Many years ago, I was on my way to Kauai and flew out of Sea-Tac Airport. It was then that I had my first chance to opt out of going through a full body scanner (also called back scatter scanners back then). I’ve written other posts about the health effects of the full body scanners and how the full body scanners effect women.

What happens when you opt out of one of these scanners (now called Advanced Imaging Technology scanners) is the following.

Once you’ve put all of your items on the security belt or in a bin, you’re asked to pass through the scanner. A TSA agent stands there directing you to walk through. If you say that you’d like to opt out, he or she yells to someone, “Female (or male) opt out.”

You’re walked through a gate and past the scanner and then asked to identify your bag(s) and/or the bucket(s) that contain your personal items.

You’re then taken to a public area at the end of the screening belt by an agent who, in great detail, describes the full body patdown you are about to experience.

You are asked if you’d prefer to be patted down in a private room.

When these first were implemented, a guy was actually taken into custody after he told the TSA agent not to touch his junk during the patdown. Early on, TSA agents were very resistant to having to perform these patdowns (it must be very uncomfortable for them) and there was a lot of negativity around this process–putting many TSA agents in a bad light.

Early on, I had some trepidation with opting out.

But that first experience as I headed to Hawaii, was not so bad. (I have to admit that, since then, I’ve come across more than my fair share of aggressive (hello, Newark Airport!) TSA agents who’ve been very aggressive during this process.)

After I placed my items on the screening belt, I asked for an opt out. The TSA agent yelled out, “Female opt out,” and another agent standing at the screening area gave an audible sigh, as though this was going to be a hassle for her. (In reality, she had nothing to do with the process, but was none-the-less annoyed.)

After I passed through and identified my items, a very nice woman took me aside and explained the patdown process to me. She said she was going to run her hands over and underneath my breasts, around the inside waistline of my pants – front and back – and run her hands up my inseam and down the outside of my legs.

I asked if it was possible to do this in private. She was more than accommodating and we moved all of my items into a little room where another female agent joined us as a witness.

The process was intrusive, but I had expected that. The agent doing the patdown was very nice throughout the process, and I wasn’t expecting that.

When departing Kauai to return home, I had the good fortune that the agent closed the entrance to the scanner just ahead of me and I walked through the electronic system instead.

Things have changed a lot since the early days of those scanners and I’ve become more relaxed about going through them as the technology has improved.

But why was I opting out?

Well, those fully body scanners emit millimeter wave (MMW), terahertz radio frequency. At the time, there hadn’t been proper testing to show what sort of harm/damage this might do to a person. Even so, the TSA warns that children and pregnant women should not walk through these scanners. Because of that, I’ve wondered why it’s OK for me as an adult to go through it, but not children or pregnant women.

Look, I question my dentist every time an x-ray is suggested. So why would I allow myself to be exposed to something that isn’t absolutely necessary, such as the full body scanner? No matter the reasons you might have, no one should feel uncomfortable in opting out.

Opting out is an option for you! You should give this conscious thought and make a choice – don’t just assume that you have to do what everyone else is doing. And while the process is somewhat intrusive, the agents have been well-trained in the process.

Next time you’re at the airport, whether you go through the scanner or not, just make sure that you’re making a conscious choice about it.

The post Opting Out of Full Body Scanners appeared first on Wanderlust and Lipstick.

I get the sense that some of this is due to popular diet trends like keto and apps/programs like FASTer and Noom.

But they’re not wrong! Many studies now show that as we age, we need more protein.

As a plant-based eater myself, I have always been concerned about getting enough protein when I’m on the road. Anyone who has traveled with me, knows that I usually carry a jar of peanut butter. I’m often seen at breakfast using toast as what I call my peanut butter delivery device. LOL

What not everyone knows, however, is that I also always carry protein powder with me. I usually mix it with soy milk if I can find a container of it in a local store. And I resort to water if I can’t find a milk alternative. My favorite way of consuming it, however, is mixing it with a plant-based yogurt and tossing in some nuts or granola to give it all a bit of crunch.

