According to Amanda: The Dos + Don'ts of a City Vacation

When it comes to vacations, there are two main options - one where the goal is rest and relaxation or one where the goal is to see the sights.  About a month and a half ago I went on a trip with my sister to Destin, Florida and you could probably guess that our number one priority there was to enjoy time on the beach.  I haven't been on a trip to a big city in a long time, so I was really excited to soak it all in.  City vacations require more structure and planning than a beach trip, so I thought I would share my tips and tricks for having a successful trip!

Do have a plan for each day.  Whether you want to be as detailed as an itinerary with times or just want a simple layout of your day with key places to go, a plan of some sort is a must.  It will help keep you on track so that you get to see all of the major spots on your list.  Also, keep in mind location of each sight.  You don't want to go zig-zagging all across the city from one place to another.

Don't overfill your days.  On our first day exploring, we didn't wrap up our last activity (a boat cruise on the river and lake) until after 9 PM.  Part of this was because they were running behind schedule, but nonetheless, we ended up having to take the next latest train back to our hotel because we missed the one we planned to catch.  We also had to grab fast food at the train station (not the most ideal situation) because everything around the area was either closed or would have taken too long.  The next day we called it a wrap earlier than planned because we were still wiped from day one.

Do take advantage of public transportation.  The beauty of a big city is public transportation and how quickly it can get you around town.  We stayed in a suburb and took the train in each day, and then used the subway and buses once we were there.  They usually offer deals, like a 24 hour unlimited pass or a pass for however many days you need, so that you don't have to keep paying a fare for each trip.  It's not only cost effective but also will save you a lot of walking.

Don't try and walk (or drive) everywhere.  I don't think you could pay me to drive into Chicago, let alone around downtown.  The glimpse of Chicagoland driving I did experience was more than enough and made me very, very thankful for minimal Louisville traffic.  And when it comes to walking, you will get tired quickly, unless maybe you're a pro athlete.  You can't really appreciate how much walking it takes to get around a big city until you've done it, so trust me and my mom's Fitbit count on this one. 

Do wear comfortable walking shoes.  Some walking is inevitable because the subway and bus won't always let you off right where you need to be.  I went with my Keds and those did pretty well for me for two days, but I could tell that if we had spent another day walking I would have been miserable.  Sometimes you have to prioritize function over fashion and this is definitely one of those instances.  And hey, tennis shoes can still look stylish with the right outfit!

Don't think you can get away with sandals.  Just trust me, don't do it.  Unless you are staying in the city itself and have the opportunity to change clothes before say, dinner, then don't do it.  No matter how comfortable your favorite sandals are, you won't be thinking that so much when you have a blister on your heel (or sore feet from lack of support).

Do take a camera to capture photos.  With smartphones these days, you're probably already set with this one.  Of course you'll want to capture shots for Instagram (wink, wink) but if you have a real camera I suggest you bring that as well!  When you're on a trip to sight-see you'll want photos to look back on from time to time.

Don't make photos your top priority.  Sure, you might see that perfect shot and want to snap it, but don't forget to live in the moment too.  I am a firm believer in the importance of experiences and viewing your trip through a camera lens the whole time is just not the same thing.  

PS - You can read all about my beach tips here!

PPS - Y'all.  I have to share a funny story from our trip up into the John Hancock building.  We chose to go to the 96th floor lounge as opposed to the 94th floor observation deck, mostly because the line was shorter and you could get away with spending a little less money for the same view.  As we were standing in line, waiting to be seated 96 floors up in the air, my mom and I each took a turn in the ladies' room.  There were floor to ceiling windows in there and a lot of people were going just to take photos!  As I was standing there looking out, a girl asked me if that was downtown out there.  I stood there for a second because I honestly wasn't sure how to respond.  She said she was from Cleveland, and didn't know.  Now, I'm from little ole' Louisville and I knew that it was downtown.  Rather than make her feel silly for asking (because I'm pretty sure she was serious), I just nodded my head and said I was pretty sure it was.  My mom and I definitely had a good laugh about it afterwards!

xoxo,

Amanda

Instacation Roundup {Chicago}

I took my mom to Chicago for her birthday and we had a blast!  Other than rain on Friday when we got there, the weather was absolutely perfect.  As in 70 degrees and blue skies, just a light jacket and you're good to go.  We stayed at a hotel out in the burbs and took the train into the city each day, which was quite the experience in and of itself.  It was fun to do for our trip, but definitely made me appreciate my hometown of Louisville even more.  It's funny how we can take little things for granted like having a car and being able to get basically anywhere around town in 20 minutes or less.  I don't think you can fully grasp the lifestyle of living in a major city like Chicago until you step foot there and experience it firsthand.  I had always thought of myself as a city-type gal, but now I'm thinking I am more suited for suburbia, or at least no where much bigger than good ole' Louisville. 

