Throughout 2021, Sandra and I caught ourselves saying that this year was worse than 2020. It was a year that felt hard. Sandra was busy balancing both work and school… in a program that felt never-ending, and I was overwhelmed juggling writing deadlines and psychology work. In any downtime we had, we tried to find…
Our Glamping Trip to the Elk Island Geo Domes
This past week, Sandra and I finally had the chance for some relaxation, as my mom took Addie for the night and we escaped to one of these incredible geo domes for a romantic winter glamping trip. When we bought our bell tent, my search for information about canvas tents led me to websites offering…
Our Unsuccessful First Attempts at Winter Camping
Winter camping: it’s a romantic idea. Being cuddled up in a tent somewhere removed from the strains of the city, while snow falls around us and a fire roars sounds immediately appealing. At least, it does to me. I have been wanting to try winter camping for a long time. This year, our first year…
Winter is Here!
This year, winter came late, and we were blessed with a long, warm fall. But, as November rolled around, I found myself antsy for the snow. The clocks rolled back, leaving us with short days, and long, dark evenings without much to do. I’ve been waiting for snow so the ski hills can open, giving…
2021 Fall Reflection
I was so excited for fall: Apple picking, visiting the corn maze, harvesting our garden, and pumpkin everything. My dread about the colder weather and shorter days was mitigated by my excitement for making crab apple jelly with apples from our tree, doing some cozy fall baking with Addie, and taking family photos amidst the…
The Magic of the Toddler Years
This stage of life is not easy, but the challenges and barriers of the toddler years are balanced by the fact that the time spent in nature is infinitely more memorable. The mundane has become magical.
Getting Outside in a Winter City
During the worst stretches of winter, the desire to hibernate is strong: curl up somewhere warm and not reemerge until the world has thawed, but when winter is six months of the year, it is imperative to find a way to still get outside. I know, for me, my mental health during these long months depends on outdoor activity and sunlight. As a family, we are all-around happier and more connected when we spend days outdoors. So, while we may not come to love winter, we need to find a way to coexist with it. We need to make the best of the season.
About Our Blog and How It All Got Started
Hello, and welcome to our blog, Little Wild Life! In December of 2020, my partner, Sandra, and I came across the 1000 Hours Outside challenge: an internet movement, started by Ginny Yurich and her husband, encouraging parents to make outdoor time a priority for their children. The 1000-hour number is based on the terrifying statistic,…