Not Your Traditional July 4th BBQ

Were were browsing through some fun July 4th traditions, and came across one of America's favorite - Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Every July 4th since 1916 (with the exception of two years as a protest against wars), American's have been tuning into this event to watch 20 individuals compete in the historic 12 minute contest at Nathan's flagship restaurant on Surf Avenue in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

The tradition supposedly started when four immigrants had the first hot dog eating contest to decide who was the most patriotic. Ever since then, this has been an annual event to celebrate our independence.

Last year, Joey Chestnut set a new record of eating 68 hot dogs (and buns!)

We thought this was a fun and unusual way to spend the 4th of July - tell us what type of exciting plans you have for this year's celebration.. have you heard of any unusual traditions? do share!

Don't forget your Jambu's™ :)

On July 4th, 1776, the United States declared its independence from Great Britain. This fourth of July, we will be eating smoothie pops. (and I'm so excited about it!) After you slip on your comfortable J-41's, you should follow this simple recipe to make this delicious treat.

What you will need:

• 5 strawberries, washed and hulled
• 1 medium banana
• 4 ice cubes
• 1 cup strawberry yogurt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup fruit juice
• Popsicle sticks

Instructions

1. Slip into your J-41's so that your comfortable while preparing these treats
2. Mix all the ingredients in a blender until smooth
3. Pour into 3 oz. paper cups, cover with plastic wrap, and insert popsicle sticks
4. Freeze for at least 5 hours

This makes 12 pops. We hope that you and your families have a wonderful fourth of July while eating these refreshing pops. :)

Sailing has been around for thousands of years. As summer starts, we would like to give you some ideas for outdoor activities to do with your family. Sailing is a great activity that allows you to get outside, be active while spending time with the ones you love. Although, sailing is not the easiest outdoor adventure, the challenge can be fulfilling. Here's some basic tips to help you and your loved ones have an enjoyable sailing trip.

1. Slip on your J-41's (Maybe our Aquarius Water-Ready shoe!)- these shoes will help your feet grip the boat so that you keep your balance


2. Choose calm, uncrowded waters


3. Choose a small boat


4. Begin on a boat rigged with one sail


5. Follow sailing basics for safety- which include wearing a flotation device and knowing how to swim


6. Research tide, wind and weather conditions


7. Become familiar with sail control- which means taking advantage of the wind and weather conditions. The sail should be flat when there is light or strong wind and angled for moderate wind.


8. Capsize on purpose- this should be done in a controlled environment, this will come in handy when dealing with real-life events


9. Respect the boom- this will help avoid any injuries such as getting knocked in the head


10. Learn basic sailing terms- such as port, startboard and other simple concepts


11. Practice makes perfect!!

We hope that you are comfortable in your J-41's while you sail away with your family!

Sumer outfit Ideas

The J-41™ Saturn's are a great summer shoes. With a peep toe front, and the a cute floral motif, they can really look great with any outfit. They come in a few different colors, so they match your whole closet! Here is a cute casual look, for those days when your adventure is put on hold.

You already have your favorite pair of skinny jeans that you love to wear on a casual day. Add a cute white tank and a boyfriend blazer to complete the look (You'd be surprised how feminine a boyfriend blazer can be!) With the right necklace, and a couple other accessories, you'll be loving you new chic, but casual look =)

Summer Memories

As the summer starts, we would like to pass along some family traditions. (We hope you like them just as much as we do!) This is a simple yet creative way to keep all of your wonderful summer memories together. (You don't want to miss any of course!) A three-ring photo binder is a way to catch your summer adventures without loosing them throughout the years. These simple steps will ensure that you will do just that.

You'll need:

1. A pair (or a couple!) of J-41's™


2. A three-ring binder


3. Photographs


4. Decorations (recycled paper, stickers, jewels, etc.)

Instructions:

There are many ways you can decorate your binder. Some simple tips include hole-punching your pictures into your binder, adding embellishments to both the front and back of your binder and to your pictures, and adding paper to separate the different summer events.

We hope that you continue your adventures in our J-41's™ and have a wonderful summer!

Father's Day Recipe: Make Your Own BBQ Sauce!

We all know how men love their grilling. Father's Day is a great time to get the fire started, and have a family BBQ. We thought we'd share a recipe for homemade Barbecue Sauce. Have your man make it; he'll be proud to have made it himself instead of buying the stuff from the store :)

Yield: 5 Cups

Time: about 45 min

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons dark rum or whiskey
• 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 tablespoon pure chili powder
• 2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 4 cups ketchup
• course salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients, except for the ketchup, in a large, deep sauce pan. Bring it to a simmer over medium heat.

2. Cook until completely dissolved, stirring constantly (about 5 min).

3. Add ketchup and bring to a boil. Lower heat and cook, uncovered, for about 30 min - stir every 5-10 min. The sauce should look dark and thick.

