What's in my Bag? Aspen Edition

What's in my Bag? Aspen Edition by preppy-lizzy featuring a down vest

White top / Athleta top / Denim shirt / Uniqlo down vest / ASOS Maternity Top In Premium Soft Jersey And Breton Stripe / Jeans / BumpStart Short Sleeve V-neck Maternity T Shirt (2 Pack) / Lyssé Leggings black pants / Sperry top-sider shoes / Nike shoes / H M infinity scarf / The North Face pom beanie / Dare 2b Girl's Posey Top Waterproof Ski Jacket / Snow Goggles / Kindle Paperwhite

Aspen is upon us and I was busy this past week getting all ready. Since I can't ski and Colorado is currently experiencing a heat wave, my activities will be limited while my family is out on the slopes so I am making sure to pack a variety of things to entertain myself. I'm looking forward to swimming in the heated pool, taking walks around town, getting a sightseeing pass to go take photos of the mountain with my camera, catch up on blogging, reading on my kindle and knitting baby blocks for my little girl. I am making blocks that will spell out her name, so this is a perfect opportunity to make some headway. Follow me on Instagram to catch all my snaps from my time in Aspen!

What's in my Bag? Gym Edition

What's in my Bag? Gym Edition by preppy-lizzy featuring C. Wonder

NIKE activewear pants / Athleta activewear top / NIKE platform shoes / Christopher kon gym bag / NIKE sports headband / C Wonder serve ware

One routine I have gotten really good about is packing my gym bag each night when I get home. I unpack my clothes from the day and repack my bag and put it back by the door.

I try to keep the contents light and easily accessible and that all starts with a good bag like this Christopher Kon bag. I use a Lululemon bag that has tons of pockets and zippers to keep myself organized. This way I can keep a bathing suit, goggles, extra hair ties and headbands readily accessible. I also keep a hairbrush and extra socks in case of emergency or if I choose to hit the gym at lunchtime.

My last trick is to always have a granola bar or protein bar stocked in my bag ready at a moment's notice if I am hungry. It definitely helps keep my blood sugar level.

I really love my daily run to the gym, even if it is just for 30 minutes. So making sure I am always ready to go makes it so much easier!

Get Your Boots On!

Memorial Day by preppy-lizzy featuring J.Crew

This weekend I am sticking to a color palette of navies, blacks and whites. We will be in upstate New York for the annual family Square Dance party and it is a weekend of comfortable clothes, food, drinks and dancing. With my brace I am restricted to leggings or shorts, and I figure I am going to stick to a pretty basic color palette. What are you packing for Memorial Day weekend? Are you going on a trip or a stay cation?

What's in My Bag? Bridesmaid Edition

What's in my bag? Bridesmaid Edition by preppy-lizzy featuring a pink tee

Donna Morgan ruching dress / Lilly Pulitzer beaded tunic / J Crew pink tee / J Crew merino v neck sweater / Old Navy longsleeve shirt / J Crew pattern t shirt / Michael Kors shorts / J.Crew rainbow shorts / J Crew string bikini swimwear / J Crew anchor swimsuit / Sam Edelman greek sandals, $150 / Tory Burch evening purse / 2b summer fedora / The Flirty

Packing for a wedding can sometimes be stressful as you don't know how many different outfits you need and because you also need to find a way to transport that bridesmaid dress. Since it is a beach wedding I tried to pack items that could double from Bridesmaid luncheons to the beach to our trip to Harry Potter world, along with my rehersal dinner and bridesmaid dresses. Luckily since I have a love of blues and pinks, it was easy to pick a color palette and pack pretty light!

I'm so honored that I got to help my girl celebrate her big day and her big weekend! We're off to the post wedding brunch this morning and then on to Harry Potter World! How are you celebrating your Martin Luther King Weekend?

What's in My Bag?

Girls are curious beings and we love to see what people tote around in their bags all day. Recently I have reverted back to using my Michael Kors Hamilton Pearl Grey Tote as my daily go to bag. I bought this bag last fall with my sister-in-law after I had been lusting after it for months. I love the classic shape and grey leather because it is such a soft neutral that I can pair with any look.

