Sunday, August 28, 2016

Top 5 Reasons Why Traveling Abroad Will Change Your Life Completely

Top 5 Reasons Why Traveling Abroad Will Change Your Life Completely.
Hey everyone!

This July, I was given the opportunity to travel abroad. I traveled to France, Italy, Monaco and Spain over the course of two weeks. Getting to experience different cultures truly gave me a new perspective on the world around me. I realized how big this world is and how important it is to get out there and see  all this world has to offer. This trip inspired me so much that I decided to make a blog post about it. Here are my top 5 reasons why traveling abroad changed my life, personally.
xoxo,
Alli

#5: You realize how big the world really is.
Coming from a relatively small town, one of the things that blew my mind about this trip was the fact that I visited so many different places and only covered maybe two inches of land on a map. This made me realize how many places I have never been, and more so, how many places I WANT to travel to. After traveling to Europe, I crave adventure and travel, often. I love planning future trips and making dream boards of places all over earth I want to visit. This realization was particularly important because it only reinforced the idea that you aren't stuck in your hometown forever. You have the ability to travel the world and create your own future.

#4: You'll eat the best food you've ever had.
One of the other things that changed my life as a result of this trip is that now I think of food in a whole new light. In a lot of places in Europe, food is the exact thing that brings people and family together. The food (especially in Italy) is truly to die for and makes you never want to eat American fast food again. I loved eating foods that were representative of the countries I was in because it gave me even more insight to the culture.




#3: You experience jaw dropping architecture and beautiful buildings unlike anything else.
Not that there is anything wrong with the architecture in America, in fact, there are countless beautiful structures spanning all across the country. However, the architecture in Europe is unique and unlike anything in America. It is worth it to experience this beauty, as it is truly "jaw-dropping."





#2: The views are always AMAZING.
And I mean, AMAZING. When I hiked to the top of mountains, or looked into the sea, I felt inspired. It made me want to visit so many more places and experience these views in many other countries.





#1: You experience something that not many others have. Knowing this sort of "secret" is out there to explore, that is life changing in itself.
After traveling to Europe, I now felt like I had unlocked some kind of secret that not many other people knew about. I had seen parts of the world that not many others will ever get to experience and that was so special to me. Traveling abroad was probably the most life changing experience I have ever encountered.







Friday, March 25, 2016

Elegant Red Carpet Prom Dress?: Try David's Bridal!

Hey everyone!
As prom season approaches I have found it especially difficult to find a dress. I have looked all over for an elegant red carpet prom dress and have failed to find it, until now. It wasn't until I stumbled upon the Bridesmaid Dress section in David's Bridal that I found my dream dress. Going to the bridesmaid dress section of the store allowed me to choose exactly the dress I wanted, picking everything from color and sleeve style. Being a "plain jane", I find it extremely difficult to find dresses that aren't completely decked out in glitter or jewels. If you're anything like me, condor browsing the bridesmaid dress section of your favorite bridal boutique for great options! Here is the dress I personally went with and a few others I loved as well. Happy Prom Season!
With love,
Alli

The dress I chose: White by Vera Wang V Neck Halter Gown w/ Sash in "Valentina"- $179.95


Other elegant dresses that would be perfect for prom!
1.) White by Vera Wang One Shoulder Dress with Satin Sash in "Midnight"- $179.95 (available in 25 different colors!)

2.) Long Beaded U Neck Mesh Dress with Ruched Waist in "Lapis"- $149.95
3.) Sleeveless Tulle over Lace Dress in "Blush"- $169.95 (Gorgeous short dress option!)


Thursday, March 24, 2016

How To: Packing for a Weekend Trip

Hey everyone! As the summer months are fast approaching, I find myself planning for different trips and excursions. Traveling is my favorite thing to do and I think that I have now truly mastered the art of packing for a trip. Whether you are traveling for weeks, a month, or even just a few days, it is easy to pack more than what you need. I will be traveling on a couple of weekend trips throughout this next month, and I'd love to show you what my packing essentials are. Please leave me a comment below and let me know what your travel essentials are. As always, I hope you are having an AWESOME day! :)
With love,
Alli

The Bag:
I love traveling with a small, compact, hard piece of luggage. This particular bag is from Target and is the perfect size for a weekend trip. It offers me enough storage and compartments for all of my clothes and shoes. If you're looking for a more affordable higher end piece of luggage, try Marshalls or T.J. Maxx for great finds!
I also really love traveling with a bag I can carry around throughout the day. I like to choose something with enough storage for the things I will need throughout the day, but a bag that has a cross body and will be comfortable to carry. I absolutely love my Michael Kors Large Selma Houndstooth bag for a carry on, and a perfect purse for a day of sight seeing and shopping! (It also conveniently matches).
Sample Packing List: Weekend trip to Boston (Shopping, Museums, etc.)
2 Nights, 3 Days

Clothing:
1 Pair of Nicer Jeans
3 Tops in Neutral Colors
4 pairs of underwear
Neutral Colored Bra
Lightweight Sweater
Waterproof Coat (Something that can be folded up small)
Spring Coat
3 Pairs of socks
1 pair of good walking sneakers (Can't stress this enough)
1 pair of heels/ nicer shoes (I will be seeing the Boston Phil, so I will need a dressy outfit)
1 black dress
Optional Accessory: One statement necklace that works with all of your outfits

Some of the key items I will be bringing include:
Gap Resolution High Rise Skinny- $44.99
http://www.gap.com/browse/OutOfStockNoResults.do?requestedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gap.com%2Fbrowse%2Fproduct.do%3Fpid%3D717375002%26vid%3D1%26locale%3Den_US%26kwid%3D1%26sem%3Dfalse%26sdkw%3D1969-resolution-true-skinny-high-rise-jeans-P717375%26sdReferer%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.gap.com%252Fproducts%252Fwomens-jeans-sale.jsp
Loft Essential Trench in "Saddle Tan"-$148

Northface Women's Venture Jacket in "Black"-$99.00
https://www.thenorthface.com/shop/womens-jackets-vests-rainwear/womens-venture-jacket-3?variationId=4D3

If you want a more detailed in depth look at exactly the clothing items I pack for a weekend, comment below! Bon voyage!