How to Stay Connected While You Travel (While Spending Limited Time Online)

I've always been a fan of unplugging. I avoided an iPhone for as long as possible, sticking with a phone that made calls and sent texts way longer than most. Now that I literally have the world at my fingertips, I have to be more conscious about making the decision to unplug.

When I studied abroad, we had no cell phones, and wifi was scarce. We might check in on the free computer in the hostel we stayed at, if there was even one available. I just remember feeling so free on those trips, and completely aware of everything around me - because I wasn't distracted by anything else.

It might not always be realistic to be disconnected for a prolonged period of time. When this is the case, I'll set boundaries and check in once a day or every two days on a longer trip (like our recent two week jaunt around New Zealand). I'm still using my phone to take pictures and as a wireless remote for my camera, so it's important to me that it's not buzzing and distracting me. Enjoy every minute!

Here are my tips for staying connected with limited time spent online/on your phone.

1 - Notifications
I don't know how you people do it. The only notifications I get are texts and phone calls. Email and apps are set to be checked manually, rather than pushed through every time someone likes my Instagram photo or J.Crew sends another sale email. If you need/prefer the Push settings during everyday life or for work, I would suggest you take it down to the bare minimum while you're traveling or on vacation. If you want to take it all the way down (or if you're traveling internationally), put it to Airplane Mode!

2 - Unroll Me
I can't stand the little red number in the corner of my mailbox.... so as soon as the emails load, I have to read and take care of them right away or I'm stressed out (Matt lives with 20k unread emails on the regular and I have no idea how he lives with it). I was also sick of waking up to 30 new emails, and only 1-2 of them being anything worth opening. I signed up for Unroll Me and it's really changed my inbox stress! 

Unroll Me scans your inbox and gives you the option to Unsubscribe, Add to Roll Up, or Keep in Inbox. I unsubscribed to everything I didn't care about (promotion I signed up for two years ago), Added to Roll Up anything like Victoria's Secret, Madewell, or PetCo who sends sale emails I'm interested in SOMETIMES, and Keep in Inbox was anything I would need to see as it comes in, like emails from Airbnb bookings, or The Skimm. Anything you add to your roll up will be sent to you in ONE big email, ONE time a day! 

3- The Skimm
The Skimm keeps me informed in about 5 minutes with news from all over the world. Which means I won't get back from a cruise and have no idea that the government was on strike (true story!), or that a plane tragically crashed into the Alps while I was flying to New Zealand (also true).  Sign up here even if you aren't going anywhere!

Just a little excerpt from today's Skimm about the FIFA controversy!

4 - Do Not Disturb
This feature is a miracle worker. It stops your phone from vibrating or ringing AT ALL, while still leaving it available to receive calls or texts. It's essentially "silent". This really should be mandatory in weddings, funerals, meetings and coffee shops (in my opinion!). Just to keep yourself from being constantly distracted, turn on the do not disturb. Swipe up on your home screen, and click the moon symbol :) This can be particularly helpful if you're in a group message. You could even switch that message chain only to Do Not Disturb! Open the message, click Details, and switch on Do Not Disturb. I also love using it at night when I'm in a different time zone - keeps you from accidental wake ups (your alarm still works when DND is activated).

5 - Make a Plan (and stick to it!) 
Before you go on your trip, make a plan - decide how often you'll check email and post to social media. Every evening after dinner? On the train only? Full digital detox? Whatever you decide, stick to it! You'll feel yourself relax so much when you're enjoying the streets of Rome, not wondering which filter to add to your photo of the Colosseum. Limiting your time online can be so FREEING and you'll realize you didn't really miss much anyway ;) 

There are so many beautiful details in the world! Don't miss them because you're checking Facebook ;)
xo

PS - this is in no way a sponsored post. I just love the Skimm & UnRoll me!

WINNING WEDNESDAY: Travel Jewelry Organizer (a giveaway!)

Yes, it's Wednesday, which means you could definitely WIN!

