Get $3 when you sign up for Swagbucks in March (US)

Want some extra boost for your budget this month? 

If you haven't tried Swagbucks before, you can get a bonus $3 for signing up as my referral in March. Swagbucks is a rewards site where you earn points (called SB) for things you're probably doing online already, like searching, watching videos, discovering deals, and taking surveys. Then you take those points and exchange them for gift cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, Target, or PayPal cash. 

When you sign up through me, you can earn an additional $3 bonus! Here's how: 

1. Sign up using this link 

2. Earn 300 SB total before 4/1/18. You'll get a $3 (300 SB) bonus for it! 

3. If you want even more bonuses, you'll get a $10 (1000 SB rebate) bonus for making your first shop purchase! That's in addition to the SB you earn for every dollar you spend.  

That's it. It's super easy, and Swagbucks is for real. I use it myself, and I've earned hundreds of dollars that allow me to save more for my travels. Who doesn't want that?

Packing Light for Any Length Trip

I went to Vegas to attend the Travel Goods Show again this year and I knew I would be coming back with more than I left with. Sometimes it's a small bag full and sometimes I come back with an entire new suitcase plus goodies.

These are the pieces I left home with. I knew I didn't want to check a bag, so I limited myself to a small carry-on and a personal item, but I also packed a spare bag in case I had to bring back items without a new suitcase given to me at the show. As a media person, you never know what's going to be included in your "goody bag". Last year I had tons of stuff and a Lojel carry-on bag to stuff it all in, but then I had three bags and had to check one. This year, I didn't want to make that mistake, but I got everything I needed in that small bag and purse.

Two pairs of pants

Wear one and pack one. They will take up the most space, plus you really only need two good pair. I brought skinny jeans with stretch that were dark and went with everything. They could be dressed up or be casual. The other pair were dark grey and I wore  them on the plane. Both have a high waist, which I found much more comfortable and forgiving.

Go for neutral, so your color palette is easy to work with. All your tops should match your bottoms, so you have multiple outfit combinations instead of just one full outfit per day. Wouldn't it be much simpler to leave with 6 things that can make 9 outfits rather than 18 pieces that do the same job and take up three times as much room?

 

Two pairs of shoes

Same idea as with the pants, wear one and pack one. Wear the bulkiest so you aren't wasting room. I wore a pair of Tom's that I love and know are super comfy, plus they slip on and off and accommodate swollen feet, should that be a problem.

I packed a pair of fancy flats that could be dressy and worn with jeans or a dress/skirt if I wanted to go out or had a media dinner last minute.

Again, make sure you bring shoes that match everything, because otherwise you're going to be mad and wish you'd packed more. And don't bring shoes that are brand new and not broken in. That's just a recipe for sadness. (Ask me how I know.)

4 tops

This is usually the max for me, and I basically just toss in #4 as a backup or for emergencies. I knew I'd be doing some touristy stuff outside of the show, so I packed a spare t-shirt, but other than that, I brought 3 semi dressy tops that worked for anything and made me look professional enough for the show while I was networking.

1 dress or skirt

Guys might want to throw in a tie and a dress shirt, but ladies can totally get by with one dress or one skirt (as long as it's a neutral that matches all the tops you brought).

This trip I brought an athletic dress that had pockets on the side. If it was cold, I could add a layer, but if it turned out warmer than expected, it wicks moisture and was sleeveless. It's all black and had pockets for business cards and my phone, so it's basically multi purpose.

I brought all the necessities along as well: 

• snacks for the plane and for breakfast
• my travel flat iron that also works as a curling iron
• a few zip top bags just in case
• undies (v important)
• a smaller purse to use while in Vegas and at the show
• extra business cards
• my glasses
• compression socks for the room after walking all day
• that spare bag that has come in handy on my trip home
• my portable keyboard for working a bit easier on my iPad
• my toiletries and my liquids bag
• the Flint lint roller
• a t-shirt and running shorts I wear as pajamas

How did that all fit in this tiny bag? By rolling all my clothes so they took up less space (30-40% less!) and using every available space inside. This bag is basically a glorified packing cube, so I crammed in everything I absolutely couldn't live without and then stuffed other items in the empty space and crevices. This ensured that I couldn't bring more than necessary and my bag would be manageable and still fit under the airplane seat (with my purse). My photos show the progression on my packing.

