Showing posts with label adorable shoes. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Shoegasm!!!!!

Yes I have ventured into the land that is forbidden to me as of the moment- The Land of Louboutin. The Spring/Summer collection for 2011 is to die for and what I would do to have a pair of the red soled beauties on my feet. These are some of my Favorites from the line.

You can now commence to drool on your computer screens.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Travel Tips and of course more shoes and other things

More Packing tips, because I need them

Some travelers jam two weeks' worth of gear in their bags for a long weekend. Others pack a bit too lightly and forget important things like medicine or passports. Savvy travelers strike the perfect balance and bring just what they need -- with a little help from our list of road-tested packing tips, of course!

Packing Methods
When packing your clothes, you don't want to neatly fold them individually as you would in a dresser. If you do, they will crease when compressed. Here are a few alternatives:

Rolling Your Clothes
Backpackers swear by this method. Rolling works well with pants, skirts and sports shirts. Lay the item face down, fold back the sleeves and then roll from the bottom up.

Fold Clothes Together
Take two or more garments, for example trousers, and lay half of one pair on top of the other. Fold the one on the bottom over the pair on the top. Then take the other and fold it on the top. This gives each pair some cushion where you've folded it so it's less likely to crease or wrinkle in the folds.

The Bundle Approach
This ingenious method of packing, which we learned from Judith Guilford, co-founder of the Easy Going travel store and author of the "The Packing Book," has now become our favorite. It's a bit difficult to explain without a demonstration, but we'll do our best. You need luggage that opens up and lays flat to do this. You will also need a flat, soft, pouch-like rectangular "core" with dimensions that are at least 1/2 to 3/4 the size of your luggage compartment. This can be a pouch filled with underwear or something similar.

suitcase bed packing

Start with your sports jacket or the longest, most wrinkle-prone item you have. With the collar or waistband flat, place it against the bottom edge of the bag and drape the rest of the garment over the opposite side of the bag. Take another garment and place it in the opposite direction, flattening and smoothing out both garments in the bag and draping the remainder over the side. If you have trousers or other narrow items, do the same with them in the narrow direction of the bag. Keep alternating your items, ending up with the most wrinkle-resistant clothes you have.

When you finish, place your "core" in the middle. Now you're going to start folding the garments over the core and each other in the reverse order you put them in. If you fold something over and there's excess draping over the sides of the bag, tuck it underneath the bundle you are creating.

What you will end up with is a bundle of all of your clothes that looks like a pillow. You can pick it up in one piece. It's compactly packed and doesn't waste an available space in your luggage. Plus, because of the way things are folded, your clothes will wrinkle less.

To find something in the bundle, lay it flat and unwrap until you reach the layer you want. Take the item out and refold the remainder. If done properly each layer should result in a self contained bundle at each layer.

Tissue Paper
For delicate items, try tissue paper. Lay the item face down and place tissue paper on top. Fold it up with the tissue paper inside. Use additional layers of paper as you fold the garment so it is completely wrapped in and around paper. This is easy enough the first time you pack, but becomes a pain if you have to keep repacking. We only use this approach for evening clothes that we don't want to crush.

Tips for Air Travelers

You may not pack liquid or gel substances in your carry-on unless they are in individual three-ounce containers, enclosed in one clear, quart-size, plastic, zip-top bag per passenger. Any larger containers of liquids and gels must be packed in your checked luggage. For more information, see Know Before You Go: Airport Security Q&A.

Be aware of restrictions on the size and number of bags you may bring onto your flight. Many airlines now charge a fee for every checked bag or have lowered the maximum permitted weight limits for checked luggage. For a clear overview of what the airlines are charging for checked bags these days, and how large and heavy your luggage is allowed to be, read Airline Baggage Fees.

Do not lock your checked bags except with TSA-approved locks; otherwise, if your bag is selected for random screening, agents will have to break the lock to get inside.

Do not overpack your bag. Screeners will have a difficult time closing your luggage if selected for inspection, which will only lead to wrinkles and the potential for lost articles.

Carry all film with you onboard, as screening equipment for checked luggage can damage undeveloped film.

Place any packed belongings you don't feel comfortable with strangers handling in clear plastic bags.

Do not stack books and other documents on top of each other; instead, spread them out throughout your bag.

Take the Independent Traveler Packing Quiz

You Are an Overpacking Procrastinator
Instead of crafting a careful list of must-pack items well before your trip, you tend to wait until the last minute and stuff as much as you can into your suitcase. You rarely forget to pack anything, but that's not because you're a particularly careful planner. Instead, you prefer to err on the side of caution by packing anything that maybe, just maybe, could come in handy on your trip. You probably have a hard time distinguishing between items you need to pack and items you want to pack, and you hate the idea of leaving behind anything useful while you're traveling.

