Tip #1: While road tripping, be sure to bring along someone else who enjoys road trips as much as you do. In this case, that would be my mom. We’ve road tripped numerous times to Savannah and back, so heading to St. Louis for a 24 hour whirlwind was a piece of cake.
It also helps if your companion doesn’t mind driving part of the way home too.
Tip #2: While stopping for dinner in your old college town, be sure to find the only health food store within a 100 mile radius. That way, you and your companion can buy a whole bunch of food that you really don’t need. Anyone other than my mom would not have understood my (okay, our) need to stop there and see what they had in store.
The goods: rice crackers, almonds, dark chocolate (probably the best dark chocolate I’ve ever eaten) almonds, apples, Raw Revolution bars.
And organic shampoo and conditioner — just ‘cuz.
Tip #3: Target trips are necessary. One should go there multiple times for forgotten items, such as pajamas (mom) and wrapping paper (me).
Tip #4: Be prepared.
That means bring your breakfast along with you. Even if it means busting out the old bowls you used during your freshman year of college from Target (I sense a theme here). You will thank yourself later, especially since hotel breakfasts do not have anything gluten free, vegetarian, or dairy free. Just trust me.
We made our overnight oats at night, then stuck them in the microwave in the morning — delicious!
Road Trip tip #5: Always bring workout clothes — you never know if the hotel fitness room will be useable or not. Ours was — and it was next to the pool. Hot. Sweaty. Mess.
Tip #6: Enjoy the fact that you have an entire bed to yourself for a night and absolutely destroy it while you sleep.
Trip #7: Have a purpose for your road trip. Mine? One of my best friend’s bridal showers!
It was at a cute little “tea garden”, and the party room had floor to ceiling windows that let in great light.
I’m pretty sure I took about 25 pictures of the cute party favors her sister made everyone.
We’re kind of neurotic, and we absolutely have to take multiple pictures. Both of us have the same “good side” so we have to take one, switch sides, and then take another.
Regularly programmed posts resume tomorrow 
But for now, I have another busy day ahead of me. Church, lunch with the in-laws, and celebrating my brother in law’s birthday up north!
Question: Do you like road trips? Any funny road trip stories?
{ 75 comments… read them below or add one }
It looks like you guys have had the perfect road trip!
Have a great Sunday!
I forgot how much I love Giovanni products. They’re fantastic!
It sounds like you and your mom have a great relationship! And the overnight oats! Best ever. When I go on business trips to Europe I bring 2 bags - 1 bag of clothes and shoes [the smaller of two] and 1 bag full of food + my vitamix. I prepare everything myself!
I loveee road trips! Two years ago I drove to Michigan (from ny…so like 12ish hours) to spend new years with our friend. It was awesome, a super long car ride, but over all very fun. I love traveling in general actually!
Hope you enjoyed your time in St. Louis:)
One of the first road trips I ever went on without my family was with my two best friends to tour a college (Flager) and head to the beach…it was absolutely hysteria! We got lost twice, booked the wrong hotel, got a flat tire (and had absolutely NO idea how to fix it), got a parking ticket…yeah if it wasn’t so hilarious it would have been awful! Funny memory now though
Those little party favors are TOO cute!
I’ve never been on an actual road trip but last summer on our way back from Florida, I convinced my friends that we needed to make a detour to Marietta, GA to eat at a diner that was featured on Triple D…SOOOO worth it!
Looks like you and your mom had a great time! I love that last pic! You and your bestie look gorgeous!
Ah the roadtrip from Chicago to St. Louis… I’ve done it MANY times. And will be doing it again in April! (twice! weeeee!)
It’s fun having people ride along with you. I always send out the mass message in case any of my college friends want to ride along to see our mutual friends in StL. Makes the drive seem way faster…
and btw, your mom is just adorable.
Haha I love your tips. Having the same ‘good side’ is hilarious! I thought you looked great it both pics!
Road trips are so much fun!
I absolutely adore Giovanni Products!
