One Week in Ireland

Hi there! I’m Liz from @thecrewedinterest! This past spring break I left the states for the first time and visited my friend abroad in Cork, Ireland. I had an absolutely amazing time and wanted to share my adventure with you. If ever in Europe, you should definitely take the time to visit these beautiful spots in Ireland:

We took a twenty minute train to Cobh (pronounced like Cove), where we saw the port where the Titanic left and visited the Titanic Experience. Another great place of interest is the Deck of Cards Houses - where each house is a different color. 
www.visitcobh.com

After Cobh, we went to the Jameson Factory for an interesting tour. Here you will learn about the history of Jameson Whiskey and see how it's made. The best part of the tour is the end - taste-test three types of whiskey and get a complimentary drink. I recommend Jameson and ginger-ale if you're not a whiskey person. Don't forget to stop at their gift shop for some really cool souvenirs! 
Jameson Irish Whiskey

The next day happened to be St. Patrick's Day where they celebrated with a huge parade. Families and friends gathered in pubs where there was live music and Irish step dancing on the tables. It was much different from St. Patty's in New York (less drinking more culture) and was an experience I will always remember.

On day four, we climbed to the top of the Shandon Bell’s Tower where we had a beautiful view of all of Cork. We also saw University of Cork, where my friend was studying for the semester. It felt like I was at Hogwarts. After that, we took a bus to Blarney Castle where we kissed the Blarney Stone. This tradition will give you the gift of gab, however, it was pretty terrifying.
Blarney Castle

Day five had to be my favorite. We took an all day bus tour to the Cliffs of Moher. This place literally took my breath away and left me feeling one with nature. As we kept walking, the sun came out to play from the fog and the view was crystal clear. This place is a can't miss if you're visiting Ireland.
Cliffs of Moher

On Friday, I went to the second most spectacular place (after the Cliffs of Moher), which is called the Ring of Kerry. It is a combination of mountains, beaches, and plains. There were more sheep here than people, so don't go here if you are afraid of sheep! We ate dinner at a restaurant that had a spectacular view. On our way home, we passed a rainbow where our tour guide allowed us to get out and snap a photo.
Ring of Kerry

Ireland is a beautiful country where there is so much history and sights to see. I'd love to go back someday, but until then keep up with me over on Instagram (@thecrewedinterest).

Tips on Surviving a Music Festival (In Style)

Mama... I survived FireFly, a tropical storm, and outdoor camping.

And I managed to shower (YASSS). There was a stiff price to be paid every single time I wanted to rinse my body clean in a tiny portable shower of the mud and sticky sweat - but I did it. Let me just say, $8 showers were the cat's pajamas during this excursion.

Looking back (way back) there's been so many different festivals I've been to but a few key tips have been tried and true throughout the entirety of my festival-going career.

1. Stay covered
Shady spots at a festival are few and far between. When you do happen to come across a spot with shade, it's usually crowded and not fun. To beat the heat make a hat and a pair of sunglasses your best friends. Most importantly protect yourself from the sun - wear sunscreen and keep layering it on!

2. Comfortable Shoes
Wear them or die. Well, not exactly die - but your feet will majorly hate you the next day. These festivals tend to take place in huge fields and you'll end up taking around 30,000 or more steps going from stage to stage. Sneakers or boots with great arch support are your safest bet.

3. Don't Forget the Essentials
A festival's ATM will rob you blind with fees if you let it. Don't let it rob you blind. Instead bring cash to the festival. While you're at it bring a refillable water bottle since water isn't cheap either. Ladies, bring TP (toilet paper) and an antibacterial gel/spray - porter potties can get real nasty when combined with the heat and thousands of people.

4. Shorts Are Your Best Friend
My very first festival (Warped Tour) my friend was feeling the moment and went for a crowd surf. Let's just say we ALL (including the band) knew exactly how high she wore her pantyhose. So shorts, wear shorts. Even if you're wearing a dress, wear bike shorts. You'll be sitting on the ground, dancing in the crowd, possibly crowd surf - you'll be glad you wore them.

