Alli Talley

February 18, 2020

Weekenders, USA, Travel Essentials

Beyond the Prius: Why We Utilized an Enterprise Rental for Our Final Babymoon Adventure

Alli Talley

February 18, 2020

Weekenders, USA, Travel Essentials

This post is sponsored by Enterprise . All opinions are our own.

Our final babymoon adventure in Morro Bay

We are less than a month out from our lives changing forever.

Alli is 9 months pregnant, Sally is wondering why there’s all this extra stuff all over our house, and I (Bobby) am spending my spare time building dressers and cribs. While we’re now home nesting and prepping, we had an unforgettable run of trips and adventures during this pregnancy. (We basically traveled the entire time!) And we just returned from our final pre-baby adventure - a picturesque road trip up the California coast to the charming coastal town of Morro Bay.

Nothing like a relaxing drive up the California coast.

If any of you are far enough in your pregnancy that you’re in the uncomfortable stage (or if you’ve been there before), you’ll understand why Alli was upset when I booked this trip and planned on driving there in our Prius. Her belly basically hits the dashboard! With that in mind, we made things easy by renting a car from Enterprise. It was seamless, affordable, and our rental made us feel more family-ready than ever before (ironically, we rented a minivan). As you can see in the photo, Alli had more than enough space to relax, stretch out, and watch for baby kicking. :)

We headed out early on a Monday and enjoyed the coastal route from Malibu to Morro Bay. Highway 1 is one of our favorite drives in the world (we do it annually - if not more). If you have time, we highly recommend this route. It meanders through countless small towns, hugs the coastline, provides jaw-dropping views, and forces drivers like us (California drivers who are always in a hurry) to slow down and take it in.

We stopped in Venice Beach, Santa Barbara, and Pismo Beach before arriving in Morro Bay. We spent our time there eating tons of seafood (don’t ask how many oysters I consumed), searching for otters, and relaxing at our vacation rental. Because Morro Bay is such a small town, we were able to explore most of it on foot. But when Alli needed a break, or the trek was too far, we loaded up our minivan and hit the road. (Side note - Anybody else have fun with the automatic sliding doors on a minivan? What a concept!)

Favorite coffee stop in San Luis Obispo - Scout Coffee!

We spent most of our time in Morro Baby gawking over the sea otters.

To really soak in our last trip, one morning we made the drive up to Big Sur and back. This stretch is truly the highlight of the drive, so if you’ve never done it, make it happen. It’s insane!

Our drive home was less eventful, as Alli snoozed and I focused on getting us home safely one last time (before the baby). The drive was quick and easy, causing us to think maybe we should’ve explored a little more. ;)

In the end, having the minivan was a game changer for 8-months pregnant Alli. It was an affordable and easy way to make her much more comfortable for the four-hour trip. If we stick with our Prius, we will definitely plan another Enterprise rental for any last-minute babymoon adventures. But who knows, maybe by then we’ll have a minivan of our own!

The drive up to Big Sur is insane! See the minivan on the right?

High five to making it home safe! Such a fun trip!

Alli Talley

December 17, 2019

Pregnancy, Babymoon, Travel Essentials

My Comfy, Stylish, and Bump-Friendly Go-To's This Pregnancy

Alli Talley

December 17, 2019

Pregnancy, Babymoon, Travel Essentials

Alli here!

These past six months have been wild to say the least. I can now officially out-eat my husband, I have to pee CONSTANTLY, and every day I watch as my innie belly button slowly becomes an outie (I give it two more weeks - max). Pregnancy is weird and fun and hard sometimes (ok, a lot of times), but I’m finding the joy (and the humor) in it.

One of the questions I’ve gotten the most is about what I’m wearing. As my body has changed and my pants have stretched, I’m realizing that cute, stylish, and (truly) comfortable maternity clothes are few and far between. Our travels have taken us to places with with all kinds of weather - resulting in me spending way too many hours scouring the internet for bump-friendly clothes that won’t break the bank and that I actually like. I’ve been so honored by the amount of messages and DM’s I’ve gotten asking about what I’m wearing, and I'm realizing that a blog post like this would have been so helpful for ME if I was newly pregnant!

