Ever since I started running in 2007 I’ve never felt that I had to have a race to train for in order to push me out the door on a daily basis to get my runs in.  Staying true to my promise, I haven’t signed up for a race and have no plans to do so in the near future.  That’s not to say that I’ll never sign up for a race ever again, it just means right now I’m just simply enjoying my runs just to run.  I still wear my Garmin but rarely use it and only wear it since my ID is attached.  And I have absolutely no idea when the last time I signed into Daily Mile to log a workout.

Want to know what I’ve found?  I actually enjoy running more.  Other than my obligation to myself I have nothing hanging over my head.  If I miss a run or feel like mixing it up for the day, it’s not the end of the world.  What’s even more crazy is that I’m probably working out more than I ever have since most days I generally have two workout sessions.  Don’t freak out.  In no way am I wearing myself into the ground.  In the past my job called for me to be on my feet anywhere from 8-12 hours, often at a high intensity pace.  Now that I have a desk job I feel so stagnant during the day, hence why I’m all for the two-a-days. (I hesitate to call yoga a “workout”.  Oftentimes it is, but that’s not the point to my practice)

Either way, this is basically what my weekly workout schedule looks like….

Mondays – Morning yoga at home (30 min), lunchtime Total Body class at work (30 min)

Tuesdays -Morning run (usually a simple 3 miler), lunchtime yoga class at work (45 min)

Wednesdays - Morning yoga at home (30 min), lunchtime Zumba class at work (30 min)

Thursdays -Morning run (usually a simple 3 miler), lunchtime yoga class at work (45 min)

Fridays – Rest

Saturday/Sunday – Hike or Run each day

I’m nowhere near burnt out like I have been in the past and I just roll with it when an opportunity like practicing yoga poolside with some of fave Cholla Chicks happens.

I seriously lack the ability to find a happy medium in almost all aspects of my life.  Most often you’ll find me going balls to wall in a certain direction.  It should come as no surprise then that I’ve never been able to master cross-training. In no way am I saying I’ve mastered it (far from it) but for once I can actually say I’m getting better at it…when I’m not even trying!  Now, if I could only implement some strength training in there….that’s a whole different post….

The most awesome thing about this isn’t necessarily where I am physically (although that’s not half bad either), but where I am mentally.  I love that I’m back to digging my workouts, am actually enjoying them (say what?!), and for once am accepting and embracing the flexibility of my schedule. All because I don’t have to workout.  I get to.

Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)

It’s safe to say I’m pretty darn comfortable in my own skin and thankfully my husband loves me just the way I am.  However, I can’t be going to shows looking like a hot mess or hag, right?  Enter my newest “project” for myself…attempting to master the application of make up.  Keeping it real, I’m not doing this for anyone but me.  (Remember D prefers me WITHOUT makeup) Even if I can make this happen, chances are 9.9 times out of 10 you’ll still find me without makeup.  But we both agree that it wouldn’t hurt to spice things up a bit here and there. Not to mention, I’ll take any help I can get at fending off his admirers

Au naturale

Makeup has never been my thing.  As a teenager I was never one of those girls that would sit in her room applying makeup.  The extent of my daily makeup routine would possibly be powder foundation, maybe blush, and a touch of eye shadow.  I never touched eyeliner or lipstick.  The first time I ever wore eyeliner was for my wedding almost 11+ years ago and someone else applied it.  So as you can see I literally have no base when it comes to makeup application skill.

To add to the challenge I want all products I use to be cruelty-free.  Thankfully there are companies that produce cruelty-free makeup.  The downside: there aren’t many, they tend to be more expensive, and even if the brand is cruelty-free the parent company sometimes isn’t (big gray area but I want to try my best to avoid supporting those companies)

As of now I’ve turned to YouTube videos in attempt of learning some application techniques.  It’s always fun to realize I’m learning to apply makeup by girls that are half my age.  I swear no matter what technique I try it all looks the same too.  Goodness, I need some serious help.  What I need is a makeup artist to sit down and teach me one-on-one.  Shoot, at this point I’d settle for the basics.  Maybe one day we’ll have enough money so I can hire a stylist/makeup artist.  Seriously, how rad would that be? Never say never….

Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)

Unfortunately for me this past year of running has been straight up challenging.  There’s not one specific thing I can pinpoint when it comes to this change…it’s just part of the journey.  Weight gain, change in gait, different weather….all of those things add in to the change.  With that being said I wanted to do my best to rule out any variables that could be contributing to this issue. I’ve hashed and rehashed how I love my Mizuno Wave Riders but one thing I wondered was if my shoes were complicating my existing issues.

Early this year I had the opportunity to try of a pair of Wave Precisions and fell in love in a heartbeat. I can’t put into words how awesome and light they felt but they weren’t quite minimalist.  Sadly as time went on I started to feel ankle discomfort/strain during my runs.  Having less shoe also meant less support and less control of my foot in the shoe.  I was in denial that the Precision wasn’t my perfect shoe because I loved how good they felt.  After the discomfort persisted I decided it was time to do something about it.

Last month I took a trip to my local Road Runner Sports store.  Instead of just winging it I went ahead and met up with Shoe Dog, had my gate analyzed, and was fit with custom insoles.  The analysis proved that I have crazy high arches (already knew that). However, unlike many people with high arches I don’t underpronate (roll my foot on the outside edge) when I run.  I find this interesting because I most definitely do when I walk.  Instead, I tend to overpronate (foot leans to inside, on the arch), causing more stress on my arches.  I’m also a midfoot striker…this is a good thing, right?  After my analysis they recommended I go with a support shoe that would correct my overpronating.  I left the store with my bright blue Wave Inspires ready to run.

My first run started out pretty good.  My foot felt more secure than it ever had, but at 1.5 miles my achilles started burning along with my cuboid.  Although this is a problem I’ve dealt with in the past it was well over a year ago since I had any flareups. By the end of 3 miles I was in straight up pain.  Bummer.  But I stayed positive knowing that I needed to give myself time to adjust.  Unfortunately things never really improved and I knew it was time to head back to the drawing board.

Thankfully with Road Runner Sports 90 day test run guarantee they didn’t bat an eye when I went in to get them exchange.  They actually listened to all of my concerns and didn’t act like I was a crazy person (even though we all know that I am….).  In a nutshell they determined that I needed to stay in a more neutral vs support shoe and basically the Inspire was almost over correcting my gait.  In other words, I didn’t need that much support.

What’s up Shoe Dog?

After our discussion I tried on the Wave Enigma and Wave Creation. The Enigma felt great but I found it had too high of an ankle collar that rubbed my ankle bone simply from walking.  Needless to say those were vetoed almost immediately.  Next up, the Wave Creation.  Ever since starting to run I never judge shoes by what they look like or their color, but I gotta say, these are some badass looking shoes.  Something I noticed off the bat was that that they are heavier than I’m used too.  I was used to the Precisions at 8 oz and Riders at 8.2 oz.  The Creations weigh in a 9.7 oz…More than an ounce over the Riders, which is attributed to the solid heel.  But I remained open minded.

So did the Creations work for me? It’s been more than a week since I started running in them and things are going very well.  By no means are these as light as the Precisions but I must admit the don’t feel the extra weight and it hasn’t seemed to cause any issues.  Although the Creation is considered a neutral shoe it provides a bit more support than the Rider but not as much as the Inspire, leaving it smack dab in the middle of their shoe line up.

Are they my perfect shoe?  I will readily admit I have yet to fall in love with them as fast as I did the Riders and then Precisions, but they are what is working best for me right now.  I don’t think I’ll ever totally give up Riders or Precisions and instead use my body as a gauge as to what shoe works best.  And right now, the Creations are what are working best.

