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Coming Soon: Safety and Security
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EDITOR'S TRAVEL DIARY
I visited Fox in the Snow Cafe in Columbus, Ohio. The cafe is a popular hotspot for coffee and pastries. I also stopped by Laughlin Bakery. The bakery is located in the Short North Neighborhood in downtown Columbus. The owner reinvented his grandmother's recipes. Everything is fabulous!
South Bites is a trailer park featuring the best roving food trucks from Texas and across the US held during SXSW. I sampled the Stumptown Coffee ice cream from Salt and Straw. Salt and Straw is my favorite ice cream shop in Portland, Oregon. A second location is open in Los Angeles.
I had my first layover in Memphis. I picked up dinner and some to-go items at Bed Rock Paleo Cafe. I do not recommend the frozen items, but everything else is fresh and delicious! I also visited 387 Pantry and picked up some gourmet food items. It is located in the Stock and Belle Boutique in downtown Memphis.
I had a long layover in Burbank. I took Uber to Silverlake and enjoyed a fabulous meal at Sqirl. I recommend this cozy cafe for brunch. I stopped for coffee at Alfred Coffee. It's a great spot for taking Instagram-worthy photos. The coffee cups are cute. I finally crossed off my bucket list visiting Griffith Observatory for amazing views of the Hollywood Hills. Read Catherine's tips and check out her beautiful photos here.
I had a long layover in Little Rock. I enjoyed a delicious lunch at The Root Cafe. Everything is sourced from local farmers. This is the best restaurant in Little Rock open until 2:30 P.M. daily.
I visited a new coffee shop in Salt Lake City. I ordered a cappuccino with homemade almond milk at Three Pines Coffee. Adjacent to this boutique coffee shop is From Scratch, a local hotspot for burgers and pizza.
On my layover in Omaha, I watched Jonathon Gold's documentary about the food scene in Los Angeles. Jonathon Gold is the food editor at the Los Angeles Times. Film Streams is a great venue in Omaha for seeing Indie movies and documentaries.
I am a huge fan of Joanne Chang. She is the pastry chef and owner of Flour Bakery in Boston. Joanne was just named outstanding baker by the James Beard Foundation. Don't miss this wonderful cafe and bakery on your next visit to Boston. Many items are gluten-free and vegan. If you can't make it to Boston, order a copy of Flour: Spectacular Recipes From Boston's Flour Bakery and Cafe. I also visited Cafe Madeline in Boston. I sampled the macaroons and was very impressed with the flavor.
Philadelphia is also home to one of the most exciting chefs in the country, Michael Soloman. He is the chef and owner of Zahav, a fantastic Israeli restaurant open for dinner in Old City. Reservations are suggested. If you are unable to snag a reservation, you can sit at the bar and order off the menu. A happy hour from 5 PM-7PM daily includes appetizer specials.
If you can't make it for dinner, you can visit Dizengoff near Rittenhouse Square and sample the world famous hummus! A location is opening soon in the Chelsea Market in New York City.
If you are visiting New York City, Jack's NYC is a great dollar store to pick up snacks, bottled water, and toiletries. The store is walking distance from Penn Station.
Chelsea Market is my favorite market in the city. Turnstyle is a new market that just opened in the Columbus Circle Subway Station. Lots of great options for lunch and cute gift boutiques.
April Bloomfield's burgers are amazing. I love the Lamb Burger at The Breslin located in the Ace Hotel. April's restaurant won a Michelin star. She recently opened Salvation Burger. It's home to the best veggie burger I've ever tasted. Skip the fries at Salvation Burger. I prefer the pub style chips at the Breslin. I do suggest dining early or late. The Breslin is very busy during happy hour.
I had a layover in D.C. just in time for the cherry blossom's peak bloom. I had dinner at Momofuku C.D.C. This is my favorite restaurant in D.C. Lunch is also served weekdays. I love the rice cakes!
If you would like a behind the scenes peek at my travel adventures, follow me on Snapchat.
Do you have Snapchat? Feel free to write back and share your username so I can follow you!
