Tag: How To

Blogmas, Gift Ideas, Lists, New

5 Simple Items to Keep You Warm While Outside this Winter​ | Blogmas 2022

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Blogmas 2022 - Post No. 1

Welcome to December 1st!

And that means it’s Day 1 of Blogmas, which I’m participating in for the first time ever! Blogmas is an annual challenge that creators do from December 1st until Christmas. It’s mostly just for funsies, and to push ourselves. You’ll see bloggers do blogmas and vloggers participate in Vlogmas, or sometimes each will do both! I wanted to do this in years past but I couldn’t fully commit due to roadblocks, but this year – nothing is standing in my way! Except for myself, so hopefully I overcome this anxiety of not knowing what to talk about each day. 

I mean, I know what to write about, I have what feels like an endless supply of ideas, but more so ensuring I carve out the time to get them written, formatted, optimized, and set up correctly each day. 

I’m a little rusty, so bear with me! With that, I wanted to have goals around why I’m doing this – why I’m going to spend a couple hours writing, optimizing, formatting, and creating a blog post each day for blogmas. And those goals are: 

  1. To get into a writing habit, 
  2. To find my voice, 
  3. To challenge my way of thinking, 
  4. To become a more efficient and overall better writer, and 
  5. To find new ways to serve you, my readers!
Now that my goals for blogmas 2022 have been established, let’s get started. And maybe bear with me on this first one as it’s definitely on the extra rusty side!

5 Simple Items to Keep You Warm While Outside this Winter

1. Down Filled, Fleece-Lined Hat

You know how nice a puffy coat is in the winter, but have you tried a puffy hat? I just learned about them recently while on a trip and my mind was blown. 

This down hat is sure to keep you warm while outside this winter, even on the coldest of days! Not only that, but a down hat equals lightweight and packable, so you’ll be able to easily stuff it into your pocket or a bag should you happen to get (dare I say it) too hot. 

2. Fleece-Lined Leggings

I recently went backpacking for the first time, and the temperatures were in the lower 20’s after the sun went down (that’s the desert for you!). 

Not to be dramatic, but, without these fleece-lined leggings, I likely would have frozen to death. Just kidding, that was really dramatic, but I run cold so I would have had a significantly worse time without these leggings!

3. Wool Insoles for your Boots

Wool is one of the best natural materials to stay warm on the cold winter days. Wool inserts are a total game changer when it comes to combating cold feet! Plus, they’re comfy!

4. Puffer Blanket

Puffer blankets can be used pretty much anywhere, and they’re super lightweight and packable!

You can pick one up in fun bright colors and patterns, or as a solid color to be more discreet. 

I also have the Rumpl blankets on my 15 Life-Changing Gifts for Adventurers gift guide, but I just had to bring it back for this post too, because they are just so great!

5. Rechargeable Heated Socks

And finally, I can’t think of a better way to keep you warm in the chilly weather this winter than to have rechargeable heated socks. Honestly, my least favorite part about the winter is when my feet are cold. I love being outside, but if my feet are cold, I give up. I can name dozens of events where I’ve been having a great time other than my feet making me feel miserable!

These puppies are on the Christmas lists of both my husband and my brother in law this year, and have already sold out once since being added to those lists, so it’s safe to assume they are in high demand!

Eric and I could have used these when we were dealing with the -2*F wind chill during the Minnesota Gopher football game a couple of weeks ago haha!

5 Simple Items to Keep You Warm Outside this Winter
How to, Lists, New, Tips and Tricks

Carry On Travel: 5 Great Packing Tips

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Does ditching a checked bag and using only a carry on make you nervous?

The idea of using only a carry on definitely made me nervous! That is, until one day I went for it and made the switch. And now I’ll never go back to a checked bag unless I’m packing for an extra-long trip.

It may seem like a daunting task, but you’ve got this!  If I, a chronic over packer, can do it, you can too!  You’ll be surprised at how easy it will be once you do it once or twice.

Here are my five best tips for traveling with only a carry on:

1Clothes take up the most space in a backpack or suitcase (which makes sense considering that’s what we’re changing the most).  Lay out everything you think you’ll need, then remove 40% of it.  This may seem like a large percentage, because it is, but it’s good to note that it isn’t 50%.  As an over packer, eliminating 40% of the clothing items I’d otherwise prefer to pack allows me to zero-in on what I really need to pack.  Differentiating between the want and the need is key!

