Consolidating all of a traveling mamas’ gear into one carry-on bag can be a daunting task. Shoes are items that can not only take up a lot of space, but can ruin the clothes you pack along beside them. A hot trend I’ve noticed lately is the wide variety of travel shoe bags available for all personalities. They’re not only practical, but they’re cute, too! Here are some of the best shoe bags and totes for women I’ve recently found:

Peek-a-Boo by Leslie Hsu – These canvas shoe bags have a clear window so that your shoes are protected and you can see which shoes are in which bag. Currently they only come in two colors – magenta and beige, but at $14.99 for two, they’re tops on our list. Thanks, Leslie for sending us some samples to test out in the field. They are now a packing staple in my suitcase. These can be purchased online or in store at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Zoe Tote on Etsy – These hand-sewn totes are cute, practical, and fashionable. Adorable woven cotton patterns created into hand sewn shoe totes and finished with a grosgrain ribbon and bead, designed to add flair to your favorite shoes. At $20, you’re not only investing in a fantastic travel accessory, but you’re supporting an independant artist. Purchase online at Zoe Tote’s Etsy Store.

Lillian Vernon Shoe Tote – This is our bargain pick for a family packing a large suitcase. The shoe bag holds six pairs of small shoes. It isn’t compact like many of the other bags on our list, or is it the most stylish, but it is practical and keeps your shoes organized while on the go. This item can also be used at home if you have small living quarters. Just slide the shoe bag under the bed for storage. $19.99 on LillianVernon.com.

Shubi – These shoe totes are a bit more than some of the other shoe bags we recommend, but they are oh so fabulous! Shubi  shoe bags come in a variety of patterns and they’re lined in a coordinating fabric, keeping your shoes from getting scuffed and your finer fabrics from getting nicked by your heels.  The drawstring top is made with grosgrain ribbon and they are machine washable. Pick your favorite fabric and let your shoes travel in style with Shubi. $29 online.

My Tote Chamberlain Shoe Bag – This fashionable shoe bag has been featured in Bride’s Magazine and Oprah Magazine. The shoe bag has two pockets, to keep your shoes from scraping each other during transport, or you can put the shoes on one side and undergarments in the other pocket. The Chamberlain also comes in a swimsuit bag (as seen in Oprah Magazine) and has a waterproof liner. This makes a good option for carrying liquids (in your checked baggage). $27.99 at MyTote.com

During our whirlwind tour of New York City during Blogher, TravelingMamas.com had a chance to visit with the Hanes Comfort Crew and learn about organizing our socks and undies and getting the perfect fit for our personal mama support system (bras). The video included with our post gives you a behind the scenes look of what takes place during many of our brand meetings and research on finding the best products to bring to you, the readers. Celebrity stylist Jenn Falik shared her Hanes Fashion 411 tips and Michael Moloney of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition talked about the importance of cleaning out your drawers and starting fresh with Hanes! And yes, getting a foot massage will get you everywhere with me

Here are some of TravelingMamas.com’s tips for packing and also a few items from Hanes that help keep you comfortable and fresh while on your trip:

1.  Be sure to pack your shoes in their own drawstring bags so that you keep your clothing clean and germ free in your suitcase.

2. Undies can be folded and rolled up and placed in empty corners and spaces of your bag.

3.  Taking care of your feet when traveling is very important. Pack socks that have a cushion or arch support to wear when touring on your travels. Hanes offers a variety of sock options for the entire family, including their All Day Dry socks and arch support socks.

4. Save space in your bag and use socks for slippers when walking around your hotel room. I don’t know about you, but walking barefoot around a hotel room grosses me out. Hanes Casuals Cusion socks offer a soft thicker sole area and make for great slipper alternatives.

5. Pack socks inside of your shoes. I can usually place two pair of socks in each shoe, saving space in my bag for other important items.

6. Don’t ruin your bras in you bag. Stack them inside of each other and lay the stack out across the top of your suitcase. Yes, the TSA will get a look at your unmentionables, but at least your mama parts won’t look lopsided from having crushed cups.

7. Bring along tanks with shelf bras. Hanes has tank shirts with shelf bras that won’t take up hardly any room in your bag and look great under casual sundresses or when you want to lounge around your hotel room in comfort.

