Getting to and from Montana is remarkably easy when you live near an Allegiant hub. Originally, we thought we'd fly from PHX to Missoula for Johnny's sister's wedding in early August since fares were cheap and the flight was short (no stop-overs!). As we thought about it more and more, we realized what an amazing opportunity this was to do our first, real roadtrip together. We had traveled cross-country together once before when moving to Flagstaff but moving doesn't allow for much spontaneity or adventure, things we were craving desperately after a summer spent mostly cooped up indoors working. As we started to get the basics of our trip mapped out, we decided bringing Winslow with would be the only way to do it right. Living with a dog with separation anxiety is difficult at times but 2 weeks on the road and in Montana, together nearly 24/7 with him seemed like the easiest thing in the world. Easy isn't the word I'd use to describe it now that it's all said and done but nonetheless it was perfect. For those of you planning a roadtrip with a dog at some point in the future, here are our recommendations. 1. Plan Ahead...More or Less - You all know by now I love planning; I'm obsessed with it! In my head, it was especially important to plan this trip with a dog in tow so we didn't have to worry about finding places last minute that would allow dogs. Each day of our trip I had detailed in my planner. I had 4 pet-friendly nights booked at various KOAs, campgrounds, and AirBnbs for our trip out prior to leaving. We stayed exactly 1 night at any of the locations I had previously booked. Thankfully, the places I had booked had flexible cancellation policies so we were able to get out to the lake 2 days earlier than planned. Another thing to consider is where you're going to eat on the road with a dog since pet-friendly patios can be few and far between in certain areas. Go Pet Friendly has to be one of the best resources out there for pet parents! You can search any city to see pet-friendly restaurants, hotels, campgrounds, activities, and services. I especially love their blog as they do a great job detailing various trips they've taken with their dogs. Their posts on Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks were especially helpful since dogs are restricted (and rightfully so!) at the parks. 2. Take Turns - Just because there were only a few places we could explore with Winslow within the parks didn't mean we wanted to miss out on the experience of being there. A lot of the parks can be seen from the car and roadside stops along the way (where dogs are usually permitted!). However, there were a couple places we wanted to check out that we just couldn't bring Winslow so we took turns. We made the short hike to Jenny Lake in the Grand Tetons separately which actually ended up being a really great experience for us. While the other hung back in the car with Winslow, we each got the opportunity to take pictures of the lake and it was fun to see how we both experienced it differently. Johnny also graciously stayed back with Winslow while I walked the boardwalk to the Grand Prismatic Springs in Yellowstone. It would have been fun to do it together but we both enjoyed the chance to see the parks on our own too! 3. Pack Smart and Appropriately - This is a given but bringing a dog on a road trip is like having a furry, little person with very specific needs along for the ride. A collapsible water/food bowl should always be readily available (i.e. not hidden beneath luggage in the trunk somewhere). We're lucky that Winslow is content with sleeping the entire time we're in the car, and when I said the entire time I mean it! We drove 10-11 hours on 2 days of our trip and he was out the whole time! I did pack some bully sticks along in the event that he got restless but only used them for the times we were taking turns exploring the parks and one of us was left waiting with him in the car. Finally, doggie bags. ALL THE DOGGIE BAGS. Traveling with a dog can be limiting but it can also be one of the greatest experiences! For every 5 restaurants or activities that don't allow dogs, there's an equally awesome opportunity that does! If you're willing to be patient and put in the additional effort to seek out the dog-friendly, I can guarantee your road trip will be 100x better with your furry friend in tow!
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For such a small apartment, we thankfully have a decent amount of storage space. We've got a nice shelving system in our closet, a hall closet, and a small storage space attached to our patio. Without this storage, we would be lost and cramped in our 500 sq. ft. apartment (which believe it or not - we're really not at this point). However, despite a good amount of storage there was one place things did feel cramped: our bedroom closet. We share a standard 6 ft. closet. A year ago, we each had a closet larger than that to ourselves. I thought I had gotten rid of a lot, the unnecessaries, prior to our move but quickly learned (through countless wrinkled shirts) that I still had way too much. At first, we frequented Goodwill and a local consignment shop (think Plato's Closet) to get rid of stuff. Disappointed with the pickiness and poor pay from the consignment shop, I decided to take things into my own hands and turned to eBay. Now, this wasn't my first go-around with eBay and I have to admit, I'm still not sure I love it. It's a lot of work between taking pictures, writing descriptions, and shipping things out, but, in the last month I have seen some good results using the service (20+ things sold for over $100!) and decided to share what I've learned in the process with you all! First comes the purge:
Understand that just because the idea of purging your wardrobe is to get rid of clothes doesn't mean you won't have to add to it as well. Getting rid of unnecessary items might actually make you realize the gaps you have in your wardrobe. Like a diet though, a purge doesn't mean you should binge afterwards. The key is to identify those gaps and make a list of a couple filler items that will make your wardrobe even more wearable. After my latest purge, I looked into capsule wardrobe staple items and came up with a list of clothes to buy to round out my new, slimmer closet, including a striped, long sleeved shirt (shown above), black jeans, a black dress, a black tank top that can be both casual or dressy, new brown booties (my current ones have holes in them!), and jean shorts. It's not much but I'll definitely be able to wear what I already have in so many new ways with a few simple additions that I discovered were lacking after my purge.
