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Emily Villere Dixon

Travel

GAMEDAY | Away Game Travel Essentials

Gameday, Lifestyle Travel November 7, 2019

We are on the GEAUX again this weekend for one of the biggest college football games of the year! This is my fourth season traveling with the team, and it is one of the coolest experiences I have with this team and athletics staff.

When we headed to Tuscaloosa two years ago, I wrote a post on how to pack for an away game, and this year I’m sharing some of my newest favorite items to bring along.

1. LO & SONS BACKPACK

We get a new team-issued Nike backpack each year, so I’ve always traveled with a backpack as my carryon for team flights and travel in general. I find it to be the easiest, most comfortable and most efficient way to tote stuff around. I wanted to upgrade to a more adult/professional version of the backpack this year, so I bought this one from Lo & Sons. It has multiple pockets for organization and the backpack itself is pretty light. You can also take off the straps and make it a tote. I am very pleased with my investment (especially since I bought it at a discount), and I use it every day for work and on any of my other travel trips.

2. PORTABLE PILL ORGANIZER

This little box has been a game changer! I bought this portable pill organizer from Amazon a couple of years ago with the intention of using it for travel, and now I use it every single day. It stays with me at all times in my purse and I’m not having to carry around bulky bottles. You never know how you might feel on a trip, so I stock mine with Tylenol, Zyrtec, Benadryl…you name it! My little organizer has proven very beneficial on every trip.

3. TRAVEL TOILETRIES

I keep my toiletries bag fully packed throughout the entire football season and afterwards. I have mini sizes of everyday products that I use, hair ties, toothbrush, etc. and I try to refill it after every trip so it’s ready to go for the next one. This is an easy way to eliminate extra time and decisions when it comes to packing. Since I’m the world’s worst packer, I need distractions at an ultimate minimum!

This football season I am working with local haircare line Lubricity Labs whose products focus on managing frizz. Not only do Louisiana Ladies deal with constant frizz, but all the places we travel to for games are in the South, so I need to be frizz-free on the geaux as well! My travel sized bottles are perfect for away games.

(Since I have been using this shampoo and this conditioner, I can tell a noticeable difference in how long it takes my hair to air dry and how my curls are not so out of control!)

 

4. CROSSBODY BAG

Just like a backpack, a crossbody bag is the way to GEAUX when you’re on a trip. Traveling is made much easier when you are hands-free. My trusty Henri Bendel crossbody is no longer available, but I found a few new options for this season, like the Trinity Bag by Jon Hart. This style offers three bags in one, which is perfect for the girl on the GEAUX! It helps to organize your carryon items into the different bags for easy access plus one of the bags is clear so you are already stadium-approved for gameday! One of my favorite parts of this purse is that it is completely customizable from the color of each bag to the monogram you choose.

5. HAND SANITIZER + HAND WIPES

I typically feel a little icky when I am on a plane, and I always have to wash any clothes that I wore on a plane and sanitize my hands non-stop. This hand sanitizer smells like Whole Foods, and every time I use it, someone from a different row on the plane will smell it and ask me for some! I also love these hand towelettes that come in a variety of different scents. I pack these in my toiletry bag, purse and backpack so I can use them at all times. After I wipe them on my hands, I wipe off the area around me.

I would love to hear if there are any travel essentials you use that are super helpful when you are on the GEAUX! We only have two regular season away games left and at least a bowl game…but hopefully more than that!!

GEAUX TIGERS!

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Travel | Austin, Texas City Guide

Lifestyle City Guide, Travel July 31, 2018

One of our all-time favorite places to visit is Austin, Texas, because there is so much to do and see in this city. Each time Shea and I travel to central Texas, our to-do list includes tons of outdoors activities paired with eating and drinking – our favorite pastimes! Austin is a very laid back city, so we don’t typically frequent extremely fancy restaurants or events while we are there. We live in swimsuits, jeans, shorts, wet hair, no makeup…pretty much the perfect vacation attire.

I put together this Austin City Guide that includes where we like to stay, our favorite things to do, plus places to eat and grab cocktails.

SIDENOTE: Remember Tiger fans, LSU travels to Austin next September to play the University of Texas. Use this city guide to get your game plans ready!

austin texas travel guide

— WHERE TO STAY —

AIRBNB – There are so many options and different neighborhoods when it comes to deciding where to stay in Austin. We have only stayed downtown with Whole Foods as our anchor point (see more about that below) when picking out a certain property. I like to stay in this area, because there are endless bars and restaurants within walking distance of where you stay or they are just a short/cheap Uber ride away. It’s also only a couple of miles from Zilker Park, which we frequent a lot during our trips.

