what's in my bag

here we go, a what's in my bag post. #WIMB just switchin' things up on JDC because honestly, i get tired of plastering my face on here all the time!! plus my friend, Anxhela // @luxbubs tagged me so why not? check out her feed for some beauty product eye candy! 

first about this bag. lately, my go to bag has been the Henri Bendel west 57th carry all satchel in light beige (color sold out) -- avail in dark grey, tan, brown / black / black lizard. you can see it styled here in my latest outfit post, for reference i am only 5'2" short. the price, size (9.5"H x 14.5"W x 5.5"D), and functionality are all on point and make it the perfect everyday work bag. it can hold a laptop, portfolio, and any documents needed for meetings.

other details of the bag: remove-able cross body strap for hands-free, three pocket compartments and one zippered one inside, both sides of the bag are zippered so you can put more things in there if you want but it can make it look clunky if you're stuffing it with too much -- i don't use them. the bag is made of durable saffiano leather, the top handles fold down, the bag features a non-exposed magnetic closure, gold feet, and also lined with satin. i was drawn to this bag due to the lizard texture and the color. it's been a while since i had a white/light beige bag so i thought i would give it another go. pleased to report no stains or color transfer yet! now that it is fall, i'll be busting out with another HB. black. of course. so predictable! check out Henri Bendel for a variety of sizes and colors in handbags.

side note: i saw the Bridget Jones's Baby movie this past weekend. i laughed like a crazy lady the entire time, just what i needed. y'all, it HILARIOUS and light-hearted. i was pleasantly surprised and plotting how i'm going to see it again! haha! 

currently on my playlist: if i ain't got you by Alicia Keys 

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01. snacks

i like to snacky snack so i always have something i can munch on JUST IN CASE. you never know and hangry is not a good look. these Justin's banana chips & peanut butter are delicious -- with pretzels and almond butter. and any kind of protein/energy bars are good to have on hand -- faves are Oh Yea! birthday cake and KIND bars

02. electronics

i've raved about these Symphonized noise cancelling earphones for $26 (goodbye crappy Apple ones) -- newer version has volume controlsnewer with heavy bass option, save your hearing and time unraveling a tangly mess because the cord is made of nylon. also comes in so many colors and three sizes of custom ear tips. my BFF, the mophie powerstation is actually an older model and much heavier than the new one. must upgrade soon. but this has come to the rescue too many times!

03. lip care

one of my FAVE lip balms right now is the Glossier balm dot com. so moisturizing and my morning lip balm. i also love Jack Black intense therapy lip balm SPF25 (great deal for a set, one for each bag. yes, please!) for the day because it has SPF25. lips need SPF too. for a subtle lip tint, i use the Dior Addict lipglow in coral -- similar by Glossier. oh, and lipstick/lip color is always a good idea to have on hand. Tom Ford lipcolor in casablanca and MAC lipstick in brick-o-la are my most used and help bring out my natural color. 

04. health & beauty products

floss. yes. i carry floss. a better hygienic option than hair. ahem ahem. i know we've all done it. but i carry the one you usually get from the dentist goodie bag. tylenol/advil because i am always to the rescue to save people from headaches! 

05. wallet

this Louis Vuitton epi leather business card holder in red -- similar by Kate Spade / similar by Michael Kors, is actually my sisters hand me down!! i know she is amazing. i get compliments on the red thing all the time. it holds the essentials and that is really all you need. #lessismore

06. sunnies

i can't resist a good pair of cat eye sunglasses. pictured is the Celine caty sunglasses. others in heavy rotation in include the Karen Walker number one -- similar, and Celine tilda

07. nerdy supplies

moleskin is the best for jotting down those ideas that come to you at the most random times. this one is my top pick because of the hardcover and placeholder. pens... i'm so picky when it comes to my pens, and my all time favorite pen is (insert drum roll)... the Sanford uni-ball signo micro 207 pen. there just isn't a replacement. okay... maybe a mont blanc. 

