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When you travel, whether by car or by plane, you tend to have to sit for long periods of time.  Because of this blood pools to the lower part of your legs and causes them to swell, you may also get cramps in your legs due to this.  Of even more concern is that those pains in your legs could potentially be a fatal blood clot that has formed , also known as DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis), which can cause pulmonary embolism (PE) and may even lead to death. 

One thing that can help this is graduated compression products.  These types of products aid blow flow to the legs.  Applying graduated compression speeds up the rate at which blood flows through the deep veins and places the most compression at the ankles (where it is needed most), thus improving circulation.  This is of great concern to me as we travel quite a bit, often on long flights or car rides, where getting up to walk around and stretching your legs is usually limited to bathroom breaks. 

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It's almost cruise time, and that means packing and unpacking and packing again!  With all the little things we'll need, I want to be sure that should we lose misplace them, and a kind soul finds them, we'll get them back.  This is where the handiness of Label Daddy comes in.

I make encourage Amber to label the things that she takes with her places for two reasons.  1. Many of her friends have the same things she does (iPod, Nintendo DS etc) in the same colors and 2. If it does make its way to the lost and found hopefully someone will see the name on it and return it.

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A lot of you know our family is getting ready to take a transatlantic cruise this spring.  The trip takes us from our home in South Dakota, to Minneapolis to catch a flight to Orlando.  Then we board the ship in Port Canaveral have 14 days on the ship ending our journey in Barcelona with a flight back home.

The luggage we currently have just won’t cut it on a trip like that.  It wasn’t the best quality to begin with, the zippers are starting to tear at the seams, and now there are all those new baggage requirements too.

I was recently able to review a great bag from High Sierra.  The 22'” Carry-on Wheeled Upright in their Elevate line.

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Yes it's January.

Yes I'm blogging about Sunblock.

No I am not going on a Caribbean cruise this winter.

Yes I live in South Dakota (don't let the "south" part fool you it's cold here!).

A little over a year ago I was posting about our Caribbean cruise on my blog.  The weather wasn't great but certainly warmer than SD weather.  The funny thing is, sometimes we need to use sunblock in winter here more than when traveling south!

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As home educators we often school on the go.  Being able to drive when we like to visit family in Canada, take educational vacations, and on the whim field trips is a perk to homeschooling.

 

Often that means though that we take our oodles of books with us, or we have to forfeit certain subjects because they aren't very conducive to on the go schooling.
 
An HP Mini 110-1100 with Windows 7 (which is by the way seriously awesome, if you use the Windows platform and haven't upgraded, it's fantastic), would really help simplify schooling on the go for us.  

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To make your traveling experience trouble free, items from The Satin Collection by Gutzees are so useful. 

I recently took The Revival Bag on my last two trips to Canada and Minneapolis. 

I thought the best feature was that this travel bag has 8 pockets, in two different sizes, made of a clear vinyl so you can quickly see all your things.  This made it easy for me to place my toiletries in the various pockets according to their purpose and size.  All of the items I use on a daily basis fit well in the pockets.

The Revival Bag is a larger sized case, more for use on car trips or to pack in your luggage.  When not folded up its dimensions are 30" x 11 1/4".  Folded up, it is more of the size of a sheet of paper surface area wise, or a large clutch.  I had no troubles fitting it into my luggage on either trip I took.

I have to say I was surprised at its capacity.  I have a rather bulky toothbrush and carry a full size tube of toothpaste when I travel, and the pockets didn't strain at all to fit them.  The quilted satin on the outside is well constructed and gives it a chic look, and the snaps that keep it folded up are sturdy and well placed.

The hanger makes it perfect for small spaces.  My parent's guest bath has no counter space, so this was a lifesaver for me when we visited.  I just hung it on the towel rack and had easy access to all I needed.

In Minneapolis (which was a "girls" trip), while the counter space was there; 1 bathroom + 4 females = Chaos!  My items were neatly tucked away in my Gutzees Revival Bag, and I didn't get my stuff mixed up with anyone's.  Packing to go home was a breeze too, since everything was already in my Revival Bag.

I am so thrilled that I have this to take on our cruise next year.  Those stateroom bathrooms make my parent's bathroom look gigantic!

