Fiji Travel Tips

This past May, my husband and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary. Time is just flying by; I can hardly believe it! Each year to celebrate, we try and take a trip together somewhere tropical. Can you tell both of our love languages is quality time? When December rolls around, we start planning our beach getaway. Honestly, I never would have dreamed that we could afford to visit Fiji. After doing research and looking into other options, it was a great fit for us this year.

We live in somewhat of the middle of the country. We almost always fly out of Dallas instead of Oklahoma City. By doing this, we save a few hundred dollars and get a mini road trip out of the deal. From Dallas, we flew to Los Angeles and had a seven-hour layover. We decided to stay at the airport instead of renting a car and exploring. If you plan on staying at the airport, I would highly recommend purchasing a day pass to an airport lounge. During our layover we ate dinner, shopped, charged our phones, and visited a wine bar. From LAX to Fiji is an approximately 11.5-hour flight. Before our trip, I broke into a nervous sweat just thinking about sitting still that long. I had never been on an airplane longer than six hours before. Looking back, I can say the flight was not that bad. I took some ZzzQuil thirty minutes into the flight, put on my neck pillow, and took a nice long nap.

If you are thinking about visiting Fiji anytime soon, I have a few tips for you to keep in mind. We traveled to Denarau Island and stayed at The Westin Resort & Spa.

Fiji Travel Tips

Purchase a power adapter
Before you leave, visit Amazon and order this universal 2 in 1 plug adapter. We didn't even think to order one before our trip. Thankfully we were able to find one at our resort. You can save a little cash by ordering it ahead of time.

Review the dress code
If you are planning on visiting different dining establishments on the resort, make sure to check the dress code. While you are at it, make reservations if you have a special occasion dinner in mind. You will be able to pack according and dine with confidence.

Ask for early check in / late check out
Depending on your arrival and departure time, you might consider talking to the hotel when you are booking your rooms. We arrived at 6:30 a.m. Fiji time and asked for an early check-in, but we were not able to get into our room until 2:30 p.m. You will find that different hotels and resorts have different policies for arrivals and departures. This is why it is so important to have items in your carry-on bag to keep you entertained.

If you have to wait for your room, ask for a shower or breakfast
If you arrive early and are not able to check into your room, don't be afraid to ask for breakfast or a shower. The Westin was able to let my husband and I both shower at the gym facilities. After traveling for 30+ hours, all I wanted was a hot shower. It was an instant mood booster! I had a fresh change of clothes, sunscreen, and swimsuit in my bag. We were ready to lay out by the pool as we waited for our room. The hotel staff also provided us with free breakfast, even though we had breakfast on the plane. Even if you are not hungry, you could always use a cup of coffee or champagne, am I right?

Get the goods
The Westin and Sheraton have gift shops with snacks, water, sunscreen, and trinkets. During our stay at The Westin, we received two Fiji water bottles daily in our room at no additional charge. You can take them to the beach or dinner with you. I would recommend taking the Bula Bus into the port and stocking up on snacks and water. You will score some savings by doing that, and it gives you a chance to explore some additional shops and restaurants.

Creep on TripAdvisor 
If you are interested in doing an excursion during your trip to Fiji, you should take a look at TripAdvisor. I seek out the TripAdvisor "Certificate of Excellence" recipients. Most generally, the reviews are sorted with the most recent appearing first. You can get an understanding of what to expect for your excursion, what you need to bring (if anything), the price, and view photos from other users.

Currency
If you are a planner, arrange to visit your bank a few weeks in advance to order currency for your destination. Your bank can typically order currency for you cheaper than what you would pay at an exchange counter in the airport. If you find yourself in a pinch for time, you can visit a currency exchange station in your departing or arrival airport. You will need enough cash for a taxi, tips, and trinkets. If you stay at The Westin or Sheraton, almost everything can be credited to your room. You can take care of all of the additional charges when you check out which saves on international exchange fees.