HOW TO FOLLOW ME ON SNAPCHAT:
Download the Snapchat app to your iOS or Android phone, then choose “Add friends”, “Add by username”, and type my profile name FLIGHTCHIC. If you’re on your phone right now, this profile link will allow you to follow me in a single click.
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TO DO LIST
WATCH
Marth Stewart Facebook Live
BUY
Mrs. White's Mosquito Spray
READ
Catastrophic Happiness: Finding Joy in Childhood's Messy Years
Catherine Newman writes the blog Ben & Birdy about her family and the Real Simple magazine etiquette column.
SEE
Minimalism, A Documentary about the Important Things. You can see if they are coming to your city here.
SURF
The American Roadtripper // 12 hour guide // Gadling // Her Packing List
FOLLOW ON TWITTER
@ FareDealAlert @ SecretFlying
DOWNLOAD
Food 52's new app called (Not) Recipes, where food lovers can share favorite meals they make in easy steps.
LISTEN
The Sessions with Sean Croxton Podcast
Sean Croxton, the former host of Underground Wellness Radio, goes deep with the best-of-the-best experts, authors, and top performers in personal development, money mindset, relationships, and health to reveal their stories, struggles, and strategies to inspire YOU to live your very best life.
Episode #11: Amy Cuddy
Rita Wilson
She tackles topics like loneliness, friendship, and love with relatable lyrics. "Grateful" is my favorite!
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SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS AND TRICKS
1. Social Media is making us shallow.
2. Facebook is watching and tracking you.
3. Beware of what you click in your Facebook feed. The quizzes are usually a scam.
4. Why it's bad etiquette to add people to a Facebook Group. I liked the suggestions for inviting people to a Facebook group.
5. Find out if you have hidden inbox messages in Facebook.
6. Facebook tips and tricks you may not already know.
7. Who controls your Facebook feed?
8. Guidelines for Facebook cover photos.
9. Find your storytelling style to engage your audience.
10. How to get more Facebook fans and sales for your business.
11. A Twitter chat happens when a group of people with a similar interest (blogging, travel, baking) all hang out on Twitter at a scheduled time. There is usually a predetermined topic and a host who keeps things moving. Here's a great guide for hosting or joining a twitter chat.
12. Tips for using Pinterst.
13. Does unfriending someone on Facebook mean I'm a bad person?
14. Facebook Live is a feature that was recently added to the Facebook smartphone app, allowing you to broadcast a live video straight to your Facebook page or personal account. People who follow you are notified and can watch you live, or they can watch the replay that’s posted to your page after the live session is over. During the live stream, they can post comments, which you’ll see on your phone screen so you can interact. Those comments are displayed below the replay video, where you can continue to interact with viewers, and add any “show notes” you have about the session. Here are some tips for using Facebook Live.
15. Schedule Instagram Posts with @Later from the web or your phone.
16. How to broadcast on Periscope. Facebook Live and Snapchat are more popular now.
17. A recent study reveals most of your Facebook friends are not real friends.
18. If you find yourself waiting for YouTube videos to buffer
or load, speed things up by the video quality. Click the gear icon in the black bar in the bottom right of any video and choose something lower.
19. Did you know Twitter has an advanced search? After typing a search field, click the "Advanced Search" link in the left column of the results page.
20. If you want to check out a specific hastag, try #tagboard. Simply enter a hastage (without the #), and it will pull up all the instances it has been mentioned across platforms in one spot.
21. To find the best hashtags, go to Hashtagify.me, enter your main keyword in the search bar and hit enter. Then click the "Table Mode" tab. Next sort the table by "popularity".
22. Beware of internet trolls.
23. If you're planning a getaway with a number of people, create a group and invite all your fellow travelers. Think of it as a message board to discuss logistics and make suggestions.
24. Facebook's Events tab in the mobile app allows users to browse events by time and city.
25. Use keywords and hashtags like #traveldeals on Twitter to find a last minute deal or sale.
26. Twitter can help resolve customer service issues. You can avoid hold times and through to someone quickly. Try this the next time you need to rebook your flight.
27. I use the search feature on Instagram when visiting a destination. If you type, "London" in the search window, you'll be led to all hashtags and posts with London related tags. This usually leads me to cool insider spots.