So, here’s a roundup of my Top 5 Bump-Friendly Go-To’s (some maternity, some not) that have been life savers this pregnancy. And most of these are pieces that will work for you post-maternity, too!

1. MY FAVORITE MUMU DRESS - $28.88, Amazon

I’ve always been skeptical of Amazon fashion, but my friend Lauren told me about this dress so I decided to give it a try. Holy cow it’s amazing. Great quality, breathable, SO comfy, and you can’t beat the price. It’s honestly all I wanted to wear when the weather was warmer (and it’s great for travel), so I bought it in four different colors. And I’ll probably still buy more. You can’t beat the price. It does shrink a little, so I suggest ordering a size bigger than your normal. (Especially if you’re pregnant) A medium fits me perfectly, and still has plenty of room for my growing bump. I’ve worn these dresses on the plane, to weddings, date nights, beach walks, on errands, to fancy dinners, you name it. They’re so versatile. I can’t stress enough how much I love them. See my full Maternity Must-Have list on Amazon here.

2. MY FAVORITE MATERNITY JEANS - $138.00, Madewell

If there’s anything worth splurging on when it comes to maternity wear, it’s a good pair of jeans. I’ve tried A LOT of them on, and these two pairs (blue and black) are by far my favorite. They’re so comfortable, look incredibly flattering, and don’t fall down. Madewell has always been my go-to for jeans, and once again they don’t disappoint. Their maternity pants run a little big and tend to stretch out, so order a size below what you normally wear. The size 26 works great for me.

3. MY FAVORITE LEGGINGS - $64.00, Blanqi, $98.00, Lululemon

When I’m not wearing an Amazon mumu or my maternity jeans, I’m wearing leggings. To be honest, most days that we’re home, there’s a good chance I’m in leggings. The Blanqi Maternity leggings are great - they go over the belly in a really snug and comfy way, and they’re surprisingly really flattering. After reading the reviews I decided to size up, so I wear a size Medium and love the fit.

The Lululemon Align leggings have (and will) always be my favorite - they’re SO soft, and at 26 weeks I’m still wearing my normal size! Praises!! (I’m a size 6!)

4. MY FAVORITE SWEATERS - $46.00 & $48.00, Pinkblush Maternity

Up until pregnancy, I’d never heard of Pinkblush - and now I think I’m their biggest fan. These two sweaters are so affordable and so well made, and I’m obsessed with their oversized style. They look great with leggings or jeans and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. I love how soft the green one is, and I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve gotten on the leopard sweater. (I’m a size Small in both.)

5. MY FAVORITE TRAVEL SET - N:Philanthropy, $178.00 & $178.00

I’ve only had this set for a week and I think I’ve worn it every day since we’ve been home. IT’S SO COMFORTABLE and so versatile. I love that I can snuggle up with it on our couch, wear it on a plane, or mix and match the joggers and sweatshirt as I wish. It’s definitely on the pricier end, but the quality and ethics behind the brand makes the purchase justified in my opinion (read more about N:Philanthropy here). Both Bobby and I have multiple items from them, and we can honestly say they’re the best. I’ll be wearing this set my entire pregnancy and after, too. (I’ve found their things run a tad small, so size up. I like a more oversized fit when it comes to joggers and sweatshirts, so I’m a size Large.)

...While we’re on the subject!

Amazon Prime has been a life-saver during this season - I’ve bought everything from my FAVORITE maternity pillow (every mamma needs this), to dresses, to prenatals! I’ve compiled all of my must-haves here. Hope this is helpful for you, as I sure wish someone had done this for me! :)

Alli Talley

August 29, 2019

USA, Travel Essentials

16 Tips for Cross County Road Trips With a Dog

Alli Talley

August 29, 2019

USA, Travel Essentials

In case you don’t follow us on Instagram (which you SHOULD), in the past year we may have been better off calling ourselves the “Roadtripping Newlyweds”. If it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert on something, we’re probably getting close to that based on all of the long drives we’ve done. If you’re doubting our expertise, here’s where we’ve been (keep in mind all of this is within the past 12 months):

