ONE – Tom Ford Sunglasses.  TWO – Silk Gucci Scarf.  THREE – Tan Cashmere Wrap.  FOUR – Silk Eye Mask.  FIVE – Noise Canceling Headphones.  SIX – Volume Mascara.  SEVEN – SPF CC Cream.  EIGHT – Tinted Lip Balm.  NINE – Cashmere Duster Cardigan.  TEN – White V-Neck Tee.  ELEVEN – “Party Girls Die In Pearls”.  TWELVE – ‘Instasculpt’ Skinny Jeans.  THIRTEEN – Leather Tote.  FOURTEEN – Soft-Sided Duffel.  FIFTEEN – Colgate Wisps.  SIXTEEN – Mini Vanilla Deodorant.  SEVENTEEN –Sanitizing Wipes.  EIGHTEEN – Leather Sneakers.

I remember traveling with my mother as a little girl and noticing how she always looked so put together and polished. She would twist her hair up and wear one of her pretty scarves and she looked so elegant and beautiful. She continues to wear some of those same styles to this day and they still work because they’re classics. I’ve definitely taken note and have implemented some of her tricks into my own travel style with a few new updates and a few tricks to help you feel your best no matter how long you’re up in the air.

How To Feel Your Best

There’s something about these dirty little boxes of air that can make anyone feel exceptionally slimy, even after just a couple of hours. But there are a few essentials I’ve learned to bring with me that help me feel fresh and clean during travel. Upon arrival, I usually feel fresh enough to explore the city a bit or grab a bite to eat before heading to the hotel.

Let’s be honest, those “in-flight skincare routines” we see influencers post are for business and first class flights only. When you’re sitting in economy, you’re lucky if you can raise your elbows three inches without bumping the person next to you. If you are sitting in business or first, bring some makeup wipes and eye gel pads, but my best advice is to check in for your flight looking and feeling your best and simply try to preserve it until you can get ready again at your hotel.

• I try to take my time getting ready before an international flight – exfoliating, shaving, moisturizing, etc. I don’t skip any steps because it’s important for me to feel completely fresh when I step on the plane. (Because it kind of goes downhill from there!)
• When I travel I try to wear very little makeup. I make do with my favorite CC cream, a little mascara, and some tinted lip balm. I don’t go completely makeup-free because it makes me feel greasy and sloppy, but lots of makeup doesn’t usually look so pretty upon arrival.
• Most airlines offer a toothbrush and toothpaste even in economy class, and if not, a pack of Colgate Wisps can do the trick.
• I always bring a mini deodorant and a little travel sample of perfume to keep feeling fresh. I take them into the bathroom once or twice during my flight and freshen up so I don’t disturb other passengers by spritzing my perfume everywhere.
• I never forget antibacterial wipes for wiping down the surfaces around my seat; planes are dirty places and when I do this step first thing on a flight I instantly feel better. I also use the wipes to wipe down my tech items like my phone, iPad, and laptop at the end of the flight before I put them back into my bag. And they’re nice to carry in your bag while you’re out and about exploring each day.

Layering

I’m sure you see the same people at the airport I do; they’re wearing their pajamas and they have piles of travel pillows and blankets with them. Don’t be this person. It looks tacky and it’s completely unnecessary, plus you’re really going to annoy whoever you sit next to with that load of bedding. (Trust me – my husband owns one and I want to bop him with it every time he brings it on a flight.) I promise, the airline will give you a decent pillow and blanket if you need one. And it’s just as clean as that pillow you’ve drug through seven airports. By layering your outfit, you can stay comfortable in fluctuating cabin temps and avoid looking like a mess.

• My go-to travel outfit consists of a chic cashmere cardigan, crisp white cotton tee, and simple dark skinny jeans. If it’s winter I will switch the tee out for a white blouse and add a classic trench on top.
• I always bring a colorful silk scarf with me when I travel. It pulls any outfit together and can easily give a daytime look just enough polish to head to dinner or drinks. Tie it around your neck, drape it over your shoulders, or tie it in your hair or onto a bag… The options are endless.
• Now that I’ve found these incredibly comfortable leather sneakers I want them in every single color. They are the only shoes that I can wear for hours on end comfortably. A little tip: start off wearing socks and when you get through security, stow them away and put your sneakers on with (clean) bare feet.
• The other pair of shoes I love for travel? Tod’s driving loafers. They’ll last you for years and literally mold to fit your foot. But break them in for a day or two before traveling in them.
• Don’t forget some classic sunnies to put on post-flight. Forget the trendy tiny sunnies out right now; the larger classic styles cover any hint of jet lag or puffy, sleepy eyes.