8. Eco friendly sweats work well for confort in colder climates. Fall is almost here and that means ski season will be upon us soon. While I don’t recommend wearing a sweatsuit to a restaurant, this clothing item is the ultimate in comfort when traveling. Hanes Ecosmart Collection offers sweatsuits made out of recycled waterbottles, making this a clean, green item.

9. Pack a laundry bag for your dirties. Nothing is worse than living out of a suitcase going from location to location and having dirty undies, bras, and socks mixed in with the clean clothes. I always bring along a small laundry bag to place items that get gently used while on the road. Sometimes a mama just doesn’t have enough time to wash laundry while on a trip.

10.  Wash delicates in your hotel sink and hang them up overnight to dry. If you plan on being in one location for a few days, you can save space by utilizing the clothes line found in most hotel bathrooms. Wash in the sink. Rinse. And then hang your delicates to dry overnight.

These are just a few of the many tips we found from experience in traveling frequently. With the increase in baggage fees, we here at TravelingMamas.com have learned to save money and space by taking advantage of smart ways to pack a carry on bag so that we can travel and still have all the neccessities needed for personal comfort.

Disclosure: I did get a foot massage provided by Hanes at the Hanes Social Media Event in NYC. While that would be enough of an incentive for me to mention the brand (since I had just walked a few New York blocks to get to the party), I have purchased Hanes products for decades and have no issue in mentioning a brand that I use in daily life. Special thanks to Erika Lehmann of ChicShopperChick.com for inviting me and MommyMusings as her guests. Be sure to watch the video and see some amazing power bloggers talk about how they use Hanes.

Checked baggage fees are an expense for travelers that can really add up. When traveling with carry on luggage, space is a premium and so are the amount of liquids one can bring with them on their trip. We’re big fans of 3floz.com, but we also try to find ways to save money while saving the environment, as well.

Some items that can always be found in my carry on bag are brightly colored reusable TSA friendly liquid containers. I have four in different shades and have labeled them with paint pens. They contain shampoo, conditioner, face cleanser, and body wash. Many of the beauty products I use are not available in travel sizes and while I have no problem using hotel amenities, it usually isn’t a good idea for me to use the hotel shampoo/conditioner combo.

These little containers are less than one dollar each, come in a variety of colors and shapes, and are eco-friendly because they are reusable. Walmart’s across the US usually have a dedicated travel size are in the Health and Beauty Aids department, near the pharmacy.

Before 9/11, it used to be convenient to purchase a few bottles of wine at whatever destination we were visiting to bring home. We could carry it through security, assuring delicate handling of this precious cargo, knowing that the investment (no matter how large or small) would be protected until time to enjoy.

Today, should we decide to purchase wine or other libations during our travels (or bring them with us to our destination), we now have to pack the bottles in our checked luggage – luggage that gets thrown around, stacked, dropped, and rummaged through by the TSA. Sometimes the bottles packed inside get damaged or broken. Nothing is worse that opening your luggage only to find that nice bottle of pinot noir leaked all over the pastel dress you packed to wear for your cousin’s wedding.

Personally, I’ve become a master at packing wine bottles in checked luggage and have been known to leave a few not-so-favorite clothing items at my destination so there would be more room for extra bottles. I once even managed to bring home nine bottles of French wine in a 22 inch upright bag. Yes, it was heavy, but that Chateau du Marres was so worth the extra effort.

Fortunately there is an answer to all of our wine packing problems. No longer will I need steal the plastic laundry bag hanging in a hotel room closet to place my wine in and arrange my laundry artfully around the bottles in my suitcase. I can now travel confidently knowing my wine is safe inside of a Bottlewise Bot’lPak, a wine tote made to protect not only the wine bottle, but also your clothing and other accessories inside your luggage from getting ruined, should the unthinkable happen. It is made with a durable padded outer shell. The interior is a thick sealable plastic case which keeps liquid from seeping onto your clothes, just in case.

