Travel 101: Etiquette

 Traveling is fun, but keep in mind while you are trying to get to your destination so are thousands of others.  Planning and being mindful of others can make all the difference between a stressful trip and a pleasant trip.

Going Through Security

• Be Ready.  It doesn't matter if you travel weekly or this is your first trip, make sure you are up-to-date with the latest TSA guidelines (they do change).  
• If you know you're going to have to put your, laptop, toiletry bag, etc in a bin to go through xray, try to pack everything in the same zipper or compartment before you leave home. Keeping everything in easy-to-reach access is key to keeping the line moving.
• Make sure you have your boarding pass and ID ready to go.  I once saw a lady open her suitcase at the TSA ID check because she packed her purse and wallet in her carry-on. Don't be her.
• Once you get through security, grab your bags and bins and move over to the nearby benches so you don’t hold up the line.  Don't be the person holding up the line, getting stink-eye from the rest of us.

Carry-on Allowance

• Airline guideline change a LOT!  Before you pack, check the airline website for size and weight allowances.  Investing in a luggage scale can save you lots in excess fees. Also, there are slightly different size requirements for international carriers vs. U.S.A. carriers, so make sure your bag works for each country/continent you’re traveling in.
• Make sure you can lift your bag. I see this a lot.  If you can't lift it over your head either start hitting the gym or check it.  Even checked bags you should still be able to carry because you never know when you are going to encounter a broken airport escalator and elevator at the same time.  True story.
• Only put your large bag in the overhead. Put your purse or briefcase under the seat in front of you, until you know for sure there will be room. Also, don’t put your jacket in a bin unless it’s going on top of or in front of your bag.
• Don’t make it your plan to gate check.  This is a pet peeve of mine.  If you bring a normal sized carry-on that you are happy to bring on the plane but has to be gate-checked due to space, that is one thing. But please don’t bring an oversized bag that you know will not fit in an overhead bin simply to try to save a few dollars.   If you think you are bringing too much stuff, 1) you probably are and 2) you should probably check your bag. If you don’t want to pay the fee, bring less stuff. Don’t slow everyone else down because you’re trying to save $30.

On the plane

• Put your bag in the bin as close to your seat as possible. If you are sitting in row 25, and there is no room over 25 and there is room over 23, that’s one thing. But if you’re sitting in row 25 and you put your bag over row 10 because you don't want to carry it down the aisle then you're being rude to the people in row 10.
• Put your suitcase on the correct side of the airplane, facing the correct way. The flight attendants aren't telling you this for fun, roll aboard bags really do fit better a certain way.
• Armrests.  I always let the middle seat have the armrests.  Those seats tend to have less room so give the armrest to the middle seat.
• Respect the crew.  If they tell you to power off your electronics, then power off your electronic.  Don't try to dim the screen and hide it under your leg.  Also, the crew is responsible for the transport and safety of over a hundred people on your plane. You are not special and they are not your personal assistants.
• Be mindful of reclining. This can be a controversial topic.  My rule of thumb is reclining is ok, except during food service.
• Please, please don’t wear heavy fragrances, use any fragrant products, or eat any really fragrant food while on the plane.

Once you arrive

• Stay seated.  It takes a while to connect the jetbridge and open the door, so there is no need to immediately jump up, block the aisle, just to stand there for 10-20 minutes.  We all want to get off the plane and you know what?  We will, but we can't all squeeze through the portal at one time so wait until its your rows turn.  The airport isn't going anywhere.  If there is someone who has a tight connection, it is polite to let them go first or pass you in the jetbridge if necessary. Think of how you would like to be treated in that situation!
• Clear the path.  When you get off the plane and you realize you need to readjust your carryon, personal item, and coat, please do not stop in the middle of the jetbridge.  Wait until you are out of the gate, step aside and readjust your items.

Did I miss anything? What is your favorite etiquette tip?

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.

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. 

From my suitcase

Going away for a month long business/pleasure trip has been giving me packing nightmares!!  Especially because I love to travel light.  So I really starting looking at weather and making lists weeks before I actually had to pack.  I wanted to make sure that most of my clothes would do double duty, I can wear to work, but can also wear out touring. (These are pictures from my actual suitcase)


The first tan and black sheath dress has been a staple in my closet for a while now and comes on almost every business trip I take.  I sometimes wear a different belt with it and I might wear a black jacket and black heels or my new favorite jacket white and tan jacket from White House Black Market with nude heels.  While this is a serious business dress, I could probably also wear it to dinner, but since I have to visit more than one client on this trip, this is not a one time wear dress.

Tahari Tan and Black Sheath Dress

Tahari Dress with White House Black Market Jacket

This black and white print dress is a fairly new purchase, but I love it already.  I sometimes wear the black belt it came with but then other times I'll put on a bright yellow or red belt instead.  The best thing about this dress is it does not wrinkle!!  I can take it straight out of my suitcase and put it on without worrying about wrinkles.  I wear it with heels and jacket to work, then slip my feet in some cute but comfy sandals for touring around.

Printed Black and White Dress - Packs AMAZINGLY Well

When I saw this I fell in love with the pop of blue color and it is very flattering!  It is also a great packing dress that does not wrinkle and only cost me about $20 at Marshalls.  When I go to work I will pair it with this cobalt blue jacket from White House Black Market, but it can easily be dressed down for daytime casual.

