Travel Prep + Giveaway

Regardless of if I go away for one day, or an entire year, it still requires the same amount of travel prep. I find myself getting overwhelmed with basic tasks that were clearly deemed not worthy enough to do for my daily life, but for a foreign city? They're priorities!

1. Wax 

I'm a fan of visiting Brazil once every 6 weeks... Bikini waxes are a quint essential travel task for me. I find that shaving grows back too quickly and it can make walking/flying/exploring uncomfortable. 

Where: Stripped Wax Bar. For only $38 you can get a brazilian. Manscaping is also available for those men out there...
TIP: Go 2-3 days before traveling to ensure any discomfort/bumps have died down! 

2. Mani/Pedi
I'm someone who does mani/pedi's at home to relax, but when it comes to traveling I'd like my hands and feet to be fresh-to-death. Who knows if the pool boy wants to give me a foot massage?
Where: I can recommend Fingers and Toes, Posy, and Element Nail Spa.
TIP: Get shellac! Shellac ensures your nail polish won't chip while abroad.

3. Laundry

It's hard to do laundry before you travel because you still need to wear clothes. I've found a way around this. I wear the ugliest and oldest clothes prior to travel so I can pack all my "good stuff".
Where: My parents place... 
TIP: Some items need to be 'hang-dried' so be sure to wash those 2-3 days before traveling/packing. 

4. Suitcase

I usually have my suitcase laying out on my floor for a week prior to leaving. I use it as a constant reminder it needs to be filled and that there's only one. 
Where: Your apartment floor...
TIP: As you think of items to pack, put them in your suitcase. This will make packing a breeze!

5. Mini Everything
Clearly my face wash, shampoo and shaving cream are NOT going to fit in my suitcase, so I buy mini-things to pack. Mini refillable bottles, mini toothbrush, mini hairspray etc.
Where: Dollarama and Walmart
TIP: Don't leave your mini-things behind. They can be reused for your next trip!

6. Supplement
Remember that pair of pants that won't stay up? Or that shirt that needs a strapless bra? Before I travel, I find the gaps in my closet. From belts to bras, I begin shopping around to supplement. I don't want to go on a shopping spree (that's why I'm traveling), just the basics.
Where: Depends on what you need!
TIP: Don't go overboard. Just because your low-cut shirt would look good with a necklace, doesn't mean you have to buy it before you go! It's a nice-to-have, not a need-to-have.

7. Eyebrows

Day-to-day I enjoy plucking the strays, but when it comes to a trip, I like to reevaluate the shape and colour of my eyebrows. 

Where: Blink Brow Bar Vancouver
TIP: Go at least a week before traveling. That way if your skin gets irritated, it has time to recover. 
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- georegelizabeth

Twitter: @georgeelizabeth

Facebook: /theundomesticated

Instagram: @georgeelizabeth

Fall Basics on a Budget

'Fall Basics on a Budget' is a collaboration with the talented and stylish Ana Snow of Collection Eight. I wanted to learn how to transition my wardrobe from summer to stylish - without spending a fortune. 

"The key to an affordable, stylish fall wardrobe is all about choosing great pieces that go with everything! I've summed up the season's must haves with my top picks that can all be paired with a tee and jeans for an updated look. The best part? Everything is interchangeable! XO" -  Ana Snow

1. The Minimalist Coat

Topshop Popper Front Boyfriend Coat - Seen here.

2. The Pointed Shoe

Zara Kitten Heel leather Vamp shoe - Seen here.

3. Shimmery Eyes

Urban Decay Naked 2 - Seen here.

4. The Top Handle Bag

Zara Mini Office City bag - Seen here.

5. The Statement Necklace

Zara Crystal Flower necklace - Seen here.

6. The Striped Tee

J.Crew Striped Cotton tee - Seen here.

7. The Dark Skinny

Topshop MOTO Baxter jeans in Indigo - Seen here.

8. The Biker Jacket

Zara Biker Jacket with zips - Seen here.

9. Hardware

Topshop Smooth Band rings - Seen here.

10. The New Bootie

Zara Neoprene High Heel ankle boot - Seen here.

11. The Vampy Lip

NARS lipstick in Scarlet Empress - Seen here.

12.The Leopard Accent

Zara Leopard Messenger Bag - Seen here.

Below are my personal Fall 2013 purchases.

1. H&M Coat with quilted sleeves: Seen here.

2. Vintage Fur Vest - Similar seen here.

3. H&M Black trench: No longer online.

4. Target Clear Bubble Umbrella - Seen here.

5. Black Milk Liquid Leggings - Seen here.

6. Forever 21 Quilted Knee Leggings - No longer online.

7. House of Holland Suspender Tights - Seen here.

8. Forever 21 Lucite Clutch - Seen here.

9. H&M Leather Imitation Quilted Skirt - Seen here.

10. Hibou Suede Bootie from Little Burgundy - No longer online.

11. H&M Black Tote (in Forest Green too) - Similar seen here.

12. Forever 21 Gold Toe flats - No longer online.

13. Hunter Original Tall Rain Boots in Dark Olive - Seen here.

- georegelizabeth

Twitter: @georgeelizabeth

Facebook: /theundomesticated

Instagram: @georgeelizabeth

PPW (Price Per Wear)

Have you ever asked yourself "Would I ever wear that again"? You're not alone...

With another season quickly approaching there's an urge to renew our wardrobe. I've wasted countless amounts of money on items I'll never wear again, that was until my friend, a fashion blogger, taught me how to determine the value of independent pieces by using PPW (Price Per Wear). 
It all started with a pair of Converse. I learned how to weigh the risk and reward by a simple math equation (finally math comes in handy). 

