Given the extra fees and hassle associated with checking a suitcase on your next flight, save yourself a lot of trouble by packing just one, checkable bag!  Here are some great tips for accomplishing just that!

• Wear a Coat – Wear your bulkiest coat, sweater or jacket on the plane.  You’ll be warm and save suitcase space.
• Don’t Under-Pack – This may sound odd, but leaving too much space in the suitcase will leave you with wrinkled clothes!
• Roll, Don’t Fold - As many clothing items as possible.  Jeans, t-shirts, pajamas are all perfect for being “rolled!”
• Make Double Use of a Small Clutch – Use a small clutch to hold lingerie that’s also nice enough to double as an evening bag.
• Choose One Color Palette – Neutrals like khaki/white, black/white or brown/tan.  This will limit the number of shoes and basic clothing pieces that you’ll need.  Add a touch of color with jewelry or scarves.
• Pre-Stock Your Toiletry Kit – Designate one specific toiletry kit that follows the FAA guidelines for every item.  Keep this kit refilled and ready to go at all times.
• Use Zip-Lock Bags – Given the tight space, zip lock bags will protect delicate clothing items and potentially leaky items!  Toss one or two extra bags into your suitcase for use on the way home.
• Stuff Your Shoes – Stuff the toes of shoes with small items like jewelry, socks or other toiletries.

Many thanks to Lucky Magazine for inspiring this tip!  Do you have any other great tips for travelling with just one bag?

You may also enjoy:

• How to Fill the Perfect Travel Kit
• Tips for Carry-ons
• What and How to Pack for Your Next Trip

Every year, I promise myself in the summer that I will shop early for Christmas gifts, order Christmas cards in October and design delicious holiday menus well in advance.  So far, I haven’t come close! This fall, though, I was invited by Jamie Novak to take part in her Bite-Sized Living website.  The site’s philosophy is to work in small manageable batches on organizing all aspects of life, and this is particularly true when it comes to getting organized and ready for the holidays!

When you subscribe to Jamie’s 12 week email class, you can expect short, doable lessons including:

•  how to create a binder that will keep you organized
•  how to use charts to set up a budget
•  ideas for gifts to have on hand for last minute parties and guests

And these tips have just been in the first few emails!  It’s not too late to jump in on these classes and Jamie promises that “this year will be different. Put an end to all that last minute rushing around and instead be prepared, calm and stress-free.”

Sounds good to me! And if you want to find out how I do, follow me along on Facebook where I’ll continue to share my holiday organizing efforts with the help of  Bite-Sized Living! 

Display your children’s art work with pride!

Regardless of the number of children or grandchildren in your family, it’s likely you have more “artful creations” than you can handle!   So, what do you do with these remarkable creations?  Because artwork is an on-going process, here is some advice that will help you both display and store your little Picassos!

Picture Ledges

• Picture ledges will make your art display fluid, eliminating the need for new nail holes every time you want to change pictures.  Very attractive picture ledges are readily available at reasonable prices.  Take a look at Target’s 12″ Classic Wood Shelves and 24″ Classic Wood Shelves for gallery shelves available in white, black and brown, or Bed Bath and Beyond’s Melannco 24″ Shelf sold individually in black or white.
• Look for a convenient place to hang your ledges.  A kitchen, play room or family room wall might work well, or perhaps a wall that encloses a staircase.

Frames

• Format Frames – “Format” frames by MCS are a terrific option.  These frames come in a wide variety of sizes, have glass panes and are really inexpensive.  The best feature of these frames is the black cardboard backing.  I just mount the artwork directly onto the backing and replace the glass cover.  The black background sets off the art work and looks very professional.  These frames can be purchased at Michael’s Craft Store or at Get Smart Products ( see Get Smart Products, Format Frames).  The sizes range from 4″x6″ to 16″x20″ with nine sizes in between!
• Note:  Keep in mind that MCS frames recommended above, feature glass panes. You will need to determine if this is a hazard for your family and might not be appropriate in your playroom or other busy spot in your home.  Frames with Plexiglas are also available.  Whichever way you go, consider using that “blue sticky stuff” to tack the frames onto the ledge for added security.
• Lil Davinci Art Cabinets – Another great choice for kids’ artwork is Li’l Davinci Art Cabinets!  These unique frames open like a cabinet, from the front, and can hold up to 50 sheets of paperwork!  Spring loaded corners hold the art in place and make it incredibly easy to change your display, whether seasonally or as new creations arrive!  Brilliant! (Pictured at top.)

Change Your Artwork Often

Once you have set up your display, change your artwork often!  As new pieces come in, switch out the old!  In order to store the artwork that’s switched out, pick up an artist’s portfolio for each child , adding the “retired” pieces into their own portfolio.

• Lillian Vernon Expandable Portfolio - Lillian Vernon* offers a colorful portfolio for storing artwork, as well as awards, projects and more! (Lillian Vernon,  Expandable portfolio memories)
• Paper Source Storage Box – Paper Source* is another terrific resource for storage boxes that are attractive and practical!  (Paper Source, Scallop Document Box)

Choosing to display your children’s artwork in a more permanent way will make your children feel special and honored! Don’t hesitate to start an art gallery showcasing the greatest artists you’ll ever know!

Do you have an idea for displaying your children’s artwork?  I’d love to hear!

You may also enjoy:

• Memory Collections
• Memory Collections II
• Easy Seasonal Decorating
• Five Star Guest Room

* We love when the products we love are from the sponsors we love!

In a recent “Tip of the Week”, Create a Five Star Guest Room, I reminded readers to spruce up their guest rooms for holiday visitors and offered a few simple ideas to get started.  But if you are interested creating a more elaborate guest room, here are a few fun ideas!

Quality Sheets

You can buy quality sheets with a high thread count without spending a fortune!  Take a look at Martha Stewart’s 400 thread count sheets for Macy’s, which range in price from $9.99 to 29.99.

Fluffy Towels

Here is another way to pamper guests –with soft, fluffy towels, providing each with a bath towel, hand towel and washcloth.

1. Martha Stewart Towels – Martha Stewart for Macy’s is a terrific resource for towels, too!  Take a look at these lovely Trousseau Leaf towels which range in price from $12 to $22.
2. Personalization – You can embroider guest towels with your monogram (wife’s first name initial first, family last name initial larger in the middle and husband’s first name initial last) or a single word like “Welcome” or “Guest.”  Fold and bundle towel sets with wide ribbon!

Attractive Luggage Rack

This is an especially nice touch!

• Ballard Designs offers a sturdy wooden luggage rack that looks like bamboo!  Suitcases rest on strong cotton twill straps and a lower shelf can hold shoes or handbags. This attractive rack comes in antique white or rubbed black!  (Ballard Designs, $99.50 or for a less expensive option, see Stacks and Stacks Folding Luggage Rack, for $39.99)

Bedside Water Carafe

A water carafe and glass set is a perfect bedside accessory and easily available.

• Williams-Sonoma online offers a hand blown clear glass carafe.  This lovely amenity retails for $24 and can be engraved with a single or triple initial monogram for an additional $8.  (Williams Sonoma Monogrammed Carafe)

Guest Robes

Taking a cue from the best hotels, hang terry cloth robes in the guest room closet!

1. You can pick up terry robes reasonably from Lillian Vernon
   (Ultra-Soft Microfleece Robe, $49.98 with complimentary personalization)
2. Linens n’ Things offers “hotel robes” for $79.99 – use those coupons that arrive in your mailbox daily!
3. Not that you need to personalize every last item in your guest room, but it can be fun to embroider these robes with “Guest” or “His” and “Hers!”

Special Extra Touches

Other thoughtful touches include:

1. A clock/CD player for quiet music and a wakeup call.
2. A spot to stow wet towels such as an attractive laundry basket or hooks on the back of the door
3. A reading lamp
4. Coasters
5. Stationery with postage
6. A note detailing any weekend activities!

Go ahead and implement a few of these ideas and you’ll have a guest room that your visitors will never want to leave!

Do you have an idea for creating a fabulous guest room?  I’d love to hear!

You  may also enjoy:

• Get Your Guest Room Guest Ready!
• Create a Five Star Guest Room
• Displaying Kids’ Artwork
• Easy Seasonal Decorating
• Creating Memory Collections
• Organizing with Laundry Baskets

Tags: guest rooms, great, fabulous, inviting, creating a guest room, appointing, how to create, best guest room, great guest room, 5 star

Does your desk need a dose of style or whimsy?  Would you like to be able to charge your electronic devices in one neat, cord-free spot? If so, these two charging stations are perfect!

From Kikkerland Design

This charging station that mimics a bed of grass, will make you smile every time you look at it!  It’s fun, functional and oh so green! (See Jane Work, Charging Station, $30)

Jonathan Adler’s Charging Station

Jonathan Adler’s charging station has a fashionable and decorative style!  This charging dock looks great on a desk or countertop and offers a small storage drawer for paper and pens! (See Jane Work, Jonathan Adler Desktop Dock Organizer, $25)

Corral those cords and make a statement at the same time!