My Packing Method

Before I left for Nantucket last week, I shared my packing process and a lot of you wanted more information/an in-depth tutorial of how I pack so efficiently. I it's due to years of practice, but it seems to work well for me. I wanted to share it here so it can live forever and help you next time you pack!

My Top 10 Packing Tips + How I Packed for My Honeymoon

I used to hate packing! It's just daunting and time-consuming and things would never fit and it came to be the bain of my existence! But over the years, I've traveled more and gotten older and accepted some things (like packing) and now I don't really mind it. I don't think I would go as far as to say I love it, but I definitely hate it less now than I did in the past.

Final Honeymoon Details

Today is the last day of Andrews take over on the blog! It's been so much fun having him here and if you guys like it please be sure to email/DM. I'd love to hear feedback and possibly talk Andrew into doing more for the blog :)

Booking Our Australian and New Zealand Accommodations

We're back with part three of planning our honeymoon with Andrew! I'm so happy you all are enjoying his posts and it's just been so much fun to have him here I'm already planning new ways to incorporate him more on the blog in 2020!

Booking Flights + Locking in Dates: Australia + New Zealand Honeymoon

Andrew is back with another post about our honeymoon -- so glad you guys are enjoying his post from yesterday! It's been a lot of fun having him be apart of this on the blog!!

10 Things You MUST Do in Nantucket

Excited to be bringing you a semi-condensed travel guide to Nantucket. I wanted to try and make this a little more fun and to the point than normal travel guides by sharing my absolute MUST dos on the island. In the summer or on quick weekend vacations, you have to make the most of your time and I hope this will help!!

Packing with Barrington Gifts

T-minus 48 hours until I am in Saint Lucia for a WEEK!! I could not be more excited and I need time to speed up (until we land and then slowwwww down). And nothing makes me more excited to travel than some new bags! 

SHOP THIS POST HERE:

10 Tips for Planning Your Perfect Vacation

Nantucket

1. Pick your destination // 
The very vital first step for all vacations-- know where you want to go! I have a long list of places and I love to check them off when I can; it's also fun to write down some 'bucket list' items and make them your goal.

When picking your destination, know the amount of time you have-- is it a weekend trip? A week long one? Or more? Know your budget-- nearby? Across the states? Or across the ocean? And finally, know what you want to get out of the trip-- beach vacation? Big city, bright lights? Or cabin in the woods?

Seattle

2. Pick your time frame //
Once we have an idea where we want to go, it's time to narrow down some dates. What I usually do is pick the amount of nights I want to go and then give myself a range of time to take the trip.

Say I want to take a four night vacation: I can either go beginning of week, mid week or plan around a holiday and go late week into the next week. Being more flexible on days to travel (and nights you want to stay) are really helpful in finding the best prices for your trip!

3. Research prices //

Like I quickly mentioned above, if you're flexible you can find the best prices (for airfare specifically). You all know I love me some Google Flights and I use it exclusively when I book airfare.

It has this great tool that tells you cheaper options if you leave a day earlier or later. It's complicated to explain in a short paragraph, but you can see my full post on Google Flights here!

The Hamptons

4. Research the city //
I love researching the city and finding things to do. My go to is TripAdvisor-- it's so easy to just type in where you want to go, then "things to do" and review! I usually sort by rating because I love to hear what other people think is the best part of their city. You can also narrow your look by landmarks, parks, tours, museums and so on.

I usually end up finding some great places that I've never even heard of. It also makes a check list of places you want to do and see really easy. And it's helpful seeing photos so I know what I'm getting myself into.

5. Ask for recommendations //
Friends, family and co-workers are great resources for recommendations to a new city. You know these people and trust their advice so why not ask what their favorite place to go or thing to do is? While I usually use TripAdvisor for things to do, I usually ask people for places to eat.

With so many options for food all over, it's fun to hear exact places people like to eat. I also know they come with high standards because when have you ever told someone an eh place to eat in your city? This is your reputation for recommendations we're talking about-- don't want to mess that up!

Cruise to the Bahamas 

6. Plan your activities //
After I've complied a list of things I want to do (I usually go overboard) I start planning out the trip. It's easy to map things out so you can hit a lot of places that are near each other in a shorter amount of time. A tool I found a while back that I actually love to use is Tripomatic.

