Camping & photo shoot with Alison and Marie Claire

Alison, Kristiana & Osa, aka the "van chicks"

I'm headed to Big Sur, California today with my Airstream Caravel in tow and Osa as co-pilot. It's a part camping, part photo shoot adventure.

My friend Alison was contacted by Marie Claire magazine, the French edition, about being included in an article on women who camp. Alison accepted and told them about me. So this is the week that we meet up in Big Sur for the shoot. Should be fun, and interesting since it's dry camping; makes for interesting uhh, "natural girl" photos. Good thing we're both pretty low maintenance, our doggies too.

Alison is one of my besties- she's my new old friend. It feels like I grew up with her, by the way we know each other, our quirks and personal tastes.
We have become compatible road trip sisters and now that she has her Eurovan and I have my van, "Holiday, we're the "Van Chicks".

Two summers ago Alison was road tripping east from California with Max, while I was headed on my return road trip west with Osa. We somehow coordinated to meet right on the fold of my road map, in South Dakota. Seeing a friend while you're miles and miles from home is a treat. It's a comfort and a way to process what you've seen and learned up to that point. It's sharing stories over weak coffee at a greasy spoon diner. It's learning about eachother's childhood stories and putting together the puzzle pieces. It recharges the batteries for the rest of the trip.

Thanks, Alison, for the endless inspiration, brainstorm sessions and fun friendship. I look forward to our adventure this week!

How about you? Do you have a friend you love to road trip with?

We're heading to the Airstream factory!

Yes, it's true.  It's  finally going to happen, I am going to the Airstream factory for once and for all!   I'm going to be participating in Alumapalooza, a week long event put on my Rich Luhr and Brett Greiveldinger of Airstream Life magazine.  They've invited me to show and sell my silver trailer jewelry as well as give a seminar on interior design. I am so so so very excited!After traveling 10,000 miles last summer, tugging my Airstream with my somewhat moody 1969 GMC pickup (I still love you, Chestnut girl), I think I'll be traveling a bit lighter this time around. 

 I'll be loading up my Mini Cooper Clubman, and of course Osa doggie.   Osa girl takes up the entire back seat (rear seats folded down), so packing minimal is the name of the game! Okay, I may cheat and get one of those Thule cargo boxes on the top to hold Osa's food and dog bed!

Seriously, if you're at all interested in Airstreams, own an Airstream, are obsessed with Airstreams, like some people we know, you have GOT to attend this event! There will be tours of the factory (yes please), seminars galore, happy hours, raffles, you name it, you got it. I can't wait.