ImHonest.com allows people to register items they have found or lost in a database, with pictures, that can be easily searched for matches.  When a match is found both parties are notified by email.  Watch the ImHONEST Video to see it in action - ImHONEST Video

For hard surface items, I’m Honest produces adhesive labels  that can be attached to important items to protect them from loss.  For valuables with an ImHONEST id number, the process of locating your lost item is very easy.  Finders can use the code to report the item found by calling a toll-free number 24/7 or by using the website.  Found items can be dropped off at any UPS Store nationwide for return to the owner at no cost to the finder, or a pick-up service can be arranged.  AND as a reward, ImHONEST.com sends the finder a gift of ImHonest ID labels worth $30.

Multi-Purpose Packages of labels can be purchased for as little as $14.99 which includes one year’s service of following your unique ID number.

As ImHONEST.com reports, in 2005 more than 85,000 phones and 21,000 PDAs were lost in Chicago taxis!  Don’t wait to be a statistic – get your labels, and for the first time have peace of mind that your lost items will actually find their way home!

Photo credits:  #1 flickr-brettsnyder, #2 ImHONEST.com website

• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock
  This SPF 55 sunblock lotion goes on extra light and smooth leaving a powdery feel on the skin.  Hurray….  I no longer have to look like an oily mess after putting on suntan lotion!  The lotion spreads out evenly and leaves a matt finish on your skin, making it especially perfect for using on faces.  It comes in a 3 oz tube, is waterproof and PABA free.

Neutrogena Pure & Free Liquid Sunblock
For those with sensetive skin or anyone who hates putting lotions filled with chemicals on their skin, this new sunblock comes to the rescue.  The light liquid sunblock uses 100% naturally sourced sunscreens which absorb immediately into the skin.  It gives 50 SPF “Pure Screen” protection and comes in a 1.4 oz bottle with a squirt top to deliver lotion in a very fine stream so you can make every drop count.  There is very little odor and it leaves no sheen on your skin – which means it’s perfect to use under makeup.  The sunblock is hypoallergenic, waterproof, sweatproof, fragrance free and won’t clog pores.  This is definitely my new sunblock for my face!!

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes
I used these little beauties 3 times a day while we were out on our sailing trip!  Unlike other moist towlettes that have harsh alcohol ingredients, these cloths are gentle on your skin, have a great clean fragrance and moisturize your skin leaving it soft and glowing.  I confess, I didn’t use them to remove makeup (because I wasn’t wearing any) but they did wonders for removing that salty, sandy, sticky glaze that comes with going to the beach and being by the sea.  These would be perfect in any travel bag for a quick refresher or ‘sponge bath’, as well as great for removing makeup.

So three for three – I loved them all!

SPI Belt - Empty

This lightweight, flexible little belt is comfy to wear (inside or outside of clothing) and expands to hold an astonishing amount of important personal items.  Wear it to carry essential items while  running, walking or traveling.  Here’s my Caribbean edition… I bought Clint one in solid black.

SPI Belt - Filled

This is what the belt looks like when filled with my writer’s notebook, pen, credit cards, money, lipstick, comb, cell phone and business cards – amazing! 

The belt is made of elastic stretch belting with an expandable pocket of silky stretchable spandex.  I usually wear it instead of a belt with the pouch centered in the small of my back.  I can completely forget I’m wearing it, have no unsightly bulges around my waist, ditch my purse, and keep my valuables out of sight under my shirt.

This handy carry pouch  completely blows away the ugly under-clothes security pouches we’ve had to wear for years.  Just snap this little gem around your waist, cover with your shirt, and pickpockets will have to look elsewhere for a target – you’re valuables are safe.

I’ll never go traveling without a SPI Belt again!

