Tip Tuesday : 12 Couples Poses & Photo Ideas At Home

I know during these times at home it can feel like there isn’t anything all that special - date nights for a lot of us included getting out. But, since we’re all staying in I wanted to round up some photo ideas to do at home AND photos you can do yourself! All of the photos here were shot on our iPhones AND I’ve linked any “extras” you can order online if you want to up your photo game! I know some of the things that have been canceled - weddings, engagement parties, celebrations and so much more - are heart wrenching but we can still celebrate our love at home until we get to celebrate.

To take these photos you’ll need either a phone or camera! You certainly don’t need a tripod but having one does open up options for unique shots. I’ve linked the ones I use for my camera and phone below and definitely suggest at least getting one for your phone! If you don’t have one or don’t want to get one you can lean your phone on books, stools, tables or really anything else you can think of - just be careful! Your phone will break if you’re not careful so take risks wisely! Beyond those, you can also purchase a bluetooth clicker that allows you to take photos with a simple click! I love using this when we travel but its perfect at home too!

Dog Stack

Forehead Kisses

Half & Half :

Making Breakfast:

Dog Hugs :

Holding Hands :

Bed/Couch & Coffee :

Stool Shots :

Tippy Toes :

Pillow Talk:

Projector Pics:

Mirror Shots:

Tip Tuesday: Ask Me Anything National Parks Edition

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On today's AMA I'm answering all your questions on the National Parks plus sharing some insight on the NPS Passport Program! Below I've shared where you can find answers exactly throughout the video! 00:16 - The best time to visit the Parks (WY/MT Area) 🌲 1:07 - Animals I've seen in the Parks 🌲 1:46 - An animal PSA 🌲 2:14 - Camping, Hotel or Airbnb 🌲 3:45 - What is cell service like 🌲 4:47 - What should you wear 🌲 5:40 - What you should pack 🌲 6:32 - My favorite park 🌲 7:02 - My least favorite park/site 🌲 7:25 - The tea on Mt. Rushmore 🌲 8:17 - What to do instead of Mt. Rushmore 🌲 9:39 - Is buying the Annual Pass worth it? 🌲 10:47 - Passport Program Intro 🌲 10:58 - My Passport/ What's inside 🌲 12:33 - How the Passport Program works 🌲 13:17 - Stamp Examples 🌲 14:00 Wrap Up 🌲

A post shared by Cara Lentz ✨ (@acaracollective) on Apr 21, 2020 at 9:52pm PDT

My At-Home Office Revamp with Command

This extra time at home finally gave me the chance to take on decorating out at-home office! I’ve been so excited to do it since we moved in but just hadn’t gotten around to doing it. Through InfluenceHer Collective’s Spring Essential’s Kit partnering with Command, I’ve been able to get all the things hung and decorated exactly how I’ve always wanted! Today, I’m sharing some of the projects we took on and with which Command products we used!

Calendar & Music Corner

When we started out working on this little nook, we knew we would put the record player on our vintage chest but beyond that were pretty clueless. I knew I wanted to have a functional but ever changing calendar and between some Pinterest searching and seeing what we had in the apartment I put together this makeshift calendar. It’s our leftover butcher paper, some strong pom pom string and large letter stickers! Be sure to use the large hooks for this since the paper can be quite heavy depending on the roll!

Minnie Ears Display

Since I’ve taught myself how to make Minnie Ears, I really wanted a way to display them! I’ve seen a few different ways around Pinterest and thought lining them up like this was my favorite for the time being! For this, we used Command Small Sized Wire Hooks.

Above Desk Gallery Wall

This was by far my favorite project in the office! I have had my diploma since December of 2018 and haven’t hung it up until literally a few days ago when we did these projects! It feels so good to finally have the most expensive piece of paper I own up on the wall! Before we placed everything on the wall, I took a photo of above my desk and made stickers on PicsArt of each item rearranging them until I found the way I liked them best! Once we figured that out, we used the Command Frame Strips - two at least - on the back of each item and started hanging! I still have to figure out what I want on the letter board and any other pieces to add but for now I am so happy with how the above desk area turned out!

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Now that the office is (almost) done, we’ll be moving on to our living room and bedroom with more Command projects! Be sure to save these pins to come back when you do your own Command projects around your space! Happy decorating!

Tip Tuesday: 14 Photo Ideas You Can Do at Home

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Against a white backdrop - you can create anything.

Between Curtains

Closet & Clothes Shots while Organizing

Pup snuggles

Get creative with Board Games

Magical Mirror Pics

Flatlays on Flatlays

You’re Watching Disney Channel

Coffee Shots

Put Your Records On!

Computer Aesthetics

Letterboard Fun

Movie Night Goodness

Your cooking creations

Tip Tuesday: 150+ Ideas of What to do at Home

For many of us in the US, we’re about a week into social distancing, being quarantined or following our state’s mandated time at home. The first week I was pretty swamped with stuff to do - chores, unpacking, work, work and more work so I can’t say it was all too bad. However, come into week two and honestly I’m feeling a little cabin fever. I might have our sticky note to-do list, but I thought it would be most helpful to create a huge blog post on different ideas I’ve come up with personally and even one’s I’ve come across! If there are any you come up with, please please please leave them in the comments so we can all get through this together!

