Review: Travel Stuff Update.

Before my trip to Ireland (which I promise I'm going to write about) I posted this review of the Calpak items I'd bought for the trip and this post about some of the smaller items that (hopefully) make travel better for me. Some of these things were tested out for the first time on that trip, so here's my update! First the hero of the trip: 

The Airfly Bluetooth Wireless Adapter is pretty amazing. If you travel by air and love your wireless earphones/earbuds? You need this gadget. It plugs into the earphone jack and converts your wireless earbuds (I love my Airpods Pro) so you don't have to use the shitty wired earbuds they give you on the plane. This was a game-changer because I could watch movies with noise canceling and it was delightful! Just make sure you fully charge it first so you won't be disappointed when it dies halfway through whatever movie you're watching.  

The Trtl Wrap Pillow might not be for everyone but I've had mine for a few years and it's absolutely worth a try if you hate traditional travel pillows. It definitely takes some practice but if you can get the internal structure in the right place, it gives your head something to lean against. I have actually managed to sleep with the Trtl! Plus, it's cozy and easy to shove in a backpack or duffel bag. (Note: My link is to the Trtl store on Amazon but they're having a sale at the Trtl website.)

The other things I posted about (compression socks and an eye mask) were perfectly fine, but not life-changing and feel too boring to write about more than I already have. Okay, on to the Calpak stuff:

The Calpak Luka duffel bag performed its job admirably, I should say that upfront. It's lightweight, holds a lot of stuff, and has good pockets. It definitely holds way more than a backpack and technically will fit under an airplane seat but it was a tight squeeze and I ended up putting in overhead for both flights and then having to pull it down and scrabble through it looking for one thing or another that I needed. I wish I'd bought the Luka backpack instead (it's big but not quite as big) which has the added benefit of being able to be carried hands-free. Anyway, if you prefer a duffel bag, this is a really good one! I'm just definitely more of a backpack-as-a-carryon kinda person. 

The Calpak Luka Belt Bag was a great travel tool. It held most of what I needed for immediate use, including my Kindle! It initially felt slightly too large to me but I got over that pretty quickly. For everyday use, I prefer my Lululemon belt bag, but for travel this one is a perfect size and I liked the security of having my passport and wallet strapped right to my body where I could see it. 

And finally, I just want to say that my favorite article of clothing I packed ended up being my Quince cashmere batwing sweater (reviewed here.) I didn't really bring any dressy clothing, but this sweater worn with my Athleta Headlands Hybrid pants and Blundstone heeled boots (plus a pretty necklace) made me feel dressed up enough for a nice dinner out. It's just such a pretty sweater but also super soft and comfortable. 10/10 for this one. 

Review: Calpak Luka Belt Bag and Luka Duffel.

Last month I posted that I'd been influenced into buying (with my own money) the Calpak Luka Belt Bag and matching Luka Duffel bag. Marianne bought both for a trip and liked them so I felt the need to copy her like the total creeper I am. But y'all, Marianne has a great instinct for the good stuff and she's rarely led me wrong. Here is my review of both with the caveat that I haven't actually traveled with either item as yet*:

Hi! HERE IS THE LUKA BELT BAG IT IS A BIG BABY. I've only had tiny belt bags so this one has taken a little adjustment. It has interior pockets and a large external zippered pocket. I really love the idea of having everything I need strapped to my body where I can access it, both in the airport and on the plane. Here's what fits in the Luka Belt Bag:

"But Adrien, I can't seeeeeeee everything." Okay, fine. Here is literally all my crap spread out for your amusement: 

In my Luka Belt Bag I have my Kindle (sans case), my cell phone, my little Liberty pouch for chapstick, tissues, tiny hand lotion, bits of lint, etc, Liberty card case, my passport, AirPods, AirFly, Advil, Mentos, and a Purell wipe because you just never know. Now, here's my Luka Duffel, which will be my carry-on (I am checking my suitcase, which is also by Calpak):

Now, I could've been a reasonable person and gone with one of the neutral colors but I love this bag in merlot  (Marianne bought both in dijon yellow!) and the colors they have are great, so why not get a fun color? This duffel is a perfect medium-sized bag and surprisingly light. It fits a lot and you can still shove it under the airplane seat. I love that it has shoulder straps and a longer crossbody option, and it also has a million pockets and a suitcase sleeve. I also like the optional shoe compartment (you can strap up the inner pouch part to get it out of the way if you're not using it), and it has a good, deep water bottle pocket. I don't love that the interior is black because it makes it harder to find stuff, but that's a minor quibble. Here's what I have in my carry-on bag: 

A big scarf, sleep mask, lightweight sneakers, Trtl wrap thingy, large Liberty pouch for all my charge cords, earbud case, and a baggie of essentials (hand cream, Shout wipes, contact solution, etc). I also bring extra contacts, my glasses, medication, and a change of underwear in case something goes wrong with my checked bag. I still have a ton of room left in the tote so I can do a little shopping on my trip without worry.

