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Writer's pictureAnnie Mason
3 min read

10 Checklist Items for Your Travel Needs.

It’s essential to adapt your luggage to the specific trip you take. I’ve found, however, that regardless of where you go, there are always a few staple essentials that go with you on your travels. I’ve created a list of my top ten things to bring in your luggage, regardless of the nature of the vacation. Click the title or the photo to link to the products.


Phones are more a part of our lives than ever. Bringing your cell phone can help you in a pinch, provide a camera, and, in most cases, a form of navigation if you lose your way.






Some people say money makes the world go round. You’ll need something to fund your trip regardless of your opinion on cash. A credit card holder is easy to carry. When buying a new wallet, use RFID shielding technology for cards and IDs. RFID blocking technology provides an extra security layer, protecting sensitive information from unauthorized scanning.






In this modern age, we rely on our phones a lot, so giving them the fuel to perform the functions we need is essential. This Power Pro 5000 Ultra-Compact is a minimal, tubular design that slides easily next to your phone in any pocket or bag. It is just 10cm tall and 3cm wide.






One of the best packing tips I received is that preparation is essential. If you lose one photo ID, whether stolen or misplaced, having an extra form of idea allows you to continue to travel back home safely. Avery Durable ID Cards, Laser Printable on Both Sides.





Hygiene matters. Bringing a toiletry bag with hygiene essentials keeps you organized and feeling fresh. This bag was given to me as a holiday gift. It holds hairbrushes, combs, toothpaste, a curling iron, a small tissue box, and even a little mirror that could be handy in the wild. Made with extra-tough fabric and technical details, then extensively tested in our lab to prove it can hold up for the long haul. These come in various sizes to meet your travel needs. You gotta love L. L. Bean for the perfect bags for all your needs.









Few things are more irritating than having chapped lips and being unable to do anything about it. Bring some chapstick and stay moisturized.







You may not be able to pack a filled water bottle on a plane, but bringing an empty one on your trip is a great way to stay hydrated.








The eddy+ Camelbak© water bottle has a leak and spill-proof cap. It is BPA-free, dishwasher-safe, and compatible with other CamelBak© products.


The loop handle makes it easy to carry, and the sip mouthpiece and straw make drinking a pleasure.
















You never know what party people might be in the hotel room next to yours. Having your plugs might be the answer to a good night's sleep.

























When traveling, you come into contact with many unwanted germs. Even if a sink and soap aren’t nearby, it’s nice to be able to sanitize. This one is available at Target.









COVID-19 taught us a thing or two about hand

sanitizer. Considering when you will be around many people is a good idea. A small hand sanitizer in your luggage and/or purse is excellent. Wipe those handshakes right away. (Discreetly, of course).
















It doesn’t matter where you are; the sun is never kind to the skin. Bringing sunscreen will ensure that your skin is protected in any weather condition.










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Writer's pictureAnnie Mason
5 min read

10 Amazon product reviews from our household to yours





This is how I start my mornings. This is how I will start this blog, where I will try to describe Amazon products and give the reader a fair review. There are no pros and cons, just a simple evaluation of how much we like the ten products listed. All are household-type products, and many of these I have purchased more than once (giving you a hint at how much we like these).


 



Bigelow Constant Comment Green Teas


I have been sipping these teas since 2003 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I know. I know...does it inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells? I'm not a doctor, but my oncologist said the studies have been positive. See this Mount Sanai article: Tea Green And, here I am. Twenty years later.


Another testament to drinking these teas is that they taste great. The orange/spice one is just a tad more my favorite, but I love them both.


Rating: A++


 


Technology changes with the speed of light, but the older SD cards lie around your office drawers. The cards have your precious pictures from days gone by, but they are hard to retrieve. In addition, the devices don't have slots, or your camera doesn't have Dropbox capabilities, so It's nice to have an adapter for your newer machines. This card reader has been a blessing as I can transfer photos from my older Nikon camera and put them into a cloud or Google Drive.


It's super easy to use. Compatible with Windows/10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista, Mac OS, Linux, Chrome OS.




Rating: A


 



This is brilliant. MAKES HANGING FAST & EASY: The Picture Perfect Hanging System can help make your blank walls a beautiful art display.


This Hanging System is an all-in-one kit with all the hardware necessary to mount, level, and hang your favorite works of art or wall decor. The only tools needed are a hammer and a screwdriver. This is a two-pack; each can hold up to 50 lb.


My husband and I were able to hang a framed picture in a matter of minutes and marveled at the tiny level included to help position the hanger brackets. We both agreed that this pack is ingenious.


Rating: A+


 

I bought this after we moved into a home with a fabulous kitchen. Vowing to cook more, I thought this looked intriguing. I don't regret my purchase because this book has easy recipes that fill almost any muffin tin. What could be easier? Not just muffins but quick-serve appetizers and sides to gourmet entrees, pizza cups, and desserts. Scoop a bit of cooking spray and a mix of ingredients into the pan...and violá! A quick, yummy breakfast or lunch treat that doesn't have you in the kitchen for hours!


