Memorial Day Plans: Bags, Check!

Heading off to the lake this weekend (woohoo!), and I'm getting all packed up.

First, I've got my sunscreen, my bug spray, my after-sun lotion, my post-bite anti-itch lotion ... lots of different potions (gotta be prepared!). But it's no problem. They all fit nicely in my Clearview Train Case.

Then, I've got my beach towel, my magazine (this trip, it's Bon Appetit with Gwyneth Paltrow on the cover ... She's everywhere lately!), and my sunglasses. Again, no problem. My Gondola Slouch Tote saves the day.

And finally, there's everything else—clothes, multiple pairs of flip flops, toothbrush, deck of cards, kitchen sink, etc. For this I pull out my big Shuttle Bus. (But that reminds me: I should go ahead and upgrade to the Shuttle Bus Wheelie. It's niiiice.)

So, that's my weekend in bags. What are you doing this weekend? Better yet, what bags are you using?

Valentine's Day Gift Guide a la Lug

V-Day is closing in. It's such a controversial holiday, really. Some people love it (mainly, those who are in love), and some people hate it (everyone else). No matter which boat you're in, who can say that any holiday involving gifts is really that bad? Thus, the Valentine's Day Gift Guide a la Lug—sure to make your Valentine's Day a happy one!

For the girlie girl: The Clipper Flatiron Case—she'll love you as much as she loves her lovely locks.

For the muscle man: The Shuttle Bus Weekender Bag—sure, it's a great big bag for the gym, but it's also a bag that says, "Come on over and stay a while!"

For the "cuddle muffin": Cuddling. Even the name sounds cute. But cuddling has never been cuter than with our Undercover Bears. (Choose Agent Raydar for love and prosperity.)

For the gal on the go: The Travel Charms, Heart Shaped Tag—It's a travel tag. It's a heart. ... Ooh! And if you want to go all out, you could take her on a trip too! Here's how the conversation would go!

You: Will you be my Valentine?

Her: Of course!

You: Then open your present, m'lady.

Her: Wow! It's an adorable heart-shaped luggage tag made by Lug, one of my favorite companies!

You: Yes, and you can use it on your luggage, which I've already packed for you because we're going to (insert awesome vacation idea here)!!!

Her: This is the BEST VALENTINE'S DAY EVER!

End scene.

Hope you all have the BEST VALENTINE'S DAY EVER!

Lug + YouTube Videos = Cinematic Gold

This morning's announcement of the 2011 Oscar nominees got me thinking about the movies, which got me thinking that I definitely need to make more trips to the theater, which made me think, "nah, I really like watching movies at home," which made me think "maybe I can watch some things on my computer," which eventually led me to YouTube and a search for Lug videos (like this awesome one I told you about a couple of posts ago). And look what I found! A Lug station with nine videos. If you've ever been sitting at home, looking through the Lug catalog at, say, a Snuz Sac, and thinking, "Man, I wish I could see that Snuz Sac on video," well, now you can! Check out our videos on the Puddle Jumper, Shuttle Bus, Taxi, Cabby, Flatbed, Nap Sac, and Snuz Sac.

Color Theory Thursday: Notable Navy

I don't think anyone would disagree that the holidays can be hectic. So for this Color Theory Thursday, I thought it smart to review a calming hue like navy blue.

With so much blue all around us in the sky and the sea, it's easy to see why blue is a favorite color for so many. Did you know that the color blue actually causes the body to produce chemicals that are calming? (Learned that right here.) This insight kind of makes you want to paint your house blue for the holidays, right? Or maybe just your bedroom—a calming retreat. Blue also symbolizes trust, wisdom, and stability. Go for navy blue if you're looking for an honorable hue.

Lug Makes The Nate Show with Nate Berkus

We LOVE Nate Berkus, and he showed Lug some love on his show! Our bags were featured on The Nate Show this week during a segment about holiday travel. Here's what Nate's guest, travel expert Kendra Thornton, had to say about the Lug Shuttle Bus.

