Staying Organized While Traveling, Blogging, & Working from Anywhere
Thank you to Tile, Inc., for sponsoring today’s post & inspiring me to keep track of everything that matters.
The last couple months have been so hectic as a new entrepreneur & there are no signs of it slowing down. Yesterday, I came home from a wedding only to realize I still hadn't unpacked from my Palm Springs trip two weeks ago. I kicked off my baby pink velvet pumps & walked over to my wall calendar to tally up the days until the next excursion.
Just as I thought. Later this week, I'm heading to Northern California for a media trip. I get to stay in a hotel room for one night to create buzz on my blog for their holiday amenities. It's going to be a blast! Then, yep, London is in 2 weeks.
I love this.
I love that this is my life.
I love that I am free. I can work from anywhere as long as I get Wi-Fi. Whether I'm crafting a blog post, sharing an update to my social media channels, or chatting via video call with one of my coaching clients, my workday feels like the summers of my childhood — long, exciting, beautiful, hopeful, marvelous, inspirational. But I always knew those childhood summer breaks from school would end.
Summer ended, but I'm still here. That's the beauty of it. That's the beauty of being your own boss, of being an entrepreneur, of being self-employed, working from ANYWHERE. You don't know what next month will hold or next year. It's all within my own hands.
But that's also the challenge.
I'm constantly switching suitcases, bags, folders, backpacks. Sometimes it's hard to keep track where everything is. Did I leave my camera charger in the Palm Springs suitcase? Where the heck is my planner? Which backpack is my favorite sweater in?
Cue Tile.
Use Tile & the Tile app to be a part of the lost-and-found community, where friends & strangers come together to find everything that matters. You can easily hook, stick, or slide a Tile onto or into anything you don’t want to lose like the earrings your grandmother gave you or Earnie the stuffed panda, & of course, keys, phones, wallets. I put Tile in my business planner.
My planner contains receipts, deadlines, tasks, & everything I could possibly need to stay organized while traveling, blogging, & working from anywhere.
Use Tile & the Tile app to be a part of the lost-and-found community, where friends & strangers come together to find everything that matters. You can easily hook, stick, or slide a Tile onto or into anything you don’t want to lose like the earrings your grandmother gave you or Earnie the stuffed panda, & of course, keys, phones, wallets. I put Tile in my business planner.
My planner contains receipts, deadlines, tasks, & everything I could possibly need to stay organized while traveling, blogging, & working from anywhere.
Tile gives me peace of mind so I can track my item in a jiffy. I use my phone to locate my planner & figure where it is. It ended up saving me time because rather than sifting through yesterday's suitcase & today's purse & everything in-between. Beep beep beep. I can find it right away.
My planner means a lot to me. It keeps me on track. It keeps me organized. It keeps me moving forward. It shows every single client session I've had this year. It's been there with me as I transitioned from corporate cubicle to the world of entrepreneurship. If there is something you can't stand to lose, put a Tile on it!
* Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Tile, Inc. As always, all opinions are 100% mine aka Carmen's. Learn more about my disclosure. :]
Why are Diptyque Candles so Expensive?
Diptyque candles were high on my radar for years, but I was too frugal to shovel over money when I hadn't even smelled them before. The candles are available in certain stores, but the closest store was an hour away. 50 candles are very popular. You'll see them in magazines, a celebrity must have a list, & in San Diego lifestyle blogger photos. They are chic. They are well known. But are they worth their hefty price tag? Some people don't feel comfortable spending $60 or more on a candle, while others could easily spend hundreds. Why are Diptyque Candles so Expensive?!! Are the candles worth the money?
Diptyque is a luxury scented candle brand. The quality candles are said to release scent even when they're not burning. Some scents include Baies, which features notes of blackcurrant & Bulgarian rose; Figuier which features notes of the fig tree; Feu de Bois which features woody notes; Roses which features notes of changing roses; & Tubéreuse which features notes of the tuberose flower.
Maison Diptyque is known for its scented candles available in various scents, designs, colored votives. Give them as a gift set to your closest candle loving friend or use them to warm up your own space. This could be a savored gift for a special day like a birthday, promotion, holiday, etc since it's expensive & relatively well-known, particularly by candle lovers.
