Hidden Gems Near Harriman State Park

After spending a summer in Harriman State Park, I’ve gotta say, the area is wrongly overlooked. Far more accessible than the Catskills or the Adirondacks, Harriman and the surrounding areas boast comparable hikes and views only an hour outside of New York City. Within and nearby the park there are ample options for all sorts of lodging and activities, from upscale resorts and skiing to backcountry camping and swimming. The Appalachian Trail runs through the park, providing plenty of opportunities to hop on it for a day hike or just leave behind some trail magic for thru-hikers. Driving through the area gives you a taste of the gorgeous views and scenery that populate the region and shows you that you’re never very far from natural splendor around here.

My First Experience with Workaway

So it’s been a while!

Summer Reading

I got to read so much more this summer than I have in the past few years, and it’s been glorious. I feel like I’m constantly learning when I read every day. Thought provoking phrases and ideas have appeared in both the fiction and non-fiction I’ve tackled, so here are the notes I made.

DIY Geodes

I take back what I said in tenth-grade chemistry: I don’t hate science.

I hate chemistry class and the feeling of being so far behind I’d never catch up and the pages and pages of equations.

But not science. Science is really cool.

So it is with a respectful nod to science that I present to you my experience making geodes.

How to Give a Great Graduation Gift When You’re a Broke Student

Quick idea: Particularly after senior year, but all through high school, there are a lot of graduation parties. For friends, best friends, sort-of friends, family friends. And when you are also a high school kid or also graduating, the idea of graduation gifts for all those different degrees of friends is daunting, since the standard is a check.

Summer Floral Crown Tutorial

I’m well aware that plastic flower crowns are “inauthentic,” that they’re a summer 2015 hipster trend, that the authenticity, and that some people can’t stand them.

But honestly, I think they’re great. They’re simple, whimsical, and summery.

DIY Upcycle Transformation: Guitar Shelf

Turn an unused instrument into functional art with a straightforward DIY tutorial from refurbished-ideas.com!

DIY Crackle Dye Dorm Decor

I’m doing a nutty thing this fall called “going to college,” which means that much of the summer will be spent preparing. Filling out paperwork, sending documents, working out expenses, aaaaaaaaand dorm shopping. The fun part.

The Time I Painted a Person: DIY Body Painting

Anatomy and Physiology final project: adventure style. I used Walmart face paints to create a life-sized muscle diagram.

Hiking to the (almost) Top of Berks County

Summer time…you know what that means. Prepare to see social media feeds filled with seasonal adventures.  Or, continue reading and have one yourself.