Here are some travel tips for packing your wine or culinary item:

• Place your Bot’lPak near the center of your luggage
• Use even weight distribution
• Don’t place anything sharp, like a corkscrew, within your bag to prevent puncturing

The Bottlewise Bot’lPak is available online at Bottlewise.com and retail for $29.95. Be sure to check out the other wine travel accessories from this company. Readers of TravelingMamas.com can get 15% discount on Bottlewise by using Promo Code: TRVM15

This product was provided by the company for review purposes.

I admit that I am a hoarder of travel-size products. My carry-on is in a perpetual state of being unpacked and re-packed. And, since I still haven’t completely learned the art of “packing light,” I’m often trying to stuff way too much into my rolling suitcase. So I have to have travel-size everything, both because of the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule, and because nothing else will fit.

But really great travel-size products can be hard to find. Take, for example, facial moisturizer. I have dry skin, and I struggle with finding travel-size moisturizer that will keep my skin in good shape on the road. I have been guilty of stalking samples from Sephora and of continually (messily) refilling a small sample container from a cosmetics counter.

So I was happy to find 3floz.com, a Web site that sells only beauty products that fall under the Transportation Security Administration’s 3-fluid-ounce limit for liquids and gels.

And these aren’t your run-of-the-mill drugstore brands. Names like Ahava, Go Smile, Johnathon and Tocca are available.

I found 3floz.com easy to browse for the products I need. You can sort by brand or by the type of product you are looking for.

I especially love the kits that 3floz.com sells. They are all packed up to grab and go, and they make great gifts. Any frequent traveler would love to add some of these luxury products to their carry-on. (Ahem. Hear that, friends and family?)

The kits vary from $17 for a Deep Steep Rosemary-Mint sampler that includes bubble bath, body wash, body polish, lotion, butter and a moisture stick to $200 for nine items hand-picked by one of the site’s owners, Alexi, that includes Phillip B. White Truffle shampoo and conditioner, Jonathan Spray Dirt Hairspray and Ahava face products.

Now 3floz.com has added Little Twig baby products to their travel-size lineup. And we’ve teamed up with the Web site to give away a Little Twig kit to one lucky traveling mama!

Up for grabs is a Little Twig Travel Basics Bee Calming kit. It includes travel sizes of baby wash, bodymilk and bubble bath, all in a lavender scent. It comes packed with a cute bumble bee bath mitt in a PVC-free travel pouch. (Retail value: $17.50)

To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us your must-have travel-size product – something you just can’t leave home without.

Enter by 9 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, Aug. 3.

The winning comment will be drawn by the random number generator at Random.org and announced with an update to this post.

Thanks to 3floz.com for providing the prize for this giveaway.

EZ Grill is just what the name implies – an easy way to grill. We tried out one of these inexpensive and convenient grills and I have admit that I loved how light and extremely portable EZ Grill is. This affordable grill had everything you need for tailgating this fall or taking along on that last minute family vacation. Plus, there’s no guilt because it’s 100% recyclable. The EZ Grill makes a Traveling Mama’s life so convenient while on a family road trip or campout that it’s been designated as On the Move Approved!

Perfect for summer road trips, outdoor adventures and on-the-go entertainment, these instant, ready-to-use grills come with everything you need, including EZ Light charcoal. With just one match, you can grill superior quality food for at least 1 ½ hours. Plus, July is National Grilling Month so it’s a great time to get outside and get grillin’.

The all natural charcoal dipped in high-end mineral oil gives a more natural flavor without the additives, chemicals, fillers and lighter fluid associated with traditional charcoal briquettes.

Endorsed by some of the biggest names in sports and grilling, including NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Tony Dorsett, Racecar Driver Michael Waltrip and the number one BBQ organization in the country, Kansas City Barbeque Society, the EZ Grill is available in regular size (1.81 lbs) and party size (3.31 lbs) for $4.99 and $9.99, respectively.

In addition to Walgreens and Camping World, the EZ Grill can be purchased nationwide at more than 49,000 stores nationwide, including numerous regional supermarkets and convenience stores across the country. Visit http://www.ezgrill.com/retail.php to find a retailer near you.

Have you tried this product? We want to know what you think.

A sample product was provided by the company for research purposes.

As someone who tries to cram anywhere from two to five days of clothing in a single carry-on at least once or twice a month, packing for a road trip is a total luxury. I can load up a lot of “just in case” items that could come in handy, but that I would never bring on a trip involving air travel.

