After a month on and off the road, I'm home for good! My travels took me up and down the coast of California, Oregon, Arizona, and Nevada and was encapsulated by flickering moments that will forever shine on in my mind and relived through my blog. At its very inception, I romanticized the journey, as I tend to do with everything else in life. It was going to be my very own "Eat, Pray, Love" chronicle where spiritual awakening and "Aha" moments would reign queen alongside good eats and good company. I did eat a lot of good food and enjoyed the company of many. But sudden clarity and new found wisdom? Not so much. And I'm okay with that. Over the past month, I've come to learn that answers don't always respond to questions. It's through the daily accumulation of learning, sharing, conversing, and experiencing that draw out purpose, define goals, and help reach epiphanies.
Although the meaning of life was not answered this time around, I did crack the code to a few road trip survival tips that are universal in application. I hope you can use them to ensure nothing but an open road to fabulous adventures.
{stop. shoot. repeat}
It's okay to let time slip away. Make impromptu stops to capture moments of beauty. Because once you pass and pass on it, it's gone forever.
{bathing suit required}
Bring a bathing suit, regardless of rhythm, reason, or season. You don't want to shut the door to the possibility of a wet and wild time.
{keep your hands clean}
For me, it's so easy to get sick when traveling as my immune system is weaker than normal and my hands are constantly shoving food into my mouth. On this trip, I kept The Honest Co. hand sanitizer spray in my purse and used it several times a day. Made with aloe and devoid of harsh chemicals, the convenient to use spray moisturized while protecting my hands against germs and bacteria.
{don't forget to take your vitamins}
I took The Honest Co. Immunity Defense vitamins daily as it's formulated with all-natural ingredients to promote wellness when under physical stress. Typically, I get sick after traveling for more than two weeks but this time around, I feel energized and healthy even after a month on the road.
{experience everything}
Keep the top down, windows low, and an open mind as you welcome new sights, sounds, and smells.
{road trip weather is lip balm weather}
Always keep moisturizing lip balm close by if you're traveling to multiple places as the shift in climate can dry out your lips. I applied The Honest Co. organic lip balm alongside Pacifica Coconut Kiss Creamy Lip Butter for buttery rosy lips.
{go up}
Plop a seat at a rooftop bar or restaurant and enjoy panoramic aerial views of the city. Bask in the sights while taking notes on cool sites you'd like to visit.
{live like a local}
Go where the locals go to soak up the city's authentic flavor and culture. When in Portland, we spent Saturday morning watching the Grand Rose parade, shopping at the Saturday Market, and making friends along the way!
{seek inspiration}
Find it in people, sites, ideas, culture, and everything in between.
{bring workout clothes and sunscreen}
Every trip, I pack running/hiking shoes, workout clothes, and sunscreen so that I'm ready at a moment's notice for a sunrise hike, a twilight run, a bike tour, or even an afternoon game of ping pong. A generous daily slathering of The Honest Co. waterproof SPF 30 sunscreen provided sun protection while keeping a tan at bay. I love that it's fragrance-free, non-whitening, and made with natural ingredients.
{eat. a lot}
Because anything you consume in a different area code, much like eating "mini" anything, is devoid of calories.
{bring travel friendly toothpaste}
Toothpaste is the one item I always forget to pack. But not anymore! I keep my travel size The Honest Co. toothpaste in my toiletry bag. Its convenient size makes it easy to brush my teeth anytime, anywhere.
{stay on cloud nine}
As a perpetual dreamer, I have my head in the clouds quite literally as I love to stare into the fluffy abyss. Have you ever noticed different weather systems produce different clouds?
{revel in local libations until your pictures start to blur}
Self-explanatory.
{unwind and recharge}
Escape from the chaotic energy of being on the road by unwinding with simple luxuries like a bubble bath, wearing pretty Hanky Panky lingerie, and moisturizing with The Honest Co. organic body oil. This simple exercise created a spa-like sanctuary that helped me stay calm and relaxed.
{stop and smell the peonies}
Because they won't be in bloom for long.
{live fabulously}