How to Shop on Vacation Without Filling Your Luggage

Roxy Taghavian
May 20, 2016

We’ve started planning our summer vacations and are dreaming about all of the tokens and souvenirs we are going to find on our adventures. But what happens when you come across that perfect ukulele and you still have 10 days left on your trip? Or you stumble upon a stunning painting that would look amazing on your wall but it can’t be rolled up and stowed away? It’s time you start purchasing these gems, because we teamed up with FedEx Office® to give you six tips on how to vacation AND get all of your keepsakes home in perfect condition.

1. Plan your souvenir wish list ahead of time: Do some research by checking out your favorite travel blogs or Instagrammers to learn what your destination is known for — e.g. the best textiles, best teas or best treats, so you know what the must-haves are and where to grab ’em!

Create a multi-city plan:

FedEx Office® to drop off the treasures you collect along the way. They make it so seamless to ship any goody home that we’ve been sending care packages to our besties left and right. Enjoy your driving excursions comfortably and head to your next city worry-free.

3. Stick with souvenirs that are collectable yet sensible: This will help prevent you from buying souvenirs that you’ll never use again. Need to spice up your walls at home? Find a vintage postcard or collectible art print and ship it home so that you don’t have to carry around delicate paper.

4. When buying delicate souvenirs, leave it to the experts: Send gifts to loved ones directly from your travels instead of dragging everything from place to place. This beautiful mirror is far too lovely to risk breaking in luggage, so trust the experts to pack your gift for peace of mind.

Look for local unique goodies:

Tartine Bread Cookbook, a Heath Ceramics Vase, Ritual Coffee grounds, the WildSam guide to San Francisco and, of course, some cute notebooks from a local bookstore.

Find the musical instrument of your dreams:

FedEx Office® to carefully ship your new instrument home while you finish your adventures!

Collaboration Hacks Every Small Business Owner Should Know

Verizon
verizon

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Therise Edwards, founder/CEO of Teshley Solutions, an education consultancy firm that helps students and families navigate the complexities of the education system K through 12.

What is an unexpected business challenge that you faced and how did you overcome it?

I wouldn't call myself a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) expert, but I ended up having to know a lot more about it than I ever anticipated. FAFSA is what administers Pell Grants, which is what a lot of colleges base their financial aid on. I knew about the application changes, and some were excellent, but they made a series of critical errors and a lot of parents were scrambling. It was not my intent to have this as my area of focus; it just became a necessity.

What's a recent small win for your business?

Recent small wins are my collaborations. I formed partnerships with one organization that focuses on students with special needs. I hosted a webinar with the executive director of that organization. I formed a partnership with members from an insurance company on planning and paying for college. That was my first corporate sponsorship. And I've got a series of events coming out because others actually reached out to me. One of them I met through another networking platform, but I got to that platform from one of the sessions that I did with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program.

How did you start to collaborate with external partners?

Just changing my strategies and my approach, and just being more secure and more emphatic in making connections. It ends up being this continual cycle.

Is there a woman in business that you admire or that you look up to?

I have two. Leontyne Anglin, who runs a nonprofit called Beyond Expectations. She works with a small pool of students, but she just gives them enormous exposure and opportunity. She's brilliant with collaborating with individuals and businesses and really bringing the students what they need. And then the other on a bigger scale is Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, who taught her Business Plan Bootcamp through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. She is just a dynamo. She is just so supportive of women entrepreneurs. She's awesome.

How did the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program help propel your business forward?

All of the collaborations and partnerships with the exception of one all came from joining the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. I’ve taken all of the free classes and the one on projections and pricing, something every entrepreneur struggles with, was very helpful. There have been so many of them. Sometimes you're completely ignorant in a category so you take the class and it's like, okay, that's good to have. But then sometimes you sign up for it and it's like, oh, yeah, I did know 90 percent of that, but this other 10 percent is going to be very, very helpful.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Teshley Solutions.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces


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Your Favorite '90s Stars Are Reuniting For A New Netflix Dramedy

Turns out, no good deed goes unpunished, even in house hunting. Netflix's new comedy-drama No Good Deed (from the creator of Dead to Me) premieres on the streamer next week and features some familiar faces from your favorite '90s shows like Friendsand Freaks and Geeks. Buckle up because this is just one of the December TV shows the Brit + Co team already can't stop talking about.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about the No Good Deed release date, cast, and plot.

Is No Good Deed streaming on Netflix?

No Good Deed Release Date

No Good Deed hits Netflix December 12, 2024.

What is No Good Deed about?

