I already picked my top three purchases, but I have to say (keeping on the theme that I like small, useful things) that these bookmarks were a close second (fourth?).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D7QC8C6B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
I got THIS BAG and I love it so much more than any “brand” name tote I have carried in the past. It’s light, which is important since I am adding a laptop to it. Lots of pockets to keep things organized, and zips closed if I need it to.
My DH got a yeti thermal coffee mug like this from a vendor and its been great for keeping coffee warm! yeti coffee cup - Search
I got 2 different sized expandible longchamps le pliage bags for travel. One is huge and got pretty heavy with all I put in it, but it held a ton! And even expanded, it fit under the airline seat!Le Pliage Original Travel bag expandable Navy - Recycled canvas | Longchamp US
Here is the smaller one (not sure its still available - I got mine from Nordstroms, but this link is from Nordy rack and is sold out)
https://www.nordstromrack.com/s/longchamp-le-pliage-expandable-tote-nordstrom-exclusive/7503010?utm_channel=low_nd_affiliates_content&utm_content=&utm_term=249354&utm_source=impact&utm_medium=affiliate_content&utm_campaign=Time%20Inc.&irclickid=UFgVsJQEmxyKUUQz4YQ2cxKtUkCSHpUVQR3A0g0&irgwc=1
I love my Longchamp bags. They are perfect for traveling. I got mine at Bloomingdales, but it’s been a few years and I don’t know if they are still available there.
My wife and I gifted one another the gift of spontaneity this last year. We each picked out in advance a pair of long weekends throughout 2024. We each fully planned out a short trip with the caveat that we didn’t share any details until 7 days prior.
My wife fully planned and arranged a great trip to Little Palm Island in Florida and a Nashville music weekend. I sprang on her a trip to Switzerland (extended from a work trip) and a very active long weekend in NYC.
This is her landing just ahead of me in Switzerland. She didn’t exactly embrace this “surprise” at first😀. I enjoyed being able to hand feed and swim with manatees in the Florida Keys.
It was great to not know what to expect or have to plan at all but enjoy the build up to the blocked out dates and then get surprised along the way.
As we get older we are trying to pivot from “things” to experiences.
I actually got the bigger of the 2 at Bloomies because I got 15% back on Rakuten AND Bloomies put $50 credit with their rewards points on my account, which I then used when I bought a baby gift for my cousin’s new granddaughter.
Nothing wrong with a candy cane mug in July.
I know…and it’s the perfect size. But I have another I can use! I think.
Taking my D and her boyfriend to Europe to meet my cousins.
Honorable mention - new windows for our sunporch ; )
The second bag looks like the tote Nordstrom offers every year for their anniversary sale. That could be why it’s out of stock but every year I know of, they offer that bag.
For my birthday this year, I splurged on a MZ Wallace backpack with a luggage sleeve. I got money and had some rewards points. I’ve been extremely happy with my purchase.
Jungle Bay Lodge? United has a weekly flight out of Newark starting in Feb. Anerican out of Miami.
Thank you for the info. Flying out of Miami might be the easiest for me. Have you been to Dominica? Retreat is at Jungle Bay!
Our very first house!
I have a combo of the two - a navy expandable from Nordstrom anniversary sale several years ago. They are great bags, and I don’t use mine as much as I should.
Speaking of travel bags, we splurged on this one when it was on sale at REI:
Very versatile and holds a ton of stuff.
Do you use that as a carry-on? Last year I spent a lot of time trying to figure out which backpacks to get for use on an international trip. I went with a 40L Osprey, bc I was afraid anything bigger wouldn’t be allowed on some of our flights.
Yes, it is a Euro sized carryon. That was the main reason we bought it for Mr. B.
From the manufacturer’s description:
“The Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is a versatile travel bag built around a simple idea: no 2 trips are the same. Meets international carry-on size requirements, but expands to be a 45L gear-hauler and collapses to be a 35L day bag, making it unmatched for 1-bag travel. Quick-access pockets for keys, glasses, passport, etc. Hugely expandable side pockets for water bottles, tripods, and more. Padded laptop + tablet sleeves. Main cavity is divisible into 2 compartments via a zippered mesh sleeve. Tuck-away shoulder straps and hip belt. 360-degree grab handles.”
My husband does but his is a smaller one and usually a “personal item”. I ended up with an Allpa 28 which meets specs for personal item since we typically pair the bags with an Away carry-on. I think the sweet spot is probably the 35. A little more room but you probably won’t get called out on size in most scenarios.
One of my expandables (the navy one) is the huge one . The expandable tote is brown. Hope the anniversary sale was good!