2 Simplify what you’ll need by taking a moment to really think about what you use on a daily basis.  No need to bring that third extra pair of underwear on the chance you might poop them twice in one day for some reason (I always overpack when I needlessly plan for the theoretical emergencies or “just in case” moments that are 99% never going to happen – don’t do that).

3 If you dress in layers, keep in mind that you can wear the same layers for multiple days.  I usually wear a tank top under different tops or sweaters, so picking a neutral colored first layer (like a black tank top) allows me to wear that same layer multiple times throughout the trip.  Wearing the same clothing more than once also applies to other clothing too, such as sweaters, bras, shorts, and pants.  Plus, it’s amazing what types of outfits you can come up with when there are only a few option combinations available! 

4 If you’re bringing more than one pair of shoes, wear your clunkiest shoes (and articles of clothing) on the airplane.  Shoes take up so much space!  Wearing your clunkiest shoes on the airplane allows for more space in your bag.  If you’re bringing another pair of shoes and will also have them in your carry on, consider using them as storage, for example, stuff socks or more delicate items (like watches or jewelry) into the shoes.  Similarly, wearing your clunkiest articles of clothing on the plane will also save space in your bag!  I usually wear my thick zip up fleece, which doubles as warmth (because airplanes are always cold) AND doesn’t take up any unnecessary room.

5 Consider different methods of packing.  Using different packing methods will help you best utilize every nook and cranny in the bag and maximize your packing potential.  For example: 

  • Roll clothing to condense the use of space (especially for pants and long-sleeved tops)
  • Lay clothing flat to fill in gaps (instead of rolling or folding)
  • Put items inside other items (such as socks and undies into shoes),
  • Or a combination of the above

Challenge: If you’re still nervous about carry on only packing, try packing a carry on (don’t forget that free personal item!) well before your trip and try “living” out of that for the duration of your trip first!

If you’re stuck and need help with figuring out what to eliminate or how to pack, feel free to reach out in a comment below and I can help you!

Travel On, the Volkmans
carry on travel tips

Need more packing ideas? Check these out: 

How to, Minnesota, New

Vintage Ski Boat Restoration

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I have always been a huge fan of 80’s and 90’s vintage ski boats. I remember regularly seeing the same old ski boat on my hometown lake as a child. The owner the boat kept it super clean and in original condition. It had simple graphics on the side with a mid-engine, direct shaft drive, and a very low profile in the water. I would see it year after year growing up and loved everything about it. I of course knew very little about brands and types of boats at that age, but my dad knew exactly what it was; it was a Ski Nautique made by Correct Craft. This type of tournament ski boat is what slalom skiers typical own, as they have tons of towing power, and are very light and maneuverable which lends itself very aptly to skiing.

The boat

As fate would have it, last fall we stumbled across a seemingly fantastic deal for a vintage Ski Nautique. It was the 2nd model Ski Nautique ever made, and the smallest hull at only 17’ 6” length (plus the swim platform on the back) and about 6 ft wide. The power plant however is a 351 cubic inch V8 engine. From the pictures I could tell the interior was in rough shape from sitting in the rain and snow, but the exterior looked excellent. I really wanted this boat even if I had to put some time and money into restoring it. 

When I contacted the seller, it was clear he was not ‘boat guy’ and had come to own the boat through the purchase of a cabin property. He told me he had dropped it off at a boat dealership to have serviced. It needed a couple things when he got it earlier in the year. The trailer received new tires the motor got a fresh 4-barrel carburetor. When I heard the effort that was already put into it, I decided the price was right, assuming I would need to put another $1000-$1500 into it for the interior, plus my time. So I made the deal and promptly started making a list of what it all needed. Mainly, it needed new floor and carpeting, upholstery would be a bonus. I made sure the stringers (think of them as the “bones” of the hull) were solid, to avoid a complete teardown of the boat was needed.

The restore

First things first, I needed to rip all the old carpet and rotten floor out. Before I could do this though, I had to unbolt and take out the three seats and engine cover. The floor was so rotted out the engine cover wasn’t actual bolted to anything anymore, so it lifted right out. As I was taking out the “hardware” holding the seats to the floor, I noticed they were almost completely rusted away. Typically, all hardware in marine application should be made of stainless steel to avoid rust and corrosion, but there was plenty of hardware that was not done correctly by a previous owner. As I was pulling things out of the boat, I was happier and happier that I was going through so much trouble to do a complete restore, as opposed to only fixing the floor as originally intended.

