Less is More

I love the confidence that makeup gives me. ~Tyra Banks

I’m going to preface this post by confessing to you that I am a girly girl. I love fruity smelling Nollie PacSun perfume, my Dior bronzer so I have some color even in December, and shimmery purple MAC eye shadow that gives my green peepers a pop. I also never leave my apartment without at least mascara on (my roommates will testify to that!).

Because I’m the type of girl who could get lost in Sephora for hours on end and be perfectly content, I would be lying to you if I told you I didn’t wear any make up on this trip. Because of space and lack of a sink to wash my face nightly, I kept the make up to a minimum.

You won’t have time every morning before you begin hiking to get glammed up like you would for a big date, so save yourself the packing space and temptation and pick five must-have cosmetic items.

My five must-have items on Kilimanjaro were my beloved $6 Maybelline Colossal Volum’ Express waterproof mascara, MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Tealo, Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil, and two Victoria’s Secret eye shadows in Champagne and Provocateur. All of these products are great because they’re small, mess-free, and can easily be cleaned off by facial cleansing towelettes.

Don’t forget an eyelash curler so that your lashes look lovely in all your pictures. Lastly, skip the pre-hike pedicure and manicure because it will last about as long as your 8th grade relationship. Save the mani-pedi combo for when you return from your Kilimanjaro adventure and your tootsies really need some TLC!

Follow these tips to stay glamorous while trekking Kilimanjaro, hiking and camping, lounging on the beach, or traveling in general!

Where are you girls going for spring break? What would be your five must-have items?

Must have Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express Mascara-I don't leave home without it

MAC Power Point Eye Pencil in Tealo makes my green eyes shine

Victoria's Secret Eye Shadow Compact

Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil will brighten under eye circles

An eye lash curler is essential to giving lashes length

 

So Fresh and So Clean

Take a bath, ya hippie! ~Up!

Packing toiletries for hiking Mount Kilimanjaro might have been just as hard as climbing Kili itself. While my tour operator sent me a basic packing list of equipment and clothes, the only toiletries on that list were sunscreen and lip balm. Because a good list is so hard to come across, I want to share what I packed with you because us girls have to stick together when it comes to looking good!

What was the very first thing in my cute Vera Bradley toiletry kit, you ask? A tooth brush and tooth paste, of course. That should be the first thing you pack any time you go on any trip! Other necessities that followed closely after were my brush and hair ties to tame what would become my crazy mane, my favorite Olay Regenerist SPF 15 face lotion, and one of my essentials, Burts Bees Pomegranate Oil Lip Balm. Sun safety is incredibly important so don’t forget you SPF of at least 50!

Now, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it’s pretty important that you know this: there are no restrooms on Mount Kilimanjaro. The only form of bathroom you will find are rickety wooden outhouses (the fact that these smell so bad you would rather go in the woods is another story for another post). 

No restrooms on Kilimanjaro means two things for you: no toilets and no showers. First, because you will be using out houses or the woods, you absolutely must bring your own roll of toilet paper. Trust me, if you forget anything do not let it be the TP. 

The other implication of no bathrooms on Kili is that there are no showers. Yes, you will not shower for a week. Yes, you will probably smell by the end. Yes, you will agree to never discuss your dirty state with anyone after leaving that mountain.

I wouldn’t have looked half as decent without my Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes which kept my face fresh and oil free. If you’re the type of girl that works up a sweat when doing physical activity, Neutrogena Deep Clean Sport On-the-Go Cleansing Wipes would be perfect for you. In addition to working well, both of these wipes come in a re-sealable, plastic package so they don’t dry out and can be easily packed. 

To keep your body clean and to fight off funky smells, Wet Ones wipes are essential. Because they’re made for children, these antibacterial wipes come in both regular and sensitive formula in case you have sensitive skin. Wet Ones will keep your skin clean without drying you out or making you smell like rubbing alcohol.

Dry shampoo like TREsemme Fresh Start is a necessity to keeping your hair clean. Dry shampoo is a powder that absorbs oil and neutralizes odors to keep your hair looking and, more importantly, feeling fresh. Dry shampoo will keep your tresses looking beautiful so that when you look back at pictures on Kili you look like a movie star.

To keep yourself smelling so fresh and so clean, D.O. for the B.O. is a must! Secret Clinical Strength Sport deodorant kept my sweating to a minimum during a highly athletic activity. Do yourself and your trekking group a favor by applying this at least once a day while on Kili.

