Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. If you’d like to be featured, email me.

An interview with packing tips from Nola to Everywhere

Tell us a little about about who you are, what your blog is called, and where you’re traveling now.

Hi! I’m Tempesst, and I blog at Nola to Everywhere. I’m a nurse who just got back from a 3 month backpacking trip around Southeast Asia, England, Iceland, and Egypt. Now, I’m back in New Orleans for a bit before I start travel nursing in March. I hope to take long term trips after each travel assignment I do, which I have to thank Rachel for 100% for that idea!

(from Rachel: your welcome! That was my plan before I met Ben in Goa)

Do you use a backpack or rolley suitcase for long-term travel (tell me the brand & size you like and why)?

I use the Osprey Farpoint 55L backpack. I love it because it is panel loading, which means that it opens like a suitcase so I don’t have to worry about digging for a random item at the bottom of my bag—I can see everything once I open my pack.

What shoes are your every day walking around, sightseeing shoes?

For my most recent trip, I wore black Havaianas flip flops daily. For a long-term trip I pack three pairs of shoes: flip flops, trainers, and a pair of nicer gold sandals for going out to bars and clubs.

packing tips from Nola to Everywhere

When you’re pigging out trying new foods, other than typical walking & sightseeing in towns- what do you do to stay healthy?

I am definitely not the person to ask about fitness, but on my last trip I did lose about 15 pounds! It was most likely due to the fact that I was hiking way more than I usually do at home (read: never) and I would do body weight exercises like squats every so often. My hostel in Hoi An, Vietnam had an indoor pool so I did an awesome pool workout lead by my travel buddy. Additionally, the street food in Asia is much healthier than what I was stuffing into my face at the end of a 12 hour shift!

When you’re traveling, do you pick up beauty & shower products while you go or are there products you can’t live without- what are they?

I pick up things like body wash and toothpaste along the way, but I can’t live without my Suave powder fresh deodorant, which is a brand I’m pretty sure is only sold in the U.S. I also brought my favorite mascara, Perversion by Urban Decay, along with me. To keep my nails looking fresh, I pack one bottle of OPI polish. My favorite color is Cajun Shrimp but sadly I can’t find it anywhere anymore!

packing tips from Nola to Everywhere

For those who thing living out of a backpack is impossible, what tips do you have for saving space or what things have you learned you actually don’t need to pack?

Packing cubes are a life saver!! When you have everything organized into the cubes, it makes looking for an item of clothing a breeze. For my most recent trip I had three cubes, one for bras/underwear/socks, one for t-shirts and tops, and one for bottoms and my black cotton dress. Another tip I have is to take half of the clothes you think you need. Once on the road, you will find that you can be content without an overflowing wardrobe.

The Hippie in Heels has to ask, would you ever pack heels on a backpacking trip?

I wouldn’t pack them because they would take up space, but I would definitely try to find an affordable pair while traveling if a club or other event required that I wear them. I love me some wedges!

What type of outfit do you take in case of a night out clubbing or going to a fancy bar/hotel?

I have a form fitting black cotton dress that can easily be dressed up with my gold sandals, a chunky statement necklace, and earrings. I need to invest in a pair of Tieks for those bars that don’t allow open toed shoes.

packing tips from Nola to Everywhere

What is the one material thing you miss most from home while you’re roughin’ it abroad?

Do Chipotle and Chick-fil-a count? Haha. I don’t really miss anything material except for my bed.

Airport style: love looking LA paparazzi ready or could care less? 

I couldn’t care less about looking good for a flight! I try to be as comfortable as possible. My usual plane clothes are a black v-neck t-shirt, black capri leggings, and flip flops or trainers.

And for the girls, what are your absolute favorite make up products you take with you on a trip?

I already mentioned the Perversion mascara by Urban Decay, and I also take black eyeliner from the drug store. Cover Girl is my favorite drug store brand. My mom blessed me with pretty good skin so mascara and eyeliner is the only make up I wear.

packing tips from Nola to Everywhere

Do you have a special skin care routine on the road to prevent breakouts from the stress, sweat, and humidity?

I wash my face simply with soap and water each night. I also try to drink tons and tons of water, which keeps my skin feeling fresh and hydrated.

What does your most worn, daily outfit look like while you’re traveling?

Without a doubt, my most worn outfit is a black v-neck t-shirt paired with black jean shorts, black capri leggings, or Nike tempo shorts!

Tell us the ONE thing you pack for a long backpacking trip & would never leave behind.

My iPhone 6. I use it to connect to WiFi to iMessage or email my family and friends back home, and to keep up with the blogs I read. My phone’s camera really came in handy when I lost my proper camera in Vietnam.

You can only pick one: iPod or Kindle? 

Kindle for sure. Reading books make long transit days way more bearable for me.

Thank you for interviewing on Hippie in Heels, before you go can you tell readers that may be on the fence about taking a trip why YOU think they should go for it!

Thank you for having me! What I say to anyone contemplating taking a trip is that you will NEVER regret going. You will only regret not taking the plunge. I can promise that it will end up being one of the best experiences of your life!

packing tips from Nola to EverywhereTempesst is an American nurse living in New Orleans, Louisiana. In between taking care of patients and taking advantage of all NOLA has to offer, she can be found perusing the travel section at the bookstore and planning for the next escape. While she is probably the only blogger without the main forms of social media, you can find her on snapchat: tlm727.

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