Resources & Store
Hello, and welcome to my Resource & Store page! I am very passionate about spreading the word on good places and good products, which is the whole reason I started this website in the first place! Below are all the products that I use or am in the process of trying out! Check back frequently to see the latest products I’m trying out! I am always open to new things, so if you know of something I should check out, please shoot me a message in the contact box at the bottom of the page!
Disclosure: Most of the links below are affiliate links. This means that when you click on the link below to buy a certain product, I will receive a small commission off the sale. It doesn’t affect the price that you pay, and the commission I receive doesn’t have any bearing on my recommendation! Cookies help the websites keep track of my commission, and nothing more. Regardless, I hope that you like the products and give them a try whether you use my links or not, cause I truly suggest only what I use and love!
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Hiking Gear
Let me tell ya, there’s little I enjoy more than hiking! I love being out in nature, and over time I have come to rely on certain products that I like to have on hand on the trail. My sometimes blogging partner Amanda and I have come up with a list of reasons why we like to partner with REI for outdoor gear:
- Their shoes return for up to a year as long as there’s no obvious damage – which really, who else does that??
- If you’re a member you actually get good coupons and earn dividends
- They have lots of classes to help you learn new ways to enjoy the outdoors, such as hiking, biking, climbing, etc! Click here to check out what they are currently offering around you!
- The staff has always been very friendly and nice, as well as knowledgeable!
- They really care about the environment #optoutside
- They have an REI Mastercard that not only gives you great rewards, not only has no annual fee, but they also donate to the National Forest Foundation every time you make a purchase! I mean if that doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, I don’t know what will!
REI isn’t my only affiliate partner, but most of my hiking gear recommendations come from them!
- Merrell Women’s Hiking Shoes – I gotta say, I love my Merrell’s and I don’t care who knows it! I have hiked all over Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, and Texas with these bad boys since I bought them in 2017, and they literally still look and function like new. Here’s a link to the closest match to the specific shoe I use. They are not waterproof to prolonged submersion but they have never gotten my feet wet with quick steps across shallow water or in heavy rain.
- Chaco Women’s Sandals – These are really comfortable and provide great support. They are even podiatrist certified!
- Chaco Men’s Sandals – same as above, comfortable with great support!
- prAna Women’s Clothing – This company sells quality products and are Fair Trade Certified, meaning they support the farmers and factory workers they work with by helping to bridge the gap between living wage and minimum wage…so you can feel good about supporting this brand! These clothes work really well outdoors.
- prAna Women’s Pants – lightweight, durable, and most importantly, comfortable!
- prAna Men’s Clothing – This brand is a great option for both function & style
- Osprey Hydration Pack – So, I know these are expensive, but hydration is so important when it comes to being outdoors! A hydration pack distributes the weight of an appropriate amount of water much better than packing multiple water bottles. It’s a one time purchase – so if you’re an outdoor lover, treat yourself!
- Cleaning Tablet for your Hydration bag – Have you ever wondered how many germs and bacteria have multiplied in your water reservoir after a long break from the outdoors?? I know I sure have! These tablets help clean and combat any odors!
- First Aid Kit – I usually only carry this on the trail if it’s going to be lengthy, but even if I don’t have it on the trail I like to keep it in my car in case of emergencies. It’s definitely worth the money to have the peace of mind of having something on hand versus nothing.
- Bear Safety Products – Really and truly, this is a legitimate issue you might have to contend with. You’d sure rather you had spent the money to at least have something on hand to try if you ran into an angry bear out on the trail. People’s personal preferences are major in this sort of thing, so if you want to browse everything REI offers click the link above.
- DEET free Mosquito Repellent
- High Ponytail Hat – seriously, these are the best invention ever!!! I love mine and wear it literally all of the time. Perhaps because I’m too lazy to style my hair every day, but that is 100% beside the point.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE DEALS ON REI'S OUTLET
Kid Gear
- Osprey Poco AG Child Carrier – I am so excited to start hiking with this carrier! I truly went with the Ergobaby longer than I should have with my daughter! This carrier even has a back panel reservoir sleeve for hydration bags!
- Insulated Jackets – My kid is pretty resilient to the cold – at least she is if we have the proper gear! I’ve had her out in 110-degree weather inside an Ice Castle in January and she was fine (and trust me, she’s the type of kid who would let you know if she wasn’t!). This link provides you with a list of options to see what you like!
