2012 Reflections

As 2012 is coming to an end a lot of us are looking back on our year and thinking about what we are going to achieve or do different in 2013.

My 2012 has been a fantastic year.  It has been full of laughter, hard work, heartbreak, and happiness.  By far it has been the most exciting travel year of my life.

• January - Listening to a lecture about the RMS Atlantic - largest civilian Maritime disaster in history (bigger than Titanic) 
• February - Seeing the amazing Sutton Foster in "Anything Goes" on Broadway in NYC
• March - Jeep riding in Sedona, AZ with great friends
• April - 2 weeks in England
• May - 3weeks (combined) Switzerland, Italy, Istanbul, Canada
• June - Work and family in Texas
• July - Making new friends and seeing old friends in California
• August - Family, Friends, BBQ, and Jetski on Lake Erie; Two weeks falling in love with the mountains (and steak) of Montana
• September - Learning there is nothing good to eat in Columbus, GA but there are some great places to run
• October - Baltimore Relay with the LM Lunch Run Crew;  Halloween at The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood
• November - Ragnar Relay in Las Vegas; Thanksgiving with fantastic friends in Chicago
• December - My brother graduating from his Masters program; A festive Christmas celebration like I've never experienced before.

More than travel and what I've seen, its what 2012 has taught me

• The value of sleeping in my own bed is better than a free week  in a 5 star luxury hotel.  Don't get me wrong I love a nicely appointed hotel room as much as the next person, but when you've been on the road for weeks at a time, being able to be home, if only for one night, can recharge you.

• Having my dog greet me at the door can bring a weary traveler to happy tears.  There is nothing that says "Welcome Home" than a happy dog, with a waggly tail to greet you at the door.

• I miss my life.  This didn't actually hit me until mid-December.  I've been working from home on internal corporate projects and it was during this time home it hit me "I don't live here anymore".  Sure I pay mortgage, have a bed, roommate, pets, etc, but I don't have a life anymore.  I realized, I missed a lot of mid-week birthday celebrations, dinners with friends, and races because 36 hours on a weekend home is enough time to catch up on laundry, buy dog/cat food, and re-pack for the next trip, but not much of anything else.

• Living out of a suitcase taught me what I REALLY need.  Living for weeks out of a suitcase makes it so made it so much easier to declutter my house.  Cleaning out closets and drawers is not the chore it used to be because I've learned what I really need and what is just taking up space.

Still, 2012 has been one of those years that I will look back on with a smile.  So many great memories have been made.  I'm not sure what 2013 will bring but I'm ready, so bring it on!!

Keeping Track of Your Loyalty Cards

Are you one of those women who have more of those annoying (and ugly) plastic loyalty store cards on your key ring than actual keys?  Yeah me too: Grocery stores, pet store, Bebe, gym card, library card, Godiva card (HELLO free truffle each month!).  At least I was that woman until I looked at my smartphone and said "what have you done for me lately?"

Well it turns out there are several apps out there to help you keep track of everything.

Keyring

Keyring is great because of all the smartphones its available on. It has a great catalog of stores available for you.   Its easy to use and quick to upload your cards and share with your family.  You can also take a picture of your card (front and back).  It will show you any coupons or circulars available.  What I liked about this is being able to sign up for new loyalty cards from the app.

Cost: Free

Available: iPhone, Droid, Windows Mobile, Blackberry

Cardstar
Cardstar is probably the more popular one out there.  They have a ton of merchants in their catalog ready for use.  What I like about this one is being able to back up and sync to any mobile device so you can share cards with everyone in your family and save big (or at least spend more in my case).
Cost : Free
Available: Droid, iPhone, Blackberry


Passbook
Passbook is another popular one out there and I really liked the looks of it.  Sadly its only available on iPhone.  One thing I really liked about this, is it can show you when your coupons expire, where your concert seats are, and your all important boarding pass without having to launch a separate app.
Cost: Free
Available: iPhone

There are some other ones out there like Lemon, but I found these three the best with the design of the app and ease of use.  When it comes down to it, no matter which one you use, you will be glad to have gotten rid of your key ring clutter.  And having a key ring with only keys on it has made this gadget girl very happy.

