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Income & Traffic Report – March 2019

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Text overlay March 2019 Income and Traffic Report and a bar graph

I’m hoping that by now you know what this post is about, but if not I’ll give ya the quick version. I’ve decided to spend this year consistently showing up. Part of that process includes me taking a little time each month to review how the previous one went. It’s not always a fun post for me to write, but it is a good way to keep track of my accomplishments, things I need to work on and remind me that showing up pays off. So without further ado, here’s how March went.

blog work this month

March Blog Posts

What I Worked On This Month

  • Figuring out how to get ahead on this whole one post per week thing. I’ve come up with a system to batch create posts in a way that works for me. Don’t worry I’ll share my system soon, but I still have to iron out the kinks. As you can see from the list above it’s already paying off. I managed to publish a lot of content in March and I’m hoping to keep this gravy train going in April.
  • I started incorporating one of my big scary goals into the content of this blog to keep me accountable. My secret dream is that one day a pattern I design will show up on your water bottle or your favorite piece of hiking gear.
  • I worked through another module of Irresistible Email and made some changes to my newsletter format.
  • I went back and did some SEO optimization on this post and this one too!

The Numbers

March 2019 Revenue Total: $1.38

  • Income Breakdown
    • Amazon Affiliate Income: $1.38
    • Awin Affiliate Income: $0.00

Monthly Blog Expenses Total: $57

**A note about the links below. Several of them are affiliate links. Which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

I you remember (and I hope you don’t), I lost $1.30 last month…so technically I’m up eight whole cents in March!

March Traffic Numbers

march traffic report google analytics graph

March seems to have been a good month for the blog. My pageviews went from 918 last month to 1313 in March. Not a huge jump, but I’ll take it! I had a pretty major spike on March 18th and I can’t quite figure it out. If anyone knows how to I’d appreciate the help.

Once again my best performing blog post was Perfect 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary: Grand Canyon Plus Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon . That’s three months in a row!

March on Social Media

Most Popular Instagram Post:

woman dancing in living room

The wheels really fell off on Instagram for me this month. I posted a mere 7 times in the feed…and way fewer Stories than usual. AND YET my engagement rate was higher this month than in the past….it’s perplexing.

My top performing post was this one where I danced like a fool out of sheer joy. Thank you to everyone who kindly double tapped or wrote a comment. Ya’ll are the best.

Conclusions and Going Forward

Well I didn’t quite meet all of my March goals, but I did work through several things on my list. I managed to hit publish many more times than last month, I SEO-ed two old posts and I worked my way through another module of Irresistible Email.

The place where I fell short was on the Instagram front. I posted more sporadically than usual and didn’t even manage to meet my 3 posts in the feed per week baseline. I could get really down on this, but quite frankly I’m not going to bother. This thing is always going to ebb and flow. Some months you win and some months you lose.

Goals for April:

  • Continue publishing 1 post per week.
  • Reach the point where I have one month’s worth of posts ready to publish.
  • Instagram was on the back burner in March, and it may well be the same in April. I’m trying to come up with a IG plan at the moment. BUT until that comes to fruition, I’m gonna just keep trying to do my best.
  • Participate in at least 1 collaborative post.
  • Go back and update SEO on 1 post.

9 Podcast Recommendations for Indoorsy & Outdoorsy Listeners

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You might have caught my post last month called 15 Outdoor Podcasts to Listen to Between Adventures. I love each and every one of those shows and listen to them as often as I can. BUT I also like to listen to other stuff…like some of the favorite feminist podcast recommendations, podcasts about design, podcasts food and body image and podcasts about other things I’m curious about. This is a list of those podcasts.

microphone with text overlay 9 podcast recommendations you don't wanna miss

Podcasts I’m Loving:

favorite feminist podcast recommendations

Favorite Feminist Podcast Recommendations

Unladylike

I warned you that I enjoy listening to several feminist podcasts. This one is probably my favorite…aside from The Waves. Cristen and Caroline are hilarious, fun, sensitive and amazing storytellers. They’ve opened my eyes to all kinds of things I had never thought about. If you love them like me you might also want to check out their book, Unladylike: A Field Guide to Smashing the Patriarchy and Claiming Your Space.

Hosts Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin investigate how sisters are doin’ it for themselves in spite of all those unwritten but all-too-real bullsh*t expectations of how we should live our lives. Each episode starts with a question that C&C tackle through their trademark obsessive research, stories from rule-breakin’ ladies and a solid dose of delightful feminist rage. 

The Waves

I listen to these ladies weekly and am rarely disappointed. Each week they cover three topics about gender, politics, pop culture and tons of other topics where gender comes into play. You can also look forward to their recommendations which have brought me to all sorts of great things.

