What's in My Carry On Tote? www.AFriendAfar.com

Packing Tips for the Perfect Carry-On

Did you read my Everlane Tote review last week? I’ve decided it’s the perfect affordable carry-on tote bag for your flight, and with its slim silhouette, it transitions easily to a great day bag. Below, you’ll find my best packing tips and the items I can’t leave home without when I’m flying, and they all fit in my new Everlane Tote!

Packing Tips - Packing the Perfect Carry-On - www.AFriendAfar.com

Packing Tips for the Perfect Carry-On

My Everlane Tote: High quality construction, chic style, and a zipper top make this my go-to travel tote for business and vacation.
Travel Wallet / Passport Case: I love a passport case that is long enough to hold my boarding passes, my cash and cards, and my passport. These are a few of my favorites right now.
Travel Journal: I grabbed a pocket-sized one from Rifle Paper Co. for a specific short trip, but I’m thinking about getting this one to record a lot of future trips in one location. And of course, a Moleskine Journal  is always a great option with that pocket in the back!
Baggu Shopping Bag: I know we’ve mentioned them a few times, but we really don’t leave home without them!
Cardigan and Scarf: It can get really chilly on a plane. We love cardigans like this in colors that go with everything and a lightweight but large scarf that can double as a blanket if needed. We’re also crushing on this cape for winter travel!
Reading Material: I found a few magazines on France tourism on my most recent trip, but I always have a large selection of AFAR, Travel & Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, and my new favorite: Wherever Magazine. They all fit in this bag with room to spare.
Small Zipper Bags: I bought this cute elephant one in Thailand a long time ago, and it holds my smaller camera, ipod, headphones, and any power cords I’m bringing with me on the flight. Smaller zip bags are the best way to keep things organized, and here are a few of my favorites: Nylon Baggu, Leather Baggu, Stella & Dot, and Flight 001
Small Make-up Bag: I keep a few of my solid toiletries in here so I can freshen up after the flight without getting into my rolling carry-on. I love these NARS lip pencil (I like the Velvet Matte in Cruella Scarlet Red) and the L’Oreal Concealer Crayon as great solid alternatives to my usual liquid concealer and lip gloss. Savannah Bee Company makes a great chapstick in wonderful flavors like blackberry and Earl Grey tea.
Clear Zipper Bag for Liquids: I’m thinking about just investing in one of these so I won’t have to keep using Ziploc bags. For your 3oz liquids, check out this great website with tons of really nice travel-sized products. I always bring my small bottle of Fresh Seaberry Face Oil and my travel-sized Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer.
Downy Wrinkle Releaser:  This is one liquid that I can’t travel without! I’m allergic to ironing, especially when I’m on the go, so this amazing de-wrinkling spray keeps me from looking like I’m living out of a suitcase.
Eye Mask: Falling asleep on flights comes easily for me, but staying asleep does not.
Sunglasses: My Warby Parker prescription sunglasses have been game-changers. I love their quality and their price.

Check out our other favorite packing tips and tricks here, and follow us on Pinterest for more great ideas!

[This is not a sponsored post, friends. We just wanted to share our must-pack items!]

Shot of the Week

Shot of the Week- Luxembourgh City- www.afriendafar.com #luxembourgh #shotoftheweek

This is beautiful Luxembourgh City! The shot was taken by my lovely niece Carey during a weekend trip to Belgium & Luxembourgh from her study abroad program in Germany. She was in the original village along the old wall with the city center in the background. I completely adore the colors in this shot!

Shot of the Week

Shot of the Week- Luxembourgh City- www.afriendafar.com #luxembourgh #shotoftheweek

This is beautiful Luxembourgh City! The shot was taken by my lovely niece Carey during a weekend trip to Belgium & Luxembourgh from her study abroad program in Germany. She was in the original village along the old wall with the city center in the background. I completely adore the colors in this shot!

Five Wineries to Visit in North Georgia- Frogtown Cellars Vineyard- www.afriendafar.com- #frogtowncellars #northgeorgiawineries

Five Wineries to Visit in North Georgia

We know what you’re thinking. Wineries in North Georgia? Really? But yes, friends, North Georgia has been in the vineyard scene for a while now, and the offerings are quite impressive. While we haven’t been to all the wineries here yet, these are a few of our favorite North Georgia Vineyards that we’ve visited and would recommend as a day trip from Atlanta or a short weekend getaway.