It basically does all the work for you and maps out your list of things to do. Then you can pick places and add them to your itinerary and use them on the go! It gives you a time frame for how close/far one thing is from another. It's a fun thing to play around with! 

Nantucket

7. Be flexible //
While I like to plan things out, I know that my plans are always flexible for the most part. Maybe I'll stay longer at a restaurant that I love and skip the book store I had planned for later. Maybe it rains on the day I want to hike... things happen. Be flexible and remember you're on vacation! No stress, just go with it. 

Seattle

8. Book in advance //
Booking in advance kind of goes for a lot of things like flights, hotels, cars, reservations... you name it! If you can book it ahead of time, it's usually a lot cheaper and more hassle free. You also secure your spot so something doesn't sell out or get booked up.

9. Know your budget //
It's really easy to spend spend spend on vacation. Before you go on your trip, make a budget for how much you want to spend. I usually try and withdraw some cash and realize that once that's gone I should be a little more cautious about my spending.

You should budget before and during your trip-- so don't forget! Budgeting before is for the big expenses like hotel and flight while budgeting during is for food and transportation or any miscellaneous things that might pop up!

Grand Cayman

10. Enjoy! // 
This one is pretty easy but ENJOY YOUR VACATION! Get out and DO things. Turn off your emails and turn on the camera. It's called vacation for a reason #duh.

Any other tips you'd like to add? I'm sure I'm missing some-- let me know in the comments below!

PS-- Check out one of my most read posts to date: How I Afford to Travel!

What's in My Carry On Bag

Gingham Dress / Fendi Purse

Every good carry-on has a few essentials and today I'm going to share mine. Now remember that when I pack a carry on I also bring a full change of clothes, my jewelry and important electronics. This is all just in case my luggage gets lost or stolen!

Everything listed below are my travel items that I really don't go anywhere without. I honestly think all of these things (minus my computer and my headphones) are in my purse right now. So let's get to it:

1 // Computer

I don't think I have ever traveled without my computer! Last year I got the MacBook Air and I seriously couldn't love it more. I use it almost exclusively and it's great for traveling. The computer is super light and so easy to carry around.

2 // Headphones

I've talked about these headphones before but I really do love them. They are hands down the best thing for traveling. I hate trying to listen to a movie and shove my headphones into my ears just to hear what they were saying. These headphones cancel out all the noise on airplanes and have really amazing sound. Bonus points: they're collapsible so they're extra easy to carry around!

3 // Nourish Snacks

You might have seen my tweets about them already, but I don't leave home without a pack of these snacks. I have a bad habit of snacking but I don't feel so bad when I snack on these. I've gotten everyone in my office addicted to them and I'm slowing starting to take over my friend group with them as well. I can't start to tell you how good they are (and good for you!)

You can buy them online (10% off when you use COVERINGTHEBASES) and my favorites are mocha-mazing, monkey love and mind your p's and bbq's. I started out with the sampler collection to try them all and find my favorites and I think that's the best way to go about these. You have to try them and let me know what you think!!

4 // Extra Contacts

I'm actually really blind so losing one of these is a serious no-go for me! Better safe than sorry.

5 // Dry Shampoo

I don't know about you but every single time I travel my hair gets so greasy! I don't know what the deal is but instead trying to fight it I just pack dry shampoo. It's so easy to throw in your hair and go. I also use dry shampoo every other day of my life so leaving home without this would not be good. 

6 // Lotion

My hair will get greasy but the rest of my body gets dry. SO annoying! I carry around lotion to give extra hydration to my sensitive skin. I'm also testing out the waters (no pun intended) on this spray moisturizer. 

7 // Lipstick / Chapstick 

Chapstick because you always need some and lipstick for the special occasions -- you never know!

8 // Water

Always make sure to stay hydrated during travel. It's so easy to forget about but it's so very important. My favorite water (although I love them all) is Liquiteria's Aloe Water. It's seriously refreshing!