The Waves, formerly known as the Double X Gabfest, is a weekly conversation about news and culture examined through the lens of gender and feminism. Every Thursday, join the hosts—including Invisibilia co-host Hanna Rosin, New York magazine’s Noreen Malone, Slate Podcasts’ June Thomas, Slate staff writer Christina Cauterucci, Marcia Chatelain of Georgetown University, and Thirst Aid Kit’s Nichole Perkins—for frank discussions about the ways gender shapes everything. Our new name reflects generations of women from the various waves of feminism, the sound waves that carry us to your ears, and the waves we intend to make.

food, body image and bravery podcasts

Podcasts about Food, Body Image & Bravery

Love Food

If you struggle with food and body issues like so many of us I highly recommend this podcast. Julie Duffy Dillon approaches food and our complicated relationship with food, body image and trauma in a kind, thoughtful way. She offers great advice and brings on guests to cover hard topics in a way that is gentle and helpful.

What if you could write a letter to Food? Pen to paper, you hash out the love/hate relationship and Food’s undeserving power. Details go back years, to your first childhood diet trying to fit in. In this letter, you examine your dusty Food beliefs and wonder which go in the trash, are for others, and which remain in your heart. What if you wrote this all down and Food wrote you back? This is Love, Food. It’s a weekly podcast series for those with a complicated relationship with Food hoping to rewrite their fate.

Harder to Kill Radio with Steph Gaudreau

My sister recommended this one and over the last month it’s become one of my favorites. In particular I love this episode titled Dealing with Negative Body Image w/ Beauty Redefined – Harder to Kill Radio 183.

Steph Gaudreau from Stupid Easy Paleo interviews the best experts in fitness, nutrition, sleep, and mindset so you can apply their lessons to optimizing your own health and wellness. Discover how to improve your health using a multi-faceted, holistic approach so you can spend more time doing the things you enjoy in life instead of being a slave to diet and exercise. Steph weaves her science teaching experience with her holistic nutritionist training and years as a competitive athlete into a rich tapestry supplemented by the experiences of her expert guests to bring you a useful show. Topics range from paleo, primal, real food nutrition, weightlifting, CrossFit, mobility, interval training, fitness, personal development, mindset work, meditation, sleep, stress management and more to help you dial in your lifestyle.

Do it scared with Ruth Soukup

I’ve been trying to stay away from blogger/entreprenwur podcasts lately mostly because they were stressing me out. Ruth covers business, blogging, life struggles and all kinds of topics and situations where you can use your bravery to push you forward. Her book of the same name comes out in May.
Do It Scared: Finding the Courage to Face Your Fears, Overcome Adversity, and Create a Life You Love

Do It Scared™ with Ruth Soukup is the podcast created to help you face your fears, overcome adversity, and create a life you LOVE. Each week you’ll discover actionable strategies for greater productivity, motivation, entrepreneurship, creativity, fulfillment, success, and happiness, along with the motivation and encouragement to actually start making real changes that lead to big results. Each week we’ll address topics that delve into those things that we are so afraid of, and how it holds us back in our day to day lives—then focus on easy-to-implement advice for how we can face our fears and overcome adversity in order to create a life we truly love. The podcast will also feature bi-weekly interviews with authors, influencers, and other notable guests who have dared to do it scared in their own lives.

creative, mystical and curious podcast recommendations

Creative, Mystical and Curious Podcasts

99% Invisible

This is the podcast for people who are curious about the world around them. My current favorite episode is The Secret Lives of Color, but that will probably change next week.

99% Invisible is about all the thought that goes into the things we don’t think about — the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world. With over 250 million downloads, 99% Invisible is one of the most popular podcasts on iTunes and is available on RadioPublic, via RSS and through other apps.

Tarot for the Wild Soul

If you follow me on Instagram or subscribe to my Schmoozletter you already know that I recently signed up for an eight week tarot course called Tarot for the Wild Soul. This podcast is by Lindsay Mack, the teacher of that course.

Hosted by Lindsay Mack, Tarot for the Wild Soul is a weekly podcast that looks at Tarot as medicine, exploring it from a soul centered lens.

It is a weaving of unique tarot lessons, Ask Lindsay episodes, intuitively channeled downloads for the month ahead, and medicine interviews with folx who embody the essence of certain Tarot cards, or live in alignment with the Tarot in their lives.

Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness

Have you been watching Queer Eye? If you haven’t you should leave this blog post immediately. Jonathan Van Ness hosts this eclectic podcast that answers questions about anything and everything.

A weekly exploration of all the things Jonathan Van Ness (Queer Eye, Gay of Thrones) is curious about. Come on a journey with Jonathan and experts in their respective fields as they get curious about anything and everything under the sun.

weekly must listen podcast political gabfest

Weekly Must Listen

Slate Political Gabfest

I have zero interest in making this blog political, but I had to include this podcast because some weeks it’s the only thing I listen to. Funny enough none of these amazing writers work for Slate anymore, but they still come together weekly to discuss the weeks news and events. It’s my must listen every week.

