Wine With Wanda

Vacation Deprivation Can Lead to Health Problems

I cringe at the thought of hard working people not taking advantage of their earned vacation time but a recent Expedia.com survey reports that more than one third of American workers do not use their entitled time off. Of course, in this climate of economic uncertainty many people simply can't afford to go away but recent studies indicate that, in terms of of our health, as women we can't afford NOT to take a break from the rat race. Look at these sobering facts that appeared in the article, Breaking News: Many Workers Skimp on Vacation - and Pay the Costs (The New York Post).

- "Women who took vacations only once in two years were more likely to experience depression, tension, fatigue and marital dissatisfaction than women who took time off at least twice a year, according to a five-year study of 1,500 women by Cathy McCarty of the Marshfield Clinic."

- Women are twice as likely to have a heart attack - while men are a third more likely - if they don't take regular vacations, according to research by Elaine Eaker of the Framington Heart Study project."

- Women are more likely than men to feel guilty about taking time off from work (40 percent of women vs. 29 percent of men), according to Expedia's Vacation Deprivation Survey.

"The studies that are out there seem to point to a correlation between vacation and long-term physiological and psychological problem," says John de Graff of Take Back Your Time, a vacation and paid leave advocacy group." According to Take Back Your Time, working Americans average a little over 2 weeks vacation per year, while Europeans average five to six weeks.

Ladies, the prescription is simple - pack your little black dress and go!!!!

Go RED for the Best Crab Cake in New Jersey

Perfectly prepared crab cakes are most often associated with the state of Maryland but the Garden State proved they can also work culinary magic with these tasty crustaceans. The Black Dress Traveler was honored to receive an invitation to help choose the best crab cake in New Jersey as a judge at the 3rd Annual Crab Cake Festival and Shore Chef Cook Off.

Twelve restaurants competed at Monmouth Park for this coveted title but there was only one winner: Red restaurant located in Red Bank. Their baked beauty boasted perfectly seasoned and juicy lumps of crab meat topped with micro greens. Congratulations to Chefs Dominic Giuliano and Darryl Feeney!

Escape with a Cup of Tea: Win Two Traveler's Tins from the Republic of Tea

Ahhh, who doesn't love to escape with a perfectly brewed cup of tea. Not only is tea good for you and delicious but it can calm your nerves, ease a tummy ache, and be the catalyst for great conversation when shared with friends. Tea is always a big part of my journeys. Not only do I travel with my own tea for a taste of something familiar when I am far from home but I love trying new teas and even visiting grocery stores to pick up a few boxes of the local favorites.

Republic of Tea pays homage to the tea-loving-traveler with their Traveler's Tea Tins collection. Each compact tin contains 6 unbleached, round tea bags in an airtight container. (Once emptied, these refillable containers can be used to hold more tea or as a great container for change, earrings or cream when traveling.) Seven lucky Black Dress Traveler readers will each win 2 Republic of TeaTraveler's Tea Tins. (Each tin has a retail value of $4.75). Each winner will receive a pair of tins selected by me from the following teas: Get Relief (herb tea for digestion), Get Charged (herb tea for energy), Get Happy (herb tea for lifting your spirit), Get Passionate (herb tea for the libido), Get Heart (herb tea for cardio health), Get it Going (herb tea for regularity), Get Clean (herb tea for detoxing), Get Growing (herb tea for hair, nails/bones), Get Some Zzz's (herb tea for rest), Get Relaxed (herb tea for relieving stress), Get Wellness (herb tea for immunity), Get Soothed (herb tea for scratchy throats), Get a Grip (herb tea for PMS/Menopause) and Get Maternal (herb tea for pregnant/new moms). 

Five Tips for Writing an Effective Complaint Letter & SuperShuttle Issues Refund to The Black Dress Traveler

I promised to keep you updated on the status of my complaint letter to SuperShuttle. Well, I am happy to report that I received a full refund in the amount of $29.18 for the horrible experience I had using their service home from the airport. 

Bad customer service can ruin the happiest and most well-planned vacation so when something goes awry, take the time to write a complaint letter. Not only will the letter help you let off some steam but it will usually garner you a refund or some other form of compensation. For example, a few years ago I wrote American Airlines to complain about a broken seat on a 9 hour transatlantic flight that made my journey very uncomfortable. They awarded me 15,000 frequent flier miles. 

If I take the time to write a complaint letter it means that my experience was really dreadful. My hope is not only that the company will rectify my situation but also to make sure that other travelers are not impacted in the same way. Here are a few tips to writing a successful complaint letter that will get you the desired response.  

