Laptop Bag Lifeline

New Luggage Restrictions Encourage Us All to Travel Light

I don't usually check more than one bag when I travel - in fact, I don't check my bag at all, if I can help it! But now that most U.S. airlines are charging you $25 for your second bag, travelling light is more important than ever.

Though it may seem challenging at first, I have to say that travelling light is actually very liberating - plus, it's better for the environment, as a lighter plane (or car, for that matter) burns less fuel. Here are a few articles and sites I came across in my search for some good, practical tips on how to pack light:

• Via one of my fave travel tip blogs, Girls Getaway, I found a site called One Bag, which offers fantastic (and scientific) tips on making the most of one bag when travelling. Very informative and helpful!


• Carrying off the art of one carry-on by John Flinn at the San Francisco Chronicle is full of practical points and specific suggestions for eliminating the extra stuff you pack "just in case" and then never use. I particularly enjoyed his take on wrinkle-free clothes: "The catalogs are full of wrinkle-free travel clothes, but you can skip these if you've spent your adult life, as I have, carefully cultivating a rumpled look."


• IndependentTraveler.com has a handy Interactive Packling List you can use while preparing for your next trip. I love this thing. Obviously, you won't need everything on the list - for example, I rarely need malaria tablets when I travel, but I DO often forget my swimsuit...
  

Naturally, because we carry not only laptop bags, but also stylish women's luggage at CareerBags.com, I have a few suggestions for which one bag you should take next time you fly. These bags all fit the current size regulations for carry-on luggage (of course, it's up to you to make sure they don't go over the weight restriction - maybe leave your rock collection at home).

Baggallini Daytripper Rolling Tote - This bag is one of the lightest carry-on bags out there - depending on what you pack in it, you can put it under your seat OR in the overhead compartment. The Daytripper has three separate interior compartments (including a padded one for your laptop) to help you keep things separate for easy access.

It also comes with a clear, one quart plastic pouch for all of your allowable liquids, which I find particularly cool - no more frantically stuffing your tiny hand lotion and collection of lipsticks into a Ziploc while in line for security.

Casauri Wheeled Mini Carry-on - The Casauri is light and roomy - perfect for a weekend or a week. Its exterior pocket allows for easy access to travel documents or your in-flight reading material (a must for me when I travel - the movies on the plane are always terrible when I fly. Why? Why is that??).

The Casauri comes in a variety of distinctive colours (handy if you decide to check in instead of carrying it on). And it's water-resistant with a protective bottom splash guard, in case you encounter a puddle (or a spilled latte) you just can't dodge.

If rolling bags aren't your cup of tea, I would suggest Baggallini's Hampton Bag as a great carry-on duffle. It's light as air and full of handy pockets, both open and zippered. It fits nicely over your shoulder and - let's face it - looks fantastic. I love this summer green colour, but it also comes in zebra and giraffe prints!

All this talk of travel has me fantasizing about my own summer vacation. Where shall I go? Europe? Thailand? Hawaii? Ah...fantasy is fun. I'm so busy this summer, I think I might have to vacation somewhere closer to home. Maybe a picnic in the backyard!

Great Gifts for Mother's Day

Mother's Day is next weekend! It's the perfect time to spoil your mom with a gift that says "Thanks for giving me birth".

Some mothers are pretty difficult to shop for, but I may have the answer for you right here. Because the rumours are true - many moms like bags.

Our new Knomo collection offers great gifts for Mom and may be the perfect solution to your gift-buying dilemma. These sleek, chic bags boast superior craftmanship and are light and roomy. They come in a number of different sizes and in colours as vibrant as any Mother's Day bouquet.

Check out the Siena Laptop Shoulder Bag in Plum (it also comes in red and black) and the Una Laptop Tote in Yellow (it also comes in navy, red, black and taupe). Both of these classic, stylish bags are great for on-the-go business moms or on-the-go shopping moms (similar to business moms, but with fewer laptops and more lattes).

Also, with the Knomo line, your mom can take advantage of Knomo's unique tracking system. Because sometimes moms accidentally leave their bags behind.

If Knomo Bags aren't your mom's style, we've got plenty more to choose from. Shop for your mom at CareerBags.com and your status as favorite child will be ...in the bag. (Hahaa! I know. I'm sorry, I had to do it.)

What's in Rosemary's Coakley Timeless Tweed Laptop Tote?

It's time for another instalment of What's in Your Career Bag? This week's career bag sneak peek was sent in by Rosemary.