A favorite of Stephen Colbert, which should be a good enough endorsement for this podcast! Each week the Slate Gabfest Team of Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz focus their attention on the week’s high profile political developments with their trademark banter, incisive analysis of the important issues of the day, plus a nugget of fun water cooler conversation. Enjoy this entertaining and hugely informative podcast on demand.

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Life Experiment: Surface Pattern Design

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I live in a world filled with surface pattern design. Some people go for solid colors, muted colors, or subtle textures.

Not me.

I go for big bold graphic surface pattern designs. I’ve been this way since I can remember. Gravitating towards a Minnie Mouse red and white polka dot, picking up the striped t-shirt instead of the solid and drooling over Marimekko fabrics.

Pictures of sketches, sketchbooks and colored pencils with text overlay saying Life Experiment; Creating My First Surface Pattern Designs

You might not know this about me, but I work full time as a book conservator (a weird very niche career that I love). But before I went to grad school to study this tiny weird morsel of the world I worked as a graphic designer. I did this for what I now consider a blip of time. I worked for a special collections library (which is where I found out about book conservation) and I also worked for an online marketing company. Sadly, both of these jobs were very dissatisfying from a design point of view. I was very constricted in my work and spent a lot of time explaining why every design element didn’t need to be shiny and rounded.

Looking back now I realize that I didn’t like working as a graphic designer because I didn’t love what I was creating. I loved surface pattern design. I went through a period where I designed weird wrapping papers and shopping bags. I dreamed of somehow turning those designs into real rolls of gift wrap, but alas it was the early 2000’s and there was no Society6, Spoonflower or REDBUBBLE to upload my work to and share it with the world. So I went to graduate school and left that whole surface pattern design idea behind.

Until now that is.

I’ve been telling myself for years that I was going to get back to that eventually…I know we’ve all been there.

Well, this year I decided to bring that goal towards the front of the queue. I started doodling more, creative journaling, and listening to some pretty amazing ladies.

It was one of those ladies that led me to start a “life experiment”.

What the hell is a life experiment?

Well according to Sarajane Case it’s “30 days of small intentional action that builds or breaks a habit. I’ve decided to think of my life experiments as a way to slowly build the bridge to creating surface pattern designs. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to go from doing zero drawing to creating a surface pattern. For me that was way too big a jump. So I’ve been slowly working to build up the drawing habit to bring me closer to creating a pattern. Here’s a little glimpse on the experiments I’ve done so far this year.

Small sketchbook with drawing of arugula leaves surrounded by dots

February Life Experiment: Journaling & Doodling

So in February I started doing some creative journaling. I used journal prompts to get myself thinking about a topic or a feeling and once I was done writing I drew whatever came to mind. One day that was Ariel from The Little Mermaid, another it was arugula leaves and dots. To me it didn’t matter what I drew or wrote, so long as I kept doing it.

That concentrated week of journaling led me to start keeping a bullet journal. Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t have one of those incredibly beautiful bullet journals filled with elaborate drawings and meticulously drawn out spreads. I have a bullet journal that meets my needs. Which for me means it’s simple, tracks what I want tracked, and gets me to sit down once a day and write a journal entry. I’ve been keeping this practice for several weeks now and have found that I really love it.

Sketchbook filled with small drawings of nature patterns in pen.

March Life Experiment: Draw in 5 Boxes

This month I decided my task would be to draw in five boxes three times a week. Sometimes an entire piece of paper can be really intimidating, so to get over that I break it up into smaller chunks. The five boxes can be any size or shape and I can fill them with whatever I want. Some days I take pictures of things I want to draw later. Other days I sit and draw while I wait for Catherine to get off work. If I’m being completely honest none of these little box drawings are all that impressive, many of them are super simple and uninteresting.

BUT what I love about filling the 5 boxes is there’s no pressure. I don’t feel pressure to create a composition or a polished finished product. All I’m trying to do is create a habit and get my pen or pencil moving on the page. I have one more week of this drawing in five boxes habit before I move on to my April experiment.

I’ll be super honest with you and say that I haven’t met my three a week quota every week, BUT I’ve come close. Quite frankly I don’t care that I didn’t hit the exact number of boxes I was supposed to. What matters to me is that I’ve drawn WAY more this month than I have in many other recent months. To me that’s progress and that’s all that matters.

A sheet of blank white paper surrounded by pens, pencils, markers and an apple pencil

April Life Experiment: Pen & Ink to Apple Pencil

In my research on how to become a surface pattern designer all arrows seem to point to a tablet and an Apple Pencil. Basically you need a way for your drawing to go from pen and paper to mouse and screen. The simplest way forward that I’ve found is an Apple Pencil. The old Kristi would have needed to buy a brand new top of the line tablet and the newest generation of Apple Pencil plus Apple Care before she could get started. Why bother otherwise?

