Keeping bugs at bay: eco-friendly repellents

One of the reasons camping rates not #1 but #5 on people's list of ideal outdoor activities is...BUGS. These little suckers can be a real pain, especially for those of us who are genetically more appealing to bugs (about 10% of the population simply tastes sweeter to mosquitoes). Here are the latest and greatest bug repelling products that don't do a number on the environment...

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Outdoor Style: One Spring Jacket to Rule Them All

Guest Contributor: Kylie Brusch of Tan and Wild

     The always fabulous Kylie Brusch of Tan and Wild out on a hike in style

     The always fabulous Kylie Brusch of Tan and Wild out on a hike in style

The Jacket Every Urban Deer Needs This Spring 

For a fashion girl who loves activities outdoors, it's hard to find a jacket that's both stylish and functional - that I can wear camping, hiking, biking, or potentially to a bar for a game of corn-hole.

For me, I want a jacket that can breathe, if the weather changes from hot to cold, I don't want to worry about taking my jacket on and off multiple times as my body temperature changes.

There's one jacket that I recommend every woman grab this spring, particularly us Urban Deers. It transitions super easily into fall, and is worth the money. This jacket was built with mountain-climbers and skiers in mind, but I have found that using it as an every-day jacket to run outdoors, to hike over the Golden Gate bridge or simply walk my dog, it always get compliments, is neutral while remaining stylish and comfortable, and meets a number of different needs and purposes. That is a fashion-choice I can never feel guilty about.

Here's what you need to know about this jacket: 

For "stop and go" activities, say a hike in the spring-time or a mountainous climb, the Patagonia Nano-Air jacket is a layer you don't have to remove. This means it’s breathable and flexible enough to keep you warm enough in the morning chill, and light enough to not need to be removed during the warmer afternoon sun break. Another thing I love about it is it is flexible enough to fold into a small bag if needed and stays void of wrinkles. For camping in Big Bear, climbing in Yosemite, or walking to the store for a bottle of wine, this is the kind of style I find comfort in, literally and figuratively. It runs a bit tight though and doesn’t stretch after wears, so keep that in mind if you have broader shoulders or prefer to wear longer layers underneath.

It's super porous, it lets out water while you sweat, but doesn't hold the water in, soaking you and causing discomfort. It's also water repellant should those spring showers open up, and quick dry so you don't remain drenched.

There are a number of pockets in this jacket which make it extremely convenient for us ladies, no purse needed here. There's a zipper for credit cards or keys directly along the vertical zipper, two on the side for hands for hand warmers, phones, or anything else you might need with you. There's also a hoody to protect against the elements.

For me, the best part about this jacket, is that Patagonia uses environmentally friendly ingredients and testing, so I know that I'm putting my money towards a good cause. They also have such amazing customer-service that if anything breaks on the jacket, you can bring it in for a repair free of charge and they'll send it back to you.

For the Urban gal who loves the outdoors, this a jacket I'd recommend spending $249 on.

Follow Kylie's adventures at Tan and Wild: http://tanandwild.com/

TAN AND WILD IS A DESTINATION FOR FASHION INSPIRATION, A LOOK INTO MY LIFESTYLE IN SAN FRANCISCO, MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS AND BARS, BEAUTY PRODUCTS, DESIGNERS AND MORE. 




No shower? No problem. Tips for staying clean outdoors.

Dirty. Dirty camping. Dirty ground. Dirty public restroom. Dirty sweat.  Outdoor adventuring is anything but clean. How do you keep up with your friends who never seem to mind getting grungy, while still maintaining your precious beauty regimen? Here are a few tips and tricks to help you live your outdoor life clean...

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