New Matching Luggage Set

I have completed another of my 50 things to do in my 50th year

9️⃣  Buy a matching luggage set ✔️

Samsonite Oc2lite

I have been shopping for a new case for a while and finally found one that meets my requirements and falls into my budget.

My research had me down to choosing a hard case between Delsey and Samsonite, but cost was going to be the final factor. Since 2009 American Tourister is also owned by Samsonite, although they are both the same company the suitcases differ quite a bit.

My final decision was:

💙Samsonite Oc2lite Hard case💙

Turquoise Blue 81cm large case plus the 55cm International on-board.

It is also available in 68cm and 75cm so I am thinking of a midsize case while they are still available for domestic ventures.

When I was making my final decision Samsonite Oct2lite came out on sale for 50% off and ticked all my boxes. The bright Turquoise blue won’t be missed on the luggage carousel. However, the new dusty pink is very pretty, it is very feminine; and Heath said he is manly enough to push around a pink case lol.

💙Why the Oct2lite ticks all MY boxes💙

✔️Hard shell made from durable polypropylene is more durable in the light range, easier to clean, better in wet weather or snow as they are waterproof; plus they won’t absorb smells.

✔️Polypropylene is not as durable as polycarbonate, a thermoplastic that contains carbon, but it does still have some of the same features and provides good protection in as lightweight form as possible. ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) is a common thermoplastic, is lighter than polycarbonate but not as durable.

✔️With a hard-case there also less chance of fragile items being crushed. Stronger when loaded with 10 cases on top as can happen on cruise ships

✔️Comes with a 14L expander section for more storage, for extra shopping.

✔️The newly added side lugs not only protect the hinges when the case is open, but also double as hooks when the case is upright, so you can have your hands free in important moments.

✔️The grab handles are a retractable “d" shape and folds down flat on top and side of the bag, making the case easy to lift. The side handle is open to place the barcode tag at the airport. I have been caught out with a side pouch handle in a soft case and all tags have to go on the handle on top of the case.

✔️Most hard suitcases have four 360 degree spinner wheels so you can go forwards, backwards and sideways with ease and it walks with you.  Great ability to roll your case sideways to move down tight aisles on a train.

✔️The best spinners have four “paired” wheels.  If one wheel breaks or snaps off you still have another to get you home. Baggage handlers also like these because they don't have to throw the case down the plane when loading.

✔️ The multi-stage telescopic handle adjusts to any height for comfortable maneuvering. I like to sit my carryon bag on top, preferably with a strap handle and with 4 wheels I don’t have to drag the extra weight or drag along 2 cases. I also already have a smaller turquoise beach/carry bag I use.

✔️Better security than soft-sided baggage because it can’t be ripped open as easily and the anti-theft double zips that add to the security of the recessed TSA lock. The double zip stops thieves opening the case with a pen in the zip.

✔️Better security due to their lack of external pockets means that someone can’t simply unzip a compartment and take your belongings or worse yet stash drugs.

✔️Finally a 50/50 split with a side hinge. My old clamshell had a horizontal hinge so I could never use luggage racks in hotel rooms.

✔️The top half is a zipped compartment so it’s excellent for getting organised. I place my clothes in the bottom half and pack my shoes and toiletries in the zipped section. I find this provides a more a tapered and balanced weight so my suitcase doesn’t topple over.

✔️I like to use packing cubes or vacuum bags depending on how long or where I am travelling. All your smalls are zipped up and secure. We did travel to Europe once for 6 weeks with only 20kg each with temperatures ranging from 3oC to 45oC so vacuum bags was a must.

Disadvantages of hard cases:
✖️Little to no flexibility
✖️Soft sided cases are somewhat squashable and may fit into tight spots on trains or in the boot of a car.
✖️Soft sides cases are better for squeezing into overhead lockers. However I prefer to have an under seat bag where possible.
✖️Takes up more storage space than a soft-shell suitcase
✖️Lack of pockets and compartments

My 50 things to do in my 50th Year

1. Write on my blog page

2. Make a favourite 50 music mix

3. Go to the zoo at least once a month all year

4. Read at least 2 books a month

5. Do a dumpling cooking class

6. Ride a push scooter around the river and eventually hire an E-scooter

7. Make a 1 second everyday video of my 50th year https://1se.co/?fbclid=IwAR2evrLgLtTzmN-PqI6dMsOOANpRABI5cfYwKnJdg8DDRW_pvu2JVwRYPm8

8. Do a dance class I haven’t tried before – (Barre, belly dancing, burlesque)

9. Buy a matching luggage set

10. Go on a Street art walking tour of Perth http://www.streetsofperthwa.com https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?fbclid=IwAR1SNAtaeqjNCiOOpUwmnZkOtTHE47OB82cFzzt3sXyYfHBFoWLX_CAQ7P4&mid=1xxRHy6FiyOdPVkPTcoCVqUc2SPM&ll=-31.952723612047446%2C115.8563437124044&z=15

11. Pick a cookbook and choose a new recipe to cook each month

12. Boil and decorate “Easter eggs” and make pierogi for Easter

13. Fix bowling shoes and go Ten pin bowling

14. Plan a Date day/night at least once a month

Jan- beer tasting @ The Windsor

15. Make a Pączki (Polish donuts)

16. Cook homemade pasta for Ash Wednesday (Seafood Marinara with homemade fettuccine)

17. Start a celebration tree and theme it accordingly

(Australia day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, advent wishes, Christmas)

