travel

Object of Affection: Paravel Cabana Tote

August 13, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

Behold, the latest addition to my little Paravel family: the Cabana Tote in the “shandy” colorway. I’ve been smitten with the brand since their crossbody capsule dominated social media a few years ago. I bought one and still love it, and have since expanded my collection to include a small backpack much like this one (mine has been discontinued) that has made the trek to the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Belgium with me. Both pieces are still going strong and have virtually no signs of wear and tear. I hesitated to purchase the Cabana Tote, not because I didn’t love it — I fell for its vintage charm at first sight — but because I wasn’t sure this tote would be any better than the rest of my tote bags. I mean, how many carry-all totes do we really need? Turns out, it’s one. This one.

First things first, the tote is generously sized at 17.75″ x 14.5″ x 7.5″. It’s a true carry-all tote that can corral all of your necessary belongs for a beach day, a road trip, or a social-distanced backyard soiree. There’s a zippered interior pocket and a couple of open pockets to keep your smaller items in reach, and the clasp closure and sturdy base keeps those things from spilling out. One of the best features of this tote and the other Paravel pieces I have is the protective coating made of silicone that makes clean up a breeze.

The tote’s best features, however, are the ones you don’t see. I’ve really come to appreciate Paravel for its commitment to sustainability. You’d never guess that 14 recycled plastic water bottles were used to create the tote’s canvas exterior, the lining, and the straps. And those leather accents? They’re eco-certified by the Leather Working Group.

I know the tote isn’t the cheapest, coming in at $165 (or $175 if you want to add-on the shoe cubes), but it’s a true have-it-forever piece that eclipses any other tote I’ve had to date. Plus, it’s awfully charming!

And, nope, this isn’t sponsored, although I’d happily sign on for a sponsorship! I’ve purchased all of my Paravel pieces and will likely add more to my collection down the road.

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Photo Diary: Christmas in Belgium

December 23, 2019 by jessica Leave a Comment

As someone who loves Christmas, it’s no surprise that kicking off the holiday season in Europe has been something I dreamed of for years. While Germany would have been the obvious choice, a relatively inexpensive flight and hotel package out of Madison made Belgium an attractive option for our getaway. Plus, it gave us a chance to restock our dwindling supply of Cantillon. Priorities.

This was our third trip to Brussels, which made the nine-day trip as low-stress as possible during the busiest time of year because we didn’t need to spend the first couple of days orienting ourselves in the country. We knew how to use public transportation, we knew where to go without getting lost, we knew what favorites we wanted to revisit, and which day trips to go on (Amsterdam, Bruges, and Antwerp). We stopped at our favorite bars and restaurants, ate our weight in frites, drank world-class beer, and reveled in the holiday spirit by way of twinkling lights and Christmas markets. Not surprisingly, a day in Bruges was the most magical. Bruges is one of Europe’s most well-preserved medieval cities, escaping destruction during World War I and II. We’ve been to the city twice before and each time I’m struck by how fairy tale-like it is. Adding in strings of lights and a Christmas market in the city center took it to another level.

Here are a few photos of the most Christmassy moments of our trip. I’m working on a full Brussels travel guide to post in the new year, along with a Google map for your own trip planning. I’m also going to post day trip recommendations for Amsterdam and Bruges now that we’ve been a few times. I hope your holiday week is the merriest!

https://www.clotstudio.com — Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert

Christmas in Antwerp — Christmas market in Antwerp

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My Top Five Travel Accessories

January 22, 2019 by jessica Leave a Comment

Last year was a busy travel one for us, and while we weren’t on the road as often as some people are for work or recreation, it was the most we’ve ever traveled together in the course of 12 months. It seemed like we were on the road at least once a month for the latter half of the year, which challenged me to become more of an efficient packer, relying on wardrobe workhorses instead of packing items just for an outfit photo. Plus, it gave me ample time to home in on the travel accessories that make the journey more enjoyable and more efficient. Here are my top five:

