I've thousands of road trip miles under my belt! And I am sharing my road trip essentials with you.

Being a military family organization and preparation was part of our DNA which is perfect for road trips. You need to make sure that you do your prep to ensure that the trip will go as smoothly as possible – because you are going to have to deal with the “unplanned” portions that always happen!

A big part of that comes down to what you pack.

Road Trip Planning

Never underestimate the value of having a good plan. Sure, you can take the opportunity to go off the beaten track and to explore as your heart sees fit, but you’re likely to run into a lot fewer issues if you have a good idea of where you’re going, what you’re doing, and what kind of stops are available on the way.

A good planner

A good road trip planner is something that you can sit down with before you hit the road, outlining all of your plans along the way, and then keep with you, updating as you do. Good planners even come with things like travel games that you can play in the car if you have the kids with you.

Entertainment

My sister and I didn't exactly get along, so it was vitally important for my parents to keep us occupied so that we didn't fight with each other. In the 70s and 80s that meant lots of books. That was the era before devices, unless, of course, you count listening to the naughty conversations on the CB radio, and before games were really portable.

Thank goodness the times have changed! And while I can appreciate the endless entertainment options that come from a device, I also think road trips are a great time to digitally unplug…except the GPS of course! Although sometimes it's fun to get lost from time to time!

TableTopics Card Pack

The fine folks at TABLETOPICS have many great conversation starter card kits for anything from a gathering of family members to Girls' Night Out,  and they have just released 2 new portable and on-the-go conversation starter card sets: the Road Trip and Travel editions. I don't know about you but I can talk about travel 24/7 and love the idea of question prompts to explore my love of travel.

Given the past year and the release, all of us travelers need, this set of cards is a great way to get the travel engines and imagination kick-started! The Travel deck is ideal for human beings ages 12+. The Road Trip card set has trip-specific questions and is perfect for humans ages 6+. 

Available from Amazon, the MSRP is $9 and includes 40 question cards in a travel-friendly case.

Of course, you do not have to travel to use these cards! My team at work participates in a Question of the Day (QOTD) which I help coordinate and these questions are going to totally come in handy when I run through the original set of questions my co-worker and I came up with! Consider the Table Topics cards great for team calls and get-togethers at work as well (no politics, no religion, these cards are a safe topic!).

Pocket-Size Math Flash Cards

Road trips are the perfect time to get your kids to build math skills – they are a captive audience! And if you have these Pocket-Size Math Flash Cards from Think Tank Scholar the kiddos won't even realize that it's work. Math is fun with this set. Flashcards are a proven learning tool and this set not only has 600 of them but also 20 math games. Your kids will be math geniuses before they even reach your destination!

Buy them on Amazon.

Road Trip Activities and Travel Journal for Kids

Even as an incurable bookworm, reading can get monotonous during a road trip. Particularly if you are driving 8-10 hours a day (wait, what? That's only MY Dad?) I remember my sister and I also geeked out on Mad Libs. It was a different activity from reading and forced us to be creative. That combination of activities is what you have in the Road Trip Activities and Travel Journal for Kids from freelance travel and lifestyle journalist, Kristy Alpert. 

This book has the perfect balance of activities including car games, puzzles, writing prompts, questionnaires, interview ideas, scavenger hunts, brainteasers, and more! There is something for every type of kid and allows children to stretch different parts of the brain. There are more than 50 activities. Plenty to keep the kiddos entertained. They might even regret arriving 😉

The Road Trip Survival Guide

If you want to survive a family road trip there is one rule…PREPARE! One-half of the travel blogging duo 2 Travel Dads, Rob Taylor has all you need in his new book, The Road Trip Survival Guide. Also, check out Rob's first book The Ultimate Travel Journal For Kids which came out in 2019!

I suggest you get both Kristy and Rob's books because when it comes to road-tripping with kids, you can NEVER have too many activities!

A tablet mount

Access to constant digital entertainment is a marvel of the modern age and one that can make road trips go a lot easier. It is true that, in part, you want to make sure that you and the family get time away from the screens to better spend with one another, so you might want to ensure that there are some rules in place for when you stop, for instance.

However, when you’re on the road for miles, having a tablet mount can make it a lot easier for you to put on a movie or a show for the kids while you’re driving, keeping them distracted, engaged, and content so that you can keep your focus on the road.

Access to the net

In keeping with the theme of making digital entertainment more accessible on your trip, nowadays, it seems like 80% of the stuff we do is connected to the online world in one way or another. This can even go for your car’s infotainment system. As such, one accessory that many would consider a vital addition to any road trip is a WiFi hotspot.

This makes it a lot easier to stay connected on the road, no matter where you are, and can be vital if your SIM card doesn’t cover where you’re going. Of course, don’t forget to bring a charging bank with you, as well, so that you can keep your hotspot and digital devices charged and ready to go.

Keeping Things Clean + Organized

A car vacuum 

While you might be finding places to camp or hotel beds to sleep on during your nights, you’re going to be spending a lot of your time living in your car during a road trip. If you’re packing snacks and lunches to bring with you, then you should anticipate that things are going to get messy pretty soon.

Not to mention the leaves and dust you and your fellow travelers will track back in with you. As such, you should make sure that you have a good car vacuum with you. A quick lap over the interior every time you stop for the evening should help you keep the car from getting too dirty to tolerate.

PlaneAire Hands

Unless your road trip is just a trip across town, there will be inevitable stops along the way. That means public restrooms, possibly some restaurants or coffee stops (unless you pack your own), and these days that means carrying extra items to clean and sanitize your surfaces and your hands. I don't know about you, but with the amount of sanitizer, I am using these days, smell matters! I do want natural ingredients and I do want it to smell nice.

And if I can I want it to be made in the USA. I get all that with PlaneAir Hands Hand Sanitizer. Yes, I know the name says “plane” but we all know that you need to use these everywhere, not just while in the air. The most “plane” specific thing about this product is that it is 2 fluid ounces so you can absolutely have it in your carry-on!

These hand sanitizers come in a variety of fragrances, but I tried Tangerine Coriander and Sandalwood. I love anything orange so wasn't surprised that I liked this one, but the sandalwood took me by surprise.

It is usually a scent I like a lot, Mr. Misadventures, and I recently tried a sandalwood deodorant that we hate, but this one I actually like! PlaneAir Hands uses ingredients like green tea extract, and aloe vera, along with essential oils in combinations created by this small woman-owned business based in New Jersey.

You can buy these PlaneAire Hands hand sanitizers as well as gel and lotion sanitizers on Amazon.

Interior Storage for the Car

Packing everything you need in a big suitcase might seem like the most convenient answer and, if you were spending all of your time in a hotel room, it might work out just fine. However, you’re in a car, instead, which means that opening a suitcase isn’t always going to be the most practical answer.

Take the time to find the right storage accessories for your car, like this seat back organizer, which makes your stuff much more accessible across a range of different pockets and holders, so that whoever is in the backseat can get whatever they need without much hassle.

Tip: make sure that whatever storage accessories you get, fit the dimensions of the car and can be used without too much discomfort.

Eating + Drinking

I have written an article with recommendations for road trip snacks. The snacks you bring will vary based on your taste, but gear-wise, these are essential.

The Right Drinking Gear

Two things are vital for drivers staying on the road for long periods: hydration and staying awake. You should make sure that you pack a reusable water bottle with you. It makes it easier to stay hydrated and creates less waste than buying plastic water bottles along the way.

Make your friend-or-family road trip special with custom travel tumblers that you can customize with a design of your own.

It will hold plenty of coffee to make sure that you’re sharp and alert as you go. Of course, a travel coffee maker can ensure that you’re able to top up at any stop, too, no matter where you might go.

Don’t sacrifice comfort for the journey

Don't underestimate just how rough a day in the car can be on you physically. Getting out and stretching your legs and taking the opportunity to stand straight once in a while is vital, but you can make sure that those long hours of sitting aren’t doing too much damage to your back by, for instance, getting a seat cushion to slip underneath you.

