What I Keep In My Purse When Traveling

Hey guys,

I love to feel prepared, especially when traveling. If I can use a small purse I will always use it. My go to small purse is this one by J Crew. I love how simple it is and how it matches almost every outfit. Since I am a bit of a freak when it comes to traveling, I feel like I need to be prepared for anything.

I think it is important to get a great bag. I love mine because the size is small enough where I don't feel like I am carrying around my entire suit case and large enough for my wallet, phone, and all my other essentials. Another amazing part of this bag is that it comes with a  lock and key. That gives me some peace of mind while traveling. I think this bag is a great option, but I do think it was expensive for such a small purse but I think it has passed my test.

So finally, here is what I keep in my purse when I am traveling.

Wallet- I use a Kate Spade wallet and it isn't my favorite thing. I love the color and the size, but it really bugs me that there is no space for coins. I think before school starts (ahhhhh) I am going to get myself a new wallet. I always like to keep my wallet on me because every place does things differently. I think its important to keep money on you- for example in Peru you have to pay to use a bathroom. 

Hand Sanitizer- I like to use the Honest Company hand sanitizer because its a spray hand sanitizer and it is fairly cheap. It also smells super yummy. I get grossed out super easily and feel better when I know I have hand sanitizer. 

Lotion- My favorite lotion is from Origins and it is so moisturizing. It is a hand cream so it is very thick. Not everyone enjoys it because of how thick it is or the price. It is really expensive but when you make purchases at Origins, they sometimes give you them for free or for a discounted price. BTW- Origins is my go to for all skin care, it has never failed me and and completely changed my skin. 

Pens- My favorite pens are the Le Pens and I always carry them in my bag. For some reason I always need to sign receipts in another country and sometimes its quicker if I have my own pen. I also always want to write something down when in a car or something. 

Perfume- I like to keep the roller ball of my favorite perfume on me because I hate smelling gross. I also hate smelling things that are gross, so if I am ever in a situation where something smells not so good, I just roll on some perfume and smell it. I instantly feel better.

Lip Balm- I always get chapped lips and I hate them. It is gross and I think the only lip balm that works for me is Vaseline. They honestly have the best ones and they have all sorts of cute flavors. They are also super small so they fit practically everywhere, especially in a small purse. 

Lip Stick- When traveling you never know when you are in the perfect spot for a picture. I think lip stick is the quickest way to spruce myself up and get photo ready. I have a few go to's but I think mt favorite is by Burt's Bee's because its moisturizing and has great pigment.

Tissues- So maybe I have allergies, but I think I sneeze about a million times a day. It doesn't really bother me, but sometimes I feel like tissues are important to keep. People always joke that I act like an old person with my weird tissues in my purse. Honestly you never know when you need tissues because life happens. I would always rather be safe then sorry.

Scrunchies- Scrunchies aren't the cutest things ever and sorry if you think they are. However they work great when you want to pull your hair up and you don't want a gross kink in your hair. I usually just get the cheap ones from target because I always end up loosing them.

Phone Charger- I recommend bringing a phone charger with a plug for that country because having a dead phone in a place you know sounds horrible. I can't even imagine how much that would stir up my anxiety. I think its just safe to keep one just in case.

Girl Products- I have recently learned that some countries do feminine products differently. I now carry my own with me at all times because going into a weird store to buy something that you aren't comfortable with sucks. Again, life happens and its better to be prepared.

I loved writing this one because I honestly love reading about what other people keep in their bags.  I also do not keep all this stuff with me in my purse at home.

Have a great day,
Allie

Overcoming Home Sickness

I am currently in Australia and having the most amazing time, however I am on the other side of the world. This opportunity is amazing and I love every part of it, but I would be lying if I said I don't miss home. I realize that every time I travel I always forget how home sick I get, but that doesn't stop me. It wasn't always this way. I remember when I went to Peru; I cried almost every single night because I missed my family so much.  Now that I am here and it has been about 2 weeks I think I have got the whole overcoming home sickness thing down.

