The Open Suitcase

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LIFESTYLE Louisiana SNAPSHOTS TRAVEL United States Wellness

Voluntourism: A Hand Up or a Handout? Part Deux

Voluntourism: A Hand Up or a Handout? Part Deux

LIFESTYLE Louisiana SNAPSHOTS TRAVEL United States Wellness

Voluntourism: A Hand Up or a Handout?

Voluntourism: A Hand Up or a Handout?

Alaska Arizona Hanoi Home Decor LIFESTYLE ROAD TIPS South Carolina SOUVENIRS United States Vietnam Wellness

Postcards from the Desk

Postcards from the Desk

LIFESTYLE Norway Oslo SOUVENIRS Wellness

“Get Out!”

“Get Out!”

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ABOUT CATHY

Traveler. Writer. Wife. Mother of 3. Friend. Dabbler. "The thing is to have a life before we die. It can be a real adventure having a life” - John Irving, "The World According to Garp" Let's Talk!

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theopensuitcase

582 21,248

theopensuitcase

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Dec 15

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Instagram post 2199756139183495028_53059164 It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas... . . . Include a visit to Longwood Gardens near Philly to get your ho ho ho on. The Conservatory features 20 oh my gosh holiday themed rooms. . . . Plus the food and drink are awesome. Check out the stew made with famous Kennett Square mushrooms and drafts brewed with hothouse fruits. Try the Cherry Oatmeal Stout! Trust me. #christmastime #christmasiscoming #christmasmood #ornaments #holidayseason #visitphilly #christmasinphilly #ribbon #Longwoodchristmas #merryandbright #holidaydecor #tmom

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
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Include a visit to Longwood Gardens near Philly to get your ho ho ho on. The Conservatory features 20 oh my gosh holiday themed rooms.
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Plus the food and drink are awesome. Check out the stew made with famous Kennett Square mushrooms and drafts brewed with hothouse fruits. Try the Cherry Oatmeal Stout! Trust me.
#christmastime #christmasiscoming #christmasmood #ornaments #holidayseason #visitphilly #christmasinphilly #ribbon #Longwoodchristmas #merryandbright #holidaydecor #tmom
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156 2

theopensuitcase

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Nov 18

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Instagram post 2180067237598570401_53059164 Room with a view... . @HawksCayResort lanai rooms overlook serene water features like the (heated!) pool and lagoon. . Best of all, they have large decks with loungers. One’s calling my name. . The resort’s looking good after a $50 million post-Irma renovation. Same friendly service I enjoyed on two prior visits. You can go home again. . #HawksCayRises #hosted #thepreferredlife #tmom #luxuryfamilytravel #floridakeys #visitflorida #conchlife #marathonflorida

Room with a view...
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@HawksCayResort lanai rooms overlook serene water features like the (heated!) pool and lagoon.
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Best of all, they have large decks with loungers. One’s calling my name.
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The resort’s looking good after a $50 million post-Irma renovation. Same friendly service I enjoyed on two prior visits. You can go home again.
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#HawksCayRises #hosted #thepreferredlife #tmom #luxuryfamilytravel #floridakeys #visitflorida #conchlife #marathonflorida
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162 7

theopensuitcase

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Nov 5

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Instagram post 2170739770182135838_53059164 It’s all relative.... . . . I’ll never complain about my weight again. I’d be nearly 2 TRILLION pounds if home was a neutron star. . . . So many fun facts learned at the American Museum of Natural History today. Did you know that the lyrics are true? We really are stardust...created out of a nebula cloud. Thank you, @jonimitchell_official . . . What I didn’t learn? What’s a neutron star? Calling @neildegrassetyson #sciencerocks #dayatthemuseum #citypass #nyc #inthecity #dayoff #naturalhistory