4. Use right away or store in jars and refrigerate. It will last for a few months.

Enjoy this delicious sauce on burgers, ribs, steak, or chicken. Please share any great grilling tips, trick or recipes - We'd love to hear what you do!

Gift Ideas for an Adventurous Father's Day

It seems like every year when Father's Day comes around, gift ideas are always a problem. This year, we wanted to offer some fun gift ideas that will allow the whole family to Adventure On™.

• Get Dad a new bike! Thankfully, Father's Day is in the summer, so there is plenty of time to enjoy a nice family bike ride. A new bike for dad will get everyone excited for a fun day out on the trail.
• You already have your favorite J-41™'s which use Jeep® technology for superior traction. Now would be a great time to get your man a great pair of hiking shoes. Take him to his favorite store, let him choose the best pair - and go hiking! It's a great and fun way to exercise together.
• Another great summer activity is fishing. If he doesn't already have one, get Dad a fishing pole. He'll be happy to bring along the family so he can brag about his "great catch" later :)
• Plan a whitewater rafting trip. Talk about real adventure! Whitewater rafting is one of the most fun ways for a family to bond and work as a team. He won't be able to use this gift next summer, but the laughs and memories will last forever!

Hopefully with these gift ideas, your family will be celebrating Dad in the most adventurous ways possible :)

Planning a Hike on Father's Day

It's that time of the year again ladies... Father's Day! Its not an easy task to buy the perfect gift... we usually go for something "safe" like a tie, or a new golf polo. Not this year... forget about that boring gift and create an adventure with your special man that you know he will enjoy. This year the idea is to spend quality time with them doing something that HE likes. Some ideas that we thought of were fishing, hiking, bike rides, a afternoon grill out, or a simple walk in the park. For our Father’s Day, we’re going on a small hike somewhere close to home. You can even make him a card with a hand drawn map inside (or have the kids do it) of the trail you want to hike. Make it a surprise, get the family involved to plan each detail- get creative!

When preparing for the hike remember these important factors...

1. Select a route- get the whole family involved, consider where you’re walking, the best place to rest along the way and choose a path that will be relaxing and challenging at the same time.
2. Make it fun- plan an “energy” stop. Pack something delicious yet refreshing so that everyone can refuel. Look around and take pictures of your surroundings.
3. Be safe and comfortable- Wear proper footwear (such as your J-41™ shoes so that your feet won’t hurt) on the long adventure. Wear sunscreen and bring a hat. Bring lots of water so that no one in the group will get dehydrated. And last, don’t over pack. If you over pack you will become more tired from carrying the weight from your backpack.

Stay tuned for more tips on how to be adventurous on Father’s Day in your J-41’s. :)

Fun for the weekend... a do-it-yourself Kite project

We’ve been brainstorming inexpensive ways to spend time with your family. We all remember being young at the beach or the park flying the colorful kite that we made with our families. So to pass along our family traditions, we would like to give you a way to spend time with your family outdoors, have fun and enjoy the beautiful weather (in your J-41’s of course!!). Building a kite with your family is just that.

There are many different kinds of kites. For our example we’re going to explain to you how to make a diamond kite.

Materials and Tools:

* Construction paper (recycled preferably, BE GREEN!!)

* Crayons

* Hole punch

* Reinforcement rings (those crazy little white circle stickers for loose leaf paper)

* Scissors

* Spool of lightweight string

* 24 in. piece of yarn

* A few gentle breezes

Directions:

1. Trace a diamond shape on construction paper.

2. Cut it out.

3. Decorate as desired.

4. Punch one hole on each end (top and bottom only).

5. Surround each hole with reinforcement.

6. Securely attach yarn to narrow end to form tail

7. Securely attach string to wide end

8. Take outside and fly

While wearing your comfortable J-41 shoes we want you to enjoy the weather while you can. So, get out and fly this simply made kite and enjoy the time with your family.

Make Your Own Picnic Blanket!

Picnics are a great idea on these beautiful summer days. They're a fun and simple way to pack up a lunch and spend time with the family or friends.. what more could you ask for? But before you go, make sure you have everything on the check list! Here is an easy way to make your own picnic 'knot blanket': (no sewing!! :)

• First, decide what size blanket you want. (A good size would be 6' x 6')
• Next, go to the fabric store and pick out two different fabrics - you want the fabrics to be lightweight and very colorful! Try to get the colors to match and the weight to be the same.
• Once you have your fabrics, place one on top of the other. If you chose patterned fabrics, make sure they are facing out.
• Pin the two fabrics together (Make sure they are no less than 6" from the edge. 2-3 pins per side will be enough.)
• Now, get your scissors ready! Cut a 4"x4" square off of each corner, and remember to always cut both fabrics at the same time.
• Cut the strips you will be tying together. Make them about 4" long and about 1" wide.
• Grab a corner and start knotting! Tie the top strip to the bottom strip in a double knot. Tie every other strip like that until you've gone once around the blanket.
• Finally, turn the blanket over and do the same to the remaining untied strips. (This will give it an even, balanced look)

That's it! you've done it - now kick off your J-41™'s, and enjoy your home made picnic blanket!

