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Here are a few things I’ve learned for better business travel, and also a glimpse at my typical travel attire too!  Packing for a trip can be tricky, right?  Deciding everything you need to bring along with you is challenging and also whether you want to check your bag or not since sometimes there are fees and it adds to the travel time having to pick up your bag at baggage claim.  If I’m only staying one night, I don’t check a bag, and pack everything in a small carry on, but if I’m staying two, well this girl just needs extra shoes and outfits and so I gotta check my bag. 

Plane travel can be stressful and uncomfortable, but I’ve found that thinking about what you are wearing on the plane and what you bring on the plane makes for a less anxious trip.  I don’t have the funds for anything but Economy or Coach seating so comfort is absolutely key!  At the same time I don’t want to be caught looking like a complete hag when I arrive, so here’s what I typically wear for spring and summer airplane travel.

I usually wear my most comfortable dark jeans and a thin V-neck silk sweater (like this one) because I prefer having having my arms and legs covered during a flight – it’s something about that airplane air blowing all over my skin that gives me goose bumps, ick!  I like to carry on a lightweight jacket (like this trench) on the plane to save space in my suitcase even if the weatherman says “sunny skies”  and I use it as a makeshift blanket in flight (again, that airplane breeze).  I prefer shoes (like these) and earrings (like these) that can easily slip on and off when going through security. 

I always work for a few hours on the plane and I have a white attaché (similar to this one) I found last year that holds my lightweight Sony laptop.  Because I blog with Windows Live Writer, I use a PC and I usually bring a small lumbar pillow so I can close my eyes and listen to music on my iPhone or grab a quick nap when I’m done working.   

A few more travel tips I live by:

- To maximize suitcase space, roll baby roll!  I gain more space in my suitcase by rolling up pajamas, tees, even jeans. A 6” flip top box holds bracelets and earrings, or I’ll stash the jewelry I plan to wear inside the handbag I plan to carry at the big event. I rarely wear necklaces, but rolling them in a washcloth is very helpful if you do. Anything that needs to be hung up in a closet once I arrive stays on a lightweight hanger and gets placed on top folded over once (but not rolled).

- Drink a lot of water!  It helps with jet lag, and the dehydration that always occurs when you fly.

- Double check you have packed your itinerary, your ticketing information, all your phone and laptop chargers, and your earphones.  You do not want to have to buy them in the airport or waste time on your trip going to a tech store to replace them.  Although I once read that so many people leave phone chargers in hotel rooms that the concierge often has a box of them sitting there, so ask before you buy once you arrive at your hotel.  

- Eat a light meal before you board, and bring a few items to snack on with you on the plane, especially on cross country flights, or you’ll end up paying for the high priced limited offerings on the plane, or worse, be on a flight that has no snacks at all.

- Research the weather where you are going and pack accordingly.  For colder destinations, wear/bring your warm coat on the plane (I have a favorite gray peacoat) and for warmer destinations bring a lightweight coat or wrap.

- Skip the extra jewelry for traveling for both comfort and needless delays in security setting off the metal detector. Simple drop earrings always seem to work for me.

- Wear the shoes you think you’ll wear most at your destination on the plane (unless it’s flip flops and you’re headed to the beach, those are easily packed), especially if they are boots in winter since they can take up precious suitcase space. Make sure they remove easily for when you go through security. Also pick up a pair of ballet flats that fold up in your handbag (I use these, love them!) so you can switch them for your shoes for the duration of the flight and wear them in your hotel room too.

-  I always have something to read on a plane for when you have to turn off electronic devices for that half hour during takeoff and landing.  Since airplanes often have unpleasant noises, I always bring earplugs with me to drown them out.  Soft earplugs also go in my suitcase to drown out potential noises in the hotel room, whether it’s from the street, elevator, or that loud partying neighbor. 

- I also carry antibacterial wipes and use them frequently, since airports and airplanes can’t help but be a little germy. 

Following all of these tips makes my travel experiences much more relaxing.  If you follow me Twitter, I’ll be sharing some Instagram scenes from the Big Apple!

What about you?  What’s the one thing you never leave behind when you travel?  Headed anywhere special on vacation this summer?  Got any tips to share for summer travel, with or without kids?   Do share.

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Here’s the quick play by play on how I made this rock covered bucket!

Basic ingredients for a rock covered bucket: strong (not flimsy!) metal can or bucket that holds its shape when moved (I chose this trash can); 2 sheets 12” x 12” river rock mesh tile; thin set mortar; grout (sanded or nonsanded); putty knife, large sponge.

If you want to make it a planter, punch a few holes in the bottom with a hammer and a thick nail first for drainage.  To adhere the river rocks to the metal bucket, I followed the same basic steps as I did with this mosaic planter, first applying a thick layer of thin set mortar then cutting the mesh tile with a box cutter and layering the tile on the outside of the bucket.