Lightweight bags are the key. The lighter the actual bag that you are going to carry on, the easier it will be for you to use the bag. Don't go above 5 pounds with a duffel bag style carry on, and with a wheeled suitcase, keep it under 12 pounds. If you're in the market for a new lightweight carry-on travel bag, check out the Lug Round-Trip Shuttle Bus Weekend Bag (pictured above). It's cute, functional, easy to carry, and the multiple compartments will help keep you organized.

Happy audience members walked away with a Lug bag and some accessories. We are so glad to have been a part of the show!

Thanksgiving Travel Tips ... Be Stress Free!

Holiday travel can be stressful. Okay, sure, that could have probably gone unsaid. I mean, with tens of millions planning to hit the road next week for Thanksgiving, there's bound to be plenty of stress to go around. But I've always believed that one key to being stress free is preparation. (See that woman in the picture over there to the left? She prepared.) So, I've scoured the web to find some sites with varied travel tips: First, here are some air travel tips. And here's a whole site dedicated to traveling with kids. Here are some driving tips. And for good measure, here are some tips for those who are stressed just from the thought of holiday travel and have convinced loved ones to travel to them.

Of course, the biggest preparation tip of all is to carry smart bags and travel accessories. Pack a Puddle Jumper for an overnight trip or opt for a Shuttle Bus for the weekend. Or there's always the Tuk Tuk or the Taxi or the Moped or ... Well. You get the picture. There's a Lug bag for every possible pilgrimage, plus accessories (like a Nap Sac or a Flatbed or a Tango ...) to ease any travel stresses.

So, be prepared, and you can be just like the woman in the picture. Or at least a little more carefree.

Win a Wheelie!

Yay for a GIVEAWAY!

We're super excited about the arrival of our fabulous wheelie bags, and we want you to be excited too. That's why we're giving one away. In fact, we're giving away our big Shuttle Bus Wheelie Bag to one lucky winner. Yup. That bag pictured right over there to the left (in whatever color you'd like). Just follow Lug on Twitter, and you'll automatically be entered to win. So, go ahead. Follow @LugLife. And good luck!

... We'll choose a winner on Dec. 1.

See Lug on ShopKomen.com!

We are so excited to be a part of the Promise Me Collection, which benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. And we're extra excited that our pretty pink Lug bags are featured on the ShopKomen.com homepage! You may remember all the deets from our previous post, but if you don't, here goes: We've designed three Lug favorites (the Shuttle Bus Weekender Bag, Train Case, and Clearview Envelopes) exclusively for Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Buy one today, and know that 25 percent of the purchase price will be donated to the cause—and a great cause at that.

Lug + Komen for the Cure® = You, Pretty in Pink

Or black with pink ribbon accents, if you so choose. We at Lug are proud to announce a collection of three Lug favorites—the Train Case, Clearview Envelopes, and big Shuttle Bus Weekender Bag—designed exclusively for Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and available in pink or black. It's part of the organization's new Promise Me Line. Check it out here, and purchase with purpose, keeping in mind that 25 percent of all purchases on www.ShopKomen.com will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in the fight against breast cancer. It's a great way to look cute for a cause!

Lug + Joe Carter & Friends Golf Tournament = Good Lug-ing

We love spreading the love here at Lug, and that's exactly what we did on June 23 at the first annual Joe Carter and Friends Golf Tournament. (There's lovable Joe, pictured above!) We sponsored the 11th hole, where we hosted a beanie chair toss—a high-skill, high-stakes competition where participants gingerly toss the beanie over their shoulder, trying to land closest to the marker and win. (See P.K. Subban's excellent form.) Winners scored a naturopathic remedy kit (click here if you have no idea what naturopathy is), and we also gave away our beanie chairs, luggage tags and coupons, plus Frommer's laptop sleeves and digital cases. We also custombranded our Shuttle Bus for the tournament and provided it to all the players. It was a great event, with proceeds going to a great cause—the Children's Aid Foundation. We're already counting down for next year's tourney!

Quote of the day comes from Canadian hockey great Rick Vaive, who said, "You gotta Lug life!" We Lug you, Rick Vaive.

Click here to see all the pics from the event on Facebook.