ALWAYS PACK A WATCH

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LEARN THE HARD WAY. ON A RECENT TRIP OUTSIDE OF THE US, I FORGOT TO PACK A WATCH. I THOUGHT MY IPHONE WOULD BE RELIABLE AS THE TIME ZONES CHANGED BUT I WAS WRONG. IT WASN'T OFF BY AN HOUR EITHER. IT WAS OFF BY MANY AND THE MINUTES WERE OFF TOO. A SIMPLE $20.00 WATCH WOULD HAVE DONE THE TRICK AND THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED A VERY IMPORTANT DINNER.

VELCRO DOTS AND TAPE

I JUST RETURNED FROM A WONDERFUL EASTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE ABOARD THE CELEBRITY ECLIPSE. THE SHIP NOT ONLY BOASTED AN ACTUAL GRASS LAWN (VERY GREEN) FOR CROQUET AND BOCCE BALL BUT, IT HAD A GLASS BLOWING STUDIO AS WELL! PACKING FOR THE SEVEN NIGHT TRIP, WITH TWO FORMAL EVENINGS, WAS STILL VERY DOABLE WITH AN UNDER THE SEAT BAG. VELCRO DOTS AND STRIPS CAME IN QUITE HANDY. I USED THE DOTS FOR A QUICK HEM REPAIR AND THE VELCRO TAPE FOR WHITE STRAP TOPS FOR MY LINDSAY PHILLIPS SHOES. A LITTLE VELCRO GOES A LONG WAY IN EXPANDING A PACKLIGHTER'S WARDROBE. FROM BASIC REPAIRS TO A CLEVERLY ADDED SILK FLOWER TO A BELT OR HAT, VELCRO IS A STAPLE IN MY TRAVEL BAG.

TWO PACKING TIPS FOR A LONG CAR TRIP

RECENTLY STEVE AND I TOOK SEVERAL LONG ROAD TRIPS FOR WORK, FAMILY AND WHAT WE HOPED WOULD BE A LITTLE RELAXATION. THE WORK AND FAMILY PART TURNED OUT FINE BUT THE RELAXATION, WELL THAT WAS NON EXISTENT. TO COMPLICATE MATTERS, WE USED TWO DIFFERENT CARS AND HAD TO PACK AND UNPACK SEVERAL TIMES, UNLOAD AND RESTOCK. WITH ALL THE ELECTRONICS AND STEVE'S LOVE OF BOOKS BEING ADDED AS WE TRAVERSED THE COUNTRY, I WAS BEGINNING TO SERIOUSLY DOUBT AS TO WHETHER PACKING LIGHT WAS EVEN AN OPTION. THE CLOTHING AND TOILETRIES WERE OK, PACKED NICELY IN ONE UNDER-THE-SEAT BAG AND TWO OPEN WHOLE FOOD BAGS FOR EASY ACCESS. IT WAS ALL THE OTHER BAGS FOR COMPUTERS, CORDS, ADAPTERS, ART WORK, WRITING MATERIALS (WE STILL DO A LOT THE OLD FASHIONED WAY),FOOD, BOOTS FOR COLD WEATHER, TOOLS AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES THAT GOT TO ME. FINALLY,AFTER NEARLY LOSING IT SEVERAL TIMES ( WELL MAYBE, ACTUALLY LOSING IT) I CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION. RATHER THEN HAVING TO SEARCH THROUGH NUMEROUS, SIMILAR LOOKING BAGS, JUST IDENTIFY EACH ONE WITH A PAPER TRAVEL LUGGAGE TAG. THESE CAN BE FOUND AT AN OFFICE SUPPLY STORE, ONLINE OR AT A DOLLAR STORE. YOU CAN EVEN LIST SEVERAL IMPORTANT ITEMS ON EACH TAG. FOR EXAMPLE, MIMI'S ART WORK, SHARPEES, ENVELOPES AND STAPLER OR STEVE'S COMPUTER CORDS AND EXTRA READING GLASSES. FINALLY, AS A TIP FOR ANY TRAVELER ABOUT TO SPEND NUMEROUS NIGHTS ON THE ROAD, ALWAYS HAVE YOUR OVERNIGHT BAG PACKED LAST SO IT'S THE EASYEST TO ACCESS WHEN YOU OPEN THE TRUNK.

MY TRAVELON HANDBAG STRAP BROKE : (

MY FAVORITE HANDBAG STRAP BROKE TWO DAYS AGO WHILE I WAS ON A LONG CAR TRIP. I WANTED TO CRY, MAYBE I DID. NOW I WILL SEE HOW GOOD TRAVELON'S CUSTOMER SERVICE HANDLES THE PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY, I HAD A BACKUP CALLED THE FILER. IT TOO, HAS PLENTY OF POCKETS, ZIPPED AND UNZIPPED. IT IS PLAIN BLACK LIKE THE OTHER AND MADE OF THE SAME RESILIENT MATERIAL. THE MAJOR DRAWBACK IS THAT THE STRAP IS SHORTER, THINNER AND BUCKLE ADUSTABLE. I MISS MY OLD BAG WHERE I KNEW WHERE EVERYTHING WAS BUT IT WAS EMBARRASSING STOPPING AT THE ROADSIDE REST STOPS TRYING TO CARRY MY INJURED TRAVEON WITHOUT DRAGGING THE BROKEN STRAP ON THE GROUND. WHY CAN'T THINGS JUST STAY THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO?

