Flying International on Southwest

Up until a year or two ago, Southwest was exclusively a domestic airline. That's no longer the case. After their buy out of Airtran, Southwest picked up all of Airtran's international routes to central america and the Caribbean. 

Now, you can fly to a number of exotic locations with your favorite airline (I mean most of us LOVE Southwest, right? And many have the coveted Companion Pass? That's what I thought). Here's where you can jet off to:

• Cabo San Lucas, MX
• Puerta Vallarta, MX
• Mexico City, MX
• Cancun, MX
• Belize City, BZ
• Liberia, CR
• San Jose, CR
• Nassau, Bahamas
• Montego Bay, Jamaica
• Punta Cana, DR
• San Juan, PR
• Havana, Cuba

This is great news for anyone looking for a little tropical getaway.  We recently did this for the first time on our trip to Costa Rica and it was great, but a little different than other international flights and different than your typical Southwest Flight. Here's everything you need to know about flying internationally on Southwest.

1. Check In As Usual (Sort Of)
Anyone who has flown on Southwest sets their alarm for 24hours and 1 minute before the flight leaves, so you can get that coveted "A" boarding group. The same applies for international flights, but the actual process is a bit different. Because your passport needs to be checked at the airport, when you check in online or on your phone, you'll only get your boarding group number but no actual ticket. Your spot is secure, but you still need to go to the ticket counter when you get to the airport to have your passport checked .

2. Bring Some Food With You
If you're used to flying international to Europe or Asia, you're use to being fed and pumped full of wine every 45 minutes. The Southwest flights aren't like that. All juice, soda, coffee is still free, and they are quite generous with the upgraded snacks (our flight had bags of pretzels, peanuts, Oreos, Fritos and Cheese Crackers), but if you're like me and don't want to eat that kind of stuff, I'd advise you to bring your own meal. There's also no food for purchase. Our longest flight segment was 6 hours when we flew to Costa Rica, which I knew I'd definitely get hungry. I'd suggest a sandwich, salad, or bento box. I'd also bring some snack-y things like granola bars, nuts, or dried fruit incase you get munchy (PS - my favorite in flight snacks).

3. There's Still Free Live TV 
Like a lot of international flights, you will have some time to kill. They still offer the free live TV and movies are available for purchase just like normal Southwest flights. There was also WIFI for purchase. Bring your own laptop, smart phone or tablet in order to stream (there aren't any personal tv's on the plane).

4. Bring Your Blanket and Pillow
Unlike other international flights, there were no blankets, pillows or sleep masks waiting for us on board. These flights also weren't overnight, so that wasn't a huge deal. However, our flights were early and it's nice to be able to take a nap. I have an inflatable neck pillow that I'd highly suggest, since you can deflate it once you land so you don't have to lug it around when it's not in use. And as always, bring a scarf to cover up if you're cold!  

5. It's Pretty Cheap!
I was shocked at how affordable these flights were. We used our Southwest points, and each round trip ticket was 21,000 points. That is not a typo. That's about 10.5k each way. It costs more to go to California!!!! Now, I can't guarantee these rates, but I checked a lot of locations and a lot of date combos, and I was pleasantly surprised at the price. Many flights are under $500 pp round trip. And don't forget, you can always get your points back/flight $ credit if the price goes down (we originally booked at 36k points pp.... that's 15k points down!)

6. Be Flexible With Your Dates
The flights from Costa Rica went down 1-3x a day. The return flights was only available a few days a week. Check this before you plan your trip (use their "Flexible Fare Calendar" feature to see!)

7. Check Those Bags
Yup, 2 checked bags. For free. As always! We carried on, but checked our bags on the way back since we picked up some souvenirs that we couldn't carry on. 

What are you waiting for? Book your tropical vaca now. You can thank me when you're watching the sunset.

xo

Wine Destinations in the United States

I'm a HUGE fan of wine. 

A personal favorite form our local winery, Arrington Vineyards.

