Packing List for a Tropical Vacation

3.24.2014

We're back in the country and I have lots of pretty pictures to share from our week-long adventure in  Costa Rica, but today I wanted to share my packing list because before I went I had no idea what to pack and when I looked around for suggestions, everyone just had tons of exercise clothes on their list, which it fine, if that's what you want, but I prefer to dress semi-normal even if I'm traveling--so here's what I suggest. Hope you enjoy and feel free to pin this post if you found it helpful :)
Day One: Something comfy and cute to travel in--it's a long flight and nobody wants to spend 6 hours something constricting and stiff.
gold necklace: similar here
drapey white tee: similar here
blue bells: c.o. shop indigenous//buy here (use code FESTIVAL for 10% off)
wedges: similar here

Morning Two: Exercise clothes to throw on over your swimming suit for a hike to the one of the beautiful waterfalls Costa Rica has!
high-low chiffon tribal tank: c.o. swell//buy similar here

Afternoon Two: The water is a little chilly under the falls, but if you can brave it, it's quite exhilarating!
striped sunnies: similar here and here

Night Two: A swingy dress that can be rolled up in your suitcase and come out looking great to walk around town in and dine on some local cuisine of black beans, white rice, and fried plantains! Keep your eyes peeled for a giveaway on that great bag too!
necklace: buy here
african bag: c.o. DellaLA buy here (support african women)
huaraches: seychelles cayenne buy here

Morning Three: a comfy suit and sunnies to wear as you take on the rapids in search of adventure and iguanas.
chambray: similar here or here
high-waist bottoms: made by me, buy similar here

Afternoon Three: Easy chambray and cut-offs to throw on over your suit to have lunch at a local farm and sip down of freshly squeezed sugar-can juice after a day of river-rafting and sloth spotting.
striped sunnies: similar here
chambray: similar here
cut-offs: similar here or here
african bag: c.o. DellaLA//buy here

 Night Three: An breathable gauze dress for dinner and souvenir shopping--those streets can be warm!
tassel earrings: buy similar here
guaze dress: buy here or similar here, here, here or here
wedges: similar here

Morning Four: Something easy and lo-fuss for a walk through the national forest to converse with the monkeys of Manuel Antonio. "Still more monkeys than people" isn't their motto for nothing!
mexi dress: c.o. flordeluz buy here
huaraches: buy here

Afternoon Four: After a hike through the forest, you're gonna be pretty sweaty, luckily at the end of the trail you'll find one of the prettiest beaches you ever laid eyes on--better have a suit on so you can take a dip! And make sure to stay to see the sunset--I promise you won't regret it :)
pink fringe one-piece: similar here and here

Day Five: Something a little warmer to head up into the most magical mountains you can imagine--La Paz Waterfall Gardens will possibly make you explode from happiness, be ye warned. It's a total dreamland where holding butterflies, feeding hummingbirds from your hand, and getting face to face with toucans is just the norm. GO!
head scarf: similar here
tassel earrings: buy similar here
boyfriend sweater: similar here and here
huaraches sandals: buy here

Day Six: Travel day--the journey is over and if you didn't think it would kill you to eat one more meal of black beans, white rice and plantains, you'd be sad to go--but you leave Costa Rica with excitement to return one day and experience it all again, looking cute in your favorite (and comfy) jeans, a tee and your trusty North Face bag that made it all the way around Europe with you earlier this year.
sunnies: similar here and here
v-neck tissue tee: similar here and here
tassel earrings: similar here
huaraches sandals: buy here
Just in Case:
A light jacket, water-resistant would be a good idea, especially if you go during rainy season--which we didn't. I think I only wore a jacket on the plane there and back, but I was glad I had it for those occasions--our plane home was icy cold!

I wore one like this: here
But here's a cute water-resistant one: here

zoot suit

3.13.2014

Today I am somewhere else, wearing something else, thinking about something other than what I was thinking about when I sat down to schedule this post. I am surely having a good time with good people. I am probably missing my puppy baby, but still happy to be where i am, today, which at this point hasn't happened yet. Blogging is weird like that. 

Find out where I am here @ashleyanielson.
<<what i wore>>
striped cotton blazer//c.o. persunmall (buy here)
tissue t-shirt//j.crew sale (similar here)
aurora cocktail ring//stella & dot (buy here)
nail color//FACE dark and stormy (similar here)
triangle necklace//c.o. persunmall (buy here)
leather clutch//vintage (similar here)
high-riser skinnies//madewell (buy here)
petty booties//sam edelman (buy here)

{Tunes} on Tuesday: Featuring Anna Ternheim

3.11.2014

{via}
Today I'm busy packing and getting things in order for a grand adventure and I'm listening to my favorite Swedish musician all day long. Enjoy!

Please feel free to share what you've been listening to lately, I always enjoy music inspiration :)

chopped.

3.10.2014

Nobody told me this before, but doing short hair is exponentially harder than doing long hair. Burning my fingers, my scalp and my neck have just become expected occurrences every morning. Somebody came over to pick something up that they bought from @shoptheunicorn, and I literally begged her to teach me how she did her cute short hairdo. Turns out going 14 years with long hair really stifles your hair skills development. 

I SHALL CONQUER YOU SHORT BOB, IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO!
<<what i wore>>
nerd glasses//forever21 (similar here)
necklace//c.o. oasap (buy here)
floral sweater//c.o. persunmall (buy here)
army jacket//old navy (buy here)
time sawyer watch//arvo (buy here)
high-riser skinnies//madewell (buy here)
petty booties//sam edelman (buy here)

#thingsthataremakingmehappythursday

3.06.2014

As I mentioned before, we've been having weekly planning meetings and setting new little goals for ourselves to try and get into more of a productive routine. One of those new hopeful-routines is a nightly walk around the neighborhood with Poppy Reh. It's a new favorite of mine (and Poppy's too). The weather is just heavenly and last night we got out right in time to enjoy a beautiful sunset. We have citrus trees around us and they're heavy with orange blossoms. Just when I thought the stroll couldn't get any better, we rounded the corner and Poppy spotted my niece and nephew in the community park. Baby J and Poppy are best friends and make-out buddies, so they were both pretty excited to meet. 
It's such a nice way to cap off the day. I'm grateful for this new routine.
What's making you happy this Thursday?
PS: You can shop my closet on instagram @shoptheunicorn --things are going fast :)
<<what i wore>>
polka dot headscarf//vintage (similar here)
lip color//really red by covergirl (buy here)
on the mark arrow necklace//stella & dot (buy here)
arizona state necklace//nordstroms (buy similar here)
navy blue midi dress//asos (buy here)
petty booties//sam edelman (buy here)

"You Can't Eat Beauty, It Doesn't Sustain You."

3.04.2014

You guys, I saw Lupita on Ellen last week and feel in love with her beauty, she is breathtaking, and then when I saw this last night, I fell in love with her spirit. I love what she says, "What is fundamentally beautiful is compassion, for yourself and those around you. That kind of beauty enflames the heart and enchants the soul." She is so inspiring, I hope someday when I have little girls, I can teach them how to really be beautiful--it starts from within.


YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL! Happy Tuesday <3
© i believe in unicorns. Maira Gall.