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In our home we LOVE board games regardless of the season or reason for playing them. To date I think we have over 30 and try to play one at least once every week or every other week. These are some of my favorite - most of which we own and few we have played at our favorite spot in our neighborhood - Snakes and Lattes!

From coloring books to slime and even a few things on my own list - like painting a jean jacket - there are tons of different ideas below for those who like to be hands on, crafty or something a little different!

It might seem like food is scarce but thank to the hardworking truckers, farmers, groceries and more your regular (but limited) grocery shopping is the perfect time to try some recipes, cooking techniques and more! Here are some of my favorite - including some family recipes of my own. TIP: make these cheesy breads if you can - they freeze and are amazing as snacks and apps.

Recipes

• Pretzel Jello Salad

• Cheesy Breads

• Corn Souffle (Like a creamy corn bread)

• Creamed Corn

• Yellow Cupcakes with Raspberry Frosting

• Calzones

• Sweet and Spicy Noodles

• Anything from BA Test Kitchen

DIY

• Charcuterie Boards

• Cookies (iced, decorated, etc)

Whether you’ve been meaning to organize a pesky junk drawer or even take on your closet or pantry to make donations, now is a wonderful time to do just that! I personally am going to be working through my closet and office!

• Organize your tech gear - chargers, headphones, etc.

• Go through your clothes and separate what you want to keep, donate or sell

• Color organize or seasonally organize your closet

• Tidy up your entry way area

• Take on that pesky junk drawer

• Go through your cosmetics/toiletries and dispose of anything expired

• Go through your pantry and donate extras to a local food bank or community resource center

• Organize your pantry so you can see everything

• Tidy up your kitchen drawers - consider organizing trays

I don’t know about you but we’ve been watching tons of our favorites (or new) shows and movies! from Netflix to Disney+ I’ve made a few templates with some of my favorites as a bucket list of sorts!

I actually haven’t been listening half as much as usual, but Podcasts are a great thing to turn on while you’re working or cleaning around the house. I personally have a hard time just listening to them without doing something else but that might just be me!

• My Favorite Murder - “is the hit true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Since its inception in early 2016, the show has broken download records and sparked an enthusiastic, interactive “Murderino” fan base who come out in droves for their sold-out worldwide tours.”

• Lore - “Lore is a podcast about non-fiction scary stories. Each episode examines historical events that show the dark side of human nature (usually through the lens of folklore) and is presented in a style that's been compared to a campfire experience.”

• The Clearing - “When April Balascio was 40 years old, something she’d feared for decades was finally proven true. Her father, Edward Wayne Edwards, really was a murderer. The Clearing is about what came after April called a detective in 2009 to tell him about her suspicions — a call that led to her father’s arrest and eventual conviction on multiple murders — and tracks the emotional journey as she and host Josh Dean dig back into her childhood, unravel the truth of her father’s life, and overturn a viral online narrative that had turned Edward Wayne Edwards into a kind of serial killer caricature.”

• Cocaine and Rhinestones - “Want to hear a story? Country music is full of them, always with a killer soundtrack, sometimes a soundtrack made by a killer - like Spade Cooley, the only convicted murderer to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Or there’s the time Loretta Lynn released a song about birth control in the 1970s and everyone pretty much lost their minds. You’ve heard those? You sure? Millions of people think they know all about Merle Haggard’s 1969 song, “Okie from Muskogee,” but they’ve had it wrong the whole time. You’ll find those stories and others right here, obsessively researched, written and narrated by Tyler Mahan Coe, a lifelong veteran of country music and its mythology”

• 1619 - “An audio series on how slavery has transformed America, connecting past and present through the oldest form of storytelling.”

• Forever35 - “Forever35 has a passionate following, and with good reason. Hosts Doree Shafrir and Kate Spencer emphasize they are not experts, which makes for a relatable discussion. And they are as interested in general wellness practices — meal planning, organizing your Google calendar, yoga — as they are into masks and mascara.”

• Goal Digger - “The live-workshop style business podcast that is helping thousands redefine success and chase bolder dreams. You can train from the experts how to dig in, do the work, and tackle your biggest goals along the way.”

Not gonna lie - I haven’t done a single workout since this whole thing started - maybe that’ll change once I make some space? If you’re ready to get some sweat goin, try these!

• P90X - I did these in high school (my most athletic) and loved them! They’re at home and require pretty minimal equipment. Plus, who doesn’t love the famous Tony pep talks, motivation and talking fav soups during cool down?

• Claire Audrey Fitness - she shares amazing fitness & health related content here & recently shared this interesting post/study on loss of progress during breaks (like we have at home). She is the ONE fitness guide/influencer/human I really trust and admire.

• BBG - I personally have not tried this but have heard tons of friends and peers have and like it! I’d definitely do your research!

I SWEAR I will read at least once book while we’re stuck at home (but tbh I haven’t started one yet). Here are many of my favorites, most recommended and other popular reads I might give a go.

