Holiday Gift Guide #2 - The Traveler!

Holiday gift guide #2 – The Traveler

I hope you all loved the first installment of the Holiday Gift Guide (The Girl on the Go!) – seems like everyone did! For our next edition, I thought I would focus on our friend or family member that seems to always be in a different city or on an airplane! We all know that person that is constantly living out of a suitcase, so why not get them something special that lets them know you’re thinking about them even when they are miles away!

My biggest struggle with travel is staying organized – but the last couple of trips I have taken have been night and day compared to the “hotel room destroyer” of previous trips. I seriously upgraded my travel game with a few new things (that I’m totally including here!).

Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner Set ($ 188.97)

The biggest change I made was new luggage! And while luggage can be a pretty personal decision- so far everyone I know that has them, totally loves hard-sided suitcases! I got a pretty inexpensive set on Amazon, (mostly because I couldn’t make a color decision) And I was really impressed with the quality, I've checked them several times and they're holding up great.  (To purchase mine click HERE.) There are gazillions of chic options now on the interwebs. I love the different textures and colors that Calpak offers – you can get lost on their website for hours dreaming of the airport photoshoots you can have with them!

I love the rose gold color of these, this is the Ambeur 2 piece set which sells for $285

Next up… packing cubes! These, like the hard sided luggage, take a little to get used to but have totally elevated my travel game! It really helps keep me organized as well as plan outfits while traveling. When using the hard sided suitcases you can’t just flip your bag open like a normal suitcase and dig around so these are vital! Pick her up a set with a cute print to brighten her day when she's packing!

Packing Cube Set (comes in tons of patterns!) $19.99 

I divide mine up by clothing type, makes unpacking a breeze and helps to stop me from overpacking when you see all 6 pairs of jeans in one spot for a weekend trip!  To purchase click HERE.

On the same theme of packing cubes, help her keep all that tech stuff organized! How cute are these cases?!?? I went ahead and got a second set of chargers that I keep in a little pouch like this – SO. MUCH. EASIER.  To purchase click HERE.

MYTAGALONGS tech cases $10-$14.99

We all know that airplanes can destroy our skin, this rose water mist from Roses and Rose (an awesome local female owned company!) will help keep you glowy when on the go. It’s perfect for a little refresh as well as under all your serums and moisturizers for a little extra hydration.  To purchase click HERE - and the best part? They're offering my readers a 15% off with the code HOLIDAY15 - time to stock up! 

You should for sure pick up a body scrub while you're browsing too! Don't forget to use code HOLIDAY15! 

No one wants to look like a wrinkled mess when they get to their fabulous destination – this lightweight steamer is the perfect addition to your fashionistas bag!  To purchase click HERE.

And there you have it! I hope that you're enjoying these guides. Feel free to drop any questions in the comments below and suggestions for our next guide! 

XOXO | SLL 

Lets talk home screens!

I cant think of a more personal thing today then our cell phone home screens! I mean you carry it with you at all times, you're probably the only one that uses it, and you look at approximately 9 million times per day. Why not make your's something that brings you joy each time you look at it? 

Enter my personal home screen...

I get it... it's not for everyone. We all know there are two very very different types of cell phone users. Are you a right or a left kind of person? If you are more of the 989084577 notification variety, this probably isn't your style! 

Image via: https://digitalsynopsis.com/design/two-kinds-of-people-illustrations/

My husband thinks I am crazy for doing this, but he is also the guy who has pizza delivery apps under "productivity" (I guess he's kind of right). But so many people who have seen my phone have squealed with delight!

I cannot take solo credit for this beauty, after first discovering color-coded folders thanks to The Home Edit - I quickly became completely obsessed! Now, it does take some getting used to I will 100% admit to that. However, I do find myself using my phone (I hope!) more efficiently. I use the search bar, I use Siri - and after a bit, you just know by instinct where everything is... 

If you're interested in doing this - set aside a good 30 minutes - I happened to do mine during a crazy bout of insomnia at about 2am. Start by sorting like by like, just group reds with reds, blues with blues etc.