What’s In My Bag

I prefer a soft-sided duffel when traveling internationally. It can squish into the overhead bin nicely and is rarely forced to be gate checked. I usually bring a tote bag as my personal item and bag for daytime looks during my trip, then stash a smaller clutch or bag inside to carry in the evenings. This system forces me to pack a bit lighter than I normally would and I don’t risk losing important things by constantly switching bags throughout my trip.

• I’m sure you’ve heard about noise-canceling headphones before, but they’re so great I think they’re worth mentioning here. They block out sound – whether it be crying babies or airplane noise – and this pair feels incredibly comfortable to wear.
• This silk sleep mask is really just about personal preference. My eyes get so dry on planes and a few eye drops followed by sleeping in one of these masks seems to help. It’s not essential for everyone, but if you have dry eyes or are a light sleeper, you might want to try it. The silk isn’t just to be glamorous – it won’t give you face creases like other materials will.
• I always pack an oversized wrap or pashmina in my duffel bag. During the flight when the cabin gets cold, I pull it out and bundle it around my neck. Sometimes I cover my face with it when I want to sleep.
• I’m old-fashioned. I like a nice book in my hands. (Read about my current book list here.) I’ll load a couple favorite movies on my iPad pre-flight, but when it comes to books I have to read the paper kind. Leave a little extra time before your flight so you can check out the airport book store and browse the stacks.
• This is the most important part. Pack a clean tee or shirt and undies to change into in the airport when you arrive. Best case scenario, you’ll feel fresh. Worst case scenario, you’ll have essentials if your luggage is lost.

My Instagram bio states “always reading” and it’s not an exaggeration! I read every night before bed and just packed up a few new reads for my trip, so I thought I should share my new bookshelf additions in case you’re looking for something new as well. It’s about to get chilly outside; there’s no better time to cozy up and be whisked away by stories of other times and places. I’m so looking forward to diving into these new books and I would love for us to read them together so we can chat about them as we go! What are you currently reading?

“Radium Girls”

by Kate Moore – Available Here

When I read about this book and the true story behind it, I was intrigued to know more about this horrible employment rights violation. It’s unfathomable to think of such a tragedy happening in 2018, but in the early 20th century it wasn’t.

Description from Amazon: 

“The Curies’ newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War.

Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these “shining girls” are the luckiest alive — until they begin to fall mysteriously ill.

But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women’s cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America’s early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers’ rights that will echo for centuries to come.

Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the “wonder” substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives…”

“The Rose Garden”

by Susanna Kearsley – Available Here

This book was recommended to me by a great friend of mine. When I read the description and saw the book combined time travel and England, I was sold and ordered it that very day. It sounds romantic and mysterious; I can’t wait to read it.

Description from Amazon:

A journey through time and a story of love, The Rose Garden tells the story of a modern woman thrown back three centuries only to find that might just be where she belongs.

After the death of her sister, Eva Ward leaves Hollywood behind to return to the only place she feels she truly belongs, the old house on the coast of Cornwall, England. She’s seeking comfort in memories of childhood summers, but what she finds is mysterious voices and hidden pathways that sweep her not only into the past, but also into the arms of a man who is not of her time. But Eva soon discovers that the man, Daniel Butler, is very, very real and is thrown into a world of intrigue, treason, and love.

Inside the old house, Eva must confront her own ghosts, as well as those of long ago. And as she begins to question her place in the present, she realizes she must decide where she really belongs: in the life she knows or the past she feels so drawn towards.

“Party Girls Die in Pearls: A Novel”

by Plum Sykes – Available Here

When I read Plum Sykes’s “Bergdorf Blondes” years ago, I fell in love with her writing. “Bergdorf Blondes” was a light-hearted, fabulous escape and while “Party Girls Die in Pearls: A Novel” sounds a bit darker and more mysterious, I’m hoping to get the same sense of escape from Plum Sykes.

Description from Amazon:

The New York Times bestselling author of Bergdorf Blondes takes us back to the decadent 1980s in this comic murder mystery set in the tony world of Oxford University.

It’s 1985, and at Oxford University, Pimm’s, punting, and ball gowns are de rigeur. Ursula Flowerbutton, a studious country girl, arrives for her first term anticipating nothing more sinister than days spent poring over history books in gilded libraries—and, if she’s lucky, an invitation to a ball.

