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My Travel Guru list

lifestyle, SsekoGabby Jacobsen
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Lessons from my travel guru …

There are a few lessons I’ve learned since working with the super trendy ladies from Chloe & Isabel for the past 5 years that have stuck with me during all my air travels. I know I’ve posted about them before, but I’ve just adopted into my household some new Sseko products that ‘up’ my travel game even higher. Makes me excited to share these little tips with you!

Organize your travel bag

My new Sseko Sojourner Olive Canvas Travel bag is surprisingly convenient. Clearly it looks really deep, which I would generally avoid because who wants to be digging through loads of stuff to find your wallet and passport? This has a zippered compartment at the bottom accessible from the outside which creates a perfect depth on the top of the bag. This zippered space creates a perfect spot for my travel scarf, socks, travel jewelry case and flip flops. (All mentioned later). Leaving room up top for transport of a delicate gift, passports, book, snacks, iPad, leather bag with power cords, a few toiletries and my wallet. (Also mentioned later). The leather straps allow me to be hands free in all sorts of ways, without having to reach around to unload a backpack. And whether i decide to wear my new Sseko burgandy kaftan, my grey striped maxi dress or my tee and jean shorts, the Olive green and brown is neutral enough to go with anything!

Blanket Scarf

Light layers are a must for any airline travel, but there are those times when the guy next to you has to have the air blowing, or you’re on a window seat and you get the cold from the window. I love having a blanket scarf with me to cover legs or shoulders, or just to use for a makeshift pillow. Doubling as a scarf, wrap or swim coverup makes it a convertible travel piece. This black and white woven one from Sseko is great - good size - good thickness and can be worn with most anything.

Socks

One of my little quirks is needing to have my legs connected somehow. One foot tucked under my knee or ankles crossed. In order to keep myself from kicking everyone with all my crazy movements I take my shoes off and grab my cotton socks. I always have them to avoid yucky floor germs from walking around barefoot (and to keep my tooties warm).

Book

It’s a book. Enough said. I was excited to see this latest collaboration between Bill Clinton and James Patterson. It looks awesome and I can’t wait to crack that open as soon as I get to my seat. Oh, I will also have my iPad loaded with a movie or 2 (or 8).

Flip Flops

I waited much too long to snag these leather Sseko flip flops. Flips are up there with my top 10 things on the planet and these are really yummy! I love my Havianas, but these increase my trendiness 100%. Genuine leather upper and base, they took a day or two with socks to stretch them out to fit perfect, but I couldn’t do my sprint through airport security without them.

New Zippered Wallet

Again, why did I wait this long, even after every Sseko fellow raved about the zippered wallet? I picked up the new yummy Mahogany leather and it works perfectly! It’s big enough not to get lost at the bottom of my purse, the zipper allows me to toss loose papers I don’t want to lose, and could even hold my phone if I wanted to use it as a clutch with a wrist strap. I’m not sure how they managed, but even the Mohagany is a neutral … just enough brown to make it so.

Jewelry Travel Organizer

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I posted about this new piece last week on my IG, but here’s a picture of the inside. Selling jewelry for 5 years makes me a certified “jewelry travel expert” and honestly I haven’t found a better solution than this. I love the deep pockets for my necklaces so they aren’t rolling around and coming out, my statement earrings have a little strap to hold them in place, and a large zippered area for bracelets and extras. It folds up nicely and is pretty to boot.

What’s in my leather pouch?

  • iPad power cord

  • Aveda toner spritzer

  • chapstick

  • lip gloss

  • printed itinerary

  • checked luggage tags

  • lotion

  • Advil

  • eye drops

  • reading glasses

  • headphones

  • pen for my customs forms

Passports and Disability

With the exception of my younger daughter, I generally carry all the passports. She’s capable of handling it herself and it’s a good lesson in organization, but for my disabled daughter and husband, it’s just easier that I keep them close. He’s my point-person for making sure she gets through all the complicated airport security and customs rules when dealing with a person with equipment and special shoes and mobility issues. This is a scary thing for anyone with a developmental delay - being ushered to the side to undergo a pat down and wiping her walker or wheelchair for drug residue. He has always insisted to travel that route with her, going along with the pat down option while I am yelling from my area in line (wrangling a toddler with a penchant for running off and usually a bevy of senior citizens) making sure she is okay and shouting out reminders that I’ll be waiting for her when she’s done, it’ll only take a few minutes, daddy is with her and that yes, this generally sucks.