Rosemary is a freelancer writer and playwright in Vancouver, Canada. Her newest project? Being seen around town with her fantastic new Coakley Timeless Tweed Laptop Tote. Here are all the things she's carrying around inside that sleek, chic laptop bag:

• Dell Inspiron laptop
• Power cord
• Notebook and pen
• Gum
• Dahlia sock from the Sundara Yarn Petals Collection that I've been knitting since September
• iPod
• Keys
• Passport folder (for those quick international getaways)
• Gingerbread hand lotion
• Cinnamon bun lip balm (it's like travelling bakery!)
• Plenty of room for more! (I'm just trying to keep it simple)

The Coakley Timeless Tweed is a pretty gorgeous bag and highly functional too. Our favorite laptop bag expert, Kate Trgovac of Funky, Chic and Cool Laptop Bags just posted her review of the Coakley Timeless Tweed Laptop Tote and had this to say:

The Coakley Timeless Tweed Everyday Tote is one of the most elegant bags I have seen. The hardware and appointments are truly impeccable. And the design of the bag is exceptional. A lot of thought and care to meet the needs of the modern business woman has gone into this bag.

Check out the Coakley Timeless Tweed and the rest of the Coakley Business Class line at CareerBags.com!

Professional Profiles: The Attorney and her Winning (Laptop) Case

When I first started CareerBags.com, I wanted to create a space on the website to profile some of the amazing entrepreneurs and professional women who'd purchased their laptop bags and business cases from us - how they got started in their careers, why they love what they do and how they define their personal and business style.

Now that I have a blog, I can feature profiles of these fabulous women here too. So, without further ado, here's our inaugural professional woman profile on Laptop Bag Lifeline!

Name:  Cheryl Plambeck

Location: New York, NY

Profession: Attorney (litigation - employment, intellectual property and general commercial matters)

How did you choose your career?   I chose the law because I thought I would have a lot of options when I finished law school, and thought it unlikely that I would end up bored.  I probably thought a lot of other things about being a lawyer back then, too.  My specific career was partly chosen on purpose, and partly by accident.  It's a long story and it's more interesting to me than it would be to you.

What's been the most challenging aspect of your job?   Learning not to take it ALL home with me - physically or mentally - at the end of each day.

What's been your most rewarding professional experience?   Recently: hearing the jury read its verdict in favor of my client.

What advice would you offer other women interested in pursuing a career in your field?  Well, I've only been doing this 7 years and only switched careers once so far.  But, given my limited experience, I would suggest, in no particular order:

1. In picking a law school, keep your career options as open as you can by minimizing your student debt as much as possible.
2. Try to identify and prioritize your practical long-term goals as well as your intellectual aspirations - knowing what compromises you are willing to make will help you decide what kind of professional environment best suits you.
3. Find yourself as many mentors as you can as soon as you can.  And make sure those mentors include other women.

How would you describe your personal/business style? Classic? Casual? Funky & Cool?   I dream of being funky and cool, but it doesn't fit with the job description particularly well.  My office is business casual (suits for court days and client meetings).  This can actually be harder to figure out than business (my last job was all suits, all the time - boring, but easy clothing choices), or casual (oh, to wear jeans every day!). 

It's easier if I focus more on classic looks, which for me means my workday wardrobe skews largely towards neutrals.  Unfortunately, this makes me a boring shopping companion.  ("Really, Cheryl? Another pair of grey pants?") 

What were you looking for in a laptop bag and why did you choose the Clark & Mayfield Stafford Leather Rolling Laptop Brief? I needed a sturdy bag, because I tend to carry a lot of material. I also wanted a bag with wheels, because it's easier on my back. I like that it holds legal-size folders. It's also well-padded, fits a 17-inch laptop easily, has a lot of nice filing-type pockets and plenty of space for peripherals.  Excellent for travelling and it fits under all airline seats (as long as it's not packed too full).  I also like that it's not basic black - and the striped lining always surprises me, every time I open it!

What's in your career bag?
ALWAYS: wallet; keys; thumb drive; one or more books or magazines to while away the subway ride from Brooklyn to Midtown; iPod; cell phone; Blackberry; several pens and highlighters; glasses; chapstick and/or lipstick. 

OFTEN: Trident strawberry-lime gum; yesterday's mail; work papers; a legal pad; Post-It notes and tabs; a change of clothes if I'm planning to go out after work; extra contact lenses; snacks; stamps. 

SEASONALLY: umbrella, earmuffs, hat, gloves, flip flops.