Although red wine was an "acquired taste" for many, I started drinking it almost immediately. I'm guessing it has something to do with my grandfather sneaking me sips as a kid. We're Italian - what did you expect?

Anyway, one of my favorite things to do is go WINE TASTING! It's such a fun way to explore an area and enjoy a beverage at the same time :)

We are traveling to Italy in a few weeks and I can hardly contain myself thinking about all of the new, delicious, local wine I'm going to consume -- especially in Tuscany!

Can't get to Tuscany? No problem. These are so many amazing wine destinations in the good ol' USA. Here are four:

Ithaca/Finger Lakes, NY

The view from Ventosa Vineyards back patio where you can have lunch. I suggest the 2010 Pinot Noir.

I was in the Ithaca area for work in June & August, and it's just gorgeous; there are several huge, long lakes (which is where they get their name, Finger Lakes) with wineries scattered around them. They also happen to have wonderful dairy farms.... can you say wine & cheese party?

Napa Valley, CA

enjoying the lawn outside of V. Sattui Winery

This might be a given, but you'd be surprised how many people think good wine only comes from Italy. You can make this a day trip from San Francisco or Sacramento.... and I'd highly suggest it! It's beautiful and there are so many wineries to choose from. I am dying to go back to Napa, it's been years. I remember loving V. Sattui & the Coppola Winery, but here is a comprehensive list from Food & Wine on the best wineries in Napa since it's been a while for me :)

Lake Chelan, WA

view from Benson Winery

If you missed my post about how much I loved Chelan (OR what to pack for a weekend there), check them out. If you don't feel like clicking more things, just take my word for it - you'll love Chelan. A quick 3hr jaunt from Seattle, this unassuming wine country is about as idyllic as it comes; hillside vineyards with sweeping views of the cozy lake town. Personal favorites were Karma & Benson.

Traverse City, MI

I've been told by several friends that I need to visit Michigan. Confession: I've never been in the state, with the exception of the Detroit airport. I'd really like to remedy that by visiting the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail. It looks amazing! While I can't personally vouch for this area, I am confident it won't disappoint. After all, people from Michigan are obsessed with it, so I'm sure I'll love it, too! More on the LP Wine Trail here.

There are also many stand alone wineries across the USA that are really awesome, like Arrington Vineyards in the Nashville area :) 

Have you ever been to these areas? Do you like wine tasting? Is there another wino location I need to know about?! Share below!

xo

A Praise Chorus

I really do love visiting Ashley in Chicago. Always something fun and different to do, but it's full of favorites that I could always go back to. 

We lucked out with pretty great weather - high 50's most of the weekend, sunshine, and a nice breeze! Everything I packed worked out great. I brought 1 jacket instead of 2 and it was the right decision. I so LOVE having a light suitcase!

We had high tea at a place called Soho House. It's a member's only club that started in the UK and has locations all over the world. The bottom level is for us commoners so we were able to enjoy some tea & cakes :) We were also able to go to the member's only area because Ashley has a friend on the board! It was a really fun thing to be able to do. I love pretending I'm fancy.

Waiting for our tea!

The reason for the trip and the true highlight - Jimmy Eat World! They were playing the album "Futures" all the way through and it certainly did not disappoint. I mean seriously - seeing your favorite band, play your favorite album, with your favorite female (aka best friend).... I don't know if it gets much better! 

Hey, Jim!

Me, Ash & Melissa at the show!

 They also did TWO encores that featured some less commonly played songs. It was so fun and you could tell they were having a great time interacting with fans that love them! It was so great we are considering hitting up a show closer to home...

The first sold out show of the tour!

Any other Jimmy fans out there? Definitely catch this tour if you can!!!

We also ate some really delicious food. Here are a few to try if you're in Logan Square/Wicker Park.

Billy Sunday: All I have to say about Billy is make sure you get the relish tray & a side of their breads. You won't regret it.