Aug/Sept 2018 - We embarked on a 5,000 mile drive from our house in California up to Seattle, east to Banff, back down through Montana and Idaho, and back home.
Sept. 2018 - We drove on a “mini” 1,100 mile road trip to hike the narrows in St. George. Worth it! Do it!
Dec 2018 - Also on the shorter side, we drove 2,100 miles to Tempe, Taos, and Aspen. All so pretty during the holidays!
Apr/May 2019 - We drove from our house in Costa Mesa to Savannah (GA) and up to Pittsburgh, then headed home. Just over 6,500 miles. There were plenty of stops and potty breaks.
Jun 2019 - Had a quick trip to Carson Valley, Lake Tahoe, and Bend. It’s weird that a 2,000 mile trip now feels like nothing.
July/Aug 2019 - We just returned from a nice “little” drive to Kalamazoo, Michigan. 5,800 miles in 19 days. Not the furthest, but definitely the greatest mileage per day. Woof.

Did we mention that we’ve had our bernedoodle, Sally, with us on these drives? And that we’ve done 3 of the 5 in our compact Toyota Prius? Pretty ridiculous!

With all of that in mind, it’s safe to say that we’ve learned a few things.

Here are our 16 tips (in order with the most important first) for a massive road trip with a puppy in tow.

Leave early - This is our most important tip if you are a road trip rookie. Specifically on the days of your big drives (300+ miles), get up as early as possible for your drive. You’ll be sleepy, but trust us - you’ll wake up. To us, there is nothing worse than leaving somewhere at noon, and having to end the drive and arrive at your destination in the dark. On the contrary, if you leave before the sun rises, you’ll probably arrive at your destination mid-day, with plenty of time for a nap (praises!) and to start exploring.
Pack right - You’re going to be taking your luggage in and out of the car A LOT, so you want luggage that is durable, lightweight, and easy to move around. For us, that is our American Tourister bags, along with a couple of backpacks (Bobby has a Lowepro Camera bag and Alli has a Herschel backpack). Oh, and we of course have a little tote for all of Sally’s things! :)
Optimize your vehicle’s layout for humans - This is a big one for comfort. For us, that means knowing where everything is at all times. The car is packed the same way, so that you could ask me right now (a week after our last road trip) where I keep my computer, sunscreen, Sally’s food, Alli’s bag… it all has a place. This is your second home, so it will make it much easier if you piece it together effectively.
And for dogs - Speaking of second home, you have to have your fur baby’s safety and comfort in mind when you’re going on a long drive. For safety, we have a harness that hooks Sally in (a pet seatbelt), but also allows her to be mobile in the backseat. For comfort, we have a backseat bridge that extends the backseat so there’s no gap, giving Sally a lot more space. Lastly, we have a dog hammock that drapes over the whole backseat and makes it all one consistent surface. Yes, we are those dog people. And yes, Sally loves us.
Stop frequently - Aside from having to use the restroom, get out and move a little. Having Sally with us may seem like an inconvenience, but she actually forces us to get out and run around every hour or two.
Have your thing - If you’re traveling with a partner, there’s only so much you can talk about. For us, we listen to audiobooks together, talk about anything and everything, play with Sally, and we always run out of things to say. Other than music, we each have our own thing in the form or unique podcasts that the other person doesn’t really care for. For Bobby, it’s the Fantasy Footballers. He knows it’s kind of nerdy, and he loves it. For Alli, it is the Morning Toast. While we each do our own thing, the other person naps (although Bobby is totally a “Toaster” now, and Alli’s never been more proud.).
Take your wallet out of your pocket (Bobby) and throw on your comfy pants (Alli) - You’re going to be sitting for awhile, so make it as comfortable as possible. Don’t worry about how you look - just wear whatever you’re most comfortable in! (Also in the comfort category, for this last trip we bought these sun shades and it was a TOTAL gamechanger. Nothing is worse than trying to take a nap and having the sun beating down on you the whole time.)
Hydration > Caffeine - While coffee will definitely do the trick during those early morning drives, it should not be your solution whenever you get sleepy while driving. We’ve found that staying hydrated (with water), is actually the best thing we can do on our road trips. Yes, you will have to pee more. But you will absolutely feel better that night and the next day. Trust us on this one!
Pack light - Assuming you’re driving through the US or Canada, pack as light as possible. You can pick up anything you need along the way, and there are plenty of laundromats to keep your wardrobe fresh.
Nap - When you’re sleepy, stop driving and take a nap. The end.
Decide your absolute maximum mileage for the day (and stick to it) - Also important. If you want to get to a spot 500 miles away but think maaaayyyybe you can get 100 miles further, then decide that no matter what you will stop if you get to the 600 mile destination. If you keep playing the, “Oh let’s just drive for another hour” game, you’ll put yourself at risk for dangerous fatigue or a speeding ticket. Not worth it.
Be a tourist while on the road - Seven Magic Mountains, Car Henge, the World’s Largest Ball of Twine, Wall Drug, etc. There are countless strange roadside attractions. Whether you plan them out, or see a sign that it’s a mile up ahead, you won’t regret making the stop (even if you’re making fun of it as you leave).
Research your route - The shortest distance may not be the fastest. The scenic drive may be the most beautiful drive you’ve ever set your eyes on. Or the “scenic drive” is pathetic. Do some research on where your driving, beyond your endpoints.
Be honest - Unless you’re traveling solo, this just means to be honest about when you don’t want to drive any more. Or, when you shouldn’t drive anywhere. Bobby always wants to set personal long distance driving records (currently he’s gone 575 miles with a couple potty breaks), but sometimes he has to give up and hand over the keys because he’s sleepy. Know your limits and communicate with your partner.
Pace yourself - What we mean here is pace yourself over the course of the trip. If you’re whole trip is two weeks and 4,000 miles, don’t drive 800 miles on 5 different days. Spread it out. If we ever have more than 2 days driving 300+ miles, we take at least 1 day off.
Cruise control is your friend, but be smart - Bobby LOVES cruise control. But he only uses it when there’s barely any traffic, and early on in his drives. It’s a little risky if there are other cars, or if you’ve been driving for awhile. Just because your foot isn’t on the gas doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay attention…

