Costa Rica Packing List

Costa Rica was so fun, but I truly had no idea what to pack. I did a decent job in the end, but there were a few things I'd change. Here's what I think is ideal to pack for about a week. We easily packed carry on only for this trip (much easier for warm trips than cold trips, huh)

Shoes
I was tempted to bring heels (low, casual heels, but heels nonetheless) because we were going to at least one nicer dinner, but I'm SO GLAD I DIDN'T. Two reasons; Costa Rica is not overly developed and many of the roads are gravel only or mud, and it's such a casual place! Even at the nicest restaurants, most people are wearing shorts and a tank top. So so so so casual.

Running shoes were key, not only for exercise or excursions, but like I said, the gravel roads (and 1 mile walk we had) were easier to walk with a sturdy shoe. 

Durable sandals (my Reefs) were the best pick! I barely wore my J.Crew leather sandals because they slip so badly on mud, and I didn't want them to be filthy. BUT I'm glad I had a prettier option for nicer dinners.

Dresses
I brought 3 maxi dresses - but wish I would have only brought 1. For the reasons above, walking was a pain in them since I was trying to keep them off the mud! Midi dresses and regular sundresses were a much better option. These were great for dinner, because most restaurants did not have a/c or were outside.

Shorts & Tank Tops
I brought 1 pair of athletic shorts and 2 tank tops, 1 pair of jean shorts, and mixed and matched them all. Like I said, this place is CASUAL! While I'm not really a yoga-pants-in-public kind of girl, there was no point in getting all dressed up to walk a mile in the mud/gravel to get breakfast, 1 mile back, and then put on a bathing suit for the beach. 

Bathing Suits
Bring at least 2! On a trip that is primarily focused on the beach or pool, 2 bathing suits are necessary.  You don't want to get stuck with a damp suit from the day before (yuck). I brought 1 cover up and bought a pretty sarong on our first day in town!

Protect Yourself
I don't burn easily, but I do wear 15-30 SPF at all times. Matt burns quickly and easily, so he opts for rash guards & sun shirts that protect his shoulders and chest from the sun. He still applies sunscreen to legs & face, but his shoulders are always what get charred. Bring lots of sunscreen, any protective clothing, and a hat! There are also a lot of bugs around, so bring a good bug spray - especially for the evening!

Weather
Costa Rica is HOT. Hot hot hot. We were visiting over Thanksgiving, and the temperatures were in the low 90's each day. The evenings were not much cooler. We were sweaty. The sun is also quite intense, even in the "winter". The rain forest is also right off the beach, so it's very humid and can be buggy. I didn't bother to blow dry my hair the entire week, because I knew it would be in a bun before long anyway, so why fight the curl? (especially with the nice salty ocean to help!)

Part of the charm of Costa Rica was the fact that it's laid back and a little "unfinished". It's so nice to be able to be so casual in a beautiful place. 

I hope this helps you plan how you'll pack for your trip to Costa Rica!
xo

My New Favorite Carry On Accessories

I'm always looking for ways to pack smarter, lighten my carry on, be more comfortable in flight, or maximize what I bring along. I'd mentioned a few things I was searching for over the last few months, and Matt made my Christmas presents mostly travel themed! These three items will really make my carry on & in flight experience a better one. While I haven't actually been able to test them out yet (we're on a travel hiatus until the end of March!) these are quite the upgrade to my current carry on situation!

Travelrest Travel Pillow

I am SO EXCITED about this pillow! It looks super goofy, but it is so incredibly comfortable. First of all, I refuse to carry a stuffed or filled neck pillow. I prefer an inflatable pillow because they take up less room when you're not flying... and I couldn't bear dragging around a big pillow the other 95% of your trip, but I really can't get any sleep on a plane without it. The pillow I have is the traditional "C" shape, but I always found myself needing another inch of pillow on the sides to actually rest my head. This cross body pillow is PERFECT! And it folds up to the size of my straightener when deflated. I should also note it has this amazing valve that keeps the air in, and doesn't leak in between each breath (like a traditional inflatable). You can see the valve in this video.

Contour Eye Mask

I have only started using an eye mask to sleep on planes in the last year. Previously, I thought they were just annoying, but I've realized that I'm more likely to get some sleep if my eyes are covered and I can't open them! It's not a light issue for me, it's just FOMO and curiosity :) What I don't like is that most masks don't fit your face right - they can be too tight on your head and even feel like they're pulling on your eyes. Matt found this amazing concave eye mask, that not only keeps pressure off your eyes, it's completely black out! It's so comfortable on your face, you can barely feel it. This isn't the exact brand I have, but it has all the same features. 

