It’s SO nice outside in North Carolina right now, and even though it’s always good for my soul to be outside it’s ESPECIALLY vital for my family and I right now. Being able to go out in the yard and into nature is something I’ve never been so appreciative of as I am now!! Having to be inside during the first half of quarantine with less-than-ideal weather and two babies I don’t want getting sick was HARD, but now that a beautiful spring is on its way it’s time to take the whole Brent fam OUTSIDE and get some fresh air and quality time together–and here’s how we’re doing just that!!

Fishing: If your local lakes and rivers still allow it, fishing is one of the ultimate ways to get outside and do so responsibly. Whether by boat or on the shoreline (check out updated rules and regulations before you go to make sure shore fishing is still allowed if that’s your plan!) I find that fishing is one of my favorite spring activities. Bass Pro is having some KILLER sales right now AND is doing 2-day shipping in most places!! I would normally suggest going into Bass Pro to Leni and Tim to see the fish in our local store, but here’s to hoping one of us catches one so she can have her aquatic moment outdoors, hah!

Hiking: So long as the trails are open and aren’t inundated with people, this is the perfect way to kill a lot of birds with one stone: take your dog, your kids, and your mindset if it needs fixing and hit the trails!! Everyone will get to experience (and learn about!) the beauty of God’s creation and wear themselves out by exercising all at the same time. Literally about to put on my hiking shoes and call this a mom winnnn.

Outdoor yoga: Let’s all reminisce and laugh about the time that I made Tim do outdoor yoga as a “surprise,” and then cry just a liiiiittle bit about how much I miss having a real yoga teacher in the flesh to laugh at Tim with me. Either way, outdoor yoga is a game changer after praying first thing on a warm morning.

Grilling: Hello, my name is Eva and I’m hardcore obsessed with my Traeger Grill. Now that that’s out of the way, I have to say that the Traeger is part of the reason we’re not eating courtesy of UberEats all the time. I feel like I’ve upped my grilling game simply because I want an extra excuse to be outside as much as possible–and their recipes are definitely helping that cause, too!!

Jogging: I loooove walking with Leni to our mailbox 10ish times a day (I wish I was exaggerating…) and doing little nature walks along the way, but I really find I feel my best if I’m able to stick Boone in his stroller and go for a jog. It helps me feel a lot more connected to what was “normal” for me pre-quarantine and has the added bonus of being outside and a little bit of a nap-hack for him.

Shooting your bow: Might I suggest the Eva Shockey Signature Series from Bowtech?! I need to take my own advice on this one because I’m 100000% rusty, hah!

Planting a garden: I definitely miss being able to go to local nurseries and touch and smell ALL the amazing plants and flowers, but that’s why I’m pumped to have found out that Home Depot is doing free deliveries and I think some Lowe’s stores even have curbside pickup?! We got our compost soil from Soil3 in their big yellow bags and I can’t wait to plant some herbs with Leni. Teaching her to appreciate (and work for, in the case of gardening and hunting or fishing!) where her food comes from is one of the responsibilities I take most seriously as her mom.

Playing games outside: Give me some corn hole and a glass of wine and I’m basically going to be as happy as I can be outside!! I can’t wait to kick Tim’s booty in a game soon (or try… he’s VERY competitive and VERY athletic so it’s a tough combo), but also love watching he and Leni play ANYTHING outside!! Cabela’s and Bass Pro carry TONS of outdoor toys and activities that are ready to ship so your kiddos can be entertained and in the outdoors all at the same time.

Hit the trails: I know not everyone has a QuietKat yet, but you should!! They’re super fun to ride and now is a great time to get one in advance of hunting season so you can get used to riding one. It took me a second, but once I got the hang of it I pretty much resolved to never walk to hunting camp again.

Check trail cams and prepare your stands: I’ll be writing a WHOLE blog dedicated to getting ready for hunting season soon, but Leni, Tim and I (and baby Boone!!) check our Stealth Cams and stands a lot. It doubles as a great nature walk and serves an important purpose in our family–getting ready for hunting season to fill the freezer!!

What do you like to do with your family outside?! Let me know in the comments below, and I can’t wait to share some fun recipes and more tips & tricks with you soon!! Make sure you subscribe to my newsletter so you get alllll the goods in your inbox each week.

See ya soon!!

-Eva

Photo credit to my girl Jennifer Wilson Photography!

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