Today I'm giving away 2 Travelon jewelry organizers (in black) - the jewelry organizer I personally use and absolutely LOVE (as seen here).

It has 6 different zipper pockets, and works like a charm. If I ever have one too many necklaces, I'll put it in a small bag (zip bag that extra buttons come in, cloth jewelry bag, etc) and store with another necklace in the larger pouch so it doesn't get tangled. 

Magazine for length reference. The more you stuff in there, the less flat it will be, but with normal use it is about 1/2-1" thick when rolled. 

It can be laid flat on top of your suitcase or rolled nicely and tucked in the corner. I carry mine in my purse typically when I travel because it's so small.

NOW - who wants to win one? There will be two lucky winners! Enter below - the drawing closes at 12pm CST on Friday, February 27. Best of luck! :)
xo
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How To Protect Your Home While You Travel

Let's face it - being broken into SUCKS.

While we were in Florida this year, our house was broken into. Luckily we aren't so fancy that there was tons to steal, but things like watches, family jewelry, cash, small electronics (cameras, iPod, laptops) were easy for a grab-and-go. 

The truth is, we feel safe in our little neighborhood & never thought it could happen to us. We even had a house sitter at that time, but those jerks had been watching our home and waiting for him to leave for church on Sunday morning. Rude (and creepy).

Unfortunately, since this "big" break in, we've had 2 other incidents - a broken car window (with some stolen tools) & an attempt to break into our home again. SO. ANNOYING. 

We're so thankful nobody was hurt, because "things" can be replaced - it's just such a pain to go through the whole process. This could have been a WHOLE lot worse for us, and we're thankful it wasn't too bad - but we've learned a ton through our experience & I thought I'd share so hopefully you can avoid this! Just incase you aren't as resourceful as Kevin McCallister.

GET A SAFE
This might sound stupid or paranoid, but it's completely worth your time. The thieves TRIED To drag our safe out, but it was 3oolbs & upstairs - just too heavy for them. We had cash from a recent car sale, ALL of our important docs (marriage license, SS card, birth certificate, etc), and a few other valuables. What I wish was in there was my few pieces of special jewelry. A safe can really be a game changer if you're broken into, have a fire, or natural disaster strikes! You'll want one that is heavy, as well as fire/water proof. If they can carry it out of your house, you're not doing yourself any favors. Now, before we go on a trip I put any extra cash, expensive jewelry, or small valuables in there.

INSURANCE
This might sound like a no-brainer.... but how many of you are renters without renters insurance? Renters insurance is extremely cheap - mine was $120 for the YEAR (aka $10 a month) for $25k in goods. You might not think you have $25k in belongings, but add up every electronic, piece of clothing, furniture, jewelry... even if they were gifts! It adds up quickly. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get renter's insurance. Skip eating out once or 2 lattes a month to prioritize the protection of the assets that you have! If you're robbed without renters insurance, you will get nothing. 

If you own a home, you already have insurance - but take a few minutes to meet or chat with your agent to see what is covered. For us, knowing that watches count as jewelry, and we only had a $1,000 jewelry limit, would have been helpful. Matt had about 10 watches he's collected over the last 15 years, and they blew our jewelry budget quickly. The 2 pieces I had stolen were valuable, but unfortunately were not covered because of this budget. KNOW YOUR LIMITS and have special jewelry (i.e., engagement rings, family heirlooms) insured separately, as they're likely not to be covered. Also, know what your deductibles are & how you'll be compensated. Our insurance covered the broken window, cleaning of our rug that was covered with dirt & gave us cash to replace our items. We are lucky we have a good insurance plan, but I'm glad to know now what we're covered for. Your agent will gladly take a half hour meeting to explain it all to you & make sure you have what you need. 

CARS
Your car itself is covered by your car insurance - but your belongings in your car are not covered by car insurance. If your purse, stereo, or anything else is stolen out of your car, it will only be covered by your home owners/renters insurance. Keep anything valuable OUT of your car, especially while you're away. It's so easy to break a window & take what you want. Likewise, keep cars visible by neighbors or in a garage if possible. 

