Baseball and Small Town Charm

Last week, on Father's Day, my boyfriend and I left on our much anticipated Vermont excursion. On the way, and in order to break up the monotony and 10 hour trip can bring, we decided to stop at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Dating a baseball player and being an avid lover and fan of baseball myself, it was the perfect stop. They had just celebrated 75 years on June 12, and favorites like Cal Ripken, Jr. were there to celebrate. It's a neat stop that's definitely worth the detour. The town's shops along Main Street are all baseball related - bat shops, general stores named after Ty Cobb or Honus Wagner. As soon as you walk up to the building, the stats of the baseball teams are out on a board that gets updated daily. The handrails are even decorated with baseball bats and balls.

We easily spent the two hours on our parking meter in the museum, and even then we felt like we were rushing through everything. There is so much to see and do and read. Just like any other museum, there will be some things that hold your interest more than others. This one, especially, felt interesting from start to finish. Their gift shop, while holding some pricey items, was fantastic too. Because we were pressed for time, we didn't really see much of Cooperstown itself, but there are a lot of fun things to do and see in the area. They have a Youth League Hall of Fame, as well as cool art museums and other beautiful historic sights all placed along Otsego Lake.

If you're looking to go, here is some must-know info for your trip:

• The Hall of Fame Inductions are coming up July 25-28, so start planning ahead or work your visit around this weekend as it will be insane. The inductees for the Class of 2014 are Greg Maddux, Joe Torre, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa. The website with more information is here.
• Tickets are $19.50 for adults and it grants you all-day access. Let's say you want to spend as much time as you can there, but you want to grab lunch downtown. They stamp your hand so you can get back in whenever you want to pick up your browsing.
• There are three or four floors all full of memorabilia, information, uniforms . . . you name it. So mentally prepare for a lot of cool stuff.
• Tour guides are available at your convenience, and you'll see them standing around talking with visitors. If you have questions, they're great people to talk to.
• Remember that all pictures should be taken WITHOUT flash. There are some really neat, but really old, pieces that lose preservation with bright flashes of light.
• For more information, visit their website. The people who work there are friendly and willing to offer a helping hand.

Happy traveling! Adieu Caribou! xoxo

Virginia Beach

One of the best advantages of working at a boarding academy is the extra-curricular stuff you get to do. Because we're much smaller than public schools, our seniors get to take a class trip to a place of their choice (that they can afford). This year, I was invited by the senior class to go with them as a sponsor to Virginia Beach. Although I didn't know all of the seniors that well, I knew a few well enough, and I love the Virginia Beach area. How could I pass it up?

Virginia Aquarium

While we mostly went to the beach and the Busch Gardens/Water Country areas, there are tons of things within an hour and a half radius to be explored. I'm a huge history buff (I guess that's why I got a degree in it), so Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown are all places I could spend days and still feel like I haven't soaked up enough information. Jamestown, of course, was the first permanent English settlement that carried John Smith to the eastern shores of the North American continent in 1607. Williamsburg was not only the first location of an English government, but also served as the capital to the Virginia colony into the late 1700s. The College of William & Mary is also located in Williamsburg, and has a beautiful campus which has graduated three US Presidents. Yorktown was one of the most important sites of the Revolutionary War, where General Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington. Duh.

Virginia Aquarium

As well, there is a US Naval Base out toward the Virginia Beach area. When traveling across the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, you can look to your right or left and see Aircraft Carriers, Destroyers, and even the occasional fighter jet streaking across the sky. The military history along the southern coasts of Virginia is incredible.

However, we didn't see any of these things while we were there. We visited the beach frequently (we stayed in Sandbridge, renting two beach houses, which is an excellent idea), and went to the amusement parks. We also visited the aquarium. Busch Gardens is always worth a trip, for me. I'm a roller coaster junkie, and their coasters are pretty awesome. They have a new one, the Verbolten, which is the replacement of the Big Bad Wolf. It's a pretty good replacement. With most of the original coaster track still there, but repainted, there are definitely some new, thrilling additions. I would tell you, but it's definitely something you just have to experience for yourself.

Here are some tips for making a trip to amusement parks cheaper and maybe more enjoyable.

