Review: Remedy+ The Bar

Hello friends!

I have not been posting regularly for a while, mainly because COVID has kept me from traveling or (ironically) having free time! Fortunately, I was able to do some backcountry camping late this summer and will be posting some updates on backpacking meals, underrated national parks, and any musings that come to mind.

For now, I wanted to share another review from the Remedy+ world. If you are into CBD, you might have seen my reviews on Remedy+ products before: The DROP, the SHOT, and the CAP. I have a referral code if you’re interested in adding some performance-boostin’, spicy-tastin’, brain-fog-clearin’ CBD into your routine. This is the highest-quality and most affordable CBD that I’ve come across in a while, so enjoy.

In addition to Remedy+’s CBD products, you can also buy The BAR, a hemp protein bar for relaxing, performing, and recovering. Remedy+ was kind enough to gift me a package of these bars, so here are some of my thoughts!

Quick FAQs About Remedy+ The Bar

remedy+ the bar nutritional information

Ingredients and nutritional information for ya!

How Much Protein Is In The Bar?

The soy protein nuggets and hemp protein give you 7g protein in every bar. I (a 5’8″ lady weighing around 140 pounds) need just under 50g a day, so The Bar is a great way to sneak in some extra protein after a workout, in the morning, or as dessert.

What Kind of Berries Are In the Bar?

Cranberries! I love cranberries in everything, which might explain why I’m such a big fan of these bars. In addition to cranberries, The Bar also contains raisins. I’m not a raisin person, but I didn’t even notice them!

Does It Contain CBD?

No! CBD and hemp protein come from the same plant, but are very different ingredients. CBD comes from the hemp plant, while hemp protein is derived from the seeds of said plant. Hemp protein is less refined than other types of protein, and is a great source of fiber and essential amino acids. CBD, on the other hand, interacts with the body in a way that reduces pain and stress. If you want mental clarity, try CBD products. If you want to up your physical performance, try hemp protein products.

(Learn more about the difference between CBD and hemp protein on Remedy+’s website.)

Is It Vegan?

While hemp protein is a favorite among plant-based eaters, The Bar itself is not vegan. It contains butter and honey.

My Review: Remedy+ The Bar

You know those two-bite brownies that are very delicious but also very addictive? These protein bars are a good way to wean yourself off these (or other chocolate) treats. (I ate…a lot…of those brownies over the past few months at home, so I’m happy that I found an alternative.)

If you put these unwrapped these protein bars and put them on a plate at a party, people would just think that they are some rich brownies. They would have no idea that they’ve got 7g hemp protein and only 190 calories.

I wouldn’t say that one protein is more delicious than the other, but I can tell you that the hemp protein within The BAR isn’t super noticeable. The flavors that stick out to me are rich chocolate and cranberries. Maybe you get a hint of “I’m eating a plant-based protein!” but it doesn’t stick around for long. The bars are literally the size of my palm, so they pack and punch but don’t weigh you down.

Overall, I would recommend these bars to anyone who is looking for a healthier alternative to chocolate snacks. I keep them on my kitchen table with other snacks, protein powders, and goodies that I get from my monthly Clean.Fit box.

Where To Buy The Bar

Walmart shoppers can just add The Bar to their next shopping list and skip any brownies or chocolate goodies that don’t have a solid amount of protein. You can buy The Bar on eBay if you prefer a more digital experience. They’re coming to Amazon soon, so keep your eyes peeled for these and other Remedy+ products.

Care for something with CBD instead? Shop through all of Remedy+’s CBD products here. (This is my referral code! At no cost to you, I’ll make a little money if you purchase through this link.)

Overall, I give these bars a 10/10. I really have no complaints: they’ve got a good amount of protein, they taste great, and they’re the perfect size for an on-the-go boost. Heck, bring them on your next camping trip! (I’ve got some other packing tips coming up in future blog posts – keep your eyes peeled for them.)

If you’ve tried them out, let me know what you think!