This trip has been a lot better because every time I feel homesick I know what to do. Instead of letting it ruin my trip and constantly bug me, I can understand it and reflect on it. Right now I am able to really combat my home sickness and allow myself to really enjoy this trip. 

This is my routine that I do when I start to feel homesick. I found this works best for me based on my experience with anxiety as well as the people I am with. I know every one experiences home sickness differently, but for me this seems to work.

First-When I first feel homesick I try to take a shower or bath because those really calm me down. I know whenever I am upset I need to take a shower or bath to clear my head and just calm my nerves. Once I have taken a bath or shower I then change into comfortable clothing because usually when I get homesick I want to sleep. 

Second-I know most people would say to just call or text your family, but for me it makes me feel ten times worse because then I start crying and I don't actually get to talk to them. However, once I am called down and have pretty much realized why I am missing home, I address it. Usually it is just that something feels wrong and it ends up being that I feel like I forgot something or am missing out on something at home. In those times I try to reciprocate it. I think about what I missed and then reflect on the amazing time I am having here.

Third- I try to keep myself somewhat occupied on trips and not get lost in my head. I try to set some daily tasks to do instead of letting my mind wonder into the "what ifs." This usually means that I will try to read a book, go to lunch, bake something, or go to work with the family I am staying with.

Fourth-I really have been trying to create some what of a routine because I am such a creature of habit. I like to know what I am doing and have it almost be second nature to me. This also makes me feel more comfortable in my space. This can be harder on short trips, but on long trips they really pay off.

Fifth- I think that talking about being home sick makes me feel less home sick. Especially when I start to feel really lonely. I think the best thing to do is talk about it with someone there that you trust and let them know how and what you are feeling. Feeling home sick really does suck, but it is something that most people feel and it doesn't have to stop you.

I hope this helped you guys if you get home sick or are homesick.

Have a great day!
Allie

Etsy Finds

Hey guys,

I hope you are all having an amazing week. This morning I got bored and started browsing Etsy. Etsy is one of those websites where I sometimes forget about it, but I always love what they have. I have found a ton of things that I just love and I can't wait until I get back and can see if I can work these into my bedroom. 

Notepad  Pillow  Dog Print  A Print  Monogram Necklace  Sleep In Print

I love my bedroom but it really lacks art. I think this prints are so cute and would be a perfect addition to my room. I love my dog (a lab) and that print just spoke to me! I also thought the A was cute. I really like gallery walls but I think they are really hard to do. I think those three prints will work well with a mirror and a few pictures I have. 

I learned that buying jewelry on Etsy can be difficult because I have had some experiences where I buy something and it breaks after a few days. Usually that is because it was pretty cheap and I should have expected that. For the price this one is (about $55) I think it should be decent quality, yet I won't be super sad if I misplace it.

The list is so cute. I have been super hesitant about getting this because I think that I could easily make one of these myself. However, after many hours of yelling at my computer I realize that spending the $20 on this is totally worth it. I love that it has water and meal trackers because it reminds me to drink water and makes me think about what I eat for a meal rather than eating small bits of unhealthy food. 

If you guys have any favorite Etsy shops please let me know! I love supporting small businesses and especially finding amazing things for reasonable prices!

Have an amazing day!

Quick Life Update

Hey guys,

I am so sorry that I haven't posted anything. I am currently in Australia visiting family friends and I have just loved not worrying about anything. I am in love with Australia! The people here are amazing and so kind and the lifestyle is just a bit more laid back; people would just rather be happy than slave away at their jobs.

Since I have been in Australia I haven't really had a ton of time to do much because I have just been focusing on catching up with everyone. I feel like when I am not focused on so many things and just get time to spend with people I love I just get so much more energy and feel more confident.

Since I have this new confidence and have embraced the Australian life style I just want to do things that I love and make me happy. I love reading blogs and I have had a lot of time to think about what I want to do with this. I feel like now that I have been able to really be myself I will be able to make this blog work to the best of my ability and fill it with things I love.

Sorry that this was a bit of a weird blab of information. I am just really happy with everything right now and have been able to see things in a more positive attitude!

Thanks for reading!

PS- Have any of you guys been to Australia? If so is there anything I should do while I am here?