Samantha K Schmidt

I'm excited to debut this series. I love exploring little towns in Florida, but it's hard to know what to do when it's your first time visiting. Sure you can get a lot of advice from google or tripadvisor, but they tend to be all of the run-of-the-mill sort of things. I thought I'd give you an idea of how I spend a day in some of my favorite towns in Florida. Winter Garden is a quaint town just 15 miles outside of Orlando. It's one of the few places that has maintained an old town feel while still being one of the trendiest places in Central Florida. Plant Street is the popular downtown area loaded with shops and restaurants on either side. What makes this town truly unique, though, is the gorgeous bike trail that runs directly through town. Coffee: You can't go to Winter Garden without a visit to Axum Coffee . The atmosphere feels like home, the drinks are an art form, and the story is inspiring. Axum uses its profits to support communities around the w...

For us, it took a long time to decide where we wanted to go on our honeymoon. We toyed with the idea of going abroad, but realized that was a little out of budget for us. The next thought was Hawaii. So many people go to Hawaii on their honeymoon, and I definitely liked the idea of being by the beach, but the reality was neither one of us would be able to relax and do close to nothing for an entire week. We are the kind of people who are always moving. Finally, we decided that we both love California, we love road trips, and we've always wanted to visit what we call "hipster cities" like Portland and Seattle. We boarded a flight from Orlando to LAX and spent our first two nights in beautiful Santa Monica.  The second night of our trip we decided to head over to Venice and try a restaurant suggested to us by the founder of Toms shoes. We ran into him on our flight and Eddie asked for some suggestions. It turned out his taste was a little too outside the box. We ...

Honolulu, Hawaii - Honolulu is a great destination for any couple. The beaches are perfect for the newlyweds who want a calming scene or for those that want a little more adventure. Hotels in the area boast amazing spas as well as thrill-seeking activities. Enjoy a massage or a hike up an active volcano. It also offers all the amenities of a big city without the price tag of going overseas. Trinidad, California  - For the couple looking to spend some time in the quiet outdoors, this small town is the perfect setting. It's nestled in the heart of the Redwood National Forest with hundreds of hiking trails for the amateur and the advanced. The cozy inns are perfect for getting some alone time and the views will blow you away. Santorini  - It may be one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, and that's because this Greek island has a little bit of everything. The beautiful beaches and elegant wineries make it the perfect location for relaxation. On the ...

Last week my husband, my mom, and I visited Chicago for my sister-in-law's wedding. My husband and his family are all from Illinois, so they are used to the visiting this bustling big city, but it was a new experience for my mom and I. We stayed a few days after the wedding to get the most of the big city. Seeing Lake Michigan up close was mind-blowing. This huge lake seems to be never ending and easily mistaken for the ocean by foreigners and children alike. I couldn't resist posting this picture of my husband and his mom behind him, looking super chic waiting to take wedding photos. My mom and I enjoyed the beautiful view from The Signature Room on top of the Hitchcock Building. The hubby snapped some silly pics on our last day together at Navy Pier.

This week I had the opportunity to take a few friends to one of my favorite travel destinations. St. Augustine is a Florida treasure filled with history and culture. The city is only a short drive from Central Florida, so we gathered our cameras and headed east. If you are planning a trip to Florida, St. Augustine should certainly be on your list. Not only does the city date back to the 1500's, but the atmosphere is the closest thing to island life outside of the Florida Keys. The city streets are lined with locally owned businesses with handmade crafts and restaurants with fresh seafood straight out of the Atlantic. Here are just a few of the must-do's when you are in the city. - Take an Old Town Trolley Tour . Not only does the tour give you an opportunity to learn the history of this amazing city, it also allows you to hop on and off at different locations without taking a taxi.  - Go inside the Castillo de San Marcos . This architectural gem was built in 169...

