B A C K P A C K

i will be venturing to canada with my sister for five days and can only bring a carry-on bag that will comfortably house my belongings while we roam and explore calgary. what could i fit in my ralph lauren chaps sack?

roll call:

two pants

two sweaters

one shirt

two scarfs

one hoodie

two shoes (one for hiking, the other for other things)

one jacket

toiletries

notebook

camera

bible

keep in mind that i will have a number of these items on when traveling, so i will have tons of room in this bag. i had to plan my outfits a week out so that i didn't overpack.

ACCESSORIES | Goodies from Germany

Primark Double Clutch- 7 Euro

Ring-Gift
Zara Necklace-Gift

HM Infinity Scarf- 3 Euros
Rover Lakes Weekender Bag- 8 Euros

TRAVEL | Berlin

Sorry I haven't been as steadfast about posting my outfits. I have barely been able to sit down and take a picture of my outfits. Not to worry as soon as I get some down time, I will post the outfits I have been wearing for the past week! For now here are some pics from Berlin!

berlin wall

OOTD | Day 4

Second day in Berlin and we are supposed to be eating at the TV tower which I hear has a nice restaurant in it, so I want to dress nice for the occasion even if I am going to be shopping for most of the day. If the weather keeps up, I am going to have to buy something before the 17th because chattering teeth is not only NOT cute, but crazy looking.

Tommy Hilfiger sweater
Cotton On blouse
OPP Swap Shop
Pocket Watch from Antique Mall

OOTD | Day 3

Off to Berlin. It is a four hour drive from where I am and I will be with five girls so I need to dress as comfortably as possible. Blue jeans are the pants of choice as it is FREEZING here. I might have to get a different jacket as the one I have for outside attire hasn't been cutting it since I got here!

OOTD | Day 1

Day 1
Sheer cream blouse-Cotton On (sister's closet)
Hat-Target
Military jacket-Gap
Purple wool coat- Sears.
Scarf-Walmart
Black jeans-Forever 21
Boot Wedges (from Christmas party) -Bongo via Sears

 This outfit I wore for my flight and the first day I was in Bielefeld, mostly because of the 6 hour time change. Note:: if you are going to wear wedges of any kind in the airport, wear Dr. Scholl's. Glad I did. My feet were very happy I did!

TRAVEL::Safe and sound

I will be giving you all some OOTD shortly! Been busy since I landed on Wednesday!

TRAVEL | Leaving on a Jet Plane

I cannot believe today is finally here! After a grueling eleven hour shift yesterday I couldn't wait to get home and chillax with my pal LL. She wanted to see me off today so I told her to come over for a slumber party (if being 13 again is wrong then...just humor me it was only for one night). We did our ritual walk this morning, had a little brunch, and then she, my sister, and I all piled in one car to the airport! Thankfully, I only live eight minutes away so I was able to enjoy the morning with family and friends :)

Anyway, I hope to be able to post pictures of my outfits while I am away. If not, you will be seeing me in 3 weeks! Love you all!

TRAVEL | How I Pack

Last year, I took a mission trip to Nicaragua. My flight in Orlando was delayed because Obama was flying through Miami and of course he would be in my section so I missed my connecting flight from Miami to Nicaragua. A lot of people missed their flights. Anyway, I arrived in Nicaragua and my check in luggage was not there. The only items in my carry on were 2 pairs of underwear, a pair of shoes, and one outfit change. I was in Nicaragua for a week and a half. My luggage didn't get to me until 2 days before I was supposed to leave. Thankfully I was at an orphanage so I borrowed some clothes from the workers there, but it was still inconvenient.