9 // Phone Charger

This is the best $35 dollars I've ever spent. This phone charger can charge two devices at once and can recharge one phone up to three complete charges. I have two that I switch off carrying around and it has been a lifesaver. I can't even tell you! I have one in gold and one in silver :)

10 // Keys 

This is self-explanatory. But how cute are my keychains!? I love my LL Bean boot and my needlepoint key fob :)

11 // Sunglasses

Learned this the hard way, but always have a pair in your purse. Always. 

12 // Notepad + Pen

I have the best inspirations when I'm traveling and really have time to just sit down and think. Because of that I never leave home without my note pads and a pen (one for blogging and one for everyday life). Nothing fancy, just something to get the job done!

As for what luggage I use when I travel, you can check out my striped duffle here, my casual travel style (and real luggage) here and my top picks for my favorite carry-ons here!

What are your go to carry on items?! Would love to know below!

Travel Tuesday: 5 Summer Travel Essentials

1. Portable Steamer

I never ever ever travel without my steamer. It is my saving grace on the road and it also means I can jam pack my clothes, roll them up, shove them in and not have to worry about wrinkles! 

I've had a few steamers in my day but this is by far the best I've ever owned. AND it's only $30. So I don't know how you say no to that... 

2. Straw Hat

Hats were made for summer! They're so fun and great for days at the beach (protecting your skin from the sun is cool guys), for days when you don't want to wash your hair and for days when your outfit needs a fun accessory! 

My tried and true hat (from J. Crew like a million years ago -- see this post here and my first ever Travel Tuesday post here) is this Panama hat. It's my favorite hat and I'm not kidding when I say it goes with everything.

As for true straw hats, I recently just bought this hat because I wanted something more structured. It's a little bit more pricey but it was totally worth it. You can tell it's a high quality hat and something that I'll have for many more years to come. 

This hat will be my next purchase. Coming in at $48 it's a steal and totally worth a try! I also have a rather large head so I'm glad there is sizing available for this one.

3. White Shorts

My favorite thing about summer is the ability to break out my white denim shorts. I wear them like I wear my white pants -- all year round and with everything.

I'm not going to try to push some fancy denim shorts your way or ones that are crazy expensive just to make money so trust me when I say these white jean shorts are. my. jam. I mean I even bought a second pair for this summer and I'm trying out this distressed pair as something new too. 

They're running a little low in sizes but try your local store or check back on the site. They update it all the time with new sizes! 

4. Monogram Duffle

We all know of the all-American classic monogram navy and canvas duffle (that I also found comes in red -- so cool) but what about other options?

I love this duffle that you can totally make your own (with leather detailing) and this expandable one that comes in a TON of colors.

But of course we can't forget about my favorite duffle ... my Keepall! I love this one and take it everywhere. Here are some great secondhand bags for you to look at!

5. Beach Towel

I mean what's summer without a really great beach towel? This one has tassels and a fun print. It's the twist on a classic turkish towel, these have come in every color of the rainbow and have stripes (which you know I hate) and this of course is such a classic (and only $34).

What are your summer travel essentials?! I know I have tons more but I thought theses were top priorities!! 

How I Afford To Travel

It's no surprise that I travel a lot. It's my very favorite thing to do and I think it's good for the soul. And every time I travel I inevitably get the "How do you afford to travel?" question (afford meaning time, money or any other factors).

Without getting too in depth or personal I thought I would share some advice and tips so you can start traveling too! So I've rounded up some questions I've gotten and I'll just fire them off below. 

If there are any more burning questions you have, be sure to leave them below in the comments. 

Trip to Phoenix 

How/Why do you travel so much?

To put it simply, I make time for it. Traveling is a serious passion and hobby of mine and just like others who might put money into their hobbies, I put money into my traveling (read more in the next question).

Trip to Seattle

How do you plan your travel? 

For airfare, I exclusively use Google Flights. They round up the best times, providers and dates for you to search and help make sure you book the cheapest flight. You can read about Google Flights more in depth in my past Travel Tuesday post here. 

For hotels, I always use Hotwire. Some people either love or hate Hotwire but if you trust it, it's the best thing ever. Hotwire is the website that doesn't tell you the name of the hotel but because of that you get a much higher discounted rate. 

