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Why this sand-free towel has me all shook up

Jumping for joy with Tesalate sand free towel

Two months ago, I’d never heard of sand-free towels, let alone know such a product did, in fact, exist. But after getting one and trying it out, I’m all shook up. (Read that in Elvis’ singing voice. Mm mm mm, mm, yay, yay, yay.)

Because, yeah. While I love frolicking with waves that hit my feet and using the sand for my seat, I don’t like leaving the beach covered with a million grainy particles clinging to my ‘eRRything‘.  Nor I am a fan of involuntarily carting sand into my car and apartment, which leaves a mess that’s a ton of work to clean up. After a fun beach day, who has time for that?

Nobody.

Exactly! That’s why I find the trendy, sand-free towels from Tesalate so disruptive and revolutionary. They’re made from a groundbreaking fabric called AbsorbLite™ that, unlike regular beach towels, doesn’t have looped microfibers that trap sand. After sitting on the towel or drying off with it, all it takes is a few good shakes to get it joyously grain free.  

But don’t go anywhere yet. I’m spilling all the tea. Here are some other reasons why I’m a goner for these crazy-sexy-cool, sand-free towels:

They’re not just functional, they’re pretty, too

If you’ve been scrolling through your Instagram feed lately (as most of us do), you’ll have noticed it’s been declared a hot girl summer. And as any hot girl knows (present company included or excluded…HA HA), a slaying combination of the right beach tote, cover up, hat, shades, swimsuit and towel can have you serving up some fierce LEWKS.

Beach scenes with MyTravelStamps

With close to forty bold, colorful prints to choose from, Tesalate has got you covered all day, any day – literally and figurately.

They are lightweight and compact

If space in your beach bag or suitcase is a premium, these towels are perfect because they’re thinner and lighter than conventional terry cloth towels.  Plus, they feel cooler on your skin in warm climates, and they fold down and fit into a neat, sleek-looking pouch that makes it easy to carry around.

They are super absorbent and dry quickly

Tesalate’s avant-garde textile technology also prevents its towels from collapsing into a wet, soggy mess at the end of your beach day because it absorbs water quickly. It can comfortably soak up to 33 ounces or 1 liter of good ole H20. So, splash around like crazy and then grab the towel and shoot your best shot.  You’ll find you can blot your body dry gently, instead of being forced to do a vigorous wipe down.

Another cool feature is the small loop I noticed sewn into the corner of my towel. It comes in handy if you ever want to hang it up on a tree or shrub to dry in the breeze.

They tend not to get the dreaded mildew smell

Maybe it’s due to the thinness of the fabric, but Tesalate towels don’t seem to get that musty, mildew smell as quickly as you would get with thicker brands.  If you’re on the road for a long period of time or can’t get to do laundry right away, that’s a highly valued thing.

They’re versatile

Finally, can I just tell you all that this towel (or snazzy cover up) goodness isn’t confined to the beach? You can use it for yoga, at the pool, to set the scene for a garden picnic, and even as a makeshift blanket on the plane or in your hotel room. The standard size is 60cm x 80cm / 63 x 31 inches, but they also have a larger Towel for Two option (160cm x 160cm / 63 x 63 inches) which makes it easy to get cozy.

Hello, what are you waiting on? Head on over to their site now and check those towels out, grab a drink from a cool beach bar, and then be sure to meet me at the shore.

Sand free beach towel review

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Note: This post was written as part of a brand collaboration with Tesalate, but all views are my own.

How to minimize gas and bloating when you travel

airlplane_reduce gas and bloating

Just as the flight attendant made the final “please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign” announcement and silence had returned to the cabin, the vile, can’t-take-them-anywhere gases that had been waging a full-blown war inside of me for the last fifteen minutes erupted with the staccato sound of military-grade machine gunfire.

Oh, noooo! This cannot be happening.” My mind screamed in utter mortification and panic.

I – even more so than my surprised seatmate and the cute toddler sitting in the aisle across from us who abruptly stopped playing with his metallic Crayola coloring pad and markers to turn and stare – wanted to immediately duck and take cover. But sadly, there were zero places to hide. So, I did what any sane person would do in that moment. I clutched my stomach and started writhing and groaning as if my entire abdominal section was being ripped apart with a chain saw. Because, embarrassed as I was,  I decided then and there that even if I had to mosey into The Maldives on a stretcher, there was no way I was standing up and walking off that plane if I had to look anyone in the eye.

Okay, real talk. I’ve never been to the Maldives so that scenario didn’t really happen, though others have been close. [Ha ha…gotchu!] But now that I have your attention, if you’ve ever found yourself having to unzip your pants, roll down your tights, or struggle not to annihilate your fellow passengers with foul-smelling gas on a flight, this post is for you. Take notes, because I’m about to share some valuable insider tips on how to minimize gas and bloating when you travel.

