Six Outside the Box Beach Snacks

Forget the chips and sandwiches and try something new! Going to the beach usually means you are going for a few hours, not just for a little bit. For some, it’s an all day affair! Packing snacks is always hard because chips aren’t the healthiest choice, fruit can get boring and sandwiches aren’t always everything you hope and dream them to be. Over my time that I’ve been going to the beach, so my whole life, I’ve found some different and fun beach snacks that can please all parties!

Brunching in New Haven

Brunch (n): the socially acceptable excuse for day drinking.

So, I have been on the scour to find you the best places to brunch in New Haven. I have found two that I will now be frequently visiting and I’m not even mad about It.

Bermuda Travel Up To Dates!

Hey everyone! Sorry this will be brief! As you know from previous posts, I am in Bermuda! With that being said I don’t really have too much time to be writing non-stop posts, but I would love to keep you all updated on what’s happening! Wedding festivities are in full swing and Bermuda is absolutely amazing! You can follow along on my social media! @alwaysunkissed on both twitter and Instagram! That being said, I have been and will be consistently updating those because I want to share this experience with all of you! 

Love you all lots! 

Xoxo, Marina 

5 Packing Tips for a Wedding in a Different Country

As you know from previous posts, this upcoming weekend, I will be headed to Bermuda for my cousins wedding. This is exciting, as I get a long weekend full of relaxation, travel and family. I do wish I’d be getting to see all my cousins and family, but hopefully another time, real soon we can all get together. But packing for a wedding is difficult in general, packing for a wedding in a different country is just a plain out struggle, but one you can’t really complain about because you get to travel to a different country. So, here are my packing tips for going to wedding in a different country, especially a warmer climate country…

Don’t Forget the Essentials // Essentials include things like your toothbrush and your passport. Mostly your passport. Whenever I go to leave somewhere on a new adventure, I make sure I always have my passport, my wallet and my cell phone. I always say, anything else, if I forget it, I’ll live.

Master the Carry On // The carry on is one of the most important parts of traveling. Everything needs to be organized, otherwise, you’re going to have a very upsetting day(s) of travel. I like to bring a few beauty essentials such as chapstick, lotion, mascara and makeup wipes (for the overnight flights). You also need to remember your book, headphones and any other form of entertainment. Lastly, back to essentials, make sure your essentials are easy to reach because you will need them (passport, tickets, wallet, cellphone).

The Dress //  You can no, under any circumstances, forget the dress you have planned to wear to the wedding. This would just be stupid. For the wedding I am going to, I had to have a very specific color scheme for my dress and let me just say, it was not easy finding a dress that I liked that fit me and the two color choices. If you forget this, you will be doomed for eternity and that’s that.

Always, and I DO Mean Always, Bring a Hair Straightener // Now you might think I’m crazy for this one, but I couldn’t be more serious. A hair straightener not only straightens your hair (duh), but it also can be used like an iron. I think this is super important when traveling, especially to a wedding. Nobody wants to walk around in clothes that looks like they’ve been sitting in the bottom corner of your closet all winter. For even better use, bring a spritzer that you can fill with water once you get to your destination.

Collaborate With Everyone Else That is Going //  My sister and I are almost masters at this. She’ll text me to bring one thing and I the other. We compromise so we’re not both bringing the same things to make room in our luggage. It’s also great because you can share a closet this way. She can bring a sweater I need or I can bring shoes she would need. It really helps the world go around when you don’t have to pack everything alone. Highly suggest finding a traveling companion who wears the same size as you, or at least uses the same products.

A quick last reminder, don’t forget to leave enough room to bring back fun things you get and don’t forget to pack the present if you didn’t have it sent that way. Also, don’t forget to stay hydrated, traveling takes a lot out of you and so does weddings.

Have you ever been to a wedding abroad? If so, where was it? How’d you prepare? If not, would you ever want to and why? 

