One 22" bag for 8 nights? Part 1

My first overseas business trip of 2008 is coming up quickly, and I will spend eight nights trekking between Tel Aviv, Moscow, and Paris. My journey begins with a leg through the ridiculousness that is the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport. The brand new, state of the art baggage handling system has been an utter failure, leading to missing or delayed bags, cancelled flights and an apology by British Airways chief executive, Willie Walsh.

Missing or delayed luggage is extra stress that I simply do not need, so I've decided to travel with only carry-on luggage. This decision resulted in about $225 spent in "packing essentials" in the past two days.

So what did I buy, and what should you consider before attepting to travel only with carry on luggage?

My first stop was the Container Store, where I picked up a laundry bag for $5 that compacts into a very tiny bag. So much for the cutesy ones from my previous post - I'm aiming for super-practical now. Since my old luggage tag got ripped off my bag during my last trip, I bought a new pink "privacy tag". I also bought two small Nalgene flip-top bottles, which will be used on a future voyage involving checked luggage since they're 4oz each.





Next stop: Brett's Luggage & Gifts. Brett's is online at http://www.suitcase.com/. My old carry-on doesn't have the space needed for cramming all my essentials for eight days, and technically it belongs to my parents. The saleswoman hooked me up with a Pathfinder 22" expandable Avenger XLite in a cool shade of spruce (not the color below), which I'll be able to spot on the conveyor belt. While I was there, I picked up a new inflatable neck pillow from Eagle Creek, fleece-covered and hopefully less likely to deflate than previous pillows I've owned.


The next problem I had to solve was what to do with my laptop. I have a laptop backpack I use daily that fits my computer as well as my gym clothes, but makes me look less like an international businesswoman and more like a college kid. My rolling laptop bag is too big to put under the seat on the plane, so it wouldn't be allowed. At my local TJ Maxx, I found this Wenger "Rhea" computer tote that seems like it will hold all my stuff. I may look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame by the end of my trip, but at least I'll still be stylish.


Now the challenge is packing for eight nights in a 22" carry-on bag and small-ish laptop tote. Is it possible? I'll find out and will let you know! If you want to carry-on, consider the following:

1) Follow the TSA's 3-1-1- rules: Liquid must be in 3oz containers, fit in a 1 quart bag, and each passenger is only allowed one 1 quart bag.

2) Check your airline's hand-baggage allowance for not only the number of bags, but the size and/or weight as well. Each airline is different. Some examples:
- British Airways now allows one carry-on piece of luggage plus one handbag, briefcase, or laptop bag.
- On this trip, I'm also flying El Al Airlines in economy class, and I'm only allowed one piece of hand-luggage with a weight limit of 17lbs. Therefore, my Pathfinder Avenger above will have to be checked in.
- Virgin Atlantic has even stricter regulations, with one carry-on not weighing more than 13lbs, and a purse that is "appropriate to normal travelling dress and is not being used as a container for the transportation of articles which could otherwise be regarded as baggage." I had no idea Richard Branson was such a particular fellow...

3) In addition to the liquid requirements, remember that items such as metal nail files, manicure scissors, and tweezers are not permitted. Buy them after you arrive, get a mani and wax before you leave, or just deal with your unibrow and hangnails for a few days.

The risk of lost luggage at Heathrow is just too high, and it gives me a good excuse to improve my packing skills. We'll see if I can do it, or if I end up saying "The hell with it all!" as I roll out my 26" piece and just throw everything in.

Wedding Style: Paris

After nearly a year and a half planning my own wedding, I've become a bit of a consultant to others in the marital way. My friend experienced one of the most romantic events imaginable - a proposal in Paris - and is planning her own June 2009 nuptials with a bit of a Parisian theme. We've been brainstorming ways that she can incorporate France into the wedding in a classy way that won't conjure images of mimes in berets or "freedom fries".

If you're thinking of a Paris or French-theme wedding, there are many places to look for inspiration: obvious landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, or I.M. Pei's pyramid at the Louvre; the sunflowers of the French countryside, or the blue seas of the Mediterranean along the French Riviera. Consider serving French cheeses and breads during cocktail hour, French wines with dinner, and pastries for dessert.

Set the tone of the event with invitations reminiscent of Paris's old winding streets, like these from The White Aisle:

Place cards would look cute in mini Eiffel Towers like these from Wedding Things

Ebay has loads of vintange postcards from France that could be used as table numbers. If the cards are blank, write the table numbers on the back. Or, attach them to a tent card or put in a stand to add a decorative element to the table.

Rather than rent table linens, sheets of wrapping paper printed with a map of Paris would be both inexpensive and unique. I spotted them at Papyrus stores, and online at Artwise Amazing Paper:

This is an interesting cake topper as seen at FavorIdeas.com:

While these favors aren't especially unique, they are quite cute. From Beau-coup Wedding Favors:

For more inspiration, check out these articles:

Modern Parisian Bridal Shower

A Fete to Remember: Your Paris-Theme Wedding

Wedding Style: A French Fete

Turkish Delights, Part 1: Decor Inspiration

Istanbul is one of the most colorful cities I've been to in my travels. Turks have a long, proud history of creating gorgeous crafts, and Istanbul presents many opportunities to find detailed ceramics, rugs, and textiles.

