The Naked Truth About Flight Safety

Air New Zealand - screen grab from safety video

Air New Zealand is taking in-flight entertainment to a whole new level. The crew is stripping down to nearly nothing (just a little body paint...and perhaps a captain's hat) for their new safety video. Guess that's one way to make passengers pay attention! You can view the hot little piece of instructional cinema here. I've gotta go book my ANZ ticket...

On the Road...

After nearly a month on hiatus, I'm back to the blog -- with lots of travel info to share. The last few weeks have taken me to Florida (as below noted), Niagara Falls and Toronto, with a few days down time in NY to work on an amazing new project I'll be launching soon. In the meantime, a few pics from the road...

I adore the sweet smell of fresh gardenias. This was one of many perched on a bush in an old southern garden. I was delighted!

One of my favorite things about northwest Florida (besides the beautiful beaches) are the majestic moss-draped oaks -- so beautifully southern.

Niagara Falls: every bit as impressive as its reputation. I'm not sure you can appreciate the sheer magnitude without standing right in front of it.

The obligatory Niagara Falls pose!

Blue skies in Toronto. Lovely weather in a lovely city.

Off to Florida...

Destin, Florida sunrise [Photo by bcmom/flickr]

I'm off to the northwest Florida coast on assignment, covering "off beat and off-road" attractions in the panhandle.  I'm not too excited about my 6am flight, but if I get to see a sunrise like this while I'm there, it'll be well worth it :)  I hope to be posting from the road.  Stay tuned...

Chic and Shady

Several people have commented (privately and publicly) on the parasol in my last post.  As the lovely Miss Eve from Absolutely Ladylike pointed out, parasols are all the rage among Asian women overseas.  But what if you want to rock a little chic portable shade in the U.S.?    

The creator of Carasol Parasols, a young NYC resident by the name of Carol, developed her company after getting multiple compliments stateside when she trotted around Manhattan carrying a parasol her aunt brought back from Japan.  A few years later, Carol is providing elegant, sturdy parasols to the masses, each with a protective UV coating that blocks 85-99% of UV rays.  They come in a variety of styles and colors (I have the Grace in taupe), and they're lightweight, so they're super easy to throw in a suitcase.

Also check out Carol's blog, I'd Rather Carry a Parasol, for more great health and skin-related tips.

Sun Savior

[Photo by Malias/ flickr]

Being caught off guard by the weather can ruin your day fast. Stuck in the rain without an umbrella? Get ready for "drowned rat" hair. Stuck in the blaring sun without sunscreen (or a parasol)? Hello lobster face. Good thing they make purse-sized umbrellas, and now, they're doing the same with sunscreen. Bare Minerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen is the perfect thing to throw in your bag and dust on whenever you're in need of a little extra sun protection.

It's a powder, so no more of that greasy residue, and its' totally compact (the brush is attached), so it's great for travel. Bring on the sun!