What to Pack for Vegas - Or Any Quick Hot Weekend Getaway

 

Foot Cream - Gold Bond Ultimate with Shea Butter - You're dry from the desert weather and drinking more in a night than you do in a month. Take 30 seconds to put this on your feet & hands before you go to sleep and you'll be glad you did in the morning. 

Dramamine - It's not just for motion sickness

Natural Deodorant - Nothing super crazy, but that's going to be easy to wear no matter what you are wearing. Lavanila Deoderant

15 Hour Primer - Benefit Stay Flawless - Ladies: Invest in a good primer! If this isn't weather you're used to, you're going to be a sweaty mess before you get to the top of the hour. Make sure any makeup you've spent any effort in putting on actually stays there for a decent amount of time. Benefit has some of the best primers around. Check out the Porefessional if  you want something a little less hardcore, but Stay Flawless is a safe bet.

Aloe Vera Gel - For any possible sunburns. Also works good for a light hold in your hair, especially if you don't normally like to use something as heavy as gel, but want some unruly curls or waves to calm down.

Dry Shampoo - Oscar Blandi - Bottomless mimosa brunch, pool parties, dinners & nightclubs. Who has time to wash your hair all those times throughout the day? Get a good dry shampoo spray.

Travel Size Fragrance - Michael Kors is one of my fav. Don't bring the whole sha-bang. You'll be a very sad panda if it opened up or broke in your travel case. (Yes, it's happened.)

BB Cream - Too Faced Beauty Balm SPF 20 - Look for a great all-in-one that will last. Ideally you'll also want to look for SPF 30 & above.

What to Wear to Vegas

Is this your first (or even 10th) time going to Las Vegas for a weekend? Don't know what to bring but want to bring everything, but are worried about the 50lb oversize limit on a plane? Here are some ideas, most of which are actual things I'll be packing myself in a couple days.

Note: This guide is most ideal for months of April - October. It actually does get pretty cold in the winter. And snows.

The warm weather essentials:

Bikini, flip flops, cover up, and a pair or two of shorts

A couple dresses that you feel great in. Even if you're only going out for one night, you want to have options to suit your vibe, whether you're feeling a little more casual or dressy. Wear comfortable SHORT heels. Unless you're one of those people that's super comfy in 6" stripper shoes that cost 30 bucks from Snaz75.com, you'll probably end up looking like this most likely:

A couple tank tops that are versatile going from day into night. Who knows if you'll have time to go back to the hotel room to change?

Don't forget some new shades! Oh, and buy cheap ones. You're going to be drinking & running around everywhere by pools and lots of other really drunk people and... It would suck if you lost a pair of sunglasses you just spent a boatload of money on like too many people in Vegas.

Bring something easy to pull your hair back and keep it off your face. If your hair is naturally curly, leave your flat iron at home. It's not gonna work out.

Now that we covered what to wear, I'll finish up tomorrow with what to pack. 

Have fun!

Samantha

End of My Summer Vacation

Great summer!

- Went back to college. Took a computer class: Computer Applications for Business, since I'm fairly computer illiterate, and got an A! I struggle with computers, and things like language & terminology, so I'm very happy because I worked for it!

- My regular day job has been going well & accommodating. I was able to still work full time while taking an intense 6 week semester. I was also able to schedule a week off (big reason why I was MIA here for a week) and glad I took it since I know I won't be able to go anywhere til at least Christmas.

- Spent a relaxing few days in Oregon visiting my mom & grandpa. I had wonderful mother-daughter time that we don't get to share more than a couple times a year now. She took me to a creamery (cheese) factory shop, and wine tasting next door from there. 

- Spent my last days as a free woman (of no work or school) in Viva Las Vegas! I've been to Las Vegas many times but believe it or not, I wanted to just have a mellow time this trip. I imagined lots of sun, pool parties, some reading and sleeping. Of course none of that happened - not even the sun! But I made some great memories with my friend Lisa. You know what they say: What happens in Vegas...

I hope everyone takes these last few days of their summer for some much needed relaxation, have a little fun and continue making it a memorable 2014! 

Me & my mom - Southern Oregon, August 2014

Myself & one of my good friends, Lisa - in the High Roller, Las Vegas August 2014

Beautiful Photos of Places in Europe

Whenever I feel like calming down from the internet, or before bed, or just like to see awesome new ideas, I take to Pinterest. It's one of my favorite sites, and that along with MyFitnessPal are probably the two you'll hear me talk about most on this blog right now.

Without further adieu, here are some beautiful photos of places I'd like to visit in Europe:

See also: http://www.topdreamer.com/visit-the-most-beautiful-villages-in-europe/

Austria

 

Venice, Italy

Florence

 

 

Venice, Italy

France

Greece

Tuscany