Review & Giveaway: Conair Mini-Pro Collection

Mother's Day is this Sunday. If your mom likes to travel and save money, I've got a handful of copies of my book in paperback left and am offering them (signed) for $14, including shipping to the continental U.S. if purchased by Wednesday (5/9). They're going fast. Buy one now!

I love to travel, but sometimes taking everything you need is a pain, because it all takes up so much room. I have been preaching the goodness of mini travel appliances for years and have converted many. I own a mini flat iron that I take with me everywhere my carry-on goes, but I see that some people just aren’t convinced. Sure, it can take a few tries to get the right product and that can be frustrating, especially when you get to your destination and realize the travel-size hair dryer you brought doesn’t produce enough heat or air to effectively dry your hair. I have always had great success with Conair products, so both my home flat iron and my mini one are made by them. I like them so much that I asked if they might like me to try some of their other hair appliances.

By now, everyone probably brings their own hair dryer or uses the one in the room, but it’s scary to rely on new products when you need them to do something other than get your hair dry. Conair offered to send me 3 items from their Mini-Pro Collection. The Mini-Pro Ceramic Straightener (Flat Iron), The Mini-Pro 2-in-1 Ceramic Styling Tool and The Mini-Pro Cordless Curling Iron. I was truly excited to test them out, because I’m not really all that good at using appliances on my hair and feel like I must have missed that bit of talent when they were giving it out.

I already own a similar version of the Mini-Pro Flat Iron, so I can both review it and give one away! After some practice with my regular size flat iron, I felt like this smaller one was a lot easier to handle. You could get closer to your roots with it and had more control with it. You have to do smaller sections of hair to get it to work correctly, since the plates are small and the whole thing is mostly handle. This won’t bother those like me with shorter hair, though I would suppose if you had a lot of hair to work with, you might find it tedious. My hair is very thick, so it takes a little longer to get it all straight, but I find it still only takes about 15 minutes at the most. It produces a very sleek style and it doesn’t dull or burn your hair.

The plates are ceramic-coated, heat up pretty quickly and don’t take long to cool down after you switch it off. And it comes with a fancy little pouch to keep it all together and toss in your bag. No cord tangling! I like my Mini-Pro Flat Iron so much, I’ve considered using it as my everyday straightener or just buying a second one. I’ve taken it on 3 different trips and it has worked perfectly each time – except for the time I forgot to bring conditioner, but that is a personal problem, rather than a flaw in the product, as my hair won’t do a thing without some sort of conditioner to tame it. All-in-all, I think this is one of the better flat irons you can own. It’s also the perfect size to keep in your purse or gym bag for those times you need a touch-up or are styling on-the-go. (Don’t forget to enter at the bottom for a chance to win one of your own.)

I was skeptical when I first pulled out the Mini-Pro 2-in-1 Ceramic Styling Tool. I honestly wondered how many thousands of times I would burn myself on the outside curved plates and how many tries it would take for me to achieve even something as attractive as in the how-to booklet. Yes, I am that bad at this! So, I was more than surprised when I read through the instructions on how to create a curl with the curved plates (only THREE steps?! Shenanigans!), but after waiting a few moments for it to heat up and doing exactly what I was told, I was able to produce a perfect curl! In fact, it was so fun and easy, I had curled half my head within 5 minutes and I didn’t even burn myself ONCE (or twice). This is my new favorite hair appliance!

5 minutes from THIS

To THIS!

After making my hair bouncy with curls, I was just as easily able to straighten them back out using the 2-in-1 as a regular flat iron. Just don’t twist the barrel and you get sleek straight hair just as beautiful as with the Mini-Pro Flat Iron. This one is perfect for those that like to change up their look and curl their hair quickly for a fun going out look or keep it straight for business meetings or easy maintenance. The size is similar to the mini flat iron, so you can toss it in your bag or purse and create a whole new look in the middle of the day in just minutes.

If you are curling iron challenged, like me, you will love this little gadget. It doesn’t require you to curl your hair up (and somehow get it all tangled up like I always end up doing, even though I’m sure it’s impossible). If you can comb your hair, you can pretty much get this thing to work. The only thing I think that might deter some is that it gives you big curls or even wave, but if you want tighter curls, you will probably need a curling iron. Luckily, that’s not a problem, because I also have the Mini-Pro Cordless Curling Iron!

Cordless, you say? Yes, I am completely hopeless when it comes to using a curling iron if the strand of hair I’m trying to work with is not right on the side of my face. I get all confused in the mirror, get half my other hair caught in it and end up trying to scalp myself, burn my fingers and hit myself in the face with the cord 32 times before finally giving up. Maybe you are laughing, but maybe you aren’t because you are just like me. Maybe you’re afraid to admit it, but that’s okay. I know I’m not the only one who can be bad at curling irons. I figured, at least this cordless one has one less thing to go wrong with it…and I could use it at my desk at work! (Don’t get any ideas. They didn’t make this for you to curl and drive.)