Vince sneakers – I wasn’t sure what to expect when I bought a pair of Vince sneakers late last year. Bloggers rave about them, but there’s always a real possibility it’s because of aesthetics and not comfort. I’m happy to report that these slip-on sneakers live up to the hype. They were comfortable right out of the box with no need for a break-in period and I’ve already worn them for countless miles of exploring cities.
Packing cubes – Just like the Vince sneakers, everyone talks about how great packing cubes are, but you don’t really understand how great they are until you try them yourself. They’re a space-saving solution in your suitcase and they help keep everything organized. I love the preppy stripe on this Paravel set, but we actually have these and they do the job well. We also have one of these each and prefer them over the budget brand, but they all get the job done.
Flight 001 adapter – We’ve been delighted with this four-in-one adapter that fits together to work in 150 countries.
Bose noise-cancelling headphones – The ambient drone of an airplane never bothered me before Dave gave me these. I don’t think I realized how loud planes actually were until I was able to shut it all out and focus on my podcast without distractions.
Belkin mini outlet strip – Maximize the best outlet location in your hotel room with this mini power strip. It even has two USB ports so you charge your phone and keep the outlets free. On international trips, we dedicate one of our adapters to keeping this plugged in because it’s just so handy to have.

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How to Explore Your City Like a Tourist

October 16, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Whenever the travel bug bites, it’s incredibly tempting to book a ticket to a new city or country to explore. However, jet-setting or even spending a weekend away isn’t always feasible due to limited vacation days or financial restrictions. If you’ve found yourself in that boat, don’t worry. Taking time to explore your own city through the lens of a tourist can be just as satisfying — and I’m sure you’ll discover pockets of your city with new-to-you hidden gems or hot spots that you didn’t know existed.

Clear Your Calendar

What a I love about staycations is that they force you to slow down and plan a weekend that’s all about getting out, dining out, and giving yourself an out from your to-do list. In order to fully be present and get the most out of the time in your city, you need to clear your calendar. Take time off from work and other responsibilities to play hooky around the city. Extend your weekend by adding in Monday and Tuesday for a four-day adventure. Additional time away from the office will distance you from your 9-to-5 job, making you feel more relaxed and refreshed when you do make it back. This also means shirking your to-do lists at home. The chores and projects will be there when you “return” to your normal routine, just like they would when you go out of town.

Do Your Research

Why not approach your staycation the way you would a full vacation? Pick up a local guidebook and scour travel websites to find museums, activities, and events. Check Yelp for new restaurants to try. Peek at Instagram and see what others are geotagging. Add all of these ideas to a Google Map so you can start to plan your adventure. When you live in a city, it’s easy to become complacent and overlook the attractions that make your city appealing to visitors. By approaching your city like a newcomer, you’ll have a renewed appreciation for your hometown – and you’ll be able to recommend activities to other visitors afterward.

Plan Your Itinerary

After you’ve earmarked a handful of activities, plan an itinerary that includes restaurants and bars to visit, along with all of the must-see activities you’d like to do. By creating a fun-filled checklist, you won’t feel tempted to just head home and kick back on the couch the rest of the day, which leads me to my next suggestion…

Stay at a Hotel

If your budget allows — and since you saved a ton of cash on the expense of getting to a destination — treat yourself to a hotel for at least one night during your staycation. Pack your suitcase (love this one) and splurge on a spot in the city’s most bustling area to stay out late, and then sleep in the next day and order room service. If your hotel has a spa, even better. Breaking your routine — and physically getting away from the chores at home — will make you feel like you had a true getaway.

Take Photos

As with vacation, you’ll want to document the fun! Take your camera and snap photos throughout the city, making sure to appreciate the unique features and interesting architectural design you might otherwise overlook. I did this when I worked with Toyota earlier this year on a “48 Hours in Madison” post. Embracing my local tourist made the weekend so much fun and I had a renewed appreciation for the city. Post your photos on social media and tag your local convention and visitors’ bureau and use any hashtags your city and state’s tourism board uses on their social media. It’s a fun way to show off how fabulous your hometown can be and they just might share your image!

