Hello from Grand Cayman!! I’m notoriously bad at making time to go on a real vacation… meaning I’m doing nothing but sitting by the beach or pool with little to no itinerary for the day. I didn’t grow up with vacations like this, and even the ones my family took with our relatives were peppered with restaurant reservations and group activities. Not going to lie, now that I’ve learned the Peters’ Way, I’m all for seven days of just being. I didn’t do much prep in terms of shopping for this trip, aside from finding a couple great bathing suits that I can run after my kids in, but I have a lovely packing list for anyone else who has time to plan ahead for a trip somewhere warm. Enjoy!! The Natasja Cotton Jumpsuit paired with espadrilles and a fun hat just scream vacay to me. I always try to pack several coverups to throw on over my swimsuit. The Ruffle Sleeve Cover-Up Romper by Elan is transitional, allowing you to take it from the beach to the bungalow. For an easy option, tie the MIKOH Kainoa Sarong around your waist and pair it with your fav one-piece. For a pop of color, I love this St. Tropez Dress in cherry red. The Oversized Tassel-Trimmed Maxi Dress would be perfect for a special night out, easily pairable with a simple leather sandal. Last but not least, my go-to travel-day pants: 7/8 Springs Leggings Outdoor Voices. I love this khaki-green Scoop Neck Swimsuit for an easy beach day option. Plus, it’s on sale (originally $230)! The Avalon One-Piece is a bathing suit classic that you’ll love for years to come. Mix in some pattern with the Solid & Striped Elle Bikini Top and  Elle Bikini Bottom. I love the Sadie Top and Sadie Bottom by Solid & Striped, as well. Especially, if you’re someone who tans quickly! Unfortunately, I do not (S/O to my ancestors), so I will be diligently reapplying sunscreen and wearing a sunhat similar to the Brixton Joanna Straw Hat. Whenever I’m traveling somewhere warm, I try to bring a beach blanket and carry it with me on the plane to keep me warm if it gets chilly. I love the Stripe-Dyed Beach Blanket now on sale at Anthropologie. Lastly, the Tavik Kenton One-Piece is another fun swimsuit option that I actually might be able to chase after my kids in! To keep the creative juices flowing while on vacay, I’m planning to binge listen to Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History podcast using my beloved Airpods. I recently invested in an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil. I like to use both for writing and painting digitally, both of which I will be doing for fun while I’m away. If I catch a minute to do some reading, a few beach reads on the top of my list are Tangerine by Christine Mangan, The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer, and When Life Gives You Lemons by Lauren Weisberger. Whenever I travel, I like to bring an organizer pouch for storing my iPad, headphones, and Belt Charging Cable. I love the look of the  Large Suede Organizer Pouch by MAKR, and it’s also big enough to store all my essentials. Designed with an RFID-blocking liner, the Belden SLG Passport Case protects your passport from being electronically stolen. A few sunnies I’ve had my eye on lately are the Leonard Sunglasses by Illesteva, the Amber Icy Ice Sunglasses by Stella McCartney and the Oliver People’s matte black Remick Sunglasses. In efforts to stay hydrated while traveling, I’ve packed my Spiked 500ML Water Bottle by BKR. A good woven bag like the Gus Raffia Bag is a beach staple, perfect for transporting all you need for the day. Lastly, an everyday earring to match any look cannot be forgotten! My current fav: the Amalfi Tube Earrings by Luv Aj.

Over the years, I’ve become a lot more practical when packing shoes for vacations. Therefore, I mostly stick to flats and love me a good block heel. The day of travel, I’ll usually wear a comfortable pair of sneakers, like the New Balance X90 Trainers. The tomato orange Strappy Heeled Sandals and marigold Marcella Strappy Sandals will spice up any outfit, sans the painful feet. Pair the Stand By Me Platform Sandals with a cropped jean for a casual night out. For the daytime, the Adidas Adilette Slides and Ally Criss Cross Slides are great options for something quick and easy.

To save room when packing, I forced myself to only pack beauty products I’ll 100% actually use while I’m gone. I packed the oh so essential Guerlain Maxilash Mascara in 01 Black for when my lashes need a little extra oomph. A few skincare life-savors including the  Herbivore Botanicals Balance + Clarify Natural Skincare Mini Collection and the Anese License to Chill The Stress Mask. To help lessen the fact my legs haven’t seen the sun in months, I’ve packed B.Tan Everyday Glow Coconut Lotion, 6.7oz size. I like to prep my face using Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, plus it’s SPF 20! The Rose Gold Single-Blade Razor + Oil will blow any hotel razor kit out of the water. For finishing touches, I bring my Ilia Multi-Stick and Ouai Wave Spray, and stick a Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in my bag! Again, I tried to be practical when deciding what to pack in terms of intimates. I packed the essentials like the Calvin Klein Carousel Thongs and Cotton-Jersey Briefs. I also tried to include a few different bra options, as well. Something more casual like the Micromodal Beth Triangle Bralette and something more supportive like the Trifecta Versatility Bra. Lastly, I packed a fun pajama set that wasn’t too heavy-weight. I’m in love with the Knit Bedtime Pajama Top and Knit Bedtime Pajama Pants from Madewell!