5 items every solo traveler should have

Are you planning a trip by yourself? Are you nervous? Don't be! You should definitely do it. Newsflash: Chances are you won't be alone most of the time. You'll meet people who are also traveling solo and will want to combine adventures! That's what happened to me! So there's always that...if you want :) (or if you really wanna go completely solo and off in your own head for a while, consider going on a 10 Day Silent Meditation Retreat. Now that's a trip!)

After leading my last EAT STRETCH NAP Retreat to Costa Rica, I decided to go on a month of solo travel in the jungles and beaches of Costa Rica. Here's a list of the top 5 things I packed that I think every solo traveler, or any traveler, should have. I got lots of requests to post a full packing list of what I packed for a month, so I'll do that too! Keep an eye out for my next post.

TORTUGA SETBACK BACKPACK // tortuga.com $199

I love this backpack! This is the only piece of luggage I brought with me other than a tote bag. I have an older model of this backpack and desperately want to order this newer version (pictured here). The key to packing well is organization. The little compartments within this backpack help you do that seamlessly. When you're traveling alone and hopping from hotel room to hostel to bed and breakfast etc - organization is key! Also, if you're traveling between places and need to use the restroom, it's easier if you can bring your bag in with you!  Also, imagine pushing around a big suitcase in the middle of the jungle -- rough. Speaking of jungle - often in Costa Rica the roads and ground were just dirt - so often you have to pick up your bags anyway.

ALEADER Water Shoes // amazon.com $29

I used to have these old Merrell water shoes that I loved, but I left them on a bus in Israel..never to be seen again. These are a great alternative! On my trip, I actually only packed 3 pairs of shoes: Teva hiking boots, Rainbow flip flops and these water shoes. I wore these shoes on the plane on my trip to and from Chicago. It was super comfortable, airy and lightweight. 

DR. BRONNER'S SOAP // drbronners.com $17.99

When traveling, I use this soap for everything - my face, my body, my laundry. It's amazing. There's a reason it's called Dr. Bronner's All-One Magic Soap. My personal favorite scents are lavender, eucalyptus and peppermint. (FYI: I didn't check in any luggage so I bought a 3 ounce travel size bottle from Walgreens and filled it with this!)

AMAZON KINDLE PAPERWHITE // amazon.com $99

This is my first time owning a Kindle and I love it! I was anti-Kindle for a while because I am such a book lover, but for traveling it's so nice to have several books on you without the physical weight of them. Also, an awesome perk I didn't expect was being able to read in the dark while others were sleeping. Huge gamechanger! 

Fllajraven Totepack No. 2 // Fllajraven.com $175

Now I do wish this totebag/backback was a little more stylish - but it is extremely practical and the best one I found so far in terms of durability. I loved being able to use this as a backpack when hiking and a totebag whenever I had my Tortuga backpack on. I also loved being able to use this bag on the beach and on hikes in the rain without worrying about my stuff getting wet (it's water-resistant). Throwing it under the seat of a plane and in the back of dirty cars was totally fine too. It kept it's shape and the more "dirty" it got, the better it looked!

WHAT ABOUT YOU??

What do you need to have with you while traveling? Any items you found and love? Share it in the comments!

xx
Cat

5 Gifts under $20 - holiday edition!

Do you ever find yourself buying everything you meant to buy for someone else - for yourself too? Guilty.

Here are 5 things on my holiday wish list that I'm sure any yoga/relaxation junkie in your life will love. Best part is, they're all under $20! If you end up buying these things for yourself - no judgement here!!

Happy shopping!

GODDESS GUIDANCE ORACLE CARDS // amazon $10.87

I keep hearing about Goddess Cards / Angel Cards and I am so intrigued. I recently went to an Entrepreneurial Women's dinner hosted by Jessica Zweig and she had every one pick one card on their way out. I looove the idea of these cards, but I have not bought them yet because I admit, I feel like they're a little silly. However, I'm not gonna lie, if they ended up in my Christmas stocking - I wouldn't hate it! I am learning to embrace the weird and unknown a little bit more. So if you know someone who is trying to do the same - get them these!

LITTLE BOOK OF HYGGE // AMazon $10.69

I'm obsessed with Marie Kondo's Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and I've heard the Danish version of that is Hygge - but it's less about organizing and more about chillin, which obviously you know I can get behind. I love anything that has to do with "enjoying life's simple pleasures," sign me up! If you know someone who is trying to slow down and create more mindful moments - this might just be the perfect gift!