Here are some things we bring along that might come in handy on your next road trip:

• Laundry detergent – I would much rather pack a few outfits and wash once or twice on the trip than have to pack a bunch of suitcases. But my allergies prevent me from using a certain, extremely popular brand that is sold in the majority of those laundry-room vending machines. So, I like to bring some along. I especially love the Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets for travel. They are the ultimate portable laundry product – no liquids or powders to measure or spill. (In fact, I often stick one or two in my carry-on during business trips so that I can do laundry on the fly if I need to.)
• Ziploc bags – I like to throw in a handful of these in both quart and gallon sizes. They can be useful for saving half-eaten snacks for later, and they can also become storage containers for shell, rock or leaf collections started on a nature hike.
• Paper plates and plastic utensils – Carrying these items with you makes it easier to stop by a store for an impromptu picnic, order pizza or other takeout, or heat up leftovers in your hotel room’s microwave.
• Roll-up picnic blanket – It’s another one of those items I like to have just in case. We don’t always use it on trips, but it’s great to have in case of impromptu picnics, free outdoor concerts or even a stop to take a nap at a park.



• Small, soft-sided cooler – A small cooler that you can carry often comes in handy on a hike or at a picnic.



• Extra quarters and other change – As much as I would love to see an electronic toll-paying system that covers the whole country, it’s probably not happening anytime soon, so anticipate that you may need cash for tolls. The change also comes in handy at rest-stop vending machines, and you never know when you’re going to find an old Frogger or Qbert machine that you just have to play.
• Fleece throws or other (non-precious) blankets – Great for piling on in a cold car or hotel room, or for spreading out for some cloud- or star-gazing.



• Backpack – While you might not use a backpack for packing on your trip, it can be helpful to have an empty one in the car for use as a daypack on hikes or anytime you’re going to be away from the car for an extended time.
• Coffee – Let’s face it, a lot of hotel coffee sucks. If you have the space to bring some of your favorite brand along, it will make your mornings more pleasant. (And while you’re at it, you might want to bring instant oatmeal and/or cup-a-soup packets that you can also use the hotel coffeemaker to prepare).
• Paper towels – If you’re traveling with the family, I don’t even have to tell you the myriad reasons you’re gonna need ‘em.

I have yet to go to Apple’s Dark Side of mobile technology and have been sticking to my guns with my BlackBerry. My husband and son both have iPhones and love theirs, but I like to type with my fingernails (grin) and that’s just not something I can do with an iPhone. iPhone lovers rave about all their apps for travel, but BlackBerry offers a wide variety as well. Here are a few apps I’ve used on my BlackBerry and some others that I’m trying out real soon.

Planning

• TripIt Travel Organizer puts your itinerary on your BlackBerry, no matter where you booked your travel. It also syncs your plans with your BlackBerry calendar (FREE).
• Before you embark on your next road trip, download MapQuest for Mobile, a free, full-featured mapping and directions application. And while you’re on the road, Simultravel GPS locates hotels near you, displays rates and will connect you with a travel agent to book the room (FREE – for the app, not the room!).
• When traveling abroad, Navita Translator translates more than 50 languages simply by speaking words into your BlackBerry or typing them (FREE).
• Pack the umbrella? Check ahead with WeatherBug, The Weather Channel or Weather Eye (all are FREE).

Dining and Shopping

• Use Poynt and WHERE to find places to dine and shop while exploring a new city (both are FREE).
• To save money on food, Kids Meal Deals provides instant access to thousands of restaurants offering “kids meal deals” and “kids eat free” promotions near you using GPS or ZIP code search (FREE).

Games

• When the natives get restless, keep kids of all ages entertained with hundreds of available games. Examples include: Connect 4 Fun, the classic four-in-a-row Checkers game ($2.99); Hangman Kids, fun to play and a great way to learn new words (FREE); SketchIt, a variation on Etch-A-Sketch that even allows you to save your drawings ($2.99); Super Baby Go!, to amuse even the youngest travelers ($3.99); and Yahtzee Adventures, the popular dice game ($6.99). 