Gutzees has many more products for organizing, traveling and gifts.  For jewelry, handbags and personal effects, they have styles and colors for every lady.  The Revival Bag costs $35.00 and is available at their online store.

For more products and gifts for her visit Gutzees.com

I was provided a complimentary Revival Bag to use and formulate an opinion for the purpose of this post.

As most of you know we vacation with "The Mouse".  A lot.  

Surprise an aspiring photographer or princess with a starter camera before you leave, or if your trip is after Christmas, this would make a fun stocking stuffer.

This post was

In an unofficial polling of moms and dads that I did (some seasoned parents, some brand new), the question was asked: What are the features you look for or would like to see in a diaper bag?

Survey says......
Moms:

• Worn over the shoulder
• Plenty of Pockets
• Included Changing Pad
• Insulated Bottle Holder

• No Frills
• Backpack style

The Mrs. Smith's Diaper Bag converts to a backpack by using its own shoulder strap. Simply unhook the messenger strap and remove the shoulder pad. Thread the strap through the loop behind documents pouch. Attach hooks to the D-clips at the bottom of the back of the bag and size accordingly.

It has dedicated places for your keys, cell phone, sunglasses, credit cards, cash, ID and water bottle.

A full size washable changing pad is located in the bag’s flap.

Two bottles and one sippy cup can be accommodated in their own insulated holders.

6 different patterns are available including Classic Black which the dads won't mind carrying!

Perhaps the most unique thing about Mrs. Smith's Diaper Bags over any other kind has to be the bottom pullout drawer. I have never seen anything like it. This would be the ultimate diaper bag pick for traveling.

If you aren't convinced that these bags are worth their weight in gold, let me tell you a story....

When Amber was not quite a year old, we decided to pull up and take to the air and visit my grandparents in Europe. At the time I had a vinyl, pastel green diaper bag emblazoned with animals. Not exactly classified as chic in the fashion world. I couldn't possibly find myself traipsing around with that bag on my shoulder. So I decided to buy a regular handbag that I could use instead of a dedicated diaper bag. Big.Mistake. 12 take offs and landings and 8 hour flights do not work well with a bag that is not organized nor made to hold things like bottles, pacifiers and lotions. If only Mrs. Smith had been around then!

3 Plane Changes + Feeding in an Airport Terminal + Acrobatic Diaper Changing in the Claustrophobic Bathroom all with a Mrs. Smith's Diaper Bag = Priceless

These bags will be useful long after you no longer need a diaper bag too. I actually plan to use the Classic Black bag as my carry on when we travel next. The drawer on the bottom will be handy for those quick things we tend to use all the time on flights, like chewing gum, books, and my mp3 player. I won't have to dig through anything and it will be right there for me.

To enter the giveaway visit Mrssmithsbags.com and tell me which pattern you would choose.

For extra entries (the above must be done first) you can:
 
1. Become a fan of Mrs. Smith's Diaper Bags on Facebook
2. Become a fan of Three Different Directions on Facebook

This giveaway will end on November 4, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and open to U.S. and Canadian Residents (no PO Boxes) ages 18+. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be e-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or an alternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you are stating that you have read my **About Reviews and Privacy/Rules declaration and agree to them.

I received a complimentary Diaper Bag from  Mrs. Smith prior to writing this post.

How many times has someone coughed in your face?  Or sneezed and splattered their "excess" on you?

Just thinking of those microscopic germs, now free to enter through my nose, ears and mouth, roaming through my body trying to take it over, gives me the heebie-jeebies.  With the H1N1 virus spreading fast, the reality of this happening is with me everyday.

Should you become exposed to such a pathogen, and you want to eradicate those microscopic infiltrators, there is a product available to do just that.  It's called MyClyns.
MyClyns is an alcohol free germ protection spray that you can use on your face when exposed.  It's non toxic and non burning, and works fast.  It demonstrates a 99.9% reduction in more than 60 potentially dangerous pathogens.

I haven't had a chance to use MyClyns yet and I'm overly hopeful it will travel with me in my handbag or pocket, and I'll never have to use it at all.  The fact that I have it with to protect against the possibility of being exposed is reassuring in itself.

Two readers will each win a MyClyns Personal Spray.

To enter let me know how else you keep germs at bay.

