Leave Your Credit Cards at Home with #WocketWallet

Wouldn't it be easy if all you had in your wallet was one credit card and your ID? Of course it would, but it's very rare that any of us have only a few things in our purses or pockets, because we all have several credit cards, debit cards, rewards cards and more. If you could leave it all at home with no consequences, would you? I know I sure would, because I hate sifting through cards when I get to the check out. With the Wocket Smart Wallet you can live the dream.

Program this sweet little electronic wallet with all your important cards and rewards programs and you're good to go. You won't have to worry about a card falling out of your wallet somewhere and someone picking it up and going on a shopping spree. Wocket stores all your cards and allows you to use any card you've uploaded at the checkout with the fancy electronic Wocket card. It looks like a credit card, with your name on it and a magnetic strip like any other card you would use.

Seven or eight years ago, I had a card go missing and I noticed a $700 charge on it. Someone had tried (and mostly succeeded) to buy a computer with my debit card. I was lucky to have caught it and even luckier to be able to call both the bank and the online retailer and straighten out the situation. The order was cancelled, the money put back in my account and a new card was sent to me. It took a couple hours of my time, but it all turned out okay, however, it would have been nice for it to have never happened at all.

It would be almost impossible for the Wocket card to get lost, as it locks in place when put back into your Wocket Wallet, ready to be programmed anew the next time you need to use it to make a purchase. Five minutes after it's used, the card wipes itself, so even if it IS lost, it can't be used at all, since it only has your name on it, no numbers or credit card logos. Pretty cool, right? 

I feel like having this on my trips could really eliminate the worry of losing my credit card that I'm using for most of my purchases, or any of my others. Having just the one card to deal with would simplify things and help to pack lighter. Imagine having all your cards at your fingertips, while also leaving them at home in a safe place. 

Setting up your Wocket is easy. You charge it fully (which can last 6 months to a year on a single charge with regular use), choose a PIN (which can be any combination of four numbers or letters) and then verify your name by swiping one card that has your name attached to it. Once you've done this, you can start uploading all your credit cards, rewards cards and other cards onto the device. In fact, it holds up to 10,000 records for you. Obviously, you'll probably never even need even half of those, so basically it'll never run out of memory for you.

So, does it really work? I tested it on a few trips to the convenience store and had no problem choosing the card I wanted to use, waiting for the Wocket to program the deets onto my card and then swiping it through the machine. Nobody looked at me weird, but I didn't have to show anyone my card either. If you do, you can click on the card info on your Wocket, enter your PIN and show the clerk your whole card information, as well as show them your ID. Easy, right?

Does simplifying your wallet for home and travel sound like something you'd want to do? I'm guessing most of you are saying yes, especially if it comes at a more affordable price for you. While the Wocket doesn't come at a price you'd pay for a normal wallet, think of all the time and worry you'll save over the years by having all your cards in one spot, no matter where you go. If a card suddenly has a problem while you're in the middle of your vacation, you can easily pull up another card for backup that you may have wanted to leave at home had you cleaned out your regular wallet before leaving. Crisis averted. For this peace of mind, you're probably willing to pay more. You can save $30 off your Wocket with my special code: 30OFF-f2bsca36

The Wocket makes a fantastic gift as well. With the holidays coming up, imagine the joy you'll give someone who often has to rifle through all their cards to find the right one when they go shopping. You can purchase one now! 

Want to win your very own Wocket? Of course you do! Check out Wocket Wallet's social media sites and follow them to enter through the rafflecopter form below. One lucky winner will be chosen on October 20th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How much is it? $179
Got more questions? Find out more about Wocket Wallet on their website.

Disclaimer: I have been sent the Wocket Wallet for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.

Las Vegas Food In Pictures (and Some Words)

One of my favorite things to do in Vegas is to eat. What used to be tons of mediocre buffets has now turned into a haven for haute cuisine and delicious eats, though some of the buffets have amped it up to serve higher quality items that have you drooling long after you've paid your bill. We tend to visit Vegas once a year and try as many new places to eat as possible. Some are big hits, some are huge misses, but the pictures (and memories) remain until the next time we hit Sin City.

I've been to a lot of buffets, but the best and by far the most beautiful is the Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan. It's the best brunch I may have ever eaten. 

Bardot at the Aria has the most delicious things on their menu, including this duck and waffle benedict. I could eat this everyday and be a happy camper.

