How to Protect Yourself on Short-Term Rental Sites,

Filed under: Lifestyle, Renting

By Vera Gibbons

While short-term home rental sites such as Airbnb and HomeAway have made finding and listing vacation properties and alternative lodging fast, easy and convenient both for hosts and guests, there are risks involved for both parties.

Here are a few ways to mitigate those risks, whether you’re renting a vacation villa or making some extra cash by welcoming paying guests into your home.

DO: Use reputable sites.

Reputable sites not only supply the largest number of rental offerings, but will additionally provide you with some peace of mind because they offer basic security features. Beyond conducting background and address checks, these sites also certify hosts with a proven track record, host community discussions, post uncensored reviews and ban questionable parties.

As a guest, all you have to go on are photos (which may not be verified) and reviews. If a place does not have more than three positive reviews, think twice about staying there.

DO: Have a conversation.

In most cases, conversations between hosts and guests happen through the vacation rental website’s messaging system, but if having a phone conversation is an option, go for it. It’s a great way to size each other up, and is extremely important if you’re doing a home swap, as these exchanges require an enormous amount of trust from both parties.

During the call, note whether the host sounds legitimate and the house they describe matches what’s online. If you’re talking to a potential guest, consider whether they ask questions a visitor would typically have.

Also pay attention to the types of answers you’re getting. For example, if you’re a guest and you want to know whether the host has the legal right to rent the apartment to you, listen carefully to their answer. If they seem to be hedging at all, or even seem to be offended by the line of questioning, consider looking elsewhere.

If everything feels “right,” however, go ahead with the transaction, keeping in mind that while it’s still possible to be scammed over the phone, it’s usually easier to fool someone when the communication takes place online.

DON’T: Pay with cash or money order.

Out of all the payment options, credit cards offer the most protection against fraud or wrongful charges. Online money transfer services such as PayPal may also be an option, and can be a good way to go. A personal check may also be fine.

But never pay with cash or money order, since those are the easiest means for the unscrupulous to disappear with your money. Is the host insisting on this type of payment? Rushing you to make a wire transfer? Don’t go there.

If cash is required for a cleaning fee or damage deposit, guests should play it safe by postponing this last round of payments until they reach their destination. And get a receipt for the sum rendered.

DO: Prepare for disputes.

Many problems can and do arise. Guests may not show up. Properties may be misrepresented, unsanitary, already occupied, or full of safety hazards like exposed wiring or loose stairs.

Protection policies may not exist, and if they don’t, or if they’re minimal, you might very well be on your own if something doesn’t work out. There is no government or trade agency regulating the advertising of rentals, so proceed with caution.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow or AOL Real Estate.

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Sweltering? Here are 10 Hacks for Living Without AC,

Filed under: Home Improvement, How To, Renting

By Michelle Hainer

No AC? No problem! With these hacks, you can keep cool this summer — and keep your electric bill down.

When the temperature creeps past 90 degrees on a hot summer day, it’s natural to regret the decision to rent a place without air conditioning or own a home without AC installed. But don’t despair. With these tips for living without an air conditioner, you can stave off the sweltering heat without paying a sky-high utility bill (or putting in a noisy, energy-sucking window unit).

1. Change the rotation on your ceiling fan to counterclockwise.

It’s easier than you think to make this fix (usually your fan will have a little switch on the motor housing that alters its rotation), and doing so will allow the blades to circulate faster, creating a cooler breeze. If you have box fans, turn them around so that they blow hot air out the window.

2. Don’t let the light in.

Keeping shades, curtains, or blinds closed can lower the temperature inside your house by up to 20 degrees.

3. Channel your inner MacGyver.

Create a misting effect by placing a metal mixing bowl full of ice in front of a fan. Tilt the bowl so that the fan blows directly onto the ice. When the air hits the cubes, it will release a cool, misty breeze that chills the whole room.

4. Don’t close yourself off.

By shutting doors, that is. Keep inside doors open throughout the day, which allows the cool air to circulate throughout your house.

5. Revamp your bedding.

Pack away the flannel sheets (duh) and opt for percale instead, which is more breathable. Mist your sheets with cool water before bedding down for the night (or stick them in the freezer for a few minutes), and invest in a buckwheat pillow, which won’t trap heat the way traditional pillows do.