Although some may see this process as being frustrating and tedious I thought it was pretty cool.  I am a self-proclaimed Mizuno Maniac and this allowed me to not only check out their line of shoes but gave me the chance to actually run in them and experience them for myself.  This in turn has given me a better understanding of the difference between more of their shoes.  Although I have yet to try the entire line of shoes I can check off Riders, Precisions, Ascends, Inspires, Enigmas, and Creations from the list.  This experience also gave me the chance to check out the Shoe Dog analysis at Road Runner Sports and I got to see that the whole 90 day guarantee is for real.  Pretty rad.  Big high five to Road Runner for being patient with me.

I think the biggest takeaway from this experience was that it reminded me that it’s very important to listen to my body, check in with myself, and make adjustments instead of just doing something a certain way because it’s what I’ve always done.

When it comes to supporting D with his dreams I haven’t always been the most supporting wife.  He had a few start-ups with bands here and there, but each time my insecurities would get the best of me. His lack of success wasn’t solely because of me, but I did factor into the equation.  As I’ve always stated, it wasn’t that I didn’t trust him, I didn’t trust the situation nor the monetary risk it all involved.  As I’ve gotten older I’ve become more secure and comfortable personally and in our relationship.  When the recent opportunity of joining a band and touring the US presented itself I really strived to be supportive and gung ho.

I was actually looking forward to the alone time and after living the military lifestyle I got used to being alone.  Although we never had to survive a deployment we did have months at a time where we didn’t see each other.  In addition, his position with the Marines called for a decent amount of travel, leaving me home. And those were the days when skype, texting, and other forms of social media weren’t available.  Cell phones were just making it mainstream.  I laugh when I think back to using 10-10-220 when calling each other prior to us each having cell phones.  Anyone else remember that?  So you would think that after being a Marine Wife I’d have this down pat.  Ha!  Boy did I have some learning to do.

I did pretty well….but definitely had some moments of weakness and even moments I’m not so proud of. I really had to work to wrap my brain and emotions around it and quite honestly am still working to do so….but here’s what the past month has taught me.

D and I make a good team. I’ve always known and appreciate the help D provides around the house.  We’ve never had set “duties” or conformed to gender lines when it comes to things that need to be done.  Him being gone meant all of these shared duties were now on my plate. I slid into a change of routine from my normal day-to-day schedule which meant waking up at 4am to feed the kids, workout, and do some cleanup around the house.   The early wake up was also required for administering medications for our kiddos as well.  Having already been waking up at 4:30am on a daily basis this change wasn’t too big but after a week I started to feel the wear and tear.

The kiddos are hard work but they are always there with unconditional love

No matter how much I think I’ve got my OCD tendencies in check, they will always be there. The first week I was full steam ahead.  As I stated, I got into the swing of a new schedule with no issues.  Unfortunately when I feel I lack control over my present situation or I become bored I clean/organize….nonstop. Over time I’ve learned to recognize this and keep myself in check.  But this time around it was like a switch I couldn’t turn off.  As if I’m not already bad enough, with the kids there really is always something to clean, so from the moment I woke up til the moment I went to sleep I was organizing and cleaning. What was even more frustrating is I recognized it but still couldn’t keep myself in check.

My endometriosis is alive and kicking. This has nothing to do with being a rock star wife but my endometriosis has decided to rear it’s ugly head over the past few months leading to a full month of cramps.  Adding that on top of everything else didn’t help with the situation.

Nook and Netflix are some of the best investments we’ve ever made. Going on tour isn’t cheap (maybe I’ll make a post on that later….) so I avoided going out to eat or doing activities so I could save money.  Given that the kids were already left alone for 8 hours a day also lead me to stay in most days. In addition, I don’t have an overabundance of friends out here in PHX, and those that I do have live a good 30+ minutes away. Needless to say my Nook and Netflix became my best friends.  Funny thing: not once did I watch television.