CBD Review: Remedy+ The Shot, The Drop, and The Cap

Throughout my 5+ years as a writer, I’ve covered a lot of topics. Like, a lot. Some of these topics are right in my wheelhouse: yoga, mindfulness, Positive Psychology, etc. Others require more research: estate planning, real estate investing, pest control, etc. It takes up a lot of time. To switch things up, I recently decided to pivot away from blogging and focus more on long-form content for entrepreneurs and coaches. 

That being said, there’s one topic that I keep coming back to: cannabis. I like writing about CBD and marijuana. I like writing for online dispensaries. But it’s not out of a Bob-Marley-flag-waving adoration for the devil’s lettuce. Cannabis is a plant that I’m familiar with, but there is so much behind this plant (and so much still to learn) that I’m not bored writing about it. 

This brings me to the purpose of this blog post. I started writing for Remedy+ a few weeks ago, and was lucky enough to get some free product from them. I know many people have questions about CBD and different CBD products, so here is my honest attempt at answering these questions and providing a review of a brand I trust (and, honestly, really like.) 

Quick CBD Facts and Fun 

Before I dive into the products themselves, here’s a bit of information about CBD itself. 

About Cannabis

CBD is found in the cannabis plant. Cannabis is categorized as either hemp or marijuana, depending on its THC levels. (Hemp contains less than .03% THC, whereas marijuana contains anywhere from .03-30% THC. Most strains contain between 9-25% THC.) THC is the stuff that gets you high. 

CBD products generally don’t contain any THC. It can be isolated or extracted from the cannabis plant, and is then put in tinctures, oils, bath bombs, you name it.

Cannabis and the Body 

CBD is non-intoxicating, but I’m typically hesitant to say that it’s non-psychoactive. You won’t get you high when consuming CBD, but you might experience some changes throughout the body. (Why else would people put it in cookies, anyway?) CBD interacts with endocannabinoid system, which was actually discovered in the 1980s while researching cannabis. (Neat!) The ECS plays a role in a few different bodily functions, including mood, pain, and appetite. 

How does CBD interact with the endocannabinoid system? It’s hard to say for certain with very few studies and not a whole lot of funding going toward CBD research. Funding is scarce partially because cannabis is considered a Schedule I drug by the DEA, meaning it has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” (There are many reasons why this makes me roll my eyes, but my rants on the War on Drugs are for another blog post.) 

Don’t worry. CBD derived from hemp, rather than marijuana, is legal in all 50 states.

What Does CBD “Feel” Like? 

Don’t sit around waiting for CBD-only products to “hit.” It’s not going to, and it doesn’t for me. 

(Keep in mind that I’m an able-bodied person without any chronic illness or pain. I don’t take CBD for joint pain relief. I take up to 25mg at a time, although you could take double that amount without experiencing serious side effects.) 

I don’t experience any radical changes from CBD, but I do feel as though my mind is more clear and I’m more alert. I haven’t used CBD to “treat” any brain fog or mental fatigue, but when I try, I’ll let you know how it goes. I use CBD as I would use a nootropic, so use that information how you will.

I like CBD. It’s not a miracle (for me.) But I feel nice after I take it in the morning or to wind down at night. If you’re interested in it, give it a go. 

Remedy+ CBD Products 

Okay, so let’s talk about one specific CBD brand. Remedy+ sets itself apart from other CBD brands because it focuses more on performance and recovery. Instead of helping you “chill out,” these products are meant to encourage focus, alertness, and energy. I appreciate this, especially because I’ve had a lot of trouble focusing during quarantine. 

Remedy+ has three products, and I tried them all: 

Let’s talk about them. 

Review: Remedy+ The Drop 

remedy+ the drop cbd tincture

Remedy+ The Drop: $39.95 (as of June 2020)

The DROP is probably my favorite, and the one I’d recommend the most to first-time CBD users. All you have to do is take a little dropper and squeeze 18mg CBD under your tongue. Wait a minute, swish it around, and you’re good. 

CBD tinctures and oils in this form are great because they’re really versatile. I’m drinking a coffee with The Drop right now. (It doesn’t mix super well, but there’s no real difference in taste.) It’s a great addition to your morning routine, whether that means enjoying it after a workout or while you’re waiting for your coffee to brew. 