28. Facebook has seen a decline in posts by people about themselves and their personal lives, as opposed to articles they’re sharing from elsewhere on the web. People are posting more on Instagram and sharing more about their daily life on Snapchat.
29. Snapchat guide. Get started today! Snapchat is my favorite social media platform.
30. Hashtags are only used on Twitter and Instagram. For travelers, a few of the more popular hashtags are #CruiseChat (a Tuesday forum for all your pressing cruise questions), #TravelTuesday (another Tuesday forum for Tweeters looking for all kinds of travel tips) and #FamilyTravel (an anytime, any-day handle that offers a wealth of kid-friendly travel advice and recommendations).
31. How to make the most of Linkedin. I enjoy reading the Linkedin Influencer articles.
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SOCIAL MEDIA ETIQUETTE TIPS
1. If you wouldn't say to someone's face, don't say it online. Comments follow you. Much like comments on a website, comments, responses, likes, dislikes, rants, pictures and hashtags are, for better or worse, forever. Deleting tweets and updates doesn’t always solve the problem. Cursing as well as spelling, grammatical and factual accuracy fall into this category, too.
2. Sometimes someone missed your friend request or message. Not everyone uses Facebook Messenger including myself. Either way, if you truly feel you’ve been slighted by someone you know well in real life, send them an actual email to ask. *Facebook specific: If you’re sending someone a friend request without any note attached and you don’t really know them, you may not get a response. When in doubt, explain who you are and whom you have in common, etc.
3. You'll never convince someone of the righteousness of your opinion with a Facebook rant, so don't waste your time.
4. Don't drink and tweet or update your Facebook status.
5. Less is more. Use Buffer or HootSuite to schedule posts to avoid oversharing. Whether you’re tweeting, updating or pinning things, most people don’t want to be flooded by updates from someone.
6. The best response to mean people on social media is to not respond.
7. Don't call people out! Talk to that person privately or just let it go. Readers really don’t want to hear most people’s dirty laundry.
8. If you’ve got a shot of someone you want to upload, and you’re not trying to embarrass them, reach out to see if they mind you tagging them. Most people appreciate the chance to avoid having their reputation damaged or looking foolish. It should also be noted that personal photos (partying/drinking, vacation in a bikini) are probably best left out of business-related feeds.
9. Don't use hashtags on Facebook.
10. It's not a good idea to add people to Facebook groups without permission.
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GOOD TO KNOW LINKS
1. Elizabeth Gilbert’s 11 tips for living a more creative life. I also recommend her TED talk on having a genius vs. being a genius and her 2002 profile of Tom Waits.
2. Ten tiny tasks to declutter your home.
3. Web sites to help you learn about money.
4. Essential tools for spring cleaning.
5. Do you have candida?
6. How to block certain websites on your iPhone or iPad.
7. Adam Grant's On Being episode on successful givers & toxic takers.
8. Steps to getting travel complaints resolved.
9. At It’s a Wrap in Burbank California, you can buy barely worn (or unworn) clothes that come straight from the costume closets of the studios. This is the place to shop your favorite show. The racks are organized by TV show and movie titles.Keep an eye out for really high-end designer pieces—they’re there, but you have to dig. Don’t miss the shoes!
10. How to Start Running.
11. Will you be visiting France soon? Here's a printable cheat sheet of French terms and useful phrases to help you navigate the food scene like a pro. You can download it here.
12. These are the things no one wants to think about—wills, life insurance, a power of attorney—but really should. It’s essential to have a plan in place if something were ever to happen to you. This guide will help you get started.
12. Sign up for Noon Pacific, which sends a playlist of new music to your inbox every Monday at (you guessed it) noon Pacific time.
13. Find a class near you. I like to check this site if I have a layover in one of these cities.
14. Print out this quick guide to removing everyday stains.
15. Download Quartz, an app that delivers personally curated news in the form of a text.
16. Join the FREE Propel Book Club starting May 16th to read and discuss Christine Caine’s brand new book, Unashamed. Unashamed is Christine’s most transparent and vulnerable book yet as it deals with the greatest stronghold she has had to overcome in her life – shame. Christine reveals theoften-hidden consequences of shame—in her own life and the lives of so many women—and invites you to join her in moving from a shame-filled to a shame-free life.
