Backpacking in Europe

One of our members recently posted in the forums that she's about to leave for an extended trip to Europe. Too bad she's so nice in real life, 'cuz we'd really like to hate her right now!

Her question was:

"I'm taking a summer course in Rome for a full month and then backpacking through Europe! I was wondering if anyone has any advice about backpacking through Europe? I know I need to pack light... but can anyone suggest some important things to pack?"

I have traveled quite a bit, although never as a backpacker. Still, based on my years living there and knowing loads of other people who have done this sort of trip, I offer the following packing list:

*1 pair of walking shoes (these should be sturdy enough if you hike on a mountain trail, yet clean enough that you won't feel embarrassed trekking through the streets of London)

*1 pair of cute flip-flops (easy to pack, but should have a little flair to wear with a dressier outfit)

*1 sarong (double-duty as beach wrap and a wrap skirt/dress)

*3-4 basic T-shirts/tank tops (don't pack white because of staining), plus one more to use as a pajama

*2 tops w/ long sleeves

*2 shorts

*1 pair capri pants

*1 pair jeans/long pants

*1-2 nice items in case you want to dress up (but they should not be bulky or prone to wrinkling, and only if you have space)

*5-day supply of underwear and socks

*2 bathing suits (in case one is wet from the day before)

*2 towels (1 for beach, 1 for bath if you stay at youth hostels)

*travel-sized toiletries (they are as easily available in Europe as here, so you can always stock back up)

*small supply of laundry soap, plus string to hang stuff up to dry

*rain slicker/collapsible umbrella

*light jacket

Note: Make sure everything you take can be worn in at least 3 combinations to maximize your wardrobe potential. Add a few accessories to jazz up an ordinary outfit for going out.

*Other: a few extra batteries for your iPod, watch, camera (most battery sizes are also available in Europe, too), a spare storage card for your digital camera (in case one is lost or you can't download regularly), 100-200€ (Euro) in cash, some traveler's cheques (don't rely too heavily on these; they can be very inconvenient to cash), credit cards (safest bet is MasterCard or Visa), photocopies of your documents (passport, credit cards, etc - so you can more easily report something missing).

*Don't bother with: electrical items (e.g. hairdryer, etc. - because you'll need a converter. If you have a power conversion on the unit, you'll still need a wall socket converter. These are available here or in Europe and cost less than $5), translation dictionaries (most Europeans can speak fair English, unless you can find a handy book that covers several common languages), cell phone (unless you have one that has European coverage - get a phone card from your residential provider that will get you better rates than a pay phone and you can use from most European countries)

Assuming you'll be staying at youth hostels, make sure everything you pack can be washed in a bathroom-sized sink. There are laundromats, but you never know when you'll be near one! Find out if you'll need to bring your own linen (in which case stick with a light sleeping bag. Bring a pillow case that you can stuff your clothes into for a makeshift pillow).

Stop by your governmental office(s) and pick up some small national paraphernalia to exchange with friends you'll meet on the road (example: flag pins, keychains, etc). You might even get some of that stuff for free.

Plan to travel by train; hitchhiking is not only dangerous, it is also illegal. Check out your rail options - depending on your plans, you may opt for a cheaper milk-route-type ticket. Decide now if you want to see as much as possible, or would rather concentrate on a few areas you'll explore more thoroughly so you can look into overnight accommodations ahead of time. It will be most convenient if you stick to countries that use the Euro, so you won't have to bother with conversion costs.

Be choosy when shopping for souvenirs, because you'll need to drag them around with you. Take a ton of pictures instead, and only buy truly unique and memorable keepsakes.

Has anyone else done a trip like this? Please leave your suggestions in the comments!

And Artist, have a fabulous time!

Starting Your Own Business

Thanks to the lovely Jill Clark for once again having me on the fun and fabulous internet TV show that is Twenty Something! This time we discussed the struggles of entrepreneurship. Anyone with romantic notions about running your own company needs to throw those away. Being an Entrepreneur takes a lot of hard work and it is a constant series of highs and lows. One minute you are ecstatic because a deal has gone through and the next someone is like, "Excuse me, who are you? No we're not interested in your promotion!"