I know getting dressed and ready for the day is an important part of having some normal, but, if you are happy to stick to cozies like myself, I highly recommend these!

From better understanding your taxes (or doing them) to learning how to shoot in manual or another language, now is the PERFECT time to commit to something, even if for just a little bit each day.

• Learn a new language

• Do your taxes

• Learn calligraphy

• Learn how to sew or embroider

• Learn how to cook, bake or use a new technique

• Learn how to make a floral arrangement

• Learn how to do Yoga or work on your movements

• Learn to weave

• Learn to draw - your favorite cartoon, character, design (coloring books count!)

• Learn how to make your favorite (or a new favorite) cocktail

• Learn how to DIY something you’ve been wanting to do

Over time a few small projects around the home turn into a huge list of things. I would say over half of our things to do on our list include these types of things. Below I’ll share many of ours as well as some I’ve seen online I will certainly be adding!

• Hang up frames or items for a gallery wall/decor

• Make a vision board for Bedroom & Office Re-Vamp

• Take down old decorations and add spring refresh items

• Plant new flowers or seeds in pots or the garden

• Deep clean the home

• Create an entrance table/area

• Put together your put area

• Clean your sheets and bedding!

• Go through closet and set aside donations, items to sell, etc.

• Look on Pinterest for home project ideas

From mastering the at home manicure to practicing meditation, right now is an essential time to take moments for yourself, to love on your body and mind. Here are some of my favorite tools to do just that!

• Don’t check social media or emails within your first hour of being awake

• Meditate for 10 minutes

• Take a 15+ minute walk around the block

• Go to bed earlier than usual (and use pillow spray!)

• Declutter your desk/bed side table or any area that is cluttered

• Take a bath (bonus points for bubbles, bath bombs or a yummy candle)

• Snuggle with your pet

• Light your favorite candle and enjoy the scent

• Switch up your morning to-do list with an evening I-Did-It list by writing down all your accomplishments big and small from the day

• Give yourself a mani/pedi

• Do a face mask or other skin care activity you like

• Call or text a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while

• Read a book or magazine for an hour

• Sit outside on your patio, balcony, etc.

• Watch funny Vine or TikTok compilations

• Turn on your favorite playlist and sing at the top of your lungs

• Bake a dessert

While there ARE a ton of things we all CAN be doing during this time, don’t think for a second you have to do anything, let alone ALL the things. If you need a day to veg, do it. If you need many days to just take it all in? Do it. This time is not about being the most productive, creative, brilliant, etc. ever - our (crumbling) systems and society have told you you have to be those to be worthy, to be human - even in times of panic, and that simply isn’t true. So, here are some ideas but at the end of it all, do what you need and want to do. Wishing you all a very safe and healthy time at home!

My 14 Top Tips for Working from Home

It is a wild time to be alive right now, period. If you are one of the humans who has the privilege to be able to shift your work or school from office to home right now, I can almost guarantee you’re figuring out this whole WFH thing isn’t quite as glam as you thought. Today I’m sharing my Top 14 Tips for Working from Home and hope you find these helpful! If there is absolutely anything I don’t cover or a situation you’re having a hard time with, drop your question below in the comments or feel free to email me and we can work together to make this WFH situation a little easier!

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Create a Routine & Try to Stick to It! - Be like Gatsby and set up a routine for your days! Now, this doesn’t have to be the exact same Monday - Friday BUT keeping things in a routine is super helpful! For example, in my perfect world where I am totally perfect, this is kinda what my schedule looks like throughout the week when I work from home!

While I am rarely perfect, having a routine helps me stay on task, stay motivated and enjoy my work! A huge tip if you can’t do the same thing every day is to focus then on time/task blocking. All this means is throughout your day/week you pick a particular day or amount of time to do one task such as answering emails, getting on calls, working on draft proposals, running reports, etc. Everyone is different based on their industry but I promise you having a routine rocks and helps get you out of funks. Now, once you’ve got something put together, try your very best to stick with it. If you have little ones, a pet, get sick or something else similar, it can make sticking to routine extra difficult. Just remember, life happens. Give yourself grace and keep in mind routines or habits take around 20 - 30 days to form. It will take time but I know you got this!

Do Something Special Every Day! - It might be another work day but ensuring you take time to do “special” things every day will help make this transition or any future transition to WFH much easier. This can be taking 15 minutes to watch your favorite Bon Appetite Video, time for meditation, making your favorite iced coffee, taking that extra time to give your at home lunch gourmet flair, a quick at-home workout sesh. Whatever your special thing is- make time for it and prioritize it like you would the work you’re doing if not more. WFH can lead to feeling stuck, lonely, bored and exhausted. These small moments end up making a huge impact in your overall day and experience of working from home.

Use Video More than Usual - It might feel funny at first but if you’re going from face to face to strictly email it can feel like a lot is getting lost in translation (and transition). Using video communication on Google or Zoom is so helpful and will make you feel WAY better about what’s going on and keep human communication more normalized! Whether for work or not, this is a great way to also keep in touch with other humans! Set a time for a big ole group chat and catch up to help getting through this time when we’re more solo!

