packing

September 21, 2015September 21, 2015

Best airport shoes?

The right shoes make a huge difference when you’re traveling – starting at the airport. A lot of times, though, departure day shoes are kind of an afterthought.

A discussion about shoes at the airport on a designlovefest post got me rethinking this. (See comments #7-12.)

To me, the Holy Grail of airport footwear would be something you could rush to catch a flight in, remove easily for airport security, wear with socks (if you don’t want to be barefoot while your shoes get x-rayed), as well as, of course, looking great with your travel outfits.

While it’s a lot for one pair of shoes to aspire to, I’m thinking my new go-tos for hopping a plane will either be in the canvas slip-on genre (like TOMS or these Hellyer Slippers) or comfy flats (like ballet slippers or updated Mary Janes) with no-show socks.

What is your airport shoe strategy?

(PS In case you missed it, check out my tips for packing shoes.)

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July 30, 2014

Tips for packing shoes

When I was repacking my suitcase to return home from my SeaSFBlog trip, I remembered seeing this trick of putting your shoes in a shower cap to keep the dirty soles off your clothes. I’ve never used a shower cap for my hair, so there was still one boxed up on the hotel bathroom counter that I could try out.

Before, I had just thrown my shoes in a plastic shopping bag, which ends up being this unwieldy, crinkly blob taking over a corner of your suitcase. The shower cap’s elastic edges made it fit snugly over my flats. There was room for a pair of wedges, as well. Then I got greedy and tried to add a pair of ankle boots, and the shower cap tore. So those went back into my shopping bag blob. The tear was small enough I could still use my shower cap, and now I’ve learned its limits. In the future, I’ll pack fewer shoes – or more shower caps.

Somewhere I read that the TSA recommended packing shoes around the edges of your bag, so they don’t block the x-ray or because terrorists pack shoes in the middle or something. (Although now it looks like they’re recommending packing them on top. Seriously, who can keep up with the TSA?!)

I also try to pack shoes and anything heavy in what will be the bottom half of my suitcase when it’s standing upright, so it’ll be more stable. Really, though, it usually ends up top heavy and constantly tipping over. On the occasions I manage to pack so it can stay up unassisted, I feel like the queen of the world!

The other shoe packing tip I see a lot is to pack smaller items inside of shoes. When it comes down to it, there are not a lot of things I want to put inside cavities made for holding feet. Socks maybe. But how short on space do you have to be to think it’s a good idea to pack your toothbrush inside your shoes? Am I the only one who’s not on board with stashing a few granola bars in your ballet slippers?

I’d love to hear your method for packing shoes and whether you ever pack anything inside them!

June 7, 2014June 8, 2014

What do you take to a con?

I was thinking about how you prepare to be at a convention or conference all day. You want to be ready for the long day ahead, but you don’t want to schlep around more than you need.

While I was waiting for a session to start at Phoenix Comicon, I popped open my bag and took a photo. Here’s what was in there:

Water – If it’s not provided, I bring water. If the con is in Arizona, you should bring water either way.

Snacks (not pictured – they were in the front pocket) – When you (I) get hungry and cranky, no one wins.

Sweater – Surprisingly necessary in oft over air conditioned conference rooms, even when it’s 110 degrees outside.

Charger(s) – I generally bring chargers for any electronic devices I have with me. Jonathan Simon had a great idea (which I included in my Phoenix Comicon guide) about bringing a portable power strip, since there are often more hungry phones around than outlets (especially late in the day.)

Glasses case and sunnies – Escaping to the outside world during the day can be nice.

Small notebook and pen – Sometimes it’s just quicker and easier. And super handy if you want to make notes without draining your phone battery (or if it’s already too late).

Purse – I was in a rush, so I just threw the whole thing in – wallet, makeup, tissues, business cards, and whatever other randomness I had in there. But, usually, I’ll pare it down quite a bit.

Flyers – Those just tend to accumulate throughout the day, don’t they?

What’s in your bag when you’re at a convention or conference?

December 23, 2013December 23, 2013

Last-minute Christmas guide

If you’re still checking items off your Christmas to do list (no judgment!), here’s a list of quick links from here and around the internetz to help you get it all done – whether you DIY or not!

For those of you who are completely and totally done with your Christmas stuff, consider this a head start on next year. For those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas, you have plenty of time to pour yourself a hot beverage and read through my entertaining past blog posts on travel and/or crafting.

Wrapping and cards

Make gift bags from brown paper sacks
Creative gift wrapping with materials you have around the house
Gift tags upcycled from holiday greeting cards
Washi tape cards

Last-minute gifts: super-quick DIY gift ideas

Make a set of blank gift tags and tie together with ribbon
Jam jar snow globes
Personalized Sharpie mugs
8 Ornaments in 8 Minutes

Last-minute gifts: where to shop

Arizona gift guide
Find an independant bookstore near you.
When all else fails, send an electronic giftcard. (Amazon will let you schedule the delivery date.)

Decorating

8 Ornaments in 8 Minutes
Use tree trimmings to spruce up your place
Wreaths you can make

Entertaining

Holiday finger food ideas
How much food and drinks to serve at a party
Specifically, how much wine to serve
And for dessert, Nutella cheesecake dip (!)

Cleaning up

How to clean your kitchen in 15 minutes
Speed clean your bathroom

Travel and packing

Have fun and happy holidays!

September 14, 2013September 14, 2013

5 tips to make trip packing easier

If you’re not a hardcore traveler with the packing precision of George Clooney’s character in Up in the Air, then getting ready for a trip can be a challenge.

Here are a few hints that I’ve found make it easier for us infrequent flyers.

1. Pack early. Instead of staying up late packing the night before a trip (which I used to always do), I schedule time to start packing 2-3 days ahead of time. This leaves less to do at the last minute, and, hopefully, gives you a little more rest. If you find you’re missing something, you have a chance to run to the store . (Or not – see #5.) Some people pack even earlier, but this is what works for me.

2. When in doubt, try it on. Make sure everything fits and matches as well as you remember and that you have all the accessories you need.

3. If you think of it, act on it. As soon as something crosses your mind that you have to remember to bring or to do before you leave, do it immediately or jot it down. Put the item in or on top of your suitcase or in the purse/wallet you’ll be taking with you if you don’t want to leave without it. The thought may not surface again in your memory until you’re on the road.

4. Stay packed. If there are things you always pack and have extras of, why not keep them packed? I keep travel-sized toiletries, some Q-tips, moleskin (not the journal – the stuff that prevents blisters), sanitary supplies, bobby pins, a compact mirror, and an extra hair band or two in my travel bag all the time. That’s stuff I don’t have to worry about remembering, and it gives me a head start on packing.

5. Don’t overthink it. When I was taking too long to get packed for family road trips as a teenager, my dad would say “There are stores everywhere.” If you forget it, chances are you can buy it (or borrow it) somewhere along the way.

What packing tips work for you?