Your Starter Travel Wardrobe

When you go on vacation, packing is often a step that people hate. I just think of it as a possibility to come up with a basic wardrobe that will get me through most any situation. You don't have to pack for Armageddon and bring everything you own with you. Think of it as packing as few necessities as possible, because you will also have to carry that closet with you. Now, you know I don't like to waste money, so my choices have to fit in a carry-on and any personal item sized bag I take with me. My rule is generally that all my clothes, accessories and no-liquid toiletries go into the carry-on and my electronics, snacks and 3-1-1 bag go in the smaller bag. Using this technique, my husband and I almost always get away with just two bags between the two of us. It's compact, it's easy to transport and we have everything we need. Since most people don't know where to start in packing a mostly-inclusive carry-on wardrobe, I have come up with a starting point for men and women. 

Women:

Starter travel wardrobe by shereentravels featuring high-waisted jean shorts

You don't need to take every 50 outfits to look great every day. Instead, pack this:

• Tank tops (2 or 3) which are perfect for layering or wearing alone.
• A good pair of jeans with stretch in them, like these from James Jeans.
• A nice pair of black pants. They don't show stains and can be dressed up for going out. I choose a pair of black James Jeans, because they can be casual or more formal and they are comfortable.
• Comfortable tee shirts (again, 2 or 3). These can go with everything and also layered.
• A cardigan or blazer. This can dress up an outfit or be used for layering and warmth.
• A fleece or warm jacket.
• Shorts. If you will be going to a warm climate, then 2 or 3 pair will work. If you're not, skip them.
• A comfortable black dress. You should always have an LBD on hand, unless you're going hiking for 2 weeks. A travel wrap dress can be worn during the day or out to dinner.
• Ballet flats. I know you want to wear your good heels when you go out, but a nice pair of flats will go with everything you packed and out dancing.
• Walking or running shoes. Chances are you'll be doing a lot of walking on your trip. don't regret your choice in footwear by day 2.
• Jewelry. This is not the time to break out your diamonds and other jewels. Pack a few statement pieces that can dress up your Plain Jane tanks and add a bit of luxe to to your dress.

Men:

Men's Starter Travel Wardrobe by shereentravels featuring a henley tee

Men have it easier when it comes to packing, and unlike women, they tend to wear 90% of what they bring, as opposed to only 20% women wear when they pack everything they want. It's nicer to pack more than just 2 pair of underwear and a tee though, so here's what should be in your carry-on.

• A good pair of jeans with stretch. You wear them at home, so bring them with you on vacation and you'll always be comfortable.
• Khakis. You can dress these up or down, so they work for checking out the Louvre, going to a Michelin-Starred restaurant, kicking back at the local pub or taking a walking tour of the city.
• Tee shirts. If these are what you love wearing, grab 2 or 3 to toss in your bag. They are easy to pack and go with both pants.
• Shorts. if your destination is somewhere warm, 2 or 3 pair will do you good. Make sure they are neutral colors or, if they aren't, will go with the shirts you bring.
• A nice button-up dress shirt. You only need one, no matter how many times you're taking your lady out, because you probably aren't going to be seeing the same people and you are going to use the next item to mix it up.
• Ties! These are the necklaces of the guy world. They take up little room and make a big statement. Bring at least 2 for a variety and you won't be sorry...unless you're going camping, in which case, it's not necessary.
• A blazer. Can be used as an extra layer for chilly days or for a jacket at a nice restaurant or the theater. 
• Walking or running shoes. Keep your feet happy with a comfortable pair of shoes.
• Dress shoes. Obviously you can't wear trainers everywhere, but you can find loafers and other dress-like shoes that are also good for walking. Just look for them.
• A hoodie, fleece or mid-weight jacket, because you never know when the temperatures might dip.

What I've left off this list, but always say there is room for, are flip flops. Always keep a pair in your carry-on, because they are nice for going to the lobby for continental breakfast, schlepping your laundry to the washing machines and also going to the pool or beach. They are a given and I suggest buying a pair that you just keep in your bag, so they are never forgotten. Trust me, I've learned that the hard way.

What are your must-have items on your trips?

