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! 

Twitter & Bloglovin & Facebook & Instagram & Tumblr

Memorial Day Weekend 2016

Memorial Day Weekend 2016

Every Memorial Day Chris & I spend the weekend with my family on the beach. So I enlisted my Brother to watch the dogs and my long weekend looked something like this...

Pool Days! AND I managed to not get my hair wet. 

The bottom pictures are classic me. I was waiting for Chris to take his pictures so we could get a few sunset photos together (which is the above photo).

Memorial Day itself was seriously gorgeous out so we decided it was time to get the umbrellas out and relax by the beach. It wasn't too busy out when we originally headed out but the public beaches were steadily reaching our way by mid-day. 

This weekend was just the breath of fresh air that I needed. I feel refreshed and ready for a short work week!

Twitter & Bloglovin & Facebook & Instagram & Tumblr

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend

I totally forgot that yesterday was Tuesday - I kept thinking that is was Monday all day. That aside, this past weekend was Labor Day here in the States and that means a three day weekend! Woohoo! So here's my weekend in a set of photos.

My long weekend started out with a terribad rainstorm.

But it pretty quickly picked up as soon as Chris & I made it to our destination. Also, $10 beach umbrellas.

The rain never seemed to want to leave - and this bird was enjoying the temp drop.

To be fair though, sunsets after a rainstorm always seem to make for the best pictures.

What did you do over Labor Day Weekend?

Stalk me?

Twitter & Bloglovin & Facebook & Instagram & Tumblr

My vacation to Deep Creek, Maryland

Deep Creek, Maryland

I'm back from vacation! While I was gone I managed to take around 100 photos and its taken lots of time to get through them all. But while I was gone I got to do some really awesome things!

First things first, I flew into the SMALLEST airport I think I've ever been in. It literally had one terminal and three gates, and the only airline that flew in/out of it was Spirit. It was also the closest airport to my destination and I was still TWO HOURS out. What can I say, I decided to go to the middle of nowhere.

First day there I flew into the airport with my brother and met up with my Grandparents who had driven up there a few weeks earlier. After a bit of a drive we met up with my other set of Grandparents and my Aunt and Uncle who had met up with them the day before. We went to a nice lunch at the local Longhorn and caught up on life. I hadn't seen my other Grandparents in a long time and it had been at least 10 years since I had even been to their house.

Afterwards my Aunt and Uncle joined us on our journeys and we ended up at the Ohiopyle state park. Luckily for us it offered us a gorgeous view and gave us the chance to stretch our legs after a bit in the car. We also got to see some of the river we would be rafting on a few days later. (we actually launched just South of where these photos were taken).

1 Year Blogiversary && HelloWench.com

ITS MY 1 YEAR BLOGIVERSARY

This past year has been an absolute roller coaster and you guys were there with me EVERY step of the way. Lets just do a quick recap:

• Moved out of my parents house and into my first apartment with my fiance and best friend
• Learned how to sustain myself and maybe even cook a little
• Moved my fiance ACROSS THE COUNTRY to live with me
• Juggled my last year at university as an engineering major with a full time job, fiance, and family
• Adopted/Rescued Buster
• Lost 30lbs (and then gained it back, whoops!)
• My cousin finally got married!
• First Christmas/Holiday season with the fiance
• Managed finances properly while the fiance was out of work
• Kept team morale up!
• Had pneumonia (wtf, who gets pneumonia in the middle of Spring?)
• Pushed through the final semester and GRADUATED with a 3.0 GPA.
• Took my first vacation in years
• Hit my 1 Year viewing goal of 10k total pageviews!

I can't believe the friends I've made along the way and you guys are seriously the best. Thanks for being there for me.

Also: if you hadn't noticed I finally bought my domain as my one year present to myself! Hello Wench finally has a home! 

HelloWench.com

Here's to another year! *clink*

Stalk me?

Twitter & Bloglovin & Facebook & Instagram & Tumblr

May Instagram Round-Up

May Instagram Round-Up

I love seeing these posts pop up every once in awhile - esp for people who post to Instagram a lot more than I do! But May seemed to be a month where a lot of exciting stuff happened so I guess I instagrammed a little more than I thought I did! Most of these pictures are of my fiance or my dog - because this is my little lion pride and they are the central focus in my life. I also spent quite a few days at the beach this month and therefore have a few (pretty awesome) beach pictures. Three of these are actually screenshots from the videos that I took so you should totally watch the videos on my instagram. I promise most of them are funny (and of the dog jumping in the pool).

Stalk me?

Twitter & Bloglovin & Facebook & Instagram & Tumblr

Quick Checklist: Beach Weekend Getaway

Quick Checklist: What you Need for a Weekend Getaway at the Beach

Once again I am getting away for a long weekend and heading to the beach. I've packed for this a couple times recently so I'll give you a quick lowdown on what I've packed to help you guys!

Most important thing to remember: SUNSCREEN

Clothes:

• Undies (no seriously, don't forget them)
• 1 bra (+ the one you're wearing, you can wear a bra more than once)
• Bathing suit/bikini/water clothes
• Pajamas (I cannot tell you how many times I have forgotten pajamas)
• Clothes
• I recommend at least 1 pair of shorts and 2 t shirts, but I chose to bring playsuits and jumpers with me this weekend. (from Fri-Mon)
• Cute sandals
• Beach Flip-flops/sandals

Makeup/Toiletries:

• BB Cream
• Blush
• Powder
• Eyeliner
• Brow gel
• Chapstick
• Moisturizing lipstick(s) (what, a girl can have more than 1)
• 2 Brushes & 1 Beauty Blender
• I chose the elf flat topped blush brush (I use it for powder) and the elf blush brush
• Daily brush cleaning spray
• Deodorant
• Perfume

These are just a few essentials (+ some extras) that I'm taking away with me this weekend! What are you doing over this long Holiday weekend? && if it's not a holiday weekend, what are you doing this weekend?

Also: Be sure to watch me on Twitter for pics of my weekend! Have a SAFE and FUN weekend everyone! :)

Stalk me?

Twitter & Bloglovin & Facebook & Instagram & Tumblr

Spring Retreat: Naples, FL

Spring Retreat: Naples, FL

So I pretty much have a theme this week: document everything that happened last week! On May 1st, 2015 (exactly a week ago today) I graduated Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering. There were only 15 other graduates in my field with my degree, and only 1 other female. I also pretty much live-tweeted the whole ceremony, so scroll back on my twitter to see those tweets and some pictures. (yes, pictures)