17. Join Uncluttered for Free. Uncluttered online is a 12 week course is strategically packaged for one purpose: to help you declutter your home and start living a better life. This Spring, we are offering free access to the course—so far, over 5,000 people have signed up. It’s going to be amazing! But this is the last week to register.
18. How to host a grown-up slumber party. I love the idea of staying at a swanky hotel in South Beach.
19. Watch "How to Manage Your Inner Critic" to learn three things you can do today to silence the negative voice in your head and build confidence.
20. Show-Score is the ultimate fan guide to NYC theater. All the shows, all the reviews, and all the prices. All in one place.
21. Have a topic you want to write about in your next email? Welcome, cancellations, billing problems, etc., Good Email Copy gives you lots of ideas from professionally-written emails.
22. Take a pic of your bill and see if BillShark can help save you money.
23. Find free courses,audio books, movies, articles and more on Open Culture.
24. A comprehensive guide on using magnesium. Good Read!
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Gluten Free List
1. Joshua's gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are delicious.
2. Karen Morgan's award winning gluten-free mixes are now sold at HEB grocery stores and online. Be sure to visit her bakery in Austin.
3. Socca Pizzas are made from chickpea flour and are gluten-free and versatile. Soccas are delicious topped with any number of ingredients.
4. The gorgeously great guide to gluten-free vegan eating in 60 recipes.
5. Stop by Demsey Bakery for delicious gluten-free treats in Little Rock, Arkansas.
6. Sprinkles is now open in Tampa, Florida at Hyde Park Village. The Orlando location at Disney Springs opens May 15. The gluten-free red velvet is my favorite.
7. Heather Christo's Pure Delicious cookbook includes 150 recipes without gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, and cane sugar.
8. Order a copy of The River Cottage Gluten-Free. The starter recipe in this book makes the first truly viable gluten-free sourdough starter I’ve come across.
9. Gluten-Free Girl is using Facebook Live now. Follow her Facebook page here and check out her live video on how to make a gluten-free pie crust.
10. My French Family Table features 120 gluten-free recipes from the blogger at La Tartine Gourmade. Check out her upcoming workshops and fabulous recipes. |
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I put together a spring to-do list of some fun things I'd love to do this season.
If you are a list maker like me, try the 52 Lists Project Journal. It's divided into seasons and then weeks. Each week you are asked to list something. For example, "List Your Goals and Dreams for the Year." And at the bottom of the page, there is a "take action" suggestion. There's also space to make your own lists.
I also love using a Bullet Journal. The Bullet Journal is a customizable and forgiving organization system. It can be your to-do list, sketchbook, notebook, and diary, but most likely, it will be all the above. Here's how to get started using a Bullet Journal.
Here's what's on my spring to-do list. I hope it inspires you to put together a list of your own to celebrate this time of year!
1. Try to get tickets to some of the new shows on Broadway. I would love to see Hamilton, American Psycho, School of Rock, and A Streetcar Named Desire. Some of the shows including Hamilton started online lotteries. You are notified via email if you won tickets and have one hour to purchase your ticket(s). It's worth a try for sold out shows. RUSH tickets are another way to get discounted show tickets. I also use the Today Tix app to buy show tickets. *I did not like the Waitress storyline. American Psycho is an adult show. Hamilton is sold out the rest of the year. Gillian Anderson stars in A Streetcar Named Desire.
2. See the cherry blossoms in D.C.
3. Visit the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. Here's a full list of menus and food photos for the super popular outdoor kitchens.
4. Attend Cherry Bomb Jubilee. Listen to Ina Garten's talk at last year's Jubilee here.
5. Take Xanthe Berkeley's Make Films online course. I also signed up for Skillshare, an online community for learning everything from photography to cooking. Click here to get 3 months for 99 cents.
6. Spring Clean my devices and delete apps I do not use. Check out this guide for spring cleaning your computer.
7. Cook recipes from Gwyneth Paltrow's new cookbook, It's All Easy. The new release includes recipes that are surprisingly tasty, with little or no sugar, fat or gluten like Chocolate Cinnamon Overnight Oats, Chicken Enchiladas, Pita Bread Pizzas, Spicy Shrimp Ramen and Coconut Key Lime Tarts.