Live and Learn: Los Angeles (Part 2)

Los Angeles is awesome. There are so many things to do in and around it, but people tend to get all riled up about how crowded it is that they can’t see how much there is to entertain you. I’ve probably made 15 trips to LA and Anaheim growing up (and grown up), so you would think that by now I’d have it all down. This last trip was the longest I’d ever been in SoCal and decided to do more than make a quick trip into Hollywood for a friend’s birthday. I did one thing right: this time I did a bit of research and started my visit to Hollywood on the Hollywood Blvd, where the action is. I did a lot of other things right, but even after so many vacations to LA, there is still stuff to learn. Last week I gave you my first 5 lessons, and this week I have a continuing list.

Take advantage of freebies at your lodging during downtime. Lesson number one, make sure you plan for downtime, or you will be crazy cranky from being go-go-go for days at a time. Eventually, it saps all your energy from only getting minimal rest. This is also why I like to travel in the fall. The weather doesn’t suck and attractions usually close earlier, making it easy to plan time to go back to your room and chill. Use that time to see what your accommodations have to offer, whether it’s the hot tub, exercise room, dining coupons, movies or other entertainment. We were lucky to get two free movie rentals, which we happily took advantage of while doing laundry and hanging out and relaxing. We also made sure to use the coupons available in the lobby, one of which netted us a free appetizer at Bubba Gump’s (which was only two blocks away).

You may need to use a fancy app to find out wait times at your favorite park rides or call and change a reservation. Whatever it is you need, it will be impossible if your phone is dead. Keep your mobile charged. While this seems like a no-brainer, it can be super-hard to keep your battery from draining in 10 minutes after taking videos of all the fake movie stars on Hollywood Blvd. Turn your background data off, keep your tweeting to a minimum, bring along your car charger or bring a backup battery, just in case. You never know when an emergency will occur, or you need to call to figure out why your attractions card doesn’t work.

Freak heat wave + outside activities = super uncomfortable. So, I always assume California will be warm, but when the temperatures soar over 90, I really don’t know what is happening. Once you get to the theme park and are standing in a barely-shaded line for an hour and you get totally sweaty, you can’t just leave and go back to your room and refresh. I wish I had thought to bring along deodorant wipes and wet naps. After 3 hours, I just felt like I had run 3 miles and then rolled around in dirt. Attractive! Those two things would have been a great addition to my bag…and will be for every vacation here on out, no matter where I’m going or what the weather is going to be.

Did you know it’s cheaper to park in Los Angeles than it is to park in Seattle? This is a good lesson learned, as I was able to park all day for $10. That is less than half the rate at even the cheapest parking garage in Seattle. I was shocked and thrilled, because it saved us a ton…at least on the one day we parked in the city.

So, despite what everyone says, there might be celebrities roaming Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, but don’t expect to see any. I saw none the whole time I was there. Bummer. Not that I really thought I might see a ton, but something better than the wax figures at Madame Tussaud’s or fake Spiderman in front of Mann’s Chinese Theater. I think if you don’t hope to see anyone from TV, or don’t plan to take up residence in front of Louis Vuitton for the entire day, you should just assume you will see no one.

There’s something to be learned from every trip – some good and some bad – including the fact that I think it’s okay to hit up Weinerschnitzel for a quick meal (hello, pretzel bun!) and an extra camera battery needs to be in my bag or I will only get half a day’s worth of photos in before the first one dies. What are some of your must-remember lessons from past trips?  

Review: Adventuress Travel Beauty Products

As a frequent traveler, it can sometimes be hard to figure out how to cut down on items to bring or find products that will stand up to the rigors of frequent temperature and humidity changes. You want to keep your skin looking great, even if it’s sensitive or acne-prone, like mine is. I am forever looking for a balance between natural products and those that have additives that will keep my skin issues in check. Adventuress products use the best ingredients found in nature to bring out the beauty in your skin.

I received the Adventuress sample tin and was super excited to try a bunch of products instead of just one or two. In the tin there are sample sizes of the skin cleanser, purifier, moisturizer, facial wipes and sunscreen wipes. If you want to test out their line, this is the best way to do it…and then when you buy the larger sizes, hang onto your little sample pots to take with you on your trips.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the facial products was that they were odorless. That’s really one of my pet peeves when it comes to stuff I’m going to put on my face, because a lot of beauty products have added smells and with that normally comes extra breakouts or the odor is way too perfume-y. I am not a fan. You can also see that they don’t have added color either.

