Go Camping (without hating life)

I like to think of myself as low maintenance, but I think the truth is I draw the line at bugs and sweating all night. So, as you can imagine, camping sounded good in theory but I had some concerns.

I found the best way to overcome these concerns, and to thoroughly enjoy myself, was to be extremely prepared! Isn't that always the solution? :) I read this article in Bon Appetit and I was inspired to have an enjoyable camping trip with a slightly upgraded menu.

We went camping over Labor Day, and although Nashville's summer has been mild, this was a particularly warm weekend. Our camp site at Henry Horton State Park ended up being very shady and nice, providing a little solace from the sun. (I'll mention more about it, but camping at this state park was really wonderful!) 

From one city girl to (potentially) another, here's my list of being prepared for camping.

WHAT TO PACK

SLEEP SOUNDLY

• Tent
• Air Mattress
• Battery operated air pump (unless you KNOW you'll have power! We did not)
• Bedding: lightweight sheets (ones you don't necessarily care about), a light blanket, and pillows
• Lighting (headlamps are handy, but cell phone lights or flash lights will work too!)

EAT ALL DAY LONG

I really didn't want to eat burgers all weekend, so I got serious about our menu for the weekend.

• Cast iron pans are going to be your best friend. You can put them right over the fire! They'll make the best eggs & pancakes you've ever had (more about cast iron here). Dutch ovens (non enamel coated!) also work wonders.
• Additionally, stainless steel pots and pans do great over high heat.
• No matter what you do, leave the teflon/nonstick pans, and plastic spoons & spatulas at home. Metal or cast iron only!
• Bring 1-2 big bowls that you can use to serve & mix in. No need to bring the whole kitchen.
• A few multi-purpose serving spoons/tongs
• Paper Plates & plastic forks are great. Disposable and less dishes to do in the woods. Bring twice as many as you think you need. 
• Tin coffee cups or disposable coffee cups, depending on your style
• A roll of paper towels
• Tin Foil
• All your normal spices/condiments. For me it was salt, pepper, oil vinegar, garlic, mustard, hummus, salsa. I picked up a few packets of ketchup and mayo from the Publix deli on our way out incase anyone wanted them (they did!)
• A blender bottle (used for protein shakes) can be very multi functional. I used it to make salad dressing, mix batter and more!
• Breakfast
• We cooked pancakes, eggs, bacon, and even cinnamon rolls over the fire. They were all easy and even tastier cooked over an open flame.
• Lunch
• Keep lunch easy with snack-y foods, like raw veggies, hummus, hard boiled eggs, pretzels, sandwiches, and cut up fruit. 
• Dinner
• Prep as much as you can at home. I pre-cooked pasta to make a pasta salad (just add basil, tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella at camp), and quinoa that was easily re-heated or added into a salad.
• Chili was also a game changer: cooked at home, frozen (helped keep our cooler cold!) and reheated over the fire. It was amazing. We even made cornbread in the skillet which was an amazing addition!
• Salad kits were great as the prep work was minimal, and we still ate tasty gorgonzola and almond salad!
• In the spirit of camping, of course there were burgers and hot dogs. Just not every night :)
• Snacks
• Chips and salsa are always a winner. 
• We brought some hard cheeses (they do better without proper refrigeration) and enjoyed a custom cheese plate in the middle of the woods. Yeah, definitely not roughing it.  
• Chex Mix and trail mix seemed fitting and were great by the river or over a game of cards
• S'mores.... duh! We got creative with Oreo's instead of grahams, and Goo Goo Clusters or Reece's instead of chocolate. (Heather is a genius)
• Drinks
• Bottled water was the obvious choice. Stay hydrated!
• La Croix with a slice of lemon was a fun day-drink
• Bota Box of Sauvignon Blanc was so easy and lasted the whole weekend - no corks, no vinegar taste by day 3. And 4 bottles per box... win. Add some La Crox or Perrier for a spritzer
• We made Moscow Mules (minimal ingredients) and they were a great addition around the fire! 
• Leave the beer & the bottles of wine at home. They are cumbersome and complicated. 

