How do you manage all the details throughout the holiday and travel?  Share your best ideas.  Here are some helpful tips to get you through this busy month.

Managing the Gifts

Because you cannot bring wrapped presents on a plane (and they’d get wrinkled or torn anyway), I pack cloth bags to put gifts in, such as velvet bags from fabric stores or a fun purse I may find on sale. It’s easy to “wrap” the presents once I arrive, and the bag is a bonus gift. It also helps the environment a little by eliminating discarded wrapping paper.

To travel light and save money when visiting my family in Germany for the holidays, I purchase gifts through the German branch of Amazon.com and have them sent to the home where we celebrate, thus saving international shipping charges.

Traveling With Children

A few tips for traveling with young children on a long flight: (1) Check in early and request front-row seats. You’ll be less frazzled because Junior isn’t kicking the seat in front of him for 10 hours, and the nearby crew seat is needed only for takeoff and landing, so you can get some extra space. (2) Bring along little gifts: mini coloring books and crayons, to make your kids happy and relieve boredom; chewable candies to prevent earache and tears on landing; and a spare set of clothes for each child, plus a fresh T-shirt for yourself. (3) If you have a baby or a toddler, take your umbrella stroller with you on the plane. The crew will store it during the flight, and customs and luggage checks are much less stressful when your hands are free.

When I traveled overseas with my 16-month-old daughter, I was inundated with equipment (car seat, stroller, diaper bag). To thank fellow travelers who helped me through the customs and immigration lines, I gave them gourmet chocolate bars―a great way to see smiles on your travels rather than scowls.
Holly Driggers
Austin, Texas

My husband and I make his-and-hers travel CDs with copies of our favorite holiday tunes. As we take turns playing them throughout the long road trip, it’s fun to see which songs the other has come up with.

For long drives, I bring holiday and thank-you cards, stamps, and my address book. During the drive, I write cards for those I am on my way to see. On the way home, I write thank-yous for gifts, dinners, or parties for the people we just left. That way, no one is forgotten and the details are fresh in my mind. Finally I stamp them, and they are in the car, ready to be taken to the post office.

RealSimple readers share favorite tricks and strategies to make traveling easier.

Article by RealSimple

Smart strategies for stowing your belongings, from accessories to sleepwear.

Accessories (Earrings, Necklaces, Scarves)

• Keep necklaces protected and kink-free “by threading them through drinking straws, then putting the filled straws in toothbrush holders,” says Anne McAlpin, author of Pack It Up.
• Store earrings in a day-of-the-week pill container, or cut out a small cardboard square and punch them through.
• Put all the jewelry you intend to wear with a certain outfit in a sandwich bag and pin it to one of the clothing items.
• Toss silk scarves near the top of your bag to prevent them from getting crushed.

Belts

• For narrow belts: Wind them into coils and place each one in a zipper-sealed bag. Put every bag in a shoe.
• For larger versions: Fit them around the edges of your bag. Their size and width make them less likely to snake about.

Blouses, Shirts, Tees

• Layer tissue paper or plastic dry-cleaning bags between garments to keep them smooth. (Clothes wrinkle when they rub against one another.)
• Put nice items on top to keep weight off them.
• Shirts and blouses will lose their shape if they’re rolled up, but rolling works well for T-shirts, which should go near the bottom of the bag.

Books

• Because of their weight, books tend to shift to the bottom of a suitcase, near the wheels. To prevent them from dragging other items down, start by placing them there.

Bras

• To help preserve their shape, stuff rolled underwear and socks in the cups and seal in a plastic bag. Tuck into the corners of the suitcase.

Dresses

• If a dress is long enough, you can place it directly on top of your pants and “interfold” it (see Pants). Otherwise, keep it near the top―above heavier shirts and sweaters―and fold it as few times as possible.
• Either way, slip it into a dry-cleaning or garment bag to prevent it from wrinkling.

Jeans

• Because these are heavy, position them near the wheels, well below any delicate clothing.
• Fold them at the waist, then in half, lengthwise. Or roll them, folding at the waist, then rolling upward from the bottom, stopping just below the belt line (because of the zipper and the pockets at the top, rolling jeans all the way adds unnecessary volume).

