And wiser too.

It’s my birthday today and so far it’s off to a great start! I was treated to breakfast in bed, flowers, and a few video chats with family… all before 9am! Not bad.

On Tuesday, my very sweet friends threw me a little party. The decorations were beautifully made and there were even party hats!

All my favorite foods were covered: bread, cheese, potatoes, and a peanut butter and chocolate dessert. It was perfect!

I kind of think my friends are really great.

“Happy Birthday Jill!”Sarah, your husband is particularly handsome in this shot.

Thanks for the sweet party!

xo, jill

PS Photos are all by Sarah. Thanks!

Too many time zones.

I’m back from Vietnam and Malaysia. Now I have all this to tackle and a whole lot more on the horizon.

xo, jill

Keepin’ it compact.

If you’re like me, packing is your least favorite part of travel. (Ok, unpacking is actually just a bit worse but you can put that off for longer). Luckily, a few years ago a friend gave me a gift that makes packing so much easier: packing cubes!

Have you ever used these? The cubes help to keep my clothing organized in my backpack as well as keeping everything compact. I use one small cube for socks and undergarments and one large cube for everything else. If it doesn’t fit in the cube, it’s not coming (with the exception of a jacket). This way I won’t over pack for a trip (at least not with clothing).

The cubes also help me stay organized once I’ve reached my destination. I don’t have to dig through my items. I just take out the cube I need at the time and slip it in my bag when I’m finished.

If you’ve never used packing cubes, I highly suggest you check them out!

Now tell me some of your travel essentials!

xo, jill

2012.

How did you celebrate?

xo, jill