#I guess take a peek at the blogger behind the curtain

[probablygayattorneys]

Shout out to @raboots who’s tags as follows on one of my posts inspired this

[be-ready-when-i-say-go]

Tired of Feeling the Blues

The stress is a recipe for disaster, but thankfully Calum’s there to help her all through it.

This is what we call self-indulgence 101. Enjoy soft Calum. 

It is a female reader, only referred to as ‘she’. No specific race. 

Please stay safe during these uncertain times. Drop a sweet message to your favorite blogger. Reblog your favorite fic. Recommend a fic to me if you want! We need to spread some joy. If you feel so inclined and have the means, you can support me on Ko-fi. 

Enjoy my masterlist as well!

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The tension resides at the base of her skull, creeping its way up the back of her head, pulsing in her temple and right behind her eye. It beats the back of her skull on the left side of her head and the left side only. Her neck is heavy and not even the pillow beneath her neck is able to support it or alleviate the pounding. Closing her eyes hurt. Rolling onto either side hurts. It does not help with the lingering twinge of cramps in her lower back. Physically, she is falling apart. And mentally, she isn’t doing much better. The world in a panic to the pandemic and with her job now closed, she worries about bills. Thankfully right before the shutdown on her job, she had figured housing arrangements with Calum. But that didn’t stop the dizzying worry about her student loans, providing basic necessities for herself and her dog, Ace. 

The room is still dark when Calum peaks his head inside. She lays still, not fully under the sheets with Duke on her chest and Ace curled up on her side. It was a slight worry when she first moved at the end of February that Ace would be just too big of a dog around Duke with the German Shepherd abundantly clear in him. There were a couple other things, the best guess was Australian Shepherd. But the vets hadn’t been too sure and the people at the shelter couldn’t quite place it either. And though Ace did like to play rough, the moment she felt like he was getting too rowdy and called for him to cool it, he listened immediately. He was well trained and there was no doubting that. 

“Head still hurting?” Cal asks, stepping into the bedroom more. He uses his body to block the light from the hallway as he shuts the door close.

“If you have a guillotine hiding out anywhere, feel free to break it out.”

The bed dips as he settles and his hands settle onto her clothed leg not covered by the sheets. He rubs soothing circles over the black cloth. “You take something for it yet?”

She nods and it’s a fucking mistake. Immediately, it feels like needles in her neck. She groans, throwing her arm over her face. “Yeah. I did.”

Duke picks his head up and upon spotting Calum jumps up. Calum grins, petting the top of his head. “Taking care of Mamas?”

“He has great bedside manners,” she jokes. 

“It’s a little past noon. Care for lunch?” Her headache had been plaguing since the night before and she thought sleep would ease the ache. But now it was proving more stubborn that impeded her from going on their morning walk. Calum handled the dogs with ease. But he did worry the entire time about her. Part of him doesn’t want to admit that some of it was out of a panic that somehow she had contracted the disease. But a larger part of him knew that between temporarily losing her job, her period, and overall panic, that the stress wouldn’t be nice on her physical body either. 

Her reply is soft. “I’ll take leftovers.”

“I do have soup if you want. Easier to get down.”

“Hmm, I’m a chicken noodle soup kind of gal.” 

“Chicken noodle soup then.”

She can feel the bed lifting again. From her lifted arm, she watches him. “You don’t even eat meat. Why do you have chicken in this house?”

“Because you do.”

“I told you you didn’t have too,” she calls as the door starts to creak close with Calum slipping out of it. 

“It’s like a treat. A little chicken as a treat,” he winks and closes the door. 

Though it makes her feel like one of the dogs, she has to laugh. “A little chicken as a treat.” 

There’s a few moments of silence before Duke climbs off her chest. He pitters over to the door and a whine leaves his throat. Though it hurts, she stands and opens the bedroom door. The house isn’t in too bad of shape. She managed, in the time it took Calum to walk the dogs, to collect the trash bins from the curb. She washed the dishes from the late night snacking, put one load of laundry into the washer and scrubbed down the bathrooms. She had meant to sweep too but it hurt to be upright after that so she retired to the bedroom. 

Calum hears the click of paws and when he glances down there’s Duke at his feet. “What happened to Nurse Duke?”

“Missed his pops,” she returns sliding into the bar seating. Ace settles onto the couch, but keeps his attention trained onto her. 

“You could’ve stayed in the back. I was going to bring it to you.”

She doesn’t quite have the energy to respond, though she does simply wave off the comment before resting her head on her forearms. Calum stirs the soup on the stovetop for a few moments before walking over. His fingers take up the soft muscle of her shoulder. She hums as he guides two fingers up her neck, up and over the tension. It hurts just a little but it helps. The pressure combatting the pounding that seems to have taken up the whole residence of the entire left side. She knows amongst all this, the worry about her, Calum has meetings and promotion to do. She knows he’s got a million other things to juggle but he stopped his world for just five minutes for her. 

“I love you,” she sighs when his fingers run up her neck and even into her scalp. 

Calum’s laughter is a soft exhale. “You’re just saying that.”

“No, I’m not.” And it’s not that he ever thought that she was kidding. But his heart still jumps a little at the furrowed brows that face him as she lifts her head and turns. “I do love you and I would never just say that. Never. You got that?”

It was easy to just say a phrase. But it wasn’t lost on him that it was her that brought in the cans, or did the laundry, or washed the dishes. That was how she always showed her love, helping around the house, doing something to take it off his plate. “I know,” he says. It’s softly and she notices the tears pooling just slightly at his lower lashline. 

“Good,” she murmurs against his lips before pressing a soft kiss. “Don’t burn my soup being a sap though. I don’t think I have the mental capabilities to handle that.”

As their noses brush, Calum can’t help his grin. That’s his girl, forever honest. “On it.” The kiss is brief, yet again. His fingers are still kneading at her neck and though it hurts when he pulls away, she knows it’s better than burnt soup. She drops her head on her neck, eyes closed again. When is the pain going to end? When is she going to find relief? From everything really and not just the headache. She needs relief from debt, from social distancing, from panic. 

Calum can only watch as she carries herself to the couch. Wrapped in one of his hoodies, she curls herself around Ace. He’d offer sitting outside with him but the sun’s not going to help her headache. There’s almost nothing to do but he’ll be damned if he doesn’t do whatever he can. With the soup warmed and in a bowl, he carefully carries it over to her. Her groan is heavy and drawn out as she sits up. “Yeah, just decapitate me please.”

“I’m sorry, love. Eat, try to sleep, okay?”

“Have you eaten?”

“Yes. Don’t worry about me right now, okay? Cuddle Ace. They look so sad that Mamas is not in tip top condition.”

The lip roll is exaggerated, pulling out and down. Calum kisses her forehead, gently cupping the back of her head with the action. His breath is a whisp against her skin as he whispers something. She doesn’t even catch it, not if it were English or Maori. He turns out the lights in the living room for her and soon he’s gone. Not without draping a blanket around her shoulders. She assumes another meeting. He’s taken to sitting outside during those calls. Maybe it’s so she’s not interrupting with the cleaning and that noise and he’s not in the way.

She has every intent to wash the dishes from her quick lunch. But once the soup is settled and she’s curled up again with Ace, it’s just so much easier to sleep. The bowl rests on the coffee table and she can’t find it within herself to get up. And she thinks it’ll be a quick nap too, by the time she gets up, Calum will still be on his conference call. It’s just a quick nap that wraps her up. 

Until she finally blinks awake and the living is dark. The kitchen light is one still but there’s no sun peeking in from the blinds and she swears she couldn’t have slept the whole day away. When she pushes up, there’s less pounding in her head but a manageable dull ache. Her bleary eyes try to find the clock in the room to let her know what time it is but it’s much too far. She stands, eyes squinting against the light of the kitchen. It’s just about three and she spins, not sure if it’s three pm or three am. But there’s no way Calum would’ve just left her on the couch. 

The blinds are drawn up and the curtains closed. When she pulls them apart, the sun comes blaring through. Her racing heart finally settles. “Thank fuck,” she grumbles. 

“Ah, she lives,” Calum teases, peering into the living with a basket on his hip. Laundry. Not the load she started. 

“It was dark and I thought I slept the entire day away.”

“No, just a few hours.”

She remembers the dishes, throwing a quick glance down to the coffee table. The bowl and spoon are gone. As her eyes scan, the pot and everything sit in the drying rack. “I can fold laundry,” she offers. 

“It’s the last load.” And it’s meant to deter her, but she wiggles her fingers, stepping out from the couch. Calum shakes his head. “I got it.”

“I was supposed to clean my dishes and I didn’t. Let me, please?”

“How’s your head?” He knows as she walks closer that she’ll fight tooth and nail about making up for the dishes. But it’s not a big deal. She continues on and Calum shuffles into the bedroom to hide the basket from her. “Hey, no, you’re supposed to be taking it easy.”

“Give me the basket and no one gets hurt Hood.”

“It’s the last load, baby. Really, it’s okay.”

“You fixed me lunch and cleaned my dishes. Just give me the basket.”

“You’re not feeling well, so of course I did all that.” 

She stands toe to toe with him, the basket behind his back pinned between him and their shared dresser. “Basket, Hood.”

“You can use my last name all you want, love. I’m not giving up this fucking basket.”

This happens all the time with them. And she should’ve learned to give up the good fight a long time ago, but giving in was not in her nature. So they stand there, staring, sharing breaths. But neither one of them budges. Calum doesn’t give in and let her take the basket and she doesn’t walk away. 

“I have to pee but I’m not walking away,” she utters. The second she goes to pee, it’s over. Calum will start folding. 

“Don’t burst your bladder.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

Calum watches her, the way her leg starts to shake and he knows she’ll wait this out. There’s no sense in making her prove that point any further either. “Go pee, Christ! I’ll let you help, alright?” She sticks her tongue out, before racing to the bathroom. Calum hollers as she goes, “That’s not a victory for either one of us though!”

