One more thing: Clean up the area before you take a picture of the item. I don't know many people who want to buy stuff that comes from a dirty house or cluttered and dank-looking garage.
Another great store to check out with super affordable accessories is "Charming Charlie". This store is organized by color, so if you are looking for something purple, their is a whole purple accessory section, then another for blue, pink, gold, etc... and not only to they have amazing costume jewelry, but super cute shoes, sandals and great purse selection. Prices run $5 and up. Perfect if you are on a tight budget like me. If you have this store in your city, definitely check it out. Warning - this place is very addictive ;-)
Mikey, I agree with your suggestion about watching cooking shows. I do that while I fold laundry. I often find them inspiring, and sometimes they get me out of a cooking rut. Also, you might think that making something is intimidating, but when you watch it being done, it's really not all that hard. PS: Thanks for the little mini-recipe with the pasta, basil, and tomatoes. I'm going to throw a little cooked chicken breast into that. Perfect!
Too much detergent is probably the problem. Also if you leave your clothes out all night and so they end up with an extra "dew rinse" they also tend to be much softer as well.
The $30.00 + date ideas are great! I hadn't thought of using Groupon in order to have dinner at a nice restaurant, that's a fantastic tip! Thanks for sharing.
I'm kind of the opposite when it comes to plans - I never make any when I travel. And I have to admit, this hasn't served me well at all. I had two weeks in London where I intended to make a trip to Paris for the day, or to Scotland, and never managed to. I backpacked all over China, but never seemed to stumble on any of the gems that people said I would - instead, I often found myself cold and hungry, or being chased by Chinese policemen for accidentally wandering into an area that I wasn't supposed to.
Great post... it's really not a decision whether or not to incorporate but which is best for your business. It is an absolute must. Thanks for the informative (and fun to read!) post!
I agree about the iPod Touch. I'm a one-bag traveler, and my iPod has proven to be a little workhorse! I bought it for entertainment consolidation -- I usually take a season of a TV show, some movies, and a bunch of Kindle books for use on trains and planes.
But I've also discovered so many more uses! I keep organized itinerary info and contact info for all our hotels and reservations on a couple of apps. It's my alarm clock, voice recorder, translator, map, notepad, and currency convertor. Plus I can connect to the internet and email whenever there's a free signal, to stay in touch with home. I love it!
Thanks for sharing! Both of those sound like really fun (and fabulously frugal) bachelorette parties! The best part is that all of your guests got the chance to talk and spend real QT together - I think the slumber party was a great way to go.
My iPod Touch has been the single best travel item I have ever purchased. I can check email anywhere I can find Wifi, and I can download dozens of books to read so that I don't have to carry around a stack of paperbacks with me. I can search for travel information on the Internet and save this information for reading later, download maps of my destination, and I can even Skype with friends and family back home. In a foreign country, a translator/dictionary app helps me to communicate. My husband figured out how to save movies and TV shows so we can watch them on the plane/train/bus. Not to mention hours of entertainment playing Angry Birds. I'm not usually a huge Apple fan, but the iPod touch is worth it for traveling!
A lot of those cooking show techniques require special or expensive equipment. I don't even have a food processor, for example, nor do I want one because I don't have a dishwasher. Again, I'd rather watch roommates, friends and relatives than professionals.
But I do admit that it was great to see how to "fold" ingredients in to a batter. I had been worrying that I was stirring too much, so it was nice to see that you can still do a fair amount of stirring.
And I also admit that I learned a fair amount by watching my mom as a kid--she did a lot of baking and stirring things in pots which, not surprisingly, are my favorite ways to cook as well. So, I already knew how to knead dough and roll pie crusts, and I already knew that raw scrambled eggs look disgusting and that cake batter is runny but biscuit dough is not, etc.
I also research a place before I go, and make lists of where I want to try. I get too excited not to! My most recent trip, I really wanted to revisit a restaurant I hadn't been to in seven years, and it was one plan that worked out great.