A lumbar support that you can strap to your chair can do a lot of good in making sure that you have a posture that isn’t putting all the pressure on the small of your back, too.

Also, I never do a road trip without my Bombas compression socks!

How about you? What would you add to the road trip essential list? Do share!

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The post Road Trip Essentials You Shouldn’t Leave Behind appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

I recently had the opportunity to meet a local businesswoman here in the Phoenix area who is creating her own beautifully designed macarons and of course, the francophile in me had to run out and meet her! I visited her shop picked up some tri-colored treats and begged the owner, Stephanie for an interview.

For my first Phoenix-based business I couldn't be more thrilled to introduce you to Decadent Macaron!

[1] Why macarons?

I have always loved French Macarons and struggled to find ones with the right texture/flavor. My husband has rheumatoid arthritis and manages his health all through diet and exercise no medication at all! One of those things is having a gluten-free diet. After realizing macarons are free of gluten I knew it was something we could both enjoy so I introduced him to my favorite treat!

My husband and I were recently married and received a kit as a wedding gift. (If you plan on trying to make macarons I highly recommend not using a kit, they’re terrible). After failing miserably several times we decided to read all about the art of macarons. I became obsessed with making the perfect macaron.

After reading so many recipes and watching a ton of YouTube videos we came up with a recipe that worked for us. As we continued on we slowly started perfecting the ever so coveted “feet” on the shell, and shortly after we developed our filling with the help of our friend who is actually named Andi as well. haha.

[2] What is your background? Did it involve baking/cooking?

I was a professional nanny before starting my business. I have always had a passion for baking and ALL things sweet.

[3] What inspired you to start a business?

We sort of fell into the business. After successfully making macarons for a while we started giving them to friends and family as gifts. Word got around quickly and people started asking us to place orders. We gladly took the orders on, because baking them made me happy.

Once I realized it was becoming more than a hobby Mark and I discussed everything and decided to launch Decadent Macaron. I contacted one of my friends who is a local artist Tanina Jackson who owns Babe & Butter. She helped us design a logo and website. You can find her artwork all around the shop. 🙂

[4] Tell us about Decadent Macaron – what is your mission in life?

We love creating macarons for people.. Seeing the love and happiness a macaron can create really keeps us going. It is truly humbling to see people travel to see us! We try to live by the scripture Corinthians 10:31.

[5] What influences your designs?

I am the self-proclaimed queen of glam! I love to create things that make me happy. I realized that when I am making something I am truly excited about everything just comes together perfectly! I love working with more vibrant colors… I think it not only sets us apart from other macarons it's really eye-catching!

[6] You are currently selling your macarons out of the Palette Collective, do you want to share how that came to be? Do you plan on opening your own standalone storefront?

Well, it is a really funny story. We have known the Owner of Palette Collective for a while now, and we would chat with him about partnering and creating some sort of shop in the future… far far in the future. I connected with the guy who owned Graz Kitchen to see about renting time in his kitchen, we were outgrowing the space we were renting and looking for other closer-to-home options. He mentioned that he was switching his business model to private catering so the need for the shop wasn’t there.

He told us his space would be available if we wanted to take the plunge and have our space we should jump on it. We left the meeting a little overwhelmed, but after crunching the numbers we realized it was possible!! We set up a few meetings with Seth to chat and see what his thoughts were, what rent would be like, and most importantly if we would be a good fit for his space. We would love to expand in the future and have more locations. (Look out Arizona!) I have some really cool ideas for a stand-alone shop, but for now, we are happy with being inside Palette Collective.

[7] For those home bakers out there, do you have any tips or tricks for making macarons at home?

Take your time! Macarons are very tedious and temperamental. the more love and time you have to give the better! Also- never never never skip a step!

[8] Tell us about the gorgeous skirts you are always wearing and this shoot.

I stumbled upon these gorgeous handmade African Wax fabric skirts on Instagram and after following Jen of Emerge for a while I realized I have to have one! I messaged the owner and started “fangirling” her page. After chatting we realized we kind of ran around in close circles and knew a lot of the same people. I finally got up the courage and asked her if she ever had an opening on her waiting list for a custom skirt.

Lucky me she contacted me shortly after and said: “I had a cancellation if you want one it’s yours.” When I went to pick up my skirt I brought Jen the designer some macarons. We quickly bonded over our love of each other's work haha. I highly recommend you run to your Instagram page and check out Emerge she also designs Jewelry!

[9] You are not a Gilbert native. How long have you lived in the Phoenix area, how did you come to be here?

I have lived in Gilbert for 18 years. I moved here with my Dad after my Mom passed away.

[10] Lastly, a lightning round of your favorites!

Favorite thing about where you live in AZ: I love the community, and how kind and caring everyone is, also all the amazing local spots!

Least favorite thing about where you live in AZ: I guess what everyone who lives here will say is the extreme heat.

Favorite coffee spot: Provision Coffee. Try the honey lavender latte!

Favorite spot for drinks: Sweetz Brew & Garage East.

Favorite local hangout: Provision Coffee. (if we’re not at the bakery or home.. you can probably find us there!)

Favorite breakfast spot: First Watch

Favorite lunch spot: Liberty Market

Favorite dinner spot: La Calabria Ristorante

Thank you, Stephanie, for your warmth and openness in being interviewed, and merci for bringing a little French sweetness to Phoenix!

You can find Decadent Macarons at the following Phoenix-area locations:

• Inside Palette Collective in Chandler Village, 505 S Chandler Village Dr, Chandler, AZ.
• 2438 S Recker Rd #106 Gilbert
• Sweetz Cold Brew Coffee Co., 835 N Gilbert Rd Suite 101, Gilbert, AZ.
• Maverick Coffee, 10269 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ.
• You can order custom macarons for your wedding or event!

And follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

If you do happen to be in Paris on March 20 (lucky you!) here are the Pierre Hermé Shops:

• Paris 1eme, 4 rue Cambon
• Paris 2eme, 39 avenue de l’Opéra
• Paris 6eme, 72 rue Bonaparte
• Paris 15eme, 185 rue de Vaugirard
• Paris 16eme, 58 avenue Paul Doumer

Here's where you can find the best macarons in Paris.

Want to make macarons at home? Here are 25+ recipes to help!

How about you? Do you like macarons? What is your favorite flavor? Do you have a shop in your area? Do tell!

All photos were taken by Jen Hubbell.

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The post Locals I Love – Decadent Macaron appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

I felt good about my contributions when we lived in Berkeley. We lived in a LEED-certified home with solar and lots of green features.

But last year when we were on the road in an RV, we lived in a small space without a lot of “things” yet I think we were more wasteful than ever. Our limited kitchen space made storage and efficiency a necessity and we could have done a much better job using eco-friendly or reusable products.

As I prepare to move into our new home and stock up on everyday essentials, I've been researching products that will help me in my endeavor to be more “green.” Today I'm sharing some of my favorite finds.

Bee's Wrap Sustainable Food Storage

We are a Franco-American household, therefore, we have A LOT of cheese in our life. Once we get our cheeses home Mr. Misadventures immediately takes them out of the horrible plastic that they are sold in (unless you are lucky enough to have a cheesemonger…) and wraps them for storage. The problem is that many of the products used for storage are wasteful, and quite frankly not healthy, which is why I love the products from Bee's Wrap. It's also perfect for outdoor activities and picnics.

Bee's wax is nothing new, pioneers used it long ago. It just took the company's founder, Sarah Kaeck, to revitalize the old tradition of “infusing organic cotton with beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin” to “create a washable, reusable, and compostable alternative to plastic wrap.”

BUY: You can buy it on the Bee's Wrap website, but you'll pay shipping. If you have Amazon Prime you can avoid those fees, by purchasing from Amazon. You may also find it at local organic shops.

Etee Food Wraps

Another company making sustainable food wraps is Etee. They are using beeswax with essential oils, non-GMO soy wax, and coniferous tree resin along with organic cotton cloth. It's a really great substitute for plastic wrap and will also work well for wrapping cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and meats. You can even freeze it! They are reusable and compostable and made in Toronto, Canada.