What's in my bag? by preppy-lizzy featuring lips makeup

I love having a big checkbook style wallet that zips all the way round. I like my money not folded up and it has a nice big change pocket for me to collect quarters to do laundry or pay parking meters. I also am able to carry all my essentials with me without every worrying that I left one at home.

I love that this purse has a key strap for my keys so I can always locate them. With big structured  bags like this it is easy for things to get lost but this bag has a great design. Not only does it have a key strap, but it also has 4 open pockets and one zipper pocket to hold onto all my small stuff.

My headphones and charger are a necessity that go with both my iPhone and Blackberry. Yes, I have two phones. Unfortunately I can't have my work phone and personal cell be the same phone, so I am one of those people, always tied to the office. I love to listen to music at the office though and so my headphones and charger are key for keeping this sucker ready to go if I ever want to shoot out a tweet or Facebook post for the blog. I also drive a lot, and the apple headphones are great because they have the built in mic so they double has my hands-free headset at well. I like to carry my headphones and charger in a cute personalized change purse my friend Rori gave me for Christmas last year. It is small, but keeps things in their proper place. I hate when cords get all tangled in bags.

I always have a mini notebook and pen along with my Russell + Hazel Binder which I use to jot notes or a new contact's information. I also keep my business card carrier (not pictured) in my purse because you never know who you may meet.

I also always have my Kindle Paperwhite with me. I love to read, as I am sure you have seen from our most recent book club post here, and its so small and lightweight you barely notice you have it. Also since it gets weeks of battery life I only have to charge it every few weeks and as a result I am always ready to read, even if it is just a few pages.

I always have my glasses since the biggest reason I have them is to help with eye strain from starring at a computer screen all day, along with my Michael Kors Sunglasses that I love. Mine are this style but in a teal tortoiseshell that I bought 4 years ago and they are still my favorites day in and out.

Finally I have my go to lipstick right now, which is the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine in #12 Corail Incandescent. I have this great pink color that is really flattering. I love how rich and moisturizing this lipstick is, although I like to rotate it around, so this is usually changing daily.

What's in your bag?

Touchdown! Time for Girl's Weekend at the City by the Bay

My sister-in-law Julie and I took off from Orange County Airport this afternoon and touched down in San Francisco, the beautiful city by the bay. As we wait for my other sister-in-law Laura to join us, I thought I would get my thoughts and excitement down on paper (well digital paper, but you all know what I mean).

Julie, Laura and I last girl's weekend

I am so excited to see some of my wonderful friends, Katie, Evaleen and Kendra, this weekend as well as spend some quality time with my two sisters of a year. It is fun to get away and have some girls only time! Sorry boys! I am also stoked to go visit the new digs of Margaret Elizabeth. I am a huge fan of her jewelry and I cannot wait to go check their new digs out in person (more about my visit tomorrow to come)!

Katie and I in Stanford last year

As I am watching the fog roll in from the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge slowly disappear from the view from our room, I am getting so stoked to go out and experience some serious early fall weather. I love living in Southern California, but LA just doesn't really get much in the way of seasons (no matter what a lifelong Angeleno may tell you).

View from our room.

Closeup shot.

I loved packing up my jeans, button downs and J.Crew field jacket (my two favorite jackets in my closet by the way - I have both the navy and the olive). While I was definitely warm as I left my house in LA, I was so excited to be rocking some fall gear. My boyfriend jeans from the Gap are honestly my new favorite jeans. They are super comfortable, have a higher rise than most jeans on the market, and the dark wash is super flattering. I paired them with my plaid J.Crew Schoolboy flannel and navy field jacket and my C.Wonder tortoise shell flats. I completed the look with some baubles from Kate Spade (necklace, watch, ring) and Margaret Elizabeth (earrings and bangles).  I seriously was comfortable on the plane and felt like I could head right out in what I was already wearing once I landed.

Jetsetting to San Francisco by preppy-lizzy featuring gap boyfriend jeans

Ready to explore and cannot wait to debrief the weekend when I return!