“Gray sock,” Cal calls before tossing the sock in her direction. It arches and lands in her waiting hands. To her left are all the unpaired socks. As she finds the matches, she rolls them together and places them into a pile to the right of her. The living room is scattered with clothes. Piles of underwear, separated by owner, and further separated from there, t-shirts rest on the top of the coffee table, alongside the bath towels. 

“Who’s shirt?” she asks, wiping the cotton material out so she can get a better look at it. 

“Merch,” Calum explains, holding his hand out for it. It takes more effort to toss, so it doesn’t land on their piles incorrectly. He folds it, like she taught him, hooking his pinkies to flip the sleeves back behind. It folds in half once and he folds it half again, creating thirds so that the screen print of the top of the faces peak out. The same thing that graces the cover of the album. 

Softly behind the quiet sounds of the dogs clicking about, is the hum of the latest binge that’s already been long forgotten. They’ll restart it again later on when they’re better focused. Calum sits with his laptop open and facing him. Notes for another meeting and he’s bored already just looking at the text. “Where’s the pile for kitchen towels?’ she asks. 

Calum, with his eyes still locked on the screen, thinks for a moment. “There’s no pile.”

“You have more space than I do.”

That’s all he needs before he tears his gaze away and catches the towel floating through the air. “What do you want for dinner? And you can’t say whatever is fine.”

In the midst of folding a bath towel, she huffs. “I’m fine with anything.”

He knew she’d find a loophole. She’d find a way to shove off the responsibility onto him. “Burgers?” he suggests, thinking of the patties that might’ve been lingering in the freezer. Her only response is a nod accompanied by a soft sound of agreement. 

It’s back to the notes, back to barely listening to the voices on the TV. When all the clothes are folded and tucked away, Calum pulls her onto the couch, into his chest, arms winding around her body. His fingers gently cradle her head. “Any more pain?”

“Just a little pressure.”

His heart is beating against her ears, the steady beat comforting as she burrows into his chest. All it would take to curl up inside the cavity, tuck herself away from everything. Though she can’t physically shrink herself, she happily accepts the soft brush of his fingers over her scalp. “Tomorrow we can make it a mile and a half walk, since you missed out today.”

“You are trying to kill me.” The sentence is punctuated by a kiss to his jawline. 

“Ace got scared by a bush today,” Calum relays with a soft laugh. “Some birds were in it and when they flew off, it shook the bush. He got a little freaked. I guess he was too occupied by the couple walking their dogs on the other side of the street.”

“He’s big but he’s a baby. Sounds like someone else I know.” The jest isn’t lost on Calum but he lets it slide for the moment being, taking in the feeling of her tracing patterns on his chest with her fingers. 

[vexation-virgil]

Colors (Part 8)

Fandom: Sanders Sides (Soulmate AU) Pairings: Prinxiety, mentions of Logicality Warnings: General angst, I don’t think there’s another one, this one is pretty soft (As always, if there is anything that needs tagged, let me know!) Summary: Everyone knows when you meet your soulmate, the world is supposed to fill with color for the both of you. Unfortunately for Roman Patrick, that is not always the case.

Taglist: @pendragonqueen09, @anaveragegayfan , @stillebesat , @anxious-but-whatever , @applecannibal , @pikachu-12 , @your-username-is-unavailable , @inkblotsanddoodles , @mikasiri , @hayleycreagine , @phlying-squirrel , @insert-epic-blogger-name-here , @lollingtothemax , @emerald-and-fluorite , @fall-chemically-atthedisco , @miss-meg1710 , @glamorousgizmo , @sleepyssnail

A/N: PLOT TWIST It’s out early because I have no self-control! So. Not a lot to say. Kind of a softer chapter but... Just for now. Love you guys!

PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 PART 5 PART 6 PART 7 You Are Here PART 9 PART 10  PART 11 PART 12

The weekend was long and almost unbearable, the scene from Friday afternoon playing in his head practically on repeat. Roman would start over and replay and think of other ways it could’ve gone - no matter how many times Patton would smack his shoulder and tell him to knock it off. There is nothing you can do except fix it, the older boy had told him after about the fifteenth time of catching him staring off and thinking for too long.

And Roman knew that, of course, he did. But it was hard not to wish that he had done it different. Any time that he didn’t spend thinking about what he had done wrong was spent thinking of a way to fix it, like Patton suggested and by Monday he was sure he had the best plan.

Virgil liked space, Virgil didn’t seem to be a big fan of anything big or elaborate, so Roman was going to keep it simple. No flowers like he wanted - Virgil couldn’t even see the flowers to appreciate their full beauty anyway and they weren’t together so it could very well serve to just make the issue worse - no long-winded apology speech. He was going to offer whatever space the other needed and a simple apology for overstepping the boundaries.

Easy.

By the time Monday morning came, Roman was second guessing himself. He went over his plan with Patton six separate times in the drive to school (despite having reviewed it with his brother three times on the way to Patton’s) and even throughout the day.

What if it wasn’t enough? What if Virgil still held onto that anger he had felt towards Roman on Friday? What if Virgil shut him down completely? What if they lost everything they had built towards over the last few months? What if Roman lost his soulmate before he had even won him over?

It was a lot to think about, a lot to consider, and by the time their shared literature period came, Roman was an absolute wreck. His usual neat and tidy hair had been run through so many times that it was starting to stick up in places, his shoulders were tight and tense with nerves, his mouth was practically trapped in the small frown he had worn for the day. But he needed to push through, needed to pull himself together.

And Roman tried, he really did - stopped to fix his hair, slow breathing exercises to relax his face and shoulders - but the second he saw Virgil, all that work went straight out the window and his mind was racing through the different ways this could turn out. The darkly clad boy was staring down at his desk studiously, but his headphones were still around his neck, as if to show that he was open for conversation. Roman pushed his feet, which felt cemented in the doorway, to the back of the classroom, plopping into his usual seat besides Virgil.

Silence hung in the air between them, despite the babbling of their classmates around them, and neither of them dared to look at each other. It all served to make Roman more anxious, until his apology came bubbling to the surface out of his control.

“I’m sorry--”

Roman stopped, his head flipping up to look at Virgil, the confusion on the other’s face probably mirroring the confusion on his own. They’d both spoken up at the same time. Which, honestly, shocked Roman. He wasn’t entirely sure what Virgil thought he had to apologize for. The whole situation had escalated because Roman never knew when to stop. That wasn’t Virgil’s fault…

Virgil waved a hand at Roman, bringing his attention back to the present. “Oh, I. I wanted to apologize for Friday,” Roman started. Virgil blinked at him and the confusion didn’t leave his face. Roman shifted and pushed forward. “It was out of line to try and push information out of you that you weren’t ready to give me. It took a lot of time to build your trust and I don’t want to lose that because I am incredibly stubborn. I will be more careful to not attempt to force you into situations that could make you uncomfortable.”

Virgil stared at him, mouth slightly ajar, and Roman had to replay his own words in his head. He had talked this through with Patton far too many times to have messed that up but Virgil wasn’t /saying/ anything so he must’ve said the wrong thing. Roman scrambled to find some words, backtracking and opening up his mouth to speak only to have Virgil bring his hand up and stop him. His mouth snapped shut. “We’re good, Princey,” he told him, a small smile gracing his lips. “I was actually going to say sorry for maybe being a little too harsh.” He paused. “I’m not good about talking about my feelings, alright? People aren’t usually asking - Dad is too busy, no mom, not a whole lot of friends - and it just… Caught me off guard.”

Now, that, that just wouldn’t do. Not a whole lot of friends? No one to talk to? Roman wouldn’t have that, not for his soulmate, no way. His soulmate deserved the world. “Well-” Roman started, getting cut off by Virgil once again.

“I don’t like whatever you’re thinking. You’ve got a weird look on your face. Can I preemptively say no?”

Roman guffawed, but immediately brought his own hand up to cover his mouth. It took him a moment to force his face to relax. “No, no, absolutely not. Don’t look so scared, I’m not going to hurt you. I was just going to suggest that perhaps after our final show on Saturday evening, you could come over. Stay the night, join our biannual post-show sleepover. And by our, I mean me, my brother, and his soulmate. We keep it small,” he told him with a grin of his own.

Virgil squinted at him suspiciously. “Your brother and his soulmate?”

“Yeah! Logan and Patton. Oh, you’ll love them. Logan is pretty quiet but he’s crazy smart and kind of a bumbling idiot when it comes to feelings so you won’t have to talk to him about those, And his soulmate, Patton. Man, Patton always bakes a stupid amount of sweets during show week. I’ll have cupcakes one day, brownies the next, cookies… And then he usually makes pasta after the last show for me that we eat while watching Disney movies until we pass out.”

“Right, why does that not surprise me?” Virgil snorted, shaking his head a bit.

Roman huffed at him and pouted out his bottom lip. “Well, you don’t have to. I just thought it might be fun to hang out outside of school for once,” he grumbled with crossed arms.

“You know what? It does sound fun.  And it might be nice to try and sneak a peek at the less than perfect prince.”

“Ah, that’s assuming that I am ever less than perfect,” he informed him, sticking his tongue out as their teacher made her way to the front of the class to catch their attention.

The rest of the week flew by in a flurry of curtain calls, costume emergencies, and late night crashes. Roman adored every second of it, the lights and eyes on him, the time with his friends, seeing Patton cheering from the third row with his brother clapping next to him during four out of the five shows. It reminded him why he kept doing what he was doing, despite his parents disapproval.

It helped that throughout the week, he and Virgil ironed out the plans for their night after the show - stay to help the crew tear down some of the bigger pieces, Logan would pick them up, they would watch Nightmare Before Christmas (Virgil’s pick), Cinderella (Roman’s pick), and then Big Hero Six (a combined choice of Logan and Patton’s), pancakes in the morning, take Virgil home. Smooth sailing, per Virgil’s request - though it had taken practically begging to convince Logan to not make a minute by minute schedule of the night.

