She's all smiles and laughs
Brooke's essay dives into the world of off-highway driving.  As she's seen, and as she's dealt with first-hand, it's a macho world that's not very inviting to women.  Off-road trips with the local club are usually long, tiring, and really just not quite the same as a day out with the girlfriends.

She's found a way that it can be fun, though, and she wants other women to experience the fun, too.  "As great as our off-highway drives and camping trips are now," Brooke says, "one point I can't overlook is that fellow women adventurers can be sparse out here. So, hello? Where are my girls at?"

Oh great. Just great. Brooke's birthday has already passed. Our anniversary was last month. And it's July, a whole six months from Christmas. Just when I find the perfect gift for my hottie adventurous wife, I have no event to celebrate.

Maybe I'll just surprise her with a pair of these for fun. Just to say, "I love you."  Jewelry is one thing; these shoes are entirely different.  Seriously, they fulfill a certain fantasy I never knew I had . . .

What do you think would happen if I came through the door one evening after work with a pair of these babies in a bow-clad box? A swoon? A leaping spread eagle that lands around my hips and she smothers me with smooches? We'd get a babysitter for the night maybe?

$1,000 shoes....
but at least they're cute.Yes the shoe is very real, but I may never know what it's like to give it to her. It's Italian. The pair costs $1,000 (no kidding). I groan when we have to pay $100 for running shoes, so I'm a lost cause for this shoe.

We spent a thousand bucks, actually just under, for the three of us in Baja for two weeks last month. Thousand-dollar shoes -- but at least they're cute.

You might recall that I wrote a piece called, "How To Marry And Adventurous Girl" a few weeks ago.  Seriously, my first piece of advice is notice her shoes and compliment her on them.  Wow.  Think.  What if you saw the object of your affection strutting around in a pair of these?  She's practical, she's spicy, she's fit. She's combining the workout of a a hiking shoe with the come-hither styling and delicious calf display of a high heel. Win-win.

Speaking of Winning . . .

Steve Casimiro from www.theadventurelife.org is so smitten with this shoe - of which he simply mutters "WTF?" - that he's giving away a video camera to the best submitted caption for this picture.  You can't win if you don't play.

The JJ Cole Essentials Sling back diaper bag has gone everywhere with us for two-and-a-half years because it's ideal for moms (or dads) who prefer to travel light and like a stylish, rugged diaper bag.

I can fit a drink, snack, couple of toys, change of clothes, couple of diapers, and wipes in the compartments along with a few of my own womanly essentials for an outing. This bag adjusts to fit different body types, which makes it versatile enough for both parents to use.  And yes, if you can believe it, dads will not mind shouldering the diaper bag burden when it's this compact and easy to wear.  If you are tired of the bulkiness and clutter of diaper bags and want something new, or if you're becoming a first-time parent, this bag is a great addition to any family's travel gear.

Chloe plays at the park
Fall has arrived in the desert.  Trying to take advantage of some days in the sun that are the perfect 78 degrees, we've been escaping to our neighborhood park for morning play time.  Having a two-year old toddling in the park is always fun and sometimes even funny...except when it's time to say 'bye-'bye to the slides once more.

Watch out boys, them ladies are taking over.
Seriously, have you ever seen a group of women rigging winch cable together?  It's like better than a swimsuit calendar.
Brooke gives an overview of her experience with Overland Training's Woman's Course.

If you have to know, our daughter Chloe wasn't conceived at home, or in a hotel, or in the backseat of a car. So what choice is left?
Get the woman's perspective on this luxurious safari tent that keeps us, warm, dry, and really really comfy when we're on a trip. So comfy, in fact, that we're likely to reproduce.

I know Brooke would never go for it, but if she did I have a suspicion she'd get a tattoo similar to this heart-shaped music theme. That's just cool usage of the treble and bass clefs.

Check out these two galleries at parenting.com