Greetings from the Windy City! When you live a super busy and productive life, it can be hard to fit a vacation into your schedule. I’ve become a huge fan of Staycations and weekend getaways to get all of the benefits of a vacation without investing as much time and money.
Over the years, I’ve learned a thing or two about efficient packing. Whether you’re spending a weekend in Chicago or two weeks in Europe, here are my essentials for carry-on packing:
I have been known to manage aspects of my personal life, professional life, and even this blog from my cell phone. It is true that the more our phones are capable of, the more we use them. And the more often we use them, the faster the battery drains. However, the flip side to that is: if you’re dependent on your phone, it’s even more important to keep a charge.
For some reason, I’m always the “go to” girl for etiquette questions at the office. Etiquette extends far beyond the rules of holding doors and proper forks. I actually rather like etiquette but there is so much I don’t know! Experts like Emily Post, author of Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics, and at Home, know much more than I do so I checked out their advice on these interesting etiquette questions.
1. Ladies first, right? Nope — not when we’re talking about a revolving door. Men should actually go through a revolving door first so they can push it for a woman. Don’t believe me? Lizzie Post has become my go-to for etiquette questions on twitter. Check out what she has to say!
2. To drink or not to drink: If you bring wine to a dinner party, it is considered a gift and the host does not have to open it. Experts recommend that if you want the bottle you brought to be opened that night, you should offer to be the one bringing wine to the party in advance.
3. While there are major disagreements about this, most experts say that you do not have to give a gift if you are not attending a wedding. As a matter of fact, some experts say that it is not required to give a gift even if you are attending. The gift is traditionally meant to support the marriage, not the wedding itself. But if you ask me — I say go with the gift no matter what.
4. You don’t have to stop wearing white after Labor Day. Lizzie Post recommends switching over to winter white when it starts to get chilly!
What etiquette questions have you always wondered about?
Welcome to the second installment of “Shortlisted” where I highlight my favorite most useful things. Because what good are fabulous things if you don’t share them?
Today’s item that makes my shortlist is You Smell Lemon Paper Soap!
I was recently introduced to this amazing soap and I will never leave my house without it in my purse again. I can’t count the number of times I’ve used public bathrooms and discovered they are out of soap. Hand sanitizer was great at keeping my hands clean, but it often left my hands dry and smelling harsh. Now I can just pull a sheet of paper soap out of my bag and my hands are left soft and smelling of lemon and verbena – yum!
English: Photo of luggage (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I don’t really need any excuses to make a list. But whether it is getting ready for a vacation or planning a major move, there is nothing like travel to send me into super list-making mode. I’ve made lists of:
But no matter how organized I am or how early I start packing, there are always a few things I can’t pack ahead of time because I use them so frequently. I created a list of “Last Minute Packing Reminders” – may you never stress that you left the stove on or visit an airport convenience store again!