1. Give as many facts as possible. The time the incident happened, your reservation number, flight number, vehicle number, etc. are all key information. Let them know how long you have been a customer - they want first-time customers to give them another chance and want long-time customers to remain loyal.

2. State what you expected.  Remind the company of the service that you paid for and what you were told you would receive. 

3. Detail how the company failed to deliver the service you paid for. Be as clear as possible in showing how the company did not satisfy you as a customer. Show how the service delivered was not the service they promised. Did their bad service cost you time and/or money? Did you feel uncomfortable or unsafe? Was an employee rude to you? Give as many relevant details as possible.

4. Clearly state what you want the company to do in order to resolve your complaint. I asked SuperShuttle to refund my money and they did. In other situations, a voucher or frequent flier miles might be an appropriate form of compensation.

5. Keep it professional. Profanity is never appropriate. If there was one positive moment in your negative experience, let them know. I let SuperShuttle know that I had used them before and that the previous level of service had been acceptable. This made the negative experience stand out even more.

Where the Boys Are: Jacksonville Beach

Go ahead, call me shameless but I couldn't resist taking a photo with these handsome young men during my recent trip to Jacksonville Beach in northeast Florida. Yes, Jon and Tom are over 18 years of age and lest you think that I am a cougar prowling the beach for cubs, they actually work for a great company called Rent Beach Stuff.

So, if you plan on visiting Jacksonville Beach, all you need to bring is your sunscreen and bikini because Rent Beach Stuff has virtually everything you need for a day at the beach. (In addition to Jacksonville Beach, they also serve Ponte Vedra, Neptune, and Atlantic Beaches.) You can place your order online or by telephone for beach cruiser bikes, surf boards, boogie boards, kayaks, fishing poles, umbrellas, jogging strollers, lounge chairs and everything you could possibly need for a day of fun in the sun. Or you could just go and flirt with the very cute attendants!

For more information, visit www.rentbeachstuff.com.

Pack the Perfect Bras & Panties: The Best Lingerie for Travel

Too often our underwear is the very last thing that we toss into our luggage when packing for a getaway. Stop making your undergarments an afterthought! The right bra, underwear, shapewear and layering piece will improve the fit and feel of your sexy little dresses and outfits and help you feel more comfortable and confident.

The Black Dress Traveler reached out to Lingerie Fit Expert, Lisa Cole to get the scoop on the lingerie pieces that should have a featured spot in every woman’s overnight bag. As a Leading Lingerie Expert for over a decade, Lisa has helped thousands of women. Her clients include the NFL Wives, Doncaster Women’s Clothing, Odyssey Medi Spa,The Oaks Spa and Resort, dress designer Kathlin Argiro, and private clients around the country.  Lisa is also passionate about helping breast cancer survivors and devotes a percentage of her business to the cause yearly.

Here are Lisa’s fantastic tips!

• Convertible Bra – A well dressed woman has options! A convertible bra is your friend for evening, day or play time events. Packing tip: You can eliminate having to take multiple bras by owning a convertible.

Camisoles with and without a shelf bra – You can use this in place of a bra or to solve a fashion challenge. A little lace detail is perfect for a dress that is cut too low.

Drawstring Pants – Sometimes you don’t want to get dressed in the morning. Lounge pants are ideal for the run to the coffee shop. You can mix and match these with your camisoles.

•  Boy Shorts – No lines and no seams! Super comfortable for long car or plane trips. A must have!
  
  Mix and Match your Underwear – Bring several different styles of underwear, including stretch mesh bikinis and lace thongs for easy washing in addition to your cotton basics. Packing tip: Always bring more underwear than you need.

Shapewear – This category has changed – get that image of Grandma’s bulletproof girdle out of your head! There are now light weight fabrics to firm your figure for every fashion challenge. There is underwear that doubles as shapewear.  Don’t let a tummy bulge or rolls stop you from wearing that “little black dress”.

Visit Lisa’s site, www.lingeriefitexpert.com ,for more recommendations and fit advice. You can also purchase wonderful undergarments on her site.

Seven Simple Tips for Preparing for Medical Emergencies When Traveling

As the summer winds down, many of us will pack our overnight bags with bathing suits, walking shoes, beach reads, and of, course, a little black dress! But don’t forget to prepare yourself for any medical mishaps that may happen while you’re away from home.

