10 Small but Useful Things to Pack for Every Vacation

10 Small but Useful Things to Pack for Every Vacation

Without a good small item packing checklist, you may well forget something super useful on your next trip. When it comes to packing, I am not a big supporter of “just in case” or “what if.” That is the fastest way to over pack. Plus, 

Five things to think about when buying a new backpack for travel

Five things to think about when buying a new backpack for travel

When choosing a backpack to travel the world with, there are many things to think about and take into consideration. My first backpack was a lesson in what not to buy. We went on a couple of good trips together, but I learned some important 

Choosing the right shoes for your trip

Choosing the right shoes for your trip

Let’s talk about travel shoes for women. Travel = walking. A lot of walking. Having sturdy, comfortable shoes is crucial since you need to be able to wear them all day, every day. If they are cute, well, that is an added bonus. But honestly, 

Women’s packing list for five nights in Puerto Rico

Women’s packing list for five nights in Puerto Rico

Since I appreciate seeing what other fellow travelers pack when they go on their adventures, I figured I would share with you my women’s packing list for Puerto Rico. Continue reading to see what I put in my bag for our five-night stay in the 

Tips to Packing Light [Tips and Tricks]

Tips to Packing Light [Tips and Tricks]

Last week I talked about the gear and tools that help in packing light. This week, I am going to talk about some specific packing light tips for women. These are the tips and tricks I actually use while on vacation. There is a lot 

Tips to Packing Light [Tools and Gear]

Tips to Packing Light [Tools and Gear]

Packing Light Tools and Gear Packing light is an art. It takes years of practice and just when you think you’ve got it nailed, you’ll learn some new trick or find a new piece of gear that shows just how wrong you’ve been packing all 

Survival food: what to pack with you on trips

Survival food: what to pack with you on trips

It is nearing the second weekend in August, which means one thing in the R and B household: Braun Brothers Reunion. BBR is a music festival/camping extravaganza with great music and not so great food. I mean, there’s only so many hamburgers you can eat 

High quality H-2-O

High quality H-2-O

A few years ago in a Quito hotel, I forgot that I wasn’t supposed to drink the water in Ecuador and swallowed down a swig after brushing my teeth. In that moment, as I contemplated contracting giardia, typhoid fever and hepatitis, I realized just how 

Getting sick while on the road

Getting sick while on the road

When I was in my 20s, I visited a back specialist and was told that I have the back of an 80-year-old. (Lovely, right?) What this means is that once or twice a year, I tweak it just right and go down for the count