Easter weekend!!!

Happy Easter or Passover weekend everyone…. Well the weather people were completely wrong in my opinion. The forecast said it was going to a rainy and depressing weekend. I ran on the boardwalk for a bit on Friday but I did not get very far because of the rain and my body. My sciatic always starts to act up when I start to push myself. However, Saturday was very nice by 4 pm, almost a run on the boardwalk weather. I did not get to really enjoy the day I worked 8am-7 pm. I hope everyone found the time to get outside and do something. Sunday or Easter/ Passover whichever is your preference was a beautiful day. I also did not get to enjoy it; I was working at the Sandbar in Brielle. I did however get to have a view of the inlet all day.  I did enjoy the amount of people that came out to have lunch over the water, not a traditional Easter brunch for many people this year. I still do not know how or why the forecast called for rain and thunderstorms all day. I hope it did not ruin anyone’s plans this Easter; a lot of people thought it would rain and did not make outdoor plans. However, spur of the moment ideas are usually the best. The weather channel should try and be more accurate. I hope this does not ruin anyone’s future plans. I am hoping this summer is full of beach days and outdoor living.

Brooklyn...

Hello everyone…Sorry for the delay in posts it has been a crazy few weeks. As you know this rain and thunderstorms have not let up the slightest. On April 15^th I was lucky enough to have a nice night to go to Brooklyn, New York. A few friends and I drove up there for our friend Elyse’s’ 26^th birthday. It was not a bad drive up there about an hour and a half and barely any traffic. There is also free street parking all around Brooklyn, which is nice; I hate paying for a parking garage in the city. We walked around for a bit and checked out the stores and bars around the area.  We were taking her to Brooklyn Bowl for the majority of the night to see a band. Brooklyn Bowl is a restaurant/ Bowling alley/ Venue; it was very busy there but not too crowded. There was a band called Ryan Montblu playing, it is a mix of blue grass, country and rock. I honestly could not tell when one song ended and the next began. I would highly suggest everyone checking him out. There is a song that he whistles through for a whole minute at some points while playing the guitar. I honestly think I would pass out if I whistled that long. The food there is also good; we just order a few appetizers to save time. There wings are amazing; I never tasted a sauce like that. We left at midnight, and almost ran out of gas. GPS does not work very well in the city when you are looking for gas, sadly. But my friend had a good time for her birthday and that is what is most important. Hope everyone had a good weekend. And please get out and see Brooklyn; they are really cleaning it up and have interesting spots to visit. It is almost like Asbury.

WEEKENDS...

Hey Everyone….So this weekend was filled with nice weather, I hope everyone got the chance to go outside and enjoy it. On Friday it was little rainy but that is to be expected in April. I hope that May will be warm and flowers will be ready bloom. On Saturday I sadly worked all day, but I got to enjoy  short bike ride shortly after getting off. My friend also had a surprise 30^th birthday party for her husband Joshua; it was outlaw cowboy themed. Everyone had to wear cowboy hats, sheriff badges, bandanas, and those neck ties that people wear. They set up a fire pit outside to keep everyone warm when the sun went down. All in all the party was a success and he was truly surprised when he showed up there. Sunday proved not to be as sunny as I was hoping it would be. But I did get to take a short 3 mile run on the boardwalk from seaside park boards to the end of the boardwalk in seaside heights. And it only took me about forty five minutes. So this can help show everyone that you can get outside and be productive in a short amount of time. I was also hoping to get some gardening done, but I did not have the time. I did however start to germinate some seeds. I want my garden to consist of cucumbers, tomatoes, raspberries, and anything else I can possibly find. The Christmas Tree store has a lot of deals on outside planters and seeds so that is helping keep the cost somewhat reasonable..hope everyone enjoyed the weekend

VERMONT...

