Ah, I figured it was in NZ;-)

“One thing we also did was “trial runs” before the flights. We talked to our usual airline (Air NZ), and they were great. We went through a mock check in, check luggage, go through security and to the gate, go out to the airplane (usually when they were cleaning them). He met pilots and stewards, and then we walked…

No WAY!!!! My ex-husband booked us into a hotel without a mini-bar once. Once! I had no idea what a posh bitch I am until spending a weekend in a hotel with my future ex-husband and no emergency Booze water.

This is an especially good tip if you’re traveling with young children. Firstly , kids do not understand mini-bar economics. Secondly, most mini-bars don’t stock kid friendly perishables like milk.

I dunno man...somedays $6.00 for a Perrier and $4 for a can of Coke sounds like a steal.

I too moved around a lot as a child, so maybe there is something to the theory. I also feel the economy has caused the wanderers to stay in one place for an extended period and now we’re all getting itchy feet. Nine years of stagnation is enough for me, I’m ready for a change.

“But my point is that not all teenagers are sullen travel partners!”

“Would it be so much to ask for a partner that wants a normal life but would rather spend vacation time and money traveling in hostels in Tajikistan rather than all-inclusives in Mexico? Is the balance possible?”

You make the transition from traveler to home body sound so easy. I hate the fact that I haven’t left the country in nearly 9 years. I took my last proper trip when my 1st kid was 12 wks old. We love to travel and I thought we’d just take the kid with us and keep doing what we do. But 2 kids, a mortgage, and…

Scotland is beautiful and I’ll be going back there as well. I was married in Tarbert and got to spend a week in the village before the wedding. The lovely people there were so amazing to me and all our crazy American family and friend’s that descended upon them that week.

“I’m pretty sure that I needn’t visit London again.”

You lost me at getting up at 5AM. I could promise my 6yo daughter the entire Monster High aisle at ToysR Us and a trip to Disneyland and she STILL wouldn’t get up at 5AM.

Yeah, when I got my micro-pixie I had her give me purple tips because it was my daughters favorite color. She was only 4 at the time I cut a foot and a half of hair off and I thought it might help her not be afraid of me when I came home.

I take my kids to the Observation Deck at LAX sometimes just to plane watch. I wish the bar at The Theme Building was still opened. Grabbing a cocktail and watching planes, I could at least pretend traveling was still glamorous. I feel sorry for the author though, I couldn’t imagine being earth bound the rest of my…

When I pregnant the first time she switched me to an organic hair color and I never went back to “regular”. My hair has never been healthier.

I read once that, “Very short or very long hair is easy. Anything else takes works.”

I’ve followed my stylist as well. She’s the only organic stylist I know of. Now I’m moving soon myself, but I’ll actually be moving closer to her. I can’t imagine going somewhere new and starting all over....shivers...

I tip 20% for standard root touch up/blow&go service. Anything more than that I tip 25%.

I thought the maxi dress trend was a lovely after the, “must wax in order to wear your jeans” trend that preceded it. It was a huge here in LA a few years ago, but I think the maxi skirt has since replaced it non?

I turn 50 this year and I use Lancome Teint Miracle. I like it because I can use it sparingly, get good coverage, but not mask like, and not have it fall into my crow’s feet. Other products I recommend for, ahem, mature skin: Botanics Hot Cloth cleansing balm and La Roche-Posay Moisturizer and sunscreen