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book it! aka travel

Book It! Series | Amazon Travel Essentials.

June 25, 2023

These are some of my must-have travel essentials from Amazon.

Stylin’ Sunnies: These sunnies are SO cute, versatile and such a good value under $15, so you don’t need to feel too bad if they get lost or broken by a toddler.

All-In-One Travel Charger: This charger has been a game-changer. It charges your iPhone, Apple Watch and Airpods all at once (and very fast). It’s greatly reduced the bulky cords and plug-ins that I was previously carrying. A MUST HAVE!

Collapsible Storage Tote: We use this tote ALL the time. It’s great for day-to-day (errands, road trip entertainment, soccer practice, etc. etc.), but also a great travel tote, as it collapses, so easy to stick into a suitcase pocket to use while you’re away.

Dyson AirWrap Travel Case: I am obsessed with my AirWrap, which makes it hard to travel without it. The case it came with is beautiful, but unfortunately very bulky and sitting idle on a closet shelf. Previously, I was throwing all the attachments into a random bag and packing the AirWrap on its own, BUT this case holds it all and keeps my beloved investment safe.

Packing Cubes: Ever since I started using packing cubes, I haven’t looked back. We have cubes in a few different colors, which makes it easy to differentiate between family members clothing when we’re all traveling together. They help keep everything organized, consolidated and you can easily throw them into drawers if you’re somewhere for a longer period and want to “move in” a bit. I also get weird about hotel drawers, so they act as a little barrier for you fellow germaphobes out there.

Silicone Makeup Brush Holder: I used to work for a makeup brush company, so I have a ton of brushes and have used ALL the options for travel. This is by far the best holder I’ve found. It’s silicone, so easy to clean and it’s very lightweight (don’t need to waste my poundage on a makeup brush holder)! It’s large enough to hold the essentials, but not too large where you find yourself packing brushes you likely won’t need. Really helps you think through what is actually necessary to travel with!

Compact Vitamin Organizer: LOVE this compact little organizer. I can fit a stash of meds and my vitamins in here vs. throwing the bottles into a bag.

Luggage Scale: This is 100% a necessity for me. I maximize ALL the space and weight when I travel, so I need to know exactly how much I am working with to avoid the airport shuffle. The airport is already stressful enough, so avoid showing your fellow passengers your underwear in the check-in line 🙂

Travel Toothbrush: I use a regular Sonicare at home, but it’s a little bulky to travel with. Enter the Sonicare One. It’s very slender and packs well, so you don’t have to sacrifice your dental health on the road.

Note: I am a member of the Amazon Associates program and get a small cut of any sale purchased through my Amazon links.

book it! aka travel

Book It! Series | Scottsdale Family Vacation

June 21, 2023

Luke and I went on a week-long kid-free vacation to Mexico over my birthday in January, which was GLORIOUS, but it was due time for a family vacation with the girls. We had a Delta companion ticket to burn and found a great deal through Costco on a resort + rental car. We ended up staying at the same resort, The Westin Kierland, as our babymoon back in 2017 when I was pregnant with Zoe, so it holds a special place in my heart. I will preface this post to say this vacation was nowhere near as relaxing as our babymoon 🙂

The Westin Kierland is only about a 20-minute drive from the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport and is in a very convenient part of Scottsdale, as it’s across from the Kierland Commons which has a ton of shopping and dining options. It’s also only 10 minutes away from a Target if you need to stock up on any essentials after you land (thanking the gods for drive-up!).

Our first couple days we spent at the pool mostly. They have 2 pools – one for adults-only, which we sadly did not get to step foot in on this trip and another larger pool with a zero depth entry which is great for the little ones. The real star of the show was the lazy river and waterslide – my daughter probably went down the waterslide at least 100 times during our week there.

Aside from the pools, the Westin has a ton of other kid-friendly perks!