Follow these seven useful tips from The Black Dress Traveler’s favorite medical professional, Mary Stein (RN, NP-C). She is a Nurse Practitioner based in New York City specializing in Primary Care & Travel Medicine. Mary offers more travel medicine advice and complete travel medicine consultations (including yellow fever vaccination) at Plaza East Internal Medicine in Manhattan. Call 212-750-7404 to make an appointment or you can reach Mary at [email protected]. 

1.   Before you travel, be honest with yourself about your health status.  Are you well enough to travel? Have you had a recent physical exam or annual check-up?  You may want to talk to your primary care provider before planning your excursion.  

2.  Plan your itinerary.  Then, have other people –friends, family, colleagues, people who’ve been on the vacation that you’re planning - look it over.  An overly-ambitious itinerary can make for a very tired (and thus, accident-prone) traveler. 

3.  See a travel medicine expert for a consultation prior to any foreign travel.  A trained travel medicine expert will prepare you with the immunizations and medications you need to protect you from everything from hepatitis to malaria to altitude sickness.

4.  Find out and take with you: the addresses and phone numbers of the clinics, hospitals, and the U.S. embassy nearest where you are staying, the numbers to call in case your wallet/credit cards get stolen, and the numbers for your insurance company.

5.  Bring your U.S. health insurance card and information with you.  Call your health insurer; find out if they will cover you overseas in the event of an emergency.  Don’t let their answer influence your decision to buy travel insurance.  You should! 

6.  Buy travel insurance.  It may seem like an unnecessary expense.  Again, accidents and emergencies happen (even if you are doing all this preparation to try to prevent them!).  The small amount of extra cash you’ll spend will be so worth it if it means you’ll be reimbursed for a cancelled vacation or if you need medical assistance or evacuation during your trip.

7. Consider sleeping aids.  This may seem a strange thing to put on a list of “how to avoid travel emergencies.”  Here’s why it’s here:  many emergencies occur because of jet-lag or lack of sleep.  Simple use of sleeping aids will assist you to combating jet-lag, getting into the local time rhythm, and beating fatigue.  There are several prescription sleep aids that do not cause morning hangover. In addition, some over-the-counter medicines (like Benadryl) work just fine for many people. I suggest you “test drive” your sleeping medication prior to your excursion.   

Click here to read more of Mary’s tips.

Inn Style in St. Augustine: Easy Elegance at the Inn on Charlotte

It is not surprising that America's oldest city, St. Augustine (Florida), has more than its fair share of quaint inns and bed & breakfasts. How does one choose where to stay with so many options? Well, if your criteria includes a luxurious bed, a well appointed room, gourmet breakfast, and a welcoming innkeeper then the answer is easy: make the simply divine Inn on Charlotte your home away from home while visiting the city of Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth, cobble stone streets, and bay breezes.

Lynne Fairfield, Inn on Charlotte owner, enjoying her oh-so-pretty porch.

Owned by the beautiful and gracious hospitality veteran Lynne Fairfield, the Inn on Charlotte is conveniently located just steps away from St. Augustine's main attractions, including the lovely bayfront. (to learn more about tourist attractions, click here to read about my previous trip to St. Augustine). I have never been much of a bed & breakfast girl but now I realize that those other B&B's were not a good match for my travel style. Staying at a bed & breakfast is almost like staying with a friend and l'll be honest - I love my friends but there are very few that I actually enjoy staying with. A good innkeeper has to possess the right combination of professionalism without being distant and warmth without being clingy. They have perfected this magical formula at the Inn on Charlotte. From the moment I arrived, I felt at home and at peace. When I wanted to chat, Lynne and her fabulous assistant Sharon were charming and a real joy to spend time with. And when I just wanted to relax, they were respectful of my quiet time on the porch.

The Inn is an elegant brick home that was built in 1918 for a local attorney and was tastefully restored in 2003. Gorgeous antiques and reproductions pay homage to the Inn's past while modern amenities such as whirlpool tubs in every room, cable television and WI-FI accommodate the needs of the modern traveler in each of the Inn's 8 rooms. 

Tiffany's Studio with the fantastic bed - see the step ladder!

The sunny and spacious Tiffany's Studio is where I nestled for two glorious days. The room's decor was inspired by Louis Comfort Tiffany, the legendary artist and designer whose famous stained glass windows can be seen in all their glory at nearby Flagler College.  In fact, all of the rooms at the Inn on Charlotte are named after a prominent person in St. Augustine's history.  My room had tasteful Tiffany inspired accents such as lamps and stained glass panels in the bathroom windows. And the bed, how glorious. Plush and inviting, the little step ladders on each side of the Queen bed made me feel like a princess. Next time, I will pack my tiara to make the experience complete!