Luckily the 2019 version of me knew that right now is not the time to throw down a bunch of money on a new supercharged tablet. Instead I opted to buy a 1st generation Apple Pencil to go with my perfectly adequate old tablet. So on Sunday I handed over just over $100 instead of giving away a month’s pay and I’m ready for my April life experiment.

In April I’m going to spend some time figuring out how to use Procreate (thank you Skillshare!) and take a few of my drawings and get them ready to turn into patterns.

My impulse is to jump ahead and say I’m going to create several patterns in April, but I know myself and sticking will these smaller goals will mean I get closer to achieving the ACTUAL big goal. So I stand by my statement. My plan for April is to continue drawing twice a week and spend some time learning Procreate. Drawings can be in my sketchbook or on the tablet, either way seems fun to me.

Summing Up

I realize this is a weird off topic post for this outdoorsy blog. Most people who come by my little corner of the internet are much more interested in my perfect road trip recommendations or what I thought about a campsite.

But I am called the indoorsy camper so you can also find out about books I love and why I think creativity should be part of your life. You can expect updates on this life experiment at the end of each month. It’s like my monthly income & traffic reports…but way more fun.

I also encourage you to start a life experiment of your own. In my humble opinion they’re way better than a New Year’s Resolution (which I’ve already established that I hate). If you do decide to start your own experiment let me know about it in the comments. Sometimes telling one person about your little adventure can make you feel more accountable, which is essentially why I’ve written this post. I’m happy to do the same for you.

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Four Best Hikes in Zion National Park According to Outdoor Bloggers

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Zion National Park is located in red rock filled southern Utah. Inside the park you’ll find hiking trails that range from easy to strenuous, a historic lodge and cabins as well as wildlife and stunning rock formations. Like most national parks one trip just isn’t enough. If you’re short on time and wondering which trails to explore I’ve put together a few reviews from my fellow outdoor bloggers to get you started. I’ve organized the descriptions from easy to strenuous, so if you’re looking for a big adventure I encourage you to scroll down to get the information you’re looking for. I promise I don’t mind. Check out the best hikes in Zion below.

Woman with backpack hiking on canyon trail, waterfall coming over cliff edge and green trees surrounding the trail text overlay says Best Hikes in Zion National Park

Best Easy Hike in Zion: Riverside Walk

Difficulty: easy (paved trail, wheelchair accessible)
Length: 2.2 miles
Elevation change: 57 feet

Riverside Trail in Zion National Park, tall red rock canyon walls, trees and a paved trail with hikers

If you’re looking for a truly family friendly hike this is the best hike in Zion for you. To get there simply take the Zion Canyon Shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava, which is the last stop on the route.

The trail is smooth and paved, making it accessible to wheelchairs, those with mobility issues, strollers, dogs, bikes, and little feet. While a paved trail might seem boring, the park has installed several exhibits along the way to help you learn about the surrounding geology, wildlife and water features. As you walk you can enjoy views of the Virgin River, the canyon’s weeping walls and many hanging gardens.

Along the way you might start to notice wet footprints and people walking back to the start in soggy shoes and clothing. This will all become clearer as you approach the turn around point of the trail. The Riverside Walk leads to the beginning of The Narrows, a much more strenuous hike that’s covered later in this post.

Best Moderate Hike in Zion: Emerald Pools

Difficulty: easy-moderate
Length: 1-3.6 miles (depending on route)
Elevation change: 69-402 feet (depending on route)

Wall garden and waterfall on red rock in Zion National Park

This hike is highly dependent on the waterfall conditions, so check with the rangers before you go. If the water isn’t flowing, or only very light you might want to pass. This is a pretty hike but I just don’t feel it showcases the best of what Zion has to offer if the water isn’t flowing.

The lower trail is a nice gentile sandy path through the trees with the tall canyon walls above you. Birds flit about and bold squirrels dart around the trail.

You may hear the first pool before you reach it. Often there are one or more waterfalls trickling down the canyon wall. You can look from a distance or walk right under them, but watch your footing and your gear because the trail is usually wet and sometimes you have to walk through the mist.

The middle pool is a bit farther on, up above the overhang of the lower falls, which it feeds. It is often a good for place for catching reflections and peeking out at the valley. You will have to cross a spot that is often muddy to proceed to the final pool.

A bit more climbing up will take you to the final pool. This pool is at the foot of a sheer multicolored cliff and if you are very lucky there may be a waterfall here as well.

Things to consider:

  • Algae colors the pools and the pigment varies depending on the time of year.
  • Due to the accessibility this can be one of the more crowded hikes.