An on-site scavenger hunt: Zoe loves a good scavenger hunt and this one was LEGIT. It takes you all over the resort grounds, so it’s a good one to do early in your stay to familiarize yourself with the resort. Once you complete the hunt, you can turn in your card to the front desk for a run reward (I won’t ruin the surprise so you’ll need to find out for yourself!).
An activity area complete with a jungle gym, basketball court, ping pong, giant chess and a NIGHTLY S’MORES BAR!
A convenience store & coffee shop on-site if your kids (or you) get a case of the hangries.
Live music: They only had this on our last night, but the girls had a blast dancing to the music in the lobby.
Sunset bagpiper: This is a unique and fun tradition specific to the Westin Kierland. A bagpiper plays a nightly show around sundown on their patio overlooking the golf course.
Not for kids, but there is an on-site spa (The Agave Spa) that offers a nice respite for you mom’s and dad’s. If you book any spa services, you also get access to their spa amenities (sauna, hot tubs, showers, etc.).

Here are some dining recommendations for places we went to:

Snooze A.M. Eatery: Great breakfast options and very kid-friendly! Located in the Kierland Commons area so you can walk off your Chilaquiles with some shopping.
The Mission: Also located in Kierland Commons, although their original location is in Old Town Scottsdale and equally as cool. Very cool vibes and awesome food. Highly recommend the tableside guac. Not-so kid friendly, but they were very accommodating. I usually get nervous when we walk into a restaurant that already has wine glasses set out on the tables 🙂
True Food Kitchen: Located in Scottsdale Quarter, which is another shopping area across from Kierland Commons. Great food and drink, very kid friendly and wonderful service! They have a large patio and open air seating.
Nellie Cashman’s Monday Club Cafe: This was the restaurant located in the Westin. It overlooks the golf course and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. We did a breakfast and a dinner here. Overall, good food, but very expensive. We only ate there for the convenience factor, but would probably advise elsewhere if you can.

We wanted this trip to be pretty low-key and mostly by the pool, but we did do one day-trip to Goldfield Ghost Town. Luke and I visited this when we were on our babymoon and thought it would be a fun full circle moment. We had fun walking through the town and did the tour down into the mine. It was a little scary for our 3 year old, but it’s not a terribly long tour. The girls loved the train ride and seeing all the cactuses and Superstition Mountain in the background. The highlight of the day was the Old Time photos the girls did. When in Rome, right?

After the ghost town, we had to make a stop at In & Out since we don’t have those in Minnesota.

In the future – we’d probably try to book a suite or villa, as the girls went to bed so early (we were 2 hours behind our normal time), so either we went to bed too or we would sit out on our tiny balcony. This was definitely not a relaxing vacation since we had the kids, but we prepared ourselves going into it. Overall they were rockstars (especially with the time change) and it was the first time I was on a plane ride with them where I wasn’t constantly handing out snacks & activities while profusely sweating. I even got to watch a WHOLE movie on the plane ride home!

Comment below if you have any recommendations for domestic destinations with kids for a trip next year!

book it! aka travel

Book It Series | Babymoonin’ in AZ

April 22, 2017

Between house hunting, preparing for baby and work, Luke and I weren’t planning on a major trip before baby. A few weeks ago after a jam packed few days, we realized our free weekends until baby were numbered, so we started looking into vacation spots. With the house search in full force, we knew we didn’t want to spend too much and a few places like Florida and Mexico were out because of Zika.

After some research and finding some great flight deals, we landed on Phoenix, Arizona. Luke’s cousin who lives in the area, recommended the Westin Kierland in Scottsdale, as her parents frequently stay there when they visit. We ended up finding a good deal through Travelzoo and booked our 4-night stay!

The resort was very well-kept and all the staff we encountered were extremely hospitable. We were very impressed with our stay and would definitely stay there again in the future.

Since the intent of this trip was to get some relaxation and quality time together, we didn’t really have an agenda or list of things we wanted to do or see. We’re usually go-go-go on our vacations, so it was a breath of fresh air just to relax and not worry about getting somewhere.

