Moving On...

Hello everyone. Today, we are announcing that we are moving on to bigger and better things here at the blog. We have recently rebranded with our Etsy store in mind, and we have started a new blog over at aroundourworldin80.com! From traveling to dates to thoughts on our mind, we will be bringing you some great content, all digestible in 80 seconds (or so)!

Don't worry, this blog will still be up and we will even feature some of it's content on a "Throwback Thursday" kind of format. But we knew it was time for us to take our blog to the next level with a great design and hopefully, great content!

If you have signed up to follow us via email in the past, you will still receive emails when new posts go up. If you haven't signed up yet, head over there and sign up under the "contact us" page!

Here's to bigger and better things ahead!

Maddie and Jared

The Thrill of Adventure

So it's finally summer! I think we will break into the 90s every day now here in North Texas and the sun has finally come out! I am so excited about all that summer brings and the adventures Jared and I have planned.

Speaking of which, some of those adventures include our newest endeavor...backpacking! Jared and I have always been interested in camping. We go all the time. But now, we are finally thinking about putting those fancy backpacks to good use and hitting the trails in the literal middle-of-nowhere.

Physically, this means I will have some different workouts going on. I still plan on running twice a week with my long run being five miles. Then I have a goal of riding my bike at least once a week. The rest of the workouts will focus more on strength in my back and arms so that I don't have to rely on my legs for all the work while hiking with my backpack on.

The biggest thing for me I think is going to be mental. As much as I say I love adventure, I get so anxious before traveling! I get nervous sweats at the airport waiting for planes. I get so anxious trying to plan for the "unknown."

So when thinking about backpacking, there is a ton of fear going on inside my head. When are we going to go? What trails are we going to take? How are we going to fit everything in our bags? What if we can't find a good campsite? What if we get lost? What if we see a bear????

I have been doing some research on fear this week for work. It's very interesting the studies that neuroscientists are conducting these days. One study is actually finding that we are wired as human beings to be optimistic by nature...assume the best about someone or something until proof of the worst. They also talk about how fear bypasses the logical part of the brain and goes straight to the emotional. But logic is how you quiet fear. No one fears a stampede of hippopotami followed by their car getting eaten by a T-rex when they drive on the highway because logic eliminates that possibility. When we see someone that's upset because of fear, we automatically try to help them calm down by using logic. And if we are having a really hard time, we can implement what scientists call "productive paranoia" where we plan for the worst case scenario while hoping for the best.

And that's kind of where I am right now. With my upcoming adventures, I am doing boatloads of research trying to arm myself with the knowledge needed in worst case scenarios (how to deal with a bear), as well as the skills to keep me from getting into worst case scenarios (buy a bear canister and use it appropriately). What's awesome is while I still get nervous about it, I am growing as a person because I am gaining new skills and learning new things about myself and what I am capable of doing.

I think God wants us to use fear, not be controlled by it. He wants us to develop courage, not limit ourselves because of anxiety. He wants us to continue to grow and learn and explore the world he created. So that's why I continue to travel, see new things and meet new people. Ultimately, I know that the best truth I can use against fear is the knowledge that God is in control and he has the ultimate power in any situation.

I recently re-watched an episode of Dr. Who where they search for the alien that might be the reason we as children fear the monster under the bed. But I love what Clara tells the child doctor at the end about fear:

"I know you’re afraid, but being afraid is alright. Because didn’t anybody ever tell you? Fear is a superpower. Fear can make you faster and cleverer and stronger. And one day you’re gonna come back to this barn and on that day you’re going to be very afraid indeed. But that’s okay, because if you’re very wise and very strong fear doesn’t have to make you cruel or cowardly. Fear can make you kind. It doesn’t matter if there’s nothing under the bed or in the dark so long as you know it’s okay to be afraid of it. So listen. If you listen to anything else, listen to this. You’re always gonna be afraid even if you learn to hide it. Fear is like a companion, a constant companion, always there. But that’s okay because fear can bring us together. Fear can bring you home. I’m gonna leave you something just so you’ll always remember. Fear makes companions of us all."