Depending on the number of apps you have you can get really specific with your rainbow of folders. I decided to have multiple pages of each color in one folder, but I have seen some screens where people extend the whole screen of the phone with folders. Then just pick your favorite emojis and viola -a home screen full of eye candy! 

I kept my messages out since I am using them all day long - as well the phone (because thats what we're actually supposed to use these things for right?), email, safari and pandora for quick selection. 

I would love to know how everyone else organizes their phones - are you a notification clearer or are you 578764987 unread messages from 8th grade kind of person? 

Tell me in the comments below! 

XOXO | SLL

At peace with where you are...

I recently found myself lost in thought after reading a job posting. Now don't freak out it's not something I would ever do, nor am qualified to do, hell it's not something I even WANT to do. (Move to Dubai and work with racehorses) But, I found myself thinking things like "if I was younger", "If I was single", "If I was..." and while my husband would absolutely sell everything and follow me anywhere in the world, this I know without question - it honestly surprised me. 

I can honestly say have never ever questioned myself like that, I have never felt that I couldn't do whatever I wanted to do, hell everyone knows I tend to do things a little differently. The more I continued to think about it I couldn't help but get a bit sad, I think I just officially said goodbye to my young adulthood. I am no longer in a "pickup and leave" place in life.

But then, after a bit more introspection,  this feeling of overwhelming peace came over me.  I knew without questions that at this exact moment, I am right where I need to be. It's not because I am afraid, it's not because I am settling, it's not because I am living in my comfort zone, its because I have created the life that I want. 

We get so caught up in the whats new, whats next that I think we often forget to enjoy and be present at the current moment. My hope for you is that you take a minute today and just be thankful for where you are right now, even if it's not your end goal, even if it's not your today goal, you got here - right now, you got to here. 

If you think I've totally lost it and all you can think of is the gazillion things you need to do "make it" (hell, even the gazillion things you need to do just to get through today) I've put together a list of a few things that you can quickly do to center yourself and be at peace where you are right now. 

1. Connect - shoot a text, call just to say I love you, hold someone's hand if you can - even if just for a moment

2. Write a "done" list - include all the badass things you've already done today

3. Send some love - write (yes with pen and paper!) your bff a card, or that thankyou note you've been putting off. There is something so calming about handwriting a letter.

4. Pay it forward - sounds counter-intuitive but for me, giving makes me more thankful for what I already have.

5. Get off the internet - (...well maybe after you've finished this post...) I truly believe comparison is the thief of joy these days, stop comparing yourself to someone's highlight reel online - be present for yourself, and the peace will follow!

  XOXO| SLL 

Holiday Gift List #1 - The girl on the go!

Can you guys believe its already the last Friday of October!?! 

Where did September and October go?!? Pretty soon we're going to be sliding into the holidays! If you haven't gotten the idea by now...I'm a total stress case, extreme prep-er, and a planner. I'm also the most disorganized compulsively organized person I know. Remember that whole walking contradiction part...  The holidays TOTALLY stress me out, but one thing I am told I am really good at is gift giving! I work really hard to give thoughtful fun gifts, and often do it on a really tight budget!

I usually start with an excel spreadsheet (would anyone be interested in seeing how I set mine up?) with everyone I need to buy for - the budget for each person and my total holiday budget. Once I purchase a gift I add it to the spreadsheet and deduct it from the budget! 

I figured each Friday for the next few weeks I would post a few things I am loving for gifting this year. This weeks edition - the girl on the go! (and all under $35!) 

So let's get to it! 

I know I am late to the party but I absolutely LOVE my PopSocket - I had one that I had ordered off Amazon on my old case and once I found out you could customize them I KNEW I had to do it. It makes your phone so much easier to hold especially when you're on the go! You can use it as a stand to watch a tutorial, or just save your hand when typing out those emails. Wouldn't this be fun to customize and give as a gift? My custom one was $16.99 shipped (price goes way down if you do a bunch - fun for a business too!)

If you don't feel up to getting creative, or don't want to go the custom route - there are ton of cute options you could coordinate with cases! Link to shop! (Link to shop my case - since I'm obsessed with it too!) 

Next up - coffee!!!  These adorable mugs are by Ban.do - and they seriously have the funniest and cutest products. I love their coffee mugs - they're fun, totally functional and under $20. I have several and they never let me down, they're also great conversation starters!  Give one with a Starbucks gift card for an extra little touch. Link to shop! 

If your girl with the go is anything like me, her phone dies ALLLLLLLLL the time. I've purchased several different battery packs over the years and they all let me down. They were heavy, didn't hold a charge themselves, took forever etc etc 

Enter the Belkin. I got this as a set with a car and wall adapter, originally from the Apple store, and paid way too much for it but I was desperate. I was able to track it down on Amazon for way cheaper. I know this doesn't seem like the most glam gift, but seriously I don't know what I would do with out it! Pick one up so you guys can stay in touch (you might want to grab one for yourself too!) $35 Amazon. Link to shop! (PS- it comes in silver, gold and gunmetal too!)

This busy girl is going to need some kind of day planner to keep her organized! I have tried about 900000884374 different day planners and I keep finding my way back to the Happy Planner. They are easy to customize, they come with all kinds of fun things, they have tons and tons of different covers and page styles. I really love adding in pockets to keep things like receipts and bills. As well as the clear photo holders to store memories and motivational things. 

You can pick these up locally at places like Michaels, or you can grab this one off Amazon which comes with a whole kit to get you started! What better time to give a planner then the holidays? And only $30!  Set your busy girl off on the right foot for 2018! Link to shop! 

So there you have it! I hope that this gives you a few ideas, or at least sparks one! Stay tuned for next week's list... what would you like to see most? The dudes? The travler? The bff? The parents? 

Leave me a comment and let me know! 

XOXO | SLL 

Words hurt. Online communication struggles.

Words hurt. 

Its easy to forget when we are hiding behind a keyboard or an iphone. 

I experienced this first-hand yesterday when an offhanded comment really really hurt my feelings. It totally wasn't a big deal, at all. But it did. 

Wouldn't it be lovely if we could all just shake things off like Bones, take a nap and get over it?

The person reached out and apologized (and so did a couple other people who saw the comment and thought it was a little off), I thought all was done and good...

But then when I realized that the person who hurt my feelings, had no idea why I was hurt, I lashed out and found myself being the person I never want to be... the person that argues with someone on the internet. I wanted her to understand me. It never ends well arguing on the internet,  no one is ever happy and it is ultimately a total waste of time and energy.

I became engrossed on proving my point when there was no need or reason to. I am pretty sure she was doing the same. I was hurt, she was sorry but it just kept going and going.  No one was right, no one was wrong. But we both wanted to be right. 

I got a headache, I had this pit in my stomach and knew that it was all related to this exchange. I knew that I was not a totally innocent victim in this, I too fed into the miscommunication and the need to be right. But it felt like something bigger. 

On a deeper level, I started to worry that I had unintentionally offended or hurt anyone, ever. Like ever ever.  You know that rabbit hole of self-doubt and fear you go through when you feel a bit wounded? Yeah, that was me x100 last night.

What if I offended someone that had welcomed me into their home with by posting about how I like my guest room? What if I offended my friend who had given me a shirt by posting about a different shirt? What if I didn't hear someone say hello to me and I didn't respond? What if, what if, what if? 

So what can we do about it?

Finallyyyyyyyyyyy I was able to snap myself out of it, with the help of a good friend who reminded me that I am indeed not everyone's cup of tea, AND THAT IS A GOOD THING. 

It is hard enough communicating face to face with someone you know on a deeply intimate level, so why do we just assume that others - who have no context of our lives- know what we are trying to share in 180 characters or less?

Who are they to know what we really mean when we type our friends an inside joke on their Facebook walls? What we are trying to gain when we "vague-book"? When we use slang specific to our generation, geographic location or other demographic?

How's anyone to know our intention behind our words?

I have decided that the only way that anyone could possibly understand me, is to stay true and authentic to myself and my message. By staying true to my message people will know what I mean even if I might misspeak or mistype. They will get to know me as more than hands behind a keyboard.  Additionally, to further allow my audience to know my intention, I am choosing to take this as a big fat learning experience and working harder to always "say what I mean, and mean what I say" online and offline. 