I'm buying them to cover leftovers and wrap cheese, but you can also use them to pack snacks for a hike.

BUY: You can buy wraps on the Etee website, but plan ahead, they are so popular that there is a 2-week delay before your order can ship out!

Stasher Bags

I shudder at the amount of sandwich bags I went through as a child growing up! Not having kids, I'm not even sure kids still take a sandwich to lunch anymore, but if they do, I would implore parents to check out Stasher Bags. They have really cute designs to make it fun for children, but most importantly the pure platinum food-grade silicone has no harmful byproducts or chemicals.

As for me, I'm getting the 1/2 gallon size. We marinate a lot and while glass containers are our preference, the refrigerator is usually pretty full which means I tend to use Ziploc bags that I can fit into tighter places. The Stasher Bag is going to give me the flexibility of plastic, but in a sustainable reusable format that goes from fridge to microwave (although we don't own one) to stove top and then on to the dishwasher!

BUY: You can buy these on the Stasher Bags website, but you'll pay shipping. If you have Amazon Prime you can avoid those fees, by purchasing from Amazon. You may also find them at The Container Store.

Cart Bags

When I first saw these bags online, my first thought was “oh cool!” because I am Type-A and love organization. I could just imagine how quickly I could unpack our groceries if everything was pre-sorted from the moment it left the store! But then I realized the environmental implications of people not using plastic bags and I knew I had to share this one.

Being from California where laws have forced stores to ban the use of plastic bags (and where they charge you for paper bags), I am long used to bringing my own bags, but on our travels through the US last year we were so surprised to learn that these laws are not very prevalent. Maybe the benefit of efficiency will drive more people to products like these.

BUY: First spotted them in an ad from Deal Snatchers, but I found them cheaper on Amazon (including one with a freezer bag!), with Prime there are no shipping costs.

Onya Life Backpack

I remember one of the first sustainable products I promoted on Misadventures with Andi. It was a reusable shopping bag from Joey Totes, the company still exists today and I still have the bags! Given it was way before the no-plastic shopping bag laws in California, this company was ahead of the curb in trying to promote eco-friendly products.

Shopping bags have become omnipresent, but what about backpacks? I really love this brilliant backpack from Onya Life made from recycled old plastic water bottles that have been turned into fiber!

It scrunches up into practically nothing and fits into a tiny bag you can throw into your suitcase. It is perfect for days in the city when you don't want to carry a purse or when you are on a road trip and decides to take an impromptu hike and you just need something light to carry your water, sunscreen, and snacks.

BUY: You can get this backpack on Onya Life's website, but be aware that it comes from Australia. Still, shipping isn't too terrible. You can always purchase a carbon offset to make up for it.

How about you? Do you have an eco-friendly find that you are currently adoring? Do share!

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The post J’adore #71 – Eco-Friendly Finds appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

Want in on a secret? Jambu shoes are the trendiest and most comfortable shoes I've ever owned! It shouldn't be a secret, but it is. Jambu has been around since 2009 making comfortable all-day but stylish shoes yet I rarely see them on lists for “best travel shoe,” something I find to be a bit bizarre. Since I discovered these shoes last year, I wear one pair or the other almost every time I leave the house.

For Jambu, it's all about adventure whether that is across the globe or in your own backyard – the soles of their shoes even have a map on them! Adventure can take place anytime and anywhere from the cobblestoned streets of Paris to Redrock hiking in the Sonoran desert and I am here to tell you that if you haven't discovered Jambu, the secret is out and you are missing out!

The classic battle has always been comfort vs. style. Travelers have been forced to make a choice that was usually (and should be!) comfort, leaving the fashion-conscious traveler in a bit of a crisis. But I have also had to make this choice many times in my professional life.

I can't tell you how many times I suffered silently during a workday of commuting, running around the office, and out to lunch – silently cursing the gods that my feet had to hurt so bad in the name of fashion.

I don't have to make that choice anymore. With Jambu, I CAN have both! I have been wearing and traveling with these shoes for 9 seasons now, and not only do my feet sing no matter where I take these babies, but I get tons of compliments on them!

Eco-friendly with features like All-Terra Traction outsoles for a no-slip grip (I need this as I am a total klutz!) and comfy memory foam footbeds (no need to buy foam inserts!) make Jambu my shoe of choice.

Plus they have several completely vegan styles, one of which Spirit Encore Vegan I have been trying out and loving! There are also waterproof walking shoes and boots which came in handy on my latest trip to rainy Brittany France – if I can wear Jambu shoes there, I can wear them anywhere!

Fall is finally here and temperatures have started dropping Mr. Misadventures and I have been getting out for some weekend adventures in the high desert of Utah, the mountains of Tucson, and to more urban destinations, like an evening at Hermosa Inn. From camping and hiking to dining and shopping, I have worn Jambu shoes everywhere we've gone.

Time to share a little of where I have been and what I have been wearing!

Jambu – The Best Travel Shoes in any category!

When I made my fall selections from the Jambu lookbook I focused on 3 things:  comfortable walking shoes, waterproof walking shoes, and stylish walking shoes all with an eye for travel as well. As I previously raved about, not only are these shoes mega comfortable, but they are super LIGHT a bonus for the ever-vigilant airlines who charge for every ounce!

Their lightness means I can bring more pairs, but I generally stick to 3 or 4 depending on the length of my trip and what we are doing. I can bring 4 pairs for the weight of 2 (if even that!).  Here are my selections for this fall.

Jambu Nala in Navy in Catalina State Park

Mr. Misadventures and I had been counting the days when we could go camping and hiking somewhere that wasn't at serious elevation. As September hit the temperatures began dropping (at least during the night and early morning) which allowed us to book a campsite and head over to Catalina State Park near Tucson to hike some trails and enjoy the gorgeous mountain views.

We got up early the first morning and hit the canyon loop trail and part of the Romero Pools hike. The Nala shoes are great for cold, wet weather but also perform well on the trail. As the morning progressed it got a bit warmer so appreciate the angle that Mr. Misadventures chose for this post as my face was a big sweaty mess, but boy did my feet look good! I will be packing these for my next trip to Brittany as the navy goes perfectly with most of my navy, grey, and white with a pop of red wardrobe!

Features of the Nala:

• All Terra Traction: Non-marking and partially recycled compressed rubber outsole for superior traction and durability.
• Memory Foam Footbed: Contoured Memory Foam Footbed for support and comfort.

Jambu Carlton in Black at Hermosa Inn

Mr. Misadventures and I staycationed at Hermosa Inn in July. It was 1000 degrees. Kidding, Not. We didn't mind as we hung out in the pool and ate meal after meal in the fabulous (interior of) Lon's restaurant! Our one regret had been not being able to dine out on their gorgeous patio, so as soon as the temperatures started dipping in the right direction we headed over to the historic hacienda again for a meal under their amazing mesquite tree.

Traffic is always a bit of a snarl from our side of the valley to Paradise Valley so we arrived early and took advantage of the cooler air and shady trees to enjoy some much-needed outdoor time. The previous weekend Mr. Misadventures had been holed up at Kitt Peak Observatory for an astrophotography workshop and I had turned into a college student who remained in her pj's and survived on protein bars while partaking in a “writers weekend.” Needless to say, I needed to get out of the house!

I decided our evening out was a nice occasion to try my new Carlton Mary Jane-style heel. I have to tell you I rarely wear heels even the platform variety, too many bad memories, and sore feet, but this pair is super comfortable (sorry to keep saying that, but do you know, there aren't a lot of synonyms for the word “comfortable?”). 

I can see them being a great walking shoe for my next business trip to Raleigh. The hotel I stay at is about 2 blocks from the office and many great restaurants are within a 2-4 block radius. I walked everywhere last time I was there and I plan to do the same again next week while I am in Raleigh again, and without hesitation!

Features of the Carlton:

• Memory Foam Footbed: Contoured Memory Foam Footbed for support and comfort.

