Despite my best attempts I cannot seem to eliminate Micro-USB charges in our house. The biggest offender right now is the Kindle e-reader devices. Amazon is so budget and cost-focused they won’t even spend the $$ to put USB-C in. So here we are with a multitude of things that require at least 3 charger tips:

• USB-C - the future

• Lightning Connector - the necessary and annoying present if you have any Apple devices

• Micro-USB - the past

A few months ago I found a clever solution to this challenge - specifically for my children who have all 3 charger needs in their bedrooms.

The ElevationLab FamilyCharger is a single bundle of 5 cable types. It’s very convenient and tidy. It consists of 3 Lightning, 1 MicroUSB, and 1 USB-C. Each item is limited to 2.4A / 5W so this puts your charging limit at 12W. This isn’t enough to power some USB-C devices such as laptops but will charge almost every small device or iPad (slowly).

A few months ago some Twitter friends both recommended a Travel Router - the GL.iNet GL-AR750S. I have tried a few of these over the years but I have been disappointed with the results. I decided to give it another go and am glad I did.

Travel days are the hardest days on my iPhone. Whether it's a work trip or personal trip, my iPhone gets a lot of usage. Travel results in heavy GPS, Maps, Directions, and Photography. In the past I have needed to carry an extra battery, cable and remember to charge it along with my phone.

A few months ago, I purchased the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Smart Battery Case. It's earned a spot as a permanent travel companion for a few reasons. The first is that it has a dedicated camera button - something I have wished for on an iPhone forever! You can take a photo by simply pressing and holding the button for a second and then pressing again to take a picture. With the iPhone, you can take a picture. However, the volume button requires that you have to turn on the phone and press the camera button.

In addition to the camera button, the Smart Battery case carries about 50% full charge of the iPhone 11 Pro. It also charges using a wireless charger, which simplifies how you charge the phone overnight. It has a lightning connector, which will also charge using a USB-PD charger (fast charging) and works with lighting accessories.

The iPhone Smart Battery Case is a fantastic addition to your iPhone. It's easy to use in a pinch or leave on your phone all day. It does add some bulk, but with the non Max sized phone - it has not been much of a burden.

I just spent a week living in these Z-Trail Sandals (men, women) and I love them. They are very lightweight, they dry quickly and easily and they pack really well. I wore them to the beach, to the pool and when out and about.

You may look at them and think they look similar to Tevas. They do, but they are much slimmer and provide similar benefits. No thick nylon webbing to stay wet for a long time nor thick soles.

I’m always on the search for a great water bottle. Lately I’ve been using my Vapur water bottle on all my travels because it packs up into nothing and when it’s full with water it stands up. It also comes with a nice clip that lets me attach it to my bag when I am walking around. When I am done drinking water I can roll it up and place it in my pocket.

The Vapur bottle is a collapsible bottle. It comes in many sizes such as .5L, .75L and 1L. I have the .5L that I always keep in my work bag and the .75L that I always travel with. I’ve purchased the 1L bottles to use for picnics and other parties where I’m brining a pre-mixed cocktails.

They also have a kids line and products for wine or other similar liquids.

I can attest that these bottles are leak proof, can go in the dishwasher, and dry easily. They are pretty inexpensive - so for those of you that tell me I don’t review anything but expensive products - here is something light on the wallet and very useful!

Happy Holidays🎅🏻 and see you in 2020!

A few months ago, I decided to try the latest and greatest Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones - the NC 700s.

These are highly anticipated for a few reasons - the latest noise-canceling technology and… finally USB-C headphones from Bose.

These headphones have 20 hours of battery life - which is an improvement of 5 hours over the Surface Headphones, which I reviewed in January.

I won’t consider or purchase headphones that can’t connect to more than one device. Sadly there are limited options here. No Sony headphones can do this. Since I use my headphones with an iPhone and possibly two different iPads as well as an AirFly for my Nintendo Switch or in-seat entertainment on a flight - this is an essential feature.

Bose has been making Noise Cancelling Headphones longer than anyone else, and the NC 700s have an excellent sound quality and noise cancellation.

I have found the controls very intuitive and easy to use. There is a button to turn on and off, and you slide or tap on the ear cup to control volume or play and pause. I do miss the feature where removing the headphones from your head pauses them automatically, but I am getting used to the button on the left ear cup that can achieve the same function and enter Conversation Mode.

Bose has an app for the headphones, which is pretty good. It will update the software and also let you connect and disconnect from different devices.

The Bose NC 700s are slim and pack up smaller than the Surface headphones but not as small as the older Bose QC35s or the Sony headphones. But they are very light and easy to pack.

A few weeks ago, I was asked: “When is your holiday list coming out”? Well, I’m humbled that people find this useful. Below are my 2019 picks. For more ideas see 2018 and 2017 picks.

Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals

Here are some deals you should consider

1. Get 20% off Apple iTunes/App Store gift card. This is a no brainer as you can buy a few and just store them as credit in your Apple account. This money can be used to pay for any Apple subscriptions through them (HBO, Showtime, Applications) as well as Movies, Books and TV. If you pay with Apple Pay and your Apple Credit card your discount becomes 22% off. I can’t think of a better return if you plan to spend this money. Best Buy

2. Microsoft has a number of great Black Friday deals such as $330 off this Surface Pro 7. Microsoft.

3. Google / Nest have some fantastic deals right now. I love the Nest IQ cameras (indoor and outdoor) as well as the doorbell. Google

4. Apple is offering up to a $200 store credit if you purchase eligible devices. Apple

5. Sonos is offering 20% off a number of items but not the Move that I recommend below. Sonos

I somehow missed out on the world of stretchy belts. It never occurred to me that the miracle that is 2 and 4-way stretch pants would also exist in a belt form.

Yaak is a company in New Mexico that makes exactly two belts - the M series and B series belts. Both come in black (the best color) and with a band that has a 10% stretch.

I recently purchased both of these and have been wearing them every day. I LOVE stretchy belts!

It's hard to describe what makes a stretch belt so great, so you'll have to trust me. The belts are exact in fit and make transitioning to standing and sitting very easy and comfortable.

The B series belt is made of a carbon fiber composite hook and is great for travel as there is no metal to set off a metal detector. The M series belt has a cool magnetic buckle that's very satisfying to use. This video explains.

Both belts are adjustable, and you cut them to length (or leave as is).

I purchased both with the Performance Stretch II in Black.