What's in my purse?

I pack my purse or "personal item" with all the things I want to use on the plane, that way I don't have to pack and unpack my larger bag.

• my battery backup and charging cords
• iPad mini for work, games, reading and shows from my DVR
• snacks for the plane
• money and credit cards (and my ID for getting through security
• a scarf/shawl/travel blanket
• an essentials bag with lotion, ibuprofen, lip balm, lady things, etc. in it.
• a pen (because you never know when you'll need one)
• camera, though I didn't even use it on this trip, because I forgot it in my room the one full day I had out for sightseeing and my phone worked just as well, especially since I could upload my pics to the cloud and also use anything I took for social media posts

I've had enough practice that I can cram a lot of things into small spaces. I'm short, so stuffing a heavy bag into the overhead can be extremely difficult for me. When I travel alone I tend to pack lighter, so I don't have to ask anyone for help to get my bag over my head. When people are behind me, I panic slightly and really can't do it. 

Know your limits and ask yourself if the bag you've brought will be easy to carry through the airport, shove into the overhead, and drag several blocks outside if you have to (it happens). I've been through it enough to know what I can and can't carry and for how long. The lighter, the better, if you ask me.

Another reason to pack light is to save money. A checked bag averages $30 each way, which can be spent elsewhere on your trip to make it better. It's likely you don't know anyone on your trip, so they won't know you're wearing the same top as a few days ago. Had I been gone longer than 4 days, I would have packed the same items, but included a little bag of detergent to do laundry. In that case, my extra bag would have been perfect as a laundry bag to haul my dirty stuff to wash. Bonus, right?

What's your biggest challenge when trying to pack light?

My Portland Coffee Tour - Part 12

We have had a last-minute winter push here in Portland this month, complete with freezing winds and snow. It has not been fun and has made coffee consumption a lot more appealing, but walking to a shop much less, so I've been hunkering down mostly at home. 

I had a day off that I made a lunch date with a friend downtown and forced myself out of the house early to hit up a coffee shop...and boy was it needed by the time I walked the 4 blocks to get there. I only made it to two shops this month, as things were super busy all the way around, but I'll be back with a vengeance next month (I hope).

Groundwork Cofee

This shop was just a short walk from where I parked and was located inside an office building, so only open for limited hours on just Monday through Friday, but it was well worth the visit. Groundwork only serves organic coffees and teas. They bring ethically-sourced coffee to Portland from Colombia made by women entrepreneurs. How awesome is that? 

I also noticed that they use a organic chocolate syrup, so I had to order a mocha to try that out. I ordered the Groundwork Mocha ($5) made with Krakow single origin chocolate and was pleasantly surprised by how smooth it was, because so often I order a mocha and am disappointed by the grittiness of the drink. 

I'd go back and try their other drinks. Their menu is small, but has everything you need from a coffee place, plus they have a small selection of bagels and other pastries. It's very minimal, but in a lovely way, including seating, but what space there is is nice a light and open feeling. 

Revolucion Coffee House

When's the last time you had a cup of black coffee and declared it perfect? I will tell you the last time I did: never. I always put milk and sometimes sweetener in it. I've been hearing a lot of awesomeness about Revolucion and made the point of stopping in on my way home from a visit downtown. The furniture inside is mismatched, and the inside of Revolucion isn't that large, but it does feel inviting and a wonderful respite from the bitter cold.

 

I asked for a recommendation and was told the Mexican coffees were a bit sweeter, so I ordered a Cafe de Olla ($2.95) and a gluten-free Chocolate Mousse Cup ($4.25) because, yum. I declined room in my coffee and was a little worried about it when the barista handed it over, but was so happy with it from the first sip. It was indeed sweeter than regular coffee and had a fabulous cinnamon overtone. It might be the best coffee I've ever had that wasn't a latte or something else fancy. I tried it with milk in it after drinking about half and it made it even better. The mouse was brought in from a bakery in town. It was good, but not nearly worth $4, unless you're on a strict diet. I wouldn't turn it down if someone offered it to me though. I plan to return to Revolucion to try their actual food and some of their specialty coffees.

I wish I had more for you this month, but I feel as if I found some local gems that will definitely get my business in the near future. 

What's your favorite coffee shop from where you live or from your travels?