J.Crew Jacket // Sparkly Pants  {similar} // Tory Burch Riva Flats // Kendra Scott Tassel Necklace // Backpack c/o SWISSGEAR

Now that it’s December 1st, the holidays are officially almost here {and I couldn’t be more ready to celebrate!} After all the fun of Thanksgiving, I’m officially ready for another week to relax because a long weekend just never seems long enough…

Although I’m excited to spread some holiday cheer back in Madison for Christmas, I’ve caught a little case of Wanderlust as so many of my friends are headed out of the country to spend the holidays somewhere slightly more exciting than Wisconsin.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m so happy to be home to spend time with my family, but sometimes you need a little break in your routine to find some much needed inspiration and creative energy. And at the end of the year, I could use quite a bit of inspiration for a fresh start in 2016! While my bucket list of places in constantly growing, I’ve been getting a little more into the Christmas spirit than normal and dreaming of taking a trip to Germany to check out the holiday markets {and Christmas tree farms!} Sure, we have a mini Christkindlmarket in Chicago that I look forward to visiting every year, but there’s something magical about seeing the real deal with it’s twinkling trees, gigantic trees and houses floor to ceiling decorated with ornaments. It’s always been a dream of mine to go, and my wanderlust is thinking maybe a last minute trip’s in order? Hey, a girl can dream – right? Now the only question left to ask is what to pack? And believe me – even fashion bloggers struggle in the packing department.

While I rotate from bikinis to bell bottoms depending on the season, my luggage essentials always stay the same – my trusty SWISSGEAR carry on and backpack. I love how lightweight and durable SWISSGEAR‘s backpack is, and that it comes with all the bells and whistles I need for a long trip. From water bottle holders to tons of pockets to a protective tablet and laptop holder – it’s my go-to for long airplane rides, backpacking around Europe and everything in between. I’ve been rocking it on my commute to work {which really comes in handy when you have to carry your laptop and camera to and from work most days!} and I’m always thankful for how lightweight and comfortable it is. If I manage to fit in a last minute trip to Germany this month, this backpack is definitely coming with me! Do you have any fun plans you’re looking forward to this holiday season? Please share with the class! I’d love to hear your stories and see your Instagram snaps using #SWISSGEAR to join the party {and I promise that if I make any impromptu trips, I’ll share my own snaps too!}   A big thanks to SWISSGEAR for sponsoring this post. As always, my opinions are all my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make Charmingly Styled possible!