Author: thrivinglilly

Travel

Branson, Missouri – The Town you Probably Haven’t Heard Of

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Branson, Missouri – The Town you Probably Haven’t Heard Of

For the past 3 summers now, my husband and I have spend a week or so of summer in his parents lake house on Table Rock Lake in Missouri. Before meeting my husband I had no desire or even inclination to visit Missouri, so I had no idea what I was walking into. Table Rock Lake is about an hour outside of Springfield (you might of heard of that one) and is located right next to a town called Branson. Branson is where people in the area go to do all sorts of things! If you are not on the lake, you might be go carting, or visiting the wax museum, or aquarium, or maybe enjoying the best ice cream you’ve ever had at Andy’s. Branson is like Las Vegas for families, with many things to do crammed into a street or two. It’s never someplace I would have picked out to visit but it is always such a fun place to go! The people are friendly and the food is delicious, there’s always something to do in Branson.

Travel

New York City Itinerary

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New York City Itinerary

We love visiting NYC and this year we revisited some favorites and did a few new things as well! Below are a few things we highly recommend if you are visiting New York City.

You have to grab a bagel! Trust me, it’s like eating a croissant in Paris, it’s just a one of a kind, tasty experience you need to have! Bagel spots are on every corner but here are our top 2, Liberty Bagels and Thompson Square Bagel. Try the maple cream cheese at Liberty, you will not be disappointed.

If you love museums and history The Met is a must see! We always make it a point to visit anytime we are in New York and it never disappoints. Plus it’s the perfect photo spot to reminisce about the lives of the beautiful upper East Siders of Gossip Girl.

If you want a view skip the Empire State Building and look at the city from places like The Edge or a rooftop bar like the Magic Hour NYC. You get a great view WITH the Empire State Building in it.

Last but not least make sure to walk or take the subway if you can! I can’t tell you how many little stores and restaurants we bumped into that we tried!

Travel

How To Avoid Overpacking When Going on Vacation

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How To Avoid Overpacking When Going on Vacation

With travel opening back up again in the world, a lot of people are taking advantage of it, including me! This summer we are going on a 3 week trip to New York, Philadelphia, and Missouri. With 3 cities and 3 very different weather climates it can be hard not to overpack, but here are a few of my biggest tips to avoid overpacking.

Staying in the same color palette the whole time. The idea is so have almost all of your shirts go with all of your bottoms and vice versa. This helps open up your wardrobe and you can create anything from a very casual to a very dressy outfit from the same pieces.

Shoes and accessories, are things that can weight a lot and take up a ton of room in your suitcase! I try to limit my jewelry to a few items that will go with everything and that I can wear the entire trip. For shoes, I really try to limit myself to two pairs but if I’m going someplace with a lot of walking, and a beach I might bring 3. My go-to shoes are nikes for walking and then a pair of Tevas for hotter days by the water. I may bring another pair of dressier shoes or flip flops if the trip calls for it.

Layers are your friend! Don’t forget to make sure you wear a jacket on the plane even if you don’t think you’ll need one. This helps add some space to your suitcase as well as ensuring a comfortable flight! I usually don’t need a jacket on a plane but always use it as a pillow. Also make sure your jacket has pockets and can be used with most of the wardrobe that you packed. Packing can seem daunting but once you get a system nailed down it makes everything seem a little bit easier.