Do you think I love waffles? Of course I do, which is why I don't own a waffle iron at home. At Serendipity 3 we split a plate of chicken and waffles (that you can see are huge) in order to have room for one of their famous sundaes. Eric and I shared the entree and the four of us at the table demolished a fried Snickers ice cream sundae. I didn't get a before, but there's the after. We couldn't even finish it.

There are lots of times I'm just in the mood for fish. For seafood (and other stuff) served with island flair, check out Kahunaville at the Treasure Island. This salmon dish may not have been the best dish ever, but it was certainly amongst the prettiest. I'd love to go back for the dinner show.

You're not always up for a whole big meal. It's times like those where a trip to Todd English's P.U.B. for the charcuterie platter can satisfy. Why don't all plates come with tiny pickled veggies? Why!?

Okay, so maybe you've heard that the East Coast phenomenon has made a home in Vegas. White Castle isn't really a must-eat when you're in town, but it does make for an iconic picture. You can eat for cheaper and be more satisfied by a meal at plenty of other burger joints.

You won't catch me taking a trip to Las Vegas without planning a visit to Cafe St. Louis at the Paris. I love the atmosphere, because you feel like you're sitting at an outdoor cafe on an evening in Paris, and the food is always scrumptious. 

I wish so hard that Pura Vida wasn't out of business, as it was one of the best vegan restaurants I've ever been to. Unfortunately, I think that had they served half the food at 2/3 the price and been open to substitutions or omissions, they may have survived. Meals took a good 40 minutes to arrive at your table, but they were all freshly made and amazing. I couldn't even eat half this plate of French toast with strawberries, bananas and vegan sausage.

Want all the desserts in the world? The Spice Market Buffet at Planet Hollywood has some of everything you've ever heard of. This was just Eric's plate of sweet endings. I got four of my own choices.

If the only dessert you're interested in is the famous cupcakes from Sprinkles Cupcakes, then the outpost at the Linq Promenade has a vending machine and also a counter that serves a rotating variety of delicious cakes. I had the chocolate banana, but I felt that it could have done without all the frosting.

You know how much I enjoy a good happy hour. It's even better when it allows you to eat at a fancy dining establishment at a fraction of the price. The happy hour at Emeril's Fish House at the MGM is one such place and the drink prices aren't too bad either. Here's the cone of popcorn shrimp and cheese ravioli.

We enjoyed Todd English's P.U.B. so much that we dragged our friend to his other restaurant Olives at the Bellagio. They make wood fired pizzas and more with a fantastic view of the water where the fountains are and the Eiffel Tower. 

Some of the best food can't even be found in the casinos. I live for good Brit fare and the Crown and Anchor on Tropicana does it right. You'll find a menu full of traditional eats and be pleasantly surprised when it gets to your table and it actually tastes awesome. When you're tired of The Strip, this is a good respite, plus you can get a good pint.

I always love suggestions. Where are your favorite places to eat in and around Las Vegas?

Theme Park Halloween and Other Scary Travel

Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Not me, but there are so many other things I am afraid of. Halloween is the time where you can face your fears and put a little scare into others. Why not spend this October hitting up places that have good old fashioned ghosts and goblins? The past few years we attended the Halloween events at Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. This year, we'll be back to Walt Disney World.

Many park days at the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland in Sept-Nov are cut short for this party that requires a special ticket to get in. From 7pm to midnight, many of the park guests come dressed in costume to enjoy 5 hours of trick-or-treating, dancing, nighttime thrill rides (only specific rides will be open during that time, not the whole park), Hall-o-wishes fireworks display, an all-villain musical show in front of the castle, villain meet and greets, amazing park decorations and, best of all, a special parade opened with the Headless Horseman on horseback. It’s all totally Disney and so out of their normal festivities that it’s worth putting off your vacation until that time of year.

Knott's presents Knott's Scary Farm. Save on your tickets by buying them online instead of at the gate. We've not actually gone to this event, but we have been there when the decorations are up. Let's just say that I hope the scare actors are better than the decor.

