Showing posts with label vacation
I never travel. I can count the states I've been too on 2 hands, and still have some fingers left over.

I've talked before how I want to be that spontaneous, adventurous, twenty something traveler. It goes back to me stepping outside my comfort zone, saying yes to things, and having an idea in my head of the type of person I want to be.

I think this weekend was a step in the right direction.

As I said on Friday, my friend (and old college roommate) Marissa asked me to road trip to Boston this past weekend to see our friend Will, who lives there and who we also went to college with.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't skeptical about it. My weekends (and pretty much any time away from my work desk) is sacred and I'm very picky about not having time to "relax." I am a homebody through and through, and I'd even go as far as to say that it's a major problem.

Well, I survived and I wasn't struck by lightning, I wasn't overly exhausted on Monday morning at work - the world didn't end just because I spent a weekend away from home.

I did get a little antsy while away -- I was tired from walking (13,000 steps on Saturday afternoon), and was excited when I was on my way home. I just wanted to be in my own bed.

I was never weird about sleeping out, but as I got older, I savor my time in my own bed and feel very disorientated when I'm out of place... but as I said, I survived.

The weekend was FANTASTIC! I had been wanting to visit Boston for the longest time and it was a great first visit.

Me and Marissa drove up on Friday night and didn't arrive till around 11:30 PM. We were both equally exhausted and just hung around until around 1 AM and went to bed. We knew we had an early day in the morning!

My friend Will lives right outside of Boston, in Cambridge and it's gorgeous! It was the cutest little town! Marissa and I were very out of place and confused, because Cambridge isn't considered a "small town"-- it's a city but it basically looked like New York suburbs.




We got breakfast in Cambridge (Boston bagels are NOT as bad as I thought haha They were delicious!) and got ready for the day!

We first headed into Harvard Square and walked around Harvard's campus. I was in awe... I felt like I was in a movie. Harvard is gorgeous... lush trees every where, gorgeous architecture, and tons of people!







We wandered around Harvard Square (outside of campus) for a really long time, walked into a few Harvard shops and book stores, and just admired everything around us.



How cool is this?!

Stopped for some Pinkberry (forgot to take a pic #bloggerfail) and then took the T (not the train) into Boston. This is where we did the majority of our walking and where I legit felt I was going to die.

It was great thought.






Potato, Bacon, Cheddar, Sourcream Spring Rolls?! 
You could feel the history on the streets, from the trolley tours, to the town halls, to the historic statues, it's easy to forget that our country started in Boston and the history there is richest. We actually saw a historic reinactment on the streets of Boston, with men dressed in red coats and screaming something as they galloped down the cobblestone road. It was awesome.

There was also no shortage of Red Sox & Patriot talk/gear spread around the city - I saw a street stand with "Free Brady" shirts as well as hearing people scream that through the streets #LOL.

We walked through Quincy Market that has tons of little shops, stores, and restaurants, before heading into downtown Boston to sit, eat, and drink at Brewery. Afterwards we met up with some more friends, and went to a classic Boston bar. We were in bed by 12 (which I was very thankful for) and up early on Sunday to get some classic New England seafood and then on the road back to NYC.

I think my favorite part of the trip (aside from seeing my friends and road tripping in the car) was Harvard. It felt so surreal to be in a place that so many great people have been before. My one regret this trip was not getting a Harvard t-shirt before I left.

Side note: I also LOVED all the Snapchat filters, as you can see above. I mean, come on--is it really a road trip if you don't add some snapchat filters?

For my next trip, I want to do a lot more sight seeing and possibly head to Salem (maybe during Halloween?!)

I feel like I may be doing some more road trips in my future!

Have you ever been to Boston? What's your favorite road trip you've ever taken?


I'm severely depressed and I don't know when I'm going to snap out of it. I do not want to be back here in chilly NYC but would rather have a drink in my hand, on the beach in sunny Punta Cana. Me and my friends had been planning this trip for months and in the blink of an eye, it's over. I can't even begin to explain how fast it went; I felt like I had just arrived when I was packing my bags to return home.




It was an interesting week, as you can imagine; 15 fraternity and sorority college students, some who were best friends and others who were strangers. Imagine 15 college students traipsing through an airport together at 6am. It was really aggressive (aggressive was the word of the trip); we were cranky and bitchy and rude but we had a lot of laughs. I wouldn't have had it any other way.

As you can imagine, I don't travel well. My nerves are always high and I get really anxious but traveling with my friends was a lot different. I was really calm and the plane ride was actually a lot of fun.




Once we got to Punta Cana though, it was on. An all inclusive vacation was the best thing to happen to me and my friends. All we could eat and drink for five days straight. There was no place I would rather be. 

The weather was positively beautiful; laying on a beach all day and partying all night was perfection. The resort we stayed out was definitely not what I imagined; there were a lot of families and hardly any Spring Break college students so me and my friends definitely made our own fun.

The trip did not come without tensions; I got really, really tan and eventually looked like I was deformed. I got stung by a bee and my lips got really swollen. We went on a cruise and I got sea sick and threw up off the side of the boat. My friend Tayler got his wallet stolen but then returned, stepped on glass and cut his hand. My other friends cut their toes and got really bad sunburn. It was really aggressive all around. 

That made the trip so much better though. I don't mean to humble brag but me and my friends are truly some of the funniest, most outrageous people out there. We kept saying ridiculous things that I wrote down in my phone because they were too insane to not write down and remember. 

This vacation really made me fall deeper in love with all my friends because they're truly one of a kind.




With beautiful weather, good vibes and great friends, you can truly make the best out of any situation. This trip was the definition of that; of course it was a typical college Spring Break in some aspects but being with my friends made me realize that you can make your own fun, no matter where you are. 

My Spring Break was filled with incredible memories, lots and lots of laughs, and my best friends. Seriously, these people became my family...literally. We kept pretending we were on a family vacation but I guess you had to be there #Griswolds. 



Punta Cana 2014, you will be missed. I wish I was on the beach with a Banana Mama in my hand or at the Bellini Bar. Now it's back to reality and time to face the truth...I graduate in less than 2 months.

Cheers to #SpringBreakForever


It's now 24 hours until me and 14 of my closest friends are on a plane to the Dominican Republic. My excitement is truly unreal and I've been a stressed out mess all week. Between finishing up midterms, sorority initiation, tanning, packing, and running around to get everything I need, it's been a rough one. I need a vacation just from preparing for vacation!

Packing is such a process because you never know what you are going to need once you get there. I love having options for outfits and I overpack when I'm going somewhere for one night so for me, it was all about prioritizing.




I made check lists on check lists to try to remember everything I need. It's crazy and if you've ever gone on a trip like this, you understand my pain. It's also my first actual vacation without my parents so I don't have my mom breathing down my neck to make sure I remembered everything.

Here are some tips for packing lightly but efficiently for Spring Break:

1. Only the essentials: DO NOT OVERPACK. Do you really want to pay the extra money to go over the 50 pound limit? I don't. Plan accordingly and ahead of time. If you're going to a beach vacation for five days, don't bring 10 bathing suits. Think about it, you'll only be wearing a bathing suit and cover up during the day and dressy clothes at night. Don't bring too many pairs of shorts or too many dresses. Bring at most, three extra outfit options so you have a choice in what you'd like to wear.

2. Plan with your friends/roomies: If you're going away with your best friends, pitch in on stuff. Instead of everyone bringing a blow dryer or straightener, bring one or two per room. There's no need for everyone to bring shampoo and conditioner, buy a large one at Target and spilt the price. It'll free up some space in your suitcases and it'll be cheaper for everyone in the long run.




3. Roll your clothes: Instead of folding your clothes or laying them flat, roll them. Yes, they will be wrinkled but there will be so much room in your suitcase. You can stack the clothes on top of each other and pair them side by side, tuck them into the nooks and crannies of your suitcase. It'll take a little more time rather than just dumping everything into your suitcase at once but it'll save you space which is all what packing is about.



4. Pack in compartments: Utilize the compartments in your suitcase; pack your undergarments and bathing suits in those zippered parts to allow more room for shoes and actual clothing in the main part of your suitcase. As for toiletries and makeup, buy little pouch bags or makeup bags to keep everything together and save space. Also, if everything liquid is together, it'll be harder for them to spill out all over your clothes. #Nightmare

A few other traveling tips:

-Pack your carryon last so you don't forget anything!
-Keep your passport, drivers license, tickets, and money together in a separate little bag so everything is altogether.
-Don't forget to pack your chargers and wires for your electronic devices!
-Even if you're on a beach vacay, bring a pair of sneakers because there might be some outdoor excursions you want to go on that require sneakers.
-Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane to save space and weight in your suitcase.
-Don't bring expensive jewelry, you don't really need it and God forbid it gets lost.
-Pack your shoes on the bottom so you can stack clothes on top and they won't get dirty.
-Download new music and update your iPod before you get on the plane.
-Look up the weight and other travel restrictions before you get to the airport.

Whenever I have traveled in the past, my carryon is my favorite bag to pack! That's where all the good stuff is and the most important because it'll keep you occupied on the plane. Here are my Carry On Essentials:



-Ipad, iPod, and cell phone: they'll all keep you occupied and a lot of airlines now have WiFi on the planes
-A book or magazine: If you're not the e-book type, bring a book or magazine to keep you occupied and entertained.
-Motion Sickness Medicine: I get ridiculously motion sickness and nervous on planes (as you can imagine, (#TypeA) so my Dramamine medication is a must whenever I fly
-Ear plugs and gum: No one enjoys the feeling of having your ears pop as the plane takes off and lands. Be prepared!
-Sunglasses: You'll want/need/beg for them as soon as you get off the plane!
-Change of Clothes: Some hotels and flights don't line up correctly so you might not be able to check in as soon as you get to the hotel. To get every bit of time in on your first day, pack a bathing suit, cover up and pair of sandals to change into quickly so you can hit the beach ASAP.

Point of Interest: Put ALL liquids in your suitcase; if you have them in your carryon, it's sure to be a disaster at the airport. 

What are your travel and packing tips for any type of vacation? Tell me in the comments! 

Happy Spring Break everyone!!!



  
The countdown is really on right now; I leave for Punta Cana in FOUR days. All my clothes are purchased, packing has begun and my nail appointment has been made, now all we do is wait. It's definitely going to be a hectic week of preparing but the end result is going to be incredible.

I, like every other girl, have a lot of trouble shopping for bathing suits so this has been a long shopping process. Because I hate shopping for bathing suits and summer clothes so much, I made the odd decision to buy the same bikini in five different colors. My mom thought it was weird but I see no problem with it.

It was also a task to not overpack but bring enough clothes to satisfy my ever changing outfit moods. I haven't put together my outfits yet but in reality I need five bathing suits, five cover ups, and five night outfits. I won't be wearing much else during the day besides a bathing suit and cover up and then wearing a dress or dressy shorts at night. It shouldn't be that difficult but I'm a 21 year old girl so it is.

I also know I'm not the only one struggling with this, fess up ladies!

Here are just some ideas of what to wear on Spring Break!


Spring Break Beach


For the beach, keep it simple; don't go crazy with make-up because it'll just wash off in the water or sweat it off in the sun.

Spring Break Night Out

For at night, I still wouldn't go crazy because it'll be hot and if you keep the accessories to a minimum, it'll be less to pack. Also, I worry way too much about my items getting stolen or my luggage getting loss.

Stay tuned for more Spring Break posts as the week goes on! 

What are your favorite outfits for Spring Break getaways? Tell me in the comments!


COPYRIGHT © Royally Pink · THEME BY WATDESIGNEXPRESS