Top Travel Essentials!

On my last train ride from Brussels to Amsterdam, after a long day spent outside in the rain, I was sipping my wine and thinking about the number of things that make traveling easier for me. Whether you are on a day trip or a multi-week trip here are my must have travel essentials!

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My Enrico Benetti rucksack. This is the perfect size for a day trip. It has a chest strap and a waist strap. It can expand in the centre a bit, has a great spot for a small laptop or iPad. It is padded in the shoulders, upper back, and lower back, and has two mesh cup holders. It is small enough so it fits in all the lockers at museums. 

This waterbottle. It is a Bobble Water Bottle and is wonderful because I can fill up from any water fountain or sink and know that my water is being filtered! Plus, most places in Europe now charge for water and since that is all I drink besides wine it is good to carry my own. Let me address the water thing real quick: most places here when you order water will bring you a bottle, I hate paying for water, especially when it is the same cost as wine or coke, you can ask for tap water and they aren't supposed to turn you down but they do-often. They will say it isn't "hygenic" or "they don't do that here" and if you make a stink they will bring you tap water, but with this bottle (that I carry everywhere with me) it makes it easy to just not have to deal with the water situation. 

This scarf. I got it during our trip to Paris last year, it is light but when tied just right and combined with a jacket (heavy or light) it really keeps your neck quite warm, but it is also convenient in the event you come across a place in the summer while wearing a tank top and need your shoulders covered you can use it to cover them. Or if you are wearing shorter shorts and need something that goes to your knees you could easily create a skirt out of it. Seems strange, but it really is a versatile piece for any season so make for a good investment piece.

This charger. I got this at a bookstore chain here for a measley €19. The charge you get from it is crap and it loses charge fairly quickly, but, when you charge it it has enough power to charge your phone to full power. Without a power cord. Without sunglight. You just have to remember to charge it beforehand. Convenient if you just used your GPS for an entire day in a foreign city and want to keep in touch with your husband so he knows you made your 3 train connections ;)














What are your top travel essentials? Anything I should add to my list?

P.S. Linking up to My Little Babog Blog.

Sunday Social: Handbags

So, I have had the most awkward time with this post. I have now published it twice without it being complete! Some days, some days! Ha!



Today we are talking about something super girly: Purses! I love my purse organization, it's so easy to find things in my giant bags! I have such large ones because I live in a downtown core and walk everywhere so I need it to be able hold a water bottle, coffee mug, umbrella, heels...sometimes all at once! ;) I love handbags, but I'm not a handbag "dreamer". It's totally a spontaneous purchase for me when I get one! I love them, but don't love to "lust" over them! Anyway....read on:

1. What is your favorite handbag you’ve ever owned?
My favourite handbag is one of two:

2. What is your dream handbag you lust over?
Honestly, I love bags but I don't really have one I lust over, I'm not that into them! I had always wanted a coach bag and when I got the black one above that sort of satiated that "need". :)

3. What are the daily essentials in your purse or work bag? 
My daily essentials are my foldable flats, house keys (I don't drive everyday so I don't carry car keys on a regular basis), wallet, earbuds, phone, and "emergency kit". 

4. What’s in your purse (with pictures)?

The inside of my purse. Before I go anywhere I take a peek inside and make sure there isn't any "loose" stuff like receipts or whatever. That's how I make sure to keep it super clean ;)

This is everything inside (clockwise from left to right): foldable flats in the black bag, a diary for making lists, writing down cool stuff I see, etc, my "emergency" kit, house keys, ear buds, purse hanger, wallet, compact (was my grandmother's), and kleenex.

My emergency kit all packed up.

In my emergency kit: a mirror, bandaids, tampon, advil, babylips, perfume, dior glitter gloss (for days you just need a little extra fab ;)), two pens (one for regular writing, the other for marking important things), nail files (I have no idea why I have so many lol I did pair it down to one after this ;)), nail clippers, safety pins, bobby pin, carmex (I am from FL but have also lived in very cold climates I've learned you can never have enough glosses lol), a hair tie, a tiny note pad (incase I need to pass my number or email on to someone or take a short note), and two plastic bags (my daughter gets extreme motion sickness so the yellow bag is open and can be used for trash or sickness then tossed, the ziploc bag is in case we are on Transit and she gets sick we have a way to seal it up so it doesn't stink ;)).

So, that is my purse. I try to keep is super organized so I never have to "dig" for stuff. What is the #1 thing you can't leave the house without it in your purse (aside from keys and wallet ;))??