Business Up Top and Party on the Bottom - If you’ve never worked from home you may not be familiar with this BUT basically this is the unspoken rule of WFH employees. Be cute up top and wear pjs (or no pants) on the bottom. If the UPS guy comes, you can poke your top half out and sign for a package. Your meeting on Zoom comes up? You’re ready to go and look SO professional. You get the best of both worlds with this method and honestly its an insider secret of basically every blogger and influencer on the gram who focuses on their face in stories lol.

Stay Hydrated - This is something you should do no matter where you’re working BUT at home it’s super important to stay hydrated! Be sure to add water breaks into your day and remember - a cup of coffee or caffeinated drink DOES NOT count as water! Get your H2O in - you will feel much better and thank me for it!

Get Ready - Ok I 100% do not do this every day but when I do it makes SUCH a difference. You don’t have to put pants on (ok by maybe you should) but try giving yourself a routine to shower, do your skin care, makeup (optional), hair, get dressed (kind of) and anything else that is part of your routine. Getting ready helps ensure you’re not falling victim to never taking care of yourself. It might sound off but when you WFH it’s even easier to stay in PJ’s for days straight and just work your little heart away. Like I said, I certainly don’t do this every day, in fact not wearing makeup every day has helped my skin breathe a ton - but it can help if you’re in a rut and just not feeling motivated.

If You Share a Space, Set Ground Rules - Like many people, a lot of us share our living space with other people or pets and this can make working from home especially challenging. Whether they’re your partner, best furry pal, roomie, little one or family member it is super important to set down some ground rules and communicate. If you’re on calls that require quiet time, be sure to relay when those are and maybe suggest something they can do at that time that keeps things quiet. When in doubt, always keep yourself on mute (seriously my biggest pet peeve in online meetings). Maybe you need background noise while they’re on a zoom call for class? Opt for headphones! The point is, the more you talk and communicate through this and any WFH situation with the people (or pets) you live with, the better it will be!

TAKE BREAKS! - The research has shown it for YEARS - doing one thing for extended amounts of time (studying, working, etc.) actually makes us less productive! That being said, know breaks are essential - especially at home! It is so easy to have the day fly by when you don’t have the same environment that you do at work and you end up working your shift, if not a longer one, without hardly noticing. Be sure when you’re creating your routine you add in breaks of different lengths for stretches, snacks, meals, drinking water and to get those eyes off the screen! TIP: Swear you can’t take a break from screens? Be sure to wear Blue Light Glasses!

Leave Home (Kinda) - While we can’t really leave our homes now we can remove our selves from the office or couch we’re sitting in for a quick walk around the block or your apartment floor. Just getting up to stretch, do something different and get moving can help your body and your mind stay focused. If you do this at the office, try sticking to your routine as well but at home!

Ask For What You Need! - Working from home can mean that basically everything is an IM or Email and you might find yourself needing a little extra support, access to a report or really anything. Don’t hesitate to ask for help to get what you need. If someone makes you feel bad for it, they’re the worst and just do your thing. It’s best to be in the loop and informed than not! Additionally, if you find yourself doing way more than usual (this actually happens a lot when people shift to WFH) make sure to ask for breaks, not being on meetings or whatever else needs to happen to make you successful. The initial shift is hard and that’s ok!

Keep to A Dedicated Space - I unfortunately am still trying to work on this BUT it does help a ton if you can pick a place to work and stick to it. If you have an office or guest bedroom this is an ideal space to do your work. If not, try out the kitchen or dining room table, a spot in your bedroom or (like me) the coffee table. Keeping a spot specifically for work helps a ton when it comes time to close things off for the day and start things up in the morning.

Treat Yo Self - If you have a tradition of getting coffee every morning, wearing something comfy on Fridays or dressing even nicer on Mondays, keep it up! While your working environment might be different try to keep these fun traditions alive! You might not be able to get your regular order but you can learn to make it at home. In the future this will save you money and teach you a fun new skill (that could also be employable!)

Business Like Usual - If you typically were in an office or space with others, you might have special things you do together. Maybe you grab lunch on Thursdays or each week a different person grabs coffee for the team. While we can’t be out and about right now, we can still do those things just differently. Text your work friends, Face Time on Lunch, have a virtual Coffee Time. Those bonds were and remain important, especially when you work on a team! If you don’t work with a team, this is a great time to try incorporating more people driven interaction. Slide into the DM’s with your industry role models, hit up friends and snuggle your pet a little closer.

Get Real About Distractions - Contrary to popular belief, having Netflix on 24/7 when you WFH is actually kind of hard for a lot of people. If you want to have something on in the back, go for it but be reasonable. If you find yourself watching the TV more then you do getting through your work, consider opting for music or even nothing at all. Every day will be different so give yourself grace and try different things until you find your flow! TIP: Looking for a playlist? Here are some of my favorites to focus, relax, get hype, and have background tunes.

15 Most Instagramable Places in the Tempe

After calling Tempe home for over five years I felt it was about time I put together a guide for its most instagramable places! As the center for college students, young professionals and a good time there are TONS of places that are picture perfect!