I hope that you find these tips helpful for planning your next trip, even if it's not to Fiji. Keep your eyes peeled for another post about things to do in Denarau Island North!Location

What's your best travel tip? Share yours in the comments!

*Please note that I received #ZzzQuil for testing purposes via Influenster.

What's in My Beach Bag

Everyone is a little different when it comes to their ideal climate. Some people like winter, others like summer. For whatever reason, I tend to sweat no matter what season it is (oh joy). As odd as that may seem, I do have a personal preference for summertime. I love a good bikini, book, shades, and oversized hat.

My husband and I tend to vacation somewhere with a beach or at least a great resort pool. Since we do not have a pool in our backyard here in Oklahoma, spending time lounging by the pool with a cold drink and a good book is a real treat when it does happen. I spend a week leading up to vacation to make sure I have my beach bag game strong. This adorable monogrammed bag was a gift for being a bridesmaid in my BFF's wedding earlier this spring. I have found a similar preppy option with a zipper on Etsy.

When you are prepping for a relaxing afternoon at the beach or lounging beside the pool, there are a few essentials that you need to have prepared. Below you will find what's in my beach bag!

A cute beach towel
On the GoGo - Seat's Taken Beach Towel from Packed Party is on my wish list, talk about making a statement! I love that it's so sassy without saying a word.

Sandals
These slip on sandals from Target (on sale for $15.99) are my everything this summer! I find myself wearing them nonstop durring the weekends and sneaking them into my professional wear on a casual Friday.

Tanning spray
Banana Boat Deep Tanning UltraMist SPF 15 Clear Dry Oil Sunscreen takes me back to my lifeguard days! The twist and lock top will keep your bag neat and clean. The smell of this stuff will bring a smile to your face and having you living on island time!

Sunscreen
Neutrogena® Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is the best on the market in my opinion. It goes on smoothly and dries almost instantly without that greasy feeling. My husband and sister have very fair skin; I purchase the SPF 70 for them.

Sunglasses
I tend to have bad luck keeping up with sunglasses, so I have a hard time justifying spending a lot of money on them. Shout out to all of my sunnies in heaven! Here is a cute pair of Kate Spade sunglasses that are under $60!

Magazines
Here's the deal on magazines, I don't subscribe to any. Sometimes I grab a couple in the checkout line at Target. Other than that, my co-workers bring their copies into the office when they have read them. I know that sounds cheap but hey, I don't hate it!

Books
I don't have an e-reader. There is a B&N not too far from my house that I like to visit. I also find good deals at Target in their reading section. I try and wait for the book to go 20% off before purchasing it.

Cellphone
Make sure your phone battery life is ready to snap some photos, apps are up to date, and your podcasts are downloaded. You will also want to set a timer for sunscreen reapplication.

Headphones
You don't want to be stuck listening to the worst pool playlist ever, right? Before you head out, prep your ultimate summer playlist. Just plug in your headphones and you will be in a better mood in no time!

Water
We can't have you getting dehydrated now, can we? You have to make sure to keep your water intake high if you are spending time outdoors in the sun.

Snacks
I tend to pack my bag with a few different snacking options. I recommend a power bar (stay away with chocolate, that will be a melted mess), dried fruit, or a trail mix. I also suggest packing enough to share with friends.

Wallet
I don't want to carry my purse to the pool or the beach.  I just toss my wallet into my bag. You don't want to miss out on a frozen drink because you left your cash or card in the car!

I want to hear from you! What are a few must-have items that you keep in your beach bag?

10 Signs You Found Your Dream Wedding Dress

I love attending weddings! Why? Because you get to celebrate two people falling in love and committing their lives to one another, that's such a magical thing to witness. My second favorite thing about weddings? Each individual wedding dress! I love how each bride finds a dress that fits their exact style.

