Review: Lewis N Clark Secura Satchel

Depending on where I go, I feel like different purses can make the experience better or worse. I often carry a smaller bag with me when I travel, but winter trips call for a handbag that can carry a bit more (in my opinion). If I'm looking for a larger bag, it needs to do a lot. On my last trip to Vegas, I took Lewis N. Clark's Secura Satchel as my personal size item on the plane, because it had room for everything I needed and kept it all organized and secure.

The Secura Satchel can be worn as a shoulder bag or a crossbody, which I love, because I like to have my hands free, especially at the airport when you need to have several things on hand, and it can be hard to juggle those things and your bag and your carry-on.

If you're intending to keep your items away from prying eyes and sticky fingers, the Secura is for you. Not only do all the zippers lock, but it also has RFID-blocking technology so you're safe from regular thieves and electronic ones.

The front of the bag has two large zipper pockets. Use these for your items you want to access easily. When I flew to Vegas, I used one entirely for snacks. I enjoy handy snacks. Here you can see that it fits my large battery backup and cords, but there's also this nifty pocket that's specific for your room key. As I said before, I'm good at losing my key card among my other cards and then having to shuffle through my bag to find it to get into my room. This slot is specifically in a whole different place than your regular card slots.

The other zipper pocket on the front has a slot for a pen and for one of your electronics or whatever else you want to put in there. It fit my point-and-shoot camera perfectly. I like that there's a bit more room in there, so I was able to fit my house/car keys and a my lip balm in the space in front of the pockets. Because the pockets don't entirely zip open, your items are safe from falling out, even if you forget to zip it back up.

The inside of the Satchel is large, but not too large. It has a lot of pockets in order to keep you organized, so you can find everything you need when you need it. My bluetooth keyboard fit inside perfectly. I didn't have to wrestle it in or out because the top zipper is almost as wide as the bag is and you aren't going to have issues seeing inside or getting your hands in to access your stuff. So, I had my keyboard in there, my makeup bag of personal items and that polka dot notebook you see on top.

The one side of the bag has two large slash pockets that you can use for your electronics or pretty much anything you want to keep separate from everything else in your bag. The two pockets take up the whole side of the bag. I used one for makeup items and the other to hold my sunglasses and protect them from getting scratched.

The other side side has two large slash pockets, perfect size for a bigger smartphone or your passport, and RFID-blocking pockets for your credit cards and ID. This side also has a large zipper pocket that takes up most of the side of the bag. I as able to easily slide my iPad mini in there with it's bulky case. 

Here you can see just how much stuff I was able to get into my Secura Satchel, while still having room inside to add more things if I needed to.

The hardware on this bag is nice and sturdy, but also good looking. You can tell by the accents how well the bag is made. The strap is wide and thick, but easily adjustable and it distributes weight of the bag on your shoulder, so you don't feel like your arm is being weighed down and making you hate life after walking around all day with a sore shoulder.

In the picture up top can see how the front zippers "lock". Here you can see how the top zipper locks. These are pretty easy to work open and closed if you know what you're doing, but there's no way a pickpocket is going to take the time to do this, and if they try, you're going to notice. Chances are that they will leave you alone and go after someone vulnerable.

The strap and body of the bag are slash-proof, so no snatching your purse off your arm, especially if you're wearing it crossbody. See that awesome buckle? Flip the little latch to be able to open the clasp and detach the strap, then you can wrap it around a pole or chair. Like this: 

If you're sitting at a cafe and you're worried about your purse getting nabbed, use this security feature and all your stuff is about as safe as it can be. Nobody's going to be trying to run away with a whole chair or table. If they do, it'd be pretty funny...and difficult to get very far.

So, if you're looking for a bigger bag that fits everything you need to take along with you, the Secura Satchel could be it. It's large, but not too large and it's fairly lightweight, so the majority of heft is going to be from what you put into it. I found it quite comfortable to walk around with and it fit nicely against my body, so it wasn't in my way ever. This might be the perfect gift for your mom, since Mother's Day is right around the corner.

Additional info:

Where can I buy it? On the Lewis N Clark Website or Amazon

How much is it? $89.99

What colours does it come in?  black | lake (shown)

Other specs: 12" x 12.5" x 4.5", Durable nylon exterior with water-resistant PU coating, tested to cut-resistant EN388 standards 

Connect with Lewis N Clark and learn about all their great products:

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Disclaimer: I was provided with the Secura RFID-Blocking Anti-Theft Satchel for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own. 

Review: Compression Leg Sleeves from Zensah

You guys! I found one of my new favorite things. Compression leg sleeves give me the extra circulation I need, while allowing me to wear sandals and other slip on shoes that look weird if you wear full socks. Zensah has a full line of different compression sleeves for runners and other athletes.

