3 Ways to Prepare for a Last Minute Trip

If there is one thing that Zach & I are good at it is spontaneous and last minute trips.  Whether it is a weekend getaway or a last minute day trip, Zach and I love to pack it all up and head out.  This past weekend we went up to Michigan to camp by the pond at his parents' house.  It was a qauzi spontaneous trip because while we'd talked about going, it wasn't really cemented until later in the week.  I love throwing out all the plans and just doing something new, here are 3 tips to help you stay organized when it comes to a last minute getaway.

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Permanently Packed Toiletries Bag
This has come in handy for a lot of trips, not just spontaneous ones.  A permanently packed toiletries bag that is ready to be grabbed up at any moment saves you one extra step in packing.  I use a pretty compact clean train case style bag (like this one) and stuff it with other little compact bags to keep things separated.  I make sure that I have all the necessities and after a few trips I've boiled it down to exactly what I need.  The little bags I use are small cosmetic bags, ipsy bags, & bags I've gotten other beauty samples in.  They fit perfectly and create a little file system so I know that all hair care is this silver bag, all shower stuff is in this green mesh bag, toothpaste is here, etc.  Having this packed and ready to grab in such a compact way is a time saver.

Know What You Need
Gone are the days where I pack a What If outfit.  No I will probably not have dinner with the queen so I don't need that fancy cocktail dress for 2 nights away.  I try to make a plan of what we'll do and pack accordingly.  Since most of our trips are weekend getaways I try to stick to just one duffel bag.  I always bring a sweater, a 'nice top', two bottoms (shorts or pants, etc), walking shoes, a t-shirt (or two), underthings, & PJs.  You never know what might happen but you can 100% guarantee you won't meet the queen so there is no need for the extra fluff.  Try trimming the fat on your packing for a few trips and see what you can totally live with out.

Trim Down the Gadgets
We are a very hobby & gadget oriented family.  So any time there may be down time you gotta make sure you have something to pass the time.  I love bringing something to work on if there is that time because it is a little bit of home.  But I've learned I totally will not be finishing that crocheted blanket a long with a design project, with a side of some other DIY.  While some free time maybe unexpected - torrential down pour and your stuck at the hotel - it doesn't mean you will have oodles of time in the less than 72 hours you may be gone to do all these things.  Narrow down what you will actually be able to do in that free time - bring the iPad to blog instead of the laptop, or bring just the small project your working on not the whole thing.  This has helped me throw together a fun bag a lot quicker that running around trying to cram a bit of all of my hobbies in.

Spontaneous weekend trips are fun and even if you go only a few hours away keeping these things in mind will help you get on the trip a lot faster.  You'll spend less time packing and more time away on your mini adventure.

Do you have any last minute packing tips?  Are you a fan of spontaneous trips?

xoxo, Moe

Currently // Zoo Visit + Outfit

On Monday between blog design & learning, Zach & I went to the zoo & saw The Hunger Games (finally!) Let me say this: I loooved the movie! I knew nothing about HG before I saw the promo for the movie.  I might actually read the books.......I should, right?!?! I need to!

Currently I am loving my faux purple geode necklace & this primitive design necklace, both from Icing, & this giant ring from they Honeybean.  I have been wearing these two necklaces like it's no body's business.  I think I wore them both all week last week & will probably wear then all this week!

|| Details ||

Shirt // Sears

this & this are similar but its like a combo between the two

Belt, Necklaces, Braclets // Icing & Claire's

Skirt // JC Penny

Sunnies // Jessica Simpson @ TJ Maxx

Shoes // no idea, forever ago!

The zoo has to be one of my top fave places to go.  Going with a date was much more fun.  I love seeing the animals & I feel like I learn something more every time I go.  Since the zoo is in my home town, I've gone nearly every year.  We'd go for field trips, summer outings, & just to have fun.  My fave part of the zoo (of any zoo) are the reptiles, amphibians, & nocturnal animals.  Here are some pictures of our day:

We headed then to the mall to walk around & get smoothies then had a crazy idea to finally see the Hunger Games.  I had no idea how AWESOME it was going to be.  It was so intense! There were times that I was grasping Zach's hand so tight, & boy did I cry when Rue died.  When Katniss volunteered, so much emotion.  When they got all dolled up in the capitol, crazy! When they went running from their pedestals, what a slaughter! That was a terrifying part! But my god was that chick an awesome actress.  I want to see the movie again!! I also feel like there was so great underlying imagery going on.  Pretty awesome I'd say.  

