Tag: get outside

Categories
Fitness Travel

Fall Hiking Spots

I need to start today’s post by putting it out there that I’ve never been much of an outdoors or sporty person. I played soccer in the summer when I was in grade school, and I did tennis for one year in middle school. But other than that, I didn’t do too many other sports. I have always enjoyed working out, whether it’s lifting or cardio, but I won’t be competing in the Olympics anytime soon. But walking? That’s up to my speed.

One thing I have always loved is walks. There’s nothing like taking in nature and fresh air while getting in a workout. I took advantage of walks even more during the pandemic. It was a safe way to see people at a distance, get out the house, and have things be semi-normal. I have continued to fall in love with walks and hiking in the past few months and I love traveling to different places to see new things and get in a good walk too. Plus, you can go for a walk in every season-just make sure you dress appropriately.

Here’s a roundup of some of my favorite spots so far this fall.

-Presque Isle

The beautiful Lake Erie

This may seem like a no brainer, but I love going for walks at Presque Isle. People come from all over the region and I’m lucky enough to have it in my backyard. Whether it’s on the paths by the water or deep in the trails, it’s a beautiful spot to walk in any season.

-The Bayfront

Another view from the Bayfront

Another beautiful spot to go for a walk in the city is on the Bayfront. There’s sidewalks and parks to enjoy time outside and with a beautiful backdrop. I love watching the sunset after taking an evening stroll.

-Erie Bluffs

A hidden gem outside of Erie.

Not the greatest picture, but it was beautiful spot about 20 minutes outside of Erie. Erie Bluffs has a number of trails and walking areas. I stumbled upon a beach and access to water and it was a great place to take in the scenery especially after a long walk.

-Geneva State Park

Another view of Lake Erie, this time from Ohio.

If you are looking to head out of Erie County, then heading over to Ohio for a quick drive is always a good idea. At Geneva State Park, there’s a number of trails, both paved and not paved to enjoy. There’s also the beaches, the camp sites and the vegetation to enjoy. I love getting to see Lake Erie from all different angles.

-Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The creeks and the trees were picture perfect
Another view

If you are up for a bit of an adventure, heading into Ohio, there’s plenty to find. A few weeks back, I ventured to Cuyahoga Valley National Park for a train ride and a walk. Even though it was cold and rainy it was the perfect fall backdrop. I loved all the trails and paths.

-Kinzua Bridge State Park

The broken railroad tracks.
All bundled up for a walk

Another perfect place for a walk with some gorgeous views especially in the fall is the Kinzua State Park. There’s a number of trails and places to explore but the highlight is seeing the broken railroad tracks after a tornado came though a number of years ago. You can go down into the valley which is a pretty cool part too.

-Letchworth State Park

My second favorite waterfall in New York.
Gorgeous views

I spent my first time in Letchworth State Park just a few weeks ago. It is in the middle of nowhere in New York, but after going through twists and turns, you hear the rushing water and then you are greeted by the waterfalls. You can view them from all different levels. I loved the fact that there was these beautiful waterfalls in the middle of a forest. Simply stunning and so serene.

There’s are just a few places that I have travelled to recently. Where are your favorite places to hike, walk or run.

Categories
Fabulous living

Summer Adventures…So Far

Hey guys! I know we are only halfway through June but I have spent a lot of time outside and going on some adventures near and far. The weather has been beautiful and I have been taking full advantage.

One of my goals for this summer was to be outside more and I’m definitely accomplishing that.

I wanted to share some of my favorite spots so far. If you are looking for walking destinations or hiking spots this could be a helpful guide for you. If you have some favorite spots to walk or hike, drop them below. I’m always looking for new places.

Here’s a recap of some of my favorite adventures so far…

Geneva State Park in Geneva, Ohio is beautiful. I love the dirt and paved trails. There’s also beaches near by which is perfect for a day long adventure. I travelled there in May and had the best time…just make sure you stay hydrated.
This was one of the creeks I found on the hike, it was a perfect tucked away spot.
Sticking closer to home. There’s a few paved walkways down by the Bayfront in Downtown Erie. I love this view overlooking the Bay and there’s a number of downtown spots for a coffee or meal too!
I love the paved trails at Presque Isle, but I also love some of the dirt one by the wetlands. They are definitely hidden gems in an already beautiful spot.
Another little trail that leads to water at Presque Isle. I love how the land meets the water here!
And after all the hiking and walking, there’s nothing better than a hot dog and an ice cream on the beach…yum!
Summer is just gettin started by I’m already enjoying some summer bonfires. It’s the perfect way to end the night.

