road trip essentials

I’m heading off for a weekend away! Going to Lawrence, Kansas to see my brother with some friends. Lawrence is a fun little town, home to the University of Kansas (go Jayhawks!). I love visiting for weekends because it's only about a four hour drive, and there's always fun stuff going on. Mass Street is lined with great shopping and fun bars--my favorite things to do incidentally. I'm looking forward to some days away and hanging out with my sweet big brother. Should be fun!

Before I leave for a road trip, I always set out to compile the perfect mix of songs to listen to in the car on the way. Songs must be upbeat and fun, and preferably easy to sing along to--pretty easy to find if you ask me. Lately I've been literally listening to and loving everything... and yes, you may even see me jamming to a Justin Bieber or a Lady Gaga song--not ashamed! What songs/artists are you loving right now?

Here are some of my favorite songs to listen to in the car…

(click the picture, and you can listen to the songs!)

Have a great weekend lovelies!
xoxo

travel buddy

I am by no means a travel expert, but it my short years of "traversing the globe, I have perfected a list of things that I think are must-have on any flight, especially trans-Atlantic. With summer in full swing, I hope you guys are getting away on a trip or two. So, in preparation for your big vacay, here’s a list of things I take in my carry on bag to make sure my trips to and fro are smooth as can be.

*Pre-flight I always charge up my phone and make sure I’ve located all my stuff the night before. Nothing is worse than rushing around the morning of a big trip still searching for things. I hate packing, but it’s always a lot easier than I expect it to be. Especially if you have already made a list. To get you started, this is a great resource to help you think of things you’ll need on a trip.

Eye mask. To catch some z’s on a flight I need an eye mask to block out all light. Also a great notification tool for the flight attendants to leave you alone. ;)

A warm pair of socks. Nothing is more miserable then being cold on a flight, and keeping your feet warm is the easiest way to ensure you won’t be chilly. Plus, socks are much easier to carry on then, say, a sweater.

Toothbrush/toothpaste. Nobody likes bad breathe. Period. Bonus points if they’re travel size. (Also, Colgate wisps are great travel companions. Check ‘em out.)

Reading material. Splurge on a couple last minute magazines at the airport or bring along your favorite book. You’ll want something to read during the inevitable downtime while traveling, or especially if there are no in-flight movies.

Gum. I still chew gum at take-off and landing to help with ear popping issues. Also, I’m a slightly nervous flyer, so it gives me something to do during those two times I absolutely hate.

Phone charger. I always pack my phone charger in my carry on, just in case my phone needs a little power on a layover. Especially handy if you’re using your phone as a music device in-flight.

Small makeup bag. Bring only the essentials, but you’ll want it for touch ups. Remember to pack the liquids in a clear zip-lock bag. Things I include in mine are: foundation, blush, mascara, concealer, and lip gloss. I pack away all the other stuff.

Things I avoid:

I never travel with my computer unless I really have to. Lugging around a laptop is a pain and in this day and age of smartphones, you should have all you need right at your fingertips.

Food. If the flight is going to be short, I know I’ll survive on the tiny bag of peanuts given during the drink service. And if it’s longer, you’ll most likely be getting meals in there somewhere. But if you know you’ll need a snack, think small, not messy and odorless— there is nothing worse than bringing a tuna sandwich on a plane.

Neck pillows, unless it’s a flight where I switching time zones and I have to sleep. In which case, my family and I love this one. We passed it between us during our flights to Thailand and it really helped us all sleep in those rigid plane seats. Pain to carry, but worth it in the end.

What about you? What’s on your list of must-have carry on items? Anything I’m missing?

summer to-do's

(via)

I’m a total list lover--I've always got lists going on my phone, next to my bed, in my email, etc. And since it’s summer, what better than a wish list of fun things I want to accomplish before the colder weather returns? I can't wait to check them each off! Some are straightforward, some are things I want to do again and again, and some are total throwbacks to when I was a kid (when summer was the best time of the year). Here's my list of fun things to do in the summer months... what's on your list?

1. Bike rides
2. Canoeing the Elk River
3. Sno cones as often as possible
4. See a movie at the drive-in
5. Roller-skating at the roller rink
6. Naps in the hammock
7. Make homemade ice cream
8. Play with sparklers and firecrackers
9. First Thursdays on the Fayetteville square
10. Visit the farmer’s market at least twice a month
11. Road trip to Kansas City and Little Rock
12. Buy a pack of popsicles and eat them all
13. Visit the lake as often as possible
14. Have a tie-dying party
15. Get muddy
16. Have a cook out
17. Sit around a bon fire and roast marshmallows
18. Start playing tennis again
19. Attend more Naturals games
20. More card games with my roomies
21. Read more books
22. Lay out on the weekends
23. Perfect my summer beachy hair-do
24. Incorporate cut off jeans into my daily {weekend} wardrobe
25. Catch fireflies

what to wear wednesday - haute hippie

 A little fashion inspiration to get you through the rest of the week.

forever21.com 

jcrew.com

urbanoutfitters.com

nastygal.com

anthropologie.com

With Wakarusa just around the corner, and my first Widespread Panic show coming up this Friday in Little Rock, I put together the perfect haute hippie ensemble.

Maxi's are my favorite summer staple. Comfortable, easy and adorable. This one from Forever 21 is super cheap, so feel free to get your crowd surf on or roll around in the grass.

The sunhat...well, I find a concert the perfect excuse and occasion to wear one. Plus it'll keep the sun off your face. But, don't forget your sunscreen. You want to dress like a hardcore hippie, not have your face look like one.

The sandals are bright and fun. The little heel will give some added comfort versus a completely flat shoe (Trust me on this one!), and the strap will keep them on tight, no matter how wild you get your groove on.

The bag is perfect for a concert or festival. Throw it over your shoulder and you won't misplace it. Plus its big enough to pack the essentials.

The necklace may be a little much paired with the maxi for the day to day, but I think it adds a little brightness and bling for some festival fun. Plus, its affordable and will go great with a plain T for the rest of the summer.

PS- Annye hasn't been posting because she is on vacation in Thailand. The poor, poor thing. She will be posting her wise insights when she returns to The Natural State. In the meantime, you will probably get more of me than you can handle, so take a break from my rants and raves to check out some amazing pictures from Annye's trip on her personal blog annye.tumblr.com.