Contigo Travel Mugs-My Favorites

by Philippa Lane


I remember when my daughter was a little girl; I would give her sippy cups to drink from when she was thirsty and also when traveling. These particular cups helped to prevent big spills, but they were not leak resistant or leak proof. Now, with new technology, there is a wonderful line of high quality mugs for young and old alike that come in a variety of sizes, colors, and styles that are easy to use with the ability to keep beverages hot or cold for hours. Today, I would like to share with you three of my favorites by Contigo, a company that makes a variety of well made, sturdy, leak proof and leak resistant travel mugs for every day use.

Extreme Stainless Steel Travel Mug: I really like this travel mug, because it keeps beverages hot for up to 4 hours and cold for approximately 12 hours a day. The Extreme model comes with a nifty carry clip on the handle and there are texturized grips to prevent slipping and assist in providing a firmer hold. The mug has a 16 oz. capacity, comes equipped with a pull-tab lid, is made from stainless steel, and comes in the colors of blue, silver, pink, white, purple, and black. It fits most standard vehicle cup holders and is virtually 100% leak-proof. If I was bike riding somewhere around town or on a camping trip, this is the travel mug that I would want to take with me.


Autoseal Randolph Stainless Steel Travel Mug: This ergonomic mug is made with a one-touch button on the handle and comes in a lovely silver color. It is 16 oz. and keeps beverages hot for up to 4 hours and cold for 12 hours. The Randolph is made from stainless steel and has a basic, yet intriguing design. The button located on the handle can be pressed for drinking and the autoseal lid is leak proof and spill proof. The mug’s autoseal button slides and locks securely to prevent any leaking of the contents, the specially designed pivot lid makes it easy to clean, and the handle can be used by both left and right handed users. It is a great inexpensive travel mug for the price with a sleek design and is ideal for daily use.


Autoseal Aria Stainless Steel Travel Mug: This mug is my favorite out of the three. The Autoseal Aria Stainless Steel Travel Mug that I have is a silver color, holds 16 oz. of liquid, and fits in with all of my daily activities. It is double walled with vacuum insulation and keeps beverages cold to 12 hours and hot for up to 4 hours. I took this mug with me to the Knott’s Berry Farm, a theme park in Buena Park, California and was amazed at how long my beverage stayed ice cold for hours, even in the heat of summer. My daughter brought her own Contigo Mug to the theme park as well, and both of our drinks stayed cold for more than 4 hours, even after being placed in direct heat and sunlight, which was absolutely amazing. Also, when holding the travel mug, there is no condensation on the exterior surface, so my hands stay completely dry while holding it. I like the convenient autoseal lid that prevents spills and seals in liquid between sips. Because of the unique design and temperature sealing materials, tea or coffee stays hot for more than 12 hours, which is an extraordinarily long time. The Aria fits standard cup holders and because it is leak proof, the travel mug can be placed on the floor in a horizontal position, even while driving, without leaking a single drop. I absolutely love this travel mug and now you know why it is my favorite!

The priciest of the three aforementioned travel mugs is the Aria, but all of them are exceptional and worth the expense, because they do exactly what they are designed to do, keeping beverages hot or cold for many hours with no spills or leaks.

All of the travel mugs that I previously mentioned are easy to clean, made from 100% FDA approved materials, and are dishwasher safe, however I suggest placing them on the top rack of the dishwasher for better cleaning results.

I am so happy that I have been able to share with you three of my favorite Contigo Travel Mugs. Drinking any beverage is a much better experience when you have the right one, which Contigo has proven to be.

You can find Contigo Travel Mugs Target, Walmart, and in many other stores across the country or online at http://www.gocontigo.com














Disclosure of Material Connection:


The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described

in this content.

Yankee Candle 2013 Fall Gift Guide

by Philippa Lane

It’s that time of the year again, when summer has gone and fall has begun. I absolutely love this time of the year with all of the sights of the season and special scents that fill the air, such as fresh baked apples, cinnamon, pumpkin, cloves, spice, and sweet caramel.

