Why Milwaukee Should Be Your Next Weekend Trip

This year Milwaukee, yes Milwaukee, made it to the top of my places to go list!  There are many reasons I was interested in visiting Chicago’s cool little sister.  Milwaukee has a burgeoning culinary scene, world-class breweries, charming neighborhoods, and an incredible lakefront.  Best of all, it’s easy to get to.

I grew up going to Milwaukee for two reasons: field trips to the museum (and yes I did once do “night at the museum”) or shopping at Mayfair mall.  As I got older I never really experienced this vibrant Milwaukee’s vibrant scene since Chicago was just as easy to visit. This past weekend I became reacquainted with Milwaukee, and I cannot wait to plan a trip back.  Milwaukee is like that friend you had in high school that you lost touch with. When you meet again you question why you haven’t been friends all along. Everything about this weekend was lovely: the friendly down to earth people, the food (at half the price of Chicago), charming neighborhoods, and the unpretentious bar scene.  

Now that you're sold, here is what you should consider when planning your trip.  The first thing I recommend is to get in the loop with festivals and events in Milwaukee. Milwaukee hosts hundreds of exciting events each year. From world famous Summerfest to the lesser-known Garlic Fest, Milwaukee has something for everyone.  To coordinate your visit with your festival of choice check out Visit Milwaukee’s comprehensive calendar of events.

St Paul Fish Company

One of the highlights of my trip to Milwaukee was the food.  Milwaukee is much more than beer, brats, and cheese. In addition to trying the traditional food, there are so many new and exciting restaurants to check out.  For Wisconsin classics I love Kopps for burgers & custard, St. Paul Fish Company for Friday night fish fry, and Old German Beer Hall for German food. If you’re looking to try something exotic & fun eat at Movida for cocktails and tapas (their Paella is to die for), Bavette is great for wine & charcuterie, and Birch + Butcher has a wonderful globally-inspired brunch.  

Bavette Milwaukee

One thing you cannot leave Milwaukee without doing is a brewery tour. There are a ton of great options in the city and you really can’t go wrong with any of them. To pick the tour that’s best suited for you check out this great guide.

When I travel I love to set aside time to get lost and explore new neighborhoods.  One of the highlights of my trip was wandering around the Historic Third Ward.  The Third Ward is dotted with charming shops, cafes, and great views of the river.  I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of local and independently owned businesses in Milwaukee.  It was a breath of fresh air from the big name and chain stores that occupy many of the Chicago neighborhoods.  A couple of favorite shops I had the pleasure of stumbling upon are Cream City Restoration (mid-century furniture) and Mod Gen (aka plant Heaven).  The next stops on my Milwaukee neighborhood list are Bay View and Walker’s Point - stay tuned for tips!

Mod Gen

Milwaukee is a city that will surprise you.  This may be the optimist in me, but I believe that in five years Milwaukee will be one of the top “bucket list” destinations for US travelers. I was blown away by how much the city has changed since I stopped by, and I am anxious to see what new additions it will have on my next visit.

x Smack

How to Take Better Travel Photos

You don’t need professional equipment or formal training to take incredible travel photos.  The key to excellent travel photography is a little patience, lots of practice, and knowing how to get the most out of resources at your disposable.  When I first started “O The Places We’ll Go” in 2015 I was armed with just my iPhone 5 and tips from a few Insta-savvy friends.  Since then, I’ve upgraded my iPhone twice, invested in a DSLR (Nikon D3300), and just now started to look into more professional equipment. Although I often use a DSLR, most of my favorite travel shots continue to be the ones that I capture on my iPhone.  

Lisbon, Portugal

Set up your Phone

1. Make sure the “grid” setting on your phone camera is set up.  If you’re an iPhone user, this can be done in the settings app under “Photos & Camera.” I love using the grid because it helps me align the subject I’m shooting. It’s also a great tool to use to make sure your picture is straight especially if you’re taking a picture of a door, window, or a flatly. 
2. Keep your lens clean! How well do you see out of dirty eye or sunglasses? Not well.  The same applies to your phone camera lens.  Keep your lens clean to get the best quality photos from your phone.  
3. Turn on HDR.  You’ve probably noticed the HDR option on your phone.  HDR (high dynamic range) is a setting that captures slightly more details.  Instead of just taking one photo, HDR captures a couple of images and consolidates them. 
4. Take the time to focus.  Press down on your screen on where you want the camera to focus when you’re taking a picture. 
5. Use Apps. There are a ton of great apps available to edit your pictures.  VSCO, Snapseed, A Color Story, and Lightroom are all great.  I use Lightroom for editing my iPhone pictures. Lightroom offers many options to adjust color, contrast, and sharpness of images.  You can also take photos from your camera through the app.  