THE PANASONIC PRO-CURVE TRAVEL SHAVER

TRAVELING BY CAR, PLANE, TRAIN OR CRUISE NEED NOT BE AN UNTIDY AFFAIR. KEEP UP GOOD GROOMING BY USING A PORTABLE, BATTERY OPERATED TRAVEL SHAVER. THE PANASONIC PRO-CURVE GETS GOOD REVIEWS ONLINE AND FROM MY BEST BUDDY STEVE. EVEN BETTER, IT IS INEXPENSIVE AND CAN BE PURCHASED FROM AMAZON FOR LESS THEN $15.00! IT REQUIRES TWO AA BATTERIES.

CHECK OUT TRAVELSMITH'S SALE SPECIALS

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED TRAVELSMITH FOR THEIR EXCELLENT PRODUCT LINES AND SERVICE. RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE MANY WONDERFUL PIECES ON SALE. FOR THE LADIES WANTING A GLAMOROUS LOOK, TRY A STUNNING SILK SHANTUNG BIG SHIRT IN ONE OF SIX COLORS. IT IS AVAILABLE IN REGULAR, PETITE AND PLUS SIZES AT A REDUCED PRICE OF JUST $29.00. ALSO, IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF A WHEELED CARRY-ON, CHECK OUT THE UNDERSEATER CARRY-ON BAG FOR $99.00. IT COMES IN YOUR CHOICE OF FOUR COLORS.

HAPPY NEW YEAR PACKERS!!!

This year I have made a resolution to try and blog each day. To start with, I would like to remind my readers that sometimes the little things make all the difference for successful travel. If you have ever been on a trip and found yourself in need of a safety pin you know exactly what I mean. I keep a kit of items I deem necessary in my suitcase at all times. These include a small pre-threaded sewing needle kit, safety pins, velcro dots, tweezers, eyeglass repair kit, pen, pencil with eraser, tape and a few paper clips. Another item that has come in handy is Dentemp. This is a tiny kit that offers a temporary repair to a broken filling or crown. In case of minor medical emergencies I pack a quart size ziplock bag with a few assorted bandaids, antiseptic wipes, trial packets of aspirin, Tylenol ,Imodium, milk of magnesia tablets, sleeping pills, antacids and neosporin.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

BEST WISHES ALWAYS

from

MIMI FRANKLIN

LAST MINUTE GIFT IDEAS

FOR THOSE LAST MINUTE SHOPPERS, CONSIDER HOPPING ON TO YOUR COMPUTER restaurant.com offers $25.00 gift certificates for as little as $1.00! just put in the code "JOY". vacationstogo.com offers loads of discounted cruises on a very easy to understand site,  Amazon.com offers gift certificates to many of your favorite stores and they can be sent electronically to the recipient.

DON'T FORGET THE LITTLE THINGS

REMEMBER THE LITTLE THINGS WHEN YOU ARE PACKING. IT'S AMAZING HOW FRUSTRATING AND EXPENSIVE THESE ITEMS CAN BE WHEN YOU ARE ON YOUR TRIP AND DON'T HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE STORES THAT SUPPLY THEM. ALWAYS INCLUDE:
BANDAIDS, SAFETY PINS, SEWING KIT, KLEENEX, INEXPENSIVE READERS (IF NEEDED), HAND SANITIZER, STAIN REMOVAL STICK OR SPRAY, ANTIBIOTIC CREAM AND ASPIRIN. I ALSO CARRY SMALL DENTAL AND EYEGLASS REPAIR KITS.

EMBELLISHMENTS EXPAND A TRAVELER'S WARDROBE

WHEN IT COMES TO PACKING LIGHT DON'T FORGET THE POWER OF EMBELLISHMENT. COLORFUL SCARFS HAVE BEEN THE MAINSTAY TO MOST SAVVY TRAVELERS FOR YEARS BUT DON'T LET IT STOP THERE. FUNKY, FUN, LIGHTWEIGHT AND INEXPENSIVE JEWELRY CAN ALSO INCREASE THE LOOK OF YOUR WARDROBE ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE WILD CREATIONS ON THE MARKET TODAY. EVERYONE CARRIES THEM AND YOU CAN FIND THEM FROM THE TOP OF THE LINE DEPARTMENT STORES TO YOUR DISCOUNT SHOPS LIKE ROSS OR MARSHALL'S. EVEN ONLINE AND RETAIL SHOES LIKE THOSE FOUND AT ONESOLE.COM HAVE ADDED EMBELLISHMENTS TO THEIR LINE. ONESOLES OFFER SNAP ON TOPS AND "EMBELLISHMENTS" LIKE FLOWERS OR FAUX FUR PINS.

MY FAVORITE CRUISE WEBSITE IS VACATIONSTOGO

WHEN I DECIDE THAT IT IS TIME FOR A CRUISE I ALWAYS HEAD TO VACATIONSTOGO.COM FIRST. THE SITE IS EXTREMELY EASY TO MANEUVER AND OFTEN HAS THE BEST PRICES. YOU WOULD. THINK THAT THE ACTUAL CRUISE COMPANY LIKE NCL OR CARNIVAL WOULD BE ABLE TO DO BETTER ON PRICE FOR YOU, BUT I FIND FAR MORE OFTEN THEN NOT, THAT THE CRUISE LINE CAN ONLY MATCH THE BEST PRICE THAT VACATIONSTOGO OFFERS. ALSO, VACATIONSTOGO WILL SOMETIMES ADD AN ADDITIONAL PERK LIKE A CREDIT OR WINE TO THEIR PROMOTIONS. SO IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO CHECK OUT THEIR SITE FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE AT SEA.