Hey everyone! So I ventured up to Killington, Vermont for the weekend. I stopped by my boyfriend’s Chris’ friend Scott’s house in Hawthorne, NJ first to pack up my car; we left there around 7 pm on Friday.  Except for the accident and detour on the New York thruway, the trip was not very bad. Just being crapped in the back of my own car sucked but we made it there safe and sound. We got to my friends winter rental around 1230 pm, all of his roommates were still up playing card games and discussing their strategy to attack the mountain the next day.  We all went to bed shortly after and woke up at 8 am, we all have different rituals. I lay in bed till the very last minute I can, while the other guys in the house get up turn up loud music and jug coffee. But I am not a coffee or a loud music person, especially not that early in the morning. We got to the mountain and basically separated, most of the guys there go in the park all day to do tricks and make their own videos. Chris stayed with me, I am not the best snowboarder and Chris just got cleared from his doctor for his broken arm; so he needed to take it easy. I did fine all day and only fell a few times, except on the last run I actual fell off the lift while unloading. It was pretty  icy and somehow I caught and edge and slide into Chris taking us both out and my right arm bent back. It hurt pretty badly, but I shook it off and rode down the mountain. We got back to the cabin and I iced it for the night and went to bed. We all woke up again Sunday morning and headed to the mountain. My arm was pretty sore so I took it easy and only rode blues and greens for the day.  We drove back to New Jersey at 4 pm and got home at midnight. But it was an amazing weekend filled with blue skies and occasional snow showers. I suggest everyone try snowboarding or skiing at least once in their life. Or to go to a mountain and just take a gondola up to the peak to see the amazing views.

indoor or outdoor running?

So I really wanted to run the Tough Mudder in Pennsylvania this month but with my surgery and everything that came along with it, I haven't been able to train like how I wanted and needed to. I've been running around my block but I end up giving up when I pass my house or a street leading to my house. Some people are better outdoor runners, but I happen to be a better indoor runner. I need something in front of me to keep my mind off of my body aching and push through till I get a second wind. So I went to my friend Leah's gym, LA Fitness, today after I had class. It was okay they have good machines but for 30 dollars a month I might as well run outside, or buy my own treadmill for when I am home. I am kind of against gyms also, which is why this is tricky. I don't believe in staying indoors, I would rather be outside if I can. But the weather has been so off also and I need to train so I need to also bite the bullet and do whichever is going to get me to the point where I can run the Tough Mudder, or the next one for that matter. I am going to go to LA fit for the next two weeks, thanks mostly to their free two week offer, and continue to run outdoors also. I will track my miles and then I will decide which gets me run more and that will be what makes up my mind about indoor or outdoor running. Hopefully I will be able to compete in the next Tough Mudder, or other marathon I find.

MY WEEKEND!!

Hey all! This past weekend was simply gorgeous outside. Friday was warm and sunny and it got to be almost 75 degrees. I went to a Yoga class and had a massage with my boyfriend to celebrate our one year anniversary. Then we decided to get outdoors for the rest of the afternoon and morning. We stopped by a deli in Seaside Park and got a sandwich and a drink then biked up to the beach. It was a beautiful day to have a beach picnic. There were a few seagulls trying to steal our food, but they didn’t succeed, thankfully.  After we ate we decided to look from some sea glass and took a four mile walk down the beach and back. I barely found any sea glass, mostly because there are women who walk the beach every morning grabbing all the good pieces so I was too late. After the beach outing, we just biked around for the rest of the day enjoying the wonderful weather. I hope everyone got to enjoy it and do something fun. As for Saturday it was still nice but was windy but my friends and I built a bonfire on the beach to walk the moon rise. It was supposed to be the closest it will be for 15 years. The moon looked beautiful, almost a blood orange color as it rose up into the sky.  Sunday was just a crappy drawn out day, I some reading after I got off work and finished up some house chores. Well that was my weekend I hoped everyone enjoyed theirs and got outside for a bit.

Japan....