No Good Deed Plot

The black comedy follows Lydia and Paul (played by Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano) who list their 1920s Spanish-style villa after they become empty nesters. Three very-interested families begin a quest to be the first to sign on the dotted line, hoping that the beautiful home will fix all their problems. But Paul and Lydia are keeping some secrets of their own — and the fact the home is more dangerous than it looks is just the first on the list.

“We meet [Lisa and Paul] at a little bit of a crossroads — it’s a really interesting time in their lives,” creator Liz Feldman says. “We know they’re about to go through some major changes. They know they’re about to go through some major changes in their [lives]. But they have no idea how major.”

Who's in the cast?

No Good Deed Cast

No Good Deed stars Lisa Kudrow, Ray Romano, Linda Cardellini, O-T Fagbenle, Abbi Jacobson, Denis Leary, Poppy Liu, Teyonah Parris, and Luke Wilson.

“Ray is this instantly likable person who carries so much emotional baggage that you know is there, but he’s so good at hiding it,” Liz says, while adding that Lisa "is one of the most wholly unique, surprising, and subversively dark comedians on the planet."

“I felt so excited to be able to work with her in a capacity where she gets to really go deep as Lydia," she continues. We can't wait to see her!

How many episodes of No Good Deed are there?

There will be eight episodes of No Good Deed, and they'll all be available starting December 12. That means you can binge them all in one weekend! Or one sitting ;).

Don't forget to check out the best December movies coming this month — and the January TV shows you should go ahead and add to your calendar!

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How To Build A Local Community When You’re A Digital Creator

Verizon
verizon

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

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35 Magical Photos Of Christmas In New York To Inspire Wanderlust

Hallmark might have convinced us that the holidays are best spent in a small town, but I think Christmas in New York is just as magical. Look in any corner of this massive city and you'll find lights, decor, and your favorite Christmas songs. And just like the city itself, the holiday comes in multitudes. Some of it's maximalistic and over-the-top, and some of it is sleek and chic. It all depends on which corner you find yourself!

Here are 35 photos of Christmas in New York that will leave you daydreaming about a holiday in the city — and might just convince you to book a trip for next year!

Get in the spirit with these Christmas in New York photos!

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The only thing more magical than a Christmas tree in Manhattan? A Christmas tree in Manhattan covered in snow. Yes, please.

Alison Ives/Brit + Co

There's an endless supply of coffee shops in the city, and when they feature bright red color palettes, it just means the corner gets some Christmas cheer all year long.

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I love how this photo captures the energy of the city. The hustle! The bustle! The lights!

Tim Hüfner/Unsplash

It wouldn't be Christmas in New York without a trip to Radio City Music Hall. Rockettes anyone?

Alison Ives/Brit + Co

Another iconic part of any trip to New York during the holidays is ice skating at Rockefeller center. You'll feel like you're in a movie!

Chloe Williams/Brit + Co

And right up the stairs after ice skating, you'll find Rockefeller plaza lit by angels and stars. You can almost hear the trumpets!

Andre Benz/Unsplash

Feel like you're an elf in the North Pole when you check out these larger-than-life red baubles.

Haley Sprankle/Brit + Co

The Rockefeller tree is a gorgeous, gorgeous girl. Stop by after 10pm to avoid the crowds!

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You'll also find that the simple details of Christmas in New York will take your breath away too. Like these boughs and red bows!

Alison Ives/Brit + Co

Match the holiday decor with your brightest red sweater(and black knee high boots while you're at it).

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Just because New Yorkers don't have front yards doesn't mean they can't have outdoor decor. Look at this festive fire escape!

Chloe Williams/Brit + Co

Gorgeous lights are all over the city — like this spot just outside the Plaza and Central Park.

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Bask in the glow of a holiday-themed Empire State Building. It only happens once a year!

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Even the New York Public Library lions are getting into the spirit!

Alison Ives/Brit + Co

And inside the iconic library, you'll find even more Christmas trees decorated with pinecones, bows, and fake snow. Absolutely magical.

Chloe Williams/Brit + Co

The most fun thing about walking around the city at Christmas is seeing all the shops full of garland, lights, and bows!

Chloe Williams/Brit + Co

And Christmas in New York means plenty of stoop decor — wreaths, lights, garlands, oh my!

Keep scrolling to see even more Christmas in New York!

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You'll find lights on every street corner!

Andre Benz/Unsplash

Take a trip to DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) for an iconic photo opportunity and (hopefully) some snow too.

Chloe Williams/Brit + Co

Christmas in New York can brighten even the dreariest winter day.