5. Reconsider the One-Piece
Yes, bodysuits, rompers, and jumpsuits are cute. But, you'll be going into gross porter potties that feel like poop saunas. Do you still want to wear that one-piece bodysuit? We all know how much effort goes into pulling one on and off - choose wisely.

6. Less is More
When it comes to makeup, less is more. The few times I've attempted in wearing a full face it has melted off and scared off my friends. I still wear mascara and cheek stain, but by the end of the night that too has evaporated off my face. Still need that coverage, try finding the perfect BB or CC cream at your nearest Ulta or Sephora. If you're curious as to why my brows are looking on fleek it's because I had them temporarily dyed prior to FireFly - highly recommend for my brow girls

Eye Glasses: Warby Parker  Lipbalm: EOS  Tee: thrifted (similar)  Denim Shorts: Zara  Boots: Dr. Marten  Bralette: Old (similar)

7. Opt for a Braid
For the first time ever in the history of music festivals I went full-braid to a festival. For my curly-haired girls, it's life changing. I felt and looked great and didn't have to worry about knots or styling my hair the next day. If you're camping at the festival, consider going the braid route.

8. Leave the Goods at Home
Festivals can get messy and chaotic. Anything that is irreplaceable or valuable, please leave it at home. You'll avoid major heartbreak by following this rule. At Coachella and FireFly, I noticed a few festival-goers even used throw-away phones instead of their fancy Galaxy or iOS phones.

9. Cellphones are Basically Useless
Wondering how festival-goers are able to go through an entire day without their phones? Because they're basically useless. The service is spotty if you find any to begin with and there's no wi-fi. Every single time I've done Coachella or Governor's Ball text messaging becomes obsolete. Your phone will most likely die due to it constantly searching for service before it'll even send that text message through. If you're with friends I highly advise setting up meeting points within the festival and coming up with a Plan B and C.

10. Have FUN!
Create those memories that will last a lifetime.

Have any awesome tips on how you survived your last festival? Leave them in the comments below.

Photos by Jamal of Style Society Guy.

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Five Friday Favorites

These five favs revolve around one common theme, travel. My sister and I will be heading out to uncharted territory in less than three months, and I honestly can't wait.

1. Eva NYC Freshen Up Dry Shampoo
I'm no longer a newbie when it comes to dry shampoo. In fact the cabinet underneath my sink is filled to the brim with Eva's dry shampoo. It has helped me extend blown and braided hairstyles live to see a few more days. As for sopping up oil... It's all grease be gone, you're no longer wanted here. I purchased a travel size one to help look refreshed after my flight, yay! Hopefully I can bring it in my carry-on.

2. Kissables Lavender Infused Fluffy Socks
Here's the backstory, twice a week I give myself a foot massage, slather on thick moisturizing cream, pull on a pair of socks and fall asleep. The next day I wake up with the pretty soft feet. Well, these socks basically took my moisturizing game to the next level with even softer feet. I've been so obsessed with how soothing these socks and highly recommend them to anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet or travels a lot.

3. Birchbox June Box (Say Yes)
You guys must know by now how much I love samples and miniature things in general. Birchbox was kind enough to send me a Birchbox (or is it BirchBox?) and I loved all of the samples. A few favorites that I'll be saving for my trip in September are: bliss triple oxygen™ instant energizing mask and Egyptian Magic Skin Cream. Both will come in handy for that extra-long flight.

4. PurseN Jewelry Case
I had a PurseN handbag organizer but donated it. I'm more of a backpackin' gal so figured someone else could make better use of it. If you're a handbag lady - you'd probably appreciate how easy this would make life. I do love the entire concept of PurseN - anything that includes organization makes me happy - and went browsing through their site. I came upon this jewelry case and knew it would ease my travel woes when it came to jewelry. There are so many compartments and it's compact which is perfect for my carry-on luggage.

5. Hitha's Blog - Hitha on the Go
I'm a frequent reader of Hitha's blog and love the great travel tips and articles she produces. Maybe I'm fan-girling but if you haven't heard of her blog, jump over to her site - it's so impressive! Hitha is a frequent traveler so if there is anyone I can learn from it's her. This article on prepping for long trips and how to sleep in-flight are bookmarked for my next adventure.

What are your current Friday Favorites? Tell me about it in the comments.