It's been great having these Mondays off with Zach.  Keep your fingers crossed we hear back from some jobs though!!

Our Trip to Michigan // La Grande Vitesse

As a part of our Michigan trip, we headed to Grand Rapids not only to see a sculpture by my favorite artist but to check out Zach's old college and Kendall College of Art & Design.  It was a pleasant day filled with iced coffee & turkey BLTs on naan in one of the campus cafes.  We walked around the city until we stumbled upon La Grande Vitesse, a sculpture by my fave artist Alexander Calder.

This giant bright orange sculpture, or stabile (counter to his mobiles - my fave!), is located on a large concrete plaza near the city hall building.  It is super awesome from all angles!  The photo above show the common view taken for postcards, etc.  In addition to the top image, here are some other views:

I love how the sculpture changes as you move.  A sort of stable mobile.....you are the one moving.  Pretty nifty.  

This was one of my favorite days.  We ran into Zach's uncle on the plaza as well.  Since Zach is growing a lumberjack beard, his uncle didn't even recognize him!  After we took these pictures, we headed to Kendall College of Art & Design.  We forgot it was like a Tuesday though, so we almost interrupted a critique in progress right in front of the ceramics studio.  I was sad that we didn't get to tour more, but it's a pretty cool place.  

I think I have a few more Michigan posts for you through April & it's been super nice to be able to have an outlet for all my pictures! I hope you've enjoyed seeing a bit of Michigan too :)

Our Trip To Michigan // Lake Michigan

Alright, first - I don't believe Lake Michigan is a lake.  I don't care what you say, you can not convince me.  The lake's I am used to have ends....they have shores you can see from no matter where you are.  They don't go on & on & on & on for ages & trick you into believing they are lakes when they are actually seas.  I don't care if there's freshwater, I don't care one bit: it's a sea, an ocean even, & you can't convince me other wise.

First, the walk up to the beach was just breathtaking.  I used the pixlr.com Pilxr-o-matic desktop download to make this photo a dreamy piece of heaven.  Zach's grandparent's house is pretty close to the lake, so he mentioned that usually we'd just walk down there.  He had this entrance in mind though so we drove & parked.

When I cam up on this little bit of sand & water, I was so surprised to see how large the lake was.  I mean, that is literally a beach that a zillion people could sit on.  I can just imagine summers here.  This takes lake side to a whole new meaning!

I mean just look at this, lakes don't have waves like this:

Zach walked around picking up rocks & bits of sea glass for me.  We even found ones with bits of fossil in them.  He was really excited to show me.  I've since made a few keep sakes that I'll share with you here shortly.  We ended up walking quite a ways down the beach before we turned back.

Our Loot

I have always been a fish.  I grew up with a pool in our back yard & summers at Lake Gaston.  There hasn't been a time I've not known water.  My grandmother, who can't swim, taught each of us three grand kids how to swim in her pool.  Up until college, I'd never spent a summer away from water.  It was heart breaking to know that working up at school durring the Summer meant only having small fountains to dip my toes in.  Then, when I graduated & moved in with my BFF, I didn't even have time that summer to go to the pool or water park & was only able to sneak off for 2 days to the lake.  I was devastated to know that in this job climate, I may never be able to have the luxury of taking a dip whenever I wanted.  The summer of 2011 was spent working & sleeping.  I had two jobs at one time, then just one, then two again.  When I finally settled down to where I am now, I was able to sneak away to Lake Gaston for Labor Day.

With the prospect of moving to Michigan a big reality for me, I was saddened about having to leave the Atlantic coast.  (Beaches have never been my fave, I don't really like sand).  Being terrified that I may never be able to swim during summers or having to take a planned vacation to the water, I was a bit skeptical of Michigan.  But after seeing not only the pond in Zach's parent's backyard but the giant Lake Michigan, all my fears were put aside.  So, if I have to (lol) I guess I'll move to Michigan. They also sell sweet tea here & Shock Top, so I'll be totally set!

This had to be my favorite day out of the whole 10 day trip.  In fact, Zach taking me to the lake the first day must have been his evil plan to sway me into moving to Michigan.  He knew I couldn't say no to water.  Hell, even walking a long the banks of the pond in the back yard I could feel the pull of the water.  I wanted so desperately to dip a toe in.  I knew, even though the weather was nice, that the water was still freezing.

So perhaps I'll be spending Summers lake side to that sea or whatever it is, yearning for the coast.  

Have you been anywhere & fallen in love with the scenery?

What I Wore // Lake Michigan Sneak Peak

I've been trying for a while to add outfit posts to Five Sixteenths.  You may remember my half-assed iphone photo/in the mirror shots from back in the Summer.  These did not work out so well.  I tried experimenting with my tripod, but nothing would be in focus.  I didn't want to lug my tripod everywhere either nor is there a great place to take pictures in my house.  So, I put off the thing that I wished I could do better....until I met Zach (and click here too!).

This is what I wore on the day we visited Lake Michigan & went to Steak -n- Shake:

// Details //

dress // JC Penny Sale

cardigan // NY&Co from TJMaxx

scarf // some side shop in Italy

sunglasses // Jessica Simpson from TJMaxx

purs // Target Sale (ages ago!!)

moccasins // Target & DIY'd

belt (unseen) // Icing

watch // Charming Charlies

teapot bracelet // gift from Zach $3, thrifted

When we first started dating, I was totally hesitant to tell him about my blog.  I remember one night mentioning to him that I sorta had this thing that I did every once in a while that involved me sharing my life with people.  I told him that I blogged & that I had shared the first meal he ever made for me on it.  I told him I snuck pictures with my phone of the meal while he was in the kitchen getting us drinks.  Since then he's been begging me to post every meal he ever makes because he loves to hear that people like it.

I was a bit more shy to ask him to take pictures of me for the blog.  It started off as, 'hey, I need a picture of me for the blog' & turned into 'would you want to run outside with me real quick & snap off about 20-40 photos?'  When he agreed (while we were in Michigan), I don't think he knew what he was getting into....sometimes I get bossy.  Sometimes he likes to take artistic liberty too where he holds the camera sort of diagonally.  But even in the three days I asked him to take pictures in MI, he's gotten better.

We also took my first trip to Steak-n-Shake that day too.  He was embarrassed that I asked for a little hat:

I think I look good!

Have you ever put off doing something you really wanted to do? What do people say when you tell them you blog?

Our Trip To Michigan // On the Road

As you are reading this, Zach & I are on the road back to Virginia.  We spent 10 absolutely amazing days in Michigan on his parent's big 'ol plot of land in the middle of no where.  There is even a pond in the back yard!  I've eaten fresh eggs, had yummy steaks, met a mean goat, & went to the biggest lake I've ever seen.

(Are you kidding me Lake Michigan? You are a sea, you have to be a small sea. I don't believe you are fresh water!)

Loads of instagrams, instax photos, & twitter updates later, we are on the 14 hour drive again.  Here are some pictures to hold you over until more updates make there way here on the blog:

So Happy Monday all.  I hope you enjoyed the post by Katie & the post by Kristin this past week.  This week there will be some cool free stuff on the blog, a for serious outfit post (the first of many, I hope), & a manicure how to!

How exciting right?

Keep a look out for us on the road, we'll wave if you wave :) :) :)

Michigan Here I Come

Zach & I are on our way to Michigan getting set for a few days of relaxation.  We'll be visiting his family, meeting his friends & brothers, dipping our toes in a (freezing) lake, & plain 'ol getting to know Michigan.  It is quite a possibility that I may move to Michigan some day.

I joke with Zach that I'll turn into a Mammouth in an ice cube up there.  Luckily we don't think it will be too cold when we are there and secretly I hope so.

So I have a few posts scheduled & hopefully some guest posts as well.  You'll get to meet my room mate & hopefully a few fly ladies as well.  I hope you all have a wonderful week.  I'll try to check in, but there is no guarantee on interent connection, I may not even have 3G. (oh no, what have I gotten into!)

Happy Friday & have a nice weekend!

Our Trip to DC // My Fave Apps

I was going to title this post 'My Fave Travel Apps' but I used so many more apps than just ones for travel! having an iPhone has been the best thing to ever happen to me (exaggeration much?).  While being totally connected to the internet & social media 24/7 can be a bad thing, a smart phone is great for when you need it the most.

First, I am horrible with directions. I can't even get from my house to work sometimes & I've been working there for over 4 months. (That is a bit of an exaggeration, but I still can't find my way around my home town.......I lived there for 22 years....I am so bad with directions)  So when we went to DC, Zach was sort of determined to have me learn to navigate.  I will tell you that I didn't really try at all! The most I did was read the route from my phone & find the metro stations!  Having some way of finding out where you were in a hurry was great.  I referenced loads of things on my phone to supplement not only directions but the research we were doing in the Library of Congress.  I love being able to have answers right at my finger tips!

Second, I am no travel expert so these apps are ones I found & downloaded in a hurry or ones that I'd had & got to explore while waiting between metro stops.

Gas Buddy

Since we noticed that gas prices were a bit higher than when we were home, I searched for an app that would find us the cheapest gas possible.  This free app was the first one to come up & I hurried to install it.  It also helped us to find gas stations if we were on the interstate.
Since the gas station right near my house usually has a fair price for gas I never downloaded an app like this before.  If I am ever out, I'd be sure to check this app if I found my self sailing on E.

Google Maps/Maps

The built in Maps app for the iPhone doesn't really do for me what I need it too.  On our trip to Roanoke for Thanksgiving I noticed that sometimes it wasn't reliable.  I started cross checking the Maps app with Google Maps that I'd added to my home screen.  Also, with Google Maps you can avoid tolls.  Other mobile map sites like MapQuest probably would work too but I am super picky.  (I like using google for everything & I like using apple.  I am one of those people!)
Google Maps, for me, sometimes doesn't load which is why I'd turn back to the Maps app.  I think I like Google Maps better because it is a lot like the web version & that's where I print directions from.  It's one of those visual preference things.

Instagram/Camera+/PictureShow

I love social media! Instagram is an awesome way to share photos, as I am sure you know!  Thanks to some people I follow on Instagram, I discovered that crossing camera apps makes really cool effects! I don't know why I never thought of it before.  While waiting in line or on the metro (or when Zach was thumbing through his book in the Library of Congress) I'd edit some photos from the day.
Camera+ is a great photo editing app on the phone itself.  I'd had Camera+ for ages & never really figured it out.  While looking through Instagram I totally discovered people crossing apps, especially Camera+.  I decided to give it another go & fell in love.  I am pleased with the quality of the camera on the iPhone but Camera+ can help edit photos that didn't come out too great.  It can also turn the really horrible ones into cool ones with it's filters.
PictureShow is also a great app because you can keep your pictures relativly the same.  You can use the same borders/light leaks/frames easier.  You can also save the combinations to come back to if you want to use them again.  It keeps consistency.  I used a combination of all three of these for pictures in this post!
I'd have to say that when we got back to where we were staying or had some down time, I was on there editing & messing around.

Find a Metro

Zach had been to DC before in the past year so he knew a little of his way around.  Unfortunately, we got turned around coming from the base & couldn't find the metro stop we wanted.  I pulled out my phone, found the first metro app & downloaded it for .99 cents.
It shows you the five closest metros around you.  We used this in the car & when we got turned around at the end of our stay.  I probably could have found a free app but this one was first & I needed it right then!  I do like the layout & how nice it looks.  Aesthetics can go a long way!

Restaurant Finder

At the end of our stay Zach & I wanted Thai food.  In the end, we didn't get it because we decided to spend time with the couple we were staying with.  We ordered pizza instead.  But, we did find Thai restaurants near us while standing on the busy street corner.
This app has a basic & advanced search where you can search by restaurant type & state/zip.  It's great if you are in the mood for a specific food but don't know any local restaurants.  I used it to search for Thai food, pizza places, & fast food restaurants off the high way.  I do wish I'd found it earlier though so we could have eaten more local foods.  I've heard Urban Spoon is a great app too...but I just picked the first one I saw!

MEanderthal

I threw this one in for fun! At the Museum of Natural History there was a QR code in the Human Origins exhibit that lead to an app download called MEanderthal.  You'd take a picture of yourself or friend, align it, & then be transformed into an early human.  You can choose between a few early human species & learn more about them.  It's just pretty funny to see the result!

A Real Map

Nothing can beat the app called 'a real damn map that you bought from the store'.  It doen not require 3G/WiFi, use batteries, or freeze up....it just opens & allows you to find your way around the city.  It has the metro stops, the museums, etc.  You'll find even more cool places if you take you head out of the iPhone & just read the map!

Traveling is a load of fun.  I am so excited that I've been able to take little trips since graduation.  Another place on my list to go is the Natural Bridge here in Virginia.  I've been wanting to go back for a while now.  Perhaps I'll make it there in 2012.

What apps do you use when you travel? Do you have any travel apps you use on a daily basis?