Travel Ideas for Mom

Take a look at Travel Channel's list of travel ideas for mom, including brunch on a train in Cape Cod, a fitness retreat in Colorado and a formal tea at the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia.
To read more click the link below. 
http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/holidays/photos/travel-ideas-for-mom

How to Survive a Red-Eye

Flying through time-zones can be trying and the red-eye flight is always a killer.  

Here is a great article by Caroline Eaton from Traveling9to5.com on how to survive the Red-Eye Flight.

You always board the flight with the best intentions of sleeping and waking up the next morning relaxed in your new destination. How often does this really happen? You walk off looking like the zombie apocalypse, asking “What Just Happened to Me”.

Here are 5 of my best tips for surviving a red eye flight.

Wear Comfortable Clothing

I don’t care if you have to walk off the airplane and go straight to a business meeting, wear comfortable clothes on your flight and change in the bathroom at the airport if you have to. If you aren’t comfortable for a 5+ hour flight you won’t have any chance of catching some zzz’s.

Sleep Mask, Warm Socks, a Travel Pillow and Earplugs

Come prepared! Block the light with a sleep mask, the sound with earplugs and the freezing cold airplane air with socks. Get rid of all of the outside distractions that might keep you up and bring the necessities that will keep you as comfortable as possible.

Stick to Your Normal Routine

Just because the flight attendants are serving a meal at 2 AM doesn’t mean you need to eat it. Eat before you board at your normal dinner time and then when you find your seat, you can fall fast asleep. If alcohol keeps you up, or coffee makes you jittery and you aren’t use to drinking it past a certain hour…don’t! Also, I personally always brush my teeth, either at the airport after I eat or in the tiny airline bathroom. I sleep and feel a million times better with freshly brushed teeth.

Pick a Good Seat

Don’t be passive about getting a good seat if you want to sleep. Check in early on your red eye flight to make sure you get the best seat. Ideally you want the window seat on a red eye flight so your neighbor won’t keep waking you to get up and down to use the restroom. If it’s a long flight and the emergency exit row is available maybe you spend a few more dollars to have the extra space to hopefully get an extra hour or two of sleep in.

Avoid Connections

There is nothing worse than sleeping for 3 hours, having to get off the plane, walk to your next flight and board only to hopefully sleep for 2 more hours. If you are booking a red eye do all that you can to make sure it is a direct flight.

Toronto Sample Sale

Torontonians come just us in Yorkville for our 2 day sample sale event!

Friday, April 25th 2:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 26th 10:30 am - 5:30 pm

162 Bloor Street West (Avenue & Bloor)
Church of the Redeemer, Lower Level
Toronto, ON M5S 1M4

Shop your favorite Canadian Brands:
Melissa Beth, This is J, Luved and Foxy

Melissa Beth featured on TravelFashionGirl.com

Meet our founder and designer - Melissa Beth.   See her tips on traveling as featured on travelfashiongirl.com

Today’s travel fashion girl is Melissa, the founder of Melissa Beth Designs. She is a Canadian entrepreneur and a mom who is passionate about travel, design and business. She loves traveling and  always try to stay stylish on her journeys.

Although hiking in Nepal would be her least fashion-worthy moment (see pic), it was definitely one of her most memorable! She had traveled to India, Nepal (climbing to the base of Mt Everest), Fiji, Anguilla, Greece, France, Costa Rica, and Anagada to name a few. She met her husband in Mexico and a few years later in Greece (both coincidentally) and they got engaged in Tortola. Traveling has always been a passion of hers and she loves designing products that help women travel with ease and style.

Travel with Ease and Style with Melissa Beth

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TRAVEL STYLE?

My travel style is comfy chic. Now a days I am traveling with 2 toddlers so I need to be comfortable and have clothes and luggage that is light, easy to maneuver in (I may need to carry two kids, a laptop bag and push a stroller) and I still want to look stylish.

DO YOU PREFER TO TRAVEL CARRY-ON OR WITH A REGULAR SIZE SUITCASE OR BAG?

