Rock Your Staycation - Part 1

The weather is warming up and summer is going to be here before you know it. maybe you have plans to travel some other time of the year, but still want to enjoy the summer months and don't have the funds to swing another trip, plan a staycation or two. Don't take a typical one though. Anyone can stay home and drive around all day and then come back and sleep in their own bed. Why not make it a real adventure and be creative with your planning?

Just because you aren't flying anywhere, doesn't mean you can't stay in a hotel or pack a suitcase. Staycations are boring, because you spend half your time in your own house (and the word is also annoying to hear and say). Chances are you haven't explored your whole city or even nearby cities. Pretend you have never visited where you live before and get excited about tourist attractions. You probably haven't been to them in 10 years, or ever, so they are new to you!

Stay in a town other than where you live 

Not up to hanging around your own town? Go a town or two over and explore that one! Stay in a budget hotel or a B&B and make an itinerary with all the touristy stuff there is to do there on it. Just that change of scenery can really help you relax. And even though you could drive there and do a day trip, why not make it a real vacation by putting some money on an affordable accommodation. Claim you're from out of town, (because hey! You are!) and ask "locals" where the best places to eat and visit are. Even if you've already been there, you might learn about some really awesome cafes, shops or parks that you never knew existed.

Get a hotel or vacation rental in the middle of the action

Come on! You haven't see everything in the city you live in, have you? There are still some things in Portland that I have yet to get to...and in Oregon. And I just found out that a couple hours away from here I can see a replica of Stonehenge! (Filing that away for future day-tripping, for sure.) If you live near a big city, chances are there is a fabulous downtown that is full of fun and weird stuff to do. I also bet dollars to doughnuts (yum!) that you don't live downtown, because it is wicked expensive. This is the time to cash in some miles or hotel points for free nights or look into gettng an apartment or condo rental in the middle of it all and set out each day to discover something new and awesome about where you live.

Look online for popular (and obscure) tourist attractions 

You already do this when you go on regular vacations. Do it the same way for your hometown and find crazy things you have never heard of before, do things you always say you will or just go be a cheesy tourist and do things that you tell other people are musts when they visit.

Eat at all those food carts you always say you will try, but then never do

Oh the joy of looking at the Twitter feed and seeing a new food cart has opened. You vow you will try it, and then 30 new carts have come and gone and you have yet to drive the 2 miles into town and find parking and eat maybe some of the most delicious stuff you will ever call food. Okay, maybe it will be mediocre or downright disgusting, but you'll never know unless you try it. All in one day you could try salted cod, deep fried cheeseburgers, ham and cheese crepes and Korean short ribs on a stick! (Of course, you'll have to adjust for what your town actually has.) Seriously though. Your city probably has a ton of really cool stuff. If not food carts, like Portland is famous for, then maybe you can hit up a bunch of greasy spoons or taco trucks. At least you'll get exercise walking to each one.

Bring your camera and take lots of pictures 

Don't take your city for granted. Just because you see that stuff every day, doesn't mean it's not cool. You'll be sad one day when you talk to someone about things and then realize you have no photos of it or you being there.

Want more ideas for taking the perfect staycation? Check out my staycation Pinterest board on things you can do to turn your backyard into an awesome getaway and what to do and where to go away from home. We use our backyard as a movie theater and are looking to make it even more luxurious for when friends and family come indulge.

Where did you spend your last staycation and what did you do?

Review: Hedgren Asharum Waist Bag

As a recent email told me "Fanny packs are back and there's nothing you can do about it." The last time I sported a fanny pack for real was when I was 14. In the 25 years since, I've bought exactly one waist bag (fanny pack, bum bag) and that was for a Halloween costume. The waist bag trend has exploded again in a huge way and you can find them everywhere. Everyone's getting in on it, even high end European manufacturers like Hedgren.

Gone are the days that you can only get the same exact bag in cotton or leather. Fanny packs now come in a variety of colors, fabrics and styles. The Asharum Waist Bag from Hedgren's Inner City collection shows you that you can wear a quality fanny pack that looks great with whatever you wear and it won't make you stand out as a tourist on your travels (which you totally did back in the day). Old and young and every age in between are picking up a waist pack and making them look chic and popular. 

The Asharum Waist Bag has all the organization you need, so you aren't just rummaging around in a main compartment to find change or whatever else you're keeping in there. It's structured, too, giving it a nice silhouette against your body, instead of being a lumpy bag. 

You'll find three separate compartments inside, one of which is zippered, so you can keep those items from being shown to the world every time you open your bag. 

One side compartment has both card slots and an RFID zipper pocket. You can put your large smartphone here, as well as up to three credit cards. 

The zipper will fit your passport. I was able to put both of ours in it with no problem. This allows you to keep your information safe from digital thieves. The length of the bag is also perfect for keeping your boarding passes and other travel docs from getting all crumpled. The other compartment is plain and can be used for anything you need to carry with you. I put my large back-up battery and cords in it and there was still room leftover. In the middle zippered compartment, I kept my few cosmetics I take with me when I go anywhere.

The front of the bag has a smaller zipper slot, perfect for all the change you tend to collect as you travel. You could also use it for your transportation passes. Because it's on the front, it's fast to get in and out of. 