Can you see the sunshade on the left? Game changer…

Lots of gas station stops (We call Sally “Stinker”)

Alli Talley

July 18, 2019

Travel Essentials

Essential Gear Spotlight - JOBY HandyPod Mobile

Alli Talley

July 18, 2019

Travel Essentials

Bobby, here! In recent weeks we’ve been getting requests to share about our favorite gear, our “essentials”, if you will. As traveling content creators, we’ve found that we really appreciate and navigate towards gear that is extremely efficient. Efficient in doing its particular job well, and in saving space, as we’re often traveling out of the car and have enough between the two of us (not to mention Sally!).

All that to say, the JOBY HandyPod Mobile has been a recent addition that will undoubtedly be with us on every trip to come. It’s a small phone tripod that is ideal for mobile content creators like us, because of its compact and versatile design. The tripod is stable and secure for our phones, and it also has collapsable legs that then transforms it into a perfect handheld for selfies, video, etc.

We took it with us on our recent trip to Bend, and used it as we brewery-hopped around town with Sally. The built-in ballhead allowed us to capture both landscape and portrait shots. And a few family paw-traits as well :) One thing we were really impressed by was the stability of the tripod. The legs can stay secure in a variety of positions (based on how you’re balancing your phone/camera), and once you find your position, they are super sturdy.

After taking it on this recent trip, we’re sold. It’s easy to pack, easy to use, and it allowed us to capture content more effectively on the road.

If you’re in the market for a simple, dependable tripod, we highly recommend JOBY and its phone tripods. Beyond that, we’ll also throw a shout out to our JOBY GorillaPod, that has gone all over the world with us from the beginning of Traveling Newlyweds!

Alli Talley

June 10, 2019

Hawaii, Travel Essentials, USA

5 Reasons Everyone Should Love Boingo

Alli Talley

June 10, 2019

Hawaii, Travel Essentials, USA

Boingo.

Chances are you’ve seen that name before, most likely when you’re hunting for free Wi-Fi. But do you know what it is? Throughout our travels we’ve seen Boingo Wireless pop up almost everywhere, from international terminals to neighborhood coffee shops, but we’d never understood exactly what Boingo was - or how to use it - until now!