Five Wineries to Visit in North Georgia- Frogtown Cellars- www.afriendafar.com- #frogtowncellars #northgeorgiawineries

Frogtown Cellars

This Dahlonega vineyard has one of the most picturesque views from its outside patio. You can lunch on delicious paninis from the Bistro Café while looking out on the vineyard and lake with the mountains in the background. The tasting is $15 for a flight of 7 white or red wines.

Three Sisters Vineyard

I love the name of this vineyard first off since I’m one of three sisters. It’s just around the corner from Frogtown Cellars but has a totally different, more country feel. I have a wine glass at home from a tasting that says “Thar’s wine in them thar hills” which perfectly describes the vibe of Three Sisters. My favorite wine is the Fat Boy Red but Blood Mountain Red is a close second especially paired with Cheetos! You can taste 4 for $10. They always seem to be having events and live music so definitely check out their calendar beforehand. They also have wine slushies and beer on tap.

Cavender Creek Vineyards

We’ve only been to this vineyard once but we enjoyed the rustic feel, laid back tasting room, and live music on the patio outside. You can taste any four wines for $5 and mix reds and whites. We loved the informal atmosphere and that the symbol of the winery is a cute donkey (#donkeywine on Instagram).

Five Wineries to Visit in North Georgia- Wolf Mountain Vineyard- www.afriendafar.com- #wolfmountain #northgeorgiawineries

Wolf Mountain Vineyard

Wolf Mountain Vineyards

This vineyard is a favorite of ours to eat at. The WMV Vineyard salad and fig, prosciutto, and pear pizza lunch menu items at the Vineyard Café are to die for and the $30 Sunday brunch is well worth it. Make sure you check the website for the monthly theme of the brunch and make reservations since they’re required! The tastings cost $15 for 6 pours and we recommend taking home the Chantelope.

Five Wineries to Visit in North Georgia- Hightower Creek Vineyard- www.afriendafar.com- #hightowercreek #northgeorgiawineries

Hightower Creek Vineyards

Hightower Creek Vineyards

Meagan’s parents helped their family friends start this vineyard, and it’s located in her beautiful hometown of Hiawassee. They’re about to celebrate their three year anniversary next week and wines like Deliverance and Chatuga White are definitely worth celebrating! Plus, they have delicious wine slushies and offer live music and wine dinners as special events.

Planning Tip

We used Southern Living and the Dahlonega Wine Trail page on Dahlonega’s site to plan our trip!

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An [Updated] Everlane Tote Review

An Everlane Tote Review www.AFriendAfar.com

[We’ve updated this post with a review after taking our Everlane tote across France. See the end of the post for more on how it worked for us. ]

My mom and I have been searching for the perfect carry-on tote for our upcoming trip to France, and we had some pretty high standards. We needed a bag that was:
– large enough to hold all of our needs
– but not too big that it can’t be used as a day bag
– zipped!
– chic, obviously!
– well-made with great reviews
– and at a really good price point

Not only that, but since it’s easier to pack light when you stick to a color palette, Mom needed one that came in black, and I needed a brown one. We didn’t need the same bag, of course, but when we started reading all of the great reviews about the Everlane Tote, we knew we needed to check it out. It seemed to fit all of our needs, so we ordered the black leather with reverse denim, which is a pretty heather gray. I was eyeing the brown leather with navy twill, but decided to wait and see what the black one looked like in person. Let’s just say, I’ll be ordering the navy for me really soon!

Everlane Totes

I already have one of Everlane’s amazing weekenders, and it has been such a JOY to pack for trips to my mom’s house in the mountains and all of our other weekend trips! I was thrilled to see that the tote we received (with free shipping!) was of equally great quality!

I really love that the tote has a slim silhouette. I often find bags that I like, but they end up being rather bulky. This bag will hold my make-up and small toiletry bags, my travel magazines, my camera, my tablet, and it doesn’t take up too much space. The inner pocket is the perfect size for my wallet and passport case. The zip top stays hidden instead of sticking out on the ends, which I think is a wonderful detail that makes it even more sleek. The black leather straps are sturdy and a great length for throwing over your shoulder, and the cotton twill is wonderfully thick. Even after all of those great details and the sturdy construction, it’s still incredibly light weight! Friends, we have found our new favorite bag! Oh, and did we mention it’s ONLY $40?!

Everlane Tote Review - Everlane in France - www.AFriendAfar.com

My mom traveled in style in Burgundy with her grey and black Everlane tote.

