Let's Getaway: Dutch Edition Travel Product Review
By
Kat Thomas and Matt Bourquardez
Recently
Edible Skinny was lucky enough to spend 8 days in The Netherlands.
Between the canals of Amsterdam and the windmills of the North Sea,
we discovered this country far and wide. And while on our trek of
this Dutch wonderland, we utilized our time as kickass reporters to
test out some travel items, Welcome to: “Let's Getaway: Dutch
Edition Travel Product Review.” So Cheers to exploring the globe!
Or as they say in The Netherlands... Proost!
BABBEL– DUTCH LESSONShttps://www.pennherb.com/Olbas-Remedies
Dank
je! On our way to discovering Koninkrijk der Nederlanden (aka the
Kingdom of the Low Countries), we decided to learn some of the
language basics. Enter online language course Babbel... the
comprehensive learning system combines effective education methods
with state-of-the-art technology. This isn't just about listening,
interactive online courses improve your grammar through playing with
your computer's microphone. Within days our vocabulary and and
pronunciation skills were amped up to 11. Which was about the number
of words we remembered when we got over to the Netherlands. But Hey,
we said them like an authentic Hollander! ;-)
OLBAS
OIL
It
sucks to get sick when your traveling, and unfortunately this
happened to Matt on our trip... Luckily we had some Olbas Oil on
hand to speed up the process of healing. Originating in Basel,
Switzerland over 100 years ago, Olbas Oil is a blend of six essential
oils made from healing herbs. These kickass oils are pure plant
remedies (some of the nature's secret weapons in maintaining
wellness). Olbas contains essential oils of peppermint (aromatic
stimulant), eucalyptus (promotes oxygen absorption), cajeput (sinus
soothing), wintergreen (warm soothing effect when used in massage),
juniper (stimulated metabolism), and clove (strong stimulating
aromatic). Since Kat didn't succumb to the sniffles, we deemed this
the “good stuff” to prevent and protect yourself from those
common cold breeding airplanes!
COTOPAXI– KUSA HYBRID JACKET
Kat
LIVED in Cotopaxi’s Kusa Hybrid Jacket while in chilly Amsterdam...
And not just because it’s made with llama-fleece (cause who
doesn’t LOVE some llama LOVE...). This Hybrid features some SUPER
technical things like 20D ripstopnylon fabric, which is finished with
a DWR to create a light, durable, water-resistant outer shell. And
below this technology Cotopaxi has applied their unique llama-fleece
insulation to keep you nice and warm when the mercury dips. Plus
it’s a Do-Goodery company! Cotopaxi designates 2% of their revenue
to help alleviate poverty around the world. Their products are
guaranteed to last 61 years, the average lifespan of a person living
in the developing world! So stay European warm in Llama style!!!
MOSHI
– TEGO SLING MESSANGER BAG
THIS
BAG WAS A LIFESAVER! The Moshi Tego Sling Messenger blends
functionality with a sleek Asian minimalist design. The Tego was
PERFECT for biking the streets of Amsterdam. The cross body
messenger, is wearable on the left or right shoulder, features a
quick-release strap for easy access, and an ActiveStrap for added
stability on the move. Smart yet refined, each bag in the Tego
series is constructed with concealed rear zippers for added security
when we hit the streets of Europe. Crafted from a lightweight and
durable fabric, this messenger bag is cut-proof and weather-resistant
to keep your belongings secure and dry. Plus it's SUPER DUPER
sophisticated looking making you look like you're wearing a bag from
the FUTURE! ;-)
NOMADER
WATER BOTTLE
This
is life hacking at its best! This lightweight collapsible water
bottle can roll up to the size of an orange when your done using it!
The bottle loops around your wrist for easy carry or attaches to your
bag for quick access. Nomader is rated for temperatures of below 4
degrees to 248 degrees, making it safe to use for boiling water, hot
beverages, and frozen margarita drinks. This space saving water
bottle is perfect a post TSA filler up!!!
FACEBLASTER
FROM ASHLEY BLACK
If
your a fan of Edible Skinny, you know we are FANS of Ashley Black’s
FasciaBlaster®!!! So we were delighted to test drive the
FaceBlaster™ while voyaging in the North Sea. The FaceBlaster™ is
a completely new fascia straightening design with 3 tiny, dainty
claws that employ the same benefits of the FasciaBlaster® for
smaller, delicate areas. It was specifically designed for the face
and can help release tension, fascial adhesions, and tightness
between the smallest joints and bones in the hands, feet, and neck.
So for anyone with tight necks from carrying bags (READ US) or have
TMG for stressing over delayed flights (also READ US): THIS IS THE
PRODUCT FOR YOU!!!
MINISTRY
OF SUPPLY: EASIER THAN SILK SHIRT
Hollerback!
This anti wrinkle button down has the ability for any traveler to go
from Backpacker to Business Casual in 5 minutes! Ministry of Supply
interviewed dozens of women to understand their clothing
demands...they then went to into the laboratory and got to work. The
result is their Easier Than Silk Shirt: machine washable,
wrinkle-resistant, and as flexible as Kayne West's politics... ;-)
SOUL
INSOLE
Orthotics
with soul! When walking upon cobble-stoned streets, taking care of
your toesies and feetsies becomes a priority! But Hallelujah, Soul
Insole’s minimalist and flexible design works with your shoes, not
against them. The biomechanically designed shape of the Soul Insole
effectively redistributes pressure evenly across the foot to relieve
pressure from the heel and forefoot. An arch booster that can be
added to a full length insole or placed in any shoe. Soul Insole
uses the medial wall and existing structure of the shoe to increase
support to your arch (which means it will feel different in each
shoes). Soul Insole prevents overpronation while training the foot
to maintain proper alignment and gait, helping to relieve symptoms of
Plantar Fascitis. Hip Hip Hooray for feetsies so happy they can
dance the night away!!!
TRAVELWISE
– 5 PIECE PACKING CUBE SET
Never
been disheveled again! The TravelWise 5 Piece Packing Cube Set is a
travel essential that allows clothes to stay folded and neat when
packed in their own "small drawers". These cubes have been
featured on PopSugar, Marriot Traveler, and Reader's Digest and are
FANTASTIC for staying organized. Constructed of lightweight, durable
nylon, these multi-sized cubes compartmentalize similar items such as
shirts, pants, swimsuits and electronic accessories to streamline
packing. They are FAB for staying organized on both short and long
trips and help travelers avoid over packing. The open mesh top makes
searching for misplaced items a thing of the past. Travelwise is
available in nine colors (including PINK)! Each set includes 1
small, 2 medium, and 2 large cubes to organize different sized items
when traveling.
KIND
BARS – PROTEIN BARS
These
were our GO-TO bars on this trip. Many protein bars on the market
are a blend of sugar, more sugar, and artificial ingredients. Not
KIND, this 12g of protein bar comes primarily from nuts such as whole
peanuts, almonds, and soy. For that long train ride from Amsterdam
to Eemshaven (8 hours) their Double Dark Chocolate Nut Bar was
PERFECT solution to tiding us over!
Kat
Thomas is the Editor in Chief of Edible Skinny, a site dedicated to
making your life postcard worthy. She is also the CEO of the
creative media company This Way Adventures. You can find more about
both brands at http://www.thiswayadventures.com
Matt
Bourquardez is a Writer for Edible Skinny. He has traveled the globe
and rarely sees his house.
