Winter at the "Beach"

I love the beach. Not so much laying on it, but I like to walk on the beach and enjoy the view while I'm out sightseeing. My husband loves to swim and hang out in the water, which is easy to do when we travel in the warmer months or to tropical destinations, but hard to do pretty much every other time and most of the year in Portland. The truth is, it's hard to get to the beach a lot of the time and it can be expensive. When we feel like a sandy getaway, we have discovered a great alternative: salt rooms.

Okay, I know you probably think this sounds nothing like the beach and, in a way, you're right. In other ways, salt rooms are even better than the beach. It's because of these reasons that we have a plan to build our own in our backyard sometime in the future. So, what the heck is a salt room? That's normally the question I get when I say I'm going to one. Most people don't know much about them, if they've heard of them at all. A salt room is just what it sounds like. You make a reservation and sit in a room on a lounge chair that is covered in salt from the dead sea. Most have salt rocks/bricks on the walls and then large salt "sand" on the floor, making it feel like the beach. 

Us at the now shuttered Salt Grotto in Portland

Your appointment lasts one hour and you do what you normally do at the beach: hang out, maybe play in the sand, chat with whoever you came with or, in my case, do a bit of blogging in a totally relaxing atmosphere. There are a lot of benefits to salt rooms. In Europe, you can visit a salt cave, which have been proven to improve health. One hour in the salt room is like spending three days at the beach. Ever breathed easier after a seaside trip? All that salt from the water that floats in the air is cleansing. A salt room just takes the water out of the equation. Those ionic particles are all around you, helping you soaking up the great properties.

Salt Wonder in Vancouver, BC - this is the best one we've ever been to!

if you have allergies, skin issues, respiratory problems or many other ailments, a trip to the salt room can really help you out. You may not notice after your first visit, but you definitely will after a while. I see a noticeable difference in my skin and my allergy level even after an hour visit. I also feel completely relaxed after my session, which is why it was so appealing to do on my vacation when traveling can take so much out of you. If you're prone to getting sick on trips, the salt room will help you kick the sniffles faster and easier, without cold meds.

A visit to the salt room may not be cheap, but it is more affordable than a trip to the beach - even if you buy multiple sessions at a time - and fits a mini-getaway into even the busiest schedule. Even if you don't have a salt room near where you live, be on the lookout for ones when you travel, like we do, and watch the daily deal sites for discounts.

Salt Therapy in London - I love that we look like lunch ladies :)

Have you ever been to a salt room? If so, which one(s)? I want to add it to my list!

Review & Giveaway: Bluff Works (New) Travel Pants for Men

As you may remember, my husband reviewed Bluff Works pants in the past and liked them so much that we ordered a second pair and they were two of the three pants he packed to go to Europe for two weeks. He was not disappointed. The pants fit great, were comfortable and could go many wears between washes (though, we did laundry often enough that they only got worn twice before they were clean again). Bluff Works has been working on a new cut to these awesome pants and asked if Eric would review them with the new features. Of course, he said yes!

The last time we tested these pants, summer was right around the corner and Eric wore them to brunch, the movies and to do some gardening. Unfortunately, this time of year, we aren’t quite that active, so I had him wear them to work one day and another day where we ran some errands and he had to carry some heavy bags of litter from the trunk into the garage.

So, how do these pants compare to the original Bluffs? Eric gives them two thumbs up! The originals had straight pockets and this new cut has traditional slash pockets, so they look more like dress pants and it’s easier to get things out of them. On vacation, Eric is always afraid of putting his wallet in his pants pockets as he normally does. With the new Bluffs, there are two zippered security pockets that are large enough for your passport – one in the front and one in the back. Eric loved that the front zippered pocket was large enough to fit his wallet and also keeps it from settling at the bottom of the pocket and making his leg all lumpy looking. So, if you are a guy who likes to keep his wallet in your back pocket, feel more secure putting it in the zipper pocket.

These new slash pockets are large and even when you keep keys, a wallet and phone in one, they don’t gap out, even when sitting down. If you’re like me, this is really a pet peeve of mine. Pockets that don’t sit flat are really unattractive and ruin your whole look, especially when you’re just standing there. The cut of these pants is perfect. The pockets sit exactly how they’re supposed to.

Hate digging through your pockets for your keys? The bottom of your pockets should be for spare change, not everything you carry with you. Keep your keys handy with the soft cloth loop that you can clip them onto. And if you don’t want to use it for your keys, it lays flat against the inside of your pocket and out of the way.

