Working for the Weekend: Outdoor Adventures!

Outdoor Adventures! by elbonner featuring outdoor home decor

Summer makes you want to go outside and get all up in nature. I've slacked on the outdoor trip planning lately (always), but I want to make a change and start taking the time to go on more weekend camping trips. It would be ideal to go once a month because I really do love being outside. I'm not someone who minds not showering for a few days in the name of fun and since I just got a brand-spanking new REI membership, I'm ready to get my head in some trail maps and make some memories! It also makes me want to peruse the internet for cool new camping gear. Here are some tried-and-tested, as well as some camp-wants that I've been enjoying/eyeing!

Patagonia Fleur Tank- Super soft and nice for day hikes and keeping cool in the summer. Also comfy for nights under the stars!

Prana "Halle" Pant- Stretchy, flattering, articulate, great for hikes and walks alike. Comes in a bunch of colors too. I tend to stick with pants when it comes to hiking, even in the summer, because of ticks. I would rather be a little warm than get Lyme disease, and I can do that all while looking pretty cute for the trail!

Patagonia "Overcast" Shirt- UPF 20 rated and very lightweight, this is a great shirt to wear in the summer to keep you protected from the sun and creepy crawlies! Comes in plaid and solid colors and good in case it get cooler in the evenings.

Osprey Ariel 65L Backpack- The best backpack EVER! This is the backpack I have used for the past two years and my boyfriend has the male model (hehe!). There's great mesh ventilation on the back, lots of pockets to hold all of your gear, lots of adjustments to make hauling things as comfortable as possible, and super tough and sturdy. 10/10 would buy again and again!

Danner Mountain Light Cascade Hiking Boots- Ok, I saw Wild, it was a great movie. And one of the best characters in the movie were Cheryl's BOOTS! How gorgeous are those things with their sexy red laces? They are apparently the real deal and a modern take on a 70's classic, made for the trail. If I somehow found $300 and my other boots fell apart, I might make these mine one day. For now, it's just boot lust!

Evrgrn Campfire Rocker- What a great chair for sitting around the fire, enjoying a burger and a beer with your friends? I really can't think of many things that are better than that. If I had an ice cream, too, I could die a happy lady! These chairs come in super cute prints and colors and are super portable, making them great for your next car-camping adventure. Enjoyed best with friends or just the wilderness!

Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Pullover- Sometimes you just need a fleece. It lets a little bit of the breeze through to keep you comfortable, but is also snuggly enough to enjoy on a cool night. Fleeces are so useful, and Patagonia makes their out of recycled plastic. Save the planet and your evening chill!

Patagonia Barely Baggies Shorts and Bottom Turn/Paries Bikini- Spending your summer days beach camping? Lucky you! Make sure you bring a great pair of shorts to take you from the campsite to the water and look cute doing it. These Barely Baggies from Patagonia (I know, I just love them so much) are fast drying and lightweight so you can wear them anywhere. They also have prints that are cool enough to wear out to eat if you just don't feel like cooking. You also need a swimsuit that stays on while you play in the water and this one isn't going anywhere! No nip-slips here!

Biolite Wood Burning Camp Stove- Need to charge your phone and boil some water at the same time? With the Biolite, you use sticks, leaves and pine needles to fuel the stove instead of lugging around fuel. The leftover energy is converted and store so that you can hook up your USB chargable devices and keep watching Netflix on the trail!

Big Agnes Rattlesnake SL3 mtnGLO Tent- This tent is unique in the fact that it has LED lighting sewn into the seams of the roof so you don't need to fumble with lamps smacking you in the head when you need to get up and pee. I don't know how durable the track lighting will be in the long-run, but this is a really cool idea that I hope will be made available on other tents! The body is mostly mesh so there's lots of ventilation and has two doors so you don't have to crawl over your buddy to get out.

Hydroflask Insulated Wide Mouth 64oz. Growler- Did you stop at a cool mountain brewery or cider press on your way to the campsite and get stuck with a clunky, breakable glass growler that will keep cold for like 10 minutes? You should've invested in the whopping 64oz Vacuum Insulated Hydroflask Growler. Created to keep your favorite beverage cold (or hot) for multiple hours. At least enough to enjoy after a long day on the trails. You could even put a fresh batch of chicken noodle soup or hot chocolate in it if you're craving something warm in the cooler weather!

Camping is so much fun and these goodies can be enjoyed on or off the campsite. Summer is when everyone wants to get together and hang out outside, so whether you're camping on the beach, backpacking in the mountains, or just spending the night in a tent in the backyard (seriously fun!), make your time more enjoyable with some good friends and good equipment! You'll thank yourself for years to come! Get outside!

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Spring Greening: Gifts That Keep On Giving!

