I’m inviting you to take a trip with me….an all american camping trip to the big sur.
The year is 1968.
Ready to go?
For this Project Food Blog challenge, we were instructed to pack “the ultimate road trip meal”…
And seeing as Almanzo and I have an almost unhealthy obsession with the show Mad Men (and the ’60′s in general…and theme parties/trips/meals in general), we decided to go with the whole retro theme.
Big Sur was (and still is) a huge camping destination back in the day, and we wanted to make the whole trip extra special, seeing as it my first ever camping experience and we haven’t gotten to spend much time together lately because Almanzo has been busy traveling for work.
As for the road trip menu, I obviously wanted it to accurately reflect the genre so we went with simple, easy-to-pack classics (all recipes to come!).
First up: a lightened up version of ambrosia salad with cucumber, celery, grapefruit, oranges and mini marshmallows:
“California” veggie sandwiches with blue cheese dressing, sprouts, jack cheese, cucumber, lettuce and avocado on rye bread:
Homemade pear upside down cake for dessert:
And, to drink, what else but coca-cola?
Simple…classic…delicious. The weather was a little cruddy, but we made the best of it!
Since we had another four hours of road trippin’ left before pitching our tent, I brought some raisins for a snack.
And there may or may not have been a few good & plenty’s chewed on along the way… Am the only one who still loves this candy?
May seem like a lot of sugar….but dude! It’s 1968.
We finally arrived at our campsite, Treebones Resort, around five thirty. We had a full ocean view campsite and despite the rain, wind and elephant seal barking, I managed to sleep on the ground in a sleeping bag for the first time ever!
I have over a hundred photos of the camping trip to come….it was absolutely amazing (although next time I totally need an air mattress to sleep on).
As for now, goodbye and goodnight from 1968.
{ 191 comments… read them below or add one }
I LOVE Mad Men!! Cute theme!!
You guys are ADORABLE!! I love the video!
love the theme! adore
How freaking adorable are you two? Very creative to incorporate a Mad Men/1960′s theme
OH my gosh I LOVE the theme Jenna! So cute!
Jenna, I rarely comment, but just had to tell you…you are so very creative! Very cool theme! And the video reminded me of the wonder years
Thank you for staying true to yourself, not only with this post but with your blog. It is one of my favorites because it is just so real! Keep up the great work 
Very cute
How fun, love the adventure and the video. You two are so creative and so cute together.
O.M.G! That is the most creative, hysterical thing you’ve done amid your ever fertile sea of funny, imaginative stuff!! Can’t wait to see more pix!
You look like Grace Kelly with the scarf, flats & pearls—so cute. You & Amanzo are such a great team. Posting on FB!
http://tinyurl.com/39xuqrf
http://tinyurl.com/2clozsg
That is the cutest video ever! I was seriously transported back in time! You are so 60s at home glam in it! So cute! Love the menu of course! You have my vote!
wow, i love this! so fun and so glad you finally made it to big sur!
you have my vote!
Long time reader and first time commenter because this post is just TOO cute not to comment. I think you did an amazing job and both of you are just adorable. I definitely loved the video, the music, and the sandwiches. Yums!!
Such a cute idea! And seriously, when’s the last time any of us went on a picnic? It’s such a great date activity without breaking the bank.
And I love, love, LOVE that final picture of the tent lit up. Gorgeous!
LOVE it!
Amazing! Loved the video! You two are just TOO cute!
I love the theme – and how you actually went on a road trip!
Absolutely incredible!!!!!!!
What a wonderfully themed road trip!!!
Love the idea of a “retro road trip” and love your video as well! Very cute.
How adorable!! I love your sun glasses.
Just brilliant.
I LOVE the retro tint in all the photos. I don’t know what time period you belong in…early 19th century or 1960s but definitely NOT 2010
I absolutely LOVE it!!!! And the retro feel of the picture effects totally makes the post.
Good-n-Plenty is my favorite candy
Cute idea! I’m glad you enjoyed your first real camping experience – it’s pretty nice when it’s nice weather!
and I have to comment again to tell you – cutest video EVER. Made my night.
Cute video. And is that a bottle opener on the cooler?! I love Big Sur- Hope it didn’t rain on you all weekend.
I am convinced I need to be in this era..and watch mad men! This was glorious, completely made my day
this may be the coolest post in the history of ELR!!
who does the photo editing – you or Almanzo?
you’re one creative, CUTE gal
Almanzo is the director….I am just the muse…or the cook.
Once again, another wonderful, creative, adorable video from the two of you!
Oh gosh Jenna, you are so adorable! I just loved that video and could not help but sing along! I love your road trip, throw back style!
awesome!!! I live in Monterey county and go down there a lot. we are actually going hiking in big sur tomorrow morning. It was so fun seeing scenes of places I have been to/live close to. Great idea with the video!
Good And Plenty FTW!
And air mattresses are essential for tent camping, I don’t care what anyone says.
Looks like you had fun!
Love and beyond
Wow. I’m so impressed. What a fun video. This blog is great. I really do hope you win this Project Foodblog, because this is a FANTASTIC entry.
Looks like so much fun!
And you have my vote, simply because of your song choice…
That has to be the CUTEST post I have ever seen! I love that you really focused on the entire theme and not just the food. I will definitely be voting tomorrow!
A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
This is awesome! I love the video.. SO cute!
Loved this! That video just had me smiling the whole time!
Oh my gosh that looks like soooo much fun! I was just at Big Sur this past January, it’s so gorgeous. Loved the video, too!
Awesome – gotta respect you for keeping it so real…. genuine smiles, genuine warmth – nothing forced or posed here…. love it. Ambrosia salad – brilliant!
Ridiculously cute!
i was having an iffy night and this put a huge smile on my face.. awesome job jenna!
Love the video! You guys are so cute – it looks like you had fun doing this!
I love this! Your 60s inspired road trip/picnic looks like tons of fun.
My mom and husband both love Good N Plentys. Sometimes I think they’re the only two people who eat them. After reading this, I guess there are three!
I love this
So sweet and dreamy! Where did you find those sunglasses?
Amazing. So believable and professional-looking. Mind-blowing how you put it all together!
You guys are son stinkin cute!
That video was the cutest thing ever.
I am really gunning for you to win PFB!
How cute!! I love this!
FLIPPING ADORABLE! you are so creative and fun i LOVE it!
That Coca Cola bucket is adorable! Where do you find things like this?
thanks! Pretty much everything from this video (bucket, scarf, beads, picnic blanket, plates…) I found at a local thrift shop. I got everything for under ten dollars!
SO cool
100% amazing, incredible, I love it!
your creative energy zapped me! soo original!
such a nice theme,..:-)
good luck,..
I can’t even handle it. perfect video, perfect theme. love,love,love.
Awesome, simply awesome!
Haha this is excellent! More videos!
I really need to check out this Mad Men show….I don’t think I have that channel – but where there’s a will, there’s a way!
LOL – “Retro”, “YouTube”…and Coke…hmmm…:)
Never mind though – I want that “Coke and Cookies” tub! Too cute.
This totally put a smile on my face!! You are AWESOME!
That video made me smile the whole way through! I can totally see you living in the 60′s.
I love this and it looks like ya’ll had so much fun!!
OMG that is the cutest video ever!!
I loved the video! So cute! Its been awhile since I’ve been camping, I don’t think I could sleep on the ground either!
Life was so much better when it was grainy, dontcha think?
Beautiful video – you captured the time perfectly. Love it.
P.S. Almanzo is the one.
I love love LOVE the video!!!! Everything retro is just fabulous to me!!! Good job!!
This made me so so so happy. I love that you took the time to make such a fabulous video and post. Well done, Jenna!
I adore Mad Men. I am so behind on this season though. I hate coke, but I’m pretty sure I would love it if I got to drink it out of those cute bottles. And that cake looks lovely!
such cute photos! i love good and plenty– give me! give me!
I love this! I was smiling the whole time. Thank you and best of luck!
You and Almanzo are basically the cutest ever. I love the 1960′s theme! Great post!
absolutely LOVE the video! so cute!
Oh my God. You guys are so adorable. Please get married and have babies. In the meantime, I will definitely be voting for you.
So glad I’m not the only one who had this thought! So adorable! Swoon … Mad Men wedding??
Too cute for words!
I like your outfits. Made the same trip, brought back fond memories.
SO cute and creative! The video is awesome
Oh my gosh – I love this!! SO cute. And I love Good & Plenty’s too
Great video…
Sleeping on the ground for the 1st time ever. Bravo!!!!!
well that was freakin incredible.
Loved this post! So cute!
wow. truly adorable video. looks like fun! channeling kerouac, no?
Ah, I just love everything about this post! So cute that you went all out and even dressed the part. I love the photo with the tent all lit up. And yes, an air mattress when camping is a MUST.
And it just keeps getting better.
Love it! Too cute!! How do you get the cool vintage quality to the video?
it’s a feature/effect in imovie
a-dorable. your creativity kills me! keep it coming.
amazing. as we are in the middle of a mad men obsession ourselves, this is right up my alley.
