Friday 5

Friday 5: Tea, Pizza, Clothes, Caves and Wine

I’m doing some editing, research, and working on a Friday 5 list for next week, so I thought I’d do a quick list of links and things I’m loving this week.

1. Clipper Tea. I picked up some Earl Grey and Sleep Easy locally on a whim this week and I am head over heels. I highly recommend both!

2. Foolproof Pan Pizza! I’ve been testing dairy again this week and haven’t had any problems so far. Knock on wood! One thing I’ve been missing like crazy is pizza, so I’m going to make my own and enjoy the heck out of it. This is one of my favourite recipes. (via Serious Eats)

3. Project 333's "5 Ways to Create a Capsule Wardrobe" for helping psych me up for spring cleaning and trying out a capsule wardrobe. (via Project 333)

4. Reading about the opening of Caverne du Pont d'Arc, a replica of the prehistoric paintings of Chauvet Cave (take a virtual visit here) in France's Ardèche valley. Its been under meticulous construction since 2007. (via Smithsonian Magazine)

5. Learning about the wines of the Languedoc and planning our own wine tour. (via The Guardian)

That's it for this week! I hope you have a beautiful weekend.  

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Friday 5: Things to Leave at Home

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I opened our mailbox on Monday and the first thing I saw was the bright red cover of this week’s Macleans magazine with the title: “The Evil Genius of Airlines.” The article went into detail about how airlines are doing everything they can to make more of a profit and not passing any of the savings from lower fuel costs onto passengers.

“‘Our plan is not to pass any of it on,’ WestJet’s CEO Gregg Saretsky said during a recent conference call to discuss the airline’s record fourth-quarter profit, in 2014, of $90 million.”
— http://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/carry-on-chaos-the-evil-genius-of-airlines/

I bet you are just completely shocked about that. I don't have a problem with companies making profits, but I do have a problem with airlines making travel less affordable and more miserable for a lot of us. 

When S and I booked our honeymoon plane tickets, we ran into some of these issues. We had to pay to reserve seats. After weeks of watching fares and trying to find a flight with a Goldilocks layover (not too long and not too short), there was nothing we could do but pony up. I’m still not happy about it. 

I’m usually pretty optimistic about air travel. I love airports. I love the excitement of flying. But paying for the “privilege” of choosing a seat next to S when we’re, you know, already buying a ticket for the flight really angered me. Add that to the baggage fees, the terrible food, and the tiny seats; it’s getting harder and harder to enjoy or look forward to flights, even if you can’t wait to go on a trip. 

As travelers we have to do what we can to make it the best of it for ourselves and each other. One way to do that is to pack well. Not just to save space, but also to make your trips a little bit easier (and sometimes more fun). Today’s Friday 5 is a short list of stuff I leave home and why. 

Expensive Jewelry

The last thing I want to do is to worry about an expensive or beloved piece of jewelry getting lost or stolen. I generally wear anything remotely expensive on me everyday and travel with cheap, trendy pieces that I wouldn’t be upset about losing. 

Gadgets and tools

I’m not big on travel gadgets but I used to bring hair tools with me. Not anymore. Most apartments and hotels have hairdryers. Usually I just wash and go and pretend I have “cool French girl” hair. Evaluate your gadgets and tools carefully. Is it worth the hassle? Do you need extra converters and adapters to use it? What would you do if you accidentally fried it? If you don’t absolutely need it, then leave it at home. 

Certain Toiletries

Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are all things I love to purchase abroad. I don’t have to worry about giant bottles of liquid things oozing onto stuff in my luggage and I get to test out stuff we don’t get in Canada. There’s a little bit of adventure in trying new things. 

Sunscreen

This tip isn’t so much about saving space as it is stocking up on great items, especially when going to Europe. I love French sunscreen (like La Roche Posay, Avène, and Vichy), but it is quite expensive here. I’ll splurge for my face, but I can’t afford the full body versions. I generally travel with one of our drugstore brands just in case I can’t get to a store right away. But as soon as I can find a store that sells the sunscreen brands I love, I’m all over it. Time to stock up! 

Laundry Detergent

Aside from my beloved Soak for delicates, I never travel with laundry detergent if we are staying in a rental. It might be different if you have extremely sensitive skin, but it’s a lot easier to go out and buy a detergent that is proven to work well in the machines you will be using. 

What I think it all boils down to is being smart about how you pack and what you bring with you. There are a lot of things you can get on the road and fewer things that are truly necessities. Striking the right balance to make your trip enjoyable will be individual, but hopefully this list will give you a starting point to reevaluate your needs and wants. 

Happy weekend! Happy travels!

Friday 5: Spring Jackets

I always find it a bit hard to figure out what jackets to travel with during a shoulder season like spring. For summer travel I just bring a rain jacket and pack some layers cool nights. But spring is little different. I often need to keep a jacket with me at all times since the weather can be a little tricky--cold in the morning, warm in the afternoon, and chilly rain anytime. I tend to like jackets that are classic, stylish, and functional that I can wear year after year and trip after trip. Today's Friday 5 are my picks. 

The Rain Jacket

A great rain jacket, in my book, is:

  • All-season (well, 3 season in Canada if we're being reasonable)
  • Lightweight
  • Waterproof
  • Breathable and has underarm vents
  • Packable and fits into a small pouch or its own pocket 
  • Functional with well-placed pockets and an adjustable hood

The North Face's Venture jacket ticks all of these boxes and comes in an array of fun colors (and some more subdued basics). 

The Denim Jacket

Do denim jackets ever really go out of style? They're such easy, casual layering pieces. I love the darker, distressed wash on this one from Zara. 

The Trench

Perfect for trips you need to go day-to-night on. The trench goes with just about anything and looks as good with a pretty dress and heels as it does with jeans and a tee. I especially love the back storm flap and button on this version from J.Crew.

The Parka

I bought an olive-coloured waxed parka a couple of years ago from J.Crew and it's become my favourite everyday jacket for spring and fall. It's water resistant, wind resistant, doesn't show dirt, and feels a little bit rough and tumble. J.Crew doesn't sell mine anymore, but I really like the look of Penfield's Vassan Parka (also available directly from Penfield). Those pockets! If I had unlimited funds, I'd look into a Barbour, too. 

Bianca Lamb Leather Biker | Danier ($199.99)

Bianca Lamb Leather Biker | Danier ($199.99)

The Moto Jacket

I probably don't need to explain the appeal of a (leather) moto jacket, right? Sleek, sexy and a little bit badass. With the right quality leather, it will only get better with age, too. I like the simplicity and femininity of this one by Danier and the price is great (although it looks to be sold out currently). Another option is the Ayers from AllSaints ($650 CAD) or something like the Gray Cotton Moto Jacket from Banana Republic ($215) for those who don't wear leather. 

That's it for this week. I hope the sun in shining wherever you are! Have a great weekend.