I would really like to open up this topic for conversation with others that use a lot of words on the internet - and I use alot... (my Grammarly app told me it scanned 14700 words between Monday and Tuesday of this week - side note if you don't have that installed on your computer and you write anything at all on your computer - get it. Game. Changer.).

How do you get over these communication hurdles?

How do you keep your voice consistent, understood, and strong?

How do we get over ourselves more often and simply say "I'm sorry"? How do we know when to push the subject vs back off and agree to disagree? 

XOXO | (from a slightly discouraged) SLL

Books I love, The Daily Stoic

I've always been a voracious reader, for as long as I can remember, I have loved reading and being around books. Most of the women in my family are the same way. It's certainly not uncommon to have a book in your purse, a book in your car, a book on your bedside table... 

I found with my increased use of computers for school work as well as the influx of social media I wasn't reading as much and my mental health suffered for it. I found myself craving that quiet that comes from concentrated reading, where in learning new information you almost are able to quiet your mind.  Historically I was not normally a  non-fiction reader, more so the rom-com/chick lit variety but lately I have been craving knowledge and information from different viewpoints. 

I find myself stealing whatever moments I can on the couch with a cup of coffee and Bones cuddled up by my side. I have been burning through books like they're going out of style lately.

The one that has stuck with me the most lately is, "The Daily Stoic" by Ryan Holiday, perhaps because I only read a page per day (and I am trying really really hard to not skip ahead) but I find myself frequently throughout the day, lost in thought, almost day dreaming about what I read in the morning. 

I first came across Stoicism in a podcast- and for a super super super dumbed down version, basically, people who follow the practice of stoicism believe/strive to believe that we cannot change the world around us only OUR reactions to the world around us. First defined by the Greeks in 300 BC the stoic virtues are all about the development of self-control and fortitude as a way of overcoming destructive emotions. Bascially, self help 300 BC style.

image via Pinterest 

Sounds heavy I know... but stay with me here. "The Daily Stoic" breaks down the philosophies of the ancient Greeks into little bite-size daily doses that are just deep enough to get you thinking but not enough to overwhelm you. Holiday ( author of Growth Hacker Marketing, The Obstacle is the Way, Perennial Seller and many more of which can be found HERE) writes in an easy to comprehend style that is thought-provoking without being condescending. 

Today's meditation (October 24th) is in the chapter entitled Virtue and Kindness, was all about how we shouldn't be waiting for good news, good weather, good luck - but we should instead be looking for the good in ourselves. I would highly recommend picking up a copy and sticking it somewhere convenient - it seems these little lessons are finding me when I need them most. 

XOXO | SLL 

PS: there is also a companion journal to The Daily Stoic that I plan on picking up as I am already writing all over my current copy! You can pick that up here if you want to get it when you get your copy! 

Turn stressed mess into hostess with the mostest!

I've always loved the idea of entertaining and having house guests, until it gets to be the night before and my house is a wreck and I still have a million things to do - and the dog just puked on the carpet, and all the sheets are dirty, and I drop the quiche on the oven door, and, and, and (and these are all things I have actually done)...

But I've come to realize that it's ME, not my lovely house guests that create all this stress and chaos. Having a few people in your home really isn't that big of a deal if you take a few easy extra steps BEFORE hand.

The biggest thing I have come to realize about being a good hostess is actually being relaxed - your guests can tell if you're a hot mess express, and it doesn't leave them feeling very welcomed. So I'm going to give you a few of my tips, tricks, and hard fast hostess rules!

Before we get started, remember to be kind to yourself, and know that changes are that if someone is staying with you its because they love you and want to spend as much time with you as possible. They'll love you with dirty baseboards and an unorganized fridge too. 

So let's dive in! I love for my guests to instantly feel at home, so that's why Tip #1 is so important! - Always be ready for guests. No one loves to be standing awkwardly in the hallway while you try and find a second pillowcase! 

Tip #1: Always be ready. What this means is strip that bed the second you close the door behind your guests. I know, I know you just want to put your feet up and pour that next glass of wine - but take 5 minutes now and it will save you a ton of headache down the road. If you have fresh sheets remake the bed otherwise get that load of laundry in there now! Which leads me to my next tip... 

