My wife and I travel a lot. Recently, we've been to Hawaii, Europe
louboutin sale, on Caribbean cruises and to cities on both coasts. We dread the usual airport hassles with increased security concerns. But we've figured a way to make most of it bearable. It all stems from the amount of luggage you bring. And that is determined by knowing what to take and how to pack. We went to Europe with a single 22" carry-on bag each and that included a tour of the Mediterranean over ten days. So how did we manage to cram all those clothes into that tiny space? If I told you I invented an incredible shrinking machine would you believe me? Okay, I'll come clean.
My wife and I got smart. We didn't want to have to check bags through the system at the risk of them being lost, broken, or stolen. And we both already own wheeled, carry-on luggage, with multiple compartments that have the expandable feature. So we decided to re-think what we really need for our travel. And that's the operative word: 'need.' Now my wife is a lovely lady with a penchant for shoes and handbags. She also has a sizeable wardrobe. But, when considering the requirements for a week and a half trip, she has become ruthless in her decisions. For instance, does she 'need' five pairs of shoes and five matching handbags? How about five or six complete outfits?
So, instead, she starts with the absolute essentials. It begins with toiletries and cosmetics and the very basics of each. Toss in any hair care devices and we have a foundation. Of course, we now have to remember the TSA exceptions like toothpaste and liquids. Then she considers the weather and what is appropriate. I must add that we went in the spring when the European temperature was in the low seventies. Otherwise, we might have brought coats as well, but they would have been worn onto the plane. Continuing, she picked several mix and match tops, pants, and skirts that could be used several times. Finally, she finished with undergarments and any small extras that could be squeezed in. The bag and compartments were full, but not bursting at the seams, either.
It takes courage to weed out the non-essentials and force yourselves to live with the same clothes for that long a time. But, we made the choice and were happy with the result. Just learning which shoes, are both practical and comfortable, makes a huge difference as they take up so much space. We try to keep the clothes equally appropriate to our needs and pack the bare minimum. Our only exception is a small tote that can carry purchased souvenirs and our portable DVD player for viewing our own movies on the plane. It also accommodates our his-and-hers MP3 players and earphones, that can also be used with the DVD.
Having one piece of luggage per person makes getting through security a breeze. We also have the peace of mind that all our possessions are with us at all times. We've even thought of washing some things if necessary, because every hotel has facilities available for that very purpose. But the convenience of carefree travel is the reward.
So, the next time you plan your vacation, consider how much better it might be with single carry-ons. Otherwise
nike high heels shoes, you're back waiting by the luggage carousel hoping to spot that bag of yours. Because, in that case, I can almost hear you saying, "Is that the right one coming up over there? Gosh, I hope it's not the one that's already popped open."
I can remember being a small child and wondering what my life would be like in the year 2000. I wondered what I would look like and used to practice pulling faces in the mirror trying to imagine. Oh the age of innocence and how time flies.Here we are at the start of 2010 - not only the beginning of a new year, but a new decade of adventure and possibility!Many people begin to plan in January for their year ahead such as holidays, new car, new home and house extensions. I wonder how many people give the same amount of time to planning their life?
Looking at glossy holiday brochures is wonderful, you can escape the cold and rain and imagine being on a beach for a week or two, feeling free and relaxed. I wonder if you ever spend time the same amount of time or more imagining your life and really planning what you want to achieve; how you want to grow as a person. Life is a journey!
Do you want to be the driver or the passenger? Do you want to choose an interesting, scenic
michael jordan high heels for women, exciting route or leave it to chance and have a snooze in the back? Often we make short term plans - fun interruptions in our lives; we dot in the holidays and the things that give us excitement or something to look forward to - but how would it be if we made a decision to plan a bit further ahead? Rather than life developing and us existing, we can choose to make things happen the way we design them instead of leaving it all up to chance?When you set your goals for this year - push out of your comfort zone - plan for the decade! See yourself in 2020! How does that sound to you? Does it feel little scary? Question that for a moment. What makes it feel like that? This is your life. You want the best for your family and friends - why not for yourself?