For men hoping to pack light and still cut a chic silhouette in Europe, author David Sedaris provides useful guidance: “Comfort has its place, but it seems rude to visit another country dressed as if you have come to mow its lawns.”

When confronted with the daunting task of packing a bag, this automatically rules out the need to pack anything pre-ceded with the word “sweat,” footwear that cannot be worn both for walking and to a four-star restaurant (think comfortable leather loafers and leave your Crocs at home) and any article of clothing that has been “cut-off” or is embroidered with a logo from your place of work or child’s school. Remember, European gentlemen wear pants, so leave the shorts at home unless you are visiting the beach.

If that advice leaves you staring helplessly into your closet, here are some suggestions on what clothing to bring:

 • One pair of leather shoes and a matching belt. Brown is best, but black will work.

 • A navy blazer, which you should wear on the plane. The extra pockets for your passport, wallet and boarding pass will come in handy.

 • One pair of khaki pants and one pair of dark jeans. Dress them down with a simple collared polo shirt for exploring during the day or add a crisp t-shirt and that blazer for a dressed-up casual look for a dinner out.

 • Three long-sleeved shirts, a couple of polos and three or four t-shirts are enough. Ensure the colours complement both the pants and jeans.

 • A nice pair of urban runners, ones designed to look smart, not the kind you wear to the gym.

 • Enough socks and underwear to last a week. European hipsters wear loafers without socks anyway. And as far as underwear goes, invest in a few pair of travelling briefs. Wash them out at night, hang them up to dry and, by morning, no one is the wiser. The other alternative is to launder during the trip’s half-way point.

 • Plan for the unexpected and pack a bathing suit, small umbrella and combination lock.

Technology will assist in winning the baggage battle. Leave behind the guidebooks, alarm clock, camera, address book and novels and replace them all with an iPad or iPod. If you haven’t invested in one yet, consider it part of the holiday expense. Don’t forget the plug adaptor and charger cable.

To check or not to check the bag: the big decision rests with the toiletries.

Follow the advice above and you could carry on one piece of luggage provided you adhere to the 100 ml or less rule for each container of liquids and gels. Purchase mini sizes of deodorant, toothpaste and mouthwash. If your hotel amenities include shampoo, conditioner and body wash, it helps.

On the other hand if your regime includes specific products you can’t live without, who cares if you have to wait a few minutes by the baggage carousel? After all, you don’t want to smell like you just mowed the lawn either.

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Brooklyn Decker. Hollywood entertainment studios, television networks, talent agencies and guilds launch “Got Your 6,” a collective action initiative dedicated to creating opportunities for veterans in six categories: JOBS, EDUCATION, HOUSING, HEALTH, FAMILY and LEADERSHIP held at SAG-AFTRA.

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Serena Williams is currently duking it out in the Madrid Open, where she just advanced to the semifinals, but she's still managed to make a splash stateside with her 1-minute rap debut on Friday. She did date a rapper for quite some time, so of course this totally makes sense. Also in music news, one of the Beach Boys who isn't Brian Wilson thinks President Obama is "an a**hole," Mick Jagger will perform with Arcade Fire and Foo Fighters on the season finale of Saturday Night Live, and Zooey Deschanel's going to play Loretta Lynn on Broadway.

•  As far as celebrity raps go, the minute-long Serena Williams track dropped Friday via TMZ isn't half bad, even if it includes the line, "On the court I serve 'em up, no subpoena / I cook the track up like a frozen pizza."

In terms of talent, we'd put her above Paris Hilton and Miley Cyrus, but below Marky Mark. Let's call her a Brian Austin Green-level rhymesmith. Check out See these celebrity raps to see what we mean.

Williams reportedly recorded the snippet at B Major Music Group's Florida recording studio last year. Given the track's brevity, it's probably safe to call it a one-time exclusive.

Serena dated rapper Common for several years before they called it quits in 2010. She was rumored to have dated Canadian rapper Drake at one point, which is believed to have sparked a momentous beef between Common and Drake in January 2012. We just wish Serena would've jumped in and settled the score for all of them—we'd put our money on her in a fight.

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This summer Fox is launching a brand new dating show called The Choice, a dating show with a concept similar to The Voice. According to EW, "in each episode, four celebrities sit in spinning chairs and listen to non-famous prospective dates pitch themselves." After three rounds, each star whittles down the contestant pool until they have their perfect match. Click ahead to find out which celebrities are looking for love.

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Karachi—The International Nurses Day and international Day of the Midwife would be marked on May 12. The Aga Khan University’s Division of Nursing Services would hold a ceremony to in this regard at its Auditorium on May 12, a spokesperson of the AKU said on Tuesday.

It was pointed out that the nurses and midwives around the world celebrate the International Day of the Midwife on May 5 and International Nurses Day on May 12 each year on Florence Nightingale’s birthday to raise awareness about their respective roles in global health care. The theme for this year’s IDM- ‘The world needs midwives today more than ever’, reaffirms the simple yet evident truth that midwives save lives.—APP

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Mumbai: Actor-producer Aamir Khan, whose ‘Satyameva Jayate’ saw its first episode, dealing with female foeticide, aired Sunday morning, said there was no villain in his show and nor was he advocating any solution but just bringing problems to the people`s notice.

"Doctors should not be blamed in this (female foeticide). Everyone involved in this are equally responsible. I don`t understand why there is so much of fascination with boy child. After all, It is a woman who takes the family ahead," Aamir said, on the issue.

"There is no villain in my show. Who is the villain, it is we all who are doing something wrong. Each problem can be solved through love and that is the reason even my song `Satyameva Jayate` is a love song," he added.

The opening episode had mothers from different parts of the country, from both rural and urban areas talking about the pressure and the problems they faced for delivering a girl child. The actor says he can`t solve anything, neither can the government. "I am no one to bring change or solve anything neither can the government. One person cannot improve this or bring solution. I can only keep the issue in front of everyone. The only solution is each and everyone should say I will not do that," Aamir said.

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If you are visiting Orange Beach, Alabama for the first time or going back for the nth time, finding the most suitable vacation rental could make or break your holiday. This accommodation alternative is recommended by a lot of travelers. After all, it gives you extravagance comparable to that of an expensive luxury hotel, but it is matched with the comfort and privacy of a real home.

When choosing a vacation rental, one of many significant things to consider is location. In Orange Beach, of course, the ocean is the key attraction. Would you like a real beachfront property, or would you rather reside in a hilltop home which includes breathtaking ocean scenery?

Location also consists of taking note of your needs and personal preferences. Are you looking for comfortable and large rooms? Maybe you want to be closer downtown so that you can gain easy access to a myriad of shopping and food alternatives. As expected, you will also have to figure out the cost you are comfortable with. It's sensible to establish a spending budget first, and then check out lodgings that fit within that cost bracket. Doing it backwards could make you spend more money than originally planned.

When placing inquiries to the management of an Orange Beach rental, do not be afraid to be as particular as you possibly can. Ask all the questions you got in mind so you can pinpoint which rental place is perfect for you. In case you are bringing your children and household pets along, find out which beaches are perfect for them. Inquire about beach services available. Do you have to bring in your own beach tent? What about an entertainment system for a movie viewing with the family?

To widen your search on Orange Beach rentals, turn to the Net and come up with a list of promising rentals you can explore for your getaway. Look at sites and consider the overview of your shortlisted places. Of course this doesn't provide you with every little thing you might want to know - but it certainly comes close. Normally, a website has a lot to say about a company. You'd want to make the most of Orange Beach's humid subtropical environment by residing at a spot that takes advantage of that. A neat and updated website, furthermore, commonly leads to good amenities and services. Plus take a look at customer testimonials. These are extremely crucial.

For more tips on selecting vacation rentals, go to usatoday.com. With ample research and a little luck, you'll be able to find a good Orange Beach vacation rental for your friends and family on your next vacation.

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With Britney Spears all but officially signed on to join the second season of The X Factor, attention has shifted to the final judging spot. According to sources, Simon Cowell is courting two high-profile young starlets to join the reality singing competition: Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato.

Celebuzz is reporting that while no formal offer has been extended to Cyrus, the 19-year-old is this close to her own judge's seat. Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter says Lovato is in final negotiations for the job. Both Cyrus and Lovato would likely attract a younger audience to X Factor, which would go a long way in further establishing it as the hip alternative to American Idol's aging juggernaut. The Fox upfront event is on May 14, so there's a very good chance that Cowell is waiting until then to announce his final decision. In the meantime, who do you think would be the best choice?

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Emilia Clarke has made a huge name for herself as the Mother of Dragons in hit TV series Game of Thrones, but she sounds relieved that she hasn't really had to deal with the pitfalls of fame since the debut of her HBO fantasy.

"I'm really oblivious to it, because I look so different," said Emilia, whose natural brunette hair color makes her look quite dissimilar from her character, the white-haired, royal exile Daenerys Targaryen. Still, people do occasionally recognize her: A woman in a department store in Los Angeles was too stunned to get in the elevator when she saw that Emilia was in it. "Khaleesi?" the fan asked.
 
"And then the doors closed, and the lift kept going up," Emilia said with a laugh. "Stuff like that happens, and there's also, 'You kind of look like that girl from "Game of Thrones."'"

Given that she prefers a low-key lifestyle, it's perhaps good that the film role she just finished also has the actress wearing things that make it unlikely that fans will recognize her. In "Spike Island," Emilia plays one of a group of early '90s Stone Roses fans, and wears baggy overalls and that era's puffy, fluffy hair.
 
She's a huge fan of the band, but as she noted, "The '90s were really just bad for fashion and hair." The movie, which doesn't have a release date yet, just wrapped a couple of weeks ago, and at the end of 2011 Emilia finished filming her "Game of Thrones" scenes, which were mostly shot in Croatia. Once again, she typically worked far away from the rest of the cast. This season, Dany is across the Narrow Sea, trying to keep her Khalasar (her Dothraki tribe) alive and ultimately trying to get back to Westeros, the land that the Targaryens used to rule.
 
Back in the real world, the London-based actress sees the rest of the cast whenever she can. "All of the boys, I see regularly because we're all in London together, so that's really nice," she said. "A special bond was made with the whole of the cast from the beginning, when we were all a bit more together, and I don't think that's really going to go away."

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These hot ladies gave birth then shed the pregnancy weight in no time at all -- with the help of strict diets, plenty of cardio, and all that kid lifting. Check out some of the most impressive post-baby bodies in Hollywood here.

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