Tip #2: Keep it simple. Have dedicated guest room linens that are all the same color. This makes making up the bed, sorting towels etc. idiot and laundry proof. White towels and white sheets, done and done. It also helps to avoid any awkward, "is that my towel?"  bathroom incidents. 

Tip #3: Anticipate your guests' needs.  Have all the icky things that no one wants to ask for ready to find, I'm talking plungers, toilet paper, antacids, tampons etc. - stock up bathrooms so that no one needs to have that awkward conversation. I recently picked up these covered plungers for our house and don't feel so icky about leaving them out. Link to them: HERE

Tip #4: Keep your guest room a neutral space if you have the room to do it. No one wants to feel like they are kicking you out of a room you use regularly. So if that room plays double duty, try to gather up your home office supplies and work from the kitchen while your guests are in town. Provide drawers to unpack and hangers for their clothes if you can, I know this seems excessive but I know as a house guest how much more relaxing it is when you have a bit of your own space. Our guest room has a murphy bed and no closet, so I picked up this garment rack and hangers from Amazon (also a good idea if you use your guest closet for your own storage!) Hangers can be found HERE and the rack HERE - both under $15.

Tip #5: While this might seem excessive (and it doesn't have to be a huge tray like this!) do something special for your guests. At a minimum, I like to include a small snack and some bottled waters. I also always include a card which has things like the wifi password, the garage door code, our cell numbers etc... this makes it easy for your guests to be self-sufficient and not have to worry about where the cups are in the middle of the night! This tray was for my sister before we headed out to a Halloween party, we actually had guests the night before she stayed too, and I loved the simplicity I had created for myself! The bed was all ready to go and I was able to quickly add some personal touches and just enjoy time with my sister! 

Erin's guest tray included:

• Bottled Water
• Tito's and mixers 
• Candle from Abboo Candle Co (hurry your code BONES20 works for another week!)
• Peanut M&M's 
• A small container of tums and aspirin
• Assorted snacks

So there you have it! I know it seems like a lot right now but by being prepared it makes it much more enjoyable for you and your guests! I would love to hear what you do to prepare your home for your guests! 

XOXO | SLL 

Mid Week Slump?

We've all been there... That feeling when you get up in the morning and go, crap is it really only Wednesday? We've all seen the advertisements and memes celebrating hump day, celebrating we've made it halfway to the weekend.

But what if it didn't have to be that way? What if with a few shifts in routine and perspective you were able to wake up Wednesday morning and go "look at all the things I've done! I am a killing it!"

I've never been one for "woo woo" stuff but lately (and I wrote about it before here) I have been using some mantras and positive thought exercises in my daily routine. The one I keep going back to that keeps me grounded yet energizes me is "I have the ability, resources, and determination to accomplish my goals sanely, safely and successfully"  and you know what? It freaking works. 

The sanely part I added because I felt like I was driving my self, batshit crazy, with all of the things I was lacking or not doing. Did I publish that blog post? Did I schedule time for photos? Did I actually press send on that email at work? My mind was continually racing. 

The safely part encourages me to take care of myself and those around me, I consider eating right and taking care of my body part of the safety mantra.

And well successfully... that's the goal, right? To get to a point where our days are successful, we close our eyes feeling fulfilled and content not worrying about the should have and would have and didn't do's. 

I've also been getting up 10-15 minutes earlier midweek (which let me tell you is not such an easy thing when you already get up reeeeeeeeeeallly early)  and knocking out something that I don't particularly enjoy doing... this morning I sorted the laundry and started a load. I also stopped at the grocery store on the way to work instead of tired and hangry on the way home. I feel like it really sets you up for productivity knowing you've already jumpstarted your day.

So tell me, are you a lover or a hater of Wednesdays? What do you do to avoid that mid-week slump?  An extra shot of espresso? A super hot shower that maybe lasts 10 minutes longer? Meditation? A mantra? 

XOXO | SLL 

Hey Chicago, what do you say?

Chicago has always held a very special place in my heart. The people are friendly, the food is amazing, the shopping is even better - so imagine my delight when Ali & Michael surprised Dom and me with a fabulous birthday trip! 

We NEVER have any fun together, cab ride to RMP Italian. 

