Rae Goes Away: Packing for NOLA

When this post goes up I'll be in the car on my way to #NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) for the Katy Perry concert! Sadly, we'll only be staying in my self-appointed second home for one night, but I'm super excited to go. As I was packing for the trip I found it looked like I was moving to NOLA permanently! So I grabbed my smaller over-night vintage suitcase and started downsizing.

Here are a few little tips I learned along the way:

1. 2 for 1. Since our trip is going to be two days of traveling, I wanted something comfortable both days, so I decided to make two outfits using the same pair of leggings. This saves space in my luggage since I'll be wearing  the leggings and boots on the way.
2. Make a List. This is the simplest trick that everyone suggests but I'm so the worst at it! I ended up actually outlining each outfit (3 in all) and seeing what pieces I could cross over. This is a different approach to packing for me and it really worked.
3. Smaller Suitcases Win. When I was trying to pack my big carry all suitcase for this trip, I packed about 6 completely different outfits and two variations FOR ONE NIGHT! I felt like I needed to fill up the bag despite the fact that I don't need much for the night.
4. Plan for Travel. I initially started by putting my bag together with the clothes I wanted to wear on the car ride down. Then I realized how dumb that was, pulled everything out and reassessed. I knew we'd be leaving early so I wanted to have my outfit picked out, so I set it on top of my suitcase with hair accessories and all ready for a quick, speedy morning.

Packing List:

2 Concert Dresses

Heels

Fast Flats

Underclothes

Sweater

Hairbrush

Make up/Toiletry Bag

2 Tunic Tanks

Leggings

Boots

Extra Tunic

Hair Accessories

Night Gown

Slip-on Shoes

Blankets/Pillow/etc.

How do you pack for overnight trips?

Balefire: A Book Review

“The thing about unrequited love is that it doesn’t tend to go away.”
“Darkness is in everyone… In me, in you, in [them] and everyone. And so is light. Darkness is a choice, a path. Every day we all have to make the choice, to choose good, choose light. We make the choice against darkness, against evil, every day, a thousand times a day, our whole lives.”

This is a good, but long book by Cate Tiernan. Granted it is four books in one volume, it reads like one book. I really wish I had read them as four different books. I got kind of bogged down in the length simply because my attention span is horrible. I really did love the twins and the characters. I liked the plot and really loved that Tiernan changed points of view between first person (Thais) to first person (Clio) to third person. It did help keep my attention and thought it was neat to see all sides.
Clio is beautiful, popular, and powerful. Living in New Orleans with her grandmother, she’s grown up knowing she was a witch and learning to use her magick. Que Thais. Thias’s father dies unexpectedly while she is away on vacation. When she is returns she’s swept into the courts and is put in the custody of a woman she’s never heard of, as were her father’s orders. Axelle is abnormal and whisks Thais off to New Orleans, away from all she’s ever known. There she gets enrolled in school and the first day, she finds herself staring into her own face on another girl. From there, Thais is rushed into a world where she has a twin sister, powerful magickal abilities, and a group of witches who need her. The girls have to learn quickly who to help, who can be trusted, and most importantly how to help eachother.
I greatly enjoyed this book. I really think anyone who likes stories of witches will enjoy this. It’s really nice if you like New Orleans or know some about it. I especially adore seeing Thais’s view on summer and live in the deep south after coming from northern states. Like I said, I think most people who love witches will love Cate Tiernan’s take on them.