We all wish we traveled more – a LOT more. Alas, the real world gets in the way, so sometimes the very best you can do is cozy up to a good travel blog and read about other people’s gorgeous adventures.

Because we’re always here to help: 11 travel blogs that will make you want to run away…and why you need to be reading them RIGHT NOW.

Mr and Mrs Smith — Because they’re the best at good-hunting expeditions.

A Girl’s Gotta Go – Because girls do just wanna have fun…they just wanna have it all over the world!

Upgrade: Travel Better – Because you deserve to get the best for cheap.

Glam Globetrotter – Because you love being first in line to learn about what’s going on in the travel world.

The Jet Set Girls – Because you don’t have to compromise adventure for style.

Gap Year Escape – Because you dream of taking a year off for foreign ports unknown yourself, and want to live vicariously.

Jet Set Extra – Because a network of worldwide bloggers is better than one.

See Jane Fly – Because you want a perfect vacation catered to your great expectations.

Vegas Deluxe – Because we wonder what really goes down in the Palms VIP as told by the face of luxury, Robin Leach.

The Lost Girls – Because you desire a guide that covers the whole scope in travel, inspiration, discovery and adventure.

Jetsetera – Because 9 times out of 10 she’s actually been there.

For college basketball fans, the NCAA tournament is like heaven – and with a host of upsets, there’s certainly no lack of excitement in this year’s Sweet Sixteen. But guess what: basketball is just as fun to plat as it is to watch. To inspire you to get off the couch and head out for a pick-up game (though we certainly don’t intend for you to miss any games – everyone knows staring at the TV prevents your bracket from being busted), here’s the top 3 reasons to take a break from the tube and start your own tournament.

Aerobic health - All the running and jumping is a fabulous aerobic workout, right up there with running – but the pivoting, feinting, and directional changes required by a game of basketball give you the increased flexibility in your joints and muscles that running just can’t.

Overall coordination – The skill you’ll develop directing the ball into the hoop will strengthen your eye-hand coordination and overall spatial relations…which will, of course, make it that much easier to wield the remote with gumption during the tournament.

Emotional balance/fun - If you usually head to the gym alone, playing with friends or a pick-up league helps you switch up your workout and introduce a social element that’s too often given short shrift. By having fun with others, the time will go quicker and you’ll be far less likely to come up with all those convenient excuses for not working out.

If you follow us on Twitter or are a fan of us on Facebook, you’ve probably seen that we like to pepper you with questions about all kinds of crazy things. We always like to hear your responses – but I think the question we asked this week might have garnered our biggest response yet.

You see, we wanted to know what your favorite drugstore standbys are – whether you swear by a $3 blush, a $5 eyeshadow palette, or $2 makeup removing towelettes, the aisles of the drugstore are full of treasures waiting to be discovered. Well, we got SO many responses that we’re going to be doling them out over the next week or so!

Today, we’re tackling lips – part ONE. Yes, it’s true – you had so many lip loves from the aisles of the drugstore that we had to split it up into two days’ worth of posts. Today, we’re tackling heavy-duty healers, from Chapstick to Blistex. Tomorrow we’ll cover glitz and gloss. Pucker up!

Spa Week Daily’s picks
1. Carmex, $1.59 at drugstore.com
2. Blistex Lip Ointment, $2.19 at drugstore.com
3. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lip Butter, $2.39 at drugstore.com
4. Aveeno Lip Conditioner Essential Moisture, $3.69 at drugstore.com
5. Chapstick Overnight Lip Treatment, $3.99 at drugstore.com
6. Softlips Lip Protectant, $3.69 for two tubes at drugstore.com

Reader picks
7. Vaseline, $4.49 for 13 oz at drugstore.com, Kaitlyn Barry, Jessica Russell Hernandez, and Teresa Formato
8. Bonne Bell chapstick in Dr. Pepper, $1.99 at drugstore.com, @bodhibear and Margot G
9. Wet ‘n’ Wild Color Icon Lip Liner, $1.49 at drugstore.com, Winona Patterson

It’s not too late to make your voice heard – comment, tweet, or post your drugstore faves of any type, and see them here over the course of the next week!

From the ministry of obscure and unnecessary holidays, happy National Chocolate Mint Day!

To reflect upon the day, here are the three best pairings of chocolate and mint, in no particular order. Enjoy one of these (or all three!) today, in solemn observance.

1. Peppermint patties. Classic does not mean boring in this fine interpretation of flavors. Light mint cream enrobed in dark chocolate is always tasty and never cloying in the way that other candy bars can be.
2. Chocolate mint plants. Yes, you read that right–there is a variety of the mint plant that has been cultivated to taste exactly like a Thin Mint cookie. You can use it anywhere you might use regular mint: in tea, desserts, as a garnish for soups, and more. Or you can gobble it by the handful if you’re a sad weirdo.
3. Chocolate mint spa treatments. Indulge in a topical application of chocolatey mint goodness. Try the chocolate mint manicure and pedicure at Deva Spa in New York, or the Chocolate Mint Decadence Wrap at Naya Fresh in LA.

Well, you did it. You have a date for Valentine’s Day, and it’s a first date.

 Whatever you do, don’t start thinking about the enormous amount of pressure this is going to put on your budding relationship. I mean, a first date on Valentine’s Day. Wow. Really. What were you thinking?

Well, you can’t change the reservations now, so you’d better play the game.  Follow these instructions. Keep your head down. You’ll get through this, probably.

Manicure - You might want to avoid the Minx this time around, but a good manicure in a clean, understated color is going to play better than ragged nails on scaly hobo hands. That’s just general life advice. Get both mani & pedi at Salon Roi.

Pedicure – Same rules apply. Yes, even when it’s not sandal weather. Have some standards. Come on. Get both mani & pedi at Salon Roi.

Wash, cut, blow-out – Because sometimes it’s nice to have someone else do your hair for you (plus, they’re probably going to be better at it than you are, anyway.) Try the wash & style at Lauren’s Salon Spa.

A wax – I’m talking about eyebrows, so let’s not be gross. Have some dignity. Professional arch shaping will go a long way towards keeping you from looking permanently angry and/or quizzical. Get an eyebrow and underarm wax at I Spa.

Eyelash extensions – You could use one of the popular new lash growth serums, but what that will tell your date is “I’m very willing to rub chemicals of dubious provenance around my eyes.” A safer bet is to give eyelash extensions a try. Michelle got them from Albina’ Spa in Manhattan and you can too.

A facial – When you want to put your best face forward, you want to put your best face forward, am I right? Do that with an ultimate facial (maybe even the Ultimate Facial at Ardan MedSpa + Salon)

A salt scrub -  Not crucial, but if you’re going whole hog you might as well get rid of the winter scalies to finish things off. Stick with the stereotypical holiday flavor theme with a Chocolate Body Scrub (like the one at Alternative Body Associates.)