Jambu Spirit Encore Vegan in Navy and Iceberg in Cottonwood Canyon

OMG, I love these shoes! When Mr. Misadventures says we are going scouting, I never know what we are going to end up doing, and let me tell ya we have gotten into our fair share of fights because “I am not wearing the right shoes.” I think we are going to drive around and scout locations (which happens a lot) instead we end up hiking through a creek, up a hill, and to grandmother's house we go and if I don't have the right shoe (a pet peeve of the husband's) then I am toast!

When the hubby and I were camping on the Utah/Arizona border a few weeks ago, we moved from White Pocket to Alstrom Point with several hours of photo-reconnaissance in between, with my Spirit Encore Vegan I was able to comfortably, and very stylishly, roll with the punches when he set out to search for some rock (it is always some rock) that was on the other side of a creek bed and hill.

These beauties are tough! They performed just fine in that rocky creekbed through the cottonwoods and more, and I did mention they are so cute! And their vegan-ness makes me feel good about wearing them! Besides all that hiking in the creek, they were perfect for the entire weekend while setting up camp, relaxing, you name it. I put these on in the morning and didn't need to change shoes or take them off until I hopped into our rooftop tent (or at some points wearing them in the tent)!

Features of the Spirit Encore Vegan:

• All Terra Traction: Non-marking and partially recycled compressed rubber outsole for superior traction and durability.
• Memory Foam Footbed: Contoured Memory Foam Footbed for support and comfort.
• APMA Seal of Acceptance: The American Podiatrists Medical Association gave their seal of acceptance to these shoes for promoting good foot health.
• Vegan: Jambu's Vegan Designs use no animal products while providing the same comfort and quality standards.

Jambu Cornflower in Red in Paradise Valley

It wouldn't be a shoe post, or at least one written by me unless it included a pair of red shoes! I love red and while I don't wear it as a “main” color (it makes my face look ghostly pale, and I already fair complexion!) I do like red highlights – glasses, a scarf, a watch, and definitely shoes! I love the shade of red that Jambu uses for their shoes, it is perfect.

The Cornflower has a slightly higher heel than my Sunkist but not as high as my Daisy and as I believe you can't have too many red shoes, now I've got 3 heel sizes to choose from! And with bleu, blanc, rouge – the Francophile in me is happy!

These shoes are going to be in my suitcase for my next trip to Paris as that memory foam cushioning can take on the cobblestone streets without any effort! These are the go-to shoes that I wear out to the movies, the grocery store, you name it. They slip on easily, go with everything (in my wardrobe at least!) and they are lots of fun!

Features of the Cornflower:

• All Terra Traction: Non-marking and partially recycled compressed rubber outsole for superior traction and durability.
• Memory Foam Footbed: Contoured Memory Foam Footbed for support and comfort.
• APMA Seal of Acceptance: The American Podiatrists Medical Association gave their seal of acceptance to these shoes for promoting good foot health.

Tips for Selecting the Best Travel Shoes

• ALWAYS pick comfort OVER fashion. A blister or sore feet can ruin your day and your trip. It doesn't matter how cute you look if you can't walk the next day (or the day after!). Thankfully, with Jambu, you do not have to sacrifice one for the other!
• Get good socks! People spend so much money on their shoes but then buy super cheap socks. Socks matter! I don't need them for any of my Jambu sandals, but for the boots and hiking shoes, I wear wool or microfiber socks.
• Don't let your trip be the first time you wear your shoes! Please, please, please break them in! Wear them around the house – try them out with the socks I mentioned above to make sure the socks aren't too thick for the shoe. (You should wear them on the weekend around your house before trying to wear any pair to work too.) Honestly, I will say that I break this rule with Jambu because I have so many pairs I know how they work on my feet and I never need to break them in, even for hiking! But for non-Jambu shoes do not attempt!
• Test out inserts. Another thing to test out or break in before you go out walking in London for the day is any insert you might put in a shoe.  What's the point if they make your feet hurt? I do have an insert in some of my shoes, but NONE of my Jambu because the Memory Foam Footbed is super cushioning.
• The weather around the world is unpredictable, so make sure to pack at least one pair of waterproof shoes, you do not want to ruin a good pair of shoes because it's raining and you don't have a choice!

How to Pack Shoes for Travel

• Use a shoe bag. A lot of my Jambu shoes came inside shoe bags inside the box when they were shipped to me, but if your shoes don't come with one or you lost it along the way during your travel then I highly recommend portable shoe bags. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, but I bought these to keep our shoes at the end of the tent and I can also repurpose them to use for travel.
• Only put one shoe in each shoe bag. You are going to have more efficient use of your suitcase space if you pack your shoes into bags individually, that way you can place them with the sole touching any side of the suitcase, and you can pack the rest of your items in the middle.
• Or put your shoes on the bottom of your suitcase. If you choose to put a pair of shoes in a single shoe bag, then put the bags on the bottom of the suitcase as your first layer and pack up from there. Remember, put the shoes together feet to toe for maximum compression of space.
• Wear your heaviest shoes while traveling.  Airlines being what they are today and the amount you have to pay for being overweight, always wear the clunkiest heaviest shoes for travel and keep the light ones in your suitcase. As I mentioned before, Jambu shoes are super light so that helps a lot!
• Pack whatever you can into your shoes. Socks, rolled-up underwear, scarves, toiletries, use the space your shoe offers to pack smaller items into! Consider spraying your shoes with a shoe freshener before sticking your unmentionables in there!

Et voila! There you have it, with Jambu's latest fall collection, they prove once again that they are the best travel shoe out there – comfortable, stylish, and light! I continued to be impressed by these shoes and surprised that they seem to be such a secret. 

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Watching | Downton Abbey & Big Little Lies
> After re-watching West Wing again (the current political climate forces us to seek comfort into the Hollywood version of the White House.) we started watching Downton Abbey. We’re only in season 1 but so far I like it. Mr. Misadventures went solo camping for a few days so I also started and finished the first season of Big Little Lies. I love the Monterey scenes as this area holds a special place in my heart. I am also still desperately trying to like/understand the 90210 reboot, but it’s pretty hopeless!

Reading | Taste the Wild: Recipes and stories from Canada
> Ever picked up a recipe book for a single recipe? No? Just me? The summers between my sophomore and junior and junior and senior years of high school I did a two-week sailing trip from the San Juan Islands into Canada with an all-girl crew on a 97-foot clipper sailboat – 2 of the best summers of my life. One spot we sailed into and stayed at was Nanaimo Harbor. The foodie in me had yet to surface but a decade later I learned about the Nanaimo Bar. But I have yet to try it! Then I peeked inside this new cookbook and storybook that takes us through Canada and saw that enticing bar calling my name! Not only is the book chock full of recipes but it’s an outdoor adventure through a country that is high on my list.

Best Bite | Nush Cakes

> Didn’t do a lot of dining out this month compared to last, but hands down the best bite was the banana-flavored Nush Cake that I mentioned in my lastest J’adore 83 covering 3 really delicious snacks. Next month I will be heading to Raleigh twice so there will be a fight for the best bite!

Working On | Some website updates
Nothing major just simplify the navigation and home page a bit more. I’m happy with the overall design but simplicity is good and not surprising, good for SEO as well!

Feeling | Thankful
> It looks like summer simmering is nearly over. Rarely getting above 100 as of late. We went camping at the base of the Catalina Mountains in Tucson last weekend and it was still a bit warm to really enjoy it. We’re going camping again in 2 weeks so let’s hope the temperatures continue to drop!

Planning | Christmas Break
> I’m thrilled to be back at a tech company with a holiday shutdown. Of course, Cisco had one, but as a contractor, it was all unpaid. With my new job, which by the way is incredible, it’s a paid break! It’s 10 days off and we’re mapping out a Southwestern road trip. We just need to pick up the insulation for our rooftop tent, the temps are going to be nippy!

Loving | A Weekend Alone!
>  The introvert and blogger in me loves that I have a weekend coming up at home to myself. Mr. Misadventures is headed to Kitt's Peak Observatory for an astronomy-focused photography weekend – no phones, no internet, just the stars! You will likely find me all weekend behind a screen in my jammies working on blog stuff and starting season 2 of Big Little Lies. Hey man, it is the little joys in life! I dig Mr. Misadventures, but we also like weekends away!

My Favorite Photo | Alstrom Point View

It may have been a pain in the ass to get to this very remote location, but the payoff was huge! We had a site on this cliff overlooking popular Lake Powell all to ourselves! I am getting completely spoiled. When we go to regular campgrounds it isn't as fun, I prefer to be all alone without crying babies and barking dogs or partying people – just us and nature!

That's my month, what's CURRENTLY going on with you?

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This may be the best batch of low carb snacks yet! The more new products I discover the more pleased I am with their quality and their ingredients. I remember when we first started low carb we ate a certain brand of bars and one day while reading the ingredients on the package, most of which I didn’t recognize, I was surprised to learn that the product was made with genetically-modified material – no one needs that in their life! The snacks in this list, however, are something you need in your life!

Nush Cakes

My family has an amazing banana bread recipe. I grew up with super moist super delicious banana bread. As an adult, I would make it often and while we were RVing for 18 months I would beg my mom to bake some and send it with the mail that she would forward to us on the road. But let me let you in on a secret, banana bread is not low carb! Okay, you probably knew that one already. So when I discovered that Nush Cakes made a banana version I was all over it.

I tried all the flavors: banana, blueberry, carrot spice, cherry almond, peanut butter, and pineapple mango, but of course, my favorite is banana. It satisfies every craving I had for my family version without all the guilt as each slice is only 2 carbs. Thank you Nush for bringing this into my life! Banana and peanut butter are 2 carbs per slice while the other flavors are 3.

Fat Snax

Cookies. I’m a fan. Of course with a low carb lifestyle, I don’t eat them and now when I do I find them to be too sweet or if it is a low carb version, it is like a chalky brick. Enter Fat Snax which makes 4 cookies flavors that feel that need. We tried lemon, peanut butter, and chocolate chip (they also have a double chocolate chip). Or I should say I tried the lemon and peanut butter because Mr. Misadventures ate all the chocolate chip ones before I had a chance! There are 2 cookies in each package for a total of 1 carb for the peanut butter and lemon versions and 2 carbs for the chocolate chips. They are perfect with a cup of coffee or a small glass of milk or almond milk. I think they would also be good with some of that Rebel I mentioned in my last J’adore!

Revol Snax

I love matcha green tea which I first discovered way before it was trendy at Leeum Museum in Seoul South Korea. I remember that first sip. It was magical! And I definitely went through a matcha phase, but that was before the low carb life. I saw an ad for Revol Snax’s matcha latte bites and knew I had to try them! We tried all 4 of their flavors: matcha latter with vanilla cream filling, snickerdoodle with hazelnut filling, dark chocolate with almond butter and double dark chocolate with chocolate ganache filling. Two bites are 1 carb! While I wanted a much stronger taste of matcha they were tasty. But the double chocolate? Hummanah! Hummanah!

Skinnies Cocktail Mixes

It’s not like I can’t drink alcohol: I have low carb beer, wine and champagne are naturally low carb but from time to time I’d love a cocktail! Now I can with Skinnies Mixes. I tried Cranberry Twist, Moscow Mule and Baja Margarita. The first 2 are 1 carb and the margarite one is 2. They are pretty good but I wouldn’t say they replace a bar drink. It’s nice to be able to have these nonetheless! (Try them yourself with a $5 off promo code: KETOMIXER). Also, these are perfect for traveling when you want to control your carbs, just order a Vodka and diet club soda and add a mix!

Mr. Misadventures loves to cook and is playing around with baking. But there are weeks when life gets busy or we decide on an impromptu road trip and we prepare our meals and snacks quickly, that's where products like the ones above really prove invaluable. Their on-the-go packaging makes them perfect for travel. I just wish that this category of food was a little less expensive. I think as low carb becomes ubiquitous the prices will drop, at least that’s what I’m hoping for!

How about you? Do you follow a low carb lifestyle? Do you have some of those recommendations to share?

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Been there done that. Over it.

Raise your hand if it’s taken you an hour to mount a tent on the ground, including finding a flat spot, laying out a tarp, fighting with poles and praying the ground is soft enough to get the stakes in but not too soft that they don’t hold. And darn it if you didn’t set the tent on an ant hole!

Been there done that. Over it.

Mr. Misadventures loves to camp. I do not. Or rather, I didn’t until last fall when GMC loaned us GMC Canyon Denali and a Napier tent and we camped at Toroweap. It was my first-time car camping and while I didn’t love the tent I did love the concept. That was all Mr. Misadventures needed to start researching rooftop tents!

We had the Jeep and knew it could accommodate a hard shell rooftop tent, but we never had enough space and with as much road-tripping and driving we quickly realized it wasn't very comfortable either. We loved driving the GMC Canyon Denali so we bought our own GMC Canyon (non-Denali) and we planned on getting the tent. After doing research, (I just wrote a story for my friend Jody’s camping site on this) Mr. Misadventures selected Tepui hard shell rooftop tent. We went with an Explorer Series Kukenam 3 in grey which would be mounted on a Yakima rack system on our truck.

I reached out to Tepui who graciously provided us a discount on our tent, we got our rack installed (by an expert) and mounted our tent for the first time. It took us about 2 hours. We were meticulous and watched the how-to videos a few times.

The hardest part was lifting the tent onto the rack. Our model weighs 130 pounds. I am 5 foot and 115 pounds so it is a bit of an effort for me to share the load on 130 pounds lifting above my head. It’s one of the reasons we didn’t go for the heavier model. We absolutely would have loved to have the heavier tent material should we choose to camp in places that are extra cold, but that model is 180 pounds.

You also have to be concerned with height clearance. Our makes into our garage with a few inches to spare. We are leaving the tent on at the moment because we have a lot of trips plan, so take that into consideration when parking in public parking garages. We have full visibility in our rearview mirror because the rack system lifts the tent.

In addition to the tent, we opted to get the luxury mattress and anti-condensation mat. Because we didn't get the thicker tent material we eventually want to pick up the insulator which clips onto the internal frame to help combat the cold.

We’ve taken it on 5 camping trips (White Pocket Arizona 3 times, Alstrom Point Utah, and Monument Valley Utah) together and Mr. Misadventures has done a solo trip. On our first trip with the new tent, it took us about 7 minutes to unfurl the tent, I’d say we have it down to 3 at this point! The thing that sometimes gives us trouble is the ladder being absolutely secure. Sometimes it opens up perfectly and is stable from the outset and other times it takes a few minutes of fiddling to get it right. To put the tent down takes about 10 minutes, only because there is a bit of tucking that you want to do to be able to zip on the cover.

The only other complication we encountered was on our first trip when a bolt came loose and fell off. We added a new one, secured it completely and it never gave us trouble again.

We’ve opened it up in the dark at 11 pm and we’ve put it down in the dark at 3 am. It really is a breeze. It has made camping and road trips more fun!

We have a whole bunch of weekend camping trips planned for this fall something I would never have imagined myself doing but I am converted now, thanks to Tepui and their hard shell rooftop tents!

How about you? Have you camped using a rooftop tent? Are you interested in trying it? Do share!

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Watching | Lots!
> It has been in the 110s or hotter (as I write this it is 112 at 2:30 pm!) so except for our occasional staycation, we've been either holed up at home watching movies and series or at the movie theater. If you've been reading for any length of time you will know that I am a fan of the Fast & Furious franchise so I was lined up to see Hobbs & Shaw the first weekend it was out. The movie was predictable (I hate seeing all the good parts in the trailers) but entertaining.

Working at Dolby for as long as I did, I got in the habit of sticking around to watch the credits which sometimes offer outtakes and teasers. In one of the outtakes/spoofs, Dwayne Johnson accidentally shares a spoiler for the last season of Game of Thrones, I could have killed him! We had yet not seen Season 8, but we have now. I couldn't stand it, so we did a 7-day trial if HBO and watched it! There were episodes I liked and ones I didn't but all in all, a good run.

