Ask Hel Q & A + An Instagram Round Up

Happy Monday! This is my second “Ask Hel” post with an Instagram round up. You can read the first here!

Pretty simple concept, I answer all the questions I’ve been asked recently and share where I purchased things that have recently been featured on my Instagram.

 

A post shared by Helen || Hel On Heels (@helonheelsblog) on Dec 3, 2017 at 1:35pm PST

Hat | Sweater | Bag | Sunglasses

1. What are your tips for packing for international trips? Particularly in a carry on?

Great question! I actually have severe travel anxiety so I don’t like to pack in anything but a carry on. However, for long international trips that isn’t really an option. I love to use packing cubes, packing folders, or compression sets. The translucent compression line from Eagle Creek is my favorite. It keeps all of your items organized, prevents shifting (which causes wrinkles), and is translucent in case you get stopped and have to open your bag for security.

My other big tip is to plan ahead and lay everything out ahead of time. If you know what you are wearing every day of the trip, you won’t be tempted to throw in extra things you don’t need “just in case.” So you can avoid over-packing.

Oh! And pack your quart sized bag ahead of time too. Those things are tricky and can only hold so much…although I really try to stretch the limit. Check out this post from 2015 where I griped about pale people needing to fly too.

 

A post shared by Helen || Hel On Heels (@helonheelsblog) on Dec 12, 2017 at 5:25am PST

Dress

2. What are your favorite technology must-haves?

-Ok my current new favorite is this tassel that doubles as a phone charger! My super cool aunt gave me one for Christmas and it matches my book bag perfectly. Seriously, this is my new “can’t live without.”

Another must have is my Amazon Echo. We have the full sized version in the kitchen, and another Echo Dot that kind of floats around the house. It actually got moved to our new home gym (ah! stay tuned) last night in case one of us gets hurt or stuck under some weights, we can intercom the other person lol. That and play Spotify while we work out. The kitchen one we use to play Spotify while we cook and clean, set timers, make to-do lists and shopping lists, and more.

We also have a new Keurig knock-off that I love love love love love. It is under $35 and holds a much bigger cup than our single serve Keurig ever did. You can find it here! It is also K-Cup compatible so all of our K-cups can still totally be used. It’s also travel-sized so it takes up much less space on the counter and can go with us in case we are desperate for single-serve coffee on the go.

Ok, so I don’t own this yet, but it is on my wish list haha. I want this so badly.  My dad got one for Christmas and I heard it was one of the top gifts this year. This is a toilet bowl light so you can see in the dark. I don’t know why, but I must have the smallest bladder on the planet. I get up all the time in the middle of the night to pee, and our house is dark. I want this to see my end goal haha!

I don’t know, this is a hard question. I have so many things I use for blogging and on a daily basis, but I don’t know if that is particularly interesting.

A post shared by Helen || Hel On Heels (@helonheelsblog) on Dec 20, 2017 at 5:26am PST

Dress

3. Do you have a suggestion for a beauty product to remove fine lines around my lips?

-So, I would try to use a lip plumper with collagen to get a fuller lip that may erase fine lines. I have a couple lip plumpers I love. I use this one all the time from Soap and Glory. I also am adding this one from Dior to my must-try list because I have heard such great things. It’s a gloss, but sounds like a dream for full lips.

A post shared by Helen || Hel On Heels (@helonheelsblog) on Dec 17, 2017 at 10:41am PST

  Sweater | Earrings 

4. What fruit do you put in an infuser water bottle.

-I like “spa tasting water.” I stick to lemons, limes, and cucumber in some variety. I like sliced lemons and limes together. I like sliced lemon and cucumber together. Sometimes I throw mint leaves in or lemon and basil. I never go too watery with my fruits, so I avoid watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew, etc. Since you are already drinking water, I don’t really like to add extra water. I’m also not a huge fan of strawberries, but if you like them I think a strawberry mint water would be tasty! I always give my water plenty of time to infuse, so I usually slice and create my concoction the night before, put it in the middle chamber, fill with water and then let it work it’s magic over night. I do fill up my water bottle throughout the day. While it does still have the flavor, it’s never as good as that first pass.

A post shared by Helen || Hel On Heels (@helonheelsblog) on Dec 14, 2017 at 5:16am PST

Sweatshirt

5. Your favorite Queso Dip recipe.

So Dara over at The Southern Thing posted this recipe for restaurant style queso this week that I can’t wait to try. It looks SO yummy.

For parties, I’m a big fan of the Velveeta and Rotel dip. You just take a can of Rotel and a block of cubed Velveeta and put in the crock pot for two hours. It’s by far the easiest recipe and always a crowd-pleaser. We had it at Stephen’s birthday party last weekend and there was legitimately nothing left at the end of the night.

My favorite for Taco Tuesday or just a regular night at home where we make our own is this one. I like anything that can be put in a crockpot. I do not like jalapenos so I do not include them. Sometimes I nix the chilies too.

However, the MOST often, I pick up this brand at my local grocery store. I like the original flavor. It’s so good and does not last more than one day in our house.

 

A post shared by Helen || Hel On Heels (@helonheelsblog) on Dec 15, 2017 at 4:07am PST

Shirt

6. What are some tips to prevent licking your lips?

-This one came from my blog post last week about keeping your lips hydrated in the winter. I said one way to prevent chapped lips was to not lick them. I’m not an expert on this because I don’t actually lick my lips very often, but this is what I would do. I don’t want to mess up my lipstick so I would wear it all the time — or at least thick layers of lip balm or Chapstick. I also think it would be helpful to put something that tastes unappealing on your lips. Maybe a natural fish oil or something along those lines.

A post shared by Helen || Hel On Heels (@helonheelsblog) on Dec 5, 2017 at 4:16am PST

Top | Scarf (Similar)

7. Why were you so excited about Mississippi Magazine, I thought you lived in Atlanta?

-Ha! I do. So I have read the wedding register edition of Mississippi Magazine the second it comes in the mail every year since I was a little girl. This edition features the weddings of all the women (or men I guess) with a connection to Mississippi. My entire family (both sides) are from Mississippi, so this year for my birthday my mom included our wedding. We are featured on page A130 lol. 🙂 I was very excited because it is kind of a long-standing tradition in my house to pour through every page and look through all the details of every wedding, so I was beyond excited ours was included.

Ok! I think that’s a wrap!! You can go ahead and start getting in your questions for next time by using this form! Or you can just DM me, leave a comment, whatever! Have an awesome Monday!