Trike: Thai food delivered to your door. What's not to like? The portions were huge and I wish I would have saved half for later (rather than letting it sit out and be wasted!). I'll be back here.

Reno: We've eaten here once before, but what I love about Reno is that they have tons of creative sandwiches & pizzas... and suggests adding an egg to everything so I'm definitely on board! They have a nice patio on the square so it's great people watching. Please note that they're cash only.

The Winchester: We brunched here and enjoyed their outdoor patio. I'd take advantage of that if the weather allows. Also, they serve Metric Coffee, a newer roaster in Chicago that happens to be quite tasty!

L'Patron: Also cash only. But extremely cheap and TASTY! Vegetarian taco of the day?! Sign me up! This was also a repeat but it's a good "fast" food option that tastes great. 

There are so many places to eat and drink in that area, so pick one and give it a shot!

Another Chicago weekend on the books. I don't know when I'll be back but I'm already looking forward to it! We had such a good time and I love eating my way around the city with Ash.

For all the Jimmy fans... here's the video I took during my favorite song, "23" - it's the full song, so enjoy! Definitely not the best camera work (I was trying to enjoy the song LIVE while I was there and film at the same time... so forgive my questionable frames, angles, etc!)

Packing for Chicago in the Fall

Tomorrow I'm going to CHICAGO!!!!

I've been to Chicago many times in the fall. Well, I guess I've been there many times in general. 

Ashley moved there in 2009 & I love visiting her. When I lived in Florida, visiting in the Fall was my escape from the heat & Chicago held the promise of crisp weather and colorful trees. Oh, and the chance to wear all of my SCARVES :)

Apple picking, October 2011

Park hangs in 2010

Taking in the beauty everywhere!

My previous October visits were focused on Chicagoween, but this trip is even more exciting: seeing Jimmy Eat World play FUTURES all the way through. It's my favorite album... I'm so excited! This will be my third Jimmy show, and my second with Ash. 

I told Matt when we got married, that even if Jimmy Eat World was playing ONE Futures show all the way through and it was on the North Pole... I was definitely going. Lucky for me (and for our bank account), it's just in Bloomington (2 hours away from Chicago). I can't wait!

Last Jimmy show about a year ago!

This trip holds a concert, a conference, a few travel days, brunches, cheering on the Chicago Marathon runners, and I'm sure several strolls around the city with coffee over the next 4 days.

With Italy in a few weeks I'm really trying to practice packing exxxxxxxxtra slim. The less the better! 

H M print shirt, $13 / Forte Forte green sweater, $115 / H M button shirt, $32 / Layered top, $130 / American Eagle Outfitters vegan leather jacket / Green field jacket / Michael michael kors skinny jeans / Lyssé Leggings black skinny legging, $175 / Steve Madden lace up fold over boots, $120 / Steve Madden slip on shoes, $68 / MICHAEL Michael Kors genuine leather purse, $295 / Michael kors shoulder bag / Rebecca Taylor 14k chain necklace / SELECTED long gold tone necklace, $23 / Phase Eight plaid shawl, $56 / H M grey infinity scarf, $6.42 / Long grey glove, $44 / H M braided waist belt, $11 / Toddler Hand Knit Slouchy Hat and Scarf Set in Mustard Yellow or YOUR...

There are some great layering options here so I can work with the chilly nights and nicer days. I'm not sure the mittens or beanie are completely necessary, but both of these are lighter in weight and are good fall accessories to change up my look.

Much more mild than I expected.... but I'll take it! The weather in Nashville has been on & off. I'm excited for some nice breezy fall weather - my favorite! It's hot coffee & scarf weather. YAY!

Is anyone running the Marathon? We'll be out there cheering for you on Sunday! Is anyone else going to a Jimmy show? They're my favorite! If you have a chance, definitely see them live... it's a good time.

