Take Off In Style

Whether it is on a plane, train, or your very own four-door, summer seems to be the time when everyone loves to get away from the stress of the everyday and just relax! If you’re anything like me however, packing for this blissful occasion quickly turns into my own worst nightmare. Did I forget anything? Should I have packed that other dress? Although the occasional nightmare of packing will never completely be solved, we’ve composed a list of some of our favorite packing essentials to at least make the journey there that much more stress free. Tis the season to travel, so why not do it in style?

1. Leather Colorblock Passport Case by J. Crew 2. Verbena Cooling Hand Cream by L’OCCITANE 3. Pinch Provisions MiniEmergency Kit by J. Crew 4. Live Colorfully Eau de Parfum Roller by Kate Spade 5. Lip Balm #1 by Kiehl’s 6. Polka Dot Sleep Mask by oddsnblobs on Etsy 7. Small Cosmetic Case by Tory Burch 8. Vogue – July 2013 Issue

 

A Midsummer Dream

All over Sweden, people are celebrating Midsummer, an annual holiday that celebrates friends, food, and the glory of the summer solstice. Known as THE party of the year in Sweden, I was lucky enough to experience Midsummer myself last summer while I was visiting friends in Sweden. Having never heard of Midsummer, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but what I found was a day full of tradition, laughter, singing, and some very Swedish food.

Seen as the second most important holiday to Christmas, many Swedes flock to the countryside or coastal villages to enjoy the festivities of the day. I spent my Midsummer in the coastal town of Skärhamn, where the traditional celebration was alive and well. During the morning, I learned how to construct a traditional flower crown out of wild flowers and leaves, as well as prepare some traditional dishes for the feast in between relaxing on the cliffs that overlooked the sea. The overall atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and although it was overcast the whole day, it felt like the sun was still shining within the happy faces of everyone.

One of the best parts of Midsummer is the amazing Swedish feast that simply fills the table. One of the most traditional dishes seen on this special day is potatoes and sill (pickled herring). Although I must admit the sill was a little harder for me to love, by the end of the day I had found many different types of sill that I really enjoyed. Other amazing dishes can be found at Midsummer, such as a variety of cheeses, fish, crisp bread, deviled eggs, and more. The drink of choice: aquavit, of course. Although I couldn’t keep up, I loved listening to all of the drinking songs and chants the Swedes happily sang with each shot.

A giant Maypole is made every Midsummer and it is tradition to sing and dance around the looming construction. I remember being in such awe as I saw the maypole for the first time, being covered in wild flowers and greenery. Swedes of all ages held hands and danced merrily around the pole, and I couldn’t help but smile as well, realizing how wonderful of a time everyone was having. Although Midsummer may be symbolic for the summer solstice, it is also a time when everyone comes together and celebrates being with each other. Although I arrived to the celebration as a stranger, I left feeling like I was a part of this big Swedish family.

1. Eyelet Shirt Dress by Thakoon Addition: sweet and simple. 2. Etioloa Jacket by Malene Birger: a light jacket for cooler Swedish nights. 3. The Cendrillon Flat by Repetto: comfy flats for dancing around the maypole. 4. Snaps Visor book by Eriksson Leif: a perfect guide for singing along to all the traditional Swedish drinking songs. 5. Absolut: Elyx Vodka by Absolut: it’s always good manners to bring a a gift to your host. 6. Homemade Flower Crown: because what would Midsummer be without a crown of flowers?

Images courtesy of: The New York Times, Huffish Poodles, and Semiswede.

The Dominican Republic: A Caribbean Dream

It has officially been a week since I returned from the beautiful island of the Dominican Republic, or you could say it has officially been a week since I have spent every waking moment daydreaming about returning there. It was exactly like one might imagine: rich with lush palm trees and glistening with crystal clear waters. Take me back nowwww! Even though this was my first time in the DR, specifically Punta Cana, the trip could not have gone more smoothly. Only around a 3-hour plane ride, my family and I were entering the Melia Caribe Tropical Resort before we knew it!