This time around I didn't want to take that chance and wanted to at least get 3 outfits in my carry on that could be interchanged and last me at least the first week. My carryon luggage is 19" so its somewhat small, but I was determined. I set aside the outfit I would wear on the plane. This would be worn for two days since I would be flying for that amount of time. Then I grouped my outfits together and rolled them together like so:

I then placed a pair of rain boots at the bottom of the suitcase, and then started placing each little log on top and then another pair of shoes on the side of my clothes. All my socks and underwear will go in the other section of the suitcase, and I will put my cameras in the corner of the suitcase. Voila! The remaining clothes will go in the checkin suitcase along with whatever gifts I am bringing.

TRAVEL | 30 for 30 continued

Here are the pieces I am working with for the next three weeks. Keep in mind that my whole fast from clothes shopping ends on the 17th, but when I do shop it will mostly be for that formal wedding I was telling you about in a previous post. After looking at my pieces, I realized I have nothing really with prints or patterns in it, and all my colors are leaning toward black and grey, so come New Year I will be changing that.

3 pants and one pair of leggings

2 skirts

5 sweaters

There are 6 shirts here. One is under the denim shirt.

Two winter vests

Navy Blazer, Lightweight Jacket, A wool coat (which won't get packed)

6 pairs of shoes. I know this seems like a lot, but I wear my shoes out really fast because I am always on the move and if I limited myself to just two pair for three weeks, I might not have anything of them when I get back (rest in peace Sam and Libby combat boots).

TRAVEL | Packing for 3 weeks

Extra luggage fees are an eye sore. Because Florida never sells real winter garments, I am forced pack a lot more clothes for layering. But when checking an extra piece of luggage is $75, I cannot afford to take as many clothes and I have to get  creative with my outfits. Plus, I decided to lay off of buying any clothes for the next 3 weeks so I really needed to get creative.

Thank God for Kendi's 30 for 30 challenge.

In a nutshell (if you have never heard of it) you are allowed to only use 30 pieces for 30 days. That could be a mixture of things from shirts to shoes with no outfit repeats. 30 pieces...for 2.5 weeks....in winter...German winter...hmmm. I might as well try. My first practice run of packing without these constraints and my luggage didn't quite make the cut. I would still need to make room for cameras and toiletries and my bags were bulging.

So I began to purge.

What I thought would not be enough clothes turned into more than enough combinations for me to always look my best when I am out and about. 28 pieces later, I have 18 non repeating outfits. HUZZAH! And I still have room enough for gifts and other things.

1 week and counting!

The Tomgirl Series | America to Germany

The Tomgirl Series | America to Germany by andiaschehera featuring striped pants

Less than two weeks remain before I am headed to Germany! I can hardly contain myself. Last night I bought my luggage, a set from, yes, American Tourister. I remember loving this brand when I was a kid. The lock tabs were my favorite obsession. Baby blue. I started a collection of old Samsonite AT suitcases and so far have 3, but these would not be practical for trips through foreign airports, so I thought I get a modern one with wheels. They usually run about $200 or more but I got them on sale for $64! They definitely don't have the classic look, but reading American Tourister in its original branding is still nice to see. My one carry on that is vintage looks like the one in the picture except it is burgundy and I use it as a purse mostly. Anyway, I have most of these items (except for those shoes which I want badly!!), and I don't think you have to sacrifice travel style in order to be comfortable. It really is about keeping it simple and cohesive. 

JET SET GO | Layering

I am 47 days way from flying back to Europe after being away from it for nearly two decades! I was just shy of my 11th birthday, and I remember being in the Sardinian airport thinking I would never see this side of the world again, and did not care to come back. I have been aching for it ever since.

Germany will be cold. A whopping 45 degrees is said to be the average high in December. I know how to dress for that here, but what is the cold really like over there? I have tons of winter coats and jackets, but to pack all of that can get expensive. Layering is my only other option and I do not want to look like a bag lady just because I am layering. I want to be a jetsetter. Still comfortable without losing style. Here are some items I am on the look out for:

a nice colored blazer

 

ankle boots to go over leggings

 

rad light weight jackets.

 

plain and patterned button ups

leather pants or leggings that can be dressed up or down with heals, boots, or sneakers.