10 Best Gifts for Your Traveler - Under $50

Luggage Tag - A great way to help your traveler find their black roll aboard bag in a sea of black roll aboard bags.  I love the pink, but they have green too.

Lucha Libre Luggage Tag - $12

Perfume/Cologne Atomizer - I have several of these. They make great stocking stuffers for anyone who carries a suitcase, gym bag, baby bag, anyone who wears perfume or cologne.

Silver Atomizer - $12

Noise Canceling Headphones - Or as I like to call them, loud-flight-sanity-savers!

Skullcandy Fix Headpones - $31

Adapter/Converter Combo - Packing light mean consolidating as much as possible.  This little gadget is my best friend when I travel overseas.

Travel Smart TS253AD Adapter Converter - $30

Portable Charger/Battery - Charge any USB device?  Juice up your nearly dead smartphone?  Yes please!

iGO Charge Anywhere - $40

Gadget Car Charger - Two outlets and a USB port, perfect for the road tripper....And how cute is the coffee cup shape!

Gadget Car Charger - $50

Personalized Leather Jewelry Case - Tangled free jewelry in a  feminine, yet sturdy case.

Leather Travel Jewelry Case - $40

36 Hours - 150 Weekends in the U.S.A. and Canada (by NY Times) - The ultimate layover travel guide.  This is on my list!

36 Hours - 150 Weekends in the U.S.A. & Canada - $40

Deluxe Travel Kit - This 8-piece ready to fill travel kit in a slim, sleek bag will get through TSA and won't take much space in their suitcase.

Sephora Deluxe Travel Kit - $36

Leather Passport Holder - Important documents have never looked so cute.  I love this one by Brookstone... They come in a lot of different colors and have an extra pocket.

Brookstone Passport Holder - $31

Travel Tip: Long Stays

Staying at a hotel for several weeks but going home on the weekend?  Most hotels will allow you to check a bag in their storage.  This is great so you dont have to lug your hairdryer, extra shoes, or whatever back and forth.  Especially if you know you wont use it at home.  

You can also send your clothes out to be laundered so they are ready for your return after the weekend.

P.S. Inform (tip) the hotel concierge or management staff and your bag will most likely show up in your hotel room before you do :)

Busted! Personal Item

I recently got busted for my carry on allowance.  I had my roll-aboard bag, my laptop, and a small, cross-body wallet.  When I got to the gate I was told to consolidate immediately or be refused entry.

At first I was confused, becase I'm pretty good about not wanting to be THAT person who holds up the line, but at the same time I didn't have anything out that I haven't flown with dozens of time. So I asked the gatekeeper what she meant.  She gave me a scathing look and pointed to my cross body purse and told me I was trying to be sneaky.

I have to say I was a little surprised.  My wallet, if you can call it that, measures 5 inches long and 3.5 inches high.  Normally I think it is perfect because it keeps my boarding pass, id, and a few dollars in easy reach.  Meaning, I don't have to dig my full wallet out of my laptop bag.   Its also teeny, I mean I cant even fit a lipgloss or phone in it, so I was honestly surprised to be called out on it.

I would be ok with the TSA and gate agents being vigilant about enforcing the carryon rules but they dont do it equally.  Obviously I've been able to board many time with my little cross-body wallet.  I've also seen people with kids on the plane toting more bags than I personally own.  Also people board with a roll-aboard, backpack, king size pillow, and grocery bag full of food.  If that doesn't exceed the one bag and one personal item then I'm missing something.