That is such a great idea.
Love it!
This was such a cute idea! I loved everything about it!
Amazing! Congrats on such a fab video, lots of work and it definitely shows. You’ve got a vote from me for sure.
OH MY GOSH. You are so adorable!!!!
If I was a guy, I would have just fallen in love with you after watching that video.
/awkward.
hehehehehe
Jenna. I need to thank you. Sincerely. I have had a horrible day- am now icing my IT band in three places and this video made me smile from ear to ear. LOVE this.
oh goodness!! So glad this could bring a smile to your face
Jenna! You and Almanzo are so creative. To me this is one of your most memorable posts EVER. Great job! Thanks for the little trip back in time.
I’m speeches after this post and this video. you are incredible Jenna!
You really are too cute…… so awesome. In so many ways…
I love the way your processed your photos. It absolutely adds to the overall mood of your post and theme!
Charming! Good luck this round, Jenna!
What a great idea!
to echo everyone else’s sentiments….amazing!!!!!!!
great job capturing the retro essence. short, sweet, simple, and left me smiling…. what more could you ask for?
this post is adorable.
M. and I are also Mad Men fanatics…. Love this!
This is so cute! I love the idea for a retro theme.
I spent the summer camping for my thesis research…an inflatable mattress makes ALL the difference.
Absolute genius! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!!
this actually brought tears to my eyes…i remember going to big sur every summer with my family when we’d go on roadtrips, and my parents made a mixed tape out of their old record albums…and this song was on there! you have my vote for sure, i’m emotionally invested in this post
Love it! I also love the fact that you posted a video. I recently thought I might post a comment saying that videos would be a good addition to your blog.
I thought, though, that you had gone camping in another post?
This is amazing! It’s been so fun to watch your blog develop over the years. Well done!
What an adorable theme!!
And your menu is classic. Sometimes you can’t mess with perfection.
just darling!
Awww. I love it. It made me happy just watching the video. I really do think I was born in the wrong decade. I love anything from the 60′s. Ever watched the movie ‘Shag’? You would love it. It’s a total chick flick, but is my favorite movie ever.
OMG – Shag is one of my favorite movies ever! No one ever knows what movie I’m talking about. I think my sister & I wore out the VHS growing up.
What an awesome video!!! How fun
What an awesome video!!! How fun
You always come up with really cute ideas! I love it! Good luck:)
Jenna, you are so flippin’ ADORABLE! Love it! Definitely put a smile on my face this cloudy Monday morning.
adorable. i’ll vote for it!
Jenna – this is so awesome. You two should do more videos. That was adorable! I’m heading out to SF for the Foodbuzz Festival. It will be my first time in California and this post got me super excited to see it.
this was incredible. Loved the theme and loved the video even more. You are very talented Jenna! And very creative. I’m so happy for you – you seem so happy with Almanzo
How clever…you two are so incredibly cute and creative! What a team! Almanzo has some serious directing talent! And, I share your obsession with Mad Men…working my way through season three at the moment.
Thanks for the cheer on a Monday morning, Jenna!
Pure Prairie League- Amie 1972 Although it is possible they were singing it in the late 60′s. Fav from my college days!
I haven’t commented in a while but I just had to say, this is absolutely FANTASTIC. You are so creative and I look forward to reading your posts every single day. Thanks for keeping things so interesting
Such a creative take on the challenge! Looks like such a fun time. I was just in Big Sur (I’m from PA) for a bit during our trip to California. Have you ever been to Nepenthe? So cool!
Love the video!!!!
so perfectly thought of, cooked, executed … and lived!!!
This video is the reason you’re my favorite blogger. So adorable!
Jenna, the level of professionalism and creativity that you bring to your blog is absolutely outstanding. Thanks so much for a wonderful post– I loved the video and have a hankering to wear a headscarf now
ADORABLE!
You are awesome. This is so creative!
Amazing post, I love the retro vibe!
So very wonder years of you, so creative. You and Almanzo are making some beautiful memories together. You def. have my vote.
That video was amazing! It reminded me of the Wonder Years. I loved loved loved it! In fact I read your blog daily and never comment, and have not voted once for Project Food Blog, BUT I absolutely had to after seeing that video! You really went all out!!
This is so cute!
That was amazing. So creative and I loved the 60′s feel!
Your first couple of photos totally made me flash back to the movie Pleasantville (with Reese Witherspoon way back in the day, remember?)
