WHAT TO DO IN SANTORINI (AND WHAT TO PACK!)

I've been sharing all about my time in Greece this week, but particularly where to eat in Santorini and where to stay in Santorini. To wrap things up, today we're talking about all the things to do in Santorini (and what you need to pack before you go!)

I'll start by disclaiming that you could be perfectly content sitting poolside at a resort and soaking up the views for the entirety of your stay. With that said, you'd also be missing some amazing things that are absolutely worth doing. 

CHOOSE YAFY | SANTORINI YACHTING CLUB

Choose Yafy is a Singapore based company, with a branch in Santorini. I actually found them in the Arrivals Hall of the Santorini Airport and their staff helped me put together an amazing boat tour for me and my friends at the last minute. They take pride in providing an intimate look into the local culture and provide tailor-made trips to suit all kinds of specific interests. 

Photos by Katie Theis Photo

We did a sailing tour embarking from Ammoudi Bay in Oia. We boarded the Lagoon 400 (a beautiful catamaran) and set sail towards the Volcano and Hot Springs for a quick swim in the therapeutic waters (word to the wise- bring a bathing suit you don't care about if you decide to swim!) From there we continued on to the Volcanic Red Sand beach for some more swimming and a bit of snorkeling. But my favorite part was lounging in trampoline on the front of the boat all day (hammock style). 

Photos by Katie Theis Photo

Photos by Katie Theis Photo

Photos by Katie Theis Photo

Prices vary based on the size of the boat and how many people are on each tour (I recommend a smaller group. We basically had the boat to ourselves- other than an Austrailian couple we were chatting with!) Regardless of which tour you select, they come with unlimited wine (yes please) and a delicious feast. After touring around some of the best spots on the island, our skipper parked the boat, fired up the grill and pretty soon we were eating pork + chicken, complete with Greek salad, stuffed grape leaves and tons of tzatziki. When we finished our meal, we headed to the best spot to watch the sunset on the water. It was the perfect ending to an increible day. 

Photos by Katie Theis Photo

Photos by Katie Theis Photo

Photos by Katie Theis Photo

Photos by Katie Theis Photo

I cant recommend a sailing tour enough, and Choose Yafy made the entire experience so seamless and wonderful. Do yourself a favor and book a tour with them whilst visiting Santorini!

 

 

FISH PEDICURES AT KISSINGFISH SANTORINI

Photos by Katie Theis Photo

I had wanted to get a fish pedicure for such a long time, and I was so excited to finally try it in Santorini! Garra Rufa, also called nibble fish, originate from streams, ponds and lakes in the Middle East, so given the close proximity these fish spas are pretty popular all over the Greek isles. These little guys have no teeth but are able to nibble off your dead skin cells, thus exfoliating your feet. For only €15 you can sit with your feet in the tank for 20 minutes. 

Evidently, the practice is frowned upon and even banned in several of the states because it's not seen as sanitary (although I hardly doubt one go is going to kill you). While the concept is a bit strange (and I definitely had some ticklish moments) it was really fun to experience and I'd recommend giving it a go at least once!

DONKEY RIDES 

Photos by Katie Theis Photo

I'll be completely honest. I don't know much about the donkey rides in Santorini other than this: If you ride the cable car down to the port of Fira (or if you're a brave soul who takes the stairs), one of your options to get back to the top is to ride donkeys for €5 (give or take). There were tons of people doing it so we said "why not?!" The views were awesome (The smell? Not so much) and there were definitely some scary moments when you thought the donkey you were riding was going to run right off a cliff. But overall, it was really fun and I'm glad we did it. I will say, there was a part of me that wondered if this was some form of animal cruelty, but this sign gave me a bit of peace. That being said, I probably could do more research (just haven't yet #realtalk). So, if you know something I don't about these guys that I don't, I'd love to hear in the comments below!

Photos by Katie Theis Photo

WHAT TO PACK

So hopefully by now I've convinced you that you have to take a trip of your own to Santorini (as if you really needed me to). Once you book your trip, it's time to start thinking about what you want to pack! Overall, I pretty much lived in flowy sundresses that double as beach cover ups, flat sandals and a bathing suit. I also loved playing up the blue and white vibe to match the island (#basic). 

Photos by Katie Theis Photo

I love this color blue (especially for a bathing suit) and was so happy to have it with me in Greece. I also love this top and this one piece in the same color (also this option in a similar color but different style). If you like the idea of blue but don't want to be too matchy matchy, try something with navy like this striped bikini, this crochet number, or you can get a little wild with this tie-dye.