It depends! If I am traveling for business then I definitely prefer a carry-on. If I am traveling for pleasure with my family then it must be several extra sized jumbo suitcase. I love the luggage that has the 4 way wheel spinners. What could be better than that?!

ARE YOU AN OVERPACKER OR DO YOU UNDERPACK?

I am an over-packer. I like to be prepared.

HOW DO YOU STAY STYLISH WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ACCESS TO AN ENTIRE CLOSET?

I like to pack accessories and clothing that are versatile and can be used with several outfits. I think if you are dressed down (jeans and tank) and have a fabulous handbag your instantly look a bit more glam!

WHAT ARE YOUR THREE MUST HAVE TRAVEL ESSENTIALS?

1. Lululemon leggings – comfy, easy, flattering and roll up small inside your bag

2. My Melissa Beth She She Shoe Bags. Keeps my shoes clean and scuff free – keeps my clothes clean from shoes. WIN-WIN.

3. My kiss and make up make up case! It keeps my beauty gear organized and it’s totally wipeable. The inside compartments come out (and are see-through) and I use those for my carry on and to store kids stuff inside.

WHAT DESTINATION WAS THE MOST FUN TO DRESS FOR?

FIJI – although dressing really involved wearing a bikini!

WHAT DESTINATION SURPRISED YOU THE MOST WITH THE WAYS LOCALS DRESSED OR THEIR TYPE OF CLOTHING?

India – I wasn’t surprised about how the locals dressed but I loved how intricate and delicate the fabrics were and how much work goes into making the Saris.

WHAT’S YOUR PREFERRED TRAVEL OUTFIT ON A PLANE?

Comfy Chic – my favorite jeans, a pair of cole haan flats or TOMS, white tank and layered sweater.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL ACCESSORIES?

Sunglasses!! Maybe if I keep them on long enough my kids will think I am sleeping 

WHAT ARE YOU FAVORITE TRAVEL BEAUTY ESSENTIALS?

My daytime facial moisturizer – Estee Lauder Day Wear. I would be lost without it. It keeps me hydrated on the plane and seems to have the perfect thickness for any temperature or climate.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC HAIR OR MAKEUP PRODUCTS THAT WORK GREAT FOR TRAVEL?

I love my Dior eye shadow set. It comes with 4 colors in one. I can pack 2 of those and they don’t take up much space. I bring one color palette for day and one for night!

HOW MANY PAIRS OF SHOES DO YOU TRAVEL WITH AND WHAT STYLES?

I can’t seem to pack less than 3 pairs.

1. A pair of runners – so I can workout (which I never end up doing!)

2. A pair of cole haan flats – so comfortable and cute

3. A pair of black pumps

4. Okay and a pair of flip – flops but they are so small they don’t even count!

DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATION FOR CUTE AND COMFORTABLE FOOTWEAR?

I love the Cole Haan flats – especially the ones with the Nike Air inside. I find them so comfortable. When I am at a trade event or traveling they are my go to!

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST TRAVEL FASHION OR PACKING MISTAKE?

Not having socks for the security line when traveling in flip flops or flats. Yuk! I’ve never made that mistake again. I always have my travelling socks in my purse (even if I am pushing a stroller, a laptop, and carrying 2 kids on my back – travel socks are a must!)

FINALLY, ANY TRAVEL PACKING TIPS FOR NEW TRAVELERS (as related to clothing, toiletries, and beauty products)?

Relax and have fun! Don’t worry about packing everything in your closet. Pack a few fabulous outfits and you’re good. I always say – if you have your passport and a credit card than that is all your really need.

TravelFashionGirl.com

How To Pack For A Long Weekend

Packing is not an exact science and packing for a weekend can sometimes be harder than packing for a two week vacation.  I am not going to list exactly what you should include because a trip to the cottage will include VERY different items than a weekend to Vegas.  I would hate to see those bags get mixed.  Your husband and mosquitos might be very excited to see you sitting in a black leather mini skirt at the camp fire.