With the 2-hour time difference, we woke up around 6AM each day, so we started each day with a nice workout in the resort gym. This is not our typical vacation behavior, but it felt great to get moving right away in the morning.

After our daily workout, we would head to one of the restaurants on the property, Nellie Cashman’s, for breakfast. They had a ballin’ spread every morning at the breakfast buffet as well as an omelette station and fresh waffles or pancakes. The staff was super friendly and very attentive. We had dinner here as well on our last night and it was amazing! We both had steak, which was cooked perfectly with a nice salty crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.

Most days, except for Monday, we spent the rest of the day poolside soaking up the sun. The weather was in the 80’s-90’s everyday with no humidity, so it was perfect lounging weather. We had never been to Arizona before, so wasn’t sure what the “dry heat” would be like, but I can definitely say we LOVED it. The heat never felt uncomfortable, and when it did, we just dipped in the pool 🙂 There were servers walking around all day handing out ice waters and taking orders, so we ended up having lunch out by the pool everyday. Again, the pool staff was always super friendly and helpful!

The resort was situated next to two really nice outdoor shopping areas, Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter. It was nice having the shops so close to walk around at night if we needed to get out of the hotel for a bit.

We weren’t sure if we would leave the resort area during our stay, but there was an Enterprise car rental office on site, so we decided to rent a car for a day and explore the area on Monday. Since I was getting a massage the next day, our compromise was that Luke could have his pick of rental car choice. He ended up choosing a Ford Mustang convertible, which was super fun to drive up into the mountains.

We drove to the Apache Junction area, which was about 45 minutes away. As a side note, we’re huge nerds and are avid watchers of the Travel Channel show, Ghost Adventures. The Ghost Adventures team did an investigation at one of the ghost towns in the area called Goldfield, so we knew we had to pay a visit 🙂 It was next to the Superstition Mountains, which are said to be home to the Lost Dutchman’s gold mine.

The town of Goldfield was mostly reconstructed in the late 80’s, but still felt pretty authentic while walking around, especially with the mountains in the background. We did the “mine tour” which takes you through a mine shaft and teaches you about what life was like back in the day during Goldfield’s peak. Our tour guide told us a few different times that there were an unusually high amount of rattlesnake sightings on the premises, so we didn’t hang around too long after the tour and walking around the rest of the town.

Entrance to the “mine”

Goldfield Church

After Goldfield, we took a little drive through the mountains and drove by Canyon Lake. I wasn’t expecting to see many bodies of water out in the dessert, so it was quite the site amongst the surroundings.

Canyon Lake

We were feeling pretty tired and hungry after a while, so we headed back to town and drove into Old Town Scottsdale for lunch and more sightseeing. We ate at The Mission per a recommendation from a friend and it was delicious – especially the tableside guac!

We walked off our lunch and checked out a few local shops before heading back to the hotel, where we spent a couple more hours by the pool.

Since we had the car until the next morning, we took a little ride to the local In N Out Burger to get our fix for dinner 🙂 It had been a couple years since either of us had it. Still really good, but no Gordy’s Hi-Hat!

The next day after breakfast, I headed to the Agave Spa on the resort property, while Luke staked out some lounge chairs at the pool. I had my first prenatal massage and am upset I have not had one sooner! It was extremely relaxing and helped with some of the lower back pain I have been experiencing. After my massage, I hung around a little bit and took advantage of the shower in the spa facilities. They did have a jacuzzi tub and some steam rooms, which I did not partake in, but the showers were nice 🙂

The rest of our last day was spent relaxing by the pool while Luke sipped on beer and I finished my book!

We thoroughly enjoyed our little babymoon vacation and are SO glad we decided to go, as it will be our last vacation sans kiddo for a while 🙂

around town, book it! aka travel, food

Day Trippin: Stillwater, MN

September 25, 2016

Luke and I are HUGE fans of Stillwater, MN. We used to venture there as high school sweethearts and walk along the river. One of the first “fancy” places he took me was the Dock Cafe for a delicious meal we couldn’t really afford.

