Tag: tricks

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Travel

Traveling for a Work Trip

Hello everyone! Happy April, Happy Wednesday, Happy Day!

There are so many things to be happy about. I hope you are having a fantastic week and have something to look forward to!Ā I have a busy weekend ahead with lots of spring fun. Tis the season for all the outdoor fun (when the weather cooperates)

Last month, I traveled for a week for a big work project, it was a success and I grew a lot both personally and professionally. I learned a lot along the way when it comes to packing and planning. Here are some things that I learned while traveling for an extended amount of time for work. You can also apply a lot of these tricks for traveling for long vacations or to see family, but I have a feeling your needs may be a little different depending on your trip. Here’s some helpful planning and packing tips.

  • Make Two Separate Lists- One list for all personal items or things to bring and the other for work items and keep the lists separate. I love my notes app and use it multiple times a day to refer to different things. Whenever I am going on a trip, I will start a new note for that trip and keep all the to-do’s, lists, notes, and reminders there. This way they are all in one spot that accessible to me wherever I go.Ā  Create a list of all the personal items you need or want to bring; think clothes, accessories, toiletries, items for your purse, odds and ends etc. Then create a second list for any special work items you need or want to bring from work or home; think chargers, work laptops, planners, equipment, things from your desk drawer or items you may need specifically for that trip. This helps keep you organized for extra items you may need and it also keeps everything in order. Also, be sure to keep track of any receipts or expenses you may need to write up at the end of the trip.
An example of one of my lists for personal items
  • Separate your Work and Personal Items by Bag or Pouch– If you are traveling with lots of extra work items, try to keep them separate in their own pouch or bag. This makes packing and unpacking easier and it makes it easier when you are doing a recon to make sure you have everything. When I traveled for work, I had all my equipment and work gear in bags separate from my purse and suitcase. It made it so much easier for packing and unpacking for what went home and to work. I also used my Simplified pouches to separate my chargers, headphones, notebooks and pens. I highly recommend using pouches or smaller bags to keep things organized.

I love my Simplified pouches
A look at all my work and personal bags
  • Bring your Favorite Snacks or Sweet Treats. If you are on the go or may have some downtime, bring the taste of home with you with your favorite snacks. I also like to pack something sweet or salty and snack packs that travel well (think protein bars, trail mix etc.). You may not be eating your regular meals so having something filling and something you enjoy is important, plus if you have a sweet tooth like me, ending your day with something sweet is never a bad idea.
I love to bring a taste of home with me
  • Bring Extra Items, but Pack Smart-You never know where the job may take you. Always pack an extra outfit, hair spray, hair ties, chargers etc. You never know when something could do wrong and the last thing you want is to not be prepared especially when it comes to work. I also found traveling with extra Ziploc baggies is so helpful for corralling items like chargers or snacks, and can be thrown away. I always like to triple check to make sure I have everything, but when it comes to work, there’s nothing wrong with packing more to make sure you don’t forget anything ahead of a big project or presentation. Also, be sure to pack smart, choose outfits that can be mixed and matches, colors that complement each other and when it comes to makeup, try to switch up your routine and minimize it by only bringing on pallet instead of multiple, or use travel brushes instead of your large ones. This saves on space and forgetting about things.
I used one pallet for my cheeks and eyes, so easy and a brush with two different sizes
  • Bring/Do Things that Make You Feel Like You– If you are going to be gone for an extended amount of time, bring things that make you feel your best especially if you have down time. Chances are you won’t be working 24/7 and you may have some downtime. If you are in the middle of a great book, bring it with you, if you love to workout, pack your gym clothes and see if your hotel has a gym to use. Do some research about the place you are going to and see if there’s any good restaurants to try or things to do if you have down time. When I traveled for work, getting in some movement every day and doing my morning and evening routine by reading and journaling helped me stay grounded when I was on the road.
I loved getting movement in every day

I’m by no means an expert traveler or work traveler, but these are some tips that I found to be extremely useful when I was traveling and I think they can be used whether you are out of town for work or play.

If you travel a lot for work, what’s your travel advice? Do you have any tips or tricks you would like to share. I would love to hear them! Have a great Wednesday and I’ll see you back here on Friday for another edition of Friday Favorites!

Categories
Fabulous living

Entertaining Tips and Tricks

Hello everyone! Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a fulfilling and fun week.Ā The weather has been gorgeous as of late and I have been taking full advantage of it at nights and on the weekends.

From fairs to festivals, I have been busy!

One of my favorite things to do year round, but especially in the summer is entertaining. I love hosting friends and family, whether itā€™s for a barbecue, dinner party, girlā€™s night, or just a cup of coffee. 

I have learned everything I know about hosting from my mom. She makes it look easy and I have gotten my love of welcoming people in my home from her. We just finished hosting family and friends for the Fourth of July. While this is our big party of the year, we also enjoy having friends over for casual dinners and grilling nights. Whether you enjoy entertaining or are a novice, I have some advice for you to make your next event, no matter big or small, a success!