Everyone has a smartphone now and those things can be pretty bulky. Putting it in your pocket is okay, but between getting scratched up by your other items and the worry of sitting down and breaking the screen, you start to wonder if maybe you need to be that guy who keeps it in his front shirt pocket – where it may fall out a thousand times a day – or that has it clipped to their belt. Bluff Works has eliminated the issue altogether by putting in a fancy little slip pocket above your back pockets where you can keep your phone. It’s not in danger of falling out, getting picked or being sat on. The fabric and cut also make it easy to get out when you’re getting a call. It’s awesome!

The other great thing about these pants is the fit. The same size as the original has more room and Eric said it felt like they were cut on a slight angle instead of straight as the originals fit. They still look great for business needs, but they have more room and are more comfortable, making them pretty much the perfect pant for every occasion. You need these in your closet and travel bag.

And hey! If you forget how to care for your Bluffs (which is super easy), just turn them inside out and look at the instructions on your pocket!

Buy some now – they make amazing gifts! – or scroll down to win a pair of your own:

Eric's size: Eric is 5' 10" and is wearing Khaki Bluffs in 42/32.

More information

Where you can buy them: BluffWorks online

Other colors they come in: velvet brown, charcoal, classic grey

How much they cost: $88

Fabric: specially-woven polyester 

Follow Bluff Works: Facebook | Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: We were provided with a pair of Bluffs for the purpose of this review, but all opinions are my own and Eric's.

Less Stressful Holiday Travel

Make sure to enter to win a Lay-n-Go Lite travel bag. Giveaway ends soon!

It's that time again. The holidays are upon us and many of you will be traveling. Whether you'll be visiting friends and family or getting away from them with a relaxing getaway, the airport over Christmas is crazy, packed and chaotic. After packing, just making your way through security and getting on the plane is a challenge. Here are some ways to make it easier on you and everyone around you.

Keep your ID and boarding pass handy - Nobody likes waiting in line, but having to wait for someone to dig around in their bag for things they know they need is like when you're stuck behind the person in the checkout line that waits until the checker rings up everything and tells them the price before pulling out their checkbook. You know what I'm talking about. Don't be a check-writer. Have your ID or passport and boarding pass in your hand by the time you get to the TSA agent letting you into the lines for security screening. 

Bag your liquids - The 3-1-1 bag can be a pain and sometimes hard to pack, but don't make it harder by not packing it ahead of time like some people. It has been a rule for years, so when you either don't pack your gels and liquids in one before you get to the airport and are trying to hunt and gather for them in your carry-on while in line, it just makes people angry that they are behind you. You can buy quart-size zip-top bags at the grocery store and discount stores, like Target. Pull together all your toiletries and pack your 3-1-1 before you leave home. You'll save time, make friends and make sure that everything you want to take fits inside it. It's good to also place it near the top of your carry-on, so you can easily pull it out and throw it in a bin.

Wear some shoes you can slip on or off - Every airport you go to will make you take your shoes off to go through security. Why not make it painless for you and everyone behind you by wearing shoes that don't take forever to get off or on. Leave your combat boots at home and opt for more reasonable options, like loafers or sneakers. Heck, wear your stilettos if you must be glam, as they will take seconds to remove and put back on. Other travelers will thank you when you can grab all your stuff from the other side of the conveyor and get out of the way for them.

Keep your gifts unwrapped - As much as you'll want to wrap any gifts you're bringing before you leave home, resist the urge, because TSA doesn't like them. While they can x-ray your box, wrapped gifts are still suspicious, so you will have spent all that time and energy making it look pretty and then getting it into your bag, only to have an agent rip your paper to shreds to find out what you packed. Bring small gifts that can be packed without boxes and wrapping paper. You can always bring those staples with your and wrap them at your destination.

Make your laptop easily accessible - Yes, yes, you have all that other stuff you need to have in-hand and now I'm adding another. It's one more thing that will need to go in the bin, next to your shoes, 3-1-1, jacket and contents of your pockets. If you're bringing your laptop, netbook or iPad, make sure you can quickly slide it in and out of your carry-on. The faster you can get all your belongings into a bin, the sooner you can push them towards the conveyor belt and the X-Ray machine, making room for other travelers' belongings and causing everyone around you to be happy that you're helping to move the line along as best as possible, so they can get to their designated gate with minimal hurdles. 

Make sure you get to the airport with plenty of time to spare. You never know what can happen, so check wait times and give yourself at least 2 hours before you flight. If you get to the gate and find you've been bumped or your flight has been delayed, know your rights.

What are your tips for traveling a little more stress-free?