Summer is a great time to go the beach and catch some rays, but after a day of body surfing (or real surfing if you're cooler than me) your skin and hair can be in a state of chaos. Here are a few things that I keep in my beach cosmetic bag to help me freshen up after a day in the sun. 1. Deodorant It's an obvious choice at the start of your day, but you may forget to bring it to the beach. It's likely that your newly tanned skin is dry and in need of some perspiration control. I love this fresh cucumber scent by Dove. 2. Dry Shampoo or Shine Spray I love the texture of my hair after being in the ocean, but the salty sea can leave your hair feeling dry or oily depending on your hair type. For oily hair, spray a bit of dry shampoo at your roots to freshen up. Batiste has a variety of scents and colors to choose from, so you don't have to worry about dusty gray roots. Dry hair needs a douse of moisture. This shine spray from Moroccan Oil is great becau...

Vidcon has finally arrived! I've been waiting months for this moment. I have been purposefully building my blog and YouTube channel over the past year, and I am so excited to finally take part in this amazing opportunity. For those of you who have never attended Vidcon here are a few essentials to include in your packing. You'll be well prepared for every vlogging opportunity. 1. Backpack : This Hershel backpack is my new favorite accessory. It organizes all my tech gear perfectly, and it has extra room for merch. 2. Laptop : A laptop is necessary if you plan on doing any editing. I use my phone and iPad for editing as well, but it's a lot more efficient to use my laptop. 3. iPad/Kindle : It's important to give yourself downtime during the busy Vidcon schedule. Plus, you'll want to be reading your favorite Youtuber's books while you are there. 4. Mini Tripod : This mini tripod is great for traveling. It's perfect for desktop filming with your ph...

Lee University Bonlife Coffee Downtown Cleveland

I have been in nonstop travel mode this month. I just got home from traveling the midwest, and in just a few days I'm headed to the first of two conferences. Like every fashionista, I like to change things up when it comes to luggage. I love finding trendy pieces that can travel to any location. Here are my favorite bags for every occasion. Overnighter Henri Bendel Weekender Bag Overnight bags are great for short weekend getaways. Whether it's a short trip to the beach or a wedding weekend, these bags are big enough for all your glamorous accessories, but don't leave room for overpacking. Vintage Suitcase Christian Dior Vintage Briefcase This stylish luggage is best for road trips or train rides. It makes a statement, but the statement shouldn't be "Why did I decide to lug this thing across the airport?" Printed Suitcase Loudmouth Expandable Suitcase For longer trips and air travel go with a rolling printed suitcase. I can't tell you h...

I spend way too much of my free time browsing Tumblr . I always love the faded rustic images. I'm no photographer, but I like recreating some of my inspirations when I get the chance. This weekend I decided to do a bit of hipster hopping around town. I picked out some well known "hipster" hangouts in Orlando and snapped a few shots while enjoying the ambiance of these great locations. You'll have to excuse my stereotyping. I considered calling them urban independent businesses, but that name was too long. If you like rustic decor set in an urban setting around people that have (or at least enjoy talking about) tattoos, these are the places for you. If you are ever in the area be sure to check them out yourself. Zacch's Barbershop Normally, going with your boyfriend to get a haircut seems mundane, but this barbershop was worth the visit. Zacch runs a one man shop in Mt. Dora. The place has great appeal, and the haircut is under $15. Now if only a lad...

I'm a minimalist at heart, but I love to have variety in my wardrobe when I travel. Part of any girl's wardrobe is having the right bag for every occasion. I have three bags that I take on every trip. These travel essentials can be placed one inside the other like Russian dolls to help you minimize what you have to carry. These must-haves will give you variety without the bulk. 1. Wristlet This wristlet by Fossil is perfect for your essentials. Use this for your ID, passport, some cash, and lip gloss (that's an essential right?).

Hello Luxers! Welcome to my Summer Lovin' series. You saw the first entry yesterday about my first ever cruise experience. This series is going to continue through the summer with tips and tricks as well as my personal summer experiences.