Gear Review: Lily Pond Nightingale Toiletry Kit

Based in Denver, Colorado, Lily Pond is a gem of a company that designs gear for women just like me. For those of us females prone to adventure, travel, and outdoor activity all the while keeping our environmental footprint in mind; we are Lily Ponds’ core shopper.

I recently tested out their Nightingale Toiletry Kit on my trip to Victoria, British Columbia. I had a variety of activities planned and wanted a bigger toiletry kit to carry more goodies. My past kit, similar to a men’s shaving kit, always became a mess and was hard to find those small items like tweezers. For this reason, I was looking forward to trying out the 11” long, 4.5” tall Lily Pond kit.

Layout: The kit is designed to either sit straight up on your bathroom sink or hang from an included hidden hook on the back of a bathroom door. In the hanging position, there is easy access to the two small mesh compartments, one large main compartment and two expandable side sleeves. The small, flat, mesh zippered pockets are where I like to put hair ties, bobby pins and chapstick. The two side compartments keep my shampoo and conditioner on one side, right side up and in their own zippered area, contained separately in case they spill. The other side holds my sunscreen and face lotion. In the main compartment I put my deodorant, brush, smaller lotions and other miscellaneous goodies. In the very front mesh sleeve I kept my floss-very important.

I found the outer material to be very durable and unlikely to tear. The shell is a fabric composed of a material called Cycle Pond, made from recycled plastic bottles. In fact, almost all of their bags in their 2013 collection are made of this recycled fabric.

I find I can keep more items in this kit, more than I really would take when I travel. This being said, I think I am on the minimalist side of bringing lots of lotions and products with me; I’m sure there are plenty of people who need all this room

If you’re in the market for a new toiletry kit, I’d recommend the Lily Pond Kit not only for it’s functional design and funky,cool colors but for the fact that the company is based in the States and committed to using recycled materials. As they say themselves, “Being green and socially conscious is good business.”  I couldn’t agree more.

What I love: Nicely compartmentalized, easy to organize, hanging hook a nice plus, durable, and supporting a US eco-friendly company.

Not so much: It’s a fairly large toiletry kit, and I found I had more room that I needed. Can be slightly bulky when packed full.

The Lily Pond toiletry kit retails for $49 and can be bought here on Amazon on the link below.

I have a tough job. I travel to different places all over the world, stay for a few days, and then leave. That’s not the hard part. The problem is that I continually fall in love with these unique destinations and then don’t want to leave. My newest love? Victoria, British Columbia.

I couldn’t have picked a better week to visit Victoria than the first week of May. The sunshine was bright and the flowers were in full bloom. I traveled to Vancouver Island to speak on travel blogging at the fourth annual Social Media Camp, a conference that focuses on the increasing role of social media in our everyday world. After the conference in this lovely city of 80,000, I spent some days experiencing some of the beauty and adventure that Victoria has to offer.

Well folks, I’m in love with Victoria. What exactly am I in love with you ask? Here are my top 3 loves:

1. Access to Water Sports

Being an island, it’s easy to see that a major draw to visiting Victoria is the ocean. I took both a Stand Up Paddleboard class AND a separate sea-kayaking trip to Discovery Island with Ocean River Adventures, one of the pioneers of active tourism in Victoria. The ocean provides excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation, and I wanted to take full advantage of it.

The SUP boarding class combined water sports in an urban setting, and this was a new experience for me. Staying to the shores of the harbor, we were treated to a beautiful panoramic view of Downtown Victoria, complete with an up close and personal view of Victorianites going about their everyday lives. I felt famous as passerby’s walking along the bike path stopped to take photos of me. One older woman asked me if I was scared and if I had fallen in. “No! It’s great! Much better than walking!” I yelled back, egging her on to give it a try herself.

It was a busy afternoon in the Inner Harbor, and my head was on a constant swivel, looking to see what was going on around me. It was a thrilling experience, to be so close to these planes, boats and water taxis, but to feel completely safe and still spot the occasional harbor seal and starfish.

The next day I met Ocean River Adventures again  but this time near the Oak Bay Marina, just north of downtown. We were meeting to head out for a full day sea-kayaking tour to Discovery Island. No other company is running sea-kayaking trips to Discovery Island other than Ocean River Adventures. The island, only a ten-minute boat ride away, felt like a far-off world compared to the hustle and bustle of the downtown area. Home to 61-hectare Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park , the island is uninhabited beside one lone wolf that occasionally makes an appearance in the distance. Unfortunately we didn’t spot the wolf on my trip there, though we certainly did our best to keep on the lookout. The sea-kayaking wasn’t very challenging, we had excellent visibility, and the equipment was brand new. The one thing I’d suggest is to bring some snacks, as you can get hungry out there!

Stay tuned for my next post on my other loves in Victoria….

Kayaking photo courtesy of Brian Henry.

As you well know, Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 12th. For some reason or another, brunch has become the activity of choice to celebrate this holiday. I don’t know about you, but I much prefer DOING something with my mom instead of sitting around, gluttonously devouring my second (fine, third) mini ginger lemon scone. Partaking in an activity, whatever it may be, can be so much more rewarding and memorable than any quiche can ever be. Sharing an experience. Building a memory. That’s how I want to spend Mother’s Day. Here are some suggestions for active ways to celebrate Mother’s Day, albeit depending on your geographic location.

1. Explore your local park.

Go to your trusty friend Google and search state parks near…and plug in your hometown. Chances are you’ll be surprised just how close these state treasures are. Trails.com is another excellent option. Catch up with your mom on what’s going on in each others lives by hitting the trail, slowing down your rushed lifestyle, and spending quality time with each other. If you absolutely MUST include food, pack a picnic and enjoy the sunshine.

 2. Get on the water.

Water is a calming medium, it helps us to relax and clear the mind. Think about taking a sunset cruise with your mother and enjoy the sunset together, away from the stress of the everyday grind. For the more adventurous, Stand Up Paddleboarding is incredibly easy to try and can be loads of fun.  Done on a lake, ocean (or even river), try something new with your mother that I guarantee you’ll both remember forever. Sea kayaking can also be another low-risk, soft adventure activity to try.

Just think, it’ll be like being back in the womb.

3. Play a game.

Chances are, you’ll be celebrating Mother’s Day with your father, other siblings and maybe even the grandkids. Why not organize a fun tournament that everyone can partake in? Bocce or croquet can be perfect if you have a large, open field and is suitable for people of all ages. Badminton is one of my personal favorites to play on a Sunday afternoon. If active games aren’t an option, think about your good old fashioned board game such as Scrabble, Pictionary, Scattergories or Bananagrams.

4. Take a class together.

For years your mother has been talking about wanting to learn how to cook French cuisine. Instead of spending $50 on brunch, why not buy her an introduction to French cooking, and join her for the class? Better yet, maybe there’s an activity that you think she’d enjoy but wouldn’t do on her own, like an art class or writing workshop. Sign up for two and attend the class together. No matter what happens, you’ll have spent time together and created a meaningful memory.

However you choose to celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday, just remember; it’s about celebrating your mother and spending time with her. Enjoy the time, hug her, tell her how much you appreciate her. If you choose to do this over croissants and coffee, great,  but consider how much more memorable it may be to go for a bike ride, head out for a hike, or take a class together.

Mother daughter photo hiking courtesy of Sean Dreilinger on Flickr.

Kayak photo courtesy of hthrd on Flickr.