6. And then sleep solo.

Your partner may balk, until he or she realizes how much body heat cuddling creates.

7. Hit up your hot water bottle.

Only this time, stick it in the freezer first and then position it near your feet, which contain many pulse points. If you don’t have a hot water bottle, dunk your feet in ice water before turning in.

8. Unplug.

Appliances that are plugged in radiate heat — even when they’re not in use. So unplug what you can. Now is also the time to embrace your grill; turning on the oven on a 100-degree day is only going to make things hotter. But you knew that.

9. Turn off the lights.

Even the most energy-efficient light bulbs give off some heat, so make do with natural light on super-hot days. But still swap out incandescent bulbs for CFLs, which will also lower your energy bill.

10. Lie low.

Literally. Hot air rises, so putting your mattress on the floor can help you stay cool while you slumber. Or if you’re feeling outdoorsy but like sleeping with a roof over your head, rig up an indoor hammock, which will increase airflow. Bonus: It may even lull you to sleep, which will make you forget how hot you are.

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9 Things to Buy Secondhand for Your First Home,

Filed under: Buying, Lifestyle, Renting

By Trent Hamm

There can be great joy in moving into your first apartment or your first home. You finally have space all to yourself. You can decorate how you want. You can spend your time how you want.

Sadly, that initial burst of joy is often deflated by the realization that you need a lot of little things when you move to a new place. For many people, that means an expensive shopping spree.

Instead, consider making your first stop the local secondhand store. Many of the items you need to set up an apartment or a home for the first time or in a new area can be found at a thrift shop, which means you’ll cut back on that big burst of spending that can really hurt your wallet.

Here are nine items to consider purchasing secondhand for your new place.

Silverware is a requirement for eating food at home without making a complete mess. Fortunately, most secondhand stores have a selection of silverware on hand. You might not have perfect matching silverware, but you’ll have more than enough for your needs at an inexpensive price.

Dishes are also a dining necessity. Again, it’s easy to find plenty of plates and bowls at a secondhand store for a pittance, though you may not find a matching set. Still, you’re far better off buying two or three partial sets for pennies than shelling out the money for a single matching set from a store.

Glasses and cups for consuming beverages are another household essential that’s perfect for a secondhand purchase. As with silverware and dishes, you’ll likely not find a matching set, but what you will find are many cups and glasses to fill your cupboards at an inexpensive price.

A toaster or toaster oven both perform the task of toasting bread, bagels, English muffins and other such items. A toaster oven goes further, making it easy to make grilled sandwiches and cook small items. Both can easily be found at secondhand stores in working order and can make for a valuable addition to your kitchen to help you with food preparation.

Lamps are simple items that are often found in abundance at secondhand stores. All varieties of lamps, from desk lamps and floor lamps to clip lamps and table lamps, can usually be found secondhand at a very reasonable price.

A dining table is an essential piece of furniture in most houses or apartments, as it provides a place to eat and share meals. You can find simple dining tables at secondhand stores, and they often come with simple, solid chairs. The key thing to remember is you can buy an inexpensive starter set, and then upgrade later when you have money to easily do so.

A side table is often a key part of a living room, providing a place to put a beverage, snack plate or remote controls as you watch TV, study or read a book. Side tables can be incredibly inexpensive. It’s easy to find one secondhand for well under $10.

A bed frame is a key piece of furniture for those who have moved beyond the “mattress on the floor” style of bedroom décor. Bed frames can be expensive if you purchase them at a furniture store, but there are often many varieties of metal and wooden bed frames you can find at secondhand stores if you shop around. It’s important to remember that bed frames are purely functional items meant to be covered with a mattress and other decorative materials, so don’t worry about beauty.

Décor might seem like an unusual item to buy secondhand, but it’s easy to find things such as picture frames and wall hangings in secondhand stores, particularly in more upscale neighborhoods. If you’re creative, you can find a variety of décor items at a very nice discount.

One final suggestion: Don’t buy certain types of furniture used unless it comes from a trusted source. Used furniture can be a source of bedbugs or other unwanted travelers that you simply don’t want in your home. Solid wood items are fine, but be wary of upholstered used furniture and used mattresses.

The thing to always remember when buying secondhand items is that they’re replaceable as time goes on. They can serve you for a long time if needed, but they simply provide an inexpensive and functional solution that can significantly trim the costs of setting up a new home.

