Staying Well + Prepared with Welly

If you're like me, you probably always keep a first aid kit or just a stash of bandages in your toiletry bag, just in case. You never know when you're going to need something on vacation and it's always nice to have things with you than to have to run out and buy a whole box of bandages when you only need one or two. Welly makes carrying a simple first aid kit in your bag easy and also cool.

You know when you buy adhesive bandages that claim to be flesh tone, but then they don't actually match anyone's actual flesh? Are you jealous of the fun bandages kids have a choice of, even though they don't actually stick to anything for more than ten minutes? Sick of buying packs of having to buy two different kinds of bandages depending on if you need them to be waterproof or not? Welly addresses all these problems. 

First of all, the bandages come in awesome colors, so it doesn't matter what color you skin is. They don't have cartoons on them, but isn't a blue or orange bandage better than a weird peach one? If it's going to stand out anyway, it might as well look neat. Welly bandages stick really well, so you're not going to go through 17 of them by lunch time tomorrow or find one circling the drain after your shower. 

I did the science for you. While in New Orleans, my shoes gave me a terrible blister on the back of my one foot. I slapped a Welly bandage on it, and even though my sandals rubbed that spot all day while I was walking around, it stayed put for two full days until I changed it. Even then, that was just personal preference. It hadn't moved, come un-sticky, or frayed in that time. 

The Quick Fix Kit is an ideal travel companion. It comes in a metal tin, so you won't have sad crumpled up bandages when you finally need them. Inside you'll find 3 packets of hand sanitizer (for when you can't get anywhere with soap and water), 3 packets of triple antibiotic cream (to keep nasty cuts and scrapes from getting infected and help them heal faster), and 18 bandages (9 large: 3/4" x 3" and 9 small: 5/8" x 2 1/4") in 3 different colors. This one I picked up the Travel Goods Show has orange, blue, and forest green. 

You can buy kits and refill packs that come in other colors or patterns. I've seen one with polka dots, stripes, and geometric shapes. They even have children's patterns, like unicorns. While they aren't quite Dora the Explorer, they will last much longer and protect their wounds better, while still being fun and whimsical. If you don't want to be super obvious, they do have transparent bandages. 

Got a larger travel party? Get the Human Repair Kit for your bag. It's twice as big and also includes anti-itch cream for bug bites, rashes and other annoying things. Got a ton of bandages? Pick up the Superhero Supplies tin, which includes 9 Hand Sanitizer, 9 Triple Antibiotic Ointment, 9 1% Hydrocortisone Cream, and 9 Burn Gel packets or the Travel Medicine Kit with 8 motion sickness tablets, 16 pain relief tablets, 12 anti-diarrheal tabs, 12 anti-gas tabs, and 8 sleep aid tabs.  There's nothing you won't be prepared for. 

Welly products can be found at Target, and you'll be surprised by how many different kinds of products they sell. You may have seen their bright, pretty packaging already and wondered about them. They appear to be expensive, but if you think about how much you use bandages and the high quality of Welly compared to some others, you'll realize that the price is definitely worth it, since you won't go through as many for each wound.

If you've got a graduate that's planning to travel or move out, get them started with something they'll always forget to buy for their toiletry bag or new apartment. Add one of these Quick Fix Kits to a new toiletry bag you're giving as a gift Mother's Day, Father's Day, a birthday or graduation. They may be picky about the other items they fill it with, but everyone needs bandages at some point, and these are chic, fun, and über useful.

More details: 

Where can I buy it? On their website or your local Target store/online

How much is it? $6.99 for the Quick Fix Kit

Other specs: Easy to open metal tin that also won't accidentally open while being jostled in your bag.

If you like what Welly is doing, support them by joining them on your favorite social media platform:

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Have you ever had to spend too much money buying first aid supplies on vacation?

Disclaimer: I was provided with a Quick Fix Kit to share with my readers, but all opinions are 100% my own.

Review: Pang Wangle Essential Wrap

Whenever I travel, I have at least one wrap with  me. I find I get cold indoors and sometimes in the evening, so it's nice to have an easy layer to throw on. It's also perfect for using several different ways on the plane. I hear you saying "but travel is cancelled!" First of all, it's not cancelled, just postponed, but Pang Wangle has a great wrap that you can use wherever you go, even if it's just your backyard for the next month or so.

The Essential Wrap is created by a woman-owned company based out of New Orleans, where you get a lot of humidity. With these warm, wet weather conditions, you often get mosquitoes and other bugs, making hanging out outside a literal pain sometimes. Pang Wangle knows you want to look good, and also be bug-free. The Essential Wrap has Insect Shield Bug Repellent bound to their lightweight, soft fabric, meaning you never have to carry bug spray with you again.

The meaning of Pang Wangle is “To live or go along cheerfully in spite of minor misfortunes.” Bugs are a natural part of the outdoors, but now you don't have to worry about them when you have your Essential Wrap. You're wearing a product made of eco-friendly fabrics, plus you're saving the environment in a second way by doing away with poisons that you leave behind when you spray repellent. These sprays aren't good for your skin either, and they always smell, even the natural ones. 

Save space in your liquids bag for the essentials and leave the bug repellent where it belongs: at the store. Pang Wangle only uses natural and renewable fabrics, making this the ultimate green travel accessory. 

Apparently, these are what pics look like when the sun is directly in your eyes.

