Is there a place somewhere in the world that you not only want to visit, but feel like you have a connection to? You can't get it out of your head, and it seems like home?
I do. Ireland.
I talked about my trip to Ireland here and here. I have been fortunate to visit twice in my young life, but whenever February/March hits every year, I want to visit again. I think I could describe it best as a craving.
When I was younger, I was fascinated with the culture, the music, the traditions, the food. I do have a bit of Irish blood in me, but I am far more German than anything.
I have visited other countries including Scotland, England and Spain, but I don't long for any country like I do for Ireland. Something about it felt like home. I felt entirely in my element. I think I feel a pull to Galway in particular, even though I've only spent about an hour there.
My dad feels a connection to New Orleans, and one of my friends feels drawn to Japan.
So friends, where do you feel drawn? Some consider it vague past life memories, others call it wanderlust. Regardless of the reason why, I want to hear about the place you can't get out of your head!
More Ireland pictures (Blarney Castle): Yes, I kissed the Blarney Stone. It was a lot more challenging to reach than I anticipated!
I always think, "I will stick to one main color, like blue, so everything matches and it just works."
FALSE.
Brilliant packing idea, but I can't stick to it. I bring my favorite items from my closet at that moment and call it a day.
But I do have some items I have a very, very hard time leaving behind, and tend to make traveling a whole lot easier.
So since we leave for Ireland on Monday, and head north to my home today, Tom and I have been busy packing. These are the essential items I usually toss in my carry-on:
1. iPod: Because duh. I've had that baby since the summer after I graduated high school and it's still going strong.
2. Homedics personal humidifier: So I got this for Christmas, and I LOVE it! But I will say I am a little paranoid about bringing it on an airplane. I mean, it's advertised for airplane travel. But I feel like a fine, mysterious mist in the air might freak people out. Even though it would be adding some much-needed moisture into the dry airplane breathing air.
3. My water bottle: It's by Rubbermaid, and I love it because it doesn't make any weird kind of sucky noises (you know what I'm talking about) and it's HUGE. I am always thirsty. Constantly. I drink like five of those a day. Hopefully this time I just remember to empty it before the security line. Like that one time I tried to bring a dagger on a plane because I thought it was my box of chocolates...a story for another time.
4. The Body Shop almond body butter: This stuff is super luxurious and it smells delicious. I have always loved anything almond-scented, and this one's extra yummy. It's probably the best body lotion I've used, and I have used my fair share.
5. My secret lip balm recipe: Well, it's not that secret. Vaseline + Peppermint Extract. Boom. That stuff is great under anything, to use at night, or especially just before getting in the shower. The heat seems to help it absorb. I think it's been my chapped-lip saving grace this winter.
6. Too-Faced Budoir Eyes: I love little makeup sets, and Too-Faced always has the prettiest stuff. This one in particular includes a lot of soft purply beiges and light shimmers, and that's pretty much what I wear all the time.
7.Babylips chapstick: Another winter lip helper. Other than my own vaseline stuff, this is great to carry on and has worked better than most other chapsticks I've used.
8. Covergirl Lash Blast Volume: Classic. I've used this one for years. I don't wear mascara often, but this one has always been the best.
9. Badger Body Moisturizer: I'm really big on organic products, and I've loved everything from this brand. This body moisturizer is pretty much pure coconut oil, and since it's a little thicker than regular lotion, it'll be great for the cold irish weather and chapped hands that I get from the cold.
10. Benefit Erase Paste: I have used this concealer for over two years now, and I can honestly say it's the best I've used. It's a little pricy but it lasts forever. Since I don't use foundation or anything, I just dot this on where I need it, and it blends in really naturally to my skin tone.
So those are my top ten items! Do any of those make your list?
And just for fun, here are the shoes I'm bringing. I'm limiting myself to four pairs, which is unheard of, so here are the ones I settled on:
1. Trusty "Carpe Diem" Toms: I have had these for a little over a year and a half. I thought these shoes were hideous at first. But I loved that they supported a cause, and when I actually put them on, I was floored at how comfortable they were! They're easy to wear, easy to wash, and are pretty much the greatest shoes to wear to the airport because you don't have to fumble to get them off in the security line.
2. Restricted Roosevelt shoes: I got these shoes on sale at DSW and thought they were adorable, except I fully expected them to be uncomfortable. Wrong. They required zero breaking in and are great to walk around in.
3. Bare Traps flats: I just started breaking these in today. They are very supportive, and despite the one bad online review they got, I do really like them. I have such a difficult time finding comfortable flats, so while these do have to break in a little, I think I will get a lot of wear out of them. They were on sale at Macy's last week.
4. Bare Traps Boots: My boots were also Bare Traps, but I got them at the super-super boot clearance sale at Macy's, so I can't find them online anymore. But they are AWESOME, so comfortable, and they do great in the snow and/or rain. Which there will be a lot of in Ireland.
*****
When I'm gone next week, I have a few of my favorite bloggers lined up, so be sure to check back!
Tom is a local to the town where our school is located, and I live about three hours away.
So since I don't get to see him on Christmas, we decided to go on an overnight trip to a nearby Bed and Breakfast in Galesburg!
It's called the Seacord House. It was built in the early 1890's, is home to two fabulous innkeepers and provided an excellent backdrop for some Christmas cheer.
Backstory on Tom and I:
We are pretty much old people.
We go to bed as soon as we're tired, and sometimes that's 10 p.m. on a Friday night.
So we walked around town, ate some dinner and were back at the B&B by 7 p.m., where we proceeded to play a board game and ask each other questions like "What is your favorite cake?" and "If you were to be an advocate for a cause, which would you choose?"
(Before we went I asked Tom to write down about ten questions we could choose out of a box, and I would do the same.
I came up with 73.
I am a journalism major, it's what I do.)
And I'm pretty sure we fell asleep before 11.
Also, the B&B was haunted. So when I heard footsteps on the stairs at 3 a.m., I told myself it was the innkeepers (who were asleep) and tried to go back to bed. But if there were ghosts, they seemed to be happy ones!
Without further ado, the trip in photos:
Some fuzzy self-portraits, trusty old digital camera and some Toms.
Downtown Galesburg
Landmark Cafe, home of the AMAZING crepes.
Behold, the bananas foster!
Christmas Tree at the B&B.
Pearl necklace, present from Tom :)
Journal in our room at the B&B. We got to write in it before we left! The earliest entry we found in another journal dated back from 1991.
Owl watch ring, also a Christmas present from Tom.
Have a lovely week!
I am currently ill...kind of feels like the flu. That's what I get for not having the shot...oops.
