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41 Things For People Who’d Rather Cancel Their Flight Than Check A Bag

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I snagged this backpack after hearing my colleague Chelsea Stuart sing its praises. I had a trusty (now discontinued) InCase backpack I used as a personal item and served me well on dozens of trips for about five years. But I wanted a bag for some upcoming travel (2.5 weeks in Europe with *just* carry-on for five flights) that opens up like a suitcase for easier packing. Since buying, I’ve taken it on two long weekend trips (Amtrak to Newport, RI, for a wedding and regional train to a CT country lake house) with no complaints. In fact, for both of those trips I packed MORE than I needed

Inside, you’ll find a mesh zippered pocket and a plastic pocket perfect for your toiletries. I can fit enough wet toilet toiletries in the second pocket as I’d be allowed to carry-on for a plane. In the mesh pocket I put other necessities like cotton swabs, medicine, eye glasses, etc. The main compartment is deceptively deep so you can easily roll clothes and Lego-fit them in together without using packing cubes. In fact, I fit all of the stuff in the second picture in that section (a romper, PJs, a bikini, sunscreen, five pairs of undies, a pair of jean shorts, nap dress, three pairs of socks, two pairs of sandals, two T-shirts, a slip skirt, sleep mask, curling iron, mini flat iron, makeup bag, and tote bag). AND it has stretchy X-straps to keep it all secure like you’d see in a roller suitcase so when I unzip it, everything stays put. But before I forget, there’s a separate cushioned laptop pocket close to the backpack straps that I found works well for books or a Kindle if your travel leaves you laptop-less. 

I love that this backpack has DEEP side pockets so your umbrella or water bottle won’t fall out. In fact, I stuck a flashlight and an umbrella in one side pocket. (You could always use a flashlight.) Plus! It has a generously sized pocket on the front of the backpack with easy access for sunglasses, snacks, writing pens…all sorts of those little extras you need to access quickly. To top it all off, the backpack straps and top handle are STURDY. I felt totally secure toting it around and slinging it into overhead storage compartments on the trains. I love the look and construction of it with faux leather and sturdy black canvas, and the trolley passthrough to easily fit on my roller suitcase I’m about to drag through a bunch of airports. At nearly $80, this isn’t the cheapest backpack option but if you’re a frequent traveler, you’ll get so much mileage on it and seriously save on some baggage fees, making it well worth the cost. This backpack and I are going places, for sure. 

Get it from Beis Travel for $78 (also available in beige). 

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18 Unspoken Rules You Really Need To Know Before Staying In Hostels

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Things To Know Before You Stay In A Hostel

If you’re travelling and trying to stick to a budget, there’s nothing better than a good hostel.

But if you’re new to the world of hostels, it can be a little daunting – there are certain unspoken rules that everyone mysteriously seems to know. So in one handy place, here’s everything to be across before starting your hostel journey.

1.

Keep in mind that some hostels will charge you for a towel.

2.

Private rooms are a good way to get used to hostel life.

3.

Female-only dorms are super common!

4.

Look for hostels that offer activities.

5.

Don’t have sex when there are other people in the room.

6.

Check the hostel’s location before you book.

7.

You don’t really get to choose top or bottom bunk.

8.

Some hostel beds are ~fancier~ than others.

9.

Choose a dorm size that you’re comfortable with.

10.

Don’t snooze your alarm for hours.

11.

Avoid turning on the overhead lights when people are asleep in the morning.

12.

And pack all your stuff up the night before an early departure.

13.

Speaking of which, leave something on your bed when you go out for the day.

15.

Book in advance if you’re travelling around an ~event~.

16.

Bring earplugs and an eye mask.

17.

Always read the reviews before booking a hostel.

18.

And finally, bring your own pillowcase.

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The Man Suing Gwyneth Paltrow Over A Ski Crash Said She Hit Him From Behind, But Her Ski Instructor Said That Would Have Been “Impossible”

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While on the witness stand, Sanderson testified that he was skiing down the right side of the run when he heard “a blood-curdling scream.”

“It was ahhh and then boom,” Sanderson said, smacking his hands together. “It was like somebody was out of control and going to hit a tree and was going to die.”

He said he then felt someone crash into his back sending him “absolutely flying.”

“All I saw was a whole lot of snow,” Sanderson said. “It’s quite a ways to hit the ground and I just said, OK, you got to protect your face and your head, and that’s the last thing I remember.”

He testified that he didn’t remember if he hit his head on the ground, saying that “everything” went black and all he could hear was the voice of a man who sounded angry with him. At first, Sanderson said he couldn’t make out what the man was saying but then heard the person tell him “you hit somebody, you hurt somebody.”

“Did you know who he was?” his attorney Kristin VanOrman asked.

“I had no idea,” Sanderson said. “It was just a very angry person bullying me into believing something that I didn’t think could happen.”

He said he remembered apologizing “to placate this guy” and said he was sorry twice. In his head, it sounded like he was whispering, Sanderson testified, saying that his lips were moving to make out, “I’m sorry,” but he couldn’t hear the words coming out of his mouth.

Paltrow testified last week that she cussed Sanderson out after she said he crashed into her back, causing the two to fall to the ground. On Monday, Sanderson testified that he didn’t hear her voice at all.

“I only heard a male voice,” he said. “I heard nothing that maybe happened before I came to that point in consciousness.”

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Drew Barrymore Opened Up To Gayle King About Her Experience With Perimenopause In Her 40s, And It’s Such An Important Conversation For All Women

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So, if you’ve found yourself experiencing symptoms that feel in-line with perimenopause, what can you do? “First,” says Dr. Mbaye, “exercising regularly and not smoking are two of the best things you can do on your own that will help manage symptoms. Beyond that, there are lots of hormonal and non-hormonal medical treatments that can manage a range of symptoms.”

Therapy is also an important tool, emphasizes Dr. Mbaye, especially for people who have more significant mood changes during this phase. Dr. Mbaye also shared that “if your symptoms are bothersome to you, bring them up to your doctor so they can then go through the options that are safe for your specific case.” She continued, “All perimenopausal symptoms are treatable if they’re bothersome, but they don’t need to be treated. It’s always up to the patient whether or not they feel the need to treat anything.”

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