I found it helped to turn the bucket upside down using the top rim as the base to hold the mesh tile to the bucket and allow the thin set mortar to dry.   You need to work in sections, mixing small amounts of thin set at a time and allowing each section to dry for about an hour, then allowing all of the thin set to dry for a full day.

I was a little skeptical at first (since in most circumstances thin set mortar isn’t designed for metal) but then delightfully surprised just how well the thin set and mesh river rock pebbles clung to the sturdy metal bucket once the thin set was dry.  I’m not convinced this idea would work with thin set if using individual pebbles or small river rocks – in that circumstance I’d choose an epoxy adhesive instead of thin set.  And if you use a flimsy container, the project just won’t work – it definitely needs to be a bucket that holds its shape or you risk cracking mortar and grout.

The next evening I mixed up some grout, added it with a putty knife, then removed excess with a sponge.

I was nervous about the thin set not clinging to the metal, so I’ve been testing its durability for the last few weeks by moving it around a lot and getting water on it daily,  and it’s all stayed completely intact so I’m feeling confident it will last.

It’s a great focal point in the yard that always sparks up a conversation – it would also make a great indoor accent, perhaps for storing bathroom towels or toiletries!

*all supplies for this project courtesy of the Home Depot.

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I met up with my blog buddy JJ from the Blah Blah Blahger on Saturday and she was kind enough to drive us down to the Newport Beach area, and we headed to Crystal Cove for lunch and some great beach views.  This is such a cute little beach hangout where you can actually rent cottages if you make your reservations way in advance. 

Someday I need a rope fence in my life just like this one.

One of the things I love most about travel is how different the botanicals are.  I’m pretty sure this is a yucca tree, they are everywhere, just like palm trees and bougainvillea.

We popped into some shops in the Newport Beach area too and I couldn’t help but love this climbing vine, 5,000 points if you can tell me the name of it because I don’t know what it is. 

How cool are these woody tangled stems and those huge yellow flowers?  What is its name?   Does it grow from magic beans all the way to the sky?  These things I must know.

Speaking of shops, we hung out in an amazing home furnishings and decor store called Juxtaposition – when in Newport Beach you must visit.  I love this simple pennant pillow (and psssst…. what a great idea for a DIY project to represent your alma mater). 

I prefer smaller scale chevron prints and this one from afar reminds me of a twist on sophisticated houndstooth, and hello fabulous nailhead trim. 

This is a favorite conversation area combo: tailored neutral furnishings layered in textured large scale textiles with a rustic coffee table in the middle, I could curl up here all day. 

Just behind were rows of divine fabrics from Ikats to summer stripes, I’ll take one of each pillow case please! 

This large scale floral was one of our favorites, we loved the perfect medley of colors.  

Green glass bottles with vintage labels are great for so many things, from storing cotton balls to displaying fresh flowers.  

Flags in home decor are still popular, especially here, and I love all the interpretations from pillows, to throws, or even framed as art.  

I spied several patchwork patterns and also the ‘over dyed’ ultra saturated fabrics in  many of the decorative pillows and throws on the floor.  And it’s official, the fiddle fig tree is the hottest indoor botanical right now, they were everywhere too. 

This was my favorite display with its curated mixture of textures and styles from rustic to glam, it looked like something straight out of Lonny magazine. That chipped paint concave mirror in person is TDF and so were those silver lamps with black linen shades, swoon!

It was so great to dip my toes in the sand and spend a beautiful sunny day in Southern California. 

What’s better than a getaway with girlfriends spent by the sea?  Not much if you ask me!

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Soft color, texture, and lots of natural light are the stars of Jenna Sue’s top-to-bottom sunroom makeover which features a clever DIY coffee table. Tour the room over at jennasue. 

Linda used foam board for this stenciled china cabinet project from Burlap and Blue. We’re loving the fresh green green geometric pattern she chose to upgrade the back of her cabinet – lovely!

Glam up your pendant shades like this silver leaf lined interior to add a sophisticated glow to your drum chandelier, via Design*Sponge.

A belt sander created this amazing look on Kristin’s live edge outdoor table, something I’ve only seen in high end specialty furniture boutiques, just gorgeous!  Via Hunted Interior.

Is the fabric on your old chair looking tired and shabby?  Consider a dye job like Kara did with her dyed side chair, via Kara Paslay Designs. 

Got a few extra inches on the side of your fridge and you don’t know how to fill it?  Build your own rolling canned food organizer with Mallory from Classy Clutter.

Turn craft medallions into filigree earrings with The Crafted Sparrow, one color for each of your summer outfits!

Make your own DIY mineral veil powder with instructions at Chisel Beauty.

Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl did the dirty work for us, rounding up DIY cleaning product recipes in this article for Parentables. These simple recipes are sure to save you some cash.