Vittoria Tomassini/Dupe

Remember what I said about bright red restaurants? Well, add a Christmas tree and you've got yourself an extra-festive street corner.

Haley Sprankle/Brit + Co

Saks Fifth Avenue might not be doing a light show this year, but it's always a good time to go down memory lane.

Uriel Mont/Pexels

Minimalist decor helps landmarks like The Vessel stand out against a dark night sky — and serve as a lesson in enjoying simple details.

Chloe Williams/Brit + Co

Nobody does a bright and colorful Christmas like Tiffany & Co. I mean, just LOOK, at this tree!

Chloe Williams/Brit + Co

If you've been missing Tumblr, and listening to "I Look in People's Windows" by Taylor Swift on repeat, I chose this vibey picture with you in mind.

Jen Dries/Unsplash

There's never a shortage of oversized Christmas icons in the city! These giant candy canes make me feel like I'm in Santa's workshop.

Chloe Williams/Brit + Co

Grand Central Station is decked out for the season with garland, wreaths, and red and green lights.

Christmas in New York wouldn't be complete without these iconic locations.

Amy Heaton/Dupe

Cartier always makes Christmas in New York feel more sophisticated and their starry design for 2024 is breathtaking.

Joseph Pearson/Unsplash

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas in New York!

Chloe Williams/Brit + Co

The Columbus Circle shops always have the brightest (and most colorful) Christmas stars.

Haley Sprankle/Brit + Co

New York isn't all apartment buildings! Take a trek out to Dyker Heights to see some serious Christmas lawn decor.

Haley Sprankle/Brit + Co

Not a fan of red or green? There are plenty of other color options ;).

Haley Sprankle/Brit + Co

"Snowflakes and nutcrackers" sounds like the perfect way to start a Christmas song.

Amy Heaton/Dupe

Eloise at Christmastime is one of the ultimate Christmas movies, and Christmas in New York simply isn't Christmas in New York without the Plaza. Seeing it during the holidays is like nothing you've seen before.

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This photo of the Empire State Building looks the way "River" by Joni Mitchell sounds. And I love it for that.

What's your favorite part about Christmas in New York City? Let us know on Facebook!

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Oh No! Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Are Officially On “A Break”

Before they were publicly seen together, we were dying to know if singer Sabrina Carpenter was actually dating actor Barry Keoghan. Rumors about their relationship cropped up in late 2023, quickly became more than rumors for a while.

The pair made their official debut at the 2024 Met Gala, and they looked so cute together. Barry also enthusiastically supported Sabrina's Coachella performance last month, and we've been obsessed ever since. Since the two have been romantically linked for a while now, we’re taking a deeper look at their history and their chemistry.

Unfortunately, it seems these love birds have called it quits on their relationship — much to our dismay! While we hope this news is temporary, here's what we know about this celebrity split.

Here’s everything you need to know about Sabrina Carpenter's breakup with boyfriend, Barry Keoghan!

Who is Sabrina Carpenter?

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Sabrina Carpenter is a 24-year-old actress and singer. Her most popular acting roles began on Disney Channel from 2014 to 2017 with Girl Meets World and 2016’s Adventures in Babysitting.

Sabrina has been releasing original music since 2014, and her 2022 album titled Emails I Can’t Send landed her her first-ever top-40 chart entry. Her songs “Nonsense” and “Feather” are two of her top-listened tracks on Spotify.

Sabrina also opened for Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour in 2023.

Additionally, she's worked as a brand ambassador for Converse, Aeropostale, and Samsung, and launched a fragrance line in collaboration with Scent Beauty.

Sabrina was suspected to be dating singer Shawn Mendes last year, but he dispelled rumors about it very publicly in March 2023.

Who is Barry Keoghan?

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Barry Keoghan is an award-winning 31-year-old Irish actor. He’s well-known for his roles in Dunkirk, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Eternals, and Saltburn. He has also been in several TV series, from HBO’s Chernobyl to Apple TV+’s Masters of the Air.

Barry was previously dating girlfriend Alyson Kieran since September 2021, but the pairbroke up in July 2023 after Barry started seeing success for his performance in the film The Banshees of Inisherin. An inside source close to the couple said “they’ve grown apart over recent months and things have finally come to a head. As far as [Alyson is] concerned, it’s over.”

Barry and Alyson still share a young son named Brando, born in August 2022.

Is Barry Keoghan Sabrina Carpenter's Boyfriend? A Relationship Timeline

Catherine Powell / Getty Images for MTV

September 2023 — Sabrina Carpenter Attends NYC Saltburn Screening

In late September 2023, Sabrina attended an NYC advanced screening of Saltburn, a dark comedy film in which Barry stars. The pair was not seen together, but they were definitely in the same place at the same time.

