Dreher Island State Park

Recently Chris, some of our friends, Luna, and I took a  weekend camping trip to Dreher Island State Park. Yes, in this crazy heat! Let me just say, camping in the middle of summer is an adventure and not for the faint of heart.

Chris and I are avid campers and outdoor enthusiast but, I for one, have trouble in this crazy heat. Chris being a born and raised Floridian can handle about any temperature but I grew in coal country West Virginia and do not fair to well in anything above 80 degrees. Thus, I was a little bit nervous to be tent camping in 90-100 degree weather. Not to mention our sweet pup has never been in weather that hot! She better be glad I love her, because I gave up my camp fan for her, ha!

Thank goodness our campsite was on the lake. If it was not for the cool breeze and ease of jumping in to the lake the heat would have been unbearable.Speaking of the lake, Luna got to try swimming for the first time. She was a little terrified at first but she figured out how to doggy paddle so quickly. She is scared of the waves but hopefully she will get over that the more she is exposed to them. Next time we go camping in the summer, I want to ensure that we bring some of our boats. I think that is the only activity one can do when it is that hot.

Camping in the south is always so different to me because the terrain, crowd, and weather are extremely different than what I group up doing. At Dreher the tent sites are this strange mix of dusty dirty and sand. Needless to say, you better plan on getting filthy! I love that when you walk around the campground you are surrounded by water and trees. It is truly gorgeous.

My tips if camping at Dreher:

1. This is a bit of a party scene as most people come here for the ease of access to the lake.
2. The only trashcan in the campgrounds is outside the campgrounds itself. If you have a pet, be prepared to walk their waste out there every single time. This was about a 1 mile walk for us.
3. Although the property is gorgeous the campsites and restrooms are not maintained that well. Our picnic table was on the verge of collapsing, had two giant burn holes in them, and the bathrooms were not the greatest.
4. People do not adhere to leave no trace. Be prepared to spend time picking up other people’s trash.
5. Make sure you bring swim suits and towels! You will want to go for a swim in the lake. The earlier in the day you go the less dirt and muck has washed close to the shore.
6. Watch out for all of the golf carts!
7. This is a big property, be prepared to drive around to get to the trails, camp store, and shelters.
8. Also, it is not the easiest to navigate. Spend some time looking at a map before you go!
9. To check in you will need to go to the camp store which is ways in to the park.
10. Enjoy relaxing! There is nothing like the refreshing feeling you get after a camping trip!

What I’ve Been Reading

I love when I have time to sit down and read. My goal for this year has been to read 100 books and I am doing pretty good thus far (You can follow me on Goodreads here). This month, I have luckily had a lot of time to read. I read 16 books this month {to be fair- some were cookbooks}!  Since this is such a ridiculous number of books, I am going to list my favorites of the month.

Life or Death – Michael Robotham

Michael Robotham is one of my favorite authors. I originally started reading his Joseph O’Loughlin series when I was studying abroad in London. It was a fun coincidence because these books are set in London. That series is fantastic. I was not sure what to expect with Life or Death because it is not part of the O’Loughlin series and it is actually set in Texas. I don’t want to give too much away about this book, but let me just say it is worth a read!

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Irin Carmon

This is not the best book that I have ever read but I enjoyed learning more about RBG and how hard she has worked her whole entire life. It is really inspiring to see her journey!

Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking: 101 Entirely Plant-based, mostly Gluten-Free, Easy and Delicious Recipes – Dana Shultz

I love Minimalist Baker‘s blog so much and have been meaning to get around to reading her cookbook. Now, I am a pretty picky eater and our home has food allergies so it is not often that I find a cookbook that fits our needs and has delicious recipes. But. This cookbook is incredible. I want to make almost every single dish in the book and plan on ordering it as soon as we move in to our new home! I can’t wait to try these recipes.

To finish out the month I am currently reading The Good Girl by Mary Kubica. This is the first novel I have read by Kubica but I think she might become one of my favorite authors. As I have been transitioning more in to adulthood, I find myself reading more non-fiction (at least I am trying) and thrillers. I love physiological thrillers/murder mystery/crime books.

What are your favorite genres?

 

How to beat {and handle} jet lag

I have never been the type of girl who gets jet lag. Going to and from England? No problem! Spending a month in the United Kingdom? I went back to work that Monday. But, I cringe when thinking about the jet lag I experienced coming home from Chris and I’s honeymoon. The 12 hour time difference between Hawaii and our home was just too much. I felt like a zombie upon my return.

I am a jerk when it comes to making sure you get on the local time {just ask Chris about Scotland 2014, ha!} because I really feel that it is the most beneficial thing you can do when traveling.

Here are my top tips on beating jet lag….

1. Get on the local schedule immediately! I know it can be so tempting to hop in to bed for a quick nap {let’s be honest they turn in to long naps!} after a long day of travel but this will not help. Instead when you reach your detestation, get checked in, freshen up, and explore your new location. Keep yourself busy! You will not regret it, I promise! 🙂
2. Try to sleep {or at least rest} on the plane. I can never sleep on an airplane but I do try my hardest to rest.  This will help you with #1 on the list. By resting, you will have more energy once you finally land in your destination.
3. Stay hydrated! It can be tempting to have the “free” soda or a some bubbly but drink as much water as you can. I know it is hard to drink a lot when traveling because you are running through the airport and hate to ask your seat mate to move but being hydrated is so important.
4. Wear comfy clothes. You do not have to look roll up in sweats for your flight but wear loose fitting clothes that you can move around easily in.
5. Use some lavender essential oil. Essential oils will not only allow you to not smell the stinky plane but essential oils have great therapeutic benefits.

What to do if you have a case of jet lag…

1. If you are experiencing a serious case of jet lag, still get on the local time but try going to bed early and sleeping in a little earlier than you normal would at home {but not too late! You don’t want to miss the sites!}.
2. Don’t get frustrated! It is totally normal. Just give your body time to adjust to your new schedule.

What are you favorite jet lag tips?  I would love for you to share them below!