Friday Find: Toss Designs & Special Online Discount Code

In need of a chic stylish beach tote, cosmetic case or travel bag? Look no further. The girls at Toss Designs have been creating fashion-forward handbags since 2004. Their collection features fresh patterns, bold colors and functional designs, all at very reasonable prices. And just in time for summer entertaining, Toss Designs has added beautiful tunics, cocktail shakers and bar essentials to their collection.

Toss Designs is happy to offer Simplified Bee readers a 15% discount off online purchases. Simply can use the code: SFSB15 {expires Friday, June 18, 2010}. Also when in San Francisco, please be sure to drop by their new {gorgeous} store at 2185 Chestnut Street {image above}.

Happy Friday, Happy Shopping!

Summer Lovin' ~ Beach Bag Essentials

With the heat of summer just around the corner, it's time to get your beach bag organized. Here’s my list of beach bag essentials you’ll need when sitting poolside or on a sandy beach.

Carry a Cute, Yet Practical Beach Tote - When selecting a beach bag look for one that is big enough all your beach items. I love the chic clear vinyl tote by Trina Turk – it’s waterproof, easy to clean and allows you to view what’s inside. I picked mine up at Bloomingdales - Trina Turk stores are sold out of this bag already!

Pack a Generous Beach Towel – A big, soft towel should be at the top of your beach bag essentials list. Amy Butler is offering several bright and vibrant options this summer with unique seashell green, orange peacock and floral reef designs. Any would make a great companion at the beach or pool. Available at Bed Bath & Beyond. 

Throw on a Versatile Cover Up - The right cover up will allow you to transition seamlessly from beach to dinner with friends. The Elina cotton tunic by Lilly Pulitzer gets my vote for it’s flexibility – wear over swim, skinny pants or jeans. Also, it’s colorful, bright pattern is perfect for summer!

Slip on Some Chic Summer Sandals – A fun flip-flop sandal is a must. Lilly Puliter’s McKim pearlized patent sandal in "shorely blue" is one of my favorites. Love the signature metal o-ring detail. I will take them in black too, please.

Protect Your Eyes - No beach bag should be without a pair of sunglasses. I am smitten with Kate Spade’s "Ally" Petite Aviator Sunglasses. Available at Bloomingdales. And be sure to protect your eyewear with a "SPECS" needlepoint glasses case by Jonathan Adler.

Keep Your Hat On – Shade your face from the sun with a hat like the darling "Malibu" Terry Hat from Juicy Couture. Available at Nordstroms.

Toss in Some Sunscreen - Sunscreen is a must for every beach bag. Don’t mess around with sunscreens that include lots of harmful chemicals. My favorite is Lavera's Sun 40SPF because it is an USDA-certified organic sunscreen free from ingredients we should all avoid, including fragrances, gluten and parabens. Wouldn't want it any other way.

Keep Hydrated – Fill up a reusable water bottle to pack in your beach bag. I love the Dragonfly water bottle by EarthLust. It is handmade from high quality #304 food grade stainless steel and non-toxic paints - a stylish way to reduce the use of plastic water bottles. Available at Paper Source.

Now, grab your Elle Décor, House Beautiful or book of the week and head out for a day at the beach. What's a must in your beach bag?

*not a sponsored post

Spring Cleaning Tips: Making Your Closet Functional & Beautiful

Keeping a house clean is a year around task, however many bigger cleaning projects are saved for when the seasons change. Washing windows, cleaning upholstered furnishings and washing outdoor furniture many be some chores on your spring cleaning checklist. Getting your closet organized is also an important task as we go into spring and here are a few tips to help you get started:

Store. As you transition your wardrobe closet from cold-weather clothing to warm-weather clothing, make sure that you store sweaters, coats and pants away in zipped bags that protect your garments from moths and other pests. And before you store, make sure your garment is cleaned. The Container Store has some great storage options and a spring organization sale going on now.

Give. Donate clothing that you do not wear to a local charity. Don't know one in your area? Excess Access will match you with a charity organization in your zip code. They link each donation with the wish-lists of your nearby charities that can provide pick-ups or will accept drop-offs. And donors get tax-deductible receipts.

