As a food and travel writer who spends lots of time in theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, I’m always on the lookout for a good small bag to carry my belongings on long park days. It never occurred to me to combine my choice of crossbody bag with my love of meeting and interacting with theme park characters until I spotted a person on a recent Disney trip who was carrying a white, faux leather mini backpack and a handful of permanent markers, having characters like Mickey Mouse and Princess Tiana sign their bag.

Before I even left the park, I hopped onto Amazon, hunting for faux leather bags that were the perfect material for character autographs.

I first noticed people wearing Hey Dude slip-on shoes as I ran errands in my little Florida beach town. People wore the shoes — which come in a variety of colors, fabrics, and patterns — everywhere, from the beach to the grocery store. As someone who lives by the shore, my go-to daily uniform usually includes flip-flops or Birkenstocks, so I was curious about the shoes, which looked almost sneaker-like with a slip-on style.

Hey Dude styles range from sandals to platform sneakers, but I set my sights on the Wendy style, a convenient slip-on sneaker known for having a lightweight sole and laces that are purely decorative, with no need to tie. In addition to being a travel writer, I’m a busy mom, so the idea of slipping shoes on fast for kid drop-off or dog walks definitely intrigued me. Because I live in the Sunshine State and it’s warm year-round, I picked a gray linen style that was on sale for just $30 at Amazon.

I was eating breakfast at a hotel on a recent trip when I noticed a woman wearing a two-piece shorts outfit that I absolutely loved. I asked her where it was from and she was kind enough to share the Amazon link with me. At $33, I also loved the price, so I ordered one on the spot and added it to my summer travel wardrobe.

The Trendy Queen Womens Shorts Set is made of a breathable linen and rayon fabric and consists of a pair of high-waisted shorts and a sleeveless cropped tank. It comes in a ton of colors, from hot pink to lemon yellow, but I bought it in black to take with me on an upcoming vacation, knowing I could dress it up with statement earrings and wedges or toss on my Birkenstocks and go a bit more casual.

I have a tendency to overpack, but as a travel writer who often travels with her kids in tow, I’ve made great strides in lessening the amount of clothing I pack in my suitcase. When I go on a trip these days, I try to keep things as minimalist as possible, which can be a challenge when you’re packing not only daytime and evening outfits, but also swimsuits and cover-ups.

As I was planning for a recent European cruise, I discovered reversible swimsuits from Carve Designs. I had no idea that reversible bathing suits existed, so I excitedly ordered a few reversible tops and bottoms from the brand to test out on my trip. Instead of packing four swimsuits, I packed only two, both of which were fully reversible.

If you’ve seen the previews for the record-breaking Barbie movie, you’ll likely remember a hilarious scene where “Weird Barbie,” played by Kate McKinnon, offers Margot Robbie’s Barbie a choice: Without giving away spoilers, Barbie must visit the real world and is given the option to choose between her traditional stylish pink heels, or swap to brown Birkenstock sandals — which turn out to be a pretty significant symbol throughout the film. The heels are Barbie’s preference, but in the end, Weird Barbie convinces her to go on a journey of self-discovery, brown leather sandals and all.

The iconic Birkenstock Arizonas make another pivotal appearance later on in the film when Barbie is seen rocking baby pink Birks, the perfect blend of style and function.

One of my favorite parts of traveling is planning my outfits for the trip, but any traveler knows shoes can take up lots of prime real estate in a suitcase. Whether I’m headed to Walt Disney World for the weekend with my family or flying to Europe, it’s always a struggle to pack light and be stylish. But recently, I discovered a white canvas sneaker that seemed perfect for both keeping my feet comfortable and matching lots of outfits.

The Kizik Irvine is a canvas sneaker with a springback heel that allows for slipping your foot in and out of the shoes without needing to tie and untie them. The shoes come in a variety of colors, from tan to navy blue, but for a recent 10-day trip to Europe, I wanted a white sneaker I could pair with everything from shorts and tanks to skirts and dresses. I’m already a fan of the athletic shoes Kizik makes, so it seemed like a no-brainer to put this casual canvas style to the test.

I’ve lived at the beach with my family for the last seven years and with that Florida beach house came a backyard pool. I’m also a travel writer who’s no stranger to a dip in the ocean or the hotel hot tub while I’m away covering destinations. This means I own a lot of swimsuits and cover-ups and am always on a search for the best options for both.

For a recent European cruise, I had been eyeing up linen button-down swim cover-ups in stores and online. Turning to Amazon, I came across the Unibelle Linen Button-Down Shirt and was immediately struck by its oversized style and crisp appearance.

On a recent visit with my in-laws, I noticed my father-in-law and I were wearing the same shoes. “Are those Kiziks?” I asked him. “Yes,” he replied, “they’re my airport shoes.”

I knew exactly what he meant. Since purchasing not one, but two, pairs of Kizik sneakers a few months before, I had become obsessed with the ease of slipping them on and off without bending down, tying, and untying them. The sneakers, which cost a little over $100 on average, come in tons of different styles and colors — from pink athletic shoes to white canvas sneakers — and have become my go-to for everything from travel to theme parks to Target runs.

Entering your 40s is full of empowering perks, from being more confident in your own skin to truly learning which friends are the ones you want to invest your energy in. But aging is not without its struggles. As a busy 43-year-old mom, I find my skincare routine becoming increasingly focused on evening out my skin tone, keeping my face moisturized to the max, and avoiding things like under eye circles or fine lines.

As the days get sunnier and the weather warms up, more and more skirts and shorts are finding their way into our daily outfits. Whether you’re a busy mom throwing on the perfect white tee for a playdate or a traveler looking for a white tank to match all the skirts you’ve packed in your suitcase, the classic white top is a wardrobe staple that seems simple but can be tough to choose.

Crossbody belt bags are having a moment right now, so when I realized I had multiple trips planned where air travel was involved, I decided to buy one to make navigating the airport a bit easier. As a mom of two who often takes my kids along on trips, I know all too well the importance of having my hands free to help someone roll their suitcase or open their water bottle, so the fanny pack trend seemed to be a fad made just for me.