Travel Made Perfect

I have lots of visits back home for the holidays and lots of fun family events headed my way. I am looking forward to some extra smooth travel to help me relax this holiday. The key to enjoyable travel is all about the airport outfit and the packing of the suitcase. This past weekend was our first stop of the season, home to NJ, and I gave it my best shot. 

 I decided to start and finish my travels this weekend in the most comfortable light knit top from Shop The Mint. Miami to NJ requires layers from start to finish. This top was perfect for the plane! It was both comfortable and stylish and easily paired with other comfy clothes like skinny stretch jeans and flat shoes/boots.

Shop my look below and get $10 off your first purchase at Shop The Mint, when you sign up for emails! Enter to win an additional $25 gift card on my Insta HERE and check out all my travel tips listed below. xo RCN

Tips 4 Travel

1. Wear your favorite stretchy items on the plane, like this oversized V-neck top. The stretch in leggings or a sweater may be helpful when reaching for your bag in the overhead compartment or if your chapstick goes flying underneath the seat in front of you.

2. Wear the same look 2 different ways. Swap sweaters and tops, but re-wear jeans to save on some suitcase space. Where your airport look to and from, but switch out for new shoes and a purse to give yourself a re-fresh on the way home.

3. Do wear easy slip on and off shoes to the airport. These Zara boots or Steve Madden slip on sneaks won't deter you from a speedy walk to the gate if your running a little late, and will be quite helpful for a quick trip through security.

4. When packing your suitcase, ROLL! Roll any clothing items that you can. It will alleviate any unwanted wrinkles on knits, cottons, even denim.

5. Bag it! I never go anywhere without my duster bags for shoes and handbags. They keep the soles of your shoes as far from your clean clothes as possible and your nice leather bags from getting any unwanted scratches.

6. Need an extra purse? Okay, just pack one inside the other like nesting dolls. Will help on saving space, whether you place inside a checked bag or even a carry on tote!

7. Fragile items are best tucked within layers of your most soft and fluffy clothing items inside your suitcase. It helps to add padding for the bumpy road ahead.

8. Bringing along some extra special jewelry, but you're not exactly keen on wearing it through the airport or checking it? Keep them close by your side in a seperate mini travel bag that you can tuck inside your purse. That way you don't have the worry of losing it, if it's safe and stored away on your shoulder.

9. Bag what you need for "on the plane" separately within your carry on purse or tote. Lip gloss, headphones, gum, tissues, ibuprofen, credit card, book, whatever it might be. It will be much easier to settle once on the plane if you only need to remove one item from your carry on, rather than 10 separate pieces. Your seat mate will be thankful.

10. Pack your toiletry bag within another zip bag or something that will double prevent any spillage on your other items. I've made the mistake of shampoo and nail polish remover leaks - eek!

11. And of course, if you intend on doing some shopping while you're away...leave some extra space in any of your bags ;)

 

Always A Sale

Other than a handful of prized accessories in my closet (shoes & bags mostly), majority of my closet is shopped on sale or at off price stores like Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls, Neiman Marcus Last Call, etc. I love a great deal. After all, there is always a sale happening, somewhere. Even at my favorite full price stores like Anthro, Madewell, or Zara, I wait for an item I love to go on sale or simply hit up the sale rack first. Chances are, there will be something to satisfy my fashion needs, for less than the original price tag notes. Of course there are some exceptions. I love Topshop denim, and can't always score a sale pair when in need of a replacement or addition for the season. And, I still shop at Forever 21 and fast fashion stores that offer trendy items for $30 and under. My latest discount purchase was online at LOFT, where I picked up this feminine open shoulder babydoll top. Shop the top below + some of my other favorites from the LOFT sale - still going on now! xo RCN

 

Coveted Cover-Ups

Half my wardrobe consists of swimsuit cover-ups. I spend almost every weekend at the Beach or pool. Let's be real, half the people shopping in the South Beach Publix grocery store are wearing beach cover-ups or bikinis. Maybe, you live somewhere less likely to frequent the beach, but pools, lakes, and the ocean are a big part of everyone's Summer. With that being said, you probably devote a good amount of your Summer time in what can be spent in a cover-up. Cover-ups are my favorite South Florida and Summer wardrobe staple (other than my accessories). Here is a compilation of some of my favorites, direct from the closet and some coveted pieces available online now. Happy "it's still" Summer, everyone! xo RCN

 

What To Wear: Wedding Series

It's that time of year! Weddings are happening left and right...and bridal showers, and rehearsal dinners and wild nights out on the town for the bachelorette party, engagement parties, so many parties! Weddings aren't just about that one special day. Weddings are basically a year long celebration of one couple, or two, or more! This past weekend, three of my friends got engaged!! Love is in the air, which is fantastical, I love weddings! Crazy exciting stuff, and now with so many people getting married in my life, I now I have weddings on the brain, even more than when I first planned this post. Basically, aside from saving for new swimsuits and a beach bag, it's really all about spending a little cash on the wedding wardrobe for the spring/summer season. If you are the BFF of the bride and looking for a great piece for the rehearsal dinner, look no further. Or, maybe you are a plus one that is meeting the bride and groom for the first time on the big day, and you just want to look pretty and turn some heads (but for all the right reasons). Here are all the dresses to make you look stunning, classy, and ready for some wedding fun. And, remember, if you aren't in the bridal party, it's always a good idea to find out the color of the bridesmaids dresses before you show up to the wedding. The last thing you need is to look like you are trying to squeeze yourself into the wedding photos ;) I am off to my next wedding at the end of this month, for my girlfriend Dani's wedding, and I am still trying to decide on my dress for the day. Which of these do you suggest?? The evening reception is at a beautiful country club and it's black tie optional. Z will be wearing his black tux and coral is not an option! xo RCN

 

Tropical Getaway

I am dying for a cold and cozy-up kind of vacation getaway this winter, but I am guessing most of you are dreaming of some sand and surf. I find myself more than ever these days searching the web for cute bathing suits and sandals because, well that is what I wear most of the time aside from running shorts or tank dresses. So, for those of you headed south to the Caribbean, Tropics, or the MIA, here is a round up of some winter get away must haves and Essie nail colors perfect for the beach. Happy shopping and don't forget the sunscreen! xo RCN

 

Prettiest Christmas Sweaters

I say, "out with the ugly Christmas sweater, and in with the prettiest Christmas sweater!" Ugly Christmas sweaters are everywhere, so no doubt you can find one of those in stores or online if you need one, but how about the prettiest sweater? Here are my picks for some of the prettiest, cutest, most sweet, and subtle knits for your next holiday shindig. Go with a little sparkle, or a ruffle for some flare. A cutout shoulder adds a little bit' of a lusty look without going completely bare. No "Ho, Ho, Ho" looks for me! Happy sweater shopping! xo RCN

Anthropologie, $88

Topshop, $90

Banana Republic, $88

J.Crew, $79.50

Tory Burch, $350

Urban Outfitters, $98

Shein.com, $24.99

Asos, $53

Zara, $49.90

Free People, $168

Kate Spade, $228

Shein.com, $21.99

Ted Baker, $225

French Connection, $98

Anthropologie, $118 

Revolve, $209

Chicwish, $56.02

& Other Stories, $65