Organize. If you have a large or walk-in closet it's best to organize it into zones by season or garment type (i.e. work, casual, formal). Next arrange the clothing into sections for each category (i.e. blouses, dresses, pants, etc.). Then arrange the clothes in each section by color from left to right (i.e. black, blue, brown, red, orange, yellow, ivory and white). This makes it much easier to find outfits and is more pleasing to the eye. Wouldn't you agree?

Function & Style. To help keep shirts, shoes and sweaters arranged neatly I recommend stackable boxes with clear fronts like these tweed drop-front boxes. The clear drop-front allows you see what's inside and to access items without having to unstack them.

Plan. The Today Show recently highlighted Closet Lite, a high-tech clothing organization/planning application for your iPhone. It allows you to organize your clothing, create outfits, plan them for certain days and view them. This app can even create packing lists for any upcoming trips. Love this!

Speaking of trips - are you taking a vacation for spring break? If so, here are some more tips on packing for a trip.

Happy spring and happy organizing!

*images courtesy of House Beautiful, Martha Stewart, Canadian House & Home, Making it Lovely

Top 10 In-Flight Essentials for the Holiday Traveler

Traveling on an airplane this holiday season? Long flights, weather delays and uncomfortable seats {most like filthy too} can drive you crazy while traveling. Keep your cool by planning ahead and being organized - here are simple tips on how to pack for a trip.

Now for your carry-on. Here are some essentials to make your plane flight as comfortable as possible:

1. Quiet Comfort 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones {so you don't have to listen to the poor baby with the ear infection that won't stop crying} by Bose ~ $269.95,
2. Sleep Mask Wings {for that cat nap} from Flight001.com ~ $22
3. Evian Facial Spray {why not?} from Flight001.com ~ $6
4. EO Sanitizing Hand Wipes {organic & biodegradable} from Amazon ~ $37.92 for a 2 pack {insane price for hand wipes I know - the non-organic version is less $}
5. Dolce Shawl Collar Popover sweater {easy-fitting sweater that will look great when you arrive at your destination} by JCrew ~ $58
6. Grid-it Grey Med {gadget organizer} from Flight001.com ~ $22
7. Alpha Continental 20" Carry-on {because it's the best} by Tumi ~ $595
8. Classic - Stripe Tissue Tee {layer it} by JCrew ~ $32.50
9. White & Warren Cashmere Wrap {instead of the issued plane blanket} from Neiman Marcus ~ $275
10. Kindle {for endless reading options and a huge space saver} from Amazon ~ $259

Happy holidays and safe travels!

Organized Travel - Packing for a Trip

Eiffel Tower, Paris

Packing for a trip is certainly a chore, but if done correctly it makes traveling much easier. I have a tendency to over pack – surprise! I’ve brought clothing I never wear and stuff I could not possibly have needed. As an organizer, it’s an area I’ve improved upon and have put together some simple tips on how to pack for a trip:

African Elephants (Babar perhaps?)

Review Security Measures - It is important to know what you can pack in your carry-on luggage and what items are not permitted on the aircraft. Visit the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for the latest regulations.

French Polynesia

Invest in Good Luggage - The airlines can be rough with luggage and if yours is old or already damaged, it might not hold up. Nothing would be worse than having your clothing ruined due to bad luggage. I purchased some Tumi luggage over ten years ago when I planned corporate events and traveled a ton. It was worth every penny - today the luggage is in near perfect condition. There are several other great brands that don’t cost as much and hold up nicely. Look for luggage that has wheels – it has been a life saver running to catch a connecting flight. Also, consider luggage that can be used as a carry-on, Amazon has a nice selection. When selecting a toiletries bag, look for one that has several sections – individually sealed compartments for items such as shampoo, make-up and toothbrushes.

