KATIE KENNEDY

Surviving Holiday Travel

NYC Style Blogger, Holiday Travel, Tartan, Barbour, Travel Tips
NYC Style Blogger, Holiday Travel, Tartan, Barbour, Travel Tips
NYC Style Blogger, Holiday Travel, Tartan, Barbour, Travel Tips
NYC Style Blogger, Holiday Travel, Tartan, Barbour, Travel Tips
NYC Style Blogger, Holiday Travel, Tartan, Barbour, Travel Tips
NYC Style Blogger, Holiday Travel, Tartan, Barbour, Travel Tips

Jacket || Tee || Joggers || Sneakers || Scarf || Bag

For how amazing the end product is, traveling during the holidays can seem like SO much work. There’s a lot of moving pieces in play and it honestly can get a little nerve-wracking, even for the most seasoned of travelers. This year, we’ll be celebrating our first holiday as New Yorkers by flying South, back to St. Pete. It’s going to be my first time home since the move and I couldn’t be more excited! The only things that separates me from my hometown and family are four days and a (hopefully) quick flight. If you’re traveling for the holidays too, here are some of my best tips to keep in mind to survive the chaotic airport.

  • Pack Light: Even on the shortest of trips, I’m normally the one to stuff the largest suitcase I can get my hands on. But, the thought of dealing with JFK the Saturday before Christmas has given me a change of heart. This trip, I’m being very strategic with what and how I pack to limit myself to just one carry-on and a very roomy personal bag. If I can pull this off, it’s a Christmas miracle!
  • Ship Your Presents: In that same light, I’ve been ordering all of my Christmas gifts online and shipping them straight to my parent’s house (to wrapped when I get home). I’m so lucky to have this luxury, it makes traveling light so much easier! If you happen to be staying in a hotel, be sure to reach out to them. A lot of hotels are very accommodating when it comes to receiving mail and packages.
  • Be Comfortable: The chances of their being a delayed flight during the holidays is extremely high! That’s why I’m opting for the comfiest outfit possible, just in case I have to curl up on the floor or sit in a chair for hours. These black joggers from LOFT are an absolute dream and will be making their first airport debut this weekend. My Tretorn sneakers are perfect for hiking around the airport and layering up with this scarf from Barbour and denim jacket from Madewell are all good calls.
  • Grab A Snack: I don’t know what it is about traveling, but it always leave me feeling ravenous. Unless you’re okay with spending $10 on a protein bar, I highly recommend packing your own snack. The holidays are always a time to indulge, but save it for the good stuff, like a home cooked meal. You’ll also want to stay hydrated, so pack your own water bottle to fill up after the security line.
  • Give Yourself Plenty of Time: If you think the airport is crowded, imagine what the roads will look like! Giving yourself plenty of time all starts with leaving early from home. Nothing gives me more stress than the thought of missing my flight. Early to leave, early to the security line, first to grab a seat at the gate.

I promise, traveling stress free during the holidays is possible! All it takes is planning ahead, common sense, and just rolling with what’s thrown your way. Safe travels one and all!

Love from NYC,
Katie

Weekender Bag Roundup

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Shawl || Tee || Jeans || Similar Booties || Weekender

For some people, November 1st rings in the start of the Christmas season. I, on the other hand, like to wait until after Thanksgiving. Any holiday that revolves around eating food and watching football with your family definitely needs to have it’s own time to shine. November 1st does mean that holiday travel is just around the corner and it’s important to get ready now! If you’re flying for the holidays, I really hope you already have your plane tickets! Those prices just sky rocket around this time of year. A way to save a little bit of money is by skipping a checked bag all-together and packing everything up into a carry-on instead. If it’s a roundtrip flight, you could save more than $100. I know, I know! Telling you not to stuff a suitcase to the brim seems like a tall order and a little hypocritical from a fashion blogger, but it really make your travels a little easier. After all, no one likes to deal with lost luggage.