THE DRISKILL HOTEL – The first time we stayed in Austin, we stayed at the historic Driskill Hotel located in the heart of Austin on 6th street. The decor is stunning and the history of the hotel is everywhere you look. Even though AIRBNB is cheaper, I’m glad we experienced one trip at the Driskill. Oh, and the migas for breakfast is ev-er-y-thing!!

— FOOD + DRINK —

IRENE’S – Fun, hip and laid back atmosphere less than a block off of 6th street. We enjoyed a couple of glasses of frozen rose’ on the porch and what I would describe as elevated bar food – fancy french onion dip served with ruffles and delicious chicken wings. The ivy wall is also begging for you to take an Instagram pic…or seven.

24 DINER – This diner comes HIGHLY recommended by Austinites. It’s not your typical diner vibe, but described as “mid-century modern design with a big helping of Austin eclectic.” They offer farm-to-table and organic produce whenever possible, and the menu covers everything from housemade buttermilk biscuits and gravy to salads and burgers, and my favorite – 24 Hash.

RANCH 616 – Go for the Ranch Water and stay for the South Texas inspired cuisine. Ranch Water is a signature here, but be careful with how many you drink. This delicious concoction goes down smoothly, but can easily sneak up on you after a few glasses!

HUT’S HAMBURGERS – Hut’s is an Austin landmark that’s been in its present location since 1969. From the decor to the food, it is the perfect place for a classic hamburger with a side of french fries and onion rings. You might as well finish your meal with an old fashioned milk shake for the most nostalgic meal.

“TNT” TACOS AND TEQUILA – TNT offers any combination of tacos you could ever think of. I had the steak relleno and the shrimp diablo tacos with a side of poblano mac ‘n cheese and a watermelon margarita…I’m drooling as I type this. It was that delicious.

LITTLE WOODROW’S – There are Little Woodrow’s all over Texas, but the one on 6th street shares the outdoor patio with the ONETACO food truck. I’m talking some of the BEST tacos I have ever eaten…and I eat A LOT of tacos. Sit on the porch and enjoy a couple of beers with your tacos while you enjoy the heart of 6th street.

irenes austin texas
irenes austin texas
irenes austin texas

CHUY’S – The original right by Barton Springs. I love Chuy’s. I named my dog after this place. The jalapeno ranch dip is one of the most delicious things on earth and the margaritas (or Texas-tinis) are top-notch. Try a daily special or classic fajitas, but you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.

THE PICNIC – This food truck park is located in the heart of Austin and you are sure to find a taste for anybody’s appetite. From BBQ to cupcakes to Thai Food and popsicles, there is something for everyone here. They also have a pavilion where you can sit and eat plus air conditioned restrooms.

THE GROVE – We stopped by The Grove for a pre-dinner snack and cocktail before going to a later dinner. See the theme here? There is a ton of outdoor seating and fresh small plates including ahi tuna poke and multiple types of bruschetta to choose from.

SHAKE SHACK– I know this isn’t local to Austin, but I just love a Shake Shack and we don’t have one near us. If you are going to only have on hamburger, clearly go to Hut’s, BUT if you’re going to have two, stop at Shake Shack.

TINIEST BAR IN TEXAS – Everything is bigger in Texas…everything but this tiny bar. The bar itself is super tiny, but the patio is big enough for a party. Stop by for a quick drink to see how this tiny bar fits in the middle of downtown Austin!

THE DOGWOOD – The Dogwood is located right on 6th street and offers a fun bar atmosphere paired with a full service menu. Depending on the weather or the crowds, you can sit inside or outside on their expansive, well-decorated patio.

WHOLE FOODS – I know it sounds crazy adding a grocery store to this list, BUT it is the most amazing grocery store that you have ever been to. This flagship Whole Foods store offers in-store events like beer tastings, multiple made-to-order breakfast, lunch and dinner options plus an amazing selection of delicious take-home meals. We visit the store at least once a day on each of our trips and like to book our Airbnb in this area.

THE SALT LICK – The Salt Lick is a little outside of Austin, located in Driftwood, Tx. It is a BBQ staple in Texas, and everyone knows about it. The menu is cut and dry, simple, basic BBQ, and Shea and I easily split a plate of food. Before you go, remember it is BYOB (you can buy on property from their store and their own vineyard) AND CASH ONLY!

salt lick bbq
salt lick bbq
salt lick bbq
salt lick bbq salt lick bbq

— WHAT TO DO —

BARTON SPRINGS POOL – The pool is absolutely beautiful and is fed from underground springs with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees, which is VERY cold. It’s an interesting concept, because as you are swimming in the “pool”, you can feel rocks and underwater plants while fish swim by you! You can’t bring food or drinks into the pool area to help preserve the area, so be aware of that before you go.

We like to pack a picnic from Whole Foods and eat at the creek alongside the pool where all the dogs play. We also like to hike the Barton Springs greenbelt and swim as we hike. This year was super dry and there were no areas to swim, so that’s something to check before going too.

KAYAK – Kayaking is a must each time we go to Austin, because it is one of the best ways to see the city. We rent our kayaks from Zilker Park Boat Rentals, which is located on the banks of Barton Creek. They also offer canoes and stand up paddle boards. We head out to Lady Bird Lake and kayak straight through downtown. The water is a lot warmer on the lake compared to the fresh water springs, so hop out and cool off!

FLOAT THE RIVER – If you have never floated the river in Texas, you have to do this! You technically don’t float in Austin but in the surrounding area. The Comal, San Marcos and Guadalupe are the three most popular rivers to float. Alcohol is allowed on the river, but make sure your specific containers are allowed before going. Also, check the weather to see how high the water is because that will determine how long or how short your float time will last. Last time we went, we used the company ATXcursions who drive you from Austin to float and then back to the city. Sometimes floating can be a production, so they take all of the planning out of it. Pack an ice chest of cold beer and snacks and relax on the river!

WHAT TO PACK: If you are planning to do some of the outdoor activities I’ve mentioned, be sure to bring some “river shoes”. I picked up this pair of Teva sandals before our last trip, and they were a game changer!

austin texas
austin texas
austin texas
austin texas austin texas

WATERLOO RECORDS – This was one of my favorite things we did on our last trip. Waterloo Records has been awarded 36 consecutive Austin Music Awards and was named one of Buzzfeed’s best record stores in the world. It’s almost like a step back in time, with one side devoted to CDs and funny gifts and the other is purely records only. On Tuesday nights they host a Happy Hour where customers can shop while sipping on complimentary Shiner Bock beer and listen to live music. We picked up a few records when we were there – X by George Strait, Lungs by Florence and the Machine and Babel by Mumford and Sons. Definitely try to stop in here!

MOUNT BONNELL – There is that one picture that everyone who goes to Austin has, and this is it. Mount Bonnell is a 775-foot-high outcrop along the eastern shore of Lake Austin, and you see the most picturesque view once you get to the top. It’s only 102 stairs to climb and is a breathtaking view of this part of the city.

waterloo records austin texas
hope gallery austin texas
waterloo records austin texas

HOPE OUTDOOR GALLERY – Located in downtown, the HOPE Outdoor Gallery is a community paint park and the only paint park of its kind in the United States. It is recognized as one of the Top 10 Artistic destinations in Texas, and you can register to participate in your own artwork by registering for a time slot. It’s a very neat concept celebrating local artists and educating the community through art.

AUSTIN BATS – This is a must-see…but only a one-time must-see. From March – November of each year, spectators begin lining up on the South Congress bridge hours before dusk to catch a glimpse of the bats waking up to hunt for the night. Nearly one and a half million bats live under this bridge, so it is quite the sight to see them all fly out!

TEXAS STATE CAPITOL – I took a formal tour of the Capitol when I was a kid, but if that’s not your cup of tea, just head down Congress and check out the grounds around the building. There are tons of shops and restaurants, and it’s a beautiful walk down Congress Avenue.

austin texas
austin texas
austin texas
austin texas

Each time we leave Austin, we already have a list of what we want to do on our next trip. If you have any recommendations of your own or any questions on what we’ve done, please let me know! I’m hoping to squeeze in another trip sometime next year now that Baton Rouge offers direct flights starting this fall. Again, remember that Tiger fans! I can’t imagine how much cooler Austin could get…until LSU comes to town!

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Travel | Los Angeles + Laguna Beach City Guide

Lifestyle City Guide, Travel April 25, 2018

My brother, Jacob, moved from New Orleans to Los Angeles a few years ago, and while I miss having him close, it sure is nice to have an excuse to visit LA throughout the year. Shea and I have traveled out there the last three spring breaks, so I keep updating this post with what we do and where we eat each time we go out there.

