News from BelleRinger PR

VITAL ACCESSORIES Ah, checklists. The most important part of packing is making sure you have everything you may need, right?! I'm at the brink of going berserk with all the what-if's and just-in-cases. Luckily, I found two reasons to relax. My awesome REI Luna backpack is made for the contours of a woman's body, is roomy and has lots of pockets. But it definitely needs accessories. I found these scrumptious luggage tags by Fluff at Mable's Unique Shopping Blog . These cupcakes, popsicles and ice cream cones with sprinkles made this frantic packer smile! Fluff's other tags are just as cute even though they have nothing to do with food. I found another "gotta-have-it" at Mable's. Attachable to any key ring, the BodyGard 5-in-1 Emergency Tool is a total must, especially if I end up renting a four-wheel drive Jeep to drive along the treacherous roads of Northern Costa Rica. This baby has a glass breaker, red distress light, LED flashlight, sonic alarm a

REMEMBER TO TAKE YOUR VITAMINS After numerous travel tips from worldly folks I'm more knowledgeable about practicing safety abroad and won't be drinking any water that isn't already bottled (unless I accidentally swallow some of the Pacific Ocean while surfing!). I've also found an incredible way to fight off those nasty viruses that can turn a relaxing vacation into a huge stress. I remember last September when I caught some sort of bug in Ireland - I was feverish and miserable for almost four days. Well, as far as I'm concerned, Costa Rica will be a happy, healthy adventure. I was skimming Daily Candy and came across an amazing article entitled, "Health Assurance." It was about Vuru , a company that creates customized supplement packs, making them easy to remember to take! The idea is absolutely perfect for a vacation since you can choose the duration of the supply. The packets are cute and will fit nicely in my travel bag. Plus, it beats carrying aroun

READY FOR THE COSTA RICAN SUN I've learned while planning my Costa Rica adventure that products don't just pop out at you from the aisle shelves. Seek and you shall definitely uncover some amazing things. I plan on spending as much time outdoors as possible during this excursion, and yes, I'm aware of the adverse effects this may cause to my skin. Luckily, while browsing the Beauty Snob's blog I found Solar Protection Pads , created by Park Avenue Skin Care dermatologist Dr. Neal Shutlz. A set of 60 grease free pads is packaged in a container that could be mistaken for a compact (how convenient!) and has an SPF of 30. I'll be able to easily touch up or reapply - often! OK, maybe I'll throw in a backup lotion just to be on the safe side since I am traveling to a place in the neighborhood of our Earth's equator. I'm used to packing sunscreen with a consistency that doen't withstand an elevation of 40,000 feet, leaks onto everything, and has to be kep

NO MORE THAN ONE COLOR AT A TIME, PLEASE I always notice other women's nails and manicures. Could it be because I've spent so much time, energy and money on my own? I hadn't given it much thought until I saw a post on The Beauty Insiders - you're missing out on some fun if you haven't read this blog by the beauty writers from Glamour. Before writing this post I thought about the history of my nails, back to the late 80s, when many of us in our first career jobs discovered that we could afford silk manicures from cheap nail salons. Ah, the glamour! I was the renegade in my office; I didn't wear pink or red polish - I opted for OPI's Gold Digger. It was a gorgeous shade of golden brown that wouldn't raise an eyebrow today but was definitely risky in those days. Silk, acrylic, gel, silk, natural, acrylic, gel, silk, natural . . . And the color wheel seemed to follow the nails - red, black, sheer or bright, dark, nude. That was the fun part. But who doesn&

SAY HELLO TO YUBA Yesterday I took my crazy puppy, Yuba, to Crissy Field , a beautiful dog-friendly beach in San Francisco, where he frolicked in the waves and finished digging holes the other had dogs started. Yuba is just over a year old, big as a pony, incredibly playful, and dedicated to destroying anything I can’t keep out of his reach. After about two hours of romping in the surf he was a disaster, in the cutest way possible - he'd dug a hole three feet deep and fallen asleep in it. As I watched his innocent puppy nose twitch, I wondered how the heck I'd get him dry and sand-free by the time we walked back to the car. Yuba had run himself ragged and happily pranced with sand clots in his eyes and drool wrapped around his nose. He smelled like the salty beach where we'd just spent the day. After surfing around The Pampered Puppy I found HappyTails' EyePads, which act as a nice cleaner in lieu of a shirt sleeve. The Pampered Puppy blog has a link to the Kool Dog Ka

COUNTDOWN TO COSTA RICA This is only the first of what will probably be too many 'To Do' lists before The Big Trip. 1) Dog Sitter - Prices begin at about $60/night and surpass skyscrapers. Good thing I've networked with a responsible, retired animal lover and the ex-boyfriend I bought the dog with! 2) Rent - Saving for room and board abroad is like getting ready to pay rent for two places! This means NO fancy dinners or extra expenditures (except pedicures) for 2 months 3) Diet/Exercise - I am committed to feeling comfortable in a bikini by June. Diet details to come . . . 4) Itinerary - Ah, the debate between having one and winging it; I would feel a lot better if I knew where I was going to be sleeping at night, preferably before that night arrives. 5) Packing - This will become more important at the travel date nears. We're going during the 'winter,' but it isn't the full-blown rainy season yet, so this will be tricky. 6) Language - A dear friend of mine