My summer has been off to a great start so far and the best part is the season just officially kicked off! I’ll be sharing all my summer bucket list items on an Instagram story so make sure you are following along.

Where are your favorite places to head outside to???

Categories
Fabulous living

Managing Stress

Hello everyone! I hope your week is off to a great start as your summers get underway. Although the summer months are filled with fun, adventures, and lots of time outside but it also means a change of routine which can cause lots of stress. Whether you have a high stress job or pockets of stress in your life, there’s always things to do to manage or lower your stress. 

Here are some of my top tips for managing stress. 

  • When life gets to be a lot, write it down.

I always feel better when I write my to do list or what’s on my mind down, I always feel a lot better, plus when I see it all written down, it makes everything a lot more manageable. I also journal every day and that helps me reflect on the good every day and puts things in perspective too. I always start my day off with journaling and my daily prayers. When I start my day off with my routine

  • Get outside

Whenever a situation gets overwhelming or stressful, I find it helpful to take a walk or get outside and just get some fresh air. Even if it’s just for 10 minutes, it makes a big difference. The sunshine makes it even better to get outside and just process things.

Going on walks is a favorite of mine
  • Talk it Out

I always feel better after I talk about my stressors or pain points with someone, whether it’s my mom or best friend. It always makes me feel better just to talk out what’s going on instead of bottling it up inside. 

  • Create a relaxing atmosphere 

Especially at the end of a stressful day, I like to create a soothing and relaxing atmosphere. Whether it’s burning some candles or using some essential oils, I like to cultivate a space that I can truly unwind and relax.

I saw this on Instagram and I couldn’t agree more. We all need time to just rest.
  • Breathing exercises 

I started to use the Mindfulness feature on my fitbit, it allows me to practice deep breathing whenever I need time to just pause and reset.

My mindfulness app

These are a few tricks that have worked for me. What things do you do to relax or manage your stress?

Categories
Fabulous living

Keeping Your Energy Up

Hello everyone! I have a different post in mind for today. I don’t know about you but these past few weeks have flown by, mostly due to the fact I have been working a lot, between me filing in for people off, the Election coming up, and my normal work schedule, it has been very busy. I am still loving it but right now this season of life is work and although its busy, I’m learning a lot and my hard work is paying off. Last week, I had the opportunity to anchor and produce my first hour long show, and then two days later, I got to do it again. In those times I realized my hard work was paying off but I still have a lot to learn. That’s something that I love about what I do, every day I am constantly learning and improving. 

With that being said, these past few weeks have been hectic, I have gone from working nights (3 pm – 12 am) to mornings (2 am -10:30 am), this week I am back to nights and weekends, which is my normal shift. 

One question I get asked a lot with my job is keeping up with long days and changing schedules and keeping my energy up. For starters, I don’t drink coffee, and I don’t sleep a lot, haha, that’s something I’m working on. I don’t have a secret, mostly, once I’m up for the day at 6:30, I’m up. I head straight to the gym and then get things done around the house, whether it’s chores, or running errands, or picking up, I eat lunch and then it’s work time for the day/night, I eat dinner at work, so in total I eat two meals a day. After work, I come home and crash around 12:30. 

So, definitely have long days but I’m on the go a lot and doing things so I’m keeping busy but if I sit down or chill then I get tired, so as long as I don’t sit down the energy keeps going, On weekends, it’s a different story since I work 9:30-6:30, so it’s more of a normal schedule. It’s when I work nights is when it gets tricky. 

A few little tips/tricks I do to keep my energy up is by drinking lots of water, I try to drink 60 fluid ounces a day. Whether it’s at the gym, through the morning or at work. I stay very hydrated. 

I also love to start the day at the gym, it gets me up and moving and energized and ready to take on the day and it wakes me up.

I also try to get outside as much as I can whether it’s a walk after the gym or to get the mail, I aim for 30 mins but sometimes it doesn’t happy. 

I also remind myself about giving myself grace. I know easier said than done but reminding myself, “Grace Not Perfection”.

This is just a snapshot of life right now and answering some questions that I have been getting recently. Also, if you have nay tips on keeping your energy up…drop them below!!!