Once I got all the seats out of the way I took what was left of the rear floor out. As I was shoveling out the debris, I found I large chipmunk nest that was packed to the brim with acorns and other goodies. I filled my 2-gallon Shop Vac multiple times with dirt, debris, and wood particles. Once cleaned out I assessed what I would need to fix the floor. I would need to do some fiberglass work, as well as use a piece of treated plywood for the main rear floor. The last step I did as part of the cleanup was removal of the original carpet. It was only lightly glued on, so it came out really easy, but it was old and falling apart so it was dirty and nasty taking it out.

With the boat cleaned out and with more working space, I took this opportunity to test out and fix any electrical accessories that needed it. I went down the accessories on the dash, with only about a 50% success rate. The bilge pump and horns didn’t work, and when I tried out the blower it turned on but sounded like the pulse setting on a blender. When I tore the blower assembly apart, I found more remnants of chipmunks, with the blower hose packed to the brim with acorns. I cleaned it out and checked the blower off the list. The bilge pump wiring needed to be replaced at the pump, which was an easy fix. That just left the horns, for which the problem was in the horns themselves. To fix, I opened up the horns, and with some playing around with the little set screw in them, as well as adding some WD-40, I was able to get them operational again.

The existing plywood flooring was really damp, so as I worked on replacing the floor, I had a dehumidifier and fans running for several weeks. I wanted to keep the internal wood as dry as possible to avoid rot. To get the plywood to sit level and at the right height I needed to cut some tabs out of the adjoining floor, as well as needed two layers of plywood. Because I didn’t have any existing floor pieces to model this off, I had to take my best guess on what exactly it should look like. I added the port hole in the plywood pieces and moved on to fiberglass. I have worked with fiberglass enough to be dangerous, and honestly this part took no time at all, except for waiting for it to cure completely. I used extra plywood to make mounts on the left and right sides and used decking screws to get everything secure. The back wall of the boat that sits behind the bench seat was rotten on the bottom so that also got replaced with treated plywood.

Originally, I thought I could salvage most of the vinyl and upholstery on the seats because the only real bad spots were on the two front seats. I did a complete 180 on that thought as I tore further into the seats while taking them apart. I found the name of a local upholstery shop and called them up. There was a two-month lead time on the seat skins so in the meantime I got to work on rebuilding the seats. I cut new plywood for the seats wherever there were rotten boards and kept a pile of hardware that I knew I needed to replace. The foam of the seats was all in pretty amazing condition, especially considering the shape of some of the seat boards. I took a trip to the hardware store with my assortment of crusty hardware, and the employees helped me replace everything with brand new shiny stainless steel. There was only one piece that I couldn’t get at the hardware store. It was more of a specialty hinge, and luckily, I have a great friend that sourced an exact match for me.

After rebuilding the seats, things were nearing the finish line as I waited for the seat skins to be ready. I started on the exterior of the boat and trailer to freshen them up a little bit. The trailer got new carpet on the front bunks, and it was missing a guidepost on one side, so I took the remaining one to a metal shop near me to have a replica created. I then purchased padded guides to go on the posts, and as a bonus they even say the name of the boat on them! As for the outside of the boat itself, I decided I didn’t like the dingy rope that was in the bumper all the way around, so I replaced it with a nylon UV-treated winch rope this is blue in color, and in my opinion really makes the other colors pop. The teak was faded and dull, so I freshened it up by applying multiple coats of linseed oil over a couple weeks to allow to soak in. Linseed oil is recommended for teak and the difference it made is astounding. Lastly, I touched up any black in the lettering that was chipping with auto detail paint.

I was able to pick up the seat skins in March of this year, so I promptly got to work putting them on. My dad made his career out of car and boat upholstery, so he gave me some industry tips and tricks, as well as let me use his pneumatic stapler. The stapler definitely saved my hand some pain, as I imagine I put in well over 1000 staples total, which would’ve been a nightmare otherwise! I went with a different color scheme on the new seats, with much less blue, keeping it as an accent. I think this really modernized and cleaned up the look of the boat overall. I added 1-inch foam as I put on the covers and it was a lot of work and time, but with plenty of staples, hand cramps, and a few choice curse words, I was able to complete them. If I do say so myself, even though this was my first upholstery job I think it turned out great.

The Maiden voyage

Overall, I am so happy with how the boat turned out, and I am equally happy that I chose to put my blood, sweat, and tears into the restore. I estimate the total hours I spent on the boat was well over 80 hours, and I calculated a little under $1500 in materials to do the job. It will be so rewarding being able to go out on the lake for years to come and enjoy the initial effort I put into. I feel connected to the boat since I know it so well from the rebuild. The best part about this experience is, all that’s left now is to just enjoy the boat!