Flexibility is key, and I like your idea of listing some backup plans- especially for rainy days!
I totally agree with the laptop point: no one wants to lug around a heavy laptop! I had a friend who was in Kenya for an extended period of time (a few months); but rather than bring her computer, she took a smart phone and used that to communicate and have the internet as needed.
A warning though - if you aren't bringing a computer, be sure that the camera's memory card has enough space for all your photos! You don't want to run out of room early in the trip without anywhere to transfer pics to.
A Kindle truly would be a perfect replacement for books on a trip! I should probably invest in one of those...
You're also probably right v shoes- although I find that Crocs now makes some very decent-looking shoes these days, and they dry out in mere moments. I recently took a trip to Vancouver where in one day I jumped in and out of my Gramps' boat into knee-high water, then proceeded to through a dress on and go out for a nice mean on Robson. I mean, no one was complimenting my shoes on their snazziness, but I don't mind on a trip- Crocs just don't quit!
I digress on toiletries- just this weekend I realized that there are also places out there that make really interesting, travel-suitable products that don't cost a crazy fortune! Lush is a good example- you can buy tiny little bars of shampoo and conditioner, not to mention soap, and sometimes can get them cut in-store to suit the length of your trip. This is something I will definitely be trying!
I've made pizza with tortillas before, but Ritz sound great too! The only problem is that rare box of Ritz around here pretty much always goes straight into chocolate for the delicious/easy chocolaty salty goodness my grandmother-in-law makes. So good.
Love some of these ideas. :)
Also, on the rare occasion that someone shows up without calling first I just don't answer the door. Honestly, I won't put up with it. I love having people over, but I think it is incredibly rude to just show up without warning. Maybe that is because we are college students and still learning how to keep a somewhat clean duplex (with 3 cats, 2 dogs, 3 rats, a tortoise, and occasional foster dogs).
I'm also going to have to disagree with some of these. I can't do without books, especially on trips. My Kindle comes in incredibly handy for this, as I carry hundreds of books with me in it. Buying a Kindle has lightened my packing for trips considerably, as I used to bring a fairly small bag /just/ for books.
Also, I think it is generally a good idea to carry two pairs of comfortable shoes if you are traveling to/in a rainy area. Unless you can go somewhere with a dryer, shoes stay wet for a ridiculous amount of time and get stinky easily when worn wet.
Lastly, I absolutely can't travel without toiletries. I've tried before, but as a woman with long hair those itsy bitsy bottles of shampoo/conditioner may be enough for one shower, but certainly not enough to share. Especially since they tend to be really low quality, except at high end hotels. I'd much rather sacrifice the space for a bottle of shampoo/conditioner than get several bottles from an annoyed hotel clerk (if they even let me).
I have to disagree with a couple of things on this list.
First, I'm a reader, so books are an absolute must on my trips - I like to read books about/set in the places that I'm visiting. I find that it truly enriches my experience. Second, I think having a guidebook is invaluable, especially if you go to a site only to discover that they've temporarily closed for renovations or something like that. But I don't waste a lot of space with these items - I carry an eReader with my books and guidebook already loaded. It also doubles as a notebook if I need to jot down some notes (but it doesn't work so well for long journal entries - I still use a paper journal for that).
Second, toiletries. Yes, some hotels offer toiletries free of charge, but if you're traveling on a budget, a lot of places don't. I can fit all my toiletries in two quart-size bags, and they don't take up much space at all. I'd rather sacrifice a little space than risk being dirty and stinky because my hotel or hostel didn't offer me soap.
One more thing: Clean up the area before you take a picture of the item. I don't know many people who want to buy stuff that comes from a dirty house or cluttered and dank-looking garage.
I wish i was in Dallas...but im in Malaysia..pity me..