Anyone who knows me knows I'm like the opposite of an athlete. I enjoy sitting in a movie theater, eating food at restaurants and checking out museums. The most exercise I get is walking around downtown and climbing steps to monuments. All that aside, I do have bad circulation and I'm also cold a lot of the time. I picked up a pair of leg sleeves from Zensah at the Travel Goods Show earlier this month and was glad to have them when I was walking around all day. I went back to my room after so much exercise and slipped them on for some pretty immediate relief.

All this walking in Vegas got me like... . . #jetsetter #jetset #ilovetravel #tourist #tourism #tblogger #tbloggers #travelblog #travel #travelblogger #travelgirl #travelgram #instatravel #traveler #traveller #budgettravel #budgettraveler #budgettraveller #zensah #freshlegs #compressionsleeves #spon #travelgoodsshow

A post shared by Shereen Travels Cheap (@srayle) on Apr 7, 2017 at 10:32am PDT

As someone who frequently gets swollen legs, ankles, and feet from standing for long periods of time, walking miles, or from my feet dangling on an airplane, this is something that really helps me out. Obviously, I'm not going to get the most benefit from only wearing them after a long day out, but I have found that they do give me a lot of relief anyway. 

This week I've been working a lot and standing for most of the day. While I don't necessarily want to wear socks, I do need some support. I put my compression sleeves on under my jeans and I'm golden. You can feel a tingle in your legs as they hit all the important places and keep your blood circulating . 

Under pants, people can't even tell you're wearing them, though lots of people wear them with shorts while running or doing other exercise. They come in fun colors, so you can totally make them an accessory. They aren't bulky at all and are pretty and useful. Here's another thing: not only do I have bad circulation, but I also have mild arthritis, which is worse when it's rainy and this year it has been rainy. Like, we've had 4 days of no rain in all of April. These compression sleeves give me more coverage and warmth and keep my shins from aching in this neverending Portland winter.

When I'm on the plane, I like to wear slip-on shoes. They are comfortable, they keep my feet warm, but not hot, and socks may or may not be helpful. Socks generally can get sweaty and gross, too. These compression sleeves from Zensah (as with their compression socks) are moisture-wicking and odor-resistant, so even if your travel day is really long or turns into several days, you're legs will be perfectly comfortable and they won't smell like you just came from the gym locker room. 

I find that I have more energy when I wear my compression sleeves, because my legs feel good and not super tired, like when I don't wear them and I've been walking around for hours. Nothing's worse than sightseeing all day and your legs feeling so achy that you don't even want to think about what you have planned for the next day. Each day of my Vegas trip was like a new day, because my legs didn't still hurt from the day before. I have my compression sleeves to thank for that. 

I know the price may seem high for these, but they are really something I've come to rely on and feel like they are worth the price, whether at home or while traveling. If you're prone to swelling, these are a definite must, especially on long flights where blood clots can form easily from your legs staying in the same position for hours at a time.

What are your biggest health concerns when traveling?

Other Specs

Where to buy: On Zensah website or Amazon

How much: $39.99/pair

Colors: Black | White | Blue (shown in title pic) | Heather Gray | Red | Neon Pink | Purple (shown)| | Navy | Aqua | Heather Pink | Army Green | Teal | Neon Green | Neon Yellow | Heather Mint | Tie Dye Neon Pink | Green | Orange | Heather Mint Bunny | Neon Yellow Bunny | Heather Pink Bunny | Neon Orange | Tie Dye Electric Blue | Tie Dye Violet | Carolina Blue | American Flag Print | Tie Dye Neon Green | Heather Silver | Magenta | Beige

Fabric: 90% Nylon / 10% Spandex Solid Colors. 49% Polyester/41% Nylon/10% Spandex Heather Colors

Loving Zensah's sock innovation? Find them online:

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Disclosure: I was provided with a pair of Zensah compression leg sleeves for the purposes of this review. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

My Coffee Tour of Portland - Part 2

My quest continues for some of the best cups of coffee in Portland. Luckily, there isn't a shorted of coffee shops in the city, but it does seem to be a trick to find great ones. I am relying on suggestions from friends, family, Portland Monthly and reviews I see on Google. So far so good.  

If nothing else, I'm having a fun time "working". How can you possibly be sad when part of your job is drinking coffee and eating pastries? Last month I brought you four fabulous coffee shops and this month I have three more for you (as I was in Las Vegas for most of a week early on and have been crazy busy with reviews and other work for the rest of the month).  