I fly often and didn't want to cause delays so I quickly stashed my wallet into my laptop case, but I do wonder why it suddenly became an issue.  Maybe the gatekeeper is very strict about the rules, maybe she was having a bad day or is a control freak, or maybe I was just trying to be sneaky as she suggested?  Either way, I didn't mind putting my wallet away, I just wish everything was enforced equally to everyone.

Getting Waisted - Day to Night

Getting Waisted - Day to Night by carryonstyle featuring a rhinestone necklace

Forever New peplum top, $82 / DKNY black knee length skirt / Black sandals / Juicy Couture handbag / Cuff bracelet / Chanel rhinestone necklace

There is no doubt that peplum is here to stay.  I am really a huge fan.  Its a really great way to give yourself curves or show off what your mama gave you.

I'm all about dual purpose and this outfit can absolutely take you from the office to cocktails.   They key to finding the perfect peplum blouse is to make sure it fitted through the shoulders and hits you at the smallest part of your waist.

When wearing a peplum top you want to stay away from billowey skirts.  Keep you lower half slim with a pencil skirt or slim trousers.  I'm a big of the piping on this DKNY, it creates a beautiful visual.

I love accessories, but this outfit speaks for itself.  Keep the jewelry to a minimum.  This necklace is perfect and should be worn close to the collar bone, but not quite as a choker. A simple bracelet or dressy watch should be the rest of the accessories.

Ann Romney's Speech Creates Backlash

I watched Ann Romney's speech at the RNC and while I don't think she was wonderful, she did say a couple of things that echoed in me. 

"It’s the moms who have always had to work a little harder to make everything right.  It’s the mom’s of this nation, single, married, widowed, who really hold the country together. "

 I remember being a young mom, working multiple jobs, coming home, fixing dinner, helping with homework, doing my work, cleaning, then finally falling into bed exhausted, only to have to get up the next day and do it all over again.  

I know many women who work a lot harder than their men.  They are the first ones up and last ones to bed.  They sacrifice their own careers so their husbands can follow their passion.  They wipe noses, pack lunches, run boardrooms, and give 110% everyday.

Even though I don't agree with the Romney's politics and other parts of Ann's speech, I whole-heartedly disagree with all the vile comments that have been thrown her way on Twitter:

"Ann Romney is a cunt."

"Shut up, Ann Romney, you stupid, glutonous, pandering, Stepford 'bot."

"ann romney is a filthy whore who can suck golf balls thru a garden hose"

"Ann Romney plays the part of Stepford Wife very well indeed, but it still won't stop people from wondering - Does she take it derriere-ways?"

I understand that the upcoming election is a big one.  I understand that people are very concerned with what is happening in the country. I also understand that everyone has their own beliefs and personal opinions and should be free to express them.

What I DON'T understand is why people feel the need to spew such vile hatred about a women who is simply trying to support her husband.  Is this how you want people talking to you?  I wonder is the same thing going to happen to Michelle Obama if she speaks at the DNC?  For all of woman-kind I hope not.

Why would you call a woman a "whore" or a "cunt" simply for expressing her opinion?  What could possibly make you wonder how "she takes it"? 

What upsets me even more is that a lot of these posters were women.  Women!  We should not be beating each other up.  We should not be calling each other "whore" or "cunt".  We all deserve better than that.  Would you want your mother, sister, daughter be called a "whore" or "cunt"?  Ann Romney deserves the respect we want for ourselves.

Sadly its not just reserved to Twitter, you hear it daily, women and girls calling their friends bitches or sluts.  Since when did bitch and slut become terms of endearment?

Women still have tough time out there and there is a effort trying to pit women against each other, working-mom vs home-mom vs child-free.  We need to stop calling each other bitches and sluts.  We need to stop calling women women "cunt" and "whore".  We need to start giving ourselves the respect we deserve.

Boarding Zone: From meeting to concert venue

From meeting to concert venue by carryonstyle featuring dangle earrings

Grey dress, $47 / Cotton shirt, $63 / dVb Victoria Beckham boot-cut jeans / Karen Millen kitten heel shoes / Black handbag / Andrea Valentini clutch handbag / White House Black Market nickel free jewelry / Charlotte Russe dangle earrings / Sabre sunglasses


Business Meeting:
I was so delighted when I saw these heels!  I'm on the hunt for new shoe that I can stand all day in but still feel stylish in.  These kitten heels are up to both tasks!

I only like to make one fashion statement at a time, so for my work dress I would keep it simple with a grey dress and gold bangle bracelets.  The red purse punches up the outfit with a shot of color.


Drinks & Music:
Who says kitten heels are only for work?  The color and style of these shoes are very versatile.

These shoes look great peeking out from under a pair of dark bootcut jeans (the most flattering cut for all women IMO).   The graphic tee and red jacket are an awesome combination.

Add some long earrings and a black leather bag and you're ready to rock!

Off the Beaten Path: Baha'i Temple

On a recent post, Travel Tips for Women, I recommend getting out and exploring the area.  When I travel for business or fun, I like to visit places that are off the beaten path and today's travel photos certainly fit that category.  A recent business trip took me to Chicago, so when I had a little time one evening, I took a trip to visit the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, IL.  I had never heard of the Baha'i faith until I read CNN's article about 8 Religious Wonders to See in the U.S., but thought I would visit this beautiful building.

The temple is found in a suburban lake town of Wilmette, IL.  It is situated a block away from the lake front in a quiet neighborhood.

On of the many beautiful fountains on the temple's grounds.  There were some areas that were under construction, but most of the garden walkways are usable.

The temple is built in a circular fashion and the gardens surrounding it reflect the circular pattern.  There were many people sitting on low walls, reading or just thinking.

The spires of the temple are detailed beautifully.  There are various symbols of all religions carved into the spires and sides of the temple.  This is supposed to represent the brining together of all religions into the Baha'i faith.

Planning a trip:  

I do recommend visiting the Baha'i temple.  It is a very beautiful building. Stop by the Welcome Center and look at the exhibits, it tells how Baha'i got its start and why Chicago.

Do visit inside the temple.  I was not allowed to take pictures inside the temple, but the ceiling is amazing!  

Take some time to walk around the gardens.  It is a good place to take some time for yourself to sit, read, and think.  

The temple is not overly huge and will not take hours of your time.  So pack a picnic, walk over to the Lake Michigan and enjoy the view.  The town of Wilmette, IL is very charming and has many things to offer.  The public library has story time for kids, there are many parks and many restaurants to choose from.

Boarding Zone: Loft Style

Boarding Zone: 1 Dress 2 Ways by carryonstyle featuring a striped blazer

Blonde + Blonde striped blazer, $47 / Loft / MICHAEL Michael Kors michael kors pumps / Michael Kors leather tote, $155 / Gold clutch, $63 / Fendi red jewelry, $135 / H&M earrings, $6.25

This week's Boarding Zone post is highlighting this dress I bought on Sunday at Ann Taylor Loft.  I love the color, cut, fit, and feel of this dress.

Client Meeting: 

This pink dress is so on trend and can be worn with a variety of different accents.  Because its solid, I thought this striped jacket was perfect complement to add a bit of drama.  If stripes aren't your thing, then a solid black or white blazer would work too.

I would keep accessories to a minimum, because the jacket is busy, all you really need is a sleek tote and some stylish black pumps to put it all together. 

Business Dinner: 

I picked this orange belt with gold accents, because I'm loving the pink and orange color blocking I see everywhere.  To highlight the belt's gold accents, I decided to go for the gold with these beautiful shoes.

I would wear my hair down in loose waves so these dangling earrings would peek through.  The gold clutch and peep-toe pumps finish these outfit off nicely.

COS Review: Travelo

Carry-On Style Review: Travelo Perfume Atomizer

I cannot remember where I first read about Travelo, but I've had it bookmarked in my "To-Buy" tabs for at least six months.  I finally decided to order one when I ran out of my sample size perfume I got at Christmas time.