So I hold the passports, tickets, IDs all together.

One trip through Mexican customs included 2 wheelchairs, 2 teens, 1 senior citizen with Alzheimers, back hallway disabled route with about 9 stops to check passports, IDs and tickets has created this rule. I go to the front of the line with everything and my husband brings up the back to make sure nobody goes rogue. Also on this occasion, my father-in-law was convinced someone in the bathroom during his recent stop must have stolen his passport. 30 minutes of searching later resulted in finding it in his jacket pocket … yep … they’re all staying with me. LOL This year, I’m traveling with 4 very independent young adults, so that’s now taken off my plate. But I’m still keeping an eye out!

Here’s hoping your final summer travels are fun!

If any of the above Sseko products are something you’d like to try on your next trip, please check the website for all the details. Stay tuned for more reviews!

Sseko birthday sale - day 6

Fashion, lifestyle, SsekoGabby Jacobsen
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More bags!!

Some of my favorites this time!!

Day 6 brings you all the cool and trendy bags from the spring/summer season. My favorite being the Woven Stripe bag - it’s so cool with it’s black and white design. It literally goes with everything and I find myself grabbing it more and more often. It reminds me of that California cool factor ..

The spring/summer line is all sorts of beautiful colors! I own the Shopper Tote in the Orchid You Not pink and it’s a stand out piece for everyday. The cross body strap makes it one of my favorites because I love being hands free. It’s soft and supple and has an outside pocket that I can slip my phone and VW key into.

These summer designs are on sale now for 40% off but only today! After midnight, they go back to full price. So many customers have been dying for these pieces at these prices that they’re selling out quickly! I even missed out on something I had my eye on 2 days ago .. so if you love it .. click purchase!

Sseko Birthday - EPIC DAY 4

lifestyle, SsekoGabby Jacobsen
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It’s an Epic day!

Get ready for bags, purses, wallets and travel bags!

This is the day you’ve all been waiting for … it’s the day for bags and totes! Beautiful handmade leather products from artisan women in Uganda and Ethiopia. These aren’t even items going permanently away with the upcoming season, but standard pieces of our regular line AND our best sellers!

Please note these will go on sale TONIGHT at midnight and run 24-hours. At 12:01am Monday morning, the sale will be over and the next one begins.

So rumor has it the Sheba, Convertible Tote, Cross body bags, Eden Backpack, Carryall Travel Bag, Saddle Crossbody … and many many more! I mean really, the Carryall is regularly $349 … tomorrow it could be 35% off a huge leather weekend bag! And let me tell you, my husband LOVES his weekender. It’s like walking through the airport like one of those uber-trendy jetsetters.

If you picked up the Sheba in black during the holiday sale, then perhaps you want to grab the Sheba in Oiled Cognac? It’s such a great time to buy yourself a little something new.

All of Sseko Designs are from small batch production and intentional practices. These sales don’t come along often, and for good reason. Sseko Designs is bringing good jobs and safety to women and their families.

Grab the deals while you can!

All You Need is Love

Fashion, SsekoGabby JacobsenComment
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All You Need is Love

20% of all orders go to Erin’s Kids in Burma

Tomorrow marks the last day to purchase from Sseko Designs under Janet Rosen’s Trunk Show. Sseko Designs and I will be forwarding 20% of every purchase to Erin Terzieff’s foundation … All You Need is Love.