Shop the Diptyque Mimosa Scented Mini Candle on Selfridges - click here to browse!
The Diptyque candle set comes with five fragrance favorites:
Baies - featuring notes of blackcurrant & Bulgarian rose.
Figuier - featuring notes of the fig tree
Feu de Bois - featuring woody notes
Roses - featuring notes of changing roses
Tubéreuse - featuring notes of the tuberose flower
Size & Value
The 5-count set is an excellent way to test Diptyque candles without committing to the bigger, ultimately more expensive sizes. Each candle is 1.23 oz, about the size of a shot glass, so that's $11 per shot glass-sized candle. For reference, a 2.4 oz Diptyque candle retails at $35, & the 6.5 oz candle retails for $65. So, unless you find a Diptyque sale, the $55 Nordstrom Sale price is a fantastic value.It all comes down to the scent, the burn time, and if you want to splurge on the cost. It really helps if you can smell it beforehand to see if you like the fragrance to see if it's worth the expensive price tag. If you don't know the sound comment it might not be worth spending $60 on something you're not even sure of.
Where To Buy Diptyque Candles
You can find Diptyque products in a few places. You can find them online in places such as Nordstrom, Amazon, and of course on the Diptyque website. People who love candles will want to take a few Diptyque candles home. Candle Collections include: Baies, Figuier, Feu de Bois, Tubéreuse, Roses, Ambre, 34 Collection.
My candle care tips (for any candle brand)
The first light is the most important; be sure to keep the candle lit until the wax melts across the entire first layer. This will help you avoid the dreaded tunneling effect or memory ring. Once the ring is formed, it doesn't go away. Always burn until the entire top wax layer is melted. Always trim your wick before relighting.The One Thing to Keep in Mind
There is no denying that Diptyque is a luxury scented candle brand with quality, powerful ingredients. However, don't expect these little guys to fill a big room. Because the candle surface area is small, there is less wax melting & thus, less scent to be dispersed. If I had gotten a larger candle, I believe there would be more scent emanating throughout the room.Worth the Money? The Verdict
Is Diptyque Worth It? The candles smell incredible. When cared for, they burn evenly. The packaging is chic. They last long. They look gorgeous in photos. They make me feel fancy. The candle set makes a thoughtful gift for a candle lover. If you value candles, this is a great value.The quality of the glass container is quite nice. I removed leftover wax & washed out the glasses to decorate my home. Since I have the super small candles, they store little things like buttons, pins, coins, or something small.
Jo Malone is another popular candle brand similar to Diptyque. They are known for their range of scents.
Shop on Amazon.
What do you think? Do you have a favorite fragrance? Too expensive? Worth it? Have you tried Diptyque? Leave a comment! :]
Success is a Series of Small Wins
Hey you,
I know you're a little stressed out lately. I know you've been feeling overworked & overwhelmed. I know you feel like your life is passing by & you're not really sure if you're doing what's best for your mind, body, spirit.
It feels like some people post all the wonderful things of life but never post sad days, those moments where you can't find any inspirational motivation. Those days where you get a paper cut, stub your toe, get laid off, & then get rear-ended. It Doesn't feel like life does that sometimes? Everything crappy and overwhelming all at once?
You wake up to the sound of the alarm & dread the rest of the day up until the moment you can come back home again. Then deep inside you still kind of dread it because you know you have to do the same thing again tomorrow.
You wake up to the sound of the alarm & dread the rest of the day up until the moment you can come back home again. Then deep inside you still kind of dread it because you know you have to do the same thing again tomorrow.
Success is a series of small wins. Things don't happen overnight; make sure you chip away at it day by day.
Life can get hard. Many days are good, some are better, and then of course there are those days where you feel like there's so much information and nothing gets done. If you're feeling completely overwhelmed, it's okay to ask for help or to get help. It may be difficult but mental health and wellness are such important parts of life.
Life is complex and it's hard to stay motivated and focused on what really matters. There's always something new, new information, new goals, new work to do. It always seems important at the time but that's where we need to take a moment to reflect. When we work all the time, it feels like you never have a free moment to learn, live, or focus on what you want.