It’s all relative....
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I’ll never complain about my weight again. I’d be nearly 2 TRILLION pounds if home was a neutron star.
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So many fun facts learned at the American Museum of Natural History today. Did you know that the lyrics are true? We really are stardust...created out of a nebula cloud. Thank you, @jonimitchell_official .
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What I didn’t learn? What’s a neutron star? Calling @neildegrassetyson #sciencerocks #dayatthemuseum #citypass #nyc #inthecity #dayoff #naturalhistory
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210 2

theopensuitcase

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Oct 27

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Instagram post 2163548809492433258_53059164 Mirror fence . . . That’s the name of this sculpture, one of more than 100 that dot the 500 acres at Storm King Art Center. . . . Fall’s the perfect time to visit, but go early. They expect 6,000 guests on beautiful autumn days, like today. Did you get outside? #hudsonvalley #hudsonriver #nylovesfall #autumncolors #fallcolors #fallfoliage #outdoorart #naturesbeauty #greatoutdoors #artscene

Mirror fence
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That’s the name of this sculpture, one of more than 100 that dot the 500 acres at Storm King Art Center.
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Fall’s the perfect time to visit, but go early. They expect 6,000 guests on beautiful autumn days, like today. Did you get outside? #hudsonvalley #hudsonriver #nylovesfall #autumncolors #fallcolors #fallfoliage #outdoorart #naturesbeauty #greatoutdoors #artscene
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463 25

theopensuitcase

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Oct 22

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Instagram post 2160215508711210153_53059164 So very serene. . . . I was a nervous wreck during the hours leading up to my daughter’s wedding. But watching her glide through the getting ready, put me at ease. . . . Big thank you to @beautybycherise for helping the bridal party put on the pretty. First time for me wearing false eyelashes - such fun! . . . #effortlesschic #bridalhair #romantic #bridalmakeup #theknot #hairinspo #weddinghair #weddingday #hairfashion #weddingphoto

So very serene.
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I was a nervous wreck during the hours leading up to my daughter’s wedding. But watching her glide through the getting ready, put me at ease. .
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Big thank you to @beautybycherise for helping the bridal party put on the pretty. First time for me wearing false eyelashes - such fun!
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#effortlesschic #bridalhair #romantic #bridalmakeup #theknot #hairinspo #weddinghair #weddingday #hairfashion #weddingphoto
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218 8

theopensuitcase

View on Instagram

Oct 16

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Instagram post 2155864957986881296_53059164 Programs?! Programs?! . . . 3 days before the wedding, the details of the ceremony were finalized. So, I headed off to our local craft store and picked up medium weight card stock, a small single hole punch, ribbon and stickers. Oh. And a paper crease to help make crisp folds. . . . Employing 3rd grade crafting skills, I knocked these out in no time. What? Me worry? . . . #michaelsstores #weddingcrafts #papercrafts #weddingday #weddingessentials #goingtothechapel #motherofthebride #stickers #stationery

Programs?! Programs?!
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.
3 days before the wedding, the details of the ceremony were finalized. So, I headed off to our local craft store and picked up medium weight card stock, a small single hole punch, ribbon and stickers. Oh. And a paper crease to help make crisp folds.
.
.
.
Employing 3rd grade crafting skills, I knocked these out in no time. What? Me worry? .
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#michaelsstores #weddingcrafts #papercrafts #weddingday #weddingessentials #goingtothechapel #motherofthebride #stickers #stationery
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229 6

theopensuitcase

View on Instagram

Oct 15

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Instagram post 2155156419790734167_53059164 Do you know the way to San Jose? . . . The city’s changed so much since I started visiting back in 2007. Hotel prices have soared thanks to Silicon Valley tech money. Finding an affordable, yet elegant, place to stay to begin our week-long wedding adventure was a challenge. . . . Fortunately, my daughter found the @hayesmansion, an historic hotel that, until recently, was owned by the City of San Jose. It’s scheduled for a $15 million upgrade by new owners. Can’t wait to see it after the reno! . . . Built in 1905, it’s a magnificent estate property tucked away in a suburban neighborhood. I stole some precious quiet time in the mornings (#calmbeforethestorm), with my coffee on a secluded terrace surrounded by lush tropical foliage. Thank you to the friendly and efficient group reservations team, especially Frances and Rona, who facilitated our stay. . . . #HistoricHotels #sanjose #siliconvalley #luxuryhotels #visitsanjose #comestayawhile #weddingvenues #norcalweddings #gardenparty #luxehotels #livelikearoyal #wanderlust #hayesmansion

