My sister doesn’t get to travel as much as I do. (I mean, who does really? It is, after all, my job.) So whenever she’s going on a biggie trek—to Dubai, Oz or, in this case, an awesome forbidden island—she often hits me up for some of my gear. Hey, isn’t that what sisters are for?

Generally, I don’t mind loaning out my wheelie bag, airplane pillow or money belt, but this time around, while she’s touring Colonial sites, I’ll be hobnobbing with some importante people in Mexico. Which means I’ll be needing my trusty travel tools.

Lucky for my sister, I just heard about the awesome plane-friendly products on offer at the Container Store. There are fuzzy blankie sets that have cool pockets to keep your electronics, slim converter sets and even mini-fans. My sister lives around the corner from a Container Store, so she’ll be able to peruse the selection before take-off on Saturday.

If you’ve got more time, all the goods are available online at the containerstore.com.

—Jenna Mahoney

We've been to so many wonderful previews in the last few weeks! Diane and I went to see the lovely designer Shana Farr debut her new jewelry collection Pure Imagination by Shana Farr at the Players Club on Gramercy Park. A fitting location, since Shana is not only a talented artist but also a gifted vocalist, having performed her supper club show Pure Imagination at the Metropolitan Room, Feinstein's Regency and at New York City Center.

Her exquisitely crafted collection of sterling silver charms and lockets all have an element of whimsy.

Her signature piece, the Fortune Cookie locket, opens to reveal a personal message inside.

I especially love her Chrysanthemum rings and bracelets in sterling silver, pink and yellow gold. 

Personalized Runner

Tell your story as a couple through your aisle runner. This amazing DIY, featured on Oh Lovely Day, started with photos of the couple as children and progressed through their six years of dating, highlighting special moments and memories along the way. Get step-by-step instructions to create your own!

The runner also provided a fun activity for guests prior to the ceremony—the couple placed a crossword puzzle within the ceremony program, with most answers to be found on the runner.

Photo Credit: The Other Sister Photography/via Oh Lovely Day

Spiral Aisle

Perfect for small, intimate weddings, a round ceremony setup gives each guest a front row seat for your walk down the aisle. It also creates a cozy feel throughout the ceremony as you're surrounded on all sides by your loved ones.

A recent study from Rent.com reveals some interesting findings about couples' behavior regarding combining households and their personal beliefs about married life. The majority of respondents (75%) said their overall quality of life has improved since moving in with their spouse. The other quarter of survey-takers cited the following as major sources of stress: not having their own space (all the more reason to actually let him have his own man cave), sharing household expenses, and splitting up household chores. When it comes to finances, 62% of couples report that they've improved (one rent bill, score), while 22% say they've actually gotten worse as a result of moving in together.

In addition to assessing couples' attitudes about matrimony, the survey also analyzed which cities are ideal to start your first home together. They ranked them against the national averages for cost of living (calculated from a baseline of 100 from the U.S. Census Bureau), mean annual income ($44,410) and the unemployment rate (8.5%, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics) to score the following winners.

The 10 best cities to start your love nest

Photo Credit: iStock