The first time I used it I was SO glad I bought it!  It is one of THE best things I could have ever bought for my suitcase.

It is very simple to use, you simply take the top off your perfume bottle and literally pump your perfume into your Travelo.  It takes about one minute to fill it up.  When using it, the nozzle on the Travelo gives a good spritz and hasn't clogged yet.  The plus side?  The atomizer is about the size of a lipstick, so its small enough to get through TSA but holds more than enough to last for a week long trip.

I bought it to go in my carryon suitcase, but really it is perfect for anyone who wears perfume (or cologne).  It fits into a purse, gym bag, or pocket with ease.  They seem really well constructed (meaning they are not glass) and have a window so you can see the level of your perfume. While I got mine in pink they come in a variety of colors.

I really only have two scents that I wear but you can easily fill them with water "Hello cool summer sprtiz!" to rinse them out.

Perfect gifts for anyone (men or women) who goes to the gym, travels, or is simply breathing.

Travel Tips For Women

Some tips I've picked up from others and some tips I've had to learn the hard way.

Packing

•  Luggage tag - Clearly label your luggage with your name and address.  If possible use your work address or a PO Box instead of your home address.  You should also have a luggage tag that is unique so you can identify find your black suitcase among the other hundreds of black suitcases.  I have 3 tags on my bag, 1 that tells my airline status, 1 for my address, and this one for uniqueness 

• Makeup Kit - I have duplicate makeup kits, one for home and one that never leaves my suitcase.  The contents of both makeup bags are identical and its one less thing I have to remember.

• Power Cords - Like my makeup kit, I have doubles of all my power cords that never leave my suitcase.  I even have a second cord for my laptop that stays in my laptop bag.  If I'm working from home I simply take my laptop out and plug it into the cord I keep at home.

Hotel

• Room Keys - Always get 2 keys for your hotel room.  There is no reason to announce to the entire lobby that you are staying alone.

• Check-in - When you check in, ask that they just point to your room number instead of announcing it to everyone in listening distance.  Most hotels do this, but I learned this tip from the couple of hotels that didn't.  Nothing like the hotel clerk saying loudly in a crowded lobby "Here you go Ms. Smith, here is your one key, you are in room 316"

• Rewards Club - Even if you don't travel weekly, you should still sign up for your favorite hotel rewards.  The points do add up, but its really the perks that I like, late check-out, guaranteed room reservations, snacks, etc...

Fun on the Road

• Postcard - A tradition I started with my family when I travel is, no matter where I go, I always send a postcard home and it has to be postmarked from the place I'm visiting.  Usually the first I do when I get off the plane is hit the gift shop and buy a postcard then mail it from the hotel (they  can meter it).

• Explore - Don't be one of those travelers that only sees the hotel lobby and client sites.  Go out and explore the town.  Even small towns have something to see.  Ask the hotel clerk/concierge what to see.  Most of my travel is in the US, so my personal tour guide is 1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz

Packing for a Conference

One corporate event I look forward to is my company's annual conference.  However I dread packing for it.

I should be used to packing for business trips, after all I do it every week, however going to the annual conference requires a different packing list.  Along with day sessions and training (in chilly conference rooms), I now have to think about what to wear for dinners, receptions, a team outing, and a wine social somewhere in there.

