The Weekly, 07.19.21
The week has finally arrived that I have been waiting weeks for! I am heading out on our first trip since the start of the pandemic, and we thought we would take it slow…just kidding. We are flying out to Italy on Thursday, and while I am so excited, my anxiety has now kicked into overdrive. I am normally a nervous traveller, but there is, without doubt, an extra layer of anxiety that goes with traveling in the midst of a pandemic, even when our current context looks like a pandemic never happened (odd how quickly that happened…). Nevertheless, after so much careful thought, and taking every single precaution we can, we are going to be headed across the pond to take our delayed honeymoon for almost two weeks.
Cue a post pretty much dedicated to my upcoming travels and the packing looming over my head – I truly hate packing, especially when I feel the need to prove myself to be a low maintenance person that I most certainly am not when it comes to cramming everything into a suitcase. We are preparing for very warm weather, and traveling within Italy over the course of ten days, which means trying to find systems that work. I thought I would dedicate at least part of today’s Weekly to sharing a things that will most definitely be in my suitcase, as well as a few other favorite things as I wrap up the first few weeks of summer. Let’s jump in…
01 ⋆ If you missed my post earlier in the week, then let me fill you in that my skin has been W R E C K E D over the last two weeks. I don’t know it if is PMS, sunscreen, or just being out of my skincare routine, but I have had a face full of blemishes that are annoying as hell. In the midst of dealing with these pesky zits, I have found a few things that are really working. My hero product? These zit sticker patches. Maybe you’ve seen them on TikTok, but I have to tell you, these patches are magic, and have really saved me from picking at my skin – one of my worst habits when it comes to my battle with adult acne. Not only do these pull the gunk from your blemish to prevent your own picking and squeezing, but they are also great for just protecting the pimple so it heals faster, leaving you with less scarring. Trust me when I tell you, any of the patches from this line are great, but these are my personal, multi-purpose favorites.
02 ⋆ My second skincare savior is a cult-favorite product from Biologique Recherche – the lotion P50 toner. This product was something I always wanted to try, but didn’t want to justify the price tag for a toner. But then, Chris and I went to RescueSpa for facials, where they use this product as part of their signature facial. After trying a few sample bottles, I finally bit the bullet and purchased this toner a week ago. And it really makes a world of a difference, well worth its price tag, especially with the acne I’ve been battling. This toner is considered a prep for any great skincare routine, with ingredients that do it all – exfoliate, hydrate and balance your skin – all of which are clutch elements of a great skincare routine. Sometimes, money really does mean quality, and this product is definitely a must-have in my skincare routine moving forward. Want to try? Make an account for RescueSpa, and you can purchase it here.
03 ⋆ One of my biggest worries while we travel, as silly as it sounds, is to really keep my skin in check. Travel is one of the easiest ways to knock your skin out of whack, and since I am already struggling with breakouts, the last thing I want to do is break routine. But I also know, I can’t bring my own personal mini-Sephora that I have at home with on vacation (thanks a lot, weight limits). So I wanted to look for a set that I knew could bring me some basics, but also that are tried and true favorites that I know won’t bring me blemishes or irritation of any kind. While browsing Sephora the other day, I grabbed this set from one of my favorite brands, TATCHA. It comes with an oil-based cleanser (the thing I have found to be the most helpful in clearing breakouts, as it really cleans the skin thoroughly from makeup and SPF), a gel cleanser, a hydrating essence (airplane travel always dries me out), and two of my favorite hydrating moisturizers. For just $70, this set is a great deal.
04 ⋆ So how will I pack my skincare, you ask? I saw Kendall from @styledsnapshots use these clear bags for packing her son’s school bags, and thought they would be perfect for my various skincare items and beauty related products. They have a thinner profile, so I can keep bottles standing upright, and wedge these pouches between my clothes and shoes for a super safe, leakproof journey. A super simple buy, but will definitely come in handy while packing efficiently – something I am determined to prove to myself (and Chris) that I can do.
05 ⋆ If you have never used packing cubes, then you need to jump on board. These are a budget-friendly find from Amazon that will save you if you have a tendency to overpack and end up with a mess. Because we are traveling throughout Italy, I want to make sure that I have a way to keep things organized and make it easy to pack and unpack as we go. When I first bought packing cubes for our trip to Antigua, pre-pandemic, I was amazed with how much I loved them and how easy they were to use. They really allow you to pack more, and keep everything organized. Trust me when I say that you really should try these if you have any upcoming travel. They make your life a lot easier! I love a simple solution.
