Traveling Mamas

When I pack for travel, I not only think about space in my carry on luggage, but also on ways to be eco-friendly when on the move. I carry along my own travel coffee mug to cut down on disposable coffee cups, and I also carry along a variety of rechargeable batteries and chargers.

A handy travel gadget I discovered, thanks to Rayovac, is a USB battery charger that easily plugs into my laptop or mini travel power strip for charging. I still have a Flip Ultra, which requires two AA batteries for power, which makes this a handy travel gadget in my situation. Instead of lugging around a heavy pack of AA batteries, I carry four AA Rayovac Platinum Rechargeables. This saves space, weight, is more affordable, and is better for the environment than continually purchasing one time use alkaline batteries.

Here are some facts on Rayovac rechargeable batteries so you can make an informed purchase decision:

• Rayovac offers two types of rechargeable battery products: Everyday Use and Platinum.
• You can charge and reuse AA rechargeables up to 500 times
• You can take up to 300 photos per charge with the AA Rayovac Everyday Use Rechargeables.
• The Rayovac Platinum Rechargeables can take up to 400 photos with one full charge.
• Rayovac USB Charger with two AA batteries costs less than $10 at most retailers.
• Any brand of rechargeable battery can be used with Rayovac chargers and any charger can be used to charge Rayovac rechargeables.

To learn more about Rayovac rechargeable batteries, check out the full product line at Rayovac’s official website.

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Find a $3.00 off coupon for Rayovac Rechargeables at www.facebook.com/rayovac

This post is sponsored by Rayovac.

I posted beforehand about the launch of a new spa concept – eforea: spa at Hilton. I was fortunate enough to be invited to the launch party by Hilton Hotels and Resorts. I’ve been on many press trips in the past decade, but I rarely attend launch parties (I live in Louisiana), which made this a refreshing experience.

Those of you interested in the launch party may want to watch the video I put together of the night:

The night began with cocktails and  press briefing, followed by a tour of the first eforea: spa at Hilton. While the concept of a spa at a hotel isn’t new, for Hilton, this is a big step. The brand eforea: spa at Hilton will now enable individual properties to offer a standard spa with a certain level of service that can be found worldwide at particular Hilton properties. One of the innovative aspects of eforea: spa at Hilton is their journeys. There are three to choose from: The Essentials Journey, The Escape Journey, and The Men’s Journey. These journeys include specific treatments and products that will be standard at each eforea: spa at Hilton. While these standards will be available at each eforea: spa at Hilton, each property will add it’s own personality to the spa which reflects the destination. Treatments include organic experiences, high-tech experiences, or traditional.

I’m looking forward to experiencing the Escape Journey, which uses a product line out of Australia – Li’ Tya. The products use botanical plant extracts and offers a ritualized experience. The Essentials Journey marries botanical elements with a high-tech experience. This journey utilizes a branded line of Kirstin Florian products to enhance the treatment process with high-tech elements while still offering the spa experience. The Men’s Journey is a specific line that caters to the 30% of spa seekers who frequent Hilton properties – the men. VitaMan is a product developed specifically for the male skin.

It isn’t all about products at eforea: spa at Hilton. The brand will maintain specialized training for each therapist in keeping with the level of service expected from the brand worldwide. There will also be a menu of spa cuisine in addition to the product and treatment line. Hilton understands that travelers are stressed and want to provide harmony, health, and happiness to their customers while they are on the road.

Owners of individual Hilton properties now have an easy option to offer spa services to their visitors and feel confident that they will be offering a quality amenity service. The travelers utilizing these services will have the level of service they expect from the Hilton brand.

The spa tour was followed by Blue Carpet arrivals of celebrities, a book signing by Bethenny Frankel, fahion show by boho magazine and Nordstrom’s, and an amazing concert performance by Seal. After the event, the media attendees were given gift bags filled with items to signify the event. Big kudos to Allison Sargent Events who put the evening together for everyone.

TravelingMamas.com is giving readers a chance to win the gift bag given to the media at eforea: spa at Hilton launch party. Giveaway items include spa robe, spa sandals (in small), spa sounds CD, and a logo tote. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment stating which journey you would choose if you had a chance to check out eforea: spa at Hilton (Escape, Essentials, or Men’s Journey). Bonus entry options are below. For bonus entries to count, they must be submitted as individual comments after initial comment entry. Entries can be submitted once per email address daily.