Madewell Transport Rucksack

And the cherry on top -- my new "personal item". I love my big travel tote I've used for the last couple of years, and the pockets make sense sometimes, but often it feels very over stuffed and heavy. It also is hard to fit a small purse inside. I've been seeing all these cute leather backpacks and decided that would make a much better personal item. I'm selling my tote because this Madewell backpack is a much better option for me! I did a trial pack and fit my laptop, iPad, small cross body bag, my big headphones, two magazines, a book my phone, and a handful of random items in with room to spare! Plus the backpack fit makes it feel much lighter on my shoulders than the large tote did. It also has 4 different small pockets to keep things like lipstick or other littles in, which is something I loved in my tote. The tote might be a better fit for me if I had a commute for work, but I think this backpack is a much better option as my new personal item!

Those are my upgrades! The travel pillow & eye mask are very reasonably priced. The backpack was a splurge, but I am a 1 bag kind of girl, so I prefer to have one perfect bag that I'll use for a long time rather than several options. (Plus, the resale of my tote almost paid for the backpack! win win!)

What are your favorite carry on items?
xo

WINNING WEDNESDAY: In flight kit (a giveaway!)

Today is the last giveaway I'll host for a while - but it's so cute I want to keep it for myself. I promise I won't :)

It's an in flight beauty sleep kit from Sephora. SO CUTE! With a 30 hour journey to New Zealand rapidly approaching, I'm thankful for my sleep mask and self-made carry on pouch. But this one will go to one lucky winner! 

This kit contains: 

- Contoured sleep mask 

- Ear buds 

- Footies 

- 3 x Hair ties 

- Luggage tag 

- Travel pouch

You can buy one here or you can win one by entering below! This contest is open until Friday at 6pm EST. GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*please note this giveaway is not affiliated with Sephora. I purchased this set for the purpose of giving it away. Any questions please email me at avecamourblog@gmail.com - Thanks!*

WINNING WEDNESDAY: Vapur Collapsible Water Bottle (a giveaway!)

Happy Wednesday! Let's win things, shall we?

One of my all time favorite things I've discovered is a Vapur water bottle. Funny story, I thought I invented it (in my head) - thinking of a water bottle that worked more like a Capri Sun, after being sick of carrying large Nalgene bottles in my purse. 

The Vapur rolls up so you can carry it with you at all times and fill up when needed! BUT, it opens, closes, and drinks like a normal water bottle. It's always with me when I travel, and kind of with me all the time. I love it. It looks crazy, but who cares - it's the best.

Rolls up to the size of a candy bar.

You can win one today! I'm giving away a red Vapur Element bottle 0.7L in size.

You can enter up to 8 times with the options below - good luck!
xo

a Rafflecopter giveaway


all images via 

Translating Packing Lists Into Real Life

I shared my planned packing list list for Italy, but wanted to follow up and show how it panned out in real life. It's easy to say you're going to pack light, but it can be harder to actually do it! Honestly, packing light takes a little more planning on the front end, but makes your trip smoother, lighter, and generally more enjoyable (at least it does for me!) Here's what the contents of my backpack looked like!

The gold scarf at the top was swapped for a lighter weight black & white scarf.

 

It all fit in my 45L osprey backpack with room to spare! Here's how it looked out on the road :)

What I would have done differently:
- I brought 2 dresses but only ended up wearing 1. For fall/winter, I should have stuck to 1 dress as most days were a bit chilly (even with tights). Plus, I'd never worn the grey dress before. If you don't wear it in real life, you won't wear it on the road. Broke one of my own rules!
- I foolishly brought suede flats for my 2nd pair of shoes. With the rainy forecast, I don't know what I was thinking! These were in my backpack the entire time.
- 2 jackets. I wore both of them, but definitely could have streamlined down to 1 and chosen another medium weight top for layering options.

Overall, not too many regrets. And definitely not ones that were too terrible! But as per usual, you can usually pack less than you think you need :)

What I wouldn't change:
- My ankle boots. They were great for long days of walking, water resistant, and matched everything! 
- Layers. I got creative with my layering, putting my plaid shirt under my black dress OR the striped sweater, wore it over the black top, or by itself. Same with the mustard cardigan! Versatile as they come, and added color to otherwise plain outfits. 
- My black shirt from Vinnie Louise. It's heavy enough to be warm but billowy and breathable. With a belt it has great shape or can be layered under a sweater! I think I wore it on every train ride because it was so comfortable.
- 2 different scarves. These scarves were different colors, materials & weights. They instantly changed an outfit's look, PLUS it was nice to have different weights for weather changes.
- Low profile trainers. I found these on sale a few weeks before we left (for $30 at DSW) and I'm so glad I bought them. We hiked in Cinque Terre (so running shoes were necessary), but didn't use them again - these were half the weight and size of my Brooks running shoes, and saved me a ton of space.