I have very fond memories of Stillwater, and still get excited every time we have a free day to go there. It’s the perfect day trip from Minneapolis – far away enough from the city, but still close enough to make it in 30 minutes or less.

We fell into a Stillwater routine the past few times we visited over the summer. It goes something like this…

9AM: Load your bikes up and head to downtown Stillwater. There is a large FREE parking lot on the edge of town next to the Stillwater marina and the old MN Zephyr train station. It’s way less congested than the other side of downtown coming in from 36.

10:45AM-12PM: Cruise down the Browns Creek Trail. This is a new trail paved over the MN Zephyr rail line. It’s open to bikers, walkers, skaters, etc., so it can get a little congested on a busy weekend. WAY less congested than River Road in St.Paul/Minneapolis though, from our experiences. Going out of Stillwater, there is a gradual incline, so be prepared to sweat! You can take this trail all the way to the Gateway Trail where it connects after 6 miles. We usually like to do the round trip 12-mile trip, which makes for a good ride. Not too long, not too short where you don’t feel like you got a workout in.

Browns Creek Trail

12PM: After biking, we’re usually famished and our go-to restaurant is Lolo American Kitchen on Main Street. I won’t go into too much detail here, since I already did a write-up of Lolo in my Hidden Gem’s TC post, but to re-emphasize my love, just go and eat there already!

1PM: Now that you’re belly is happy, time to walk off that lunch with a little shopping! There are tons of cute shops all along main street. A couple of my favorites are the newly revamped Stillwater Farm Store, Alfresco Casual Living and Mara Mi. Personally, I find Mara Mi the most dangerous since they have WAY too much cute stationary to handle (I mean how much stationary does a gal really need?) AND they serve Izzy’s ice cream. Double uh-oh. Lastly, we really like the 45* store – we’ve snagged a few sale items there and they carry brands like Patagonia and Keens.

2:30PM: We usually end our visit with a trip to Candyland to get some Chicgao Mix for the road.

If you’re looking for more things to do, here are a couple alternate suggestions of places we like to frequent:

Pay a visit to Wedge & Wheel, a cute little cheese shop across the way from Mara Mi. The selection of cheese & meat can be a little intimidating, but we’ve had nothing but fantastic service from their staff, who is always happy to lend a suggestion and samples.

Another great spot a little out of “downtown” is Lift Bridge Brewery. It’s in a bit of a weird location, but it’s a great taproom! They offer tours of the facilities, great beer and FREE popcorn. Can’t beat that 🙂

We’ve only eaten here once, but it left a mark on us: Domacin Restaurant & Wine Bar. Aside from their extensive selection of wines, there food is superb. It’s described as “New American with Mediterranean Influence”. It’s a little on the spendy side, so be prepared to throw down some dough. Great spot for a special night on the town with your honey!

What’s your favorite spot in Stillwater?

book it! aka travel, food

Book It Series | Camping in Cuyuna Country

August 24, 2016

Cuyuna Country: Abandoned by mining companies more than 30 years ago, this area of former mining pits and rock deposit stockpiles now boasts regenerated vegetation and clear lakes that draw a wide range of recreation enthusiasts. Twenty-five miles of natural shoreline can be explored by boat or canoe and anglers can cast a line for trout, northern, bass, crappie, or sunfish.

As one of Minnesota’s newest State Recreation Areas, Cuyuna’s 5,000 acres are mostly undeveloped. Off-highway vehicles are not permitted within the boundaries of Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.-MN DNR

Back in July, my husband and I spent the weekend camping with my brother in law, Joe, and his girlfriend, Natalie. We choose True North Basecamp in Crosby, MN because of its proximity to the Twin Cities, hiking in the area, ease of booking online and not-so-roughin’ it facilities (aka a shower house and toilets).

