Packing Light for a Large Wardrobe

I am a believer in packing light. I have packed all sorts of ways and I've decided that packing less leaves me less stressed, I have less to carry and fewer things to deal with. I almost never come home with items that were never worn, because I pack carefully and with intention, so everything goes with everything else and I can mix and match each piece I bring along.

If you are worried that not packing outfits per day and matching shoes for each one is going to be your downfall, think of how much happier you'll be when you aren't lugging that 58 lb bag that you also have to check and waste $25+ each way on. It's actually much easier to practice packing light when you're just doing socially-responsible road trips. I like making my life easier and only having a handful of items in my bag definitely makes it simple to find something to wear each morning and gets me out of the door faster. I make a list before I start packing of what I will need and then choose a few of my favorite pieces and go from there.

We live in Oregon, so we tend to own quite a bit of Columbia clothing. It's long-lasting, feels great and is perfect for packing, because it's lightweight and moisture-wicking. I have several key pieces that work for most climates. 

Columbia can be spendy, but I recommend buying on sale. You may also want to check out REI, Backcountry, ExOfficio, Lucy (for women) or Anatomie (also for women). Items made with soy or bamboo are great for warmer climates, because they are odor resistant. You might also like linen for the breathability. There are lots of great travel brands out there and many don't even look like they are, so you don't stick out as a tourist, but are still comfortable in the heat (or the cold, depending on when you travel).

I also am a layer-er. I always travel with a scarf/wrap a lightweight jacket and a cardigan or two. This way I'm covered if it gets cooler at our destination and for the chills on the plane. It may seem silly, but on the plane I wear a pair of stretchy jeans, comfortable slip-on shoes, a t-shirt, a cardigan and a scarf. If it gets warm, I can shed some layers, but if it's cold, I'm set. I have this awesome HappyLuxe wrap that I can also use as a blanket. In fact, I can wear it as a scarf while also covering my lap if my legs are cold.

Layering also gives you the ability to wear part of your travel outfit at your destination, so I always dress with that in mind. I work with three bottoms and four-five tops total. When they all go together, you have 12-15 different outfits. You can see how I've made different looks with each of these tops and bottom combinations.

I usually toss in an easy dress  that can work for day and night, then go with just two pair of shoes. Both should be great for walking and at least one of them should work for your dress. On our road trip, I packed my pair of Arcopedico booties and wore a pair of sneakers/walking shoes. Both pair went with everything I packed, so I mixed it up each day depending on the weather. 

I try not to pack shoes that might be too constrictive, because then if my feet swell, I'm SOL and uncomfortable. Of course, I bring a pair of compression socks to wear while I'm hanging out in my room, but that doesn't do me any good if it's hot and my shoes don't work with socks.

Throw some accessories in your bag to give you some other options. A sunhat works for when I'm somewhere with a lot of sun and I'd like to keep my face from turning into a lobster (even with sunscreen this can happen pretty easily). A good piece of jewelry can literally turn a day dress into a nighttime one, especially if it's a cute little black dress, which is what I take with me everywhere. It's a wrap dress by Lucy Activewear, so it's breathable and sporty feeling, but can be dressed up a bit for a nice dinner. Easy! 

Now all your clothes fit in a carry-on. You know where all your things are. You don't have to wait at the carousel for your luggage. You don't have to pay baggage fees. You don't have to break your back trying to get your bag up stairs or out of the car or in the overhead (when we get back on planes). Now, you just need to get working on making your toiletries lighter.

What are your biggest issues with packing light?

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Celebrating Mardi Gras at Home

This has been a very weird year. For the first time in I don't know how many years, all the bars in New Orleans are closed and they have asked people not to come to the city at all. For once, we aren't missing anything, and on top of that, we had a giant snow storm with freezing rain, so we were stuck inside our house with no way to go anywhere for 4 days. I had already planned to celebrate Mardi Gras at home, but couldn't order food to pick up, and instead had to cobble together my own foods.