On Sunday, Erin shared the beautiful story of how she made the decision to travel to a small village in Burma to see the conditions families were living in. She started working with a lovely young person in California who also saw the need and whose family started the effort to start a school in Thailand - just across the river from this tiny town.

Some of the things Erin spoke about touched the hearts of all our guests who attended the event. How a simple meal for 1 child costs as low as a US quarter, and how their most important funding need are uniforms. Not so the children can have nice clothes, but because on their walk to school and home each day, kidnappers would pass them by because simply by wearing a uniform it shows someone will be looking for them if they go missing. A uniform costs $2.50.

You may be thinking, “I don’t need another purse” or “I just don’t have a lot to spend right now”. But let me help you factor in how you can help …

Buy a $29 Leather Tassel Clip = 2 uniforms and 4 meals

Buy a $49 Leather Tassel Clutch = 4 uniforms or 40 meals 

Buy a $34.99 Makeup bag = 2 uniforms and 8 meals

Every little bit helps! Not only are you helping Erin’s kids in Burma, but also the ladies of Sseko Designs in East Africa! Keep in mind, you may not need anything for yourself right now, but any of these lovely items above could be a gift for your next friend, sister, mother, co-worker, niece, graduation gift … give a little and get a little.

All sales need to be wrapped up by 8pm tomorrow (Friday, February 22nd). If you need help choosing your favorites, shoot me a message! You know where to find me.

Seattle Snowmaggedon

Chloe + Isabel, Fashion, SsekoGabby JacobsenComment
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Snowmaggedon Shopping

Something to chase away the snow storm blues

A foot of snow dumped at our house within 18 hours yesterday. My day includes laundry, catching up on new movies On Demand and keeping the snow off our dog Homer’s hair (I’m not sure why our Shiz Tzu’s hair doesn’t collect snowballs like our Maltipoo.)

Are you looking for something amazing to do while you’re sitting around catching up on your Netflix series? How about a little online shopping?

Both of my beautiful businesses just launched their Spring collections! I received my Sseko Designs spring collection and everything I received is so gorgeous. The Sseko story is completely inspirational and making a purchase benefits women in Uganda, Ethiopia and India. Chloe + Isabel’s spring collection was inspired by Lisbon and although small, has tropical hints that make me think of summer even when stuck in a foot of snow.

It's a GREAT month for a sale ... apparently!

Fashion, Chloe + Isabel, SsekoGabby Jacobsen
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Time’s Running Out

On 2 of the best sales of 2019

I wouldn’t normally hit this 2 for 1 on my social media … but I’ve been pretty busy and so here it goes.

Both Sseko & Chloe + Isabel are having sales!!

Two of the loves of my life have been put on the back burner for awhile, but that doesn’t make them any less amazing.

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Chloe + Isabel is having it’s Semi-Annual sale until Saturday, January 12th. Up to 75% off some of some gorgeous styles from the last few years. These are not pieces that are going out of stock, but clearing out warehouse space for new spring styles.

I’ve always said that C+I is home to some of the most gorgeous designs backed by amazing quality and lifetime warranty. I still wear mine daily … you can be assured that each piece is heirloom quality and you won’t be sorry (especially at 75% off!)

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Sseko is the latest love of my life and the Sseko Ssisterhood grabbed my attention with it’s story and handmade goods. I never leave home without a Sseko purse - and am holding my breath for all the new beautiful spring collection pieces I’ve pre-ordered. But, the Fall/Winter pieces are calling my name! I can’t believe there are so many gorgeous designs left in our warehouse - because with Sseko - often times when inventory is gone - it’s gone!

I actually can’t believe that the Eden Backpack is on sale! That baby is only $162! That’s incredible since it retails for $250! This is a HUGE fine leather backpack, pretty much good for any occasion. Made with so much love by artisans in Ethiopia. My favorite Sheba Purse is also on sale … the last time it was on sale I easily sold 5 of them! Everyone loves them - I carry mine daily.