Here is the general schedule of the conference:
Saturday: Travel Day
Sunday: Training Sessions/Informal Reception
Monday: Sessions/Awards Dinner
Tuesday: Sessions/Dinner/Group Activity
Wednesday: Sessions/Travel Day

One thing that is good, is even though some of these sound like they will be dressy events, my company is relaxed, generally business casual is the most dressed up you need to be.  I plan to

Packing List:

• White slacks (Sessions & Sunday Reception)
• Jeans (Travel Days & Group Activity)
• Tan skirt or slacks (Sessions)
• Charcoal slacks  (Sessions)
• Silk button down shirt (Sessions)
• Printed silk top (Sessions & Sunday Reception)
• Cowl neck blouse (Sessions)
• Short-sleeve top  this and/or this (Sessions & Group Activity)
• Neutral color cardigan (Sessions & Travel Days)
• Crochet Dress (Awards Dinner) 
• Tan Pumps (Sessions & Dinners)
• Black Pumps (Sessions & Dinners)
• Flats or Flat Sandals (Travel Days & Group Activity)
• Coordinated jewelry 

I always end up packing one more outfit than I actually need and this list would get me at least one more day.  Some think this is over packing, but I've had heels snap, spills, and tears, so I like to have a Plan B.  I will bring items that I always travel with such as workout clothes, workout shoes, and all the rest. 

Boarding Zone

Boarding Zone 1 by carryonstyle featuring summer tops

Dorothy Perkins cotton dress, $69
Monki summer top, €30
Damsel in a Dress jacket, £104
Vera Wang Lavender Label leather flat, $175
Carvela stiletto pumps, £75
Shoulder bag, 60 AUD
Cotton scarve, £50

Client Meeting: This bold dress can be a little too bold for meeting with the clients, the colors and stripes are beautiful but may be a little over powering for meetings, especially for a first client meeting.  I would pair it with a black blazer and a pair of sleek black pumps.

As for accessories, because the dress has a lot going on, I would keep those to a minimum. For jewelry I would wear simple earrings and a bracelet, but for a tote, I love this bag to carry my laptop or iPad.

For the hair, I would wear it half up and half down, with some light waves.

Flight Home: For the flight home, comfort is key, so when I get to the airport I'm going to try to get as comfortable as possible without a complete wardrobe change.  I love cardigans because they pack easily and provide a bit of warmth on the cold flight.

This cream and coral scarf is a staple for me, it coordinates with a lot of outfits, has a kick of color.

While I love heels as much as the next woman, I will slip into some flats as I'm making my way though TSA.  These beige little flats are perfect for travel. They pack easily, are neutral in color, and comfy! 

For the hair, I would probably take my hair all the way down, so I can be a little more comfortable as I make my way home.

4th of July Weekend Getaway

The weekend before the 4th of July is upon us and that means a lot of people will be hitting the road for a fun filled weekend away from home.  Normally I talk about flying (and business), but since AAA is predicting record number of people hitting the road, I thought I would plan for a road trip weekend getaway.

I think dresses are the perfect way to travel.  To me they are more comfortable than shorts, jeans, or leggings.

This t-shirt dress is the ultimate in comfy, but cute travel.  Pair it with a some cute sandals and easy accessories and you're ready to hit the road.

When I buy a weekender tote, I look for something that is cute, functional, but sleek looking.

When I pack for a trip, I pick a color scheme and stick with it. Since this is a 4th of July Weekend Getaway, I decided to embrace the whole red, white, and blue.

Don't forget your hat and sunscreen, nothing says "fashion don't" like a blistering sunburn.










Watching the fireworks is my absolute favorite thing to do.  I love the music, crowds, and of course the fireworks!

This dress is casual enough that you can go sit under the stars and watch fireworks.  I would pair this with some wedges, because I think wearing wedges on grass is a lot easier than heels.











Travel day home is always my favorite, because no matter how many places I go, I always love coming home.  I chose a long skirt, tank, and cardigan for the drive back home for comfort.

Dining While Traveling

A little while ago I read a CNN article about women business travelers not liking solo dining.  The basic feeling is that most women don’t feel comfortable or may feel they look like an unwanted spinster if they dine alone.  To me that seems crazy because if a woman feels comfortable enough to travel on her own, then why would dining alone be outside her comfort zone?

Me?  I LOVE eating new foods, so eating alone doesn't bother me.  Don’t get me wrong I love dining with others, but the thought of dining alone doesn’t keep me in the hotel room while I’m traveling.