Outside of my room, I spent a great deal of time relaxing with a book and a glass of wine or sweet tea on the Inn's shady porch. As visitors walked by, many of them would stop and comment on the loveliness of the Inn on Charlotte. I would raise my glass and smile - that's what you do in the South! The Inn keeps a small refrigerator in the living room stocked with iced tea and lemonade that you can help yourself to during the day. In the evening, red and white wine magically appear in elegant crystal carafes along with fresh baked cookies and savory homemade cheese pennies.

The Inn on Charlotte takes their responsibilities as a bed & breakfast very seriously and realize that where you lay your head at night and what you eat in the morning define the experience. Stepping out of my Princess bed, I was greeted both mornings with breakfasts that were visually appealing and absolutely delicious. Cleaning the elegant China plate of stuffed french toast and quiche with sausage and granny smith apples was a pleasure with every bite.

Breakfast quiche with oven roasted potatoes and fresh banana bread.

I have a very simple test for judging how much I enjoyed my stay at a hotel: do I get up eager to leave or does a bit of melancholy enter me as check-out time approaches?  I handed over the keys to Tiffany's Studio begrudgingly: bye bye Princess bed, farewell sweet porch, adieu delicious breakfast. Maybe I'm still not a bed & breakfast girl, but I am certainly an Inn on Charlotte girl!

(The Inn on Charlotte is currently offering a special rate. Stay any 2 MidWeek (Sunday - Thursday) Nights in August and September 2009 and receive the 2nd night for only $19.18. Applies to rooms $169 and above. Click here for more details.  )

To learn more about the Inn on Charlotte, visit www.innoncharlotte.com.  To learn more about St. Augustine, visit www.getaway4florida.com.

 

MomsRising.org Posts Petition for Marriott to Stop Blaming Rape Victim

A reader of The Black Dress Traveler signed a petition at MomsRising.org in response to the news story that I posted about lawyers for the Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa in Connecticut filing court papers that place the blame on the rape victim. The woman  was raped at gunpoint in front of her two young children in the hotel parking lot. You don't have to be a mom to let the Marriott know how you feel! Click here for more information and to sign the petition.

Real Atlanta Housewife Lisa Will Attend Opening of New Carol's Daughter Store

The Black Dress Traveler is a huge fan of Carol's Daughter natural and heavenly scented beauty products and I was so honored when down-to-earth-diva and company founder Lisa Price completed her Little Black Travel Diary for my site. So I was thrilled when I heard that Carol's Daughter's newest store is opening this Saturday, August 22 at Lenox Square Mall in Hotlanta (3393 Peachtree Road NE). 

Lisa Wu Hartwell, the gorgeous star of one of my guilty pleasures, reality show The Real Housewives of Atlanta, will add a dash of Georgia Peach Glam to the opening on Saturday. (Hmm, Lisa's skin does always have that gorgeous glow, I wonder if she uses my favorite Carol's Daughter Sweet Honey Dip Chocolate Brown Sugah Scrub?)  On Saturday from Noon-7:00 pm the public is invited to indulge in some FREE pampering in the Carol's Daughter Mobile Beauty Lounge. The complimentary treatments offered on Saturday will include mini hair, nail and massage treatments. Each guest will also be gifted with a 10% coupon that they can use towards the purchase of products used in their mini-treatment. On Sunday, August 23 at noon R&B singer Keri Hilson will be making an appearance and getting her pretty on and the public is invited to shop.

What an event! Who can resist the lure of Carol's Daughter products combined with the slight possibility that one of Lisa Wu Hartwell's zany castmates might show up to cause some drama! Well, at least they can get a Carol's Daughter manicure after breaking those nails in a catfight! Meow! 

Join the Black Dress Traveler at the New Jersey Crab Cake & Shore Chef Cook Off

The Black Dress Traveler is thrilled to be the hostess for the New Jersey Crab Cake & Shore Chef Cook Off.  This is a perfect summertime event: great food and plenty of fun at the legendary Monmouth Park Racetrack on the Jersey Shore. The event will take place on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23 from 11:30 am - 5:00 pm and admission is only $3 and free for ages 12 and under. (I will be there on Sunday only for the judging of the crab cakes.)