Here I am wearing the belt bag in a more hangy purse-like manner and holding the duffel so you can see how big it is. This is an experiment for me because I usually carry a backpack (and was tempted by the Calpak backpack!) but wanted something a bit bigger for my carry-on. Both the belt bag and the duffel are on sale right now and if you're new to Calpak you can use my link for $25 off your first qualifying CALPAK order of $150+. (I'm not sure if this works on sale items or not? Give it a try.) Full disclosure, I will also get $25 credit.

*We're going back to Ireland! I've written about our travels to Ireland here and here and here if you're curious.

Stuff I Like: Travel Hacks!

I have two big trips coming up and they're both international with long-ass flights. (Flying to Europe from the West Coast instead of the East Coast has been quite an adjustment.) I'm a pretty good flyer but I'm always looking for ways to make my economy-seat flight more comfortable. Here are a couple of things I have that make long flights easier and a couple of new purchases I'll be trying out on the next trip:

Airfly Bluetooth Wireless Adapter
I love two things on an airplane: Noise-canceling AirPods and in-flight movies. My AirPods Pro are a game-changer on flights! Just by reducing the amount of noise around me, it's helps to make for a more relaxing experience. However, I've had to use wired earbuds to watch in-flight movies which is a drag. Not anymore! Marianne told me about this gadget that plugs into the earphone jack and connects to your wireless earphones! SO HAPPY. I haven't had a chance to use it yet but I can't wait. Technology is amazing.

Compression Socks
I am old and I'm excited about compression socks. On long-haul flights, I sometimes get this weird buzzy sensation in my body/legs that makes it really hard to get comfortable. (There might be a medical explanation/term for this? I'm not sure how else to describe it.) I'm hoping that wearing compression socks will help tamp down the buzz and y'all know I love Bombas, so I recently bought a pair of their fancy compression socks. Who's a sexy lady in her compression knee socks? That would be me. 

And a couple of fully tested items:

Sleep Eye Mask
I bought this eye mask back in August and got to try it out when I flew to Knoxville. 10/10 it's a good one! It doesn't put pressure on your eyeballs and it truly blocks out all light. It also makes you look slightly insane. I'm still bad at sleeping on a plane but this definitely made it easier to pretend. 

Trtl Wrap Pillow
I hate most travel neck pillows - they're always too thick in the back and they're bulky and ugh. I bought this Trtl wrap thingy back in 2018 and I'm still using it! I like that it packs down pretty flat and it is mostly pretty comfortable? It's weird and takes some practice but I still like it and use it so there's that. 

What are your travel hacks? What items or strategies make flying easier for you? Please leave a comment and let me know. 

PS. I also need to report back on my new Calpak Luka duffel and belt bag! I'm planning a pre-review/packing post for next week but the real test will be my upcoming trip. We shall see! 

Travel Report: Cork, Ireland

We spent half the trip in Dublin (which you can read about here) and the other half in Cork. Cork considers itself the true capital of Ireland for reasons... that aren't clear. I think they just like the rivalry. The really nice thing about Cork is that it's not a big international city, it feels like a place where people live and we found it very friendly and approachable. (Dublin is also a friendly place, the Irish are just lovely people, but its bigger and more anonymous.) 

Food: 

Elbow Lane - We came for drinks and immediately made a reservation for dinner later that week. Definitely the best meal we had in Cork and the nicest staff! The Old-Fashioned cocktail was out of this world. 

Son of a Bun - A fun burger place with amazing monthly specials and art posters to go with them. We ate here more than once.

The Spitjack - We had Sunday lunch here and it was delicious start to finish. It was medium-fancy and a bit traditional (think Sunday roast) which was fun. 

Museums and sites: 

Elizabeth Fort - We stumbled across this fort right in the middle of the city and wandered in. They had a museum section that really went into a lot of the women's history, as the fort was used as a convict depot for deportation to the prison colonies in Australia. (Read: a lot of poor women were sent to Australia for incredibly minor offenses. Great.)

