It seems like every summer I begin with the goal of having a really good tan.  With the explosion of self-tanning options, I might actually have one this summer.   Besides making me look like I just came back from a leisurely vacation in the islands, a tan has the additional benefit of absorbing light which helps hide imperfections in the skin.

Ulta, it turns out, has a dizzying array of choices for self tanners - L’Oreal, St. Tropez, Bella Bronze, Neutrogena, Jergens, Aveeno, Glow Fusion, Olay, Coppertone, Fake Bake, Fruit of the Earth, Bullfrog, Ban de Soleil, L.A. Express and Solarcaine to name just a few.  My daughter and I visited Ulta this past weekend, and to be honest, the selection was a little daunting.  Not knowing which product was better, we ended up choosing a familiar bottle of Jergens Natural Glow before checking out.

Here’s a blog we should have read before we went to Ulta. The Beauty Addict spent the month of May testing various sunless tanners and reported their findings during their Fake Bake Month. 
Although not quite like a Consumer Report, they did use a rating system for each product and assigned points based on scent, color, texture, drying time and neatness.  After reading their reviews, I’m planning to try the L’Oreal Sublime Glow since it had very good color results and its scent is supposed to have less of the tanning (DHA) smell.

If you’re new to sunless tanning you may want to check out their beginner’s guide to self-tanning, which has some good tips as well. 

Many of Ulta’s sunless tanners are 25% off through June 9. 

Links: Beauty Addict  |  Ulta tanning special

Memorial Day is only a few days away and for as long as I can remember it meant two things to me as a kid. The pool was officially open for swimming and it was finally OK to wear the white sandals I’d been storing in my closet for months.  Contrary to what you may think, this long-held rule of fashion is still in effect according to the Etiquette Grrls, who’ve written books about such things.

How they answered this frequently asked question:

Q: Can I wear White Shoes / Linen / Sandals / Straw Handbags / Seersucker / Other Warm-Weather Clothing before Memorial Day or after Labor Day?

Nope. Unless you want to look like a Fashion Victim, that is. We’ll make an exception for Brides and Nurses on the White Shoes, and for Monks on the Sandals, but in all other cases, the answer is a firm no.

If part of your celebration of Memorial Day includes wearing a new pair of white sandals, here’s a few you may want to check out:

 Links: Etiquette Grrls |  Zappos  |  Brighton   

One of the benefits of traveling with a group of women is that you can divide the major expense of a hotel room by sharing.  With the proper preparation, sharing a hotel room with a group of girlfriends can be fun.  Just keep in mind that, like you, everyone has their own nightly ritual before they go to sleep. 

Even in our little group of four, we have an early sleeper, and an all night talker (or two), and then there’s me, who likes to relax with a good book.  I usually stake out the side of the bed nearest a lamp.  With this kind of diversity, you have to be prepared.  For us, that means taking eye shades and having ear plugs on hand.

It used to be that eye shades were strictly utilitarian and came in only one color - black.  Today, eye shades have evolved into a kind of sleep fashion statement.  For a great selection of sleep masks check-out Cris Notti’s collection at crisnotti.com. 

Here are a few of my favorites:

I was shopping for new luggage recently and found some really cute choices at Flight001.com.  Choose one of these and you won’t have any problem picking your baggage out of the crowd at the airport baggage claim.

Here are some of my favorites:

(clockwise from top)

• Wheelie Bag in spot print by Orla Kiely.  ($345)

• Sequoia Paris  20” rolling trolley. ($295)

• Casauri Wheeled Mini ($185)

• Hideo Wakamatsu Mirror Finish 20in carry-on trolley ($210)

• Hideo Wakamatsu Blossom Trolley from the Jetro collection. ($325)

• Samsonite’s Sahora 20 inch carry-on size trolley ($170)

• Silver Topas 20″ carry-on sized trolley by Rimowa. ($850)

Links: Flight001 | Casauri

I’ve always found the best way to explore a city is by foot. You can’t really experience the same thing in a car or tour bus. Most of the major cities offer walking tours.  Usually the tours are priced well below a comparable bus tour and they provide an intimate perspective you aren’t going to get sitting in a vinyl seat.  London’s Original London Walks tops my list for variety of tours and expertise of the guides.  Many of the walking tour guides in London have a vast knowledge of British history and you never know what you’ll learn on one of these trips.  I took the walking Pub Tour in London and discovered the history of Viking attacks on the city of London that shaped much of the way the city was designed.
 
If you don’t find a walking tour that interests you, you can always go self-guided.  There are several sources of self-guided tour books.  One of them is City Walks: 50 Adventures on Foot - a collection of suggested short walking tours for a specific city.   Each collection comes in what looks like a large pack of cards. Each card has a walking map on one side and on the opposite, points of interest, suggested stops and other insider information.  It’s a fun way to explore small sections of a city.  Make a game of it. Close your eyes, pick a card and you’re off on a new adventure.  You can order City Walks on Amazon.com.  Here are the current cities covered:

• City Walks: New York: 50 Adventures on Foot 
• City Walks: San Francisco: 50 Adventures on Foot   
• City Walks: Amsterdam: 50 Adventures on Foot 
• City Walks: Boston: 50 Adventures on Foot
• City Walks: Washington, D.C.: 50 Adventures on Foot  
• City Walks: Paris: 50 Adventures on Foot 
• City Walks: London: 50 Adventures on Foot
• City Walks: Rome: 50 Adventures on Foot (City Walks Deck)

Coming soon

• City Walks Deck: Chicago: 50 Adventures On Foot 
• City Walks: Vancouver: 50 Adventures on Foot 
• City Walks Deck: Los Angeles

During a recent visit to Barnes and Noble I ran across some cute mini kits by Running Press that may come in handy on your next getaway.

Here are some of my favorites: 

Yoga To Go 
Yoga cards, illustrated with the best poses for healing and relaxation, are a terrific way for enthusiasts to practice at home. This unique kit contains 25 cards and a 32page book, plus a yoga strap.

Palm Reading
Learn the essence of this ancient art in 88 pages and 55 cards. Included in the kit is an illustrated 88-page book with easy-to-follow instructions. Book and cards are conveniently palm-sized to tuck into a backpack, purse, or briefcase for the fortune-teller on the go.

The Mini Spa Kit
…complete with mineral bath, scented lotions, fragrant candle, and 32-page guide to soothing spa treatments!

[Via RunningPress.com]

From now through September 2, Ulta has just the thing for gals like us on the go.  And with the new airline carry-on rules, this tote bag should be plenty big enough.  Although you’ll have to pack all your other Ulta purchases in your checked luggage! 

Stop by any Ulta store and make a fragrance purchase of $30 or more and receive a free Buckle Tote Bag ($40 value).

[ Via Ulta ]

Here’s a quick recap of what appeared in June:

• Where the Girls Are
• Chocolate Martinis
• Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (Scottsdale)
• Girl (Trip) Interrupted
• Mackinac Island, Michigan
• Spa Recap
• Vinotherapy
• Deals: Travel & Leisure’s Spa Week
• Stowe, Vermont
• Sharing photos? Try Flickr.
• Flip-Flop Style
• Nantucket
• Booking a Flight?
• Green Valley Resort & Spa (St. George, Utah)
• Beach Reads
• Carmel, California
• Things to do around Carmel
• Women may Benefit from Moderate Drinking
• Want to be on the Today Show?