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Tempe Town Lake Pedestrian Bridge

33.433966, -111.948567

Located just outside the Tempe Center for the Arts, this bridge is not only Insta worthy but somewhere I highly recommend checking out if you’re local or visiting. Walks along the lake are amazing and seriously beautiful at sunset!

Tempe Town Lake - Steps

Neil G. Giuliano Park, E Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85281

With beautiful white steps, an open grassy area and more I love heading down here for photos! There are plenty of different background options and the natural lighting is beautiful! Plus there is a pretty good chance you’ll see some cute doggos - always a plus in my book!

Tempe Town Lake - Offices

33°25'51.3"N 111°56'20.8"W

While this isn’t just one spot it is a great location if you like more urban looks in your backgrounds. With plenty of beautiful glass office buildings, water fountains and more there are some great shots to get here. Plus, different architectural bits and pieces around this area allow for some fun opportunities for posing and trying out new angles!

(Seasonal) Oktoberfest

80 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85281

Every October, Four Peaks & other local vendors put on Oktoberfest for an entire weekend! It’s filled with carnival rides, traditional german snacks and lots of local beers! Don’t forget to bring your laderhosen & snap some pics!

The Desert Botanical Gardens

1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008

With literal miles of beautiful desert & cactus filled landscape I can’t think of a better place to take South West inspired photos! There are all sorts of places to photograph from bridges to open areas filled with cacti large and small I highly recommend checking this out!

Pro Tip: visit on the first Tuesday of the month for FREE!

Papago Park

625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008

Whether you’re looking for a fun short - or long- walk/hike or want to spend some time hanging around the small ponds there are a ton of outdoors photo ops I always go to when I’m looking for an outdoor place to shoot! The park is totally free and open from sunrise to sunset.

Downtown Tempe Neighborhoods

Historic Neighborhood Page

If you’re looking to wander around and shoot I highly recommend strolling the historic downtown Tempe neighborhoods. The houses are so fun and cute and if you happen to be visiting during the year when we have green on the trees photos are even more beautiful! While you’re out and about be sure to check out some of our most famous local restaurants like Casey Moore’s.

Arizona State University (ASU) - Palm Walk

33.420029, -111.932702

One of the most iconic parts of the Arizona State campus Palm Walk is perfect for those palm tree pics you’re after! While obviously people tend to use these more for grad photos, it’s a location perfect for anyone!

ASU - Gammage Auditorium

1200 S Forest Ave Tempe, AZ 85281

If you ever get a chance to see a show here, do. They’re amazing and the theatre is gorgeous. Just looking for a location to shoot? It’s unique architecture makes it the perfect place to get creative.

ASU - Old Main

400 E Tyler Mall Tempe, AZ 85281

With countless building set up around another iconic part of the ASU campus grad photos and any IG shots are made even more perfect here! Looking for lots of brick especially? This is your place!

ASU - Memorial Union Lights

33.418363, -111.934005

While only on at night this cute little area of the Memorial Union is such a fun spot for night photos! It is typically not too busy at night with only students leaving the MU or Library.

ASU - Coor Hall

976 S Forest Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281

I’m definitely biased since most of my education was housed in this particular building, I think Coor Hall has some of the coolest places for photos - especially this EXPLORE portion! If you’re wandering around campus, make sure to give Coor a stop!

Social Hall

715 S McClintock Dr, Tempe, AZ 85281

Come for the photos and stay for the food & drink. Our first apartment was pretty close to here to we loved stopping in for bites and drinks and even though we’re a little further now we still love it! The HUGE mural out front is perfect for photos but the inside has super fun options too!

In-N-Out

920 E Playa Del Norte Dr, Tempe, AZ 85281

Of course this isn’t the ONLY In-N-Out but it is the Tempe location and if you’re not from out West where In-N-Out can be enjoyed whenever, you GOTTA get a photo here (and be sure to enjoy a bite - or two)

Tempe Marketplace

2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85281

With colorful buildings, walls full of greenery and flowers in bloom AND seasonal “Instagram” decorations outside this shopping center is a unique place to check out if you’re looking to spice things up and do some shopping!

Tip Tuesday: How I Plan Trips & Stay Organized

Whether you’re wanting to plan your first ever road trip or have done a few solo or as a group, planning can tend to be hectic and it’s hard to remember all the small details that will make your trip an amazing, memory-filled experience you’re not soon to forget! Having logged over 10,000 miles road tripping solo I’ve planned, executed and enjoyed my fair share of road trips all across North America! Today, I’m sharing my process from start to finish for planning a road trip of your own along with some tips & tricks I’ve learned along the way!

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Sharing 3 Tips on how to plan a road trip 🚗 Looking for more info, resources & a free template to plan your own road trip? Head over to www.acaracollective.com/acc-blog/tip-tuesday-how-i-plan-trips-amp-stay-organized

A post shared by Cara Lentz ✨ (@acaracollective) on Feb 18, 2020 at 7:17pm PST

As straightforward as it seems, before you dive too deep into planning you really need to figure out your “final” destination for your road trip! This will help immensely as your plan for stops along the way and can help in budgeting your trip. Not sure where you want to go? First figure out how much time you have. If you’ve only got the weekend, consider either staying in-state or the surrounding area. Depending where you find yourself in the US road tripping in state isn’t far or is super far- think about comparing Delaware to California - super different, right? If you’ve got a 3 - 5 days consider branching out more OR focus on spending extended time in places along the way ultimately going to less places but taking in more on the stops you opt for. If you’ve got over a week or two (or even more - the ultimate dream) sky’s the limit. Just be mindful about how much driving will be necessary. Despite what many people think, you DO need plenty of rest when you’re on the open road ESPECIALLY if you’re going solo!

