JOANNE'S TRAVEL PICS: STYLISH EYEGLASS HOLDERS, LIGHTWEIGHT RAIN WRAP, & MORE

Viva La LOOP—no more lost glasses!

My La LOOP Lady in Gold arrived in its own beautiful pouch. What a wonderful pre-Mother’s Day present!

My La LOOP Lady in Gold arrived in its own beautiful pouch. What a wonderful pre-Mother’s Day present!

I wish I had a list of all the sunglasses I’ve lost on my travels over the years. Most recently, I dropped my Gucci sunglasses while hiking over the cliffs of the Shetland Islands; my Maui Jims plopped into the waves as I leaned over the railing on a cruise; and my Dolce & Gabbanas met their end when they fell from my head as I was photographing the Grand Canyon. Trust me, propping your sunglasses on your head or stuffing them in your clothing, doesn’t quite provide the security you need to protect those expensive shades.

Those standard schoolmarm eyeglass holders were no solution, as not only were they unattractive, they constantly got tangled in my camera strap—to my constant annoyance.

This is why I was so excited when I learned about La LOOP, a company that specializes in stylish and functional eyeglass holders.

There are a wide variety of lovely styles and materials available at all price ranges, but my eyes lit up when I discovered the LADY IN GOLD.  I knew this lovely design would take me through all sorts of press trips, from casual to formal.

Thanks to my daughter and family for an early, and much appreciated, Mother’s Day gift.

Comfy, and Effective, Eye Mask

Manta Mask.jpg

I’m always on the quest for travel items that help provide comfort during the long hours we spend strapped in airline seats.  Eye masks are crucial for me, not only on the plane but in hotel rooms, as I simply can’t sleep if there is ambient light in my vicinity.

 I can recommend the Manta Mask for a variety of reasons. The mask is super comfortable and boasts deeply molded eye cups, so your eyelashes have no contact with your mask, no matter what. This is so important for us ladies if we’ve applied full makeup on a business trip and just want a few quick winks on the plane without disturbing our makeup. The mask offers a super soft fabric and 100 percent black out, which makes it a wonderful traveling companion on long, transcontinental flights.

These Gloves Got You Covered

No matter what time of year, it is cold somewhere on this earth and you may need a pair of good gloves to fight off the chill while having the oh-so-necessary ability to operate your cell phone’s touch screen.

Photo courtesy @falzuh

Photo courtesy @falzuh

We tested out the touchscreen gloves from Mujjo both on a frigid trip to New York City in January, as well as an equally cold trip to the Grand Canyon just a few weeks ago.

The gloves provided an excellent degree of warmth, but their forte was being able to easily operate a cell phone and camera with the excellent touchscreen tabs provided on the glove’s tips.



When It Rains……


My home in Southern California has been hit with unprecedented rainfall this winter, and so I have had the opportunity to try out the innovative RAINRAPS “Pashmina for the Elements.” The wrap, which is super lightweight and water-repellent, has taken me through a few major downpours. It is without doubt a practical alternative to traditional bulky rain gear, is fast drying, and reversible too.

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Best thing is, I still looked fashionable while staying dry. My RAINRAP is going to be a packing staple when I travel to wetter climes around the world, especially since it will take up very little room in my carry-on (the only way I travel, incidentally).