What I Learned Traveling Abroad

What I Learned Traveling Abroad

Monday, January 21, 2019

Sweater: Thrifted | Trousers: Target (WhoWhatWhere) | Shoes: Target 

 Jacket: Thrifted | Beret: Amazon | Purse: Gamiss

So I did a thing....I booked a trip to Scotland, I hopped on a plane, changed to another plane, flew over the Atlantic Ocean, then hopped on another plane, then arrived in a new country (actually 2)! 18 hours of travel later and 12 hours in a plane I was half way across the world(ish) in Scotland (then in Paris) ! 

I didn't realize it until I was at a family gathering and was filling in everyone on the details of my trip that I suddenly heard "Man, you are brave, I don't think I could have done it", and suddenly realized OH MY GOSH WAS I CRAZY?!?!? 

I think I just wanted to go on a grand adventure and visit Scotland and Paris sooooo badly that I didn't even think about HOW CRAZY it really was! I just booked the tickets, hopped on a plane and suddenly I was in another country. When I take a step back to look at the big picture I realize how crazy my trip was.....and how crazy it sounded  to most people when I told them that by the end of my trip I had taken 7 planes, 4 buses, 5 (or more) subways, 4 trains, and at least 6 Ubers. 

5 Years ago I would have probably passed up the chance at a trip like this all because it involved taking an airplane (an airplane over the ocean no less) and meant being very far away from the comforts of home. However, my perspective on travel and new places has changed through the last couple of years (especially after visiting New York) and I realized that if you don't do the things that scare you then you will always wonder "what if" and you will never learn the valuable lessons that come with those crazy plans (or risks) and you most definitely will loose out on learning who you are and what you are capable of. 

Maybe it was because I wanted to see other parts of the world and experience different cultures, or maybe it was because I wanted to prove to myself that I could travel internationally alone, but whatever my reason traveling abroad taught me that there is so much more that I am capable of if I am determined enough to want it! 

Sure, I still plan every detail down to the minute and make hour accurate itineraries, but I still did something crazy and it taught me that the crazy things are not as hard if it is something you love and are passionate about! 

So take that risk! Book that trip! Hop on that plane! It might seem crazy, but it will be worth it! 

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When I found out that I would be visiting Paris on my trip in addition to Scotland I started brainstorming outfits. I knew that I wanted to look very "Parisian chic" and definitely used that image to create my two looks for the City of Lights! My staples were definitely plaid pants, simple sweaters, berets, boots, and a classy wool jacket. For our main day in Paris I opted for these classy high waisted plaid trousers from the Target WhoWhatWhere line, paired with a tan turtleneck sweater, black ankle boots, a caramel beret hat and cozy and classy wool jacket. Dressing like a Parisian definitely made visiting Paris even more fun. 

Of course on our first full day there I had to visit one of the most popular pictures spots in the city. It was so surreal visiting Place Du Trocadero where all of my favorite bloggers take pictures when they visit the city. It is definitely the perfect place to capture the spirit and magic of the Eiffel tower and Paris. 

I definitely went with a more native Parisian vision for my trip, but next time I visit I definitely want to go more classy glam with dresses and skirts. Paris is probably one of the funnest places I have dressed for in awhile :)

La'Madeleine

La'Madeleine

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Top: Faded Glory | Culottes: Thrifted | Belt: Thrifted | Shoes: Belle's | Pin: Forever21 | Purse: Charming Charlies | Beret: c/o Gamiss 

I've always said that my favorite color is a light blush pink, however as the years have gone by I have discovered that there is one color I seem to gravitate towards the most.....YELLOW. Maybe it's the warm cheery qualities the color makes me feel, but somehow warm yellows and mustards are two colors I always grab when shopping, run to as soon as I see them, or always end up reaching for when I am putting together a look. I would almost go so far as to say that yellow just might be my signature color (or quickly becoming one)? 

I remember the first time I realized how much I loved yellow, I was attending a ball one spring and wore a dress that reminded me of Belle's gown from beauty and the beast. From that moment on I came to love wearing the color yellow. Throughout the years I have collected pieces here and there in the cheery hue and even have a section of spring "vintage sheet" dresses dedicated to the color yellow.
This look especially pulls in the golden hues with this bright yellow beret and yellow striped top. Every time I reach for these Culottes I always grab a striped shirt to pair with it, like in this post. Something about them screams FRENCH and I always give into the inspiration, especially considering this look also reminded me of the story of "Madeline"and her yellow hats and uniforms.  Thus, keeping with the french theme the beret was a definite must as was my blue macaroon pin:) I wanted the look to be super classy so these three strap seude heels were the perfect thing to bring the look together. Really you can't go wrong with black, stripes, and a beret....they are classics!

What is your signature color?

-Madison 

Traveling As An Introvert

Traveling As An Introvert

Monday, February 12, 2018

Skirt: Vintage | Sweater: Faded Glory | Tights: Amazon | Socks: Forever 21 | Shoes: Target |

Jacket: Thrifted (London Fog) | Scarf: Old Navy (old) | Beret: Amazon 

If you have been around this corner of the blogsphere for while and have followed along on my journey you know how passionate I am about sharing who I am as an Introvert and what that means in different facets of my life. Through the last couple of years in learning more about who I am I have learned how to maintain my energy and sanity amidst a busy and sometimes crazy life. Thus, when it comes to traveling as an Introvert, it can be both emotionally and physically draining more than the typical person. 