Once you’ve established WHERE you want to end up on your leg there, start checking out maps, threads, travel blogs and chat rooms to decide which route you’d like to take to get there. While many straight shots are available from major city to major city, seeing alternative routes to reach your destination can have plenty of added fun, sight seeing and more I recommend! That being said, BE SAFE. I have made the mistake of trusting a map with an Old County Road to get over a huge mountain which resulted in one of the scariest road trip experiences of my whole life. TRUST YOUR GUT, STAY SAFE and when in doubt ask for Directions from a trusted local in a PUBLIC place. Some great alternatives to main highways are older routes like the famous Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) or Route 66.

This is possibly my favorite step of this entire process - research! Of all the road trips I’ve planned with family, friends and for myself I LOVE seeing what there is to do on the way to and from our desired destination. Taking the time to check out TripAdvisor, Blogs, Reddit Threads and more has allowed me to: eat the best breakfast burrito of my life (Sequoia NP), see and interact with precious Prairie Dogs (Montana) and take in the most gorgeous - and non crowded- views of the Pacific Ocean. Take the time to read through and/or ask around for recommendations. It’s super helpful to also get a sense of what is worth stopping at and what might be worth skipping. I’ve definitely fallen victim to stopping at places I ended up thinking were super overrated like (in my unpopular opinion) Mount Rushmore. Prioritize your favorite interests & bucket list items but also keep an open mind to the gems the internet, friends and family aren’t aware of.

Once you’ve compiled a list - either on a Doc, Notebook, or any preferred method of organizing - be sure to keep track of it! Adding details like address, hours of operation, what each stop entails, accommodations or services can be really helpful when narrowing down your list!

Now you’ve got an idea of what you might be seeing en route to your destination, do research into the final destination itself. Again, utilizing resources like Pinterest, TripAdvisor, Reddit, Travel Blogs, Friends & Family will help you pick the things you want to do, see, and enjoy! I can’t recommend enough utilizing these resources in at least discovering possibilities and better understanding different options. For example, for our upcoming trip to Southern California I was so excited for a particular exhibit in Los Angeles. However, in reading the reviews for the experience I realized it was extremely overpriced and not the best solid thing to do while we were there so I opted out. The extra five minutes to read reviews and do some research saved a poorly spent $75.

Just like before, be sure to keep track of this dream list either on a doc, sheet or in a notebook for later use! Adding details like what it is, address, hours of operation and more will make the rest of your planning a thoughtful and thorough breeze.

Once you have your lists of en route stops and final destination stops and activities listed out, try narrowing them down. I typically do this based on the following: Interest, Price, Timing, Availability, and Location.

Location: first things first, is this in the direction I’m going or the area I plan on exploring or is it an hour clear out of the way? I typically first narrow down based on ease of geographical location to save on gas money, time and not spending all my time in the car. If something is super out of the way but you REALLY want to go, acknowledge it as a priority and plan extra time for it!

Interest: Personally, I love a mix of history, culture, Instagramable locations, and nature on my trips. I prioritize stops with these in mind; more than say night life, food and athletic experiences. For example, I typically will opt for a hike that is more educational or shorter than some of my friends who love vigorous and challenging hikes. Acknowledging your interests and abilities is incredibly important in ensuring you have a trip YOU love. A tourist guide might swear up and down an art museum is a must see but if you hate museums or art, ditch it for what makes YOU happy. It’s your trip after all!

Timing/Availability: In deciding on stops, be sure to make sure the timing of going matches up with hours of operation or open availability and add it to your itinerary as such. Keeping in mind: closures, seasonal openings and holiday hours can make or break your trip and top things you want to do! For example, in driving up to Lake Tahoe from Yosemite NP I had to reroute at least three times due to weather and avalanches. While I didn’t plan for that, I did plan out what I wanted to see and experience given the busy ski season and winter closures around the Lake. Taking the extra steps to learn and plan for these will make the difference!

Price: A lot of my road tripping has taken place while I was in high school, college and post-grad so I’ve been on a budget! As much as I want to do ALL the things, price usually limits me to some extent and is important to take into consideration if you have a strict budget for an adventure!

Once you’ve narrowed your final list down create a practice itinerary for your time traveling and be sure there is time accounted for meals, gas stops, resting, and most importantly DRIVE TIME. I have definitely planned trips where timing at certain locations was really important and miscalculated (over and under) drive times! I can’t stress enough how important it is to include meal stops, restroom breaks and time NOT behind the wheel or in the car! Once you know you can make it fit and hit all your stops you’re ready to proceed onto the next steps!