Patricia is the blogger behind Savvy Exploring. While working full time she blogs evenings and weekends, with website help from her husband and foot warming from their pup.  Her goal is to show that, with a little planning, you don’t have to be rich or rough it to travel the world. Check out her itineraries page to start planning your next adventure.

Toughest Hike in Zion: Angels Landing

Difficulty: strenuous
Length: 5.4 miles
Elevation change: 1488 feet

Woman at the top of Angels Landing in Zion National Park looking out at a deep canyon

The angels landing hike is probably one of the most iconic hikes in Zion National Park, and for a good reason. The angels landing hike is an out-and-back kind of hiking trail that is a steep uphill hike with breathtaking views of Zion National Park. In order to reach these views though, you must be willing to hike over 2.5 miles (5 miles roundtrip) and 1,800 feet up a series of steeply graded switchbacks, and along a scarier narrow trail toward the final half of the hike.

This narrow path to the top of Angels Landing is part of what makes this hike so classic, but if you are afraid of heights it will certainly make your heart flutter. The trail is also very popular, so not only must you learn to battle the fear of heights you might experience, but you must learn to share the trail with a continuous flow of hikers. There are chains and safeguards in place along the trail though, so that if you take your time, mind your step and remember to breathe, it could quite possibly become one of your favorite hikes of all time.

Pro Tip: If you are visiting Zion in the summer, this area can get very hot. This kind of heat can cause extreme heat exhaustion, which would be really dangerous to experience on this hike. If you want to do this hike in the summer, make sure to wake up very early in the morning to tackle it when the temperatures are cooler, and bring plenty of water. You’ll want to bring a backpack with you too so you can remain hands free while hiking the narrow portion of the trail.

Allison is the founder and primary voice behind She Dreams of Alpine, where she teaches others about backpacking, rock climbing, and how to truly step into their own unique courage and become confident, self-sufficient, and brave outdoor adventurers. She believes that each one of us has the potential to break through physical feats we once thought were impossible, and that outdoor adventure is the ultimate self-discovery tool.

Most Adventurous Hike in Zion: The Narrows

Difficulty: strenuous
Length: 9.4 miles
Elevation change: 334 feet

The Narrows hike in Zion National Park People wading through a the Virgin River

One of the most diverse hikes in Zion is the famous Narrows. The Narrows is a hike through the Virgin River. That’s right, you are hiking right through the river. On our Utah National Park road trip this hike was on the top of our bucket list because of its unique nature!

On this hike you are deep in a narrow canyon carved out by the river. The walls along the Virgin River reach 1000 feet into the sky. The canyon walls are nature’s art, the colors in the rock layers polished by centuries of erosion are amazing.

It is possible for any skill level to have a memorable hike in the Narrows. Hiking the full 16 miles is a challenging 2 day backcountry trip. For a low difficulty hike, start at the Temple of Sinawava. Here you will find children and seniors alike wadding in the water as they move up the canyon corridor. The deeper you go into the canyon the more challenging the hike. We happily hiked several miles and found the crowds really thinned out.

You will need special equipment to hike the Narrows. At minimum a walking stick is advised to keep you steady in the rapidly moving water. Thin water shoes or sandals don’t work very well here because of the sandy and rocky river bottom. You can rent special shoes in the town of Springdale, or use an old pair of shoes like we did. Any time other than the heat of summer dry suits are basic equipment when wading through the cold snow melt river.

The Narrows are closed to hiking if current speed is extremely high or if there is a risk of flash flooding. This is posted at the visitor center shuttle stop as well as at the Temple of Sinawava.

Ladona Stork loves to write about our US National Parks at Walking The Parks. She and her husband just finished a Utah National Parks Road Trip where they had a blast in the Narrows.

Looking for More Hikes in Zion National Park?

This post only lists four of the best hikes in Zion National Park. If you have more time to spend there are lots of other hikes to check out. For trail maps, descriptions and locations head over to the Zion National Park Plan Your Visit Page. There you can find more trails, currently conditions and closures and updates for your trip.

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Joshua Tree: Black Rock Campground

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Black Rock campground is located at the northwest corner of Joshua Tree National Park among one of the thickest Joshua Tree forests. This part of the park is not connected by road to the rest of the National Park, but don’t be deterred. You might not get to see lots of big cartoon-like rocks, but the surrounding mountains and sculptural Joshua Trees do more than make up for that fact.

bright green joshua tree against bright blue sky text overlay says joshua tree: black rock campground review

How to Reserve a Campsite at Black Rock Campground

Like Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree’s busy season is in the Fall, Winter and early Spring. Since both parks are in the desert you can imagine why this is the case. Reservations during the busy winter season at Black Rock Campground can be made using the National Park Service online reservation system Recreation.gov. In June-September 29 campsites are available on a first come first serve basis.

