Packing a Carryon for a Weekend in California Wine Country

Packing a Carryon for a Weekend in California Wine Country // Habitation Co.

If you don't count my trip to India last year, I haven't taken a "girls" trip since before I got married. While my husband is by far my favorite travel buddy, I seem to have more stories about the travel adventures I shared with my friends: strangers at hostels in San Francisco, odd Southwest road trip motels, and basically everything about back-packing through Guatemala to name a few... While this weekend is a girl's trip of a very different variety, I have been looking forward to it for weeks. Despite growing up in California and living only hour-long flight away, I've never had the opportunity to visit our beloved wine country, so when the idea of a girl's trip came up, it seemed like the perfect time to plan a getaway with a few friends.

The plan is to simply enjoy a casual weekend of catching up, sipping wine, enjoying the outdoors, and measure the days by brunches and happy hours. Since I'll only be gone for 3 days total, I wanted to keep my luggage light and only pack a carryon. The tricky part was planning for a variety of potential activities: casual days, winery visits, dressier dinners, and even a hike if the weather cooperates. Fall in California typically means warm days and crisp nights, so by sticking with a few basics, working with layers, and adding a few favorite accessories, the result is a versatile weekend wardrobe that fits neatly in the overhead bin (with room to spare!).

My Carryon Packing Guide for a Fall Weekend In California Wine Country:

On The Plane:

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scarf // leather tote

Around Town:

Happy Hour:

mala bead necklace

Wine Tasting:

Dinner Out:

silk cord necklace 

Sunday Brunch:

Afternoon Hike:

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Keep jewelry or small accessories protected in a small travel pouch like these

That's everything! Toiletries, toothbrush, and all, plus there's plenty of room to spare if I decide to bring home a few bottles of wine (and check my bag, thanks Southwest!). Ok, gotta run, I have a plane to catch!

Enjoy the process!

Hailey

Summer Adventure Essentials: gift picks for grads

“Follow your bliss, and doors will open for you that you never knew existed. Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls.”

— Joseph Campbell

1. Handmade scarf // 2. Repurposed Sari Journal // 3. Luggage Tag  // 4. Leather Backpack // 

5. Zip pouch // 6. Solar Quartz necklace // 7. Vintage camera strap // 8. Sea Clay Bath Soak

Storytelling: Making Meals & Memories (& a GIVEAWAY!!)

If there is one thing, a single language, that unites all of us, from every corner of the world, in huts and houses, shanty towns and skyscrapers, it's food. Food is often synonymous with emotion- love, grief, joy, fear- but perhaps most of all, comfort. Food, or more specifically, preparing it, is truly a feast for all of our senses- smell, taste, sound, sight, and feel. It is also closely linked to our memory and can instantly transport us back in time, whether to our grandmother's kitchen or a tiny cafe around the world. 

These days, with so many options at our fingertips, we may spend more time scanning restaurant reviews than recipes, and we rarely put much forethought into what goes on the dinner table. This is why cookbooks are such a great opportunity to not only learn something new, but create new memories with and for our loved ones. But without context, a cookbook can feel stagnant or overwhelming, which is why we love cookbooks that tell a deeper, personal story- of the recipes they share and the people who have passed them along to us.

In Her Kitchen is a wonderful collection of stories and portraits of grandmothers around the world, a glimpse inside their kitchen, and the secrets behind their signature recipes. There is something so raw and pure about the women in this book, it is savory from cover to cover. While many of the recipes are from places most of us may not be able to find on a map, with a few surprising ingredients (um, caterpillars?), each of these grandmothers welcomes readers into her kitchen, tells you to pull up a chair, and without bothering to ask if you're hungry, serves you up seconds and thirds of her special dish. 

The Plantiful Table is a colorful, globally-inspired treat that focuses on sustainably sourced and local plant-based ingredients. The author, Andrea Duclos, is a lifestyle blogger based in West Palm Beach Florida where avocados and jackfruit grow bigger than our heads. She writes about simple living, sustainability, travel, family, and of course- food! Drea has been vegan for several years, and when she had her daughter, Marlowe, it was only natural for her to raise her on a vegan diet at well. "What Marlowe Eats" is a super-popular segment on her blog and the inspiration behind this family-friendly cookbook. Her husband, Alex, is a chef as well, and they share a passion for food from all around the world so expect some super colorful, plant-based dishes like pad thai, tamales, and even paella!

C O O K B O O K   G I V E A W A Y!

** Since we love both of these books so much, and since Drea happens to be our friend, so we decided to host a fun cookbook giveaway over on Instagram! We are giving away a copy of In Her Kitchen AND The Plantiful Table to ONE lucky winner! Just follow Habitation Co. on Instagram, and leave a comment on the giveaway post with your favorite meal that reminds you most of home! **

Visit Habitation Co. on Instagram! Winner will be selected Thursday, May 26th!

Click here to see our other cookbooks and here to visit Drea's other favorite picks!

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