How to pack a suitcase

My clothes often are a jumbled mess when I pack a suitcase for a trip. I saw this article and had to share!
http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/travel/planning/pack-suitcase-00000000002225/index.html

1--Gather your clothes...Gather all the garments you may need on your trip, then edit down your choices so you don’t overpack—a common mistake. Put back at least half of the items you think you need.

2--Roll your clothes...Tightly roll softer, wrinkle-resistant garments, like T-shirts and cotton pants, and place them along the base of the bag. Jeans should be rolled, too.

3--Place folded items on top...Next, fold stiffer and/or wrinkle-prone garments like starched cotton shirts and blazers. Layer these folded items over the rolled clothes.

4--Drape longer pieces like pants and skirts...Fold longer items in half, filling the length of the bag with them, alternating waists with hems at the ends.

5--Add smaller items...Look for nooks and crannies to fill with smaller items, like bras and socks.

6--Line suitcase with belts...Snake belts around the perimeter of the bag. Then cover the whole pile with a dry-cleaning bag. Thanks to the bag’s slippery surface, folded clothes won’t stay in one place long enough for creases to set.

7--Choose shoes wisely...Pick three pairs of shoes, like a casual sandal or loafer, sneakers, and an evening shoe –go for styles that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Wear the heaviest pair en route and pack the others along the sides of your suitcase in resealable bags.

8--Pack your jewelry...Stow inexpensive jewelry in a seven-day plastic pillbox or a 35-millimeter film canister. Wear any fine jewelry en route to ensure it won’t get lost or stolen.

Saying no-easier said than done

If you are anything like me, you burn the candle at both ends because you can't stop yourself from saying yes to everyone that asks for a favor.

Well, an article at http://shine.yahoo.com/event/newyear/5-steps-to-say-no-with-kindness-567512/ offers ways to say no with grace.  What do you think?  Will these tips help you get out of things you really didn't want to do in the first place?

The steps to say no:

1. Acknowledge. If someone asks you to do something, it is because they have faith you can do it or they like you enough to want to spend their time with you. If spearheading a new project or attending that party makes your heart sink instead of sing, first acknowledge the person’s thoughtfulness for having considered you.

2. Express gratitude and interest. Thank the person for his or her invitation, then show interest in the project itself. Ask questions pertaining to the person’s request. Most often, people just want to feel important enough for you to listen.

3. Decline. Once you have acknowledged the person’s request and expressed your gratitude for the consideration, politely decline with a few simple words. If "no" itself is too hard, you can say you have an overlapping commitment.

4. Offer alternatives. If someone remains persistent in pursuing his or her request, offer up alternatives. Be careful not to get too involved in brainstorming new ideas or you might find yourself sucked into the project after all.

5. Remember this: If you still struggle with declining people’s requests, stick a note on your mirror that reminds you that saying "no" to someone else is actually saying "yes" to yourself. Repeat it like a mantra until it becomes second nature. And if that doesn’t work, tell yourself that "no" is indeed a complete sentence. It really is.

Good luck with this everyone! I know I'll be doing my best to use these steps from now on!

Reduce Stress Now - Here's How

Go to bed thirty minutes earlier than usual.
Get up twenty minutes earlier than usual.
Before you go to sleep, prepare for the morning.
Bring a hat and an umbrella.
Don’t wear tight clothes or uncomfortable shoes.
Make a list.
Listen to a favorite song.
Keep extra cash and stamps in the house.
Be polite and be fair.
Laugh out loud.
Have a good book to read.
Keep an extra set of keys.
Exercise.
Always keep your passport in the same place.
Throw something away.
Don’t say mean things about other people.
Put a Bandaid in your wallet.
Keep gas in the car.
Pay attention to someone else.
Make your bed.

Original article found here: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/20-very-easy-tips-for-lowering-your-daily-stress-level-566834/

Talk about right place and right time!!

This guy better thank his lucky stars that he accepted a clerk's goof when he received a misprint in lottery tickets. Thanks to this error he is now the winner of the $128 million Power Ball prize in Kentucky-which is my home state by the way.

Check out the whole story here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100107/ap_on_re_us/us_powerball_winner