That's why success is a series of small wins, it's not always big moments like graduating from school, getting engaged, adopting your first dog. Sometimes success is progress, making a positive change and impact on yourself, the people around you.
If your goal is to quit your job by the end of the year, what is something small you can do today to benefit yourself? Maybe it's updating your resume. Maybe it's putting $20 in savings. Maybe it's taking an online class. Maybe it's getting a certification. Maybe it's spending an hour reading industry news.
If you want to create your own business, how can you better prepare for it? Maybe it's taking a business class first. Maybe it's establishing your top goals for each quarter. Maybe it's buying a business license. Maybe it's taking an important first step such as setting up your website.
If your goal is to travel the world, what small step can you accomplish today? Maybe writing down a list of your top destinations. Maybe it's browsing flight deal options in the coming months. Maybe it's sending in your passport application. Maybe it's setting aside $20 each week to build your travel fund.
Remember: success is a series of small wins. Figure out your goal & move forward every day toward it. It may feel frustrating at times, almost like you're not making any progress at all. But just you wait & see.
Do something each day, even if it feels so ridiculously small. Because after a year of daily effort, 365 small things is actually quite enormous.
You can do this.
Your friend,
Carmen
Fun Things to Do in Reno, Nevada and Tahoe
Looking for a quickie trip to the Reno Tahoe area? Well, you came to the right place! I have to be honest with you though, there is so much to do there. Seriously, so much. The best way to explore the area, especially if you're in a rush, is to spend one day in Reno & one in Tahoe. From art galleries to local restaurants, there are plenty of fun attractions and things to do in Reno, Nevada. It's the perfect weekend trip. And of course, your list of Reno things to do isn't complete without a visit to the casino.
The Reno Tahoe area is incredibly versatile. Reno, Nevada calls itself "The Biggest Little City in the World.” After visiting the city, I understand why. There's such a range of fun things to do in Reno, Nevada depending on your preference, so I broke it down into some essentials.
Pick & choose what you're into. You can get a lot done if you figure out what you're interested in.
Pick & choose what you're into. You can get a lot done if you figure out what you're interested in.
This 48-hour guide to Reno Tahoe is meant to help you figure out how to get the most out of a limited amount of time.
If you want to explore in a jiffy, here are a bunch of attractions and fun things to do in Reno, Nevada.
Let's begin with the essentials: food, drink, & nature. These are my favorite parts of Reno Tahoe, the things that you can't live without. Let's get to it!
The Essentials
Food
Whether you're craving pan-friend dumplings, homemade soup, or an all-you-can-eat buffet, there's a huge selection of restaurants in the Reno Tahoe area. My tip: Figure out what you're in the mood for because the options are vast. If you need some help, Visit Reno Tahoe has an extensive list of eateries by category.Reno
Midtown Eats has a fantastic beer-battered cauliflower appetizer. My friend swears that Jox Sports Bar & Grill has the best wings in town; Fred loved the honey-glazed barbecue wings. If you're into pasta & pizza (who isn't?!), Campo came highly recommended. The city has a lot of tasty grub to offer.Tahoe
Do a search for Lake Tahoe lakefront restaurants to see what comes up. Lone Eagle Grille has lakefront Tahoe views & an entire vegetarian menu (if you ask for it). I recommend the Vegetable Linguini, Roasted Cauliflower Pizza, & the Baked Tahoe for dessert. Drool. The jackfruit “carnitas” tostada bites from Bite American Tapas sound absolutely heavenly too.Drinks
From bar crawls to wine walks, there's no shortage of coffee shops, breweries, bars, pubs, sports bars in Reno & Tahoe. It all depends, do you want a cocktail, a beer, a coffee? Well, they have it all. Visit Reno Tahoe has a cool interactive map of breweries & distilleries in the area.Reno
IMBĪB Custom Brews has delicious sour beers. Death & Taxes has photo-friendly cocktails. Seriously, just look at this drink. My favorite: the Arlington Tea made with Earl Grey. A local recommended 1864 Tavern. French-inspired Chez Louie sits inside the Nevada Museum of Art & has an incredible maple latte.Tahoe