Just For Fun

• Post photos directly to your Flickr account with the Flickr app (FREE).
• Explore the Magic Kingdom right from your BlackBerry with ReadyPath Disneyland ($4.99) and WDW Maps ($2.99).

And Did You Know that BlackBerry has a new Twitter app perfect for sharing details of your trip with friends and family back home? You can now view locations of geotagged tweets with BlackBerry Maps and view tweeted photos from Twitpic, YFrog and TweetPhoto. And best of all, it’s FREE

Have you dreamed of seeing one of your photos inside the pages of National Geographic magazine? I know I have! Now, you can get your shot at a chance to enter the 3rd Annual Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest!

The 3rd Annual Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest is happening now!  Send in your best photos-in categories like Animals/Wildlife, Travel, and Weather-for a chance to win a National Geographic Expeditions trip for two to Greece and a feature in an upcoming issue of National Geographic magazine.

There’s no question about one thing: To get the best shot, you need the best equipment. That’s where Energizer comes in. Energizer® Ultimate Lithium AA and AAA batteries are the world’s longest lasting batteries in high-tech devices. They last up to eight times longer than Energizer® MAX® in digital cameras (results vary by camera)-which means you can take your mind off your batteries and focus on capturing that winning photo.

TravelingMamas.com wants you to be able to release your inner photographer without having to wait to see if you are the winner of this fabulous contest. That’s why we’re giving away an HP Photosmart Premium All-in-One Printer (MSRP $139.09). All you have to do is leave a comment telling us what sites you would visit if winning the The 3rd Annual Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest . Easy peasy! Must be 21 years of age or older and a resident of the USA. This blog contest ends 11:59 pm CST June 6, 2010. Prizes supplied by Energizer/National Geographic.

Good luck and go enter your photo!

One thing I love about cruise travel in a suite is the VIP treatment at breakfast every morning. My favorite part of each morning was sitting in the private dining room and enjoying a cup of coffee served in a Chambord French Press. I will admit that while I’m a world traveler, some things are still new and exciting for me – including having coffee served to me in a Chambord French Press. I guess it’s the simple things that make life grand for me.

When I return from a super-duper amazing trip, I sometimes stop for coffee and a chat with my friends at Community Coffee when I’m out running errands (the main office is located conveniently near Mall of Louisiana). They love to hear about my adventures and we catch up on the latest in the social media world and fun things going on in Louisiana. Of course when I mentioned the Chambord French Press part of my cruise, my friends were surprised that being such a coffee lover, I didn’t use one of these already.

Being the sweethearts that they are, they put together and sent me a Community Coffee Mother’s Day Gift Basket that includes a Hiraca Palm basket filled with a 34 oz. Chambord French Press, 12 oz. of their Private Reserve Founders Blend, and a cute little Community Coffee signature coffee scoop.

I absolutely loved it and in full disclosure, I begged Community Coffee to allow me to host a giveaway of the same item on TravelingMamas.com. It retails for $44.95 US and until April 30, 2010 is can be ordered with no shipping charged in the continental US if you use the promo code: MOM.

I have the basket sitting on my counter and I’ve placed cute little napkins in it. I love how Community Coffee supports the communities that it works with. I guess that’s why I’m such a big supporter of this company (who does NOT pay me to write about them FYI). Here’s a snippet about the baskets from the company site:

In Valle del Cauca in Colombia, young families who are eager to develop their farms and build a future for their children are cultivating coffee. To help build a renewed sense of hope and a brighter future for those young families, we agreed to pay them for their coffee beans at a price substantially above world market prices. Additionally, these hardworking families make beautiful baskets. Community Coffee Company purchased some to share with you. We thank you for helping us craft a brighter future for coffee farming families.

How do you enter to win one? Just leave a comment stating where you would like to enjoy a cup of coffee for Mother’s Day (whether you are a mom or not). You have until April 30, 2010 at 11:59 pm CST to leave a comment. Winner will be randomly chosen and announced sometime over the weekend. Sorry, but this particular contest is only open to US residents (shipping rules) 18 years of age or older. One coffee comment per email address, please. Bonus entry: Tweet this contest and leave the status as different comment.

Winner Update: Congrats to Catherine!