Shopping for a wedding dress can be extremely stressful! Picking out my wedding dress was my favorite part of wedding planning. But that's a different story for another time. Today I am talking about how to know when you have found the one!

10 Signs You Found Your Dream Wedding Dress

1. When you turn around, you are shocked

Most wedding dress fitting rooms have floor-length mirrors, that way you can see the bigger picture and the minor details. The moment you turn around with your dream dress on, you will be in shock with how beautiful you look and feel.

2. You can't wait to see everyone's reaction

You are giddy with excitement to walk out of the fitting room and show your friends and family this dress. You can't help but smile and feel like an actual bride-to-be!

3. You are living in a daydream

Once you walk onto the bridal floor, everyone is gushing about your "bridal glow" and the features of the dress. You, on the other hand, are in a daydream. You imagine yourself on your big day in your chic dress.

4. You wonder how your significant other will feel about the dress

You are standing on the bridal floor examining every detail under the lighting. In the back of your mind, you can't help but wonder what your significant other will think about this dress.

5. Someone in the bridal party tears up

You may or may not have that moment where you cry tears of joy. However, someone in your shopping entourage will just be overwhelmed with emotions. It's such a special moment when they realize that you a) found your dream dress and b) that you are getting married. Heck, sometimes this happens before the bride admits she is saying yes to the dress!

6. You start thinking about accessories

Your mind starts to wonder about what to pair with this dress. Does it need a necklace? What earring style would I wear? Does this dress need a veil? If so, what length?

7. You can't imagine yourself walking down the aisle in anything else

Every other dress you have tried on is not even close. How can you compete with perfection? The other dresses are running together and becoming a blur because you are soaking up every detail about your dream dress!

8. You are so happy about this dress; no one else opinions matter

You might have someone attending your bridal appointment that doesn't agree with your style or taste. And that's okay; you invited that person for a reason. When you are soaking up your moment in the sun, you don't even care what that person thinks. You are on cloud nine, one person's disagreement is not going to bring you down.

9. You do not want to take the dress off

You find ways to keep the dress on longer. You try one jewelry, the search for the veil that compliments the dress, you twirl around or drop it low to see what it feels like on the dance floor--you get the idea. If you have gone and tried another dress on, you reach back for the perfect dress, validating your decision.

10.  You feel comfortable and confident

The thing that matters most is how the dress makes you feel. Your dress should make you feel comfortable and confident. Every girl deserves to feel like a princess! Soon you will be standing in front of your family and friends holding hands with your person confessing your love to all! You might as well look good while doing!

Have you found your dress? Let's hear how you know it was the one!

What to Wear on a Spring Rainy Day

Dress: J. Crew Factory (use code "CUTESALE" at checkout) || Booties: Kate Spade (on major sale) || Drink: Iced Caramel Macchiato || Nail Polish Color: CND: Tutti Frutti (my signature color for summer) || 

This week in Oklahoma, Mother Nature has let us know that it is still spring. With all of the rain in the forecast, it has dampened my outfit selections. Getting dressed in the morning when you know it's going to rain all day is somewhat of a drag to me. Does anyone else feel that way? Since I admire my shoes and treat them like they are my children, I don't want to take a chance and risk getting them soaking wet. Can you image trampling through mud puddles in four-inch heels? Yeah, I'll take a hard pass on that. I am very clumsy and like to save myself from potential embarrassing moments when I can.

Everybody should have a trusty pair of rain boots. I had the most adorable pair of navy and hot pink polka dot boots that saved me during my college days. After years of wear, they finally gave up on me. Last year for my birthday, Jered found these adorable Kate Spade rain boots. The little bow detail on the back heel just makes me smile!

Even though it's raining outside, I try to surround myself with sunshine. Here are a few ways to brighten up your day:

1) Coffee makes everything better

2) Pile on the bright accessories

3) Grab another pair of shoes to change into while at the office

4) Find an umbrella with a funky print

5) Tie a bow in your trench coat and march forward