International, Reviews, Tips and Tricks

Using Flybus in Iceland: How to Plus A Mini Review

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In January 2019, my sister and I spent 48 hours in Iceland on our way home to Minnesota, USA from an extended stopover from Oslo, Norway. Before heading out on this trip, I booked the Flybus to and from the hotel we stayed at, which was the Icelandair Hotel Marina.

The Flybus is a convenient idea because it’s a simple way to get from Keflavík International Airport to Reykjavik city without having to utilize a taxi, ride share service, or find your own way. Their marketing mentions it’s only a 45 minute bus ride from Keflavík International Airport to the city of Reykjavik, which makes it an attractive mode of transportation. While this is true to get into the city, it actually took about two hours for us to get to our hotel.

NOTE: This post is to ensure you are informed of how the current process of using this service works, so as to avoid any surprises or inconveniences that my sister and I encountered on our trip.

The ride is, yes, actually (technically) 45 minutes from the airport to the main bus station for Reykjavik Excursions, who partners with Flybus. From the main bus station, you are then given a color-coded card and asked to walk to the parking lot on the other side of the building (not a far walk at all) and find your respective bus. Unfortunately for us, we were given the incorrect color card, which brought us on a more “scenic route,” if you will.

For preparedness reasons, here are 10 steps for how to go about being transported from KEF to your hotel, and information I wish I had prior to our trip:

  1. Arrive at KEF and follow signs to “Exit to Iceland”
    1. You may need to declare items in customs prior to exiting this portion of the airport
    2. If you don’t know if you need to declare your items, it never hurts to ask 🙂
  2. Once through customs, follow signs to Flybus/busses
  3. With your email confirmation (either electronic or printed), head to the Flybus/Reykjavik Excursions counter. NOTE: There are two Flybus/Reykjavik Excursions desks—one is more dedicated to the Blue Lagoon; feel free to use this desk if you want to go to the Blue Lagoon before heading into Reykjavik.
    1. Once at the counter, the agent will scan your electronic/printed email confirmation and give you a color card to use once you get to the Reykjavik Excursions/Flybus main bus station.
  4. Head to any of the Flybus busses just outside the doors of the desk, and proceed to give your larger/carryon size luggage to the handler, who will put your luggage under the bus.
  5. Hop onto the bus and find a seat. The bus driver will look at your email confirmation here as well.
  6. When the bus is completely full (meaning, every seat is taken), you will set off on your 45 minute journey to the beautiful city of Reykjavik. Next stop: the main bus station.
  7. You arrive at the Reykjavik Excursions/Flybus main bus station: exit the bus, grab your luggage and meet inside the station.
  8. Go to the counter with your email confirmation (again, either electronic or printed is okay), receive your physical ticket, and proceed to the other side of the bus station and hop on the transfer bus with the matching color to the color card you were given at KEF (note: these busses are smaller).
  9. Double-check with the bus driver that you are on the correct bus as it could be possible that you were given the incorrect color card (this happened to us and added time to our transfer).
  10. Hang out on the transfer bus until you reach your destination. Transfer busses take around 15-45 minutes to drop everyone off. This timeframe changes depending on how many people are on the bus/how many people are at different hotels or hostels.

While this transfer and extra time wasn’t a massive problem, it was pretty inconvenient to NOT have been made aware of this prior to arrival. Which is why I’m bringing it up to you! Had we known it was going to be two hours from pick up to drop off, we would have planned to eat a meal before leaving the airport or pack snacks (we finished our other snacks already on the plane), but since we thought it would only be a 45 minute bus ride, we were definitely not as prepared. Please also note that the coach busses (either before your transfer busses or after, depending on if you’re heading to or from the airport), for understandable reasons, wait to leave until they are completely full. This would have been helpful to know for planning and timing purposes as well.

Overall, the service itself is so awesome, as there are few other options to get to Reykjavik from KEF. It was nice to be able to book online and reserve our seats prior to arriving. My biggest and really only issue with Flybus was the lack of explanation of process: making it sound like you get brought directly from KEF to your accommodations, which, yes, is the 45 minute ride. However, they fail to point out that the 45 minute ride starts after a long wait to get the bus filled up, and then you’re brought to a bus hub, where you then wait, get reassigned to a new bus, and then ride with a bunch of new people to maybe be dropped of first out of the group, last out of the group, or somewhere in the middle–all which takes an extensive amount of extra time. Transparency was key here, and was just missed by the company. Otherwise, I would highly rate this company and its service.