If you’d like your project considered for this bimonthly series, be sure to send it our way to bestoftheblogosphere@gmail.com !

Thanks so much Amanda for helping me round up some of these picks.  You can catch up with Amanda at her blog Serenity Now. Hope you all enjoy your day today, especially you hard working Moms!

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Melissa from 320*Sycamore asked me to share some thoughts on motherhood, so hop on over to visit and read five things I’ve learned from being a mom.  

Wishing you all a Happy Mother’s Day!

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This weekend I bring all of you décor lovers a great giveaway brought to you by one of my sponsors, Décor Steals (formerly WUSLU, but upgraded!).  Décor Steals is a unique shopping experience that allows you to purchase home furnishings and accessories at a fraction of their retail price.  They offer a new home décor item or “steal” every day at up to 80% off retail.  To never miss a steal, sign up for their daily email alert!  Shipping is only $5 (in the 48 contiguous states).

Here’s a peek at a few of the cool items recently available in the daily “steals”:

Fantastic right?  This weekend, Décor Steals is giving away two $100 shop credits!

Eligibility to win one of two $100 shop credits to Décor Steals.

1.  Hop over to Décor Steals and name a favorite “steal” in a comment on this post.  It can be the daily steal, extended steal, or one of the pick steals – or name something specific you’re looking for that you’d love to see appear in a daily “steal” coming up in the future.

2.  Share this giveaway on either Facebook or Twitter for a second entry.

Giveaway ends Sunday May 13, 2012 at midnight, two winners chosen at random, US and Canada only.  By entering this giveaway you agree to this site’s giveaway policy and Official Rules of Entry.

Time to lather on some sunscreen and hit the beach and shops!  Be back on Mother’s Day with another round of ‘best of the blogosphere’.

Ciao friends!

Take it away Michelle!

Don’t you love when old trends make their way back into our lives? I’ll bet you thought you’d never see this fad again… floral décor!  Gone with the days of acid wash jeans and slap-bracelets was flouncy floral décor, right?  Think again! The use of big, bold flower patterns is making a big comeback in interior design these days.

If you, like most of us, love this look but are unsure how to bring it back into your home with style, I’ve compiled five fabulous tips for bringing back floral décor. Ready, set, flower power!

1. Use floral designs with bright, bold colors.

There’s nothing like a graphic pop of color to make floral patterns feel modern and fresh. Forget the pastels and let your flowers shine in bright pinks, purples and yellows. These hues show that you’re proud of your floral décor and you aren’t afraid to show it!

Design*Sponge

 

Apartment Therapy

Decor8 via Flickr

 

2. Pair your floral patterns with contemporary pieces. 

To truly modernize and dress up a floral pattern, pair such with an unexpected contemporary piece. Outfit a boxy, sharp-edged contemporary sofa in soft floral or pair your floral pattern with another fabric that has a graphic, geometric shape.  One no fail trick is to layer sleek, glossy white contemporary furniture or light fixtures with florals to create a high-contrast dynamic space. 

Design*Sponge

 

At Home Arkansas

 

Style by Emily Henderson

 

3.  Use floral patterns as a statement in a room, not the motif.

As is the case with any pattern, it’s best not to overdo floral décor. You certainly don’t want to create a room that has a floral theme or motif.  Instead, use your floral patterns sparingly around the space, creating eccentric corners or bright vignettes. By contrasting simple designs to your floral patterns, you’re sure to create a scene-stealer with your floral décor.

Kerrisdale Designs

 

Layla Grayce

 

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles via DecorPad

 

4. Don’t take your floral patterns too seriously; have fun!

Flowers are beautiful and colorful, so there’s no reason to make them serious once you bring them indoors!  Have fun with your floral décor- mix floral patterns, use bold prints and, by all means, feel free to be whimsical. Floral patterns should make you smile, so be sure to bring a touch of that into your home.

Agent Bauer

Flash Decor

 

Sanderson Wallpaper

 

5. Keep your floral décor fresh and modern.

Keeping in line with my previous tips, you want to make sure your floral décor doesn’t look stuffy or from two decades ago.  By using big patterns, bright colors, and fun designs, you can easily incorporate florals into your home. 

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

 

Deco Photo Blog

By following these five design tips, you can incorporate modern floral décor in your home. It’s a fresh, fun trend that I certainly hope stays around for awhile! Now if only slap bracelets would come back in style as well, I’d be one happy gal!”

Michelle is the author of the DIY and design blog Ten June and works during the day as an attorney in Atlanta, Georgia. Her passion is all things interior design and she describes her style as young traditional with classic, clean lines and hints of rustic and eclectic elements.

Thank you Michelle for your five tips on bringing back floral!  Personally I’m a huge fan, and I’m on the hunt for the perfect large scale floral fabric for new window panels in the office.  Any I should add to my growing Pinterest collection? 

