Natural Insect Repellent

Summer's nearly here, and everywhere I turn, someone is celebrating. Celebrating the end of the school year, more family togetherness, and outdoor adventure time.

We already have plenty of outdoor adventures and family time, but for us, summer means a huge increase in water activities and.....mosquitos.  The time for dousing ourselves in sun screen and bug spray is in full swing, so when I heard about Buglet Bracelets, I knew we definitely needed to try them.

Buglet sent us 2 bracelets and a bottle of their Bug Repellent Essential Oil Blend to try out for free, and they are so awesome!  

Buglets are basically slap bracelets (Yes! Like when we were kids), with a diffuser pad that slips on, making it look sort of like a watch, where you apply a few drops of the oil.  They sell diffuser pads in different colors, and even animal shapes, that are interchangeable, making them fun for littles, or "cool" for older kids.   

I love that the ingredients are just natural essential oils like Citronella, Lemongrass, etc., instead of harsh chemicals like other bug repellents.

Here in Florida, I think we might benefit from wearing one on our ankle in addition to the bracelet on our wrist, because the mosquitos are so prevalent here, but they do make a difference.  Normally, I'm the first one to want to leave when it's super buggy out, but when Cole took his Buglet off, I wore it for a while, and I was barely bothered!

Check out Buglet's Facebook page to see more of the bracelets in action!  

Have you tried Buglets?  Leave a comment, I'd love to hear how they worked for you!  

  

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Strawberry Fields

We spent last Monday visiting a nearby berry patch where we picked our hearts out.  If you've never gone berry picking before, go now.  It's so much fun.  Plus, there's just something about picking it yourself that helps you really appreciate your food.
This transfers to children as well.
Trust me.

We couldn't keep the boys out of the basket on the way home, so a full pound of strawberries never even made it to the sink for rinsing.  

It's been nearly a week and our berry basket is beginning to look scant.  The boys are already asking when we'll be going back to pick some more.  

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Jekyll Island

A few weeks ago, we took a day trip to Jekyll Island, Ga.  It's not a very far drive from where we live, and it is gorgeous! It's a perfect day trip/weekend getaway if you're looking to leave behind the bustle of everyday life.  There's so much nature to be explored, you won't even think of checking your facebook, making to-do lists, or grocery shopping.  It's so easy to leave all of that behind in the beauty of the island, which was just what we needed.

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Tomoka State Park

Remember when we went to Bulow Plantation Ruins looking for this park?  Well, we finally found it, and it's still pretty awesome.  We took a walk along the gorgeous banks of the river, and then stood in awe at the huge statue of Chief Tomokie.  Even though we know the statue isn't that old, we like to pretend that it's from ancient times (it just makes it a little more magical). 

Here's what the Florida State Parks' website says about Tomoka State Park:

"Native Americans once dwelled here, living off fish-filled lagoons. Today, these waters are popular for canoeing, boating, and fishing. The park protects a variety of wildlife habitats and endangered species, such as the West Indian manatee. Tomoka is a bird-watcher's paradise, with over 160 species sighted, especially during the spring and fall migrations. Visitors can stroll a one-half mile nature trail through a hardwood hammock that was once an indigo field for an 18th century British landowner. A boat ramp gives boaters and canoeists access to the river. The Park Store offers snacks, camping supplies, and canoe rentals. Contact 386-673-0022 for more information. For overnight stays, the park has full-facility campsites and youth camping. Located three miles north of Ormond Beach on North Beach Street."

Lots of trails, tons of picnic worthy spots, and serious fishing availability.  At $5 per car load, it's definitely worth checking out if you're passing through.

Tomoka State Park

2099 N Beach St.

Ormond Beach, FL 32174

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A Walk

In the quiet of the morning.

When the children have gone off to school, and the people off to work.

When no one is on the path but the retirees and snowbirds, strolling hand in hand along the water's edge, who offer you a friendly smile and a well wish for the day.  Or the occasional mother, jogging behind her wee one who rides comfortably in a stroller.

When the loudest sounds you hear seem to be the squirrels searching the woods for their breakfast, or an occasional small boat rolling past.

This is when I'm feeling so blessed to live in a town as lovely as ours, where nature, beauty, and recreation for its citizens seems to lie in the forefront of official decision making.

Blessed to have places to take scenic morning walks away from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.

Soaking in the energy from the natural world that surrounds.

Enjoy your day.

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Adventuring

 

 

A friend told us about a trail just out of town that we hadn't heard about, so we'd been were itching to check it out.  We love exploring new territory, but hubby was especially excited because he'd heard there were some awesome biking trails there.  Even with the slight cooling of the weather here, it was pretty buggy out, so we didn't make it too far before we became a breakfast buffet for the mosquitoes and had to turn back.   

 

I don't know where our attraction to banana spiders comes from.  Perhaps it's the fact that they are just so huge.  Or maybe it's that you can get so close to them and really examine them from all sides while they are sitting up in their webs, waiting for a meal.  I suspect it's mostly because you always need to be on the lookout for them while in the woods, unless you'd like to wear one on your face since they build their webs almost anywhere.   

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Florida Autumn

  

 

 

The arrival of autumn in Florida, most importantly to us, means the beginning to bearable weather during nature walks. There are no orange and red leaves decorating the trees quite yet. No, instead we enjoy examining the enormous banana spiders and taking notice of the oranges slowly changing colors on our trees. Not cool, crisp weather like you would imagine other parts of the country to be having during this time. Just a dialing down of the sweltering heat and humidity that plague us during the summer months; and for that we are grateful. To be outside in a nonwater related activity is such a treat after the long, hot months of summer. We take full advantage of our few degree drop in temperatures and spend as much time as possible enjoying our landscape.

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