Taste crab cakes and seafood delicacies cooked up by some of New Jersey’s top restaurants as they compete for top honors from judges and you, the public.

This family-friendly event includes live music, lots of fun for the kids and of course thoroughbred racing. Saturday will feature performances by the Rock N’ Roll Chorus. Sunday is the Jersey Thoroughbred Festival. Enjoy The Star-Ledger Family Fun Day, with clowns, face painters, live music, pony rides, bounce houses, and more. 

Watch the commercial! Hope to see you there!

An Argentine Affair in NYC: Wine, Food & Music at Water Taxi Beach

No, this affair has absolutely nothing to do with a certain frisky South Carolina governor! On Wednesday, August 19, from 6pm to 9pm, “An Argentine Affair,” presented by Trapiche and Michel Torino Wines, will take place outdoors at Water Taxi Beach Long Island City. Argentine chefs and restaurateurs from the New York metro area will unite for this first-of-its-kind event to showcase their versions of traditional foods, as well as their meat-grilling skills.

 

Tickets will be available for purchase at http://anargentineaffair.com/ for $35* ($60 for two) and will allow participants a chance to explore the tastes of Argentina, without ever leaving the city. The event’s dishes will be paired with Trapiche wines from Mendoza and Michel Torino of Cafayate, imported by Frederick Wildman & Sons. A portion of ticket proceeds will go to Action Against Hunger, a global humanitarian organization committed to eliminating world hunger, and the Wine Course at the Department of Hospitality Management at New York City College of Technology. Event is open to the first 600 ticket holders.

Free AMOREPACIFIC Facials at Sephora in Soho

Baby, it's hot outside and all of this heat and humidity can take a toll on your complexion. AMOREPACIFIC invites you to cool down and freshen up with a complimentary mini-facial at the Sephora location in Soho (555 Broadway bet. Prince and Spring Streets) on Thursday, August 20 from 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Call 212-625-1309 for more information. 

An AMOREPACIFIC celebrity aesthetician will offer Sephora shoppers access to a renowned facialist’s expertise that previously has only been available on the AMOREPACIFIC Beauty Gallery & Spa’s exclusive spa menu. The facials infuse skin with the powerful, nutrient-rich Asian botanicals formulated in every AMOREPACIFIC product, creating the perfect synergy between science and nature. AMOREPACIFIC skin care experts will also be on hand to offer skin care consultations. For over 60 years, AMOREPACIFIC has drawn on traditional Asian beauty secrets and healthy indigenous botanicals to promote beauty and wellness.  Visit www.amorepacific.com to learn more.

 

 

What the ... Marriott Lawyers Blame Rape Victim for Attack at Hotel

Just a few weeks ago I wrote a post about how I felt unsafe when I checked into a Marriott Hotel. In light of my concerns about hotel safety for women, I was stunned when I was informed that lawyers for the Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa in Connecticut have filed court papers claiming that a woman who was raped by gunpoint in front of her two young children is to blame for this despicable act.

According to 1010 Wins, the court papers state that the victim "failed to exercise due care for her own safety and the safety of her children and proper use of her senses and facilities.''

Blaming the rape victim to avoid paying damages? This is shameless and sleazy behavior. Marriott, how could you permit your lawyers to represent you in this truly horrid manner? The rapist confessed to the 2006 crime and is serving 20 years in prison for his attack on the woman that occurred in her minivan in Marriott's parking garage. When will Marriott admit that they have a responsibility to protect their guests and not further traumatize this woman and her family? Simply shameless, I can't say it enough.

To read more about this case, visit the Connecticut Post and 1010 WINS.

Win Heidi Klum's In An Instant Skincare!

In honor of the return of Project Runway to television (premieres Thursday, 8/20 on Lifetime), The Black Dress Traveler is giving away a starter kit of Heidi Klum's In An Instant Skincare. (retail value $39.95)

Supermodel and super mogul Heidi's product line is designed to diminish the look of fine lines, wrinkles and large pores in just seconds. Heidi states, "In An Instant® is the perfect name for my skin care system because it instantly cleans, instantly polishes, instantly hydrates, instantly rejuvenates, and instantly gives your skin a natural-looking glow. The In An Instant® system is one of the best things I do for myself everyday."

This 30-day kit of six travel friendly products includes:

• - Instant Warming Scrub
   - Gentle Foaming Cleanser
   - Intensive Firming Serum
   - Instant Daily Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15
   - Intensive Eye Treatment
   - Instant Wrinkle Smoother
  

(Supermodel contract and a sexy R&B singer husband not included).