  • Make a List and Plan of Action– Whether its having another couple over or twenty people over, make a list of what you need and what you need to accomplish before the event. I like to write down all the dishes I need to make and do an inventory of what I already have, before I go shopping. Then I make a list of what things I need to do to prepare. This list includes everything from grocery shopping, to cleaning the house, making dishes, and buying any extra things to have on hand. This helps me stay organized and gives me a list to refer back to leading up to the day.
  • Stick with What You Know– When it comes to choosing what to make, stick with what you know and what are crowd pleasers. I love trying new recipes and dishes, but trying them for the first time when you are having company over is not the time for it, nor the place. Do you need the extra stress? No! No matter what you are preparing, make it a point to cook things you feel comfortable with and are easy dishes that others enjoy too. Donā€™t forget to ask your guests if there are any allergies you need to be aware of. When it comes to making the food, always make more than you think you will need. Itā€™s better to have leftovers than not enough food.
You can never go wrong with crowd pleasers, like burgers, fruit and chips!
  • Accept the Help– If you are planning on having a lot of people over and people offer to bring an item, accept the help. You can easily assign them something to bring if they insist on bringing something, or if you are open to anything, let them choose what they want to make, but ask them what it is so you can prepare. Thereā€™s nothing worse than having all desserts and no sides. This makes people feel like they are helping and it helps make your meal easier. 
  • Have Takeout Containers on Hand- Speaking of leftovers, if you are planning a big party with lots of people, buy takeout containers to send your guests home with leftovers if you have them. You can find inexpensive containers at the store and you are sending your guests home with good food and you arenā€™t wasting them. Plus, you doesnā€™t love some extra food the day after a party.
  • Buy Neutral Paper Products and Take Advantage of Sales– No matter the season, always have extra, neutral paper products on hand. I always like to have plastic silverware, paper plates, bowls and napkins on hand. I have a mix of white products and some colorful and seasonal products too. Itā€™s always good to have some basic products for spontaneous entertainment and easy cleanup. Take advantage of sales after major holidays for deals on festive paper products to have on hand for when you are looking for something fun to pull out.
  • Always Have Boxed Mixes on Hand- I always like to keep a box (or two) or brownie mix on hand for spontaneous entertainment. The same goes for having extra trail mix, or crackers, or chips to serve people if they show up unexpectedly. If you have a neighbor, family member or friend drop by, itā€™s always good to have a little snack to graze on. Brownie and cookie mixes are affordable and easy things to have in the pantry if you need to make a quick dessert to either entertain or to bring someplace. 

There you have it. Some of the best advice passed down from my mom to me. These are things that she has taught me and I have picked up on through hosting friends and family. If you enjoy hosting, what are some of your favorite hosting tips and tricks!? Let me know in the comments below! Happy Summer Hosting!

Categories
Fun Ways to Organize

Spring Cleaning

Hello all! Happy Wednesday!

The days are getting longer, the sun is setting later, and we are having more days that are warmer rather than freezingā€¦thereā€™s nothing quite like spring.Ā I can hardly wait for next month!

Ever since the start of the new year I have been in cleaning and organizing mode. From closets, to cabinets, under beds and all around the house. I tossed and donated A LOT! I first blamed it on being coped up in the winter and wanting to get things tidied up after the holidays. Then I said I was getting my spring cleaning out of the way. Once I started, I couldnā€™t stop. The one thing I didnā€™t do was take any before or after picturesā€¦blogger fail. So I apologize for the lack or pictures in this post.

If you are on the fence about doing some spring cleaning or need that extra push to get it done, I hope this post serves as that motivation.

Hereā€™s some tips and tricks for spring cleaning:

  • Start small
    • It can get overwhelming to start cleaning and organizing. Donā€™t get too stressed out about the mess or clutter, instead break it up. Start with a closet one afternoon or cabinets one night.Ā Ā For example, I did my closet on Sunday after work, then the following week, I worked on organizing shoes and donating ones that didnā€™t fit. The following week, I went through my drawers. I broke it up when I had the time and I worked on small areas. I had a sense of accomplishment at the end of each task but wasnā€™t burnt out after a mass undertaking of non-stop cleaning.
  • Make a List
    • If you canā€™t get to everything in one day or even one month, keep a running list of things of things you want to tackle. Sometimes I would be going about my day and would see a cabinet that needs organized or tidied up, if I didnā€™t have the time to tackle that in that moment, I jotted it down to clean it out when I had the time. I had a list to refer to when I had time to clean or organize and then it was always good to see how far you have come with organizing.
  • Use It or Lose it Rule
    • This is a question I ask myself if Iā€™m on the fence about getting rid of something. There are some things I know can be an easy decision to donate or toss. But then thereā€™s the other things that may be harder to decide to donate or keep. The first question I ask myself is ā€œHave I used or worn this in the past year?ā€, yes, the pandemic makes it tricky, but if I have used or worn it then I keep, if I havenā€™t then I reconsider. The second question I ask myself is “If I keep it, will I use it within the next few months?”, if the answer is yes, then I keep it and I do my best to use or wear it. This is another way to make sure you are using or wearing what you have.
  • Donā€™t buy organizational tools while you are in the thick of it.
    • This is easier said than done. It can be easy to be cleaning something and then think, ā€œI need to buy a new bin or desk organizer”. Hold off on buying a new tool or item, instead see what you must use. For example, for the longest time, I thought I needed a new jewelry box. I hunted for one for a while, but kept coming up empty handed. I went through my jewelry and ended up getting rid of things that were broken or I hadnā€™t worn and was able to reorganize my jewelry and turns out I didnā€™t need a new jewelry box. Thatā€™s another benefit of cleaning or reorganizing, you find new purposes for old things.

Those are just a few ideas or tips when it comes to spring cleaning. I have spent a lot of time over the past few months cleaning, tidying and reorganizing and it has been so nice to see more clean and empty spaces around my house and room. For those who enjoy spring cleaning and organizing, what are your top tips for cleaning? Drop them below!