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Dear Zelda, I have a travel dilemma! I am about to fly off for a fabulous vacation to Tobago and can't figure out what to pack! I am the queen of over-packing and always regret it when I am lugging my oversized bag through the airport. Can you give me some tips on how to whittle it down without sacrificing fashion? The Bag Lady Dear Bag Lady, For starters, any true "Fashionista" knows that if you're going to call yourself a bag lady...at least make it a designer bag! Your dilemma is one shared by many. We all forget the meaning of vacation: "a period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation... especially from work." So how is it that through the years and years of doing this, we've turned planning for our vacations into another... vocation? Which thong goes with which SPF? I know I'm only going to be gone for the week but, 25 shirts divided by 7 days equals 3.57 per day. For crying out loud, I'm going to need two 15-minute breaks and a 30-minute lunch just to finish this. Puh-leeze. Become the boss of your wardrobe and lay the ground work for vacations to come. Remembering a few of the simple rules of fashion will help send "packing anxiety"...packing. Get familiar with the basics: Make white, black, and tan your new best friends. You can mix them with anything as well as each other. Heck, they'll even go with the shirt/skirt you "had to buy" (but will regret later). Make absolutely sure to limit yourself to one outfit per day with an evening edit of either top or bottom and Voila! Over packing becomes "perfect packing." Remember, you are there to relax, rejoice, and unwind...spending 5 hours on hair and make-up so you can catwalk down the rustic streets of Tobago is a waste of good sunning, shopping, and sipping hours. Save the Louis Vuitton steamer trunks for your shopping spree down 5th Ave. And just remember, the less you bring, the more you can buy! Congrats! You just got your official "over-packing pink slip." Be sure to Tango for me in Tobago! Zelda Dear Zelda My family, (which includes our pet Chihuahua "Frito"), is planning our yearly vacation to our favorite camp spot in Yosemite. Although, it isn't terribly hot, we still worry about Frito not being able to stay cool enough during the peak hot hours of the day while we are out hiking. Any suggestions for keeping him cool would be helpful. Frito Family Dear Frito Family, I see it's time for a little wisdom from the "Taco Bull." The fact that your little bandito is so pequeno [small] is a saving grace. Finding shade for him during the hot afternoons should be a piece of cake (which sounds pretty good right now...). You do, however, need to be careful of leaving him for any length of time where his shade could shift, giving him no way to find a cool spot. If your budget permits, you might splurge and get Frito one of those cute makeshift haciendas that will give him the shade he needs, but still lets the breeze blow through to cool him down. As with all living things, water is numero uno on the list. It's always a good idea to double up on the water bowls, as there's a good chance one will get knocked over while searching for that shady spot to catnap for awhile (even I have been known to perform this incred-i-bull act of genius). And, when poor Frito finds the heat unbear-a-bull and his tongue starts draggin', spray him off with a cold spritzer (hold the lemon), or dip a tiny t-shirt or petite poncho in some cold agua and in no time Frito will be doing the samba around the camp site, lookin' hot but feeling cool. Consider it a one-dog wet T-shirt contest! For some extra "Kool-Aid" you should check out the Kool Collars at www.koolcollar4dogs.com. They come in a variety of fashion-a-bull colors and sizes. I've mentioned these before, but I continue to find them a perfect solution for warm weather woes. Another important travel tip from this Taco Bull is that we canines now qualify for passports. (And yes, like most passport photos, my passport photo doesn’t do me justice!) However, the Wag’N Pet Passport is a handy booklet for keeping vaccination records, microchip numbers, medications and other helpful info. Actually the Humane Society of America notes that you need to have this information when you cross state lines or travel abroad with your chi-chi-chi-huahua or any other canine, cat or ferret. The passports are available at www.wagn4u.com and cost $10.95. You can also call their toll free number, 1-800-568-0821. You may not need a passport for Frito to travel to Yosemite, but his passport will be handy to have! And lastly...PLEASE OBEY THIS CONCRETE RULE: In hot weather NEVER leave your dog alone in the car, even in the shade. You wouldn't want your sweet and cuddly Chihuahua to end up a "crispy-fried chimichanga." Hasta luego amigos! Zelda Share this column with a friend! |
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