April Photo Challenge!

Welcome to April's Photography Challenge on North East Bloggers!  I can't wait to see everyone's photos!

This month's theme is: family.

Remember you can link up either a blog post OR a link to a photo on your instagram (or other photo account if you like).  Please remember to link directly to your photo or the blog post containing your photo!  

I will also choose a random blogger who linked up to the challenge to be featured in next month's challenge post!

After you link up your photo please remember to check out the other photos people have posted and go visit and leave them a nice comment!  

P.S.- Next month's theme will be: Color

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Weekend Wander

Welcome to Weekend Wander!

Here's what to do:

1. Link up with your favorite/best post from this past week that you want to share with everyone!

2. Make sure you are linking up your POST and not just your blog link!

3. Visit 3-4 other blogs and leave them a nice comment!

4. Be sure to come back on Sunday to check out new link ups because this hop is open all weekend!

Let's get hoppin!

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NE Life: Living and Working in the Hudson Valley

In 1998, I took a solo trip around the United States and my last destination was the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. I had found out about it while working at Borders Books and Music when I opened a box that was full of Omega catalogs. This was summer 1997. 

After my Intro Weekend in ‘98, I realized over the winter that going back would be good for me. I applied for a seasonal position and was hired to work in the kitchen for the ‘99 season.

Working at Omega is definitely it’s own world. It’s often referred to as ‘the Omega bubble’ by those who work there. You are nearly 10 miles from town (Rhinebeck) and a little country store is about two miles away which many stop at while walking around the lake. Farmland and rolling hills calm the mind and soothe the spirit on these serene walks or bike rides.

I used to bike into town once a week or so, just to get back into the world, read a newspaper or see a movie. I could usually get there in under an hour and never got tired of it. Just thinking about it, makes me want to relocate there.

Charming Towns

The Hudson Valley is known for its quaint and picturesque towns and villages. Well kept, and lots to see, villages like Rhinebeck, Woodstock, New Paltz and many others are sprinkled throughout. Ideal for shopping, eating, site seeing, festivals and much more--you are sure to enjoy your time there.

One of the most memorable sites I visited was the Mohonk Mountain House. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. “How was this built!?” I asked myself. It’s such a magical structure, but something you rarely hear about. I haven’t been there in over ten years, but it still stands out. And New Paltz is a little over five miles away, so if you want to enjoy night life in a college town, you can. 

Back at Omega

If you haven’t been to Omega, I highly recommend you go. Either to work during the season (May-October) or take one of the weekend or week long workshops. It opened up a new way of being for me and have nothing but fond memories. The last time I worked there was 2003 and have only been by once or twice to visit. The good thing is it’s only about 75 miles away. When I’m ready for a relaxation period, that’s where I’ll go.

Do you have a post about life in the Northeast you'd like to have featured on North East Bloggers Network?  Please email it to us!

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Today's guest post comes from Ryan. Ryan is a North East blogger living in New York and the founder of Calaban.

Blog of the Week: A 'lil HooHaa

This week's blog of the week is PJ's blog: A 'lil HooHaa!

One of my favorite photo subjects is covered bridges and we're lucky to have several historical ones in out area.

My name is P.J. and I’m the dude behind A ‘lil HooHaa, a personal blog that has been doing in some form or another since 2005. But, despite being a blog for nearly seven years, I still have no idea what my deal is when it comes to blogging. 

The reality is, the only day during the week where anything is guaranteed is Saturday, when I post an old family photo in my Snapshot Saturday feature. It’s a hit with family. 

Outside of that, you can expect to see pretty much anything else. I might post about some sort of food thing I’ve found or worked on. Maybe some sports. I write about hobbies, brewing beer, life and how it can kick the crap out of you, a job hunt that ends with more denials than anything else, and anything else I can come up with.  

Sometimes I work on being funny. Other times, I’m serious. As a former newspaper writer, I even dive in and write some journalistic stories. 

I'm an avid geocacher, a game where people hide things out in the world and others, with the coordinates, go and find and sign the log.

Basically, I write because I can l look back at a decade from now and it will be a diary of my life. 

As for me, I’m in my 30s, have no clue what I want to be when I grow up and try and keep my head above water. I live in a small town in upstate New York. For those who are baseball fans, I’m not far from Cooperstown. 

