Things You Wish You Packed.

1. Mix & Mismatch Bikinis.  

My friends & I love to shop at Victoria's Secret for these.  The best part is you can have so many different bikinis. Go on: Mix and Mismatch! 

2. A new perfume.

The key to this one is to get a scent that you love but have never worn before.  They say that scent is the strongest tie to memory, so pick a new scent that will take you back to your trip even after you've left. Plus, you get to smell good while your traveling. Who knows? You might meet a cute guy to make some new memories with! This one was mine & it totally works!

3. Eyemask & Earplugs

Channel your inner Holly Golightly & sleep all day, but keep the noisy roommates or traffic noises from keeping you from your beauty sleep!  This is especially helpful when trying to get rid of jet lag.

4.  A travel mirror

Some places don't have great lighting or even a mirror to put on makeup.  Something like this would've been perfect!  I wish I had bought this to begin with.

5. Different sized locks

Make sure they're sturdy! For your suitcase get one with 4 digits, not 3.  Then, bring a really thick one for lockers. Very important... you don't want anyone stealing your camera with all your pictures from your trip on it!

6. A Journal (any kind will do) and Pens (pens are like gold when traveling!)

My twinzies & I kept a journal with notes from people we met and pictures and tickets from places we went.  I like this more personal take on the scrapbook you typically make at the end of your trip.  This way, the people you meet along the way can contribute pictures and funny memories.  My memory is terrible, so this helps me so much in reliving my trip! I think this one is super cute.

7. Portable Speakers for your iPod 

For those quiet, lazy days on the beach with your friends, add some music with these! There were few travelers who had these, but the ones who did were always surrounded with people.  People love the music!

8. Fake Mustaches

I don't know how to explain it, but fake mustaches are so useful!  I brought one with me and I could've used it for so many different occasions.  I saved it for the perfect occasion, though: A Gender-Bender Theme Party at Surf Camp. What can I say? They're just funny! I'm a big fan of this collection.

9.  LBB: Little Brown Belt

The simple solution to making any outfit 10 times better.  I brought a braided brown leather belt that doubled as a hippie headband.  It was probably my most used item, and I was so sad when I lost it towards the end of my trip.  This one is a great size.

10. Sarong

It is thin and compact. It works as a cover up, a towel, a sheet, a scarf, a tent... and you'll probably find many other uses.  It's the perfect item, and I am in looooove with this one.

Best Year Ever.

When I first decided to go to Australia and blog about it, I bought myself my first "real" camera: a Canon PowerShot SX30 IS.  Then, I found out about this great website called 365 Project.  It was a challenge to practice my photography by taking 1 picture every day for the whole year.  Well, it has been one year, and I finished! I am just a beginner photographer, but these are some of my favorites from my year in Australia.  I would love to hear what you think! 

I encourage anyone and everyone to get a 365 Project!  It is so fun to look back on your year and trigger some memories with your favorite photos.  Some days I just used my iPod or my underwater camera to take pictures. Let me know if you get one & I'll follow you!

 If you'd like to see more from my year on 365 Project:

All in the Details.

Apart from the simple silver chain anklet I wear every day, I'm not a huge jewelry wearer.  When I do decide to spice up an outfit, I tend to stick to bold statement pieces or delicate additions.  So, this is my guide to jewelry for the non-jewelry wearer such as myself.  My favorite accessories company stella & dot has some perfect examples of what I look for when I buy jewelry.  For example, you could wear an LBD & the Petra Braided Bracelet below and it would dress it up perfectly.  I guarantee all night that bracelet will be complemented by everyone you meet.

One of my favorite necklaces that was gifted to my by Sweet & Simple.

Tumblr.

Welcome to my new photo blog addition: Tumblr! They're not all mine, but they are all things that I love and make me happy. How it took me so long to get on the tumblr bandwagon? I don't know, but now I'm hooked. So hop on, and get inspired! Let me know if you have one & I'll follow you... Xx

San Diego Sparkles.

I am so happy to finally be able to paint my nails, for the first time in a year.  I didn't do my nails while I was away because I was more focused on having fun than keeping up with beauty routines.  The first thing I did when I got home was take a shower and paint my nails with my favorite nail polish that I bought in Australia.  I bought it at Sports Girl & I love the look of it on just one nail.  After looking at the same nail polish color on my toes for a whole year, I feel so happy to look at my pedicure too :) The base color is a white/pink that my mom bought for me in San Diego one year- it changes colors depending on the amount of sunlight.

In other news, it's OFFICIAL! I'm moving to Shelter Island off the coast of San Diego in 2 weeks with my twinzie Janeyl! Woohoo!  While my other twinzie is excitingly moving to Sydney, I get to finally live my dream of living in California.  We'll see how it goes, so stay tuned! Xx

Home Sweet.

Well, I'm back in Colorado.  It's surreal and all too real.  I had the most incredible sleep last night in my fluffy big bed, and I woke up & made chocolate chip waffles (which I haven't had in a year).  Above is my instagram-photo-diary of my last week in OZ.  My girls in Cottesloe and threw me an amazing goodbye dinner at Little Creatures (a brewery/restaurant I have been dying to go to since I had arrived).   We had a private wine tasting at our friend's wine bar and ate an amazing creme caramel dessert.  Heaven!  I flew to Sydney and had a long walk around the city to say farewell.  There were some awesome Louis Vuitton Australian-themed window displays that I loved, and after an 18 flight I finally arrived home.

I missed making waffles in the morning!

 Wrapping all my presents for my family & friends "A Very Merry Un-Christmas"

 I came home to the cutest decorations my friends made for me to welcome me home!

Even though I already miss Australia terribly, there are some amazing things about being home:

1. Celebrating "A Very Merry Un-Christmas" with my friends & family today

2. Baking

3. It's like going shopping in my closet because I have so many clothes I forgot about

4.  My bed is Ah-mazing & it's bed-bug free

5. I'm moving to San Diego, California in 2 weeks with one of my best friends

6. Being with my puppy again

7. Simple conveniences that I used to take for granted (like dishwashers, detangler, waffle makers, etc...)  I think everyones already getting sick of me being excited over these things.  "Oh my gosh, I forgot about coffee makers! How exciting!!!!!"

8. High speed internet I don't have to pay a fortune for, so I can update my blog more often Xx