Well, I recently discovered the best, fragrant candles with the most realistic scents that truly capture the scents of the season, bringing the warmth, beauty, and charm of fall into my home.  These highly scented and exquisite candles are by Yankee Candle, which is one of the most well known candle companies in the United States and the biggest manufacturer of premium scented candles in the world.

For the 2013 fall season, Yankee Candle has introduced nine new and delightful fragrances that are sure to fill any home with the serene scents of autumn. Also, the new Pure Radiance line by Yankee Candle was introduced in 2012 and offers ambient candles in a variety of scents, sizes, and colors to match a variety of home decors.   

Yankee Candle makes so many high quality candles, oils, and tarts in a wide range of fragrances to choose from for any season or special occasion of the year. Upon a recent visit to a Yankee Candle store in my vicinity, I was impressed by the large variety of scents to choose from, especially the new fall selection and I would like to share with you some of my favorites:

Vanilla Chai Scented Candle: I have this candle in the large 22 ounce size and it smells exactly like a hot vanilla chai tea latte (but without any calories!). I usually like to drink hot tea during the fall and winter seasons and smell the aroma of spicy varieties when I walk into a coffee shop. The candle is infused with vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and it has a strong spicy fragrance and great throw. I like to place the Vanilla Chai Scented Candle in my kitchen and because it is so strong, the scent travels from my kitchen into every room of my home. The aroma is absolutely perfect for the fall season, because of the warm notes of ginger and cinnamon.  It contains a lead free wick, yet does let out a small amount of soot, but not enough to cause any problems.  I feel very relaxed whenever I smell the candle and the color matches the robust and vibrant scent. The large candle has a burn time of 110 to 150 hours and it also is available in small and medium jar sizes as well as a sampler votive and wax tart.  I have a tart warmer and like to place the Vanilla Chai Scented Tart in the warmer.  The tart’s fragrance is strong, lasts up to 8 hours, and is only $1.99. Large Candle- $27.99.

Salted Caramel Scented Candle: One of Yankee Candle’s newest and most popular fall fragrances- a sweet and decadent scent of burnt sugar, smooth vanilla caramel, and sea salt, reminiscent of the fragrance of caramel delicacies wafting in the air at a carnival or amusement park.  When I burn this candle, it smells just like the caramel scent that is prevalent while walking through Downtown Disney in Anaheim, California.  In fact, it is the exact same scent that my daughter and I would smell in the air every time we walked through the Disney Shopping District.  I am not sure if it was the caramel apples, churros, or popcorn that we smelled, but this candle smells just like it and is the purest caramel scented candle I have ever experienced. Now, with the Yankee Candle Salted Caramel Scented Candle, I don’t have to travel to Disneyland to experience the wonderful fragrance of salted caramel, I can enjoy this delicious scent in my home throughout the fall and winter season. The large candle is 22 ounces and has a burn time of 110 to 150 hours $27.99.  The Salted Caramel Scented Candle is also available in small and medium jar sizes as well as a sampler votive and wax tart.

Cozy Sweater Scented Candle: I never thought that a candle could smell like a wool sweater, but after smelling the new Cozy Sweater Scented Candle, I have since changed my mind. The candle is neutral in color, resembling the colors in a fisherman’s sweater and has a unique fragrance that is like no other. In my opinion, the candle smells like a freshly dry cleaned or hand washed wool sweater; the kind that is worn on a cool, brisk day. Because of the elements of patchouli and musk interwoven throughout the fragrance, the candle gives a warm and comforting aroma and truly lives up to its name. When I light this candle, I feel as if I am wearing a soft wool sweater and I am…oh so cozy! The candle has a burn time of 110 to 150 hours and the large size is $27.99.

