This blog is part of our #redbudroadtrip series this summer, Life Lessons Learned in the Woods. One of my favorite parts of backpacking and canoeing trips is that you literally carry everything you need to survive. While I’m in love with this idea, it does present some challenges when packing. What do you carry, and what can you leave behind? Bring the essentials, leave the unnecessary stuff behind, right? Simple as that. Not always. For example: Food, water, shelter, those are given. But what about extra chocolate? A little wine? And should I take the thick fleece, the lightweight longsleeve...

Update: Scroll down for links to all 7 posts as they're released this season. If you had to choose your own adventure, what would it be? Would you hike, bike, paddle, climb, or surf? We're drawn to the outdoors for many reasons. The thrill of adventure, the peace of running water, the desire to find wildlife, or the chance to kick back and relax. It may be to find solitude, or to make memories with people we love. Sometimes feels impossible to get away, and yet we do it. Why? Because it’s always worth the effort. I go for many reasons, perhaps you...

The Results of the Cupboard-to-Campfire Challenge: In my last post, I explained my Cupboard-to-Campfire Challenge, a [potentially] brilliant menu planning strategy for road trips to solve creative cooking block, save money and eliminate food waste. If you missed it, start here for the full explanation. As we set out on our trip, I was excited to see what we'd come up with, and a little nervous about how much we'd have to rely on "hunger being the best sauce." All in all, it turned out pretty well! Mostly healthy with just the right amount of well-deserved celebratory splurges. A quick note: While we used the Challenge for...