So I just wanted to talk a little about the earthquakes that are destroying the country of Japan. At first I only heard that there was an earthquake and thought nothing of it. But then after watching several news bulletins and reports, I realized the magnitude and seriousness of the earthquakes and what the situation that the people of Japan are being faced with.  There have been countless aftershocks after the initial earthquake that left the Japanese people in a state of panic and emergency. Tidal waves/tsunamis were striking the coast and taken out everything in their path. There has been nuclear power plant explosions and fires have been spreading. Thousands of people have died from what we know but the death toll could still rise. I even saw several videos were the docks and homes were destroyed and boats are just floating around or have sunk.  There was one video in particular that amazed me. It should a large shipping vessel being swallowed into the ocean; it almost looked like a gigantic whirl pool. It honestly looked fake like something you would see in a movie, like “the day after tomorrow” when they showed cruise ship In the middle of New York City. When you see something of that magnitude you think that it is a special effect not a real occurrence.  It scares me to think of what could possibly happen if an earth quake hit the Jersey Shore or anywhere close to here. Thousands of lives would be lost and millions of dollars in damage to businesses and life would occur. It makes me think that nothing is certain in anyone’s life. In my opinion Mother Nature is going to take its course, whether it be hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. Hopefully nothing like this happens again in the world for a least a few years.

st. pats day weekend parade.

Hey everybody…this past weekend was the start of my spring break. I couldn’t really do much because I had surgery on Thursday morning, so I was recuperating most of the time, but I tried to make the best of my weekend. This weekend was the Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Seaside Heights NJ. There was about 30,000 people in attendance and it was a beautiful day for it almost 60 degree weather, and the sun was out for a larger portion of the day.  The floats were very nice; my friend’s father was on the float for the fire fighters.  The children in the crowd really like the Dalmatian that they had sitting on the float.  They even had about hundred bagpiper’s and various marching bands from the surrounding high schools. Although around 2 pm the parade stopped and the crowds got drunker and more obnoxious. The bars have band or bagpipers and offer corned beef and cabbage or hot dogs all day. The police reported the next day that they issued around 1200 tickets, for various things. Like public intoxication, drunk driving, fighting and other minor disturbances. It just shows you that not a lot of people can handle their alcohol or partying for that matter. A nice day and thousands of people with unlimited amounts of alcohol is a dangerous combination. I spent most of my day at the Aztec; my friend’s bands were playing. Tsunami Rising from Philadelphia and Pasadena from Baltimore Maryland.  They are both original and write their own music, not too loud or noisy but they make you want to dance. They the following day the restaurant, The Crabs Claw, in Lavallette had both the bands come in and play acoustic set. The Crabs Claw offered Mimosa and a bloody Mary bar for people to nurse their hangovers with and corned beef and cabbage all day.  Me and my friends and family went there for the brunch and listened to good music. It was a good end to my weekend.  Hopefully I can get cleared by my post op sometime before next weekend.

The Saint..

This past weekend I went to The Saint in Asbury Park, NJ to see a few bands play. The Saint always has original and new artist coming in, so I suggest everyone check it out. The bands included NY Bartholomew, U Say USA, Killing the Messenger and Swindling Gypsies. My friend’s band is U Say USA, they are from Brooklyn they've been playing for 5 years now. It's hard to classify them under a certain Genre but they sound awesome and write their own music. Killing the Messenger was pretty awesome they have a female singer. She rocks out the whole time and keeps the energy flowing in the room, and ensures a good time for everyone. They have more of an upbeat music and their guitarist reminds you of Jimmy Hendrix, musically and his hair. Swindling Gypsies were also pretty awesome, they were really loud but still sounded good. For some reason NY Batholomew was not the best in my opinion, but they headlined. But that might just mean I have a bad taste in music. But this is just another way to get out of the house and do something. Asbury Park is undergoing major reconstruction the past few years. They have really nice restaurants and unique bars with some type of band playing all the time. Their board walk is also undergoing some revamping, and Asbury is just a train ride or car ride away for most people. Which can ensure people to be safe and to not drink and drive.

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE...

So this past weekend I participated in The Polar Plunge in Seaside Heights, NJ in order to raise money for The Special Olympics. There was over 20,000 people in attendance and we raised a little over 2 million dollars. This is the second year I did this, and the best weather. Although last year seemed to be a lot warmer outside, we actually had decent weather on saturday. But jumping in to Atlantic Ocean at a staggering 38 degrees and the the air temperature was 55 degrees isn't quite as comfortable as taking a bath or going into a hot tub. But it is all done for a great cause and helps other people reach their goals. There is also another event that I might to if I have time to train for it. It is called The Tough Mudder in Pennsylvania, a 19 obstacle and 12 miles that people run in order to raise money for the veterans, Special Olympics and autism. Last October was at the Freehold Raceway Track, I was not able to run it but I saw a bunch of my friends run. It is not something to do if you do not train or are weak at heart. A person really has to want to finish it or you will quit, most people do. By the end, you are covered in mud and soaked to the bone. The people who hold the events tell you to join or run with a group because half of the time single runners fail to finish. There is also BBQing, Bands and vendors for the families of the runners to enjoy. I suggest everyone check it out, if you do not compete please donate. I am really hoping to be able to run it this year.