Before Editing

After Editing with Lightroom

Lighting

Regardless if you are using a DSLR or iPhone lighting is vital.  

1. As a general rule of thumb, have your light source behind you when you’re taking a picture. For example, if your light source is behind your subject (let's say it’s a person), the result will be that their face will be shadowed.  If the light is behind you when you are taking a photograph, it will illuminate their face. 
2. Be aware of the strength of your light source. Daylight is very broad, so a picture that is taken outside, where the lighting is everywhere will be softer and have less shadow.  On the other hand, taking a picture in a room light by a couple of light sources (like a restaurant) will result in a harsher image that has more contrast & shadows. 
3. Experiment. The best way to learn about lighting is by doing. Try taking photos with different settings on your DSLR or phone at different times of the day.  Understanding how lighting works will significantly improve the quality of your travel pictures. 

Example of shadows generated by having a limited light source

Don't be so serious

Why do you travel? For the Instagram or for the culture, food, and chance to experience something new.  Travel and photography should both be fun so don’t get frustrated if the first photograph doesn’t turn out perfect. My rule of thumb is to spend no more than five minutes photographing one spot.  If the picture doesn’t turn out right in that time, it’s not worth the frustration or daylight.

Athens, Greece

What are your favorite photography tips?

x smack

How my Skin Looks Great Even After a Month of Travel

This past month has been HECTIC.  I started my month off with a whirlwind trip that started in Barcelona.  From Barcelona, I traveled through Morocco and finished the trip the best way I know how with dinner in Paris (picking just one place to eat in Paris is a near impossible task).  After a couple of days in Chicago, I was back on the road this time to Florida.  After my Florida trip, I was off to Seattle for a week for work.  I’m finally back in Chicago and cannot wait to share all of the adventures I’ve had over the past month after I sort through the 2000+ photos I took on my trips. 

I love to travel, but I can honestly do without the havoc it wreaks on my skin.  No one wants dry, flaky skin or pimples especially when you are on vacation.  I'm not blessed with perfect skin so finding the right skincare routine for when I travel was critical. This past month of travel put my routine to the test.

In Flight Skincare Routine

The key to great skin when you're on the road - start when you are in transit.  I make it a point to drink lots of water. Before I board a long flight, I pop into the airport bathroom and take off my makeup, use a quick Glycolic peel pad, and put on a water mask.  

My favorite face wipes are the "Yes to Cucumber" face wipes. They are great for sensitive skin and don't smell like chemicals.  I use Bliss for my Glycolic peel pads. They are individually packaged which makes them perfect for packing in a purse or backpack.  And last but not least my all time favorite water mask is Laneige's Water Sleeping Mask.  It's affordable and works great for sensitive skin.  I recommend using a contact lens case to store the mask when you're traveling. 

 Post Flight Skincare Routine 

Before I rush to the customs line, I  stop in the bathroom to fix myself up.  Does anyone else feel their grimiest after an 8+ hour flight?  Post transit I quickly use a face wipe.  I then use Hyaluronic Acid Serum (Vichy and PCA both make great ones) to help re-hydrate my skin.  I let the serum soak in for a minute before putting on my go-to morning moisturizer by Osea.  Before heading out, I put on CC Cream (with SPF) Lune + Aster and Chanel are my two favorites. 
 

Daily Skincare Routine

Keeping on a set skincare routine on the road is hard especially if you are a product junkie like me!  Because space and time are limited, I try to keep my travel skincare routine simple. 

Morning
I use a cleanser by Osea in the morning followed by a pump of  Hyaluronic Acid Serum.  In the mornings I use the same moisturizer and CC cream as I do post-flight. 

Night
At night I always start my routine out by washing my face with my Osea cleanser. I then use a Glytone toner to remove any dirt/oil left over from a day of exploring.  After using the toner, I use a pump of Hyaluronic Acid Serum followed by "Egyptian Magic" as my evening moisturizer.  

Skincare First Aid 

Even the most prepared skincare guru is bound to run into a pimple on the road.  I carry Nexcare Acne patches with me in my carry on, and they work miracles! If you have a pimple, put on a patch before bed (make sure there is no moisturizer underneath), and when you wake up, it will be gone -most of the time. 

The other in-a-pinch products I always carry are samples of Glam Glow's Super Mud mask and Oskia's Renaissance mask (sold at Barney's). 

After a month of travel, five time zones, and more hours in the air than I care to admit I've returned to Chicago with my skin glowing!  I'm always looking to refine my travel skincare routine.  What products do you love to use when you travel?

x smack 

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This post is not sponsored by any of the brands or products mentioned.