Here ten tips to help you pack for your next weekend get-a-way.

1.  Check the weather 
Knowing the weather can help you eliminate some unnecessary pieces for your bag.  I like to bring pieces I can layer.  My favorite piece for a weekend get-a-way is my Luved sweatshirt.  It can be dressed up or down and is a perfect layering piece for spring and fall.

2.   Know your "events"
If you are going to a wedding you will need a little cocktail dress, a garment bag and such.  Whereas if you are going to the lake some sweats, relaxing jeans and TOMS will do.
Even if your hubbie, BF, BFF or whoever planned the trip - try to find out where you will be going and plan your outfits in advance.

3.  Get the perfect sized Bag
Okay - well this may be a bit of plug but the truth is that the Melissa Beth Jetsetter weekend bag is the BEST weekend bag.  It is the perfect size!  Try it - you will LOVE it.

4.  All purpose shoes 
For a weekend trip you need to cut down on shoes.  Try to bring only 2 pairs of shoes.  This may feel impossible but it is definitely possible.   You need one pair that you will wear when traveling and for daytime wear.  For example a pair of TOMS which go with many outfits.  Your second pair is for evening wear.  This could be a great pair of heels or a fabulous pair of boots.  In my books, flip flops don't count as shoes, so you can sneak in 2.5 pairs.

5. Undergarments and PJs
You only need one pair of PJs for the entire weekend.  Unless of course you are packing something fancy/sexy in that ooh la la lingerie bag.  But then of course it is teeny tiny and you can pack it small inside your bag.  Don't forget socks/undies etc.  These pack small but you only need 1 per day!

6.  Mini Cosmetics
I am clearly stating the obvious but for a weekend vacation you do not need your full sized beauty products.  Buy the small travel sized containers for shampoos, lotions and body wash so you can bring your favorite products without losing all that space.

7. Devices
Most of us can agree that without our magic chargers/ipads/kindles/iphones whatever we would be lost. Unless you are going to totally unplug don't forget to save room to pack the electronics.

8. Re-wear and layer
Try to pack clothing pieces that are versatile and you can re-wear.   Jeans, leggings and layered sweaters are perfect examples of garments you can wear more than once on the same long weekend.

9. Accessorize
Jewelry and scarves pack small and can help dress up or down any outfit.  Pack a few and stretch your staple pieces a little further with bling-bling.

10.  When all else fails....
When all else fails and your bag will barely close here is an excellent tip! Hide your things that don't fit in your bag in children's or husbands bag.  If you are like me, than you did EVERYONE's packing and no one will be the wiser :)

Travel Pic of the Day

Here is one of my own travel pics for the pic of the day.

These are my two munchkins @Sapadilla Bay in Turks and Caicos.

Travel Checklist

Sometimes packing can be stressful (even if you are traveling with our pretty Melissa Beth bags!)

Here is a great checklist from pinqueblog.com I found to help you get organized.  
Although I always say if you have your passport and a credit card its all you REALLY need.

How to entertain yourself on a plane

If you are frequent flyer then you are no stranger to daunting task of keeping yourself busy on the plane.   Assuming you are not traveling with little monsters (aka - your children) here are some great ideas to keep you busy on your next flight.

1. Read
2. Listen to Music
3. Watch a movie
4. Play games on your ipad
5. Listen to Audio Books
6. Socialize (note to self - do not start socializing with the stranger next to you! You may get stuck talking for hours.  Maybe wait to attempt to talk to strangers until you are landing.)
7. Sudoko
8. Write in your journal
9. Design something
10.  Catch on emails
11. Clean and organize files on your computer
12. Sleep
13. Take pictures
14. Get drunk (is anyone still reading this?!)
15. Eat

Okay some of these are pretty obvious - but if you are lucky enough to get some time to yourself and you are actually super bored I am sure any parent traveling with children would love for you to help entertain their child.  Just sayin'