Spring Greening by elbonner featuring Patagonia

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaack...Ok, I was never really gone, but lets just say that the months between Christmas and Easter are typically my lowest point of inspiration, motivation, and overall happiness. I had absolutely nothing to talk about because nothing was going on! It was cold, the weather was awful, every day that was decent was rainy, and it wasn't even worth waking up some of those days. Hopefully, those days are behind us now as the northern hemisphere is gearing up for summer! Along with this changing of the seasons, I'm trying to change my relationship with some things, most of all: STUFF. I have entirely too much stuff and I am constantly bombarded with the urge to accumulate more stuff. I'm starting to see that life goes on without stuff and if you're going to get stuff, get really good stuff. And so we come to this post; guess what? It's about stuff, but it's stuff you won't have to replace for a long time, and stuff that doesn't accumulate and create a stuff problem for the earth. So, bear with me and take a gander at some stuff that could save you and the earth!

Klean Kanteen Vacuum Insulated Bottle and Tumbler: It's a well-stated fact that plastic water bottles are the root of all evil. Baby seals eat them, they seep their chemicals in our groundwater, and will probably create some sort of mecha-Hitler robot demon that will devour the earth in a fiery rage. That may be an exaggeration, but at this point in time, there is no reason to keep purchasing bottled water. These bottles and cups from Klean Kanteen are the perfect solution. They are stainless steel so they won't rust, vacuum insulated so cold things stay cold and hot things stay hot. I left my bottle in my car overnight with ice I had put in that bottle that morning (about 9 hours after I lazily left it in the car). When I opened the bottle the next morning (another 16 hours later) to take a drink, THERE WAS STILL ICE IN IT. And the same goes for the tumbler: want a cold margarita to remain cold without succumb  to the disgusting heat dissipating from your sweaty hands? Done! Want a drinking glass that wont break when your drunken friends can't seem to just not drop things? Get a 4-pack of their steel pint glasses and give that industrial touch to your favorite beverage! Using your own cup saves paper, plastic, and germs from other peoples grubby hands!

PlanetWise Reusable Bags: On the topic of reusable things, ditch your plastic sandwich bags! Get rid of your plastic produce bags and snack baggies! They just go in the trash and cleaning flimsy plastic bags is super annoying. These can be washed in the washing machine and used over and over again. They come in a bunch of sizes for every food item and will save you money and drawer space!

Patagonia Reversable Malama Bikini and Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover: Why did I put clothes on this list? I thought you were getting rid of excess stuff, Emily, YOU HYPOCRITE! Calm yourself! These garments are different! Not only does Patagonia make durable, awesome stuff, but they have an even greater incentive. If your Patagonia gear gets a tear, a strap comes loose, or a zipper isn't so zippy anymore, You can send your stuff to their garment repair facility and they will fix your stuff for you, therefore lessening your need for more stuff! These pieces are also made from 80% recycled bottles, so you're doing your part , but barely trying! It's like you saving 10,000 plastic bottles from polluting the baby otters by wearing a fleece! I like a company with a message and commitment to conservation, and Patagonia fits the bill.

Avasol spf 30 Sunscreen Stick: Sunscreens are known to be laden with chemicals, and I made the effort to stay away from chemical sunscreens long ago. This sunscreen stick is fricking awesome. It's tinted (two colors: tan and dark), the tan is just light enough to match my fair skin and it covers almost like a foundation. In fact, I've been using it as a foundation for the past few weeks! No itchiness, no breakouts, this sunscreen is all natural, made with plant oils and butter and a zinc-based spf, this stuff save you time with it's convenient stick form and the planet by being ocean safe and packaged in biodegradable cardboard. Keep from killing off coral and a nasty sunburn by using a sea-safe sunscreen like Avasol! No stinging or running into your eyes; this stuff is a skin saver!

Toms "Every Mother Counts" Canvas Backpack: Toms is one of those companies who is built on giving. Luckily, the products they make are durable, stylish, and helpful to someone other than yourself. These new bags by Toms benefit women in developing countries that have limited to non-existent prenatal care and ensure their babies get the best start in life. If you like healthy, productive babies and really stinking cute bags, give these a looksie!

Yowzers, that was a lot of words! But it had to be done, the writing bug is crawling its way back into my brain to lay its eggs  only to burst forth the warmer it gets! I love to shop, but I need to get better about where my money goes. Purchases like the one above at least give me some sort of inkling that I'm making the right decision. If you're faced with a gift dilemma or want something for yourself that will stay with you forever, give these items a try and make a new friend for life! Stay golden!

