Confession: I'm a Bad Blogger...

Real Simple Magazine.

Okay, so if you can't tell, Annye has been carrying the wait in Smith & Emma land. I, on the other hand, have been majorly slacking.

While I could tell you all of my excuses, I'll just cut to this part...I was told by my favorite college professor that the biggest thing I needed to overcome was starting a project and finishing it. I tend to get busy, or something get's more difficult and I bail. Procrastination becomes my best friend. Then, the need for perfection, and then I have a new idea. Perhaps that is why this is my third blog? ;)

I will say this though. The reason behind Smith & Emma is something I believe in. So, you have my word, I'll get back to the grind and even sacrifice that extra 30 minutes of sleep to get up and have my morning cup of coffee seated at my computer. Now that, people, is love.

Have any projects that are hard for you to stick with? Come on people, make me feel a little better!

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

cheers to twenty-three years

check out those chevron stripes!

On Friday, I turned the big 2-3. Another year older, another year wiser, all that jazz. The big day was lovely and as always, I felt like a queen for the day. I’m a big believer in celebrating things to the max—so typically my birthdays involve a week-long celebration of little old me. I’m pretty humble like that.

People usually roll their eyes when I talk about my birthday week. Too cheesy, to much attention, etc.

But here’s what I think…. Life is something to celebrate. I have another year under my belt. I’m not afraid of being older. I look forward to another year of growth and happiness and trials and tribulations and learning coming my way. That ain’t so bad right? Deserving of seven full days, I do believe.

I know 23 isn’t really anything to write home about age-wise, but I do think it feels more established than say 22. I’m looking forward to 365 days as a 23 year old, and can’t wait to see what the year brings.

What's your advice for my 23rd year? What's your philosophy on birthdays?

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?