As we were planning our most recent trip to Kauai, we realized that finding fast, dependable Wi-Fi on the island was going to be a challenge. As we began researching our Wi-Fi options, we once again came across Boingo and were amazed at what we discovered. Boingo helps the world stay connected to the people and things they love, no matter where they are. But it’s so much more.

Here’s our 5 Reasons Why Everyone Should Know [And Love!] Boingo:

1. IT’S FREE IN AIRPORTS

That’s right. There’s no hidden costs, no “sign up now, pay later” gimmicks, no confusing referral codes. Boingo is FREE in the airports it services. Whether at JFK, LAX, Kauai, or Dubai, Boingo has your connectivity needs covered.

Jumping for joy because of the super fast (and free) Wi-Fi at John Wayne Airport!

Boingo Wi-Fi while waiting for our bags? Yes please!

2. IT’S EASY

There’s a reason why Boingo has won “Best Wi-Fi Service” in Global Traveler magazine’s GT Tested reader survey awards NINE times… it’s SO easy to use! Boingo keeps travelers connected with its amazing, next-gen Passpoint hotspots - a technology that automatically connects travelers to Wi-Fi with no login or passwords required. Let us say it again. IT AUTOMATICALLY CONNECTS YOU TO WI-FI WITH NO LOGIN OR PASSWORDS REQUIRED. Can you even?!? It’s genius!!

One of the biggest issues/frustrations/headaches we get when we’re flying is figuring out airport Wi-Fi logins, passwords, etc. Oftentimes the connection is fickle and the process to connect can be lengthy - those of you that travel frequently know what a hassle this can be! We flew out of our local airport (John Wayne, or SNA) to Lihue (LIH) and with Boingo Passpoint we were automatically connected to Wi-Fi the moment we walked inside.

We can’t stress how amazing and life changing this is! Bravo, Boingo!

So sad to leave Hawaii. But so happy about the blazing fast Wi-Fi at Lihue Airport!

3. IT’S EVERYWHERE

There are more than 1 million Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots around the world. From airports, to stadiums, convention centers, multifamily communities, military bases, commercial properties, and beyond… Boingo is everywhere! You’ll find Boingo’s award-winning Wi-Fi across six continents, and chances are the airports, hotels, restaurants, and cafes you frequent have a Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot. The Boingo Wi-Finder app makes it easy to locate the hotspots through an interactive map, and even select flights offer the service!

While we were in Kauai, we were thrilled by how many Boingo hotspots we found throughout the island. Whether we were grabbing coffee or poke bowls, or checking out the nearby five-star resort, we found multiple hotspots nearly everywhere we went. We couldn’t believe how easy it was to stay connected - even in such a lush, tropical location!

We stayed connected all over Kauai thanks to Boingo!

Wi-Fi while having shave ice? Yes please!

Staying connected gave us flexibility to work in the morning and hike off all the Hawaiian pancakes we ate in the afternoon

4. IT’S FAST (AND SECURE)

With connection speeds of up to 100 Mbps, Boingo is blazing-fast. The company has made significant investments in its Wi-Fi networks to ensure a consistent user experience that not only delivers speed and ease of use, but security as well. Whether you’re using Boingo for work or for streaming your favorite show, Boingo helps keep your information safe.

Speaking of streaming, you know a Wi-Fi service is fast when it can download your favorite Netflix shows in about a minute, and the Boingo hotspot at John Wayne Airport passed the test with flying colors! We had multiple episodes of Parks & Rec cued up for our flight with time to spare!

5. IT’S GROWING!

As the leading provider of airport Wi-Fi, Boingo can be found in many airports around the world, and their reach continues to expand. Delivering first class amenities like free, unlimited Wi-Fi is part of Boingo’s commitment to bring more convenience to travelers and make their travel time more enjoyable.

From John Wayne Airport, to the several Boingo hotspots in Kauai, to flying out of Lihue Airport, we were connected nearly our entire trip, without a single hitch. Boingo has officially changed how we travel, and we know it will for you too.

Learn more about Boingo’s global Wi-Fi access passes and sign up here!

Staying connected while on vacation mode is the BEST

Thank you to Boingo for sponsoring this post!