What about you?  Are you a fan of the modern bold floral patterns that are so on trend these days?  

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One of the nicest things you can bring to a Mom is something green and living, right?  Flowers are always lovely, but strawberries are tasty and last longer than a week!  This is a wonderful gift for the mom who loves to garden (or just eat strawberries, hey they’re a low maintenance perennial!).  Be sure to wrap them up in a charming tea towel like these from one of my personal favorite shops, StudioPatro. 

Is Mom an avid reader? Make her a beautiful bookmark pairing vintage baubles and velvet ribbon so she’ll remember the page (and you!)

via Country Living and Velvet Strawberries

For the baker Mom, wrap up some new culinary tools in a colorful mitt, perhaps she’ll invite you to her next home cooked meal.  :) 

via Sur la Table

Greet Mom in the morning with some gourmet coffee beans, honey butter, and baked banana bread, wrapped up in pretty packages.

via Everyday Occasions

Create some unique and pretty notebooks with scrapbook paper and gold leaf for a lovely addition to her desktop. She’ll always think of you when she goes to make her ‘To Do’ list!

via Eat Sleep Cuddle

Craft a silhouette necklace framing the profiles of her children to wear around her neck.

via Nesting Place

All moms need to be reminded why they’re loved, so write it down and hand it over to Mom in a keepsake ring to tell her she’s special. 

via The Creative Place

Find a glass vessel and make your Mom a pretty terrarium with tolerant succulents nestled in sand or soil and moss.  Like the ribbon suggests, attach a handwritten “I love you”.  Extra points for being clever with a “thanks for helping me grow” sentiment. 

Source: Viva Terra

Find a few pretty teacups in an antique store (or buy them new) and melt candle wax to make beautiful teacup candles.  I’ve made these personalized teacup candles for my sister-in-law with microwavable candle wax from a craft store, always a hit! 

via Everything Fabulous

Personalize a herb garden in glazed pots with chalkboard paint with the name of an herb or better yet “I love you Mom!”

via Better Homes & Gardens

Memories are preserved for daily viewing with these Polaroid magnets from Mom’s favorite snapshots!

via Ambrosia Girl

Press little fingers into sculpting clay to make a fingerprint keychain or charm. 

via A Girl and a Glue Gun

If Mom has green thumbs, she’d love a custom gardener’s apron.

via Sew Mama Sew

Extra Extra!  Read all about the World’s Best Mom award with this Mother’s Day newspaper printable. 

via Martha Stewart

Here are six more creative + crafty ideas from the archives to make Mom feel special!

From top left, lacquer box lookalikes; lavender sea salt scrub; clay petal vase; fabric lined tray; stamped tea towels; and personalized memory jars.

What’s the most creative gift you’ve ever given (or received) for Mother’s Day?

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Thank you to Natural Home & Garden magazine for featuring the story of our cabana in their May/June edition!

I also wrote a guest post for the Home Depot Apron blog about that cabana, which is going up again in the backyard this weekend, hooray for blissful living outdoors! 

Thank you to Ladies Home Journal magazine for featuring our recycled wine barrel planter among their 9 picks for clever container gardening in the June issue!

More thank yous to Stylelist Home for this feature on the paint swirl vases, and to Apartment Therapy for featuring the wood shim planter and the cabana too.  And thank you to Colleen and Ashley for their lovely write ups this week, I’m blushing really, thank you so much ladies. 

The three winners of the Home Depot gift card giveaway are…… #409 Felicia Kramer, #1,156 Kimberly Bruhn and #1,745 Sunshine – winners check your inbox, there’s an email from me!

Enjoy the rest of your day,

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I reused one of my old half barrels (we have a bunch) that I typically grow tomatoes in but dedicated it to lettuce and herbs this year.  My local nursery sells them in six packs, so I bought the lettuce there instead of growing it from seed.  I mixed in some thyme and basil too, because I can’t get enough of those for in summertime, hello caprese and pesto and fresh herbs on grilled chicken!

As for the planter, I found a smaller redwood barrel at Home Depot but its reddish tones didn’t work for me, so I whitewashed it instead. The birdhouse is just for whimsy, I like tiers in threes so I thought it was a cute addition.  I weathered the roof using this vinegar trick then whitewashed the birdhouse just like the middle half barrel.  (Basic whitewashing technique explained here.)

To keep slimy garden pests away from those baby lettuces, I sprinkled around the barrel a pet safe formula to avoid any garden snails gobbling my greens.

And that’s the beginning of my mini tiered lettuce and herb garden, here’s hoping I can get a few salads from my efforts!

So lettuce growers, share some tips if you’ve got ‘em!  Anything I should know?  As for all of you who’ve done some gardening yourselves, it’s time to show off what you’ve planted or created this growing season.

Link up your garden related projects!

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