Thanks, Cheryl! I hope you enjoy the Stafford Laptop Brief. Stay tuned for more profiles - and if you'd like to be profiled, or know someone who should, drop me a line or leave me a note in the comments!

Welcome Knomo Bags!

We have another fabulous line of women's laptop cases to introduce - we're now carrying Knomo Bags at CareerBags.com!

Knomo Bags of London epitomize sleek and chic. Their laptop cases and sleeves come in a variety of classic yet modern styles. You can opt for a bag in classic black or go for a burst of color with a sunshine yellow sleeve or tote.

Knomo's leather laptop cases are gorgeous, but I think my favourite is the textured quilting on the Una LaptopTote (on the right). Maybe it's the navy and white combo; it just makes me feel like taking my laptop on a cruise!

The Una's clean, simple design makes it a great travel tote, whether you are carrying your laptop on your way to the office or heading out sans hardware on a shopping trip around town. The Una is ultra-light and ultra-roomy containing many interior pockets and three main compartments to keep your essentials handy.

Another really cool thing about Knomo Bags is their lost bag tracking system. When you buy the bag, you can register your bag's unique code on the Knomo website. Each Knomo bag has a permanent tag on it with the tracker number and an international phone number. That way, if someone finds your bag, they can call the number and Knomo will trace the bag back to you.

Now, I'm pretty good at keeping track of my things, but we all have our moments. And it's good to know that if I accidently leave my Knomo to chase George Clooney down near his villa in Italy, my bag will find me again.

Speaking of George Clooney's villa - any of our Knomo bags would be at home there. Come check out Knomo collection at CareerBags.com and get started planning your own cruise!

Welcome Popgadget Readers!

I'm all a-twitter to have CareerBags.com featured over on Popgadget today!

Popgadget is my favorite site for shiny gadgets and fresh, entertaining product reviews. Evan over at Popgadget has been doing a fantastic series on bold and beautiful laptop bags for women, including the Maddie Powers by Mobile Edge, the Cosmopolitan by Moonsus and the Metro 9-2-5 by Melissa Beth.

Of course, we carry all these and more at CareerBags.com - as Evan says, we're your one-stop shop for fabulous and functional laptop bags and business cases!

She said some other lovely things too, but I'm too modest to repeat them.Thanks for the wonderful write-up, Evan!

If you haven't read the article yet, it's not ALL about me - there's definitely something in it for you too! You could win a gorgeous "Dance" laptop bag from Golla by sharing your most embarassing business moment (you may remember mine from my pink laptop bag post last month). Sign up for Popgadget's email and look for contest details in their next newsletter.

What's in Melle's Maddie Powers Laptop Messenger Bag?

It's time for another instalment of What's In Your Career Bag? This week's sneak peek inside a career bag was sent in by Melle.

Melle works in software quality assurance and knowledge management (when I asked her what that meant, she said: "I test softwares and keep track of people's informations." Thanks, Melle!) She lives and works in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and this February, she became the proud owner of a gorgeous Mobile Edge Maddie Powers Laptop Messenger Bag from CareerBags.com.

Here's what Melle carries around in her retro-chic and very roomy Maddie Powers bag:

• 15" MacBook Pro
• Power cord
• Moleskine notebook
• Mittens (still snowy after all these months)
• Sunglasses
• Cell phone
• Wallet
• Hair clip
• Digital camera
• 2 pens
• Pencil
• Lip balm
• Swiss Army Knife (for my MacGyver moments)
• Mini soccer ball cat toy (because you never know when the bag cats will want to mix it up)

I love the retro look (and the soft velour detail) of the Maddie Powers - we also carry the smaller, but equally cute Maddie Powers Sheba Bag, which comes with its own set of lucky dice. You know - for when you want to shoot a quick game of craps at the speak-easy.

Check out the Maddie Powers bag and the rest of the Mobile Edge line at CareerBags.com!

Welcome Golla Bags!

I'm thrilled to announce that we are now carrying Golla Bags at CareerBags.com!

Golla of Finland's line of laptop messenger bags are a fun, frisky way for you and your laptop to look good on the go. These lightweight, durable laptop cases boast unique designs, bright colors and an acute attention to detail that will have you turning heads wherever your mobile lifestyle takes you.

I couldn't help but be drawn to these vibrant laptop bags for women - even their names (Twist, Dance and Swing) made me want to kick up my heels. But this isn't a case of style over substance - the Golla bags are extremely roomy and functional as well.