For extra entries you can (please leave a new comment for each additional entry):

1. Follow Me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (this can be done daily!) "@threedifferent Enter to win a MyClyns Personal Germ Protection Spray at http://bit.ly/1VjaQ6 #giveaway"
2. Become a fan of Three Different Directions on Facebook
3. Subscribe to my feed via reader or email
4. Follow my blog publicly
5. Become a fan of Clyns Brands on Facebook.
6. Add my button to your blog
7. Post about this giveaway on your blog and link back to it

This giveaway will end on November 1, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and is open to US Residents ages 18+. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be e-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or an alternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you are stating that you have read my **About Reviews and my Privacy/Rules statements and agree to them.

I received a complimentary MyClyns Personal Spray prior to writing this post.

Ola Loa is a "Drink Your Vitamins" product. Designed by renowned nutrition pioneer, Richard A. Kunin, M.D., Ola Loa has solved the take a pill method. It also helps neutralize excess stomach acid, and therefore can be taken anytime. Just place Ola Loa Powder into an empty glass and add a few ounces of water or juice and guzzle it down.

Each packet of Ola Loa replaces over a dozen types of vitamin pills and instead delivers nutrients with a natural taste and almost instant benefits. The secret is a formulation of nutrients and a natural pineapple base. This natural product has no artificial sweeteners.

Take a look at the video below to see how you use it.

One of the great benefits of Ola Loa is that it is easy to take with you when you travel.  No more messing with large pills that don't fit in pill boxes for a week of vacation, these will easily slip into your suitcase or carry on.

Ola Loa is currently available in four product formulas.  REPAIR (Nutrient Support for Healthy Bones and Joints), ENERGY (Their first product), KIDS Multi (made especially for children) and SPORT (All Natural Hydrating Drink).  I received samples of the Energy and Sport versions.

I have to say the idea of Drinking Your Vitamins is quite appealing to me.  The Energy Packets have TMG, NAC and CoQ10, plus vitamins A through K, 1000 mg of Vitamin C, 40 mineral complexes and 6 amino acids. (And if you haven't heard of the first three, you're in good company, I had not either!).

The Sport Hydrating variety is a great way to keep hydrated if you're active.  Compare them to many other sports drinks on the market and some of  them have 10x the amount of sugar that Ola Loa has.

I'm going to tell you that the Mixed Berry flavor in the SPORT reminded me a lot of Flinstone vitamins.  From the smell to the taste, I kind of thought I was 8 years old again, sneaking some out of the cupboard when I already had my allotment for the day, lol!  My favorite of all the kinds I got to try was the Mango-Tangerine.  That one tastes like a healthy fizzy fruit drink.  I drained my cup pretty quick when I tried it.

If you are the kind of person that has trouble swallowing pills, or wants more than what the typical multivitamin can offer you, this product would fit your need.  Likewise the Kids Multi would be great for traveling when you don't want to drag the medicine cabinet with you.

Ola Loa also has an active military discount.  You can save 35% on your order, click here to learn more.

Ola Loa sent me a whole box to try out, and I'd like to share some with one of my readers.  The winner will receive a variety of Sport and Energy packet flavors to try. 

Never fear though if you are interested in this product and can't wait to see if you are a winner, head over to Ola Loa's website and request a couple of free packages for yourself.  You just might find that you like to Drink Your Vitamins!

To enter the giveaway, visit Ola Loa and tell me what you think your favorite flavor would be.

For extra entries (the above must be done first) you can:
 

1. Become a fan of Ola Loa on Facebook.
2. Become a fan of Three Different Directions on Facebook

This giveaway will end on October 24, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and open to U.S. and Canadian Residents ages 18+. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be e-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or an alternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you are stating that you have read my **About Reviews and Privacy/Rules declaration and agree to them.

I received complimentary samples of Ola Loa for the purpose of this review.

Most people consider their bathrooms the germiest room in their home, and they're probably right.  But there are other places that germs lurk, some which we really don't think about.

Both the Lysol Sanitizing Wipes and Lysol Disinfectant Spray work great to eliminate germs, in your bathroom and all those other places.

Each pre-moistened disposable wipe kills 99.9% of germs -- even the bacteria that causes odors -- where you use it.  No bottles, no sponges, no mess.  Effective disinfecting has never been faster or easier.