Logan actually seemed nervous to meet his soulmate, which made Patton nervous, which made Roman nervous, which made Patton more nervous, and, honestly, it could go around in circles for days. They were all nervous to meet the boy Roman had spent the last few months absolutely agonizing over.

Set breakdown was quick, easy, with the crew and - thanks to Roman - a large part of the cast working through it together, and as they were walking out of the building, Roman scrubbed off what was left of the makeup on his face and Virgil was tugging on his sleeves, a couple steps behind him. “Hey, Roman,” he piped up as he stopped, waiting for Roman to turn to him. “Are you sure this is okay? Your parents aren’t going to be mad?”

Roman blew out a little breath. “They won’t even find out. Mom won’t be home until Tuesday and my dad is working a double tonight,” he reminded him for the umpteenth time this week. He didn’t need to tell him that he thought they did this purposefully, to not have to deal with his frivolous extracurricular. “It seriously won’t be a big deal. Besides, if they find out Logan is involved, they won’t even care,” he said, smiling as he rushed forward to pull on Virgil’s sleeve.

Virgil huffed and pushed at Roman’s hand until he let go, but Roman could still see the smile on his face as he led him to the car.

Logan, for what it was worth, did not show his nerves on the drive home. He chatted casually with Virgil, easily, in a way that almost made Roman jealous of his brother. It had taken weeks, no months to get Virgil talking to him like this and it had taken his brother mere minutes. But, maybe that was a good thing. Virgil was pressed flush against his side in the backseat, warm and comfortable as he spoke in a quiet voice. If Virgil warmed up to his brother, and hopefully Patton, this quickly, then maybe there was hope for them yet.

And, sure enough, Virgil and Patton clicked almost immediately. Patton gushed over his lavender hair - with puns and Virgil actually laughed at them! Roman had no idea what they were all so worried about. Virgil thanked Patton over and over the spaghetti, saying it reminded him of his mother’s in a way that had Patton already packing a to-go container for him to take home the next morning.

Roman wished he could have enjoyed it longer, he really did, but halfway through Nightmare Before Christmas (it had been an exhausting couple weeks, he couldn’t be judged for nodding off early) with Virgil’s body pressed against his and Patton’s fingers carding through his hair from where he was sitting on the sofa behind him, it was hard not to drift off.

“Hey, hey, Vee,” he grumbled sleepily, patting at the emo’s side and earning a chuckle. “Did you- did you know you have very pretty eyes? They’re… They’re like chocolate. No! Chocolate cake, smooth and rich and I wish I could have them all the time,” Roman told him, dragging out the world ‘all’ for far too long.

It didn’t dawn on him that all eyes had turned to him as he drifted off to sleep, shock covering their faces as Virgil resisted the urge to run right out of the house and all the way home.

[eddiejpoplar]

The Magnificent Seven: Jeep’s Assault on Moab for Easter

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan – Jeep does this every year. Fiat Chrysler’s most storied, and most profitable brand manages to customize a handful of its production models to show off each year at the Moab Easter Jeep Safari. And by “show off,” we mean that Jeep brings these special models to Utah to be driven off-road. They’re not just for show.

These customized Jeeps use a combo of off-the-rack aftermarket parts from Fiat Chrysler’s own Mopar division, as well as independent suppliers like Fox Shocks and Dana. They also use specially fabricated parts and prototype parts, but they never are trailer queens. They’re to be driven off-road.

Five of the seven custom specials built for the 52nd Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari are based on the all-new JL Wrangler. The other two include a resto-mod Jeep Wagoneer and a Renegade. So if you’re in Moab, Utah anywhere from March 24 to April 1, you need to keep an eye out for these:

1. Jeep 4Speed “This is the one to have,” says chief designer Mark Allen, and you’ll find no argument here. Like the 2011 Pork Chop concept and 2013 Stitch concept, 4Speed is all about light weight. It has a carbon-fiber hood, high clearance carbon-fiber fender flares, a carbon-fiber rear tub and perforated aluminum panels, plus a raked windshield, extended door openings and swept back custom cage. It’s a two-seater, with the rear seats removed and a bedliner floor and perforated aluminum panels in place of the stock footwells. A welding curtain serves as a bikini top. Wheelbase is unchanged, but overall length is two inches shorter thanks to shortened fenders, and everything taken off the nose and tail.

Powered by the new (for Jeep Wrangler) 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 feeding the four wheels through an eight-speed automatic, the 4Speed is 950 pounds lighter than a stock two-door Wrangler, Allen says, and consequently rides two inches higher than stock. It has Dana 44 front and rear axles, a 4.10 gear ratio and 18-inch lightweight monoblock wheels with 35-inch outer-diameter Goodyear Mud Terrain tires. When Colin Chapman advised sports and racecar builders to “add lightness,” he probably wasn’t thinking about such serious off-roaders.

2. Jeep Sandstorm Ford gave auto reporters a sneak peek of its upcoming Bronco, and Bronco Jr., last week. While the upcoming Ford Bronco, especially, looks like it’s designed to compete directly with the Jeep Wrangler, Ford says its new model coming next year is designed more for faster off-roading, like the Raptor, with good on-road manners. Intentional or not, the Jeep Sandstorm seems ready to take on that Bronco.

Powered by a 485-hp 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox, the Sandstorm, a chopped-down Wrangler Unlimited four-door, is “aimed at high-speed off-roading,” such as the Baja and Barstow races, Allen says, but with the luxurious ride of a street vehicle.

Custom pieces include a vented carbon-fiber hood, vented high-clearance front- and rear fender flares and a cage with a rear-mounted “lay down style” spare tire carrier. Front axle is four inches forward, with a heavy duty longarm four-link suspension and track bar, and the rear bar is two inches further back, with a triangulated trailing arm four-link suspension, plus custom coilovers, and bypass shocks.

Front travel is 14 inches, while there’s up to 18 inches in the rear. Front and rear axles are Dynatrac 60s, with a 5.68 gear ratio, 17-inch beadlock wheels and whopping 39.5-inch BF Goodrich Krawler tires—perfect for Pothole Season in Metro Detroit. Carpeting and plastic trim are replaced with a floor bedliner, and the rear seats are unupholstered. “It’s kind of like a roller-coaster,” back there, “I’d guess,” Allen says.

3. Jeep Wagoneer Roadtrip The Jeep team chose the best original Wagoneer it could find, a 1965 model, and retro-modded it. “It looked and smelled terrible,” Allen says, “but it was mostly rust-free.” Jeep added five inches of wheelbase, with body mods for additional length, a wider track and custom fender flares. The wheel wells and bumpers are reshaped, and it has integrated rock rails. The “razor”-style grille comes from a later model of the Wagoneer, which Jeep first built from 1965 to 1973.

It now has Bottle Green architectural glass, and it has been repainted from its original National Forest Service-style drab green with what the paint color boffins at Fiat Chrysler call Mintage Green. Seats have been refinished in oxblood leather. The interior headliner is made of wicker. This Wagoneer’s single-overhead cam six, first U.S. mass-produced OHC engine (predating the Pontiac OHC six by a couple of years) was removed in favor of, ironically, the OHV 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Allen showed off a metal toolbox stowed in the rear, made of the Wagoneer’s original 230 Tornado OHC-6 valve cover. There’s also a custom cooler from period-correct luggage. Alas, the German shepherd in the second-row seat is a stuffed toy—in this regard, Subaru still is ahead of Jeep. The Jeep Wagoneer Roadtrip is customized to evoke “nostalgic memories of going to Yellowstone National Park on a summer family vacation.”

4. Nacho Jeep This one’s “mostly Mopar parts,” says the parts division’s Todd Beddick. A prototype hood has functional air inlets and heat extractors to keep the 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 cool. There’s a satin black grille to contrast with the yellow Nacho paint color above a steel Rubicon bumper with a Warn Winch kit. Magneti Marelli provides the A-pillar and brush-guard mounted LED lights, and there’s Automotive Lighting LED header lights under the windshield header, for a total of “about 40,000 Lumens,” according to Beddick. “It’ll actually help you see.” An antenna-style rear off-road scouting light uses four-color LEDs to communicate trail conditions [red for “stop,” amber for “1-3 mph,” and green for “3-25 mph,” plus a white flood light] to off-roaders behind you. The Nacho features exclusive 2-1/2-inch (diameter) Fox Shocks and a two-inch lift kit. The rock rail tube doors will be available from Mopar in May, and a tailgate reinforcement relocation kit keeps the 37-inch spare tire in place. There’s a fold-down tailgate table (but don’t sit on it). Inside, seats are Katzkin leather, and the all-weather mats have drain plugs that line up with the floorboard’s drain plugs. Customers can recreate the Nacho Jeep for about $14,000 over the price of the stock JL Wrangler, Beddick says.

5. Jeep Jeepster Like the Wagoneer Roadtrip, the Jeepster is designed to evoke the era of the early years of the Easter Safari, though in this case it starts with a new JL Wrangler, with its windshield raked back by 2.5-degrees and with a two-inch lower roof. Painted Firecracker red and bright white in the style of the original, 1966-73 Jeepster Commando, this Jeepster looks the part of a boulevardier rather than a serious off-roader. Looks deceive, though – it has a two-inch lift kit and 2.5-inch-diameter aluminum body shocks, with oversized 37-inch BF Goodrich KO2 tires on Beadlock-capable 17-inch wheels. Other features include a black fuel door, grab handles and all-weather floor mats. A concept tubular rollbar replaces the JL’s sport bar, and a custom in-cabin spare tire carrier with 38-inch spare replaces the Wrangler’s rear seat. This also makes space for concept storage packs attached to the tailgate. The combo rock rails/side steps are a concept part, says Mopar design chief Joe Dehner. Seats are Katzkin black leather with Rubicon Red Jeep grille logos.