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Jessica Chastain’s Greenwich Village Apartment For Rent,

Filed under: Renting

By Melissa Allison

Now that Jessica Chastain is settled into Leonard Bernstein’s former duplex across from Carnegie Hall, the actress is renting out her old place in Greenwich Village.

For $11,500 a month, her tenant will enjoy a renovated and furnished two-bedroom, two-bath apartment with an extravagantly appointed master bath, including a full-length soaking tub fit for a Golden Globe winner.

The first floor boasts high ceilings, an open chef’s kitchen with high-end appliances and a living room with a wood-burning fireplace.

Follow the wide, circular staircase to a skylit landing, a master bedroom with city views, a dressing area and a cedar walk-in closet.

It’s “the perfect place to call home without needing to bring anything more than your toothbrush and favorite clothing,” according to the listing by Chris Pomeroy of Halsted Property.

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Rents Predicted to Rise in 2016: How to Cope,

Filed under: Economy, Renting

By Niccole Schreck

Rental rates have continued to rise year over year, while rental vacancies have steadily decreased since the burst of the housing bubble. While renting is still more affordable than purchasing a home in many markets, this perfect storm of low supply and high demand is putting a dent in renters’ budgets.

Rent.com surveyed over 500 property managers for the 2015 Property Owner and Manager Report to find out what renters can expect in the next year to help prepare for what’s to come. (Spoiler alert: Rental hikes are not going away.)

Rental rates have been rising since Rent.com’s first report in 2009. An overwhelming 88 percent of property managers raised their rent in the last 12 months, citing low inventory and increased demand as the primary reasons for increasing rental rates over the last year.

Additionally, 68 percent of property managers predict that rental rates will rise again in the next year by an average 8 percent. This is an increase of 2 percent over the estimated 6 percent rent hike predicted by property managers in 2014.

If you are searching for a rental, here are some tips for navigating this tough rental market to find the right place for you, at a price you can afford:

1. Be a smart searcher. Use a reputable and trusted site to conduct your search. By using listing services that offer verified reviews, HD photos and 3-D floor plans, you can be more savvy about your search. This will also help you minimize the time spent looking for options that best suit your needs and budget.

2. Check out the competition in the neighborhood. While rental rates seem to be increasing everywhere, you should make sure to check rental prices in comparable apartments in your desired neighborhood. Not only will this give you a good indication if the apartment you’re looking at is priced fairly, but it might also give you some negotiating power when you are signing your lease.

3. Start your search now. It is officially the offseason for finding an apartment. While this means you’ll hit more barriers in terms of finding available apartments, you will likely be able to sign a lease for less.

4. Get a cosigner or guarantor. As a result of ever-increasing rental rates, 43 percent of property managers reported seeing an increase in the number of applicants who do not meet the income requirements on their own and therefore require a guarantor. However, 56 percent reported that the increased demand has not made them become more selective about potential renters (this includes not overlooking renters requiring a guarantor in order to make the income requirement for lease signing). If you have found an apartment you love, it’s not necessarily out of reach if you don’t have stellar credit or a high rent-to-income ratio.

5. Be prepared to sacrifice. Over half of property managers said they are less likely to offer concessions or lower rents to fill vacancies than they have been in years past. In fact, 64 percent reported that they are not doing anything different from one year ago in order to fill vacancies.

Price, quality and location — choose two. If you want to save money, you’ll have to sacrifice quality (size of the apartment, amenities) or location. If your property manager is willing to negotiate, you can try opting to sign a longer lease term at a lower rate or pay more upfront in security. However, with such low inventory and high demand, be prepared to settle.

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How to Turn Up the Heat Without Using Electricity,

Filed under: Renting, Home, Planning

By Robyn Woodman

Whether you’re in the middle of a blizzard without electricity or you’re trying to save some cash this winter, it’s wise to have an alternate heat source on frigid days. Instead of reaching for the thermostat, warm up with these creative, no-power heating solutions.

Use our tricks and tips to keep warm this winter. Your bank account will thank you come spring.