First…what causes excessive gas and bloating?

According to several medical sites, having gas in your system is a normal part of the digestive process.  However, excessive gas can be caused by different reasons. Consuming food and drinks that tend to induce bloating or gassy reactions is the most common, while water retention, sudden changes in your diet, inactivity, inadvertently swallowing air, having anxiety or stress, and getting older are others.

How to avoid gas and bloating

Don’t overeat. Sometimes simply eating too much and too fast can cause bloating. You can avoid going through the discomfort of that by chewing more slowly and stopping yourself before you feel full.

Avoid foods that are gas producing.  Everyone has a different reaction to the various food groups, and most people already have a good idea of which ones cause them to experience gas or bloating. But just in case you don’t, the common culprits are soy goods, processed carbs (like bread, pasta, biscuits, rice and wheat products), cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, collard greens, bok choy, arugula, watercress and radishes), and dairy products (especially if you are lactose intolerant like I am). Lentils and beans are also powerful sources of gas ‘ammunition’ and in addition to milk, they are my personal brand of kryptonite.

Skip soda. When the flight attendant comes down the aisle with the food trolley, skip the soda and any other carbonated beverages like champagne, sparkling water, seltzer and beer, please. The bubbles in them are filled with gas and when you drink those liquids, guess what fills up your digestive track? Belching helps get rid of some of it, but once the gas lands inside your intestines, it stays there until it gets out …some other way.

Pack healthy snacks. Portable plant foods that are high in soluble fiber make good snacks because they keep you feeling full and also help you stay hydrated because their water quotient is high. Think strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, cucumber and oranges, and the like. You can pair them with hummus or guacamole dips and nuts like sunflower seeds or hazelnuts. Pistachios are some of my faves! Click on the image below to see my go-to brand.

Leave the sugar-free gum and candy at home.  Too much sugar can cause you to retain more water and feel bloated, so to minimize gas and bloating, leave them at home.

Don’t use straws. When we drink with a draw, we also are inadvertently ingesting extra air into our stomachs. With no where to go, that additional gas can cause trouble, so before you board your flight with that cup of juice, leave the straws in trash bins at the gate.

Keep moving. Walking through the aisle periodically can aid with digestion as food moves through our digestive tract in rhythmic contractions and moving about helps that process along by keeping the intestines working more efficiently.  An added benefit is that it also reduces the possibility of fluid retention and blood clots from deep vein thrombosis.

Stash anti-inflammatory teas in your bag. Growing up in Jamaica, our home remedies included mint and ginger for almost any ailment.  In this instance, they’re useful too. If you’re not a fan of either, other teas like turmeric, green tea and chai also have pain relief properties that can help in these types of situations.

Take probiotic tablets. Probiotics are live microorganisms that you get through fermented foods or supplements.  They help balance your “good” and “bad” bacteria to keep your digestive system working the way it should. Note: Always check with your doctor before taking any medication.

And those are my tips! Do you know any other tried and true methods to minimize gas and bloating when you fly? If so, drop them in the comments below.

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Minimize gas and bloating PIN

The Amazon links included in this post are affiliated, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase them. Err…did I say small? Well, I actually meant TINY. lol.

8 Incredibly easy tips to save money while traveling

While the bulk of my rock bottom budget travel days are behind me, I can still remember being a broke college student trying to see the world, so I know (and still use) a few tricks to help me save money while traveling.

Headed somewhere soon and find yourself a little short on spending money? Don’t worry, I’m here to help! Here are 8 ways to save money and adhere to your daily budget allocation once you’ve arrived at your destination. Feel free to save this post and then tag your travel squad. (At least the ones that aren’t 100% flaky!)

1. Make use of your hotel’s free continental breakfast and then grab an apple or wrap a muffin or sandwich for lunch too.

2. Skip the international phone plan and use tools like WhatsApp or Facetime to communicate, once you tap into free Wifi.

3. Eat locally whenever possible and visit a grocery store to stock up on fruits and snacks for day trips. Or get a place with a kitchen and do all your own cooking.

4. Stay close to the central area you wish to see and walk and take local transportation over taxis whenever you can.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzu-tjHlEpu/

5. Ditch the hotel or vacation rental plans, swallow your pride or bench the ‘I value my independence’ streak for a few days, and ask to stay with friends or family who live in the area. By doing so, you’ll save a ton of money.

6. Try to avoid using airport ATMs. Their fees are usually on the upper end of the local range.

7. Look for Free Things to Do lists on community calendars in local newspapers or check your destination’s main website. Sometimes you can get lucky and find free public performances or ‘pay what you like’ contribution-based walking tours or museums to enjoy.

8. Volunteer while you travel. Very often those types of trips are very rewarding, and they include room and board.

You can see other practical cost saving tips here on ways to save money while traveling.