6. Jeep B-Ute Though based on the humble Renegade, the B-Ute (“bea-ute!” get it?) is an attractive not-so-soft-roader, featuring such Jeep Performance Parts as a 1.5-inch lift kit, custom roof rack and rock rails. Powered by the standard 2.4-liter Tigershark I-4 mated to a nine-speed automatic, the B-Ute rides on 17-inch wheels with a 30 mm offset and BF Goodrich Comp T/A Baja Champion tires. Seats are custom-trimmed with Mineral inserts. There are Mopar all-weather floor mats, and a MOLLE system [MOdular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment] on the rear seatbacks.

7. Jeep J-Wagon Dehner calls this four-door JL Wrangler Sahara an “urban off-roader.” It features Rubicon fender flares and 35-inch tires, but no lift-kit, for easier ingress/egress for your daily commute. There’s a snorkel kit to a cold-air intake, and a replacement airbox with a high-flow filter, so you might be able to cut your commute time if there’s a shortcut through a shallow river. A version of the JPP hood design has a cutout kit for the snorkel. There’s a Brass Monkey hood latch and black Willys logo and five-inch LED lights mounted on JPP brackets. The black grille is from the Wrangler Rubicon, with body-color matching bezel trim. The 17-inch slot-design wheels are also finished in Brass Monkey, a design treatment from the 2017 SEMA Show. Paint is Warm Neutral Gray with Orange Crush accents. The 35-inch KM3 BF Goodrich spare mounts to a tailgate hinge reinforcement, and includes a JPP Center High-Mounted Stop Light relocation kit. Seats are camel-color Katzkin leather, with stark brown piping and plow-through inserts. This, apparently, is the ticket for riding the 52nd Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari in style.

  IFTTT

[jonathanbelloblog]

The Magnificent Seven: Jeep’s Assault on Moab for Easter

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan – Jeep does this every year. Fiat Chrysler’s most storied, and most profitable brand manages to customize a handful of its production models to show off each year at the Moab Easter Jeep Safari. And by “show off,” we mean that Jeep brings these special models to Utah to be driven off-road. They’re not just for show.

These customized Jeeps use a combo of off-the-rack aftermarket parts from Fiat Chrysler’s own Mopar division, as well as independent suppliers like Fox Shocks and Dana. They also use specially fabricated parts and prototype parts, but they never are trailer queens. They’re to be driven off-road.

Five of the seven custom specials built for the 52nd Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari are based on the all-new JL Wrangler. The other two include a resto-mod Jeep Wagoneer and a Renegade. So if you’re in Moab, Utah anywhere from March 24 to April 1, you need to keep an eye out for these:

1. Jeep 4Speed “This is the one to have,” says chief designer Mark Allen, and you’ll find no argument here. Like the 2011 Pork Chop concept and 2013 Stitch concept, 4Speed is all about light weight. It has a carbon-fiber hood, high clearance carbon-fiber fender flares, a carbon-fiber rear tub and perforated aluminum panels, plus a raked windshield, extended door openings and swept back custom cage. It’s a two-seater, with the rear seats removed and a bedliner floor and perforated aluminum panels in place of the stock footwells. A welding curtain serves as a bikini top. Wheelbase is unchanged, but overall length is two inches shorter thanks to shortened fenders, and everything taken off the nose and tail.

Powered by the new (for Jeep Wrangler) 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 feeding the four wheels through an eight-speed automatic, the 4Speed is 950 pounds lighter than a stock two-door Wrangler, Allen says, and consequently rides two inches higher than stock. It has Dana 44 front and rear axles, a 4.10 gear ratio and 18-inch lightweight monoblock wheels with 35-inch outer-diameter Goodyear Mud Terrain tires. When Colin Chapman advised sports and racecar builders to “add lightness,” he probably wasn’t thinking about such serious off-roaders.

2. Jeep Sandstorm Ford gave auto reporters a sneak peek of its upcoming Bronco, and Bronco Jr., last week. While the upcoming Ford Bronco, especially, looks like it’s designed to compete directly with the Jeep Wrangler, Ford says its new model coming next year is designed more for faster off-roading, like the Raptor, with good on-road manners. Intentional or not, the Jeep Sandstorm seems ready to take on that Bronco.

Powered by a 485-hp 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox, the Sandstorm, a chopped-down Wrangler Unlimited four-door, is “aimed at high-speed off-roading,” such as the Baja and Barstow races, Allen says, but with the luxurious ride of a street vehicle.

Custom pieces include a vented carbon-fiber hood, vented high-clearance front- and rear fender flares and a cage with a rear-mounted “lay down style” spare tire carrier. Front axle is four inches forward, with a heavy duty longarm four-link suspension and track bar, and the rear bar is two inches further back, with a triangulated trailing arm four-link suspension, plus custom coilovers, and bypass shocks.

Front travel is 14 inches, while there’s up to 18 inches in the rear. Front and rear axles are Dynatrac 60s, with a 5.68 gear ratio, 17-inch beadlock wheels and whopping 39.5-inch BF Goodrich Krawler tires—perfect for Pothole Season in Metro Detroit. Carpeting and plastic trim are replaced with a floor bedliner, and the rear seats are unupholstered. “It’s kind of like a roller-coaster,” back there, “I’d guess,” Allen says.

3. Jeep Wagoneer Roadtrip The Jeep team chose the best original Wagoneer it could find, a 1965 model, and retro-modded it. “It looked and smelled terrible,” Allen says, “but it was mostly rust-free.” Jeep added five inches of wheelbase, with body mods for additional length, a wider track and custom fender flares. The wheel wells and bumpers are reshaped, and it has integrated rock rails. The “razor”-style grille comes from a later model of the Wagoneer, which Jeep first built from 1965 to 1973.

It now has Bottle Green architectural glass, and it has been repainted from its original National Forest Service-style drab green with what the paint color boffins at Fiat Chrysler call Mintage Green. Seats have been refinished in oxblood leather. The interior headliner is made of wicker. This Wagoneer’s single-overhead cam six, first U.S. mass-produced OHC engine (predating the Pontiac OHC six by a couple of years) was removed in favor of, ironically, the OHV 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Allen showed off a metal toolbox stowed in the rear, made of the Wagoneer’s original 230 Tornado OHC-6 valve cover. There’s also a custom cooler from period-correct luggage. Alas, the German shepherd in the second-row seat is a stuffed toy—in this regard, Subaru still is ahead of Jeep. The Jeep Wagoneer Roadtrip is customized to evoke “nostalgic memories of going to Yellowstone National Park on a summer family vacation.”

4. Nacho Jeep This one’s “mostly Mopar parts,” says the parts division’s Todd Beddick. A prototype hood has functional air inlets and heat extractors to keep the 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 cool. There’s a satin black grille to contrast with the yellow Nacho paint color above a steel Rubicon bumper with a Warn Winch kit. Magneti Marelli provides the A-pillar and brush-guard mounted LED lights, and there’s Automotive Lighting LED header lights under the windshield header, for a total of “about 40,000 Lumens,” according to Beddick. “It’ll actually help you see.” An antenna-style rear off-road scouting light uses four-color LEDs to communicate trail conditions [red for “stop,” amber for “1-3 mph,” and green for “3-25 mph,” plus a white flood light] to off-roaders behind you. The Nacho features exclusive 2-1/2-inch (diameter) Fox Shocks and a two-inch lift kit. The rock rail tube doors will be available from Mopar in May, and a tailgate reinforcement relocation kit keeps the 37-inch spare tire in place. There’s a fold-down tailgate table (but don’t sit on it). Inside, seats are Katzkin leather, and the all-weather mats have drain plugs that line up with the floorboard’s drain plugs. Customers can recreate the Nacho Jeep for about $14,000 over the price of the stock JL Wrangler, Beddick says.

5. Jeep Jeepster Like the Wagoneer Roadtrip, the Jeepster is designed to evoke the era of the early years of the Easter Safari, though in this case it starts with a new JL Wrangler, with its windshield raked back by 2.5-degrees and with a two-inch lower roof. Painted Firecracker red and bright white in the style of the original, 1966-73 Jeepster Commando, this Jeepster looks the part of a boulevardier rather than a serious off-roader. Looks deceive, though – it has a two-inch lift kit and 2.5-inch-diameter aluminum body shocks, with oversized 37-inch BF Goodrich KO2 tires on Beadlock-capable 17-inch wheels. Other features include a black fuel door, grab handles and all-weather floor mats. A concept tubular rollbar replaces the JL’s sport bar, and a custom in-cabin spare tire carrier with 38-inch spare replaces the Wrangler’s rear seat. This also makes space for concept storage packs attached to the tailgate. The combo rock rails/side steps are a concept part, says Mopar design chief Joe Dehner. Seats are Katzkin black leather with Rubicon Red Jeep grille logos.

6. Jeep B-Ute Though based on the humble Renegade, the B-Ute (“bea-ute!” get it?) is an attractive not-so-soft-roader, featuring such Jeep Performance Parts as a 1.5-inch lift kit, custom roof rack and rock rails. Powered by the standard 2.4-liter Tigershark I-4 mated to a nine-speed automatic, the B-Ute rides on 17-inch wheels with a 30 mm offset and BF Goodrich Comp T/A Baja Champion tires. Seats are custom-trimmed with Mineral inserts. There are Mopar all-weather floor mats, and a MOLLE system [MOdular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment] on the rear seatbacks.

7. Jeep J-Wagon Dehner calls this four-door JL Wrangler Sahara an “urban off-roader.” It features Rubicon fender flares and 35-inch tires, but no lift-kit, for easier ingress/egress for your daily commute. There’s a snorkel kit to a cold-air intake, and a replacement airbox with a high-flow filter, so you might be able to cut your commute time if there’s a shortcut through a shallow river. A version of the JPP hood design has a cutout kit for the snorkel. There’s a Brass Monkey hood latch and black Willys logo and five-inch LED lights mounted on JPP brackets. The black grille is from the Wrangler Rubicon, with body-color matching bezel trim. The 17-inch slot-design wheels are also finished in Brass Monkey, a design treatment from the 2017 SEMA Show. Paint is Warm Neutral Gray with Orange Crush accents. The 35-inch KM3 BF Goodrich spare mounts to a tailgate hinge reinforcement, and includes a JPP Center High-Mounted Stop Light relocation kit. Seats are camel-color Katzkin leather, with stark brown piping and plow-through inserts. This, apparently, is the ticket for riding the 52nd Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari in style.