The old Heidi, full of insecurities, still resides deep in my soul. I found out real fast that social media is a blessing and a curse. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to follow along with their journey but when photos of women hugging your husband or leaving comments stating, “you’re easy on the eyes….” and such come across my feed it’s a bit challenging to my psyche. My initial reaction was, “Aww, hell no,” and then it turned into sadness.  This is the hardest thing for me to wrap my brain around.  As a band and personality, they need to develop connections with their fans but to what extent?  Where should that line be drawn? I want to have a “presence” but also don’t want to be the overbearing wife either. Even more, how can I turn a blind eye?  Should I turn a blind eye?

Even at almost 30 years of age, there’s nothing like a good ol’ talk with my mama. Sadly since our move to Arizona my mom and I have had a tough time connecting.  Be it schedules or all the craziness circling us, we just never seemed to get around to talking to each other and quite honestly it bummed me out considering we have always been close.  With my grandma passing, her being off of work, and me having a bit of extra time the stars seemed to align and we’re back to communicating on a daily basis which rocks my world.  During my lowest moments this month she was always there with a listening ear that I knew I could trust and words of encouragement or reason.

I have one of the best men in the world for a husband. D not only listens but also understands my waves of emotions.  We made sure to continuously keep the lines of communication open but more importantly sat down and had an honest and open discussion of everything that transpired over the past month once he came home.  We were both able to address likes, dislikes, concerns, and identify areas where we need to place our focus.  In turn our hope is that we will not only continue to grow stronger as a couple but also as individuals and be even more prepared whenever the next tour arises….which more than likely is sooner than later.

To say this past month was challenging is an understatement, but no one ever said it would be easy.  Most things in life worth doing never are.

Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)

With their last show of this tour being in Las Vegas the rest of his band members had friends and family planning to make the 4.5 hour trip.  I was totally bummed because as everyone was making plans I knew I would be at home taking care of the menagerie of our companion animals…or would I?  After spending a few moments bummed and a bit pissed off my gears started to churn.  If I’d head up to Vegas Saturday and only stay the one night most of the kids would be fine, and all I’d have to do would be to take the dogs.  Could I find an affordable pet friendly hotel near the venue?  With the help of google maps and a few quick phone calls my plan was set in action.  Within an hour I found a hotel immediately across from the Hard Rock, that accepted our 3 pups for a small nominal fee, and had an affordable nightly rate.

Now, to tell D or not?  I decided not.  After 10+ years of marriage I have yet to surprise him…ever.  We often choose our own gifts, have a habit of guessing what we’ve gotten each other, or I have to tell him my plans because it requires some of his input.  Needless to say, I had my heart set on making this a surprise.  I made a few more quick phone calls/texts, with one specifically to the lead singer of the band, making sure they were aware but hoping they wouldn’t spill the beans.

As the week continued I became more and more excited to surprise him but had to be careful what I shared with him, making sure I didn’t let the cat out of the bag.  I even had to tell a couple of fibs. Anyone that knows me knows I can’t tell a lie to save my soul and I wear my emotions on my sleeve, so this was pretty tough.

Saturday morning came, I loaded the 3 pups into the car, and we made the adventurous trip to Vegas.  The stars perfectly aligned somehow that upon my arrival I could check into our room immediately and I received word that the band had just arrived at the venue.  After getting all settled into the room I leashed up the pups and we took a short walk across the street in search of their tour bus.  I found D taking a nap but after a few shakes by his band members he was awake, sitting up, finding me smiling and him.  Success!  He was surprised =)

The remainder of the day was spent behind the scenes watching everything unfold.  Although I’ve seen D perform before, this was my first time seeing him with Corvus and as part of a national act.  That evening I put on my sequin tank, black leggings, peep toe platform heels, with cherry red toenails and repeated a mantra I’ve become very familiar with…fake it til I make it.