8. Try a hot yoga class.
9. Enjoy dinner at Zahav in Philadelphia and Momofuku in D.C. Momofuku offers daily lunch specials.
10. Read Amy Cuddy's book Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges. I recommend watching Amy Cuddy's Ted Talk. You'll see how her research on body language and confidence reveals that we can change other person's perceptions and even our own body chemistry simply by changing body positions. I also plan on reading more books from my Spring Reading List. A Reading Challenge will help you read more books. Download this PDF file and get started today.
11. Spring clean my condo. Click here to download a Spring Cleaning Checklist. Here's another great guide for spring cleaning your kitchen.
12. See the film: Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things.
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What I'm Reading
Every Friday, I share what I enjoyed reading or found informative during the week. If you are looking for something to read when you are traveling or maybe on your lunch break, I think you will enjoy this series. I made reading the articles easy by creating a Readlist. You can download the Readlist every Friday morning as an ebook to read on your Kindle, iPad, iPhone or smartphone. Click here to download the Readlist. |
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Portland Maine Travel Guide
I'm dishing on where to eat, play, shop, and drink in Portland, Maine. Download this guide to save for your next layover or visit.
I also want to know your top hotspots in Portland! Just add them to the comments in the link above.
When I have a layover in Portland, I like to get up early and go for a run or walk if the weather is nice. I always visit Holy Donut for a gluten-free donut. These donuts are made with real potatos not flour. Arrive early for the best selection. My favorite is the sweet potato donut made with real sweet potatos.
There are several coffee shops in Portland. I recommend Bard Coffee. If you like Vietnamese coffee, go to Yordprom Coffee Co.
For a fabulous appetizer, order the duck fat fries at Duck Fat. The best french fries ever! That is really all you need to know. Just go there! The kale soup is also delicious.
For brunch or lunch, my favorite spot is Central Provisions. Everything is delicious!
Micucci is an Italian market located near Duck Fat. I enjoy shopping the market for imported Italian products.
Bentliff's Cafe is a popular brunch spot. Expect long lines on the weekend, but it's worth the wait.
I also enjoy shopping at the farmer's market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Rosemont Market is open daily and sources produce from local farmer's.
Nickelodeon Cinema features Indie films.
Bubba's Silk Lounge is the best place to go dancing. Every Saturday is 80s night. Show up dressed in 80s attire and get in free. Check their website for other special events and theme nights.
No visit to Portland is complete without a visit to the Portland Lighthouse. You can take Uber to the lighthouse or use a combination of public transportation, walking and/or biking. Hop on South Portland City Bus (Rte. #21) in Portland (on Congress Street) to the Pillsbury and Cottage Street stop. The entrance to Fort Williams, where Portland Head Light is located, is approximately 1.5 miles south on the left -- Cottage Road turns into Shore Road.
Portland-flea-for-all is open on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays. This gem is two floors of vintage goodness.
EAT
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Best Ice Cream Scoop Shops
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My Inflight Travel Essentials
I'm sharing all my secrets for a great flight!
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NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
Use this archive for Travel Guides and Good Reads.
Newsletter #1 Spring Cleaning + Wardrobe Organization + Productivity Apps
Newsletter #2 Motivational Books + Spring Break Playlist + Resources for Women
Newsletter #3 Savannah Travel Guide + Summer Travel Resources + iPhone Camera Apps + Book Picks
Newsletter #4 Best Book Apps + Jacksonville Travel Guide + Resources for Online Classes
Newsletter #5 San Juan Travel Guide + Party Planning + Entertaining
Newsletter #6 Santa Fe Travel Guide + Capsule Wardrobes + Tips for Better List Making + Styling Tips + Wardrobe Management
Newsletter #7 Home Design + Washington DC Hot Spots
Newsletter #8 Christmas in NYC + Tips for Writing Thank You Notes + Homemade Gift Ideas
Newsletter #9 Boston Travel Guide + Instagram Tips + Goal Setting
Newsletter #10 30A Florida Guide + Improving Relationships
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If someone sent you this newsletter and you would like to sign up to receive it, click HERE.
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