06 ⋆ Because I am me, I thought a lot about what I am going to wear on the plane and while we travel. My biggest concerns? Comfort for our overnight flight, warmth because I always freeze on planes, and nothing too bulky to pack in my suitcase throughout the trip. So I decided to go to the lululemon store (highly recommend the one in CityPoint!) to try on a few options, and ended up leaving with a few great pieces that I know I will wear on this trip and beyond. First up? These Align joggers that I was shocked to find were the perfect length for my 5’1″ body! Joggers are always so long on me, as are most of the leggings at lulu, but these were perfect. I grabbed these in black, in my usual size for a roomier fit. They are buttery soft, and will be so comfortable for the flight and when we land in Italy. I loved them so much, I also grabbed a pair of bike shorts in the same material to bring with me on the trip for travel days.
07 ⋆ And you know I had to get a top to go with! I tried on a few sweatshirt options at lulu, and while I could easily see myself wearing all of them, I went with the option I thought was the one I could wear the most throughout the trip and after. I grabbed this cropped sweatshirt in their Softstreme fabric in this beautiful dusty rose color, and it is a dream. Breathable, but also warm, I think I will be throwing this over my shoulders and around my waist throughout our time traveling, and it will be a great basic going into the Fall.
08 ⋆ I am a full blown sunglasses addict – I am not ashamed to admit it. And I think sunglasses are one of the items I am willing to splurge on, because they are an all-season accessory that I always wear. So for me, I often invest. But I can’t say no to a good pair of cheap sunglasses, especially for trying newer trends. These Celine dupes are so cute, and are really of-the-moment with their more narrow and rectangular frame. I decided to grab them in a fun olive green acrylic for under $15. I can’t want to wear these on our trip, and if I lose them, no sweat!
09 ⋆ One piece of advice I got for traveling through Italy in the summer? Bring a hat! I wear a hat every day in the summer on the beach, and always have. I love a wide-brim hat, and wanted something that I could collapse and pack. And while there are tons of expensive options for packable hats, I found this darling, affordable straw hat from Billabong in a local store on the shore, and grabbed it for our trip! I can either clip it to my carry-on, or just pack it up, since it’s a soft straw. I know it’s going to be super practical and I won’t regret protecting my face while we are walking around Italy.
10 ⋆ A big packing debate? The shoes! I know that I am going to bring a few shoe staples only, and wanted to find a shoe that I could wear for lots of walking around, without being too hot on my feet. I find sandals to be pretty flat and uncomfortable when walking, so I wanted a sneaker that wasn’t leather that would make me sweaty and hot. Enter, this adorable platform canvas sneaker from Everlane that I rush-ordered this weekend when they went on sale. Hopefully they arrive before our trip (fingers crossed!) but I think they are going to be perfect to throw on with shorts or with a dress, wherever the wind takes us.
11 ⋆ A final fun beauty share is this dewy gel primer from a brand that is quickly becoming one of my favorites- Saie beauty. After seeing this gel on Grace Atwood, I decided to grab it while I was in Sephora last week. And it did not disappoint. I am not usually a primer person – I believe good skincare is a better base – but this primer adds a gorgeous and luminous glow paired with a lighter foundation, like Saie’s Slip Tint with SPF. It doesn’t feel sticky on my face or make my makeup slip and slide. This is a yes product for me, and will definitely be packed for my trip!
12 ⋆ You know summer is my reading season, and I’ve got lots of books that I’ve read to share (more of that in today’s newsletter – make sure to subscribe!). My final share is the book that is loaded up on my Kindle for the flight this week – While We Were Dating, the newest release from one of my favorite romance authors , Jasmine Guillory. An actress meets an ad executive filming a commercial – it sounds like a quick and easy read, perfect for a plane ride. If you haven’t checked out this author, I have loved every other book she writes, especially from bringing diversity into the romance genre! Be sure to check her out.
It’s hard to believe that by the time we come back, it will already be August. I have really impressed myself this month, setting boundaries and taking time to really be on summer break (if you’re an educator, you know this is really hard). My goal for the next two weeks? Just really living in the moment, be grateful for the present reality that I get to take this trip and memories we are going to build, and just ultimately, reminding myself that I am allowed to really relax and enjoy myself. May this be a reminder to anyone else, travels or staying at home, that you are entitled to those things, too, and to make choices for that are the best for you.
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