What to Expect at Black Rock Campground

orange tent set up near Joshua Trees in Black Rock Campbround

On arrival make sure to check in at the visitor center. Inside you’ll find a small exhibit about the natural features of the park, a few souvenirs and a small selection of snacks and beverages. Please note that no firewood is for sale inside the park. You will need to pick that up on the way in if you’re planning on building a fire. The park also has very particular instructions when it comes to tent camping. Tents need to be no more than 100 feet away from the picnic table or fire ring. We made the mistake of placing our tent a bit further than 100 feet and were told so the next day by the ranger.

As mentioned above each campsite comes with a picnic table as well as a fire ring. The campground has 4 bathrooms with flush toilets and sinks but no showers. Drinkable water is also available in several areas of the campground. Additional amenities include dump stations, a small visitor center, an amphitheater, on-site staff and pretty good cell reception.

Hikes Around Black Rock Campground

If you decide to go hiking during your stay make sure to print out the Black Rock Canyon Hiking Trails Map before you go. They did not have paper copies when we were there so I took a picture of their enlarged map with my phone. This did the trick, but there were several times that I wished I had a paper map as well. During our visit we hiked the West Side Loop as well as the High View Nature Trail and part of the Short Loop trail.

woman with hiking poles on trail in Joshua Tree national Park with snowy mountains in background

While all of our hikes were gorgeous with tons of Joshua Trees, there was some trail damage thanks to unexpected rain and snow coupled with the government shut down. When hiking the West Side Loop we lost the trail 3 miles in and had to turn back. While this was disappointing I cannot stress the incredible natural beauty that this hike included. Unlike the main part of the park, Black Rock Canyon has fewer large boulders but many many Joshua Trees. It was more Joshua Trees in one place than I’ve ever seen.

I can’t remark on the entire West Side Loop hike, but the first 3 miles boasted several fantastic features. Namely the large number of Joshua Trees, views of all the surrounding mountains and total peace and quiet. During our hike we passed very few people and never felt like the trail was overcrowded. We hope to return someday to complete the entire loop.

Black Rock Campground Pros

  • While Black Rock Campground has 99 campsites, I didn’t feel like it was overcrowded or noisy. People generally kept to the quiet hours which made for an enjoyable stay.
  • You can make reservations during the winter months, and the cost of a tent site is only $20 per night.
  • There are several hiking trails around the campground to explore that for the most part were well maintained.
  • You get to camp surrounded by Joshua Trees which is pretty amazing and magical!
  • The campground is close to civilization if you need to get something.

Black Rock Campground Cons

  • Black Rock Campground isn’t directly connected by a road to the main part of the park. If you want to explore there you need to drive about 30 minutes to the West Entrance.
  • If you’re hoping to see lots of big boulders this isn’t the campsite for you, consider camping inside the main part of the park.

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Income & Traffic Report – February 2019

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February 2019 Traffic and income report with picture of graph

If you’re wondering what this post is about, check out my very first Income & Traffic Report. I give you all the nitty gritty details there.

If you’re too lazy to head over there (and I get it), here’s what this thing is in a nutshell. Every month I’m writing a post to report on how the previous month panned out. After writing this up the first month I felt like total crap. BUT I decided to keep writing them for the next six months, because maybe over time they will get easier. If I’m wrong, oh well, I’ll stop, but for now I’m gonna keep going.

blog work this month

February Blog Posts

What I Worked On This Month

  • For the most part February felt like a blur. I had trouble staying focused, and to be honest writing my January report kind of started February on a real slump. I felt a little discouraged and kept thinking to myself, “why the hell am I doing all this work?”. To pull myself out of that downward spiral I participated in a Creativity Challenge. I wrote all about it in this post. It was a week of thoughtful reflection, journaling and joy. I loved it so much that I joined Kira’s membership program.
  • I continued showing up on Instagram daily, although I wasn’t as good about engaging as I’d hoped. Sounds like a goal for March!
  • I worked through another module of Irresistible Email and made some changes to my newsletter format.

The Numbers

January 2019 Revenue Total: -$1.30

  • Income Breakdown
    • Amazon Affiliate Income: -$1.54
    • Awin Affiliate Income: $0.24

Monthly Blog Expenses Total: $57

**A note about the links below. Several of them are affiliate links. Which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Well that was unexpected. I managed to lose money on Amazon. It’s a bummer, but I totally understand someone deciding to return a purchase…I do it all the time.

February Traffic Numbers

Google analytics graph showing traffic for Indoorsy Camper in February 2019

This month had some good news and some bad. My number of users and pageviews went up! Quite a bit for me, 918 views compared to 615 last month. While that’s good news the amount of time spent on those pages was a few seconds less, and my bounce rate went up. Something to think about for March.