Clara explaining courage to a young boy during the "Listen" episode using a small army figure.

Memorial Day

This weekend will be full of people traveling and grilling and spending time with friends and family. And thank goodness because it's summer! I know friends and family that have much anticipated time off coming up and I am so excited for them.

Jared and I just got back from a whirlwind trip up to Washington D.C. He had work stuff up there and so we made a quick trip out of it. We woke up at 3:00 AM to get on a 5:15 AM flight. We were in DC by 9:00 and we ate breakfast at this awesome place called Wicked Waffle. It was SOOO good! And a great way to start out a touring day.

We started by geocaching along the mall. Most caches there are virtuals (can you imagine the potential bomb threats in DC with physical caches?) but it's fun to go to each monument and learn something new. Jared actually showed me a monument I hadn't been to (what???) for the signers of the Declaration of Independence. We also found the point where they measure all the highway miles on the South Side of the White House.

Mile 0!

I love touring DC. I find that each time I go I find a deeper and more mature appreciation for all the Americans that have gone before us to protect our freedom.

My great uncle, who is on the Vietnam Memorial

Hello Mr. Lincoln

Which is why I was a little disheartened by the second half of our touring. 

We went to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. This is one of my FAVORITE places. We got to go look at the gunboat Philadelphia. It was a small boat that helped delay the British from sailing down the Hudson River and split New York from the other colonies. Had this not happened, we wouldn't have had time to raise and train our army to fight in the Revolution. They found it at the bottom of the river 160 years later and brought it to the museum, cannonballs and artifacts and all. It was so incredible to see what these people did back then. And what drove them? This idea that the government did not have the authority to take all their money and dictate their lives.

What was disheartening was the amount of high school students there on field trips that seemed completely disinterested or were talking through the museum spouting incorrect information. It wasn't just the high school students either. While sitting and meditating about the War of 1812 in front of the flag that flew during that battle (one of the most awe inspiring displays ever) there was a mom who came in with her two year old and told him "Look, it's the very first American flag!" 

*Face palm*

I do admire her bringing her toddler to see American History. But I don't know what does more damage...not bringing your kid or teaching them incorrect information. Never mind that she had just walked through the first part of the exhibit explaining the story behind the flag. But apparently she didn't think it was important enough to get her facts straight before teaching her son something. 

I get it. He's two. There's plenty of time to get the record straight. But this instance, combined with several other examples just in the few hours we were touring, just highlighted to me the lack of interest people have for getting their facts straight. It's why political pundits can just spew lies about stats and history and get away with it. Because no one knows if they are telling the truth because they don't know their facts. Apathy is a killer. And it's people's apathy that is going to trap them from their potential as not just Americans, but as humans. 

Americans have built our nation on the ability to identify a problem and create a solution. Then they refine the solutions until it is the best it can be. But I have seen a trend in history where we balked at our ownership of innovation and told the government to take care of it. That's not the government's job and that's why it fails at many of the things it tries to do (Obamacare website perhaps as one of many examples?). 

While standing in the Lincoln Memorial, I always take time to stand and read the Gettysburg Address engraved on the side of the building. Something stood out to me this time. While standing at this site where so many Americans died, he said there's nothing we, the living, can do to add or subtract from this consecrated ground. Whether or not we dedicate this space makes no difference because the blood spilt makes it a sacred place. Rather, it is us, the ones alive, who should dedicate ourselves to finish the work they started. 

So this Memorial Day, I want to take the time to rededicate myself to the work that so many Americans have started. I'm killing apathy instead of letting it kill me. I want to help make sure that the ideas the Founding Fathers used to create this nation stand. We are nation with a government by the people and for the people. Not a government where some people can bully other people into submission. Not a government where we take more of your money to reward those who break the law or don't work. Not a government where we shame you for being "politically incorrect." Rather, we can, and should be, a government that gets out of your life and allows you to build things that benefits  people. Because American history has shown that when Americans succeed, the whole world benefits.

