Yellowstone National Park | Trip Recap (Where to Stay, Eat, & Explore)

Hi lovely reader! Over the summer I visited Yellowstone National Park for the first time. As a typical beach vacationer a trip of this type was completely new to me and there was a certain level of going in blind that came with it. I relied a lot on watching people's vlogs and reading their blog posts so I wanted to share a quick recap of my own learnings to hopefully help anyone else in the same boat. (this post and the links included are not in any way sponsored or affiliated with Yellowstone National Park) 

Where to Stay: Canyon Lodge - As you'll see on this map, it's centrally located between the two main loops within the park, the rooms are quaint, clean, and the beds were comfortable which is all you want after being out all day. 

Where to Eat: I say this with all respect to the park and the people who work at the food spots (who were all SO nice), Yellowstone is somewhere you go for the nature/views and not for the food. The food situation was honestly the only shock or negative experience of the trip. Canyon Lodge has a couple of food options that I would equate to college dining halls, plastic trays, go down the line and pick what you want. There are a few spots with restaurant, waiter to table service including Old Faithful Inn, Roosevelt Lodge (it was giving Camp Walden vibes from the Parent Trap) and the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. The saving grace and real winner of the food situation though was the huckleberry ice cream. Canyon Lodge has an ice cream shop and their huckleberry ice cream is swirled with huckleberry jam, absolutely delicious. 10/10 would recommend.

What to Explore: We did the North loop one day and the Southern Loop in two parts for two days. A few of my favorite spots that we saw were the Grand Canyon Yellowstone and Inspiration Point, Artists Cove (this was my favorite view of the trip), Gibbons Falls, Grand Prismatic Springs and Lamar Valley.

What to Pack: All the climate options, while this really depends on what time of year you go, having options and layers is key. We were wearing winter coats in the morning some days and t-shirts by the afternoon. I also would highly recommend a pair of binoculars, I rolled my eyes at this one initially thinking my camera would be enough (also would highly recommend a camera and not just using your phone for photos) but there were some animals we saw so far in the distance, they wouldn't have shown up otherwise.

All in all it was a great trip and I would highly recommend anyone check it out! Everywhere you look is like a painting, unreal colors and natural wonders! 

5 Ways to Find Relaxation in these Stressful Times | National Relaxation Day 2020

 Hi lovely reader! Happy National Relaxation Day! The idea of slowing down and unwinding may seem a lot more near and dear than it ever has for some and for others the idea of taking a moment to exhale may seem farther away than ever. This year has forced many of us to slow down and realize of how much of a "go, go, go" society we have become. But I also know that for many, especially for our amazing essential workers, there has been no slowing down but instead a new gear has been shifted into place and these people are working harder than ever. So with that in mind I wanted to create a list of five things that I like to do to find some inner peace and relaxation, whether you have only a few minutes to spare or a whole day. I think that the most important way to relaxation is to do something that you want to do so please do not force yourself into something that society or I list as "relaxing". If you've tried yoga and it's not your thing, don't force yourself into doing it and get frustrated thinking "This is supposed to be relaxing! Why am I not relaxed??". You do you! The concept of asking myself "What do I want to do right now or today?" had become so foreign to but once I started consciously asking myself this question I felt so much better internally and more at peace with how I was going about my day. So take a look at this list and see if any of these options stand out to you and if not just try to take a moment and ask yourself what you need in this moment. 

1. Do Some Yoga 

I know that this is probably at the top of most lists for "ways to relax" but yoga has really helped me with finding a sense of relaxation since I began practicing regularly about a year ago. It helps me to focus on the present moment and forget about everything else that is going on in my life for the time that I am on my mat. I have created a playlist for a 45 minute flow which I have linked below and is available on my Spotify. 

If you are newer to yoga or want to give it a try I highly suggest checking out "Yoga with Adriene" on YouTube. She has a massive catalog of videos for all levels, time frames and does monthly classes that build on each other. Check out some of my favorites below,

2. Go Outside

Fresh air can work wonders! If the weather is nice, venture outside! Go for a walk and put on your favorite playlist, grab a book that you've been wanting to read and sit on a socially distanced picnic blanket in the grass at your local park, even taking your lunch break outside if you are able to can give you a little boost and a feeling of being refreshed for the rest of your day.

3. Bake Something  

As I said earlier, everyone's idea of a relaxing activity is different...I know for some of my friends baking equals stress and frustration so again, if you know it's not for you, try something else! For me baking has always been relaxing because it requires focus which keeps my mind from racing about everything else going on. I have linked a couple of my favorites recipes that I have shared on the blog below.

"The Best Cookies" - Inspired by Ben's Cookies
Chewy Chocolate Cookies with Melty Candy Bar Bits

Eton Mess

Crushed Meringues with Cream and Strawberries

DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies
Delicious Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

4. Journal

Take a seat somewhere comfy, put on some nice background music, get out a notebook and a pen and just write, paragraphs, bullet points, anything. This is something I've started doing since the pandemic began and it really has helped me mentally! Sometimes you may feel like you have nothing to share and then three pages later you'll realize you actually had a lot to unload. You could write about your day, your mood, whats going on in the world and how you feel about it, a prayer or a message to someone you wish to connect with or even a past event. Releasing things onto a page can truly feel like a weight has been lifted and that your mind has been cleared.

5. Watercolor Painting

Trying to find creative outlets is also something I have done during quarantine. I used to draw and paint all the time when I was little and as I got older I fell out of the habit as many of us do. So before lockdown began I found an old sketch book and bought some Crayola watercolor paints and started researching tutorials on YouTube. The feeling of painting and "doing art" felt so nostalgic to me, it made me happy and reminded me how much creative outlets can be stress relievers! I've linked a few of my favorite tutorials below!

I hope these tips help you to have a peaceful "National Relaxation Day"! If you have any suggestions of other ways to de-stress feel free to leave them in the comments! Xx