For some people, packing a suitcase is the least favourite part of their travel experience. Packing requires patience and organization and let’s face it, most of us aren’t really interested in exercising these virtues. All we want is to hit the road and travel!

Are you looking for practical ways to make packing less tedious and boring than it already is? Then this article is for you. Just follow these steps and you will soon become an expert in packing a suitcase in thirty minutes or less.

1. Choose the Right Suitcase 

The first step in packing is to choose the right size of suitcase. Before choosing the right size, you should consider:

• The length of your trip – longer trips mean more clothes and toiletries to make your travel comfortable.
• The purpose of your trip – people generally pack light for business trips and pack heavier for holiday and touring trips.
• The mode of travel – air travel demands you pack light, unless you are willing to pay for the extra baggage. Road trips give you more liberty to pack as much as you can.

2. Pack Light

A brilliant way to save time during packing is to pack light. As much as possible, try to cut down on items. To do this, make a list of items you wish to pack. List the items according to the duration of your trip, purpose of your trip and mode of travel.

Next, scale down the items. You can do this by creating a list of preference. Start out with a list of twenty items to pack then scale down to a list of ten.  

As you scale, ask yourself, “ if this item is stolen during the trip, can I function without it?”

3. Organize your Wardrobe

Organize your wardrobe before packing. To do this, arrange all the clothes and underwear you intend to wear during the trip. To pack light, mix and match outfits. Repeating clothes during a trip isn’t a bad idea, especially if you know how to mix and match.

Neutral pants and skirts are great to mix with just about any colour and design of shirts and tops.

A maximum of three shoes is ideal for a trip: a casual shoe, a formal shoe and a comfortable pair.

To cut down on bulk, pack minimum underwear, particularly breathable wash and wear fabric that dries easily.

1.Lay out your Stuff – before packing, lay out all items in your priority list before packing them in. Doing so saves you the trouble of last minute additions and subtractions, and worst of all, forgotten items.

Spread out your items on the bed and take an inventory of them before layering them into the suitcase.

2. Think Travel Friendly – a brilliant hack in cutting back time and saving space is to buy pre packed travel friendly items. For example, pre packed sample sized containers of shampoo, soap, conditioner and toothpaste in a waterproof toiletry bag. Use travel friendly containers for jewelries and other accessories like chargers, keys, cards, toothbrush and medications.

You can use transparent compartmentalized plastic bags. These bags are convenient and save time in the packing process.

4. Think Layers

Layering  items in your suitcase creates more space for you to pack more items efficiently. Layering is a skill that is mastered during repetition.

1. Bottom Layer: the bottom layer typically consists of rolled up clothes. Roll up light clothes and layer them in such a way that you alternate the neck and helm of tops. This technique cuts down bulk and creates an even flat layer for you to layer more clothes.

To prevent wrinkling, you can place tissue paper between clothes.

Layer your clothes in such a way that the least worn clothes are layered first and the favourite clothes are layered last.

1. Middle Layer – Fragile items such as perfume bottles, tea cups, mirror are cushioned in the middle layer. Utilize the sides of your middle layer by filling it in with tiny items like hair brushes, soap bars, and jewellery boxes.
2. Top Most Layer – your top most layer is made up of items you need on arrival, for example your night clothes, tooth brushes, towels, bedsheets,hangers, make up bag, toiletry kit and so on.

As you get closer to the end of packing, place shoes heel to toe at the sides of your suitcase. Utilize the nooks and crannies of your shoes by storing smaller items like socks, sunglasses and trinkets in these spaces.

Finish up the top most layer with bulky clothes that take up more space when folded, for example towels, bedsheets, bath robes and blankets.

Spread them on the top most layer of your suitcase and tuck the corners in to create a flat surface that is easy to zip.

1. Brilliant Hacks for Smaller Items – smaller unfoldable items easily pack space, if you don’t know the brilliant hacks in storing them. Check these out:

• Roll up belts into a tight small circle and tuck them inside shirt collars.
• Fold up panties and tuck them inside bra cups to free up some space.
• Shoes are not just for storing socks but also for storing jewelry, foldable tank tops and t-shirts.
• Wrap necklaces in seal plastic wraps to keep them scratch free, easy to find and of course save space.

5. Pack your Fun Bag

Packing a fun bag helps save space in your suitcase. A fun bag contains items to keep you entertained during the trip. They include books, ipods, earpieces, gameboys, chargers, diaries, headphones and mini laptops. Rather than pack these in your suitcase, pack them in a small school bag or satchel. Your fun bag is also ideal for storing credit cards, debit cards and cash.

