My Travel Essentials, Just in Time for the Holidays

With the holiday season officially in full gear (thanks for coming and going, Halloween), it's time to ensure you are fully stocked on all of your travel essentials. I have a love-hate relationship with the actual traveling part of travel, and for me, in this case, it's the destination, not the journey. However, the following items make traveling more bearable for me, and hopefully you find a few new items to add to your travel haul.

First things first: toiletries bag. Previously, I used five (yes, five) different bags for all of my toiletries. WHY? I finally treated myself to some bags that keep me organized and look cute while doing it: Vera Bradley's Hanging Travel Organizer and Ruffle Cosmetic bag. I'm not a huge fan of prints, so I was ecstatic to find these microfiber bags at a boutique in Houston. Also, I purposely picked out red and black. Wreck 'em Tech!

I love wearing comfy clothes when I travel, whether I'm traveling by car or plane. (Mostly plane these days; Texas is pretty far from SF) I also like to be somewhat fashionable, as well. This Piko dress (mine is from T.C. Elli's in Lubbock) paired with an oversized plaid shirt (ON SALE AT MADEWELL) is the perfect mix of comfort and chic. These TOMS wedge booties are incredibly comfortable, as well, and I love that my purchase gave someone in need a new pair of shoes. Purses can be annoying, especially if you have carry-on bags, but I found the perfect travel purse. This Michael Kors satchel bag is great because it gives me the space I need without being obnoxiously big, and it's easy to haul around an airport. (Shop Michael Kors' satchel collection here.) And, of course, I always have coffee.

The 90s are making a comeback. And with that comeback we have oversized headphones. In recent years, we have been all about earbuds, but they don't exactly cancel out noise. I purchased these AMAZING pink Sony headphones from Amazon, and I love them for both travel and work. When I need to seriously focus at work, these are my go-to, and when I want to sleep on a plane or read without background noise, these are my savior. Not that I need to reiterate this for effect or anything, but they're pink. They also fold inward, making them convenient for travel.

If you're traveling overseas, you obviously need a passport. (Mental note: update name on passport. I may or may not still have my maiden name on mine...) But who says passports can't have a little bit of flair? I found this adorable gold passport case at Neiman Marcus Last Call (already discounted + 30 percent off = win). Additonally, no trip is complete without a book (or two), so I make sure to always have a book on hand when traveling. I totally understand that e-books are more logical than paper books when traveling since they don't take up as much space and you can download more books on the go, but I will always be a paper book reader. This girl will never purchase an e-book. (#oldsoul) My current read: Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll.

I know our phones tell us the time these days, but phones will never replace my love of a stylish watch. This beautiful, dainty AIBI watch inspired by Julia Engel of Gal Meets Glam is the perfect addition to my wardrobe for a trip. I love the color of the band because it's so versatile; I can wear it with black, brown, navy and grays. It also goes very well with my favorite Kendra Scott bracelet. (Alert: Kendra Scott giveaway coming Nov. 9!) Check out AIBI watches here.

If you don't want to wear a dress but hate (like I do) how uncomfortable jeans can be, I have the solution for you: boyfriend jeans (these are found at Tori Blake). I wasn't sure about them at first, but I have seriously grown to love them. They're meant to be baggy, and that took some getting used to, but after I got over my discomfort with change, I realized how smart it is to own a pair of these. They're supposed to be big on you, and when styled well, they look amazing. Check out some other ways to style these exact jeans on my friend Mattie's blog, Fit is Chic. I saw her post and instantly bought these beauties!