1. Get fired up.

Does your apartment have a fireplace? Whether it operates on gas or good old-fashioned wood, fireplaces can be energy-efficient heaters. If you have a gas insert, check to see if it’s a direct-vent, vent-free, or B-vent unit. Direct-vent inserts can offer more heat, while B-vents generally push any warmth out of the home. Vent-free gas fireplaces are the most efficient. Although not all states permit vent-free inserts for use in apartments, ask your landlord what type of gas fireplace you have to determine its heating potential.

Does your rental have a wood stove? Rather than building a roaring fire, concentrate on building a constant, slow-burning flame for the most heat generation. According to the Wood Heat Organization (WHO), circulating the heat with a ceiling fan regardless of its placement within the room will help disperse the air and keep your space warmer. (Some wood stove inserts include a built-in blower.) The WHO also suggests using the driest wood available, as it burns 25 percent more efficiently, ignites faster, and smokes less.

While it’s tempting to rest your cold feet close to the heat, always be sure to put the screen in place and keep safely back from the flames. And if you have a traditional fireplace, close the flue damper or get a chimney balloon when the fireplace is not in use to prevent warm air from escaping.

2. Bundle up.

Instead of cranking the thermostat to warm up, try warming yourself instead. Keeping your whole body covered is the best way to prevent heat loss. It’s an old wives’ tale that we lose the majority of our body heat through our head. The truth is, we experience heat loss throughout our entire body.

Keep your feet warm with cozy slippers and wear a knit hat, even indoors. Be sure your hat covers your ears. They’re thin but have large surface areas and can lose heat easily. Warm yourself from the inside out by breathing through your nose; doing so warms the cold air to body temperature before it arrives in your lungs.

3. Try thermal curtains.

Whether you have double-pane windows or the dreaded single-pane, all windows are a source of heat loss. To conserve energy, choose window treatments that offer aesthetics as well as function. Heavy curtains with a thermal lining can drastically reduce heat loss. For additional savings, the U.S. Department of Energy suggests hanging the curtains as close to the window as possible and securing them at the bottom and sides to reduce the energy loss by 25%. And if you’re a DIY warrior, try using caulk will seal off the pesky leaks and help keep you warm and toasty.

4. Seal windows with plastic.

Check with your landlord before tackling this project, especially if you want to get your entire security deposit back. Head to the local hardware store and get an inexpensive plastic window-insulator kit. Use your hair dryer to install it and create an insulating barrier you can take down in the spring. The clear plastic covering helps prevent heat from escaping through window crevices, prevents frost buildup, and reduces condensation.

5. Use a draft stopper.

We tend to spend the majority of our time in the main part of our apartment — the kitchen and living rooms. Rather than trying to heat your whole home, shut interior doors: That will help keep the room that you’re in feeling warmer. To ensure that cold air doesn’t seep in, purchase a door draft snake or plastic draft stopper. You can make a draft snake yourself using scrap fabric and sand.

6. Invest in a rug (and liner).

There’s nothing worse than waking up on a chilly morning and plopping your feet on a cold, bare floor. To make your space more comfy and warm, lay down a plush area rug. Not only will a large rug make your room feel cozier, but it also will help mitigate any cold air coming through cracks or gaps in the flooring. Choose a thick felt rug liner – it’ll make your rug even plusher and add extra insulation.

7. Raise your body temperature.

When in doubt, sweat it out. There’s no better way to get warm than to move your body. Even in a small space, there are plenty of ways to raise your heart rate and generate some heat. Push back the coffee table, improvise some weights (canned goods or bottled water will work) and prepare to sweat. If you need some quick home workouts, YouTube is your best friend.

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ABCs of Real Estate: Quick Guide To Common Terms,

Filed under: Buying, Renting, Selling

By Trulia

Home-buying and selling is stressful – and with industry acronyms and real estate terms flying at you from all directions, you may feel overwhelmed navigating your new real estate reality. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer sifting through home for sale in Chicago, IL, or a seasoned investor, there’s always more to learn. Trulia’s quick guide to common real estate terms is a good place to start. Download the PDF here and find more helpful information in the articles below.

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The Most Expensive ZIP Codes for Renters,

Filed under: Renting

By Christine DiGangi

You’ve heard it before: It’s really expensive to live in New York or San Francisco. The amount some people in those cities spend on rent in one year would be enough for a down payment on a home in much of the country.

