Friend Friday: Packing for Summer Vacation

I haven't done a FBFF in a while, but this weeks topic I just absolutely couldn't pass up.

Now that summer is in full swing here… and vacations are coming up, let’s talk about what you’re packing to take on vacation. 

via

1. When it comes to packing for vacation what’s your mantra? 

My mantra is always to pack light.  

Then right before we leave, I feel like I'm forgetting something, and throw all those random "I think I may need this if there is an avalanche in the Bahamas" things into my suitcase.

It never fails that once we get to the airport, the ticket agent is staring at me and saying "This bag is heavy ma'am". Whoops!  (Its never heavy enough where I have to pay. Usually right at the limit, or a pound over.)

Same thing for weekend trips. I always pack one or two extra outfits "just in case" on top of the just in case outfits that are already packed. 

2. What are your must packs? 

Aside from the essentials that are clothes and shoes, my absolute must packs are my camera , sunglasses, and iPod (and their respective chargers). Cant leave home without them!

3. What are you happy to leave behind? 

The hustle and bustle and my laptop!! And with pleasure! When I go away, I go away, mind body and soul. Disconnecting from the world and just focusing on my vacation surroundings is what I look forward to the most. I wish I could leave behind my cell phone, but I cant in case of an emergency. However, unless we are out and about, it is usually off and away (bottom of the suitcase away), especially if I'm abroad/in the middle of the ocean (hello roaming fees/no service).

4. Any packing secrets that help you get everything into one  suitcase? 

I'm a list person. So before I even pull out the suitcase, I make a list: a list of toiletries, necessities, what goes in my carry-on, outfits by each day, time of day, so on and so forth. Once that is done, I lay everything out on my bed, and then pack.
In addition, I like to pack things that I can wear more than once ie a black maxi dress that can be worn during the day, as a cover up and then dressed up for night. Doing so leaves room for the essentials-my shoes.

5. Beach reading... what are you taking with you to read in the sand?

If I'm at a beach somewhere like St. Maarten, I don't bring any type of reading material, since I'm either in the water, building sand castles, taking pictures or laying out. If I'm going to a beach near home, I'll bring a magazine from my "back log" of magazines (since I never get to read them on time) since the only thing to do at beaches here is lay out.

The only times I ever read on vacation are en route to, or by the pool in the quiet, adult only areas. My vacation reads this year include Bethenny Frankel's A Place of Yes and The Ellements of Personal Style which I purchased awhile back.

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you all have a great weekend!

Friend Friday: Fitness and Fashion

For the last FBFF of the month, Katy over at Modly Chic  is asking us all about Fitness and Fashion. (Be sure to check out what other bloggers have to say, and link up as well).

1. Do you keep some kind of fitness routine? Why?

I do. My current routine for this semester is 3-4 times a week in the morning. The days I have class, I do it before I leave for about 30-45 minutes, and on my days off, for 45 minutes to an hour.

I keep a fitness routine for a number of reasons. I played volleyball for 6 years and swam for 2-3 years, so I have always been fit. In the last year because of a number of things that were going on, I let myself go, and gained weight. As a result, it took a hit too my confidence and self esteem, but more importantly my overall general health. My main reason to keeping a fitness routine is not just to lose weight, but to get fit and healthy again. Also, the rush of endorphins after a workout is the best high ever. 

2. Has working out, maybe training for a marathon or something of that nature, helped with your own perception of body image?

The most intense training I had was when I was playing volleyball and it was pre-season. Oh dear God. Those suicide drills after a long summer were a rude awakening. But they just not made me feel great, but they made me love what my body was capable of doing. I always compared it to not judging a book by its cover. While I was always the biggest girl, height and weight wise on my team, that didn't matter, because despite what I looked like on the outside, I was one of the toughest and most powerful players.

3. When you are hitting the gym or just going out for a long walk what do you wear? Is it about functionality or fashion?

Definitely functionality. I mean I wont go out in clothes that are holey or dirty, but when I work out, being fashionable is the last thing on my mind. I'm all about getting a good working out and kicking my own butt. My general attire consists of  a big tee from the big tee collection (you know the ones you get from events/vacations/school etc.) and a pair of leggings/yoga pants. Makeup gets wiped off, and hair goes into a bun/ponytail with a headband. 

4. Do you feel there is a cultural perception of what you ‘should’ be doing for your own physical fitness?

People think because of my size I should be working out with a trainer, and running 10 million miles each and every day to lose X amount of pounds/week etc. Not. A. Chance. In. Hell. I know my body, and what I should be doing for it. 

5.  Dream big… what would be your ultimate fitness goal.

My ultimate fitness goal... I actually would love to run a half marathon. Just to push my body to that limit. I would love to do a triathlon because I would love the swimming/ running aspect. But I have no idea how to ride a bike. Maybe I could power shop through that portion?

What are your thoughts? How does fitness play into your day to day life?

Happy Weekend!!

FBFF:Inspiration

This weeks question for FBFF asks:

To further mark one year of FBFF we are going to answer the same set of questions asked this time last year as I think they are still pertinent today and usually ever changing. 

1. Which celebrity (celebrities) do you look to for fashion inspiration? 
The only celebrities I really look to for inspiration are Hilary Duff, Lauren Conrad, and Alex Gerrard. In all honesty, I don't really follow celeb style all that much. So many of them use stylists, so their "style" really isn't their own. 

2. When it comes to your own personal style, what inspires you? 

I get my inspiration from all over; movies, people I see everyday, other bloggers, the celebrities I mentioned above,  Ruben Toledo/fashion illustration/art in general, advertisements...I am always open and on the look out for something to inspire me.

3. How do you hope to inspire your readers? 

I never really thought of this. 


4. Outside the realm of fashion who/what inspires you? 

My family for sure, music, love, anyone who is a dream chaser/achiever or who has achieved success despite adversity.

5. And since Idol is ending… Which songs inspire you?
Omg I have so many! Music is my heart, my soul, my everything. A few of my favorite songs for inspiration are:

Don't Stop Dancing, Sometimes, Don't Wait, and To The Skies by Kaskade

Waves of Change, Rise, and Send it Out to the Universe by Samantha James

Uncharted by Late Night Alumni
Jem-I Always Knew

Without a doubt, when I am feeling down or un-inspired, these songs pick me right up and inspire to keep going and even find a new outlook.

What inspires you? Tell me and see what other bloggers have to say, and link up at over at Modly Chic :)
Happy Friday!