Mostly, things just went sideways in a lot of ways for this celebration. My backdrops didn't come in time, so I had order back-ups that were too small and cheesy. I worked with what I had in my freezer and pantry, and made a king cake from a mix that I was unsure if it would even come out. It did, but they should call it king bread, because it's not soft on the outside at all and has the consistency of French bread. But, c'est la vie! Laissez le bon temps rouler! (let the good times roll!)

Luckily, Mardi Gras was virtual this year, and you can watch their 3-night celebration on YouTube: Night 1 | Night 2 | Night 3. We enjoyed the hours we watched and even learned more about the celebration and the krewes than we already knew from visiting Mardi Gras World. 

That was our entertainment, along with talking about things from our previous trip, so let's talk about food and decor: 

Beads, beads, beads!

You can't have a Mardi Gras celebration without beads. It's just not possible. I got this adorable miniature street lamp (truthfully, I ordered one and ended up with two) that looks a lot like the gas lamps in The French Quarter and covered it with beads. Even outside of Mardi Gras, you'll find beads strewn in trees, on lamp posts, on fences, on signs. You name it. While there is a volunteer group that goes through and picks up and recycles beads that litter the city after the week is over, some are left because they can't be gotten or because it adds to the atmosphere. 

Drinks!

I mean, have you ever seen a photo of people in Nola without a drink - or five - in their hand? There are some. I didn't drink much while I was there, but I had a few. Eric and I had the same drink here - rhubarb shrub, carbonated water, frozen blackberries, and a sprig of rosemary. I added whiskey to mine. No crazy drink bill, I don't have to drink it out of a plastic cup, and I'm not surrounded by thousands of drunk people. I feel like this was a win all the way around.

Food!

What's a celebration without food? I mean, that's not a celebration I want to be part of. Since I had to rely on what I had on hand, I couldn't have jambalaya, po'boys, or etouffe. I don't love two of those three things anyway. I would have loved to have some fried catfish though. The closest I could have done to that was cod. 

Instead of those things, I went with standards that I've had and made before: red beans and rice - with cajun-seasoned chicken and sausage - and shrimp and grits. Both are really easy to make, can be seasoned to taste and changed up to suit what you like. I added cheese to my grits and used coconut cream instead of milk (because I didn't have any) and simmered it with some fresh sage and rosemary to give it depth. I used little smokies for sausage, as that was what was in my freezer. It was all very delicious and filling. Here are some easy recipes you can try if you want to make your own creole feast. 

King Cake!

I was going to make cheater beignets out of Pillsbury biscuit dough, but then I got lazy, because I already made cake and thinking about mountains of powdered sugar hurt my teeth. You can have Mardi Gras without beignets though, so we only had King Cake. I bought a mix some weeks ago, because it had everything I needed in the box. Because it's technically a yeast bread, you have to let it rise twice and then let it cool before you ice and sugar it. Contrary to popular belief, the baby isn't actually baked inside, it's just set under the cake normally. Well, mine was very crusty and that wasn't going to work, so short of shoving it into it, it wasn't going to be hidden. I just set it on top and now he looks like he's on a slide. LOL!

Hot Sauce!

There are literal stores that only sell hot sauce in Lousiana. They call them hot sauce bars, because you can buy from hundreds of different kinds, but you can also sample them beforehand. We bought a ton to ship home as gifts. We also visited the Tabasco factory on our trip. While I'm a green Tabasco fan, Eric likes anything that's super vinegar-y. For a gift, they had a fancy, limited-edition, anniversary blend that I purchased. This bottle - the 150th Anniversary Diamond Reserve Red Sauce - cost $45 after shipping, but it will never be made again, and also why we still have it to use for things like this. A few drops is all you need. It's very spicy and also has some really bright flavor. Yes, it's meant to look like a champagne bottle, but also the dark glass keeps UV light out that can damage the blend and change the taste of the sauce.

