Hi guys,

I'll be honest with you, after 3 weeks of road tripping and documenting travels for my coming book and then an overnight flight back for events in New Orleans and Bonnaroo in Nashville I am finally starting to unpack my bags from our trip.

I've had some major road trip withdrawal and somehow felt that if the bags were still packed maybe I'd wake up back under the stars somewhere way out in the desert.

Alas, nope. Not the case and yep, 3 weeks of travel gear, clothing, maps, books, receipts and lots of road dirt has been piling up on my floor. As I started to sort through photographs and dumped out my bags this morning it occurred to me that there's a list of essentials I should share with you if you're planning even a weekend of life out on on the road.

I've learned so much about how to travel light, the types of bags to carry, how to simplify my beauty routine and how to eat and live healthy from the road. I'm hoping it will be helpful to share my glamping packing tips and essentials if you're planning to do a trip like mine.

The areas we visited have some fairly intense inhabitants: black bears, scorpions, coyotes and mountain lions, and as scary (okay not quite but close!) can be sun burns, poison ivy, and all the elements of nature. Remember that as you head out into the wilderness!

As you start to build your pile of "must brings" keep in mind: plan for those elements and the essentials and leave room in your trunk for the fun stuff – picnic baskets, piles of patchwork blankets (you’ll need extras to build beach tepees), and your (or your cool best friend’s) vinyl collection, for example. Don't over do it on the wardrobe - basic t's, denim and layers is truly all you'll need.

My Glamping Essentials:

Tent, sleeping bag and pillows (or an air mattress and an SUV) - unless you're traveling in an RV, of course!

Bug Spray, Bear Spray (yep, that's a real thing) and a Traveling First Aid Kit

Jugs of Water (lots of it)

Sunscreen (Hawaiian Tropic® Silk Hydration Weightless Lotion Sunscreen Pump is my favorite - it's skin protection you'll barely feel and I'm a major sunscreen advocate and have always loved Hawaiian Tropic the best!)

Bathing Suits (I like to pack a one piece and a two piece, the one piece can double as a top when worn under skirts or shorts)

Layers of Clothes (hot days transition to cold nights)

Baby or Makeup Wipes (there isn't always water for washing your face at night)

Your Favorite Read (I like to pick up used books on the road too)

A Journal and a Pen (mine was a gift from my friend Sam)

Travel Beauty Products (just the basics!)

Snacks and Organic Canned Foods (things that wont spoil)

Solar Powered Chargers and a Portable Record Player (there's nothing better than old records under the stars!)

Hawaiian Tropic® Silk Hydration and my current read, Travels in Hyper Reality, picked up in Terlingua, Texas

I picked up just about all of our supplies at Target before we hit the road, from t-shirts to sunscreen to the camping gear.

Here's a few more snaps from our time on the road. If you've got specific questions about places we went or thing to bring definitely be in touch!

A couple other notes, because I seriously get asked all the time - on how to best care for your skin. Especially if you're going to be spending time outdoors in these summer months this stuff is critical!

1. SPF! Makeup that include an SPF isn’t enough to protect your skin. The key to a good daily skin care routine? A great sunscreen. I like Hawaiian Tropic® Silk Hydration Face Lotion, it's recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation plus it moisturizes with a luxurious formula and has a weightless feel. You know the drill: re-apply every two hours, more often if you’ve been swimming or hiking and sweating.

2. Before and after you've been in the sun all day, it’s important to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! On the inside and on the outside, water and moisturizer are so important.

As I've moved into my 30's I've realized the importance of using an SPF and wish I'd followed my own advice when I was in my teens and 20s.

Here's a good little way to learn a bit more about suncare - check it out and thanks for following along you guys, can't wait to share more from these days out on the road.

Catch you out there!

xoxo,

Andi