The side against your body has a larger zippered compartment, where you can keep dollar bills flat impossible for pickpockets to get at. It opens wide so you can see everything inside easily and takes up nearly the whole length of the bag.

The bag has a sturdy zip closure that is held down with this hardware, meaning you can close your bag with one hand with ease and your zipper end will never flop out of the bag, which I'm sure you've had happen with other bags you've owned. It's the worst, right? The Asharum also has a nice little cube detail that you can keep on or take off if you like. It gives the bag just a little bit more interest.

As you can see, even with all the stuff inside, the bag is still a manageable width. It does expand a bit to make it work for most of the things you'd like to carry around in it. The different sections are separate from each other, so it's not just one big bag with sections that can make the bag too wide and/or droopy when full. The sections are stitched together, so they retain their shape and don't allow the bag to accordion out so much that it is heavy and pulling down. 

You also have a heavy duty strap and buckle. The buckle was impossible for me to pull apart just by tugging hard on the two sides, so it's not going to just snap and fall off while you're walking around. It's also going to be hard for someone to snatch and drag off your body while you're wearing it. The strap is easy to adjust, too, so whatever size you are, you can make it comfortable for you.

I think this might change my mind about fanny packs, but if not, Hedgren has plenty of other great bags for me to try. I've got three more to bring you! Don't forget about the dad or grad on your list who might love this for their travels, or just to look cool around campus.

Other details

Where to buy them: On the Hedgren website or Amazon

How much is it? €49.00 (approx $65)

Colors they come in: black (shown) | dolphin blue | tango red

Additional specs: 5.91 x 1.57 x 10.24 inch, durable water repellent 100-200D twill nylon

Who's excited to see the waist bag return?

Loving Hedgren and want to see all their new products and see how to make them even more fashionable? Find them online: 

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Disclosure: I was provided with the Asharum Waist Bag for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own. 

Review: The Better Umbrella from Cabeau

Okay, so by now you know I am not an umbrella carrier. I live in Portland where it rains quite a bit. I’m totally used to it. I either suffer or I wear my rain jacket. The last time I traveled with an umbrella was in 2005 when I went to Cancun. It was in the middle of hurricane season and we were lucky enough to visit in between a tropical storm and an actual hurricane (Hurricane Wilma). Rain pretty much follows us everywhere we go, but I always end up wishing I didn’t bring my umbrella, because it just gets in the way and is too cumbersome.

If you feel like this about an umbrella, and are also bitter that you have to either bring one per person or travel with a giant golf umbrella, then you will want to read on to learn more about the Better Umbrella by Cabeau.

Cabeau knows how annoying it is to travel with an umbrella that either doesn’t keep you dry, is too large or gets your arm wet when trying to share with a friend. These are all the reasons I quit taking them on my trips, but the Better Umbrella just might change all that, because its innovative design is not only awesome and useful, but it allows me to not have to wear an extra layer of clothing when I’m somewhere warm and rainy.

The Better Umbrella has an offset handle, so you don’t have stand to the side of the middle of it, so half of you is covered really well and the other half is only partially covered and probably getting a little wet. The other problem that the Better Umbrella solves is when you’re wearing a backpack that sticks out (because don’t they all?) and you’re trying to keep dry with an umbrella, but because you have to hold it in front of you, your backpack – and your legs and feet – is getting drenched, along with everything in it. Womp womp. Having to figure out how to dry all your stuff out when you get back to your room is not fun at all.

The offset handle means you can keep yourself and your belongings dry, you get more coverage where you need it, plus you can even see where you’re going! Novel, right? The worst is when you’re walking around with an umbrella, but you can only see the people’s feet in front of you. What all are you missing around you by not being able to look up – or even at eye level?

The handle is ergonomic and comfortable in your hand. It has a design that makes it impossible for it to slip from your grip while in use. It has a nice storage case and a loop that you can use to hang it and let it dry out when you’re back inside.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get any pics of me using this outside in the rain, because I was on my own, but it made walking around in the gross Portland weather a bit more enjoyable and kept all of me dry. Plus, I didn’t have to wear a coat, which was nice, because summer has finally made it here (on most days anyway) and I didn’t have to be hotter in order to not get soaked.

So, if you are an umbrella carrier, either at home or on trips, The Better Umbrella should be on your wish list. You’ll find out quickly that its name is appropriate and will make your rainy days that much better. It also makes a great gift for those that travel frequently or live in a rainy place like I do. Father’s Day is coming in a few weeks and graduation season is upon us. Get this for the gap year grad on your list.

Other details

Where to buy it: On the Cabeau website

How much is it? $29.99

Colors it comes in: black

Additional specs: Open: Diameter=39″/ Height=23″ /Weight=13 oz, Closed: Diameter=2.25″/Height=12″, Fabric=100% Polyester/ Handle=100% ABS Plastic / Frame=2% Steel, 21% Aluminum, 12% Fiber Glass, 8% Polyamide Plastic, 7% Polyresin 

Can you see The Better Umbrella making your trips more awesome?

If you love the innovation of Cabeau, check them out online:

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Disclosure: I was provided with The Better Umbrella for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.