Pinterest continues to be the biggest driver to my site. The one change I’m most excited about is I’m getting more organic search results through Google. This is great because it means I’m less reliant on social media. My goal is for that number to continue to rise over time.

Best performing blog post of February (same as last month!): Perfect 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary: Grand Canyon Plus Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon

January on Social Media

Most Popular Instagram Post:

woman with hiking sticks on Joshua Tree trail with snowy mountains in the background

This way by far the post with the most engagement in February. It was a carousel post with this as the first picture and a second second picture of me looking totally beat during this hike.

Once again the crowd has spoken. In the caption I talked about how hiking can look really idyllic on IG, but in reality you can quickly become a hot mess. People really responded to the fact that I posted both sides of the story, proving once again that what people want is a taste of reality. Thank you my people!

Conclusions and Going Forward

February was a short month, literally and figuratively. The time flew and I found myself falling short on several of my goals. I didn’t manage to go back and improve SEO on two posts, and there was one week where I didn’t even get a post published. Rather than dwell on that I decided to give myself some grace and keep moving forward.

I have lots of high hopes for Indoorsy Camper and while it’s easy to let one tough week set you way back, I’m doing my very best to fight those feelings.

One thing I’m very happy about was our first camping trip of the season sneaked in there at the end of the month. There was snow in Joshua Tree! It was cold. It was beautiful. It was fabulous. Don’t worry there will be a post about it soon!

Goals for February:

  • Publish 4 posts this month. (including one that’s out of my comfort zone)
  • Continue showing up on Instagram daily (specifically I’m planning to comment on 5 posts per day)
  • Participate in at least 1 collaborative posts this month.
  • Go back and update SEO on two old posts. (gonna happen this month!)

15 Outdoor Podcasts to Listen to Between Adventures

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headphones, computer, notebook and phone on desk with text overlay 15 outdoor podcasts you need to check out

Are you one of those full time adventurers who lives in a van? Visiting National Park after National Park living the digital nomad life?

Yeah, me neither.

That’s why I like to fill my non-adventure days with outdoor podcasts. They might not be quite as exciting as a camping trip in Joshua Tree, but they’re close enough. And as an added bonus they often give me new trail ideas, bucket list locations and a giggle.

This list of outdoor podcasts has a lot of variety. Some shows are thoughtful while others a little raucous, but they all have one thing in common, a love of the outdoors. A special thanks to the Women Who Hike SoCal group for suggesting several of these. Turns out I had only scratched the surface of outdoor podcasts on my own, but those ladies gave me lots of great suggestions. And I’m very happy to be sharing them with you, my indoorsy camper folks.

So without further ado, and in no particular here are 15 outdoor podcasts to keep you occupied between your own adventures.

Out There

Are you yearning for a change? Could a grand adventure help you find what’s missing? Could doing something selfish for once be just the thing your relationship needs?

Let Out There be your calm oasis, your quiet walk in the woods, the rainy window you gaze out of when all is gray outside.

Hosted by Willow Belden, the award-winning podcast captures the understanding, the strength, the inspiration, the healing that humans draw from spending time outside, to help you navigate life’s big questions and ease the anxieties of adulting today.

Safety Third

We are a group of fun loving, outdoor living, creatively obsessed humans who have banded together to create a show that will take you on a wild traverse of the ideas that define the outdoor community and the stories behind them. More fun than a powder day. Riskier than leaping from a mountain. Weirder than week on the playa. No topic is taboo. Safety Third — Ideas forged from adventure.

The Sharp End

Each month, the Sharp End brings to life stories from the pages of Accidents in North American Climbing, the annual publication of the American Alpine Club (AAC). Host Ashley Saupe interviews the climbers, skiers, and rescuers involved in life-threatening incidents and shares their lessons, helping all of us become safer climbers.

The Outside Podcast

Outside’s longstanding literary storytelling tradition cones to life in audio with exclusive features that will both entertain and inform listeners.

Brought to you by the fabulous print and online magazine, The Outside Podcast is a great resource for “Sweat Science”, interesting interviews, gear reviews and stories of amazing outdoor enthusiasts.

The Stokecast

Learn how top athletes, adventurers, and entrepreneurs crush the work, life, adventure balance while having fun and making a difference.

This outdoor podcast is full of feeling. When you’re stoked you’re filled with light and totally overjoyed. Jonathan Ronzio and Emily Holland interview athletes, business owners, weekend warriors and lots of other people who love all things outdoors. Their interview style is friendly and approachable and their guests are not only varied, but also inspiring.

The Dirtbag Diaries

This is adventure. Climbing. Skiing. Hiking. Biking. Travel. Whatever your passion, we are all dirtbags. Outdoor writer Fitz Cahall and his team presents stories about the dreamers, athletes and wanderers.