- Rain Jackets – Rain gear is always a good idea to have on hand for the kiddos – especially during Monsoon season!
- Hats, Gloves, Etc. – A list of all the weather protective gear available for children. I’d love to add a personal note, but my daughter absolutely won’t leave hats or sunglasses on her head! I opt instead for sunscreen lol.
- Infantino 4-in-1 Infant Carrier – An absolute, must-have, no-excuses item for hiking in the first year of life! I switched from Ergo-baby, and found that I liked the Infantino better. When you take the baby out of the Ergo-baby carrier, you have to undo the whole thing. With Infantino the straps that go around you don’t have to be undone, just the four front buckles on the sides. Very convenient when you want to take the baby out and put them back in after a few minutes!
Photography Gear
- Nikon D3400 w/2 lens – I am forever and always a lover, supporter, and friend of Nikon! It was my first DSLR and I’ll always use this brand! The link I have provided gets you 2 lenses, an 18-55 and a 70-300. I find that my 18-55 is highly versatile, but there are plenty of situations where the 70-300 would have been happily used! It is worth every penny to have a quality camera to capture cherished moments, so save up and treat yourself!
- Tripod – I love having group shots with awesome scenic views in the background on my adventures! I literally will not leave my house on a trip without my tripod! This one is versatile with different types of cameras and even comes with a phone holder.
- Tripod for Phones – For those of you who only use your phone for photos, here is an awesome tripod so you can still capture group shots or the perfect solo shot for the ‘gram!
City Travel
- Sperry’s Women’s Shoes – I’m a sucker for comfortable, easy on, easy off shoes. Sperry’s are my go-to slip-on shoes when I’m not on the trail! I wear my current pair all the time!
- High Ponytail Hat – I know I referenced this in the hiking resources section, but this is a different style with color options. I pretty much don’t leave home without it these days, I love it so much!
- Anti-theft Backpack – This is a recent purchase for me – but I love it! It has enough room for all mine and my daughter’s necessities, it’s a backpack so I’m hands-free to keep track of my daughter, it’s anti-theft and it looks nice! A total win, in my book.
- Matching Clothes from PatPat – Oh. My. Gosh. I am in love with the outfits on this website!!! The dress in the above picture is one I bought from PatPat. The material is quality, the prices are affordable, and I get to match outfits with my little baby girl whenever I want! There are flash sales every day and they have clothes for the whole family!! I can’t recommend them enough – I always get compliments when I wear their clothes!
Room & Board
- VRBO is my serial go-to when I’m traveling out of state! Hotels are OK for a quick one, maybe a two-night trip, but you can’t beat the comfort and privacy of staying in your own condo, Townhome, or house! I personally love using VRBO because:
- Full Kitchen: When I’m on a long trip I don’t want to eat out for every meal, every day. A full kitchen allows me to have some meals at home each day. A bonus of this is if you are in a beautiful setting (such as beachfront), you can cook your dinner and sit on the deck while watching the waves come in! Perfect Score.
- Great for Traveling with Kids: Hotel rooms are a bummer for me when it comes to my daughter. She is not the type of kid who can sleep if she’s in the same room as everyone! She needs quiet and dark, and VRBO allows me to get accommodations so that she can have her own separate space for these necessary naps and unbroken sleep!
- Great for Traveling in Groups: I often travel with my parents. Renting a home is more expensive than hotel rooms, but it’s really the same price or cheaper if you are splitting the cost in two. So if you have some favorite travel buddy’s, a VRBO is the way to go!
- Great customer service & clear cancellation policies: I have had to rearrange and cancel trips in the past, and VRBO was by far better to work with than Airbnb. The cancellation policy is clearly stated so that there is no misunderstanding, and the customer service agents were so helpful and nice! A big bonus, in my opinion.
- Lots of pet-friendly options. Click here to browse pet-friendly places for your next trip!
Blogging Resources
Web Host:
I personally love using Bluehost for hosting my website. I’m not the most tech-savvy person in the world, and their customer service has held my hand and walked me through more than one website trial since joining in 2016! They always have been super nice and encouraging, and I honestly can’t say enough good things about them! I highly recommend using them over other hosts. Click the image below to get started with your own website today!
Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or suggestions!