Sennett Harmony

We are currently bringing you the best shoes to accompany beautiful dresses, sundresses, and other travel attire for jet-setters and business professionals alike.  Clarks makes some of the “best of the best” shoes available for any occasion.

We recently discovered some of the best sandals that we have ever come across: Sennett Harmony by Clarks.  These amazing sandals are part of the Clarks Artisan collection.

What we like about them:

They compliment any wardrobe.  They are stylish.  We reviewed Sennett Harmony in beige.  Beige goes with most anything you are going to wear in warmer weather.  They also come in other great, basic colors, including Bronze Leather, White, and Black.

They are made with elegant and demure lines.  They are lightweight.  They are cool.

What we love about them:

They are ultra-comfortable!  They will actually cradle your foot.  And they feel like you are walking on air.  That is because they feature an Active Air footbed for extra comfort.

We also tried the Demure Flare flats from Clarks Artisan collection.  These beautiful flats live up to their name.  They are elegantly demure, made of  fine leather.  And they have a brass ring on the front to give some flare.  They, too, are comfortable, stylish and will compliment any wardrobe with a quiet elegance.

Lastly, if you are looking for a Va-Va-Voom pair of sandals, we recommend Clarks’ new Joli Ruffle.  We tried Joli Ruffle in gold.  In keeping with what we love about Clarks, they are lightweight.  Their fancy ruffle adds a touch of glamor to any occasion.

Find these great shoes and more at www.clarksusa.com.

Rating: 5 Stars!  Best!

Travel Scope 70

Summer is just around the corner. So is summer stargazing. Stargazing is a favorite pastime of travel and leisure enthusiasts. No matter where we are, when we see a sky full of stars, it captivates us with wonder.

If you would like to get a bird’s eye view of stars and planets, and even better than that, we have a recommendation for you: buy a travel telescope.

We tried the Travel Scope 70 Portable Telescope by Celestron. The Travel Scope 70 is compact, portable, and high-quality. It does not require tools for assembly. It comes with a well-designed carry-case.  This is a great travel telescope.  We give it 5 stars!

Celestron makes high-quality, budget-friendly telescopes. You can find Travel Scope 70 and more at www.Celestron.com.

Rating: 5 Stars!  Best rated!

We recently discovered a new, innovative product: The Hand Reflexology Massager.  Carried by Hammacher Schlemmer, the Hand Reflexology Massager is portable, lightweight, and electronic.  It features 3 different pressures, massages in 5, 10, and 15 minute increments, and contributes to better health.

During testing, we found that we preferred the lowest pressure setting.  It gave an invigorating massage with ample pressure.  The Hand Reflexology Massager also contains a heated massage option for additional relaxation and health.

This product is designed based on the meridian theory of Chinese medicine.  It is especially suitable for people who spend extensive amounts of time working on a computer.

Although nothing is better than getting a massage from a real person, the Hand Reflexology Massager will leave your hands feeling more relaxed and ready for the next task.

Find it here at www.Hammacher Schlemmer.com

Rating: 3 Stars!  Good.

The Putumayo 2012 editions include:

Latin Beat

Latin Beat

Brazilian Beat

Brazilian Beat

Brazilian Playground

Brazilian Playground

African Beat

African Beat

All of Putumayo’s new grooves are great. Yet our favorite in this line-up is Brazilian Beat.  Brazil is an incredible nation which is quickly moving from rags to riches.  Rio de Janiero is becoming one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities.  So if you include Brazilian Beat in your party line up, you will be cool and groovy at the same time because you’ll show you really know what’s up and coming on the international scene.

We recommend all of Putumayo’s music.  You just can’t go wrong with any album.  What we like best?  Putumayo is devoted to helping communities where the music originates.  The label has contributed more than one million dollars to worthwhile non-profit organizations, such as Amnesty International.

Find out more about Putumayo and get your grove on at www.putumayo.com.

Rating: 4 Stars!  Very good!