  IFTTT

[joshuabradleyn]

Sleep Like Tom Brady (or the Next Best Thing)

“They arrived in an impressive, zippable package six weeks ago. Etched into the shell was a simple commandment: REST. WIN. REPEAT.”

I’m going to give you a little peek behind the curtain into my life as an Under Armour blogger. What you hear about the lifestyle … the fame, the fortune, the extravagant yacht parties. Yup, that stuff’s all true. But beyond that, there’s a lot of sacrifice. It’s not all glitz and glam and 600–800 words.

What it really means is a commitment to a rigorous, healthy lifestyle. It means pushing your body to its physical limit for the sake of your readers. And sometimes, it means testing Tom Brady’s athlete recovery sleepwear (Read: not pajamas).

As the most comparable person to Tom Brady that Under Armour could find on planet earth, it is my mission to provide a report on what the TB12 sleepwear experience is like at the highest level.

I took painstaking care to differentiate every place I might differ even just slightly from Tom, even though there aren’t many. Just think of it as two of the world’s greatest athletes at the peak of our powers. Who wear matching pajamas.

The garments arrived in an impressive, zippable package six weeks ago. Etched into the shell was a simple commandment: REST. WIN. REPEAT.

I’ve been wearing them nightly ever since.

THE BASICS

Here’s all you need to know to prove we are comparing substantially similar athletes.

Tom Brady is a 40-year-old quarterback who, in his 18th season in the NFL, threw 28 touchdowns and two interceptions.

I am a 27-year-old former high school quarterback who, in my first game action, threw three interceptions in my first five attempts.

End of comparison.

SLEEP HABITS

During the season, Tom Brady regularly goes to sleep at 9 p.m. (nerd alert). I push the limits until 11 p.m., even 11:30 p.m. when I’m feeling naughty.

SIZE AND STYLE

I typically sleep in my underwear because I hate being constricted in any way. Tom, on the other hand, claims that, “coverage is very important. I want to be covered from ankles, to wrists, to neck.”

Different strokes for (slightly) different folks, I guess. Fortunately, the sleepwear comes in shorts or pants and long or short-sleeved T-shirts. Unfortunately, both items were in such high demand that when I opened the package, I gasped upon finding pants and long sleeves. Surely there had been some mistake … or were they asking for a negative review?

Fig. 1: Even when dismayed, I am always diplomatic in my emails.

Fortunately, this never became an issue. Tom clocks in at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. I’m 6-2, roughly 175 pounds. I was sent the size L and the sleepwear fit perfectly. It hung slightly loose, which, for me, was essential. The legs and sleeves taper nicely. It felt surprisingly similar to wearing next to nothing.

“They’re made with a synthetic blend that breathes really well. And it’s not like tough guys like Tom and I  really care about this, but they’re soft and feel very comfortable on the skin. Whatever.”

TEMPERATURE

I sleep in an icebox (Tom, for what it’s worth, claims the ideal sleep temperature is 65 degrees). Air conditioning to the max, boxers only. Sometimes my comforter is too much heat for me.

This was my number 1 concern going into this evaluation. The sleepwear is lined with bioceramic materials, which “take heat and refract it back in the form of far infrared radiation.” When I read this, I gasped again. Were they asking me to sleep in a microwave? As horrifying as the thought was, I accepted my fate.

“If Tom can play in Gillette during February,” I thought, “I can strap on these PJs during May.”

The first morning, I woke up in utter shock. The sleepwear had kept me at my happy temperature all night.

Just like TB12 running the no huddle, I didn’t sweat. Night after night, I marched down the field on the game-winning drive, and I didn’t toss and turn or throw one leg over the covers.

The sleepwear is made with a synthetic blend that breathes really well. And it’s not like tough guys like Tom and I really care about this, but they’re soft and feel very comfortable on the skin. Whatever.

“Were they asking me to sleep in a microwave? As horrifying as the thought was to me, I accepted my fate.”

RECOVERY AND PERFORMANCE

Let’s lay out a little before and after.

BEFORE

Began a more rigorous training schedule, trying to learn boxing.

Have trouble waking up in the morning to work out.

Routinely feel soreness in my legs and tightness in my lower back that makes sitting down in a desk chair for long periods of time uncomfortable.

Has looked into regular massage therapy to mitigate this soreness/tightness.

“Just like TB12 running the no huddle, I didn’t sweat. Night after night, I marched down the field on the game-winning drive, and I didn’t toss and turn or throw one leg over the covers.”

AFTER

Wakes up at 6:15 a.m. for workouts with more energy than I’ve ever had.

Decreased soreness in legs and back (avoided having to get regular massages).

Am in best shape of my life since throwing three INTs in five attempts in 2006.

The underlying science on far infrared points to its benefits in healing and restoration, especially in reducing inflammation. Confirmed.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER’S REACTION

“I felt like Gisele sleeping next to such a man, ” says my girlfriend.

THE BOTTOM LINE

I’ll distill my experience into this: It’s worth it if you’re willing to invest in multiple areas.

The sleepwear itself is not cheap — ranging from $60–$100 for each piece (top or bottom). If you’re going to make that investment, invest in an exercise routine that really challenges you. These factors worked together to push me to answer the bell each morning for boxing, a routine that I’ve been able to continue well after the trial.

Commit yourself to the PJs and an exercise routine that really challenges you: a proverbial training camp. The style, the comfort, the fit — that’s all great — but they’re really intended to help you rest as effectively as you’ll work out.

The post Sleep Like Tom Brady (or the Next Best Thing) appeared first on Under Armour.

http://ift.tt/2gE47A9

[albertcaldwellne]

Sleep Like Tom Brady (or the Next Best Thing)

“They arrived in an impressive, zippable package six weeks ago. Etched into the shell was a simple commandment: REST. WIN. REPEAT.”

I’m going to give you a little peek behind the curtain into my life as an Under Armour blogger. What you hear about the lifestyle … the fame, the fortune, the extravagant yacht parties. Yup, that stuff’s all true. But beyond that, there’s a lot of sacrifice. It’s not all glitz and glam and 600–800 words.

What it really means is a commitment to a rigorous, healthy lifestyle. It means pushing your body to its physical limit for the sake of your readers. And sometimes, it means testing Tom Brady’s athlete recovery sleepwear (Read: not pajamas).

As the most comparable person to Tom Brady that Under Armour could find on planet earth, it is my mission to provide a report on what the TB12 sleepwear experience is like at the highest level.

I took painstaking care to differentiate every place I might differ even just slightly from Tom, even though there aren’t many. Just think of it as two of the world’s greatest athletes at the peak of our powers. Who wear matching pajamas.

The garments arrived in an impressive, zippable package six weeks ago. Etched into the shell was a simple commandment: REST. WIN. REPEAT.

I’ve been wearing them nightly ever since.

THE BASICS

Here’s all you need to know to prove we are comparing substantially similar athletes.

Tom Brady is a 40-year-old quarterback who, in his 18th season in the NFL, threw 28 touchdowns and two interceptions.

I am a 27-year-old former high school quarterback who, in my first game action, threw three interceptions in my first five attempts.

End of comparison.

SLEEP HABITS

During the season, Tom Brady regularly goes to sleep at 9 p.m. (nerd alert). I push the limits until 11 p.m., even 11:30 p.m. when I’m feeling naughty.

SIZE AND STYLE

I typically sleep in my underwear because I hate being constricted in any way. Tom, on the other hand, claims that, “coverage is very important. I want to be covered from ankles, to wrists, to neck.”

Different strokes for (slightly) different folks, I guess. Fortunately, the sleepwear comes in shorts or pants and long or short-sleeved T-shirts. Unfortunately, both items were in such high demand that when I opened the package, I gasped upon finding pants and long sleeves. Surely there had been some mistake … or were they asking for a negative review?

Fig. 1: Even when dismayed, I am always diplomatic in my emails.

Fortunately, this never became an issue. Tom clocks in at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. I’m 6-2, roughly 175 pounds. I was sent the size L and the sleepwear fit perfectly. It hung slightly loose, which, for me, was essential. The legs and sleeves taper nicely. It felt surprisingly similar to wearing next to nothing.

“They’re made with a synthetic blend that breathes really well. And it’s not like tough guys like Tom and I  really care about this, but they’re soft and feel very comfortable on the skin. Whatever.”

TEMPERATURE

I sleep in an icebox (Tom, for what it’s worth, claims the ideal sleep temperature is 65 degrees). Air conditioning to the max, boxers only. Sometimes my comforter is too much heat for me.

This was my number 1 concern going into this evaluation. The sleepwear is lined with bioceramic materials, which “take heat and refract it back in the form of far infrared radiation.” When I read this, I gasped again. Were they asking me to sleep in a microwave? As horrifying as the thought was, I accepted my fate.

“If Tom can play in Gillette during February,” I thought, “I can strap on these PJs during May.”

The first morning, I woke up in utter shock. The sleepwear had kept me at my happy temperature all night.

Just like TB12 running the no huddle, I didn’t sweat. Night after night, I marched down the field on the game-winning drive, and I didn’t toss and turn or throw one leg over the covers.

The sleepwear is made with a synthetic blend that breathes really well. And it’s not like tough guys like Tom and I really care about this, but they’re soft and feel very comfortable on the skin. Whatever.

“Were they asking me to sleep in a microwave? As horrifying as the thought was to me, I accepted my fate.”

