But first a little update on: Where in the world are El Jefe and I?

It feels like an eternity since I was home in Denver last.  So far we have been on 5 planes, a ferry boat (twice), and an almost 4 hour car trip.  Still to come is 3 bus trips and one flight ( and if you count the T in Boston as a train, there will be several trips on that as well)!  We also figured out that by the end of this trip we will have slept in 11 different beds!  Let’s just say I am a little over traveling and I am craving my own bed.  On the bright side, I am becoming quite the well-rounded traveler.

We are currently in Portland, Maine.  It is super beautiful here.  On the docket is a baseball game (GO Sea dogs?!?!), brewery tour (let’s see if they have anything on Denver’s breweries), a schooner ride (I’M SO PUMPED FOR IT!! Big thanks to El Jefe’s folks), and hopefully kayaking!  I’ll keep you all posted on how our adventure is going!

** Also, a huge shout out to ELLA Graves.  She lived a long happy life with with an amazing family!  We are so happy we got to spend the last week with you sweet girl!  I hope you are enjoying endless amounts of leftovers! You will be greatly missed!***

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Ok, traveling so much has me thinking about all the essentials for going on a trip (especially traveling to multiple different places within a fairly short period of time).  SO I thought I would share the top 10 things I canNOT travel without (maybe you will learn something or maybe you will wonder “Who the HECK does this girl think she is making top 10 lists? What a WEIRO!” well you wouldn’t be the first so I’m gonna write it anyways **insert emoji with tongue sticking out**)

DRUM ROLL PLEASE….. My TOP 10 travel essentials are:

10.  Supportive shoes. I don’t care where you are going (I mean I actually do, please tell me so I can live vicariously through your adventures once school starts) you NEED to bring these. I canNOT tell you how many vacations I have packed for and all I was thinking about was cute, cute, cute.  Well sometimes you have to say (pardon my almost French) “F cute, what’s not gonna hurt my feet!”  OK, rant over.  But seriously people bring supportive shoes on you trip.  Just do it and thank me later!

Current favorite: Roxy Bayshore Sneaker

9. Leggings. Ladies, I do not need to explain any further, you get it. Comfy, warm, flexible, flattering, etc.  Gentlemen, I also do not need to explain any further. I mean have you seen your girls’ booty in those leggins’. Thought so! NEXT!

All time favorite: Aerie 7/8 Legging

8.  Moisturizer. Maybe it is just me but my skin gets ridiculously dry when I travel! This is a must on every trip!

Currently loving: Beautycounter Nourishing Day Cream

7.  Chapstick. This goes with the last one. When I travel I cannot keep enough moisture on my lips.  Gotta have that chapstick!

6.  Face wash.  I am not going to lie.  I used to be the laziest face washer of all times.  I used to just take one of those face cleanser wipes and run it over my face then call it quits.  Well, that led to many breakouts and poor complexion (GO figure).  So now I make sure to carry a really good cleanser and exfoliator with me on trips!

Current face wash routine:  Beautycounter charcoal bar (3 times a week) followed by Nourishing Moisturizer.  On days when I do not use charcoal bar I use Nourishing cleanser or exfoliator followed by moisturizer!  Beautycounter

5.  A Bag with WHEELS. Ok, I am putting this on here because I have finally realized that as cute as my Vera Bradley duffel may be (and trust me it is cute) it is not fun to carry around airports, ferry stations, bus terminals, or public transports! Get a bag with wheels, END OF STORY!

4.  A Cozy Sweater. This was a toss up between flowy dresses and cozy sweaters.  Cozy sweaters win because I am travelling in the Northeast right now and it gets very chilly at night. My comfy sweater has been so, so nice on this trip!

MY GO TO: My LOFT lounge cardigan in gray (I bought it at the outlet)

3.  Snacks/drinks. I take for granted that flights will be on time and ferries will be made. Just saying, from experience, that does not always happen so pack snacks and drinks (or buy overpriced at the airport like I do).  You don’t wanna be sitting at a ferry port (where there is no gas station, convenience store, or restaurant) for 2 ½ hours with nothing to eat or drink.  And then bother your boyfriend every 5 minutes about it.   P.s. that isn’t me speaking from experience at all, I just made all that up out of a hypothetical situation**

**that is a straight up lie.  That 100% happened to be on this trip.  It was not fun and El Jefe was very annoyed with me (In his words, I was being a “Pest”).

PSS.  This normally wouldn’t be so high on my list but due my recent experience it seems super important so it is coming in at numero tres!

2.  A Notebook. I have always been someone who carries a notebook around with me. Getting new notebooks has always been one of my favorite things (even though now I have about a million and they are all basically empty).  But on vacation a notebook is essential!  Especially for my spastic mind.  I need somewhere to get all my teacher ideas out, all my emotions, all my projects, etc.  A notebook is essential to any trip’s enjoyment.

All time favorite: Moleskine

1.  A Really Good Book. Dead seriously this is essential for entertainment purposes! I know all of us Gen Y/millennials think that there is internet wherever we go but news flash sometimes you are on a small (very, very beautiful) island and they don’t have internet  everywhere you go (For those of you who just read that and are going through some slight shock, just take 3 deep breaths and repeat after me, “I WILL SURVIVE THIS, I WILL SURVIVE THIS, I WILL SURVIVE THIS.”) No, but in all seriousness I absolutely love reading and it is one of my favorite parts of vacations.  On vacations I can get through a whole book without interruptions! It is so, so nice!

CURRENT READ: MY Year with Eleanor by Noelle Hancock.

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Your turn!  What are some of your travel essentials?!