Summatime!!! It is officially summer this weekend with summer solstice this Friday, June 21! I am so excited for the start of the sunshine season. Not only does summer equal sunshine and ice cream and days at the beach and time spent outdoors, it also means summer vacations!

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Last summer my husband S and I spent two weeks in the Greek Islands for our honeymoon and yes, it was incredible (stay tuned for travel guides!) This year we are staying closer to home for the summer with lots of Pacific Northwest adventures planned. Seriously, PNW is best in summer!

We've already been to Whidbey Island for wine tasting and the Gorge Amphitheater to see the Dead & Company. We have an end of summer trip to the Hood Canal on the books for our anniversary and we are currently in the midst of planning for the rest of June, July and August. Any suggestions? We are contemplating Mt. Rainier, the Washington Coast, another island visit to Whidbey (or another island or 2 or 3), the Painted Hills in Oregon, Portland (OR), and a few other fun spots!

Do you have any fun trips planned for summer? If so, you're in luck! I've rounded up some of my favorite items to add to your summer vacation packing list. From cotton voile tops, to gauze-y wide leg pants to leather sandals, each of this items is absolutely worthy of a summer vacation suitcase or weekender addition!

Lighten Your Footprint When You Travel With Samsonite ECO-Flex

Thank you Samsonite for sponsoring this post.

Samsonite ECO-Flex 20" Expandable Spinner ~ 32 Recycled Plastic Bottles were used to make the fabric for this bag!

I am always looking for ways to lighten my environmental footprint when I travel. From what I pack, to how and where I travel, I am always considering how it might impact our planet. I love that I can now walk (fly, bus, drive, sail, travel . . .) more softly with Samsonite's ECO-Flex line.

Known for durability and reliability, Samsonite is launching something completely new! The ECO-Flex line, part of the ECO-Nu line, has fabric made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. Both good for the environment and thoughtfully designed with the traveler in mind, Samsonite Eco-Flex Spinner Luggage is a great way to lighten your footprint when you travel!

I recently took my Samsonite ECO-Flex 20" Expandable Spinner (with fabric made from 32 recycled plastic bottles!) for a "spin" to Fauntleroy in West Seattle. The Fauntleroy Ferry Dock serves both Vashon Island and Southworth, providing numerous opportunities for a day or weekend trip on Puget Sound or the Olympic Peninsula.

5 Beauty Upgrades To Make Traveling a Breeze

After years of jet-setting, including 5 continents checked off my bucket list and a semester in college spent traveling around the world by boat, I have learned the art of packing a suitcase. I tend to be a minimalist packer, choosing to pick up many items needed throughout my vacation (the perfect souvenir!). I can now fit everything I need into a carry-on bag for any length of trip! However, there are a few beauty essentials I refuse to leave home without. Today I'm sharing with you 5 beauty upgrades that keep my skincare on point, take up very little space and make traveling a breeze!