To all The Holiday Jet-Setters and Globe-Trotters... and those just going over the river and through the woods to Granny's..

The Holidays are here people! And chances are good, with that comes traveling to see family! ( ...or traveling to escape ‘em) Either way, i thought I’d share with you a few tips and tricks for smooth sailing!

Tip #1... Pack light!

I used to want “options”... then I realized I only ever wear about half the clothes I brought... and what a waste of packing space that is!

The easiest way to maximize your outfits is to bring items that are “cross-over” pieces... or items that (with a little tweaking) can go from a day look to a night look....

I LOVE my grey sweater dress and heres how, with a few added accessories, it goes from a comfy day look to a swanky night-out-on-the-town ensemble!

Tip #2 Rock and “ROLL”!!

ok ok... maybe rockin’ isnt in line with my traveling tips, but ROLLING your clothes when packing sure is!! This helps to keep clothes wrinkle-free and gives you TONS more room than just folding (or stuffing) your clothes into your bag would.

cherry on top: if you wanna get fancy, you can roll your clothes in tissue paper.. this help to keep clothes extra extra wrinkle free!

Tip #3... Packing Cubes!!!

Allow me to introduce you to what may be the greatest invention in packing since the rolling suitcase... PACKING CUBES!!! GET YOURS HERE AT AMAZON.COM!!

After my dear friend Audrey raved about these packing aides, I had to get one for myself and boy-oh-boy i don’t know how I ever travelled without ‘em!!

These mesh bags are the secret to packing organization! Instead of unpacking everything to find what your looking for, all you have to do is grab the cube, take out what you want, zip it and toss it back in your bag. No more digging around or unpacking everything just to find that one thing you need!

Take a look at how the double-sided packing cube condensed a whopping 23 items that spread out over my whole bed into a cube just barely bigger than a shoe box!!

2 pants

3 dresses

1 jacket

2 pairs of leggings

1 vest

3 undershirts

1 blazer

2 sweaters

5 shirts

2 belts

1 skirt

all fits in this:

im telling you... im amazed every time!!

Tip #4 Check in Online!!

I’m sure you’ve heard this one before.. but I’ll reiterate... Airlines allow you to check in online and print your boarding pass from home. Also, now you can have your boarding pass sent to your cell or PDA and, from that, they can simply scan the barcode on your screen!

Tip #5 Cover your Ass!!!

Recently, on a trip to NYC I had my entire purse stolen, and with that went my wallet, cell phone, ID, credit cards, (and even my Ipod... ) boo....

Needless to say, I learned a couple of lessons the hard way! I learned that you dont necessarily need your ID when you travel (THIS IS NO EXCUSE TO TRAVEL W/OUT ONE!...Just advice for what to do if one gets lost!)

Make photo copies of your ID and passport and keep them hidden in your suitcase just in case. I also recommend bringing 2 credit cards/atm cards and keeping each in a different bag or wallet.

One day this just may save you a whole lotta time/money and DEFINITELY the headache.

Other than that..bon voyage!

Oh... and to expunge any possible feelings of guilt, it IS, according to me and any person who’s ever flown on a plane ever, OK to steal the blankets... I take em any chance I get... WASH em when you get home of course, but they make for wonderful picnic blankets-- and lets face it- now some airlines have to audacity to charge for pillows and blankets...RUDE!! “I’m sorry, but I was under the impression that my $523 ticket included my comfort... oh it doesn’t? I see..so I have to pay an additional fee to be warm and comfortably cushioned...i. i get it... tooootally fair...”

BAH! take the blankets! take em all!!