Ribbon Cutter for Lei

Disclosure: Some links are affiliate. 

Last school year I decided to make a bunch of lei for graduation.  In the process, my hands got quite messed up, with numerous cuts and blisters from cutting all the ribbon.

But with experience comes learning, and I learned that ribbon cutters exist!  They are actually tape cutters that I found on Amazon, but the descriptions and images said that they could be used with ribbon as well.  You simply insert the ribbon, feed it through the cutter, set your cut ribbon length, and set how many pieces you would like the machine to cut (you can also set it to cut until the entire length of the ribbon is gone).  You can cut one or two spools of ribbon at a time. 

The first time I found it a bit tricky to do two spools of ribbon at once and ensure that they are cut the same length at the same time (just be sure the ribbons get fed through the cutter at the same time), but once I determined how to feed it through adequately, the cutter worked well.

This cutter has saved my hands and saved me so much time!

This lei I made used 1080 pieces of ribbon.  I can't even imagine how long it would've taken me to cut by hand.  And for sure the ribbons would not have all been the same size..

 If you make a lot of ribbon lei, consider a ribbon cutter - your hands will thank you!

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More Must-Have Travel Items

Links below are affiliate.

I recently bought the below items that I used on my trip recently, and they sure came in very handy!

AirplanePocket

I try to avoid putting things in the seat pockets on an airplane, and the AirplanePocket has been such a help.  I saw someone on IG use it and at first I thought "Why would I need that?" 

But now I won't travel without it!

It easily slips onto the table, and the pockets can hold a number of items.

It had enough room for water bottles, phones, charges, snacks, sanitizers, and more!

In a pinch, you can just take it off with everything in it and stuff it in a bag!

Phone Holder

On the flight back from Utah in January, I saw a whole row of passengers using a phone holder to watch their phones, even though there was seat back entertainment.  I ended up buying phone holders, which attach to the tray table as well as other parts of the seat back, depending on the aircraft.  It can also be used as a stand to watch your phone on the open table.

They came in very handy on our recent trip where both going and returning the planes did not have any seat back entertainment.

Phone Lanyard

To avoid having to constantly rustle through my purse or pockets to take out photos, or to keep it more secure when taking photos on rides, a phone lanyard comes in very handy.  I bought two types - this Phone Lanyard which comes in a pack of 2, and this Phone Lanyard, which also comes with a wrist strap. 

I haven't used the wrist strap yet, but the lanyard itself (both brands) is great.  It is adjustable and can be worn around your neck or across your body.  The hook closure was different on each brand, but they both worked fine, and the lanyard was sturdy.

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More Travel Must-Haves

Here are 5 more of my travel must-haves, regardless if you are team carry-on or not (links below are affiliate).

MicroLocks are great for securing zippers on your purse or backpack.  They prevent them from accidentally opening and deters people with bad intentions from trying to reach in to grab something (we all know there are people like that).  In addition to connecting zippers and other objects, there is a dial in the center to prevent the MicroLocks from accidentally opening.  

If we buy bottled water or any type of drinks while waiting at the airport, it can sometimes be a challenge to hold the drinks, depending on what kind of bags we have.  This Travel Cup Holder comes in very handy in those types of situations.  They easily attach to a carry-on's handle, and can hold your drink, snacks, phone, and more!

It doesn't matter where we stay - in a luxury resort, an inn, or a vacation rental - Shower Slippers are a must.  I ordered a couple of kinds since some in my family like "regular" slippers, and others in my family like the slide style (the regular slippers take up much less space).  Both of these styles have holes in them allowing for quick drying, and the slides come in various colors so everyone in your family can have a designated color.

I'm constantly taking photos on my iPhone during my travels, and this Phone Holder Lanyard eliminates the fumbling in purses or pockets whenever I have to get my phone, allowing for easy access - and I know where my phone is all the time - hanging around my neck!  It is compatible with most phones (I have an 11 Pro Max), and it works best when you don't have a ring holder attached to your phone (the straps tend to get stuck on and press on the buttons if you have a ring holder on your phone).

The lanyard itself has a ring holder, and you can also secure cash or hotel room keys to the back of your phone, as the webbed design is really tight and secure.  

Each one of my kids has this Slingpack.  They come in various colors (each kid can pick their fave), and has plenty of room and pockets for them to hold their phones, headphones, snacks, souvenirs, and more.  The Slingpack is great not only for traveling, but also for hiking, or anywhere else the kids may go out to hang out with their friends.  

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Off the Eaten Path

 Disclosure: Links are affiliate.

I'm on a quest to try "healthier" snacks, and I recently tried Off the Eaten Path's snacks, and now I'm hooked!

Although these snacks aren't new to the market, they are new-to-me, and I just cannot resist the crunch and flavors.

Veggie Crisps

I first tried them from Sam's Club, then I bought a variety pack from Amazon.  They are so good, even my kids have been eating them up!

Hummus Crisps

Since I love Cheetos, my favorite would have to be the Veggie Puffs.

Veggie Puffs

They are really tasty, and I love the White Cheddar flavor.

The products are made with ingredients such as chickpea flour and rice flour, and real veggies, such as peas, sweet potatoes, and beans.  

Chickpea Veggie Crisps

I can't get enough of them!

You can order them from Amazon here https://amzn.to/3oBLTAr.

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Pandemic Purchase - Soap Dispenser Dish

 Another one of my pandemic purchases (from Amazon) was this soap dispenser dish.

I wash dishes by hand, so I thought this would be a practical product to have, since not only does it rest the scrubber, but you can simply load it with dish soap with just a push.

When I first tried it out, it took a lot of pushes to get the soap to finally dispense (I read on Amazon you just need to keep pushing until the soap comes out), but once I got the soap to dispense, it has been working great ever since.

It's easy to refill the dish soap, and you can single-handedly get soap onto your scrubber with just a push.

 

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