I'm taking time to do that today. I hope you do too. And God bless America so that we may become who we originally set out to be. 

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Abraham Lincoln

November 19, 1863

Disneyland Trip Report!

Today is going to be a long post, but I hope it's worth it because we are talking DISNEY today!

Mom and I went out west to hang out at Disneyland over Mother's Day. We participated in the Tinkerbell Half Marathon as well as checked out all the new stuff they had for Star Wars and the 60th anniversary.

First off, we used The Mouse for Less Travel Agency to help us book this trip. Since we are normally Disney WORLD goers, it was so helpful to have someone give us an idea on what to expect for Disneyland. Jeannette Cona-Larock is our agent and she is FANTASTIC! When it came to restaurant recommendations and photo pass questions, she was able to help us out with all of it. Definitely check them out next time you are looking to go to Disney. Their services do not cost you ANYTHING and it's so helpful to have someone help you with all the questions you may have.

We headed out early on Friday morning. With the time change, it was like we time warped. We arrived "shortly" after we had left!

After getting to the hotel and unpacking, first item on the list was to get to the expo to pick up our race packets. Then came our favorite, shopping! After visiting all the vendors we made our way down Downtown Disney to shop in all the fun stores they have there.

At the expo!

There are several fun vendors at the expo and we always love the photo ops they have available with the photo pass photographers!

Look mom! I got wings!

All the swag!

Dinner that night was at Napa Rose. It was seriously one of the best meals I have ever had!  

My tomato-bell pepper soup with shrimp!

The following morning, we rope-dropped California Adventure and rode several rides!

Hello Cars Land!

Going down Route 66!

I got to see Red! He's my favorite!

 While out and about we got to see Chip and Dale! They were so excited to see us!

Happy Chipmunks!

Lots of love from Dale!

We dropped into the Twilight Zone!

Toy Story is our favorite! I actually got the high score for our car!

We pretty much did everything in California Adventure we wanted to do by noon, so we headed over to Disneyland and checked out the new Star Wars stuff they had! The Launch Bay ended up being one of our favorite things on the trip. They had a great small film talking about the impact the past Star Wars films had on movie making and where they were going in the future.

Then we got to meet Kylo Ren! They had us stand in a hallway to wait and so we started chatting. Then suddenly, he appeared from around the corner and just stared us down! He finally invited us in and said "I sense you sympathize with the resistance." I said he was correct. He told me that was unfortunate...he could teach me about the dark side of the force. After our picture he told us to give his condolences to those in the resistance. It was one of the BEST character interactions I have ever had!

Kylo Ren trying to use Jedi mind tricks on me.

I guess it isn't appropriate to side hug Kylo Ren??? I didn't feel like it at all!

Outside the exit they had a place for you to take photos with a lightsaber! Haha.

I'm feeling it. Just need the robe!

The force run strong in my family!

We then checked out the Blue Bayou for lunch...one of my other favorite meals!

The menus lit up!

Before we left the park we ended up stopping to get mom her Mother's Day present...a silhouette of her with my brother and I (who sent me a picture before we left!). 

Hand cut. Saying hi to Walt as he looks over the town square!

That night we "carb loaded" at PCH Grill before going to bed early because the next day...we raced!

I could write a whole review about the Tinkerbell race, but I don't think I would be able to add any more than others have already written on other blogs. I enjoyed the course immensely. It was a little weird running down Main Street "backwards" away from the castle and not going down the main street for Cars Land. But the out and back nature of going through Anaheim helped the "non Disney" miles go by quicker. I am THRILLED that they switched to having Photopass photographers on the course because we were able to get awesome pictures like these!

About to run through the castle!

So awesome!

I don't know what we are smiling at, but we are apparently having a good time!

Finish line!

We did it!

My mother (who runs much faster than me) really pushed me on my pace this race. Not to mention we had just a great time chatting as we ticked off the miles. It was such a great race and we finished in pretty much 2:30 on the dot!

After the race we headed back to Disneyland. We got done so quick (and were able to walk back to our hotel) that we pretty much walked into the part shortly after it opened!

