Hey Y'all!! I've been to enough concerts and music festivals to know what should and shouldn't be brought. That is why on today's blog, I decided to give y'all my guide of what to bring and what to leave at home, as well as tips + tricks! Enjoy!

Need to save your phone battery?

Usually this is my number one priority because I'm a huge social media enthusiast. I really do have a problem where I get so distracted by social media. My tips are: use your phone usage wisely (wait to text people back, hold out when you want to use those fun photo apps, also do not record all the music on video if you want your phone to last! this will drain your battery faster), Close all apps on your phone when not using, wait to post a majority of your photos till the end of the night/the next morning (trust me on this). Also, If you need to check the time, wear a watch instead, this way you don't keep clicking your phone on! (Don't forget to bring your car charger and wall charger but leave in car because not every festival has a charging place)

What To Get Info on Before the Actual Festival Starts:

• Parking/shuttle (this is always a major problem with any major event with a lot of people)
• Good cheap food places around the Festival just incase you decide not to spend an arm and leg on that expensive festival food because lets face it 5 dollars for corn on the cob seems pretty expensive when you just spent all that money on a shuttle pass and your ticket to even go to the event.
• Make sure if you are staying at a hotel to look how far the distance is from the actual festival (I'm sure if you are an avid concert/festival goer, you already know this lol but this is without assuming you're staying at a camp ground)
• the closest Starbucks or coffee shop because if it's a 3-Day event, you're going to need it since you're probably going to be getting up in the mornings after staying out late (count for traffic, nobody can prepare you for that, it's inevitable) 
• The Weather! (rain or shine performances all day of everyday)
• If there is an app! (this will help instead of carrying a paper of all the times, be sure to map out which performances you want to go to & a rough idea when you take a lunch/dinner break)

Should I Bring a Purse or No?

I personally only carry around a small satchel or a wristlet for my I.D. & Money. You don't need to bring anything major really, it's a drag carrying a huge purse around all day especially during the summer festivals...Trust me you'll thank me later. ;) (You can also carry around a small back pack to your liking, but it will be checked when you get to the gate)

Want to bring a camera/folding chair/cooler/weapons?

Usually all but the folding chair is banned from most of the music festivals, but not all, just make sure on the websites. I wish that they would let camera's in, but that's only wishful thinking (I'm a shutterbug). I also know this goes without saying but leave all the weapons at home, because just because someone cut you in the beer line it doesn't give you a right to cut or shank them, yes they are crappy for doing that, but trust me, just enjoy the music. :)

What should I wear?

I'll be doing a blog next week on my favorite looks for the festival but hint: leave the heels at home. ;)

What I Suggest Bringing:

• Sunblock/sunglasses
• Cowboy hat/baseball hat
• Blanket/towel to sit on
• Money/I.D.
• Chapstick/lip gloss (sometimes I carry powder & blush with me too if I have the room so I can freshen up, otherwise if my car is within walking distance I just keep it in the car)
• Spray bottle with fan (it gets hot! especially with that humidity in the south)
• Pack of gum
• Bottled water (as long as it's allowed, again festivals vary on rules)
• Wet napkins/tissues
• Small Snack (again if allowed)
•  Especially if you have kids a few band-aids wouldn't hurt to bring just incase.
• Hair tie(s), if you have long hair you understand and sometimes you just need to bring a back up.
• Poncho (just incase)
• You, your friends, and a plan to have fun!

I hope y'all enjoy all the amazing musicians and have a great time with your friends/family! Stay tuned for next weeks blog full of amazing outfits just for the festival season.

Why I got Married at 21.

Us on Our Wedding Day - Photo Credit: Kristy Roderick Photography

I was married on August 17, 2013, both my husband and I at age 21 and even though I didn't know what to expect I know I made the right decision for me. I've seen various blog postings by other people about why getting married is and isn't great. Everyone and their opinion about the matter is going to be different and I personally respect that, if you're not ready you're not ready, but also keep in mind to be respectful of others who do want to get married young. Honestly, I have had some pretty mean things said to me about the matter myself. Mostly from irrelevant people in my life but still none the less it got talked about.

Here's the thing with each of my relationships regardless of how serious or not they were I learned a lot about myself. I always felt like my friends were on different paths, and yes even a lot of them got pregnant or married even before me. It's very easy to fall prey of the pressures of everyone around you wanting to get married or having kids at such a young age. However, I just wanted someone who loved me back. I found that in my husband, Tyler, and the more time went on and we started talking about him going to basic training and him moving away we had to come to the decision of either me staying there and barely seeing each other or getting married and me going with him.

We talked about it before he proposed, so yes, I somewhat knew I was going to be proposed to just had no idea when. About a month before he left, on Easter Sunday of 2013 we got engaged, I oddly enough announced it on April fools day and found it chuckle worthy of having to explain it's not a joke that we very much were engaged. I think everyone believed me once the photo went up, that and I was still going with it the next day. Even though I knew we talked about it and everything the proposal was one of the most romantic things I had ever had the pleasure of knowing in my lifetime. It rained just before we hopped in one of the pods of the Sky Wheel in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and he just simply asked me to take his hand in marriage. I think real love and love in movies are very different things, but they are both still magic.

Us During his BMT Graduation Weekend

Truth is, I was a confused on what love was and wasn't. I thought way too much about it and every time I thought this person was meant for me there was a reason that they just were not. Through all the wrong turns in my love life, once I started dating Tyler I just had this connection with him unlike any other. It was the closest thing to magic that I ever had. On the anniversary of our first month of dating we decided to go out, but Tyler took me to a Night of A Thousand Candles. He conversed with my parents when he first met them, and when something devastating happened in my person life he was there for me, at my lowest. There were so many factors and little things he did to make me feel even more connected to him. Our test of whether or not this is going to work was when he went away to Basic Military Training and we of course passed it with flying colors, but that's another blog for another day. :)

Christmas 2014 Knipes Family Photo

So if you're asking me do I regret it, No. Do I feel like I'm missing out on everything? No. The great thing about being married so young is you're experiencing everything together and although it may not be for everyone. I can honestly say it was very much enough for us. The rings on my finger mean more to me than just a vow on a wedding day I plan to keep my promise on loving him for as long as he'll let me. He has blessed me with the crazy adventure that we are on with the Airforce and our little fur kid, Aria, and for that I'm forever grateful. My advice to you is to ignore what other people say about it not making you happy, only you know what makes you happy. You know your heart better than anyone else. Listen to it and pay attention to the little things your partner does. If you feel safe, happy, and like you can see yourself with that person 50 years down the road, I say go for it. Have a great weekend everyone. :)