The Cheap Seats

[Photo by egmb757lover/flickr]

One positive thing about the recession: cheap flights. But a nine dollar airline ticket? Still pretty hard to come by...until now. On July 13th, a brand spanking new airline called JetAmerica will begin making 34 non-stop passenger flights a week to mid-sized U.S. cities like Melbourne, Fla.; South Bend, Ind.; and Newark, N.J. The best part? The first 9 seats on every flight will go for bargain price of -- you guessed it -- $9 (prices top out at $199). So, what are you waiting for? Get booking!

Perfect Timing

I've been bad. A week-long trip to Atlanta (my hometown) to celebrate a dear friend's birthday and a subsequent Memorial Day blowout in NYC (complete with a visit from one of my best girlfriends who, without my permission, decided to move to Arizona) has meant I've neglected this precious blog. I'm back in the game now, though. I've got my head on straight (kind of). And, of course, I've got some info to share...

[Photo by Al Lanni/flickr]

You've booked your summer vacation time. You're thinking Europe. You're not exactly sure what part. Don't finalize those plans without checking out joobili.com. This sweet little site holds a database of all Europe's festivals, sporting events, cultural fairs, etc. Just enter your travel dates, click "inspire me" and get a report of the cities where you'll find the best travel experience for the particular time you'll be visiting. Perfect!

Island Flavor

Bottom Bay, Barbados [Photo by gemteck1/flickr]

Stress at work, annoyance at home and a serious case of wanderlust have you wanting to hit the Caribbean ASAP, but your recessionista wallet says otherwise. No sweat. This yummy summer treat -- snagged right from the recipe books at the ultra posh Sandy Lane resort in Barbados -- is sure to have you sailing away in no time (even if it's only in your mind).

Sandy Lane Low-Fat Granola Wild Berry Parfait

• 1 cup fresh vanilla yogurt
• ½ cup homemade cherry granola (Dried whole cherries & fresh granola of choice)
• 4 sliced strawberries
• Handful raspberries
• Handful strawberries
• Handful blackberries
• Handful blueberries
• 2 TB candied pecans
• 1 sprig mint leaf

Mix the fresh granola and dried whole cherries in a mixing bowl. Pour a quarter of the granola mixture, along with blackberries and blueberries into a glass Mason jar, and pour ½ cup fresh vanilla yogurt on top. Then, layer sliced strawberries and whole raspberries on top of the yogurt. Pour the remaining ½ cup yogurt into the jar, and layer the remaining fruit and pecans on top of mixture. Finish off the parfait with mint leaf sprig.

Wanna make a whole meal? For more recipes from Caribbean hot spots, check out my article over at examiner.com.

The Verdict

"Reporting back" may have taken me more than a few hours (it was the weekend!), but I'm happy to announce that the Zeno Mini is, in fact, a completely adequate -- and portable! -- blemish-busting system. After one treatment around noon, my offending pimple faded to near nonexistence by 6pm. This little jewel (the Zeno, not the zit) will definitely be hopping in my suitcase and joining me on my next jaunt. Dry airplane air, greasy food, little to no sleep: travel can definitely bring out the blemishes. But next time, I'll be ready...

Want one of your own? You can buy it over at Amazon.

Blemish Buster

I woke up this morning with a pimple on my face roughly the size of a planet, so imagine my joy when the FedEx man turned up with a press sample of the Zeno Mini, a new zit treatment that uses low-level heat to kill acne bacteria.

I ripped open the packaging like a kid at Christmas. (Hey, it's Friday, I've got places to go and people to see tonight.) Within 5 minutes, I was feeling the warm comfort of blemish-busting power on my poor marked face. After the 2 - 1/2 minute treatment, I pulled back the Zeno to reveal....ummm...a tiny red circle (this thing gets pretty hot). Now we wait. They say most blemishes need 2 or 3 treatments over a 12 to 24 hour period, but I'm hoping for a super quick fix. I'll report back in a few hours with status...
Top photo by MR+G/flickr

Thai Charm

If you've always wanted to experience remote Thailand but can't stomach sleeping with the snakes in one of those ill-assembled huts, the new Anantara Si Kao Resort is your dream come true. Perched on the edge of Chao Mai National Park (a sanctuary covering islands and coastal areas in Thailand's enchanting Sikao district), this luxury hotel claims a perfect location for diving and snorkeling -- they even have a 5-Star PADI dive center right on site. Prefer activities that don't involve a limited air supply? There's also plenty of untouched land to survey. Geography of the area is wild and unspoiled (think white powdery beaches, rugged limestone cliffs, unexplored rainforests, thick mangrove reserves, hidden caves and cascading waterfalls)...

The accommodations, however, are first class. Who wouldn't want to drift to sleep in a room like this: luxuriously appointed and snake-free...

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico [photo by Mdanys/flickr]

Wear it Well

I think I've found it: the perfect uniform for the glamorous global jet setter. The silk chiffon dresses and blouses in Austin Jade's new resort wear collection fold-up easily (more room in that suitcase for shoes!) and they're super lightweight. Even better, the signature looks are reversible! Each piece can be worn up to three different ways. But these beautiful clothes are sooooo much more than practical -- they're absolutely gorgeous....

High functionality and high style...I'm in!

Tourmented...

In keeping with their rep as the hippest airline out there, Virgin America just announced they're proud to be the very first carrier to offer Absinthe in-flight!

Le Tourment Vert authentic French absinthe is now available on all VA flights. The signature cocktail? The Mile High is "a Tourmenting and satisfying blend of Le Tourment Vert Absinthe, sprite and lemons shaken and served over ice." Hello, Green Fairy...