Faux fur throw // Target $18.99

My husband Mike and I just invested in a Helix king sized mattress. It is a total game changer - and crazy expensive! I didn't realize that buying a king sized mattress also meant buying a king sized bed frame, king sized headboard, king sized sheets, king sized everything! I am trying to make myself feel better about this situation by making sure I feel like a KING every time I *just look* at my bed, which ironically enough costs more money to create that feeling. I'm hoping that once I get the vibe down, the spending will stop ;) To have a faux fur throw blanket over the edge of my bed is the dreammmm and #goals right now. Perhaps the housewife friend in your life is feeling the same.

HYSTERIA collection SOCKS // happysocks.com $18 - $24

I love socks. I wish I had cooler socks, but they're kind of a funny thing to invest in. If I weren't currently spending my money on king sized pillows and night stands - I'd hands down drop $20 on a pair of these color blocked nylon socks. Just look at em! They're so cool! Buy them for a special woman in your life please, for both of us!

VARIOUS PROJECTS KEYtag // variouskeytags.com  $15 - $25

Every time I see these keychains in boutique giftshops like Foursided, I want to buy them, but I talk myself out of it every time. Because srsly - they're $20. Also, there's so many different versions of them with different sayings - they're all great! I don't know what I'd get. (I like this one.  ) But these keychains are one of those things you want to get as a gift though, like as an inside joke with a friend. You don't really want to buy it for yourself, that'd be lame! I want one that says something absurd so when people ask me about it, I have to explain. Of course, I wouldn't mind a custom one that said EAT STRETCH NAP or NAP QUEEN. I could get that...oh wait we're talking about gifts for other people. Right! Which one do you want to buy? As a gift! For your friend. Of course ;)

WHAT ABOUT YOU??

What gifts are you buying for your loved ones? Are there any you (accidentally) ended up buying for yourself? Let me know in the comments!

xx

Cat

5 Favorite Things - WINTER 2017 Edition!

As it gets colder, we tend to want to stay inside and be less active. As a yoga teacher, wellness advocate and someone obsessed with living a balanced lifestyle - I'm here to tell you it's okay! It's okay to work out less in the winter. It's okay to rest more! Honestly - it's okay to do whatever you want whenever you want. You just gotta own it! Believe in yourself and that you know what's best for you. Don't let guilt or shame stop you from trusting your inner wisdom.

Here's a list of what's inspiring me lately. Scroll down!! Take your time. Breathe deeply :) Lots of good stuff here.

WHAT TO READ

"Stop walking through the world looking for confirmation that you don’t belong. You will always find it because you’ve made that your mission. Stop scouring people’s faces for evidence that you’re not enough. You will always find it because you’ve made that your goal. True belonging and self-worth are not goods; we don’t negotiate their value with the world. The truth about who we are lives in our hearts. Our call to courage is to protect our wild heart against constant evaluation, especially our own. No one belongs here more than you."

Ugh. Can I get a hell yes? Braving the Wilderness is giving me all the warmth and comfort I need to be myself this winter. Read it with me! Would love to know what you think.

WHAT TO LISTEN TO

In his Mind Your Business Podcast, James Wedmore talks about how being an entrepreneur is not about hard work and hustle, it's about mastering your mindset and inner game. I couldn't agree more. Check out his podcast! I haven't listened to a single episode I didn't learn something new from.

WHAT TO WATCH

Sometimes I mention Stranger Things to my students and I'm shocked when they tell me they haven't watched it. So just in case that is you - WATCH IT! This show is the perfect combination of nostalgia, humor and horror. As someone who doesn't like sci-fi, fantasy or anything scary, (seriously, I walked out of Get Out at a theater because I got too freaked out) this show's got me hooked! The cast is perfection. I find myself Googling about their real lives, but then I realize they're all like, 12 and didn't really have much going on before this show. The characters are adorable! Especially Dustin. <3 him.

WHAT TO EAT

Cold weather = Crock pot recipes. I made this Vegan Chilli the other day and it was great! However, I did enjoy it with mozzarella cheese #YOLO!

WHAT TO DRINK

Did you know how easy it is to make green tea lattes? You literally just warm up some water and soy milk on a stovetop and sprinkle some matcha powder in. You don't have to listen to all these fancy directions (you can if you want or) - you can just do this:

1/2 cup soy milk or preferred milk

1/2 cup water

bring to a boil on stove top

add teaspoon of matcha, whisk, serve!

Had I known it was this easy - I would have spent a lot less money on green tea lattes at Starbucks over the years...why does everyone make it seem so complicated to make? This is the brand of matcha I bought. 

WHAT ABOUT YOU??

What podcasts are you listening to? What books are you currently obsessed with? Did you know making matcha green tea lattes was so easy?? Let me know what you're up to in the comments! 

xx

Cat