Because this protein trend has come up on nearly every trip I’ve been on this year, I wanted to partner with the folks at Naked Nutrition so I could not only help educate folks about the importance of consuming more protein, but also give you a chance to win a couple of jars of their vegan protein powders for yourself!

First, I’ll tell you about what I’ve tested. Then I’ll tell you how you can enter to win about $100 worth of protein powder yourself!

I do like me a flavored protein powder and chocolate is my favorite. Naked’s Chocolate Pea Protein stands out to me because it’s not only tasty, but it’s only got three ingredients: pea protein, cacao powder and coconut sugar. If you’re looking for something that’s not full of fillers and artificial flavors, this is above and beyond other brands.

Second, I go for Naked’s Vanilla Shake. This is a little different from the straight up protein powder mentioned above in that you can expect your drink to be a bit thicker and more shake-like than the consistency you’ll get from the protein powder..

It has a few more ingredients, including plant-based flavors and MCT oil, but it’s still a very clean product–especially when compared with many other brands. The MCT oil, by the way, has a number of health benefits in and of itself, but it also helps increase satiety so you’re less likely to reach for something else to eat after drinking one of these shakes.

I use the shake interchangeably with my protein powder, and even sometimes mix half Vanilla Shake powder and half Pea Protein powder to my soy milk or cashew yogurt. This gives me my chocolate flavor but also adds bulk to whatever I’m consuming.

When I travel, I measure out about a serving a day (but end up missing a day or two anyway). I carry it in a quart-sized baggie inside another quart-sized baggie so as to prevent any spills or mishaps in my luggage. And in case you’re wondering…no, I’ve never been stopped by TSA for an inspection of my protein baggies!

These powders sound awesome, don’t they?

I know you wanna win your very own jar of Naked Protein Powder and Naked Vanilla Shake for yourself, don’t you?

Well, it’s super easy to enter and you have multiple ways to do so for extra entries!

First, you’ll want to make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter. And then you’ll get bonus points for sharing the newsletter and my social media accounts.

You can check out all the ways here in which you can enter to get yourself some protein yumminess!

Hhere are the fine print deets:

* Approximate value of the Naked Pea Chocolate (5 lbs) and the Naked Vanilla Shake (2.1 lbs) is $100.

* Contest closes at 11:59 pm PST on September 30, 2025 and the lucky winner will be chosen on October 1, 2025.

* Item will ship to a randomly drawn winner and can be shipped to the U.S. only. Winner will have three days to reply once being notified. If no response, a new winner will be chosen

Good luck!

The post Protein Pow(d)er Up Giveaway! appeared first on Wanderlust and Lipstick.

Have you been daydreaming about unplugging and immersing yourself in nature? Have you always wanted to go to Ireland but just haven’t made it there yet? (Or maybe you’ve been and you can’t wait to return!)

Here’s an opportunity for you to win the trip of a lifetime in Ireland! Not only might you win a trip BUT, you’d also received gear and goodies to make it an unforgettable experience!

One lucky winner will receive a self-guided hiking trip for two through Ireland’s stunning countryside, $1,000 toward airfare, two pairs of top-quality hiking boots, a stylish hat for sun protection, and compression socks made for travel.

Ready to enter? Just click here!

What’s this all about, you say?

In short, you and a friend can Go Explore the magic of the south west corner of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. All at your own pace.

This is the Kerry Way, one of Ireland’s longest waymarked walking trails. Starting and ending in the lively town of Killarney, this scenic route loops around the breathtaking Iveragh Peninsula in an anti-clockwise direction. Along the way, you’ll wander through some of the most remote and awe-inspiring landscapes Ireland has to offer–home to rugged cliffs and golden beaches, friendly faces, small villages, green fields and picturesque mountain ranges.