I wish I had a before and after photo to share of my total closet transformation. My drawers are less stuffed, my shirts are less wrinkled, and we have bags of hangers to now get rid of. Plus, best of all, we're making a little money on the side by slowly selling clothes and other unwanted items around our apartment. It's not enough to radically affect our budget, but it might mean we get to treat ourselves to another coffee or two at our new favorite Flagstaff coffeeshop and that, for me is worth it. Those who know me know I love planning. Whether it's trips (real or imagined), schedules, 5-year plans, 10-year plans, a year on the road in an RV (what?!), it doesn't matter what it is or if it will ever happen, I just like to plan it as if it will. My passion for planning in large part is what led me to my career as an academic advisor and despite spending 40 hours a week helping students plan their academic careers, I still spend a good portion of my free time also planning. I get that planning isn't everyone's thing (you're missing out!) so I decided to start a new series on our blog dedicated to planning. These posts will include everything from the planning process to tips and suggestions post-plan. For the first post of this series, I decided to blog about something I have recently played a part in planning: a bachelorette party. Whether you're thinking about a grand excursion to Vegas (like my sister-in-law's bachelorette party I just got back from this weekend) or staying local or even doing something totally alternative (camping anyone?), there are some universal considerations when it comes to planning a kick-butt bachelorette party. 1. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION - Whether you're looking at a warm getaway or something closer to home, where you stay can make a world of difference. For my bachelorette party a year ago, my friends and I stayed local and crammed eight 20-somethings into a hotel room with two queen beds. It worked out great for us (for just one night)! We were within walking distance to downtown, where we joined in on the St. Patty's Day celebrations after a morning of makeovers, donuts, and a visit to a local winery/brewery. This was the perfect option for my friends who were all young professionals or still in school (aka CHEAP). For my sister-in-law, Sarah's, Vegas bachelorette party, I was in charge of finding our lodging and scoured Airbnb until I found the perfect, girly-girl pad (complete with pool and donut floaty!). Having a pool was nice, but having a kitchen and being able to cook most of our meals at home helped us make a Vegas bachelorette party more affordable. I'd highly suggest Airbnb, even if you're staying local! You never know what quirky, fun accommodations you might find! 2. Plan Ahead and Research! - Have you figured out just how much I like planning yet? Let's just say, I'm not the greatest at "winging it." I'm up for occasional spontaneity but when it comes to a weekend away (even if it's a staycation), you're better off planning and researching things ahead so you know what to expect. Looking back on last weekend in Vegas, research probably would have been a good idea before spending $36 to see Calvin Harris. We left Omnia at 2:30am and he still hadn't even gone on yet (saw Reggie Bush so it wasn't a total waste)! Planning ahead usually results in better deals and less money spent as well (all about those deals!). Whenever I'm planning a trip, I always read the reviews (see TripAdvisor or even a simple Google search can lead you to some great websites or blogs with tips and reviews) so I know what to expect from others who have actually done it. A loose itinerary isn't a bad idea either just so everyone can pack appropriate clothing, funds, etc. Loose being the keyword because what's a bachelorette party without a little whimsy?! 3. Shout it from the mountain tops! - I absolutely HATE drawing attention to myself with things like sashes or goofy jewelry but if you're anything like me, a bachelorette party is the one time in your life that you should be a little flashy. Let people know you're a bachelorette party and chances are you'll get a little extra something or at least meet some people in the process. One of my favorite things about my bachelorette party was going to Prairie Berry East Bank for some lunch and afternoon drinks. We called a couple days ahead of time and they reserved us a cozy, semi-private space to rest and refuel before our night on the town. Knowing we were a bachelorette party, they gave me a free pint and we truly felt like the afternoon's honored guests. 4. Decorate - You have permission to hit that Target dollar section. Hard. BUY IT ALL. Because really, what bachelorette party is complete without diamond paper straws, streamers, balloons, and banners? 5. Treat Yo'self (or at least the bride-to-be) - Does the bride-to-be love donuts? DONUT CRAWL. Does she love to play around with makeup? MAKEOVER AT SEPHORA OR BARE MINERALS. Is she outdoorsy and would rather be out in the sun? SKIP THE THRILLS AND HIT THE TRAILS. How 'bout her favorite restaurant? TREAT HER TO SOME SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN AT BRACCO DARN IT (shout out to my amazing bridesmaids and friends for this)! This is her day before the big day. Make it her. Do something weird. If bar hopping is her thing, that's fine but there are so many other amazing things that can make her feel like the luckiest friend in the world. As her friends, you know her best so don't fall into the bachelorette party stereotype trap if that's not her. 6. Document It - Take pictures non-stop. And not just selfies. Bring an Instax. Have a mom or the groom or some rando be your stand in photographer before you head out for the night (shout out to my mother-in-law and her DSLR for capturing our Vegas fun!). The bride will look back on these pictures a year later when she's moved into her new place with her new husband 1,500 miles away and be so thankful for the friendship and fun that you all have brought into her life. Each bride has just one bachelorette party so make sure it's one worth remembering and hanging pictures up in her future office :)
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