The Traveler's Woes

When you are young you think the transporting part of traveling is fun, especially if you are going on a plane. When you are older you tend to be more wise about the inconveniences and the sanitation ailments of an airport.  It is time that I finally realize and admit that airplanes are just not meant for my type of human body. It is rough. I do not mind flying in fact in some ways enjoy it but for some reason it seems that we are not compatible.

Generally speaking, no one really is a fan of airport food either because the overly-hiked prices or the stale, mass produced food.   I absolutely cannot say that I have ever met one person that enjoys standing in the long security line while being stripped by TSA of all their belongs.  Ewww and especially walking barefoot on that floor to get through the conveyor belt area.  Seriously, no fun.

Beyond the security and food personally I am an air traveler mess.  My body freezes every single time I step onto an airplane and I am instantly sick.  It only takes me about 30 minutes in the air before I have a sore throat and severely swollen glands when I am cold.  Therefore, I am forced to always travel with very thick socks and some sort of jacket.  I am thankful when there is a valid winter so that I can have an excuse to carry my Chicago coat throughout the airport.  Not that easy of a task each time I fly along the southern coast midst of summer without looking to alert the retail LP teams or homeland security.  Ugh so I just have to freeze those times.  Blankets don't cut it either.  I need to be bundled from head to toe.

Gosh and what about my curly hair woes.  Whoever individual was that thought it would be okay for us to have only 3 ounces of liquid in our carry-on bottles never had curly hair.  Three ounces of conditioner doesn't even begin to cover one half of my curly head.  Three ounces just might get me by in the shampoo department. Okay and then we have to discuss the after wash products.  Therefore, attempting to go with only carry-on luggage won't fly (no pun intended) unless I can get by without washing my hair for an extended period of time.  Not easy to do if there is a beach nearby. Sigh.  Sometimes it could be useful to just wait and go shopping after I've arrived but when I visit a small town the idea is not always available.

Oh geesh and my hands.  It has become a pain to travel now that my childhood eczema has resurfaced and taken over my hands.  Try adding in special soap and special lotion to your purse/carry-on limit in addition to the itch cream or creams in plural.  Haha maybe next decade I will be better for travel on a plane.

Now for the vehicle...So far I am okay.  I bring along my socks and I can control my own ventilation.  If I am the passenger I know to bring a blanket.  But there is a lot to be said about the various bathroom stops on a road trip.  I have learned to always stop at a chain grocery store with a gas station nearby.  Grocery stores like Publix, HEB, Randall's or Kroger's will likely have a cleaner bathroom than the disgust-o convenience stores.  Luckily, I can multi-task at the grocery store stop and grab some snacks or a road meal at the delicatessen.

I have seen some pretty terrible gas stations in my short amount of time.  South I-55 all through Mississippi and a portion of Louisiana the convenience store owners firmly do not believe in wasting money for hand soap in the bathrooms.  One year in college I drove down to Pass Christian, Mississippi to clean up the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The caravan group stopped at a Wendy's to get food and use the facilities.  I instantly walked into the one person female bathroom and locked the door.  As soon as I turned around to locate the toilet I saw there were two commodes sitting side by side.  Both in perfect working order ready to be used at the same time.  So apparently in this location it is acceptable for women to share the air while doing their business at the same time.  Zero stall doors.  Haha.  Gross.

You really hope that the bathrooms are the worse things that road-trips can bring.  Try driving throughout the state of Louisiana were they will not commit to cleaning up the road hazards.  Up and down the streets shredded tires lay everywhere from were semi-trucks have blown out.  The department of transportation does not prioritize cleaning tire scraps up in a safe and timely manner along side many other weird things I've seen on the side of the road.  Certainly, you have heard of incidences were people have been killed because of road hazard negligence.  Famous Florida radio DJ Erika Roman died because she ran into a chair that wasn't properly strapped into another licensed driver's truck.  I have TWICE experienced a ladder fly out of vehicle going approximately 60 mph or more at me on the highway.   There is nothing that a bystander can do but swerve around the road and pray the ladder doesn't hit you or another car or that a car doesn't hit you or you hit them while swerving to avoid the rotten egg.  It is rare for a person to experience it one time, let alone twice.  Now when I drive, if there is a vehicle with a ladder strapped to the back I instantly go to the other lane.

With Angela O'

Damn, Toilet Seat Cover!

It is true that one would say they have a love-hate relationship with toilet seat covers.  You are angry when you go into a retail establishment that does not provide them for their customer.  You are exasperated with establishments that have a container in the stall pretending that they do provide them are out. You are relieved when you can grab one, as you rush in trying not to pee your pants. BUT, then you RIP it!  Dang.  Grab another, trying to not to rip it again.  OH NO! Again.  Oh gosh, you are squeezing your legs now. Yikes! 

Well, ladies I am here to tell you there is a very specific way to get that cover out, un-ripped.  In fact, it is written right on the toilet seat cover cardboard boxes but 99% of the time the instruction is covered up by the holding equipment in the stall.  I have only seen it exposed two times.  EVER!  And this is how I learned not to rip my seat cover.  

Step 1:  Gently, Pull Up

Step 2:  Gently, Pull Down

The trick is to pull up till the crease is exposed, then pull down.  Gently, of course.

The Linen Closet

Time has finely come for us to purge all of our towels and washcloths from our college days and twenties.