You have to have balls of steel and let every "no" motivate you to try harder and never give up. I really believe in what we're doing, so any time I face negativity I just tell myself they don't get it and move on. That doesn't mean there aren't days were I totally feel like crap about it. It is especially hard if you work from home because you don't have the energy of other people about you in the office. I have found a few tricks to stay positive that really work for me:

1. When the going gets rough, go to a cafe with wireless internet and ample beverage selection. A favourite hot drink enjoyed in a bustling cafe can really lift your spirits and inspire creativity. Just save your receipts so you can write it off!

2. Reach out to others who have succeeded in your industry. Before I started at Ryerson, I bought a bunch of $5 Starbucks coffee cards and sent them around to Producers and station managers at shows I was interested in working on. I then follow up relentlessly (yet politely). That is how I got my internship at Fashion File.

In my last couple of years in school I stepped it up a notch and started taking influential women out for manicures. They were happy to oblige and shared some great advice with me. I have also taken people for lunch, coffee or a drink. The key there is to respect their time - they don't owe you anything - and to pick up the tab. Do not ask someone out and then expect them to pay for it. They are doing you a favour, so you should show your appreciation by covering the bill.

3. Ignore the hate. It is impossible to start a successful business and never hear a peep of negativity. Whether it is jealousy, indifference or an angry customer, this just comes with the territory. If you are conducting yourself and your business with integrity you may feel especially inclined to take this stuff personally because you have done everything right to the best of your ability.

Differentiate between negative garbage and constructive criticism. Then work it out, go for a walk, breathe. Smile, pick up the phone and move on to your next call. If you're doing it right there will be enough wins to compensate for any losses.

Above all, remember that anything worth doing is going to have it's challenges. If it were easy, everyone would do it. If you know you can do it, go for it and give it your best shot. The worst case is it doesn't pan out, but now you have all of these great experiences and skills under your belt that you can take with you into your next career.

Does Lip Gloss Cause Cancer?

My purse has at least 3 different kinds of lip gloss, and I'm betting yours does too. It's the #1 makeup must-have, ever since LipSmackers took up permanent residence in your pencil case back in 3rd grade.

Now you can add it to the list of Things That Cause Cancer... at least according to a new article from MSNBC. The problem is that glosses without SPF not only impair your lips' self-hydrating process, the shiny goop acts like a magnifying glass that focuses harmful rays right on your kisser. It can lead to premature aging, disfiguring growths, and lip cancer (squamous cell carcinoma).

What's a girl to do? Just off the top of my head:

1. Chuck your fancy glossies and stock up on Alpine zinc balm (sure - it looks like diaper cream but it's all the rage on the slopes, right? Nnnnnno.)

2. Stage a sit-in at Nars and demand better lip products. While you're there, you can hubbub with other fashionistas and compare manicurists. After such a grueling day you should hit the nearest martini bar for a well-deserved Cosmo.

Ok, in all seriousness, while we are careful to cover our faces and bodies with protective creams, we often forget about lips, eyelids, and earlobes (that was one unfortunate lesson I learned the hard way). Some of our recommended picks that do have SPF:

Clinique Long Last Glosswear (w/ spf15), $14 at Sephora.com

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss (w/ spf15), 2 for $12 at Amazon.com

And while you're at it, avoid that not-so-subtle rouge on the brow bone (just take my word for it)...

Dove Energy Glow Eye Cream (w/ spf8), $10 at Amazon.com

Who Pays The Bills?

Are you clueless about your finances?

When it comes to bills, I am in charge. I am a complete budget geek with my pages of calculations and I always know at any given moment what our balance should be. So I was surprised to discover that many of my married friends rely on their husbands for all financial matters, and often have no idea where their money is being spent each month. Flashback 1960s, ladies!

While there is something freeing about letting someone else deal with all of that pesky number crunching, is it wise to stay in the dark? If something should happen to the Chief Financial Officer in your relationship would you be able to pick up right where he/she left off?