See you soon, Ash! :) xo

What to Pack for the PNW (Seattle, Vancouver, Portland, etc)

I promise I'll shut up about Seattle soon.... but it was just so fun! And the clothes I packed really worked out for me on this trip, so I thought I'd share.

These outfits would work well if you're in the transitional weather we're all experiencing right now - chilly one day and warm the next. They would also work most of the year in the PNW, if that's Seattle, Portland, Vancouver or otherwise. These combos will carry you through a good 9 months of the year.

I used two main bases - a pair of jeans and a black dress. I worked the long shorts in (primarily packed for the Lake Chelan portion of the trip!) once for the wedding, but I could have used them more if needed.

Topshop black dress, $55 / MANGO long sleeve shirt, $16 / American Eagle Outfitters top / Alice Olivia white blouse / T By Alexander Wang white shirt / Flower kimono / Phase Eight print scarve, $57 / Print scarve, $19 / H M black belt, $21

To be honest, I probably could have worn this dress the entire week... and almost did. Lest we forget I also had 2 jackets to throw into the mix! I didn't wear all 15 of these outfits but the point is I could have. The goal is to give yourself PLENTY of options with a limited selection & you'll never get bored in your suitcase! This black dress has seen more wear than anything in my closet.

One great example of using this dress to it's max -- I had been at a coffee shop earlier in the day and it was chilly, so I layered this dress with the chunky knit & flats. 

When I met Cait back at her house, I took 5 minutes to freshen my make up, throw a few extra curls in my hair, add the kimono plus belt & heels, and I was transformed. Cait complimented me & said "it's like I turned around and you were a supermodel!". While she's kind & exaggerating (i'm definitely not a model), it just proved my point - a few accessories can completely transform your look.

MANGO longsleeve shirt, $16 / Alice Olivia white sleeveless top / Abercrombie Fitch racer back tank / T By Alexander Wang white linen tank top / American Eagle Outfitters fake leather jacket / Green field jacket / Long kimono / Michael michael kors skinny jeans / Madden Girl cork wedge heel sandals / Restricted ballet pumps / Slingback wedge sandals, $115 / Phase Eight plaid shawl, $57 / Floral print scarve, $19

Once again, plenty of options for the colder days. Dark jeans are so versatile! Another key is that my accessories were so different - woolly tartan vs. bright chiffon, and longer military jacket vs. black moto jacket.... they change the entire personality of the outfit.

I could wear the striped top with the military jacket & tartan scarf with flats for day, and swap to moto & bright scarf with heels for the night. The right accessories change everything.

Little Mistress strapless maxi dress, $105 / Nicole Miller cocktail dress, $705 / Alice Olivia silk blouse / American Eagle Outfitters biker jacket / H&M chino shorts, $8.10 / Madden Girl wedges shoes / Michael Kors crossbody purse / MICHAEL Michael Kors leather tote bag / Floral scarve, $19


Now for the wedding is where I splurged in my packing a bit.
I re-wore one of the dresses from the bachelorette weekend for the rehearsal dinner. I re-wore my wine tasting in Chelan outfit while I did the bride & bridesmaid's hair. And I brought an entirely different dress to wear to the wedding. BUT! I still used my shoes, purse, scarf & jacket i'd been using all week.

It wasn't necessary for me to bring this extra dress that I'd only get one wear out of. If I was going on a longer trip, I would have subbed in one of my other dresses I wore for the bachelorette weekend.... However, this was the purpose of my entire trip (the wedding!), so I wanted to have something special. What a sacrificed was a 2nd pair of pants that would have given me even more options during the week... but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make and felt very happy with my outfit options! 

Make smart choices with your packing options and know what your limits are. Decide what's important to you and maximize everything else so you can have that thing.

Other PNW Posts You Might Enjoy
"Extras" you might find useful
Where to Eat & Play in Seattle
How to Choose the Perfect AirBNB in Seattle

How to Pack for Lake Chelan

Lake Chelan - full of amazing views and red wine.... what more could you really want?

