus. I've driven/rode across that road so many times in my life - and its all gone by without consequence.

The headlines were the worst of everything - One Dead, Three injured in Alligator Alley Crash

Yeah - someone died in this accident. And she was probably doing nothing but coming home from a good vacation at the beach. In the process - she changed the lives of three individuals forever. Two of whom may never have the same mobility they had before the crash. 

My point is - cherish each moment you have. When I got home I hugged my pup a little tighter, and when I picked Chris up I kissed him for a few seconds longer. When we got home - we cuddled on the couch for a little bit longer than usual. After chatting about it with him we realized that everything can be gone in a moment, and that while we are glad it wasn't us, it could've easily been.

So when you go home today - whether you're alone or with someone else - hug them a little bit longer before you sleep. Tell them you love them just one more time. Even if you're hugging your cat/dog/pet/fish tank. I know I did.

Stalk me?

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The rest is under a cut because an image of the accident is attached. If you don't want to see, thats okay.

I was in a wedding!

Remember that wedding I went to back on Nov 1st?

Well here are the pictures and the post you guys have been waiting for.

So back on October 31st I had to skip classes and fly out to Maryland for my amazing cousins wedding. She was getting married November 1st and I was so happy to be asked to be in her bridal party. Originally Chris was going to join me on this adventure, but he ended up not being able to take off work and I spent Halloween running through airports.

One thing you guys probably don't know is that I get miserably motion sick. Like miserably, so I knew that the flight from Florida to Georgia and then from Georgia to Maryland were going to feel like the longest plane rides in the history of my life. They weren't actually the longest I've ever had, but my motion sickness didn't set in until I was about 19-20.

Nevertheless, if you've ever landed in the Atlanta, GA airport it is absolutely HUGE. And of course I only had an hour long layover so if my first flight didn't go right on time it was practically guaranteed that I wouldn't make my second flight.

But no worries, my flight out of Ft. Lauderdale went off without a hitch and the only problem in Atlanta is that my next terminal was literally across the entire airport. Even the stewardess on the airplane wished me good luck as I ran through the airport. Atlanta has a tram though, and I still only made it with 5 minutes to spare!

EITHER WAY: The moral of my story is not about airports or travelling, its about these lovely ladies right here and LOVE. Plain and simple.

Rehearsal time!

When I landed my Grandparents scooped me up from the airport and we went straight to the hotel and the wedding rehearsal. And thank goodness its a tiny airport because I don't know if I could have handled another large airport that day. I got to meet most of the bridesmaids that were going to be there and I finally got to see my cousin! It feels like forever since I've seen her, its so funny because we can spend years apart and then we get together and we always click and its like its been no time at all.