We also went to see The Art of Racing in the Rain. I had read the book when it came out in 2009 so I knew what I was in for and packed the appropriate Kleenex! It is beautifully done and wonderfully acted. The acting was also good in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, but the story was just awful! I have only ever liked 1 or 2 Quentin Tarantino films, and wish the interminable heat hadn't driven me to see this one at the theater!

On the side (meaning watching by myself and not with Mr. Misadventures) I am trying to like the Beverly Hills 90210 reboot. It totally reminds me of Episodes with Matt Leblanc (Showtime) where he plays Matt LeBlanc after Friends (brilliant writing on this show that lasted 4 seasons) but I am not liking it as much! Lastly, with Avengers Endgame coming out on streaming/DVD/Blu-ray we took the opportunity to rewatch all of the 22 Avenger films. Yeah, we do stuff like that! We finished Avengers Infinity Wars on Thursday evening just making it in time for the Friday release of Endgame at Redbox!

Reading | Lines, Signs & Forks: Diary of a Nomadic Road Tripper
> A couple of travel bloggers have recently released books and I am currently reading the one from fellow Arizonian Mike Shubic of Mike's Road Trip – Lines, Signs & Forks: Diary of a Nomadic Road Tripper. I have met Mike at Arizona media events, interviewed him for Traveler Tuesday, and we've even had lunch so I know he is a good guy!

I am only partway through but it's a great story and journey. After I finish Mike's book I am FINALLY going to read Cara Black's series that takes place in Paris. As a francophile, I am a bit ashamed to say I've never read any of them (and I've known about them for years), but the bookworm in me is thrilled as I have a TON available to me. There are 19 of them starting with Murder in the Marais.

Best Bite | The Johnson 
> New category! And I have NO idea why I didn't come up with it sooner given my obsession for food. This month there was actually a lot of competition. Our meals at LON's were phenomenal, and I had a fried-chicken sandwich (twice) in Raleigh that was out of this world, but the winner goes to another Southern charmer, the Johnson-style spoon cake with saged-sausage white gravy, rice, and a fried egg from the Sassy Biscuit in Billings. I had it twice and wouldn't say no to a third time!

Working On | SEO 
> Surprise, no surprise here! I have been using one method to optimize old blog posts and to write new ones, but the last couple of weekends I have been spending time learning an alternative method which I think is less overwhelming. Bottom line is that this is a long-term strategy and it's going to take a while to see results.

Plus I think my style of writing is not always conducive to SEO which is why I generally (a) write about what I want and where I want and (b) love working on paid brand projects where I can collaborate and get paid for the type of stories I like to write and don't have to worry so much about SEO. I am trying to balance the 2! It is way more fun to work with Visit Billings, Chico's, and Enterprise Rental Car than to write 10 things to see in X! But if I can write stories like my Brittany series (Dinan, Fougères, Cancale, etc.) in which I did have SEO in mind, while writing what I want, then I will be satisfied!

Feeling | Flabbergasted 
> I always write about things I like or enjoy and very rarely write about anything negative, but I observed something this past month that floored me and I am still thinking about it! A couple of weeks ago, I went to get my eyebrows waxed, something I do every month. I go to salon studios, basically, large salon spaces broken up into little individual salon/beauty businesses. The person I see on a regular basis shares her space with another esthetician.

When I came in for my most recent appointment there was a woman there with 4 girls. 3 were her daughters and 1 was a friend of 1 of her daughters. When I arrived the eldest daughter was getting her arms waxed (after having just had her eyebrows waxed). She was 13! I'm sorry I don't have children so maybe I don't have a right to say this, but in what world does a 13-year-old need waxing???! And before someone says, “my family is Greek, Italian, Portuguese and we have dark hair and lots of it” I get that.

And I get that there *might* be extreme circumstances in which a 13-year-old needs this. But these were light brown/dark blonde girls! I didn't know what to think. Then when she finished, the 10-year-old got on the chair for her arms! Gah! Can't we let girls just be girls!

Planning |  Camping trips!
> We are headed back to White Pocket this weekend for one final shoot there. We've had epic sunrises, good sunsets, and drone and video shoots, but the stars have alluded Mr. Misadventures so we are on a mission to capture that this time. Not concerned about it being a holiday weekend. When we were there for Memorial Day Weekend there were 3 people camping!

We'll also be heading to some BLM land near Lake Powell (wish us luck!). We've got lots of Arizona state park and national monument camping trips coming up in September and October when the heat dissipates our Tepui tent on the truck is going to get a lot of use!

Loving | Friends!
> I mentioned in May that it's the 25th anniversary of Friends, one of my all-time favorite TV shows. I have this Friends poster, framed and ready to be hung in my office (as is all the artwork in our entire house! I was just speaking with a new colleague about that and she said I should call it a design choice, I think I will embrace it!).

There are other Friends memorabilia coming out, I've got my eye on these coffee mugs from Pottery Barn, but also there is a (sold out) Friend's pop-up coming to New York City in September! I can't wait to see what else is in store for the 25th-anniversary celebrations!

My Favorite Photo | Mountain Shadows Shoot

I have been hoping to work with a clothing brand for a long time, but I am pretty particular about my clothes so I didn't hold my breath that I would get to work with a brand where I would actually love and wear their clothes. I'm kind of a stickler for authenticity – if I write about a brand its because I truly like them! So no one was more surprised than me when Chico's reached out to work on their summer travel collection campaign.

I selected my clothes and wore them on 2 trips – Billings and Raleigh for new hire training with my new employer. Then I wore them to Mountain Shadows for a mini staycation shoot. I love this property! The mid-Century modern decor is right up my design alley. The clothes that I selected in blues worked perfectly with the property!  And I got to try out a pair of Jambu shoes I've been wanting to wear (Viola in camel and navy – they are no longer available on Jambu but you can get them on Amazon!), as you know I am a huge fan of Jambu. I worked with them last fall and this spring and I will be working with them again this autumn.

That's my month, what's CURRENTLY going on with you?

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I do not follow Atkins, Keto, or Paleo, I just count carbs and monitor calories. The addition of more and more low-carb snacks and food products on the market is a welcome addition as it is still an effort to find packaged food that is low-carb. Not that I eat a lot of packaged foods, but life is busy and there is the convenience factor.

A few months ago we had a great meal at a local restaurant chain that focuses on health good, low-carb, gluten-free, and food allergies. It was refreshing to see that people who want to eat a certain way aren't treated like pariahs or pushed to a small corner of the menu! I am happy to see there begins to be progress!

Here are some of my recent favorite low-carb snacks and food!

Cleveland Kraut

I love sauerkraut? I do! Americans do not eat as much of it as people in Western Europe, but you can find it. When you do it is usually not great or super healthy. But now there is raw, probiotic sauerkraut coming out of Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Kraut started as a farmer's market product, one created by a family trying to honor their heritage, with a huge following that eventually became a supermarket brand that you can now find across the U.S.

Mr. Misadventures and I tried the spicy Gnar Gnar with green cabbage, green bell peppers, jalapenos, leeks, Sriracha, garlic, and red chili – this one was my favorite as I love the hit of spice. We also got the Curry Kraut with cabbage, jalapenos, carrots, garlic, ginger, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and mustard seed; the Whiskey Dill with cabbage, garlic, whiskey, and dill; and Classic Caraway with cabbage, Kosher salt, and caraway seeds. All of them are 1 carb per serving.

How did I eat all this kraut? Happily! Just kidding. We ate it with sausage for dinner (it has been over the 100's for weeks here in Phoenix so it is nice to have a cold item with our lunch or dinner); with a can of smoked trout, the acid in the sauerkraut matches perfectly with the smokey fish; I made a pastrami Rueben on our panini with low carb bread, pastrami, spicy mustard, and Cleveland Kraut. We also threw into our cooler when we went camping in Monument Valley and ate it with cold sliced chicken (again, it was 100 degrees so this was perfect!). I'm dying to get a bag of their Roasted Garlic to make this: Crockpot Pulled Loin with Roasted Garlic Sauerkraut (although I will wait until the weather cools a bit!).

