What's in my Bag? Summer Travel Chic Essentials

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At the Beyonce and JayZ Concert at Soldier Field

Happy August!

Hope you all have been enjoying your summer!! I have had a blast thus far. From concerts, festivals, making new friends, walks on the lake and exciting stuff on the professional front I've had a fun and busy summer. 

This week I am headed to Miami for an exciting conference , C2: ColorComm Conference and a few days of people watching and poolside relaxation! I have a few travel essentials that I've been loving this summer so I'm bringing back my "What's in my Bag?" series to let you all in on all the goodies I've found!

1) Firmoo.com Sunglasses

Earlier this year I switched from daily disposable to extended wear contacts. That means I wear and sleep in my contacts 5 days straight and then wear my prescription frames for the next 2 to 3 days. I actually love wearing my glasses! Now I needed to get my first pair of prescription sunglasses for the summer. So when I was contacted by Firmoo to join their blogger program and get a sweet new pair of sunglasses I was beyond excited! 

Firmoo is the worlds most popular online eyeglass store with frames for women, men and a great portfolio of sunglasses! Ordering on their site was a breeze, the only hard part was deciding which frames to choose from:) They turned out perfectly! My sunglasses arrived with a hard case, spectacle pouch, cloth and a screwdriver for repairs. With competitive pricing, versatile styles, great user reviews and photos plus a "virtual try on view" Firmoo is a great site to update your frames and grab some new sunglasses before summer ends! 

Check out their "First Pair Free" program here.

My new Firmoo Prescription Sunglasses

2) FitBit 

A few months ago I gifted myself with a new pedometer and activity tracker. Wearable technology is so popular now and a few co workers were telling me about the FitBit products. Since November I've lost 40 lbs but wanted to keep a better track on my activity level and just exactly how many calories I burned in spin class! Fitbit has a nice line of products available but I am the proud owner of a FitBit Zip, one of the more affordable at only $47.99 in most retail stores. 

Photo from Fitbit.com Facebook Page

It's perfect for summer because I do a ton of walking through the neighborhood and around at Chicago festivals! On those days that I didn't hit the gym it's good to see just how many steps I took and calories burned. You can set activity, food and weight loss goals and track your progress as well as map out and track your daily run or walk. It automaticlly syncs with the app you download on your phone so unlike other fitness apps there is no manual labor involved. Perfect:) If you are looking to stay active this summer or see just how many steps you take running in and out of airport you definitely need to invest in a FitBit. 

3) Tory Burch Sandals

I am all about comfort and style when it comes to my footwear! In the fall I purchased my first pair of Tory Burch shoes at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago. Because it was the "off season" I got a bargain deal on everything I purchased that day! These Ali Thong sandals are discontinued and can only be found at outlets or online retailers and I LOVE THEM! I have a black and sand pair and I have literally worn them everywhere this summer plus they easily fit in my catch all Coach tote I've been rocking. 

Photo via Tradesy.com 

"Tory Burch is a luxury lifestyle brand defined by classic American sportswear with an eclectic sensibility." 
I have to agree! The shoes are stylish yet have a soft and comfortable cushion. While I have wore them out, they have NOT worn out by any means! This is definitely a shoe I see surviving another summer and I'm already searching online for more colors!

4) Uber App

I'm late to the "Uber is the best" party but now that I finally tried it, I am a fan!!! For so long I've seen the chatter about Uber on my social media newsfeeds and heard a few friends mention it but I really didn't know how it worked. Then I found myself in need of a ride in a location where taxis weren't plentiful so I decided to go to their site from my mobile phone. In a matter of minutes I downloaded the app, found a referral coupon code for a  FREE Uber ride , set my pick up location and my driver Cheryl arrived in less than 3 minutes! I could actually track how close she was through the app. WOW! 

                              

I am not a fan of cabbies so this was perfect. The driver had a clean car, was personable and the best part was there no drama over the fare and tips. When you sign up for Uber you upload your credit card info, set your tip amount and when your ride is complete they charge your card. No cash on hand needed! 
With Uber being available in over 42 countries and well over 50 U.S. cities this is a must have app for travelers! Grab your code for a FREE RIDE (up to $30) here!

Share with me! What are some of your favorite travel essentials?!