Medicines

• Put all daily medications, as well as things like contact lenses and glasses, in your hand luggage. Keep prescription drugs in the original containers; the Transportation Security Administration requires you to have proof that they’re yours.

Liquids

• Traveling with your favorite bottle of vino.  Pack safely with the BottleWise Rollup.  Its compact and take up little space in your luggage.  Best of all it protects from breaking or leaking.
• You never leave home without your favorite lotion or makeup.  Be sure to protect your liquids with a Pitotube cosmetic case.

Pants

• Pack at the very bottom of the suitcase, just above the layer that fills the three indentations made by the suitcase pulley (that layer can consist of underwear, workout clothes, and pajamas).
• For the first pair, place the waistband against a narrow end of the suitcase and drape the legs over the opposite edge. Position the next pair’s waistband so that it touches the opposite short end of the suitcase. Continue alternating with all the pants, then put all the other items on top. Fold the pant legs over the pile of clothing. This “interfolding,” as packing experts call it, helps prevent trouser creases.

Outerwear

• In the winter, carry on an oversize jacket or parka and bulk up with long-sleeved T-shirts, sweaters, and scarves. Packing a light jacket and several layers is more space-efficient than packing a heavy coat.
• Place your jacket toward the bottom of the bag. Store gloves in your coat pockets.

Sleepwear

• Chances are your pajamas are among the things you’ll need first, so put a set in the top layer.
• Keep the rest at the bottom, filling in the indentations caused by the suitcase handle.

Article by Sara Reistad-Long, Real Simple

Check out all these cool wine gadgets reviewed and featured on NBC NY – Behind the Burner.  You can also win any of these items…especially the BottleWise Duo!

One key item left out on the BottleWise Duo is that you use it to transport wine when you fly!  No Breaks! No Leaks! No Worries!

Watch segment of must have wine products.

Tests are beginning on a software change in airport passenger scanning machines that will discontinue the display of personal body characteristics while still promising to catch questionable objects, the Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday.

“We believe it addresses the privacy issues,” Administrator John Pistole told reporters at a demonstration of the new software, now being tested at Reagan Washington National Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

If the field trials are successful, the software will be put into the advanced imaging technology machines already being used at airports across the country.

Privacy advocates and many air passengers have expressed concern about the level of personal detail the machines provide in their current configuration, even though the agency tried to mitigate those concerns by having the officers who viewed the images sit in a remote location so they could not connect any image to a particular passenger.

In Tuesday’s demonstration, Transportation Security staffers walked into one of the newly configured machines and stopped with their arms raised, as passenger being scanned are asked to do. A small video monitor near the unit’s exit displayed the results for both the passenger and the security officer operating the machine.

Those who deliberately carried objects were detected and portrayed as generic human outlines, with regions of their body highlighted by a box indicating additional security attention was warranted.

Those who carried no questionable objects saw a screen that was green with “OK” in the middle.

Pistole acknowledged Transportation Security workers will no longer be able to see the shape and size of the questionable objects that are detected by the machines.

“That’s one of the things we’ll be assessing in our pilot testing at the three airports,” he said. “How do the security officers engage the passenger based on what they’re seeing, and is there any diminution of efficiency in terms of what we’re doing?”

The software upgrade takes several hours per scanning machine, but involves very little additional cost, officials said. When the new software is installed, it will no longer be possible for TSA workers to observe detailed characteristics of the subjects’ bodies.

“We don’t intend to leave the monitors in place when we go to retrofit the software,” said Robin Kane, the Transportation Security Administration’s chief technology officer. “The way we will have them in the field they will not run concurrently.”

Kane ruled out reinstating a detailed visual capability even when a threat level is raised.

Sen. Susan Collins, the ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, welcomed the new software. She has been among the most vocal of the critics calling for a change in the whole-body scanning procedure to address privacy concerns.

