Blogging While Traveling

Vintage Lilly Pulitzer Elsa Top (Borrowed from Auntie-M, but my favorite places to find newer Elsa tops are via Lilly itself, Nordstrom, Zappos, and 6pm.com. eBay has some amazing vintage finds, too!) / Kate Spade Bag (Borrowed from Mom. Old, but similar here, here and here) / Joie Sandals c/o (Go a full size up! I normally wear a 7.5 and I took an 8.5 in these. Also available here.) / J.Crew Jeans (I’m wearing the maternity version) / Similar Sunglasses / Helen Ficalora Necklace c/o / Pearl Earrings / Clinique Chubby Stick (“Pudgy Peony”)

Blogging while traveling is difficult. I feel absolutely ridiculous saying that, as I realize that I’m extremely lucky to be able to work from almost anywhere. And I love running this site. I really do! (Seriously: I can’t imagine life without the blog. As silly as it sounds, Kelly in the City has become a big part of me.) But there just aren’t set routines when I travel, and I struggle with that.

In Chicago, I’m incredibly routine-driven. I do certain things in the morning, certain things in the afternoon, and certain things at night. And it works. Sure: I’m out in the “field” a couple of times per week, but I always have at least three days per week during which I’m either at home or in a coffee shop, doin’ my usual thing. At home and while on the road, though, all that flies out the window. Of course I’ll have breakfast with a friend instead of Routine A. Of course I’ll skip Routine B to attend a wine festival. Of course I’ll go MIA and forget about Routine C to wander around Manhattan. Duh!

I’ve been away for nearly three weeks at this point, and have so much to share. I have a zillion ideas running through my head, especially after last week’s “cry for help” post. (THANK YOU! And thank you for the emails!) And yet here I am, falling back on what’s easiest and quickest: yet another set of photos… of me, wearing yet another flowy blouse and pair of white skinny jeans because not much else works right now.

On one hand, I’m proud of myself for taking it easy while home. I’m pregnant, after all, and I don’t get that much time with my family and friends. And this is just a blog, after all. On the other hand, I’m feeling unsatisfied on the creativity front. I don’t like rushing through posts, as creating posts is, like, my favorite thing ever. (Besides using Lightroom!) I guess I just can’t wait to dive into some of the topics you suggested last week, cull through all my photos, tell stories, and share, share, share.

I wonder how travel bloggers do it. They have all these adventures and amazing experiences (way cooler than my Pennsylvania/Connecticut/New York/ Massachusetts travels), and they’re somehow able to pack all their content and ideas into a few posts, while busy and tired and overextended. How and when do they do it? Late at night when their companions are sleeping?

Travel bloggers, you are pretty awesome. Show me your ways.

Dad, once again, thanks for taking these photos for me before dinner in Philadelphia. You’re amazing. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Love you so much!