Rating: A+


 



We're in a new house just three years old, after thirty-five years in our former home. This one is going to stay clean. (!) However, dragging out the full vacuum cleaner is a chore in itself. This one is accessible, has attachments for specific places, and is battery-operated. Plus, it has a wall holder to charge when not in use. The vacuum cleaner has a Crevice Nozzle* Hair Brush* Water Absorption Nozzle, and Filter* Adapter*. The material of the filter is non-woven fabric, which can be cleaned of dust with tap water. The dustbuster filter can block dust particles.

Weight is just 2.2 lb. Nice little vac.


Rating: A+


 

This lid protects your microwave from splatters and spots. The BPA-free plastic and silicone topper covers food to encourage even cooking and to keep food inside for a cleaner microwave. This lid has many features, including an easy grip at the top. Easy, clean collapses for storage and choice of color. We have had this for quite a while, and it still looks new.


Rating: A+


 




Medium point tip magnetic dry-erase markers in 6 assorted colors: black, purple, red, orange, blue, and green. Non-toxic, low-odor ink with a bold color laydown works on all dry-erase surfaces and dries quickly.

  • Magnetic marker caps feature built-in felt erasers. The dry-erase marker ink erases easily.

  • The contoured marker cap shape prevents the markers from rolling off any flat surface or tray.

  • Perfect for whiteboards and glass boards in the office, classroom, or at home


We thought these would work nicely on our calendar dry-erase board. They do, with this exception: two markers keep losing the felt erasers (we haven't attempted to put a little glue on them). Also, two colors (the orange and the lime green) don't show up well from a distance, so we have stopped using those colors).


Rating: B


 


This is a pack of 200, which is ok with me because I use them on the cabinet doors, drawers, and the backs of frames we hang in our new home. These are particularly nice, as they have a clear transparent color, strong self-adhesive backing, anti-slip soft material, and suitable thickness. The adhesion is exceptional, although if I had to reposition one, with a good tug, I could move it to another spot.


Rating: A

 


This adjustable bamboo organizer expands to fit any drawer and has nine separate compartments, making it perfect for organizing things in any room of your home. Easily find kitchen flatware, accessories, and the cutlery you need for that perfect meal.


I found this organizer on Amazon and liked it for its attractive material (as opposed to the plastic types that are more common). It does look beautiful in our new kitchen (as if a visitor would be perusing our tableware for the aesthetics). Utensils fit in the slots quite nicely, and you can reconfigure the size of the compartments if needed.


Two issues: 1. the whole piece moves a lot in the drawer. It was missing a bamboo piece that should lock it at the bottom. (see the picture for a hole at the bottom that I think should have a bamboo stick to extend the piece. Some reviews on Amazon mention this function.


2. The sizes of the slots are similar, and I wish you could change the sizes to fit the number of items you wish to store in that slot.


Rating: B+


 




Our new home has beautiful vinyl flooring in the Great Room, Kitchen, and Sunroom areas. We needed something for our furniture legs to protect the floor, and this set did just the trick.


The 2" size is close to most chair legs, so the square and round pieces were easy to apply. The felt is high quality, and just pulling off the paper sheet allows you to set the adhesive against a chair leg. Instructions tell you to hold firm for about 30 seconds.


We also purchased a set from Amazon that could be cut to size for some of our furniture: Furniture Felt Pads. These have come in handy, too, and come in two color choices.


Our experience has been that no pads have come off any legs in the nine months we have lived here.


Ratin






 


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Writer's pictureAnnie Mason
2 min read

You're an artist. What's in your studio?





YOU are an ARTIST. What's in your studio? What's in your head? Do the supplies and objects surrounding you inspire you? In an earlier post, I featured what inspires me: There is inspiration everywhere. One can be inspired, however, but the studio has to have the tools for you to bring that inspiration from brain to paper, canvas, clay, jewelry, mosaic tile, or simple sketch.


Now that I am settled into our new home, I love being in my studio almost daily. If you consider adding items to your home as a crafter, hobby, maker, or painter, here are my suggestions. I post those that I use frequently in my business, but I include supplies others have told me they had used, which assured me that the purchase was a good decision.





Many artists today are using digital art as their process so I will start with some devices, some of which I use even though the bulk of my artwork is traditional, ie, painting and drawing with brushes or pen. If you are younger than me (lucky you) you might choose an apple pen over paper or canvas. (Don't worry will cover the traditional items for you in this post).


5. Epson Perfection V600 (This is my scanner)

Now, let's take care of the basic art supplies:






STORAGE




Furniture






Paint to Music, Video your artwork, and Post to Social Media


 

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