The Drop contains MCT oil as a carrier oil. This doesn’t make a difference to me, but it does get Keto fans all riled up. In addition to the product’s broad-spectrum hemp oil, The Drop contains orange and cinnamon essential oils for an extra zing and unique flavor. (It smells so good when you put it in a coffee.) 

(Broad-spectrum, as opposed to isolate, is a type of CBD that contains terpenes and other active ingredients within the hemp plant. You get more bang for your buck, in my opinion. Plus, extracting CBD is a lot more work than allowing some extra flavors to make their way into your CBD oil.) 

I give this guy a 10/10. I always feel alert after using it, the taste is good, and the price is phenomenal. Seriously. There aren’t many CBD tinctures or oils that you can get for less than $40. If you’re hesitant about trying CBD, try this first. 

Review: Remedy+ The Shot  

remedy+ the shot cbd review

Remedy+ The Shot, $89.95 for a case of 12

I’ve always been a passionate morning person. (Just ask any of the people who lived with me in Melbourne. As they got back from warehouse raves, I was making coffee.) Once 2 or 3 p.m. hits, I’m ready to call it a day. Unfortunately, my workload says otherwise, and I’m usually not done until 4 or 5. 

So I need an afternoon boost. And that’s when I grab The Shot. 

The Shot, like the Drop, is great throughout the day: 

  • As a morning boost 
  • As a hangover remedy 
  • Before a workout
  • To replace that afternoon coffee that you don’t really need but you make it just so you have something to do other than work 

In addition to broad-spectrum CBD, The Shot also has 30mg of caffeine. That’s equivalent to a few sips of that coffee that you don’t really need but you make it just so you have something to do other than work. 

Like The Drop, The Shot also contains orange and cinnamon. I’m not crazy about the flavor, because I have a lot of memories of drinking Fireball that the cinnamon brings up. Plus, at 2oz, I can’t do the whole shot at once. Again, flashbacks.

That’s the only reason I’m giving The Shot a 7/10. It’s a nice boost, it’s easy to take with you to the gym or in your bag, but it’s not my favorite way to consume CBD. 

Review: Remedy+ The Caps 

remedy+ the cap review

Remedy+ The Cap: $79.95

Maybe I lost you at the mention of orange and cinnamon flavors. That’s okay. You don’t have to find another brand if you want CBD without extra flavors. The Cap doesn’t contain any additional flavors. It does, however, contain Beta Caryophyllene (a terpene that may help with pain management) and Curcuminoids. Curcuminoids, most notably found in turmeric, may also assist with pain management. 

I’ve only taken one capsule at a time, at night. They don’t contain melatonin, and they don’t necessarily make you sleepy. But CBD is thought to help the body maintain homeostasis. When I take The Cap, my Sleep Cycle app records a night of high-quality sleep without many interruptions. 

I give The Cap a 9/10. The capsules are cost-effective (30 softgels with 25mg CBD in each softgel,) flavorless, easy to swallow, and a nice way to wind down. Again, they don’t contain melatonin, so if you don’t like the texture of shots or droppers, you can try this throughout the day instead. 

Final Thoughts

If you’re curious about CBD, I highly recommend checking out this brand first. Again, $50 for a CBD dropper is a pretty sweet deal. Remedy+ has a good range of CBD products designed to help you recover at night and get right back to work in the morning. 

Let me know if you buy some and we’ll compare notes. 

milepro travel packing cubes

Review: milepro Travel Packing Cubes

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, but opinions are all my own. 

Packing cubes have always been one of those items that I know I should buy. Former roommates and travel partners can attest to the fact that I throw my underwear and socks in one compartment of my backpack…but that is as far as my “organization” abilities go. So I am super excited to get the chance to try out the Travel Packing Cubes from milepro.

I’m starting to plan my trek through Torres del Paine in Chile, so I decided to do a little “trial pack” with the clothes that I would need for the journey.

Here are my first impressions while using packing cubes. I’m kind of obsessed with them and genuinely wish I had purchased them sooner.

milepro travel packing cubes

All the cubes fit perfectly in a carry-on suitcase!