Another great store to check out with super affordable accessories is "Charming Charlie". This store is organized by color, so if you are looking for something purple, their is a whole purple accessory section, then another for blue, pink, gold, etc... and not only to they have amazing costume jewelry, but super cute shoes, sandals and great purse selection. Prices run $5 and up. Perfect if you are on a tight budget like me. If you have this store in your city, definitely check it out. Warning - this place is very addictive ;-)
Mikey, I agree with your suggestion about watching cooking shows. I do that while I fold laundry. I often find them inspiring, and sometimes they get me out of a cooking rut. Also, you might think that making something is intimidating, but when you watch it being done, it's really not all that hard. PS: Thanks for the little mini-recipe with the pasta, basil, and tomatoes. I'm going to throw a little cooked chicken breast into that. Perfect!
Too much detergent is probably the problem. Also if you leave your clothes out all night and so they end up with an extra "dew rinse" they also tend to be much softer as well.
If you have a World Market, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods or Marshalls they often have spices, mixes, olive oils and cookbooks for cheap!
The $30.00 + date ideas are great! I hadn't thought of using Groupon in order to have dinner at a nice restaurant, that's a fantastic tip! Thanks for sharing.
You could also try this website for some other ideas: www.fun-date-ideas.com
On most everything. Large purchases are easy to research on the web to get ideas of a good price plus if free shipping -- why go to the store??
Pay way to much for Dish!
Yes I have more than one source of income. Various jobs, rental property both residential and commercial.
I'm a little bit "Old School" and like to have a money belt with me when I travel especially when I'm heading overseas in an austere environment.
I didn't know you could do that - is the caffeine content through the roof?
I'm kind of the opposite when it comes to plans - I never make any when I travel. And I have to admit, this hasn't served me well at all. I had two weeks in London where I intended to make a trip to Paris for the day, or to Scotland, and never managed to. I backpacked all over China, but never seemed to stumble on any of the gems that people said I would - instead, I often found myself cold and hungry, or being chased by Chinese policemen for accidentally wandering into an area that I wasn't supposed to.
A plan isn't all bad.
Great post... it's really not a decision whether or not to incorporate but which is best for your business. It is an absolute must. Thanks for the informative (and fun to read!) post!
I agree about the iPod Touch. I'm a one-bag traveler, and my iPod has proven to be a little workhorse! I bought it for entertainment consolidation -- I usually take a season of a TV show, some movies, and a bunch of Kindle books for use on trains and planes.
But I've also discovered so many more uses! I keep organized itinerary info and contact info for all our hotels and reservations on a couple of apps. It's my alarm clock, voice recorder, translator, map, notepad, and currency convertor. Plus I can connect to the internet and email whenever there's a free signal, to stay in touch with home. I love it!
Thanks for sharing! Both of those sound like really fun (and fabulously frugal) bachelorette parties! The best part is that all of your guests got the chance to talk and spend real QT together - I think the slumber party was a great way to go.
My iPod Touch has been the single best travel item I have ever purchased. I can check email anywhere I can find Wifi, and I can download dozens of books to read so that I don't have to carry around a stack of paperbacks with me. I can search for travel information on the Internet and save this information for reading later, download maps of my destination, and I can even Skype with friends and family back home. In a foreign country, a translator/dictionary app helps me to communicate. My husband figured out how to save movies and TV shows so we can watch them on the plane/train/bus. Not to mention hours of entertainment playing Angry Birds. I'm not usually a huge Apple fan, but the iPod touch is worth it for traveling!
A lot of those cooking show techniques require special or expensive equipment. I don't even have a food processor, for example, nor do I want one because I don't have a dishwasher. Again, I'd rather watch roommates, friends and relatives than professionals.
But I do admit that it was great to see how to "fold" ingredients in to a batter. I had been worrying that I was stirring too much, so it was nice to see that you can still do a fair amount of stirring.
And I also admit that I learned a fair amount by watching my mom as a kid--she did a lot of baking and stirring things in pots which, not surprisingly, are my favorite ways to cook as well. So, I already knew how to knead dough and roll pie crusts, and I already knew that raw scrambled eggs look disgusting and that cake batter is runny but biscuit dough is not, etc.