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WTF, Emily: Where The Hell I've Been

I think it's safe to say that sometimes you just don't have the umph to go the extra mile. Sometimes you just want to be a lazy lump. That is where I've been the past few weeks (oops!). I had a week off from work, and even though I didn't go away on vacation, I spent my time doing stuff that I like to do. I stayed busy without having to worry about running myself ragged. At work, the week before my vacation was a scene straight out of Satan's butthole and all I wanted to do that first day off was crash and relax. I wanted my week off to be low-key and low-stress and it was! I took a few pictures so let's force you to look at those now!

We went on a ton of walks around our neighborhood.There are a bunch of hibiscus flowers blooming at the moment and I always take the time to stop in appreciate them. They make me feel like I'm some place tropical! The pink ones were in a small park on one of our walking routes and the flowers, I swear, were almost as big as my head. Hooray for freakishly big flowers!

I like that my city is old (too bad it's sinking). There's a lot of cool architecture and neat little places tucked into neighborhoods that you wouldn't see from the main roads. 

I went thrifting and found some cool records! This one is a compilation of all those songs that remind you of vintage Hawaiian news-reels and movies. I was worried that it wouldn't play, but I figured even if it didn't I could frame the cover. I got the soundtrack to South Pacific too which has a big ol' picture of Tahiti on it which is always a plus.

I ordered this book almost two months ago and Amazon finally got it in stock. It's a the "sequel" to the Surf Cafe Cookbook which is awesome. This one is more about the whole beachy lifestyle and includes ideas on decorating your house, creating a useable garden, and it also has a bunch of really good-looking recipes. Click HERE to get yours!

It was wonderful waking up later than 6:30in the morning, eating a good breakfast, getting some exercise and sunshine, and having a no-stress time with the BF. We even saw a sweet zipline park not far from us that we will probably frequent once the tourists get the heck out of here. I hope you all are enjoying your summer and denying that it will ever end. I watched The Endless Summer whilst doing my laundry and wished I lived in a place or had the ability to go to a warmer place in the colder months because last winter was the winter from Hell, but it just gives me something to look forward to in the future! Have a good week everyone!

Oh, and here's a picture of a praying mantis that landing on my windscreen and looks like a space monster attacking the city:

 All hail the Mantis!

Mini Photo-Diary: Lazy Life

I'm not that lazy. I did wash and vacuum my car (half-assedly) and I grilled up a really awesome lunch of salmon and veggies, but I did spend the majority of my day laying in the backyard. I wasn't really feeling up to doing a lot today, so I did one thing for an hour and let is count for the other 23! Being lazy for a day is fine as long as that day doesn't extend into like 8; but summer is made for lazing!

I started my morning off with a Pitaya (dragon fruit) smoothie with some granola for added crunchiness. I like Pitaya (available here) because it tastes like a strawberry mixed with a pineapple and it makes everything freakishly hot pink; just how I like it!

I loaded up my cooler bag with all sorts of drinks, fruits, snacks, and even my thermal water spray. I love this Foodland bag. My mom and I were kicking ourselves for not bringing some back when we went on our trip because they were all over the place and so cute. I actually found this one and another one at an Asian grocery store here in VA. Don't know how they got there, but thanks anyways! And no, I didn't steal them from under someone's shopping cart!  I'm also obsessed with Vita Coco's Coconut Water Lemonade. It's coconut water and lemon puree and it is sooo good. I've been on a huge lemonade kick lately and this made my summer even better.

Speaking of thermal water, a friend told me this La Roche Posay thermal water was available at Target ($12), so I hauled ass over there and got the biggest can I could find. Thermal water may just be mineral water in a can, but the mister on these things are stuff of legends. I stick this in the fridge, transfer to the cooler, and mist myself like some sort of Beverly Hills trophy wife whenever I get a little parched. I love it, darling!

Sorry for my nasty feet, but I love my new polish (which you can't see very well) from Sally Hansen called Make Waves. I think it's from their triple shine line and it's a rich turquoise with a lime green shimmer. Soooooo beautiful; it reminds me of the color of the water in Hawaii. I also like my hot pink, plastic Adirondack chairs. They're all over the place here in the southeast and I think they're great!

It was pretty warm today, and I'm also forcing myself to drink more during the day so I invested in a really nice water bottle.My boyfriend actually got one of these first and it has been a lifesaver on our backpacking and beach trips. This bottle from Klean Kanteen in insulated and can keep drinks cold for up to 24 HOURS. There's nothing better than taking a icy-cold sip of water after a long day backpacking when your Camel Back water is like drinking water that's been sitting in your car all afternoon. I highly recommend this bottle for anyone who like things to stay cold. It keeps warm drink warm for up to 6 hours. It says you can even keep soup and spaghetti in it. Hell yeah, spaghetti on the go! Today, I filled my bottle with ice cubes and some pink grapefruit flavored Perrier. Mineral water is good when you're out in the sun, because it helps replace any minerals you sweat out throughout the day. Plus, it's almost like a soda due to the fizz, but no calories!