The trick of the trade is to make sure you're only searching 3-star hotels (like Hiltons and Holiday Inns) and above. I used Hotwire to book both trips to DC (2014 (day 2) and 2015) and my first trip to Hilton Head. 

Only scenarios for when I don't use Hotwire are when I'm staying with friends (like Seattle, St. Louis, Upstate NY, ), family (like Phoenix and Derby 2014 & 2015), when Andrew books the trip (like Maine, Nantucket, Boston and most recently Grand Cayman), when I take day trips (like Philly, Martha's Vineyard and Popolopen Gorge) or when trips are comped (like Hilton Head and Bahamas).

Trip to Grand Cayman

How do you afford to travel?

I'm actually pretty conservative when planning my trips. For booking the trip itself, I always try and buy fight and hotels way ahead of time to take advantage of lower prices. For the extra costs, I always try and avoid them. 

I've become a pro at traveling/living out of a carry-on suitcase (see my favorites here), I don't pay for upgraded seats like first class (such a waste unless you're flying long distances), and I try to travel in the states. 

For the periods of time when I'm not traveling, I like to be aware of what I'm spending money on. I don't go out too often (alcohol is a BIG ol' money killer), I only eat a nice dinner about once a week (praise the Lord for ramen) and I have a strict rule that new clothes/accessories can only be bought via blog commission (aka be put back into the blog #CircleOfLife). 

Trip to DC

How do you find time to travel? What about work? 

This is probably the most frequently asked question, which I totally get. You want to know my secrets so you can travel too!! The secret: weekends. 

As most of you know, I work in social media for MLB and have a normal 9-6/Monday-Friday job. We get a certain number of vacation days and, when used wisely, can really be made fun.

70% of the time when I travel, I leave a little early during work on Friday (but make up for it by staying later during the week) and head out for the weekend. Friday is my "travel day" and I'll usually come back late Sunday night. 

So technically I'm using ZERO vacation days.

25% of the time when I travel, I'll do the same thing as above but instead of Friday being my travel day, I make it Thursday. I'll really only do this when it's an absolute must to have another day (like Seattle or KY for the Derby). Then, just like above, I come back late Sunday night.

  That's three whole days spent away and just ONE vacation day.

The other 5% of the time is when I actually take off multiple days (aka use a chunk of my vacation days) and really plan a trip. 

Last year that was our trip to Boston/Cape Cod/Nantucket/Martha's Vineyard (which I also took over the 4th of July, when I had two days + a weekend off). 

That trip cost me THREE total vacation days. 

Cruise to the Bahamas

Work talk continued...

What's also really great about working in baseball is the fact that we have a down season (not "offseason" because technically we're just getting ready for next season). 

And while during the down season it's always important to be in the office, it's easier to (if need be) work a day away via the computer. Perks of working in social and being a digital company! 

Also during this down season, we have this amazing one week break from Christmas to New Years. So obviously you have to take advantage of that (which I did). That was our trip to Grand Cayman.

Trip to Hilton Head

Extra Tips:

-Travel locally: One of the best parts about living in NYC is that it's centrally located and so close to other great cities. What might be a $300 flight to DC for most is a $80 train ride for me. Explore your area, take a drive, see where you end up!

-Ask for experiences instead of presents: for holidays and birthdays I usually ask Andrew for an experience. I can buy almost anything I really "want." And because of that it's so much more special to receive a trip/experience that you both can share in.

-Visit your friends: DUH. Not only do you want to see them but they have a free place to stay, a car and (most likely) food. You pay for the flight and the weekend. They also can come visit you :)

-Search for good deals: things like cruises (where food and drink are included and there is a low expense while on the ship), vacation packages (that include air, car and hotel) and special deals/low rates (like off seasons for destinations).

Cruise to the Bahamas

And that's all folks! If you liked what I wrote about, want to know more, or have any other questions be sure to let me know below.

Excuse the post for being a bit longer than usual but I hope it was worth the read. Don't forget to catch up on all Travel Tuesday posts here!

