Of course I can’t start out a “Things Loved in September & October” post without mentioning my most loved thing of all: G and I celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary with a fabulous trip to NYC! Coming in at close seconds would be visiting the Kate Spade flagship store on Madison Avenue, and going BACK to NYC for another fabulous trip three weeks later (more on this coming soon!).
Since I’ve been a traveling fool (literally) lately, this month’s list revolves around things I discovered and loved while jet-setting.
1. The Yelp app
G and I barely had time to close the garage door before we left for NYC, so sadly we did not spend much time researching places to eat. Thankfully, one of my readers left a message on my Facebook page suggesting we download the Yelp app, and it was so helpful! I prefer to eat organic and Yelp made it easy – I simply searched “organic restaurant” near my current location and it displayed a map with little dots of all of our options along with whether the restaurant was currently open, the price range, cuisine type, and link to further information and reviews. It was so helpful! And it was also how we discovered…
2. Bareburger
I’ve stopped eating meat in public (that’s the quickest way I describe it) a little over a year ago because I don’t like not knowing where it came from, how the animal was raised and fed, etc. I only like to eat grass-fed or free-range organic meat and that is typically not what you find at restaurants – until we went to Bareburger! Bareburger is this fantastic little place we found in NYC that serves all organic fare. They pursue organic, all-natural and locally sourced ingredients to get the highest quality, most flavorful meat and produce available. G had an elk burger and I devoured a blue cheese beef. It was the first burger I’ve had in a restaurant in years and it was so delicious! Everything Bareburger serves up is organic, right down to their ketchup, mustard, and soda. In addition to their commitment to serving up real food, Bareburger also values sustainability. Their restaurants are built from eco-friendly materials including recycled tin barn siding lining the ceiling, tabletops crafted out of reclaimed wood from storm-salvaged trees, and light fixtures made by a local Etsy artist out of forks and spoons that a friend’s grandparents had stowed away for years in their garage. If you’re looking for a fantastic spot to eat in NYC you’ve got to check this place out!
3. My new travel toothbrush
After dinner, you brush your teeth. Enter my new travel toothbrush.
(How’s that for a segue?)
It’s really nothing fancy, but I love this little fold-up toothbrush I found in the travel-size bins at Target! My old toothbrush case is purple – a certain 3 year-old’s favorite color, which means it magically disappears from my bathroom drawer on the regular, and I can never find it. I’ve resorted to tossing my toothbrush into a Ziploc the last two times I packed my bags, but now I can just grab this handy little fold-up gadget – no extra case needed!
4. A portable charger for my iPhone
I knew with all the photos, Instagramming, email checks, and texts home to Kate and Grandma Pam that my iPhone battery wouldn’t be able to keep up with our NYC pace, so I bought my very first portable charger. I got the myCharge Hub 3000 and it works like a charm. It’s about the size of a credit card, but thicker (about ¾” thick). I like that it has enough power to fully charge my phone if it dies while I’m on the go, and it’s small enough that it easily fits into my little travel purse without feeling too bulky. There’s also no need for additional cords while you’re out and about – a little Apple Lightening cable pops out and plugs right into my phone. I’m so spoiled with all this extra battery power that I carry this little guy with me everywhere I go now!
5. Hand sanitizer.
Lots of it.
What are some of your favorite travel loves and discoveries?
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Can’t live without hand sanitizer! I’ve been working on a things loved lately post myself. Yelp really helped us out in NYC too!
Isn’t it great? What did we do before smart phones and apps? Haha!
I’m going to just say I can’t live without my iPhone. I haven’t had a smartphone for that long (maybe 4 years), but I can’t comprehend how I ever survived without it, yet alone traveled without it.
http://jax-and-jewels.blogspot.com
Totally agree, Heidi! I whipped that puppy out so often I should’ve just had it glued to my hand!
You just gave me some great stocking stuffer ideas!