It's tradition...gotta take our pictures with our medals in front of the castle!

We rode our E ticket attractions today! Indiana Jones and Hyperspace Mountain galore! We also made our way to the Launch Bay again and we ran into Boba Fett!

Apparently I look like a spy that he needs to take back to Jabba the Hut.

Our second way through Hyperspace Mountain!

Let me say, Hyperspace Mountain was our favorite ride the whole trip! We loved the Star Wars overlay. Going up the hill and hearing the main title theme gave me goosebumps!

The rest of the evening we relaxed and saw the last things on our list.

Dole Whip while watching the Enchanted Tiki Room? Perfection!

Then we capped off the night with watching the Paint the Night Parade and the Disneyland Forever Fireworks!

We ended up snagging a spot on Main Street right before the parade started!

These shows were my fondest memories. Watching everyone interact together with the floats (which were spectacular in themselves) was hilarious. And then we all moved into the street together to watch the fireworks. Everyone was singing and dancing together as they moved from song to song. It literally feels like you are there with thousands of your best friends! 

The following morning we had to leave, but we didn't leave before hanging out with our favorite characters at Goofy's Kitchen!

Chef Pluto!!!

The character interactions took the "waffle" (get it? It's breakfast so not cake...). Dale recognized my ears to be like Pluto and he refused to take a photo with me until I took them off!

Of course, Pluto loved them!

Did I mention my favorite, gluten-free Mickey Waffles?????

Last goodbye!

Disneyland has such a special place in my heart. It was my first park as a baby and the history behind it strikes a chord in my heart. I actually like it being a smaller park. It does not lack for things to do and it feels more immersive due to the compactness of it. I prefer the Disneyland version of several rides (like Haunted Mansion, Pirates, It's a Small World, etc) as well. 

It was such a fun vacation. A whirlwind for sure...and I'm fairly certain I am still on California time. But we had such a wonderful time and lots of precious memories together. I know I will certainly cherish the fun Mom and I had together for a long, long time.

But the fun doesn't have to stop here! If you want a more in depth look you can check out all the Go Pro video I got from the trip! You can watch us on Radiator Racers, going upside down on California Screamin', hanging out in Tower of Terror, our awesome Jungle Cruise Skipper and more! 

Have a great rest of the day and see you real soon!

Serial Saturday: Communism

So one of the things that I have been very impressed with on my new subscription to "The Blaze TV" is their "serial" series. They discuss different topics and the history behind them. I don't know about everyone else. But in every history class I ever took we spent ages on years 1600-1950 and then crammed 1950-1990 into one day. So much happened during that time that directly affects us today and I have no idea what went on. Additionally, no one really taught about communism vs. capitalism in depth. No one explained progressivism to me. No one was unbiased enough to just give me the fact straight on.

There is never an unbiased agenda in the news but the thing with Glenn Beck is I feel like I know his bias. He doesn't hide it so I can take anything he says with the appropriate grain of salt. But I have found these serials he has been doing to be really helpful in understanding that recent history that I never got to study in depth.

Hope you enjoy.

Today's serial discusses the history of Communism. Even if you had to read Animal Farm, this might be a helpful history lesson on what has shaped much of history over the last hundred years.

Home Makeover: Egli Edition - The Garden!

Jared and I have talked about redoing our garden for a long time now. We finally made it happen on Monday!

The first thing we had to do was change out our sprinkler heads. The old ones wouldn't have cleared the new bed. Plus, these are directional so we won't be watering the fence any more!

Next we built the planter box. Jared made it out of cedar and it smelled incredible! 

Then we dug our trench for the underground hose that would lead from the house to the planter box. We are putting in a subterranean soaker hose to the garden so that even if we are out of town, the plants will still get watered. Once the trench was built, we put the box in place on top of some landscaping netting to keep any future weeds out!