What's in my Bag? - Fall Beach Edition

With Labor Day behind us, many folks feel that summer is over, but with warm temperatures continuing along both coasts, September is still a lovely time to take in an afternoon at the beach. Often I start to enjoy the beach more as the temperatures drop back down because they become much less crowded and there is something so refreshing about cool salty air blowing your hair back.

So what do you take to the beach for an early fall/late summer day? Well in my beach bag you will always find my kindle, sunblock and water bottle, but as temperatures drop you will also start to see a sweatshirt or Lulu jacket, light weight scarf, light blanket to accompany my towel and chair, and a baseball cap to keep my hair down with the breeze instead of my straw fedora which has a tendency to get blown around in the wind.

What's in my Bag? Fall Beach Bag Edition by preppy-lizzy featuring a neutrogena suncare

Since I live in Southern California, September and October can still be very warm, so I will of course still rock my bathing suit to the beach because it may be warm enough to get some sun, but I will almost always pair with a few light layers so that I can customize how warm I want to be.

What do you think of Fall days at the beach? What are you always sure to have with you?

What's in my Bag? Field Test Edition

Packing for business travel is already a difficult task. You have to pack for so many facets of your life and before you know it you are taking more stuff with you than originally anticipated. I know I am not the lightest of packers but I try to get everything in one bag come hell or high water. As a result I end up stuffing workout gear, work clothes and after work clothes all into one bag, as well as both my work and personal laptops and multiple chargers and work notebooks.

Because this trip is for field support and we are up and working by 5am outside each day, I needed to pack a bunch of clothes that could be layered for tons of weather conditions. Unfortunately I didn't anticipate how hot it would be by 2pm each day (80+ degrees) so when I am home for 12 hours this weekend, I will be washing my clothes and adding some shorts and tanks to the bag for sure.

So what's really in my bag this first week on the road? Well check it out below:

What's in my Bag? Field Test Business Trip Edition by preppy-lizzy featuring bootcut jeans

Besides all my work and personal technology, I have my workout gear including my Nike Frees, Fuelband and BodyBugg; speedo for laps in the pool; steel toe boots, headlamp, work gloves, Lululemon studio pants and swiftly short sleeve tops for field work, as well as my north face fall jacket, J.Crew puffer vest and Lulu scuba hoodie; and jeans, tees and flip flops for post work dinners. All in all 6 days worth of gear fills up my Vera Bradley Duffel pretty quickly.

I come back each afternoon dusty but with a huge smile on my face, so I guess work is pretty fun at least this week!

What's in My Bag? Whistler Edition

This evening Dan and I are off to Whistler to meet my parents and sister for a weekend ski trip. Immediately when packing for a ski trip you realize how many more bags you have if you are traveling with your own equipment. At the same time, nothing can beat hitting the slopes with gear you know well.

So what's in my bags for this trip? Well lots of Lululemon for one thing. They make amazing base layers and still look great when you peel off ski pants or a jacket in the lodge. I've also got my ski gear including my helmet and new googles. I've skiied with a helmet since I was 3 and I can't hit the slopes without it. I also packed my mini sorel boots in houndstooth and a great J.Crew sweater and flannel for nights out. It's a ski town, so I am going for a more relaxed, snowy look.  Of course, I'll also have my kindle, laptop and iPhone (gotta be able to find one another on the slopes). I hope I didn't forget anything! What would you take on a ski trip?

What's in my Bag? Whistler Edition by preppy-lizzy featuring skinny fit jeans

What's in My Bag? Mardi Gras Edition

We are getting ready to leave for Mardi Gras tomorrow afternoon and tonight Dan and I packed for our big weekend adventure with our friends and New Orleans locals, Matt and Lorraine. So what's in my bag for Mardi Gras with some locals? Let's check it out!

