Even though it’s summertime in Europe, Ireland can still be quite chilly and wet. The warmest month this year was probably July. Outside of that, I did need lots of layers. These are the jackets I brought with me this year. The one I got the most mileage out of was my denim jacket with pockets from Zara. it’s a little boxier but I really liked how roomy the interior pockets were. I could stick a water bottle in there if I needed to. Sometimes if I went to a concert and wanted to be bag free, this was the ideal jacket. The other indispensable layer was my North Face slim profile vest with zip pockets. This was so easy to layer and gave me the extra warmth that I needed. I also brought a beige microfiber midi-length trench coat from Zara. It’s unlined which helps for packing but it still looks more polished for nicer occasions. When it’s really cold, like when I first got to Ireland in May, I would wear all my layers. I keep a lightweight pink raincoat from Dunnes at my sister’s place in Dublin since it’s the only place I travel to that rains that much.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

I always bring a swimsuit when I travel for the beach or for the pool. At the gym I’ve joined in Dublin, they have a nice sauna which I can take advantage of. I keep them in a wet bag with a pair of swim goggles which is a waterproof bag that  keeps the rest of my belongings dry in case my bikini doesn’t dry before I have to pack and move on.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

Another thing I like to have when I travel is a pair of flips flops for going to the beach or pool. Sanuks are my favorite for actually having to walk around and go to the beach. The thicker foot bed provides a bit of cushioning and support for my feett. And I like having a fabric strap that doesn’t chafe my toes. The downside of all this is that they’re slower to dry.   But for Ireland, it’s not really beach weather here so I’ve switched to a pair of Ipanema flip flops which I mostly wear to the gym as shower shoes. They have a slimmer profile making them a better fit for my gym tote and they dry instantly. I wouldn’t want to actually walk around in them for very long but they’re great to slip into once you get to your hotel room and your feet want to escape your shoes.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

My favorite brand of socks are Smartwool. They are the most durable. I get the Smartwool secret sleuth no show socks.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

One of the most indispensable things whether I’m traveling or not are a good pair of sunglasses. Don’t go too cheap here because you want the UVA and UVB protection. My favorite pair of Diors probably lasted 10 years. A couple summers ago I picked up a pair of Benjees at a farmers market in LA. They’re made from sustainable bamboo and the main selling point is that they float. So if they get knocked off in the water, I have a chance of recovering them. Mine are made from a recycled skateboard. Another thing that I find important in glasses are spring hinges for fit and comfort. I don’t wear a hat much in LA but with my dark tresses I absolutely need one for Europe in the summertime. I love a wide-brimmed hat in a light or neutral color. My favorite one was packable and had a chin strap which made it perfect for bike rides and boat rides. That one finally succumbed to one of my many adventures and blew off in the Adriatic sea but it had a great run.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

One of my best buys while traveling has been a collapsible matte vinyl orange tote. I found it a shop in Barcelona for 10 euros. I assumed it would fall apart after one summer but now I’ve had it for at least 5 years. It lays fairly flat but it still has some structure to it. I’ve used it as a beach bag, a pool bag, a gym bag. A couple things that I really like about it are the faux leather handles which make it more comfortable on my shoulders and the full zipper on top so that it can be closed all the way. The matte vinyl texture means I can wipe it down. I’ve spilled entire water bottles in there, had food leak out of containers and sand all over the bottom. I can easily wipe it down and let it dry. This summer it’s been my daily gym tote, I can fit a towel and shower toiletries and find things because it has a bit of structure to it. I bought a Gaudi inspired printed tote a few summers ago but the handles ripped out where they were attached to the bag after one season. So back to my orange tote.    Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

When I travel, I usually opt for a crossbody bag. It’s important to be hands free but keep a few essentials on my person at all times. I wanted to find the smallest crossbody purse that still had an exterior pocket for my phone, arguably the one thing that I reach for most. An interior pocket for a few cards and then space for glasses, passport, boarding pass, phone battery pack and cord. I found a cheap off-white one on Amazon that still had just enough space for some lip balm and a small container of mints too.   I decided to bring a nicer, roomier twig colored Elizabeth and James saddle bag purse with a crossbody strap this summer. My sister and brother-in-law got a car since my last visit. I would carry a backpack often last summer because I needed to always have a raincoat and umbrella handy for Ireland’s fast-changing weather. Now I can usually get away with leaving my jacket or umbrella in the car.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

I’ve had a variety of transit day outfits. A go to outfit that is comfortable and well-suited for the days that I am flying or on a train. It feels effortless because it’s one less thing to think about.   Last year I noticed that I much prefer dresses in my daily routine and wanted to find a dress that could handle these transit days. I found a Tory Burch dress. It's almost a perfect travel dress. The bright multicolored batik flower print camouflages small stains. It’s sleeveless and easy to throw a jacket on. It requires no special undergarments or none at all really. It has a side zipper. Dresses with a back zipper can sometimes be uncomfortable and press into the back sitting or lying on it. The fabric is a lovely breathable cotton with just enough weight to keep wrinkles at bay. It’s a bit of a mumu shape, the loose flowy style is not fussy but manages to still feel chic. Tea length is ideal, long enough to be covered and protected but not tripping over it. And just like my travel loafers, it goes well from airplane to roaming the city to dinner at a nice restaurant. If I had one wish, it would be that it had pockets.    Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

A couple years ago I started taking pictures of every outfit I wanted to bring on my summer trip including the purse, shoes, belt, hat, sweater or jacket and any accessories in an attempt to anticipate and prepare for a wide range of activities. That album was Europe 2017. Anything that could only be used once, I would leave behind. All the pieces had to work well together. This is the premise of a capsule wardrobe. I was in Europe for almost 2 months, 9 countries, lots of nice dinners and a wedding. I had five belts to remember and I grabbed all the correct ones since it was easy to consult the album.   I made another album for Europe 2018. My base was Dublin where it was chillier but whenever I would hop over to the Mediterranean, it was a breeze to scan through the album for warmer outfits and pack quickly.    This year I consulted last year’s album and noticed what I wore often and what stayed on the sidelines so I made adjustment for this summer since I was back in Dublin visiting family. I was also coming in May when it was still quite cold by LA standards so I added more layers which I definitely needed.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

A couple years ago I started taking pictures of every outfit I wanted to bring on my summer trip including the purse, shoes, belt, hat, sweater or jacket and any accessories in an attempt to anticipate and prepare for a wide range of activities. That album was Europe 2017. Anything that could only be used once, I would leave behind. All the pieces had to work well together. This is the premise of a capsule wardrobe. I was in Europe for almost 2 months, 9 countries, lots of nice dinners and a wedding. I had five belts to remember and I grabbed all the correct ones since it was easy to consult the album.   I made another album for Europe 2018. My base was Dublin where it was chillier but whenever I would hop over to the Mediterranean, it was a breeze to scan through the album for warmer outfits and pack quickly.    This year I consulted last year’s album and noticed what I wore often and what stayed on the sidelines so I made adjustment for this summer since I was back in Dublin visiting family. I was also coming in May when it was still quite cold by LA standards so I added more layers which I definitely needed.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!