“We have the technology that will eliminate the need for American air travelers to choose between their privacy and security when they choose to fly,” she said in a news release.

“I understand that the machines being installed in this pilot program do not emit radiation,” she added. “Although the TSA assures me that some of the machines in use that emit radiation do not pose a health risk, it is preferable to use technology that avoids exposure.”

Some 2,000 “whole body” test images from advanced imaging technology machines were the subject of a recent court challenge by people concerned about an invasion of privacy, but a judge ruled against releasing those images, saying it might disclose capabilities to potential terrorists.

Machines in use for the general public do not record images, authorities say.

Last month’s federal court decision was a setback for the Electronic Privacy Information Center, which had sued the government for release of material to determine how the technology would affect privacy and civil liberty concerns.

By Paul Courson, CNN

Wherever you’re headed, you’ll want to feel healthy and strong. Here are some helpful tips for not being under the weather when you’re going above the clouds.

Before Your Trip

Here are just a few precautions you can take ahead of time:

• Make sure your immunizations are current.
• If possible, delay your trip if you’re not feeling well.
• If you’re prone to air sickness, ask for a window seat over the wing.
• If you have any health questions, or if you suffer from a chronic ailment, motion sickness, or fear of flying, ask for advice from your physician.
• Stress is bad for you. Reduce stress by allowing plenty of time to check in and reach your departure gate.
• Always carry your medication with you—never pack it in baggage you’re planning to check.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing and shoes for your flight.

During Your Trip

Here are a few things you can do to feel good while you’re flying:

• Eat lightly during your flight.
• Stay hydrated while you fly.
• Leave room under the seat in front of you so you can stretch out your legs.
• If conditions permit, try to stand up and walk around the cabin every once in a while.

At Your Destination

Here are a couple of things to remember once you arrive:

• Never purchase local medications unless you’re familiar with them.
• Wear sun block and sunglasses in the tropics and at high altitudes.
• Drink a lot of water to minimize altitude sickness.

Helpful Web sites

These sites offer comprehensive information about healthy travel:

• Centers for Disease Control
• Travel Medicine
• U.S. Department of State

Data from Delta.com

Bottled Water Services comprise a billion dollar industry today which is growing annually. However, there are multiple researches and studies done, questioning the “purity claims” of bottled water. The big question has always been: Is bottled water cleaner and healthier than tap water?

We all know that most of the companies that supply distilled water use city water as their source, which is far from being healthy. Popular companies like “Dasani”, “Aquafina” and “Nestle” are also included in this list. (Reference: www.msnbc.com)

Why is distilled water unhealthy?

There are many reasons. Few are mentioned below

1. The oxidation of water is harmful for human body.

2. It results in improper pH balances and ionization.

3. The ‘plastic’ in which they are packed releases chemicals that are leached into water.

How is Planet Earth affected?

Environmental institutions are struggling to cut down the consumption of fossil fuels. This effort is directly affected by the use of ‘Bottled water’ as ‘Virgin Petroleum.’ Virgin petroleum is the source for manufacturing plastic bottles for bottled water. This means that the more bottles we use, the more virgin petroleum is consumed. This fact is true for other beverages and drinks that are packaged in plastic containers. “According to a study of the Oregon State University, it takes about 273 billion liters of water a year, worldwide, just to make empty bottles” – Valuable water is being wasted for manufacturing bottles which again is wasted after use! – It’s about time to think.

Some facts on Bottled water from the Internet:

“People tout bottled water as this pure substance that’s trickling from clear mountain springs when, in fact, that may not be the case,” said Assemblywoman Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, author of one of the bills.

The Food and Drug Administration needs to tighten its regulations on bottled water after a four-year study by the NRDC found that of 103 brands surveyed, one- third contained levels of contamination.

The NRDC found the contents of one bottle, labeled “Spring Water,” actually came from an industrial parking lot next to a hazardous waste site.

By the end of this year, bottled water will have moved past milk, coffee and beer to become the second most popular beverage behind soft drinks, according to the Beverage Marketing Corp.

Do you want to stop participating in destroying Planet Earth?