Alaska

Pack it Right - To reduce wrinkling and save space, roll your casual clothes and use the straps inside the suitcase to hold clothes in place. Also, a full suitcase (not over stuffed) helps keep clothing wrinkle-free. For more delicate items such as blouses or blazers, Martha Stewart has some great tips: use a hanging bag and layer garments (pants first, blouse, then jacket). If you don’t have a hanging garment bag, simply overlap items by folding delicate pieces around soft ones like knit sweaters. Try not to fold items any more than you have to. Also, even if you have a toiletries bag, it’s a good idea to put toiletries in individual plastic bags in the event they break or leak. All valuables – including jewelry – should be packed in your carry-on luggage.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Mix it Up - When traveling with a friend or partner, pack one of your outfits in their bag and vice versa. This will be valuable if one person's luggage is lost or delayed.

Mexico

Remember Your Prescriptions - If you are taking prescription medication, you’ll want to bring more than enough for the duration of your trip. It should always go in your carry-on luggage. In case of emergencies, bring an additional prescription form and your doctor’s contact information.

Taj Mahal, India - Jai Ho!

Copy Important Documents – Always have your itinerary, IDs, passports, visas, airline tickets and hotel/rental car confirmation numbers/coupons on you at all times. Include a packing list (all items in your luggage) in your carry-on bag. It’s always a good idea to email yourself electronic copies. A password-protected itinerary on Google Docs is one way to keep the information safe and share it with family in case of emergency. Yes, this seems redundant, but when traveling you want to make sure you can access your information no matter what happens.

Organize your Gadgets - Your phone and camera should be fully charged. It’s also a good idea to empty your camera’s memory card. All power cords, chargers and extra batteries should be packed in your carry-on. If traveling aboard, purchase Tumi’s Electronic Adapter that work in 150 countries.

Mark your Luggage - To distinguish your black luggage from all the others at the baggage claim, tie a bright ribbons onto the handles (I have a hot pink one), apply large stickers with your initials, or get one of these fun luggage tags from See Jane Work. My favorite is "careful - my shoes are inside." Then take a digital photo of all your bags. This photo will come in handy in the event your luggage is lost and you need to identify it with the airlines.

Traveling with Kids - For safety, I take photos of my kids the day we are traveling. This way if they were to get lost, I can provide security with the most up-to-date photo. For more tips on traveling with children visit Delicious Baby’s Traveling Light with Kids.



Wishing you happy, organized travel!!!

*images from Tumi, See Jane Work, Marth Stewart, tea collection, wallpaperme.com

Nude Skincare - Travel Kit Giveaway

I love Nude Skincare and wanted to share with you just why. In addition, to help keep your summer travel organized, Nude Skincare is giving away a beautiful Travel Kit to one of my lucky readers. yippee!

Nude is the first luxury skincare line that is free from harmful chemicals we should all be avoiding. Their number one priority is well being. Bravo! In addition, clinical trails have demonstrated the Nude really works and delivers amazing results. It contains natural anti-aging ingredients including pre and probiotics, milk peptides and AHA’s. What's not to love?

My favorite product in the Nude line is their Cleansing Facial Oil. This award winning cleanser is amazingly effective at removing stubborn make-up. With ingredients such as omega 3 and vitamin E, this product leaves my face nourished, hydrated and soft. Two thumbs up!

By simply leaving a comment, you will be entered in the giveaway to win one of Nude's compact Travel Kit. This organized, yet stylish travel companion is perfect for any skin type. It comes in a beautiful gray bag handmade from reclaimed seatbelts. It's also the perfect hand luggage size collection making packing for travel a breeze. This collection contains: Cleansing Milk 30ml, Hydrating Water 30ml, Age Defence Moisturiser 15ml, Moisture Balance 5ml and full size Replenishing Night Oil 15ml - a $148 value.

To purchase or to learn more about this incredible skincare line visit, Nude Skincare.

The Contest Rules:

• One comment permitted per person; all entrants welcome - I'll ship anywhere!

• Entry period closes at midnight PST, Friday, August 14, 2009 and the winner will be announced Monday, August 17, 2009.

**Note: The winner will be drawn randomly using Random.org, notified directly via e-mail and listed back at this post using first name only.

Good luck and be sure to drop by the Hooked on Houses blog party!

*images from Nude Skincare