RECOVERY AND PERFORMANCE

Let’s lay out a little before and after.

BEFORE

Began a more rigorous training schedule, trying to learn boxing.

Have trouble waking up in the morning to work out.

Routinely feel soreness in my legs and tightness in my lower back that makes sitting down in a desk chair for long periods of time uncomfortable.

Has looked into regular massage therapy to mitigate this soreness/tightness.

“Just like TB12 running the no huddle, I didn’t sweat. Night after night, I marched down the field on the game-winning drive, and I didn’t toss and turn or throw one leg over the covers.”

AFTER

Wakes up at 6:15 a.m. for workouts with more energy than I’ve ever had.

Decreased soreness in legs and back (avoided having to get regular massages).

Am in best shape of my life since throwing three INTs in five attempts in 2006.

The underlying science on far infrared points to its benefits in healing and restoration, especially in reducing inflammation. Confirmed.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER’S REACTION

“I felt like Gisele sleeping next to such a man, ” says my girlfriend.

THE BOTTOM LINE

I’ll distill my experience into this: It’s worth it if you’re willing to invest in multiple areas.

The sleepwear itself is not cheap — ranging from $60–$100 for each piece (top or bottom). If you’re going to make that investment, invest in an exercise routine that really challenges you. These factors worked together to push me to answer the bell each morning for boxing, a routine that I’ve been able to continue well after the trial.

Commit yourself to the PJs and an exercise routine that really challenges you: a proverbial training camp. The style, the comfort, the fit — that’s all great — but they’re really intended to help you rest as effectively as you’ll work out.

The post Sleep Like Tom Brady (or the Next Best Thing) appeared first on Under Armour.

http://ift.tt/2gE47A9

[ruthellisneda]

Sleep Like Tom Brady (or the Next Best Thing)

“They arrived in an impressive, zippable package six weeks ago. Etched into the shell was a simple commandment: REST. WIN. REPEAT.”

I’m going to give you a little peek behind the curtain into my life as an Under Armour blogger. What you hear about the lifestyle … the fame, the fortune, the extravagant yacht parties. Yup, that stuff’s all true. But beyond that, there’s a lot of sacrifice. It’s not all glitz and glam and 600–800 words.

What it really means is a commitment to a rigorous, healthy lifestyle. It means pushing your body to its physical limit for the sake of your readers. And sometimes, it means testing Tom Brady’s athlete recovery sleepwear (Read: not pajamas).

As the most comparable person to Tom Brady that Under Armour could find on planet earth, it is my mission to provide a report on what the TB12 sleepwear experience is like at the highest level.

I took painstaking care to differentiate every place I might differ even just slightly from Tom, even though there aren’t many. Just think of it as two of the world’s greatest athletes at the peak of our powers. Who wear matching pajamas.

The garments arrived in an impressive, zippable package six weeks ago. Etched into the shell was a simple commandment: REST. WIN. REPEAT.

I’ve been wearing them nightly ever since.

THE BASICS

Here’s all you need to know to prove we are comparing substantially similar athletes.

Tom Brady is a 40-year-old quarterback who, in his 18th season in the NFL, threw 28 touchdowns and two interceptions.

I am a 27-year-old former high school quarterback who, in my first game action, threw three interceptions in my first five attempts.

End of comparison.

SLEEP HABITS

During the season, Tom Brady regularly goes to sleep at 9 p.m. (nerd alert). I push the limits until 11 p.m., even 11:30 p.m. when I’m feeling naughty.

SIZE AND STYLE

I typically sleep in my underwear because I hate being constricted in any way. Tom, on the other hand, claims that, “coverage is very important. I want to be covered from ankles, to wrists, to neck.”

Different strokes for (slightly) different folks, I guess. Fortunately, the sleepwear comes in shorts or pants and long or short-sleeved T-shirts. Unfortunately, both items were in such high demand that when I opened the package, I gasped upon finding pants and long sleeves. Surely there had been some mistake … or were they asking for a negative review?

Fig. 1: Even when dismayed, I am always diplomatic in my emails.

Fortunately, this never became an issue. Tom clocks in at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. I’m 6-2, roughly 175 pounds. I was sent the size L and the sleepwear fit perfectly. It hung slightly loose, which, for me, was essential. The legs and sleeves taper nicely. It felt surprisingly similar to wearing next to nothing.

“They’re made with a synthetic blend that breathes really well. And it’s not like tough guys like Tom and I  really care about this, but they’re soft and feel very comfortable on the skin. Whatever.”

TEMPERATURE

I sleep in an icebox (Tom, for what it’s worth, claims the ideal sleep temperature is 65 degrees). Air conditioning to the max, boxers only. Sometimes my comforter is too much heat for me.

This was my number 1 concern going into this evaluation. The sleepwear is lined with bioceramic materials, which “take heat and refract it back in the form of far infrared radiation.” When I read this, I gasped again. Were they asking me to sleep in a microwave? As horrifying as the thought was, I accepted my fate.

“If Tom can play in Gillette during February,” I thought, “I can strap on these PJs during May.”

The first morning, I woke up in utter shock. The sleepwear had kept me at my happy temperature all night.

Just like TB12 running the no huddle, I didn’t sweat. Night after night, I marched down the field on the game-winning drive, and I didn’t toss and turn or throw one leg over the covers.

The sleepwear is made with a synthetic blend that breathes really well. And it’s not like tough guys like Tom and I really care about this, but they’re soft and feel very comfortable on the skin. Whatever.

“Were they asking me to sleep in a microwave? As horrifying as the thought was to me, I accepted my fate.”

RECOVERY AND PERFORMANCE

Let’s lay out a little before and after.

BEFORE

Began a more rigorous training schedule, trying to learn boxing.

Have trouble waking up in the morning to work out.

Routinely feel soreness in my legs and tightness in my lower back that makes sitting down in a desk chair for long periods of time uncomfortable.

Has looked into regular massage therapy to mitigate this soreness/tightness.

“Just like TB12 running the no huddle, I didn’t sweat. Night after night, I marched down the field on the game-winning drive, and I didn’t toss and turn or throw one leg over the covers.”

AFTER

Wakes up at 6:15 a.m. for workouts with more energy than I’ve ever had.

Decreased soreness in legs and back (avoided having to get regular massages).

Am in best shape of my life since throwing three INTs in five attempts in 2006.

The underlying science on far infrared points to its benefits in healing and restoration, especially in reducing inflammation. Confirmed.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER’S REACTION

“I felt like Gisele sleeping next to such a man, ” says my girlfriend.

THE BOTTOM LINE

I’ll distill my experience into this: It’s worth it if you’re willing to invest in multiple areas.

The sleepwear itself is not cheap — ranging from $60–$100 for each piece (top or bottom). If you’re going to make that investment, invest in an exercise routine that really challenges you. These factors worked together to push me to answer the bell each morning for boxing, a routine that I’ve been able to continue well after the trial.

Commit yourself to the PJs and an exercise routine that really challenges you: a proverbial training camp. The style, the comfort, the fit — that’s all great — but they’re really intended to help you rest as effectively as you’ll work out.

The post Sleep Like Tom Brady (or the Next Best Thing) appeared first on Under Armour.

http://ift.tt/2gE47A9

[almajonesnjna]

Sleep Like Tom Brady (or the Next Best Thing)

“They arrived in an impressive, zippable package six weeks ago. Etched into the shell was a simple commandment: REST. WIN. REPEAT.”

I’m going to give you a little peek behind the curtain into my life as an Under Armour blogger. What you hear about the lifestyle … the fame, the fortune, the extravagant yacht parties. Yup, that stuff’s all true. But beyond that, there’s a lot of sacrifice. It’s not all glitz and glam and 600–800 words.

What it really means is a commitment to a rigorous, healthy lifestyle. It means pushing your body to its physical limit for the sake of your readers. And sometimes, it means testing Tom Brady’s athlete recovery sleepwear (Read: not pajamas).

As the most comparable person to Tom Brady that Under Armour could find on planet earth, it is my mission to provide a report on what the TB12 sleepwear experience is like at the highest level.

I took painstaking care to differentiate every place I might differ even just slightly from Tom, even though there aren’t many. Just think of it as two of the world’s greatest athletes at the peak of our powers. Who wear matching pajamas.

The garments arrived in an impressive, zippable package six weeks ago. Etched into the shell was a simple commandment: REST. WIN. REPEAT.

I’ve been wearing them nightly ever since.

THE BASICS

Here’s all you need to know to prove we are comparing substantially similar athletes.

Tom Brady is a 40-year-old quarterback who, in his 18th season in the NFL, threw 28 touchdowns and two interceptions.

I am a 27-year-old former high school quarterback who, in my first game action, threw three interceptions in my first five attempts.

End of comparison.

SLEEP HABITS

During the season, Tom Brady regularly goes to sleep at 9 p.m. (nerd alert). I push the limits until 11 p.m., even 11:30 p.m. when I’m feeling naughty.

SIZE AND STYLE

I typically sleep in my underwear because I hate being constricted in any way. Tom, on the other hand, claims that, “coverage is very important. I want to be covered from ankles, to wrists, to neck.”

Different strokes for (slightly) different folks, I guess. Fortunately, the sleepwear comes in shorts or pants and long or short-sleeved T-shirts. Unfortunately, both items were in such high demand that when I opened the package, I gasped upon finding pants and long sleeves. Surely there had been some mistake … or were they asking for a negative review?

Fig. 1: Even when dismayed, I am always diplomatic in my emails.

Fortunately, this never became an issue. Tom clocks in at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. I’m 6-2, roughly 175 pounds. I was sent the size L and the sleepwear fit perfectly. It hung slightly loose, which, for me, was essential. The legs and sleeves taper nicely. It felt surprisingly similar to wearing next to nothing.

“They’re made with a synthetic blend that breathes really well. And it’s not like tough guys like Tom and I  really care about this, but they’re soft and feel very comfortable on the skin. Whatever.”