Packing for a trip can be fun, if you know just what to do. Use these tips on how to pack a suitcase in thirty minutes and you will quickly become a pro in packing your suitcases in thirty minutes or less.

Whether you are traveling on a business trip or sightseeing on any of San Francisco tours, these tips have you covered. Just remember to practise, practise, practise.

Happy travelling!

Gifts make people feel loved and cared for and if you are in love, they take a more superior meaning as they pronounce your affection directly to your beloved. Although, greatest gift that you can give is thyself; there are certain things that can make your girlfriend a happy girl, all day long. That beautiful smirk will be on her face for whole day and her super busy day will become a little more bearable for her. Let’s see some easy and beautiful gifts that can make her cheery instantly.

1.Flowers, Nature’s Gifts

Considered as nature’s token of love, flowers can brighten her day like nothing else. You don’t need to go overboard with a thousand roses, instead, a simple bouquet with a cute love message will do the trick just fine.

2.Black and White T-shirt

If you are dating or married to a fashionista, then this might just be the best gift you could give. You don’t need to drive from mall to mall in search of a perfect dress. Just gift her a basic white or black t-shirt or both. These basic colors could be paired up with any bottoms and could be styled with layers or be worn, just like that. Nevertheless, it would be a pretty and ultra useful gift for her.

3. A Chunky Blanket

Everyone wished to finally comfortable in bed at night and have a good night sleep for a rejuvenated body and mind and a soft chunky blanket will do the job perfectly. They are not only in trend but they also look mesmerisingly beautiful. Perfect to end or start your day with, this one will let her think of you, each time she will snuggle in it.

4. Cake – A Sweet Treat

Moist, fluffy layers of her favourite cake will melt her heart as soon as she will devour the first bite. Trust me, by the end of the last bite , she will love you even more. You don’t have to go through the hassle for searching the perfect bakery. Just order cake online in Noida, Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Banglore or any other city where your girlfriend lives and see the contentment in her eyes.

5. A Spacious and Cute Tote

A girls is a creature with lots of things to carry. A cute yet spacious tote is a perfect fit for it. Chances are she might already have a one but there is nothing like “too much bags” ever.

6. Plants, Life Worth Caring For

Nothing can convey your feelings than the life itself. Indoor plants, which are low maintenance, are more than perfect gift in today’s environment with keeping the air breathable. She will actually feel responsible for the little one and keep thinking of you while caring for it.

7. Dry Shampoo For A Quick Fix

Life today is a hurry-cane. Everyone is in hurry and hardly there is time to stop. In a fast life pace like now a days, quick care products are high in demand and a dry shampoo bottle will help your girl to match the swiftness of her lifestyle.

8. Stationary To Build Up Creativity

A creative soul is an alive one. If she likes to doodle or maintain a journal or is just a stationary hoarder like me, a colourful pen set or any stationary item will make her feel delighted for wee hours of the day.

If you have nothing else in mind, go ahead with these idea; they are surely to be a hit. After all, she is all yours to please and take care of.

For many people, coffee is something that they start their day off with so they can be as alert as possible for what they need to do. Some people like to drink coffee all day long. Whatever time they enjoy their coffee, it becomes second nature for them to do so. They do not have to be curious about why they like it because most coffee drinkers have been fans of this beverage for the majority of their lives.

Some People Are Curious About Coffee

There are all kinds of flavours of coffee that people can choose from like a vanilla cold brew coffee. They usually try several different ones before they settle on a favourite of theirs. Once they settle on a specific one, they will generally stick with it until they find something that tastes better to them.

Here Are 10 Curious Facts About Coffee

No matter why a person drinks coffee, they know that it has caffeine in it. This is why it makes them more alert than they would be if they didn’t drink it. Here are 10 curious facts that you might not know about coffee:

1. Seeds – Coffee beans are really seeds. They are the pits of berries found on the coffee plant. They call them beans because they resemble legumes.

2. Robusta and Arabica-Robusta and Arabica are the two types of coffee. Robusta has more caffeine in it. People that drink coffee a lot can tell the difference between the two kinds right away.

3. Brazil – Brazil is where the most coffee is grown. Second is Vietnam, they also produce quite a bit of coffee.

4. Two States – Only two states grow coffee plants in the US. They are California and Hawaii. This is because most coffee plants are grown near the equator because of the climate in those areas.

5. Most Expensive – According to Daily Cupo, the most expensive coffee that was sold went for $600 a pound. That is a lot of money for the taste of a favourite beverage.

6. Can Overdose – People can overdose on coffee. It would take about 30 cups in a short amount of time to do so. Most people would never consume that much coffee at any given time.

7. Long Life – Coffee drinkers live longer than people who do not drink this beverage. They tend to be healthier also. This gives coffee drinkers more reasons to enjoy it.