Why You Should Try Packing Cubes

    • Everything is organized! I gave each cube a purpose (underwear that I would need everyday, non-hiking clothes, etc.) and I could easily identify the contents of each pack before I opened it up. I love that the top of each cube has a mesh material that allows your stuff to breathe and shows you what is inside.
    • They are versatile af (as the kids say.) Obviously, they fit well in a carry-on suitcase, but I also managed to pop them in my backpack with no problems.
    • Storage is easy. Once I’ve unpacked, I can smush the cubes down and pop them in a laundry bag/shoe bag that comes with the four-pack. Free bag that I can store dirty hiking shoes in? Sick.
    • Maintenance is no big deal. Just hand wash the cubes in the sink in cold water and hang them out to dry.
    • No wrinkles! Okay, I’m not going to lie – wrinkles aren’t my biggest concern when packing for Torres Del Paine, but I’m glad to know I have an option that will keep my clothes nice for when I do go on trips where wrinkles may be an issue. I did think about a time in Sydney where I wanted to bring home a small poster as a souvenir and worried about it getting smushed…if I had the packing cubes, I could have brought the poster home safely and crease-free. Milepro also has packing folders available on Amazon if you are worried about garments and wrinkles and whatnot.
    • They’re a great value. A one-time purchase for sanity and organization on the road forever? Worth it.
    • You can fit more stuff in there than you might think. You can check out a full list what I put in my packing cubes below. I was pretty blown away by the fact that I could fit a fleece jacket, yoga mat, laptop, and a decent amount of clothes in the packing cubes without any struggle. There is quite a bit of wiggle room left, too. Again, these are super versatile.
    • Packing cubes help you practice restraint. I just want to take the necessary items on my trip. When I was packing my “non-hiking clothes” I limited myself to one packing cube, which is only going to benefit me in the long run.

The milepro packing cubes come in a four pack with a laundry bag for storage. Each cube is a different size; I was able to organize my backpack based on the type of clothes I wanted to bring and when I would need them.

What I Fit in Each milepro Travel Packing Cube

 

milepro travel packing cubes

Sparing you a picture of my underwear in Cube 1. Here’s what I packed in the XL Cube!

Cube #1

Small Cube, 11″W x 6.75″H x 4″D

  • Seven pairs of underwear
  • Travel towel from Teselate
  • Three sports bras
  • Three travel-sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash

Cube #2

Medium Cube, 13.75W x 9.75H x 4″D

  • MacBook Air
  • Manduka travel yoga mat
  • JOBY tripod

(There was a lot of room left in this cube…I knew I would have to fit an extra pair of hiking pants and other gear somewhere so I didn’t want to stuff all of the cubes on my first pack. Plus, I’m going to rearrange my items when I set off on the O trek and leave a small bag with this cube at my hostel. I am certainly not bringing my laptop to Torres del Paine!)

Cube #3

Large Cube 13.75″W x 12.75″H x 4″D

  • Seven pairs of ~thicc~ socks
  • Two pairs of fleece leggings
  • Three lightweight shirts (two tees, one with long sleeves)
  • Underarmour hooded top
  • Packable Columbia rain jacket

Cube #4

X-Large Cube,  17.5″W x 12.75″H x 4″D

  • North Face fleece jacket
  • One pair of overalls
  • Three lightweight shirts
  • One pair of denim jeans
  • Laundry bag
  • Vibram toe shoes
  • Bikini

(There was also a decent amount of room left in this cube. I anticipate wearing the fleece jacket for the journey to the airport and for a lot of my journey throughout the O trek, so packing the fleece jacket was more of a placeholder for gear. This was also a cube that I might consider leaving in a hostel during the trek. Besides the jacket, I don’t plan on wearing these clothes on the trail.)  

How much weight can the packing cubes hold?

I put Cube 3 and 4 in the big compartment of my Osprey 55 liter backpack and Cube 1 in the top compartment. Cube 3 and 4 filled up just half of the big compartment and altogether my pack weighed 15 pounds. (At the end of my Asia/Australia trip, my bag weighed 16 kilos, or 35 pounds. Popping the backpack on with only 15 pounds felt so much better than it did before!)