The Essential Wrap is large (a full 6-feet long), giving you a multitude of ways to wear it. I love a versatile item and this is definitely it. I tried it several different ways and there are even more ways to style it. Wear it as a traditional scarf, a wrap, a head cover (for those churches you might be entering), a hair scarf, a sarong, and even a crop top. It has no odor, but the bugs will still stay away. Not just mosquitoes, but also ticks, flies, fleas, chiggers, ants and midges, so you're protected anywhere you go. 

If you're wearing it in a hot and/or muggy climate, the fabric is both breathable and moisture-wicking, so you won't find it sticking to you when you're sweaty and hot. That's really the worst part about trying to wear a scarf or long sleeves while you're out in less-than-favorable weather conditions. This means anywhere from a swamp tour in Louisiana to a tromp through the rainforest in South America to a safari trip in Africa.

I adore companies that are trying to make the world a better place, and Pang Wangle is doing more than their part. Not only are they using the best fabrics, but they're also using eco-friendly practices on them. You're also keeping unwanted chemicals out of our environment, which is especially important in struggling ecosystems, where they ask that you only use reef-safe sunscreens and other important things you need for your trip. While there are all-natural forms of bug repellents, wouldn't it be even better to not have to bring any at all? 

I apologize for the general awkwardness and quality of this pic

If you go to outdoor concerts, you're covered. If you're sitting outside watching a movie in your backyard, you're covered. If you're roasting marshmallows while out camping, you're covered. Not only that, but you're going to look stylish, and you're also going to feel good too. I'm excited to use this on my next trip to Orlando, but I'm also thrilled to wear it in the chilly movie theater. 

The fabric is lightweight, meaning you can totally wear it in the summer without adding a heavy protective layer. Then in the winter or cooler temps, you can double up the length to create a more substantial scarf to keep you warm. It's a fantastic wrap that looks effortlessly chic that you can just as easily wear with a dress as you can with a pair of shorts. It'll fit in your carry-on without taking up too much space, or you can wear it instead of packing it and not feel weighed down with extra stuff.

Not only does this wrap have no detectable odor (and I would be the first to pick up on it, as I have a pretty sensitive nose), but it also lasts 70 or more washes, so you're going to have bug repellency for quite a long time, especially when you think about how much you wash your current wraps/scarves. And when it loses its magic, it's still going to be one of the best looking wraps you own that you'll keep coming back to. 

I love this wrap so much, that it's going to be one of my new go-to gifts for ladies I know. Mother's Day is coming up, and even if travel isn't happening right now, it will be in the future (probably sooner than we expect) and it can be worn to the farmers' market and while out doing yard work in the meantime. Graduations are coming up soon, and there are other scarves that are more suitable for men to rock, too, so everyone is (literally) covered.

More details:

Where can I buy it? On the Pang Wangle website

How much is it? $58

What colors does it come in? Sandshell (shown) | Rust | Black | Faded Denim

Other details: 29" wide, 55% recycled cotton & 45% tencel fabric, hypoallergenic. Packaging is made of 100% recycled materials, poly bags are biodegradable, made in the USA. 

Love Pang Wangle's vibe and how they're saving you and the environment? Follow them on social media:

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What's the "buggiest" place you've ever visited where this would have come in super handy?

Disclaimer: I was provided with the Essential Scarf for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.

Postponing All Your Trips for the Forseeable Future

Let's talk about trips we had planned that the apocalypse has ruined? I like to look on the bright side, because travel isn't cancelled forever, it's just postponed. If you can postpone your vacations instead of outright cancelling them, that would be better all around. We'll get to travel again, and when we do, it's gonna be great...and possibly safer than ever before.

Why Postpone? 

Because it gives you something to look forward to. I know right now prospects are feeling kind of bleak and hopeless and there's a ton of disappointment over cancelled events and whatnot, but what about that trip you had planned? Yes, it's a bummer that you didn't get to go, but wouldn't it be cool if you just went later and still had that to look forward to on the horizon, no matter how far away it is? 

Thinking about travel makes me happy, and even though I'm not sure if the rest of my travels this year will happen, I know that eventually I'll be able to go and it makes me optimistic. Even the act of planning a trip (even if the travel dates are unknown) gives you some of the benefits of actually taking the trip. It instantly boosts your mood and relaxes you. Plus, having extra time to plan a trip eases the stress that some people feel trying to create the perfect vacation for their family.

What I didn't get to pack for the wedding reception we were going to.

Why Not Cancel Instead?

Unfortunately, one of my trips was outright cancelled due to Covid and shelter-at-home orders. The wedding reception we were going for was pushed back to September, though to a weekend that we already have plans, so I cancelled my airfare. I could have gotten a refund (and you should in most circumstances, especially if the airline cancels for you), but I knew I would be flying that airline again as soon as I'm allowed to fly, so I just took a credit. Now I'm already ahead for my next trip, plus I'm helping the airlines by not making them pay me back when everyone is hurting right now. The same goes for accommodations you may have already booked and paid for.

If your event is cancelled, it might get pushed back to a later date, and you can go then. If you already have tickets to that event and they haven't refunded you, they will honor your tickets when it has been rescheduled. 

Know your rights when it comes to cancelled flights. <---I wrote you a tiny poem♥

What I probably won't be packing for NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

What To Do In the Meantime

Try not to get into the mindset that this is the end of the world. It's not. We'll get to see friends again. We'll get to throw parties. We'll get to pack a carry-on and get on a plane. Plan your trips with a TBA travel date, pack your bags so you don't have to do it at the last minute, make a travel wish list, and then have fun planning a great staycation in the meantime. Not only will it make you more creative, but it might even give you a new appreciation for your house and/or backyard. 

We'll all get through this together and our travels will be that much more special when do. What's the best/worst part of shelter-at-home for you?