But when she discovers a glamorous classmate on a chaise longue with her throat cut, Ursula is catapulted into a murder investigation.

Determined to bag her first scoop for the famous student newspaper Cherwell, Ursula enlists the help of trend-setting American exchange student Nancy Feingold to unravel the case. While navigating a whirl of black-tie parties and secret dining societies, the girls discover a surfeit of suspects. From broken-hearted boyfriends to snobby Sloane Rangers, lovelorn librarians to dishy dons, none can be presumed innocent—and Ursula’s investigations mean that she may be next on the murderer’s list.

Clueless meets Agatha Christie in this wickedly funny tale of high society and low morals, the first book in Plum Sykes’ irresistible new series.

“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”

by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Available Here

I’ve heard so many recommendations for this book; most of them from my readers on Instagram. The description sounds a bit mysterious and a bit suspenseful, so I’m not exactly sure what to expect, but my readers rarely steer me wrong so I’m up for anything!

Description from Amazon:

In this entrancing novel “that speaks to the Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor in us all” (Kirkus Reviews), a legendary film actress reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine.

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

“Heartbreaking, yet beautiful” (Jamie Blynn, Us Weekly), The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is “Tinseltown drama at its finest” (Redbook): a mesmerizing journey through the splendor of old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means—and what it costs—to face the truth.

“A Simple Favor”

by Darcey Bell – Available Here

I was so excited when I saw the trailer for this movie and even more excited when I realized the movie was based on a book. (I rarely come across a movie that’s better than the book.) I adore Blake Lively and I can’t wait to see this movie, but I want to read the book first; something tells me there’s a Gone Girl-style twist at the end.

Description from Amazon:

It starts with a simple favor—an ordinary kindness mothers do for one another. When glamorous Emily asks Stephanie to pick up her son after school, Stephanie happily says yes. Emily has a life that would make any woman jealous. She is the perfect mother with a dazzling career working for a famous fashion designer in Manhattan. Stephanie, a widow with a son in kindergarten, lonely in their Connecticut suburb, turns to her daily blog for connection and validation. Stephanie imagines Emily to be her new confidante and is shocked when Emily suddenly disappears without a trace, leaving her son and husband with no warning.

Stephanie knows something is terribly wrong. Unable to keep away from the grieving family, she soon finds herself entangled with Sean, Emily’s handsome, reticent British husband. But she can’t ignore the nagging feeling that he’s not being honest with her about Emily’s disappearance. Is Stephanie imagining things? How well did she really know her “best” friend?

Stephanie begins to see that nothing—not friendship, love, or even an ordinary favor—is as simple as it seems.

A Simple Favor exposes the dark underbelly of female friendship in this taut, unsettling, and completely absorbing story that holds you in its grip until the final page.

“The Inn at Rose Harbor”

by Debbie Macomber – Available Here

I discovered this book by mistake. I was looking for another title from this author and I noticed the title of this book. I read the back, saw it centered around the Pacific Northwest (which I fell in love with earlier this summer) and I thought it sounded intriguing enough to pick up. I think this will be a serene, soothing type of novel to read before bed.

Description from Amazon:

Jo Marie Rose first arrives in Cedar Cove seeking a fresh start. A young widow coping with the death of her husband, she purchases a local bed-and-breakfast—the newly christened Rose Harbor Inn—ready to begin her life anew. Her first guest is Joshua Weaver, who has come home to care for his ailing stepfather. The two have never seen eye to eye, and Joshua has little hope that they can reconcile their differences. Jo Marie’s other guest is Abby Kincaid, who has returned to Cedar Cove to attend her brother’s wedding. Back for the first time in twenty years, she almost wishes she hadn’t come, the picturesque town harboring painful memories. And as Abby and Joshua try to heal from their pasts, and Jo Marie dreams of the possibilities before her, they all realize that life moves in only one direction—forward.

“The Death of Mrs. Westaway”

by Ruth Ware – Available Here

I received so many recommendations from my readers to read this book. It seems a bit chilling and suspenseful; the Amazon description compares Ruth Ware to Agatha Christie so I’m assuming this will be a clever, creative mystery.

Description from Amazon: 

On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money.

Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the center of it.

Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, this is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.

Finally, my last Washington post. And what a beautiful one it is. My upcoming travels reminded me I needed to post these photos and looking at them makes me feel so inspired all over again. There’s something special about water – especially the misty, moody Washington ocean – that gets my creativity flowing like nothing else.