The cubes themselves are only a pound; even though they are quite lightweight, they’re still durable. I know they’ll last me for quite a while. milepro also offers a lifetime warranty, which is dope.

Obviously, I still have a few more items to pack, but I’m super excited to use packing cubes on this trip (and for future trips! I don’t think I’m going to go on another long trip without them.) I highly recommend them and I’m happy I got the chance to try them out with milepro.

Have You Used Packing Cubes Before? Tell Me Your Thoughts in the Comments!

milepro travel packing cubes

Someone Stole My Bag in Berlin, Here’s What I Did (and How To Prevent it Happening to You!)

Hello! So as some of you may have noticed while reading my blog, my updates go up to Week 7 and then stop. Let me explain. Week 8 was spent in Berlin: Couchsurfing meetups, full days of waltzing into art galleries and free museums, street art tours, amazing bars. Unfortunately, my last night in Berlin wasn’t so wonderful.

Here’s the Story: At about 2 in the morning, I was sitting with a friend outside drinking a beer. There weren’t many people around and the area was well lit (it was a seating area outside a bunch of bars in a more or less decent neighborhood.) My day bag was sitting beneath my feet. One moment it was there, the next…gone. I looked down at my feet in disbelief. I thought it was a joke, and it took me a few minutes to grasp the situation. This was the bag I used to bring with me all day while I was wandering. It had my license, my credit cards, hairbrush and sunscreen (not the most stressful things to lose, but just so you have an idea of how much was in there), and my phone. My iPhone 6 with a Mophie charging case. I was distraught, mainly because I was so disappointed. The theft could have been so easily prevented, and I wanted to complete my trip proving that theft didn’t happen to every tourist who went abroad. Sigh.

What I Did: Oddly enough, my last night in Berlin was the most convenient night for all of my stuff to get stolen. I was leaving for a Workaway program in Warsaw the next day…my accommodation for the week and my transportation there had been planned months ahead of time. I was lucky enough to have Internet in my hostel. In my backpack, I had my train ticket to Warsaw, my passport, copies of all of my important documents, about 50 Euro, and 200 Zloty (Polish currency) from my previous trip to Poland. I immediately walked back to my hostel with my friend (ok, I cried and went to every bar I could find searching for my bag, and then walked back to my hostel with my friend), got on the Internet to tell my parents what had happened, and sent them my information so they could send me a new credit card that week. (Also, shout out and thank you to the **very cute** guys who worked at Sunflower Hostel that gave me free Internet/coffee after I told them what had happened.) The next morning, I filed a police report and sent a copy to my parents to replace my phone.

I was extremely lucky. When I had my bag stolen, I was with a friend, I wasn’t hurt or confronted for my bag, and I still was in possession of my passport. The following week, my dear friend Paul lent me his iPad for the week and an old iPhone 3 for the remainder of my trip so I could connect to Wi-Fi and use maps/take pictures/communicate with my parents. My friends and family helped me out enormously during the situation (even the friends that just reassured me that a lot of people have their phones stolen in Berlin too.) Theft is never fun, so I decided to make a list of tips to prevent it and tips on what to do if it happens to you!

Top Tips for Preventing/Dealing with Theft Abroad:

1. Keep Your Items Separate

I was at a bar with friends the night before someone stole my bag. I made a joke about being ID’d and my host said, “What? No one ID’s here, leave your passport at home.” I had been carrying my passport around with me every day before the day my bag was stolen. That morning, I left my passport and half of my cash buried in my backpack. That night, I came back to them immensely relieved.(You’re the real MVP, Verena!) On a trip to Beijing, our chaperones told us to hide a few Yuan in our bras (sorry, boys). You can keep a key or IDs around your neck, different currency or credit cards in different pockets, etc. This way, if your stuff gets stolen, not all of it gets stolen.

2. Store Your Items on Your Person

When I think about my bag getting stolen, I bop myself on the head. I could have kept my bag on my back. I could have stashed my bag in my hostel before going out and kept my phone/credit cards/license in my fanny pack. (I know they’re dorky, but they’re one of the 5 Things You’ll Be Glad You Packed….) Similar to carrying items separately, carrying items on your person just makes theft that much harder. Stealing my stuff was easy, and I’d like to think if I had a fanny pack covered up by my shirt I’d still have my original iPhone 6 (and my photos of Berlin!) with me.