Travel Tuesday: 5 Tips for Planning Your Perfect Vacation

Happy Travel Tuesday! Today I thought it would be great to talk about how to book your perfect trip in five easy steps. I tried to think of all the things I do when I book my trips and the sites I use so hopefully I compiled a great list for you to reference in the future. Enjoy :)

1. Research

The first thing to do is research where you want to go. Explore top destinations, think of where you've never been, places you've only seen in pictures and then look them up! Make sure to ask yourself: Is it doable? affordable? available? It will help you narrow down places and make sure that you're staying in check. 

My favorite place to research is on TripAdvisor. It has everything you need and everything you never thought you did. It's a great way to read up on places, explore new destinations, get other opinions and find an array of hotels, flights, vacation rentals, restaurants as well as helping you find the perfect destination! I mean, what more could you want? 

2. Read and Review

The next thing to do on your narrowed down list of places you want to go is read and review. This is also where TripAdvisor comes into place. You can read up about anything and everything on here. The hotel, the food at the hotel, places to eat, stay, hang out, go out -- anything! It's always good to hear other opinions on the matter (good and bad) so you know what you're in for. When I went to Grand Cayman, I researched all around the island for what was good and what we should do. TripAdvisor is a really great travel tool.

3. Budget

Now that you've narrowed down your list of places to go, count everything up (like hotel, flights, food, car rental and other expenses) and make sure you're within your budget. There's nothing worse than booking a trip and spending all your money so you have zero left over to actually enjoy your time on said trip. 

4. Compare 

Once you've found your ideal destination for your vacation, it's time to start comparing prices. Make sure you have enough time before you need to book so you can compare prices over the week. They change daily and the best days to book anything (hotels/flights) are Tuesdays. Travel Tuesday, am I right?!

Also make sure to clear your cookies. Travel sites will bump up prices when they know you've been searching around. So find the best places with the cheapest fairs on Tuesday with a clean computer. 

5. Book

Now it's time to book, woohoo! Below are my favorite tools and websites to book online:

Flight: I love using Google Flights (read more about it here) because it's just really intuitive and gives me the ability to easily search and pick out my flights.

Hotel: Wyndham and Hilton are great go-to's because they're affordable and available almost anywhere you want to go. 

Travel Sites: TripAdvisor and JetSetter and great resources for one-stop shopping when traveling. 

Booking Sites: Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and Expedia are all great places to book as well.

Travel Tuesday: Carry On Luggage

DVF Adieu / Louis Vuitton Pegase / Mint Correspondent 

Bric's Bellagio (all sizes) / Tumi International / Bric's Bellagio (carry on)

This might be the first Travel Tuesday of the year that I'm not recapping a trip! Whew, it's been a crazy few months, can you believe it's already March? It's so amazing how quickly time flies. Anyyywayyysss, today's Travel Tuesday is all about the carry on.

My go-to right now is my LV pegase which I love, but I travel so much that I'm really finding the need for something more functional. I love the four wheels on my big suitcase and I think having them on a carry on would be awesome. I'm also really digging the hard shell luggage trend. I feel like you're able to fit a lot more into the suitcase and since they're so new, the room for organization is there.

I mean if I had all the money in the world, I'd get the LV zephyr 55, which would have everything I mentioned above BUT $3K is way too much to spend on luggage. So I found some other really intriguing options that have met my criteria and are also pretty darn cute. I love the styling on the outside, don't you agree? Which one is your favorite? 

Travel Tuesday: Easy Travel Wear

Burberry Jacket | J. Crew Bib Shirt (on sale!) | Moto Leggings | Tory Burch Flats | Louis Vuitton Pegase 55 (bigger size) | Ray-Ban Sunglasses (on sale!!) | Lipstick | BaubleBar Earrings | Bow Necklace | Mini Monogram Necklace

*the leggings and mini monogram are both 20% off today only with the code: MERRYMERRY*

I know it's technically not Tuesday, but this outfit showed off some great sales that will be gone by tomorrow so I had to post it today! Anyway, this is a go-to travel look for me. Simple shoes, comfortable leggings, a large top and convertible jacket (you can unzip the inside lining to make it more lightweight). Traveling is all about being comfortable yet stylish (unless you're flying at 6 am -- ain't no body got time for that). 