We stayed at the Peninsula Chicago, which in my opinion is without a doubt one of the most fabulous hotels in the world. The service is without comparison and the hotel has thought of absolutely everything (why doesn't ever bedside table have a charging station?!?) 

I'd like to thank my husband for packing coordinating clothes so that our closet looked pretty darn pinterest perfect! 

We were surprised with custom robes with our names on them! A wonderful touch to remind us of such a special trip! 

All of the rooms have this elegant yet comfortable feel to them, they are functional yet inviting. 

We arrived Friday afternoon and unpacked quickly before heading out to explore the city. Friday night we took an amazing architectural boat tour of the city with spectacular views from the river! 

Approaching the LaSalle Street bridge, just missing that one S! 

Saturday we did some shopping and grabbed a bite to eat before heading to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs!

When we got to Wrigley Field I had the opportunity to meet, for the first time in person, the amazing Melanie of withlovemelanie.com (@mellycoy on insta) who you have seen me write about before. Melanie, her husband, Dom, Ali and I met up at the famous cubby bear before the game started and it was like we had been friends forever! 

Michael's crew was in town that day and it was so fun to watch him on the field and share that experience with everyone (I think Dom is a Cubs fan for life). Wrigley Field is unexplainable,  if you've never been there add it to the bucket list no matter who your home team is, the fans are amazing and the energy is contagious! Being on the field after the game in a quiet ballpark is a privilege I've had many times but Wrigley is something special. 

Saturday night we went to my favorite, Smith & Wollensky's and we had this massive ribeye that we probably could have split four ways instead of two! 

Sunday Dom and I took off on our own and I was able to show him some of my favorite sites of the city including Millenium Park, the bean and some of the museums. We both love museums so we will definitely have to set aside more time next time we are back. 

For our last dinner, we headed to RPM Italian which I was eagerly anticipating and it did not disappoint! I enjoyed the gnocchi and a fabulous salted caramel mini ice cream for dessert! 

And of course I had to stop and take a picture with the guys of Chicago Fire! 

Travel always inspires me and it was a wonderful reminder to get out of my daily routine rut that I have been in lately. I know this post was pretty picture heavy but hope you enjoyed a glimpse of our trip! 

I'd love to know you favorite city to travel to, or any Chicago tips you might have - we can't wait to go back! 

XOXO | SLL

"Literally" an expert

I think I need to start this post out by saying that it is no way shape or form directed at anyone or a specific individual. This is a general vibe I am getting across all social media platforms as well as has come up in numerous conversations with fellow bloggers and creatives.

Doesn't it seem like these days that everyone is "literally" an expert on everything? So much of my social media, and if I am honest, my daily life is filled with people telling me that they are experts on something. 

Pictured in my litersally sweatshirt, because if we cant laugh at ourselves who can we laugh at?

When did we become a group of self-proclaimed experts? There is no way that you went to bed and poof woke up as Oprah (and believe me, shes no expert either).

There is zero chance we ALL know how to "get perfect skin by the weekend", "get 10,000 followers in 6 days!" "manifest the income of your dreams in just 10 days!" "be debt free by Monday" and the list goes on... can you tell I'm a little heated on this subject? I am all for advertising and marketing but... where has the authenticity gone? Where has the need to show proven results gone? Are we really just a society of fake it until you make it's?

I'm so conflicted on this whole thing, on one hand, I am LOVING the confidence of everyone, yes YOU ARE A BADASS, yes you are kicking ass at your sales goals but honey, please do not tell me that you watched one webinar and now you know how to work sales funnels like a seasoned pro. 

On the other hand, I feel like the authenticity and honesty are missing from a lot of blogs/startups/ small businesses that I come across. They are filled with stock photography and canned phrases.

And... it hurts my heart, I want so badly for everyone around me to be happy and successful and it seems like we are in this perpetual loop of unhappiness unless we are an expert on something. 

My hope is that anyone reading my blogs experiences the same me as you would in person, via text, on Instagram etc. While I am sure many many many "experts" would tell me that that is the wrong thing to do, I cant be anything other than myself.

Literally. Can't. Even. (sorry couldn't resist that one!) 

XOXO | SLL