3. Make Copies Of Your Important Documents

I refused to take my passport anywhere with me on day trips, but I still had to identify myself somehow. Luckily, before my trip, my parents had told me to make copies of my license, passport, credit card, and school ID. I used the copies of my documents to verify my age, that I was in fact a passenger of most of the trains I had booked ahead of time, and that I was (ok, I had been, but in the case of free museums for students in Madrid, I still was) a student.

4. Bring an Extra Device to Connect to the Internet

This was a piece of advice I had received before my trip from someone who had all of his stuff stolen on a backpacking trip. Even though my accommodations had Internet and I eventually obtained an iPhone (thank you again, Paul), having my Kindle was great for connecting to the Internet on the go. I couldn’t just stay in my hostel all the time, so at the train station/wandering around Warsaw, I could find directions/reassure my parents that I was fine. I always kept my Kindle separate from my phone so I was happy to have it when I got back to my hostel room.

5. Remember that You’re Not Alone

I was disappointed to have my stuff stolen, but eventually I had to accept that it happens to a lot of travelers. My friends and family sympathized with my situation and were able to help me out, and the stuff that was stolen was just that…stuff. Overall, the incident didn’t define my trip; it was just one of the many learning experiences that made up my time in Europe. If it happens to you, just remember that the next few days of phone detox-ing and possibly even navigating a paper map (gasp) may not be fun, but it’s not the end of the world.

Have you ever had your stuff stolen abroad? Tell me your story in the comments! I promise next week’s post will be a little less serious and a little more fun!

5 Things You’ll be Glad You Packed in your Backpack 

(Photo via Rei.com)

I’m almost a month into my trip, with about two months left to go. I’m getting the hang of living out of my 55 liter Osprey; it doesn’t feel as heavy and it’s becoming easier to pack. I didn’t pack a lot of clothes, but here are 5 things I’m so glad I packed (and you’ll be glad you packed when you head off on your backpacking adventure!)

via wisegeek.com

1. Sleep mask – it took me, 2 hours? into my overnight flight to think, “Thank goodness I packed a sleep mask” (or rather, thank goodness my mom offered to let me use hers). Between festivals and exploring new cities, sleep isn’t always a first priority. So on every bus, in every hostel, and every moment in my Open’er tent after the sun rose, sleep — and therefore, my sleep mask — was crucial.

2. Empty pillowcase – Most hostels and Couchsurfers have pillows available, but it’s always good to have a second pillow/first pillow (if camping). I usually fill mine with old clothes (doesn’t smell like roses, but I’ve survived) and then use it as a laundry bag.

via forever21.com

3. Fanny pack – Besides looking INSANELY attractive in it — alright, I tried. But my fanny pack has been a lifesaver, especially for music festivals. Everything is easily accessible, really close to me, and since mine is pretty small, I can keep things fairly organized. No backpacks to hassle with/have searched, less of a pain, a fantastic fashion statement (I’m really trying here.)  Mine is from Forever 21 (same with the one above), and they’re pretty cheap!

4. Charging phone case – Or rather, I’m just glad I chose a charging phone case. I have the Mophie case for iPhone 6, and having the extra battery handy is a great way to prevent a crappy situation. Six hours on a megabus with a broken outlet? No problem. Festivals? No need to charge for 2-3 days (if you’re on airplane mode).

via ancestral-nutrition.com

5. Dr. Bronner’s – Pour it into an airplane-size bottle or two and you’re set. I’ve used mine as soap, shampoo, shaving soap, and in the future I’ll probably take advantage of it as a toothpaste and laundry detergent. If you have to take one thing, take this. When I make my big move in October, I’ll probably pack what’s left of this huge bottle to use up (if my family hasn’t used it all!)

What items have been lifesavers on your trips? Let me know in the comments below!

Lush Haul – Backpacker’s Edition!