CLEANING UP

• A few extra ziplock bags 
• A set of Purel wipes to get rid of anything nasty
• Brillo Pads Pre-Soaped - these were AWESOME and I got them at the Dollar Store.
• Microfiber towels (also picked up at the dollar store)
• Extra paper towels. You'll need them.
• A gallon jug of water (that you can refill at the bath house) to make your own dishwater
• Tin foil 
• A medium size tupperwear bin that can be used as your "sink". This is also a great place to store dishes after they're washed to keep them away from the elements.
• Shopping bags are great for trash, as you won't want to keep scraps around all night. I budgeted 7-10 bags per day for the 8 people, and that worked well.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR

My friend Heather asked me if I was going to be "Sporty Spice" or "Cute Camper Girlfriend" for our weekend in the woods - I opted for both.

• Running shoes & socks
• Workout clothes (for hiking and trails)
• Bathing suit
• Cover up
• water - friendly flip flops (wore these most of the weekend)
• lounge clothes (jean shorts, tank tops, easy sundresses, romper)
• Comfortable pi's
• light sweater for nights around the fire 
• Sunscreen, bug spray, and your favorite facial wipes

NOVICA dress / H M long sleeve shirt, $15 / Lucky Brand red shirt / MANGO white cardigan, $34 / Reiss top / Athleta red shirt / T By Alexander Wang white shirt, $95 / Abercrombie Fitch romper / Zoe Karssen clothing, $190 / Current/Elliott short shorts / Under Armour logo sportswear / NIKE clothing / Sweaty Betty sports bra / DELiA s bikini top / DELiA s swimsuit swimwear / Reef sandals, $25 / RetroSuperFuture sunglasses / Burt s Bees face cleanser / Hawaiian Tropic bath body, $15 / Naked Botanicals Apothecary Lavender Insect Repellent

EXTRAS YOU WON'T WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND

• Clothesline / clothespins. Hang up wet bathing suits, towels and the like so they don't get nasty.
• A few extra towels.... just incase.
• Bug spray
• Sun screen
• Proper footwear 
• Firewood/fire starters (or pick some up on your way)
• Hammocks
• Camp Chairs
• Ice, ice, ice!

Guys, camping is FUN! Don't forget to have some of that. And even if you just throw some burgers in the cooler and sleep on the ground.... it's gonna be a great memory :)

What's on your camping list? What did I forget?
xo

Summer Travel Essentials

Woo hoo! Summer is here! Here are some essentials you'll find in my carry on this summer.

1. Jawbone UP. This bad boy tracks how far you walk, flights of stairs climbed, calories burned, and reminds you to stay active. It's fun knowing how many miles you tackled over the weekend! We logged thousands of steps while we were in New Zealand, and it was fun checking our stats at the end of the day. Purchase here.

2. Nerdwax. Even if you don't wear regular glasses (I don't), this is a lifesaver for summer activities with sunglasses! Hikes, strolling around the city, or even just running a 5k this summer, then you need this tube of miracle wax. Note: it's not sticky, it more so creates "grip" on the bridge of your glasses. I highly recommend it for anyone who wears glasses or sunglasses on a regular basis! Purchase here.

3. J.R. Watkins Body Oil. I can't stand the feeling of lotion on my legs when I'm hot... it's so gross! This body oil keeps my skin hydrated but actually absorbs without leaving a layer of lotion film. I like this kind because it's sprayable (I decanted it into a sample size spray bottle), but you could easily use a normal oil like olive oil or coconut. Never wearing lotion again! Purchase here.

4. Nivea A Touch of Smoothness Lip Balm. Like the body oil, this goes on very smooth without being greasy or thick. PLUS it has SPF 15 and kept my lips unscathed on my recent trip to the beach. I'm kind of picky when it comes to chap stick type things, but this one is an A+ in my book. (Purchase at Target)

5. Cute Slides. These ones are from the J.Crew outlet, and I love them! They are cute enough for dinner and drinks, but comfortable enough to tackle NYC. I can't personally get into to Birkenstock trend, so these are my close compromise! Purchase here.