All of these products will keep you looking beautiful while you conquer the world’s fourth tallest mountain.

My Vera Bradley Toiletry Case

Favorite Olay Regenerist SPF 15 face lotion

The essential Burts Bees Pomegranate Oil Lip Balm-I'm addicted!

Neutrogena Cleansing Face Towelettes to keep your skin clean and glowing

Wet Ones Antibacterial Wipes To Go

Give love to your locks with TREsemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant will keep you smelling like roses while you rough it!

These Boots Are Made for Walking

Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world. ~Marilyn Monroe

 

Want to know what the most important clothing item of your Kilimanjaro adventure is? It’s not a jacket or hiking pants, nor is it what hat you wear. It’s your boots! 

As a shoe fanatic and a shopaholic to boot (pun intended!), this was one to the parts of my trip preparation that I got really excited for. I am not one to pass up an opportunity to buy new shoes, even if they are brown hiking boots instead of cute Lilly Pulitzer sandals, sexy Antonio Melani heels, or my new favorite sparkly pink glitter TOMS.

Choosing the right hiking boot is incredibly important to a successful Kilimanjaro climb. For this purchase, I would recommend going to an outdoors outfitter to seek the advice of a professional.

Several weeks before my trip, I visited REI where I worked with a staff member from the shoe department for over an hour to find the best boot for me. After all, if I was going to wear these things up Kili I needed to make sure they fit well and provided me with the support I needed.

After trying on multiple pairs in multiple sizes and testing them by walking around and climbing on a rock display in the store, I finally had my Cinderella moment. The pair that I choose were Vasque Breeze GTX 7465. What set this hiking boot apart from the rest of the pack? A couple of key characteristics were distinguishing.

This pair is made with Gore-tex fabric so that it’s water resistant. They’re durable boots but it doesn’t feel like I have cinderblocks on my feet when I wear them. Also, they have high ankle support which helps to decrease the pressure on your ankles and the likelihood of rolling them. I have weak ankles so this was particularly important to me. 

Other items I bought to go with my new footwear were support inserts and socks. I bought support inserts because I have especially flat feet and needed the extra support beneath my arches to avoid foot pain as best possible. 

When it comes to socks, there are two types necessary: socks and sock liners. I wore SmartWool hiking socks that are moisture-wicking to keep my feet dry and comfortable in various temperatures. Beneath the SmartWool socks I wouldn’t be caught without anti-microbial wool or silk sock liners. Liners like these ones from REI will prevent any type of fungus, infection, or smell from sustained hiking or outdoors experiences. 

One mistake you do not want to make is neglecting to wear your new boots prior to your hike. Definitely take several weeks to break your boots in so that when it comes time to hike Kilimanjaro you don’t run the risk of blisters. 

Finding the perfect pair of kicks takes some time, but having the right pair on your feet for Kilimanjaro is worth it. Good luck, Cinderella!

My Vasque Breeze GTX 7465 hiking boots-wish they came in pink!

SmartWool hiking socks

Anti-microbial sock liners

My favorite Glitter Pink TOMS: they're cute & for a cause!

Adorable Lilly Pulitzer McKim Wedges in Gold I want!

Cinderella is my favorite Disney princess

All About Outwear

Fashions fade, style is eternal. ~Yves Saint Laurent

Now that your backpack is half full of your tops, bottoms, and undergarments, you still need to squeeze in outwear. As I said in the previous post, layering is key. Because you go through several different climates while hiking Kilimanjaro (previous post on weather), you need to prepare yourself clothing wise so that you’re comfortable and prepared for all types of weather.

The first jacket I layered with was my favorite Northface black fleece zip up priced at $80. I bought mine on clearance from REI so I got a great deal on it. Want the look for less? Target sells a black zip up Champion jacket that isn’t fleece but a softshell material. I would definitely recommend having a fleece jacket to keep you warm when temperatures drop at night and at higher altitudes.

In addition to all of my layers of shirts and my fleece jacket, I wore my favorite pink Northface rain jacket. Although it didn’t rain on my hike, I wore this jacket everyday because it’s lightweight so it layers well and because it’s a good windbreaker for when it gets gusty on the mountain. The Northface Women’s Venture rain jacket comes in almost twenty colors and is $99 which is pretty pricey, but it’s a good investment for college girls or working women who are often walking through campus or the city. Want the look for less? This Columbia rain jacket is a good alternative and although it only comes in four colors, it’s only $60. Want the look for even less than that? This Kelty rain jacket, available at Target, is a cute periwinkle color and a steal at $35. I might recommend going with the Northface or Columbia rain jackets as they are meant to stand up to the harsh weather of the outdoors when hiking or camping specifically.