If you can't find Cleveland Kraut in your stores locally, you can buy it online.

Old Trapper Beef Jerky

I can't say that I am the right demographic for the Old Trapper branding, although I do find some of their commercials amusing, but that doesn't stop me from grabbing the bag! I have always enjoyed jerky of all varieties and I am lucky that it is low carb (except for a few flavors that naturally have more sugar). I often bring a bag of jerky on planes, camping trips, hikes and yes, even the movies (popcorn is SO high carb!).

Old Trapper Beef jerky originally hails from Oregon's cheese mecca, Tillamook although now they have grown and expanded and are a little closer to Portland. I first ran across the brand at a jerky store on the Oregon coast and was immediately hooked. Oregon has its fair share of culinary treats coming out of the state and I would say this jerky belongs on the list. My favorites are Peppered and Teriyaki. They are a great low carb snack when you need something on the salty side or a hit of protein!

Catalina Crunch

As much as I love eggs (and I LOVE eggs) I do get tired of eating them almost every single morning for breakfast. From time to time I need something different! Since I have a fulltime job I also don't want to take the time to make low carb pancakes, I want something that is a little more convenient. At the moment the best option is a new product called Catalina Crunch.

I recently tried the Maple Waffle flavor which I ate with unsweetened vanilla almond milk from Silk. My gripe is this. The serving size is unreasonably small. For 5 carbs you get 3/8 of a cup (by the way that is kind of impossible to measure!) so I have to save for a “cheat day” where I gave can a larger serving. So that is exactly what I did!

Costco Protein Bars

Mr. Misadventures and I never shopped at Costco when we were living in the San Francisco Bay Area. We had a Costco card just to get the gas – commuting is expensive! The vegetable situation is so bad in the Phoenix area that we now shop at Costco for mostly frozen vegetables although we do pick up some fresh as well.

Mr. Misadventures is always on the hunt for low carb foods and on one of his solo journeys to Costco hell he found the Kirtland Protein bars in Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Chocolate Brownie and OMG are they darn good. They are also non-GMO which A LOT of the other low carb protein bars are not! They are gluten-free and I eat one just about every day. The first thing I do every morning in my tracker is put a bar in for a snack that way no matter what I eat the rest of the day, that treat has been accounted for!

On My Low Carb Snack Wishlist

Smart Sweets

I really, badly want to try SmartSweets! But I feel the price is prohibitive! From time to time I want something sweet that isn't chocolate, but is, of course, low carb!  I want to build a box and try ALL the flavors! But I just can't justify the expense. I believe that once the low carb lifestyle catches on more the prices of some of these products will go down. Or at least that is my hope.

Rebel Ice Cream

One product that I don't think is too expensive but just has limited availability in the Phoenix area is Rebel ice cream. There is only one store that carries it and it is an hour away. We'd have to load up the cooler and drive an hour there and back to get it. I will try to coordinate a swing by if we do anything in that area because I am dying to try this ice cream! I can order it online, but the ice cream would never make it in the delivery truck all day with 100-degree temperatures here!

For Your Health

Goli Nutrition Apple Cider Vinegar Gummy

This is Nikol and seeing her post on Instagram reminded me of this product I recently became aware of, Goli Nutrition Apple Cider Vinegar Gummy.  Apple Cider Vinegar is SO good for you and Mr. Misadventures and I use it daily, however, I know some people really can't deal with the taste! This gummy tastes like apple, give you all the benefits of taking a shot of apple cider vinegar and is low carb. So now there is NO excuse for not including this vinegar in your diet.

More Low Carb Snacking Inspiration

I recently got a copy of this Super Low-Carb Snacks book and have found a few recipes that we will be making in the Misadventures home. It is very easy to get into a rut one you are following a specific lifestyle so I like to pick up recipe books and read low carb blogs for inspiration.

Having said that I would REALLY love in recommendations you have for low carb products that you have tried!

How about you? Do you follow a low carb lifestyle? Do you struggle with boredom or do you have some of those recommendations to share?

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No muss. No-fuss. No drama. That’s pretty much my life’s motto. And except for a few years in the late ’80s where there was excessive use of Aquanet and blue eye shadow, that’s pretty much my fashion and beauty style as well. I think I was doing the “capsule wardrobe” way before it was a thing because I just don’t want to spend a lot of time thinking about my hair, make-up or clothing!

I’ve always gravitated towards one or two colors in my closet, those colors have changed depending on the circumstances. In San Francisco that meant a lot of black and grey with the occasional navy thrown in, but in Arizona black is just not that smart and in the last 2 years, I have moved to blue with red, white and grey accents.

What has stuck is my minimalist approach. A method that is even more important to me when it comes to travel. Which I do a fair share of. My packing and planning method involves pairing outfits that can mix or match without a lot of effort. And I absolutely hate to iron, so my clothes have to travel well too. So, when Chico’s reached out to try out their Summer Travel Collection, I said, “yes please!”

My selections arrived just in time for 2 consecutive trips and I couldn’t have been more pleased when everything arrived and everything fit! I went with my usual shades of blue and white but also picked out pants that are an olive-green color called vetiver, a plant that grows in Spain, India, and a few other spots in the world (and also happened to be the scent of the bath products in the hotel I stayed in on one of my trips – small world!). What I loved about the Mix and Match Collection is that there was a nice palette to choose from and I didn’t have to worry about a mismatch! So, my sateen slim crops in vetiver went with the 4 shirts I selected, which also went with the navy-blue crops I got too. Huge bonus that Chico’s carries petite sizes as regular crops just look like highwater pants on shorties like me!

So when I got to Billings with a jam-packed itinerary all I had to do was grab a top and grab a pair of pants, and voila! I was made in the shade! During my 36 hours in Billings, I walked around the historic downtown, visited murals and street art, took in a couple of coffee shops and restaurants, headed to a national monument and a farmer’s market, and was comfortable and cute the whole time!

I was also quite comfortable in the airport while I waited for connecting flights and on the plane. The fabrics breathe well and move with me whether I am sitting on the plane, walking through the airport, or standing and waiting for my luggage. I didn’t wrinkle either. Total bonus!

Flexibility, style, and minimal care are things I look for when selecting clothes not only for travel but for life in general. The last thing I want to do when I’m in a new location is to worry about what to wear. I want to be able to just grab something in my hotel closet and go! And I do not want to iron!

It’s funny when Mr. Misadventures and I were in San Francisco, I ironed a lot and I sucked at it. The hubby is far better at it and I would do anything to get him to do the ironing! He even ironed his jeans which I thought was crazy. Then when we lived in the RV for 18 months, we didn’t even bring an iron and although we have one in our home now, I try my best not to use it. For my clothing selections, I look for fabrics that can be folded or washed and hung without ironing and so far, I’ve been pretty successful.

To Chico’s Summer Travel Collection, I say, “Bienvenue to my closet!”

Here’s what I brought Billings:

• Petite Sateen Slim Crops in Vetiver
• Petite Sateen Slim Crops in Kings Navy
• Lace Sleeve Top in Alabaster
• Petite Linen notched button pullover in Sunshine Yellow
• Half-button Denim Shirt in Medium Wanderlust
• Blue Sunglasses

After my quick trip to Billings, and a business trip to Raleigh (I wore the Vetiver petite sateen slim crops and denim shirt to the office one day, but no photos, it was my first week on the new job and I didn’t want *that* kind of attention, but I loved the fact that my travel-wear could easily turn into office-wear!) I did a little staycation at one of my favorite Phoenix-area resorts, Mountain Shadows. For this lovely mid-century modern lady, I dressed up my crop pants with fancier shoes and went with the blue tops and sunglasses. It was the perfect resort-wear!

