Why I love New York

Sometimes rush hour coincides with an impromptu concert.

New beauty site sells TSA-friendly products

Finding travel-size toiletries is now a cinch, thanks to a new beauty site called 3floz.com.

It's like a Sephora but only carries products that fit TSA requirements of 3 oz. or less.

The available products are on the higher end though: for example, The Art of Shaving sells a 1.7-oz. canister of shaving cream for $15, and Malin+Goetz makes a starter kit with 1 oz. bottles of facial cleanser, face moisturizer, body cleanser, body moisturizer, shampoo, and conditioner ($30).

If you search under "sunscreen," only two choices show up so far: the Sunshield Travel Kit ($25) or the Sun Kit ($35). For travel-size suncreen, I usually end up squeezing the amount I need (and the brand I like) into these great GoToob reusable containers.

There are some bargains on 3floz.com: For $7, you can buy a Yes to Carrots set with shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel. If you live in New York City, you can add $9 for courier delivery. Otherwise shipping costs at least $10 for UPS Ground. By the way, many Walgreens and Duane Reade locations carry Yes to Carrots products, so I'd recommend just going to your local pharmacy if you can't justify paying more for shipping than the actual product.

Still, 3floz.com is a fun site with a novel concept if you're short on time and can afford tiny luxuries.

Tip: TravelandLeisure.com's blog Carry On has a promo code "tl10" for 10 percent off all 3floz.com products through Feb. 7.

Photo: 3floz.com

Design a pair of free KLM luggage tags

I first heard about KLM Royal Dutch Airlines giving away free luggage tags on Twitter last month, so I had to try it out. Yes, I'm well aware of the fact that I have way more luggage tags than actual luggage, but who can argue with free?

I uploaded a photo that I took of San Francisco's Bay Bridge, filled in the form with my home address, phone number, and e-mail address, and waited for the set of two labels to arrive a few weeks later.

Of course KLM now has my info so since then, I've received some e-mails about fare sales. If you're cagey about giving out your personal info, then these free tags probably aren't worth the spam. Also, I know some people who never write their home address and phone number on these tags. If you prefer to use an office address instead, you can do that as well.

Tips: You'll need one hi-res image, or you can pick from KLM's photo gallery, which includes airplanes (KLM of course), nature (mountains, beaches), and iconic skylines (Paris, Venice, London). The labels will each be printed with the same photo and the same address, and you can only use one name per order. You can also customize a set as a gift, but you'll need your recipient's personal info, including an e-mail address. I'd check with your friend/spouse/relative before giving that out since they'll be the ones receiving the KLM e-mails.

Photo: Amy Chen

Say 'Omm' this Saturday: Free Yoga Classes

On Saturday, hundreds of schools and studios across the country will host free (or nearly free) yoga workshops as part of the 2nd annual Yoga Day USA. Organized by the Yoga Alliance, some classes may request a donation to benefit a charity; others are completely free. Some locations are even throwing in passes for future classes.

I was in Seattle a few weeks ago and saw that the Olympic Sculpture Park pavilion will be one of the participating locations. The free 60-minute vinyasa flow class on the waterfront starts at 11 a.m.; don't forget to bring a mat. Before you show up at any of these classes, it's probably a good idea to check if you need any gear or should reserve a spot.

To find a class near you, check out yogadayusa.org.

Photo: Amy Chen

A Decade of the Best Travel Innovations: My Top 5 Picks

For Budget Travel's 10th-anniversary issue back in 2008, we polled our readers about their picks for the 10 Best Travel Innovations of the past decade (give or take). Surprisingly, the roller bag emerged as the winner.

As this decade wraps up, it only seems fitting for me to share my own Top 5 picks.

5. The roller bag -- it's hard to believe that the wheelie only became popular in the last decade or so. Companies like Samsonite, Eagle Creek, and Timbuk2 are constantly improving their lines: the latest lightweight options are easier to handle, and the Rollerblade-like wheels glide silently.

4. Google -- From Google Maps to Street View, you can suss out the neighborhood where your hotel or vacation rental is located before committing.

3. User-generated reviews -- TripAdvisor heralded an era where every opinion counts, if you don't mind wading through every gripe and every superlative: is it really the best? You be the judge, and then tell everyone about it.

2. Digital cameras -- I once only shot film; those days are over. Now you can pick up an entry-level digital SLR like the Nikon D3000 for about $600, which is the same that I paid for the Nikon Coolpix S4 point-and-shoot back in 2006.

1. Cell phones/smartphones -- Remember the days of buying prepaid calling cards, or being punctual? If you said you'd meet someone outside the Louvre at 2 p.m., you had to be there. Now you can call or text if you're running behind, which frees you up to embrace spontaneity just a little more: "I know we said the Louvre, but I just stumbled on the cutest cafe. Meet me here instead?" The iPhone alone has revolutionized the way we travel. As long as I can connect to GPS and Yelp reviews, I can show up in a new city with very little advance planning. And then I can tell everyone about my discoveries along the way.

Here's to another decade of innovation!

Photo: Nikon