Universal puts on Halloween Horror Nights. While ticket prices don't waver, you're sure to get your money's worth while riding select rides and being scared out of your wits with roaming creeps, themed haunted houses and scare zones. It's like being in your very own horror movie. Get a better deal by buying the Frequent Fear Pass. It gets you into the park during all HHN nights and for less than buying the pass for just one night. We'll be checking it out this year, so stay tuned for a recap of how many times I peed myself. (Sorry)

Busch Gardens in Tampa offers up Howl-o-Scream. Much like Universal, they have scare zones, haunted houses and themed entertainment. You can't get cheaper tickets for this event either, but it'll scare your pants off, which you maybe can't put a price on. The event is included with your regular ticket when you go to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. We took advantage of this last year, so we could check out the shows, which were pretty fun. 

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If you've got little ones and are in Southern California or Florida, head to Legoland's Brick-or-Treat, where they can dress up, visit with their favorite Legoland characters and also go home with a bag full of candy. Each weekend will feature a different collectible brick for them to commemorate their visit. The event requires a separate ticket, but it's a great family-friendly evening.

Around The World

Now, that's just the major theme parks that have fun activities. There are plenty of other activities the world over that you can get in on. Here are some inexpensive things you can do during the fall season or any other time of the year.

The Dungeons are on my list of kitchy and kinda scary (if you're afraid of the dark and mirror mazes where you might be followed) and must-do attractions. The site offers best price guarantee and you can get discounted deals if you purchase a combination ticket with Madame Tussaud's and/or the London Eye. If you plan to visit off-peak hours, you can save up to 50%! You must purchase your tickets online though. Each dungeon (located in London, Blackpool, Warwick Castle, York, Hamburg, Edinburgh, Berlin, Amsterdam and now San Francisco) walks you through the "streets" of history and winds you through creepy stories and rides that take you from one area of the dungeon to another.

In France? Check out the Paris Catacombs. There are miles of underground tunnels underneath Paris full of human bones that were put there when the cemeteries became overcrowded. Even now they are still crowded, but with tourists. Get there right at opening and beat the crowds. Lines can stretch up to 2 hours long and with prices at only 5 Euros per person, it's one of the cheaper things you can do in France.

Plenty of creepy things have come out of London. One of the most famous? Jack the Ripper. He was never caught and you can walk the same streets on a London night with a small group for around $15 per person. Feel some of the fear those women must have felt while standing in a dark alley and hearing about the gruesome and brutal murders that happened on the very spot. 

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New Orleans has always claimed to have a rich history in the occult and creepy myths. For an hour and a half walk among the darkened streets on the New Orleans Vampire Tour for only $20 per person. Many other walks are available, but who wouldn't want to believe in the undead and the horrible things that happen in the shadows of the city?

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New England always seems to be the backdrop for creepy and bizarre happenings. Stephen King loves to write about New England in his scary novels, too. One such story, which happens to be true, is the tale of Lizzie Borden in Massachusetts. Not only can you stay in the very house both her parents were murdered in (whether she did it or not, as she was never convicted, but moved to live outside of town where she was shunned for the rest of her life), you can also take a tour of the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast. As cheerful as a B&B sounds, this one claims to be haunted. People have said to have had many encounters with ghosts while staying there, but if you can't get in to sleep there or are too scared, take the tour. They are only $12.50 per person and occur only during daylight hours, so there's (mostly) nothing to be afraid of, but what happened to the real murderer?

Portland's Shanghai Tunnels are quite a tourist attraction. There is a whole city of tunnels under the Oregon town's downtown area. For $19 per person you take a flashlight tour of the tunnels and learn about how people would be pulled into the tunnels (often drunk), have their shoes stolen and forced into slave labor. If you missed my blog post on underground sightseeing, find it here.

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Winchester Mystery House. Tour 110 of the 160 rooms of the house that took 38 years to build and has stairs that lead to nowhere and doors that open into walls. There are several tours to choose from, including a flashlight tour special for specific October dates. Tours range from $22 to $50 per person and should be purchased online.

Almost anywhere you go that has open land will have a corn maze. You can go during the day or the evening and enjoy getting lost in a labyrinth of corn! The daytime maze will be fairly tame and the maze at night is dark and may have several spooky surprises. Though you may not be able to take advantage of pumpkin picking, you CAN stop at the general store they have set up and get some local foods to take home, like pumpkin butter and huckleberry candy (okay, that's probably just what we have here in Oregon). 

Check out some fun musicals for Halloween season. Search for discounts on great theater in London, New York, Las Vegas and Orlando on Theater.co.uk. Two musicals that might be of particular interest to you are Thriller Live and Wicked. 

I look forward to finding out all the new fun Halloween activities for the this season. What are the cool things to do in your town that are fun and affordable?