Well, you can. Go Green! There are multiple water filtering systems that can be used as an alternative. Tap water does have impurities and contaminants, but filtering them is a healthier option than choosing “Bottled Water”. Once you filter your tap water, avoid using plastic bottles. There are many stainless steel water bottles that are in the market with great quality. One of them is the  Klean Kanteen Classic – Klean Kanteen™, the 27oz stainless steel water bottle is made of 100% recyclable, 18/8, food-grade, stainless steel so it doesn’t need a special lining like aluminum bottles. It’s completely BPA-free and won’t leach toxins or funky flavors into your water, juice, smoothie or drink of choice. Plus weighing in at only 6 ounces, this durable, reusable, BPA free stainless steel water bottle is designed to last for years.  Be sure to check out the special savings through June 7th on all of our Klean Kanteen products, including the Wine Carafe.  All with free shipping!

BottleWise is committed to manufacturing high-quality bags that make life easier for the discriminating culinary traveler and is founded by Amy Dias (adias@bottlewise.com)

Weekends are short-term fun, yes? Well, how about a long weekend. Most “long” weekends are just a day longer than regular weekends, yet that extra day creates an adrenaline rush like no other. While all that is fun, the best vacation starts with good planning.

Often, long weekends mean travel. Everyone wants to spend a few days with loved ones and away from the stresses at home.  So when we think about long weekends, our mind now calculates a laundry list of to-dos like packing food, packing clothes, travel arrangements, making hotel reservations, managing the kids, and locking up the house. Inevitably this list is never ending.

Once we figure out the duration, location and affordability of the trip, things fall into place. Despite all this, regardless of whether you’re a kid or an adult, hunger is always an issue. Though a travel destination might be alluring, tummy growling still takes the first place. Packing food with the tact picnic baskets, coolers and heaters is essential. We can achieve that by opting for the best choice of products, which make our job simpler and easier.

Predict the hassles and avoiding those using wise and simple techniques. You definitely need a wine carrier which would ease your travel much more. BottleWise has been on your side thinking about just fun during travel and vacation whether by plane or car. For a stylish alternative to a big plastic cooler, the Classic picnic basket cooler is fully insulated to keep food and drinks at the perfect temperature. BottleWise is currently offering special pricing on all of their picnic accessories now through May 31st and free shipping.

Magnolia Wine Basket

All we need at the end of the vacation is great memories about the weekend and we can say that that Memorial Day weekend was among the best. Plan for the best and get the best. Have fun!

BottleWise is committed to manufacturing high-quality bags that make life easier for the discriminating culinary traveler and is founded by Amy Dias (adias@bottlewise.com)

Here are some helpful tips to consider when traveling when a storm is brewing.

Consider re-booking. The airlines generally allow passengers to change tickets free of charge when a major storm threatens travel. You might be able to connect through another city unaffected by the weather system.

Sign up for airline alerts and check your flights frequently online before you head to the airport. A flight’s status often changes by the minute as the airline works to line up slots and crews and keep planes and runways clear of ice and snow during winter travel disruptions.

Make sure you have a cell phone and your charger in case you need to rebook a canceled flight. Get in line for assistance and try your airline by phone at the same time if you’re among hundreds of passengers jockeying for seats. If you can get online, try that, too.

Pack essentials in your carry-on. If you’re hoping to make your original flight, be sure to pack essentials such as prescriptions, glasses or contacts and other necessary toiletries or clothes in your carry-on. You and your checked luggage are likely to get separated if you end up stranded overnight.

Dress comfortably. With sleeping in an airport terminal in mind, pack and dress for warmth and comfort. Foam earplugs can be a saving grace.

Pack snacks. Airport entertainment and snacks can get expensive, and they’re harder to come by in the wee hours. Stow away an emergency book or magazine and some sustenance to keep you going.

Inquire at the gate about food vouchers and sleeping areas. While airlines aren’t required to provide accommodations for travel interrupted by severe weather, many airports have provided food and cots to travelers stranded in this season’s string of whopper storms.

Data found on CNN.