Sweet Summer Treats

As the weather gets nicer and the school year is ending, we thought it would be a good idea to relax with some sweet homemade treats!

We are going to give you a simple recipe for delicious homemade lemonade and granola. These are great little treats to bring on your outdoor adventures. So, take your kids out and enjoy this refreshing beverage while you snack on an all natural granola.

Here is just one of many ideas for making a delicious mint infused lemonade:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves
• juice of 2 oranges
• juice of 6 lemons
• 4 teaspoons grated orange peel
• fresh orange or lemon slices and sprigs of mint for garnish

Preparation:

1. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil and boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat; cool slightly.
2. Place mint leaves in a small bowl; add sugar syrup, orange juice, lemon juice, and grated orange peel. Cover and let steep for 1 hour. Strain into a 1-quart container; cover and keep refrigerated.
3. To serve, mix 1 part lemon mint mixture with 2 parts water. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon or orange slices and sprigs of mint if desired.

This recipe makes about 1 quart syrup, or 3 quarts of lemonade.

Next, is a recipe for a do-it-yourself mix that can be customized with whatever combinations you enjoy. (We've included our favorite combination.)

Ingredients:

• 6 c. old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/4 c. nuts, such as almonds, pistachios, walnuts, etc., coarsely chopped
• 1/4 c. seeds, such as sunflower, pepitas, etc.
• 1/3 c. flaxseed meal, wheat germ, or a mixture of the two
• 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 3 large egg whites
• 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 3/4 c. sweetener, such as honey, agave syrup, or molasses
• 1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 c. dried fruit, such as sour cherries, cranberries, currants, raisins, apricots, figs or pineapple, coarsely chopped

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Combine the oats, nuts, seeds, flax and/or wheat germ, and cinnamon in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg whites and the salt until frothy. Whisk in the sweetener and the olive oil. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, and stir until the oats are evenly coated.
3. Transfer mixture to two rimmed baking sheets and spread flat.
4. Bake for 20 minutes, then gently flip with spatula, moving granola from the outer edges to the center of the sheet. Continue to cook until golden, about 10 minutes more. (if granola starts to brown, too much at the edges, stir those parts into the middle.)
5. Cool completely on pan, then transfer to a bowl and gently stir in the dried fruit.

Take these simple treats on your outdoor adventures. Enjoy the beautiful weather in your J-41™ shoes. We hope you enjoy these simple recipes and we hope you stay tuned for more treats coming your way! :)

J-41™ Adventures in Vallarta - by Travel Blogger Kate Rambles

What a gal needs when navigating the rough terrain of a foreign port is a decent pair of shoes. I was set to find out if my bumble-bee, J-41™ Intrepids were up to the task.

For years I’ve tried to come up with shoes that are good for airplane travel; i.e. easy on/easy off, yet something that is supportive and does not slip off while one wrestles with baggage and treks through miles of airport terminals. My Intrepids did the trick; they easily flipped off and on going through security and once again when I was on the plane.

Sure, they worked well cruising the urban streets of California, where the sidewalks and streets generally aren’t too bad, but how would they do on the cobblestoned streets of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico? The answer: amazing. In fact it wasn’t until I stupidly stepped out one evening in thin flip-flops, (grimacing with every step and praying to Aztec gods that I wouldn’t break an ankle), that I could fully gage the extent of comfort and support afforded by my J-41™’s. Not only that, they are so light on the feet that I’m not even aware of their solid foundation.

In the mornings I like to walk down to the shore and stroll along the water’s edge. The Intrepids handled the sand with ease before I kicked them off. (Walking in sand barefoot will remain preferable to walking in even the best shoe). Leaving the beach and returning to the pavement I simply stepped right back into them without having to sit in gunk to tie and untie shoelaces.

I climbed up 100 steps to get a look at Elizabeth Taylor’s house high on the hill overlooking the Bay of Bandeiras. My feet didn’t register any complaints going up and I felt secure negotiating the steep, cobblestone streets on my way back down the hill.
In the Vallarta Botanical Gardens I confidently hiked up and down narrow, often damp trails, feeling at one with the earth. My Intrepids were so quiet and unobtrusive that I barely disturbed the birds and lizards along the way.

On most days I put in at least four hours of walking. The third day I was here I discovered something astonishing; even in this tropical heat and humidity, and even when not wearing socks, my feet never sweat in these shoes!

I still have lots more to explore so will Adventure On with my trusty J-41™’s.

Check out Kate's blog at http://katerambles.blogspot.com/