On my trip to New York in January I learned just how taxing travel can be for an Introvert, but I also learned how to cope with that to keep my energy at a constant level. Not only can travel be fast passed, but it can be stressful, as was our trip the first couple of days. Our original flight got canceled due to weather so all my carefully articulated plans went out the window and I had to rework everything (not to mention we lost almost 2 days of city time). On top of our flight, our first night in New York (really our first 3 hours at 1:00 am in the morning) were not what I had expected at all and emotions were running high as quick decisions and judgments had to be made. All in all there were a host of unexpected things that came up before and during our trip that to the typical personal are a lot to handle, and to an Introvert (INFJ) are even more overwhelming. 

Thankfully, both my best friend and I decided to just breathe and not try to rush or overpack our days in New York. Even though we lost two days (we were able to add two days on) we didn't want to make our trip stressful by over booking ourselves. We ended up only doing 2-3 major tourist stops each day and made it back to our air bnb no later than 7:00pm every night. 

As the personality of Introverts go, being around lots of people for extended periods of time is what drains us. However, even being in a huge city like New York with lots of people and sometimes riding crowded subways wasn't all that draining for me (probably because I like people watching). The thing that always drains me is freaking out when the schedule or day doesn't go according to plan or when I am going non stop 24/7, while mentally thinking about what comes next. I had to learn to live in the moment while in New York, because otherwise I would have missed so many of the important or little things that the city had to offer. 

So....in a nutshell what did I learn about traveling as an Introvert?

1. Make plans, but be FLEXIBLE: I am a planner, its part of my nature and personality and helps me not stress out about the need to be spontaneous. However, life rarely goes according to "my plans" and I have to be willing to let go and change things up. If I am flexible to change I don't allow stress in. 
2. Take your time in the morning: Nothing sets your day off to a rough start being rushed! Set your alarm where you have plenty of time to get up, get ready, and eat something (or drink coffee) before you head out for the day. If your alarm just so happens to go off later, don't stress it. Get mentally prepared for the day. 
3. Live in the moment: this seems like a bit of a stretch because it lends itself to being spontaneous (which I am not), but what I mean by this is enjoy every part of your day. If you are at a museum, enjoy taking in the sights and displays (don't think about the place you need to go next). 
4. Take time to recharge during the day: Sometimes for me this was just sitting still for 10 minutes on the subway getting caught up in my thoughts. Other times this was stopping for a cup of coffee and taking a moment to be still amidst the constant moving. While this definitely didn't recharge me all the way, it helped me refocus and breathe amidst a busy day. 
5. Drink your coffee and tea! So I'm basically immune to the caffeine in coffee, so sometimes it's more of a comfort thing, but my mornings and days aren't the same without a good warm cup of Jo! If you are into tea, that's good too. Typically I drink coffee in the morning and tea at night.....it's the start and finish to my day! 
6. Don't Stay out late: I think this goes without saying....but after a long busy day of travel and sight seeing return back to your accommodations early in the evening. 
7. Take a Slow lazy night: So during our trip we didn't actually eat dinner out anywhere in the evenings, we made all of our meals at our air bnb and sat on the couch in pajamas and fuzzy socks watching The Great British Bake Off like old ladies....it was great! 
8. Always take a book: in true Rory Gilmore style always carry a book with you when traveling. You can read it in the car, on the subway, or on the plane....its your best friend. 
9. You need your music: music lends itself to helping us escape and relax, so every body (especially introverts) need music when traveling. It can help you fall asleep in a new place, drown out the noises of the plane, give you energy, you name it! 
10. Don't loose yourself: I think we as people can get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and through this loose who we are. The same thing can be said for introverts who go somewhere out of their comfort zone. Just because you are traveling doesn't mean you have to stop being an introvert or be more extroverted. Sure, you might have to stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone, but you don't have to compromise who you are to still get the most our of your experience or trip:) 

What are your trips for travel?

-Madison

Top Of The Rock

Top Of The Rock

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Sweater: Faded Glory | Skirt: Vintage | Tights: Amazon (fleece lined) | Shoes: Target

Socks: Forever 21 | Belt: Thrifted | Beret: Amazon  | Purse: Vintage Coach 

One of the most well known stops in New York is Rockefeller Center. While we didn’t actually get to spend time exploring Rockafeller center itself, we did go to Top of The Rock and it was one of my favorite things that we did while in New York. Not only is Top of The Rock one of the most frequented tourist stops for pictures, as well as a place that many bloggers frequent, but it gives you the most breathtaking view of the city! There is nothing quite like being 87 stories in the air to viewing the city from above…..so beautiful! Unfortunately, the day we visited Top Of the rock it was a dreary day which slightly clouded our view, but even with the clouds covering the city view it did manage to snow while we were there which we were very excited about!

On this day (Monday) I decided to dress up a bit more (which also meant I made the horrible decision of wearing heels) so I went with a very classy ensemble. The whole look ended up looking like I should be in Paris, but even with its French flair it was still the perfect look for a day in the city. I had seen so many bloggers wearing box pleat skirts and totally forgot I had this vintage suede inspired skirt in my closet. (not featured is the vintage crimson London Fog jacket). I pulled the whole look together with my "matchy matchy" black turtle neck sweater, beret, and belt. 

I will say though, I quite regret wearing heels…..never again! I might have looked cute, but my feet were killing me. Our day started out with plans to take a boat taxi ride to see the city from the water, but through trying to get to our boat dock we walked six blocks only to turn around and head back to the subway because we missed our boats departure and had to get back to the city for our ticket reservation at The Downton Abbey Museum. We arrived back in the heart of the city early enough to stop off at a French bakery (fitting right) for a quick bite to eat (and much needed coffee for me). After our stop to the bakery we headed to the Downton Abbey Museum which was such a dream! We felt like we were in Downton Abbey itself surrounded by the characters, music, prop, and costumes and it was AMAZING! After the museum we made sure to visit Top of The Rock because we knew we wouldn’t have time for it the next day and took in the splendor of New York from above....definitely a memorable day!

-Madison