Pack green, pack light, pack right

Holy smokes!  I am going to Europe for 5 weeks.  In that time I will be attending a wedding in the South of France, living large in Prague with my childhood BFF, and presumably walking and biking my tuchus off all across the continent (destinations include Barcelona, Berlin, and Paris). So how on earth does a fancy gal like me manage to pack light, stay green, and overall, remain classy?!  Here are my top packing techniques, honed to near perfection over years of trial and error abroad. 

1. The trusty, dusty Boy Scout roll. There is a reason this is the all American packing method of choice amongst our nation's patriotic outdoorsy youth. (Actually, I can't back that up... any Boy Scouts reading?)

Roll your clothes up tightly instead of folding to make the most out of your suitcase space. This allows you to squeeze clothes into every available square inch. It also reduces wrinkles and makes it easy to see at a glance all the riches you have packed.

2. Ziplock bags are your friend! They buy you beers, they laugh at your jokes, but most of all they help keep your stuff organized. I like to separate mine by garment type; i.e. blouses, skirts, undies. Anything that doesn't fit in it's designated zip lock is left behind, which keeps me honest in the packing-light department. This method has the potential to be wasteful so make sure you hold on to your ziplocks for reuse when your trip is over.

3. Have a gift suitcase. If you are seeing friends abroad, chances are you want to bring them treats from your homeland. Designating a separate suitcase for this purpose also ensures you have plenty of space to bring goodies for yourself and your friends back home, too. 

I like bringing local bath products (these lotions are from the Indie Pendent in Virginia Highlands), and small bottles of American bourbon. I scored these on my recent trip to Kentucky. The dream catchers are authentic (not made in china!) from Cherokee, NC. If you travel a lot, it's a good idea to pick tiny gifts up as you go about life to later share with friends in foreign lands.

4. Throw and go. I originally learned this from a girl traveling in Israel with me. At the end of the day, she threw her gym socks away rather than repacking them moist and stinky in her bag. Anyone who reads this blog knows that the thought of throwing away perfectly good gym socks makes my palms sweat, so I adapted this trick to fit my more green ways. If you have old, worn out undies you've been meaning to toss, save them for your big trip! It's not exactly wasteful since you intended to throw them away anyway, and it saves you the trouble and space of repacking used underwear!

[not pictured because, ew.]

See how easy it is to pack light and go green? It's the only way to travel! Now get out there and start planning your big trip to Europe so you can put my methods to the test.

Btw, hello from MFin FRANCE!!! Nothing tastes better than your first croissant of the trip, even if it is from an airport cafe. These are the faces of happy, green, light travelers. 

Beltline Betty and Keens for Europe Testdrive (part 2)

Did I mention I love my job? This is what I did at work the other day: walked the Atlanta Beltline from the school I teach at all the way to Piedmont Park pool! I had a green tea in one hand, a cute kiddo paw in the other, and sunshine on my back. Basically, life was grand... and I did this all while testing out my Keen Newport H2 shoes to see if they will be invited to Europe with me in a few short weeks!

The results?

They are not invited :( 

As much as I love Keens, the Newport H2s were simply not a match for my feet. I'm a bit flat-footed, and used to thinner footwear with a bit more give. While the Newports offer great protection in their solidness, the firm plasticky interior with the "contour arch" was not a friend to my feet. By the end of a full day of walking in them, my aching arches were branded with a backwards "KEEN" logo. Not a good sign. 

But I am not a quitter! Determined to bring eco-friendly and reliable walking shoes to Europe, I took the Newports back to REI and exchanged them for the much more flexible and cushy Keen CNX. As soon as I slipped my tootsies into those babies, I heard my feet sigh with relief and say "we're home." 

Stay tuned as I take my CNXs for a testdrive in Louisville, KY, to determine if they will earn the coveted position of My Walking Shoes For Europe.

Should you buy Keens for your go-to travel shoe? Here's my rundown of your options based on my experiences.

Newport H2: The classic Keen. Most of my friends have this shoe and LOVE it. It has great arch support and is good for most feet (particularly wide feet). They are very solid and don't bend much with the foot as you walk, almost like a hiking boot. This would be a great shoe for rugged outdoor activities.

CNX: This incarnation of the Keen shoe is more flexible and has a more cushiony, forgiving interior that is good for flatfoots like me. It's a little bit more expensive, but well worth it for quality, ethical shoes from an amazing company with a more than reasonable return policy.

Emerald City Sandal: The blessed walking sandal that turned me on to Keens in the first place! SO comfortable, and NOT overtly athletic at all. Basic, cute, sandals that feel like walking on a cloud. A cloud with incredible, soft support, which I guess clouds don't have, so maybe it's not like walking on a cloud. Maybe it's more like walking barefoot on one of those playgrounds made of cushy recycled rubber. Yeah, that's it.

Do you have a preferred brand of walking shoe? Do share your secrets! And if you do the Google + thing, let's connect!

Breezy green choices for Europe

Uniqlo Slub Maxi Dress (Image Source Here)

I want to move in to this maxi dress from Uniqlo. I want to build a picket fence around it, raise my children in its front yard, and grow old in it. That's how good it is. At first, when I tried it on, I was kind of disappointed that it didn't look as effortlessly glamorous on me as it did on the lovely website model. But I threw on a belt to synch it at the waist, and voila! I had a figure AND a breezy dress option for Europe.