We hit up all the major tourist spots this time around, including the John Hancock building, Millennium and Grant Park, the Navy Pier, a boat cruise, and Wrigley Field!  And according to my mom's Fit Bit, we logged more than 40,000 steps over the course of our long weekend.  Let me tell you, I was definitely feeling it by the end of the trip.  Maybe this will be the motivation I need to get into the gym ... maybe.  Next time, because there will be a next time, we want to explore more of the neighborhoods and local spots that you don't really get to see downtown!  

I am so glad that I got to make this trip with my mom and see all the sights, but nothing was better than seeing Louisville's (much smaller) skyline as we were coming down 65.  Home sweet home.

xoxo,

Amanda

May Favorites

We might as well go ahead and call this post "Beach Essentials" because in keeping with the spirit of vacation, I'm sharing my favorite things from May and they all just so happen to relate back to the beach.  I don't think I can say anything more that I haven't said already about how much I love going to the beach, so let's just get started!

Esther Williams Beach Blanket Bingo Bikini via Modcloth

Back in winter, you know, when you've got a little extra cushion from all of those holiday indulgences, I was already thinking about swimsuits for our trip.  I tried on the ones I already owned and cringed when I saw how they fit.  Since I totally slacked on my plan to get my butt in the gym, I decided the next best thing was to at least purchase swimsuits that I could feel confident in.  When I found the Esther Williams line on Modcloth and started reading the reviews, I knew that they had to be mine.  The retro style is right up my alley and who can resist polka dots?  If you want a little more modest coverage but to still feel like a knockout then I highly suggest these suits!  They are definitely pricey but that's just all the more motivation to take advantage of pool days at my apartment this summer.

Floppy Straw Hat by Target

I'm not a hat person at all, but I am a safe-sun practices type of person.  Think reapplying sunscreen religiously every hour because I will inevitably burn, and a sunburn is not cute.  I found this floppy hat at Target and thought it was perfect for not only the beach and pool, but also any prolonged outdoor activities like going to the park.  Since the brim is pretty wide, it protects your face and neck very well, some of your most delicate skin.  Also, for my girls who color their hair, you don't want to see all of that gorgeous color that you sat in a chair for 3 hours to get fade away from so much sun exposure, am I right?

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40

Speaking of safe-sun practices, I usually like to buy a face-specific sunscreen in addition to what I wear on my body because I have pretty sensitive skin and am very prone to breakouts.  I usually go for a drugstore brand like Neutrogena or Aveeno but this time I wanted to try something a little higher end, purely for scientific research purposes, not because I'm addicted to Sephora or anything.  I have to say that this stuff did just what it was supposed to do and I didn't get burnt on my face at all (the rest of me was a different story).  It can be a little thick and leave a white cast if you're not careful, but it's great if you take care to rub it in well. 

Gemma Sandals by Sole Society

I discovered Sole Society how I discover many things these days, through the wonderful world of Instagram.  Seriously, so many of my conversations with friends start with "So I saw this thing in Instagram ... "  Not that it's a bad thing at all!  I had been on the hunt for a new pair of sandals to update my spring and summer wardrobe, and I decided I wanted to get a pair with a horizontal strap across the toes this time as opposed to a t-strap (there has to be a more eloquent way of saying that, but you get the point).  I tried several different ones on from various stores and they were either too big or (usually) too tight.  I don't have super wide feet by any means but they definitely aren't narrow either.  It was a bit of a gamble to buy these online, sight unseen and not being familiar with the brand past their number of Instagram followers, but I went for it and I'm glad I did.  They fit well, though I do need to break them in some because, hello blisters from the first time I wore them.  It's a sacrifice you have to make sometimes, I guess.   

xoxo,

Amanda

According to Amanda: The Dos + Don'ts of a Beach Vacation

You know how you go into a trip, beach or not, having one set of expectations and then it ends up being different but still completely wonderful at the same time?  That's about how my trip last week to Destin was.  In case you're not from Louisville (because everyone from Louisville goes there) Destin is a beach town on the Florida panhandle, directly south of here.  It has emerald waters and white sugar sand.  Read - gorgeous.  I wanted to share my beach trip experience, what I packed and didn't use, what I wish I'd brought, you get the gist, in case you have a beach trip coming up! 