A mish mosh I absolutely hate includes one red joe boxer washcloth, a few cartoon and superhero cloths, and a cute little coral cloth with red hibiscus I made for all my bridesmaids.

Lord knows I can't stand it when certain things in my home aren't exactly how I foresee them. However, this one project I could never justify the necessity to change. At least not until this year. We had moved so many times and a couple of those moves were cross country. We rarely had overnight guests in our apartment and we are young with no children. So really why spend those extra funds on nice towels when it was only John and I? Don't get me wrong, I have a four nice thick and textured neutral colored towel sets that I keep on reserve for special occasions. They only come out when we have dinner guests, party guests, etc.

But now that it is time I am finding it hard to determine where to get our new towels. I need help ecspecially when sticking to some criteria. 1. They need to be an investment. Once these are purchased they better live through all my expectations. I do not want to replace them for a minimum of ten years. They had better not fray from wash or use. 2. They need to be thick and cushy. We need comfort. 3. I want a full set that matches from wash cloths and facial clothes to extra large bath towels and hair towels. 4. I need a large set in an even number. I expect all my dishes to be on twelves for entertaining and on some occasions in eights. I do not expect anything less from my towels. 5. I'm not opposed to colors but my all time classic favorites are sands and whites. It needs to maintain the classic through the test of time. 6. Since it appears that I will be buying at between 32 and 48 linens I need to get them at a spectacular price point.

So where is the heck do I buy all these requirements rolled into one at a decent price? I'm willing to hunt in upscale department stores like Neiman Marcus down to mass warehouse stores like Costco. Just as long as each requirement is fulfilled.

So I ask for your advice on where to find these towels and your guidance on a good price.

Numero Uno: The Bathroom

Since March I have been trying to redo our bathroom in our one bedroom apartment.  Yes when we moved to Austin we downsized to a one bedroom, laugh if you want....I chastise it mostly.  But now I will do anything to keep from moving again, that is until we finally purchase a home.  Anyway needless to say since we were without our furniture for two years due to our constant moving one bedroom seemed appropriate.  Now furniture is here and two years later I have new taste.  Imagine that.  To keep from breaking the piggy bank and from investing in a whole new look for an apartment rather than a house I have decided we will spruce up a few key elements.  The Bathroom is numero uno.

Last fall I really wanted to go Parisian in the bathroom with soft blues and chocolates. But really we have all the necessary bathroom equipment from our Florida styled home.  So instead I went for a little inspiration at my husband and I's favorite sandwich & salad stop Newk's Express Cafe.  I painted one accent corner Aruba Blue from the Benjamin Moore paint collection and left the frames and rest of the bathroom white.  But really the blue paint on its own was way out of place until I realized I needed a pop of a serious contrasting color.  I quickly went out and got a $13 orange heliconia plant.  Why I didn't realize that Newk's had already placed the same plant in their bathroom when I picked up the paint color I do not know.  Now this past week I have been desperately attempting to keep the plant alive but that is another story.  Who knew that Heliconias are suspectible to root rot!  I am not a green thumb, for we live in an apartment for pete's sake.  Anyway that is why you do not see the plant in the photo below.

Now the question is to do or not to do......  The bathroom mats are ready to be replaced and I really want a bamboo or wood to add to the tropical vibe.  I have searched high and low and these wood and bathroom mats start at $70 and go up for just one.  Not only are the expensive but it is extremely difficult to find the color and size and other details that would fit just perfect.  So I have been patient.  Until NOW!!!  Two days ago I went to Target and spotted a mahogany wood bath mat for $24.99.  I immediately bought two.  The wood style and color coordinated with our bamboo/wood bronze weave in the fixtures so why not try. But now I am unsure......I need help to decided.  Please offer your opinions.

1.  Will a wood bath mat from Target actually hold up and serve its purpose?? I mean there has to be a reason that I can't seem to find those type of matts anywhere else for less than $70 right???

2.  This seems to be a lacquered wood of some sort?  Not sure but I can tell you it is shiny ....so are we going to slip when stepping out of our GIGANT-O garden tub?  And I do mean gigantic!!  There is like a 3 foot drop when getting out.

3.  Then again I have got to remember I am sprucing up an apartment for cheap.  That is the whole point so maybe, just maybe these are the way to go.

Help I need answers.  I am so waiting to take those tags off until I hear some equalizing advise.

Next stop will be the shower curtain.  Well actually we don't even use a shower curtain in our bathroom due to some crazy shower door design that the apartment community put on our giant garden tubs.  All I can say is... REALLY??!!!!!!!  But once again I stumbled upon amazing inspiration at my dearest friend Rhonda's home where she put a second large shower rod above the permanent apartment rod fixture and draped her curtains from high above.  Just beautiful.  So now I am going to attempt the same thing but instead have the curtains swept to the side for aesthetic value.  I am thinking white but not sure b/c the rest of the bathroom is white.  If I find a coordinating color will it be too much???  I see that Target has all of there amazing $35 fabric shower curtains on clearance for $10 now. Any suggestions???

Until next time....

Update 8-12-2012

It has been several months since I have posted anything about the bathroom project.  Since I last posted I have added the Pottery Barn Tava Accessories Set, a Bromeliad (which has already been replaced by a second Bromeliad), and few minor things here and there.