Eat Alone

One of the things I really like about traveling is eating locally.  Usually I’m gone for a week at a time, so I try to eat at a nice restaurant at least once per trip.  If I’m not sure where to eat, I will ask the concierge for a recommendation and a reservation for me.  Other times I will search through Yelp for a customer rated recommendation.  If I’m reading a really good book, I might take it with me, if not I will just sit on my own, enjoy my dinner, think over my day, and plot to take over the world.

On the days where I have more work to do in the evening, I will usually find a restaurant close to the hotel and eat there.  Depending on how much time I have, I might eat at the restaurant bar area (quicker service) or get a table. 

Facebook/Linked-In/Corporate Contacts

Is there a Facebook friend that lives or is from the same area you will be in?  Reach out to them to make an introduction for you.  I have made several new friends by having dinner with friends-of-friends from Facebook.  Usually they know THE best local place to go and you always have at least one mutual interest…. your mutual friend.

Use Linked-In and Corporate contacts to broaden your network circle and develop more business contacts.  Maybe you are going to Chicago and you’ve talked with some of the Chicago team on a conference call.  Reach out and see if they are interested in a dinner one night.  Strengthening relationships across teams is never a bad idea.

Invite for a Bite

I discovered InviteForABite.com through the CNN article I mentioned and of course signed up!  Invite for Bite is a website for women-only (this is not a dating site), who are traveling for business or pleasure and do not wish to dine alone.  You simply search for a dinner invite in the area you will be traveling and meet with other women travelers.  Don't be afraid to be adventurous and create a new invite for others to find. 

I posted an IFAB invite while I was in Dallas, Texas and someone actually responded!  It was great fun making a new friend.  We tried a new restaurant and realized we had a lot in common, work, family, kids, and of course meeting new people.  I look forward to more IFAB dinners and hope to see my new friend again.

There are many alternatives to dining while on the road and while its always safer in numbers, sometimes you need to strike out on your own to expand your comfort zone.

COS Review: Emergency Travel Kit

Normally I stay away from saying the dreadful words "Must Have" but in this case I absolutely mean it.

I'm always on the lookout for little travel kits that make my life on-the-road much easier.  So I was THRILLED when I found this cute little kit at the checkout line at Sephora for my roll aboard.

Its got everything a woman on the go (or road) might need from Mr & Mrs contained in a cute, easy to pack little case: Hairspray, Clear Nail Polish, Nail Polish Remover, Emery Board, Lip Balm, Earring Backs, Clear Elastics, Sewing Kit, Double-Sided Tape (good-bye loose hem!) Stain Remover, Deodorant Towelette, Pain Reliever, Tampon, Breath Freshener, Dental Floss, Bandages

For my case, I took out the clear nail polish and nail polish remover, because I get gel polish every two weeks.  I filled the space with a few bobby pins and called it complete!

They have kits for moms which includes mini crayons and playing cards, some for men which includes extra buttons and shoe shine wipes, and for brides which even include extra wedding bands (in case the ring bearer swallows the ring).

Any woman who has a desk, purse, or suitcase should have one of these and even though its early think about, these are perfect stocking stuffers.

Happy Travels!

Traveling Credit Woes

I travel a lot and just when I think I am a Pro, something happens that makes me re-evaluate what I carry. In this case it was my credit card!

I was recently out to dinner on a business trip, when I went to pay for my meal with my trusty credit card. The waitress comes back with a sympathetic expression on her face and whispers, "your card was declined".  I was embarrassed because I thought I had checked it before I left to make sure my last payment went through, but maybe I had forgotten.  So I gave her my debit card (I know you're not supposed to do that).  She came back a few minutes later that the debit card too was declined.  Now I wasn't embarrassed I was worried!!  One card declined is an “oops”, two cards declined means something is wrong.

