52 Weeks Of Trying New Things | Week 10 | Warby Parker’s Free Home-Try-On Program

November 17, 2018November 18, 2018 Emily Adams The Planking Traveler1 Comment

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

I’m in the market for a new pair of glasses and recently discovered Warby Parker’s Free Home-Try-On Program. You start with taking a quiz on their website about the frame shape, color, and size that you’re looking for. Once you select the 5 you want to try, they ship them out to you for free! Once you receive your selections, you have 5 days to test them out and figure out which one(s) you like the best. After 5 days, you mail them back with the included pre-paid shipping label and have NO obligation to buy. If you do end up liking any of them and want to buy a pair, they make it easy to add your prescription and order online! I also like that they are affordable, with options starting at only $95! Below are the 5 frames I tried. Continue reading “52 Weeks Of Trying New Things | Week 10 | Warby Parker’s Free Home-Try-On Program” →

Non-Toxic Personal Care Part 1 | An Honest Review of Real Purity

November 14, 2018November 14, 2018 Emily Adams The Planking Traveler2 Comments

Over the past few years, I’ve been focusing on switching to safer and less toxic personal care products. I have a few holdouts, but the majority of what I put on my skin and hair these days is free of harmful chemicals and endocrine disruptors. Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing a 5-part series with you about my favorite affordable non-toxic products, so I hope you’ll find some good ideas for new brands to try! Continue reading “Non-Toxic Personal Care Part 1 | An Honest Review of Real Purity” →

52 Weeks Challenge

52 Weeks Of Trying New Things | Week 9 | Mexican Popsicles From La Super Michoacana

November 12, 2018November 12, 2018 Emily Adams The Planking TravelerLeave a comment

45-degree weather didn’t stop me from satisfying my sweet tooth at the heladeria (ice cream shop) known as La Super Michoacana today. I’d seen a lot of positive press about this dessert spot hidden in a strip mall, but had never gotten the chance to try it. We finished lunch at our favorite Vietnamese restaurant and plugged the address into the GPS – it turns out it was only a few steps away and we had never even seen it because it’s so well hidden. Once you find it, the exterior will surely catch your eye with its bright and inviting colors and matching truck outside! Continue reading “52 Weeks Of Trying New Things | Week 9 | Mexican Popsicles From La Super Michoacana” →

Travel

My Experience As A Google Local Guide | Connect Live 2018 San Francisco Recap

November 7, 2018November 7, 2018 Emily Adams The Planking Traveler6 Comments

In October, I was selected along with 150 other Google Local Guides from 59 countries to attend the Google Connect Live Summit in San Francisco! (This is the city where Gabe asked me to marry him, so it holds an extra special place in my heart). The process to apply for Connect Live: Local Guides level 5 and above were eligible to apply. I’m a level 8 so I figured I would give it a shot. We had to submit a 60-second audition video describing why we should be chosen and what our favorite things were to contribute to Google Maps. I enjoy contributing photos and reviews of pet-friendly and fitness-friendly locations around the US and the world, so I mentioned that in my video. Full disclosure: I didn’t make the first cut invitation, but thankfully there were some spots that opened up for various reasons, so I was thrilled to get a last-minute invitation and grateful that my job allowed me the time off without much notice! This video gives a fun summary of the energy and enthusiasm at Connect Live!

Continue reading “My Experience As A Google Local Guide | Connect Live 2018 San Francisco Recap” →

52 Weeks Challenge

52 Weeks of Trying New Things | Week 8 | Relationship Building Exercises

November 5, 2018November 5, 2018 Emily Adams The Planking Traveler1 Comment

At church, we’ve been attending a Sunday School class called the Art of Marriage, and have talked about tools to build your relationship and improve communication. For those of you that are not married, don’t stop reading yet – many of these principles apply to any close relationship that you want to improve or learn more about. In class, we have mainly talked about the 5 Love Languages and the book that goes along with it. Gabe and I have previously discussed our love languages, but for this week’s adventure into trying new things, we wanted to explore some other aspects of interaction to continue to get to know each other and how we can effectively communicate. We landed on two new tools that have been helpful to go through. Continue reading “52 Weeks of Trying New Things | Week 8 | Relationship Building Exercises” →

52 Weeks Challenge · Local Activities · north carolina

52 Weeks of Trying New Things | Week 7 | Goat Yoga At Hux Family Farm In Durham North Carolina

October 29, 2018October 29, 2018 Emily Adams The Planking Traveler2 Comments

I’m not a yoga person, but the animal lover in me has always wanted some snuggles with adorable dwarf goats, so goat yoga was the best avenue I found for this. After searching for classes near me, the one location in Greensboro that I found seemed to be closed for the colder months so I was thrilled to find Hux Family Farm only an hour away in Durham, North Carolina. Classes are $23 per person, which I found to be quite reasonable. I was giddy as I booked a class for the very next day and proceeded to tell my husband I had a surprise for him. Thankfully he’s spontaneous and went along with me without knowing what we were doing! Continue reading “52 Weeks of Trying New Things | Week 7 | Goat Yoga At Hux Family Farm In Durham North Carolina” →

Fitness · Healthy Living

5 Ways To Stay Active At A Desk Job

October 25, 2018October 25, 2018 Emily Adams The Planking Traveler4 Comments

You’ve probably heard that sitting is the new smoking, but does that mean all of us with desk jobs are doomed? Not if we play our cards right. For several years, I skipped lunches and rarely got up for any other breaks during the busy season at work, feeling chained to my desk because of all that I had to get done. Sadly, I’m sure many of you can identify with my experience. After I got married, I started to realize that no work responsibilities were more important than my health. This was my fault for not prioritizing movement throughout the day. It’s easy to blame your employer for a heavy workload or long hours, but ultimately it’s up to you to set boundaries and be your own advocate to put your health first. If you’re a current or former DJ like me (that’s desk junkie), try incorporating some of the below strategies into your workday to sit less and improve your health. Continue reading “5 Ways To Stay Active At A Desk Job” →