Shandon Bells & Tower, Saint Ann's Church - This was something! For a small fee you can climb the incredibly not-to-code bell tower and after 132 steps up multiple narrow stairways and a tiny ladder (!) you pop out into an open balcony right at the top. It's an amazing view and totally worth it. (Usually you can also ring the bells but Covid ruins everything.) 

The Butter Museum - This little museum was basically a propaganda tool for the superiority of Irish butter (I'm already in! You got me, Irish butter!) but we enjoyed it quite a bit. I do think they missed an opportunity by not having a gift shop because I would've bought All The Things at a butter-themed gift shop. Just saying. PS. It made Accidentally Wes Anderson, which pleases me greatly.

Further Afield:

We took the train to Cork, which is my favorite way to travel, and from the minute we arrived we had locals telling us to immediately leave the city and go visit other places in Cork County. Like, this place is fine and all but you MUST go to Kinsale and don't miss Cobh!

So, we did! We took the bus to the historic port town of Kinsale and walked a few miles up to Charles Fort which was fucking magical. I mean. It was free to walk around and we spent and hour or so just exploring and admiring the view. Afterwards we had lunch at the Spaniard and then walked back to town and did some shopping. Kinsale is just a charming little town with rambling, narrow streets and brightly painted houses. I loved it. 

Cobh, another port town full of history, was also an easy day trip by bus and it was a lot of fun (though definitely not quite as charming as Kinsale.) It was the site of the last stop the Titanic made so we did the Titanic Experience which was much better than I was expecting it to be. You're assigned a ticket as a passenger (we were both in 3rd class) and then you do a led tour that explained what the passengers experienced as they boarded, the level of grandeur that even the steerage passengers received and then, boom crash. You find out if your person lived or died. (We survived!) We also visited St. Colman's Cathedral which dominates the town and is pretty spectacular. 

This is just a sample of what we did, saw and ate in Cork. I will say that it would've been hard to fill a week there without the side trips, so if you go, definitely don't miss Kinsale and Cobh. Both are less than an hour away by bus and we got to see a lot more of the county that way. Thanks for reading my travelogue! 

Travel Report: Dublin.

 This is long but I thought it would be helpful to tell you all about our trip. We've been to Dublin before (I posted about it here) and with that trip we stayed in Dublin for a week and did two day tours because driving in Ireland scares the crap out of us. This trip we spent half our time in Dublin and the other half in Cork. Today I'll tell you about what we did in Dublin and I'll post about Cork next week. 

Dublin is divided into the Northside and the Southside by the river Liffey, with the Northside considered more working class and the Southside considered more posh. We stayed on both sides of the river this trip and tried to spend time exploring both parts of the city to get a better feel for it. 

I will say, as a visitor, the Southside offers a lot. Grafton Street is the well-know shopping district and it's really festive and bustling, especially at this time of year with the holiday lights and decorations. The Temple Bar area is also a lot of fun but it is super touristy so prices are higher and there are a lot of idiots. (But, the people watching is GREAT.) Here are some of our favorites from Dublin: 

Food: 

Gallagher's Boxty House - We've eaten here a few times and it's lovely - very welcoming and the food is great. Traditional boxty (potato pancakes and dumplings) served in a variety of ways. They also have good cocktails. 

McDaid's Pub - This is a small pub off Grafton Street with an interesting history. We really liked it because it's such a traditional pub and the best kind of cozy hole-in-the-wall. 

Stage Door Cafe - We had breakfast here a few times and y'all, this is an experience. It's a tiny place and the heart of it is the owner Alan who is over-the-top and hilarious. You come for breakfast (he keeps the menu "small but sexy") and stay for the Alan show. Highly recommend. 

Museums and Sites:

14 Henrietta Street - By far my favorite museum experience. It's the history of the once-grand Northside Georgian mansion at 14 Henrietta St, which became horrific tenement housing. The tour guide leads you through 300 years of history and the lives of the families who lived in this one house. This is my #1 recommendation for a museum in Dublin. 

Dublin Castle - Only the state apartments were open for viewing but I liked this so much more than I expected. Definitely worth a visit. (Free)

National Museum of Ireland, Archaeology - We went to this museum on our last trip and loved it. (Free)

The Little Museum of Dublin - This one was kind of a tiny oddball of a museum and because we'd already learned quite a bit of the history of Dublin, most of the info was a repeat. I did, however, love the room dedicated to U2. 

