Travel, Travel Products

Packing List Essentials: A Review of the Silk Travel Set from CALPAK

Alyssa wears the CALPAK silk eye mask

It’s no secret that our quality of sleep declines when we travel, and while we may not be able to rewire our brains to combat the “first-night effect” (let alone sleep well in an airplane’s ever-diminishing coach seat), there are a few products currently available on the market whose sole purpose is to help us …

Travel, Travel Products, Wish Lists and Gift Ideas

2019 Holiday Gift Guide: The Best Travel Gifts for Everyone on Your List

Alyssa holding a green gift bag in her left hand. The bag has trees icons on it, and she is wearing a gold ring in the shape of a bow

It’s that time again! (well, perhaps it’s past time, but who’s checking, really?) This year instead of sharing a different gift guide each day, I wanted to share them all at once: a selection of travel gifts for everyone on your list. Though I’ll always advocate for taking a trip over giving tangible items, I …

Journal

Journal | 12.14.19

A small bowl with a piece of incense paper burning in the middle

Oh, hey! I promise I haven’t forgotten about this space—or you. It’s been a busy few weeks moving up here and getting acquainted with our new city, and it hasn’t necessarily been an easy or smooth transition. I was rear-ended a few days after we moved, and managed to throw out my back and catch …

Travel, Travel Products

The Best Cyber Weekend Deals of 2019: Travel Edition

Photo of an Andy Warhol painting with an orange background and dollar symbols

Have you heard? It’s Black Friday today (just in case you haven’t been bombarded with advertisements for the past week or two). Today I’m sharing a curated roundup of travel deals and travel-friendly items on sale this weekend from retailers all over the web. When possible, I try to link to products that are responsibly …

Destinations, Spain, Travel

A Relaxed Approach to Visiting Barcelona, Spain

Alyssa stands on a balcony in Park Guell

It’s true that overtourism has taken hold of Barcelona. When you combine a dense, walkable city with a multitude of sights and rich culture, there can be no other result. Even during my visit in October, which is shoulder season, the crowds in parts of the city were unbearable. But sometimes you simply have to …

Journal

Journal | 11.9.19

A view of a kitchen from another room; the dishwasher, fridge, sink, and oven are all visible and there is a window over the sink

It’s happening. I know I’ve been saying this for a while now, but I feel like now I can officially say that we’re moving since we signed a lease this week for a place in Charlotte. Despite not working at the moment, my day-to-day feels busier than ever: packing, making phone calls, rehoming things we …

Destinations, Spain, Travel

72 Hours in Madrid, Spain

Alyssa standing in front of the Metropolitan building in Madrid

When I shared with friends and family that Michael and I were traveling to Spain, many people excitedly asked, “Oh, are you going to Barcelona?!” Not a single person asked if we were going to Madrid. That seems absurd, doesn’t it? It is the capital of the country after all, and that should count for …

Journal

Journal | 10.27.19

Alyssa taking a photo in the mirror before her trip. She is wearing a black tank, black wide leg pants, black boots, and a red bandana. In her right hand is her carry on suitcase.

What. A. Month. Truly, it’s been an emotional rollercoaster around here. Thursday, October 3 was my last day at my job, where I’ve worked for the past seven years. It was a long day, and I felt a bit overwhelmed by the turnout at our office gathering. I don’t relish being the center of attention, …

Travel, Travel Tips

Why You Should Never Use PayPal When Paying for Travel Expenses

Upside-down piggy bank with "x" over its eyes

Though I once sang their praises for their return shipping refund (which ended in November 2022), I learned the hard way not to use the PayPal platform for any foreign transactions. You see, last month Michael and I booked several Airbnbs for our trip to Spain and Italy, and to avoid Airbnb’s conversion fees, I …

Destinations, Home Try On + In-Depth Style Reviews, North Carolina, Packing Lists, Style, Travel, Travel Products, USA

My Flight Got Canceled and All I Had To Wear Was This Dress

Alyssa standing in front of a graffiti wall in a blue dress with a white tee underneath

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen that my three-day weekend getaway unexpectedly turned into a six-day stay in Raleigh thanks to Hurricane Dorian. Due to the unfortunate combination of non-existent federal regulations requiring airlines to support passengers in the event of a cancelation and my decision to fly a budget airline, …