Harmony Lace by Hi-Tec

Going hiking but dreading taking your heavy hiking boots with you?  At Best Rated Reviews, we always aim to pack light.  We recently discovered a truly amazing pair of hiking shoes that we recommend as the “best of the best” for lightweight travel.

Harmony Lace by Hi-Tec is a pair of hiking shoes designed to function as a lightweight hiking boots without the bulk.  We tried them and found them to be some of the best hiking shoes we have ever tried.

Here’s why:

They are very comfortable for hiking shoes.  They are designed with just enough stiffness to give you the support you need while hiking.  Yet they are made of a comfortable, lightweight material.  Mesh allows your feet to breathe so they do not get as hot as they do in most hiking boots.

We also liked the design of the Harmony Lace.  They are stylish and their smoky brown/aloe color combination lends to professionalism.

These shoes also contain a moisture wicking lining and anti-odor, anti-microbial Ortholite sockliner.    Their durable Vibram rubber outsole gives added protection to your feet.

Harmony Lace Women’s Shoes Rating: 5 Stars!  Best!

Also, if you are looking for a well-built, affordable pair of sandals to complement your active travel wardrobe, we recommend Hi-Tec’s Waimea Falls.

These sandals are made with a durable rubber outsole and a sculpted footbed to provide sure-footing.  These are some of the most affordable sandals we have seen for the quality at $40 a pair.

Waimea Falls Women’s Sandals Rating: 3 Stars!  Good!

Find these great shoes and more at www.hi-tec.com.

DoubleNest Hammock

If you are looking for a hammock that holds two comfortably, we have a recommendation for you.  Eagles Nest Outfitters makes a compact Double Nest Hammock.  It is made of high-strength breathable woven nylon, which lends to durability.  It can hold up to 400 pounds.  It weighs 22 oz. and comes with a Slap Strap Hammock Suspension System that weighs 12 oz.  So the total system weighs 34 oz.

The DoubleNest Hammock comes in a compact drawstring bag.  We tried the DoubleNest Hammock in Blue/Olive Green.

Eagles Nest Outfitters makes hammocks that are built to last and very comfortable.  Started by two brothers in 1999,  the company has grown from a two-person + 1 sewing machine operation into a solid company which sells reputable hammocks to like-minded people across the globe.

The Double Nesting Hammock is the most comfortable compact hammock we have tried.

To see this product and more, visit www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com.

Rating: 5 Stars!  Very Good!

You can add Spring flare to your travel, business travel, and leisure wardrobe with great scarves.  A great scarf will last for years to come, does not wrinkle easily, and is comfortable, stylish, and packs well.

One of the most innovative yet classic brands we have found.  Here are a few recommendations.  When we tested them, we found them especially suitable in the area of durability, comfort, style, and packing well.

Echo Designs Spring 2012 Collection recommendations:

Top Picks:

Vintage Baroque Scarf

Vintage Baroque Status Scarf

This scarf is truly gorgeous.  It instantly transforms a plain travel garment into formal elegance.  The baroque print is quite unique, classic, and museum-quality.

Vintage Paisley Neckerchief

This neckerchief is bright for Spring  and yet a fancier paisley than most.  The paisley is ornate.  The scarf is made of silk.  It takes paisley to a whole new level.

Spring Paisley Scarf

Spring Paisley Scarf

This scarf is also a work of art.  The paisley design does not overpower one’s natural features, but rather complements.  The green, yellow,and aqua color scheme reminded us of the soft green of Spring, that moment when the new leaves bud on the trees just after Winter has passed and everything glows green.

We also recommend:

Floral Bamboo Wrap

 Floral Bamboo Wrap

This bold and cheery wrap boasts an array of bright-colored flowers.  It is crafted from eco-friendly bamboo and surprisingly soft.  This scarf is a sure head-turner.  It makes an eye-catching hair-fashion accent, too.

You can find these beautiful scarves and more at www.echodesign.com.

Rating: 5 stars!  Best!

Ultralight Skeeter Beeter Hammock

When the weather turns warmer and flowers start to bud, Spring is here.  And that means Summer is just around the corner.  If you’re looking for a great way to relax in Spring and Summer, we recommend getting a hammock.