Here’s what I brought for my staycation:

• Petite Sateen Slim Crops in Kings Navy
• Petite Linen notched button pullover in Coastal Blue
• Solid Textured top in Coastal Blue
• Blue Sunglasses

The Chico’s Summer Travel Collection has lots of colors and patterns to choose from and they all pretty much go with each other, so even if you aren’t a clothing minimalist like me, and more a fashionista, you will find plenty of pieces for your wardrobe. Plus, accessories like hats, scarves, and sunglasses. Got to have those sunglasses in the summer!

So from urban trekking in Billings to business travel and office time in Raleigh and a staycation in Phoenix, Chico’s Summer Travel Collection fit the bill to a T (or tee!). After 3 trips I am convinced that I need to continue mixing and matching from this collection to build out my wardrobe for my next trips!

How about you? Have you tried Chico’s clothing? Have you seen their travel collection? Do tell! How do you like to select clothes for your travel? Do share!

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The post J’adore – Chico’s Summer Travel Collection appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

Watching | Queer Eye Season 4
> Eight flights give you plenty of time to catch up on Netflix! I cried during each and every episode of season 4 of Queer Eye which was beyond embarrassing on a plane! I hope they keep doing this show!  I also watched what seems to be the last season of Girlfriends Guide to Divorce (#5); Always be my Maybe (So adorable! Loved the San Francisco scenes and the Keanu Reeves cameo.) and Dead to Me Season 1 which is morbidly entertaining!

Reading | How Did You Get That Shot?
> Living with a photographer who enjoys landscapes I got particular pleasure out of reading this book from David Skernick who shares what lenses and how he shot over 100 images across the United States. I also recently went to a photography exhibit at the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings where the photographer shared a little story or notes on each of the photos and it was so amusing to see how much of the stubbornness, determination, and idiosyncrasies of the photographer exactly described Mr. Misadventures!

Working On | My low carb life
> I got back to a stricter low carb diet for 2 weeks then headed on a project in Billings which has ah-mazing food and then spent almost a week in Raleigh, North Carolina which also has ah-mazing food, but I will be back on the bandwagon to shake off 5 pounds that quietly found their way back on my body. Carb counting just allows me to make smarter choices and I will be doing that for a month before continuing to follow my “regular” low carb lifestyle.

Feeling | Excited 
> I got a new job! And I am beyond thrilled! I am working at a truly amazing tech company where culture is one of the most important assets they have. If you haven't worked in a corporate environment you may not know how rare that it, but I'll tell you it is like finding a magical unicorn! I just spent the last week at their headquarters in Raleigh and every minute that passed only confirmed how happy I am with this new opportunity! Plus I had some great food at Beasley's Chicken + Honey (um, I went there TWICE in one week) and Sitti a wonderful Lebanese spot. Each morning I had my Counter Culture cold brew at Tama Tea which made me a very happy girl. The last time I had Counter Culture coffee was my last week of work in San Francisco, from Coffee Cultures. Since Counter Culture coffee is a North Carolina brand it is everywhere!

Planning |  Content
> You know me, got to throw in some of that behind-the-scenes blog life stuff. I am slowly but surely trying to complete my stories from our trip to Brittany along with posts on a trip to Ajo (Arizona), a wonderful staycation in Scottsdale at La Hermosa, a photography trip to Monument Valley, a trip to Billings (Montana) and summer travel fashion. At the same time, I am still plugging away on optimizing old posts from an SEO perspective and creating new pins for the ever-hungry and almighty Pinterest. As far as Instagram goes, they changed the algorithm again and I can't be bothered to figure it out, so if you want to help a blogger out, engage (like, comment, etc) with a few photos for me!

Loving | My clean toilet
> Okay, I know that sounds weird. And trust me, the toilets in my house ARE clean, but Arizona has extremely hard water that leaves an impossible-to-remove ring around the toilet water. I had tried everything to get rid of it with no luck. Then one day I caught a headline on a blog that grabbed my attention: How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Toilets (without scratching the porcelain!) and Jessica of The Forked Spoon became my new heroine! I followed her “recipe” and my toilets not only are clean but LOOK clean too! Just a small thing, but it makes me happy!

My Favorite Photo | Monument Valley Sunset

I'm going to write about our photography trip to Monument Valley, but until then I will leave you with this sunset shot from the “cow pies” overlooking Mitchell Mesa. We had a very long and amazing day in and around Monument Valley and its back-country culminating in this moment.

That's my month, what's CURRENTLY going on with you?

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The post Currently July 2019 appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

Watching | Star Trek Voyager
> Yep still watching this series, there are seven seasons, but we are almost done! Next up we'll be catching Huge in France with one of our favorite French comedians Gad Elmaleh, Yellowstone with Kevin Costner and I will be soaking in season 5 of Girlfriends Guide to Divorce which is now available on Netflix. We saw X-Men Dark Phoenix which I wasn't a fan of.

They made people dead who are not dead in films that are shown in the future (sorry if that doesn't make sense) and messed around with a few other pieces of the X-Men timeline. I am a fan so I'm waiting to see what happens. AND I am counting the days until Hobbs & Shaw a Fast & Furious spinoff! I am a huge fan of the franchise and love Dwayne Johnson so I'm really looking forward to having fun and being entertained.

Reading | Save Me the Plums

> Being someone who is obsessed with and passionate about food it should come as no surprise that I enjoy books about food and about chefs. Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl is exactly that and the perfect summer read! Ruth worked at Gourmet Magazine for years and her latest book cover that time. I was unfamiliar with Ruth until she appeared several times as a Top Chef Masters judge. I absolutely love Top Chef and have watched all the spin-offs. I really appreciated Ruth's perspective on food and read Tender to the Bone shortly after discovering her. I know that the food industry is not glamorous but I enjoy getting a peek inside nonetheless!

Working On | Blog Posts!
> I'm still working on blog posts from our 10 days in Brittany (so far I've got Dinan, Saint-Malo, Fougeres, and Cancale) 2 camping trips to White Pocket, Arizona, a weekend in Tucson and a brief stop in Ajo, Arizona. Plus at least one more month of Traveler Tuesday (it will go on hiatus again after July) along with other series that I have. I absolutely loved this tweet from my gal pal Kristin Luna this week and if you take a look at the replies it's fun to see that most of the people who responded have been blogging for quite some time! When I started blogging almost 11 years ago I blogged almost every day! Now I can barely keep up!

Feeling | Hot! Hot Hot! 
> The 100's in Phoenix started this month. We've been lucky this year, we had a rainy winter and milder spring. We arrived in Phoenix 2 years ago this week to temperatures in the 120's. I know my friends in Paris are suffering in the 100's right now as well, the difference being that the vast majority of people don't have air conditioning, so that is not fun at all! Last year we escaped to Alaska to go fishing, who wants to send us to the North Pole?

Planning |  Staycations

> Since we are not likely to get to the North Pole soon, we are planning some local staycations. With over 200 resorts in the area and prices cut more than half, it's the perfect time to check out the pools and tropical drinks. Mr. Misadventures and I had an amazing weekend at Hacienda del Sol Resort in Tucson which I will be writing about next week. I have to thank Enterprise for prompting the trip to Tucson with their Enterprise Inspires campaign. Their mission is to get people to find their weekend selves, and we certainly did!

Loving | Our rooftop car tent!
> OMG camping will never be the same! I have another blog post to write about our brand new Tepui tent (coming soon!) but let me just give you a sneak peek. WE LOVE IT. To not have to set up a tent on the ground is amazeballs and changes the game on camping! We went to remote White Pocket twice (Memorial Day and last weekend) and it was the best. We'll be testing it out again for the 4th of July weekend under different circumstances. We're heading to Monument Valley and instead of parking the truck and leaving it there, we will have to pack up our camping gear, etc. when we go out for the day as we won't be hiking but driving to here and there. I'll let you know when I do my review, how it goes.

My Favorite Photo | Red Jambus at White Pocket

When you love your shoes and think the red is so pretty you may just go a little crazy on the white rocks! I love red and these comfortable and adventurous shoes kept me going all day! No blisters, no soreness, all comfort. The rock formations at White Pocket don't require heavy-duty hiking boots so I preferred my pop of color!

That's my month, what's CURRENTLY going on with you?

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