Cozy Cabin: This special candle is a “swirl” candle that comes in a medium glass jar candle, has a burn time of 65 to 90 hours, and is one of Yankee Candle’s most popular fragrances. As I am writing, my Cozy Cabin Candle is burning on my kitchen table making my home really smell like what I picture a little cabin in the woods smells like. The candle has a warm, yet exotic fragrance that is strong, but subtle at the same time.  It truly is a welcoming fragrance that reminds me of a small cabin that I used to stay in when I visited Lake Arrowhead, which is a mountain community in California. The Cozy Cabin Candle is unique, because it is one of Yankee Candle’s only swirl mountain/cabin scented candles, and it is a combination of two popular fragrances- Mountain Lodge and Autumn Leaves. If you cannot get away to a cabin in the woods, but you want to feel like you are in one, then this candle is the next best thing. I do wish that this fragrance came in a tart or oil, because the fragrance is so beautiful, hopefully, it will be available in other forms in the future, but for now it is available as a medium size jar candle for $22.99.

Crème Brulee Pure Radiance: I have enjoyed all of the candles that I have just mentioned, but one of my absolute favorites is the Crème Brulee Pure Radiance Candle. It comes in a beautiful, large glass jar and because it looks like a vase, when the candle has completed all of its burning cycles, the jar can be used to hold flowers or for beverages, such as smoothies and iced coffee. The candle has a warm scent with strong notes of bourbon, caramelized sugar, maple and comes with either a LumiWick or Crackling Wick, which makes a pleasant crackling sound, similar to a fireplace.  The Pure Radiance Candles have a long burn time and provide a continual clean burn.  I love the scent, look, color, and ambiance this candle gives. The Crème Brulee Pure Radiance Candle has a special fragrant aroma that is perfect for the fall, winter, and all year round. The large jar has a burn time of 100 to 140 hours and is $27.99.

Toasted Almond Scented Candle: A new fall fragrance from the exquisite Pure Radiance Collection consisting of a rich blend of- warm almonds, dark brown sugar, and tonka bean. This candle has a delicious aroma and is currently one of Yankee Candle’s most popular Pure Radiance fall scents, but I am not fond of the fragrance’s “toasted” notes, instead I prefer the Crème Brulee Scented Candle, which has sweeter top notes and better fragrance throw, however, if you really like the scent of almonds, then the Toasted Almond Scented Candle is a great choice. The large candle burns for 100 to 140 hours and is $27.99.

Relaxing Rituals Comfort Warming Oil Blending Kit: On a more relaxing note, I would like to mention a new aromatherapy kit from Yankee Candle which is from the Relaxing Rituals line of products and it is the Comfort Warming Oil Blending Kit.  If you need or desire to have a relaxing moment, then this is the kit for you. The kit consists of three bottles of home fragrance oils, one ceramic oil warmer, and one unscented tea light. Each bottle of oil is .33 fl.oz. and the Comfort Kit consists of Cardamom, Cedar Wood, and Rose Oil. When all three of these oils are placed in the oil warmer and become blended together, a truly relaxing aroma is released. I know the first time I used the kit, I immediately became relaxed, calmer, and actually felt like falling asleep.  It makes a great gift for someone who has difficulty winding down after a long, busy day.  The ceramic oil warmer is beautiful and I love looking at it while the tea light candle shines through the unique and artfully crafted motif leaf cut-out on the front of the warmer.  Just looking at the warmer is relaxing to the senses. The combination of the therapeutic fragrance and the ambiance of the oil burner, results in creating a completely relaxing effect. $34.99

Yankee Candle has such a great variety of candles to choose from and I have only mentioned some of my favorites for the fall season. When spring arrives, my two all time Yankee Candle favorites are Lilac Blossom and Gardenia. I love floral scents in the spring and summer time, but right now fall and winter is right upon us and I am enjoying these new and exciting Yankee Candle Products for the fall season.

The new fall fragrances as well as the Relaxing Rituals Comfort Kit are available at Yankee Candle stores across the country and on www.yankeecandle.com   

Disclosure of Material Connection:

The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.