Though their Shampoos and Conditioners are my favorite. 
I do like Road Trips, but I get bored easily in the car if I’m in them for too long. I get bored of being bored quite easily.
xoxox
Kathleen
LOVE this!! Road trips are the BEST!! As long as I have some dark choccie, I’m good!
And Chelsey you are so GORGEOUS!! Have a great time pretty girl
Road trips are so fun! I am the same way, have to pull over anytime I see a health food store because they are like a big kids Toys-R-Us for me
Gah..I’m horrible on roadtrips..oye. I commend you
Looks like you guys had a great time! Cute pics of you you and your friend! Love your outfit!
My favourite road trip partner is my mom too!
She has the best sense of direction, so we never get lost haha.
Cute pics of you and your friend! It looks like it was a beautiful shower!
I totally have a good side too! It makes all the difference in pictures!
Road trips are so much fun! Especially girly road trips!
I was at Naturally Yours last night too! Have a good Sunday!
I don’t mind road trips, so long as I can get out and stretch every now and then. I HATE the way home though, it seems to take forever!
I love road trips! The second time I ever saw my (now) husband we road-tripped it across the country! Obviously, we got along very well with packed lunches, re-wearing clothes and having hours to just talk
That had to be love!
I never though about bringing my own oats, soaking them overnight and heating them up in the morning on a road trip! What a great idea
I love roadtrips! I am planning my next one, currently.
And I always forget pajamas. Beautiful shower pics!
How fun! Where are you going?
Ahh it looks like you had so much fun! On a road trip with my padre, it was AMAZING to each have a giant bed to ourselves, you best know that I took up the whole thing, I’m not sure how but it happened. Slash I brought all of my own food too, it made it so much easier! You’re right, there are no options at hotel breakfasts!
Looks like fun! And I do enjoy road trips if my destination is favorable.
I take multiple pics, too!! Have to have LOTS to choose from because I am not photogenic at all, LOL.
I love this post. I think the only person I could take with me on a road trip is my bf because he’d be the only one to go with me to a Whole Foods and to take oats for breakfast. All my friends would think I was crazy and go to McDonalds
The Husband would humor me too!
I kid you not, I am roadtrippimg as we speak. Don’t worry, I’m not driving. All I have to say is thank god for a family as obsessed with food and WF as I am and for the IPhone!
Okay, I’m glad you weren’t driving - that would be scary!!!
Sounds like you had fun. I personally HATE road trips!!!
For some reason i thought those two Ty birds were so cute.
I thought those birds were super cute too which is why I haaaad to takea picture of them!
Aw, looks like such a fun road trip! I would be all about scoping out a new health food store too
I have a love/hate relationship with road trips. 3-4 hours is my max time in a car or I start getting CRANKY and make people hate me. I don’t blame them.
Surprisingly, I’m not cranky on road trips!
I love the picture of your mom at Target
I totally agree with bringing workout clothes - I never travel without them. And I always pack a ton of snacks because I get hungry so often (and no one wants to be around me when I’m hungry haha).
HAHAHA YES!!! I’m so glad someone else does the side switch. My best friend and I have the same good sides too, and we used to bicker about it until we decided that two pictures is so much easier. Glad someone else shares the rationale. Totally normal, right?
I love that you stopped at the health food store. And that you have the same hot pink plastic Target bowls that I do. Those things were impossible to eat quietly from, did you ever notice that??
Totally normal - every weekend in college when there were photo shoots (naturally), we would always have to switch!
When I saw your mom in the first picture, I was like I KNOW where she is and then I kept reading. You were in my town. I wish I would have know because I would have come and “stalked” you because I would love to meet you. Next time you come to town, PLEASE let the blog world/ me know so that I can meet you!
(hope you dont think I am crazy, but I would really like to meet another blogger from illinois!)
Oh Lindsay!!! I would have definitely let you know. I forgot you lived in Normal! I’m there a lot, I’ll le tyou know the next time I’m down!