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Can we talk about the clothing for a bit - I never in a million years thought I’d wear a Kaftan but I have jumped in that pool with both feet! This is a beautiful dress that I have worn like crazy since I took a chance.

  • Summer with sandals - check!

  • Summer with wedges - check!

  • Wedding - check!

  • Swimsuit cover up - check!

  • Lounging around the house - check!

  • BBQ - check!

  • Church - check!

  • Movies - check!

  • Shopping - check!

  • Flight - check! (can you imagine showing up for your next flight ready for the upgrade to 1st class looking fully put together in a beautifully comfortable dress?)

So pretty much this dress can go anywhere. Now currently available in the Monet and the Dandelion prints on sale.

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I want to talk about 1 more piece - the reversible longer blazer in black/dandelion print. It’s worth checking out and adding to your spring/summer/fall/winter wardrobe. Great for travel and I could easily see this being worn with shorts or skirts or pants or a dress for any occasion. Perfect for office or a night out with the girls … on sale now while supplies last!



Start Shopping Today!!

Final Day 7: IT’S RIBBON SANDALS!!

Fashion, lifestyle, SsekoGabby JacobsenComment

Ribbon Sandals - where it all started!

The sandal that started it all!

The sandal that empowers women in East Africa and in the United States.

The sandal that sent 106 women to the university.

The sandal that helps women in East Africa earn a fair wage and protects them from exploitation.

Sseko Designs is entering our 10th year as a world leader in ethical fashion!! Celebrate our birthday by picking up a pair of our super comfortable ribbon sandals and today you can get them for 35% off!!

And you know I'm all about convertibility - so grab a few extra fun ribbons and you'll have unlimited ways to tie and match these sandals in your every day outfits. Dress them up or dress them down. Clean with damp cloth and throw the ribbons in the wash, they'll be grand once again.

Sandals are priced differently for stitched soles and non-stitched soles - but incredibly comfortable and fun! Try a pair today!!

Stitched $65 (sale price $42)

Non-stitched $45 (sale price $32)

Big Birthday Sale - and Mystery Hostess

lifestyle, Fashion, SunDaze, SsekoGabby JacobsenComment
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It's time for a big Birthday Sale!

... and earn Mystery Hostess credits!

What better time to be introduced to Sseko then during the biggest annual sale of the year! In honor of this event, I'm hosting a Mystery Hostess event and here's how you can earn entries into the Grand Prize giveaway!


GRAND PRIZE:

ALL CREDITS FROM THE MYSTERY TRUNK SHOW UP TO $500!!


A new group of favorite items will go on sale each morning - and I’ll make the announcement early in the morning. They will be at deep reductions AND will go quickly as our Spring/Summer inventory is fading away. You’ll want to do some pre-shopping to get items on your Wish List and set your budget. Then watch for my daily posts and check out (maybe on the train to work or while drinking your morning coffee). There will be 7 days of sales starting on July 12th. 

I’ll add another 1 pt to your entries if you email or text me your Wish List so I can keep an eye out for sale items - you may even get a text before the sale opens so you’ll be prepared!! (Hint hint)

Here’s how to win the whole kitten-caboodle :

1 pt - share, tag AND comment this Blog post to your own Facebook page

2 pts - during the above shared post, list your favorite Sseko product

3 pts - refer a friend who places any size order

4 pts - make a purchase of less than $50

5 pts - make a purchase of less than $100

6 pts - host a Facebook event (1 hour online) between July 12-18 with at least 3 purchases

7 pts - book a Home Trunk Show between July 12th - August 31st (credits will be awarded following your event, or 3 early purchases)

I have plans for a Grand Open House in August, but I will be hosting a quick Open House this Saturday morning, July 14th from 10am - noon, in my home. This will allow you to see, touch and try out products you've been seeing online. I will be able to provide additional information on products I do not have. RSVP is mandatory, please let me know by Friday at noon.

How about some mimosas and cupcakes to celebrate Sseko's birthday?

Grab a little girl time before your family activities ramp up for the weekend.