With things looking good go ahead and open up a Doc, Google Sheets or get your notebook ready to go! I personally use Google Sheets because I live and die by Excel - I’m super type A and this is incredibly pleasing to me and gives me peace of mind to both visually and technically create my itinerary. For this post I’ll be explaining MY process and works for me! Though I hope you find this helpful, be sure to do what works for YOU!

1- Create Google Sheet & Share to Other Trip Goers

As simple as this sounds, the first step is always the most important to make your road trip dreams a reality! Be sure to share with those coming along so everyone is in the loop!

2- Add in your Dates & Times for your Trip

I personally love breaking mine down my either 15 - 30 minute intervals because I’m me & that makes me feel organized but you can honestly break things down however you want! I do recommend trips where things are planned or booked like tours, reservations and so on should be broken down to include the specific times for those to make the visual aspect of your sheet a breeze! Trips where I’m not as planned out on time but location I break down at the hour or even two!

3- Begin adding in your to-do’s, experiences, reservations, etc.

Add in all the final items from you en route and final destinations lists! Be sure to make sure you’re adding them to the correct dates and times if this is the final thing you’re going off of when on your trip! I’ve made the mistake of placing events on wrong days, showing up way too early or other easy to avoid fiascos in this step so double check your work for smooth sailing!

Pro tip: I add the address, operating hours and any other pertinent information in a comment on any cell that has a location to keep information accessible. If you end up printing this out, you can do the same thing with that information on a separate sheet!

4- Download Offline or Print & Share!

Once you’re all done & happy with your final itinerary be sure to download it to your phone so it is accessible offline. Depending on where you’re traveling you might be without reception to allow you to access the information (I’ve been there- it’s tragic) and can end up making you lose time, miss reservations and more! The best tip I have is to PRINT IT OUT. Having a physical copy (or two) will ensure you can stay on track and have information you need like addresses, emergency numbers and more!

Pro Tip: Print out a copy to keep in the car and one to keep on your person in a bag or purse. This ensures you always have your info you need and keeps your trip organized easily!

You can snag your free template here or by clicking on any of the above screen shots!

To access the template, download and create a copy!

When evaluating what route to take be sure if you or any of your fellow trippers have special needs you account for that in your route. Need restrooms a little more often? Bringing a furry friend who gets car sick? Need cell service? Phobias you need to accommodate for? Do your research to ensure everyone’s safety is taken into account to have an amazing time on your trip!

Be aware of changing/different weather conditions of your destination and routes. When I traveled all over California in March of 2018 on a ten+ day road trip with a majority of it solo, knowing the weather conditions literally saved my toes, car and whole life. I knew to bring different layering clothes, boots and chains for my tires as well as emergency gear for me in the case of breaking down or being stuck. Even though it was 70+ degrees in Tempe where I started and even warmer in my first stop in Death Valley NP, my other stops up in the mountains reached temps of -20 degrees at night and mid-teens and twenties during the day. Without this planning I would have been miserable and unsafe!

Do research in how far out you need to book! In high school I spent some time studying at UC Berkeley and afterwards explored San Francisco for the first time. When my family & I showed up to tour Alcatraz we were informed you had to book tickets at least a year in advance due to demand! While it made sense it totally changed our plans for the day. Though we ended up having SO much fun, it taught me a lesson early on to plan ahead and do the extra digging even if it seems unnecessary!

If price is a determining factor on an experience, double check for discounts! So many places I’ve been to and experiences I’ve had offered student discounts, veteran discounts, child discounts, retiree discounts and more! If none of their discounts apply to you, look into purchasing a pass - like the American The Beautiful NP Annual Pass - to save major bucks! For my 2018 California Road Trip, I bought the ATBNPAP and ended up saving well over $100 and the $80 pass payed for itself after two entrances to parks.

Apps To Use:

• Road Trippers: an amazing app that lets you add destinations and creates the perfect route for you based on where you want to stop. Available on mobile and desktop!

• Google Maps: on desktop and mobile you can plan absolutely every stop of your trip in your very own map with multiple layers! I use this for every trip once I’ve got my itinerary and it makes GPS a breeze!

• Gas Buddy: If you’re looking to save money and get the most bang for your buck on gas, be sure to download this app! I use this all the time even when not traveling and it has saved me major money especially when trekking into less populated and more rural/off-the-beaten-path areas.

Get Your Car Checked Out! While you might have planned the perfect trip with these tips, be sure your means of getting there and back is ready for the work! A general tune up & diagnostic is typically all you need! Sharing details about where you’re headed like weather, land make up (hills, steep, long climbs, etc.) will help them better serve you and your car in preparation for the adventure!

11 Most Instagramable Places in Seattle, Washington

Looking for some of the best spots to snap pics around Seattle? I’ve got you! I plan on updating this once we get a chance to visit again in warmer months!

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1. Pike Place Market

ADDRESS: 85 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101

From the iconic neon Public Market sign to the amazing backgrounds of filled stalls, market-goers and beautiful shops this is a great location for iconic or everyday shots. It is ALWAYS busy, however, so if you’re looking to get shots without people around or behind you, prepare for waiting long periods and getting short bursts of opportunity to grab the perfect shot!