TEMPERATURE

I sleep in an icebox (Tom, for what it’s worth, claims the ideal sleep temperature is 65 degrees). Air conditioning to the max, boxers only. Sometimes my comforter is too much heat for me.

This was my number 1 concern going into this evaluation. The sleepwear is lined with bioceramic materials, which “take heat and refract it back in the form of far infrared radiation.” When I read this, I gasped again. Were they asking me to sleep in a microwave? As horrifying as the thought was, I accepted my fate.

“If Tom can play in Gillette during February,” I thought, “I can strap on these PJs during May.”

The first morning, I woke up in utter shock. The sleepwear had kept me at my happy temperature all night.

Just like TB12 running the no huddle, I didn’t sweat. Night after night, I marched down the field on the game-winning drive, and I didn’t toss and turn or throw one leg over the covers.

The sleepwear is made with a synthetic blend that breathes really well. And it’s not like tough guys like Tom and I really care about this, but they’re soft and feel very comfortable on the skin. Whatever.

“Were they asking me to sleep in a microwave? As horrifying as the thought was to me, I accepted my fate.”

RECOVERY AND PERFORMANCE

Let’s lay out a little before and after.

BEFORE

Began a more rigorous training schedule, trying to learn boxing.

Have trouble waking up in the morning to work out.

Routinely feel soreness in my legs and tightness in my lower back that makes sitting down in a desk chair for long periods of time uncomfortable.

Has looked into regular massage therapy to mitigate this soreness/tightness.

“Just like TB12 running the no huddle, I didn’t sweat. Night after night, I marched down the field on the game-winning drive, and I didn’t toss and turn or throw one leg over the covers.”

AFTER

Wakes up at 6:15 a.m. for workouts with more energy than I’ve ever had.

Decreased soreness in legs and back (avoided having to get regular massages).

Am in best shape of my life since throwing three INTs in five attempts in 2006.

The underlying science on far infrared points to its benefits in healing and restoration, especially in reducing inflammation. Confirmed.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER’S REACTION

“I felt like Gisele sleeping next to such a man, ” says my girlfriend.

THE BOTTOM LINE

I’ll distill my experience into this: It’s worth it if you’re willing to invest in multiple areas.

The sleepwear itself is not cheap — ranging from $60–$100 for each piece (top or bottom). If you’re going to make that investment, invest in an exercise routine that really challenges you. These factors worked together to push me to answer the bell each morning for boxing, a routine that I’ve been able to continue well after the trial.

Commit yourself to the PJs and an exercise routine that really challenges you: a proverbial training camp. The style, the comfort, the fit — that’s all great — but they’re really intended to help you rest as effectively as you’ll work out.

The post Sleep Like Tom Brady (or the Next Best Thing) appeared first on Under Armour.

http://ift.tt/2gE47A9

[neilmillerne]

Sleep Like Tom Brady (or the Next Best Thing)

“They arrived in an impressive, zippable package six weeks ago. Etched into the shell was a simple commandment: REST. WIN. REPEAT.”

I’m going to give you a little peek behind the curtain into my life as an Under Armour blogger. What you hear about the lifestyle … the fame, the fortune, the extravagant yacht parties. Yup, that stuff’s all true. But beyond that, there’s a lot of sacrifice. It’s not all glitz and glam and 600–800 words.

What it really means is a commitment to a rigorous, healthy lifestyle. It means pushing your body to its physical limit for the sake of your readers. And sometimes, it means testing Tom Brady’s athlete recovery sleepwear (Read: not pajamas).

As the most comparable person to Tom Brady that Under Armour could find on planet earth, it is my mission to provide a report on what the TB12 sleepwear experience is like at the highest level.

I took painstaking care to differentiate every place I might differ even just slightly from Tom, even though there aren’t many. Just think of it as two of the world’s greatest athletes at the peak of our powers. Who wear matching pajamas.

The garments arrived in an impressive, zippable package six weeks ago. Etched into the shell was a simple commandment: REST. WIN. REPEAT.

I’ve been wearing them nightly ever since.

THE BASICS

Here’s all you need to know to prove we are comparing substantially similar athletes.

Tom Brady is a 40-year-old quarterback who, in his 18th season in the NFL, threw 28 touchdowns and two interceptions.

I am a 27-year-old former high school quarterback who, in my first game action, threw three interceptions in my first five attempts.

End of comparison.

SLEEP HABITS

During the season, Tom Brady regularly goes to sleep at 9 p.m. (nerd alert). I push the limits until 11 p.m., even 11:30 p.m. when I’m feeling naughty.

SIZE AND STYLE

I typically sleep in my underwear because I hate being constricted in any way. Tom, on the other hand, claims that, “coverage is very important. I want to be covered from ankles, to wrists, to neck.”

Different strokes for (slightly) different folks, I guess. Fortunately, the sleepwear comes in shorts or pants and long or short-sleeved T-shirts. Unfortunately, both items were in such high demand that when I opened the package, I gasped upon finding pants and long sleeves. Surely there had been some mistake … or were they asking for a negative review?

Fig. 1: Even when dismayed, I am always diplomatic in my emails.

Fortunately, this never became an issue. Tom clocks in at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. I’m 6-2, roughly 175 pounds. I was sent the size L and the sleepwear fit perfectly. It hung slightly loose, which, for me, was essential. The legs and sleeves taper nicely. It felt surprisingly similar to wearing next to nothing.

“They’re made with a synthetic blend that breathes really well. And it’s not like tough guys like Tom and I  really care about this, but they’re soft and feel very comfortable on the skin. Whatever.”

TEMPERATURE

I sleep in an icebox (Tom, for what it’s worth, claims the ideal sleep temperature is 65 degrees). Air conditioning to the max, boxers only. Sometimes my comforter is too much heat for me.

This was my number 1 concern going into this evaluation. The sleepwear is lined with bioceramic materials, which “take heat and refract it back in the form of far infrared radiation.” When I read this, I gasped again. Were they asking me to sleep in a microwave? As horrifying as the thought was, I accepted my fate.

“If Tom can play in Gillette during February,” I thought, “I can strap on these PJs during May.”

The first morning, I woke up in utter shock. The sleepwear had kept me at my happy temperature all night.

Just like TB12 running the no huddle, I didn’t sweat. Night after night, I marched down the field on the game-winning drive, and I didn’t toss and turn or throw one leg over the covers.

The sleepwear is made with a synthetic blend that breathes really well. And it’s not like tough guys like Tom and I really care about this, but they’re soft and feel very comfortable on the skin. Whatever.

“Were they asking me to sleep in a microwave? As horrifying as the thought was to me, I accepted my fate.”

RECOVERY AND PERFORMANCE

Let’s lay out a little before and after.

BEFORE

Began a more rigorous training schedule, trying to learn boxing.

Have trouble waking up in the morning to work out.

Routinely feel soreness in my legs and tightness in my lower back that makes sitting down in a desk chair for long periods of time uncomfortable.

Has looked into regular massage therapy to mitigate this soreness/tightness.

“Just like TB12 running the no huddle, I didn’t sweat. Night after night, I marched down the field on the game-winning drive, and I didn’t toss and turn or throw one leg over the covers.”

AFTER

Wakes up at 6:15 a.m. for workouts with more energy than I’ve ever had.

Decreased soreness in legs and back (avoided having to get regular massages).

Am in best shape of my life since throwing three INTs in five attempts in 2006.

The underlying science on far infrared points to its benefits in healing and restoration, especially in reducing inflammation. Confirmed.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER’S REACTION

“I felt like Gisele sleeping next to such a man, ” says my girlfriend.

THE BOTTOM LINE

I’ll distill my experience into this: It’s worth it if you’re willing to invest in multiple areas.

The sleepwear itself is not cheap — ranging from $60–$100 for each piece (top or bottom). If you’re going to make that investment, invest in an exercise routine that really challenges you. These factors worked together to push me to answer the bell each morning for boxing, a routine that I’ve been able to continue well after the trial.

Commit yourself to the PJs and an exercise routine that really challenges you: a proverbial training camp. The style, the comfort, the fit — that’s all great — but they’re really intended to help you rest as effectively as you’ll work out.

The post Sleep Like Tom Brady (or the Next Best Thing) appeared first on Under Armour.

http://ift.tt/2gE47A9

[johnclapperne]

Sleep Like Tom Brady (or the Next Best Thing)

“They arrived in an impressive, zippable package six weeks ago. Etched into the shell was a simple commandment: REST. WIN. REPEAT.”

I’m going to give you a little peek behind the curtain into my life as an Under Armour blogger. What you hear about the lifestyle … the fame, the fortune, the extravagant yacht parties. Yup, that stuff’s all true. But beyond that, there’s a lot of sacrifice. It’s not all glitz and glam and 600–800 words.

What it really means is a commitment to a rigorous, healthy lifestyle. It means pushing your body to its physical limit for the sake of your readers. And sometimes, it means testing Tom Brady’s athlete recovery sleepwear (Read: not pajamas).

As the most comparable person to Tom Brady that Under Armour could find on planet earth, it is my mission to provide a report on what the TB12 sleepwear experience is like at the highest level.

I took painstaking care to differentiate every place I might differ even just slightly from Tom, even though there aren’t many. Just think of it as two of the world’s greatest athletes at the peak of our powers. Who wear matching pajamas.

The garments arrived in an impressive, zippable package six weeks ago. Etched into the shell was a simple commandment: REST. WIN. REPEAT.

I’ve been wearing them nightly ever since.

THE BASICS

Here’s all you need to know to prove we are comparing substantially similar athletes.

Tom Brady is a 40-year-old quarterback who, in his 18th season in the NFL, threw 28 touchdowns and two interceptions.

I am a 27-year-old former high school quarterback who, in my first game action, threw three interceptions in my first five attempts.

End of comparison.