08. misc

not pictured, but i also usually carry some Dr. Scholl's dreamwalk ball of foot gel cushion inserts. these are life savers and help relieve all the pressure from the balls of your feel due to heels. i also have them for in the full strip. #hugefan #savethefeet. i also have a deodorant removing sponge which has come in handy on a few occasions! LASTLY and most importantly, my trusty refillable water bottle is always with me at all times. it is the only way i can keep myself hydrated, which i can't stress enough. so many fun options to pick from: klean canteen with interchangeable tops including a cafe one / S'well / Target's sip by S'well -- one with donuts!! / bkr (glass bottle with silicone sleeve).

now i know why my bag is so heavy,
JD

the perfect travel bag & essentials

i decided to do a post on the perfect travel bag and essentials that i took with me on my last trip to NYC

bag 

when i travel, i never carry anything designer (i.e., CHANEL, Celine...) mainly because i do not want to worry about the bag getting scratched, rained on, stolen? to me, the ideal travel bag must be a few things: 1) crossbody = hands free, 2) durable, 3) lightweight, 4) fit the essentials, 5)  zip closure, 6) have compartments. the Tory Burch robinson mini dome satchel in dust storm (taupe grey-ish color) fit the bill on all counts. it measures 9"L x 3.7"W x 7"H; 23" crossbody strap. in addition, the strap is also removable in case i needed to go to an event or anything. i LOVE this bag (and all mini bags in general! they are adorable!). this one in particular has a side zipper and two pockets for your phone or keys on the inside. the top handles also fold down which i really like. lastly, the entire Tory Burch robinson line is made from saffiano leather; which is scratch resistant. this is an older model but i have linked a few similar ones below. 

  • Tory Burch robinson small multi satchel -- $495 USD. comes in black, tiger's eye (cognac), french grey, and jitney green (which is a BEAUTIFUL fall color). 11"L x 5.25"W x 8"H; 4.5" handle drop, 22". three compartments, two are zip closures and the bag itself is a snap closure (a little downside). saffiano leather, detachable straps, and the handles fold down. sign up for Bloomingdales emails and receive 10% off. 
  • Michael Kors medium cindy saffiano dome satchel* -- $258 USD. comes in blush, cornflower, black, and navy (my pick!.. if i needed one...) this is the closest dupe to the Tory Burch dome satchel in the picture above, but a little larger at 12"L x 4.5"W x 8.5"H; 6" handle drop, 17" to 19" strap drop. zip closure, saffiano leather, detachable straps, and the the handles fold down. 
  • Coach nolita satchel in crossgrain leather* in beige/light gold -- on sale for $206.50 USD; regular price $295 USD. this looks like saffiano leather and i really like the shape/design, the finish of the leather on the sides is very streamlined. this color is very close to the TB dust storm. it measures about 11"L x 7"H x 5"W; 22" strap drop. zip closure, detachable straps, and the handles fold down. Coach has definitely stepped up their game in the recent years.

*this is apart of the Bloomingdales friends & family sale so get 25% off by using code "FRIENDS" at checkout. also, shipping to TX is TAX-FREE! details on this sale here.

electronics

  • mophie powerstation (mini) -- i've mentioned this before in one of my current lemmings, and purchased one for myself (again, i take my recommendations very seriously!) i can't tell you how much i love my mophie! i've used it on a normal day-to-day basis, but it really comes in handy when you travel and outlets are limited (i.e., your traveling groupie be using all of them!). the only thing you have to do is remember to charge it. AND... did i mention that this is a great gift idea!? the mini is good for two FULL charges on my iPhone 5s, and also works on Android.
  • Symphonized premium in-ear noise cancelling earphones -- i purchased these for the NYC trip, and the moment i put them in my ears for the flight, i vowed to never go back to the CRAPPY Apple earphones. it's one of those things you discover where you ask yourself, "how have i lived so long without this?!" while my sister was listening to her music at the highest volume, i was listening to mine at one or two notches. i had to put a stop to the feeling of deaf-ness/ears ringing when getting off the plane from listening to high volume audio. these peaked my interest due to price (only $25!, regular price $99) and rave reviews (4.5 stars, 6,500 reviews). the cords are also nylon so they are not easily tangled. i mean, untangling Apple earphones?! ain't nobody got time for that! it also comes in different colored headphones/cords and three different silicone ear tips for a custom fit. I CAN'T RAVE ABOUT THIS MORE. JUST GET IT. 
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 -- this was borrowed from my SS (thanks soul sista!). it's a pretty cool camera that has a touchscreen and you can take pictures with different filters like instagram. the downside = no zoom. i will be investing in my own travel camera soon! #moretravelingplease!  
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health & beauty