8. Starbucks – The Starbucks Corporation opens two stores per day. Their first store opened 47 years ago in Seattle. Now, there are stores all over the place that coffee drinkers can patronize when they want to. It is a popular place that is a common spot for coffee lovers to gravitate towards. Coffee drinkers can also take advantage of discounts that the chain provides for their customers.

9. Low in Calories – There is only one calorie per cup of black coffee. More calories add up with sugar and cream added to the mixture. If a person is watching their calorie intake, they should make sure that they drink it black.

10. Boston Tea Party – The Boston Tea Party popularized coffee in America. It was common to drink it during that time. Drinking Coffee is Common in America, many people drink coffee. They love how it tastes, and it makes them feel good. People have all kinds of choices for the types of coffee that they want to drink. It is a choice that they love to have.

Since many people are curious about coffee, they now know that it is healthy for them to drink it. Knowing this can give a person more reasons to add it to their shopping list on a regular basis. They should remember to take advantage of any savings they can come across when they are purchasing coffee. Coupons come in handy for coffee drinkers all over the globe, as well as special promotions and coffee clubs. Ordering a coffee in quantities can also bring in savings. In whatever ways people get their coffee, they will continue to enjoy it well into the future. It is a beverage that will not lose its popularity any time soon.

Therapy is a great option for anyone who’s having a difficult time with some aspect of their life. Whatever you may be dealing with, there is a therapist out there who has gone through years of training to figure out the best way to help. Therapists can offer tips for coping and a plan to help people get to the place they want to be mental. Here are some things to consider if you are looking into giving therapy a shot.

Work out your schedule prior

Make some time for therapy and for yourself. It is crucial that you learn to treat your mental health like any other health issue. Practising good mental health should be like eating well and exercising well. Mental health is for everyone, even if you don’t currently have a pressing issue. Your mind and body should both be healthy, which is why making time for therapy is like scheduling a physical at the doctor! Make sure to think of your mental health in this way and encourage others to do so as well. Speaking to your family and friends about this topic is worthwhile, so long as you feel comfortable with it. Tell them you have decided to make time for your mental health in the near future.

Figure out a time that works for you and contact a therapist at a place like Therapy Group of NYC to see what spots they have available. Group therapy practices can more easily work with your schedule and they can often give you multiple appointments and treatment options.

Work on yourself outside of therapy

Therapy takes more than simply showing up to your appointments. When thinking of therapy, make time for practising the exercises you learn in your everyday life. Make time to journal and reflect on your experience. You can’t expect your therapist to do everything for you — they are here to help you hold yourself accountable. It will be amazing to realize you have made a habit of new healthy mental health practices you learned in therapy.

Even if it means using your daily commute to work as your reflection time, do it! Taking the time you have and using it positively will elevate your therapy experience. 

Share your thoughts and concerns

Take time to talk with others about your journey as well, if you feel the environment is right for it (but never feel like you’re obligated to do so). Creating a forthcoming narrative will open up the minds of your family and friends about therapy. They might realize that they want to be in a better place as well. Therapy is a positive form of treatment for many people, and it should be openly discussed — you never know who else could benefit from therapy in your life. Others close to you could also be struggling and hearing someone they trust to discuss their positive experience might help them take the initiative they need to become their best self.

Nobody is perfect, so it’s also great to communicate when you aren’t happy with yourself or are having a hard time. Speaking with your friends and family about your experience can help you reflect and see what you need to do to make tomorrow better. Therapy helps you learn how to deal with setbacks and realize that failing is okay.

This will also help remove the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Mental health is for everyone; if you are having issues committing to therapy, think about your goals in life. Think about how much easier they will be to accomplish with a clear head. Take a chance and you won’t regret your decision to proactively take care of your mental health.

When the discussion is on parenting one of the hottest topics is undoubtedly Co-sleeping. Every single parent does have a different opinion in this regard which makes this topic a highly debated one. Many say that co-sleeping helps in creating a natural bonding experience with the baby and also ensures each one of them gets a peaceful night’s sleep. But there are some precautions which are must to taken by the parents opting for co-sleeping. Here we will make an effort to explain 7 Things Parents Should Know About the Co-Sleeping Debate. So, co-sleeping parents scroll down to know more…

