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BY Nancy Mueller 2 Comments ON January 14, 2015

Sávar Luxury Traveller Set: Review

Savar Luxury Traveller Set

For all the fun of frequent travels, wanderboomers know that stale cabin air and stuffy hotel rooms take a toll on your skin. Add a dose of wintry weather, and your once soft, silky skin is bound to become super dry, resulting in itching and flaking. Not a pleasant picture, is it?

The solution, of course, is to hydrate: drink plenty of water, spritz water on our faces, and avoid long soaks in the bathtub. While it’s doubtful that drinking 10 – 12 glasses of water daily will result in having younger-looking skin (darn it), applying moisturizers that actually penetrate the skin can do wonders.

Enter Sávar, a New Zealand-based company promoting premium 99% natural skincare products combining the best in “nature, style and sustainability.” Enriched with pure plant extracts (like marshmallow, hibiscus and organic white tea) and oils (blackcurrent, rose, starflower, for example), the skincare products are designed to cleanse, nourish and protect even sensitive skin.

Not only was I eager to take a trial run of the Sávar Luxury Traveller Set as an alternative to relying on the lotions that I frequently find in hotels. I was also up for a little pampering, a way to create more of a spa experience simply by using luxury skincare products. While I wasn’t in need of a quick-fix skincare miracle, I did hope to have softer, more hydrated skin after applying the products consistently morning and night while on the road. If it meant ending up having more gorgeous, younger-looking skin at the same time? Well, what could be wrong with that?

My set arrived in a handsome, recyclable box with magnetic lid, complete with five travel-sized (30 ml.) skincare products: essential cleansing lotion, essential hydration moisturizer, instant boost multi toner, antioxidant night cream and nourishing body lotion. Each item is lightly scented in lockable containers so no need to worry about spillage when repacking for your flight home. As lovely as the packaging is, I only wish it had included a cosmetic-size bag in which to store the products while traveling.

After using the skincare products for a couple of months, I’m definitely a fan of the Sávar line. I loved the barely-there fresh scent and silky feel of the moisturizers and lotions on my skin. And how much younger do I look? Well . . . While Sávar may not have succeeded in making me look younger than the age on my driver’s license, in all fairness, it’s not a claim promised by company Founder-Director Vicky Woolford. But did my skin feel healthier and look more radiant after using the products? Yes. Maybe it’s the result of having more hydrated skin. Or maybe the glow comes from my smile of contentment knowing that I’m taking such good care of myself when away from home.

Thanks to Sávar for providing their Luxury Traveller Set for my review purposes.

For more information on the company’s natural skincare products and current pricing, visit Sávar.

Wander on!

Nancy

What little luxuries do you pack in your travel bag, wanderboomers?

Filed Under: Baby Boomers and Travel, Reviews Tagged With: hydration, luxury, New Zealand, Savar, skincare, spa, sustainability

BY Nancy Mueller 8 Comments ON January 2, 2014

Au Revoir, 2013!

Memories of 2013 may be fading fast, but before we leap too far into 2014, here are a few snapshots of  the roads I’ve wandered over the past year  . . .

Le Baluchon

In 2013 I re-discovered the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with trips to the San Juans, Whidbey Island, Idaho,
The Dalles and Seaside, Oregon, thanks to my sponsored travel hosts . . .

Port Townsend WA

I fell in love with Quebec . . .

Quebec

and flew high, sometimes outside my comfort zone  . . .

IFly Seattle

Photo courtesy of  iFly Seattle

I sampled a multitude of culinary delights along the way, which fortunately were sprinkled throughout the year . . .

2013 Meals Collage

 I made new friends fast . . .

Quebec Group

probably because we spent most of our time lounging around in bathrobes when not in spas, saunas and hot tubs . . .

2013 Review Spas

Oh, and I learned how to take selfies . . .

Hindsight

My 2013 travels brought renewed perspective . . .

Perspective

 reminding me to step back far enough . . .

Orcas Island View

and high enough . . .

View from the air

to see the bigger picture of our life stories and how we are all interconnected . . .

