Outdoor Activities Archives

I took a week off for vacation, went to Vegas and had a blast. I don’t really care much for gambling and all the smoking but I do like walking around exploring the hotels and shops and getting to relax and swim. Here’s a small glimpse of how it went.

What I Packed

Some of my travel essentials. It’s good to pack light and take travel sized products when possible. For skincare, I keep it simple. Sunscreen, cleanser, toner and moisturizer. Optional: Eye cream with SPF (I used Dermalogica’s Total Eye Care SPF 15) and if you use any antioxidant serums, i.e. vitamin C or E, you can layer them under your sunscreen. For makeup, I really love the Urban Decay Naked palette where you can create natural or smokey bronze looks.

Fun Under the Sun… Er, Shade

Seeking shade on a hot day behind the waterfall.

Pool side essentials: Sunscreen, a good book and a relaxing jacuzzi.

Special Occasion Night

Me and one of my sisters en route to dinner.

We had a great dinner at Tommy Bahama’s located in the Las Vegas Town Square. If you’re ever in Vegas, stop on by, especially for dessert. Key Lime Pie (love the tartness) and Triple Chocolate Cake (not as overly sweet as it seems, at least to me) are amazing!

Waiting for the show to start at The Mirage. For a fast, special occasion look, I like a bold red lip, bronze eyeshadow on the lid, black eyeliner, mascara and a swipe of bronzer. Products used: Urban Decay Naked palette eyeshadow in Smog, Urban Decay Glide-On 24/7 Eye Pencil in Black Velvet and Sephora Collection Rouge Infusion Lip Stain in No. 10 Red Essence.

Sight Seeing/Activities

Until I can see the actual one in Paris, this will suffice.

The New York, New York hotel view from the M&M store.

Calling all chocolate lovers, visit Hershey’s World located inside the NY, NY hotel. There’s an impressive Statue of Liberty replica made out of chocolate and some yummy treats.

One of the best parts of my vacation: getting to zipline at night passing a dome of lights and images! It’s smaller than most, but well, baby steps first, right?

Zipping by through Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas at night although, to be honest, I didn’t see really notice the dome or lights because I was busy hanging on for dear life! It was a bit nerve wrecking at first but once you get the courage, it’s an amazing experience!

If you ever find yourself in Vegas, definitely try ziplining! How do you like to spend your vacation?

School is out, summer is here and if you’re like my family, camping trips may soon make their way into your schedule. The outdoors can provide beautiful imagery, new perspectives, fresh air but also has some not so nice perks. Bugs attacking you from every angle or inadvertently providing a feast for neighboring critters is something I can do without. So whether you’re out on the road in an RV or truck/car, here are some suggestions on what to pack and some tips I learned along the way.

What To Pack

Mini First Aid Kit

Always a great item to have. You can pick up a few at your local dollar store for, well a dollar. Can’t beat that!

SPF Products

You’ll definitely want to take your broad spectrum sunscreen (make sure the cap is sealed tight- I learned this the hard way!), an eye cream with SPF (if you have one), and lip balm with SPF. Sunburn looks good on no one.

Travel Sized Bottles

You can take your cleanser, toner, moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner and bodywash in tiny bottles so you don’t have to lug huge bottles around, and in case they accidentally get left behind, no major loss there.

Unscented Towelettes/Unscented Baby Wipes

In case you don’t have access to a sink to wash your face, you can use these. A trick I used: I spritzed toner into a towelette and used it to remove the sunscreen, dirt and oil that accumulated throughout the day. Plus, they come in handy to wipe down surfaces, sticky/dirty hands, etc.

Mini Antibacterial Soap

Another good product to have when soap might not be readily available.

Medications

Make certain to pack your medication if you take any; there are little tiny plastic containers you can purchase to store them in. You might want to also keep Benadryl on hand in case of allergies and aspirin or ibuprofen. Some camping sites have small stores that provide these items but they tend to hike up the prices a bit.

Bug Repellent

My ‘perfume’ for the trip and a total life saver! There are also ones you can hang outside your tent- sorry bugs, you’ll need to find your victims elsewhere.

Warm Clothes

Regardless if the weather is super hot during the day, keep at least a jacket, an extra pair of socks, and pants to keep warm in case the temperatures decide to drop at night.

Tips

Do be sure to pack away any edible items lest you want to attract unwanted strangers. Trust me, animals can and will find a way to open bags and boxes. Store items in coolers or plastic containers and make sure to secure them.

Activities like hiking or fishing mean long periods of time out in the sun, so make sure to take along your sunscreen to reapply and prevent sunburn. Hats and sunglasses are great to take along too.

Keep hydrated to help control your heart rate and blood pressure as well as regulate your body temperature.

Nothing beats coming back from a day-long activity and firing up the grill to cook a delicious meal. One caveat? If you did get sunburned, the heat generated from the grill can further aggravate an already irritated complexion. Keep some aloe vera gel (and maybe some ibuprofen) handy if this is the case.

Camping or any other outdoor activity is always an adventure from making smores to setting up tents. Enjoy it, stay sun protected and safe, and embrace the experience- you’ll be home in no time.

What do you pack for your outdoor excursions?

When in Vegas…

Camping Guide 101!