Let’s talk about value. A little goes a long way with all three of these products. That means you get your money’s worth. You don’t need to use a ton of any of it to do the job and that is a plus. It means that little sample pot could easily last you two weeks on vacation and save room in your 3-1-1 bag for something you need more room for…or just travel lighter. Of course, all of their “full size” products are also perfectly suited for travel, too. All are 2 oz. or less, so you can easily pop them into your liquids bag or throw into your purse when you’re on the go.

What I think

Clockwise from top: cleanser, purifier, moisturizer

The Naturally Liberating Skin Cleanser is one of the loveliest cleansers you will use on your face. It is lightweight and fluffy and has the consistency of mousse. It clears away dirty while being gentle and silky on your skin. You don’t feel like you need to keep scrubbing your face with it and you genuinely feel like your face is squeaky clean. It uses Boswellian bark “tears” (read – sap) that is the best anti-irritant found to date and helps to calm down inflammations, like acne, and soothe sunburns.

In your beauty routine, you probably use a facial toner. Replace that with the Skin Purifier and you won’t miss it any. It uses quince seed to help your skin retain its moisture and is lightweight and invigorating as a base layer after cleansing.

Follow up your super clean, purified skin with a layer of moisturizer that will help the purifier do its job with the Boldly Nourishing Moisturizer that has antioxidants and more anti-irritants, plus super moisturizers like evening primrose. My skin soaked it right up and held onto the feeling of freshly moisturized skin all night when I used it in the evening and even kept my face from drying out during the day when I wore makeup over it, too. It is sufficiently thick for applications, but feels like your face is bare once you apply it to your skin. Imagine my surprise to know that it is also a great anti-aging moisturizer, because it improves your skin’s texture and reduces wrinkles and, because it’s full of amazing natural ingredients, if you use it a bunch of times during the day, it can only work better.

You know I hate having to pack a bottle of sunscreen and then chance it coming open mid-flight and spilling all over everything in my 3-1-1 bag. I don’t want to get to my destination and have to play clean-up crew, or scrape it off everything and either slather it on or figure out how to get it back in the container so it’s not a waste. The answer? Sunscreen Wipes! They are totally mess-free. Even easier? Ones that have a finger pocket to help you get an even application and keep it even less messy.

The Adventuress sunscreen is non-oily, odor-free and water-resistant. That means it’s as perfect to use on your legs as it is your face, plus it has 30 SPF. They are awesome for everyday use, but if you are going to the beach, you may need to use more than one for enough coverage - or invest in the travel pump of sunscreen. A box of wipes contains 24. Throw them in your day bag when traveling and never worry about being out of sunscreen or having a big soggy mess ever, no matter how much you toss your bag around.

Finally, you don't feel like you need to cut your facial wipe in half.

Ever feel like you just want to wash your face and crawl into bed after a long day of sightseeing or an endless flight? Yeah, me too. I am a sucker for those facial wipes, but not all of them are created equal. Try the Fearlessly Refreshing Facial Wipes and you may not look back. At half the dimensions of a typical facial wipe, they are just the right size and they are so cooling and pick up dirt you didn’t even know was there. I swiped one across my face after a shower and came away with a wipe covered in facial oils and grunge when I thought my face was clean.

It’s odorless and individually packaged, so also a great thing to toss into your bag, whether you’re going to the gym or spending the day at the zoo with the kids. You don’t have to just use it on your face, either. The hydrating wipe is biodegradable and would be nice and refreshing when out at a theme park on a hot day that makes you feel grimy and you don’t have time to go back to the hotel to clean up. I wish I had these on my last trip to Disney when an unforeseen heat wave made me feel covered in dirt after just being out for a few hours.

I’m so excited for Adventuress to now be part of my travel routine. I know it’s going to make my life a lot easier and keep my skin looking great even when the elements are trying to wreak havoc on it. It can do the same for you, whether you’re a business traveler, backpacker or just an active parent. Men as well as women can benefit from the ingredients that make up Adventuress products. They are high-quality and can still be owned for a fraction of the cost of similar name-brand items on the market. Start with the sample tin and, once you’re hooked, move up to the larger sized products. You’ll want to use them everywhere you go and at home.

More information

Where to buy: GoAdventuress Website

How much is it? $10-35

Important specs: Uses all-natural ingredients, all containers are travel-friendly

Want to know more about Adventuress? Check them out on their website, or find them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Disclosure: I received a sample tin from Adventuress for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.