  • Jack Black intensive therapy lip balm SPF 25 -- my friend introduced me to this and i've come to REALLY LOVE it more than my Kiehl's lip balm (gasp!)! it is much longer lasting and it has SPF 25 (high). like skin, lips are also prone to get freckles too, i know i see one on my lip right now. so SPF is a must for lip balms during the day. purchase a pack of four (one for each purse!?!) and save $5. 
  • Dior Addict lip glow in sheer pink coral SPF 10 -- this is a great alternative to lip balm for those who want a little tint. this is supposed to, "enhance your natural lip color while moisturizing and protecting the skin." looks extremely natural. 
  • Emergen-C in pink lemonade flavor (my fave flavor!) -- i'm a germaphobe so i usually take a packet the day before i leave and when i arrive at my destination. i always bring extra packets and for some reason... i come home with none! it's because i'm giving them away to my traveling groupie so they don't get me sick. LOL. 
  • Eucerin skin calming daily moisturizing creme -- you can get a 1 oz. tube in the travel section at Target (just try to only pick up one item in that section! i dare you!), its small enough to fit in your bag and what's great about this is that you can use it on your hands AND your face (in case it gets super dry or irritated from being in different environments)! it is also unscented and great for sensitive skin! 
  • Kleenex, Advil, Band-Aids -- these are great items to have for headaches, random cuts/bumps/scratches, blisters? 

needless to say, i'm someone you want to travel with! i'm usually prepared for anything/everything. 

life is short. travel (and smile) more,
JD

summer sunscreens

picked out some sunscreen goodness for your beautiful face!

keep in mind, the sun has two different types of harmful rays: UVA and UVB. UVA causes wrinkles, premature aging, and spots. UVB causes burns. soo.. to cover yourself from both rays, you'll want to get a broad spectrum sunscreen regardless if you are covering your face or body! remember, the sun is very damaging to skin so protect it and wear sunscreen everyday!

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01 | MDSolarSciences mineral creme broad spectrum SPF 50 UVA-UVB sunscreen -- $30 USD/1.7 oz. this is the one i've used for quite some time now! one tube will last me a little over a year. it is a little tinted but not noticeable when applied. i love the silky, long lasting, matte finish and primer all in one. described as, "mineral-based SPF 50 broad spectrum sunscreen specifically formulated for acne and rosacea-prone skin." formulated without: Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates. 
02 | Hourglass mineral primer SPF 15 -- $52 USD/1.0 oz. before MDSolarSciences and i met, this was what i used. and although it didn't work for me, it still is a beauty cult favorite as it was one of the first primers with SPF on the market. also comes in a cute little travel size bottle. this is a,  "mineral-based, water-resistant primer that neutralizes the skin, minimizes shine, and creates a smooth, uniform canvas for flawless makeup application." formulated without: Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates. 
03 | Supergoop! skin soothing mineral sunscreen broad spectrum SPF 40 --  $28 USD/2.4 oz. Supergoop! specializes in sun products and this is one of their newest. described as, "mineral sunscreen for sensitive skin that features soothing olive polyphenols." formulated without: Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates. 
04 | TATCHA pore perfecting sunscreen broad spectrum SPF 35 -- $68 USD/2.0 oz. the latest from TATCHA. described as non-greasy, lightweight, and a primer. i broke down and purchased the travel size recently and can't wait for it to come in! TATCHA is also tax-free to Texas.
05 | Anthony Logistics facial moisturizer broad spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 -- $33 USD/3.0 oz. got a man that doesn't moisturize? get him this. the extra bonus is that it has SPF in it. described as a,  "quick-absorbing, non-greasy formula that moisturizes and nourishes skin while protecting against sun damage with broad spectrum." formulated without: Parabens, Phthalates. purchase this tax free off beauty.com.
06 | COOLA mineral face SPF 30 matte finish -- $36 USD/1.7 oz. COOLA also specializes in sunscreen, they even make one for your pets!!! this one is also water resistant for up for 40 minutes. might be good for a beach/pool day. formulated without: Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates. 
07 | Jack Black double-duty facial moisturizer broad spectrum SPF 20 -- $17.50 USD/1.5 oz, $28 USD/3.3 oz. again, another moisturizer and SPF for the guys. what i like about Jack Black is that is also comes in a travel size tube, not to mention that their lip balms are amazing! formulated without:  Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates. purchase this tax-free off beauty.com.
08 | First Aid Beauty ultra repair pure mineral sunscreen moisturizer broad spectrum SPF 40 -- $30 USD/2.0 oz. a great option for those who want a moisturizer and sunscreen all in one. described as, "complexion protector that combines the hydrating and nourishing power of Ultra Repair with high level UVA and UVB protection." formulated without: Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates.

rock the sunscreen errrrdayyy,
JD