What's in My Bag? Mardi Gras Edition by preppy-lizzy featuring white v neck t shirts

Apparently tutus and leggings are must have so I got a great multi-colored tutu from Amazon and I plan to pair them with my black Lululemon crops. I plan to use them throughout the weekend for whatever I need. I also tossed in a black v neck and white v neck tshirt, a Navy blue with pink detailing Lilly Pulitzer top, bright yellow Banana Republic shorts (to stay in Mardi Gras theme) and my PJs. I also threw in my Snow White costume since apparently Mardi Gras is akin to Halloween? It is my first trip to New Orleans let alone Mardi Gras in NOLA, so I have much to learn. Finally I packed my super comfy Rainbow flip flops and a Lilly Pulitzer dress just in case I need to look respectable one day. It's looking like the weather gods are going to bless us with 70 degree sunny days while we are there so no need for super warm gear, but I am wearing my stretchy skinny jeans tomorrow along with my J.Crew field jacket so I'll have some warm options if I need. I am also planning on rocking my neon Milly Sperry Top Siders since they are maybe the most comfortable shoes I own. Finally, Dan and I ordered some Mardi Gras Rugbies from New Orleans staple Perlis. Dan got a Rugby shirt and I got that great Rugby dress! I am so glad its gonna be warm!

Sorry in advance for the radio silence over the next few days but I'll try to update our Facebook page with fun updates over the weekend! See you all next week!

What's in My Bag? - Business Trip Edition

I feel like there is always a lot of work right before you get ready for a trip. You go through the routine of packing and sometimes repacking a few times to make sure you got everything and that everything fits just right. Right now I am out of town on a business trip at the Society of Women Engineers National Conference recruiting for my company and I have found that packing my carry-on for these trips is almost more important than when I pack it for leisure trips. Maybe it is because I am away from my husband for a week on my own in a hotel room with little to do but watch crappy TV and explore a new city, so making sure I have the right comforts from home is really important.

I think I have gotten pretty good at packing my carry-on in the last few years, and not much changes between business and personal trips, but this is what I had to start this week:

What's in My Bag? by preppy-lizzy featuring gap socks

First let me say how amazing a Longchamp bag is for traveling. I am on my fourth bag (I have 3 different sizes) and I love them. They fold up nice and small - so they are great to take as an extra bag in your suitcase, and are super lightweight. Their handles are also very strong and durable, so they last forever and can actually be thrown in the washing machine to be cleaned when they get dirty. All in all, a Longchamp is a great investment.

Anyways in my Longchamp, I have my Macbook, always protected in a laptop sleeve (you never know what bumps and bruises are coming your way during your travels). Currently my laptop sleeve is monogrammed, which is a great way to locate it and is cute for any prepster. Next goes my iPad and Kindle, both in their respective cases. I got a great iPad case from Anthropologie a few years ago that is great for travel and is very secure. Perhaps my Kindle case is the best of them all though, like a lot of my belongings, it is hot pink and has an internal light that runs of the battery of the Kindle. Great for the plane (I have been on many flights where my light does not work), the Kindle is much easier on the eyes than an iPad and if you have the 3G version and download a new book for free almost anywhere in the world. Next I have my two cellphones (yes I have two). My blackberry is my work phone and my iPhone is my personal phone. At least they are different platforms so its easy to tell the difference? Still I know I look like a totally tech nerd with two cell phones, you don't have to tell me.

Finally comes all my non-tech stuff. The wallet is probably pretty self-explanatory, but I choose to travel with a checkbook size wallet when I travel because I have to save receipts and it makes it a lot easier. I know it takes up some more room, but its worth it, to organize personal stuff from business stuff. The last two items in my bag are due to living in California the last few years. I always travel with a pair of grey socks in my carry-on because we Southern California girls live in flip-flops and therefore fly in flips a lot. Grey socks are great for walking through security lines after you have to remove your shoes and after you sit down at your seat on the plane (I always go with grey because the white get dirty really fast). The metal water bottle is the other California habit I have picked up. I actually travel almost everywhere with one on a daily basis and traveling is no different. I hate getting dehydrated on the plane and don't like to wait for drink service to come around to get my first drink of water. Instead I pack my own water bottle and fill it up once I get through security. It ensures that I always have fresh drinking water on hand and I almost never get off the plane feeling bloated and swollen.

What travel tips do you guys live by? What can you not live without in your carry-on?