London and Amsterdam Outfit Diary

I was itching to get back to Europe. It had just been TOO long. When my girlfriend and I actually discussed the idea, we didn't think it would happen... until we looked at each other and our eyes light up... "LET'S DO IT!".

Traveling to Europe with a carry on sized bag is never an easy task. Especially when you love taking photos, showcasing your outfits and sharing content. But girl's gotta travel light if she wants to be efficient! I mean-- I was taking planes, trams and walking my behind all over so it was just not an option to travel with a large suitcase. So I packed the essentials. A few pieces to really mix and match my ensembles and make it seem like I had more to work with. I think it worked out pretty well, plus I still had room to bring home two pairs of shoes from Primark and a new satin pink skirt! I was smitten.

Here's how I worked my wardrobe to maximize my outfits:

BOTTOMS
I brought 4 pairs of pants with me; a pink pair, a white pair, a pair of mustard culottes and a pair of jeans. I wore them all at least twice each! This may seem like a lot, but since they are all very thin wide leg style they rolled so well in my carry on and took up no space! The thickest pair of pants, my comfy jeans, I wore on the plane and on the colder days in London. They were great to pair with a tank top and also my sweater. It's just practical to bring a pair of jeans while travelling since they are so versatile. I find darker jeans to be best for travels as they are super easy to make look fancy with some accessories! The pants I mixed and matched with my tops all week.

 TOPS
I brought all the basics, all neutrals and all thin piece which were perfect for layering. A knit white tank, a fine black tank, and a pink crop top. Each top could be worn with each pair of pants so my outfits literally doubled. I stuffed them my rattan bag in my suitcase so once again they took up no space! Very effective! I ended up picking up a leopard crop top which was once again SO thin that I knew it would take up no space when rolled.

SWEATER
I wore one sweater on the plane and ended up getting SO much wear out of it, since it was chilly when we would leave in the early morning on our adventures. It was pink (naturally), and once again could be paired with white, more pink, yellow and of course, the denim jeans.

JACKETS
I brought my jean jacket in my suitcase and wore my leather jacket on the flight. Having two options was great as it allowed me to switch up my looks from day to night and make my outfits edgier.

STATEMENT PIECES
I had to bring some fun pieces! A little leopard dress, my Gucci bag (which stayed with me in my carry on all flight), and a fun dotted jumpsuit. On my travels, I picked up the satin long skirt which was literally 9 pounds, so I HAD to jump on it!

ACCESSORIES
Here's where I go a bit fun! Big earrings, hair clips, rings, and chain necklaces. They really change up the look of an outfit and are so easy to add a touch of glamour or grunge to any look. As much as I wanted to bring all the clutches and bags, I brought two-- my pink GG and a rattan bag. Both large enough to fit phone, wallet and my lippies. I always had hand wipes in my bags, and my watermelon face mist. Pro tip-- stuffing your bags with your tank tops is a great way to save space!

SHOES
I love a simple white sneaker while travelling. They are so versatile, and go with everything! Not to mention they are so comfortable to walk endless miles in. I wore my white Keds on the flight and with a few looks. It's so essential to bring a few options because you never know how your feet will respond to walking for hours in one pair. I brought a pair of black slides as well and ended up purchasing a pair of white slides at Primark. I brought along one pair of high heeled black slides which I wore in the evenings. I love that they were low in height, still comfortable for daytime walking, and are open in the back (no swelling!).

I don't think I overpacked since I got a lot of wear out of EVERYTHING in my suitcase. Next time, I would consider a blazer in place of one of the coats because I am just loving oversized blazers right now! All in all, I think I did pretty great! I even managed to minimize my skincare routine (which you can still catch in my story highlights on Instagram). All my outfits in live action and beauty products are in my London & Amsterdam highlights if you'd like to take a peek!

What an amazing trip. Honestly, it felt so good to get away even if only for a week! It's amazing how energized and inspired a little travel, culture and new experiences can make you!

What are some of your packing/traveling light tips?

