As we enter the last month of 2015, I find myself growing sentimental. After all, this was a big year for my little family! But matrimony aside, it occurred to me that in all the pre-wedding chaos, I missed another important date: the 10-year anniversary of this blog!
Ten years. TEN YEARS. It’s hard to believe I’ve been spewing word vomit onto this site for over ten years now, but it’s true. Just A Colorado Gal has gone through many tweaks, phases and redesigns during that decade. But in the end, it all comes back to you: my readers. Some of you have been with me for the long haul– I definitely recognize names in the comments that have been reading for the better part of those ten years! For others, you may have recently stumbled across my site {probably through the USA Today contest since that seemed to have garnered me lots of new readers!} Regardless of when you arrived, I’m thankful that you found me.
Every year, I put together a guide highlighting my favorite gear of the calendar year. When I started compiling this list back in October, I found myself struggling; there were too many items to include! As a result, I decided to break it up into three guides for 2015: adventure travel, fitness, and outdoors. You’ll see these roll out over the next few weeks, starting with today’s adventure travel favorites.
Win over $600 in adventure #travel gear and clothing! ---------> Share on X
But more applicable to you, however, is the giveaway! Although I managed to let my blog’s true anniversary blow right by me while in my wedding haze, I thought it would be nice to acknowledge it in some capacity. To say thank you for sticking with me through the years, I’ll be hosting a series of *three* massive giveaways. In fact, each gear guide will feature a corresponding giveaway where one lucky reader will win a rather large prize package.
Check out the feature adventure travel gear below, and then enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget. And don’t forget to check back next Monday for the second giveaway/guide– fitness favorites!
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Lewis N. Clark Electrolight Expandable Packing Cubes
Will is far more fastidious than I am, and he has used “packing cubes” for years. As for me? My only goal when packing was to remember anything; how it got into my luggage was not of the least importance!
But, Lewis N. Clark sent me some of their Electrolight Expandable Packing Cubes way back last spring, and I’ve spent the past 10 months loving them. I have the two-pack with a medium and a large cube, and I find myself using them whenever I travel. All my nicer clothes get folded into the larger size while my bras and socks and whatnot go into the smaller one. Quite frequently, I’ll find myself using the smaller one as a dirty laundry cube near the end of the trip.
It may seem ridiculous, but the ease of the cubes is beyond awesome. Not only is my clothing organized within my luggage, but it is also easy to find. No more searching through my duffel {or suitcase or backpack…} to find that one pair of socks that I know I brought!
Electrolight Expandable Packing Cube Two-Pack; $43.99
Akinz CO Trucker Hat
It doesn’t matter whether I’m browsing museums in Paris or hiking a mountain in the Alaskan backcountry; I always bring a hat. Not only does it keep my hair out of my face, but it does a great job of covering up my filthy mop when it’s been far too long between showers.
Let’s face it: this happens a lot.
I know Suzanne Akin, the founder and owner of Akinz, from my time living in Steamboat. Not only does Akinz offer quite the line of Colorado apparel, but she has a huge array of handmade beanies. I will always support small, local businesses when I can, and I really love Akinz’ stuff. Check her out when you get a chance!
Akinz CO Trucker Hat; $26
The North Face Base Camp Duffel
Back in April, the kind folk at Webtogs sent me a North Face Base Camp duffel bag to review and test. Since then, this 72-liter duffel bag has gone everywhere with me. I took it to Mexico; it came to OR show in August; I brought it to our wedding location; Will used it in Turkey; I even carted my crap around in it this past weekend for Thanksgiving. The thing can take a beating and the locking zippers help keep Mother Nature out of your luggage.
The North Face Base Camp Duffel; $102 {via Webtogs}
Mountain Khakis Mystic Shirt
Every year, I meet with the folks at Mountain Khakis at OR Show, and every year, I walk away from their booth smiling and happy; they are so friendly!
Mountain Khakis sponsored our trip {via apparel} to Estes Park this past spring, and they sent along the Mystic Shirt as part of their care package. Truthfully, I wasn’t impressed with it when I opened the box. I’m not big on button-up shirts and don’t wear them all too often, so I doubted my love of the shirt.
But I was wrong. I love this thing! It fits well, it looks cute in a variety of situations, and most importantly: it never, ever wrinkles. I can smash this thing in my luggage for a week and it will come out unscathed. While traveling, this is such a key component!
Mountain Khakis Mystic Shirt; $39.99 {via Moosejaw}
Kurgo Loft Wander Dog Bed
Y’all, this bed.
Kurgo sent us the Loft Wander bed as part of our prize package before heading to Canada back in September. I immediately knew it would be a Tally favorite because it was large enough to house her 60-pound body but rolled up small enough to warrant fitting it in our Eurovan. But what I didn’t realize was that this thing would essentially become our rug for the van!
You see, the Loft bed is made of waterproof ripstop materials which means it is wicked durable. Every night, we’d lay the Loft out at the base of our bed in the van. And in the morning….we’d leave it there. Tals was so in-and-out of the van that we worried her muddy paws would trash the carpeting. Instead, she would tromp all over the Loft with her disgusting paws, and I could just wipe it down later. Good as new!
{Bonus: take a look at the Kurgo website; one of Will’s photos of Tals and me is now a stock photo of this bed!}
Kurgo Loft Wander Dog Bed; $65
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Want to win some of the gear mentioned above? One winner will win:
(1) Akinz CO Trucker Hat
(1) Lewis N. Clark Expandable Packing Cube 2-pack
(1) The North Face Medium Base Camp Duffel {via Webtogs}
(1) $500 gift card to Kurgo