Anyone that follows me on Twitter or Instagram may have seen my #RockStarWife posts.  No, I’m not calling myself a Rock Star Wife…I’m the wife of a rock star.  Venues, Vegas, bars, fans, searching for tacos at 2am, and calling it a night at 3am…it’s all new to me and I’m trying to figure out how to maneuver this new world.  I can guarantee this adventure will not be typical (Who goes to Vegas with 3 dogs in tow?) but it’s just another development in our crazy, adventurous lives. This past month was very interesting and per usual, I’m more than willing to share.  Stay tuned!

Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)

I spent years in dance classes while growing up.  When doing any sort of turns we were taught to choose a specific point and focus on that.  It made total sense and worked.

This may seem from left field, but follow me here….

Remember when those Magic Eye posters and books became popular in the early 90s?  I hated those things.  I’d stand there for hours, using my “focus on the point” mentality, and nothing.  People would come up, see the vision, say what they saw, and walk away.  All while I sat there becoming frustrated.  Even with the descriptions of what people saw I’d try to use my imagination…nothing.  I tried crossing my eyes…nothing. I bought a book on how to teach yourself to look at Magic Eye art….still nothing.  I just thought I lacked a gene or something (kind of like being color blind) and was unable to visualize the art.

Several years ago my husband and I happened to be at an ice cream shop (of all places!) and they had a Magic Eye poster in the window.  Sure enough my husband got it right away.  While we waited for our ice cream I figured I’d give it a whirl.  After a good 10 minutes of focusing, focusing, focusing, my eyes must have gotten tired and they relaxed. Bam!  I saw it.  I saw it!!!  It only took 10+ years but I was finally able to see a Magic Eye poster.  How did I see it? Instead of focusing on a specific point, I looked “through” the art, and almost zoned out.  Sure, I was still focused, but relaxed, and took in the entire scope of the poster. (For the record, I’m still not great at visualizing these posters.)

As I ventured into the world of yoga I used the form of focusing I learned in dance into practice.  I’d focus on something, say a nail on the wall, zero in on it, take a few breaths, and work into a “tree”.  Most of the time I found myself wavering, trying not to fall.  I’d take a few breaths, refocus on my point, and try again. On days I couldn’t hold my balance I thought it was that I couldn’t maintain my focus on my chosen point. I was right….and wrong.

What I didn’t know was, instead of using my “dance focus”, I needed to tap into my “Magic Eye”.  One day recently, while practicing yoga (I have no idea why or how) I somehow tapped into my Magic Eye and Bam!  My balance was there. However, the moment I let my focus shift back to a specific object and allowed my mind to actually notice my balance I found myself once again wavering.  Interesting.  Even more interesting, when I wasn’t focused on focusing, but was in my Magic Eye, I felt more focused.

So in other words, to better my balance I need to stop focusing on balance. I think this is quite apropos given that this basically translates into the same mindset I’m working on as I journey through life…not focusing on the destination, but embracing the journey, and accepting whatever comes my way.  The same goes for yoga.  Although you won’t find me looking at Magic Eye posters anytime soon I’ll definitely be tapping into my own personal Magic Eye.

Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)

What were the posts?

Number 1: If you could have dinner with 7 famous people, dead or alive, who would they be and where would they sit?

Number 2: Describe Your Life With A Movie Title

There’s a reason I haven’t tackled these posts.  For something that seems so simple you can only imagine how much over analyzing I’ve done on these topics.  Not only do I have to think of 7 people but I also have to decide where they would sit?  Oy!  That topic has been tabled because all I have a names and faces going round and round in my head. There are no wrong answer (that’s the fun of the idea) but I still want it to be “right”. I know, weird.

