It happens to me all the time. I’m late for the airport and realize I still need to print my boarding pass, itinerary or map to where I’m going. With HP’s latest announcement it should take seconds instead of minutes to get out the door with your travel print-outs.

Yesterday HP announced the first web-enabled printer with a variety of apps that streamline the printing process. HP’s new wireless printer doesn’t require a computer and connects directly to the web. I was able to attend the announcement and partners from Google, Fandango, Coupons.com and Nickelodeon demonstrated their apps which make printing maps, movie tickets, coupons and recipes a breeze. The printed pages I saw were perfectly formatted, utilized both sides of the paper and appeared to use less paper than standard web printing. Scheduled to be available this fall, the printer will cost $399.

Summer is in full swing and the calendar seems to be packed with festivals, sporting events and summer concerts. In the past week and a half we’ve seen Tosca in the park, listened to live music at two street festivals and cheered on with thousands of spectators as 2,000 triathletes swam to shore from Alcatraz.

One of my favorite things to do during the summer is to pack a picnic and enjoy an evening performance in the park. Or better yet, stop at Whole Foods on the way to the park and choose from their great selection of ready-made items.

Here’s a sampling of this summer’s free performances happening around the country:

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For a new way of choosing activities based on your interests, try out the Discover South Carolina site. Just choose the style of shoe that you prefer and it will suggest activities that might interest you. And if you haven’t been to Charleston yet, it’s a perfect destination no matter what shoe you wear!

Via: Discover South Carolina

I’ve mentioned the benefits of packing as little as possible in past posts – you save time otherwise spent waiting in baggage claim and avoid the risk of lost luggage. A year ago the airlines added a $25 fee for a second checked-bag. Now the airlines are charging $15 for your first checked bag as well, so packing light is even more important.

Here’s a summary of the new airline baggage fees announced on May 5 (from Expedia.com):  Baggage Fee chart.

We flew to Amelia Island, Florida for a wedding on May 7 — just after the new fees went into effect — and extra baggage fees for two of us added another $110 to our trip cost. Ouch!

Curb-side Check-in
In addition to the new first-checked-bag fee, airlines including United, Delta, Northwest and Alaska Airlines charge $2-3/bag + tip for curb-side check-in fees.

So if you’re like me and want to avoid paying for baggage fees in the future, check out these tips for packing light for carry-on:

• Rolling Luggage
• Flying with a Carry-on? Here’s what Not to Bring
• Keeping it Light: Packing Tips

Southwest Airlines, of course, continues to be the shining exception and charges no additional fees for checked bags. That and their flexible travel date policy makes them a favorite with me.

Tomorrow is Earth Day — a day to celebrate our earth and value its natural resources. With all the spring flowers in bloom, it seems like the perfect time to show appreciation. The idea for Earth Day was the inspiration of Wisconsin U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson back in 1970 when he became concerned about our planet’s future. This day is celebrated on April 22 each year — now globally, by over 500 million people.

In honor of Earth Day, here are my top 10 suggestions to help sustain our planet:

1. Celebrate Earth Day everyday
2. Park your car and walk or bike to your destination
3. Think about the landfill waste impact before you buy products
4. Recycle and reuse whenever possible – use thrift stores, craigslist, freecycle.org, garage sales, building material salvage, etc.
5. Shut down appliances and lights when not using; buy energy efficient light bulbs
6. Encourage your friends and family to recycle and reuse too!
7. Support green businesses who are working to make their manufacturing process more earth friendly
8. Buy local food when possible from a farmers market (find your local market)
9. Reuse your grocery bags
10. Look into alternative energy sources for your home, such as subsidized solar panels or cool sun tiles.

Related links: localharvest.org | storyofstuff.com

When my sister suggested we go for a “spring break” to Loreto Bay, Mexico it was almost impossible to find a reason to say no. Especially after she said that we could split the normal airfare using her Alaska Airlines companion fare voucher and that lodging would be free. So I really had no choice – being a good sister and all – but to accompany her down to where the weather is perfect and the margaritas are plentiful.

It was the first time I’d been to Loreto Bay, which is a resort just outside the town of Loreto in Baja Mexico. Unlike popular destinations like Cancun, Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Vallarta, Loreto is still somewhat undiscovered and small. Loreto Bay is a new resort containing adobe style homes, a Troon golf course, hotel and private beach on the Sea of Cortez.

We stayed in one of the adobe homes during our stay which had an interior courtyard, 2 bedrooms/ baths and upper decks with sweeping views of the Sierra de la Giganta mountains and the Sea of Cortez. During the day, we would walk over to the hotel and go to the pool, check-out kayaks or swim at the beach.

When we wanted to go into town, we could catch a taxi and shop at the pedestrian market or try one of the many good eateries including Las Mandiles, Loreto Islas, Oasis and the Giggling Dolphin. With a 14:1 conversion rate (pesos to dollars), everything seemed very affordable. Tip: Since some merchants give less than the current exchange rate, its best to use a credit card or get pesos from the bank’s ATM machine (located on east end of the pedestrian market).

One of the great things about Loreto & Loreto Bay is how friendly everyone is – especially the expats and US/Canadian visitors. It didn’t take long before we’d met lots of interesting people and felt right at home.

At Loreto Bay I bumped into a group of eight girlfriends who were having a girls getaway. They’d graduated together from the same California high school over 40 years ago and it was clear they were having great time together. You go girls!

Link: Loreto Bay

Whether you like to head to the beach to soak up some sun or hit the ski slopes, here’s a list of some of this year’s top Spring Break destinations:

1. Cancun, Mexico
2. Orlando, FL
3. Scottsdale, AZ
4. Lake Tahoe (ski)
5. Miami
6. Killington, VT (ski)
7. Honolulu
8. Cabo San Lucas
9. Key West

Here’s where most college students will be heading:

- Panama City, FL
- Lake Havasu
- South Padre Island
- Jackson Hole (ski)

When I go shopping, part of the enjoyment is getting a great deal. While I enjoy shopping at Nordstrom’s just like the next girl, I also love hunting for incredible finds at thrift stores.

Last weekend I spent a rainy afternoon at a nearby thrift store and found a fleece jacket ($4), a white shell top ($1.50), a black sleeveless jacquard top ($4) and a GAP flaired skirt ($7). In the past I’ve also found beautiful cashmere sweaters, jackets, wool crepe suits, french cotton shirts, high quality leather goods and a wonderful mix of styles to suit just about any fashionista.

Want to spend the afternoon shopping with your girlfriends, but trying to stay within a tight budget? No problem! You’ll have just as much or probably more fun shopping at thrift stores and spend a fraction of what you’d pay at retail stores. Since most thrift stores are used to fund a charity, you’ll also be contributing to a good cause. Another bonus!

Of course, the bigger the city you’re in (and the better dressed), the better selection you’ll find. To help you find the best thrift stores in your city, check out a great site called TheThriftShopper.com. This handy resource includes listings for almost 9,000 thrift stores across the country, along with their location, store hours and user ratings. Just type in your zip code or city to find the shops closest to you.

Happy hunting!

Related: Clothes Heaven