The Beach Bag Summer Essentials

Wow! It’s officially summer! I’m celebrating by taking a weekend trip to my favorite island. You guessed it, Nantucket. I can spend my days lounging on a beach, maybe getting a tan, etc, etc. So, I’ve decided to compile a list of beach bag essentials, that I would bring to the beach, as I’m sure I’m not the only one celebrating summer with some beach lovin’.

1. Sunblock // I think this is most important. Not necessarily for your entire body, but for your face. When you’re old and not so wrinkly, you’ll thank me and the maker of your SPF for this little reminder. Also a fun tip, opt in for a face cream with SPF instead of just Sunblock. You’ll get moisturizing and not so much grease, so you still look bomb in your bikini pics.
2. Tanning oil // I love Hawaiian Tropic’s tanning oil! My sister and I have been using it for years. I prefer the one with a little more SPF {like this} and if I’m in somewhere tropical, aka closer to the equator, I tend to switch over to tanning lotion vs. oil, but my sister goes for a solid SPF 4, if that. If you have ever seen her, you’d understand.
3. A ball cap or sun hat // Once again, you’re not so wrinkly face will be thanking me. Or even better when your nose isn’t bright red, and only your nose. Nobody wants to look like Rudolf for fun. You can find some cute ones here and here.
4. Sunglasses! // Now don’t be me five years ago and experience the horrible sunburnt eyes. I promise, high school sophomore Marina was just as shocked as you are that that is even possible. Your eyes are bright red, dry and just plain old irritated for days on end. Treat yourself to a nice pair of sunglass, or if your like my sister, twenty pairs.
5. Water //  Yup, I said it. Drink water. If you saw my last post {if not, don’t worry, you can find it here} you know you need water if you want your skin to survive the summer. I’m sorry, you can’t just drink beer at the beach, you got to throw in a bottle of water here and there. If you’re looking for something fun, try this!

   

   {@alwaysunkissed}

6. A good book // I know we all like to listen to music at the beach, but when you’re by yourself, sometimes music doesn’t really cut it. I like to read books at the beach, such as #GirlBoss or The Career Code. If you absolutely, positively, will not read a book, try a podcast, or two.
7. Snacks //  Now this one is easy, yet very complicated. I’ve brought anything from chips, to avocado toast to a lobster roll and let’s just say, the options are endless. It’s a very big decision on what snack to bring, make the right decision.
8. Beach Towel // Depending on your preference, this could even be a Beach Blanket. I have a super cute blanket from Mexico that I am excited to use this summer! I also have Vera Bradley Towels that I am in love with {you can shop those here}

Well, that’s it for now! I hope these items find you as we’ll as they found me! If you have any questions, you know where to find me {in the comments below}

 

 

 

What are carrying around in your beach bag? Let me know below!

 

Packing Tips {Going to my Sorority Leadership Conference}

So this weekend, I will be traveling from Hartford to Washington, D.C. for a leadership conference for my sorority. I couldn’t be more thrilled. I get to meet people that I didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to do and I get to participate in programs that will help me to grow as a leader and a person. It is a weekend trip, Friday to Sunday, so with that, I must pack on top of my busy schedule. I have created a little guide on how to pack for weekend trips like this!

1. Know what you are doing and if there is anything required that you where.
2. Our only request was pants that look nice with a shirt they supply and casual chic. With that I know that I should bring jeans and a cardigan. I am wearing letters and leggings for travel!
3. Be prepared! I will most likely bring a business casual outfit or even a dress if I need to wear to dinner. Don’t overpack, but still be prepared!
4. DON’T FORGET THE BASICS! {this includes undies, bra(s), pjs)
5. Bring your daily beauty products! {think toothbrush, makeup, makeup remover, lotion, bathing stuff}
6. If you have things you need to get done, don’t forget what you need in order to do it. I need to bring my laptop and charger and maybe a textbook.
7. How are you getting there? I am going by plane, so I’m going to bring my book, headphones, a snack, water. {this would be different if you were let’s say, driving}
8. Double check yourself before you leave, make sure you don’t forget anything important {think ticket and passport/license}

***Fun fact: I am the person where if I am staying in a hotel, I always bring a bathing suit just in case! Some people are like that with the gym. I understand and pack accordingly. You may not have time, but if you do at least you are prepared!