To figure out which areas of these pricey locales have the most outrageous rents, RENTCafé, an apartment-search website, analyzed the rents charged in apartment buildings with 50 or more rental units in ZIP codes containing at least 200 rental units. The data comes from Yardi Matrix, a rental market data service, and includes rents for units of all sizes from 2015. It was a nationwide analysis, but the 20 most expensive ZIP codes for renters were all in two states: New York and California. The list is overwhelmed by New York City ZIP codes – actually, even that’s too broad a category. They’re all in one part of New York: Manhattan.

It would take a pretty hefty income to be able to afford these areas. On top of the cost, there’s the fact that these are highly competitive rental markets, so even if you could pay thousands of dollars in rent each month, getting a place wouldn’t be easy. You’d likely have to agree to a credit check, too, which can be a significant obstacle when there’s high demand for rentals. Having the ability to pay the rent is huge, but checking your credit to make sure you’re an attractive tenant is important, as well, no matter where you live. You can see two of your credit scores for free each month on Credit.com to get a sense of where you stand.

So if you feel like your building charges a ton in rent, looking at this list of high-end ZIP codes might make you feel a little better. Unless, of course, you live in any of these places. In that case, congrats on having oodles of money (or living near people who do.) ZIP Codes are in New York City unless otherwise noted.

20. 90405
Includes Ocean Park and Sunset Park neighborhoods in Santa Monica, Calif.
Median monthly rent in 2015: $3,832

19. 94107
Includes Potrero Hill and Dogpatch in San Francisco
Median rent: $3,851

17. 10038 (tie)
Includes Lower Manhattan
Median rent: $3,855

17. 10069 (tie)
Includes Upper West Side
Median rent: $3,855

16. 10023
Includes Upper West Side
Median rent: $3,890

15. 10016
Includes Murray Hill and Kips Bay
Median rent: $3,895

14. 94105
Includes Yerba Buena and South Beach in San Francisco
Median rent: $3,911

13. 94158
Mission Bay in San Francisco
Median rent: $3,931

12. 10019
Includes Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown West
Median rent: $3,960

11. 10026
Includes Morningside Heights and Harlem
Median rent: $3,990

Want to see which ZIP codes crack the top 10? Check out the full list on Credit.com.

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Are You Shelling Out Too Much for Renters Insurance?,

Filed under: Economy, Renting

By Shannon Ireland

There’s a lot to be learned from your neighbor’s home sale. Let’s say you live in Texas – if the home down the street is comparable to yours in some basic ways (square footage, for example), it could give you a great sense of what Dallas home prices are really like in your neighborhood. But if the neighbors have put in some strategic upgrades – or even struggled to sell! – there are lessons to be learned there as well.

1. Be a nosy neighbor at open houses

If you’re friendly with your neighbors, you might be able to get the inside scoop by asking what kind of reactions they’ve been getting to their home. Or better yet, ask if you can attend their open house. Take note of the feedback you hear. For example, if you have the same outdated built-in kitchen desk as your neighbor (used for writing checks and holding a corded landline), you might want to start putting away your pennies now so that you can transform this feature into more coveted counter space with storage underneath (maybe even a wine fridge?). Or your neighbor might tell you that buyers are disappointed when they discover the enormous 1980s whirlpool tub taking up prime bathroom real estate. As long as you have a bathtub somewhere in the home, consider turning your own seldom-used supertub into a walk-in shower.

Another example: It probably comes as no surprise that everyone oohed and aahed over your neighbor’s outdoor living space. If you’re neglecting your deck or concrete pad, start thinking outdoor living room. Even doing little things, such as setting a lantern on a table beside a seating area or putting up a wall of potted plants to create an enclosure, can charm potential buyers.

2. How long should a home be on the market?

In a hot real estate market, a home could sell in a matter of days. In a more stagnant market, it could take as long as six months for a home to sell. It’s beneficial to know how long it takes for your neighbor’s house to sell, especially if their house is similar to yours. Al Cannistra, a Texas real estate agent, suggests you keep tabs on the following when looking at neighborhood comps:

• Whether the house sold quickly or lingered.
• The final sale price.
• Whether the asking price was close to the selling price.
• Whether there was a need to come way down on price after a long time on the market.
• Whether urgency by the sellers led to a lower price (career move or financial distress).
• How your neighbor’s home sale, regarding price and length of time on the market, compared with other nearby homes.
• What sort of impression the real estate agent made.