Everlane Tote Review Update

After trying out the grey and black tote with my mom, I ended up buying the navy tote with brown leather handles for myself. As I had expected, it worked great for my trip to Paris, Provence, and Burgundy. Here’s what we learned:

  1. It’s a great tote for carrying on a plane or train and for keeping your belongings safe from pickpockets because of the zip top.
  2. After filling my tote with everything from wine bottles to dripping wet water bottles and every other souvenir or picnic in between, the material held up very well and kept its shape. The handles never felt like they were carrying too much weight and never threatened to tear.
  3. I was glad I had my tote when exploring Versailles and the Louvre because it held my belongings without being bulky. Those places are crowded enough as it is. A slim profiled bag is a must.
  4. I was, of course, blogging while abroad, and it was a great size for my smaller laptop and my guidebooks.

Follow this link to grab one of your own!

Everlane Tote Review - Everlane in Paris - www.AFriendAfar.com

Carrying my tote around Paris on a drizzly day!

[This is not a sponsored post, friends. We just adore our new Everlane tote, and we can definitely vouch for the sturdy construction and timeless style of our wonderful weekender. If you’re on the lookout for some stylish and affordable luggage, do check them out!]

Costa Rica

Guest Post: Leaving My Comfort Zone in Costa Rica

Today’s post is by our good “friend afar,” Emily! She recently traveled to Costa Rica for an anniversary trip with her husband. We’ve known Emily for over a decade now, so we loved hearing about how she faced her fears and the wonderful adventures she had in return.

For my 5th anniversary, my husband and I decided to take a big trip.  I am absolutely a read and relax on vacation kind of girl so when we settled on Costa Rica as the destination, I was a little terrified.  I knew the trip would be lots of hiking, sight-seeing, and adventure.  I decided early on to buck up and really enjoy the ride, and I made a promise to myself not to complain and to push myself to be uncomfortable.

We started our trip in gorgeous Arenal, and it was exactly as expected: crazy driving on dirt roads, 8+ miles a day of hiking, and hundreds of steps climbed.  By the time we reached Monte Verde and saw both a pit viper snake and a tarantula right beside our hiking trail, I knew I definitely wasn’t in my element any more!!  Still, I was proud of myself for taking it all in stride and really appreciating the sites and experiences that came with quite the workout.   I knew, however,  the true test of my resolve would come towards the end of the trip when we planned to take a zip line canopy tour.
Guest Post: Leaving My Comfort Zone in Costa Rica- Getting Ready- www.afriendafar.com #costarica

It only got higher from there!

I don’t think I can communicate enough how terrified of heights I am.  I get queasy even when driving near a cliff or drop off! We went to some hanging bridges at the beginning of the trip, and I had to dart as fast as I could across them to keep from panicking.  By the end of the 6 bridges I was doing a little better and able to take my time a little.
 Guest Post: Leaving My Comfort Zone in Costa Rica- Bridge- www.afriendafar.com #costarica

Hanging bridges may have broken me in a little at the start of the trip, but dangling by a cable for the mile long zip line didn’t sound like my idea of fun! My husband, however, was beyond thrilled! Standing around, in full gear waiting for instruction, I nervously chatted with my husband about how safe he though everything was.  Two guys nearby jumped in and assured me everything looked pretty good, except the hand breaking, which they had never done before.  Turns out this was their 3rd zip line trip, and they had done this before in Puerto Rico and Mexico.  It was great to get some tips from people with experience! Come to find out, one of the pair actually works at the same company as me in another office!  The world has honestly never felt so small!

For the entire experience, they stuck with us, encouraged me, and even used their Go Pro to video my trip down the mile long zip line.  It was amazing how meeting these strangers totally eclipsed my fear!  Hanging a mile above the earth, dangling from a wire was so invigorating!!  It was worth pushing through those terrifying moments in the beginning! It wasn’t an experience I will soon forget! I was so glad I had leaned into the fear instead of missing out, and I’m so grateful for my husband and new friends for encouraging me to be brave.

hot springs near Arenal: Guest Post: Leaving My Comfort Zone in Costa Rica- Tarantula- www.afriendafar.com #costarica

It was worth it for the chance to relax in these amazing hot springs near Arenal!

Traveling to new places can be scary.  There are language barriers, lack of street signs, and different customs and traditions to navigate.  If I hadn’t faced these fears, I wouldn’t have been able to relax in the hot springs in Arenal, summit above the Cloud Forest in Monte Verde, and see all the monkeys in Manuel Antonio.  Surround yourself with people who will cheer you on and maybe even buy that plane ticket with you.  Nothing is more rewarding that looking head on into those fears and leaping into adventure anyway.