Thinking about New Zealand next month, I'm trying to be smart with my packing! Here's what I know so far about our trip.
- Hiking at least 2 full days (one of those hikes will require cold weather gear)
- Driving (clothing that is comfortable in the car without being frumpy)
- The weather will be Spring-ish. Warm days, cool nights (maxi dresses, lightweight layers, thin scarf).

We'll also be sea kayaking, wine tasting, exploring cities, glaciers, and all sorts of crazy stuff. It's looking like my bag will be filled with a lot of athletic wear! Similarly to Italy, we will be bouncing around quite a bit - so i'll need easy mix & match items that pack well without wrinkling. Challenge excepted.

If anyone has been to New Zealand and has any tips on visiting in the late Summer/Early Fall, please let me know! I'm all ears!
xo

Capsule Wardrobe for Every Season

I'm always on a mission to pack less. Carrying on is a way of life and I can't recommend it enough!

What I've realized is having a basic selection of clothes for every season is the perfect building block for packing. With these capsule wardrobes, I start with these basics - then add or take away as needed. Add a more formal dress, or slightly lighter or heavier clothing depending on the location. It works pretty well! Here's my basic capsule for every season.

Spring can be a tricky time - warm days, cool nights... you  need a little bit of everything. Here's how you can have plenty to get you by without bringing your entire closet. This little 8 piece packing list gives you over 10 outfits with almost no effort. Also, pick a few lighter colors as a reward for getting through winter :)

POWER PLAYERS FOR SPRING

- Lightweight tops that can be layered with cardigans or a chambray.
- Dresses... because it's spring! I always bring tights because you  never know how breezy it will be.
- A lightweight scarf. A key ingredient in ANY weather.
- A pair of closed toed flats for chilly days, and sandals when the sun is shining.

Other Spring packing lists:
Charleston

Summer is HOT. You'll never ever see me in jeans unless I'm at the north pole. Moving from spring, I ditch the jeans for shorts and a skirt, add a dress and swap to tank tops.

POWER PLAYERS FOR SUMMER

- A black sundress can be dressed up or down, and can cover you from the beach to dinner.
- Maxi dress. Once again, can be good for a day date, bridal shower, dinner, or attending a wedding. Plus you can wear it again on the flight to stay warm.
- The chambray will take care of any breeze or shade, or more likely, cold restaurants.
- Tank tops go with your shorts, skirt and can be layered over the black dress! Seriously, don't ever forget the black dress!

Other Summer Packing lists:
Cruise Outfit Guide // Cruise for Women // Cruise for Men // Seattle // Vegas // Florida 

Fall is always a favorite. After sweating all Summer I'm ready for some layers. Like Spring, layers are key.

POWER PLAYERS FOR FALL

- Lightweight sweater. My black & grey sweater is a fall favorite because it's lightweight but still warm. I can add a tank top or jacket and be good to go.
- Wool dress. Add tights and you've got a cute evening outfit. It's also nice to mix it up from jeans.
- Fingerless tights. I love these things! They keep air from sneaking up your arms but aren't so hot that you can't breath.
- Medium weight scarves add the perfect layer of warmth on a chilly night or overcast day. Then your medium weight jacket can take care of every occasion.

Other Fall packing lists:
Italy // Chicago // Seattle 

Winter... I almost don't even want to talk about you since you're almost over. BLAH! The only redeeming quality about winter to me is cute sweaters and blanket scarves.

POWER PLAYERS FOR WINTER

- Merino wool sweater. It's the thinnest, warmest sweater you can invest in. They have them everywhere from TJ Maxx to Target to J.Crew & beyond - get one. I have one in a neutral tan so it goes with everything!
- Layerable clothing. You will wear at least two tops every single day, so make sure they can layer over each other and all match.
- Blanket scarf! I love mine. I use it as a blanket on the plane, wrap myself in it when I'm freezing, and have even used it as an extra blanket in a cold hotel. Get one.
- Thermal & fleece. While these aren't attractive, they are warm. They are worth a little extra bulk in your suitcase so you don't freeze.

Other Winter packing lists:
Sub Zero Temps // Hot & Cold Weather (in one bag) 

General Packing Tips
Mix & Match // Packing Math 

You can DO THIS! This weekend Matt & I shared a carry on suitcase. If I can do it, you can too. What essentials are in your capsule wardrobes?
xo

Packing for Hot & Cold Weather in One Carry On

For the second year in a row, we're going to the tropics & the arctic tundra in one trip. Last year was Mexico & Montana, and this year it's Florida & South Dakota. Brrrrrrr.

Last year, I was able to fit everything for a beach anniversary trip & a snowboarding trip in ONE carry on. This was for almost 2 weeks away. Luckily, this year we aren't packing for snowboarding - just visiting family, which makes it MUCH easier! Here's a sample of what I packed last year.