When most people think of a hammock, they envision a thick-roped hammock hanging between two palm trees on a beautiful blue beach.  When we think of hammocks, we think of Grand Trunk Goods.  We have considered recommending hammocks from a variety of companies.  But Grand Trunk Goods outshines them all.  The design of their products is superior–and they are especially appealing to the adventure traveler because they are lightweight, durable, and bear a design that takes all your travel needs into consideration: comfort, weight, and economy of space.

We recently tried the Ultralight Skeeter Beeter Hammock.  On first glance, we liked the way it is packaged.  The Ultralight Skeeter Beeter comes in a mesh sack which easily contains the hammock, mosquito netting, and net suspension kit.  It only weighs 20 oz.

This amazingly lightweight hammock can hold up to 250 pounds.  It contains two interior storage pockets which provide a handy corner to store small essentials.  Another cleaver feature?  You can just flip it over and lay on it without mosquito netting as well.  The mosquito netting fastens to two lines that overhang to create a mosquito net canopy.  Then, you can read a book without being draped in mosquito netting.

As we said, Grand Trunk Goods designers think of everything when they design gear.  The Ultralight is also great for backpacking, hiking, and taking anywhere, really.  And don’t forget you can even just use it in your backyard!

Grand Trunk Goods has also recently come out with 9 new, innovative products.  We know many of our readers have inquired to know what we think of them.  We are on a waitlist to test them.  We will let you know our findings as soon as possible.  Thanks for your patience.

Find this great hammock and more at www.grandtrunkgoods.com.

Rating: 5 Stars!  Best!

A shy child, mother enrolled her in dance. Has been training with Cirque for 3 years. Began as a dancer, looked forward to acting aka: character with movement. Enjoys her role as Little Buddha in Dralion. A story of east meets west and a healthy balance of the elements: earth, air, fire and water. Little Buddha controls time and the beginning of time. She has the attributes of a child and the mind of an adult. Much like a “royal child” must meet his destiny, it’s not a choice although he is still a child.

A petite strawberry blonde from Australia with a warm, sincere smile. She interviewed so naturally. While small in stature, she walks with confidence, appears “taller”, and provides the audience with a larger than life performance. It’s obvious she’s a natural and LOVES what she does. In fact, I’d say all the members enjoy their jobs!

Talent recruiting utilizes a variety of marketing, including posters and word of mouth. “Hopefuls” apply to audition, after which they may be accepted into a database.  The performers work a 10 wk on. 2 wk off schedule. Touring is a difficult life for families, so they typically don’t.  In many regards the performers work schedule is similar to one who works on an oil derrick, several weeks on and 1-2 weeks off.

Charli feels privileged to be performing with such quality athletes. The performers love what they do and enjoy the help and inspiration they give to the audience. This keeps them fresh and energized along with the wholesome and quality meals provided for them by the catering crew. My observations of the dining area” fresh fruit, half a dozen buffet dishes with a variety of meals including vegan options as well as options with food sensitivities. Regular pltes and utensils were used, instead of plastics, paper…

Backstage includes a gym with numerous pieces of workout equipment and free weights. There are shoe painters and laundry crews to keep the uniforms in order. 24 loads of laundry = 12 racks of costumes to inspect and insure ready for the performance. They have half a dz. washers and dryers. When speaking with Melody from the Costume department we learned they keep a Repair Kit ready for an ER trip to the performer, back stage, for a repair. Costume dept may also add a hidden pocket, etc. Costumes are made in Montreal, sometimes with hand dyed material from the dye department. There are two makeup cabinets, 8 drawers of various depths in 5’ x 4’ cabinets, that come together and lock for transport purposes.

The Dragon costume weighs 55#

The bamboo poles weigh 35#

The crossed wheel, designed by the actor, weighs 55#

Strong, vibrant, and multifaceted, Little Buddah is the perfect example of all that is extraordinary about Cirque du Soleil.   She is currently performing in Dralion, which performs in College Station at Reed Arena from March 21-25th.  Find out more at www.Cirquedusoleil.com.