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Travel | Packing for an Away Game

Life in Football, Lifestyle Travel, Working in Sports November 3, 2017

I am literally the world’s worst packer. If there was an award given out, I would have two of them. Packing for vacation and packing for an away game during the football season require two very different methods. Away games are essentially only about 36 hours of travel. We arrive to the state we are playing in on Friday afternoon and head straight to the airport once the game is over on Saturday and immediately fly home to Baton Rouge. Since I only have a minimal timeframe to pack for, I feel like this is a much easier packing task to tackle. Here is what goes into packing for an away game.

packing-for-away-trip
packing-for-away-trip
packing-for-away-trip

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Friday Favorites: Travel Essentials

EVD Favorites EVD Favorites, Travel October 7, 2016

This week I was planning on packing up to head to Gainesville with the team for our game against Florida on Saturday. However, Hurricane Matthew had a different plan and our game was canceled. This is my first year to travel to away games with the team, and I bummed to be missing out on a trip to the swamp. Normally I only go to the bowl games each season, so this is exciting for me to be able to do travel all season long! I decided for this week’s Friday Favorites to share some of my favorite things to pack in my suitcase and carryon, even though I will be parked on my couch in Baton Rouge watching other football games this weekend.

1. Henri Bendel Jetsetter Backpack

Friday Favorites: Henri Bendel Jetsetter Backpack

I mean, the name says it all, so clearly I have to pack this bag with me when I travel! I devoted last week’s entire Friday Favorites post to this bag. I bought it this summer envisioning using it for away trips and it made the first one with me to Wisconsin. This is the mini version of this bag, and it is perfect for me.

2. Living Proof Frizz Fighting travel set

Friday Favorites: Travel Essentials

I have been using Living Proof products for a little over a year now and am very pleased with how they have worked. I will try anything that says it will combat frizz. (See any post-game interview that I am in and you will understand why!) I have also successfully racked up a ton of Sephora VIB Rouge points (will write more about this on the blog later, because this rewards system is a-ma-zing!) that have allowed me to get my hands on multiple free gifts of travel size Living Proof products. I keep these in my travel make-up bag at all times, so I don’t even have to pack it before I leave.

3. Beats Solo headphones

Friday Favorites: Travel Essentials

The year before I started working back at LSU the staff and team all received Beats headphones as one of their gifts from the Cotton Bowl. So, for the last four years I have felt so uncool not having a pair of Beats on trips when everyone else was wearing them. Shea bought me some for my birthday this past year, and I keep them with me in my backpack at all times. They are much better than the airplane headphones they give you to watch movies, and I like to use them to edit my videos.

4. lululemon vinyasa scarf

Friday Favorites: Travel Essentials

I use this scarf more as a blanket than a fashion accessory, because it is incredibly soft. It comes with me on car trips, airplane rides and any overnight trip I take. When we come home after an away game, we leave directly from the stadium, so there is no changing into comfy airplane clothes. All I have with me is my backpack with what I use in the pressbox and my purse. This scarf doesn’t take up too much space in my backpack, and I can easily take it with me for a comfier plan trip home. Also, these go on sale A LOT! 

5. Evian Facial Water Spray

Friday Favorites: Travel Essentials

The name of this product just sounds pretentious, BUT games in the beginning of the season down here can be VERY hot. Our game versus Auburn was set for 5pm, and I had the cutest gameday outfit thinking it would not be as hot as a normal day game. However, when we got the stadium it was unbearably hot, and I had to park myself in front of the misting fans on the sidelines until kickoff. This little spray bottle fits right in my purse and can give me a quick spritz of coolness while also helping set my makeup! With an 11am kickoff in The Swamp for our game versus Florida, I have a feeling I will need to use it!

This post was originally scheduled for two weeks ago before our trip to Auburn, AL, but sometimes taking blog pictures is such a pain and unneeded stress! I couldn’t get pictures for the last two items, stressed out about it and decided that I needed to focus on actually getting ready and packing for the trip. Sometimes I have to sit back and remember – this blog is for FUN, and if gets stressful that means it is more work, so who cares if I am late on a post that doesn’t answer to anyone!

Emily Signature

EVD Favorites | Henri Bendel Jetsetter Backpack

EVD Favorites, Gameday, Style Friday Favorites, Sideline Style, Travel September 16, 2016

Last week’s Friday Favorites included some of my must-have items that helped get me ready for the start of football season. Today, I am sharing with you my newest purse that I picked up for gamedays – the Henri Bendel mini Jetsetter backpack, which made its way to Wisconsin with me for our first game and that I now wear each Saturday on the sidelines.

Friday Favorites: Henri Bendel Jetsetter Backpack

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emily villere dixon

A now thirty-something woman working in sports and reporting from the sidelines, who shares her love for Louisiana, getting dressed up and puppies right here.

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