I will start out by telling you that I didn’t actually burn myself with this or pull out half my hair. That was a plus. You may think it’s a bit wonky, because it runs on butane and you have to click to start it, kind of like your gas BBQ. The instructions say that you will hear a click when the iron is “lit”, however I didn’t seem to hear it and wasn’t aware it was ready to go until I touched the barrel and found it to be warm. While it was easy to use, I didn’t think it was as simple as the 2-in-1 styler. It took me 15 minutes to get half of the hair done with the curling iron as I did with the 2-in-1 styler. You definitely can’t do much hair at a time, as the barrel is smaller than a regular curling iron, so it will take you longer to get your hair curled, especially if you have longer tresses. This one is particularly good if you are going to be traveling a lot and either don’t want to bring a travel converter or may have iffy electricity. Staying in a place with a shared bathroom? You can use this in your room, even if there are limited outlets.

You can use each butane cartridge up to 1 month, depending on how often you curl your hair and for how long. It comes in a fancy case and the cartridge is TSA approved for air travel. That’s a bonus right there. The negative is that you have to continue to purchase cartridges for it, which means you will keep spending money to keep using it. Obviously, you will save money on it if you only use it while traveling. The butane cartridge is stored, capped, separate from the barrel, so the liquid doesn’t evaporate quickly.

More information:

Where you can buy them: Conair-Store Online or your local discount store (like Target)

How much they cost and other details: 

MiniPro Ceramic Straightener: $19.99-22.99 | 30-second heat-up, heat resistant travel pouch, dual voltage

MiniPro 2-in-1 Ceramic Styler: $19.99-24.99 | 30-second heat-up, heat resistant travel pouch, dual voltage, 5/8″ straightening plates

MiniPro Cordless Curling Iron: $19.99-22.99 | ThermaCELL butane cartridge, travel case, 60-second heat-up, 5/8″ barrel

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was provided with the Conair Mini-Pro items for the purposes of this review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Making a Summer Staycation More of a Vacation (Part 2) 5.5.12

Sometimes, you just don't have the funds to take a full-on vacation. Maybe you had to replace your roof (raises hand) or your car broke or any number of other unforseen expenses can occur and you just can't fit it into your budget. Well, just because you can't go anywhere doesn't mean you can't make the most of a staycation, just to get out of the house and see more of your own town or a neighboring one. It's better than sitting on the couch watching reruns of Supernatural (even though that show rocks). If you missed Part 1 of this post, make sure to go check it out.

Take a walking tour. All cities have one, so why not fork over a few bucks (or nothing) and go on one. You're sure to learn a bunch about where you live and maybe look at it much differently than before. You can find all kinds of walking tours by Googling or looking at your local Chamber of Commerce website. Many cities have free tours run by locals that are super fun and informative or you can download a free or cheap walking tour app to your mobile device and do it yourself! Bonus if you ever win on a gameshow because you knew historical or random fact about your town!

Get a CityPASS. If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know I love CityPASS. Uh, who wouldn't want to save up to 50% off a whole slew of attractions? Skip the ticket lines and go straight in, plus never pay for anything after you buy your pass (except lunch and souvenirs). Not only does it save you time and money, but it's convenient and it comes with discounts on dining, transportation and more. Get it for one day or several. They are totally customizable.

Hop-on, Hop-off bus tours. Maybe I'm a sucker and I also like taking the bus on vacation, so the hop-on, hop-off buses are up there on my list of vacation activities. With gas prices on the rise in most places across America, paying $15-20 for one of these tours seems like a bargain. Check out all the touristy places in your neighborhood and don't waste any of your own gas!

Attend a sporting event. When’s the last time you went to the ballpark or stadium and got a hot dog and beer and rooted for the home team? You can sometimes find discounts on tickets, too. Check your Entertainment book or sign up for a daily deal site like Groupon and look for 2-for-1 tickets and other discounts.

Take in a Broadway/off-Broadway play. Most cities have plays and Broadway-style productions going on all the time (or if you are in New York City, you get actual Broadway shows) and you can get half-price tickets the day of the performance, find discounts in your Entertainment Book or find amazing deals online at Broadway Box if you live in NYC, Orlando, Las Vegas or London.

Shakespeare in the Park. In the summer, you can get free culture on the weekends by seeing Shakespeare productions done at your local parks. Who doesn’t enjoy free entertainment? My husband and I do this every summer and bring a picnic and our dog. The dog loves to be outside and check out people and then we all eat lunch or dinner during intermission. Toss a couple bucks in the donation box at the end of the show and you’ve just had a super cheap afternoon out. Kids love to watch the performances, too, even if they aren’t entirely sure about the language being spoken. Other theater companies do this with non-Shakespeare plays as well, but you will have to search for them or check your town’s local paper. You might even find listings via What’s On When.

