Category Archives: Travel

Essentials To Make Packing Easier

It’s taken me many, many years to learn the art of packing. You don’t want to see the size of suitcase I had when I went to Europe 14 years ago. It was ridiculously large!!! Not sure what I was thinking!!! Just my shoes took up 50% of my suitcase. Now I’m older and wiser and since having my son, I’ve had to learn to really only pack the essentials.

Above are 8 items that are must have when packing. They facilitate packing and help keep your things organized and easy to find.

Having a large tote when travelling is a must!!! I can’t travel with anything smaller than a tote. It allows me to pack my passports, travel information, make up, book, phone, charger, magazine, IPod and many other things. I hate travelling with a bunch of carry on bags. My one tote is the perfect size to fit everything that I need to carry on the plane.

I purchased a passport holder a few years ago when we had my son and I had to carry 3 passports, plus other travelling documentation and information. I even use it when we are travelling within the country. It just keeps our information organized and together and I don’t have to worry about losing something.

I purchased this make up bag a few years ago and I don’t know how I travelled without it. It keeps all my make up and toiletries together. The best thing about this bag is that it can also hang, making it easier to store when you’re travelling. You can just hang it on something. For a girl that has a lot of make up, this bag is perfect. It even holds my travel size shampoo/conditioner, moisturizer and face wash.

Toiletries bag is the next must have to help you pack. I like this florescent yellow one (please excuse the water stain on it, it’s well loved :)) because it’s big enough to fit the rest of my toiletries that don’t fit into my make up bag. Ie my razor, perfume, soap, deoderant, contact solution, glasses, etc… You get the idea.

A shoe bag is super important. I only recently discovered them when I bought my first pair of Toms. I love them because they keep your dirty shoes away from your clean clothes. I used to just used plastic bags, but these ones are much cuter and environmentally friendly.

I purchased this jewelry roll last Summer and I’ve used it countless times. I used to travel with jewelry boxes and jamming all my earrings into one box, my bracelets into another and my necklaces into another. This way I can keep all my jewelry together, neat and organized. Less chance to losing something.

Travel size toiletries are also a must. Try finding your products in a travel size or purchase plastic containers and fill them with your shampoo, conditioner, soaps, face wash, face moisturizer, etc. Again these are a must!!! You can also find many of your favourite products in travel sizes. It’s much easier to pack, store and travel with.

Other suggestions to make packing easier:

Make a list of things you need to pack and include everything and I mean everything ie. underwear. This makes packing easier and less stressful because you have a list of everything you want to pack.

Plan ahead. Know what the weather is going to like at your destination. It will prevent you from packing many unnecessary things. Plan your outfits ahead of time, again making it easier to pack and dress once you’re on vacation. If you’re like me and some days you have a hard time deciding what to wear, allow yourself one extra outfit, that way you won’t feel like you don’t have “anything to wear”. Also pack clothes that can multi-task and be worn with other items. This also will reduce too many things that you won’t really wear or need.

Don’t pack at the last minute!!! Give yourself time to pack in peace and quiet, without interruption and the fear that you’ll forget something. Even if you have your stuff picked out and in a laundry basket ready to be put into a suitcase is a great start and will be extremely helpful when you pack.

May this blog inspire you to use this as a guide to help you pack. Packing is not easy and can take years to learn how to do it efficiently. Believe me, it’s taken most of my adult life to figure out how to pack properly.

I hope the next time you’re planning a trip, these suggestions will help make packing easier.

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Happy Friday & Weekend Everyone!!!!!

10 Year Anniversary

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It’s been 10 years since I moved here to beautiful British Columbia. I can’t believe it!!! 10 years ago I packed up my life, drove 15 hrs and started a new life with my now husband. Little did I know that my husband was planning on proposing to me that night. I joke that he decided to propose to me that night because he knew I would be too exhausted to say no. I’m kidding. All joking aside, it’s been an interesting, amazing, emotional, life changing 10 years. Since moving here, I got my first job as an RN, did my specialty in Perinatal Nursing, work in LDR for the past 8 years, got married, bought a house and had a baby. If you would have told me 10 years ago that this is where I would, I’m not sure I’d believe it. When people say that time goes by quickly, it’s true. Below are pictures of our drive down to Vancouver and the potato my husband proposed to me with.

What?!?!?!?! Yes I know, what’s up with a potato? You read correctly, a potato!!! When we first starting dating and my husband told me he had a surprise for me, I would answer that I didn’t care what it was, it could be a potato for all I care, just as long as it has meaning. Well that little monkey took me literally and carved out a potato and inside it was my engagement ring. Fast forward 10 years and this August we will be celebrating our 9 year wedding anniversary.

Tonight, our friends kindly offered to watch our son and we are headed out for dinner, nothing fancy, but it doesn’t matter. I get to spend a few hours alone with my husband uninterrupted, am able to enjoy a cocktail or 2 and eat my food without someone nagging at me. My husband bought us a special bottle of red wine that we will enjoy once our son is in bed. I’d say it’s a good start to the Easter long weekend!!!

May this blog inspire you to celebrate your relationship milestones with that special person in your life. It’s important to reconnect with one another and remember why you got together in the first place.

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Happy Weekend and Easter Everyone!!!!!!

My visit to Oprah and a little black dress

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I wanted to thank everyone who read my last blog “30 year old Teenagers”!!! I got lots of positive feedback and I’m so happy that I was able to touch so many lives. I got lots of e-mails saying how many of you could relate to my story; that’s the point of my blog. I want to write about life, about my experiences and for people to realize that many of us feel the same way; you are not alone.

This is what I wore last Thursday. I don’t always post what I wear but this is a good example of a great easy everyday outfit. Oh and if you know me I love cardigans:)

The hat (Aritzia).Cardigan and yellow tank top (Jacob). Jeans (R W & Co.) Sandals (Steve Madden). Watch (Coach).

On Wednesday March 16, 2011 I checked my e-mail in the morning and got the best new of my life (ok well maybe the second best news). I got the golden ticket!!!! I was going to see a taping of the Oprah show!!! The exact wording was “Great news! Your ticket reservation request has been selected for the 04/12/2011 A show taping”. I just about had a heart attack. My in-laws were visiting and my mother-in-law couldn’t figure out why I was crying, shaking and screaming. When I told her that I got tickets to see Oprah, she said “That’s nice Agi dear”. Clearly my mother-in-law is not nearly as enthusiastic about things as I am. Anyways I called my husband in hysterics and told him the incredible news. I have to say that I have an amazing husband. He was so excited for me. Not only was he excited for me but supportive. We didn’t really have the money to go to Chicago, but my husband didn’t say anything, we just booked our tickets and went and had an amazing time :).

So the quick back story of how I got tickets, because I know you all want to know and you all have asked “how did you get tickets?”. Its honestly as simple as when Oprah announced that 2011 will be her last year, I thought I’m going to try and get tickets. Its been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember (its on my bucket list) and I thought what’s the worst that can happen? I don’t get tickets. And for almost a year that’s what happened, I would apply on line and get a very nice rejection e-mail. But on Wednesday March 16, 2011, I received a very different e-mail. I have to say never give up on your dreams, because had I, I would have never had the chance to see Oprah. Its like the Journey song “Don’t stop Believin‘” and I didn’t.

We had less than 1 month to buy our plane tickets, get a hotel and ensure my mother-in-law could watch our son. I also had to make sure that my best friend and her husband could make it, since I had reservations for 4 tickets. Thank God for the internet and friend’s who have been to Chicago. I’ve never been and truth be told, all I really cared about what seeing Oprah. I didn’t think Chicago had much to offer. But boy was I wrong. I started reading things on the internet and immediately fell in love with the windy city. I realized that Chicago has more to offer then just Oprah. I made hotel reservations at Sutton Place, which is in an amazing location, located close to Magnificent Mile and to this amazing restaurant called “The Pancake House“. I will say it again, thank God for the internet!!! I spent about 1 week researching hard what to see and do in Chicago.