From porters to pale ales, Alibi Ale Works has core beers, rotating seasonals, & some fancy limited release brews too. Get fresh orange, grapefruit, & even carrot juice at Fire Sign Cafe. There's also Tahoe Mountain Brewery, Jake’s on the Lake, & West Shore Café.Nature
Are you a fan of the great outdoors? Me too! Reno, Nevada & the Tahoe area offer a range of natural beauty, vista points, & exciting activities. Whether you want to brush up on your ice skating, camp for a couple nights, picnic by the beach, or simply take a walk along the river, Reno Tahoe genuinely has whatever you're looking for. Stroll the scenic Truckee River and savor some of the free things to do in the heart of the city. Your outdoor adventure includes parks, trails, river views, and more. Enjoy Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in Washoe County. At 580 acres, Rancho San Rafael Regional Park is Washoe County's largest and most dynamic park with a range of amenities and facilities. Hit the trail!Reno
You can get a stunning view of Reno from the Nevada Museum of Art penthouse. Enjoy a scenic stroll with bridges, walking paths, & art installations as you promenade along Reno's Truckee River Walk, the RiverWalk is a popular spot. Take a walk at Wingfield Park, Mount Rose, or San Rafael Regional Park. Take off your shoes & get your feet wet. Better yet, hop in & go tubing or swimming. We took an evening saunter through Idlewild Park & it was quiet, relaxing, & peaceful. The list of Reno things to do just keeps growing.Tahoe
Take in as much nature as you can & stay at one of the many Reno Tahoe campgrounds. My tip: book in advance because campsites often get fully booked during peak season. Lake Tahoe has endless possibilities that range each season. In winter, you can go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, snowboarding, or maybe you want a sleigh ride instead. Once it warms up, try biking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or just lounging around at the beach. Go skiing at Mount Rose Ski Tahoe if you want to savor the snow.Now for the fun stuff: go shopping, check out the casinos, explore the events, & then browse through my favorites!
The Fun Stuff
Shopping
Get in, we're going shopping! Like seriously, there's everything. The Reno Tahoe shopping options are extensive. From The Legends Outlet at Sparks to The Summit in Reno to The Shops at Heavenly Village in Tahoe, you could spend your 48 hours just shopping if you wanted to. Definitely stop by Junkee for clothes & antiques.Casinos
Your visit wouldn't be complete without a trip to the casino(s). There are casino options nearby in Reno, Tahoe, & also the Sparks area, such as Atlantis Casino Resort. Whether you gamble or not, it makes for great people-watching. Fred & I did a couple dollar slots then left to explore the area more. You could opt for a spa day at the casino resort spa. Read more about my experience Playing & Staying at the Atlantis in Reno, Nevada. Visit here.Museums
If you like museums and exhibits there's the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center, Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, National Automobile Museum, Nevada Museum of Art. There are local art galleries as well. Take the family and take in the interesting culture and exhibits.
Events
Local events and entertainment change daily & range for every single season. My tip: check the events calendar & do a little bit of online research to see what's happening while you're in town. Or maybe the whole reason you're visiting is because of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, The Great Reno Balloon Race, or Northern Nevada Pride. So much to do, so little time.Hotels
In Reno, you will find hotels near the center of town such as Whitney Peak Hotel, Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Plaza Resort Club, Sands Regency Casino Hotel, and more.
My Favourites
♥ Arlington Tea cocktail from Death & Taxes ♥ Blue waters of Lake Tahoe ♥ Strolling the Truckee RiverWalk District ♥ Midtown Reno's murals ♥ Nevada Museum of Art ♥ Browsing Junkee for hidden treasures ♥ Evening walk through Idlewild Park ♥ Stillwater Spritzer at Stillwater Spa & Salon ♥ Driving through the mountains in Tahoe ♥ Dipping your toes in Truckee River or Lake Tahoe ♥ Beautiful nature ♥ Hanging out with an old friend in Reno ♥ Baked Tahoe at Lone Eagle Grille ♥
Have you visited Tahoe or Reno? I'd love to hear your top recommendations. :]
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