MOVING!!!

So I moved all day yesterday, it was pretty hectic. With the weather being so windy, It turned the 4-5 move day to a 8 hour move day. So other than running in and out of house to pile more things into a truck I really did not get to enjoy the outdoors. But now it's Sunday and I just got back from an awesome run. For you runners out there I would or if you can stop by in Island Heights for a run along the boardwalk there. It is about a 3 mile run depending on where you start. It is pretty easy and the time flies while you are looking at the water and some boats go by as you run. And with it being kind of chilly today and breezy you need some good scenery to really motivate you to be outside. Since it is Presidents Day tomorrow and there is no school I plan on trying to take a run on the beach, maybe the boardwalk if I need some blockage from the wind. I also just found out that Toms River Fitness offers Yoga on the beach once it becomes nice outside. They said it should be around Brighton Ave in Seaside Park or on the south side of Casino Pier in Seaside Heights. If anyone knows of any other outdoor Yoga or Pilates, I would love to hear about them. Also, what is wrong with this weather? It was in the 60’s on Thursday and Friday and apparently it is supposed to snow on Tuesday. Hopefully it’s enough to get some sessions in on my friends Jibb in his backyard. I’ll try and post some pictures if I can.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE!!

Hello! So everyone wonders what to get that special someone for Valentine’s Day. I do not really think that you have to purchase a gift for that someone. All you have to do is make the day memorable. So keeping in mind with the outdoor theme for my blog I think that there are several things you could do. You can try and plan a picnic while you look for a geocache(if you don't know what one is please refer to my previous post) I know it's cold out but you can get your body temperature going will you hike to the spot and bring some hand warmers or make a little fire. Or you can go for a run with that special someone and have a dinner or lunch waiting for when you get back. My friend and her boyfriend went to a yoga class then made a healthy lunch with chicken, tomato and avocado wraps. You can also take a stroll on the beach, I think Berkeley Beach lets you build a bonfire and nestle up with your love and talk about what your dreams and goals are. I sadly will not be able to do any of these things until next week hopefully. I have entirely too many appointments at my spa, or you can take that special someone for a massage. It helps boost circulation, loosen muscles and get rid of tension, some massages help with lymphatic drainage so you can flush out your system and start a healthy life style with that special someone. There are also some classes you can take on how to massage one another, which will help you physically and mentally bond with each other. Happy Lovers Day everyone!

Geocaching...

 Hi everybody! My name is Karly, and I live in Toms River, NJ and I’m 26 years old. I’m starting this blog to try and help people to get outdoors and or do fun and interesting things. I get sick of sitting indoors and I think it’s better to get outside then to sit on a video game all day and night. I will try and post more than one thing a week but things can get hectic. Please ask me any questions you may have and I’ll be happy to answer you back. First I want to tell everyone about Geocaching, it’s almost like scavenger hunt hikes with boxes that are placed all around the world. You can download the app for free on any smartphone, blackberry or IPhone, it even points out with a compass where you are and how far the cache is from you. It’s a lot of fun There is almost always at least 4-5 in your town. I know that there is at least 20 just in Toms River alone. Today I went to Riverwood Park and hiked for about an half hour, it’s about 2-3 miles so it’s also a great exercise. There are 3 Geocaching sites there, you can visit all 3 or just one if you like, they’re called “Ding dong, ditch” “river in the wood” and “what you need to survive” each site has its own box, some look like army containers, and they have odds and ends in them. You are supposed to take something and leave something. Also sign your name in the little book inside. It’s interesting one of the sites had an entry from 2001 in it. Have fun guys!