SLEEP HABITS

During the season, Tom Brady regularly goes to sleep at 9 p.m. (nerd alert). I push the limits until 11 p.m., even 11:30 p.m. when I’m feeling naughty.

SIZE AND STYLE

I typically sleep in my underwear because I hate being constricted in any way. Tom, on the other hand, claims that, “coverage is very important. I want to be covered from ankles, to wrists, to neck.”

Different strokes for (slightly) different folks, I guess. Fortunately, the sleepwear comes in shorts or pants and long or short-sleeved T-shirts. Unfortunately, both items were in such high demand that when I opened the package, I gasped upon finding pants and long sleeves. Surely there had been some mistake … or were they asking for a negative review?

Fig. 1: Even when dismayed, I am always diplomatic in my emails.

Fortunately, this never became an issue. Tom clocks in at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. I’m 6-2, roughly 175 pounds. I was sent the size L and the sleepwear fit perfectly. It hung slightly loose, which, for me, was essential. The legs and sleeves taper nicely. It felt surprisingly similar to wearing next to nothing.

“They’re made with a synthetic blend that breathes really well. And it’s not like tough guys like Tom and I  really care about this, but they’re soft and feel very comfortable on the skin. Whatever.”

TEMPERATURE

I sleep in an icebox (Tom, for what it’s worth, claims the ideal sleep temperature is 65 degrees). Air conditioning to the max, boxers only. Sometimes my comforter is too much heat for me.

This was my number 1 concern going into this evaluation. The sleepwear is lined with bioceramic materials, which “take heat and refract it back in the form of far infrared radiation.” When I read this, I gasped again. Were they asking me to sleep in a microwave? As horrifying as the thought was, I accepted my fate.

“If Tom can play in Gillette during February,” I thought, “I can strap on these PJs during May.”

The first morning, I woke up in utter shock. The sleepwear had kept me at my happy temperature all night.

Just like TB12 running the no huddle, I didn’t sweat. Night after night, I marched down the field on the game-winning drive, and I didn’t toss and turn or throw one leg over the covers.

The sleepwear is made with a synthetic blend that breathes really well. And it’s not like tough guys like Tom and I really care about this, but they’re soft and feel very comfortable on the skin. Whatever.

“Were they asking me to sleep in a microwave? As horrifying as the thought was to me, I accepted my fate.”

RECOVERY AND PERFORMANCE

Let’s lay out a little before and after.

BEFORE

Began a more rigorous training schedule, trying to learn boxing.

Have trouble waking up in the morning to work out.

Routinely feel soreness in my legs and tightness in my lower back that makes sitting down in a desk chair for long periods of time uncomfortable.

Has looked into regular massage therapy to mitigate this soreness/tightness.

“Just like TB12 running the no huddle, I didn’t sweat. Night after night, I marched down the field on the game-winning drive, and I didn’t toss and turn or throw one leg over the covers.”

AFTER

Wakes up at 6:15 a.m. for workouts with more energy than I’ve ever had.

Decreased soreness in legs and back (avoided having to get regular massages).

Am in best shape of my life since throwing three INTs in five attempts in 2006.

The underlying science on far infrared points to its benefits in healing and restoration, especially in reducing inflammation. Confirmed.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER’S REACTION

“I felt like Gisele sleeping next to such a man, ” says my girlfriend.

THE BOTTOM LINE

I’ll distill my experience into this: It’s worth it if you’re willing to invest in multiple areas.

The sleepwear itself is not cheap — ranging from $60–$100 for each piece (top or bottom). If you’re going to make that investment, invest in an exercise routine that really challenges you. These factors worked together to push me to answer the bell each morning for boxing, a routine that I’ve been able to continue well after the trial.

Commit yourself to the PJs and an exercise routine that really challenges you: a proverbial training camp. The style, the comfort, the fit — that’s all great — but they’re really intended to help you rest as effectively as you’ll work out.

The post Sleep Like Tom Brady (or the Next Best Thing) appeared first on Under Armour.

http://ift.tt/2gE47A9

[jezabellgirlandfriends]

New Release: Girl Off The Grid by Jillian Dodd &  Kenzie Harp

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2tbZjL5

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2sRRvuS

"Life is made up of moments. Moments that define you, change you, and test you. You choose these moments. And I am choosing this moment to let go. Not to overcome my fear, but at least face it head on." 

~JG “ From forests to beaches, butterflies to sea turtles, this story takes readers on a voyage of discovery.”

BLURB

From USA Today bestselling author, Jillian Dodd, and her daughter, Kenzie Harp, comes a travel romance that will take you on the adventure of a lifetime. NYC fashion blogger, Camille Caldwell, gets offered a dream job by her favorite magazine. They’re going to send her on an all-expenses paid eco-trip to Costa Rica. She doesn’t know what that means, but she assumes she’ll wear fabulous clothes, sip Piña Coladas on the beach, and have her photo taken “out in nature.” Really, the hardest part of the assignment will be giving up social media while she’s gone.

Going off social media is no big deal for London-based wildlife photographer, Adam Lloyd. The only reason he even has an account is to share his photos with the world. He’s thrilled when an international publication wants to hire him, until he finds out it’s a fashion magazine. He decides to take the job anyway—after all, it will be great for his portfolio. But the minute he sees Camille, he knows it was a mistake. She has too much luggage, is too high maintenance, and way too pretty.

When they meet, their feelings are mutual—they hate each other. Can these two stop fighting long enough to complete their assignment? Will Camille give up and go home when she discovers there’s nowhere to plug in her hair straightener?

Or will they both realize that sometimes you have to go off the grid to find yourself?

Making a difference:

Part of our goal in writing this book is to make a difference. 10% of our profits (20% during release week) from this book will be donated to the Sea Turtle Conservatory. It is the oldest sea turtle research and conservation group. It was founded in 1959 by Dr. Archie Carr. Their headquarters are in Florida, but they have programs worldwide that work to conserve sea turtle populations through education, research, advocacy, and protection of natural habitats. They also have a research station in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, which was one of the places visited in the book. For more information on the Sea Turtle Conservatory, click here.

Excerpt

CAMILLE

The sound of a door closing wakes me up. I watch Adam come out of his cabana, walk down the steps, and into the sand. He’s shirtless, wearing just a pair of shorts with a towel thrown over one shoulder. I consider saying something, but don’t. I’m too tired to hold a conversation.

As I lie my head back on the hammock, I notice out of the corner of my eye that Adam has walked down to the water.

I wonder what he’s doing when all of a sudden he starts stripping off his shorts.

Oh, my gosh!

Before I can look away, his shorts hit the sand, revealing his naked backside. I need to get out of here. If he sees me he’ll think I was spying on him, or worse—checking him out. But somehow I get tangled up in the stupid hammock and flip myself right into the sand, landing with a thud.

He turns toward the noise, but thankfully it is dark, and I don’t think he can see me.

Actually, I know he can’t see me, because if he did, he’d totally come up here and give me crap.

I flatten myself into the sand and don’t move. Adam finally turns back toward the ocean and dives out into the water. While he’s swimming, I army crawl as quickly and quietly as possible back to my cabana. When I get to the stairs, I stand up which causes them to creak. Crap! I drop to the ground again, squatting low and hiding behind the porch rail. Then I stand fully, dart inside, and move to the window. I slide the little curtain out of the way and peek through.

I can barely make out Adam’s form floating lazily in the dark water. And I can’t help but think about how he’s out there naked.

I throw myself dramatically on the bed, realizing too late that I’m covered in sand. I go into the bathroom, take off my clothes, shake them out, and then put on my pajamas.

I brush the sand off my sheets and try to go to sleep, but I can’t. So I grab my video camera and do my video blog for today.

“It’s day two in Costa Rica. Today was truly amazing, and I wish all my Effortless Girls were here experiencing it alongside me. Actually, that’s a lie. Honestly, I’m really homesick.” A tear escapes my eye. “And I don’t mean to sound crazy, but I have no one here to talk to and all I can think about is calling home. I know, pretty pathetic, right? It’s just hard when you feel out of place. I wish Adam, my photographer, who is pretty nice when he’s not annoying, wasn’t such a pain. He thinks he knows everything about everything. Well, he sort of does. I mean, I spent a lot of time doing research for this trip but nothing compares to the real thing. And Adam, yes, that’s his name, like from the bible. And it kind of fits, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Get it? Adam and Eve, the apple?” I let out a maniacal laugh. “It’s quite possible I am a little delirious from lack of sleep. What I mean is that Adam’s dad is a world-renowned photographer, and Adam is following in his footsteps. He’s actually lived a pretty interesting life. Much different than me growing up on the Upper West Side of New York. His mom is an anthropologist and Adam has lived with indigenous people before, so he was actually a good fit for this trip.

“And speaking of the do-gooder, this morning when I jumped into the shower I was shocked to discover there was no hot water. Of course, Adam ran into my room when I screamed. Thank goodness I was able to mostly cover myself up with a towel that was barely bigger than a hand towel. And guess what he’s out doing right now? He’s swimming naked in the ocean! And that’s really why I can’t sleep. Who could sleep with that going on?” I hear the sound of Adam softly whistling a tune from outside. “Crap. I have to go! He’s back and I don’t want him to know I know he was out there! Bye!”

Review

Read JG’s review here.

About the Authors

Jillian Dodd is a USA TODAY bestselling author who lives in a small Florida beach town, is married to her college sweetheart, has two grown children and two Labrador Retrievers. She is not quite as adventurous as her daughter, but loves to travel, shop, and paint.

Kenzie Harp recently graduated from the University of South Florida—St. Petersburg with a degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences: History and International Studies. She loves to travel and read, lives in Florida, and is currently planning her next travel adventure.

Connect

Jillian's Website:

http://jilliandodd.net

Jillian's Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/JillianDodd1

Jillian's Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/jilliandodd

Kenzie's Website:

http://kenzieharp.com

Kenzie's Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/KenzieHarp1

Kenzie's Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/kenzieharp1

Trailer