The pair reportedly met for the first time during Paris Fashion Week at the Givenchy spring/summer 2024 show, just a week after the advanced screening.

December 2023 — Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Spotted At Dinner

Sabrina and Barry were spotted on a casual dinner date in Los Angeles in December 2023. They weren’t quite visibly affectionate or close together in photos, but shared the same car.

Amy Sussman / Getty Images

January 2024 — Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Spotted Together After 2024 Golden Globes

Sabrina and Barry were suspected to attend the 2024 Golden Globes together to debut their relationship, but the pair ended up attending separately.The two were later spotted out and about at LA’s Luna Luna interactive art installation later in January. Eyewitness accounts said "it definitely seemed like a date.” 👀

February 2024 — Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Attend Grammys After Parties

In early February 2024, the duo was seen gettin’ cozy with each other at a Grammys after party. Someone had snapped a pic of them sitting next to each other, but it appeared they were pretty shy about showing their whole faces. Cute!

The couple confirmed their romance just around Valentine's Day with a fun-filled weekend in Los Angeles (with plenty of PDA, of course). They started out with dinner at Nobu before checking into Hotel Bel-Air. They next day, they spent time together at Sabrina's house in Hollywood and then went out on the town in style!

As much as we can tell, Sabrina and Barry are just having fun with it!

Amy Sussman and Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images for Vanity Fair

March 2024 — Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Attend The 2024 Oscars

The 2024 Oscars marked Sabrina and Barry's first red carpet appearance as a couple! The pair pulled up in semi-coordinating outfits – her wearing a black sequined Tory Burch gown, him wearing a sleek black suit by Amiri.

Barry also accessorized his Oscars look with a beaded friendship bracelet (a la Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce) that spelled out Sabrina's name!

Photographed side-by-side several times, the couple also took the chance to reference their silly Grammys photo by hiding their faces for the camera. Love!

IG @sabrinacarpenter

April 2024 — Barry Keoghan Gets Spicy On Sabrina Carpenter's Instagram

On April 1, Barry left a fiery comment on Sabrina's Instagram. She posted a carousel promoting the new spring 2024 intimates collection from Skims, packed with steamy pics of her wearing pieces from the drop.

Barry's comment was "🔥🥵 barbie emoji," which is just too cute. Since Sabrina is known over social media as a Bratz doll, we love to see this brand new Barbie side!

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Coachella

April 2024 — Barry Keoghan Attends Sabrina Carpenter's Coachella Set

Barry – being the supportive boyfriend he is – was spotted in the crowd at Sabrina's Coachella weekend 1 set, and the couple shared a few cute moments even when they were apart!

Barry was seen happily snapping pictures on his phone like a proud parent during the high-energy performance. Sabrina also cutely waved to Barry from the stage, and he was definitely fangirling over it! We would be fangirling too, TBH! 🔥

After Sabrina's set, the pair was spotted together in the crowd at Ice Spice's performance alongside friends Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. The four appeared to just be hanging out and chatting among themselves in between songs!

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum / Vogue and Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

May 2024 — Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Attend The Met Gala

The couple stepped out together to attend the 2024 Met Gala. Sabrina sported a gorgeous black gown with blooming blue details while Barry's look channeled a 19th century Englishman. They posed together with their signature 'hands over the face' pose, with Barry using his hat as a shield. We are enamored by these two!

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

November 2024 — Barry Keoghan Opens Up About "Special" Relationship

Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan haven't historically been too clear on the nature of their relationship. Are they exclusive? Are they dating around? What's the deal? Well, Barry just let us in on how he feels about the whole thing.

The actor was a guest on The Louis Theroux Podcast, and the host outright asked if the pair was dating. Barry laughed and said, "Oh, I knew you'd do this!" Still, he elaborated, "Listen, all I'm going to say is I'm incredibly blessed. Such a strong, independent lady who's massively talented — and yeah, pretty special."

While we wait for them to officially DTR, this will do for now! 😍

December 3, 2024 — Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Go On "A Break"

Heartbreak is one thing — "a break" is another...

While we wish this wasn't true, an exclusive source reached out to PEOPLE and explained that Sabrina and Barry have called off their relationship. Of the split, the source said, "They are both young and career-focused, so they've decided to take a break." PEOPLE wrote that the relationship is over "for now," so we're still holding out hope Sabrina and Barry find their way to each other again!

Stay updated on the latest celebrity relationships & follow us on Facebook!

This post has been updated.

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