• Ask for water. At amusement parks, they are usually required to give out water cups if you ask. And it's free! There's no limit, so you can stay hydrated without paying for it.
• Look into picnicking. Check with the amusement park before you go, but some parks allow you to bring meals or to at least leave the park to go eat lunch at your car. You can get a stamp for reentry. But don't assume that all parks do this. Look into it!
• If you do buy food... look into meal plans and souvenir cups that come with free or cheaper refills. Especially if you have multiple people sharing.
• Skimp on souvenirs and in-park extras. It's really easy to look at a giant stuffed octopus and want it, but those $3 games add up quick. Also, things are so overpriced that money goes very quickly. Set a budget before you go and don't spend more than that. In fact, get cash out of an ATM and don't bring your card. Only spend what you got out.

Virginia Aquarium

Happy summer travels, folks! Vermont is the next on the list in the middle of June. Pictures will come when I get back :) Adieu Caribou! xoxo

Jeffersonian State of Mind

This past weekend, I travelled to Jefferson, TX where I was a history teacher for a couple of years. It was one of the coolest life-changing experiences ever, and the students there are so incredibly talented. They're stunning. So, I felt honored when the Class of 2014 asked me to teach Sabbath School and do special music on Sunday. I flew into Houston to see a friend and travel up to Jefferson with him. The road trip was fantastic, and the weekend overall couldn't have been better.

Jefferson itself is a small town with a population of less than 3,000. It's known for its Bed & Breakfasts, historic houses and its General Store. If you're ever traveling up or down 59 in Texas, you should take an hour or so to adventure through downtown. It's lovely and quaint. But, as I was discussing with my friend, it's not the buildings or sites that always make a place memorable. Most of the time, it's the people and the connection you make with them. That was definitely the case for me.

If you're interested in listening to the song we (my friend, Gabriel, from Houston and myself) did, the link to our practice session is here. The actual song is here.

Shoe Design

This is just a post for future reference - I'm currently a little tight on money because there are a lot of "adventures" coming up. I'm going to Texas in a couple of weeks, and then to Virginia shortly after. Of course, summer has a lot of promise: amusement parks, beach days, and going to Vermont. Lots of excitement.

However, I wanted to post this so I can come back to it when I have a little bit of free time and extra pocket change. It's designing a pair of TOMS. I'm not sure what I want to do yet, but I know I want a Maryland theme. I love our state flag, I love Natty Boh, crabs, Old Bay and the Orioles. So I'll have to keep those things in mind. I'm going to put a couple links to good DIY websites and a few pictures of things that inspired me. Yay! Get creative!

• Style Your Toms
• How to Paint Your Own TOMS
• Natural Canvas Classics (to buy for the project)

 Adieu Caribou! xoxo

I recently acquired some succulents. This is in part because they're basically the same thing as cacti and in part because I'm venturing out on my green thumb potential. What better plant to start out with than a cactus? (Or at least something similar to it.)

However, the first one I purchased in the beginning of March from Home Depot came in a cute little terracotta planter, and I thought "this is easy enough. Maybe spray it with water every other day and let it do its own thing." It wasn't until my mom came over one day and looked at the plant that I thought maybe I should rethink my approach. "Ashley," she said with surprise. "These plants do not look healthy! Are you sure you're watching them correctly?"

It turns out . . . I wasn't. So here are some tips and tricks to make your succulents the best they've ever been! (Well, it's trial and error, but this is what I've gathered from experience and from reading other blogs - which I'll have links to at the bottom.)

 

• Bright sunlight. If you're growing succulents indoors like myself, it's important for them to be in the brightest room in the house. From what I've read, they typically need at least 6 hours of good sunlight - a south-facing window is suggested. This is because these types of plants are used to desert environments, which get a lot of sun and also varying temperatures. If you have the opportunity to place them outside during spring and summer, that's ideal. If you notice your plants "stretching" for light, that probably means they're not getting enough sunlight.
• Well-draining soil. This is important. Make sure that your succulent is in a pot that has adequate drainage and that you're using cactus soil or something similar. It has characteristics of the soil that succulents are used to growing in. Your container should be terracotta, which is ideal. Some growers suggest non-glazed pots as they tend to retain water, but it's what works best for you and your plants.
• Watering. The amount that you need to water your succulents actually varies per season. If it's cooler (i.e. winter and late fall/early spring), your succulent will need less water. If it's late spring, summer, and early fall, your plants will need watered more. HOWEVER, it can become easy to overwater them, which you don't want to do. Some websites suggest watering once or twice a month during the winter and once a week during the summer. You should always pay attention to the dampness of your soil first and foremost. If it is bone dry, then you water it. This should happen a maximum of once a week, and your soil always needs to dry completely in between watering. You also need to pay attention to root rot, which occurs from over-watering.
• Pay attention. Most importantly, all of these things vary (trust me, I didn't like hearing that either). People have different methods for caring for their plants, but if you're doing something that isn't exactly like what people are telling you, it doesn't mean you're doing it wrong if your plants are responding positively to it. Have fun! That's the point of getting house plants, right? To nurture and see progress in the little things you're taking care of.