The Micro-lock fiber construction of the cloths help trap those icky germs.

I like the design of the lid.  If you need to reach in to adjust the cloths, the outer cover is easy to take off, meaning no pinched fingers (yes, that has happened to me before with other brands...).

Not only can you use these in the bathroom but in the kitchen as well.  (Although they are not recommended for use on polished, bare wood or porous surfaces).

You can imagine all the uses these would have in a classroom!  When in the stores last week I took a peek at the school supply lists and there were many schools that wanted parents to purchase them.

I used these in our church nursery last week when doing a quick cleaning.  They were very practical for that purpose, and I know that the diaper changing stations are free from lingering germs.

Lysol Disinfecting Spray

                                                 

This is an EPA registered disinfectant that kills more than 99.9% of illness causing bacteria and viruses including H1N1 and the common cold. 

Door knobs, light switches, and toilet handles have long been places people have sprayed Lysol.  (I remember my mom spraying down door handles with Lysol when I was young!)

Something new and interesting I learned when I was sent samples of these Lysol products to write this review, is that Lysol Disinfecting Spray can be used on soft fabrics as well.

I went to town around our home with the spray.  Bedspreads, shower curtain, handbags, shopping totes and shoes were all sprayed.  The Clean Linen scent wasn't hard on the nose either.

Backpacks, gym clothes, oh there are so many ways you can eliminate the germs using Lysol Disinfecting Spray.

They even have a "To Go" sized spray, which you all know is coming with me when we travel!

If you want to try and ensure a healthy germ free home this school year, be sure to stop by Lysol.com where they have more resources available like:

• The Germ Information Center (www.lysol.com/germ-information-center/) provides useful information to help families fully understand the threat posed by germs.
• Resources & Downloads (www.lysol.com/germ-information-center/resources/) has a variety of downloads including the “Looking After You” series of booklets, which provide practical information and tips for keeping you and your children healthy from pregnancy through childhood. 

To enter this giveaway visit the Lysol Germ Information Center, then come back here and tell me something that you learned. 

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the above entry.  Please leave each in a separate comment.

• Follow Me on Twitter & Tweet about the contest. (This can be done daily but be sure to leave the link to your tweet in the comments)

• Add the Three Different Directions Button to your blog

• Add Three Different Directions to your Blogroll

• Follow Three Different Directions publicly

• Subscribe to Three Different Directions RSS Feed by Email or Reader
  

This giveaway will end on September 21, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and open to U.S. Residents ages 18+. The winners will be chosen by random.org and will be e-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or an alternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you are stating that you have read my **About Reviews statement at the bottom of this page and my Privacy/Rules declaration and agree to them.

One of my favorite things about cruising is dressing up for dinner. The little black sleeveless dress and high heels, really make me feel special. One of my least favorite things is that the dining rooms are always cold. I suppose they need to keep it that way when you have so many people in the room, but somehow the goosebumps and stand up hairs don't go well with the look I'm trying to achieve .

Packing space is always a premium when we travel, and sweaters are bulky and take up too much real estate in my suitcase. What to do, what to do?

I came across Nimli in my daily jaunt across the internet a couple of weeks ago. They seemed to be the solution to my dilemma.

Nimli offers clothing, accessories, home décor, beauty products and much more from independent designers.

One of the brands Nimli carries is Azuri. Azuri makes scarves and shawls in many fabric and color choices. I received an Azuri Wool Wrap to review courtesy of Nimli. I chose a neutral color so that I would be able to pair it with any outfit.

I had the perfect opportunity to try it out last week. You see, I think our church has a colony of penguins that they are giving sanctuary to. I have come to that conclusion because  on Sunday mornings it is frigid in there . I have a number of sleeveless dresses that have been hanging in my closet all summer collecting dust, as it is just too chilly to wear them to worship.

So last Sunday I donned one, and brought along my Azuri Wool Wrap. Not ten minutes into the hour and I was positioning it around my shoulders and arms. I stayed cozy and warm for the remainder of the service. The nice thing about it is that it is not oppressively heavy.

Folded up this shawl takes up a fraction of the space a sweater does in a suitcase and it is the perfect accessory to take with on any vacation.

Visit Nimli to view all of the different Azuri items they carry, as well as a whole host of other natural and organic products.

