The XShot Camera Extender allows you to secure your digital camera to the end of this monopod, set the timer and then take pictures of yourself and friends! No more getting your arms in the photo or having the photo be too much of a closeup.

The iPhone 4 Tripod Case allows you to slip your iPhone into the case and then either mount it to the XShot Camera Extender OR the mini-tripod that’s included!

I’ve been using my XShot for years and I still can’t get over how this very simple (and inexpensive) product can make me so happy. Especially when I’m traveling solo – it means I don’t have to bug people to take a photo of me.

It’s super easy to enter 2 ways this month:

1. Subscribe to the Wanderlust and Lipstick Newsletter during the month of May and you’ll be automatically entered.

2. Perhaps you’re already a newsletter subscriber?! In that case, subscribe to my RSS feed (at right) via email.

Approximate Value for the set is $55 and remember, you have 2 chances to win!

This contest closes at 11:59 pm PST on May 31, 2012 and a lucky winner will be chosen on June 1, 2012.

Available to individuals in North America only (sorry!). Winners have 3 days to reply once being notified.

Here’s my latest photo using the XShot. This was taken at Backwoods in Fort Worth, Texas after my talk. These are the store and Briggs & Riley employees. (Both B&R and XShot sponsored my Texas talks.)

Travel Well,

Beth

Related links:
XShot Monopod Review

Here’s what we’re giving away… the XShot Camera Extender allows you to secure your digital camera to the end of this monopod, set the timer and then take pictures of yourself and friends! No more getting your arms in the photo or having the photo be too much of a closeup.

The iPhone 4 Tripod Case allows you to slip your iPhone into the case and then either mount it to the XShot Camera Extender OR the mini-tripod that’s included!

I’ve been using my XShot for years and I still can’t get over how this very simple (and inexpensive) product can make me so happy. Especially when I’m traveling solo – it means I don’t have to bug people to take a photo of me.

It’s super easy to enter 2 ways this month:

1. Subscribe to the Wanderlust and Lipstick Newsletter during the month of May and you’ll be automatically entered.

2. Perhaps you’re already a newsletter subscriber?! In that case, subscribe to my RSS feed (at right) via email.

Approximate Value for the set is $55 and remember, you have 2 chances to win!

This contest closes at 11:59 pm PST on May 31, 2012 and a lucky winner will be chosen on June 1, 2012.

Available to individuals in North America only (sorry!). Winners have 3 days to reply once being notified.

Oh, here’s a shot of our group in Bhutan this spring. The gals LOVED being able to take group shots with “the camera stick” as it became known as.

Whatever you call it, you’ll love it!

Travel Well,

Beth

Related links:
XShot Monopod Review

This month you have 2 chances to win a Travel Swag Bag of goodies for your next trip! This includes a top from ExOfficio, a bag from Haiku and a small Igloo cooler/bag. There are a number of other smaller items, too, but those will be a surprise

You have two chances to win and it only takes a moment to enter.

1. Subscribe to the Wanderlust and Lipstick Newsletter during the month of March and you’ll be automatically entered.

2. Perhaps you’re already a newsletter subscriber?! In that case, subscribe to my RSS feed (at right) via email.

Winner will be chosen on April 1 and notified right away. Winner will have 3 days to respond once being contacted otherwise another winner may be chosen.

Subscribe to the newsletter AND the RSS feed and you’ll be entered twice for your chance to win!

Approximate Value: $100

This contest closes at 11:59 pm PST on March 31, 2012 and one lucky winner will be chosen on April 1, 2012.

Please note we LOVE to know that people from around the world are Wanderlust readers and encourage everyone to enter. However, we are only able to ship to the U.S. – so sorry!

Travel Well,

Beth

So what might you win?

These 2 security items are body bands that are part of the Dovetail Travel in Peace collection. They include a waistband that wraps around your hips (left) as well as the wing in which you insert your arms through the loops and the pocket sits against your back and over your bra.

Both are great options for times when you want to keep your valuables safe and won’t need to access them at places like border stops or in a bank. Each will hold your passport, credit cards and money.

While the body bands look small right out of the package, each of these stretch enough so that a passport can easily fit inside.

So… wanna win your own?

Throughout February, you can enter to win your very own set of Dovetail Body Bands. Three lucky winners will be chosen on March 1, 2012.

And, you have TWO CHANCES TO ENTER!

1) Sign up for the Wanderlust and Lipstick newsletter. This goes out just once a month and your information is never shared.

2) Sign up for the RSS email feed (see the “subscribe me” box at right) to receive an email each time I post to this blog (usually no more than 3x per week).

Subscribe to both and you’ve got 2 chances to enter this month.

Oh, and be a good egg… forward this along to someone whom you think might like to enter and win their very own set of Dovetail Body Bands.

Approximate Value: $48/set

This contest closes at 11:59 pm PST on February 29, 2012 and the lucky winners will be chosen on March 1. We can only ship to North American addresses (sorry!).

The winner will have 3 days to respond before another winner is chosen.

Good luck!

Travel Well,

Beth

First, a big shout out to Nancy Mueller, our resident WanderBoomer blogger, who put her editing expertise to work and was responsible for reading all of the stories and sorting them before the cream of the crop were forwarded to the judges.

Of course, a huge thank you to our judges, Harriet Baskas, Rosalind Cummings-Yeates, Pam Mandel and Angela Nickerson. They were tasked with reading through these top entries (the easy part) and then scoring them (the tough part) in order to pick the Grand Prize and Category winners.

We send a special shout out to our lead sponsor, Secrets Huatulco Resort and Spa in Mexico. Our Grand Prize winner has won a week-long stay for 2 at this amazing destination. And our category winners have each won a BRX Explore 22″ Upright bag from Briggs & Riley.

So, now that you know how we made it happen… here are the winners:

Grand Prize Winner – Samantha Stanway for Running with the Winos in France

Category Winners:
Adventure – Lori Robinson for Lilac Breasted Roller
Off the Beaten Path – Judith Wall for Love in Yellow and White
Food & Drink – Judith Ritter for Hair of Dog/Bile of the Snake
Spiritual – Madeline Felix for Recognizing Grace

Congrats to all the winners and THANK YOU to everyone who submitted a story. Trust me when I say it was very difficult for all involved to choose these winners – the entries this year were of the highest caliber and we encourage you all to continue with your passion of travel and writing!

If you weren’t among the winners, don’t give up! Please, keep writing and, more importantly, keep traveling. I believe that learning about the world at large helps us to build our tolerance, compassion and understanding about the world just beyond our front door. And we could all use a bit more of that!

To keep posted on future travel writing contests, subscribe to this RSS feed (right) or sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Travel Well!

Beth

Photo credit: I Won by Search Engine People Blog