And now today's shoe and bag porn!!!!

Kenneth Cole Reaction Flower Gem

$59.00

Bandolino Ubetcha

$69.00

And can I tell you how much I love Kate Spade right now.

Kate Spade Jamesport Natia

$261.50

Kate Spade Maryanne

$296.50

Kate Spade Bali

$198.00

All shoes and bags were brought to you today by Piperlime (love them)

Friday, May 14, 2010

Travel Tips from TSA...

Yes the security line at the airport is a pain in your ass but the TSA is there to protect you. Here is some travel tips from their website to make it easier to get through that cumbersome line.

The Screening Experience

Photo of a transportation security officer

Everyone who travels by air goes through airport security checkpoints. These checkpoints are operated by Transportation Security Officers from the Transportation Security Administration.

The checkpoints are there to make sure that terrorists can't bring anything aboard the plane that would enable them to take it over or destroy it. These are called "prohibited items" and cannot be brought to a checkpoint, into the secure area of an airport, or aboard an aircraft.

Not only do all passengers go through checkpoints, their checked baggage is also screened. This may happen out of passengers' view depending on the physical configuration at each airport.

It's a good idea to prepare before you arrive at the airport so that you move more quickly and efficiently through the security process. Here are some suggestions to help make the process as smooth as possible.

Dress The Part

There's no particular style or type of clothing that you should wear from a security point of view. You are permitted to wear head coverings and religious garmentsduring the screening process.You may be directed to additional screening if your clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting or large enough to hide prohibited items. For more information, click here.

In addition, certain clothing and accessories can set off an alarm on the metal detector and slow you down. Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry or other accessories that contain metal when traveling through the security checkpoints:

Heavy jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
Belt buckles
Under-wire bras
Hidden items such as body piercings may result in your being directed to additional screening for a pat-down inspection. If selected for additional screening, you may ask to remove your body piercing in private as an alternative to the pat-down search.
Take metal items such as keys, loose change, mobile phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs) out of your pockets.
Place heavy jewelry and other metal items in your carry-on baggage or in plastic bags if they are offered, until you clear security.
Pack all your coats and jackets in your baggage when possible. All coats and jackets must go through the X-ray machine for inspection. These include, but are not limited to, trench coats, heavy winter coats, suit jackets, sport coats and blazers. If you choose to wear an outer coat or jacket to the checkpoint, you will need to either place it in your carry-on or put it in the bin that is provided for you.

Disposable booties or slippers may be worn through the checkpoint to help protect your feet, but they must be disposed of prior to leaving the screening area.

Gel-filled bras are permitted through security screening and aboard aircraft.

TSA Security Officers have to identify any metal that is detected at the checkpoint. If you set off the alarm, you will undergo additional screening. This includes a hand-wand and pat-down inspection.

You can remove metal items at the security checkpoint and place them in the plastic bags offered at several airports or in the bins provided. The bins will be sent through the X-ray machine. You can save time by not wearing metal items or by placing them in your carry-on baggage before getting in line.

What You Need

We encourage each adult traveler to keep his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID available until exiting the security checkpoint (children are not required to show identification). The absence of proper identification will result in additional screening.

There are four ways to obtain a boarding pass:

Go to your airline's ticket counter at the airport
Use curbside check-in
Use your airline's self-service ticket kiosk in the airport lobby
Print the boarding pass from your airline's website

If you aren't traveling and need to go through the security checkpoint to accompany someone such as a child or other traveler with medical conditions who is traveling, check with the airline for required documentation.

Do I Have To Remove My Shoes?

Yes, you are required to remove your shoes before you enter the walk-through metal detector. This includes all types of footwear, including sandals. Officers need to screen all shoes to ensure that they haven’t been tampered with.

Please remove your shoes before entering the metal detector and put them directly on the belt to go through the X-ray machine instead of in a bin with your other items. It’s safe, easy, and gives us a better look at your shoes so we won’t need to rescreen them.

If you have a disability, medical conditions or a prosthetic device that prevents you from removing your shoes, please notify the security officer. You will be given additional screening that his includes a visual and physical inspection as well as explosives trace detection sampling of the footwear while it remains on your feet.

Why do we screen shoes? TSA instituted mandatory shoe screening as an additional security measure when the threat level for the aviation sector went to Orange, or high on August 10, 2006. Screening shoes by X-ray is an effective method of identifying any type of anomalies, including explosives. Screening shoes increases security at the checkpoint.

