Hasta La Ideas

In the post What we want but can’t yet have, I bemoaned how I had yet to find a decent laptop bag for business travel:

The perfect laptop bag has a pocket for everything you need to carry with you, has a comfortable shoulder strap, is made to last, is professional in appearance, and doesn’t scream I’M CARRYING A LAPTOP FOR YOU TO STEAL. This bag is so perfect that you want to name your pets after it. We have found many bags that come close to meeting these requirements, but none that is perfect.

The day after this post ran, I got an e-mail from a lovely woman at Tom Bihn bags explaining that the reason I hadn’t found the perfect laptop bag was because I hadn’t tried her company’s top-of-the-line product. Fair enough, I hadn’t tried the exact bag she was referencing in her e-mail. I told her I would take it out with me on a few trips and see how it handled. My expectations were low; I’d been let down so many times in the past that I assumed I would be let down again.

I’m not one to eagerly admit when I’m wrong, but I was. This bag is amazing. It meets my qualifications for a perfect laptop bag for business travel — and more. I’ve since taken it out four times (three of those involved air travel), and feel comfortable singing its praises.

The Checkpoint Flyer:

The best part of the bag is that you don’t have to take the laptop out of it to go through security checkpoints at the airport. You flip the pouch that holds the laptop out when you lay it on the conveyor belt, and then flip it back in after it has gone through the x-ray machine. I didn’t time the event, but Tom Bihn’s website says it should only take three seconds. The laptop pouch sits on little hinges that move it far enough away from the contents in the rest of the bag so that it meets TSA requirements:

Closeup of hinge:

There are different pouch sizes you can order based on the size of your laptop. It also has pockets for all of my cords, cables and wireless peripherals, enough space to hold two days’ worth of business casual clothing and work papers (I put these in what they call the Horizontal Freudian Slip), and has the best shoulder strap I’ve ever had on a shoulder bag (it’s springy, like a wet suit):

My only complaint is that it is obviously a laptop bag to anyone who sees it. However, it’s attractive and professional, and I can walk into any meeting with it. And, it doesn’t really scream its laptop-bag status, it says it casually, as if having a conversation with friends over a couple beers. The fabric on the bag is very sturdy and the stitching is impeccable. My bag showed zero signs of wear after my trips. Yes, it’s pricey. But, I sincerely believe you’re getting what you pay for. On trips longer than three days, I’ve put my clothes in my Zuca bag and wheeled it around with this bag resting on top.

The bag is made in Seattle and Tom Bihn, the guy with his name on the company, actually designs the bags. I was sincerely surprised to be so impressed by it. My search for a perfect laptop bag is complete. (Could I gush more? Probably.)

First two images snagged from the Tom Bihn website, the other two are mine. I drastically need a nice photo setup in my house.

Spring is always such a fickle time of year. I’ll head outside thinking it’s a warm and sunny day, only to encounter gusty winds that threaten my hair and the hem of my skirt. While the weather tries to make up its mind, I’ve decided to look for warmer destinations, and what better place than St. Barths? We’ve already learned how we can look like a St. Barths jetsetter, but now’s our chance to actually live it! You deserve the best, so staying at Isle de France is the answer to any getaway prayers! They just opened up their brand new beach suites that are perfect for a romantic stay for you and your sweetheart. Each 1500 sq. ft suite features vintage French fabrics, a private terrace with a pool, gorgeous sea views, a 52″ plasma TV, and a fully equipped kitchen. Dine with your toes in the sand at Case de L’Isle and go to The Spa to indulge with a body wrap or massage. Take a look at my slideshow for some breathtakingly beautiful pictures of Isle de France!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in the same lap of luxury as Marie-Antoinette? Experience it at the platinum 5-star Legendale Hotelin Beijing, China. Experience European sumptuousness and Asian mystique all in one trip! The Legendale Hotel is a lavishly opulent 5-star hotel located in the heart of Bejing. Based on the Palais de Versailles in France, plush carpeting and crystal chandeliers surround your every step and Rococo style furniture and artwork elegantly captivate the eye. The decor is extravagant but tasteful and the service so world-class that you really will feel like you are royalty living at the actual Palais de Versailles! French-themed and in a major Chinese city, Legendale Hotel features many surprisingly international cuisines from Macau style food in the Versailles ballroom, a splendidly decorated Portugese bistro, a French restaurant names Petrus, and lounges and bars throughout. There’s even a Karaoke room for those who want a little more Asian experience in their European style hotel! With lush bedding and plenty of space in their ornately aristocratic suites and rooms, a new state-of-the-art business center and fully-equipped health center/gym and outdoor pool, a stay at the Legendale Hotel is a vacation in itself! Of course, there are local eateries, historical sights such as Tian An Men Square and the Forbidden City as well as unmatched shopping only a short walk or cab ride away. A stay at the beautiful Legendale Hotel and exploring one of China’s most exciting and historical cities will truly make for an unforgettable trip. Treat yourself like the queen you are and start planning today!

Having just a casual interest in sports, I’ve only ever picked up a copy of Sports Illustrated once a year — for the ever-famous swimsuit issue. That’s actually a statistic I share with many of my sports-loving guy friends, however while they pick up the sexy edition to ogle at and cut out pin-ups of pretty girls, I need to flip the pages to see this season’s newest beach attire. Of course, in my younger days, I dreamt of once becoming one of those girls wearing an itty-bitty swimsuit. (Well, who wouldn’t want to wear hot swim suits on the set of a photoshoot in an exotic paradise?). These girls are the icons of summer, with their smooth sun-kissed skin and tide-tousled locks. Dream we may about being Brooklyn Decker or Bar Rafaeli, but we mere mortals can achieve Sport’s Illustrated sexiness with the application of a few of these Lucia Dvorska and the like-inspired tricks. Click READ MORE to skim and try these tips from this guide on transforming yourself into a seaside SI swimsuit model!

Many of us have read the story, “The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe,” but can you actually imagine yourself doing just that? If you find yourself heading to New Zealand on a romantic getaway, why don’t you stay a night or two at The Boot Bed and Breakfast? Perfect for couples, The Boot has a downstairs with a comfy couch in front of the open fire, a mini-bar, and a shower built for two! Go up a spiral staircase to find a queen-sized bed and balcony views into a courtyard and the pond. Wake up in the morning to your choice of breakfast delivered right to your door including their free-range eggs and fresh fruit from the orchard. Enjoy lounging in the sun in the courtyard and enjoy meals in the alfresco dining area by the outdoor fireplace. The bed and breakfast is located in the heart of the Tasman region with the Able Tasman National Park and Kahurangi National Park are easily accessible. Check out the slideshow to see more of The Boot!