Search Results for: blog black bag war

How to Be Prepared for Black Friday 2013

Shopping for the best 2013 Black Friday Deals? This year, things may be a little different. Be prepared with the following tips, and you’ll get the best prices without being overwhelmed. It is solid advice to get you through the most important shopping day of the year. By making the following preparations now, you’ll be sure not to lose out on those bargains and at the same time, have everything be a positive and fun experience. Prepare for the Changes Swallow that turkey and be out the door by early evening if you want to start your Black Friday shopping. … Continue reading →

Retailers Given Safety Tips For Black Friday

Serious shoppers see Black Friday as a super exciting time to grab big deals. Insurers, however, see the potential dangers that could cause problems on Black Friday. One insurer has given retailers a list of safety tips, that could help them to avoid problems. It remains to be seen if the stores will choose to follow that advice. Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has warned retailers that they need to put extra effort into security measures this Black Friday. Chubb is one of the insurers who sell policies to retailers, so it is understandable that the insurer wants to find … Continue reading →

Bag Anxiety

I’m not ashamed to admit that I say a rosary each time I board a plane. Only I’m not praying for safe travels; rather, I am silently hoping against hope that I will be reunited with my bags upon landing at my final destination. I know; it sounds a bit materialistic. After all, if the plane crashes I certainly am not going to care if my Juicy Couture jeans and iPod get sent to Paducah, Kentucky, when they should have been with me on a flight to Honolulu. Still, I lived through the nightmare of having a commercial carrier misplace … Continue reading →

Back-to-School Backpack Wars

I remember a time when any bag I gave my daughter was met with a joyous squeal, a monstrous smile and an even bigger hug. Seriously, a leftover purse circa 1978, found curled up in the corner of the closet with a broken zipper, was like finding a pot of gold to my bag lady in training. Ah… the good ol’ days. My darling daughter is six years old now and the days of her willingly accepting anything I select have long faded in the rearview mirror on the long, winding road through parenthood. Last year, in preparation for her … Continue reading →

Warm Up with Homemade Chowder

It’s one of the cheapest ways to warm up your family on a bitterly cold winter’s day–stirring up a pot full of steaming hot soup. Homemade soups and chowders are simple to prepare and make for quick and healthy midweek meals. The following recipes are not only affordable, but they also feature ingredients that even your pickiest eaters will happily devour: CRAB AND PEPPER JACK CHEESE CHOWDER Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter 1 1/2 cups onion, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup red bell pepper, diced 1 14-ounce can low-fat chicken broth 1 cup water 1 teaspoon ground cumin … Continue reading →

Beware…There Are Monsters About!

At least from Murph’s point of view. Anything that looks out of the ordinary or is otherwise strange and unfamiliar to him is a monster. (A word he knows courtesy of his Aunt Karen. That’s what she says when something catches Tucker’s eye on a walk and startles him.) The Making of a Monster Of course there aren’t really monsters about. There are just things that sometimes appear scary to Murphy. An overturned trash can that wasn’t there on a previous walk. A tangled hose left askew on a lawn. A piece of trash, like some of the black landscape … Continue reading →

Travel Insanity—Airline Charges for One Checked Bag

Not an extra bag. Not an extra carry-on. I’m talking about one single checked bag. American Airlines just announced it plans to start charging $15 for passengers to check in a single suitcase. INSANITY! Oh, and did I mention it also plans to cut flights and lay off thousands of workers too? The nation’s largest carrier blames the moves on record-high fuel prices. INSANITY! They are serious folks. Beginning June 15th—as in three weeks from now—if you are flying American you will be charged $15 for the first suitcase you check in and $25 for the second piece of luggage … Continue reading →

Airline Luggage Wars—-Can It Get Any Worse?

I’ve had my share of luggage horror stories (many of which I’ve shared on this site), but now I am bracing for what could prove to be a cataclysmic move by the airline industry in regards to checked bags. As if the price of airfare wasn’t enough to force you to vacation in your own backyard airlines are about to take another shot at your wallet via your luggage. Recently, United Airlines announced that it would be making a major (and alarming) change in its checked baggage policy. Instead of being able to check in two bags for free, as … Continue reading →

Last-Minute Gifts for Those Fighting the “Black Bag War”

A couple of years ago I wrote a blog entitled “Black Bag War.” It was an ode to the millions of airline passengers forced to huddle around luggage carousels and decipher which of the hundreds of rotating black suitcases rightfully belonged to them. In the 20 months or so since I wrote that piece luggage manufacturers have expanded their color palettes and now offer a wide variety of products in funky styles and colors. Now you can buy a wardrobe of luggage to fit your particular lifestyle and mix and match as needed. What’s more, if you are still searching … Continue reading →

Tips to Help You De-Clutter Your Wardrobe (3)

How are you doing with de-cluttering your wardrobe? Here are the remaining questions that you can ask yourself about all of those clothes that are taking over your life. We are in the home stretch now and well on our way to organized closets. Is the item in good condition? Fading, tears and worn spots are a signal that it should go in the rag bag, not on your body. Will you alter this piece to make it wearable? Pants that have been too long since you bought them five years ago, meaning to hem them, still can’t be worn. … Continue reading →