2. Sweet Iron

ADDRESS: 1200 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

Not only a yummy bite but also super cute wall and white interior for pics!

3. Miner’s Landing + Carousel

ADDRESS:  1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101

With arcade games, neon signs and a tucked away carousel there are tons of opportunities for fun and creative shots! A major plus is that it’s located really close to many other Instagramable locations!

5. Third Ave

ADDRESS: 47°36'27.4"N 122°20'09.2"W

While this isn’t any specific place, it does speak to how a majority of DT Seattle is IG worthy! For urban shots to some truly gorgeous architectural backdrops give yourself a chance to walk around and discover so spots!

6. The Wheel

ADDRESS: 1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101

I skipped getting in, but taking photos with this in the background is equally as IG worthy (and is free).

7. Pier 55 + 57

ADDRESS: 1101 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101 (Pier 55) 1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101 (Pier 57)

From waterfront views & landscapes to benches, fun bit to walk on top of and more there are tons of plain but photo-worthy spots sure to spark creative shots! Plus, tons of shots from Pier 55 can have the Wheel in the background nearly perfectly!

8. The Gum Wall

ADDRESS: 1428 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101

One of the most popular spots in Seattle for tourism AND photos is this! Be sure to bring some gum and get creative with colorful & fun shots!

9. On the water

Whether you’re sailing privately or on a harbor tour I couldn’t recommend getting on the water enough.

10. Pike Street Press

ADDRESS: 1510 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101

Be sure to stop in AND take all the cutie photos out front. Bonus tip: it’s located right next to a Seattle mural AND further up the stairs (right of the mural) are other murals!

11. Starbucks

ADDRESS: 1912 Pike Pl, Seattle, WA 98101

If you love Starbs, this is the place you gotta go! During the day you can try taking your turn to get photos in front of the iconic logo. My tip? Head inside and directly to your right is the same logo but typically no people taking photos!

12. Chihuly Glass Garden

ADDRESS: 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109

This place is so visually dreamy.

13. The Space Needle

ADRESS: 400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109

Iconic to Seattle & futuristic for any creative photos! If you head up top you’re offered amazing views of the city!

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I hope you liked this post & found it helpful! If you have other spots you’d want to include let me know below & be sure to save to Pinterest for your next Seattle adventure!

My 6 Favorite Most Instagramable Places in Indiana - Noblesville - Indianapolis - Broad Ripple

Looking for some of the best spots to snap pics around Indiana? I’ve got you! Here are my personal favorite 6 most Instagramable Spots around Indiana!

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Here are my top 6 Instagramable Places in Indiana:

1. INDIANAPOLIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

ADDRESS: 7800 Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46241

On top of always having the super fun Indy signs, the airports HUGE windows provide some bomb & beautiful lighting for all sorts of shots! While I’ve only shot here before/after flying I’m not sure if you can just come in and take photos! Be sure to ask!

2. MORSE RESERVOIR

ADDRESS: 19777 Morse Park Ln, Noblesville, IN 46060

While my family has private property on the reservoir there is a cute little public beach and park on the reservoir as well that is beautiful for photos. From sitting on the end of the dock in any season (but especially summer) to just taking in all the beautiful shoreline this is a great place for outdoor photography that’s a little more out of the way!

3. CORN FIELDS - NOBELSVILLE/CICERO

ADDRESS: Basically any back road or park area (I believe these were at Macgregor Park Macgregor Park Rd, Westfield, IN 46074)

If you’re not from Indiana you might think cron fields are everywhere.. and.. they kind of are but depending where you’re located you may have to try a little harder to find them. I shot these (I believe) at Macgregor Park in Noblesville/Cicero. While you CAN pull over on the side of the road for photos be sure you’re not trespassing on private property. There are TONS of recreational areas and parks perfect for photos!

P.S. these are from my first shoot EVER!

4. THE VOGUE

ADDRESS: 6259 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220

Not only is the Vogue an awesome place to snap pics, they’re a super fun local venue hosting concerts, dance parties, burlesque shows and so much more. You DO have to be 21 to get in but thankfully shooting around the outside is all ages!

5. DANCING DONUT

ADDRESS: 1134 E 54th St G, Indianapolis, IN 46220

The perfect place to shoot & have a sweet treat! With tons of delicious options and an incredibly bright & pleasing interior AND exterior this is a highly recommended spot for shooting!

6. MONUMENT CIRCLE - DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS

ADDRESS: 1 Monument Cir, Indianapolis, IN 46204

One of, if not THE most iconic parts of downtown Indianapolis, monument circle is the perfect mix of urban background and crisp white buildings. With steps for fun posing and nearby alley-ways chock full of photo opportunities I recommend giving yourself time to walk around and discover different spots! I by no means have figured them all out yet so be sure to share your finds!

For these shots we got incredibly lucky that the garage we happened to park in had an incredible view at the top! As always, if you are going somewhere to shoot that requires payment (like a garage) follow the rules - I promise it’s not worth skipping out.

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I hope you liked this post & found it helpful! If you have other spots you’d want to include let me know below!