Oh my gosh. This might be the CUTEST picnic I’ve ever seen!!! That looks like so much fun!
this is too adorable! And I want WANT that scarf. Although I also wouldn’t complain if you wanted to gift me that upside down pear cake.
love ya,
cathy B. @ brightbakes
i think your video’s totally awesome! the vintage look plus the music! you deserve a mini film award!!!!! i’m serious!!!! cool!!!! (:
Wow, so adorable! You are a creative genius!
what a great idea! i love the antique photo effect. did you use iphoto or photoshop or what?
I am obsessed with that video, even if the fast forward eating part is super weird to watch!! I just texted me boyfriend and told him we must go camping. or at least sleep in a tent in the backyard.
You make a wonderful 60s girl:)
you make me feel like camping! you need a therm-a-rest sleeping pad.
I love that you made your photos match the “retro” theme. You are too cute!
That was awesome and refreshing! You will do great with this!
I Heart Big Sur .
Too cute. Love the scarf!
I want your head piece! That is the cutest thing ever.
Awesome! Of course I love that song. You can never go wrong with a Coke, especially one from a glass bottle. Genius!
Almanzo, how can you not marry Jenna?? You two are made for each other!!
ahh so cute!!
so, so, so cute and creative. i love the video. i am also slightly obsessed with mad men!
You two are so adorable! I LOVE Mad Men and definitely have had a few themed parties, myself. Your road trip looks lovely!
My mom’s first husband founded Treebones (back then that’s just what he called his land, but the resort is on the same property, and kept the name). I was born in Big Sur. I hope you guys made it to Jade Beach.
Ben and I went to Big Sur the night after we got married. It holds a special place in my heart
Love this. Love.
Jenna- I am huge fan of your work and have never commented on your blog until now. I am absolutely blown away at your creativity! Your positive light really shines through on this post! Keep up the amazing work and congrats on such a job well done:)
So cute Jenna!
I have never gone camping either. Maybe one day…
Never has camping looked so glamorous! And you’ve already done 2 fantastic videos throughout PFB, I’m excited to see what you do for the *video* challenge next!
Love the idea of a retro roadtrip!! Your food looks delicious and the photos are beautiful!
Love the Mad Men theme! You have my vote!
super cute!
Great post! The views (and FUN little movie!) really made me miss home – I’m from San Francisco, love Big Sur, but now live in Calgary, AB with my husband…Thanks for making me smile on a Monday! Just heading over to vote for you now.
1968. It was a very good year. And I’m not kidding because I remember it and you nailed it. GREG
Adorable! Only one problem. The Marshall Tucker Band didn’t even form until 1972, so no way that “Amy” could’ve been played at a picnic in 1968. <———-MUSIC GEEK ALERT!!!!!!
Nevertheless, I voted. So cute!
I absolutely loved this! Great photography, food and clothes!
Heidi xo
Too fun! Maybe someone already asked (too many comments to read through), but where did you buy your cute camera strap?
from Etsy! Just search for “dslr camera strap” and they will all come up.
I love the whole retroness of it all. The whole thing looks great.
love the video!
Alright….you’ve inspired me! I just booked my husband & I a trip to Big Sur to stay at the same spot the weekend before Thanksgiving! Yahoo! Thanks a bunch!
I LOVE THIS SO, SO MUCH.
Mad Men is the best! Such a cute twist on this challenge!
freakin’ awesome. ’nuff said…
This was great.
I thoroughly enjoyed your little video roadtrip and caught myself smiling throughout
You are so cute (actually you BOTH are) and the retro is just plain awesome! Great job and I voted!!!
Love it! I’ve never heard of having vegetables in ambrosia, probably a little healthier than the pink stuff you get from the store.
Um, amazing. I LOVE that video and the Mad Men era.
i just ate good + plentys this am! sad, but true.
Very cool! I still love Good and Plenty’s too- you are not alone!!
Loved your video! Good luck!
like you, i’m all about mad men…this was such a fun take on the challenge. you two are so cute!
and i loooove good & plenty!
I LOVE Mad Men. What a cute idea for a road trip/theme. And your pictures are wonderful. Looks like you had a blast!
Incredibly charming! I love this idea.
I loved your road trip video and your theme! You have a vote from me!
For my entry, I wanted to create a road trip and picnic for my boyfriend, who had recently given me a “do over” of one of my childhood memories. I decided to give him his own “do over” — a special birthday picnic with a heart-themed meal. Come see if you’d like
What an awesome post! I loved the video and it sounds like you all had an amazing time! I’m going to have to start hitching a ride on the Mad Men bandwagon because everybody I know seems to love it!
I love everything I see here. I voted for you and hope to vote again for you the next round. Best of luck!
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