We Bought A Boat - Tips For Purchasing A Kayak

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Living just minutes away from the water means that I constantly want to be there. Whether it be eating waterside, taking a walk along the waterfront, or being out on a boat. A and I were not in the market to purchase a boat. I mean, they are super expensive, and the upkeep is too much for us. So we opted for a cheaper version - the kayak.

I've maneuvered kayaks a couple of times and understand the difference between sit-on and sit-in, but I had no idea which one I wanted. I started researching for which was best and guess what, it's all personal preference. I wanted to make sure that whichever kayak we purchase, it would work well for both the rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Because there are so many types and brands of kayaks, I wanted to share with you my thoughts and tips for purchasing a kayak.

Click to tweet: Tips for purchasing a kayak.

First, you need to consider the type of kayak you might be interested in based on the type of kayaking you will be doing. Will you mostly focus on calm waters, rivers, open water, rough conditions, summer kayaking, winter kayaking, etc? This will help determine if the best fit would be sit-on, sit-in, recreational, or touring.

Second, determine the dimensions of your kayak. Length - shorter kayaks will be easier to maneuver and turn, while longer might hold a straight line for longer allowing you to go the distance. Any Hercules fans? Width - wider kayaks will be more stable in calmer waters and narrower kayaks can allow you to go faster. Weight restrictions - verify that the kayak can hold yourself plus everything you want to take with you for the ride.

Third, consider hull, rocker, chines, symmetry, and all that other stuff that is completely over my head. You will need to look elsewhere if you are really interested in that information.

Fourth, understand the accessories that you will need. Does your location require a launching permit or does the kayak have to be licensed? A PFD is something you will need to purchase as well. Don't forget about a paddle, and maybe even some dry bags. Lastly, how will you transport the kayak to your destination?

Most importantly, purchase what you want. We had so many people tell us that we needed to purchase a particular brand because x-y-z. Just get what you feel comfortable with. If all else fails, get an inexpensive one that you can upgrade in the future. This will give you some more guidelines towards your second purchase.

Have you ever gone kayaking?

Dogs - They Have The Life

Dogs - you're either a dog person or you're not. And if you are not a dog person, you probably aren't reading this post.

A and I were on our way to the park the other day with our dog, Roxi. I was thinking about all the sweet pups she would meet in the park and at the dog beach. This is when my mind started to wander.

There are so many actions that are only appropriate for dogs to do. I mean, imagine if we introduced ourselves to someone new, only after sniffing their rears. Just not going to happen!

Because my thoughts were so random and entertaining to myself, I had to share them with you. Here you have actions that are socially acceptable for dogs to do and will cause all the side eyes if you were to try them. Enjoy!
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Dogs - It is 100% appropriate, and mostly imperative, to sniff the rear of any dog you walk by. 

Humans - If you sniff the rear of a stranger you might get punched. Or arrested. 

Dogs - That dead fish you just walked by - go back and be sure to roll around on top of it. 

Humans - Roll around on dead fish and you will never, ever have friends. 

Dogs - Be sure to verify your neighborhood is safe and sniff the streets while going for a walk. Ooh, a fresh poo - you must mark right next to it.

Humans - Peeing in public will get you some sort of ticket... if you are caught. 

Dogs - Bark profusely to tell your human that there is a squirrel or bird or a leaf in your back yard. It's only to protect them.

Humans - Start yelling for no particular reason and you will look insane. We judge humans, not dogs.

Dogs - Sleep all day. There's nothing better to do.

Humans - You don't get the opportunity to sleep during the day. It's work, work, work. 

Dogs - Sit, lay, paw, speak, rollover - all just to get a treat.

Humans - Tricks won't get you treats. They just won't.

Dogs - The uglier the pooch, the more love it will get from strangers.

Humans - If you're ugly then you are ugly. Sorry!

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Those are just a few of my crazy thoughts. Perhaps all of you left and will never return to this blog again.

Click to tweet: Dogs have the life - http://bit.ly/1Mo5tt9 Also, it's not appropriate to sniff a stranger's rear via @atravelingwife

What are some other actions that are acceptable for animals but not for humans? I need a good laugh. 

Why You Should Limit Your Fruit Intake

Whoa, that title seems a little severe - Why You Should Limit Your Fruit Intake. It's really kind of true especially if you have fitness goals in mind, or follow If It Fits Your Macros (IIFYM).

Most of us learned to eat based on the food pyramid - 2 to 3 servings of dairy, 2 to 3 servings of protein, 3 to 5 servings of vegetables,  2 to 4 servings of fruit, and 6 to 11 servings of grains. You can say good-bye to all of those numbers once you really learn what your body needs. 

Now I am no dietician but we've all heard of many different diets that are low carb - Atkins and Ketogenic diets for example. I have not participated in either of these diets or really researched them much but I wasn't able to spot fruit on the approved list for phase 1 of Atkins. 

Why might fruits be excluded from certain low carb diets and why you should limit your intake of them. Simply put, they can be very high in carbohydrates. Thank you fructose and glucose. The higher amounts of carbohydrates can make it more challenging for you to reach your fitness goals. Especially when the serving size is minimal compared to eating certain vegetables in its place. 

Don't get me wrong - I love fruit. I mean who doesn't love nature's candy. Fruit helps me when I have a sweet tooth or if I just need a boost of energy. And I have learned while participating in IFFYM that there are certain fruits that will give you the most bang for your macro (i.e. the most volume per carbs). 

I wanted to share with you the nutritional breakdown of some of my favorite fruits. It might be an eye opener to you with how many carbs might be lurking in your favorite fruits. 

One thing I did notice is that the higher in calorie you get with a fruit, it will typically have more carbs. I limit myself with the amount of fruit I buy each week because it is so very tasty but the nutrition doesn't help with my goals. 

Click to tweet: Fruit is great but you might want to consider a different option when reaching a fitness goal.

So eat your fruit - just in moderation. *Again, I am not a dietician! Be sure you do your research as well. 

Do you watch your carb intake? How many servings of fruit do you eat each day?

Mental Health Day - Should You Take One?

Is it appropriate for bloggers to have a Mental Health Day? Most, including myself, don't produce posts seven days a week so is it really even necessary to even need a MHD?

Yesterday I just didn't have anything to share. Nothing at all. Even with all of the weekend happenings there was still nothing to write. A and I are currently updating our spare bathroom for guests to come in about two weeks. I'm sure you don't care about all the fine details like the hole in the wall that we thought was a cold air return, or the steel tub that was painted with some textured material that is chipping away, or all the caulking that needs to be done. 

Remodeling comes with some exciting and fun experiences but they aren't always pleasant. Between that and the heat and humidity, A and I might have demolished 24 beers over the weekend. I like to consider my blog a no judgement zone - no judging. 

When life gets in the way, is it appropriate to take a MHD? I think it's 100% necessary and acceptable for anyone to take a MHD. The problem comes when you are the only 'employee' and if you don't show up, no one else will. So as a blogger, there is a ton of back end work besides just the blog post you are reading. 

While I didn't show up yesterday with something to entertain you, or make you roll your eyes, I did write up some pitches, learned about monetization, educated myself on some legal stuff, and brainstormed some fun ideas. 

Click to tweet: When's the last time you took a Mental Health Day?

If you are feeling overwhelmed or just drank far too many beers that will definitely lead to an enlarged liver, take a Mental Health Day - it will make you feel liberated! 

All. The. Zucchinis.

Last week was a struggle to say the least. Each day dragged on longer than the one prior. I wrote about why it was so hard here.

Now I am back to regular eating and really don't care much to count macros this week. I tried to be spot on last week with eating protein, protein, and more protein - this week I just want to eat what feels right.

A and I made a trip to a local Farmer's Market on Sunday and bought so much produce. It was a little ridiculous because we couldn't even find a place to store all the food once we got home. I mean, who really needs a huge bowl full of zucchini anyway?! Apparently, this girl.

I was brainstorming up some different ways to cook the zucchini. We made zucchini stew and zucchini fries and used a mere four zucchinis. Now I had to come up with some other ways to use those things... Zucchini muffins!!

I browsed around Pinterest for a bit and found a recipe that looked worth trying - no added sugar besides dark chocolate chips. I substituted some of the flour with Kodiak Protein Power Cakes mix and added a banana.

They were pretty darn tasty and made an exact 12 muffins. Of course, I still have a ton of zucchinis left and want to try and tweak the recipe a little more. Any interest in me sharing the recipe next week?

Have you used Kodiak mixes as a flour substitute? What else can be done with all of these zucchinis?

Sharing is caring. Click to Tweet: What to do with a bowl of zucchinis via @atravelingwife >> http://bit.ly/1dMfORq #fitfluential #summer

How To Be Happy

Wow, USA has had a hell of a weekend! We celebrated the Fourth of July and a World Cup victory. We have a lot to be thankful for and hopefully you all had a very happy weekend, especially if it was a three day weekend.

While I was watching the news this morning, they were talking about this documentary called 'Pursuing Happiness'. The film takes a look at the happiest people in America to truly find out what makes people happy. They talked about things like the notion of happiness being created from within us and that we choose to be happy - it's a conscious decision.

I agree with all of the above. I don't think happiness is anything like the lottery - it's not a luck of the draw. I believe that we have to create our own happiness given our situation, our upbringings, and our environment. It's not something that happens because we have a perfect life. Honestly, there isn't ONE perfect life.

Another item that was discussed from one of the individuals they interviewed was that to be excited about the future is a disrespect to the day. We can all look forward to something in our near or distant future, but isn't it also important to be present?! Whether it be an average day or an extremely rough one, it's still relevant in our overall happiness.

I consider myself to be a happy person living a happy lifestyle. I've experienced loss and hurt, pain and sorrow. Those negative feelings allow me to really understand what happiness is. To me, happiness is a lifestyle that is never perfect.

Here are some items that make me happy and help me achieve happiness (in no particular order);

- owning a home
- my little fur-child, Roxi
- financial stability
- my Husband
- food
- meditation
- the blogging community
- fitness
- living near the water
- the ability to form my own opinion
- random acts of kindness (like this one)
- coffee
- fresh air
- the sun
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What are some items that make you happy? How do you find your happiness?

Things I am Currently Missing

This post. I had it drafted on my phone and BAM - it's gone. Perhaps I should consider pressing the 'save' button next time.

Annoying corporate emails. In case you missed it, I talked about walking away from my real-life job on Friday. After two years, I don't need to see those emails anymore. 

My Husband. Weekends go by way too quickly and I was Miss Crabby-pants this past weekend. I want a do-over. Plus I could go for another SnoBall.

Friends. Moving to a new place means you have to make new friends - I will always have my long distance friends! Currently I haven't met anyone local. Why is it so hard to make friends when you are an adult?

My house in Indianapolis. This was the first house that we purchased, and although it was small, it will forever have my heart. We literally put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into that place. It started a spark within A and I for forever remodeling. 

Vernors. Thanks to Emily that posted about having a Vernors Slurpee I am craving a nice cold Vernors, or Boston Cooler. Vernors is a ginger ale soda that can really only be purchased in Michigan, Indiana, or Ohio (at least those are the only locations I have been able to find it). Being born in Michigan, Vernors is the only type of ginger ale - the best type!

Fall weather. Don't hate me for wanting to completely skip over the Spring and Summer season. This sub-tropic weather that Maryland has is absolutely killing me, and the pup too. I went out in hopes of running 2 easy miles. This ended after a dreadful 1.5 miles. #humidity

Amsterdam. A and I did a short European trip in December 2013. Amsterdam was my favorite city then and still has my heart. I am itching for a trip back. 

What are you currently missing?

Celebrate

Happy Monday! I hope you had a lovely weekend because I sure did. It was so nice to continue to explore our new neighborhood and eat delicious seafood. It's also so fun to make this house our home by planting some flowers and really cleaning up the yard.

Sunday was Mother's Day and I think it is important to honor ALL mothers of the world. Regardless if they have actually been able to conceive and carry a child. There are so many circumstances where individuals may not want kids, may not be able to have kids, or just not ready for kids. That doesn't mean these wonderful women don't have a motherly instinct. Heck, I think all caregivers need to be celebrated on both Mother's Day and Father's Day.

For all of the women that do not yet have children or may not ever have children - don't feel ashamed to celebrate Mother's Day. And let's not forget about those fur-Moms. We've been woken up to a crying pup that either needs to use the bathroom, got woken up by a bad dream, or is scared by that storm. We feed them, bath them, cry when they get hurt. Fur-babies are our children! Those Mom's deserve to celebrate too. 

How was your weekend? Did you celebrate Mother's Day?

#DadBod, Food, and Shenanigans

Happy Friday! This week has been an interesting week with A being out of town for work and with us still adjusting to our new home on the East Coast. Just because it's been interesting doesn't mean it hasn't been wonderful. Plus it's Friday everybody. Let's party!

This is how my week has gone...

Sun: The view above and the view below... Now words. They are my life and I couldn't be more elated. We have only been in Maryland for 30 days and it appears we are adjusting just well. One house and park pass later, we are residents!

Food: I mean, what is there not to like about food? I signed up for a Graze box subscription and have been loving the single portion snacks. These are snacks I would not otherwise buy for myself because, let's face it, I would eat a few portions then the bag would be missing in my pantry. Who else has a disaster of a pantry? I can't be alone.

And when your hubby is traveling for work, it is completely acceptable to eat an entire box of Kraft mac 'n cheese. Then drown your sorrows in a glass of wine. Living in a new home can be scary, but when you are alone it is 100 times worse.

Shopping: Flea market shopping might be one of the best things ever. Especially when you find this little lady marked at $40 and you get her for $25. A has mad skills. Really mad skillz!

Reading: #dadbod  If you haven't read this yet, it is a must. Then search #dadbod on Twitter and laugh. You are so very welcome!

What are your favorites from this week, or from today?
Shameless plug - Did you know a traveling Wife is on Facebook? I don't have any Likes yet. If you feel compelled to hope over and see, I would love the support!

* PS - you can get your 1st and 5th Graze box FREE. Just use code CGVRL749B (thanks for your support)

In real life...

In real life, moving is hard. Emotionally and physically hard.

In real life,  job hunting sucks. Building your resume is even tougher.

In real life, being an introvert makes it hard to make friends. Mostly because you don't care to be around people to even get to know them.

In real life, making a house your home is not as easy as one might think.

In real life, ticks can be found near wooded areas. But you probably already knew that.

In real life, not showering all day because you work from home is blissful.

In real life, sitting outside in some sunshine is 1,000 times better than doing housework.

In real life, loads and loads of laundry should be done by a fairy of some sort.

In real life, arguments happen.

In real life, coffee makes a Monday easier.

That's my Monday ramblings. What's going on in your life?