18. Walk the 4 Guildford Heritage Walk Trails  

https://www.swanvalley.com.au/Business-Directory/Guildford-Heritage-Walk-Trails

19. Visit an art gallery I haven’t been to before and check out new art around Perth

https://cdn.mra.wa.gov.au/production/documents-media/documents/midland/file/midland-public-art-brochure-and-map.pdf

20. Do a Watercolour Painting, Nude drawing class or a Resin art class

21. Do the Chinatown Discovery Tour

http://www.wanderingwok.com.au/tours/chinatown-discovery-tour/

22. Book and ride a Rickshaw on the Leederville food safari - The 21st Amendment, Kitsch Bar Asia, Ria Malay Kitchen and Gusto Gelato

http://leedervillefoodsafari.com.au/

23. Fly in a glider plane

24. Service my bike (replace the dead tyres) and try a hire E-bike

25. Volunteer for a day (soup kitchen or Ronald McDonald house shift)

26. Take a train trip maybe Toodyay/Northam or Kalgoorlie

https://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Plan-your-journey/AvonLink

https://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Plan-your-journey/The-Prospector

27. Attend a health or spa retreat

28. Play Barefoot Bowling and look at joining a team for the 2020-2021 season

29. Head to Rotto for a Quokka selfie and hire a Segway 

https://www.rottnestisland.com/

30. Christmas in July and Ugly sweater party

31. Snorkel at Carnac Island and see the penguins 

https://www.penguinisland.com.au/

32. Mini Golf

33. Plant new herb pots or herb garden and plant another pink hydrangea (and keep it alive)

34. Design and plant our frangipani garden with a water feature

35. Plant spring bulbs in pots and tiptoe through the tulips picnicking at Araluen Botanical Park https://www.araluenbotanicpark.com.au/

36. Toast marshmallows around a backyard fire pit

37. Master stand up paddle boarding (not kneeling or sitting)

38. Do a fitness class I haven’t tried before eg yoga and meditation or Pilates.

39. Dust off sushi maker and make sushi.

40. Practice being more sustainable; Visit a new farmers market; Make Beeswax wraps; Carry my own non-plastic straw and cutlery to avoid plastic takeaway

41. Hire a tennis court and try out my 10 year old but brand new tennis racket

42. Replace my face mask and go snorkeling at Mettams Pool

https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/mettams-pool

43. Watch both the sunset and sunrise in one day

44. Spend a weekend tasting wine in the Ferguson Valley

45. Go whale watching in Bremer Bay – Orca killer whales

46. Travel somewhere new (Domestic or International)

47. Reach my birthday goal weight and buy a complete new outfit including sexy lingerie

48. Glam up at a Vintage photoshoot

49. Have a “Night to Shine” Barbie party with champagne and cocktails

50. My 50th goal is open to suggestions….

50 thoughts for turning 50

      1.      Life is short, eat the cake. Just remember, everything in moderation.

2.      Julia Childs was right, a birthday without cake is just a meeting.

3.      Getting older is a privilege denied to many so make the most of every trip around the sun.

4.      Life really is what you make it. Make it a good one.

5.      Don’t save things for a special occasion because every day is just that, a special occasion.

6.      If you love and appreciate someone them, let them know.

7.      Give hugs. They’re free but worth their weight in gold.

8.      Life is better with a dog in it.

9.      Always choose kind. 

10.  Don’t forget to say please and thank you. Manners are so underrated.

11.  You can’t choose what happens to you, but you can choose how you respond to it.

12.  Good friendships are the ones where time and distance don’t matter. You can always pick up where you left off.

13.  There’s nothing that a bowl of chicken soup can’t fix.

14.  You’re never too old to try or start something new.

15.  Love people, use things because the opposite never works.

16.  You can’t change the people around you, but you can change the people you choose to be around.

17.  Follow your gut, it’s rarely wrong.

18.  There’s no such thing as failing, just learning.

19.  Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.

20.  Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

21.  Life is richer when you collect experiences, not things.

22.  Learn to be present and live in the moment.

23.  Donate time or money to a cause, sharing is caring.

24.  Mornings are better when they involve coffee.

25.  Wear sunscreen. Your skin matters.

26.  Never go to bed or hang up the phone on an argument.

27.  Don’t enter in to a relationship hoping that the person will change. They won’t.

28.  Not everyone will like you, but that’s OK.

29.  Self-care is not self-indulgence. It’s an essential part of health and happiness.

30.  Winnie the Pooh was right. “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

31.  Dumplings are a food group. And a very delicious food group at that.

32.  Water is an acquired taste but definitely one that’s worth acquiring.

33.  Travel changes you in the best ways possible.

34.  A time spent with a good book is always time well spent.

35.  Your health is your wealth. You only get one body, invest in it wisely.

36.  Life is too short to spend it doing something that doesn’t make you happy.

37.  Don’t compare yourself to others or try to be someone else.

38.  Make friends with eye cream. Your future self will love you for it.

39.  Practice the art of saying no so you can say yes to the things that matter.

40.  Listen to your body – no one knows it better than you.

41.  Be grateful because a grateful heart is a happy heart.

42.  Exercise makes you feel good and is good for you.

43.  You can do anything but you can’t do everything. Priorities, baby!

44.  Don’t rely on other people to make you happy. When it comes to happiness, everything you need is inside.

45.  You are a work in progress. Rise above what's holding you back.

46.  If you always do what you've always done, you'll always be where you've always been

47.  Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.

48.  You really have learned who you are as a person, what your likes and dislikes are

49.  A woman of 50 knows the value of celebrating life. She's sizzling, not fizzling. She's savvy, not sad.

50.  I am loving life and it's only going to get better.

10 things I learned in 2019: