Pack Like a Pro

 

Happy Monday!  It is the start os a short week and one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.  Can you believe more people travel on Thanksgiving weekend then any other time of the year?  Whether you are flying or driving to your destination, packing can be a chore…  When you are driving, you can pack what you want and even over pack, right?  But what about when you are flying?  Carry on versus checked luggage?  Roll on or tote?  It is enough to make your head spin.If you are flying this holiday week, here are some quick and easy packing tips to lighten your load.

1. Mix and Match

Do you really need a different outfit every single day?  The truth is you don’t.  We have always been of the mindset of “just in case” clothes BUT I am learning when I fly, less is more.  I use the mix and match theory.  Pack neutral colors and colors which go together, nobody will notice your wearing the same pants two days in a row.

2. Light Clothing

The best thing about denim is you can wear it day after, day, after day, and it is perfect for traveling. The problem is denim is heavy.  I never really thought about this BUT it is so true.  So why not wear it on the plane so it’s not in your luggage.  Have a shirt or two in your bag to go with your jeans and some lighter pants if you must carry extra clothes.

3. Digital Entertainment

Let’s be honest, will you actually read the book you are carrying or will you be trolling the internet, listening to music or playing a game?  Don’t over pack with books and reading materials. Use a Kindle or an app on a iPhone or iPad.  I love this idea if you must have an actual book: buy one at the airport, then return it to the same bookstore at a different airport. You’ll get 50% back.

While you are sitting at the airport, do some people watching for some great travel tips.  The expert travelers travel very light while the novice is loaded down with lots of bags and struggling.  By using these lug-less luggage tips on your next trip, you’ll look like a pro, just like them!

What is your best travel tip when flying?  Share it with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-deful day!

 

The “Unofficial” End of Summer

YEAH!  Today is Friday and for many, they are looking forward to the LONG Labor Day Weekend.  This weekend is filled with the last hurrah before the kids go back to school.  The “unofficial” end of summer.

Being born and raised at the Jersey Shore, I have learned to look forward to this weekend. It is the weekend when most “shoobies” head home.

 A shoobie (if you are from South Jersey) is some one who wears socks and sandals on the beach, typically coming to the shore for a vacation or long weekend or a day trip.  Of course, if you are from Central or Northern NJ, these visitors are called “bennies” and are usually from NY.  They are what keeps many businesses in our area open and able to sustain during the long cold winter months.  YEAH!

When I was in high school, I longed for the summer.  The boardwalk in Asbury Park got busy and I got more hours at work.   We didn’t mind sitting in traffic or the lack of parking spaces.  Fast forward to living in South Jersey near Ocean City and believe it or not, I didn’t think it was that bad, either.  Yes, there was a little bit more traffic.  Yes, there was a few less parking spaces.  Yes, we had to pay to park.  Given all of that, I loved taking the kids to the boardwalk and people watching.  The crowds never seemed that bad.

Fast forward to NOW!  Living in Central Jersey (Brick) again, I am back to CELEBRATING the exodus of people.  For some reason the crowds seem worse, manners were left at home and oh, did I mention the traffic.  I can go back to driving the highways and enjoy my happy place – the beach/ boardwalk in Ocean Grove.  I no longer have to find the shortest or less traveled distance between any where I want to go.  I can enjoy the boardwalk and we can walk the lake. Will I miss the warmer weather? YES!  Will I miss the seasonal businesses that will close?  YES!

Will I miss the “shoobies” and “bennies”?  NO!  Please no hate mail.  All I ask when you visit is that you bring your manners and remember that for some of us, this is home and not just a vacation spot.  We welcome you into our “HOME” and ask that you treat it as if you were a guest in someone’s (physical) home.

So, are you excited about or dreading the start of the LONG Labor Day Weekend?  Share your thoughts with us..

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!