Once that was done we filled in our trench and added dirt! We found a local place that had massive piles of dirt you can buy in bulk instead of the 1 cubic foot bags at Lowes. We got half and half for filler and organic garden dirt for the top. I had some sweet peppers going already along with some jalapeños, green bell peppers, strawberries and three kinds of tomatoes. Then, my blueberry came back after dying last year! So I was super excited to put it back in the garden, this time with some more shade. 

One of the most frustrating things last year was that I got one tomato and a bird took a big chunk out of it. So this year, we are adding a cage around the garden to protect it from birds and any other animals that might want to help themselves.

Test fitting the cage

All done!

I'm super excited about my garden and can't wait to see what it can produce this year! I'm getting more and more knowledge about how to grow things and I want it to pay off so bad! I guess we will have to wait a few more months to know!

Serial Saturday: Black American Founders

So one of the things that I have been very impressed with on my new subscription to "The Blaze TV" is their "serial" series. They discuss different topics and the history behind them. I don't know about everyone else. But in every history class I ever took we spent ages on years 1600-1950 and then crammed 1950-1990 into one day. So much happened during that time that directly affects us today and I have no idea what went on. Additionally, no one really taught about communism vs. capitalism in depth. No one explained progressivism to me. No one was unbiased enough to just give me the fact straight on.

There is never an unbiased agenda in the news but the thing with Glenn Beck is I feel like I know his bias. He doesn't hide it so I can take anything he says with the appropriate grain of salt. But I have found these serials he has been doing to be really helpful in understanding that recent history that I never got to study in depth.

Hope you enjoy.

Today's serial was from last February celebrating Black American History Month. While everyone focuses on Martin Luther King, I had never heard of many of these black American founders until now. I loved hearing their stories and found them truly inspiring.

Serial Saturday: Elections That Shaped America

So one of the things that I have been very impressed with on my new subscription to "The Blaze TV" is their "serial" series. They discuss different topics and the history behind them. I don't know about everyone else. But in every history class I ever took we spent ages on years 1600-1950 and then crammed 1950-1990 into one day. So much happened during that time that directly affects us today and I have no idea what went on. Additionally, no one really taught about communism vs. capitalism in depth. No one explained progressivism to me. No one was unbiased enough to just give me the fact straight on.

There is never an unbiased agenda in the news but the thing with Glenn Beck is I feel like I know his bias. He doesn't hide it so I can take anything he says with the appropriate grain of salt. But I have found these serials he has been doing to be really helpful in understanding that recent history that I never got to study in depth.

Hope you enjoy.

Today's serial goes through some of the biggest elections in how they shaped America. It helps document how progressivism has slowly taken over in both Democratic and Republican parties and defines what it's purpose is.

Movie Review: Zootopia!

This week Jared and I went out to see Zootopia! It's been on our list for a while. But if you know me, I can barely stand going to see a movie when I know it's nice outside. Low and behold a rainy day came and we made our way out to our local movie theatre for an afternoon showing.

Now, to give a review without a spoiler...

The premise of the movie is that Judy Hopps wants to be a police officer. Thing is, bunnies don't become cops. So her whole career is mostly trying to prove everyone wrong.

Judy unsuccessfully trying to make friends.

On the other hand, there is Nick who is a sly fox and lives up to societies standards that no one can trust a fox.

The two end up working together when Judy is assigned a case that her career as a police officer rides on. 

The great message of this movie is that society tries to bunch us together. Bunnies do this, foxes do that, zebras do this, etc. But for much of the movie animals wrestle with this. Do they go for it and break out of the stereotype and chase their dreams? Or do they concede and become who society tells them to be? 

In a day and age where many of us are grouped and labeled and those labels are used to divide us, this movie couldn't be more timely. Whether we group ourselves by race, faith or political views, many loud platforms try to then take these differing groups and pit us against each other. Why? Political gain, news ratings, who knows what goes on in our hearts to motivate this. However, it is so interesting that we can take a "kids movie" to gain perspective on what's going on in our society. We have gotten to a point where we are so divided we don't talk to anyone of an "opposite label" because we want to avoid the confrontation we are told we are supposed to have.