Here’s what you could win:

• The winner and their guest will enjoy an 8-day self-guided hiking tour of the Kerry Way in Ireland, including accommodations, digital route notes/app, movement of luggage per itinerary, and specialists to handle the details of your trip. Trip to be taken in 2025 or 2026, courtesy of Ireland Walk Hike Bike. (approximately $2,215 value)
• Flight Voucher contribution to roundtrip airfares for two courtesy of VIM&VIGR ($1,000 value)
• Two pairs of LOWA Renegade EVO GTX Mid hiking boots (available for both men and women) and ideal for this kind of hiking trip ($560 value)
• Two pairs of VIM&VIGR “Go Explore” compression socks ($76 value)
• Voucher for sun protective hats made for travel from Wallaroo Hats ($200 value)

Some Fine Print Deets:

Contest runs from July 11 – 31, 2025. Receive extra entries and a better chance to win by sharing with your friends (see entry form for all your options)! Must be 18 years of age to enter and a resident of the United States. See all Terms & Conditions here.

Ready to enter? Just click here!

The post Go Explore Ireland Giveaway appeared first on Wanderlust and Lipstick.

Ultimately, I went with the B&R Domestic 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner. I stuck with B&R for a couple of reasons.

First, I couldn’t ignore the fact that I had been using one of their bags for 14+ years and it is still was holding up beautifully. Second, unlike any other manufacturer, they offer a lifetime guarantee where they will fix all functional issues on bags such handles, wheels, zippers, etc. (in other words, not cosmetic issues).

I decided on the spinner because my research convinced me how easy it would be to roll through the airport while also putting a small bag (like a duffel or backpack) on top of it. Also, unfortunately, few bags these days are made with just two wheels. Of those that are, I wasn’t as taken with the options (whether from B&R or another company).

The size, the expandable section and the exterior pockets of this bag, while all slightly different to my first B&R, they definitely rival it. I have no complaints at all. Additionally, the quality is of the absolute highest standard.

In terms of performance, I do love the fact that I’m not dragging a bag behind me in the airport or through a hotel lobby. And, as long as the duffel isn’t too large, it can sit on top, looped into the bag’s handle, so I’m not having to carry it over my shoulder.

Overall I’m delighted with this bag and can’t recommend B&R enough.

The Briggs & Riley Domestic 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner happens to be on sale at the moment with $100 off! Given the years and miles of travel that you can get out of this bag, it’s definitely worth the current price tag of $399.

The post Briggs & Riley 22″ Domestic Carry-on Spinner appeared first on Wanderlust and Lipstick.

Sorry you missed this informative class. But don’t worry! You can still access it for the discounted price of $25.

Along with a recording of the Zoom session, you’ll receive a PDF of the PowerPoint presentation so you can easily refer to it for future use!

Save hundreds of dollars every time you travel by using
an eSIM rather than your cell phone provider’s roaming service!
*

• Tired of paying your cellphone provider hundreds of dollars each time you travel in order to access texts, email and other data on your phone?
• Frustrated by not being able to access maps while exploring a foreign city because you don’t have a WiFi connection?
• Need to use your phone as a hotspot for your iPad or laptop but you don’t want to eat through your limited data?
• Looking for a solution but aren’t the most technology-savvy and don’t know where to start?

The answer is to use an eSIM!

*
Join Beth Whitman for this one-hour practical workshop and you’ll learn:

• What an eSIM is.
• Beth’s preferred eSIM apps.
• How to set up an eSIM on your phone.
• How to maximize the value of an eSIM.

Never pay roaming charges again!

This one-hour workshop will include an informative presentation and as well as a Q&A to answer YOUR questions!

About Beth:
Beth Whitman has been traveling the globe for, well, more years than she’d like to admit. (OK, OK – for nearly 40 years.) After years of overpaying her cellphone provider for roaming charges, she’s relieved that new technology now allows her to keep that money in her pocket and she now pays a fraction of that to access data through an e-sim.

She’s delighted that connecting to loved ones and staying in touch with her community has become so easy and inexpensive and now wants to share that info with YOU so you can save money on YOUR travels!

Beth is the founder and owner of WanderTours, specializing in women-only tours to destinations around the world, and the author of the Wanderlust and Lipstick guides for women travelers.

Read her full bio here.

The post Workshop ~ How to Use an eSIM for Travel appeared first on Wanderlust and Lipstick.