The city that spans two continents is full of inspiring decor. During my first trip there I toured Topkapi Palace, home to sultans of the Ottoman Empire and their many, many wives (the Harem sometimes held up to 500 people, including 300 women, kids, and eunuchs). While it sounds pretty awful to me (living with two other women was challenging enough!), at least their surroundings were gorgeous! Sections of the palace are covered with ornate Iznik tiles, and I dream of using them to create a backsplash in a kitchen or bathroom one day.

Here I am with my backsplash inspiration!

Domino magazine recently featured the Paris apartment of decorative artists Mehmet and Dimonah Iksel, who have taken the backsplash idea a little too far IMHO:

Purchasing tiles for your home can be done from the comfort of your home - no flight required. Prices can be very expensive depending on size, intricacy of the design, and materials used. Pricier examples are the ones below from Yurdan:

Yurdan also carries less expensive versions, as does Blue Hudson for Tribal Home. The one on the left from Yurdan is $8.50 for a tiny 2" square tile, but the version on the right from Tribal Home is a better value, on sale for $9 for a 8" square tile.

Istanbul has become one of my favorite cities to visit, so this is just the first of what I'm sure will be many posts about this inspirational place!

Don't Mention It: Stylishly Stashing Your Unmentionables

When I was about eleven years old, I had my first embarrassing encounter with airport security. I stood behind my parents anxiously awaiting my bag's arrival through the scanner, praying nothing would encourage the guard to open my purple tote with neon-pink hearts (yes, it's nearly two decades later and like any self-respecting girly-girl, I remember which bag I was carrying). As I reached to grab my tote from the conveyor belt, the guard got to it first and began to unzip it - and I ran.

Ignoring my parents' panicked faces, I tried to get as far away from the embarrassing contents of my bag as possible. I was at an age that Britney Spears may describe as being "not a girl, not yet a woman," and it was not the prospect of airport security finding my teddy bear, but rather a stash of unused maxi pads that I had not so cleverly wrapped in toilet paper, that made me run for the hills. Plain maxi pads in my bag would have been bad enough, but the fact that they were wrapped in toilet paper made the situation appear far, far worse.

Fortunately, such a situation has not happened again. But as airport security worldwide gets tighter, the the odds are higher that your bag will get searched. Every time I go through the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, my bags and I are given the third degree - often leaving the contents on display for travelers all around me. As I have another trip to Israel coming up in a few weeks, I'm on the lookout for a cute and functional way of hiding bras and panties from prying eyes.

But let's start with the other kind of unmentionables that humiliated me all those years ago. Pads are easy to stash in a small cosmetic bag, but tampons are a bit trickier. Here are some stylish options:

These cute cases are from Hippy Chix Shop.

These stewardess, cowgirl, and beach babe cases from Uncommon Goods will hide your femme products.




Customize your own case at http://www.kyledesigns.com/

To hide away your silky (or cottony) little (or big) things, here are the best that I've found.

I love this set from Pack Happy, which includes three bags for lingerie, shoes, and dirty laundry. I've found the best price at Traveling Chic, and am waiting for this color scheme to be restocked (there are other colors available now).

I am VERY happy to have stumbled upon Lapin Vilardi. The two friends who created this line of travel accessories have great taste, and their bags and cases would liven up any set of luggage. Each pattern has several pieces including lingerie, shoe, and laundry bags. Here are my favorites:

I'm a fan of Belle-Hop's feminine travel accessories, including this lingerie wrapper:

Good to Be You has both sexy and sweet bags:

Please don't make the mistake I did at age eleven - seek out something cute to hide your unmentionables and spare yourself embarrassment in the security line!

May I have your card?

My scanner's acting up, so my St. Patrick's Day Special will have to wait. In the meantime, let's talk about one of the most basic and important elements of a business interaction: the humble business card.

In many Asian cultures, there is a special protocol for exchanging business cards. Fortunately I was told of this before meeting my Japanese colleagues for the first time. In Japan, business cards are not carelessly tossed across the conference room table, shoved into your wallet or purse, or jammed in between papers in your briefcase; all of this would be considered quite rude. Instead, business cards are treated with a great deal of respect. Hold the card with both hands, and face your name outward so that your colleague may read it right away. When accepting a card, take it from your colleague with both hands, take a moment to look at it, then put it in a special place right away. Bowing slightly when you do so will help.

So, where to put those cards? I have a black fabric signature "C" Coach business card holder which they don't appear to make anymore. But there are several fun options, and here are a few:

Fun and pink for the girly-girl from Miego:

For the geeky tree-hugger from Eco-Artware:



For the retro-cool, who work in a field where something so tongue-in-cheek would be acceptable, from Anne Taintor:


I love that it says, "Why yes, I am overqualified"!


For the preppy girls, from See Jane Work:






And finally, for the sophisticate, this Luis Vuitton from eLuxury:

Don't stash business cards in your pocket - get a cute case to match your handbag or briefcase.