And that's a look at our laid back, snowed-in, DIY Mardi Gras celebration. Because most of this was stuff I had at home, it cost us less than $60 to put this on. Since I'm still waiting on my good backdrops, you can rest assured that there will be a follow-up Nola staycation post, where I can actually get food someone else made, including beignets. Until then Sante! (Cheers!)

If you're hoping to get to New Orleans when we can get back to traveling and they've started welcoming tourists again, here's a great post I did on spending 48 hours there. 

Have you ever been to Mardi Gras? Or even celebrated at home/in your city?

11 Top Apps For Travelers

When you’re planning a traveling trip, there’s plenty to think about. From your itinerary to packing and maybe brushing up on your foreign language skills. Whether you need advice on hotels, guided tours, or hiking trails, these applications have got plenty to offer for the keen traveler.

photo credit

1 . Trip IT

 

The TripIt app is the ultimate itinerary to help travelers get organized. Once you’ve booked a hotel, car or flight, all you have to do is send the details to the app. With the Trip IT app, it’s easy to map your travel plans on your calendar or share them with your travel companions. With the help of the app, you’ll no longer need to trawl through your email inbox for the important details you need. Here you can save PDFs, passport QR codes, boarding passes, and more. 

 

TripIT also provides details about safety, including safety scores for many different neighborhoods, all across the globe. Each safety score covers different categories, including medical and health services, political matters, or women’s safety. Info such as this is particularly useful for solo travelers.

 

If you’re off on a road trip there are features to help you to get organized, and map out your trip. The navigator offers driving directions, and you can also search for the nearest cafes, parking, or ATMs.

 

2. Detour

 

The Detour app provides audio walks, guiding you as you visit some of the most exciting places across the globe. You can currently use Detour in 17 different cities including London, Paris, Rome, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Marrakech. All of the tours offer an engaging and entertaining experience, and you can even sync with your travel buddies. 

A few of the narrators include Philip Petit, Ken Burns, and Errol Morris. According to Conde Nast Traveler, Detour is one of ‘The world’s coolest audio guides.’ With these guides, you’ll learn plenty about your chosen destinations, and enhance the experience of your trip.

 

3. Trip Advisor

 

Tripadvisor is one of the very best apps for traveling, here you’ll find millions of handy recommendations, whether you’re looking for restaurants, hotels, or activities. Using the app you can get organized and make the most of your trip. You can also get support with booking tables, comparing flight prices, and hotel amenities. With so many informative reviews, it’s easier to make well-informed decisions and have the best trip. The planning tool can help you to save your ideas, create an itinerary and view your route on the map. Here you can book or cancel your tours, it’s simple to pay with either PayPal or Apple Pay.

 

4. HeHA

 

HeHA is the ultimate, ‘holiday extras’ app. Whether you need to book a flight lounge, a hotel, or locate a parking spot. The HeHA app can recommend just about everything, whether it’s beach trips, skiing spots, or restaurants. A few of the key features include:

 

• Alerts when there are price drops, helping you to save money.

• Recommendations tailored to your tastes and preferences.

• Get great travel advice and tips, including suggestions of the best things to do.

• Support to book insurance, transfers, and activities, all from the app.

 

 5. Rome2RIO

 

First you enter your destination, whether it’s a city or a landmark, and then the Rome2RIO app will give you a breakdown of all your travel options. Whether you’re looking for the quickest route or the cheapest route, the app will offer up the best options. Here you can find info on sightseeing, activities, accommodation providers and more. Whether you’re looking for a bus, train, or flight, the app can provide you with plenty of options. Rome2RIO works with many different travel partners, including National Express, Trenitalia, FlixBus, and VIA Rail. The app offers booking details from thousands of companies in 160+ countries, making it one of the most popular apps for travelers. To plan your trip without a hitch you need the Rome2RIO app.