NEXTDOOR.COM
We signed up for Nextdoor.com & didn't really think twice about it. Once we were broken into, we were able to post to our neighbors that it had happened, and learned that we weren't the only ones! It's basically a Facebook group for your neighborhood only. Check it out in your area. You could potentially help catch criminals or just protect yourself from being the next victim! 

Note: earlier I mistakenly called this service "neighborhood.com". I consistently call it that by accident - so sorry for the confusion! Also please note they have a really handy free app for Androis & iOS.

ALARM
Once again, something I never thought we would need. However, when someone got our back door open this week, the alarm scared them off & nothing was taken! Hopefully the word gets out to the rest of the crime crew that we're "armed" & the police aren't far away. We ordered SimplySafe alarm after our "big" break in, and it's been great. You customize what you need (we have door sensors, glass break, & motion sensors) and it also has battery back up so you're protected even if the power goes out! I would highly recommend an alarm for anyone who travels often for the peace of mind it provides. Not to mention that avoiding 1 more break in SAVED us our deductible - which is way more expensive than the monthly monitoring fee! 

Side Note: If you have pets, I would skip the motion sensors & opt for door, window & glass break sensors. The motion sensors can be customized, but we've had 1 false alarm with the cat, so it's not really worth it. 

BE ORGANIZED
The more organized you are, the less likely they are to find a $20 sitting on your dresser. Now, when we're getting ready to go, I'm not only cleaning like a crazy person - I'm trying to make sure everything valuable has a place (like in the safe!). Also, leave limited personal information out & about. We had bank statements sitting on my husband's desk, and his whole office was TRASHED. For all we knew, they had our credit card & bank information, so we had to change every.single.thing as far as banking and billing was concerned - just incase! Let me tell you, it probably took an entire day to fix everything, between trips to the bank, calling the utility companies, and switching allllll of our auto-pay accounts..... what a pain. Keep your personal info where it should be - tucked away.

While house sitters, light timers, & having someone check in on your house can definitely help, you're still very vulnerable while you're not there doing a normal routine. Be safe, be smart, & I hope none of you have to deal with the annoying break-in process!

Have you even been broken into? What is your advice for protecting your home?
xo

What to Do At Work Before You Leave on Vacation

Leaving work for vacation stresses people out. It's probably why American's only take about half of their paid leave every year... which is really sad. Working for myself has it's perks, but there's nobody to cover for me when I'm away, which means I have to do some strategic planning. 

Since I entered the working world, I've taken as many trips as I can while still managing a workload (both as a freelancer & as a salaried employee). Here's how to get everything done at work before you leave on vacation without feeling stressed!

1. Schedule Smart

Don't overcommit on meetings right before or right after your vacation. If you can avoid meetings the day before and day after, do it. It will help you complete more tasks before your trip and get caught up quickly once you're back.

2. Remind, Remind, Remind

I don't mean this in an annoying way, but there are 3 sets of people you need to remind of your trip

• Any needy or high profile clients that are accustomed to a fast turn around
• Let them know a couple of weeks in advance which days you'll be unavailable. Be sure to be professional and use the opportunity to let them know you'd love to take care of anything NOW before you're unavailable. Double check with your boss that this is ok, but I've always found that clients are appreciative of the heads up. 
• Your co-workers (aka, your out of office support system!)
• These people will be your rock while you're gone. They'll be stuck covering for you, so give them the courtesy of asking rather than them being blindsided with extra work.
• Your superiors, managers, or boss
• These folks have a lot to handle - even if they're the ones that approved your vacation, they've likely forgotten by now. Remind them gently that you'll be gone and want to handle any pressing matters before you're unreachable. If you share calendars, send them a request so they'll see your blocked out dates and won't schedule you for anything.

3. Plan In Advance

Look at the two weeks after your vacation to see if there is anything pressing. Are there any client events or important dates approaching? Ask anyone involved what they need from you so you aren't scrambling three days before something important. You might have a little extra work on the front end but you'll be thankful once you return. Make a to-do list for your first day back so you're feeling organized post-vacation.