Cup and Bar

On a previous post on Instagram for my coffee tour, a follower kindly suggested several shops I should try, including the Cup and Bar. She said I should order the Dirty Charlie, so who am I to say no  to a fellow coffee fan's suggestion? I dragged my mom to this shop in NE Portland on our way to a hair appointment. I was surprised to find they had a shared parking lot and didn't have to circle the block to find a spot. The shop is warm and full of wood. I felt welcomed and was able to share a table with some nice other Portlanders. I ordered a Dirty Charlie, which is a messy little drink that is not available to go. It's a shot of espresso with a milk foam on top and 100% chocolate shaved on top of that. You also get a little square of chocolate on the side. It was a perfect little bitter and sweet drink. 

We ordered a Ranger cookie, a healthy-ish soft cookie that has a muffin texture and sort of tastes like a granola bar, as it has oats, nuts and other yummy ingredients. I got a maple brown sugar scone to go with my coffee and it had a lovely flaky texture with a slightly sweet topping from the sugar. The three items came to $11.25 ($4.25 for my coffee, $3 for the cookie and $4 for the scone. I found that pretty reasonable.) I was happy with all of my choices and hope I can return soon. I'd love to try the Cortado, the drinking chocolate flight, and any of the "sandwiches". They also have a chocolate tasting and tour. 

Upper Left Roasters

I've been following Upper Left Roasters on social media for a while now, and their clean, minimalist style draws me in. Well, I was finally over in the neighborhood and could get over there, so I walked a few blocks out of my way to sit down for a cuppa. We had already eaten breakfast, so it was bit of a coffee break and snack. I ordered the Chai Tea Latte and a croissant and Eric asked for something "Instagram-worthy" and got a mocha and added a chocolate chip cookie. 

I'm pretty sure their baked goods come from Little t Bakery, but they do make their own sandwiches and toasts (though the bread comes from Little t as well). Everything looked pretty good, but I wasn't hungry enough to try it, and I was there for the coffee anyway. You get what you pay for and your cup is full to the brim. It makes a pretty picture, though it's a bit hard to carry back to your table. I'll never be sad that my cup is too full though. Unfortunately, I feel like my latte was a bit weak, and it wasn't the hottest, but it was good. Eric's mocha was strong and flavorful, so maybe the chai watered mine down some. I liked it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there again based on my one cup. The cookie and croissant were fresh and delicious though, and I'd make the trip over there to sample some of their food if I was in the area again.

I love the wood and the location in SE Portland, plus their chairs are both comfortable and fun to look at with their geometric patterns. Pricing was pretty good, as my drink was $4 and Eric's was $4.50 (the croissant was $3.25 and the cookie was $2). Our total was just $13.75, which I felt was a decent deal for what we ordered. 

Oui Presse

It's funny how you can find new places near you just by scrolling through Instagram. I don't go over to SE Portland often, but when I do, I try to find different places to eat (it's definitely not in short supply over there). My mom and I were over in the neighborhood, sort of, so we ate at a place I'd been wanting to try for breakfast and then walked four blocks to Oui Presse. The shop front is adorable and the inside even more so. It has the feel of a little French cafe, that also sells magazines. Yup, that's a thing.

I went in to check the menu and ask for their specialty. I saw the pistachio cake on the menu and knew I had to try that. They suggested I try the Café Crème, so I did. They also sell a lot of  mochas, but I can get one of those anywhere. The Café Crème is a double shot of espresso, with a splash of hot water and steamed heavy cream. It gives it a more robust, deep flavor that I loved. I haven't had some a good cup of coffee since I was in France, so I'm saying that my $3.50 was more than well spent and I'll absolutely go back for that. 

   

Now, about that pistachio cake. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I know I thought it was going to be green. I looooove pistachios, so how could it go wrong, even if it was fluorescent green? Well, as you can see above, it was not. It looked much like a hummingbird cake (for those of you on Pinterest, I'm sure you've seen about 938374749309 pictures of them. The texture is like a carrot cake, with creamy frosting and a slightly sweet, nutty flavor. At $5, I wondered if it was going to be worth it. As it was, I had just eaten, so I had to bring it home with me. And oh my! I could see sitting at a table at Oui Presse with a lovely cuppa and sharing a slice of this with my special someone. I could eat it for breakfast. My two items came to just $8.50, which would have been even cheaper if I split my cake with another person.

For those of you who need something less desserty for the morning, Oui Presse has amazing looking open-faced sandwiches, which appear to be all the rage with coffee houses now...or maybe that's just Portland. Either way, I'm not adverse to grabbing a fork and knife and ordering one the next time I'm in. 

So, that's my round-up for April. Stay tuned for more next month, and if you want more pics or to see what I'm up to at the moment, follow me on Instagram. 

Do you have a favorite coffee shop in Portland or where you live? Tell me about it!