If you've ever asked yourself "would I wear it again?" you need to know about PPW (Price Per Wear). 

For example: A $50 pair of Converse you know you'd wear at least 10 times have a $5PPW. This means, for the amount of times you plan to wear them, they are costing you $5/wear - any 'wears' thereafter are pure profit! 

PPW: COST divided by # of Wears = $/Wear

Converse: $50 divided by 10 wears = $5PPW.

PPW has helped me see the value in basics and bigger ticket items. 

A pair of pants that I'll wear for 2 years, 3x/week, is a steal for $400. 

A Large Prada Tote (dream bag) retails for $2350. How often would I plan to use this bag? EVERYDAY for at least a year. 

$2350 divided by 365 days = $6PPW

What about a dress for a theme party? 
If a dress costs $400, and you know you'll never wear it again, the PPW is $400 (that's high). 
WARNING: This is when you re-evalute your wardrobe. 
TIP: Buy something that can revitalize a pre-existing outfit and be used again in the future. 
For example: Pair an old dress with a cropped blazer or necklace. A blazer with a $10PPW is far more enticing than a dress with a $400PPW. 

That being said, PPW should not be used in the following cases:
- A wedding dress
- The pants you bought two sizes too small in hopes of fitting into them
- A hat (hats are tricky - you never know...)

Stay tuned for my collaboration with Collection Eight on 'Fall Basics on a Budget'. 

-georgeelizabeth

Twitter: @georgeelizabeth

Facebook: /theundoesticated

Instagram: @georgeelizabeth

How To Know You're At A Twentysomething Dinner Party

After hosting a dinner party for some friends, I noticed traits of my twentysomething guests that differentiated our dinner parties from those of our parents. 

1. It's not our house.
- Yes okay, sometimes it's someone's house, but usually it'll be an apartment occupied by 2 or more people (so who's apartment is it really?). Last night it was at my parents house because I was asked to house sit. In my mind house sit = free BBQ venue. 

2. Multi-Media Table Topics.
- Our table topics somehow started off on a less-than-adult path. It began with micro penis' and developed into watching a video of a woman pushing gummy worms out her butt. We talked about it, Googled it, watched video's of it, listened to sound effects etc. Multi-media table topics - are they the next generation of dinner party conversations? Should people be sure to have an iPad, computer and their smart phone charged and ready when hosting a dinner party?

3. Mutual Fears.
- It was a beautiful night but we quickly realized we aren't very 'nature' orientated. From spider webs that grossed us out to wasps that just wouldn't die (although no one was really stepping up to try kill them). Turns out twentysomething's tend to have mutual fears. We can all respect a bumble bee, but wasps must be tracked down and murdered. Eventually we found a fly swatter (who owns these?!), which we all took our turn at, to no avail. In the morning I saw the corpses of the common enemy strewn across my parents patio...

4. Who's cooking?
- We knew we had to get 'food' that could be cooked on a BBQ. When it comes to cliches, twentysomethings nail it on the head. We found ourselves with an over-flowing plate of wieners (and two chicken breasts) not to mention someone brought a rotisserie chicken (pre-cooked genius). But after the low maintenance chips and dip were consumed, it begged the question - 'Who's Cooking?!' Luckily we had a chef in our midst who took control of the BBQ but it was touch and go there for a minute. In our parents generation - if you host, you cook. In our generation - if you're social enough to host a get together, you probably don't have time to hone your cooking skills (me). 

5. Music is always on.
- From the time people arrive to the time people leave (and beyond...) the music stays on. I always remembered my parents dinner parties - the music would turn on after they consumed a little too much liquor. Until they were drunk - laughter would be the soundtrack of the evening. Unfortunately white-noise doesn't go over well with twentysomethings. Music gives us the ability, if needed, to fall back on when there's a lull in conversation. A couple notable go-to phrases "I hate this song" or "I love this song". Aren't we clever? 

6. Smile - you're on candid camera.
- If you have a bad side, be sure to sit/stand/talk on your good side because photos and videos are being taken and uploaded online. It starts innocently with a selfie of you and your friend (cute) but it quickly turns into documenting every single moment when you're having fun (which lezbi honest - doesn't bode well for the 'looks' department). Fun for my friends is when you're mid-conversation, mouth open, double-chinning it. But out of the 100's of toothless photos (which apparently make you look young...) there are some diamonds in the rough and you'll be thankful someone took them! The others are flagged and reported for abuse (sorry guys). 

7. Over-Night Bags.
- When it comes to a location that we plan to drink at for the majority of the evening, you don't bring a DD, you bring an ONB (Over-Night Bag). We all thought sleepovers ended when we were in grade school but the fact remains - when someone throws a 'dinner party', you best be bringing a toothbrush and a fresh pair of undies. Taxi's are pricey for our meagre twentysomething budget and DD's can make you leave early. An over-night bag doesn't charge you a fortune or tell you when it's bedtime. Hosts - be ready to lend out pillows and blankets.  

8. Get Up Early.
- Twentysomething's hate getting up early - everyone knows this. And yet after a night of drinking, we're all up at 6am running around; cleaning, rushing to be somewhere etc. I don't know if we were still drunk, but by 11am we've all fallen silent, closed our blinds, and taken a nap. 

I don't want to be a traitor to my generation, or my age range, but those twentysomething dinner party traits differentiate us from ones we remember our parents having. But who knows - maybe the reason our parents were laughing all night is because they found micro-penis' in an encyclopedia?!

For photos/videos from the BBQ, check out my peeps:
@browntown_22
@kelseyannvan
@dwyery

-georgeelizabeth

Twitter: @georgeelizabeth

Facebook: /theundoesticated

Instagram: @georgeelizabeth