And finally, you can't have an outside day without a good magazine. This one was all about moving to tropical island and was basically written for me. 

I hope you all enjoy your weekend and get some time outside! Bon weekend!

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I've Made A Huge Mistake: Face Masks for Sunburned Skin!

Face Masks fro Sunburned Skin by elbonner featuring wall art

Tis' the season to fall asleep on your beach chair, laying in your yard, or on a pool floaty, only to wake up with the ultimate facial disaster. Accidentally incurring radiation poisoning is a huge bummer (especially if you had sunglasses on), but it's not the end of the world. Number one, it reminds you for the rest of the summer to put that sunscreen on, and number two, there are things you can do to ease the burn and the best thing I've found is by slapping a mask on it! These can be used on other parts of your body, but it can get messy. You may need to stand in the bathtub for half an hour while these masks do their thing. Here are some winning combinations that you can get at your grocery store and why they are good for curing the burn!

1. Turmeric, Lemon, and Greek Yogurt Mask: Turmeric has been under some rigorous tasting lately, mostly due to the fact that cancer researchers have found out that this wonder-root has some pretty incredible anti-inflammatory properties which can help kep itssues and organs healthy. With turmeric's benefits being scientifically proven, it makes a great sunburn remedy. Mix it in with some vitamin C-packed lemon juice (vitamin C reverves photo-aging) and some full-fat Greek yogurt (the fats and acids found in full-fat yogurt also calm inflamation) and you have the sunburn remedy of all remedies! This is my personal favorite and really helps with painful sunburns.

2. Acai, Manuka Honey, and Aloe Vera Juice: Acai is readily available at most grocery stores in juice or powdered form and either will work in this mask (the juice makes things a bit runnier). It's got a TON of antioxidants in it that fight off the free radicals that are hellbent on destroying your skin. Manuka honey comes from New Zealand and unlike regular honey, has a more medicinal taste and smell. Don't let it put you off, because it has some unbelievable antimicrobial and antioxidant properties; all essential in getting rid of sunburn! Aloe Vera is an old favorite in the sunburn game, but sometimes I find it lacking all by itself. Why not add it to some other amazing ingredients to give them a moisturizing boost! 

3. Avocado, Oats, and Milk: Your typical cartoon freak-out-your-little-brother mask, avocado masks are great for getting some moisture back into your skin. Avocados are like natures butter and will inject your skin with some of the moisture it lost frying out in the heat. By adding some moisture-grabbing oats, you up the soothing effect. Top it all off with some full-fat to 2% milk, and let the lactic acids soothe away all the fiery hotness.

I hope these help you on your quest to not look like a kickball-turned old, leathery basketball this summer. The sun is no joke and put on your damn sunscreen like your mother told you, already! These masks are in NO WAY something that can keep you from getting skin cancer or magically keep you from aging. They're just to take away the pain of not slathering on the only thing that can keep you protected! If it was a complete accident, be proactive and get your skin back in tip-top shape!

Sunday Funday: The Best Time of the Year

There really is no contest; this time of year in my area is simply the best. The tourists aren't here yet, the weather hasn't gotten unbearably hot yet, there's all sorts of stuff going on, and I'm usually spending a lot of time outside.  It's like it went from dark, cold, boring nothingness that was seriously depressing to an almost overwhelming amount of stuff to do! My friends have their pool open, it's great hiking weather, Busch friggin' Gardens is open, the beach is warming up; it's almost too much to do! The past two weekends have been so amazingly perfect that it just kept my mood lifted all week. After my backpacking trip last weekend, this one was a bit more subdued, but still really enjoyable. I spent almost all day outside in my parents backyard on Saturday and the BF and I went on a long walk today. 

Two of the great things about my apartment is the fact that I have sunroom and that my landlord is an A+ gardener and keeps the place so gorgeous! I love having all sorts of plants in my sunroom, I sometimes like to call it my jungle room (like the Walking In Memphis Song!). We also have a tiny, shared backyard with all sorts of plants and flowers that are changed throughout the seasons. It's never the same stuff twice! Even though sitting at home can get boring, it's days like these that I really enjoy being at home just looking at all the pretty stuff around us.

I've been going through cookbooks (one of my very favorite things) looking for new recipes, but mostly just enjoying the pictures. This one in the photo, The Surf Cafe Cookbook, is a great cookbook for food and photo-lovers alike. The sandwich bread recipe in there is amazing, as well as the lemon squares! I highly recommend it to anyone with taste buds. It reminds me of the kinds of things I eat when I visit my relatives in England which puts me in instant vacation mode. 

 No smart-assiness here today; it must be all the sunshine. I've got no complaints and I'm very content just staring out of the window and watching the world go by. Hope you all have a great week!