Bonus Entries:

1. Subscribe to the TravelingMamas.com newsletter (signup located in sidebar). If you’re already a subscriber, just leave a comment stating you’re subscribed.
2. Like TravelingMamas on Facebook and leave a comment.
3. Check out the Hilton Hotels and Resorts page and like their page (if you like it). Please leave a comment for this step.
4. Tweet “I can’t wait to check out eforea: spa at Hilton! http://bit.ly/eforea” – Please leave a comment stating you completed this step for this bonus entry.

This will give you 5 chances to win daily. Comments close at 11:59 PM EST on 10/27/2010. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older. The total value of each prize is approximately $200. Prize provided by Hilton Hotels and Resorts. Current and former contributors of TravelingMamas.com not eligible to enter.

BlogWorld and New Media Expo isn’t just an educational experience, but it’s also a chance to network and build your brand. A trio of us (me, ThemeParkMom, and MommyMusings) decided to make a girlfriend getaway out this annual event. It is Las Vegas, after all!

TravelingMamas.com was a media partner with BlogWorld and I was also the instigator behind the travel portion of the expo. Each year, I learn a little bit more and I always listen to the attendees opinions on what they liked and what they didn’t, so that each time it gets that much better.

The best part about the entire expo is that the BlogWorld experience doesn’t end when the event is over. The introductions made at this conference can turn into mutually beneficial and long lasting relationships. The BlogWorld blog is still there, with frequent updates and guest posters offering valuable advice for your blog and social media for business.

An aspect of BlogWorld that I love is not only the destination of Las Vegas, but how relaxed and happy everyone seems to be. It was fun. It was a blast. ThemeParkMom went around with her Kodak Zi8 and put together this BlogWorld montage featuring a great song by our Jamaican friend Richie Loop. MommyMusings is his biggest fan in the US and we all agreed that “My Cupp” is the perfect track for any gathering.

Special thanks to Richie for allowing us to use his song, and big thanks to everyone who let their hair down for this fun video. High-five to Dave and Rick from BlogWorld and all the personalities seen on here. Next time you go to a club or have a party, this song is a MUST!

Tonight I’m attending the launch event of the Hilton brand’s new spa concept – eforea: spa at Hilton. I love the Hilton brand, and when you add spa into the mix, it’s a match made in heaven for me.

The launch is being celebrated with a special performance by SEAL and other celebrities are scheduled to be on hand, including Tyson and Real Housewife of New York Bethenny Frankel, who will be signing books. I can’t wait to see who walks the blue carpet later tonight and hopefully send a few photos to Twitter.

When I initially arrived into Newark this afternoon, I was greeted by a nice driver who had a gift box with the new eforea: spa at Hilton logo – a blue butterfly. As I walked into the lobby of Hilton Short Hills to check in for the night, I had those blue butterflies flying around inside from the excitement of seeing the hotel entrance decked out in blue and white.

But enough about the fun and exciting launch event. The new spa concept offers something for everyone, no matter their spa experience preference.

Treatment Journeys – This traveling mama loves the concept of not just choosing an item off a menu, like in a restaurant, but of the entire spa experience. From Hilton:

“At the core of the eforea concept are three signature spa journeys that pair a therapeutic approach with transformative journeys of the senses.  The Essentials Journey features Kerstin Florian products along with a Signature Correcting Facial featuring Microcurrent technology. This unique treatment marries potent botanicals, cosmeceutical ingredients and advanced, non-invasive facelift technology. The Escape Journey is a set of holistic experiences fusing organic plant ingredients with traditional healing practices such as the Hilton Head-to-Toe Revitalization, an experience using products from the LI’TYA organic product line. Making men a priority, rather than an afterthought, Hilton created its custom Men’s Journey, a collection of goal driven treatments engineered for men including the Signature Body Repair with a heated bamboo massage created especially for Hilton. Each journey is comprised of a selection of face, body, and massage treatments with select add-in options.”

Why the Name? Hilton is an iconic brand with a reputation of classiness. The word eforea was created to provide a refreshing identity in a spa world that is often dominated by sameness. The signature icon of the butterfly? It symbolizes transformation of the soul and body.

I know the evening will be enjoyable, but I’m looking forward to learning a bit more about what makes this spa concept different from other brands. Currently, you won’t find much about eforea: spa at Hilton on their main site, but as this concept begins to debut around the world, I’ll be sure to keep you updated in case one of these new spas are developed at  Hilton Hotels and Resorts, DoubleTree, or an Embassy Suites near you.

To give you an inside glimpse of eforea: spa at Hilton, here’s the video introduction played for media on the way to the event: