Road Trips - Hiking Guide

I'm going to wrap up the Road Trip theme posts now with my favorite must haves from this last trip out to Utah.

1. Camelbak Hydration Pack – this pack holds 100 ounces of water, perfect for those long hikes and mountain bike rides. It expands as well so you can put in that extra waterproof jacket as well as your keys, wallet or mobile phone.

2. Adidas Response Sleevless Tee - $26 – I packed three of these tanks for the trip and they are great since they wick and absorb sweat like nobody’s business (I also use them for long distance running). You can also launder them in the hotel room with cold water and Woolite™ so no need to pack a lot of cotton tees that will prevent proper cooling.

3. Vasque Women's Mantra Hiking Shoe - $89.95 – BEST HIKING SHOES EVER. I’ve put so many miles on these shoes and they are still in great condition. No blisters or bruised toes. Breathable, comfortable and cushioned soles with every step. And more importantly, they are not pink or purple.

4. Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55 - $38– This is one of the few sunscreens that doesn’t cause me to break out. It’s light and not terribly greasy.

5. Ray Ban - Original Wayfarer Sunglasses - $109 – Great coverage and they come in all colors.

Lists and Notes

I know that in this day and age of Blackberries, PDA's, notebook computers, and cell phones, a paper list might seem a bit old fashioned. But I love them! The picture above is a grouping of lists I collected from around my house that I am currently ticking off. There is something wonderful in the tangibility of a list that you can work through, and then toss when complete. It gives a finality to chores, shopping, tasks, etc.

Every man I have ever dated has laughed at my lists. But talk to my friends and ask them when the last time was that I forgot a birthday or was out of a key ingredient while preparing for a party.

I can ignore a beep from my phone without even thinking about it, but at the end of the day when I feel the cool smooth of that piece of paper in my pocket I remember that there is something I need to do!

An Elegant Drink For A Hot Day

When I think of summer I think of cool, refreshing, and light drinks. But of course, I also want whatever I serve to have just a little twist to it to give it something extra.

This is my "I'm inoculating myself from Malaria" vodka and diet tonic. What gives it the "little something extra" is that I squeeze fresh lemon juice, freeze it in ice cube trays, and use one of these ice cubes in the drink instead of a twist. When served in a tall clear glass I feel it has a very sleek and sophisticated look about it. If you want to go a step further, add a sprig of mint for garnish.

The great thing about this drink is because the tonic is diet, the drink is very lo-cal. Of course the amount of calories depends on the amount of booze. One and a half ounces of vodka has 100 calories. My vodka and diet tonic has 250 calories; I'll let you do the math.

Cheers!