G E T  T H E  G O O D S

The Keukenhof

Talk about tulip heaven! The Keukenhof gardens were absolutely stunning. Any kind of tulip you can think of, they were there, and in the most beautiful colour combinations. Our morning at The Keukenhof was grey and raining, like the majority of our time spent in Amsterdam, but the flowers were so bright and uplifting. We walked around under our little umbrella for hours taking them all in, and wishing we could bring home some bulbs to plant. The Keukenhof is much more than just a garden. It is home to a hedge maze, a mini farm, a windmill, trade shows, they offer boat tours and you can even rent bicycles to ride around the town of Lisse. We did climb to the top of the windmill to see the fields, that were more or less finished blooming, and fed some excitable swans. Plan accordingly if you wish to see The Keukenhof on your trip to Amsterdam, as it is only open for a few months a year (typically late March to mid May), and as it is in a neighbouring town, Lisse. They have many great transportation options, however the classic combi-bus requires you to get to the airport and transfer busses. It's around an hour trek but absolutely worth it! Here are a few snap shots of my favourite blooms (guess I'm a fan of the pink?). 

Canals and Stroopwafels

Getting off the plane at Schiphol was one of the most exciting and thrilling moments of our trip. "Finally, we're here" is what I kept thinking. It's such a strange feeling to be alone, in a new country, without any sort of internet connection, but exactly what we needed. We jumped on the Schiphol express train to Amsterdam Centraal and made our way to our AirBnB apartment. It was 6 am on a Saturday morning and the city felt deserted, like we were the only ones around! We walked all over town and made it to Pancakes!, which was recommended by Now What's The Plan. We explored the beautiful canals, and walked all the way to de 9 Straatjes (which was my favourite area!). The windows of the little shops, which were all unfortunately closed, were bursting with gadgets and clothes that I could have spent hours browsing through. We made it over to Leidseplein for some Chipsy King (yummiest fries ever!). We also got a chance to visit the Heineken Experience, do a canal tour, venture out to the Keukenhof gardens, hit up the Rijksmuseum, and eat stroopwafels after every meal! Although it was extremely cold and raining, Amsterdam is truly beautiful and the people are so friendly- as long as you stay out of their bike paths! Here is a mini photo diary from our quick stay in Amsterdam and a few travel tips!

• Save money for attractions, not food. The food in Amsterdam is just okay (I feel bad even saying that, but it's true!). There are so many museums and attractions to get too, we basically ate from the Albert Cupmarkt, Chipsy King (best fries), the Febo machine (I know it's strange, but you have to try it at least once!), and the grocery store for the duration of our stay. If was perfect for being on a budget! 
• If you are travelling to Amsterdam when the Keukenhof Gardens are open, GO! Depending on the season, the gardens are only open for a short time (end of March to end of May), it is a beauty you do not want to miss. We managed to get their a week before they closed for the season, and although the fields were pretty much empty the gardens were just magical! 
• Use the street cars. The transit system in Amsterdam is so easy to follow. Get a 2 day pass and travel around the city! 
• Eat a stroopwafel after every meal. You will crave them when you can't have them (trust me).  

{hot & fresh stroopwafel- heaven}

{view from inside the Rijksmuseum}

{amazing Dutch pancakes from Pancakes!}

{yes, that is a vending machine for hot food}

Next up are pictures from our morning at the Keukenhof!

Travel Bug

Things I've done today instead of studying (and it's only noon):

• perfected my gallery wall (stay tuned)
• painted nails
• swept floors and dusted shelves
• checked every recent post on my bloglovin feed
• tried 3 different tea flavours 
• oh yeah- and did some endless research to where I would love my next travels to take me (including hotels, flights, activities- the whole 9 yards)

Somedays I love studying, learning and cramming my head into a book. Strangely enough, days like today (cool, grey, fall-esque) not so much. Really why would any need to memorize the entire CBSA glossary? You're probably asking what is that, which just reinforces my point.  All I've learned is that I am itching to go on a exploratory trip; particularly to the destinations below. In the meantime I better get out of this funk or else the only place I'll be going to is back to school... for another year.