Love that, Megan! Thank you!
I would be just happy to get to NYC….LOL
Enjoyed your post, wish there was a Bareburger in Madison
Have you ever ordered from QVC?
Go to their website and type in E223301 The HALO 2800mAh
pocket power charger. Good price and a great stocking stuffer as well
I wish there was a Bareburger in Madison, too, Debbie! I haven’t ordered from QVC but thanks for passing on the great deal!
Hi there! Your “things loved” are always some of my favorite posts. Please please please don’t think what I’m about to say is critical! I was honestly so surprised when I got to your last item and it was hand sanitizer! I know you’re a bit of a germaphobe, but with your super healthy eating style (I’m very like minded), I thought you would be all about more natural cleaning/beauty supplies too! You can make your own hand sanitizer that doesn’t have the Triclosan, parabens, fragrance, etc. that your storebought stuff does. Although, who knows – maybe you already do that! Again, please don’t think I’m being critical, I obviously don’t care what hand sanitizer you use, it was just more surprising to me than anything and I thought you might appreciate knowing there are alternatives if you didn’t already. I love your blog – I’ve been following you back since the Nest D&R days (I wasn’t yet married and thought you were just the coolest)!
I know, it’s terrible, isn’t it?! It’s been years of little changes to get me to where I am today with my eating preferences, but to be honest I’ve barely started with eliminating chemicals from my body creams, makeup, etc. (I just placed a giant Arbonne order though, so I’m getting there!) When I’m in unfamiliar places (especially when it comes to traveling) I’m a germaphobe to a pretty extreme degree. It’s terrible to say, but I get significantly more grossed out about holding a menu, buckling my seat belt on the airplane, etc. than I do about the chemicals that are in my hand sanitizer. That said, I had no idea you could make your own hand sanitizer!! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Kelly!! I am definitely going to look into that (fingers crossed it’s not too complicated). I’ll never kick my hand sanitizer addiction but I’d love it if I could clean it up – thank you!
PS. You Nest comment made me lol, thank you!
What do you do about eating meat in someone else’s home? I dread going to visit my ILs because they eat conventional, processed everything. I was relieved the last time she offered to make broccoli with dinner until she pulled out a bag of microwaveable broccoli with cheese sauce. I feel rude bringing too much of my own food though.
Great question, Lindsey! I’m lucky in that my MIL is a great cook and she always makes a side and salad to go with the main course so if I don’t want to eat the meat there’s still plenty to fill up on. That’s pretty much what I do whenever we eat at someone else’s house (which admittedly isn’t very often). We went to a cookout at a friend’s house over the summer and I brought my own hamburger patty. (I called first to make sure they wouldn’t be offended, but they’re close friends of ours and didn’t mind one bit.) We’ve also offered to bring the meat for the main course when we get invited over for dinner, too. (Or bring a side that’s hearty enough that you know it could tide you over until you get home.) To be honest, I’m pretty self-conscious about it all and so worried about offending our hosts (or putting them out) that I’d rather starve than say something, but G (my compass for these sort of things) assures me it’s no big deal. Do you think your ILs would be okay with you bringing a dish when you come for dinner? Do you have kids? Kate is a picky eater and I’m equally picky about what she eats, so we’re always packing food for her when we go places – adding a little something extra in there for myself is another option I occasionally use. Food can be such a touchy thing sometimes – I feel for you, Lindsey! I hope you’re able to reach a solution with your ILs!
Gah!!! I used to have a folding travel toothbrush similar to yours 20 years ago, and frankly, I kept and used it a lot longer than I should have. I’ve been looking for a replacement for YEARS. Target here I come! Thanks Dusty! (Bought an Intak by Thermos water bottle ages ago thanks to your “things loved” too!!)
Get it, girl!
So happy to hear you loved my water bottle recommendation, too – thank you!
That charger is so awesome! Perfect Christmas gift for my dad, thanks! (check that off my list!)