6. All Trails

Perhaps you’re keen to go hiking as part of a traveling trip? Then you need to check out the All Trails app. With All Trails, you can get access to plenty of different curated trails, including offline maps, topo maps, and GPS maps. Looking for a bike-friendly trail or a hike that’s suitable for kids? Using All Trails you can search for a hike to suit your needs. 

The app offers details of popular hiking trails, or adventures that are off the beaten track, in rural locations. If you are staying in a rural location as part of a longer trip, it’s important to pack carefully. You might find it difficult to get hold of certain items when you’re out in the sticks! Those who want TV access when they are away might like to check out the best outdoor tv antenna for rural areas.

7. Duo Lingo 

 

When you’re embarking on a traveling trip brushing up on your language skills can help you to feel more at ease and confident. The Duolingo app allows you to choose from 35+ languages to learn, with the help of short lessons. The app is both highly effective and lots of fun. Each activity resembles a game, helping you to engage, and remember the skills you are learning. The app was designed by top language experts, based on a science-backed technique, proven to facilitate language retention. 

With the help of the app, you can monitor your progress, set learning goals, and join the Duolingo community. All of the language content is free and there is plenty to choose from including Greek, Polish, Swedish, Italian, German, French, Japanese, Norwegian, and lots more. Even learning a few basic phrases can help you to improve your travelling experience.

 

8. Guides By Lonely Planet

 

The Guides app provides plenty of useful offline maps, phrasebooks, immersive experiences, and a currency converter. Using the app you can explore thousands of city guides and narratives, all curated by top travel experts. You can convert between any currency, with the help of the Magic FX currency converter. The Guides app can help you to find all of the top sights, access travel info, and more. The detailed neighborhood guides will help you to find the best places for you, and it’s simple to save guides with the bookmarks. You’ll be super impressed with the immersive experiences, allowing you a chance to look around the destination, before you arrive. There is also plenty of general info content whether it’s tips for solo travellers, or advice on safety.

 

 9. Travello

 

Travello is the largest travelers community in the world, here travelers connect across 180+ countries. Using the app you can arrange to meet fellow backpackers, find travel buddies, and meet-up activities nearby. Travello has plenty of different groups to get involved with, whether it’s groups for solo travelers, travel bloggers, or photographers. 

Using the social feed you can share your photographs, travel ideas, and get lots of cool traveling tips. As well as the social side, here you can also get some great discounts on activities and tours. There are over 30,000 experiences to book at the best prices. When you plan your trip, you’ll be able to make the most of your time.

 

10. Sitata Travel Safe

The Sitata Travel Safe app helps you to keep up with data on safety hazards, whether it’s natural disasters, violence, disease, or protests. The app offers a safety ranking on all of your travel locations, so you know which areas are risky, and where you should avoid. 

With up-to-date info like this, you can change your route accordingly, if you need to. The application also features a community of travelers, all sharing safety tips. The app allows you to log in health info, medical info, and get advice about vaccinations. The last thing you want while you’re traveling is to run into bother, and with the help of the Sitata Travel Safe app, you get that added peace of mind.

 

 11. Pack Point

 

PackPoint is an application to help travelers get organized and pack their bags! The app will offer suggestions about what you need to pack, based on the weather, activities, and the duration of your stay. Once you’ve got your packing list sorted you can save your list, or share it with fellow travelers if you need to. Simply put in the city you are heading to, the date you leave, and how long you are going to stay. Further features of Pack Point include:

 

• A customized menu with a range of Premium features.

• Integrate with TripIt to share data between the two apps.

• Change the quantity of items with one click.

• Smart packing tips, (meaning no unexpected luggage fees).

• Make yourself a luggage checklist, and edit with ease.

 

Getting super organized before you go on a trip will help you to make the most of your travels and enjoy every moment. It can also be useful to create a travelling budget, to help you plan your spending and stay on top of things.