Cant wait! We will have to get Paige from Running Around Normal to meet up with us too!
omg you are PREPARED!!! i love your healthy food stock up and oatmeal bowls!! and hahaah i totally understand about the good side bad side thing.. luckily my best friend and i have opposite good sides so it works out PERFECTLY
wow- you were ready for anything!! that is impressive
How was STL? That is my home (where I am from) and can’t wait to go back and visit!!
We never really made it to the city. My friend lives in Belleville, and that’s where the shower was!
I just convnced my sister to fly out here in June and make the drive home with me when I move back to Wisconsin. I’ve never road tripped with her before, but she’s pretty chill, so I hope it works out! My mom and I could NEVER do 1400 miles together!
Fuuuuun! You should make a pit stop in Chi-town.
Looks like you had a great time! I like “mini” road trips…this means < 6 hours. I got my first speeding ticket during a road trip. It wasn't funny at the time, but now when I think back, it was kinda sorta funny because my parents were with me!!! Oh well, you live and learn!
your mom is too cute! Love her face in the pic in target shopping for pajamas! Road trips with moms are the best!
I love love road trips! When my husband comes back from deployment, we’re going on a trip to the Grand Canyon.
Looks like a fun trip.
I love your Mom’s expression holding the PJs.
What a cute tea party!
PS- Totally proud of you with your grocery store purchases…I am sure you could have done a lot more damage.
And at Target, too.
I LOVE green & blacks dark chocolate..It’s the only kind I buy!!
I’m totally the worst person to take on a road trip! I’m the one who has to pee every 3o minutes!
me too!!
Snacks are ABSOLUTELY necessary
Awww your mom is too cute!!!
I love road trips but I’m ALWAYS The one that needs to pee!!! hahaha so I guess most people probably don’t like me as their road trip buddy
but I’m REALLY good at making road trip mixes!
awww fun road trip with your momma! Love how prepared you were. I haven’t been on a road trip in forever! I’m car-less in NYC and my fam is in Wisconsin…so flying it is!!!
Fun!
Wondering- have you ever been told that you look like Reese Witherspoon??
I totally see it in these photos- cute
I have definitely been told that before - and thank you!
This looks like such a fun trip!! I love Green & Black’s chocolate. Might have to go in search of some now…!
That Green&Blacks chocolate is the best chocolate EVER! And it sounds like you had a great time
Hmm, maybe I *am* actually photogenic, but I just haven’t discovered my good side yet.
I love giovanni products they are the best! I also love roadtrips and making stops for snacks and things you forget along the way. Glad you and your mom had fun
I’ve been loving the Giovanni products too - my hair is so soft!
Love this-looks like such a great time! I love roadtrips (as long as they’re not TOO long!)…just the packing up the car and go mentality is great:)
The favors are adorable!
No road trips for me, I’m horrible in the car and crazy crabby!
These are fun tips! I love road trips - I usually stock up on the same types of snacks and bring something to make breakfast in the hotel. Billy and I always switch turns driving every 1.5-2 hours so nobody gets burned out. I’m in charge of snacks - he’s in charge of music. And we pull over to take pictures if something is truly photo-worthy.
What a beautiful bridal shower!! I love roadtrips, ESPECIALLY with others who like to drive because I, for one, am not a fan of driving myself. I’d rather be the passenger then have to focus on the road for hours anyday
I’m about to go on an overnight work trip..definitely going to look for the gym FIRST!:) I love working out in new places.
Haha how fun! I’m not a huge fan of road trips but maybe I’d go with you! haha you are so prepared! That is half the battle!
I have those SAME bowls from Target. Mine are pink purple green and teal. Must be a crowd favorite if they bring them back year after year!
i also subscribe!!
How fun!! My sister, aunt, mom and I all took a road trip this past weekend to for my cousin’s bridal shower. We are just too cool for words, I think
ugh grammar. *weekend TOO
i’d definitely agree with taking my mum - essential companion on long road journeys! as well as really good snacks, of course