Mondays are for Music: My Late Summer Jams

Hey, y'all! :)

I know it's the middle of August now, but I can't believe we're in August, y'all. I remember when 2016 just started. But it's been a great year so far, both life-wise and music-wise, in my opinion.

Speaking of music, I want to share some recent discoveries with you today. One is pop, two are electronic, and another is from a band I've loved since college, but all of them are ones I've kept coming back to. So, let's get into the Spotify links!

What have you been listening to lately?

Packing for Quick Trips

My 2016 has had some quick little trips, ranging from three to five days or even less. Quick trips are fun - they are trips, after all - but sometimes, I find that they're tricky to pack for, since while you know what you may be doing when you travel, it's not like you'll have the time to do laundry or even spend much time shopping if you have a tight schedule, like during a business trip.

So, what do you pack when you have a quick trip, and how do you do it?

Check the weather for the days you'll be traveling
It's become easier than ever to get an idea of what the weather at your destination will be like. Not only can you check weather forecast websites or apps, but you can also look to Pinterest and other blogs to get a local, recent, or frequent visitor's perspective on how the weather will be. Knowing the weather will prevent overpacking unnecessary items; for example, you don't want to pack a heavy jacket in a tropical climate.

Packing by outfit works, but sometimes, it helps to have extras of certain items.
It helps to pack by outfit if you want to worry less about deciding what to wear during your trip, and it can help keep you from packing for a fourteen-day trip when you're only going to be gone for three. But it's also not a bad idea to make sure you have replacement items not only for weather purposes, but in case a more formal event comes up (or if you need a Sunday dress/clothing for church), or if you happen to stay a few extra days. This is where making a list comes in handy.

Speaking of packing extras, pack extra items if you know there'll be rain, or if you'll be swimming, or anything else
You don't want to be caught without a change of clothes if you happen to get wet, or if you happen to spill something on yourself. This can apply if you're traveling somewhere with frequent rain, or someplace like the beach or an amusement park. Accidents happen, and it's better to be prepared with a few extra clothes than underpack.

You can re-wear certain items, and pack less of those items
Some items you can wait to wash again, like denim jeans and shorts. As such, you can pack less of them - or even pack one each - to save space.

Pack items that roll up easily
The items that roll up the tightest are usually light layers, like t-shirts and leggings. Also, dresses are the easiest to pack because they are a whole day's outfit in one piece of clothing.

Invest in packing cubes and a laundry bag
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: these are the BEST for keeping clothes in your suitcase as well as keep track of your clean and dirty clothing. Sometimes, organization can help keep you focused on your travel and your trip and keep you from being stressed over your luggage, especially when you're traveling for such a short amount of time. You can find packing cubes online...I found mine off Amazon, and the set came with a laundry bag of its own. Beyond packing cubes, it helps to put shoes and jewelry in bags as well, just so things stay clean and uncluttered.

How do you pack for a quick trip? Let me know in the comments! :)

National Book Lover's Day

This is my favorite reading spot at my grandparents' house :)

Today is National Book Lover's Day. I absolutely love random holidays, and today is absolutely no exception. I've been a book lover my whole life. There's just something about cracking open the pages of a new book and diving into a new story. I'm also a writer, and I adore writing my own stories as well.

How in the world do you celebrate the hard-bound, written word?

• Open up a brand-new novel, or continue one you've already started. Or, read your Bible. Basically, if it's written and published, go read it.
• Go read in a favorite spot, or try someplace new, like a local bookstore or even a new chair in your living room.
• Speaking of local bookstores, pay your favorite one a visit. Local bookstores love visitors, and they'll be absolutely happy to give you recommendations. One of my favorites in Nashville has a huge selection of signed copies!
• Visit a local bookstore in a new place if you happen to be traveling, or visit one near your extended family, whether you grew up visiting it or not.
• Or, if you're closer to a bigger-name bookstore chain, that's also fine.
• Encourage reading; it beats screen time any day of the week, and I've found that I'm less stressed when I put down my phone or put away my laptop for a few minutes to an hour or so, depending on how busy my day happens to be.
• Also, encourage writing. Nothing makes this writer happier than seeing people interested in creating stories of their own.

How will you celebrate National Book Lover's Day?

California Dreamin': A Story in Instagrams

Hey, y'all!

Last weekend, my mom and I took a quick trip to California.

These are the photos I posted to Instagram while I was there. :)

Before I left for California from the airport, some Pokémon Go happened. (In fact, a LOT of Pokémon Go happened this trip...let's just say I spent a lot of time on the app whilst riding in the back of Uber rides with Mom.) (Another side note, if you want my thoughts on Pokémon Go, check out my post here.)

But this guy is a Weedle, and because I caught him at the airport, I named him "Airport."

I think that was before I had my coffee, ha!

Once we got to LA, we made a few stops. The first was Sage Goddess, a rock and crystal store, and then we made our way to Little Tokyo, where we partook in the ramen you see above.

Orochon Ramen is the very first legitimate ramen shop I'd ever been to (barring Wagamama in Windsor, England). This place is incredibly special to me, and their ramen - pork with a soy base and boiled eggs with spice - is my favorite.

After ramen, we made a quick stop through Bottega Louie for macarons.

Y'all, they're as magical and delicious as they look.

The next day was Saturday, and Mom and I headed to downtown Pasadena for a planner meetup...specifically, Marion Smith's Southern California Planner Lover's Retreat. It was a fun time all around!

And this was the dress I wore. :)

Finally, on Sunday, we swung by the Grove - one of my favorite shopping centers ever - for some shopping at Topshop, along with checking out the nearby farmer's market.

I didn't realize that the CBS network building was nearby, but it was within walking distance of the Grove. So, consequently, I took a selfie with it for good measure. ;)

And that, my friends, was my weekend trip to California!

An Instagram Roundup of Independence Day Shenanigans, Tea, Pink Drinks, Cars, and More. This May Be the Longest Title Yet.

1. This is one of my best friends and I at our church's fireworks' show for this year's July 4th fireworks. Much ice cream was enjoyed.

2. Speaking of ice cream, me and my girls grabbed frozen yogurt from a new frozen yogurt place in town called Whit's. It was my first time there, and I have to say, it was pretty good! I got the caramel apple flavor, which was vanilla ice cream with apple pieces and caramel sauce. It was basically like eating apple pie with ice cream.

3. This was a particularly good lunch from Meridee's, a café and bakery right in Franklin. It's a childhood favorite place of mine, and nothing beats a good peanut butter and honey sandwich with chips and a London Fog. :)

4. Herbie, my car, winks. No, really, every time you open my car door, he winks from my spedometer. Many "awww"s and iPhone snaps ensued that day I discovered this important and adorable instance.

5. I read and drank an Iced Raspberry Chai Latte at Barnes n' Noble. By the way, this book I'm reading is HILARIOUS.

6. Speaking of beverages, I got a Pink Drink. Ever since I discovered this phenomenon via Instagram, I HAD to try it. This particular Pink Drink was definitely not my first, but it was maybe the second I'd had with blackberries instead of strawberries. It was delightful.

7. This is what my workspace typically looks like. There are at least three items that one can definitely find in said workspace: laptop, planner, and brightly-colored pens.

8. And this is my laptop case. I bought it off of Society6 when they were having a sale. It's a fantastic case, and it's been fantastic to use when I commute to and from work. I can't wait to use it when I travel soon!