One big takeaway from this list is to track the home until the deal is done instead of looking at the listing price and calling it a day. The more important number (by far) is what the house actually sold for, not its listing price. Anyone can set a home price; the key is getting that price. “That sold price cannot be considered a valid comp until after it closes,” says Bill Golden, an Atlanta, GA, real estate agent. “The closing info should be verified by either a professional [real estate agent] or by public record. Homeowners can sometimes inflate the value when boasting to their neighbors.”

3. How to time the real estate market

If your neighbor priced competitively and the house sold in a flash (within a couple of weeks after putting it on the market), it might be your time to sell too. But if you’re on the fence about selling, and it’s looking like a buyer’s market based on a lack of interest in your neighbor’s home and lots of competition, you might want to stay put awhile. “Your neighbor’s home can tell you a lot about how yours will sell,” says Daniel Blatman, a New York, NY-based broker with Douglas Elliman. “It can inform you about … perceived value, how active the market is, and how quickly your home might sell.”

4. Demographic trends can affect home sales

Neighborhoods sometimes take on a type of persona: young families, retirees, singles, etc. If you really want to dig in, check out some detailed demographic data through Trulia. For example, Trulia’s San Francisco, CA, real estate market overview reveals everything from the average commute time and type (5% commute by foot!) to which schools are best and where crime is a factor.

Once you understand the appeal of your neighborhood, you can target certain groups when you’re ready to sell. “Learning how the seller’s agent positioned the home is very important,” says Blatman. “It should be targeted toward a specific buyer.” After you get the 411 on your neighbor’s digs, you should have a pretty good idea of what you should and shouldn’t do when you’re ready to sell your house.

What have you learned from your neighbors’ home sales? Tell us in the comments!

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Travel rituals,

I travel ALL the time and I always have. When your family lives around the country you are constantly on the go and you are always gathering somewhere for holidays. In my adult life, my friends live all around the country too and I really try my hardest to keep up with them face to face by visiting them or meeting them somewhere fun. Airports and planes don’t stress me out so I genuinely try not to miss a trip. In the next month, I’ll be practicing all my travel rituals as I jet around to see family and friends in Palm Springs, San Diego, Dallas, Mississippi, Jackson Hole, and maybe New York. As a frequent flyer, I’ve created my top 10 tried and true travel rituals:

1. Stay Consistent with Your Airline. When possible, I try to always fly Southwest, Delta, or JetBlue. It makes flying so much easier because you get to know the terminal of the airline at your home airport, you accumulate miles, and you learn what to expect with the airline (i.e. checking yourself in on Southwest, power outlets available on Delta airplanes, free wifi on JetBlue airplanes).

2. Get PreCheck or Global Entry. Getting PreCheck and Global Entry was the best decision I made in 2015. I’m seriously not kidding! I breeze threw airports now because I skip the security line and don’t have to take off my shoes or take out my computer when I go through security. I got Global Entry (which is just PreCheck + an added bonus of skipping customs when you land in America after an international flight) in addition to PreCheck because it was only a few dollars more and I knew I had my trip to Asia coming up (the trip I took in July). It takes about 15 minutes to complete the application for both online and then, if your application is approved, you have one appointment at your local airport for a final screening. Then you’re done and your life is 1,000 times happier and easier!

3. Be Charged! Be sure to walk into the aiprot with a fully charged phone, computer, and iPad. There is nothing worse than landing with a dead phone or realizing that there aren’t outlets on your plane after your computer dies. Being charged also means being prepared for being dead so travel with a Mophie. We’ve all been stuck in an airport due to travel delays and had every outlet in the building already be taken so be prepared.

4. Ask for Upgrades. Always ask at your gate counter if there are any seat upgrades available because you never know. I’ve gotten lucky before! ***Thanks Dad for teaching me this trick.

5. Make a Plan Ahead of Time for Activities on the Flight. I plan out what I will read before takeoff, what I will work on on my computer while in the air, and if/how much I plan to sleep on the flight. If you love watching shows or movies when you fly then always download your film of choice before going to the airport. If you like working on flights then always save work that can be done without wifi – I like to write blog posts, write report cards, and draft emails (to be sent later with wifi).