Since I was coming to the PNW for 10 days, including a lake weekend, wedding festivities, and typical Seattle activities... I had to pack smart & versatile. Here were my outfit combos for Lake Chelan.

Vintage dress / Little Mistress strapless maxi dress, $105 / Topshop cut out dress, $55 / American eagle outfitters shirt / T By Alexander Wang linen shirt / Alice Olivia silk blouse / Abercrombie Fitch white tank top / Jacket / American Eagle Outfitters black jacket / MICHAEL Michael Kors blue jeans / H&M chino shorts, $8.15 / Neck tie / Bikini bathing suit / Madden Girl strap sandals / Restricted ballerina shoes / Strappy sandals, $115 / MICHAEL Michael Kors leather tote bag / Michael Kors crossbody purse / Ulster Weavers canvas purse, $24 / Michael Stars hat / Yves Saint Laurent black sunglasses / H M braided belt, $21

Chelan is casual but classic. Here are some of my thoughts on packing for Chelan:

• Longer Chino Short allows for warmer weather but can also be classy for a winery. 
• A few dresses keep your options open and can have a jacket layered for cooler evenings
• Nice sandals will do - no need for beach flip flops as you won't be getting them sandy or wet.
• Easy accessories like a hat and sunglasses give you extra options

Just flashback to my full Seattle Packing List. I pulled key pieces from this wardrobe to make a casual lake weekend work.

It seems like I wore everything.... but the good news is that there were still PLENTY of outfits left for the 7 days I had left in Seattle! 

Stay tuned for those outfit combinations.
xo

Americana Inspired Vacations for the 4th of July (or anytime)

I LOVE the 4th of July - it reminds me of being a kid :) Sparklers on the beach in my american flag bathing suit.... those were the days. There's also something whimsical about places that are "quintessentially American". These are typically old money/preppy towns (like Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod), but I think there are more options than you might think.

In honor of America's 238th birthday, let's take it back to the 13 original Colonies. Here are some gorgeous places on the East Coast that I LOVE visiting or am DYING to visit! There are so many amazing places you can go to and you don't even need a passport and just scream 'MERICA (in a the best way possible).

Grab your pullover & loafers, and let's see this country.

Maine
New England's crown jewel is #1 on my list right now. I've never been to most of the NE states, but I'd really like to. I want to eat lobster in my nautical sweaters and search for lighthouses. Maybe stay IN a lighthouse? A girl can dream :)

I saw this spread in Condé Nast Traveler and it just reminded me why I want to go there.

Finger Lakes, NY

My mom is from Upstate New York. I've always wondered why Upstate New York was used as a phrase for the 99% of the state that isn't MANHATTAN. New York State is huge! With that being said, I've been to the Buffalo/Niagara area a few times, but nowhere else "Upstate". I recently went to Ithaca, NY for a scouting trip and have fallen in love! There are a few long lakes called the Finger Lakes, and the area is crawling with charming farm towns, wineries, and creameries (hello, wine & cheese heaven!)... not to mention that Ithaca is the home to Cornell University, arguably one of the most beautiful college campus I've ever seen. And there's a WATERFALL a half mile from campus. Get yourself a B&B and go wine tasting for the weekend.

Waterfront restaurant in Ithaca

                             one of the many waterfalls                            Downtown Ithaca, crawling with cute cafe's

Savannah, GA

I'd dreamed of going to Savannah for years, and finally made my way there a couple of years ago. It's extremely charming, full of history, and beautiful as could be. There are ghost tours (my favorite) to accompany the extensive history, dozens of cute restaurants and shops line the cobble stone streets, and plenty to do no matter what your travel style is. I can't wait to go back, and eat here.

I'll be celebrating the 4th in good ole' Tennessee this year, followed by a month on my favorite beach (working holiday, if you will). I can't wait! Where are you celebrating America's Birthday?

Have you ever been to these places? Would you go back? Where else is on your list of Americana Quaint towns?