The Long Room Library - Breathtaking. And the old book smell! They should figure out how to bottle it. The price of entry also includes an exhibition and viewing of the Book of Kells. This is one for the book lovers and should not be missed. 

Guinness Storehouse - Even if you aren't a fan of Guinness stout (which, why not?), this tour is so fun and really beautifully done. Every visit ends at the gravity bar with one of the best views of Dublin. We've done it twice because it's such a fun experience. (Though I was a little sad that my favorite part is currently shut down due to Covid.) 

Teeling Distillery - This was another fun drinky tour. A really definitive look at Irish whiskey distilling in Dublin with a tasting at the end. 

Further Afield:

The Cliffs of Moher - We hired a private driver for the day and finally got to see the Cliffs! On our first trip they were shrouded in fog and we couldn't see a thing. Definitely worth a visit - the cliffs are beautiful.

Poulnabrone Dolmen - This is a megalithic tomb in the middle of the Burren and we were the only people there which made for a surreal experience. 10/10. Just amazing. On our last trip we did a day tour where we saw several other ancient tombs, all incredibly cool, but this one is really special. I can't even explain.

We also visited Darkey Kelly's pub for live music, The Brazen Head pub, Phoenix Park, Jameson Distillery, etc! So much to do and see that I can't even list it all. 

Shopping:

Honestly, I don't think I really cracked the code on this one. I am sure there are some really cool independent boutiques that I totally missed, but I enjoyed Brown Thomas quite a bit and there were some cool little shops along Essex St on the Southside that I liked. I didn't do a ton of shopping in Dublin, other than what I posted about. 

Ireland Trip: What I Bought.

I am working on a "what we did" post but it's going to be long so in the meantime here's a quick rundown of the things I bought/tried on while on my trip. Did you know they have Black Friday in Europe? They do! Any excuse for a sale, I guess. It's kind of hard to find something unique when traveling because the internet makes everything available, but COS is a brand that's always intrigued me and I can't get in person. So, when I found the COS section of Brown Thomas I was pretty excited. (There was also a very weird stand-alone COS store in Dublin where the employees completely ignore you until you literally throw yourself physically in their path and force them to acknowledge you. I did not like it.)

COS is one of those weird boxy European brands (owned by H&M, I believe?) that do really good, fashion-forward basics. They also do the kind of culottes that David Sedaris likes and the quirky Brown Thomas sales assistant likes but I thought they made me look like an Oompa-Loompa:

You're welcome. I also tried on this weird neoprene bomber jacket that I loved in theory but it looked insane on me:

NOW IS TIME ON SPROCKETS WHEN WE DANCE. Ahem. I will try on anything, you guys, because you just never know. Okay, so one thing that COS does really well is basically my favorite thing:

STRIPPPPEEESSSS. Yes. I was very very very enamored with the oversized striped sweater - it was giving me Noel Fielding vibes but the size medium was comically enormous. I tried on the small and it was utterly but had a big pull on the front so I didn't buy it. Then I spent the next few days obsessing over it and couldn't find another small, so I tried on the extra small (seriously) and it fit:

It's not quite as nicely oversized as the small, but I still loved it so I bought it. I also bought the really, good heavy cotton striped breton top hanging in that pic that reminded me of my old favorite Everlane top and also reminded me of the Kule shirt I've wanted forever but don't want to pay Kule prices for. Yay for stripes! You'll see both in upcoming outfits. 

Now, I know my sweater is basically sold out and the striped top is completely sold out, but sizes keep popping back in and for striped sweaters there's also this one which looks really good and this one too! COS just does good stripes. 

Now, the last thing I bought is this weird-ass Danish Ilse Jacobsen raincoat:

The true color is a bit more beige than pink and it has a "leather" strap that holds the removable hood on, which is exactly the kind of quirky detail I like. I found it in a boutique in Kinsale and tried it on several colors, but this is the one that was the most interesting. Also, it's nice to have an actual, real rain coat- it's not lined, it's just a rain slicker but it's also kind of fashion? I'll have to do an outfit because it's definitely better IRL. 

That's it for the shopping post! I'll post a bigger entry next week about what we saw and did. 

Packing Report: Two Weeks In Ireland in November.

Hi! I am still jet-lagged because an eight-hour time difference will fuck. you. right. up. I don't know that I really realized how much longer it would take from the West Coast but from doorstep to doorstep it was close to 24 hours of travel each way with absolutely no sleep because I just can't ever sleep on a plane. (I tried to catch a nap during our layover in Amsterdam but a bunch of bros sitting on the other side of the bench started having a loud, braggy conversation and let's just say it was touch and go on my ending up in an Amsterdam prison.)