While life has kinda beat me into a realist, I can't help but hold on to a little bit of idealist that still lives inside of me. I know not everyone is going to believe the same things that I do. But I do believe we can still respect each other not despite, but because of our differing views. 

So as the title song goes for this movie, "I won't give up and I won't give in." "I wanna try even though I could fail."

Trying even though you may fail and make mistakes, is one of the purest forms of courage. 

Serial Saturday: Milton Friedman

So one of the things that I have been very impressed with on my new subscription to "The Blaze TV" is their "serial" series. They discuss different topics and the history behind them. I don't know about everyone else. But in every history class I ever took we spent ages on years 1600-1950 and then crammed 1950-1990 into one day. So much happened during that time that directly affects us today and I have no idea what went on. Additionally, no one really taught about communism vs. capitalism in depth. No one explained progressivism to me. No one was unbiased enough to just give me the fact straight on.

There is never an unbiased agenda in the news but the thing with Glenn Beck is I feel like I know his bias. He doesn't hide it so I can take anything he says with the appropriate grain of salt. But I have found these serials he has been doing to be really helpful in understanding that recent history that I never got to study in depth.

Hope you enjoy.

Today's serial is about Milton Friedman, a man I never knew existed until I listened to these serials. What he says about capitalism strikes a chord with me. However, the way he calmly explains his viewpoints to his dissenters speaks even more to me. I think we can learn a ton through his example on how to deal with conflict in a healthy manner.

Geocaching: Road to 600

So in case you didn't read all my other posts, Jared and I are big geocachers! Many of our trips camping or otherwise include geocaching. We find it enhances our trips and makes things fun. We not only see beautiful views but we learn a ton historically and educationally.

I've been trying to complete my "Finds in on a day" calendar. Basically, find a geocache for every date of the year, including Leap Year. Here's how I stand to date.

Only 163 more to go!

Naturally, trying to achieve this makes my geocaching find rate go up from 0.3425 caches/day in 2015 to 1.0849 caches/day. You then quickly rack up the numbers. So while it seemed like only yesterday we were celebrating 500 geocaches, 600 was coming up really soon.

Thing was, we had also started a Lord of the Rings themed series while this was all going on. We had found about half of the needed geocaches over subsequent trips. So when Jared came around and asked me if we wanted to not only grab all the rest of them, but to make the Puzzle final my 600th, I was game. There was only one catch...I needed 16 more caches and we only had 10 left in the LOTR series. So we had to make up the extra as we went along. 

But why read about it when you can watch the adventure! Check out the video below to see what the fuss was all about! (Keep in mind, it took us much longer to find the final geocache than 4 minutes, but I clipped most of the stuff out so you won't have to watch 22 minutes of dark screen haha). 

Serial Saturday: History of Taxes

So one of the things that I have been very impressed with on my new subscription to "The Blaze TV" is their "serial" series. They discuss different topics and the history behind them. I don't know about everyone else. But in every history class I ever took we spent ages on years 1600-1950 and then crammed 1950-1990 into one day. So much happened during that time that directly affects us today and I have no idea what went on. Additionally, no one really taught about communism vs. capitalism in depth. No one explained progressivism to me. No one was unbiased enough to just give me the fact straight on.

There is never an unbiased agenda in the news but the thing with Glenn Beck is I feel like I know his bias. He doesn't hide it so I can take anything he says with the appropriate grain of salt. But I have found these serials he has been doing to be really helpful in understanding that recent history that I never got to study in depth.

Hope you enjoy.

Today's serial is about the history of taxes in America. Thought it would be appropriate with Monday looming ahead.

My New Favorite Hang Out

I am so excited to talk about what might be one of my new obsessions...maybe not on the caliber of my Disney obsession, but it's up there. I'm talking about, my hammock!

Back in August, Jared and I went up to his family's reunion up in Pennsylvania. They live in Amish country. It was one of those times where I actually felt like a grown up because they actually let us rent a car from the airport and drive it three hours into the country. One of the favorite stores to visit while we are out there is called Peight's. It's kinda like Amish Walmart but the food quality is way better and the goods are much cheaper. One of those goods we bought was a hammock for $15. It's tiny and made of cotton rope but we finally got it put up on our back porch a few months after the trip at it quickly became one of my favorite spots. I love going out there and doing my quiet time. Reading my Bible and drinking my coffee is way better when enjoying the fresh air and letting the wind rock you back and forth.

Loving my hammock from PA

One issue is that it's a one person hammock. So if Jared and I wanted to hang out on the back porch, we didn't have two hammocks to hang out in. So inevitably, we would end up on opposite sides of the porch...one in the hammock and one at the patio furniture.

Fast forward to Christmas. REI was having a sale on their ENO hammocks and so I went ahead and bought one for Jared. It's a double hammock so I knew it would actually fit his tall frame unlike the Amish hammock would. He was very excited about it. And I have a live photo to prove it.

Jared with his new hammock!

Problem is, after Christmas is winter. Not hammock weather. So fast forward to spring when we finally get to try it out. Then Jared get's an idea.

"You know, there's all these cool hammock tents that they make for backpacking. We could use them and go backcountry in the woods and it would be so much more comfortable then sleeping on the ground in the tent."

Thus, a whole new adventure unfolded.

I give Jared credit. He did his research. He scoured YouTube for the best hammock set ups, things to think about, quality reviews, etc. He landed on a company called Sierra Madre Research. Not only are they great quality, but they also help provide clean water to communities that don't have access. Their story is actually one to check out and it is definitely worth your time.

So after watching all the youtube links that Jared sent me I finally got a sense for what he was wanting to do. And I was game. Skeptical...but game.

We then invested in a second hammock (the Pares from Sierra Madre), even bigger than the one from ENO that works with Sierra Madre Research's design. It's big enough for both of us if we only wanted to take one hammock and not bunk (good idea for cold weather, but not for hot). It came in a great package and I immediately went and set it up out on the porch. It was certainly super comfy. But it's one thing to set it up on your porch and a completely different thing to camp with it.

Loving how it folds up so small!

Testing it out on the porch! This thing is huge!

But we are people of planning (haha) and since we already had a camping trip down to Brenham planned, we just figured we would test out our set up as well. Jared learned what knots we needed to tie (I'm still working on that). And let me tell ya, it worked great!

I found it very comfortable. I made a couple of bug nets to go around the hammocks thanks to an instructable I found and Jared used a tarp to keep rain off us. We experienced two good solid Texas storms while out there but we were nice and dry. Duchess finally learned that under the tarp was better than outside the tarp. I was super comfortable. Jared read that when you sleep in a hammock, your back gets cold because of the thin hammock fabric. So before we left, he had me run to Home Depot while he was on a trip and buy Refectix, an insulator that they sometimes use in attics. It reflects 95% of your body heat back to you and we could definitely tell a difference when we slept on it in the hammock vs. not. I put my sleeping bag on top of that with our small camping pillow and I slept great, despite the storms going on.

Jared with our set up (tarp off at this point)

Speaking of which, that was another place we saw the hammock system really excel. Even though they weren't being good neighbors, we helped out the boy scout troop that pulled in next to us the second night we were out there. The morning after the biggest storm, they were talking about how their tents got flooded. The way the campsites were configured, we would have gotten flooded too because of where all the water was flowing. In a hammock, we didn't have to worry about that as we were off the ground and had made a homemade gear back to keep our stuff off the ground too.

So all in all, I'm sold. We are investing in a legit hammock tent set up called the Nube from Sierra Madre. The 2.0 version comes out June 2016. We plan on taking this set up with us when we go to the Smokies this year and even to Yosemite if the terrain is favorable. And, we figured if we have it, we might as well use it at Disney World since we are staying at the campgrounds for our trip!



Until then, you will find us on our back porch, in the hammock together. Saturday afternoon we had a wonderful nap in the hammock while a small cold front came in and a gentle rain was coming down. So peaceful. These are the moment's I'll remember.