Found this at Marshalls and fell in love with the bright blue

Marshaslls dress with White House Black Market Jacker

And of course you can't come to England without a proper raincoat and this one has never failed me.  I love that I was able to find a good raincoat that was not black.  I like the military look of this one.

Trusty Kenneth Cole Raincoat

Adventures in Immigration Land

This week I have had a travel lesson reinforced.....always, and I mean ALWAYS carry food with you.  And not just any kind of food.  Food that you can just unwrap and eat, because lets face it, you never expect to get stuck at immigration.

I haven't been out of the US since 2009 and all those trips were personal vacations, this was my very first business trip in another country.  Ok so it was Canada, but still its not the US.

I should have known it wasn't going to be a normal day, when what should have been a 19 minute flight from Baltimore to Philly was preceded by a 30 minute sit on the tarmac.  Despite the 30 minute delay we managed to land in Philly about 5 minutes late, which wasn't too bad, it would give me 25 minutes to get to my next gate.  However, when we got to the gate in Philly we couldn't get to our gate because there was a truck parked right in front and they couldn't find the guy with the keys!  Seriously!?!

Finally, 15 minutes later they were finally able to get the truck moved (I think they towed it), we were allowed off the plane.  10 minutes to get to my next gate and if I missed it, I would have to wait another 6 hours for another one, so I started running.  While I was running from A14 to B16 three things occurred to me.

Timberland Earthkeepers

     1) I was SO GLAD I decided to gate check my bag to my final destination at Baltimore, because I would not have been able to run with a laptop bag, purse, and a roll-aboard bag

     2)  I was glad I decided to wear my warmer winter boots instead of my usual high heels. I knew it was going to be cold in Halifax and it was easier to run in these :)

    3) I need to do more cardio.  I don't know if it was because I was running in winter boots and a down-filled parka or I just haven't been exercising like I used to, but I got winded!!

I managed to get to gate B3 when I heard my name on the announcement asking me to please go to B16...I was trying!!  Did they not see the maniac running through the terminals in a parka?  I finally made it to my gate, sweaty, out of breath, and  absolutely the last one on the plane, but I'd made it on my last connection everything else would be perfect. I would get land around noon, grab lunch, check in to my hotel and congratulate myself on making all my connections.  Right?

Well you know that little customs form you have to fill out where you have to declare, fruits, veggies, and what your purpose is for visiting the country?  Well I marked business, because well that is what I was going to do.  Apparently that little check mark sets off all kinds of flags. Next thing I know I find myself sitting in the immigration area answering all kinds of questions like, Who do you work for?  What do you do?  Why are you here?  Where are you going?  over and over and over again.


Finally they said before they can release me, I will have to give them some paperwork proving that I am there for the reasons I say I am (like I would make up teaching a class in identity management).  I think no problem, I'll just log on to my laptop and print out the SOW...oopps I forgot my Verizon wireless wifi won't work in Canada.  No problem I'll just use my phone email to look it up....ooops that is Verizon too and the data connection won't work....No problem I'll just call my team lead, voice mail....Boss, voice mail....Canada point of contact, voice mail....OMG Doesn't anyone pick up the phone anymore?  What could have been able to be fixed in a matter of minutes ended up taking 2 hours.  By this time I was starving and when I'm that hungry I can get  irritable, but I was trying to stay calm, because I figured one place you don't want to be irritable is immigration.

I kept calling people, kept getting lots of voice mail.  I even called the client site and of course the guy that handles all the contract paperwork was out that day.  By this time as I was digging around in my purse hoping that some sort of paperwork would magically appear that would clear me of all this.  Paperwork didn't appear but a Kashi Go Lean bar did!  It was probably the best food I had ever tasted! Finally I was able to get a hold of my team lead, who thought the whole situation was hilarious and sent over the necessary paperwork.  I sailed through immigration, picked up my car and headed to my hotel.

P.S.  My bag didn't make it on the flight at Philly but it showed up at my hotel around 10 pm that night.  <sigh>

App Review: Stylish Girl

Remember that scene from Clueless where Cher was flipping through her closet, taking pictures of her outfits, trying to decide what to wear?  Well now you can do it from your iPhone or Android phone using the ultimate style planner.

Basically all you do is take pictures of your entire wardrobe and put them into seasonal categories as well as types of clothing, dresses, pants, shoes, etc.  This can take a while, but is so worth it!

This app allows for more than just clothes, there is also a Beauty feature that can do almost the same with your makeup and fragrances.

- CARRY YOUR ENTIRE CLOSET WITH YOU and never buy duplicate items again


- CREATE AMAZING OUTFITS anytime and anywhere; Share them with your friends; Track your outfits by date worn

- SHOP ONLINE.  Mix and match online items against your clothes and outfits; Compare prices; Add items to your "Wish Bag" for future purchases


- DISCOVER the latest fashion looks and trends from online magazines and blogs


- PACK FOR YOUR TRIP QUICKLY without forgetting anything; Pick from your outfits or include individual pieces; This is great for traveling light without looking boring

Stylish Girl - http://stylishandcool.com/stylishgirl.html
Devices: iPhone, iPad, Android
Cost: FREE

- Cindy