As a rule of thumb I never pack more than a carry-on when I travel. I learned this practice the hard way during my study- abroad trip in college. Back then, I opted to go for the largest suitcase I could find and to pack it until the zippers were ready to bust. Needless to say, rolling that monstrosity through the train stations of Europe was less than enjoyable.
Since, I’ve learned to be a much smarter traveler and have migrated my packing practices towards the simpler side. In doing so, I’ve picked up a few tricks of the trade on packing tight and light. The most obvious of the tricks–sticking to travel sizes of my favorite products.
Catherine reveals her top ten in the Los Angeles Westside
PHOTO: Catherine Abalos
Welcome to a special edition of What I Love About My City—a series in which our favorite single girls dish on everything from the best places for a single girls weekend to the secret spots only the locals know about. This time I’m taking over with a twist, bringing you the best of Los Angeles from my perspective.
If you haven’t heard the news, I’m in transition moving from L.A. back to my hometown in the San Francisco Bay Area. In an ode to my home of nine years (I spent the first four in college), I wanted to share my City of Angels. Los Angeles is made up of over 80 neighborhoods, and mine is part of the beautiful Westside. One of the best things about this major U.S. city is its diversity and space for everyone to create their own version of the city. You can be a struggling actor (literally) or a multi-millionaire and find activities, food, and people that appeal to you; granted, it takes some work. I love that Los Angeles is something different to every single person that lives there. I love how much flack it gets from people who don’t truly understand the hidden nuances. I love how you can drive to a different neighborhood and feel like you’re somewhere new entirely. You never run out of places to explore. Each of those 80 neighborhoods has its own character, and I’m so excited to share some of the best things about the Westside.
10 Single Girl Favorites to Celebrate This Fourth of July
The Fourth of July holiday brings much to celebrate. Stories like this about the My Stealthy Freedom movement remind us how fortunate we are to have our freedom. Even more so that the rights that come with that freedom are shared equally by women and men.
This year, in honor of the holiday, we’ve rounded up a list of our favorite ways to celebrate the fourth. From patriotic fashion, to great recipes for your gathering, this list has all you need to honor the day in high style. We hope you all enjoy your day away from your desks and have a happy Fourth of July!
Time and/or money limitations holding you back from taking your dream vacation? Live vicariously through the travels of film characters. Reminisce about carefree summers with classic childhood movies. Host an outdoor movie night, curl up under the stars with these movies, and remember that your next adventure is just a choice away.
There is no shortage of American flag-emblazoned garb in the States. Despite the painful elimination of USA from the World Cup yesterday, we will always have one thing to celebrate: freedom. Let it ring this holiday weekend with classic Americana—hot dogs, water slides, apple pie, fireworks—and maybe leave the repurposing of flags into dresses to the college gals. Try these ideas on for a more grown-up iteration of the star-spangled banner.
