Christmas in March, Hiking the Hill and Mmmm Beer

This past weekend was all about the outdoors.  Saturday we headed to REI to spend a lot of money get some new stuff.  March is dividend time for REI members.  For those not in the know, if you pay $20 one time, you become a lifetime member of the REI co-op.  This lets you return items for up to a year after purchase even if you've used the item (even hiking boots), and you receive dividends from certain purchases once a year.  This year my dividend was $58 and I had a $25 gift card and I had a 20% off coupon. Christmas had arrived in March.
My husband found a new hiking hat, and I opted for a pair of Darn Tough hiking socks and a sleeping bag liner. I'm hoping to use the liner for a summer bag to save weight.  And I LOVE the socks.  They are definitely as great as everyone says they are.
On Sunday after some outside chores, we went on a hike.  My brilliant husband (don't tell him I called him that), suggested trying a new place to hike that wasn't too far away.  So off we went to Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve.  They have several trails to choose from, and most of the trails join each other which gives you the option to make your hike as long as you want it.  We took the Nature Trail to the Swamp Trail that followed Swamp Creek with all its little water falls then took the Quarry Trail.  We were supposed to pick up the Nature Trail to go back to the parking lot, but we somehow missed the blazes and ended up following the road back to the parking lot.  The terrain wasn't anything too strenuous- definitely not the AT, but enough to get your heart rate up in areas.
We all loved hiking the area and will definitely add it to our go to hike locations.  Added bonus, we headed towards home and managed to hit the Appalachian Brewing Company's Biergarten for a pint. 

It was the perfect way to end a great weekend.

Dividends are a Glorious Thing

This was my Easter basket.  The Easter Bunny didn't bring it, I had to buy it all myself, and I got in trouble with the husband for how much I spent.... but still worth it.  Three of the four of us heading out on this trip went to REI this weekend to get some last minute items.  March bring REI dividends and 20% coupons and both were burning holes in my pocket.  I ordered a new sleeping bag (it cost me $2 and change after the coupon and dividend), got some loksaks for food and trash, a waterproof compression sack for the new sleeping bag (but I got the Large instead of the Medium, now I want to take it back to get the Medium), a dry sack for holding all the food and hanging it from a tree (which I need to practice doing), freeze dried food, some ultra light tent stakes and a plastic bottle to use as a flask. But, because I want to lighten my load, I'm thinking of for going the flask. I think I'm going to be way too tired to bother with whiskey. 
Following the shopping spree, we hit a nearby pizza place with some of the best pizza I've had in a while, to have a planning meeting and lunch.  We worked out a game plan for our overnight stops, and talked about food and what items could be shared to save weight in each others' packs.   It was an awesome day.  The excitement is definitely building for this trip.