transient travels » stylish travel

a party favor…

susan — Thu, 13 May 2010 12:00:37 +0000

At my friend Beth’s wedding shower in New Jersey a few weeks ago, the guests were given the most adorable party favors…

Three little toiletry bags that are perfect for travel – and for our upcoming trip to Mexico for their wedding! I loved this idea. They were beautifully tied in a pretty bow, placed on our individual chairs, and they are gifts that we will continue to use again and again.

You’ll have to excuse all of my wedding talk lately. Last weekend it hit me that my wedding is only four months away and it’s almost all I can think about.

winging the carry on

susan — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 03:08:56 +0000

On Sunday Lisa, Bryce and I took a stroll around Harvard Square, soaking in the last few hours of sunshine. I promised myself I wouldn’t be sucked into a boutique, but as we walked by Passport Boutique I remembered getting an email that they were having a sale, and at the very last minute I shouted, “can we go into Passport Boutique!” So we did.

I immediately remembered why I always try to avoid it. Everything in there is so adorable. I always leaf through each shirt and blouse, pick up every cute passport holder and sleek piece of luggage, and I can instantly picture myself wearing, holding and lugging it all around with me. That store has unique items but they all meld together into one tempting selection of style that begs… “you want to be uniquely stylish when you travel, don’t you?”

Why do I avoid that, you ask? Because once I look at the price tag that euphoria evaporates and I am reminded that I am in fact, in a boutique in Harvard Square. Not this time though.

This time, I got a Lug Travel bag.

Isn’t it so cute? And it’s my absolute favorite color. My purchase was justified because the last time I flew, which was my Costa Rica trip, I realized I didn’t have a good carry on bag. I ended up taking some big purse that I got for free at DSW for spending $20.

This bag though, wasn’t a splurge at all. The suggested price was $72 and it was marked down to $50. That was still too much for me, but it was low enough to pick it up and walk around the store pretending it was mine. And as I did that, a sales associate told me that it was 40% off the lowest price so I got this sucker for $31.

It’s small enough to not get in the way, but it seems big enough to carry all that I would need on a plane. It’s also packed with many pockets and has many sections for things like a magazine, my iPod, and even a couple of snacks – which I always bring with me because I can’t bring myself to pay a fortune for a terrible sandwich on the plane.

And it also fits a pretty kitty…

When you travel, do you end up winging the carry on bag like I usually do? Or do you have a special go to?

sex and the city tour: giveaway

susan — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:39:53 +0000

I didn’t start watching Sex and The City until the very last season in 2004, when my friends and roommates in Ireland stayed in one night a week to watch the show wrap up. I liked it so much that when I came home I started watching it from scratch and caught up with every single episode pretty quickly.

On one of the DVDs for the last season I caught an interview with the cast and crew. As they discussed the city’s role in the show, one of the members stated that, in a way, New York is an actual character – just like Carrie or Charlotte.

That fact is part of what makes the show great to me. Whether you’re the kind of person that finds it irresistibly smart and funny or you’re the kind of person that just finds it too unrealistic, it can’t be denied that Sex and the City does an incredible job of capturing New York in a way that makes the viewer yearn to go – Sex and the City truly inspires travel.

So, when On Location Tours contacted me to let me know about their SATC2 Opening Night Movie Package, I was ecstatic – mostly because they also told me I could give away two tickets to their daily, public Sex and the City Hotspots Tour (an $84 value) to one lucky reader!

The best part is, if you’re not from New York but do plan to go one day, these tickets will NEVER EXPIRE, so you don’t have to worry about gambling your chance away. Also, if you aren’t an SATC fan, you can choose any tour from On Location Tours if you win.

SATC Tour highlights include…

- Shop at the store where Charlotte bought her “Rabbit”

- Stop at “Scout,” the bar owned by Aidan

- Enjoy cupcakes like Carrie and Miranda

- Go on location to the art gallery in SoHo where Charlotte worked

- Shop at the hottest boutiques & stores in Greenwich Village

- Visit Biddakan, the site of Carrie and Big’s wedding rehearsal dinner (in the movie)

- See new locations from Sex and the City (the movie)

To enter…

Leave a comment below letting me know the location of your favorite SATC scene or simply your favorite (or desired, if you haven’t been) NYC location for one entry
Leave a comment informing me that you’ve tweeted about the giveaway @susanforshner & @onlocationtours for a second entry
Leave a comment informing me that you linked to this giveaway on your own blog (please include link) to receive a third entry

I will select a winner using Random.org and will make the announcement no later than Tuesday, March 23rd, so all entries must be in by Sunday, March 21st at 11:59am EST. Please make sure you include your email address in your comment.

