I have been meaning to write this post for weeks now, but as I’m sure you can tell from how long it has been since my last post, I took quite a hiatus from the blog. It was not intentional, but I am thrilled to be back! I have missed you guys so much. With that being said, I am going to Paris in 3 days (AHHH! I can’t believe I just that!!) so let’s dive into it.
ONLINE SHOPPING
As I’m sure many of you have experienced, anytime I have a big trip coming up I suddenly feel like I MUST have an entirely new wardrobe. While I try to be conscientious of budget, as well as sustainability, I do typically tend to shop for vacation every single time. And with this being my very first time visiting France, this trip was no exception. Some of my favorite places online to shop are VICI, Lulu’s, Petal and Pup and this time, due to a last minute fashion emergency, I also shopped at Fashion Nova. All of these places have extremely fast shipping and great sales which is really helpful. On top of shopping for brand new clothes, I also did my monthly FP for this trip as well. If you know me, you know I’ve been renting clothes for yearsss and last September I switched to FashionPass which I am OBSESSED with. (You can use code JORDANH70 for $70 off your first month!)
I’ll be honest, I completely fell in love with VICI while shopping for Paris. I ended up placing two separate orders from there as well as Lulu’s. Where I would NOT recommend shopping from is Commense or Chicwish. (Both have returns coming their way from me. Not only was the quality not what I was expecting but the shipping also took very long as well.)
Since I have another vacation coming up next month, I want to know – where do you buy your vacation clothes from?! I want to try!
TOILETRIES & ESSENTIALS
In addition to a dream wardrobe, it’s also important to ensure you have all the toiletries and travel essentials you need. Most of my toiletries are all set but I was almost out of my favorite SPF Primer so I restocked up on that. I also bought a new book, as I have been seeing the new book The Conditions of Will by Jessa Hastings everywhere and knew it would be fun to read in Europe since Magnolia Parks always makes me think of London. (The new book is a standalone, but still, you get what I’m saying.) And then lastly, I grabbed some some things for Europe specifically. I purchased an electrical outlet converter in case I need it, as well as a carbon monoxide alarm. (This is my first time traveling with one, but if you know me then you know in the last five years I’ve developed some pretty intense anxiety and I am doing all the things I can to keep myself comfortable and calm while traveling abroad.) On that note, I also purchased Patches for Flight Anxiety for the first time! I am not someone who has really ever struggled with a fear of flying until all these recent accidents on the news (😅) So again, just adding what I can to minimize anxieties. I’ll report back how they work!
Lastly, of course I purchased a new passport cover, and I bought a set of two so I could give one to my husband! I just prefer to have my passport safe in a cover when traveling, and a bonus is that makes it easier to find in your backpack, etc. when going through customs or checking in at your hotel.
ORGANIZATION & PLANNING
When it comes to ANY travel, I always have an itinerary. It’s usually extremely detailed and this trip is no exception. It’s been a whirlwind last few weeks putting together our plan, complete with meal reservations booked, event and venue tickets purchased, and walking and Uber times timed out. I also made a powerpoint of all my outfits so I can know what I’m wearing on each day, and ensure it makes sense for the activities we’re doing that day (and the weather!) It actually is going to be much warmer for our trip than we expected so I had to change a couple outfits around.
LITTLE LUXURIES
One thing I didn’t need to purchase for this trip is perfume, as I have many bottles of these and I actually happen to have Maison Margiela’s “Afternoon Delight” Paris scent! How perfect is that? I am looking forward to smelling like “warm vanilla madeleine” while in the city.
I did purchase new earrings, as I wanted something simple that would go with every outfit. I got two pair of tiny CZ studs, one is a little bigger than the other. I cannot wait to wear them!
Lastly, I do just want to share as part of this travel focused blog post, and under this section about “little luxuries ” — Ryan and I used a chunk of our miles to upgrade to Delta’s Premium Select. This is the section only available on international flights, which is in between Delta Comfort and Delta One (the lie flat beds.) So, it’s basically the service of First Class on a domestic flight, along with some extra comforts such as a retractable foot rest, an amenity kit and more. I am SO excited for this. We feel very lucky to be able to use our miles to do so and I will be sure to report back on the experience. If you’ve known me since we went to Hawaii in 2021, I am laughing because once again, my parents are in Delta One and will be leaving us in the dust 😂
Well, that’s all for now. Paris prep has truly taken over my mind for the last month plus, and I cannot believe it’s finally here. Can’t wait to share all about it when I return. Until then, bisous and au revoir! xx
