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Your Mother is not an old BagShe just needs a New OneBy Madelyn Miller, the TravelLadyLike many women, I believe my purse is my most sacred possession. When I find one that really works, I want it to last forever. I hardly notice when it gets a little shabby because it has become a part of me, going everywhere with me while it is in service. I feel the same way about my suitcase when I travel. Recently my very favorite suitcase was destroyed by an airline. It was like loosing my child. Totally irreplaceable. Until I started investigating. And I found all kinds of great bags for everyday and for travel that would thrill any Mother. YOUR MOTHER HAS A HEART OF GOLD, SHOULDN’T HER SUITCASE BE GOLD, TOO? You almost don’t need a luggage tag withZero Halliburton®, the iconic aluminum briefcase, especially now that it comes in vibrant colors for the 21” size. From Glacier Blue to British Racing Green, travelers now have more choices when it comes to picking out brighter, more identifiable luggage, not to mention another reason to carry on. “Consumers are getting tired of the same old black suitcase that you see lined up on airport baggage carousels,” said David Sebens, vice president of retail sales, Zero Halliburton. “With women in particular, luggage is becoming even more of a fashion accessory, which is why we’re giving them more colorful options with our 21” Zeroller.” Not only is color gaining popularity in the luggage industry, but so is the carry-on movement. Due to longer check-in lines, airline weight restrictions and long waits at baggage claim, carrying on can save time and worry, according to several travel tips web sites such. Zero’s 21” Zeroller meets carry-on standards, fits into airplane overhead bins and need not be checked. Another reason for travelers to carry on is the recent increase in lost luggage. Last year was the worst performance for lost luggage by U.S. air carriers, accounting for about 10,000 pieces a day. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the rate of lost suitcases on flights in 2005 climbed 23 percent from the previous year. The 21" Zeroller boasts a unique design and features durable polyurethane wheels, lightweight plush lining and a removable suiter in addition to a wide array of vibrant colors and finishes, which are: Black Silver Polished Silver Gun Metal Carbon Fiber Cabernet Pink Turquoise Copper Navy Blue Glacier Blue Polished Blue British Racing Green Spring Green Burnt Orange Champagne Gold HOW DOES AN ORGANIZED WOMAN TRAVEL?That is the question I always ask myself. Because as much as I travel, I really should be more organized. My friend Rochelle Brown understands me better than anyone. When she saw this suitcase set on Home Shopping Network, she called me and excitedly said, turn on your TV. Unfortunately, I was nowhere near a TV. Rochelle is relentless when she sees something she knows a friend needs. She offered to tape the segments on the suitcase system. And I knew she was serious. So I tracked it down and got a set. It takes its first trip to Mexico with me next week. I could not wait until Mothers Day to use it. The woman who thought it up is a genius. Who better to identify with the needs of a busy working mom than a busy working mom? Inventor and entrepreneur Joy Mangano - creator of the Miracle Mop, which has sold millions - help you solve your everyday household challenges with fun, functional and practical solutions, many of which have earned the coveted Good Housekeeping Seal. Joy designs and patents most of her products exclusively for premieres on HSN. Any woman who can design a mop that is fun should get a Nobel Prize.
There's no need to leave anything behind - these suitcases have maximum storage room: multiple oversized pockets on the upright and Weekender; removable garment bags for multiple outfits; a soft laptop case with twin handles and shoulder strap; handy organizer rolls to keep small and important items close at hand; a single-touch umbrella with case; and a wallet with space for your checkbook, pens, traveler's checks, credit cards and more. Plus, 12 of Joy's famous closet miracles, the Huggable Hangers, come with this set. The carry-all bag has dual carrying straps with a 7" drop. It features one large zippered closure and a nylon lined interior. Several organizational compartments keep items in place, and an inner sleeve perfectly fits the included laptop case. There's one exterior pocket and an outer sleeve for attaching to the uprights. It matches most major airline criteria for carry-on luggage. Take your weight loss on the road with you with Joy Mangano's ingenious Fold-A-Weigh Scale. The sleek silvertone scale with a textured non-slip surface and LED display screen folds in half for easy packing or storage. At approx. 2 lbs. and the size of a video cassette, your scale can go anywhere with you. Not only does it tell you your current weight, it tracks the target and previous 10 weights for up to 5 people. Set Includes: Set Includes: Product Features:
Stylish and successful moms know that dressing for success today means more than just the power suit - it encompasses everything from head to toe, including the bag you carry, the case you hold your business cards in, right down to the pen and paper you write the thank-you note with. Office Depot’s Franklin Covey® Executive Collection combines high fashion with the ultimate functionality to help executive moms-on-the-go make the right impression and get better organized. The Leather Computer Tote is specially designed with room for a laptop and accessories. Available in Office Depot stores and online at www.officedepot.com, it comes in classic black for $99.99 and stylish red for $124.99. Splurge on the red. It makes a strong statement. DELIVER THE LASTEST EUROPEAN TREND TO YOUR MOM
Urban Access bags are slim, multipurpose satchels with
laser-cut, embroidered and mixed media graphics on their front flaps. The
designs pay bold, colorful—and sometimes provocative—tribute to urban
destinations around the world.
MOM WILL BE TICKLED PINK ON THE INSIDE WITH THIS SERIOUSLY STURDY BUT FASHIONABLE BAG
Abbi New York, a new manufacturer of stylish laptop bags and briefcases for women, was formed to fill a niche in the marketplace for fashionable and functional workbags for the multitasking, professional woman. I chose a soft Caramel Caroline with the yummy pink lining.
“THINKS PINK” with LAP TOP BAGS that look good and donate to a worthy cause.
The Skooba Satchel is made of tough ballistic nylon, with heavy-duty webbing and metal fittings. Yet the bag weighs in at a mere 44 ounces, making it very travel-friendly. The Skooba Satchel carries a suggested retail price of $99.95. In addition to the new black/pink offering, Skooba collection bags are available in four other color combinations: black with blue trim, gray with orange trim, olive with red trim, and tan with black trim. RoadWired designs and manufactures a broad line of upscale carrying cases and accessories for portable electronics. www.roadwired.com. PUTTING MOM’S BEST FACE FORWARD
I had a purse made with my photo on it. I was going to give it to my mother, but I love it so much I am going to have to think of something else. You certainly don’t have to worry about anyone mistakenly grabbing your purse—your own “photo id” is right on it.
Finding unique and thoughtful gifts doesn’t have to be a
chore either! With Photowow.com, you can browse through the 41 artistic designs
ranging from pop art to cubism, pick one and you’re halfway done! Pick a
product that you’d like your design to be featured on, send in the photo, and
presto! You’ve got a gift that will make them say, “Wow!” Madelyn Miller is a writer and web entrepreneur who writes for www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, and www.cocktailatlas.com. She has several more websites planned. |
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Turn your suitcase into a mobile closet with Joy Mangano's Clothes
It All Total Luggage System. With a spot for everything, this deluxe
luggage ensemble features retractable trolley handles on the main suitcase,
wheeled briefcase and Weekender. Top-sided handles, in-line skate wheels,
protective corner guards, PVC stabilizing feet (on uprights) and heavy-duty
interior liners absorb the stresses of traveling, making life easier on
you. Also, Joy's designer check pattern and silvertone hardware with monogram
get you where you need to go in style. Black, cocoa, red or sand. 
IF MOM TREASURES HER COMPUTER, GIVE HER A BAG WITH AS MUCH
STYLE AND SUBSTANCE AS SHE HAS. 
The latest European fashion to hit U.S. shores is
arriving…in pizza boxes. The company’s trademark “Pizza Courier” collection
comes in dozens of international city-themed designs, and the bags are packed in
genuine, white corrugated pizza boxes, wax paper and all.
The “Berlin” bag, for example, features a
Communist-era car and a peace sign set against a block wall and barbed wire. On
the lighter side, another model simply says “Amsterdam” along with three letters
that give a wink to that city’s magnetism to tourists and free-spirits: XXX.
Other bag/cities include New York, Hong Kong, London, Tokyo and over twenty
more, with still others being added regularly. Functionally, the $49.95
(suggested retail) bags are very straightforward, with a main compartment
suitable for books, files and papers, and a separate zippered pocket in the
lining for pens, pencils, gadgets and accessories. 
The company offers bags for every style, personality and
budget. There are two collections: the “abbi” and the “darci.” The abbi
collection features bags made from luxurious genuine leather in different
colors, with retail prices ranging from $129 to $250. The darci collection
features bags made from premium faux leather or silk brocade prints and retails
for under $100. All bags in both collections feature DuraFlex™ padding for
maximum protection for your computer, the signature pink lining and every bag is
handcrafted and protected with a lifetime warranty.
RoadWired has expanded its popular “Skooba” collection,
with a series of pink-trimmed laptop bags to address the growing demand for
business cases that appeal to women. According to the company, the new bags
offer a “best of both worlds” look, by combining an elegant and professional
black exterior with soft pink trim details and lining. The new color combination
is available on RoadWired’s full-featured Skooba Satchel, as well as slim Skooba
Sleeves in compact and large sizes.
In addition to offering a new fashion alternative, the new
pink-trimmed bags are helping to support a worthy cause. They will be featured
in an ongoing charitable program by luggage retailer eBags (www.ebags.com), in
support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. eBags donates 10% of the
sale of all pink-themed products to the organization, and has raised over
$150,000 since beginning the program last year.
The Skooba Satchel is a full-featured laptop bag with over
a dozen compartments and pockets. Inside the main compartment is a dedicated
computer section lined with RoadWired’s Air Square™ material, comprising
hundreds of individually-sealed air cushions that act as shock absorbers around
and below the laptop. On the front of the Satchel is a separate organizer
section, with compartments for media, phone, pens, keys, cords and other small
items. Other features of the bag include special attachment points for an
optional “Rivet” accessory clip system, a divided section for files and papers,
hideaway water bottle holder, zippered magazine pocket, and rear “trolley strap”
that slides over a rolling suitcase handle.
The oversized shoulder pad has its
own Air Square-cushioning and an I.D./transit pass pocket.
Photowow.com delivers outstanding artistic designs on a
number of products, ensuring that your Mother's Day gift won’t get ho-hums but
wows! Create a pop art montage of photos and have it Photowowwed onto a purse
or bag so mom can have them wherever she goes. She'll think of you every time
they see it and smile.
A proud mom might prefer her kids pictures or her
grandchildren. Imagine this as a bridal gift…I can think of a million and one
things to do with this kind of opportunity