Tot Tip Tuesday - 5 Fav Hiking Tips with Kids

Hiking with kids of any age is different in so many ways than hitting the trails with your friends. Here are our top 5 favorite hiking hacks with the kiddies in tow.

1. Have patience and be flexible 
You might not make it 1/2 a mile up the trail before you are dealing with meltdowns and tantrums, be patient and try to distract the kids with pointing out wildlife, rivers, or snacks.

2. Bring the essentials
First aid kit, sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, water, extra clothes, special walking stick, etc.

3. Let the kids set the pace 
Put yourself in their shoes and remember that their stubby short legs take 3 steps for every one of yours.

4. Call for rest stops often
Be sure to call for rest stops before the kids ask for them and remember to praise them on how well they are doing. Most often those of us packing the babies need more rest stops than the kids.

5. Pick the right trail
Choose a trail with features that interest kids. While hiking, teach the kids to be observers by looking for signs of wildlife, (paw prints, bird feathers, water along the trail etc.)

Happy Tuesday!
IG: @megynjordyn

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FASHION FRIDAY - HATS OFF TO HATS!

One pet peeve that we both agree on is trying to enjoy the great outdoors while our hair blows in a million different directions including our faces. Sure we use ponytails, braids, buns, and topknots to our full advantage but sometimes hats are just where it's at. They keep all those loose hairs out of your way and as an added bonus offer you (some) sun protection, and let you keep your dirty camp hair under wraps so know one is the wiser.

We say SOME sun protection because baseball type hats are great for protecting your scalp, forehead, and the top of your nose. But that leaves the rest of your face and ears unprotected so make sure you remember to sunscreen the areas your hat will miss, (and the ones it covers). 

Megan is wearing a Roxy Women's Trucker Hat which a very similar one can be found here. Jordan is wearing a basic black Nike baseball hat which can be found here. If you'll be working up a sweat look into getting a hat with Dri-Fit. It helps your head breathe a bit and wicks away sweat. We just started using them this year and have loved them. We also love taking a peek into Ross or TJ Maxx randomly for cool hats on the cheap. We have found a few there for great prices.

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FASHION FRIDAY - LOVING LAYERS

Hitting the trails lately has been both my sanity buster and my gym time. The cute little kidlets have learned the art of fighting amongst themselves until mom starts to lose it. Yesterday one of them splashed toilet water all over a freshly cleaned bathroom. Needless to say when the sun started setting I was more than ready to grab my bag and take breather for an hour or two. I'm also trying really hard to get in better shape for summer and nothing makes your legs scream quite like heading straight uphill. 

But if you live in Utah or have visited for more than 5 minutes you know our weather can swing from  comfortable temperatures, to cold, to hot all in that 5 minutes. Maybe not that quick but still, our weather can be crazy! Three lessons I've learned from this. Layers, always. Comfort, is a must. Clothes need to have the right fit and be suitable for the right activity so you can enjoy yourself without being bogged down by too small or too large items. Third, sometimes I'll pay the big bucks for outdoor/workout items if I think it is worth it but most of the time I take my time looking for the pieces I need and want and am able to find great deals on quality items that last me a long time. A few of my favorite layers at the moment, and all three cost less than $25 bucks TOTAL 

Basic long sleeve Tee $3 dollars at Banana Republic end of season sale//

Denim shirt (which also makes a great swimsuit coverup) $6 //

Violet quilted vest $16 Target

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