In keeping with the blue and white theme, I love the textile of this breezy cover-up  and this breezy-boho off the shoulder dress. And for sandals, I love casual + chic basics like this Beno slide or this Payce slide. 

DRESSES + COVER UPS

BATHING SUITS

SANDALS

And that's a wrap! I hope these posts help you with planning a trip to Santorini- and an amazing one at that! It truly is an incredible place and even more beautiful than the photos. Still have questions or want more information? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks so much to Kapari Natural Resort, Rocabella Santorini Resort & Spa, Perivolas Hotel and Choose Yafy/ Santorni Yachting Club for providing us with an unforgettable trip!

GETTING READY FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE

Merry (belated) Christmas! Hope you had a wonderful day surrounded by the people you love. Now that the day is over, that means everyone is getting ready for New Year's Eve. I absolutely love this holiday, mainly because I'm a sucker for symbolism and the idea of a new chapter or fresh start is so beautiful to me. But also, any occasion that involves champagne + celebrating is my kind of party. 

My friend Haley and I spent last New Year's Eve together in Paris and it was magical -- but more about that in a minute...

Since we knew we would both be back in the states come this New Year's, we decided to get a little head start on the celebration while we were still together in London. So we put on some sequins, popped some champagne and had our own little party in Earl's Court. 

This sequin top I wore for the occasion is currently 50% off!

Now that I'm home and the real New Year's is right around the corner, I've ferociously been making lists of everything I want to do to start 2017 off on the right foot. So while you're (hopefully) still cozied up in your Christmas jammies and taking things easy today, I thought I'd share a few things you can go ahead and knock out to get ready for not only New Year's Eve, but the new year in general. 

1. FIND A NEW YEAR'S EVE OUTFIT

If you haven't already, now is the time to order a New Year's Eve outfit! Lots of holiday sparkles are currently on sale like this embellished sheath dress or this Mango top. There's also some great looks under $100 like this geometric sequin mini-dress or this scalloped lace camisole dress. For jewelry try one of the many pieces under $50 like these chokers (here and here) or some earrings with sparkle (here, here, here, here and here). 

JEWLERY

DRESSES

 

2. ORDER THE BOOKS YOU WANT TO READ IN 2017

I always love using the iTunes or Amazon gift cards I always seem to get for Christmas to order the books I want to read in the upcoming year. Having them in hand when the year starts makes it that much more likely that you'll actually read them. If you're looking for recommendations, here are some I've read that really had a positive impact on my 2016:

VOICE OF THE HEART:  This is a book that was always referenced a lot when I'd go to counseling (another amazing + healthy way to invest in yourself). When a friend recommended it to me this year, I finally purchased a copy for myself and it's been a game changer. It clearly walks you through the gift + necessity of every human emotion, helps you identify what you're feeling and then experience it in freedom. Even after completing it, I often go back and reference it 

THE CIRCLE MAKER: As a dreamer myself, this book got me so fired up about praying over my God-given dreams. It shifts your perspective to be one that's a partnership with God where we boldly ask him to fulfill these dreams (which both grants our desires and brings him glory). If you're someone with a dream or the desire to uncover your heart's deepest desires, The Circle Maker will rock your world. (I'm also excited to start another book by the same author called Chase The Lion, which is also about dreaming big!)

RISING STRONG: Brené Brown can do no wrong in my mind, and Rising Strong may be my favorite book of her's yet. If you're living a brave life (which we should all be striving to) you know it's not always easy and that at some point, falling down is inevitable. In this book, Brené discusses the benefit of regaining our footing in the midst of struggle and shows that rising strong after a fall is how we cultivate wholeheartedness and learn the most about who we are. 

BIG MAGIC: You probably have heard of Elizabeth Gilbert from her bestselling "Eat, Pray, Love" but I'd argue Big Magic is even better. In her latest book, Liz encourages us to embrace our curiosity, tackle what we love most and face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives.

PRESENT OVER PERFECT: This latest release from my all-time favorite author, Shauna Niequist, is another work of genius. Present Over Perfect is an invitation to a journey that changed her life-- walking away from frantic pushing and proving, and toward your essential self. If you're someone guilty of performing, pushing harder and producing more, this book will romance you into a way of life that abandons the pressure to be perfect and embrces the practice of being present. 