True North has 33 campsites spread out amongst 3 sections of land, as well as 6 uber modern lakefront cabins. The campsites are $19 per night Sunday through Thursday & $29 per night Friday and Saturday. Cabins go for $69 per night Sunday through Thursday & $125 per night Friday and Saturday.

Online booking was a breeze, as was communication with Dan, one of the owners via email. They also provide the option to message via Facebook. I had a quick question regarding firewood the night before we left, and I received a very speedy response. I was also able to purchase some bundles ahead of time which were waiting for us when we arrived.

We opted to rent a campsite for the weekend and were very pleased to find out we were the only group in our area of the campground. The only downside was the proximity to the town of Crosby. I didn’t realize at the time of booking just how close the town was to the campground. Our campsite had a lovely view of the Crosby water tower and high school football field 🙂

If you’re looking for a deep woods, off-the-grid experience, this is probably not the right place for you. If you’re new to camping, have a young family or just really enjoy modern conveniences, then this is the right spot.

Our campsite!

After a hearty pancake breakfast on Saturday morning, we ventured out on our hike on the trails connected to the campground. Here is a link to some handy maps of the surrounding trails and areas. We decided not to bring our bikes on this trip due to space, but if you’re into mountain biking, this is the spot for you!

There’s also a local rental shop if you’d like to take out paddleboards, canoes, kayaks or bikes. To save money, we decided to just hike for the day 🙂 I linked the rental company below for reference.

Here are a few photos from our hike:

Nat & I

The Boys

Beautiful view of one of the lakes!

Once back to camp, we hit the shower-house, which was extremely clean and well maintained. I was very impressed! They even had a box of tampons in the bathroom for the ladies. Nice touch.

We were quite famished from our hike and decided to hit up a local restaurant for dinner. When in Rome right? The top rated restaurant in town happens to be a BBQ joint right near the campground called Louie’s Bucket of Bones. How can you not visit a restaurant with a name like that?

Louie’s Bucket of Bones

Upon arriving, we were greeted by a grouchy older woman who told us to “sit down”. She actually turned out to be quite a gem as our evening progressed – I think it’s all part of the Louie’s divey charm.

Hot tip: Louie’s doesn’t have a liquor license, so they’re not allowed to serve alcohol. Bring your own beer and they’ll provide the cups!

We started with a plate of buffalo wings, which were divine! I had the broasted chicken meal for dinner, which was super delish and hit the spot after a day of hiking in the sun. Luke had the ribs which were equally as good. This is definitely the spot to visit if you find yourself in the town of Crosby! Actually, I think the restaurant is technically in the town of Ironton, MN. It sits right on the border, as you can see both town signs from the front lawn of Louie’s.

After dinner, we headed back to our campsite and unfortunately started packing most of our stuff up due to some impending storms in the forecast. After about an hour of that, we devoured a lot of s’mores, just in time for the arrival of the storm. The remainder of the night was spent playing cards in the tent, drinking boxed wine and listening to the storm roll through.

Our Sunday was cut very short, after a long night of waiting for the storm to pass. I still have PTSD from our Eaux Claires camping experience last year (story for a different day), so I didn’t sleep much. We woke around 5AM to water pooling in the tent (it had been pouring rain all night). The last straw was the side of the tent collapsing into Luke every time a strong gust of wind came by. After about 20 minutes of trying to hold it up, we decided it was probably time to call it. Especially since there was an advisory for strong winds until 11AM that morning.

All in all, it was a great weekend with family and new experiences! I would highly recommend True North to others, especially if you’re into mountain biking. I don’t know if I would camp there again because of the proximity to town, but I would definitely rent a cabin to see what those are like.

Until next time,

-j.

Details & Addresses:

True North Basecamp: 825 1st St SW; Cuyuna, Minnesota 56441

Louie’s Bucket of Bones: 101 4th St, Ironton, MN 56455

Cycle Path & Paddle: 115 3rd Ave SW; Crosby, MN 56441