Rainbow Inn at Langley

 and that even when skies seem the darkest, there’s always the promise of a new rainbow  . . .

Life is Good

Here’s wishing you another year of Happy Travel Adventures both near and far, Wanderboomers!

Wander on!

Nancy

What were your 2013 travel highlights, Wanderboomers?

 

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, Destinations, Idaho, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Québec, San Juan Island, The Dalles, Washington State, Whidbey Island Tagged With: 2013, 2013 Review, 2014, hot tub, iFLY, rainbow, sauna, selfies, spa

BY Nancy Mueller 8 Comments ON October 11, 2013

Québec Road Trips: The Ultimate Autumn Getaway

Québec Road Trips

Add Québec road trips to your travel list for the ultimate Autumn getaway. Luckily, my trip coincided with the peak of Fall’s fiery foliage.

Québec Road Trips

On a spa-hopping mission through Mauricie and Lanaudière outside Montreal (somebody had to do it), I reveled in the journey, inhaling the Fall fragrance, French language and culture of the region. With a happy heart, I took to the open road, absorbed by the beauty of Fall’s vibrant splashes of red, purple and gold. Très magnifique!

Québec Road Trips

Any concerns created by cancelled flights getting here soon slipped away. I followed the path of least resistance,  soaking up the sun and the scenery along meandering country roads, imprinting the colorful landscape, small farms, and churches in my mind’s eye.

Québec Road Trips

I love the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest. But my trip back East reminded me why Autumn had always been my favorite season as a child in Upstate New York.

Québec Road Trips

 Merci, Québec!

Inspired to take your own Québec road trips? Plan your journey, pick up a road map and brush up on your French. Settle back and enjoy the drive . . .

Québec Road Trips

For more fun Friday photos, check out Delicious Baby.

What’s your favorite Fall getaway, Wanderboomers? Share yours with us here.

 

Filed Under: Activities, Québec Tagged With: Autumn getaways, church, Fall, foliage, French, Lanaudiere, Mauricie, Montreal, Road Trips, spa

BY Nancy Mueller Leave a Comment ON September 4, 2012

Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

With so many choices available in Waikiki Beach, how’s a wanderboomer to choose where best to stay? Fortunately, I had the chance to try out the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa for a couple of days on a recent vacation. Here’s why the resort ranks high on my list for solo and family travelers:

Location, Location, Location

The resort lies at the southernmost end of Kalakaua Avenue, the main road through Waikiki.  Kuhio Beach Park is right across the street, for easy beach and ocean access, with Diamond Head and the Honolulu Zoo close by. Even the Waikiki Sand Restoration Project, well underway during this visit, couldn’t diminish the pleasure of having the beach just footsteps away, since most of the beach still remained accessible.

The good news is that the restoration is now complete!

Ocean View

Guests can book a room in one of two towers at the resort: the beautifully renovated oceanfront Kealohilani Tower with its own private balconies or the older Paoakalani Tower. Can you guess which one gets my vote?

Bright, tropical colors and cozy down comforters inside sheeted duvets define the look and feel of rooms in the Kealohilani Tower. Having reading lights mounted into the headboards is a welcome touch, along with outlets and connecting jacks for electronic devices.

Cultural Connections & Activities

So much of why I love to travel is wrapped around learning about and experiencing different cultures. The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort rests on land that was once the summer palace of Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani. To honor her legacy, the resort renamed the twin towers, together translated as “heavenly fragrance,” to represent her two homes.

Lucky VIP guests can book the Queen Liliuokalani suite, thoughtfully designed to include her love of flowers and music composition.

In a further nod to the Queen’s musical background, nightly entertainment at the resort presents authentic Hawaiian music. What a treat to sit in the warm open-air of Moana Terrace overlooking Waikiki Beach, listening to music masters George Kuo, Martin Pahinui (slack key guitar) & Aaron Mahi (bass)!

And if watching hula dancers is on your must-do-in-Hawaii list, you’ll be happy to know that performances are presented throughout the day in the resort’s enormous main lobby.

Active wanderboomers  can also take advantage of the Surf Package offered by the on-site Pro Surf School Hawaii, owned and operated by professional surfer Kai Sallas. For $244./night, guests can stay in a deluxe room with balcony, and receive a two-hour lesson with professional surfers and a two-day surfboard rental. Classes are offered at all levels in how to surf, stand up paddle and bodyboard.

Amenities

With 1,310 guest rooms, 5 dining facilities, plus Seattle’s Best Coffee House, two outdoor pools and whirlpool, a free 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center and a spa salon, is it any wonder that staying at the resort feels like living in a small village? Oh – and don’t forget over 55,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space and a Business Center (if you must work while you’re here), plus a host of places to shop throughout the property, including the always popular ABC Store.

Hawaiian Hospitality

Maybe it’s because the ever-present sun and timeless, natural island beauty bring out the best in people. Whatever the reason, the spirit of warm hospitality runs deep in Hawaii. From the fragrant floral leis presented to visitors at airport arrivals to the heartfelt expression of “Aloha” in greetings and partings, Hawaiian hospitality is legendary. A little bit of kindness extended by chef Chuck and server Janice in the Kuhio Grill, for example, went a long way in making this WanderBoomer a happy camper.

* Special thanks to the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa for hosting a portion of my stay.

There’s still time to enter our special Travel Writing Contest, Wanderboomers! Win a 5-night stay (and fantastic extras) on Hawaii Island at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. For details, click here:

http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/2012/hawaii-island-travel-writing-contest-announced

But hurry – entries must be submitted by September 14, 2012 11:59 p.m. PST!

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Destinations, Entertainment, Food & Dining, Hawaii, Shopping Tagged With: Aaron Mahi, Aloha, bass, beach, bodyboard, cultural connections, culture, Diamond Head, fitness center, George Kuo, Hawaii, Hawaiian hospitality, heavenly fragrance, Honolulu Zoo, hospitality, hula, Kai Sallas, Kealohilani Tower, Kuhio Beach Park, Kuhio Grill, leis, Martin Pahinui, Moana Terrace, ocean view, oceanfront, Paoakalani Tower, Pro Surfer School Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani, restoration, slack key guitar, spa, stand up paddle, surfer, surfing, travel, Waikiki Beach, Waikiki Beach Sand Restoration Project, Waikiki Marriott Beach Resort and Spa, Waikiki Sand Restoration Project

BY Nancy Mueller Leave a Comment ON July 11, 2012

Mountain Trek’s Roasted Red Pepper Frittata

In a previous post on my hiking adventure at Mountain Trek, I posted this photo as one example of the yummy spa cuisine I enjoyed during the weeklong retreat. Now it’s time to share the recipe for WanderFood Wednesday . . .

Roasted Red Pepper Frittata (serves 4)

4 large eggs
4 egg whites
1 c. roasted red peppers
1 clove garlic
2 Tbs. sour cream
1/2 c. swiss cheese – grated
1 tsp. prepared mustard
1/2 c. sundried tomatoes – chopped
2 Tbs. fresh basil

Roast and peel peppers and set aside. May use purchased roasted peppers.

Lightly oil individual oven proof dishes. Chop peppers and distribute evenly into dishes.

Whip egg whites until stiff. Whisk whole eggs, mustard, basil, garlic, 1/2 of cheese and sour cream together and fold in stiffly beaten egg whites.

Pour egg mixture into baking dishes, sprinkle with 1/2 of cheese. Top with sundried tomato.

Place on a tray; bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

Do you have a favorite breakfast recipe to share with us from your travels, Wanderboomers?

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, British Columbia, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Food & Dining Tagged With: adventure, cuisine, hiking, hiking adventure, Mountain Trek, recipe, retreat, Roasted Red Pepper Frittata, spa, spa cuisine

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Hello fellow wanderboomers! I’m a Seattle-based travel journalist, specializing in fun travel adventures for the young at heart. My articles have been featured in Hemispheres, AAA Highroads Magazine and Northwest Travel & Life Magazine where I'm a frequent contributor. When this Wanderboomer isn’t traveling, I help global executives polish their personal and professional brand for long-term results.
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