I always like to grab a weekender bag for my carry-on pick. It’s amazing how much you can fit into all of the nooks and crannies. The other huge positive is that weekender bags come in so many different styles. There is no shortage on colors or price points to find something that perfectly matches what you’re looking for. The best weekender bags, in my opinion, can have a monogram added to them. That way, it’s almost impossible for them to be mixed up with anyone else’s. As many Southern girls can quote, “if it’s not monogrammed, is it really even yours?” The top pick for personalize-able weekender bags has to be Barrington Gifts. The number of combinations is infinite and they have two sizes for you to choose from. Between the Belmont Cabin Bag or Captain’s Bag, you really can’t go wrong!

You also can never go wrong with a great leather bag. This pick will last literally forever if you buy one with a good quality and decide to take care of it. My husband absolutely loves anything that Shinola puts out. For one they are an American, Detroit based company, with a great back story, but they also make exceptional products. Their leather weekender bag is on the top of his wish list and is good for guys or gals alike.

I ordered my canvas, monogrammed weekender from Tuckernuck a little while back to take to a wedding in Rhode Island. While it, unfortunately, didn’t get to me in time, I’m so excited to use it the next time I travel. I even used it while I was running errands around the city. This weekender has as much room as you could possibly need and I love how my monogram turned out. They have so many fun designs to choose from!

If you’re in desperate need for a good weekender bag, I’ve linked up my favorite picks below for you to shop. They range from $80 for a great bargain all the way to $1,200 for a designer splurge. I don’t think I have that kind of price point in mind, but a girl can still dream. Which one is your favorite?

Love from NYC,
Katie

NYC Update Vol. 3

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Sweater || Skirt || Heels || Handbag (c/o)

It’s not everyday that I decide to write about New York City for two days in a row, but there’s just been so much going on this past month and I’m so excited to share! Before I get to the good stuff, I just wanted to give a huge thank you to Dooney & Bourke for surprising me with this gorgeous leather crossbody bag. My first ever designer handbag was actually from Dooney & Bourke and I still love it to this day. It’s always nice to learn a brand you love is equally thoughtful as they are classic. Be prepared to see this little bag a lot in the upcoming, holiday months! Now… on to my update!

  • Museum of Natural History (Central Park West & 79th Street, UWS): The other weekend David indulged the kid in me and took me to the Museum of Natural History! We spent hours & hours wondering through the museum, taking in the animals, the different cultures, and (of course) the dinosaurs! I think we’ll need another visit to spend more time with those dinosaurs and all of the nooks & crannies that we missed.
  • LeVain (351 Amsterdam Avenue or 167 W 74th Avenue): After walking through the museum for hours, we treated ourselves to some LeVain cookies on the Upper West Side. If you’ve been here before, make it a priority ASAP! They are by the far the most decadent cookies I’ve ever had. So worth each & every calorie! PRO TIP: The original is on 351 Amsterdam Avenue and always has a line out the door. Visit the location a few block north at 167 W 74th Avenue for all of the treats and none of the line.
  • Katz Deli (205 E Houston St, LES): When my parents came to visit, this was my dad’s number one restaurant request! We went at lunchtime on a Sunday and there was a line out the door. Don’t be intimated because it powers along and you’ll be inside in no time. We opted to wait for a table, but that only add maybe 15 more minutes to our wait time. There’s a lot of hype around this restaurant (and an iconic movie scene), but it 100% lived up to it. The pastrami was exactly what I was needing and the knish made for the perfect snack.
  • Balthazar (80 Spring Street, SOHO): This French-inspired restaurant just seems like one of those ‘see-and-be-seen’ sort of places. Apparently, it’s one of the top picks for celeb spotting, but at our brunch I didn’t spot anyone! That’s okay because their Bloody Mary is one of the best I’ve ever had!
  • Flour Shop (177 Lafayette Street, SOHO): I attended a sweet little soiree for Erin Condren at this SOHO bakery. They made for the perfect host and their candy-filled cake was out of this world! I definitely will remember this stop when I need to serve a statement making dessert.
  • Royal Palms (514 Union Street, Brooklyn): Okay, I haven’t official been here yet, but David and I are going back to our St. Pete roots to play some shuffleboard tonight. We would play every week on a team back home and I’m so excited to have a little bit of Florida in my NYC life.

As always, if there’s something that I’m glaringly missing out on, be sure to let me know with a comment below!

Love from NYC,
Katie