outfits

Hersheypark for the holidays

 in General Fashion / Travel  tagged central pa / family / hershey / holidays 2024 / outfits by

wearing: earrings / pink scarf / down coat (old, similar here) / long sleeve tee / wide leg jeans / comfy sneakers /

I have always wanted to go to Hersheypark. This past Thanksgiving week I finally got my chance! The park is decorated for the holidays, so we went in the evening in order to enjoy the lights and holiday theme. This turned out to be a good idea since the park isn’t very crowded during the week at 5pm. Although I purchased a fast pass for my family, it turned out that the pass wasn’t really needed. The lines were short, and it was easy to walk around. I imagine on a warm summer day the place is packed solid!

Hersheypark is located in Hershey PA, and it is home to the delicious chocolate we all grew up with. One of the first things we noticed upon entering the park is the sweet smell of chocolate. It was amazing. The chocolate theme is fun and definitely makes you crave chocolate! haha

We went on several rides including the Ferris wheel, Reese’s Cupfusion, the merry-go-round, swings, classic cars, a train ride, and more! The park includes rides for all ages and tastes. There are several roller coasters and thrilling rides. For food, we enjoyed a hot dog before indulging in chocolate.

Since it was cold outside, we opted for hot cocoa in order to get our chocolate fix. It was really yummy! After all, we are in the town where chocolate is made!

Hershey PA gets quite chilly in the late fall, early winter months. So, I opted to wear my heavy down coat and bundle up with my pink scarf. I should have brought gloves, but I accidently left them in my suitcase. Rookie mistake. Bring gloves if you visit at night! If your coat does not have a hood, wear a snow hat or beanie too.

Since I knew there would be plenty of walking, I wore my Hoka’s and they were perfect. My feet were happy! Love that!

After we enjoyed the park, we visited the gift shop-of course! They have tons of chocolate flavors and offerings not found in other locations. It was a chocolate dream! So, if you visit Hersheypark, remember to hit up the chocolate shop on your way out and get ready to indulge. Leave room in your suitcase for chocolate, that’s all I have to say. You might go a little crazy in the shop.

You can learn more about Hersheypark, and buy tickets, at Hersheypark.com.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

Winter capsule wardrobe 2025

 in General Fashion  tagged capsule wardrobe / clothing capsule / outfits / winter 2025 by
casual winter capsule wardrobe genx

Winter capsule wardrobe from top left: sequin sweater / scarf / nail polish / pink earrings / black sweater / wide leg jeans / black long sleeve tee / pewter boots (on sale) / black bucket bag / faux leather pants /

My winter capsule wardrobe draws from my holiday capsule as I still need to add some Mocha Mousse to my closet! This soft pink hue will blend well with any shade of medium to light brown I incorporate into my wardrobe during the new year. Love that!

Of course, black is always my go-to neutral, but in 2025, Mocha Mousse, and similar shades, will make a great alternative to black; especially as we move into the warmer months, and soften up our looks.

These pewter boots are super comfy and lighten up my look when I am wearing black. I am also addicted to these soft bucket bags we are seeing everywhere. Love!

Here are my current winter essentials as we move from the holiday season into the winter season:

Here are some Mocha Mousse inspired pieces I already own, or are on my wish list for the new year:

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for winter trend reports coming soon!

XOXO

Cathy

What’s in my winter carry on bag

 in General Fashion / Travel  tagged outfits / travel style / travel tips / winter 2025 by
how to carry on for winter travel without checking bags

From top left: sequin sweater / black long sleeve tee / earrings / scarf / wide leg jeans / makeup bag / black loafers / convertible handbag / faux leather pants /

If I can carry on my luggage while flying, I will. It is so much easier to bring my little suitcase with me on the plane then having to wait at baggage claim for my bag; especially during the holidays when there are so many travelers!

It is easy to stuff a carry-on suitcase during the summer months when clothing is thin, but in the wintertime, it can be a challenge. Thankfully, there is a way to get a weeks’ worth of outfits into a carry-on suitcase and backpack. I just did it! So, without further ado, here is my formula.

winter travel outfit ideas

The obvious way to pack as much as possible into a carry-on suitcase is to wear heavy clothing on the plane. I always wear my jeans and my large coat. This allows me to fold and pack slimmer items into my carry-on.

How many sweaters do you really need? Sweaters and sweatshirts are thick. Limit yourself to two max. They can be re-worn with different bottoms or with the addition of a scarf. Remember, mix and match is the key.

I only bring one additional bottom. These faux leather pants are slim in the suitcase, yet warm to wear. They are perfect for travel. I also wear my bulky sneakers on the plane and pack my loafers. Always make sure you pack shoes with traction in case there is ice or snow when you are traveling. These loafers have a lug sole, and my sneakers have traction.

Shower shoes should always be in your backpack. Just in case you are forced to valet or check your carry-on suitcase, you don’t want to lose your shower shoes. They are important for showers and for walking around hotel rooms. I also place my makeup bag in my backpack, which frees up valuable space in my suitcase.

Scarfs, gloves, and beanies will all fit in your suitcase and can help you create different looks while mixing and matching your clothing.

Stick to one color scheme and neutrals when packing. Everything in your suitcase should be able to be worn together. If you bring an orange sweaters and a purple skirt, you will run into problems. You can do that if you bring a large suitcase you plan to check, but for carry-on luggage, stick to a simple color palette. You can add color with a scarf. I went with black and white and a pop of pink from my earrings and scarf.

Don’t overpack, it is better to have a slim wardrobe you can re-wear during your trip and mix for multiple looks. Don’t forget to have room for your pajamas too! You only need one pair for a week.

What was in my winter carry-on suitcase:

Takeaways: Simple, neutral color scheme. Mix and Match clothing. Wear jeans and coat on the plane. Shoes with traction.

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your winter travel!

XOXO
Cathy

winter street style