Grace your local Renaissance Fair with your presence. Kings and queens, jousting, turkey legs and jugglers. What’s not to love at a Renaissance fair? You can dress up if you want, watch the shows, shop for swords and hand forged utensils, try on dresses and take your picture with a lute-player. Or not. People really get into the spirit of the Renaissance at these things, which can be awesome. Enjoy the cheese, buy a flower crown, eat something with your hands and have a fun day out. Don’t forget your sunscreen though, as many of these festivals don’t have much cover and they are always on the hottest day of the year (or so it seems).

Visit famous landmarks. Your city probably has one or two (or dozens), so why not look them up online and then make a point to tick them off your list. I can drive a half hour or so and visit the end of the Oregon Trail. Last time I was there, I learned how to make flour and that a covered wagon wasn’t really all that good at keeping you out of the elements. Maybe you have something cool in your hometown, like the house that Abraham Lincoln lived in, or Christopher Columbus’ ship (if that even exists somewhere). You know the places that you tell other people to visit when they come to your city (i.e. Alcatraz), but you have never been to.

What are your favorite hometown tourist activities?

Review: Magellan’s Essential Matte Jersey Collection - Part 2

Today, I want to tell you about the other two pieces of the matte jersey collection I received from Magellan’s last week. Aside from the wrap dress, I also received the Essential Matte Jersey Twist Tank and the Matte Jersey Pants (petite size). As I said before, Magellan’s is excellent at designing clothing for the normal traveler, because they know that people want to look polished while also being comfortable, something many other clothing companies don’t quite build into their designs. Magellan’s clothing can work for all ages, sizes and for leisure and business travelers. If you don’t want to be mistaken for a tourist, then you definitely want to go browse their site. You know, after you read my review!

Essential Matte Jersey Twist Tank

This is another piece that I think would be great if it came in a petite size. If you like a top to be a little longer, you will love this, because it has a bit of a tunic length (unless you’re tall, in which case it will fall right around your hips). Of course, being a shorty, I also have the disadvantage of normal length tops being a little long on me. This one hit just below my bum, which is a preferred style for many now, as skinny jeans and leggings are so popular. I travel with lightweight skinnies, so this top would be a perfect addition to those, as well as with the Essential Matte Jersey Pant.

Okay, on to what I love about this top: The style is lovely and the twist is flattering on all body types. The twist in the front gives the rest of the top a draping effect that will hide a tummy pooch (if you got one and want to hide it) or just give you a bit of room after eating all that yummy food at lunch and dinner. The top fits well in the bust (you don’t feel as if you might “fall out”) and is free-flowing around the middle, so you’re never self-conscious and always comfortable. I paired it with both the EMJ pant and also another pant to show how you can make it casual or a little more hip.

While this one is sleeveless, you have the option of purchasing the same top, but with sleeves, though I think putting a little cover up on it would be preferable in the summertime. It’s certainly a piece that will transition for whatever you have planned, be it dinner and movie or climbing the many steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The fabric is wrinkle-resistant and moisture-wicking, which means it’ll look great, even if you find it balled up in the corner of your carry-on bag. It has the benefit of a hidden zipper pocket that you can hide money or your debit card in while out and about, too. I am a fan of pockets.

Essential Matte Jersey Pant

These are probably one of the best travel pants you will buy if you aren’t planning on hiking trails and climbing rocks. For the normal traveler – those that like to go to museums, check out historical monuments and go shoe shopping – these are fantastic and go with almost everything. I had fun pairing them with items that I would take with me to go to dinner, run around town and just generally be comfortable while looking good. These have two zipper pockets, which are pretty hidden and great for small bills and coins you may need on a daily basis. They don’t poke out either, which is a big concern I normally have for pockets in pants that are flowy. The pocket fits the shape of your body and the pant, so it lies flat.

I got these pants in petite size, so if you are taller, I would suggest the regular length. They hit me at the right spot I like in travel pants, since I could wear flats or heels and not worry about tripping on the hems either way. I would not suggest these pants for colder weather, as they are fairly lightweight and won’t keep the cold out, unless you want to pair them with a base-layer for warmth. Also, they are not attractive if you are a shirt tucker, since the top of the pant is stretchy and may not be tight enough to your body to look natural. I think most people who are looking to buy a pull-on pant aren’t really looking to show off their tummy anyway, so I wouldn’t let that sway your decision. They are a very flattering piece for those that enjoy longer tops or tops that are not more body-hugging and hit about mid-hip. These are sure to become one of your favorite go-to travel pants, as they are attractive while not being clingy and can be worn for pretty much anything you’ll be doing, because they can be dressed up or down as well.

Don't forget that you can get 5% cash back when using Ebates to make your purchase at Magellan's.

More information:

Where you can buy them: Magellan’s online

Colors they comes in: Black and Fig (wine/cranberry color)

How much they costs: $49 – twist tank | $62.50 – twist front top |$49 - pants

Other details: 92% polyester, 8% spandex, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant

Disclaimer: I was provided with the Essential Matte Jersey Twist Tank and Pant for the purposes of this review. All opinions are 100% my own.