Why you should pack this dress to travel:

• It's made of a light jersey that stands up well to wrinkle.
• It can be rolled up very small. 
• You can dress it up or down with jewelry and shoe pairings.
• It fits loosely around the legs so it doesn't impede walking strides like some maxi designs.
• You can buy it in tons of different colors.
• It's a semi Green option (Uniqlo gets points for recycling and ethically sourcing materials but loses points in possibly questionable labor practices). 
• It's affordable at... holy crap I just checked the website and it's on sale for $7.90!!!!! GET YOU ONE, GIRL!

Wearing:
Uniqlo maxi
Beaded belt from Sole Shoes and Accessories (psst...they have a scoutmob deal on right now!)
Keen Emerald City walking sandals
Vintage thrifted box bag

Holy smokes I love a maxi for a voyage. Do you have any go-to styles for travel? I'd love to hear what's on YOUR packing list!

Shoes for Europe (English and French!)

It's weird the way it happens. But I turned 26 and awoke one morning to discover I SUDDENLY cared about shoe support and durability. I guess I really am getting older, but I really can't tolerate the flimsy, cheap, supportless shoes of my past. I picture walking for a day on cobblestones in one of the thin (but cute) pairs I got in China and my mind instantly cringes at the foot and back ache to follow. Quick, someone get me a bag of knitting and some chamomile tea! No really, that sounds delicious and a thrilling way to pass a few hours...

I guess I'm not TOO old and boring because this whole topic came up thanks to a trip to Europe this summer. I have the immense privilege of attending the wedding of my French BFF as well as spending over a month frolicking across the continent and visiting friends and places familiar and new.

But what shoes shall I wear?

I went to R.E.I. with my dad's $17.00 rebate in my hand during their 20% off sale and promptly fell in love with TWO pairs of shoes for Europe. Keen Emerald City on top and Patagonia Maha Breathe on bottom. The Keens were exactly what I had come in for: supportive sandals I could walk all day in without running the danger of being mistaken for a whitewater rafter. The Patagonia's were as light and breathable as sandals and the perfect plain flat to go with anything. I tried to buy both til I realized R.E.I's 20% only applied to one item... and we're talking two pairs of $90.00 shoes here. I wept as I replaced the Patagonias back in their box and whispered "I'll find you online!" and bought my first pair of Keens. I made this choice based on positive recommendations of Keen-loving friends and some online reviews warning that the Patagonias fall apart quickly and gave some reviewers bad heel blisters. I have not had much success finding them affordable online :(

As soon as a sunny sandal-friendly weekend rolled around, I took my $90.00 Keens that I had bought for $55.00 (sorry was I bragging?) for a test drive. I walked all over the city, including to my local Ace Hardware, where I impulsively bought the materials to start an herb garden. I'm happy to report, my Keens passed the Shoes for Europe test with flying colors.

Wearing:

Skirt from Aerie

White T hand me down from friend

Denim jacket hand me down from friend

Glasses from random gas station in Louisiana

I give these Keens a 9/10 for comfort, support, and attractiveness. Can't wait to set them loose in Europe this summer!

Do you have any exciting trips planned? What are your special MUST BRINGS for travel?

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Please excuse me as I practice my rusty French... Francophones, please feel free to correct and advise me on my language! Merci!! 

C’est bizarre comment il arrive. Mais j’avais mon 26e anniversaire, et le matin prochaine, je me suis réveillée et TOUT DE SUITE je trouve que le support et le qualité des chaussures est important. Peut-être je suis vraiment grandi, mais je ne peux pas accepter les chaussures bonne marches, mal fait et sans soutien comme quand j’étais plus jeune. Quand j’imagine les promenades dans les vieux villes pavés, j’ai peur de la mal au pieds et mal au dos qui suit. Vite, quelqu’un donne-moi mon tricot et du thé de camomille! Vraiment, ça a l’aire délicieux et divertant!

Peut-être je ne suis pas TROP vieille et terne, parce que ce sujet est monté grâce à une voyage en Europe cette été. Je suis très contente d’assister la marriage de ma BFF française et aussi voyager partout sur le continent European pour voir les amis et les places vieux et nouveaus.

Mais questce que je vais porter comme chaussures?

Je suis allée à REI avec $17.00 crédit pendant leur 20% rabais. Je suis tombée tout de suite dans l'amour avec deux paires de chaussures pour Europe. Keen Emerald City haut and Patagonia Maha Breathe bas. Les Keens c’était exactement ce que je cherche: sandales confortables pour marcher partout sans ressembler à un canoteur d'eau vive. Les Patagonias était léger et les chaussures parfaits pour aller avec n’importe quoi. J’ai voulu acheter les deux, mais le rabais c’était pour UNE chose… et les chaussures coûtent $90! Donc, j’ai pleuré et j’ai dit “au revoir, je vous trouverai sur l’internet!” à les Patagonias et j’ai acheté mes premiers Keens! J’ai choisi les Keens à cause des revues negatives de les Patagonias. Je n’ai pas encoure les trouvée à bon marché sur l’internet.

Aussitôt qu’il fait beau, j’ai fait un examen avec mes Keens de $90.00 que j’ai achetée pour $55.00 (je suis désolé, je me vante). J'ai marché partout et j’ai acheté des herbs pour un nouveau jardin. Je suis très fier de vous dire que les Keens ont réussi leur examen bellement!

Je porte:

Jupe de Aerie

T-shirt d’une amie

Veston d’une amie

Lunettes de soleil d’une station-service à Louisiana

Les Keens a gagné 9/10 pour le confort, le soutien, et le style. J’ai hâte de les porter en Europe cette été!

Est-ce que vous avez les projets pour voyager? Qu’est ce que vous DEVEZ amener pendant les voyages?