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image via Unsplash

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What I Wore in London

April 26, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

I made a concerted effort to pack as lightly as possible for our trip to London. After dozens of vacations, I finally realized that I’m likely to wear and rewear my favorites. While I’d love to be the type of blogger who takes outfit photos on each of her adventures, I’m not. I’m way more interested in sightseeing instead of location scouting, and oftentimes that means I favor the more practical pieces in my wardrobe that rarely make it to the blog. I’ll admit that it doesn’t make for the most exciting packing list, but it did make getting dressed a breeze in the morning! Plus, paring down on clothing means there’s more room in my suitcase to bring home treasures. (Admittedly, I brought a few extra pieces that didn’t get worn, like a black dress and loafers.) Below, you’ll find a list of everything I wore while I was in London.

WHAT I WORE IN LONDON

J.Crew trench coat – With the amount of rain and misty days that London gets, this was such a practical jacket to have in tow.
Lululemon lightweight jacket – I actually brought this to wear on the plane with an oversize sweater and yoga pants, and didn’t expect to wear it while we were in London. But there were a few warmer days that the trench felt like too much and when we were just heading out for evening beers at a pub, it was nice to stash things in the zippered pockets and not bring a bag.
Gap jeans – I’ve been losing weight and brought these jeans in a larger and smaller size on the trip. After the first two days, the larger ones were much too big and I wore the smaller size the rest of the trip. (Yes, I’m totally bragging, but I’m really excited! I’m going to order the next size down, too, since they’re on sale right now. May as well be optimistic, right?)
J.Crew striped long sleeve t-shirt (plus an old one from Banana Republic) – A striped shirt is such a classic piece and I felt pulled together for a day of exploring when I paired it with the rest of my daily uniform.
J.Crew crew neck sweater (both black and grey) – If you don’t have these sweaters yet, you’re missing out. The price point is great, especially when they’re on sale, and they hold their shape throughout the day. I own half a dozen in various colors.
Banana Republic grey v-neck sweater – What I love most about this sweater is that it’s machine washable.
Old Navy umbrella – Truth be told, this Old Navy umbrella is questionable quality, but I loved the stripes. You might just be better off going a more practical route for this item rather than picking one just because it’s cute.
Garnet Hill scarf – As many of you know, I’ve had a relationship with Garnet Hill for a couple of years now. I received this cashmere scarf from one of our first collaborations and it’s one of my favorite travel items. It’s so soft and generously sized that I also use it as a wrap on the plane, but it’s not so large that you can’t wear it as a regular scarf. (You can see a glimpse of it in this photo.) There’s a dark grey version on sale for $88 right now, but I think the scarf warrants the money even at full price. It really is beautiful.
Karen Walker sunglasses – We only had a couple of sunny days, but these were great for hiding my tired eyes since I was sick for part of the trip!
Vrai and Oro stud earrings and Monica Vinader ring – For as much of a jewelry hoarder as I am, I try to pare down my gems to everyday pieces on vacation. What that means definitely depends on the vacation. Since this wardrobe skewed more classic and comfortable, stud earrings and my favorite ring fit the bill. On a tropical trip, I tend to bring statement earrings and long pendant necklaces.
Paravel backpack – This was the first trip I’ve taken this backpack on and it did not disappoint. I have a full review in the works, but suffice to say it’s worth every penny. It’s durable, rain resistant, easy to clean, and has ample room for everything you’ll need (and collect) during the day. Plus, it transforms into a shoulder bag, which is great for museums that don’t allow backpacks.
Peds no-show socks – I bought a dozen pairs of these socks for the trip and love them. On colder days, I wore the Smart Wool version.
Puma sneakers – We walked an average of seven miles a day, so sneakers were a must.

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