Good luck!

pretty travel gear

susan — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:57:22 +0000

I love The Body Shop. I have been purchasing their vitamin E moisturizer and green tea face wash products long enough to be able to say, “I remember when this cost a whopping 8 to 10 dollars less.” Their prices are actually something I dislike very much, but I guess at the end of the day they are comparable to other beauty products that aren’t sold at CVS, and apparently that dislike doesn’t outweigh my trust in their products because with my Love Your Body card in hand, I just keep going back.

My friend Sue currently works there, one of her many jobs, and a couple of weeks ago she brought me a gift for no reason, other than she is extremely thoughtful.

You may remember that before I left for Costa Rica I procrastinated on purchasing a quality toiletry bag and sprung for one last minute at Target. It fell apart immediately, though Mike claimed that I filled it way too much, which is probably true.

The bag that Sue brought me is so fun and pretty and best of all it is sturdy. While I haven’t even had the chance to use it for travel yet, it does keeps me organized at home. For someone who sporadically goes away for weekends, whether for a girls weekend or another wedding, it is nice to be able to just pick up and go.

local souvenirs

susan — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:12:31 +0000

When I travel I do my best to avoid purchasing thoughtless souvenirs. Even on the occasion where I find myself at a string of shops specifically designed to draw in tourists like me, I at least try to get a back story – something that connects what I am purchasing to the place even more so than the thing itself.

While in Costa Rica I found pretty necklaces that I brought back to some of my friends. Before purchasing them I asked the seller information about who made them and where they came from. It turns out his family made everything, except they aren’t from Costa Rica, they’re from Antigua, Guatemala. I’m not sure how often he travels to Costa Rica or if he has completely relocated. And I’m not sure if his travels, whether intermittent or permanent, are due to the fact that there may be more tourists in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica than in Antigua, Guatemala. I could have asked, but he was kind enough to humor me in Spanish with all of that and I didn’t want to keep him from other customers.

Either way, I think I walked away with a bit more than just a piece of jewelry.

Beyond purchasing little pieces of a place for my friends, I try to look for items for myself – for memories. One day while we were in Quepos we stumbled upon an art gallery that had unbelievable pieces from local artists. If the size of our suitcases or money was not an issue – I would have taken that entire gallery home.

We did find a piece from which I couldn’t walk away.

On the back the artist, local to Costa Rica, signed his name and the title of his work – tranquilidad - meaning, tranquility or peacefulness. Simple, to the point and spot on.

What do you look for in a souvenir when you travel?

threadless loves travel

susan — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:52:23 +0000

My friend Liz just introduced me to Threadless, a community-based tee shirt company with an ongoing, open call for design submissions. The designs available are really fun.

She thought of me today because this year, in collaboration with STA Travel, they will be sending a lucky designer on an 11 day excursion to Australia when they design a shirt with a travel theme. There are already some great submissions.

Here are some of my favorites:

If you have been blessed with design skills, unlike myself, definitely check this out. Imagine winning such an amazing prize for doing something you love!

my hopeful carry-on

susan — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:00:38 +0000

When I’m ready to splurge, this is where I’m heading…

[Nahui Ollin Runway Handbag: Photo Courtesy of Jute and Jackfruit]

This handbag from Jute & Jackfruit was made from recycled model pictures from runway shoots and it was hand woven by indigenous Mayan men and women. I saw it at this month’s Design Hive – yes, I’m a regular.

a new journey

susan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:22:43 +0000

To be honest, I feel like I cheated on my blog and on Twitter when I updated my Facebook page with some news and I spoke not a word of it here. So, in an effort to make it up to them, here it is.

I’m engaged…

[Taken by my fiance]

balance

susan — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:00:18 +0000

My friend Bryce recently returned from a six week trip to China where she taught English. When she returned, she brought me back a beautiful painting in the form of a scroll by Kuangchun, a talented artist and blogger. Though Google Translator was somewhat useful in helping me read the artist’s blog, I am not sure that it does his posts justice.

From what she can remember, the above inscriptions express that happiness stems from a life of balance. In addition to work, travel and other leisures are necessary for shaping a well rounded life.

a proper send off

susan — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:50:16 +0000

Tomorrow morning my friend Bryce is heading to China for six weeks to teach. Lisa and I spent the last two nights with her eating sushi and enjoying Monday night trivia to give her a good send off. Though I think Lisa and I were the ones that made out because Bryce made some fun things for us!

First, this travel shoe bag, which can surprisingly fit up to three pairs of flip flops. It is also a great way to separate your nice shoes from your everyday shoes in your suitcase to keep them safe…

And this Obama pillowcase…

[Photos hastily taken with my Blackberry camera]

What more could two girls not going to China ask for?