I love being outside, watching sports, having a fine beer and searching for the perfect hot dog. I try to be as active as I can and have many hobbies, such as geocaching, disc golf, photography, homebrewing, going on a nice bike ride and exploring new places. A lot of that, in turn, becomes a major part of A ‘lil HooHaa.

Thanks for sharing with us PJ!  Be sure to go check out his blog this week: A 'lil HooHaa!

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Announcing: NEBN Photography Challenge!

I am excited to announce the North East Bloggers Network monthly photography challenge!  Each month on the last Monday of the month we will post the Photography Challenge hop.  There will be a different theme each month to challenge you and show of your photography skills!  You can link up with the hop with either your blog post containing your photography challenge photo OR you instagram photo for that months challenge!  Additionally, I am going to pick a random entry each month to be spotlighted in the next month's Photography Challenge post!

This month's theme is: "Family."   

This month's photography challenge hop will take place on Monday, April 29th and is open to all North East bloggers!

Because it's only a week away I decided to go with an easy theme for this month.  Each month in the Photography Challenge post I will announce the theme for the next month so you can be prepared.  I hope you guys are excited about this challenge!

Remember- there are TWO ways you can link up with this hop!  You can link up a blog post with your photo for the challenge or you can link up your photo from your instagram account! 

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Weekend Wander Hop

Welcome to the Weekend Wander Hop!  This is a chance for you to showcase your favorite blog post from this week and meet some of your fellow bloggers!

Hop Rules:

1. Link up your favorite post from the past week, not just your blog url!

2. Visit at least 3 other blogs and leave a nice comment!

This hop is open all weekend, so don't forget to come back on Sunday to see any new blogs that linked up since you did!

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25 Ways to Celebrate Spring!

Spring is in full bloom now and Kristen has some great ideas on how to celebrate! 

1. Plant some seeds with the kids! Teaching our children where our food comes from is a life lesson. 
2. Get to every playground in your area!  They are SO much more fun before it's oppressive out.  Enjoy them now, even if they are wet!  Get some boots on and get out there!
3. Two words: PUDDLE STOMPING.  Then send your pictures here: Muddy Puddles Project.  Instead of saying you can't play outside in the rain, dress them in their raincoats and boots, and let them out!!
4. How about a Road Race?  Many 5ks and road races include a family portion or a 'fun run.'  What a great way to get moving!
5. Volunteer.  Find an outdoor clean-up project or community garden and help to beautify your village.  
6. Check out a local CSA for summer veggies!
7. Find a place to walk, rail trail, nature reserve, etc.  Take the alphabet hike sheet with you! (see printable at the bottom of the post!)
8. Bubbles.  Not just the little ones.
9. Find a huge hill.  Roll down the whole thing.
10. Play.with.water.  Put it in pots, tupperware, spray bottles, water bottles, and send the kids outside.  Let them experiment and make mud.  Let them fill up their toys and dump them out.  Let them get their clothes wet.  Let them get their shoes wet.  They.will.dry.
11. Campfire.
12. Sidewalk chalk.  Nothing fancy.  Just let them color all over everything.  Trees, streets, toys, rocks, everything.  Relax.  It washes off.
13. If you're close enough, get to the beach.  Not to swim, to walk, build, collect, picnic.
14. Pick whatever is fresh, whenever it's fresh.
15. Lemonade ice pops.
16. Everyday it's above 40 degrees go for a walk.  Let your kids lead the way, choose the direction you leave from your house, find things to talk about, and decide when to turn around. 
17. Fill the kiddie pool with warm water.  Let them at it!
18. Go for a drive with all the windows down.
19. Sit outside, quiet, and listen for everything you can hear for 1 minute (or as long as your kids can wait).  Talk about everything you heard.
20. Get some SPRING related books from the library.  Read them outside the library on a blanket.
21. Go fishing! (or send your kids fishing with someone who knows how haha)
22. Flashlight tag.  
23. Make water snoopers.  Put on some boots.  Find a stream.  Snoop!  (1 number 10 can - with the two ends removed, plastic wrap held on one end with a rubber band, put the plastic end into the water, see what's underneath!)
24. Obstacle courses and relay races.
25. Swing.  As high as you can.  Jump off.  The kids will love to see you be a kid. <3

What are some of your ideas for celebrating spring?

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Today's guest post is written by Kristen of One Organic Mama. Kristen is a North East Blogger, teacher, mama and "fake crunchy."