I hope this helpful for all of you who have to be packing for upcoming trips (spring break is coming up)

How to Eat Healthy When You’re On the Go

I know, as a college student, I tend to always be on the go. Wether I am going to class, doing errands or going to some meeting, I don’t always have time to eat healthy… well, that’s at least what I thought until now.

I have compiled a list of how to eat healthy while you are on the go. For you, this could be going to class, traveling or even just running around with your head chopped off. Meal Prep

1.Meal Prep

I know, I know, who really wants to do meal prep for the next day(s) or the week ahead. It never sounds fun, but it really is worth it. Buy stuff on sale and make a salad to take with you, a burrito bowl full of veggies and seasonings, heck, you could even make brown rice and veggie, chicken stir fry. It really is up to you! Pick a healthy dish {check out tasty videos on fb} and get crackin’.

My Travel Struggle

Hope everyone is finding this article with a week full of at least half the struggles that I have had this past five days.

So I left to go to Disney World on Saturday and spent a warm day with a family friend and the night at my Uncle Bob’s with expectations to fly out Sunday morning. Now, I had left earlier then originally planned due to an expected snow storm (or blizzard). After spending  time trying to escape Boston a day early, all the planes were booked solid for Jet Blue. So, I was left to wait until Sunday morning, my original plane.

My plane was soon cancelled. 

Working A Winery

Hello, Hello!

This weekend I spent in Mystic, CT, working at a wine festival. Over at Stonington Vineyards, they had their yearly wine festival featuring wine tastings, live music and of course, you can purchase their wines!

I spent the weekend working the tasting tent where the guests had the option to do a full tasting of their white wines. They had a Sheer Chardonnay, Estate Chardonnay, Riesling, Seaport White and Triad Rose! It was fun learning everyone’s opinions on the different wines and watching how everyone tries them! Some people looked, swirled, smelled and tasted. Others just dropped it down the hatch and moved on to the next! I did learn a thing or two about wine, which was amazing on its own!

Her Conference: Day 2

I am currently sitting on the fast ferry on my way back from an amazing weekend spent in NYC! I’ve taken a 7 hour bus ride prior and spent probably one too many dollars on this trip, but I don’t regret any of it. So here is a recap of my day two at Her Conference.

The day started with our morning keynote speaker (well after breakfast and two cups of Starbucks coffee, of course). The morning keynote was Vanessa K. De Luca who is the current editor-in-chief of Essence magazine. Her speech was focused on her ten secrets for success, which I will in return share with you.

1. Know what you stand for and what you don’t.
2. Don’t rest on your laurels. Here, she went a little bit more in depth as to why. She explained that “comfort makes you fat”, it makes you lazy. You want to always be thinking differently and being innovative.
3. Believe in the power of failure. She applied for her current position at Essence multiple times and did not get it until about the third time. She said that she asked for feedback and options. She was told that she wasn’t ready for the position, so she asked, “if I’m not ready, how do I get ready?” And here she is today.
4. Trust your inner compass, even when the naysayers don’t.
5. Take the risk that takes you somewhere new.
6. Look back- but only to see how far you’ve come. She said that you can only make mistakes, if you learn from them and become better because of them.
7. Don’t be afraid to do the unexpected.
8. Remain humble- but let ’em know. Her best advice for this section was to “give credit, more than you take credit”.
9. Never stop learning because it gives you courage. She said to repeat this, “I know what I know and you can’t take that away from me” and that your education will always take you far as long as you never stop learning.
10. A winner never quits and a quitter never wins.