These mixed media moto leggings are seriously my new best friend. They come in grey and black and are SO comfortable as well as warm! I love the detailing around the knee (hard to see in my pictures but you can check it out here) and the little touch of leather around the shins. It's the perfect go-to legging for any occasion, not just traveling. 

SHOP MY OUTFIT HERE:

Travel Tuesday: Travel Wear

This past weekend I traveled to Baltimore with my mom for the Orioles - Royals game. It was a last minute trip so we didn't have much planned. That's why today's recap isn't one about Baltimore. Although, I did love the town and if you have time, go to Miss Shirley's for breakfast and Thames Street Oyster House for dinner. We tried to go to both places but didn't plan ahead so we couldn't make it (read: these places get packed early).

We walked around the Inner Harbor, did some shopping and just enjoyed our time together. I've traveled enough that I think I almost have it down to a science. Pack basics, be comfortable and prepare for any weather. Sounds simple enough, right?

Jacket $379 // Peplum Sweater $195 // Jeans $79 // Shoes (similar $89)

Let's start with my first outfit. This is one I wore to work, on the train and during my first day in Baltimore. I packed my new pair of Gap jean jeggings, my Barbour, flats and peplum sweater. 

My barbour jacket is the perfect jacket for any kind of weather. It's water-resistant, it's light enough for a warmer day but still warm enough if it's chilly and it goes with almost everything.

My peplum sweater made the trip because it was good enough for work while also being really comfortable on the train ride down. Plus, it's a PEPLUM SWEATER. That's amazing!!

The Gap jean jeggings have become an instant favorite in the Robertson household. I'm not a big fan of jeans normally, but these are jeggings and if I wanted to, I could do the splits and still be comfortable. Hello, classy sweatpants. 

Finally the shoes. I snagged these bad boys off eBay (been wanting them foreverrrr) and I haven't taken them off since. Before New York I was not a fan of flats, but since making the move I officially am. I'm not that upset because I'm comfortable! 

Luggage $280 (on sale!) // Hobo Bag $525 // Stop Hunger Watch $295

SHOP MY LOOK BELOW: 

Wrap $98 (on sale for $69) // Top $148 // Jeans $62 // Shoes (similar $89) // Watch $229

My second outfit is one I wore walking around Sunday. We had the day to do whatever and it was a pretty decent day when the sun was out. Let's talk about this outfit.

This. Wrap. Ohmygosh! My friend at work had one and I 110% needed it so I went out and bought it. Man was it worth it! It's so soft, a VERY good price and it's perfect for those days when it's chilly but not cold out.

My simple white elsa top is also a staple in my closet. I mean, you can't go wrong with white!

These 'jeans' are just like the ones above but better. They're actually stretchy all over and not really made of denim (although they totally look like it). I currently own three pairs and I've had them since my sophomore year of college. I mean that's how much I love them!

My shoes aren't available online, but I did find a similar (and affordable) pair here. Aside from these, my other favorite flats are actually from Target and come in a variety of colors! 

SHOP THIS LOOK BELOW:

Travel Tuesday: Headphones

Shirt (on sale) $19 // Jeans $62 // Watch // Headphones $125

These headphones might be one of my favorite travel accessories. I'm a total movie watcher on the plane and I hate when I can't hear what is going on because of too much background noise (i.e. the plane, the crying baby in 10 B or the loud talkers behind me). When I started traveling often, I really found the need for noise-cancelling headphones. I wanted something that would silence those around me and were comfortable enough to fall asleep in. That's where these Audio-Technica headphones came into play.

I got these two(?) Christmases ago from Santa and he was even sweet enough to take my glasses into consideration. The padding makes the headphones so comfortable all around my head -- the top and the sides -- for when I'm sleeping, wearing my glasses or just regularly listening to my music/movie.

When I'm not traveling, I also use them at home. Sometimes when I'm editing videos and really need to focus or just when I really want to hear all the sound quality from the program (it  makes a difference). They're great for all the time.

Pro Tip: Collapsible Headphones

The only negative part about over-the-ear headphones is they're so bulky. There's no good place to put or store them. You want to find headphones that can collapse into themselves and that are easy to travel with (like these). You'll thank me later!

Shop more headphones here: