What’s in your bag? My super unsexy backpack tour.

Day 9, what’s in your bag, 30 day blog challenge

So firstly this isn’t my bag! It’s my good friend Abi’s bag. My rucksack is crap. When I used to run home it would always come unzipped. Once I was running and these things started flapping round my head, it was my jeans and half my cloths were strewn across the market place.

Nightmare.

Perfect half inched bag

Abi was moving to Australia and was going to through out her beloved bag pack that had gone everywhere with her. She was planning on throwing it away, I said I would look after it for her but it is the best backpack.

I will give it back I just need to find a replacement!

Anatomy of a rucksack

So starting with the front pocket I normally have my keys and head phones. Can’t do public transport without blocking out the noise of everyone else. Plus I have 30 blogs to write and the bus is the only time I have to write my first draft.

In my next pocket I have some essentials like my first aid kit! Hand sanitizers a few pens and my wallet.

So exciting hu!

Planning with planners

Then my main compartment I have my two bullet journals… my wedding one and my day to day one.

My pencil case, no idea why I have pens at the bottom of my bag. It has pretty much everything in it. I may do a mini blog on my favourite stationery and what’s in my case. You should understand that even though my case says Gryfindor I am a firm Hufflepuffion!

Warm clothes

It’s cold at the moment and my big curly hair doesn’t like hair dryers but to dry naturally so I have my blue snowboarding hat in it. So when I walk to the bus stop it doesn’t drip down my back.

I also have packed a jumper in there! I wear it to work but I get too hot on my way to work and also on the walk home. This is actually Gavs jumper and I am wearing it, I do love men’s clothes.

Makeup bag

I don’t wear a lot of makeup most days I wear just sunscreen. But if I go out or if I look like the absolute worst then I have my makeup bag. This is actually a pencil case from Primark. I can’t tell you how great it is. It opens out so you can see everything and I just love the colours.

My last makeup bag was a silver Elemis one. I have had it for about six years and it was just starting to fall apart. I hope my new one lasts as long!

Reuse

The last thing I have in my bag is a spare shopping bag well two. A plastic one and a very sexy string bag that holds an enormous amount of shopping. I love it. The plastic one is for meat and the string bag is for everything else. I also use any room left I have in my backpack.

I don’t have a water bottle as I am trying to cut down on plastic. So I just have water at home and work.

Summary

So my backpack is filled with such excitement. I actually loved writing this. It’s sad isn’t it. I love Abi’s backpack. It holds so much and when I run ( haven’t this year) and it doesn’t undo as I run.

What’s in my hand luggage

Organising, Planning, Travel

Okay this is just a quick one but these are some of my favourite blogs so here goes!

What’s in my hand luggage for snowboarding

This is my snowboarding bag. Ryan Air don’t let you have a big bag so I had to think carefully about what I packed.

Gloves

These are my cheapy Primark gloves I bought for a £1. They are a gorgeous forest green and unraveled the first time I wore them. I stitched them up and now they are perfect. I just love the colour. We have a transfer to and from the airports so we don’t meet to go far with the suitcases. But I hate pulling a suitcase in the cold.

Bullet Journal

This baby goes everywhere with me it should really have its own passport!

Goggles

These are my new goggles and they fit perfectly over my glasses so I don’t have to wear contacts. They come with a cover to protect the lense and we had to buy them last minute as my think glasses were involved in a dog chewing incident!

Book

I always take two books on holiday. I find the glare of a phone too much on a long day. I also like turning pages and physically holding a book.

Purse

This little one is perfect. My friend brought it for me for my birthday. It’s suede carries all my cards and money and is stylish too.

It can fit into my pocket and at the moment it is holding my house keys.

Socks

These are my boarding socks! They were the first pair that Gav bought me and I still use them. They are a little threadbare. But I still use them and they double up as flight socks if I get cold.

The flight is only 3 hours and I generally keep my shoes on for short flights but they are there just in case.

Stationery

What is a bullet journal without pens? I have two here a Sakura fineliner and and a lestraset fineliner. I like them both I am pretty sure one is a 3 and one is a 5.

Vitamin C

These are boots version of bercocca and are great after a night out or if you are feeling a bit low. We never really go snowboarding without them. Often I like one before I fly.

Cables

I have having to root around in a bag to find things. Cables and technology are now essential. We bought these flight bags in a pack and I love them. I normally use them for my make up and skincare. I didn’t want the fuss this time! So I packed them away in the main suitcase. In here I have my multi usb plug and cables, adapter and fully charged charger.

Most airports let you charge so I want too worried about my phone dying but it’s good to be prepared.

Tissues

Can’t travel without them. I sometimes have hand sanitiser but I left it in the main luggage.

What I bought at the airport

I always travel with a lip balm on me. My lips get dry really easily but I decided to take advantage of tax free shopping and a 20% off voucher and bought myself a lipstick, Gav treated me to this super little Chanel balm which is lovely and light!

I also bought us some new travel toothbrushes. I am being conscious of wasting plastics so tried this bamboo brush. We will see how I feel about this later!

That’s pretty much it!

My snowboarding backpack doesn’t hold too much so that was all I could comfortably fit in!

What do you put in your hand luggage?

Snowboarding Outfit planning and packing

Organising, Personal Experience, Planning, Travel

When I first went snowboarding I looked up what to wear!

I had no idea.

Gavin informed me of all the bits I needed for the trip and insisted it was better to buy better pieces. Well ten years on I still have my snowboarding coat. It has a few wears and it came in handy during the snow in Britain a few years ago. But other than a few patches it looks pretty perfect.

It’s a Betty Rides coat and I bought it in TK Maxx for £60. I didn’t even know if I would like it but I go back every year to the slopes sometimes twice!

This isn’t about necessities though that can be on another post. This is about what to pack when you are there!

So firstly if it is your first time on a snow trip then unless you are naturally gifted then you are going to fall over or tumble a lot. This means that you don’t want to pack in anything two restricting after you get off the slopes. I live in jeans I always have I find them so comfy but I won’t be taking my super skinny ones. Instead I will take ones that I can spend all day in and love it.

We are traveling with Ryan air which are a shit but cheapish airline. Normally I wouldn’t complain but the flight may be say 60 but then they charge x amount for hand luggage, x amount for a suitcase. I would rather fly with B & A or virgin but sadly they don’t fly there.

Don’t get me started on flying from Stansted either.

So I always have a travel outfit. To save space I travel in my boarding coat as this would take up so much of my suitcase.

I have a favourite Harry Potter tee that I always travel in and my roomy jeans.

No heels

Let’s talk about shoes. Ladies I promise you don’t need heels. No man cares about your shoes especially when there is snow or worse ice outside. So base you outfits around cute boots and walking shoes! Moon boots are adorable and you can make them work. You can wear trainers if it’s warmer weather!

Ski holidays are often about fun so don’t be afraid to add pops of colour and clashing items. When I first went everything was neutral. Now I love bright turquoise accessories.

Another thing you need to bear in mind is layers. When it’s cold in Britain we know we don’t cope that well. But ski towns are built for the cold. I have never been cold on a ski trip. Maybe on the mountain or a chairlift but never in the town. All the restaurants and bars are lovely and warm so layering is key.

The restaurants hotels hostels are all warm. You don’t need your thickest jumpers. Just think about how hot you get when you travel. Coat jumper tee: perfect layers. It is better to layer up then. A few thin jumpers will see you through.

Night life going out out

We aren’t really clubby people but when we are on holiday we sometimes will spend the night dancing away! Now you can dress up if you like but the majority of people will be in cute tees and hoody’s.

We come for the powder not for fashion.

No club or bar is going to turn you away because you are wearing snow boots jeans and a tee! It’s cold they understand.

It’s all about comfort! You are going to see a lot of big brands like Montclere, Canada Goose. These brands are super duper expensive but they are all about comfort and keeping you warm!

So what to pack!

Start with a list.

Try to build outfits rather than individual items. I find writing a list makes it easier to not over pack and to really think about what you want.

I do love packing cubes they make everything so much easier!

When it comes to boarding gear a list is essential so you don’t miss anything off. This also doubles as Gavs list so he can use most of it!

I think both of us has two tees we didn’t use so that isn’t too bad!

Organising is key to stress free packing.

So write a list.

Plan your outfits.

And enjoy!!

What does a girl with big curly hair pack for a trip: Skincare and grooming products

Beauty, Make Up, Organising, Planning, Travel, Uncategorised

I thought I would share with you what this curly hair girl packs for a trip. Now a few years ago my grooming products would have been Boots curly cream, sunscreen, after sun, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. Now my skincare and grooming products now take up a shelf in my bathroom Gav calls them my Potions.

I basically transformed from a bathroom minimalist to having products overload.

This is all preparation for my wedding day and also just because I need to take care of myself in general.

So what am I packing for a long trip?

Protective Skincare

Sunscreen

So this is the most important section well that and my hair care. I have thick curly hair that can drink all the moisture in the air and treble in size. My skin is pale (thanks mum) so I like to have different protection levels of sunscreen. So, I have factor 20, 30 and a 50! For my body I wear what ever is on offer but when it come to my face I wear La Roche Posay Anthelios XL ultra light fluid SPF 50+. Light on your skin and super protective.

The Seychelles can reach high temperatures: that breezy coastal air and sometime cloudy skies can be misleading. Reflections from the water mean the sun can get to you from every angle.

You need to top up all the time.

Never miss the back of your neck and the back of you hands.

Aftersun

I like to use this every night even if I don’t get burnt. It sooths my skin moisturises and this also has mosquito repellent in it so I don’t have to smell horrible when I sleep.

Mozzy spray is key to surviving the tropics. I am not taking perfume because there is no point. I hate putting chemicals into the air however none of the natural remedies work.

I have tried tea tree oil, bracelet you name it.

I was eaten alive.

Now I can handle a few mosquito bites but my body doesn’t like them. I get huge egg size lumps on them. I hate mosquitoes, but scratching drives me mad.

My Skincare Routine, with Manhattan 11.

Skincare

Day

Even though this looks like a lot of products it really isn’t. I have my cleanser and toner are both Elemis, Lovely and light on y skin. I will use them morning and night. I also have The Ordinary’s Rosehip oil which is good for soothing the skin and Matryxal which is great for wrinkles and pore shrinking abilities ( I am a convert). Tata Harper diamond moisturiser that is very light and smells like heaven. I have a small travel size rose exfoliator from Elemis which is my favourite. When my skin is ready for makeup I used la Roche Posey tinted SPF 50 which I love.

Night

For night I have my Elemis night cream which makes my skin sing with pure happiness. Burt’s Bees for my lips. Sunday Riley’s Luna for a night time treatment. Decleor’s Balm oil again for a soothing treatment. Elizabeth Arden anti ageing serum which I am saving to buy the bigger one. This stuff is ridiculously good with a ridiculous price to match.

Hair Care for Curly Hair

May as well get a gripe off my chest. If you have slightly wavy hair you do not have curly hair. I hate it on adverts when they get a model with beautiful perfect curls, call it frizzy and then straighten them. Curly hair is not the same as frizzy hair. Because if there is moisture in the air my hair will absorb it and become frizzy hair.

The different between silky wavy hair and curly hair is when you wake up in the morning you may have slightly fluffier hair. My curls have matted and felted together to create what ever shape my pillow has moulded them in. Unless I sleep on my face my hair needs to be washed or at least conditioned everyday or it looks like crap.

If you think I look like sideshow Bob before I go to bed you should see me in the morning.

My curls are full on curls. I love them but they are a nightmare. My fair is dry, frizzy, curly and prone to itchy flaky scalp. Very sexy.

This summer I have had a lot of good hair days.

I have battled with my curls my whole life and now we are in a good place. I now brush them in the shower (Controversial I know).

I have just discovered Body Shops Ginger Shampoo which smells like heaven and looks after my scalp. I may be able to start wearing dark colours regularly. I am using Muai conditioner which is hydrating for my curls. I just keep it away from my scalp.

Then I use Boots Curl Cream which is the best thing for my curls. And a comb.

Shower and grooming

Shower gel I will use whatever is at my dad’s house I am not fussy. But I have a got an exfoliating glove to help get rid of all the dry skin.

Venus travel razor is beyond cute and super sharp blades.

Hair grips and bobbles. I keep my hair grips in a large tic-tac box. I saw this hack on Pinterest and it is the only hack that has ever really worked for me.

I am also packing my foot cream and pumice stone. Having your feet exposed all day in the heat or soaked in sea water can lead to super dry feet. Lets face it no matter how small you feet are they are never perfect.

Make Up

I don’t wear a lot of make up at all. I generally don’t wear anything heavier than a tinted moisturiser. My makeup bag generally holds about 10 items but what I am taking on holiday is:

Pretty pink Lancome blusher
Blusher brush
Lancome mascara which is lovely and holds a curl
Eyeliner is L’Oreal one which helps me create a cat eye look
Elizabeth Arden eyebrow pencil
Lano lips moisturiser
Lancome pink

I am sorry if that was slightly boring. But when it comes to blogs I am really nosy. I like details and lists and just generally finding out what people pack. I find that they sometimes don’t give me enough information. Having big curly hair means that in the tropics I can sometimes end up looking like Monica From Friends . We all know the hair, yup that’s me.

So if you want information please let me know!

That it from me.

Enjoy your holidays and let me know what you pack. When it comes to shopping for products I tend to shop around to find the best price. I am not loyal to one particular shop. So this is what a girl with big curly hair pack for a trip: Skincare and grooming products hope you liked it.

Dana

For Elemis

For Lancome

For La Roche Posay

Dysfunctional Planner

The joys of planning a wedding, travel and all that life throws at me

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