Each bag is a little different - some come in nylon and some in cotton - but they all have separate padded compartments for your laptop, as well as a drawstring closure. The zippered pockets in the front give you easy access to all of your gadgets and the non-slip Velcro shoulder strap makes it very comfy to carry.

If you're looking for a stylish, functional bag - or just a blast of color - head over and check out the Golla line at CareerBags.com.

Tips for Choosing the Right Laptop Bag or Briefcase

As a woman who travels all over for work, I know first hand how hard it is to find the ideal business case.

You want a laptop bag or business case that holds everything from your laptop to your lip gloss. It has to withstand the daily abuse of travel to and from the airport, conferences, and business meetings. And of course, you want your bag to help complete your outfit and represent who you are as a woman (yes ladies, these last two are important).

Finding a functional, fashionable laptop bag to meet all of your business, travel and style needs can be a bit daunting. So I thought I'd jot down a few helpful tips about what we look for in our products at CareerBags.com.

Dimensions. Vendors measure their bags in two ways - "Length, width, depth" or "diagonally". If the details say that the bag will fit a 15" laptop, that doesn’t mean the width is 15". They get the 15" by measuring the diagonal distance from one corner to the other. So a 10" x 13" x 4" bag might fit your 15" laptop. Just be sure to measure your laptop according to the information provided.

If you're ordering online and you're still not sure if a bag will fit your laptop, be sure to call or email the store and ask about your bag first.

Weight. If you are a frequent traveller, you might want to look for something that is on wheels but that can also be detached so you don’t have to wheel your bag into a meeting. The Glen Ellyn 2-in-1 Rolling Tote is one of our best sellers and it's perfect for the woman business traveller. With its patented design, this bag looks great on or off wheels.

Pockets. From your laptop to your pens, everything should be organized and secure for easy access. You don't want to be fumbling through your bag looking for your business card when you’re trying to make a first impression. And if you're going through security a lot, it's really important to have a separate space in the bag just for your laptop. That way you can slip your computer out easily and not have to rearrange the contents of your bag to get it back in while you're also trying to put your shoes back on. The Coakley Everyday Portfolio is a great example of a functional, travel-friendly bag. This bag has more pockets then you'll know what to do with and includes a handy zip open pocket on the back that lets you slide it over the handle of your rolling luggage.

Price. Cost is obviously an important factor when choosing your laptop bag or business case. This is why at CareerBags.com we focus more on independent, woman-owned vendors rather than couture brand names. That way, we can give you a wide range of prices to choose from (while supporting our fellow business women!)

(from left to right) Moonsus' Signature Bag - $335.00
Nunzia's Tuscany - $249.00
ACME Made's The Trixy - $129.99
Abbi NY's Mina - $71.95

Style. Function is important, but so is style - your personal style. The right business bag should boost your confidence and help represent who you are, on the street and in the boardroom. Below are a few examples of how diverse business bags can be. There is something out there for everyone, whether you're classic, casual or funky/chic.

(from left to right) McKlein's Lake Forest - $160.00
JoJo's Carrie - $99.00
Mobile Edge's Maddie Powers Messenger Bag - $89.00

There are hundreds of styles and brands to consider when looking for a new laptop bag or business case - I hope that these tips help you choose the one that's right for you! Armed with the perfect business bag, you'll be ready to scale the corporate ladder AND look fabulous on your way to the top.

Getting Organized and Staying Focused

When you're busy and on the go, it's easy to let your workspace get as cluttered and busy as your brain.  I'm always looking for ways to get organized and stay focused.

Jessica Hupp over at Bootstrapper wrote a terrific post recently called Redesign Productivity: 50 Ways to Create a Motivational Workspace. It's got everything from Feng Shui tips to ergonomic equipment suggestions. I feel the article has spurred me on to some virtuous behaviour at my own office.

#12 on the list is "Adopt a to-do list notebook". I'm pretty good about writing things down - it's looking at them again later that's the problem. But I recently discovered this great to-do list/reminder add-on for Firefox called Reminder Fox. It's really simple and easy to use - you just type in your reminders or to-dos and whenever your browser is open, there's a little bow up in the right-hand corner to remind you to check your list. Like a string tied around your finger!

I found the practical, action-oriented tips for getting organized very helpful, but I enjoyed the bigger picture ideas too - finding ways to inspire creativity and create good energy in your workspace. I particularly liked #9 on the list: "Place symbols of goals in your area: Create something that is symbolic of your goal, and place it at a high level." I'm thinking of creating a mobile of dollar bills above my desk. It's all about calling success to you.

Photo credit: The office of an organized mind by J.C.