I've never been a huge fan of the dentist, but I do know that the better my toothbrush works for me, the easier those dental visits will be on my sanity.

The SpinBrush Sonic Toothbrush helps with those difficult areas in your mouth that are hard to reach with a manual toothbrush, and it makes your teeth feel clean and fresh when you're finished brushing.

See here....

We actually have one of those $100+ sonic toothbrushes on our bathroom counter, but that's where it stays when we leave home and go on vacation. For one reason we don't know if the charge will last on it for the whole time we are away, and another reason is, who wants to leave behind or lose such a $$ item.

So when I saw the SpinBrush Sonic Toothbrush I fell in love. The replaceable batteries are great for traveling. The same power clean as a rechargeable sonic toothbrush with the convenience for travel!

With one of these toothbrushes you receive: 1 brush head, the base of the brush (naturally) and a set of batteries already installed to start you out. And it's a significant price savings from a rechargeable model since it only costs about $15.00.

The other thing I like about this product is the reasonable cost of the replacement heads, which cost a fraction of what the other models sell them for. If you change your brush head as often as the dentist recommends that's a lot of cash saved! As well as the fact that you should get cleaner teeth from using this compared to a manual toothbrush, which may equate to savings at the dentist also.

I have been extremely impressed with the quality of this for the price. Now the technology of sonic for cleaning your teeth is affordable for everyone.

If you have been wanting to take the leap to a sonic toothbrush, but the cost has held you back, wait no longer, visit http://www.spinbrush.com/Products_SpinBrushSonic.html# and you can download a coupon for extra savings off!

I have a great giveaway. 2 lucky readers will each get a SpinBrush Pro Clean Sonic of their own.

In order to enter this giveaway visit SpinBrush and comment with something you learned there that would make a difference in your dental routine.

For extra entries you can: (the item above must be done first before extra entries can be submitted, please leave a separate comment for each you are eligible for)

1. Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveway (this can be once per day, please leave the direct link to your tweet in the comments).
2. Follow my blog publicly.
3. Subscribe to my feed via e-mail or reader.
4. Blog about this giveaway linking back to my blog.
5. Add my button to your blog.

This giveaway will end on September 11, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and open to U.S. Residents ages 18+. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be e-mailed. The winners will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or an alternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you are stating that you have read my **About Reviews statement at the bottom of this page and my Privacy/Rules declaration and agree to them.

I was provided a sample of a SpinBrush Sonic prior to reviewing & publishing this post. 

If I could travel all the time, I would ☺.

One of the things that is really appealing to cruise travelers (like me!) is the on board spas. Their treatments and products are luxurious, and when on vacation the extravagant prices are sometimes justifiable ☺. Of course we all can't getaway all the time.

So if you have the hankering to take a spa visit and get away to an exotic locale but are unable to, you must check out MySpaShop.com's Virtual Spa Destinations. From places in the United States to Europe and beyond, the best spa destinations are now only as far away as a mouse click.

I personally am all about the Caribbean. Living in the Northern Plains brings a longing for sandy beaches and turquoise waters. So my choice of a virtual spa journey was Anguilla.

After reading about my destination as well as viewing photos that took me to where the beach meets the ocean, I was introduced to products that would reflect a spa experience in my chosen locale.

MySpaShop.com sent me some TARA Sun Therapy products to engage my senses and my skin for my virtual spa journey to Anguilla, while I was able to stay right here in South Dakota.

The TARA Sun Collection, is an aloe-based line formulated with sea algae extracts, and was born out of and Aloe Rehydrating Wrap treatment specifically used for desert and tropical climates. In addition to offering sun protection the products offer healing, soothing, nourishing and hydrating benefits for sun-exposed, dry and irritated skin conditions.

The Rehydrator Lotion made with Rosehip and Aloe goes on silky, just like the ones at the spas. Oh yeah, and let me tell you when I used the Recovery Gel and closed my eyes, the scent and sensation carried me off to the Caribbean, well until Amber banged on my bathroom door wondering when she was going to get dinner.

If you're in the need of a getaway and the only way you're going to get one right now is virtually, I encourage you to head over to MySpaShop.com and check out one (or more) of their 16 virtual spa journey destinations. It just might give you that "fix" you need until you can really take a vacation or hit the spa ☺.