Read our Press Release and view an X-ray image of simulated explosives in a pair of shoes.

Keep Your Experience Simple

Take metal items such as keys, loose change, mobile phones, pagers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) out of your pockets. Put these in your carry-on, or in a plastic bag. This keeps lines moving and your experience more pleasant. Try to avoid wearing anything with metal, clothing, jewelry or other accessories that contain metal such as, heavy jewelry, clothing with metal buttons or snaps, belt buckles or under-wire bras.

Pack your coats and jackets in your baggage when possible. All coats and jackets that you are carrying must go through the X-ray machine for inspection. If you choose to wear an outer coat or jacket to the checkpoint, you will need to either pack it in your carry-on baggage or put it in one of the bins we provide.

You may be additionally screened because of hidden items such as body piercings, which alarmed the metal detector. If you are selected for additional screening, you may ask to remove your body piercing in private as an alternative to a pat-down search.

Travel Tips To Make Your Screening Experience Hassle-Free

The secret to getting through security smoothly is to de-clutter your carry-on bag. This lets our Transportation Security Officers get a clear, uncomplicated X-ray image of your carry-on.
When possible, keep packing liquids in checked baggage. You will get through security faster.
Limit quantities to what is needed for the duration of the flight.

Items purchased in the secure boarding area are for use on the immediate flight. If you must leave the secure boarding area and re-enter through the screening checkpoint, items exceeding 3 ounces that are not in the zip-top bag will again be prohibited.

The ban on liquids, aerosols and gels was implemented on August 10 after a terrorist plot was foiled. Since then, experts from around the government, including the FBI and our national labs have analyzed the information we now have and have conducted extensive explosives testing to get a better understanding of this specific threat. These changes are intended to enhance security and balance human needs because we have a better understanding of the threat and security risks associated with liquids, aerosols and gels.

In addition, TSA will be enhancing security measures throughout the airport environment – more random screening of employees, additional canine patrols, stronger air cargo security measures, more rigorous identity verification, deploying more trained security officers in bomb appraisal, and screening by observation techniques.

Source

And of course what would my travel tips be without my daily shoe and bag choices.

Today is Luggage, I hate when I can't distinguish my luggage from everyone else's so this striped set will eliminate the guess work.

Rockland 4-piece Stripe Expandable Luggage Set

Today: $84.99

Overstock.com

My shoe choices for today.

Naughty Monkey Sun City

$89.00

Sam Edelman Kasi

$149.00

Piperlime

I know I am all about the wedges it seems. I love them what can I say.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

RealSimple's Sneaky Travel Fees...

Minibar Fee

Why you’re being charged: Some mini-bars are on weight sensors. When an item is lifted or just moved, the sensor is triggered and registers with the front desk.

The cost: A $2.50 to $6 flat fee per day.

How to get around it: Steer clear of the minibar. If you accidentally move an item, tell the front desk immediately.

Airport-Car-Rental Facility Fee

Why you’re being charged: Rental-car companies pay concession fees to operate at the airport, and they have the right to pass these costs on to you, the customer.

The cost: As much as 30 to 40 percent more than the base rate at a rental location just outside the airport. For example, expect to pay almost $300 more a week when renting from the Hertz LAX airport location compared with the downtown Los Angeles location, 10 miles away.

How to get around it: Do a cost comparison. Chances are, it will be cheaper to rent off the airport grounds, even if you have to take a taxi or―even better―a free shuttle bus to the other location

Local-Telephone-Call Surcharges

Why you’re being charged: In hotels without a wireless Internet connection, you may be charged for using the phone line with your computer modem. If you use it for at least 20 minutes, you’ll be charged a long-distance rate or a flat fee that’s usually around $25.

The cost: $1 to $2.50 a call (including 800 numbers).

How to get around it: If you plan on using a modem, ask about the charges for this before your make your reservation, and write down the day, the time, and the name of the reservationist, in case you need to dispute a charge.

Source

And of course I need my shoe and bag fix today

PUMA SPEED PRINCESS BALLERINA PL

$79.95

Zappos

Everyone needs some sneakers for walking.

XcessRize Designs DELUX HOBO STYLE DIAPER CAMERA MARKET BAG BOOK GYM TOTE PURSE carnival bloom lime or pink accents w/ hard bottom base / messenger strap

$69.99

I bought this bag to carry all of my crap on the plane in, It is cute and roomy and will fit my Netbook if I so please.