Before I get to my list of must see attractions in Chicago, below is a picture of my husband and I on our way to Seattle to catch a plane to Chicago. I was so excited when we crossed the boarder to the States, that when the boarder guard asked “where we were going?” I couldn’t help myself, I told him “We were going to see Oprah!!!”. At least I got a smile out of him

FYI, before we went, I purchased a City Pass which got us into 5 places for $84/person (well worth the price). Try buying things like passes for attractions on line, they are usually cheaper.

This is my list of must see places and things to do in Chicago. I know there is much more to see and do, but we were limited in time. We had 6 days to try and see the best of Chicago. So here you have it:

1. Field Museum- A must. My husband and I just loved it.

2. Steppenwolf Theater- we saw a great play “Sex with Strangers”.

3. Lake Michigan

4. Magnificent Mile

5. Giordano’s Pizza- amazing deep dish pizza.

6.Millennium Park- Located on the shores of Lake Michigan. The bean seen below is a great meeting point and attraction.

7. John Hancock Center- this is the view from the John Hancock Center

8. Willis Tower - the old Sear’s Tower

9. Quartino- great Italian food for a good price.

10. Morton’s -we celebrated our taping of the Oprah show by going to Morton’s for dinner. Amazing steak.

11. Architectural Boat Cruise - a great way to see the city of Chicago and learn its history. Had no idea that in 1871, Chicago was almost completely destroyed by a fire.

12. Hop On, Hop Off bus. Great way to see Chicago and its main attractions.

13. Shedd Aquarium

14. Oprah- on our way to the taping.

At Harpo Studios.

I have to say that from the moment we entered Harpo Studios, the staff were amazing. They made this into such a special and memorable experience. They embraced our enthusiasm and encouraged it. They were nothing but courteous and professional. The show itself was a bit of a let down (ok who are we kidding here, me along with everyone else was hoping for something under their seats!!!), it was about infertility and we only taped half the show with our audience, but Oprah herself was gracious, kind, wise and larger than life. I had the chance to sit right across from her and at one point we made eye contact. I’m sure she will never remember that moment, but I will never forget it. She spent almost 1 hr after the show taping ended answering questions. I know that the reason I was chosen to attend the show was not for the show itself but for what Oprah said afterwards. A mother in the audience asked what advice would Oprah give to her for her daughters. Oprah’s answer was this “Our jobs as parents is to ensure that we allow our children to be the best they can be, to grow into their highest and fullest potential”. Oprah, I will never forget that, because as a parent to a 3 year old boy, I want the best for my son, for him to be the best he can be, to live his dreams and to sore to great heights. She brought tears to my eyes when she said that because I knew she was speaking from the heart and speaking the truth. So thank you Oprah for that, I will never forget my Oprah show experience. Oh and an added surprise, when the show aired, my husband and I were shown on tv. Below is a picture a friend took of her tv screen of us on Oprah.

I want to end this blog with a little black dress. Every woman should own a little black dress that makes them feel sexy. I wore this dress for the first time in Chicago and my husband loved it. Since then I have worn it on many different occasions and have to say its an amazingly versatile dress. So ladies, if you don’t own one, go out and treat yourself to a little black dress that makes you feel special and makes your husband or boyfriend go crazy. You’ll thank me Below is a couple of pictures of me in my little black dress.

Dress (Jacob). Necklace and bracelet (Stella and Dot). Shoes (Aldo).

May this blog inspire you to always follow your dreams and to purchase a little black dress that makes you feel pretty. If you feel like you have no where to wear it, then create a reason to wear it.

Happy Monday everyone!!!