I also research a place before I go, and make lists of where I want to try. I get too excited not to! My most recent trip, I really wanted to revisit a restaurant I hadn't been to in seven years, and it was one plan that worked out great.
Flexibility is key, and I like your idea of listing some backup plans- especially for rainy days!
I totally agree with the laptop point: no one wants to lug around a heavy laptop! I had a friend who was in Kenya for an extended period of time (a few months); but rather than bring her computer, she took a smart phone and used that to communicate and have the internet as needed.
A warning though - if you aren't bringing a computer, be sure that the camera's memory card has enough space for all your photos! You don't want to run out of room early in the trip without anywhere to transfer pics to.
A Kindle truly would be a perfect replacement for books on a trip! I should probably invest in one of those...
You're also probably right v shoes- although I find that Crocs now makes some very decent-looking shoes these days, and they dry out in mere moments. I recently took a trip to Vancouver where in one day I jumped in and out of my Gramps' boat into knee-high water, then proceeded to through a dress on and go out for a nice mean on Robson. I mean, no one was complimenting my shoes on their snazziness, but I don't mind on a trip- Crocs just don't quit!
I digress on toiletries- just this weekend I realized that there are also places out there that make really interesting, travel-suitable products that don't cost a crazy fortune! Lush is a good example- you can buy tiny little bars of shampoo and conditioner, not to mention soap, and sometimes can get them cut in-store to suit the length of your trip. This is something I will definitely be trying!
I've made pizza with tortillas before, but Ritz sound great too! The only problem is that rare box of Ritz around here pretty much always goes straight into chocolate for the delicious/easy chocolaty salty goodness my grandmother-in-law makes. So good.
Love some of these ideas. :)
Also, on the rare occasion that someone shows up without calling first I just don't answer the door. Honestly, I won't put up with it. I love having people over, but I think it is incredibly rude to just show up without warning. Maybe that is because we are college students and still learning how to keep a somewhat clean duplex (with 3 cats, 2 dogs, 3 rats, a tortoise, and occasional foster dogs).
I'm also going to have to disagree with some of these. I can't do without books, especially on trips. My Kindle comes in incredibly handy for this, as I carry hundreds of books with me in it. Buying a Kindle has lightened my packing for trips considerably, as I used to bring a fairly small bag /just/ for books.
Also, I think it is generally a good idea to carry two pairs of comfortable shoes if you are traveling to/in a rainy area. Unless you can go somewhere with a dryer, shoes stay wet for a ridiculous amount of time and get stinky easily when worn wet.
Lastly, I absolutely can't travel without toiletries. I've tried before, but as a woman with long hair those itsy bitsy bottles of shampoo/conditioner may be enough for one shower, but certainly not enough to share. Especially since they tend to be really low quality, except at high end hotels. I'd much rather sacrifice the space for a bottle of shampoo/conditioner than get several bottles from an annoyed hotel clerk (if they even let me).
I have to disagree with a couple of things on this list.
First, I'm a reader, so books are an absolute must on my trips - I like to read books about/set in the places that I'm visiting. I find that it truly enriches my experience. Second, I think having a guidebook is invaluable, especially if you go to a site only to discover that they've temporarily closed for renovations or something like that. But I don't waste a lot of space with these items - I carry an eReader with my books and guidebook already loaded. It also doubles as a notebook if I need to jot down some notes (but it doesn't work so well for long journal entries - I still use a paper journal for that).
Second, toiletries. Yes, some hotels offer toiletries free of charge, but if you're traveling on a budget, a lot of places don't. I can fit all my toiletries in two quart-size bags, and they don't take up much space at all. I'd rather sacrifice a little space than risk being dirty and stinky because my hotel or hostel didn't offer me soap.
No books??? Then I wouldn't be interested in going. To solve this problem, I bought a Kindle. That way, I can take all the reading material I want!