Just look one generation back at our Mothers. In their time, women didn't need to 'worry their pretty little heads' over things like bank statements and bills because that was a 'Man's Job'. But when they eventually divorced (as over 50% 0f them did), where did that leave your Mother? Was she able to confidently take over where he left off or did she suffer a crash course in Money Management 101?

Doing the bills together each month might not be realistic, but you should at least be aware of what your combined expenses and savings are. You should know how much is being spent on bills (and what those are) every month and how much you are investing. If you're on the same page you're less likely to argue over finances and should anything happen to either one of you, there won't be any unexpected surprises. That also means that if you're the one in charge you've gotta let them in on the details on a regular basis.

Who pays the bills in your relationship?

Three Timely Tips

Though 2008 is still young, I've already learned a few valuable tidbits this year that have positively impacted my life.


Coffee can make you sick

This is tragic. I have long waxed poetic on my love of a good latte. I have searched earnestly for the best cafes in the city, even on vacation. I confess that I sometimes brew espresso at home just for the smell of it. And now it makes me sick. Sicker than the last time I complained about this. Like I lose weight in an unpleasant manner if I drink it, kind of sick. It can affect me up to 24 hours later. If I wanted to shed a few pounds this could be seen as somewhat of a bonus, but I don't.

The Skinny Bitches say, "Caffeine can cause headaches, digestive problems, irritation of the stomach and bladder, peptic ulcers, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, anxiety and depression. It affects every organ system, from the nervous system to the skin." (Skinny Bitch, p.15)

Word.

My beloved lattes are officially out.

A Bikini wax need not be excruciating

For years I was so proud of myself for finding cheap bikini waxes. Sure the wax was about 10 degrees hotter than it should have been and yes, it hurt like a b&tch (esp with newbie waxers), but it was $11 baby! I tortured myself with these extremely painful sessions for years to save a few bucks. I didn't realize that the bulk of the pain lay with the esthetician's skills (or lack thereof).

Don't blame the bush. Blame the waxer. If she knows what she is doing the pain is minimal to none. Skip a few visits to Starbucks a month and spend the extra coin on an experienced waxer. Not only will your monthly brazillian be a breeze, you'll have less ingrowns to deal with after.

Tip: Toronto, Sarah at Queens Quay Hair Design & Esthetic is awesome. It is still reasonably priced, but she is a pro. I also highly recommend her for eyebrow threading.

Organic wine isn't that much more expensive

While I loved the idea of Organic wine I never bothered to look for it at the wine store because I figured it would be outrageously priced. California's Bonterra wines are reasonably priced and really decent. They use organic matter in the soil and rely on natural predators (read: chickens and birds) to keep vineyard pests at bay, in lieu of harmful pesticides. They also yank their weeds instead of spraying them with chemicals and toxins. Their 2006 Chardonnay retails for around $20 (CAD) and can typically be found in the vintages section of the wine store.

$20 isn't so bad for a healthier alternative to your favorite Chardonnay.

www.bonterra.com

He's Got That Lovin' Feeling

When somebody loves you... and the feeling is not mutual.

It's that awkward situation where someone repeatedly makes unwanted advances. You play dumb for as long as possible before the inevitable confrontation/declaration that you had hoped would never come. But then one day there it is. As unwelcome as a zit on your wedding day:

"There's something I need to tell you."

"Umm, hey did you see Superbad last weekend?"

"I think we have an incredible connection."

"Ya, you're an awesome friend! I'm so glad to have a buddy like you around."

"Please tell me you feel the same?"

"Have you met my friend, Sabrina?"

What do you say when he won't go away? Ideally you would sit him down and gently tell him he doesn't float your boat, but that is easier said than done. Having an "I'm just not that into you" conversation can feel arrogant and assuming. Or it can backfire. He decides to try harder to win your love.

So what do you do? Do you cut him off the moment you see that goofy love-lorn smile or you let him hang on for as long as possible, hoping he'll eventually lose interest and move on?