Robinson State Park

A beautiful day meant it was time for another Adventure with Aubrey! This time we decided to
explore Robinson State Park in Agawam, MA. There was a $5 entry fee which it's a good thing I actually had some cash on me because I didn't look this up in advance. Most state parks have an entry fee though often ranging from $2-$5. You can also buy an annual pass from the state if you are a resident for $35. It costs more for out of state. I did take note though when we left that there are places you can park on the outskirts of the park and then hike in. Will definitely do this next time as they are by other trails Aubrey and I have yet to explore!

Robinson State Park is absolutely beautiful! The Westfield River runs alongside so you encounter lots of little streams throughout the woods. There is also an area where you can launch your kayak into the river. This is the area where I parked and entered to hike. There are plenty of trails to take in this area...I'm positive Aubrey and I covered every single one and every route possible in this area. (Hence my aching body today!) The trails do have markings on trees to keep track of where you are and many do lead back to the road that travels through the park if you get lost or confused of where you are.

Post hike, it was time to sit down as usual and have a healthy snack. We hiked past where the car was parked and headed to where they have a pond and small beach. The beach was staffed by two lifeguards but considering it was a cooler day, there was no one even there! Found a tree giving the perfect amount of shade needed alongside the pond and sat down on a blanket for some sliced granny smith apple, nectarine, veggie sticks and crackers.

Two little girls showed up at the beach sparking Aubrey's interest so we did wander over there. Well more like I chased her over there because she saw kids and toys and ran as fast as her little legs could take her to go socialize. Sure enough, I wound up having to take off her clothes and shoes, as well as my socks and shoes because my beach bum wanted to go into the water. So we had some impromptu beach fun in the sun :)

Overall a great day at Robinson State Park! A fun place for families, hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, beaching and picnicking! Scouted out some other areas I intend to explore next on the drive out and what do you know, Aubrey fell asleep in the car, hopefully dreaming about her fun and exciting wilderness experience...

Below is a slideshow of pictures I took of our adventure: 

Music used in slideshow: Two Coins by Dispatch

For more information: Robinson State Park
Here is a printable Trail Map!

Robinson State Park is located:

462 North St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
413-786-2877

They are open 10:00am - 6:00pm Sunday-Thursday.

Enders CT State Forest Hike

Well if you live in Western MA, then you know that this past Sunday was GORGEOUS. Absolutely perfect weather. Which makes for a great opportunity to go on a hike with my baby girl! Hmmm, where to hike? Thank goodness for good 'ole google on my cellphone where I just said "nearby hiking trails" and VOILA, up popped a ton of options. I thanked the phone for being awesome, checked the map and just picked a trail! Enders CT State Forest it was and only 15 mins away at that.

Not exactly a trip where you have to load up the diaper bag. So I packed a few necessities into my child's chariot for the day. The Kelty FC 3.0 Child Carrier. Sound snazzy? Cause it is. It is the new highlight of mine (and well Aubrey's) life. I'm a bargain hunter and I found it being sold at a store where things have been "gently used." I'm pretty sure it was a gift someone didn't want or just wouldn't use because it was in brand new condition at a not brand new price. SOLD. It was MINE. Best day ever. Getting sidetracked with my love for this hiking carrier....anyway....packed 2 diapers, travel wipes, 3 peaches, baggy of baby cookies, water bottle for me, juice/water bottle for Aubrey and clipped on my camera to the carrier and a toy for Aubrey in case nature for some reason wasn't going to be entertaining enough.

The smartphone is so smart and it really only took 15 mins to get there, enough time to give Aubrey a pep talk about the adventure to come and get excited with some good jams. Parking is right next to the path that leads down into the state forest and it's trails/not trails/woods (it is hiking, not a walk in the park) which was very convenient. Aubrey was easily put into the hiking carrier, I strapped her onto me and we were on our way! As we got to the bottom of the path, the sound of the waterfalls was all you could hear. And boy was it a beautiful, serene sound that I could listen to all day. Aubrey's reaction to all this..."WOWWWW, WHOAAA, WOWWW." Put that on repeat, that would be her review of the hike and seeing the waterfalls. Really though, she explains it best! I was thinking the same thing, she just said it.

There were people scattered throughout this adventure, with children as well, climbing all throughout the forest, rocks, and waterfalls. Dogs were getting their hike in too for the day with their owners, having a grand time in the forest. Many places were VERY, VERY steep and I was careful to avoid those. Safety first, especially when you have a one year old in a big hiking carrier strapped to you. Most people seemed to have been there before and were equipped with towels and bathing suits because there are places to swim a little and play in the pools from the waterfalls.

The video and pictures below can best describe the rest of our adventure. We explored all over and it was simply a perfect day. After our hike, we went back up to the parking area, sat on a blanket and ate some peaches together. YUM! I definitely will be going back there with Aubrey. Who knew such a beautiful place was so close?

Peaches! YUM!

I have the best co-hiker!

A good hike makes for a tired baby!

                                      
Enders CT State Forest is located at:
Route 219
Granby, CT 06090

Background Track Used in Video: Jack Johnson - Never Know

Public Breastfeeding. Put A Cover Over YOUR Head.

If it hasn't been made clear, I am a huge breastfeeding advocate. Like the saying goes, "Breast is best." Once again this morning I saw yet ANOTHER video and article where a woman was shamed for breastfeeding her infant in public. Let's start with the basic facts. It is LEGAL in all 50 states to breastfeed in public. And 45 states have laws that specifically allow women to breastfeed in any public or private location.