4. Teamwork

I said this before, but your co-workers can be your lifeline while you're gone. If you have an office buddy, ask if they'll check in on your emails or clients. Also check with anyone you're co-working on a project with if there's anything they specifically need from you before you're gone. Be a team player and make sure nobody will be held up waiting of you. Don't forget souvenirs for those who were helpful to you, and an invitation to help them out next time they go away! It's huge to know you're covered.

5. Organize Your Space

Take 10-15 minutes before you leave and organize your desk. Label anything that might be needed by a boss or co-worker, leave any important passwords or keys with a supervisor or someone who has permission. Clear off folders & coffee cups, and work through your inbox so you're space AND your mind are clutter-free. 

6. Auto-Reply

Set those messages. Email, voicemail, cell phone, white board on your door... whatever it takes! Double check that they work. Send yourself an email from your personal account, call from another phone line, etc. Your email message should include dates you'll be gone and perhaps someone else to contact for specific needs (preferably someone you've discussed it with, #4!). Luckily all important people will already know you're gone (#2!!!), but this helps people not feel forgotten about. 

Turn off the lights, shut the door, and check OUT. You're on vacation, enjoy it! WE are leaving for vacation so soon... I can almost taste it! I hope you all have a great Friday! Caio!

xo

Other travel checklists:

International Travel Checklist 

Pre-Vacation Cleaning Checklist

Organized or OCD?

Quality of life is important. 

somewhere along the California coast in 2010

In my opinion, quality of life is not determined by having the most luxurious things, but by being creative with your time & money, and of course by using things to your advantage. Something that really contributes to my quality of life (personally) is being organized.

You might think it's OCD that I have arranged my spice cabinet by "savory", "sweet", and "everyday use".

You really might think that if you knew there was a typed list taped in the cabinet showcasing what seasonings are available and in which category. However, I just think it's good sense (I'm becoming more like Monica every single day).

You also might think all of my crazy travel organizing tips are OCD, but once again I'm here to tell you it's MORE than good sense - it's essential to keeping your luggage light and still having everything you need when you travel.

Packing light helps, because I'm not lugging around useless stuff all the time. I've also talked about "extras" that really help my trip run smoothly. And finally, multi use items like toiletries that you can use for several occasions and keep that bag light.

With that said - here are a few ways I stay organized on the road.

Packing Cubes 

I've mentioned packing cubes before, but I can't give them enough credit. They are to thank for the large change in my luggage bulk. They make organizing SO MUCH EASIER and I know that two can fit in my bag... so I'm not tempted to choose any other clothing. I have these that work great with my backpack. I also love these for my small rolling suitcase.

Shoe Covers

I always thought these were kind of silly until one was included in my Ikea packing cube set. I can easily fit 3 pairs of shoes in there and it keeps dirt off my clothing. They've become another favorite and helps keep my suitcase extremely organized. These are great, too.

Jewelry Organizer

I've been on the search for one of these for over a year and I finally found one at TJ Maxx about three months ago. It rolls up very small and most times fits inside my shoe bag, but can also open up to lay flat on top. This is so much better than the dozen plastic bag route I'd been using previously. Here's a really similar one for a great price!

Passbook

Last week I wrote about Passbook being my iPhone organization central. Keeping all of your tickets & bookings in one place! Read all about it here. Best of all, it's completely free.

I always feel the need to get more organized in the fall. It could be the Monica in me. After all, the woman did have 8 different categories of towels.

Do you use packing cubes or jewelry organizers? Think I'm insane or OCD? Or perhaps not organized enough? :) Comment below on your travel organizing tips!
xo

PS - Did you hear that Netflix will start carrying FRIENDS on Jan 1? This doesn't mean much to me since I have the series box set (and every episode memorized if I'm being honest). Also, I don't actually have Netflix. But I'm really excited for everyone else!