3. GET CLEAR ON YOUR GOALS FOR THE YEAR

I'm so passionate about everyone taking the time to get clear on what they want out of life that I started hosting goal workshops to facilitate the practice (see more here). But before I dive into more about that, remember when I mentioned Paris last New Year's Eve? While we were there, we all decided to pick a word for the year that we wanted to cultivate. It may sound like motivational jargon, but don't laugh just yet.  The word I picked was adventure. I chose it because had already been to Europe three times in 2016 but I still felt this burning desire to travel and see even more. But at the time, my life had zero adventurous plans on the agenda. I was working a steady 9-5 with no foreseeable plans of a career change or any upcoming travel plans for the year ahead. Little did I know, I'd soon be plunging into the world of self-employment and moving to Europe for almost 5 months. 2016 was hands down the greatest adventure of my life-- and I don't believe it was a coincidence. I knew I wanted the adventure before it happened.

It wasn't until I started to be intentional about setting goals with timelines that I really started to accomplish them.  There's no better time to get clear on what you want out of life than now- so:

In January and February, I'm offering 1-on-1 goal coaching sessions for a special rate of $50 per hour! If you want help setting goals, mapping out what you want for the year ahead  and identifying tangible action items you can take to get there, email me at theblondeatlas@gmail.com to book a session.

Regardless of what party you decide to go to or what books you decide to read, my only real hope for you in the year ahead is that you'll realize the God-given desires you possess and that you'll chase after them wholeheartedly. I truly believe that's the only kind of life worth living. So cheers to all the beautiful possibility that lies ahead for all of us this year. Amazing things are in store!

Stay tuned later this week-- I'm re-winding to share my Top 10 Trips of 2016!

xo,

Whitney

WHAT TO PACK FOR EUROPE IN THE WINTER

Hey friends! Hope everyone is having a great week thus far. I've been bundling up more than usual lately as the temps keep dropping here in London. Winter is always pretty brutal, but I've found it to be even more true here in Europe for some reason (depending where you go). While I plan to do a proper packing guide for a long term trip abroad, I thought I'd zoom in a bit and speak to those of you traveling to Europe in the winter. 

For starters, I LOVE being in Europe during the winter for several reasons, but mainly because of the Christmas markets and the significant drop in tourists compared to the summer months. But those things aside, there's something so magical I can't quite put my finger on, and I highly recommend experiencing it for yourself at some point. 

When you do, be sure you pack appropriately. While cold weather may not be foreign to you, European lifestyle causes you to be outdoors a bit more than you may be used to (walking is a much more common mode of transportation than in the states). So wherever you're going in Europe this winter, here's what you need to pack: 

GLOVES

To be honest, I find gloves to be a bit annoying. Even if they keep my fingers toasty in the winter, I usually never wear them- until I'm in Europe. Even if it's not frigid, the seemingly constant state of being outdoors makes your fingers feel like they're going to fall off, so gloves are a must. Opt for something chic like these Ugg tech leather gloves with shearling lining or these "Jenny" leather tech gloves by Burberry. 

BEANIES

CABLE KNIT POM BEANIE: FOREVER 21, PLAID SCARF: H&M, WRAP COAT: MANGO

Beanies are pretty much my best friend in the winter here in Europe. They can make an outfit look more pulled together, they keep your head + ears warm, they hide unwashed hair AND they're easy to pack.  Be sure to bring neutral options (like this and this) as well as a fun color (like this or this) to mix things up a bit. 

 

 

 

PARKA

TARTAN SCARF: BANANA REPUBLIC, PARKA: BANANA REPUBLIC

The warmer the coat you pack, the better. I highly recommend a down option (and if you have a fur/ faux fur lining- even better!) If you're going somewhere really cold, opt for a longer parka (like this or this). If you're going somewhere a bit more mild (which honestly, London usually is) you'll be fine with a wool blend like this or this. 

 

TURTLENECKS

Turtlenecks are a great base layer to wear under those parkas and scarves. You can opt for a more lightweight option like this, or you can go for a thicker knit like this or this. 

THERMAL LEGGINGS

No matter what pants you wear, be sure to pack some thermal leggings as a base. I love these fleece lined leggings and also these. You can wear them on their own or underneath jeans if you want to stay extra toasty. 

 

 

SCARVES

TONAL POM BEANIE: TOPSHOP, TARTAN SCARF: BANANA REPUBLIC

It may sound obvious, but pack a good variety of scarves. This layer is always key in Europe, no matter the season- but especially in winter. I love this chic cashmere oversize wrap in grey (I wear it with everything it seems!) for a good neutral. I also like having some printed options like this or this. 

Hope this helps inspire your packing for a magical winter in Europe (or any cold-weather destination for that matter.) Hope you have a great Wednesday, and stay tuned later this week for a giveaway I'm excited to announce!

xo, 

Whitney

TONAL POM BEANIE: TOPSHOP,  TARTAN SCARF: BANANA REPUBLIC,