We were looking at the map, driving back from the Hoh Rainforest to Seattle and John told me to pick one more beach to visit. Ruby Beach stood out to me because my feisty, strong-willed grandmother was named Ruby. We got out of the car and walked down a trail lined with lush greenery, dripping with moisture from the recent rain. The trail turned and the green plants stopped, opening up to piles upon piles of giant bleached driftwood and a dark gray, misty beach beyond. As we climbed over the piles of driftwood, we began to smell the scent of freshly cooked oysters and clams. A family was gathering them from the area where a small river met the wild waves of the Pacific Ocean, bringing them back to their oceanside campfire to cook.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit a lot of really magical places in my life, but Ruby Beach truly took my breath away. The soft mist hanging in the air around us, giant rocks looming out of the fog in the distance, and the dark gray palette of the beach dotted with brilliant green patches of moss and greenery beyond… It came together in the most romantic, wild way. I could have stayed there forever.

More Washington Posts: 

La Push Beach

Hoh Rainforest

Pike Place Market

Bainbridge Island

Bar Melusine

General Porpoise Doughnuts

Creed “Floralie”.  La Mer The Cleansing Foam.  La Mer Cleansing Micellar Water.  La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream.  Oribe Shampoo for Beautiful Color.  Oribe Conditioner for Beautiful Color.  Oribe Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse.  Oribe Run-Through Detangling Primer.  Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil.  Oribe Crème for Style.

When I was younger, I would save beauty product samples and use them whenever I traveled. This way, I could try a few products while having the added benefit of a bit more suitcase room on the way back. But then my skin became extremely sensitive and each trip began to coincide with an allergic reaction or two. My mother (who faithfully packs her full-size skincare each trip) finally convinced me that traveling is the worst time to try new products. No one wants to deal with skin sensitivity and allergic reactions while traveling – not to mention how annoying reactions or bad hair can be when you’re taking extra photos on vacation. So this time I decided to do things differently and made a stop at the Neiman Marcus in Cherry Creek Shopping Center so they could help me prep for my trip.

One non-travel-sized item I picked up? Creed’s newest fragrance, exclusive to Neiman Marcus. The perfume is called “Floralie” and gives a nod to the company’s deep commitment to the arts via their foundation, the Heart of Neiman Marcus. The fragrance also celebrates Neiman Marcus’s founders who loved using fragrant floral displays throughout the original flagship store as a way to combine beauty, fragrance, and artistry. “Floralie” is a sunny floral fragrance comprised of Bulgarian rose, tuberose, lilac, marigold, amber, lily of the valley, cedarwood, and musk rose. Before you think I’m completely insane to buy a new fragrance before a trip, consider this… Our sense of smell is the longest sense tied to memory; we will remember the scent of something far longer than we’ll even remember the view or the sounds of a place. Each time you smell the scent in the future, it will trigger special memories from your vacation or event.

If you’re curious about trying some new skincare and makeup for the fall season, I highly suggest Neiman Marcus’s First Look at Beauty event this Saturday, September 8th in the Grand Court from 12 PM – 5 PM at Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Get a sneak peek at the top fall beauty trends, take pics with your girls in the photo booth, and get an illustration from one of Denver’s top fashion illustrators while a live DJ sets the mood.

Skincare

If you’ve read my recent blog post on La Mer skincare, you know that I’ve completely fallen in love with the results I’ve experienced after using this skincare line. My sensitive skin has been soothed, all redness is gone, my skin has softened, and my pores are minimized. After seeing the improvements in my skin, it terrified me to travel without my favorite products. So… I bought a few minis and the La Mer representative at Neiman Marcus gave me some extra samples to use as well.

La Mer The Cleansing Foam

La Mer Cleansing Micellar Water

La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream

Trying Out: The Moisturizing Soft Lotion and The Eye Concentrate

Haircare

My hair stylist introduced me to the Oribe line almost a year ago. I was going from blonde back to my natural brunette at the time and I needed something to help me keep the dark color in my hair. I started by using the ‘For Beautiful Color’ set listed below and went from there. I love Oribe products because they offer great hydration, shine, and moisture without weighing my hair down.

Oribe Shampoo for Beautiful Color

Oribe Conditioner for Beautiful Color

Oribe Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse

Oribe Run-Through Detangling Primer

Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil

Oribe Crème for Style