Lush Haul I love Lush, and not just because I worked there for a year and some change. They’re cruelty-free, their products smell good, and I actually know what ingredients I’m putting on my skin and hair. Yesterday was my last day working, so I bought all the birthday gifts I needed for the next year and also stuff for my trip. Luckily, Lush has tons of solid products and stuff that’s super easy to travel with!! Here’s a little list of the stuff I’m bringing with me this summer!

via lushusa.com

via lushusa.com

Jason and The Argan Oil (Shampoo Bar) – That little pink guy, that’s my haircare. Lush makes solid shampoos that lather super well and last 60-80 washes…perfect timing for my trip. It’s insanely moisturizing and I’ve used it in the past without conditioner! Plus…no plastic! Shampoo bars are some of Lush’s “naked products” that don’t need packaging and cut down on waste. The tin I’m storing it in is reusable, so when I move on to my next shampoo bar, I’m all set!

via lushusa.com

via lushusa.com

No Drought (Dry Shampoo) – The description even says No Drought is good for music festivals, bless. It’s a cornflour base with a lovely citrus scent for when I’m too lazy to wash my hair. Instead of packing Lush’s amazing T for Toes foot powder, I’m going to also try throwing this guy in my shoes when I’ve been hiking around and my feet smell, you know, disgusting.

via lushusa.com

via lushusa.com

Parsley Porridge (Hand and Body Soap) – MIRACLE. This soap has tea tree, aloe and other herbs, which make it great for your body but also your FACE! Luckily it’s the soap my face likes the best so it’s all I’ll need when it comes to soap! (It’s taking everything in my power not to pack my So White and Rose Jam Shower Gels or Yog Nog and Snowcake Soaps, but I’ll leave them here as motivation to come back home!)

via lushusa.com

via lushusa.com

Tea Tree Water (Toner Water) – Tea tree for antibacterial, grapefruit for an astringent, juniperberry to balance. Super simple and a great way to refresh throughout the day.

via lushusa.com

via lushusa.com

03714

via lushusa.com

Confident & Independent (Makeup) – THANK YOU ALEX. My lovely coworker bought me Confident, the most amazing lip color, and I’m forever grateful. Independent is an eyeliner and just became available again after a 2(?) year long hiatus. I don’t wear makeup often, but these two are all I need when I go out on the town (I mean, I’m going to Liverpool after all).

9 to 5 (Cleansing Lotion) – Aaaand for the morning after. 9 to 5 is a great cleansing lotion that’s also a makeup remover! Super easy to apply to for when I’m traveling from one place to the next.

But that’s not all….

My first stop in Europe is going to be Lush’s Oxford Street store in London. Three stories of Lush, friends. I’ll be buying:

-Oral Pleasure Toothy Tabs (oh, Lush.)

-Deo My B.O. Deodorant

-One of Lush’s moisturizers with SPF, haven’t decided yet! (Lush does not have any products with SPF in North America because of complications with how SPF is tested here)

-Cup O’ Coffee Exfoliating Mask

….and then maybe a few more of Lush Oxford Street’s 200 products that are exclusive to just that store. Check back in…oh my gosh…two weeks, and I’ll have another Lush haul posted for you guys!!

“What are you bringing?” The Rough Packing List

Less than six weeks! And I still have no return ticket, but I’m looking at a three-month stay in Europe.

This week, however, I got a lot done. I graduated from Temple University, and I moved out of my apartment.

Everything I know is in boxes, in my parents’ garage or the basement-alcove-room of my parents’ house. It only makes sense to get started on packing, both backpacking-through-Europe packing and moving-down-to-Austin packing. Since Austin is so far away and the things I’m bringing to Europe are things I’ll be using in the next six weeks, the most I could think to do is create a quick, rough packing list. I’m only bringing a backpack, a fanny pack, and a drawstring bag, and I’ll need room for souvenirs. (Mainly Lush souvenirs from the Oxford Street store. Oh.My.Gosh.)

Check out my list and let me know if I’m missing anything, or can do without anything!! Also, let me know if you’d like to see a post of the Lush items I’m bringing to Europe (ok, ok…I’ll probably post one regardless.)

SIX WEEKS.

PackingList