6. Essie Carousel Coral. This color is so cute on! It's got much more of a light coral hue than it appears in the photo. Still beautiful and summery while still remaining understated. I love it! Purchase here.

7. Cross Body Bag (with room to spare). I got a new cross body bag from H&M, it's big enough to hold my little Fuji x30, plus wallet, keys, phone, lip gloss and has room to spare! Most cross body bags are just a little too small, and this one is the perfect size (other colors available for purchase here.)

What's in your bag this summer?

xo

Capsule Wardrobe for Every Season

I'm always on a mission to pack less. Carrying on is a way of life and I can't recommend it enough!

What I've realized is having a basic selection of clothes for every season is the perfect building block for packing. With these capsule wardrobes, I start with these basics - then add or take away as needed. Add a more formal dress, or slightly lighter or heavier clothing depending on the location. It works pretty well! Here's my basic capsule for every season.

Spring can be a tricky time - warm days, cool nights... you  need a little bit of everything. Here's how you can have plenty to get you by without bringing your entire closet. This little 8 piece packing list gives you over 10 outfits with almost no effort. Also, pick a few lighter colors as a reward for getting through winter :)

POWER PLAYERS FOR SPRING

- Lightweight tops that can be layered with cardigans or a chambray.
- Dresses... because it's spring! I always bring tights because you  never know how breezy it will be.
- A lightweight scarf. A key ingredient in ANY weather.
- A pair of closed toed flats for chilly days, and sandals when the sun is shining.

Other Spring packing lists:
Charleston

Summer is HOT. You'll never ever see me in jeans unless I'm at the north pole. Moving from spring, I ditch the jeans for shorts and a skirt, add a dress and swap to tank tops.

POWER PLAYERS FOR SUMMER

- A black sundress can be dressed up or down, and can cover you from the beach to dinner.
- Maxi dress. Once again, can be good for a day date, bridal shower, dinner, or attending a wedding. Plus you can wear it again on the flight to stay warm.
- The chambray will take care of any breeze or shade, or more likely, cold restaurants.
- Tank tops go with your shorts, skirt and can be layered over the black dress! Seriously, don't ever forget the black dress!

Other Summer Packing lists:
Cruise Outfit Guide // Cruise for Women // Cruise for Men // Seattle // Vegas // Florida 

Fall is always a favorite. After sweating all Summer I'm ready for some layers. Like Spring, layers are key.

POWER PLAYERS FOR FALL

- Lightweight sweater. My black & grey sweater is a fall favorite because it's lightweight but still warm. I can add a tank top or jacket and be good to go.
- Wool dress. Add tights and you've got a cute evening outfit. It's also nice to mix it up from jeans.
- Fingerless tights. I love these things! They keep air from sneaking up your arms but aren't so hot that you can't breath.
- Medium weight scarves add the perfect layer of warmth on a chilly night or overcast day. Then your medium weight jacket can take care of every occasion.

Other Fall packing lists:
Italy // Chicago // Seattle 

Winter... I almost don't even want to talk about you since you're almost over. BLAH! The only redeeming quality about winter to me is cute sweaters and blanket scarves.

POWER PLAYERS FOR WINTER

- Merino wool sweater. It's the thinnest, warmest sweater you can invest in. They have them everywhere from TJ Maxx to Target to J.Crew & beyond - get one. I have one in a neutral tan so it goes with everything!
- Layerable clothing. You will wear at least two tops every single day, so make sure they can layer over each other and all match.
- Blanket scarf! I love mine. I use it as a blanket on the plane, wrap myself in it when I'm freezing, and have even used it as an extra blanket in a cold hotel. Get one.
- Thermal & fleece. While these aren't attractive, they are warm. They are worth a little extra bulk in your suitcase so you don't freeze.

Other Winter packing lists:
Sub Zero Temps // Hot & Cold Weather (in one bag) 

General Packing Tips
Mix & Match // Packing Math 

You can DO THIS! This weekend Matt & I shared a carry on suitcase. If I can do it, you can too. What essentials are in your capsule wardrobes?
xo