If you’re like me, you probably hate it most when your hands and feet are chilly. In order to keeps my hands nice and toasty, I wore my Northface Denali Thermal Gloves. They’re relatively inexpensive at $30 and the fuzzy material is super comfortable in winter weather.

Now, we can’t forget about covering up your ears and head! I wore a TurtleFur fleece headband to keep my ears covered. 

I also wore my favorite University of South Carolina baseball cap everyday to show my love for the Gamecocks. As a girl, a baseball cap will be your best friend on your Kilimanjaro hike because as the week goes on and your hair gets dirtier and more tangled, a hat becomes the only way to control it. Plus, you don’t want to look back at pictures of your hike up Kilimanjaro and decide not to frame them because your hair looks too messy or greasy. Do yourself a favor and buy a cute and comfortable hat to cover up the bird’s nest your hair will become so you will still look adorable in your photos. 

One type of hat I didn’t bring but wish I would have is a fleece beanie. This would have been especially good to have on summit night when it is freezing cold outside and at night while sleeping since wearing a baseball cap to bed is awkward.

Want to know what kind of kicks you need to climb Kilimanjaro? Read tomorrow’s post to find out what type of boots you need to get your booty to the summit!

Warm and comfy Northface Women's TKA 200 Kimber Full Zip

My favorite pink Northface rain jacket

Super soft Northface Denali Thermal Gloves

Turtle Fur Fleece Headband to keep my ears toasty

My favorite USC hat to cover up my crazy hair and show some Gamecock pride

So Many Outifts, So Little Packing Space

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. ~Coco Chanel

Every girls’ favorite part of going on a trip is of course, choosing outfits. My travel/clothing philosophy is do not pack anything you don’t want to be photographed in. On travel adventures, you’re going to take hundreds of photos in gorgeous places. You don’t want to look back at those photos later and cringe at your outfit and leave those pictures in a digital archive collecting digital dust forever. 

Travel photos are some of your best memories and deserve to be printed out and framed to be shared with friends and family! You want to look your best in your travel pictures, right? If yes, then half the battle is packing the right clothing.

When I pack for my travels, I try and strike a combination of cute and comfortable. The clothing you pack should be aligned with what activities you’ll be partaking in on your trip. Obviously, you wouldn’t bring a bikini to Alaska, and I certainly didn’t bring my sexiest stilettos to hike Mount Kilimanjaro. What I did bring was cute and functional clothing that I could layer. Layering is the best tip I can offer you about clothing!

In terms of tops, I brought two workout tank tops that were made of stretch fabric and were moisture-wicking. Target has two fun work out tanks that are Champion, one pink   and one blue. Over the moisture-wicking work out tanks, I wore both long and short sleeve t-shirts I already owned. My favorite one was of course my USC shirt that I wore to the summit because I couldn’t possibly hike Kili without representing my Gamecocks! I also wore a lightweight blue cotton pullover that could zip down several inches in the front. A great alternative Target sells is this adorable pink Champion cardio jacket.

I am sad to say that while I kept my tops and outwear relatively cute, I unfortunately failed to find a truly flattering and fun pair of hiking pants. Unfortunately, Lilly Pulitzer doesn’t sell hiking clothing yet, so until then I’ll stick with my Northface pants. I bought two pairs, one khaki and one black, that were able to zip off into shorts if it was hot out. In retrospect I probably could have gotten by with only one pair of pants, but it’s always good to be prepared with a spare pair in case of rain or mud. If you’re like me and are cold all the time, you will absolutely need long underwear to wear beneath your pants when you reach those higher altitudes where the temperature drops. Many outdoors outfitters like Dick’s Sporting Goods or REI offer their own pairs such as this REI pair. I hiked with a pair of Hot Chillys on to stay as warm as possible. I also packed my favorite Nike running shorts to wear in the tent and on the first and last days as we hiked through the rain forest. Though they’re $30, they’re a staple item in a college girl’s closet and they’re great for working out or running errands.

As far as undergarments go, I am sad to say I definitely was not wearing my cutest bra or pair of underwear. When hiking, your underwear must be all about function. I wore Champion sports bras that are inexpensive at only $17 and can be found at Target. For underwear, I’d recommend buying underwear specific for hiking that is a blend of nylon and spandex, is easily washable, and is antimicrobial. ExOfficio makes bikini briefs priced at $16 and while they aren’t as cute as some Victoria’s Secret Pink underwear, they have the necessary characteristics and will do the job. Because nights on Kilimanjaro can get pretty chilly, I wore my favorite Victoria's Secret sweat pants to sleep in and a comfy, long sleeve t-shirt.