So what can YOU do to protect yourself?  Right after searching for hotel prices,  visit the Bed Bug Registry to see which hotels in the city you will be visiting have experienced recent bed bug activity. This site does a great job in listing both hotels and apartment buildings that have had reported bed bug activity.  Unfortunately, there is very little you can do to protect yourself from bed bug bites once they are present.  It seems insect repellent and travel sheet sacks give little protection from bites.  The only bit of good news is that these persistent pests do not spread disease, but they do cause extreme itchiness, swelling and discomfort.  As a precaution, NEVER put your suitcase on the bed – use the folding luggage stand whenever you can.  If you do experience bed bug bites, seal all your clothes inside zip lock bags and wash them all in very hot water as soon as you return home.  Let’s all hope the bed bug sniffing beagles will ferret out any pests long before you arrive at your next hotel!

1. New TSA screening rules for computers allow newly designed computer bags to go through security without taking the computer out of the bag.  Every traveler who hauls along their trusty computer will love getting one of these new bags.  Have a look at the selection at EBags.com
2. Passports, licenses, and many credit cards now contain radio frequency identification chips containing all our sensitive and private information.  It’s time for everyone to invest in a RFID blocking wallet to prevent hackers and techno thieves from grabbing our identification with scanners as they pass us by.  Here’s a selection from Magellans.
3. Here are two of my favorite travel books of the year.  Just published is Peter Greenberg’s Don’t Go There!.  We’ve all seen volumes of the 100 best places, 1000 places to see in a lifetime etc – well Peter tells us even more important information, the places we should avoid and why!  For places TO visit, give your favorite traveler Secret Hotels published by  Budget Travel.  It’s chock full of extraordinary properties around the world that are kind to your wallet while providing exceptional stays.
4. LoJack for laptops is a new service that gives the gift of security for your laptop carrying friends.  You can sign up for a three year plan for under $90 or a one year plan for $39.99.  OMG don’t let your kids go off to college with that expensive computer without investing in this great tracking service!!
5. Here’s a terrific gift for anyone who totes a reading book along with them whether by car, bus, train or plane.  The Periscope Light is a nifty telescoping reading light built into a premium leather book cover that assures no one will know what you’re reading.  I don’t know about you, but when all the lights go out on the airplane and my seatmates are trying to sleep, I love being able to click on my own personal reading light instead of using the glaring overhead light.  This is a gift every reader on your list will love.

It’s time to find another solution. Check out Golf Clubs Away. These folks will deliver a set of premium clubs to your hotel room or golf course of choice and save you all the hassle. A day’s rental runs from 7am to 8pm and costs $35 for Nike or Cobra clubs and $45 for Callaway. You can custom select the type of shaft you like as well as your preference in a driver and putter. Both men’s and women’s sets are available, and you can even throw in a pair of golf shoes if you like for a bit more. Right now they operate in major areas of Florida, (Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Naples,Orlando etc) and will be expanding to Las Vegas, Hilton Head, and Myrtle Beach soon. So next time you’d like to play some golf while on vacation in Florida, leave the hassle of dragging along your clubs behind and have a great set of clubs delivered right to where you need them.

And to make matters worse, whenever you have a second bag to check, you can’t use curbside checkin. You must bring your bags inside to check in at the counter or kiosk.

Let’s imagine this in practice for a minute – You’ve decided to go skiing in Colorado, flying into Denver (a United hub). You’re planning to bring your skis and boots, so you’re looking at $250 in additional charges??? I don’t think so – JetBlue here I come. I guess United isn’t courting the business of golfers either. Or how about us shopaholics – better not buy that extra item if it won’t fit in your first suitcase. I know what’s really going to happen, everyone is going to bulk up their carry on case and boarding is going to be even more of a nightmare!

But, this is all just the beginning of extra charges to come. With jet fuel prices skyrocketing, every airline is looking for ways to increase their revenue by “unbundling” services. In short, this means they are going to nickel and dime us to death. Want a pretzel? That will be $5. How about a aisle seat? Sure, that will cost you extra. Oh you didn’t checkin by computer in advance, that will cost you too. Can coin slots on the bathrooms be far away?

So what this new trend towards “unbundling” of services says to me is that the traditional legacy US airlines are on a fast track to becoming no service, no frill, bare bones carriers. And for this they want more money? I do find it encouraging however that a week after the announcement, no other carrier has followed suite. Hopefully this will be a trial balloon that goes POP!