SuperShuttle or Super Slow?

I am still reeling from my SuperShuttle ordeal of less than 24 hours ago. In this economy, I was fine with the idea of sharing a ride with other weary travelers if it meant saving about 20+ dollars on cab fare. And I realized that being frugal might add an hour to my travel time. Not a problem.

However, I live only 30 minutes from JFK and I arrived home 2 and 1/2 hours after I boarded the SuperShuttle. For the first hour, I was the only passenger in that darn blue van as my uncommunicative driver hopped in and out of terminals in search of passengers. I understand that the logistics of organizing passenger arrivals is more prone to error than departures but it strikes me as excessive that my SuperShuttle experience was longer than my flight from Florida to New York. Lesson learned: I can always make 20 bucks but I will never get back my valuable time.

I have just e-mailed the following complaint letter to SuperShuttle demanding a full refund. Stay tuned for updates.

To Whom It May Concern:

 

I am writing to express my complete dissatisfaction with my most recent SuperShuttle experience of Saturday, August 15. 2009. My reservation number was 12345678.

 

As indicated in the e-mail confirmation that you sent me, I called SuperShuttle at about 7:35 pm to inform you of my arrival when my flight arrived at JFK. I was told to wait about 20-25 minutes for the driver to come and get me. Around 8:00 pm the driver called my cell phone and instructed me to meet him outside.  So far so good but it all goes downhill from there.

 

I was the only passenger in the van and understood that I would have to wait while the driver collected the other passengers. However, I did not realize that the driver would circle around the airport for an entire hour before he picked up the next passenger.  At several terminals, I was left in the van alone for 10-15 minutes while the driver went to get other passengers and he would then come back empty handed.

 

Long story short,  I reached my home at 10:30 pm.  This was 2 and 1/2 hours after I entered the van and even longer than my flight from Florida.  At no point did the driver ever communicate with the passengers to let us know the itinerary for the drop-offs.  For the record, I live 30 minutes from JFK. Even with a shared ride experience, a 2 and 1/2 hour trip is excessive and unprofessional.

 

As we reached my neighborhood, I told the driver to turn so that I could be dropped off in front of my building. He refused to do so and then made a U-turn on the wrong street. At that point, I was completely frustrated so I asked him to stop so that I could get off the SuperShuttle immediately.  This long, slow, and unpleasant journey ended with me and my luggage being dropped off half a block and across the street from home.

 

I am writing to request a FULL refund for my SuperShuttle trip.  I used your service to take me to the airport and was pleased but the return trip was absolutely horrible.

 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

 

$19 Hotel Room in San Diego If You Bring Everything!

Oh, how I love a great hotel but I always dread getting that big bill slipped under my door at the end of my stay. Now us frugal travelers can only pay for what we actually use at the Rancho Bernardo Inn Spa & Golf Resort in San Diego. The hotel's new Survivor Package cheekily asks potential guests "how low will you go?"

From August 16-31, you can essentially name your price at the Rancho Bernardo Inn by deducting the services that you don't want. The starting price is $219 for deluxe accommodations for 2 with breakfast. If you don't want breakfast, the cost goes down to $199. Skip the wallet and waist busting honor bar and the room is $179. If you really just want a room and nothing more, you can book the room for only $19 by saying adios to a bed, heat & air conditioning, sheets, pillows, and toiletries. So bring a tent, plug in a fan, pack a roll of Charmin and call it urban camping!

Travel Essential: Hollywood Nights Evening Bag Kit

I have a weak spot for travel pouches chock full of cute and useful goodies and this sweet Hollywood Nights Evening Bag Essentials kit caught my eye. Priced reasonably at  $16.50 at Beauty.com, it includes:

• 1 pack 36 strips Hollywood Fashion Tape
• 1 pack of Hollywood Oil Blotting Film to keep your face shine free
• 1 pack of Hollywood Touch Ups- lint removing sheets
• 1 tin of Hollywood Make Out Mints
• 1 travel tin for carrying along fashion tape, credit cards and cash
• Hollywood Light Up Mirror

In case you're wondering, Hollywood Fashion Tape is a clear, double-stick tape that you can use to secure your sexy clothing. Not only is it discreet, but it is also very gentle on fabric. Use the tape to hold your clothing in place, hide bra straps, eliminate blouse gaps, anchor shoe straps, close wrap styles, fix hems fast, secure revealing necklines, and hold up strapless tops.