WARM WEATHER OUTFITS

dinner! 

dinner #2

dinner #3

shopping in town

lounging around the resort

by the pool 

by the pool more!

COLD WEATHER OUTFITS

dinner in Big Sky - lots of layers!

my go-to travel day outfit!

suited up for boarding!

Chunky sweater, slouchy sweater, cardigan & chambray shirt.

Layers for snowboarding - wool socks, neoprene socks, neck gater, gloves, 

Scarf, wicking shirt & jacket.

 It was a long two weeks, we were on over 9 planes and endured a temperature change of over 100 degrees (plus wind chill... EWWWWW).

Here are the keys to packing for two climates in one bag.

1. Bring ONE of anything that can only be used in one climate - i.e., bathing suit cover up or winter jacket. 
2. Think of items that can work for both climates, such as a chambray shirt or a cardigan. It can be useful for cold restaurants in Florida, and can be used for actual warmth in South Dakota. Same with tank tops - they'll be regular tops in Florida, but will add layers in SD.
3. Keep your shoes down to 3 - I'll probably bring boots, sandals, and running shoes. If the temperature drops at night in Florida, the boots will be fine with thin socks.
4. Switch up your look with accessories, rather than a totally new outfit. Add a cardigan to a dress or switch scarves.
5. Bring dresses that can work for the beach or can be worn with tights.

Here's my packing list for my upcoming trip. 4 nights in Florida and 5 in South Dakota.

2 dresses

1 cardigan

1 leggings

1 jeans

2 tank tops

3 long sleeve tops/sweaters (bonus if they can be layered!)

3 shoes (boots, sandals, running shoes)

1 set workout clothes (tank, jacket, capris, sports bra, socks)

4 underwear

2 bras

Cold Accessories:

2 wool socks

1 beanie

2 scarves

1 black tights

1 heavy jacket

1 pair gloves

Warm Accessories:

1 bathing suit

1 sunglasses

The thing to remember about traveling to two different places with one suitcase, is that you can bring half the outfits and always have something "new" to wear in your 2nd location. Aka, PACKING MATH! At least this is what I have to remind myself, the girl who obsessed in high school over never wearing the same thing more than two weeks in a row. 

I'm getting over it slowly but surely ;)

We're excited to go see our families! Although, I wish all of them lived in warmer climates :)

Do you have any multi-climate trips coming up?
xo

PS - 
How to Pack Light & Always Carry on
Packing Math

Gift Guide for Travelers: Gifts under $25

It's that time of year... we're all shopping for family, friends, husbands, co workers and the lot. That's where gift guides come in handy!

This gift guide is filled with gifts for the traveler in your life. These are all gifts that are compact, help in packing, aid in travel, and overall make trips easier... and easy on your wallet since they're all under $25 :)

1 - Vapur Element Bottle / 2 - Nerdwax / 3 - SanDisk Ultra II SD Plus 2GB Card / 4 - Birchbox Subscription / 5 - eBags Packing Cubes / 6 - Anker Lipstick-Sized Portable External Battery Charger

Vapur
I've shared before how much I love this little water bottle. It packs up easily when you're done (or going through airport security) and it pays for itself when you avoid buying 4 bottles of water after the TSA pat down. 

Nerdwax
If you wear glasses (prescription, fake, sun or otherwise), this is a great product for you. A natural beeswax product that you put on the bridge of your glasses so they don't slide constantly. It's amazing, and made locally in Nashville!

SD Cards
These aren't just any SD cards... they flip out and automatically become a USB. They're handy for travelers in 2 ways - you can leave the cord behind if you want to transfer photos on the go, and you can use this as a jump drive if you need to save a document for some reason. This feature has been so handy over the years, I'll never use another normal SD camera card again.

Birchbox
Customized to your own profile (curly hair, combination skin, loves nail polish, hates new perfume, and so on), it's a great way to get fun, new beauty products in travel size. Every month I receive new travel sized hair products, BB creme, dry shampoo and more. It's the best!

eBags
I've said it a dozen times before: packing cubes are the BEST way to pack light & maximize your space in a suitcase or backpack. This multi-pack has a small, medium & large. I use them every time I travel & they're a game changer! They're also super helpful for staying organized when you're living out of a suitcase.

Anker Charger
This is a lifesaver for work when I was on set all day. It charges my phone almost two full times from a dead battery. It charges my iPad about 1.25 times. Long road trip, international flight... any time you're bored & draining your battery... this charger is clutch. It's the size of a lipstick so you've always got room. 

These are my favorite gifts for travelers under $25! I hope you find the perfect gift for the traveler in your life :)

xo

Other Gift Guides!

Gifts Guide for Her Under $25

Gifts Guide for Him Under $25

Gift Gide for Travelers Under $25

Gift Guide for 12 Stocking Stuffers Under $12