Do make it a road trip - getting there is half the fun.  On our drive south we jammed out to the entire Bruce Springsteen discography as well as some of the best and cheesiest 90s pop songs.  We stopped halfway for lunch in Birmingham at Whataburger (seriously, why don't we have those around here?!) and just got to spend time talking about anything and everything.

Don't let your gas tank get too low.  You really never know when you might run into traffic, so trust me when I say this.  Standstill traffic and less than a quarter of a tank is not a winning combination, I repeat not a winning combination.  Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything, ahem.

Do wear sunscreen and reapply, reapply, reapply.  Dealing with a painful, itchy sunburn from your first day on the beach is not how you want to start your trip.  If you're fair skinned like me, wear a floppy hat and retreat under a colorful beach umbrella too.  Bonus points because it makes for a fun photo op.

Don't forget a good beach read.  I hit up Target the week before the trip for last minute essentials, including a new book.  As much as I love a juicy romantic read, I went with something a little more inspirational.  There's something about being on the beach that helps you find your inner happiness so this book was just what I needed.

Do go to bed early, get up early, and get plenty of rest.  In a typical work week, my alarm clock is the bane of my existence.  But at the beach, I naturally woke up at about 6 or 7 AM every day.  Eating breakfast on the balcony overlooking the ocean while the sun was coming up got every day off to a great start.  And since we got up early, we passed out around 10 each night.  No complaints here though.  I have never felt more rejuvenated in my life.

Don't be a loud neighbor.  Most condo buildings on the beach front have floors and floors of units with who knows how many people staying in them.  That's a lot of beach goers in one place.  If you've ever lived in an apartment then you know how it can be when you feel like you're a part of your neighbor's conversation because they're so loud.  We dealt with this on our last night.  Thankfully I was so tired every other night that it didn't wake me up!

Do embrace wavy beach hair.  I only washed my hair once, halfway through the trip.  The rest of the time I embraced the wave and let the saltwater air do its thing.  Low maintenance is definitely the way to go when you're at the beach.

Don't bother with makeup.  I packed all of my makeup essentials and didn't touch them once except for mascara and lip gloss.  Let me tell you, I've never gotten ready so fast in my life!  If I can do it, anyone can.  And after a week without worrying about makeup, it almost felt foreign to me once I got back into my regular morning routine for work.

Do let yourself indulge.  If you want a fun cocktail in a blender souvenir cup, then by all means go for it!  If you want an big ice cream cone covered in sprinkles, get it!  Do it for the Insta people.  And for vacation, duh.

Don't think every meal needs to be fancy.  To save a little money and make the most of our time on the beach, we ate breakfast and lunch at the condo and went out for dinners.  That way we didn't have to worry about getting dressed, going to find somewhere to eat, and coming back bloated and tired.  Bloated and swimsuits don't mix very well.

Do swim in the ocean.  To me, this one is a no-brainer!  You drove all the way to the beach, now get yourself in it!  Take long walks, put your toes in the water, let the waves crash around you and just soak in your time in paradise because it won't last forever.

Don't worry about a plan.  Beach vacations to me are for relaxing and taking it easy.  This isn't a trip where you need to sight-see, get from point A to B to C by a certain time or have a strict schedule of all you want to accomplish.  This is your chance to not have a worry in the world except for if the tide is going to reach your chair ;)

xoxo,

Amanda

Insta-cation Roundup {Destin, Florida}

The month of May has all but slipped through my fingers and now it's full on summer mode around here.  I haven't blogged since May 8th (yikes!) or even opened my Day Designer for that matter and I fully blame vacation brain and needing to get the heck out of Louisville for a week.  My sister trip with Kelly couldn't have been better - the weather was gorgeous and we got to spend quality time together, the ingredients of a perfect mental refresher.  There is something so soothing about sitting on the beach, taking in all of the sounds of the ocean, and just focusing on how great it is to be alive at that very moment. 

Today I wanted to share an Instagram roundup of our trip in case you missed it (hit that follow button if you did!)  I'll be honest, I came prepared with my new camera but ended up taking most pictures just with my phone.  I guess that's the world we live in today.  I also wanted to be more present and live in the moment rather than worrying about documenting every little thing.  It's always fun to look back on photos, but if you didn't get to truly soak in the experience, are those photos really worth it? 

xoxo,

Amanda