Here are some links that I found really helpful in learning how to care for my plants:

• DIY: How to Stop Killing Your Indoor Succulents by Erin Boyle, Gardenista
• Tips for Growing Succulents Indoors, Succulents and Sunshine
• Growing Succulents Indoors by Bayer (yeah, the aspirin people)
• How to: Care for Your Succulents by A Pair & A Spare

Enjoy your journey with succulents! If I can't be out doing something outdoors or because of something else (which is really hard when I want to be outside, but it's still cold and rainy where I am), adventure can be had by trying something new! For me, it's learning how to care for something I've kind of always want to, but never took the chance in doing.

Adieu Caribou! xoxo

Cherry Blossom Festival 2014

I started going to the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC in 2008 and have gone pretty consistently ever since. However, the past two years I was unable to because I was in Texas and it broke my heart. It's usually a tradition that my mom and I share, but she was in Florida this week so I took it upon myself to go on my own.

If you're ever worried about traveling to DC on your own, don't be. As long as you're by the monuments and Smithsonian, there is always security and usually a lot of tourists. If you decide to venture behind the Eisenhower Building and White House into "real DC," then you may want to take other people with you.

BUT the Cherry Blossom Festival is a beautiful celebration of the 3,000 cherry trees that were gifted to the United States in 1912 by the mayor of Tokyo in Japan. There are parades, famous cameo appearances, special art galleries and tons of Japanese culture that flood DC for two weeks. If you want more information on events (the festival ends on Sunday), click here to find out more.

Here are some tips that I have for making the most out of your experience:

• Get to know the camera you're using before you go. There are various settings you'll need to be acquainted with and you don't want to be stuck standing around the Tidal Basin looking at your camera like a foreign object. There are a lot of photographers that go, and they can get cranky if you're in their shot.
• Leave early. I drive from Washington County, and it can take a good hour and a half without traffic to get to Downtown DC. I woke up and left around 5 am and still hit traffic on 270, but I got there in time for the beautiful sunrise. It's probably the most beautiful thing you can see and take pictures of while there.
• Know where to park. If you get there early, the East Potomac parking is free and it's right by the Tidal Basin. Always my go-to when I go to DC. They also change the traffic patterns, so have a GPS handy if you're not good with maps and be free and open to having to change your route often.
• Have a tentative schedule in mind. Like I mentioned earlier, there are a ton of things going on during the festival. Weekends are always the busiest, so make sure you know what's planned. Even if you leave early, you're probably still going to run into crowds throughout the day. DC is a big city that's hard to realize when you're walking around such big structures, so plan time to walk between places and make it to your desired events early.
• Carry something to eat and drink with you. Always. This is probably a no-brainer, but something you should always do.

Happy traveling, folks!

Un Viaje de República Dominicana

I'm back :) We, our group of 17, returned on Monday evening safe, sound, and changed forever. I'm going to be posting my musings and photos on tumblr, but I'll try to post some of my absolute favorite pictures here in my spare time. Being back is weird. Like, let me emphasize this weird. I've had moments where I've cried unexpectedly coming home from class because the wrong type of song was on. I've had moments of determination to learn Spanish (so much determination that I think I downloaded some weird thing on my computer instead of what I was wanting to do. Advice: don't do torrents if you don't know how to do torrents).

It's almost like I know I'm not mentally prepared to ever go back to the normal ways of doing things. I carry keychains that were gifted to me on my work keys to remind me to always keep working hard and stay focused on what's really important. It's really, really hard sometimes when everyone else around you didn't experience the same things as you. They ask how your trip was - some care and some don't, and you just have to deal with that.

Anyway, below are some pictures. I'm hoping to get to DC this upcoming week for the Cherry Blossom Festival, so hopefully you'll start to see me more regularly. If you want to read more about the trip, my link to tumblr is here.

I laid this row of block by myself :)