Luckily I had the cash to cover the bill, but still two cards.... denied... not good.

I contacted the bank and found that because I've been traveling in and out of the country so much and some of the spending had been erratic (I shopped a LOT in several countries) they thought my card had been stolen and put a fraud block on it so they could verify some of the purchases.  I then learned they DID try to contact me on a couple of occasions, but since I generally don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the number (will henceforth drop this habit) AND when I didn't respond they blocked my credit card.

Well then why was my debit card blocked too?  Well it turns out many many YEARS ago when someone stole my debit card and wiped out my checking account, it took me a bit to get everything back in order and I checked an option somewhere on a form that said something like "if one card is under suspicion for fraud them block access to both" or something like that.  My reasoning was, since I carry I sometimes carry my debit and credit card in the same wallet then it’s entirely possible for someone to get access to both cards and its easier to just block them both in cases like this.  (BTW both cards are issued by the exact same bank, not sure if this option is available in all areas).  It is a great idea until something like this bites me on the butt.

The moral of the story is that 1) Carry enough cash just in case something happens to your cards 2) Fraud protection is a good idea 3) Have a card on hand from a different bank, but don't carry it in the same place as your main card.

Switzerland is Pristine!

After my business finished in the UK, I met a friend at Heathrow and finally started vacation!  Our first stop was Interlaken, Switzerland.  I had never heard of Interlaken or Jungfraujoch before and truly I have Matt Lauer to think for the idea, during his annual "Where in the world is Matt Lauer?".  Once I saw this place on the Today Show I knew I had to go, so here we are :)

Cindy on the balcony of the Hotel Bellevue, Interlaken, Switzerland

The views were stunning, I can't remember ever seeing such clear and untouched beauty.

Junfraujoch, Switzerland - 11,333 Ft. above sea level

At 11,333 ft above sea level, the air is getting a little thin up there, I got dizzy several times and had to sit down to catch my breath.

Sphinx Observatory, Junfraujoch, Switzerland

Me on the Top of Europe, with my trusty raincoat

It was cold in the morning, but by the afternoon, the coat and scarf had come off.

The end of a long walk 

There is along walk from the Top of Europe resort and at the end is a family run restaurant high on the cliff, I highly recommend taking the walk and stopping in for a bite to eat or a beer.

Swiss beer on the Swiss Alps

Lauterbrunen, Switzerland

Trip to England

I was lucky enough to visit England for business and pleasure.  Some snaps from my trip.

Bracknell, Berkshire

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Yummy Sangria after a day of touring

My first time EVER driving in England, was a harrowing experience....Driving on the "wrong" side was the road wasn't that bad, driving a manual transmission wasn't bad (I drive one at home), however those ROUNDABOUTS nearly gave me a heart attack!  We don't really have roundabouts in America so we never really learn how to drive on them, but after a couple of days in England, I'm proud to say, I was navigating them like a pro...err well almost :)

My little VW Golf...Driving on the "wrong" side of the road was an EXPERIENCE

Honestly it was raining so much it didn't really matter what else I packed, I was wearing my rain coat every single day...if I was out touring then I was wearing it ALL DAY :)

The rain coat was the BEST thing I packed

A famous English bread commercial was filmed here in the 1970's, here is the You Tube link, its wonderful to see how some beautiful things remain untouched even after so many years.  I spent some time here with a friend and his wife, they took me to a pub that built in the 16th century.

Shaftesbury, Dorset

Fovant Badges, Witlshire

Fovant Badges, Wiltshire

Itialian Fountain, Kensington Gardens, London

Kensington Palace, London

Tower of London, London

Tower of London Bridge, London

A lifelong dream come true, visiting the British Museum

mmm...Starbucks

You could travel the world and see artifacts from every ancient civilization from the British Museum.

Buckingham Palace

Great underground system, I used it daily

Big Ben, House of Parliament, London Eye

Street Performer, Covent Gardens, London