I've never taken a two week trip anywhere (seriously!) so packing was more of a challenge than normal. Two weeks is a long damn time to be away from my closet and I'm definitely not a minimalist but I managed to pack just the right amount of things and I wore everything I brought which has never happened. I took my Calpak 24" suitcase (similar to this one) which I checked and my Lo & Sons Hanover Deluxe backpack was my carry-on item.

Just a note: I bought the Hanover Deluxe backpack right before the pandemic started so I'd never traveled with it before. It's big, but if you take out the insert it's surprisingly lightweight and holds a ton. I also love the little top zip pocket which was great for holding my phone and my passport. Best of all, it has a suitcase sleeve and fits under an airplane seat. It was SUCH a good travel bag. Five stars. 

Another note: Please don't come at me for checking my bag. It was just impossible to pack a carry-on for a two week trip in November, especially knowing I wanted to buy things while I was there. Don't be afraid to check a bag! 

Now, here's what I brought: 

- Three cashmere sweaters (Everlane and Quince)
- Vuori Halo sweatshirt  (a new purchase - super comfy and cute as hell.)
- Five long-sleeve layers for underneath sweaters (these are great and easy to hand-wash!)

- Two pairs of jeans (Madewell grey skinny and blue Perfect Vintage)
- Two pairs of Athleta pants (Lined Chelsea Cargo and Headlands Hybrid legging)

- All my Eby underwear, two bras
- This hideous but comfy wireless bra from Bobbie & Evelyn (the best to wear on a long flight)
- A bunch of socks, mostly Bombas (the Performance calf sock are great with boots!)
- Pajamas (aka Quince joggers, sweatshirt and an old Everlane tee. Sexy.) 

- Cole Haan Chelsea boots
- Blundstone Chelsea boots (reviewed here)
- AllBirds Tree Runner sneakers

- Helly Hansen Long Belfast coat (worn here)
- Uniqlo packable ultra light down jacket
- Mountain Hardwear Hybrid Hoodie (confession: I only wore this once.) 

- Hammitt VIP crossbody bag
- Two scarves and my Quince cashmere beanie (which I lost immediately.)

This was basically perfect for two weeks, though we did do laundry halfway through because I didn't have enough tees, underwear and socks to get me through two weeks. I also hand-wash a few things towards the end of the trip.

A few items that out-performed: 

My Blundstone boots were THE BEST. They kept my feet warm and dry and were super comfortable. I'm already considering another pair, perhaps something a bit dressier like this heeled version. 

My AirPods Pro. OMG you guys. These are what you need on an airplane when you just need the noise level to be... less. When I wanted to check out, I put these in on the noise-canceling setting and it was like floating on a quiet cloud. Just get them. You won't be sorry.

My Helly Hansen jacket was great. It's warm and mostly waterproof, but not in the way a proper raincoat is. Instead of shedding rain the top layer kind of...dries fast? Hard to explain. It stayed dry on the inside but the outside layer definitely got soaked at one point:

Hi. It's raining sideways. Other than this particular outing, we didn't get a ton of rain and the weather was pretty mild until the last few days, so I wore my Uniqlo down jacket quite a bit. It's also a good one - light but warm and packs down into a little bag. 

Oh, and my Athleta Chelsea Cargo lined pants were great for the long flights - super comfy and warm but not bulky.

Stuff and stuff: 

For my "stuff" I used my trusty old LL Bean hanging toiletry bag and also brought my little travel flat iron but left my mini hair dryer at home. (I missed it - hotel dryers are the worst.) I keep my makeup in this Dagne Dover bag which I've had for years! My new lighted travel mirror was a great purchase - it's a bit clunky but was so great for putting on makeup in under-lit hotel rooms. 

Finally, I know travel cubes are polarizing but I freaking love them. I love them so much I'm thinking about buying a nicer set because I am a mess when it comes to keeping a suitcase tidy and cubes are a game-changer. Does anyone have the Away cubes? I want those. 

That's it for the packing report! Next up I'll post about what we saw and did in Dublin and Cork. (And also what I bought!)

Outfit of the Day: Ready to Go!