6. Bring a Neck Pillow. Need I say more? They are honestly a game changer for long flights.

7. Layer Appropriately. The temperatures on planes can be tricky – usually too hot or too cold. I always have a jacket or sweater on hand even if I’m traveling somewhere warm because I tend to freeze on planes. However, in the summer, I travel in dresses (with my jacket) because planes get so hot sitting on runways.

8. Be Heathy. Pack heathy snacks because peanuts and pretzels get old and it is so tough to find healthy food in airports. Also, drink lots of water and always have a water bottle with you throughout your flight. Staying hydrated will help offset the bloating and puffiness that flying causes and help you flush out any germs you contract. Oh, and, wash your hands frequently.

9. Pack Your Carry-On Bag with Purpose. Searching for your chapstick, book, or headphones in a sea of items swimming around your oversized carry-on is a nightmare. So, use a carry-on bag that has good interior pockets and sections or else create them. You can organize your products into small bags within your bag – i.e. all chargers go in one small bag inside your carry-on. I’ve also recently gotten in the habit of carrying on a small crossbody purse that has my usual suspects in it – wallet, phone, gum, chapstick, boarding pass – and a large carry-on purse for everything else – jacket, computer, iPad, chargers, magazines, etc.

10. Carryon Your Luggage Whenever You Can. It’s such a treat to avoid baggage claim and it’s nice to have your cosmetics with you at all times in case you have to freshen up immediately upon landing in order to rush off somewhere.

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*** A special thanks to one of my main travel buddy besties, Allison, for giving me the idea to write this post!

Photograph: A Dash of Details

The post Travel rituals was first shown on Rhyme and Reason.

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Catholic leaders speak out against Trump’s ‘reprehensible’ decision on DACA,

Leaders of the Catholic church in the U.S. are taking a firm stance against President Trump’s decision to cancel the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy. 

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Sarah Huckabee Sanders says Democrats fundraising off Trump’s decision to end DACA is the ‘most heartless’ thing she’s seen,

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders turned criticism of President Donald Trump’s decision to end protections for young undocumented immigrants into an attack on Democrats during a Tuesday press briefing, calling liberal fundraising in the wake of the decision “the most heartless thing that I’ve seen all day.”

• A Trump adviser told DACA recipients to ‘get in line’ to immigrate to the US — here’s why they can’t
• Trump’s decision to end DACA sparks backlash from both sides of the aisle
• The Trump administration is ending DACA, Jeff Sessions announces

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Madonna to FedEx: Don’t you know who I am?,

See? Even music royalty like Madonna aren’t immune to the hassles of everyday life.

Also Read:Madonna Sues Over the Auction of Her Underwear

Also Read:Madonna Asks Court to Halt the Auction of Her Used Panties (Report)

Also Read:Madonna’s Bare Breasts: Piers Morgan Just Ain’t Feelin’ ‘Em

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One of the nation’s most controversial sheriffs left his job to become an adviser and spokesman to a Trump super PAC,

Former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke took a job as a senior adviser and spokesman for America First Action, a pro-President Donald Trump super PAC, after he resigned from his job as sheriff last week.

• Trump threatened to stop trade with any country that does business with North Korea, and that would be an economic disaster
• Trump touts US ‘nuclear capabilities’ as option for dealing with North Korea in call with Japan
• Trump and his administration receive high marks for initial response to Hurricane Harvey — but the real test is only just starting

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Dwayne Johnson meets young hero who saved his drowning brother’s life — see the heartwarming pics!,

Ain’t no better reward for a kid than all-you-can-eat chocolate!

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Purr-fect ending: Stray kitten rescued after shutting down traffic on busy highway,

Traffic had to be shut down Sunday after a kitten found her way onto a busy Boston highway.

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Ewan McGregor splits from wife as he’s seen kissing co-star,

Ewan McGregor has split with his wife of 22 years — and seems to have wasted no time in jumping back into the dating pool.

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Elderly grandfather Tasered by police put in intensive care,

An elderly man believed to suffer from dementia is in the intensive care unit after being Tasered by police, who said they shocked him for his own good.

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New York welcomes over 50 dogs from hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico,

They lived to wag their tails another day.

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Mitch McConnell says he still trusts President Trump, despite past scuffles,

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell still trusts Donald Trump, despite the president’s attacks on him and the rest of the GOP, McConnell told CNN Sunday on “State of the Union.”

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