Darphynia's Diary

Whether you are going on a road trip, or flying the "friendly skies", the last thing you want is for your liquids to explode.  Okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic, but you know what I mean.  You have everything packed, and let's say you're taking a flight, which can be stressful enough.  You get to the screening area, and unless you have TSA Pre-Check, you will need to remove your liquids bag.  Unbeknownst to you, the shampoo cap came unscrewed, leaking product all over everything.  Just when things couldn't get worse, there is a small hole in the bag, and the shampoo has leeched out into the bin.  You're out of shampoo, have to wash out the bag and wash off its contents, and now you have a bin to clean.  There is a line of people behind you, and the feeling of holding people up just adds to the current stress level. Perhaps you've decided to go on a spontaneous road trip with some friends or family, and have placed your liquids in your bag.  ...

I had seen advertisements for quip everywhere, and after visiting their website, decided to give them a shot.  Normally, I keep using the same toothbrush for ages, which probably affects its efficacy.  I have tried Sonicare, Colgate (my absolute favorite manual toothbrush is the Optic White ), REACH, you name it.  Most recently I had been using a bamboo toothbrush, which I bought as part of my Zero Waste challenge .  I loved it... but I love quip just a little bit more.  My only gripe, and this goes for most toothbrushes, is that the brush head is flat.  That makes it a bit more difficult to reach behind and around back teeth.  I wish the top bristles were angled a bit to ensure that every bit of the tooth is covered.  Quip offers electric and manual versions of their slim toothbrushes.  Each toothbrush is slim and comes with a holder that doubles as a brush head protector when you travel.  You can purchase sets or individual brushes ...

About 15 years ago, I took a trip to the UK using Trafalgar.  We had such a great time, and it was decided that we would use Trafalgar again on our next trip.  If I ever decide to take a tour again, I will be sure to ask specifically for the tour guide we had this time.  I can't say enough about Paolo.  He is a fountain of knowledge, and has a great sense of humor.  He made the trip memorable and so much more.  I actually meant to have these bits posted up the week after we came home, but I was so sick and recovering from mosquito bites (I've never reacted to them before, and don't know why I did then).  And then I relapsed, but I'm 100% better now. You will probably notice that the posts are in different tenses.  That's because I wrote them at different times.  Anyway, here is Day 1: Day 1:   From LAX to Rome LAX-Chicago From the wing.   The day has been quite long.   I hate leaving things

I am always on the lookout for a high quality SPF brand, and I really love COOLA .  COOLA is an organic suncare company that focuses on quality suncare free of phthalates, parabens, petroleum, and paba.  COOLA also donates to the Melanoma Research Alliance and Healthy Child Healthy World .  To learn more about the company, click here .     They were amazing, and sent me a couple of products to try out.  One has the scent of plumeria (body), and the other is unscented (face).  Plumeria reminds me of strolling up and down the beach in Waikiki when my family and I went a few years ago.  Don't you just love when scents bring back happy memories?  The unscented face suncare is great because it absorbs fast and is not sticky.  Because it is unscented, it does not irritate my nostrils.  Sometimes, scented face products can be a bit nauseating, don't you think?     Plumeria SPF 30 for Body Unscented SPF 30 for Fac...

I love Ursa Major skincare.  They were kind enough to send me some product samples to test out, and the brand is going on my Top 5 list.  Image courtesy of ursamajorvt.com  Generally I use whatever body wash I have when I shave.  I find that shaving creams leave an odd film on my skin.  The product never seems to stay as long as I need it to either, but this shave cream is awesome!  It stayed until I was done shaving, and did not leave my skin dry and filmy.  This product made me re-think my opinion of shave creams.  If you're curious and don't want to purchase an entire product, try out the Happy Camper set (I've listed it below as well). Image courtesy of ursamajorvt.com After trying several brands of face wipes, these have been my favorite by far.  First, I love that they are individually wrapped.  I can take them anywhere without the worry of having them dry out.  You know how it happens:  Wipes are in one p...

There are so many gadgets out there that it can be difficult to decide what to take, especially when we travel.  What items do I need to take?  Which cables will I need?  How will I pack them?  How much room will they take up?  These are a few items I like to take whether I am flying or driving to my destination. 1.  Macbook Air + Charger   ($899.00 and up) Image courtesy of apple.com I am so glad that I was able to purchase the MacBook Air.  It was awhile ago (mine is the 2011... I think), but it still runs as well as the day I purchased it.  I chose it for several reasons.  It has everything I need program-wise with ample storage.  Another big selling point was the weight.  It weighs next to nothing (~3lbs.), so I carry it with ease.  Since I have neck and back problems, it is difficult to carry weight.  If you are in the market for one, I suggest that you look at the r efurbished section first.  A...

Image courtesy of Facekins.com I was sent a sample of Facekins to try out, and I am in L-O-V-E!  For those of you who don't know, Facekins are washable, reusable fabric facial pads.  I took these with me while I worked camp, and they were such a blessing!  I didn't have to gauge the amount of cotton facial pads and cotton balls I would need, and the Facekins took up far less room in my kit!  Since I wash my face at least twice a day (morning, night, and in the shower of course!) and always use makeup remover and toner, I go through a ton of cotton.  Okay, not literally a ton, but you know what I mean.  It is one of the softest products to ever touch my face!  It reminded me of something that would be used during a luxury spa treatment.  I also found myself using less product.  At first, I thought it was too good to be true Facekins, but no.  I tested out how far one spray of toner would go on a cotton pad versus the Facekins....

So, I wasn't able to get my posts in this week, and it's because I've been prepping for my Vegas trip.  I will be attending CES 2015, and can't wait!  I will try to post make-up posts for this past week, and keep up next week, but I can't make any promises. Here is what I will be taking during this trip: TPG Clear Soft Pack (Large & Medium) Image property of thepowdergroup.com I absolutely LOVE these!  I've had mine for years, and they look brand new.  Each pack I have houses everything from makeup and brushes, to docking stands and charging cords.  The plastic is strong and durable, and each pack can be washed.  A little soapy water will do the trick.  The large size fits several palettes, individual shadows, and a brush roll.  I can also fit all of my cords, mouse, note cards, and pens with room to spare, or clothes, for short trips.  The medium is perfect for long trips, when I need to take more toiletries that normal. ...