 Hi! I've been dropping a few hints that I have a trip coming up but until last week it felt tenuous and not real. My boyfriend and I had to cancel two international trips scheduled during 2020 and we're finally able to use our credits for a two week trip to Ireland. We loved our last trip to Ireland and I am SO excited to go back. (Or go anywhere, really.) I wrote a bit about the last trip here and I'm glad I have that to remind me of what I should (and should not) bring. Anyway! Here's an outfit that's basically travel-try on:

Does anyone else buy a cream/white top and then never wear it because they're afraid of staining it? Just me? I've been forcing myself to wear my Varley Cleon top which I love but I'm so afraid of wrecking it. It's just clothes! I am absolutely going to take it with me because it's warm and cute. So there. My jeans are new/old Madewell via Poshmark. They're another pair of the cropped Perfect Vintage style because I gave up trying to find something with a mid rise for now. 

Real quick - these Madewell leopard boots are amazing but they're not going to Ireland because they're too impractical. I just thought they looked cute with this outfit, so you get leopard instead of my trusty Blundstones. Kinda wish I had this lugsole pair to take with me! The best of both worlds. 

Ah, this top is so dreamy. I love how oversized and slouchy it is and it's got a very fine ribbed texture that sets it apart from your average fancy sweatshirt. It's just begging for some spaghetti sauce or red wine. My labradorite necklace is Dean Davidson from a few years back. I can't really find much that's similar, but how gorgeous is this necklace? Okay, now to the important stuff:

This is my new (to me) Helly Hansen Long Belfast winter jacket in Ivy Green (which is last year's color and hard to find, I'm sorry!)  It's insulated and waterproof and had a great hood. I totally love it and highly recommend! (Note: Like most HH, it runs small - I'm wearing a large.) I do obviously already have a similar HH coat that I wore to Ireland the last time but, um, it still doesn't quite zip up at the moment. Whatever, this new one is great and check this out- the lining in mine is plum: 

Eee! I don't know why that pleases me, but it does. Just a nice pop of plum when you're not expecting it. I've worn this jacket out a few times in Ireland-like weather (which is very similar to Portland weather) and it's been great. Helly Hansen wins again. I'm also wearing a Barbour scarf that no longer exists in the world but it's a favorite.

I'm pretty sure my Hammitt VIP is the only bag I'll be taking with me - it's the perfect size, not too heavy, and very comfortable to wear. I always take two handbags on trips and only ever use one, so I think this is probably my best choice. (Honestly, if I had my way I'd be bringing a steamer trunk with everything I own but someone has declared this idea "impractical" and "batshit" so I guess I'll stick with a suitcase. Fine. 

Outfit and Review: Athleta Lined Chelsea Cargo Pants.

There's a reason I call this a personal style blog and not a fashion blog because what I'm about to show you is in no way Fashion. What it is, however, is comfortable and reasonably cute and I like to tell y'all about the good things I find even if they're not life-changing green Dr Martens, you know? Okay, here we go: 

Here I am warm and toasty in my new Athleta Chelsea Cargo Lined Pant. I am so happy with these! They may not be super sexy fashion pants but they fit nicely and have this thin, soft lining that makes them cozy without feeling like I'm trying to shove long johns under my jeans. I also like that they have good, useful pockets without screaming I AM A CARGO PANT. That said, if you are just a no to cargo styles, the Brooklyn jogger comes lined and gets rave reviews.

I am wearing my usual size 8 and probably could have sized down to a 6, but the 8 is fine and probably the better fit. My top is this one from Quince and it's currently sold out, but hopefully they'll re-stock it soon! It's a nice workout tee and good for layering. Now, those pockets:

That little flappy pocket is excellent for storing your lip balm while on an airplane, just FYI. I'm also clearly wearing a new pair of shearling lined Birkenstock Boston clogs and if you've been tempted by these I am here to tell you that they are worth every single penny. Just do it, especially if you work from home. Go now, I'll wait. (More colors available here.)

Now, remember that hoody/jacket thing I told you about last week? This is it - it's the Mountain Hardwear Kor Cirrus Hybrid Hoodie (on sale here in a few sizes) and it's great. Super light weight, warm, zippy pockets, and packable. Oh, and I'm wearing boots to show you that the lining on the Chelsea Cargo pants is heathered grey and looks reasonably cute cuffed so you can wear them with boots! Yay for that. 

And here's a pic to show you the hood - it's good and deep, which I appreciate. This jacket also comes without a hood but I always find that a hood comes in handy. This might actually be my new red eye flight outfit - lightweight, comfy, packable layers, but not actual pajamas. (Who are these people?)

PS. If it seems like I'm building up to a big trip, I am! More on that soon...