So for now I’m going with the Number 2…What movie title could describe my life?  Once again, something I thought would be so easy. To keep it easier I’m just sticking with the idea that the title describes my life, not the story line. Initially all I could think of were my favorite movies, but then I realized, just because they are my favorite movies, doesn’t mean they describe my life. Case in point: Dirty Dancing.  I love to dance but it’s not my life.  As for the dirty aspect…well, let’s not even go there. While You Were Sleeping is another one.  Let’s be honest, that just sounds creepy. (Fact: I avoided that movie for a good year or so after it was released because I thought it was a horror flick. Now it’s one of my faves)

I also see my life in sections, almost like episodes or acts.  I was finding that just choosing one movie title to encapsulate my life seemed impossible.  Knowing we’ve had conversations like this and she wrote her own blog on it I finally broke down and texted Carey.  What’s even better is that we both have Netflix, always exchange recommendations, and I know she has a decent knowledge when it comes to movies.  Initially she thought of “Jungle Book” or “Born Free”.  But once again I thought those were so limiting to my current situation, not my earlier life.  And then another text came through….

Bam!

That’s it.  As my mom likes to say, “I never know with you guys…It’s always something new.”  We like to keep everyone (including ourselves) on their toes.  We’ve always been living our own NeverEnding Story.  Now it’s just a little bit more adventurous.  The best thing?  We get to write it.

So….what would your movie title be??

Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)

I’ll start with the easier problem, shorts.  For shorter runs I’m a Nike Tempo short wearer.  Anything longer than that I wear Road Runner Sports compression shorts to reduce thigh chafing. I’m leaning towards shorter runs these days so I’m wearing my Tempos more.  These are one of the items that have gotten tighter.  I figured I’d just go up a size but going up a size made me feel like I was wearing a diaper.  I need an in-between size.  So…..I guess I need to search out a new go-to short.

As for tanks, this is where things get a bit more complicated. If the subject of bras and boobs isn’t your thing, stop here. A little TMI but I’m honestly reaching out for help….

Keeping it real, my boobs can cause some major issues when it comes to running.  This is actually one of the things that kept me from attempting to run for so many years.  Due to fibrosis it’s imperative that those suckers don’t move an inch. Thankfully after some researching and real-life testing I found some bras that worked.

I love Nike Pro Bras.  Unfortunately for me they don’t provide enough support when it comes to wearing looser t-shirt tops or tanks without shelf bras.  That’s where my Moving Comfort bra comes into play.  It works perfectly for t-shirts but a no go for tanks without shelf bras as I have the overflow side boob chafing action.  Not cool.

To break it down:
Tank with shelf bra = Nike Pro Bra
T-shirt = Moving Comfort Bra
Tank without shelf bra = ??

Ever tried running and taking photo at the same time?  Not easy.

So you may think, “What’s the big deal? Just wear t-shirts or find tanks with shelf bras and avoid tanks without shelf bras.”  If it were only that easy.  It seems that the concept of tanks with functional shelf bras aren’t the thing anymore.  Sure, some have them but they don’t help one bit. The tanks that I do find seem to fit me looser in the chest and tight around the waist.  As I already stated, although I consider myself pretty busty, I have a larger cup size but am smaller around.  Add that to my curvy hips.  I’m the exact opposite fit for the tanks. Are my proportion sizes wacky compared to normal people?

I’ve scoured Dick’s Sporting Goods, TJMaxx, Target, Road Runner Sports, Old Navy, Nike, Reebok, Under Armor and haven’t walked away with anything that works.  So this is my cry for help.  Do you have any of the same problems?  If so, do you have any “favorites” that I need to check out? Or, if you’re a brand that specializes in fit gear, help a sister out.  I would LOVE to see tanks with snug chest areas with longish, looser waists.  I can picture them in my head….Trust me when I say, my working out depends on this.  That or I’ll have to keep running in my old stinky gear.

Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)

After yoga I went and had a pedicure.  What?! Me, have a pedicure?!  Yep. Living in Arizona I get to wear sandals throughout most of the year.  That also means my sad toes are exposed all of the time.  I trim my toe nails but that’s about the extent of TLC they received.  I have been grateful to not be one of those runners who loses their toe nails (yet!)  Over these past few weeks, as I’ve been wearing sandals more and more I kept thinking to myself, “I really need to do something about these toes…”  So after my yoga session I made my way to a local nail place.  You know, just one of those typical nail places, nothing fancy.  Being a Saturday I expected a wait but they got me right in.  I chose the brightest color of pink nail polish I could find and they went to work.  Thankfully they didn’t cringe when they saw my feet.

Hard to tell from the photo but they are HOT pink.  The brighter the better, right?

I can’t even remember the last time I had a pedicure.  It’s been years.  It’s just not one of those things that I do.  I keep finding myself sneaking glances at my toes and smiling.  Having something so simple as a pedicure totally lifted my spirits and made me happy. But if you think about it, if I would have it done regularly it wouldn’t be that special.

This whole experience got me thinking…I don’t wear makeup, I don’t use perfume, I rarely use actual soap/shampoo, and I use absolutely no hair products.  Have I lost my femininity?

(Let me clarify, I’m not walking around like pig pen all stinky and such.  Over the past several years I’ve really worked at reducing my exposure to unnecessary chemicals or my dependency on items that aren’t required to survive.  It really hasn’t been that big of a deal and I swear I don’t stink.  D can vouch for me!  I have added lotion back in the mix (it’s dry out here in Arizona!), but I still try to keep it as simple as I can with little to no scents and cruelty-free.)

Ultimately it’s the same issue I have with fashion…finding that fine line of buying/wearing/doing things that are necessary vs unnecessary but still being true to myself…and feeling good about myself. Thankfully for me I rarely think about these sort of things and I’m lucky enough that D actually prefers me without make-up or perfume.  True story.  Those were his words.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I wish I got dolled up more often just for the fun of it. There are also days when it would be nice to not smell like “me” and have a another scent to mix it up. But I realized long ago that I shouldn’t rely on make-up to feel pretty.  Being pretty comes from embracing my natural beauty, flaws and all.  But I need to remind myself, that it’s okay to splurge and pamper yourself now and again….because it does feel oh so good.

Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =) 

Some may see it as a bit of overkill since I’m not really into overnight trips and I stick with short day trips.  Why the heck do I need all of that space?  However, for me it’s not about the amount of space, but the accessibility.  Allow me to explain…

Being new to exploring Arizona I still find myself in awe of the natural beauty around me…something I hope never changes.  It’s absolutely amazing out here! What some people may not know is that I love photography.  True story. In no way am I a professional (not even close), but if there’s a picture that can be taken I am taking it.  Needless to say, with the gorgeous surroundings out here and my love for photography I’m rarely without some sort of camera.

When I hit the trails my love for photography tends to go into overdrive. I don’t just settle for my cell phone for photos, nor do I just take a point in shoot or my DSLR.  I’m known to take them all.  Yes, when I’m out hiking the trails chances are you’ll find me with my cell phone, Nikon DSLR, and GoPro. (Hello tourist!)  In my defense, each one provides a different ”service”.  Phone provides easing uploading to social media platforms, DSLR gives me the fancier shots, and the GoPro has the awesome view aspect and can record video.

Prior to testing out the Ribz Front Pack I wore my DSLR around my neck.  This isn’t a huge issue but on longer hikes it would start to weigh on my neck.  Not to mention, I don’t know how many times I whacked it on the rocks as I’d scramble up surfaces. That’s never good for a costly piece of equipment.  As for the other cameras, I either had to take off my pack each time I wanted to use them (inconvenient) or I held them in my hand (not real safe since it’s always good to have your hands free and clear).  So as you can see, I needed some help.

With the Ribz Front Pack I don’t have any of these issues.  Each camera can have its own pouch which means my organizational OCD personality stays happy and I have easy access to the cameras I need whenever I want. Most importantly, my cameras stay safe and I stay safe.

Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Ribz Front Pack for free from Ribz as coordinated by Deep Creek Public Relations in consideration for review publication.