1. Co-sleeping helps your baby breathes well: Bed-sharing help babies to breathe slowly and easily. Baby’s cardio-respiratory systems are not completely matured when they take birth, and they need to struggle sometimes to breathe. Experts say babies follow their mother’s breathing rhythm. It’s true that babies breathe faster than any grownups, but parents’ slower pace of breathing helps them to calm down and find a rhythm.
2. Co-sleeping reduces stress in infants: One key benefit of co-sleeping is that it supports reducing the stress levels in babies. You need to understand that, when parents co-sleep with babies they get the scope to respond faster to the infant’s crying than moving to another room to attend. Stress factor exists in babies too and so co-sleeping with babies calms them down faster.
3. Co-sleeping makes it easy for a mother to breastfeed: Bed-sharing makes it easy for a mother to breastfeed. The best part is that the mother actually doesn’t need to completely stay awake for feeding her hungry baby at night. children sharing a bed with their mother most likely continue breastfeeding for a longer period. Both mother and child get quality sleep for staying close and she doesn’t need to compromise with her bed comfort to feed the baby.
4. Share the bed safely with your baby: If you are going for sharing a bed with the baby then you need to look at safety factors. For example, we recommend you to remove pillows and blankets which can spill off the baby’s head. You avoid taking drugs, alcohol and even smoking before hitting the bed as it may cause discomfort for the baby.  Sleep with one child in your bed and better you take  Baby Co-Sleepers for your baby attached to your bed. Don’t forget to provide the ultimate comfort for your little one with high-quality swaddles designed to ensure a peaceful and secure sleep environment like this one with Caden Lane.
5. Co-sleeping is not a way to spoil your child: For new moms, it’s basically impossible to spoil the baby. Babies or infants have certain needs which the mother must meet. Secondly, the baby comfortably settles down on the bed when they sleep next to mom. They calm down faster when they get the smell of their mother’s milk. Co-sleeping gives the scope to baby to sleep close to mother with a great feeling of comfort
6. Co-sleeping makes babies more independent when they grow up: Many people argue that co-sleeping makes it difficult for the child to settle down in another room when they grow up and never learn to be independent. Technically, it’s not true. Many studies proved how children who used to sleep in parents’ beds as babies are more independent in life and less afraid when compared to children who did not go for co-sleeping.
7. Dangers and risks are part of co-sleeping: You may think that after sharing so many positive things about co-sleeping why we indicate danger and risk. Well, the fact is that we don’t recommend co-sleeping always because there are few dangers associated with it if precautions are not taken. In deep sleep, a parent may roll right on the baby. Aside from this, even the arms of a parent might fall on the babyface leading to suffocation. There are many other things that can cause risk to a baby life. If required precautions for safety are taken to avoid such instances, then co-sleeping is strongly recommended.

With Christmas around the corner, it’s time to choose gifts for friends and family. Giving someone a gift shows affection and appreciation for them. When we buy gifts for family members or close friends, we need to be more thoughtful or selective in the process, because of the close bond we share with them. Personalized Bee have on offer the best gifts for friends & colleagues.

Whether we buy them something pricey or something unique, it should reflect our feelings for them. Shopping online is a great way to get the best prices, greater variety, and have them delivered at home. If you plan to buy wool socks set, or a cashmere sweater, shop online to save money and time.

A few tips that might come in handy when selecting a gift for your best friend are:

Create a list of their likes: Since you’re the best of friends, you’ll be well aware of their interests, hobbies, etc. Create a list of their preferences or interests, and try to zero in on something special that will bring joy to them. Do a bit of brainstorming. If you can manage to combine a few ideas to come up for an extraordinary and unique gift, there’s nothing quite like it. Whatever gift you settle for must reflect your admiration and affection for your best friend.

Reflect on things discussed in the past: Another great way to come up with a remarkable gift is to reflect on the time spent together in the past. From camping together to doing different activities, try to jog your memory about things discussed. On many occasions, your friend, unwittingly, must have revealed what they would like to receive as a present. Use this to help you in your choice of gift. 

Try to analyze what they need the most: As close friends that probably meet up regularly at each other’s homes, you might have noticed something that would be ideal to give them as a gift. Whether it’s something small like a photo frame or something more substantial, you probably have a fair idea of what will suit their needs. If you could create a small package and combine a few items, it would be great! From themed gifts to flower baskets, there are so many things online to choose from as a gift. If you want to go the extra mile with your gifts, check MANLYMANCO.COM for a wide selection of out-of-the-box gift ideas such as jerky flower bouquets.

Presentation matters: Instead of just wrapping it up in gift paper and giving it like a regular gift, make it something exciting, like an event.  Make it a memorable experience by hiding it, and sending them on a treasure hunt. Make it different and unique as the anticipation that builds up when going to receive a gift is exciting for both the person about to receive a gift and the giver upon seeing their reaction.

Personalize it: Since you’re giving a gift to your best friend, personalize the experience. Add a note or a card mentioning how much they mean to you, and the joy and happiness they have brought into your life.