Hiking Mount Major in Massachusetts
Mount Major is a great hike to get your legs in condition for bigger hikes! With only taking around 2 hours for a 3.7-mile trip, this was a nice casual Saturday afternoon hike. Though it’s 2 hours from Boston, it was worth it to escape the city for a bit! We even caught a proposal and engagement at the summit. Dogs are allowed and a-plenty on this trail, so furry friends and kiddos are welcome on this one!
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Tapping and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique): How to Begin
Tapping and the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) has become an integral part of my self-care practice to alleviate stress, release emotions, and stay grounded. Here, I share some information on EFT and how you can get started if you’re curious to incorporate this practice into your life. I do not claim to be an expert and am always open to learning more, so I look forward to hearing if you’ve also tried tapping or have resources that have benefitted your personal practice. Please also remember to consult with a healthcare practitioner before and after using this technique as it can stir up deeper issues.
There’s a tap for everything, my friends. Read on to free yourself and become magnificent YOU!
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Ultimate A to Z Camping Packing List
Ready for the adult, outdoorsy version of the “going on a picnic” game?! Here it is! This is the essential A to Z list of everything you need for your next camping trip! Keep in mind, certain seasons and locations will have more specific needs, but this is a great place to start for the essentials! Whether you’re planning your first camping trip or a seasoned camper, let this be a little reminder of how to best be prepared! I am curious – what else would you add to the list?
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Hiking Mount Watatic in Massachusetts
When looking for a hike with a short(ish) drive from Boston, I referred to AMC’s Massachusetts Trail Guide Book for some ideas. The goal was simple: To get outside. With a few hiking miles under my belt (including Mount Monadnock and the Welch-Dickey Loop), I knew I was ready to hit the trails more consistently. My back injury from September 2021 was no longer a perceived limitation. The mountains are my happy place and I am feeling like I’m coming back home – to myself and to nature.
My cousin, Daniel, and I headed to Mount Watatic for a sunny, albeit windy day in the mountains. (Wind appears to be a springtime theme in MA/NH?) We opted to stay at lower elevation and closer to home because higher summits were forecasted for thunderstorms and rain. The perks of doing research and being prepared really helped us out! We needed this time to connect and explore together. As with our backpacking trip to Mount Carrigain in the summer of 2021, this trip was not short of quality time and conversation.
Read on for the trip report for Mount Watatic and what to expect if you decide to head there!
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Quick Guide to Purchasing and Preparing Traditional Matcha Tea
Okay, so you’ve been convinced by all the cute, vibrant green baked goods (I mean, matcha macarons?! Those cute lil green sammys couldn’t look better!) and matcha lattes that there’s somethin’ special about matcha. So you head to your local Whole Foods and make your way into the coffee/tea aisle. Behold, the matcha tea section! When you reach for the shiny tin that catches your eye, you notice there’s a LOT of matcha teas to choose from… and option paralysis settles in.
If you’re at all like me, you may stand in front of this section for over 30 minutes, trying to research what all the grades are, why some cost $30 and others are $12, and why some have added sugar. There’s all this talk about different regions, quality, and growing processes on the canisters. In the process, your phone probably starts telling you the battery is dying because your compulsive research is making it exhausted. You might end up buying one, but then get home and realize you made a terrible mistake by buying one that isn’t even grown in JAPAN! Hours of research later, you create a wee blog entry to share all you learned in hopes others don’t have the same paralyzing event in the tea aisle…
Lo and behold: this mini guide is born. I certainly don’t claim to be an expert, just trying to learn more! Here’s some things to consider for your next trip to the grocery store to buy matcha and how to prepare it the traditional way! Cute green drinks are underway…!
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