Do you know the way to San Jose?
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The city’s changed so much since I started visiting back in 2007. Hotel prices have soared thanks to Silicon Valley tech money. Finding an affordable, yet elegant, place to stay to begin our week-long wedding adventure was a challenge.
.
.
.
Fortunately, my daughter found the @hayesmansion, an historic hotel that, until recently, was owned by the City of San Jose. It’s scheduled for a $15 million upgrade by new owners. Can’t wait to see it after the reno!
.
.
.
Built in 1905, it’s a magnificent estate property tucked away in a suburban neighborhood. I stole some precious quiet time in the mornings (#calmbeforethestorm), with my coffee on a secluded terrace surrounded by lush tropical foliage. Thank you to the friendly and efficient group reservations team, especially Frances and Rona, who facilitated our stay. .
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.
#HistoricHotels #sanjose #siliconvalley #luxuryhotels #visitsanjose #comestayawhile #weddingvenues #norcalweddings #gardenparty #luxehotels #livelikearoyal #wanderlust #hayesmansion
...

290 2

theopensuitcase

View on Instagram

Aug 16

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Instagram post 2112073367485195002_53059164 Feeling groovy? Celebrating #Woodstock weekend with some funky sugar cookies. Break out the tie dye and rock on! • • • #flashbackfriday #1969 #peace #love #hippie #vintagesounds #rockandroll #musicfestival

Feeling groovy? Celebrating #Woodstock weekend with some funky sugar cookies. Break out the tie dye and rock on! •
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#flashbackfriday #1969 #peace #love #hippie #vintagesounds #rockandroll #musicfestival
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225 8

theopensuitcase

View on Instagram

Aug 3

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Instagram post 2102304528551866689_53059164 Ripe and ready! It’s #TOMATO time! Kick off the season with a #GIVEAWAY for the New York Botanical Garden Totally Tomatoes Weekend, August 10-11, 2019. Two lucky winners will each receive a 4-pack of tickets for Saturday OR Sunday! . . Culinary demos! Maker station! Garden tours and yummy family fun! . . Want to win? If you’re going to be in #NYC next weekend, follow @theopensuitcase and @nybg, like this post and comment about your favorite way to enjoy tomatoes. Enter until Wednesday, August 7 at 10 p.m. EST. Winners will be chosen at random and announced Thursday morning! . . #plantlove #garden #gardenlife #gardenlove #gardensofinstagram #vegetablegarden #gardenideas #backyard #homegrown #growyourfood #veggiegarden #lovemygarden . . Entrants must be 18+ years of age. This contest is not sponsored, administered or associated with Instagram and entrants agree to comply with Instagram’s terms of service.

Ripe and ready! It’s #TOMATO time! Kick off the season with a #GIVEAWAY for the New York Botanical Garden Totally Tomatoes Weekend, August 10-11, 2019. Two lucky winners will each receive a 4-pack of tickets for Saturday OR Sunday!
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Culinary demos! Maker station! Garden tours and yummy family fun!
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Want to win? If you’re going to be in #NYC next weekend, follow @theopensuitcase and @nybg, like this post and comment about your favorite way to enjoy tomatoes. Enter until Wednesday, August 7 at 10 p.m. EST. Winners will be chosen at random and announced Thursday morning!
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#plantlove #garden #gardenlife #gardenlove #gardensofinstagram #vegetablegarden #gardenideas #backyard #homegrown #growyourfood #veggiegarden #lovemygarden
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Entrants must be 18+ years of age. This contest is not sponsored, administered or associated with Instagram and entrants agree to comply with Instagram’s terms of service.
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