As it states on the website of the National Conference of State Legislatures;

"Both mothers and children benefit from breast milk. Breast milk contains antibodies that protect infants from bacteria and viruses. Breastfed children have fewer ear, respiratory and urinary tract infections and have diarrhea less often. Infants who are exclusively breastfed tend to need fewer health care visits, prescriptions and hospitalizations resulting in a lower total medical care cost compared to never-breastfed infants. Breastfeeding also provides long-term preventative effects for the mother, including an earlier return to pre-pregnancy weight and a reduced risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer and osteoporosis."

You read all those benefits right? I'm pretty sure it stated all these incredible facts about it being the most beneficial way to FEED your child and people in society have a PROBLEM with this? How about we make a bigger deal about a mother giving her toddler a soda because there is nothing healthy or beneficial about that. But no, we attack the selfless mother who is putting her child as her number one priority.

If anyone has witnessed first hand someone breastfeeding...you can't really see much. (Well I also suppose that depends on how much boobage you've been blessed with.) But you can't see the "indecent" part, the nipple. I've seen more exposure from a teenager wearing a low cut tank top in the mall. Many mothers also use nursing covers like myself. And also like I've experienced, sometimes you don't because well your child is crying and hungry so heck you whip it out for your kid and get them fed. In instances like this, I cover my small cleavage with my hand and guess what you can't see anything or the way my clothes are, you would think I'm just holding my infant against me.

Here's the thing though. If you have a problem with public breastfeeding then you are against breastfeeding in general. Plain and simple. When I sit down in the middle of the mall, in the patio section at Target, at a table for dinner in a restaurant and I go to whip it out cause my child is hungry, how about YOU LOOK AWAY.  Put a cover over YOUR head while you eat and see how it feels. Because quite frankly if you are not my significant other you really shouldn't be staring at my boobs anyway!

My daughter is now 13 months old and yes I am still breastfeeding. It creates such an amazing bond and I will be sad when the day comes that it is over. I will miss the night feedings and cuddling. I will miss burning 300-500 calories a day in the easiest way possible while benefiting my child's health at the same time. (<-- awesome right?) We are working on weaning a little here and there as I have an impending surgery in the near future so I can't nurse due to the post surgery prescriptions I will be given. But until that time, I will still be nursing in public. And hopefully I am in a place when it needs to happen that I can simply find a seat because feeling like the only place to go sometimes to feed your child is on a toilet seat in the bathroom is wrong. Would you want to eat there? Don't shame me, don't ask me to feed my hungry child somewhere else because the momma bear in me will come out.

Maybe the next time you see a breastfeeding mother, you can say something as simple as "It's really great that you have chosen to breastfeed your child. Good job Mom. You're doing great." Support the breastfeeding mothers because you know what it is hard and tiring sometimes but it is a sacrifice worth making. And sometimes we need to hear a little reassurance and get a little pat on the back every now and then to keep going. Here's a pat on the back to every momma out there breastfeeding and to those just starting and it hurts, it WILL get better. The first week is the hardest. YOU GO MOM! YOU ROCK!

This is the night my daughter Aubrey was born. July 7, 2012. 

First of all, WELCOME! Thank you for stopping by Life's A Beach. My name is Marissa and I am very excited to be able to share this blog with everyone. If you haven't guessed my favorite place is the beach. It is my sanctuary, a place I could be ALL day long! A place to clear your mind, have fun, exercise, eat, drink and be merry. So that's what this blog will be about. It will be fun including posts about fitness, health, shopping deals, crafts, food, drinks and momming. Yes I just made up a word. Momming. It's what I do best!

My newly one year old daughter Aubrey is my world and I am the luckiest momma to have been blessed with such a sweet baby girl. As some of you know, yes, I am a PROUD single mom. I am not ashamed of this but hey I want to make sure I get all the credit of raising her and providing for her! With mom and dad duties, you bet your tush besides taking my daughter for a ride in her bike trailer that I assembled it too!

` Photo Credit: LA Photographer Melissa Bergen

Now I can't forget to mention my other family member. My cat, Cali. She is two years old and my cuddly fuzzball. Be prepared for the many posts involving the adventures of Aubrey and Cali. They are a modern day Tom and Jerry. Always getting into shenanigans together but at the end of the day they love each other! Their relationship is adorable and quite hilarious.

 

I am all about positivity and finding the good in everyone and everything. It's how I choose to live my life. The golden rule "Treat others how you would like to be treated" is my motto. Cause guess what? Life is not always a "beach"....sometimes it's a "b**ch" (this blogs alter ego :p) and there is this little thing in life called KARMA. No matter how rough life may get sometimes, even if we feel we are caught in a riptide and only being pulled down further, keep swimming my friends! It's going to be OK! Just be a good person, always do the right thing and do right by others. Smile at strangers, offer a helping hand to someone in need and remember that your family is your #1. Be humble, honest, selfless, laugh A LOT, have FUN in life, go OUTSIDE and I promise you will find the happiness you seek. :)

Well I guess that's an intro to me and my little family and what this blog is about. I welcome constructive criticism, topics you want discussed and posts you would like to see! 

Life's A Beach. Wear Your Sunscreen. ;)

XOXO,

Marissa