Want to know what types of outerwear to pack? Read tomorrow's post to find out! 

C9 Champion Everyday Tank with Bra in Boardwalk Blue available at Target

C9 Champion Everyday Tank with Bra in Katydid Pink available at Target

C9 Champion Long and Lean Fit Tee in Scream Green available at Target

C9 Champion Women's Cardio Jacket in Katydid Pink available at Target

Northface Women's Paramount Peak Convertible Pant in black

Northface Women's Paramount Peak Convertible Pant in khaki

Cute Pink Hot Chillys Long Underwear

My favorite Nike running shorts

C9 Champion Women's Seamless Racerback Bra in purple available at Target

My favorite comfy Victoria's Secret Pink sweatpants

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

There’s a 40% chance it’s already raining [as she stands in a downpour]. ~Mean Girls

Does preparing for the unpredictable seem impossible? Well that’s just what you have to do because on this trek you will experience many ecological zones and go from equator-like weather to what seems like Antarctic weather in a matter of mere days. You will climb below through, and above clouds, in tropical sun, rain and snow, through a forest, across a desert and finally on ice fields to the summit. As the weather is unpredictable overall, you will need to be prepared for wet days and freezing cold nights.

Are you the kind of girl who dreads going to class or work on a day that it’s pouring rain? On a dreary and humid day do you worry about your hair frizzing to the size of Texas? While I reluctantly face the rain on my way to class by wearing my bright pink rain jacket, I definitely would rather stay curled up in my warm bed than venture into downpours. 

If you’re like me, the idea of hiking Mount Kilimanjaro in rain showers is less that appealing. Therefore, it’s really important to choose the time of year that the weather is ideal for yourself.  There are two rainy seasons on Mount Kilimanjaro, from March to May and again from November to January. Hiking during the rainy season will definitely make for not as crisp and picturesque photos, and potentially a more difficult trek due to hiking through the mud initially and misty or snowy conditions later.

Not a fan of cold temperatures? This may not be a problem at the beginning of the hike where temperatures are on average 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. However, prepare to bundle up at the summit at night time where the temperature becomes chilly ranging from -15 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. As your hike to the summit takes place in the middle of the night (more on that later!), you will need to prepare yourself for brisk weather. And by brisk I mean brutally cold weather that is more frigid than the mean girls in from your high school years or your icy mother in law.

One of the best times to climb the mountain is during the dry season from June to October. Though it is the coldest time, this is the most popular time to go. The warmest months of January through March are the second most popular time. January, February, and September are said to be the best months for climbing due to little rain, warmer temperatures, and their overall ideal weather conditions. 

I trekked Kilimanjaro during the month of June. To learn more about the weather during my hike, read future posts about my trip!

*Thanks to my roommate & best friend Katie for today's quote inspiration! You rock!

My favorite pink Northface rain jacket I wore up Kilimanjaro

P.S. Happy Valentines Day loves! Have a wonderful day celebrating love with family and friends!

Whiskey Route or Bust!

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. ~Walt Disney 

Have you ever felt in over your head? That is exactly how I felt as soon as I learned the nickname for the route I chose: “Whiskey Route.” Now, do not get me wrong when I say that I love a good adventure. But you’ve been reading my blog for awhile now and you know as much as I do that I am a girly girl. I love bows, all things pink, cupcakes, a good chick flick, and flowers on any occasion. So when this girly girl found out I was headed up the “Whiskey Route,” I felt incredibly intimidated.

As apprehensive as I was initially, I kept an open mind to the experience of roughing it and physically challenging myself. The Machame Route turned out to be a fantastic choice for me. The scenery along the Machame Route is said to be some of the most beautiful on Kilimanjaro and after seeing it firsthand I can attest to that!

If you’re a people person like myself and love chatting up strangers, you will definitely have that opportunity on the Machame. There were plenty of other groups hiking this route as I was, some bigger than others. But it was interesting meeting people from all over the world and hearing their reasons for hiking Kili. And while there were a good amount of people to chat up, the route was never so crowded that I felt like I was in a shopping mall the day before Christmas instead of on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Want more details on the Machame Route? Get them out in future posts!

Credit: Peakplanet.com