The land of the Dominican Republic is simply breathtaking. The resort was so tropical with green plant life just bursting out of every surface. Huge soaring palm trees were everywhere, perfectly lining the beach and surrounding villas. I especially loved the hibiscus flowers and these huge bushes that were full of delicate red flowers. The land was also teeming with wildlife! I am the biggest animal lover in the world so this was one of my favorite parts of the trip, to say the least. Looking at the birds and geckos of the island is when you really realize how far away from home you are. The birds were all so different from the Virginia natives I see daily. They all had such vibrant color markings on their feathers and my favorite were these large black birds that had red heads! Aside from the natural wildlife, the resort also had flamingos and the most extravagant peacocks. Talk about exotic…

Because of my very real yet irrational fear of the ocean (silly, I know), I stayed near the pool a great deal. The resort had two extremely large pools, complete with rocks, shallow sunning areas, and a swim up bar. Cold pools are usually enough to make you only dare to dip your toes, but it was so hot in the DR that the pools were the perfect relief. Literally just walking to the pool itself resulted in me immediately jumping in the pool to cool off. Complete with a million pool chairs and shaded cabana beds, it’s easy to understand why I was glued to that area.  The entire resort was like that though; so perfect you didn’t want to leave the area you happened to be in. They had several upscale restaurants, which served three course meals every night! I think I gained 15 pounds on food alone. There were also several bars and lounge areas that lit up at night with people of all nationalities enjoying their sacred time off. With its open-air concept and smooth tile floors, it was the epitome of a Caribbean heaven.

Although I do have my fears of the ocean, I made sure to take advantage of the clear blue waters of the DR. Growing up on the East Coast, I’m used to dark, murky waters but it is the complete opposite in the Caribbean. As clear as bath water, you can see all the way down to the sand. With just a little seaweed here and there, the beach was a dream, and probably the most active part of the entire resort! Local merchants had shops set up and numerous water activities could easily be yours. One of my favorite aspects of the beach were the palm trees! In America it seems like a clear cut beach is ideal, but being on a beach surrounded by palm trees was so refreshing.

Although the area in which we stayed didn’t really allow us to venture off of the resort, I feel like I still understand at least a little slice of the beauty of this island. If you’re planning a trip yourself to the DR, I recommend going in May. Although it is the rainy season, it hardly rained when we were there! Bring your favorite resort wear and leave your stress at home.

I hope I can return some day and discover new areas I wasn’t able to this time. All in all, this trip was a dream, a sweet Caribbean dream.

Have you ever been to the Dominican Republic? What were some of your favorite parts of the trip?

Bon Voyage: The Dominican Republic!

Known as the land of sapphire seas and emerald trees, the Dominican Republic might just be as close as it gets to heaven. On Saturday I will be fortunate enough to see if everything they say is true because every year my dad likes to get the whole family together for a week and this year we are all traveling to Punta Cana! I can’t wait to feel the warm rays on my skin and the sand in between my toes. Mostly though, I can’t wait to experience the culture of this beautiful island. To the people I meet, the sights I see, and the memories I make, I’m sure this is going to be a trip I will remember forever.

Stay posted for pictures and stories from my adventure!

Images Courtesy of GoDominicanRepublic, ColonialZone, and LonelyPlanet.

NYC for the Weekend

What’d you do this weekend? A friend and I hit the road to visit a couple of apparel markets in NYC. Even though I have been to the city many times, I always get a thrill when I cross the bridge!

We started the trip at Playtime New York and had a fabulous lunch in their cafeteria.The caterer put together an amazing spread of salad toppings, vinaigrette dressings, and choices of meat. I loved the brown box!

The market was housed in a trendy space in Soho – one of my favorite areas of NYC – with large open windows that made the location feel very light and airy.

Loved meeting a designer from the South that gives a portion of her sales to Fight for Creativity – an organization that helps keep the arts in public schools.

Speaking of creativity…

We ended the trip with dinner at Ippudo NY – a Japanese ramen noodle restaurant. If you get the chance to check it out, you have got to get the Hirata Buns, heavenly pork belly sandwiched between two pillowy buns. So good! Then I got this giant bowl of ramen, Karaka Men, a spicy noodle soup with pork.

Until next time…