G.O. Get Outside

A radio-style interview show for people who like to get outdoors or would like to get outdoors. Hell, it may even be a show for people who don’t know they want to get outdoors. Yet. Too busy? Think you don’t have time for frivolous outside crap? Poppycock! Each episode of G.O. delves into the outdoor lifestyle of some everyday schmo who probably has more in common with you than you think. Whether you are BASE jumping off a flying unicorn or hiking around your neighborhood in between diaper changes, you have a place here. Pop open your podcast machine and give it a listen. Maybe it will stoke some embers you didn’t know were burning.

Wild Ideas Worth Living

High-impact interviews for those who love adventure and the outdoors. Host and Journalist Shelby Stanger interviews world-class explorers, authors, scientists, health experts, and entrepreneurs about how they’ve taken their own wild ideas and made them a reality, so you can too. From people who have sailed across the Pacific, to people who have broken records, climbed the tallest peaks, written best-selling books, started outdoor companies you love, or just stood up for something they believed in, some of the wildest ideas can lead to the most rewarding adventures. Take a listen to start living more wildly today.

The Trail Show

Every month we’re filling the hiking void in your podcast library. The Trail Show is a monthly mash-up of all things trail!

If you’re looking for an outdoor podcast that feels a lot like a morning radio show (sounds effects and all) this one’s for you.  Each show includes several segments including, gear reviews, trail reviews, guests, their beer pick of the month and plenty of schananagans.

She Explores

A Podcast for and about women who are inspired by time spent outside. Hosted by Gale Straub

Women on the Road

Life on the road from the feminine perspective. In partnership with She Explores, Laura Hughes will bring you closer to some of the honest experiences that life on the road has to offer from the perspective of women who’ve lived it firsthand, all while learning the ropes herself in a Ford Transit Van. Find out what life is like when the road becomes your home.

Women in the Woods

Two badass Ladies talking about doing badass things in the woods. We’ll cover a wide range of topics — sharing stories, tips, debunking myths, and interviewing awesome outdoorsy folks.

Sounds of the Trail

A podcast about the ups, downs, and switchbacks of trail life. Follow along wit hour hikers as they hike the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail and send back transmissions, updates, and interviews with other hikers. We cover a different part of trail life with every episode and try to stay far away from useful advice.

Trail Correspondents

Trail Correspondents is a teleportation machine to the trail – in audio form. Every other week, a select handful of thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and the American Discovery Trail, give us a glimpse into the world of long distance backpacking. Through their eyes and vocal cords, we learn all the highs, lows, and nitty gritty details that go into a half-year, cross-country trek. Trail Correspondents is the next best thing to being on trail yourself.

Backpacker Radio

From the Appalachian Trail to the Pacific Crest and everything in between. Backpacker Radio is a show all about the wonderful world that is thru-hiking and long distance backpacking. Co-hosts, Zach “Badger” Davis and Juliana “Chaunce” Chauncey muse on the backpacking life and the latest from the trail every other week. Topics include but are not limited to news, trail culture, interviews, gear, advice, and all you can eat buffets.

Have an outdoor podcast you love that’s now on this list? Leave a comment below! I’m always looking for new content to listen to and share.

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Craving Creativity? Try Out Creative Journaling

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For those of you who follow me on Instagram you might have noticed that last week I participated in a creativity challenge hosted by Kira Rudjen. I have lots of big creative ideas, but have been finding it hard to get them out of my head. I have these big dreams to spend at least thirty minutes a day creative journaling, but haven’t been able to get my act together to do it.

There’s something about staring at a blank piece of paper that can be really intimidating. It has so much possibility, but all that blank space can quickly become overwhelming. It was these feelings that led me to join in on Kira’s free Liberate Your Creativity Challenge.

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What’s the Liberate Your Creativity Challenge?

The idea of a creativity challenge might seem counterproductive. Shouldn’t your creativity flow out of you? Will turning that process into a challenge spark creativity or snuff it out? I suppose it depends on the person, but for me sometimes a challenge can really get things moving and push my mental blocks out of the way.

This particular challenge came in the form of a daily email plus a lovely and supportive Facebook group. Each email included an assignment and several journal prompts to get you thinking, plus some excellent music and videos. For me the challenge turned into a creative journaling practice. I spent time responding to the journal prompts included in her emails as well as creating a drawing, pattern or illustration. We were encouraged to share how we felt, what we created or any other thoughts with the group, but of course this wasn’t mandatory. As the week progressed I was kind of shocked by the amount of work I had accomplished in one little week.

If that sounds like something you’d be interested in participating in (I highly recommend), you can check out her website or follow her on Instagram. I’m sure she’ll post more information when she’s ready to run the challenge again.

If you want to get started on your own creative journaling journey, here’s all the information you need to get started.

Journal open on table with notes, drawings and pens Text overlay says How to Start A Creative Journal

How To Get Started with Creative Journaling

Pick a Notebook You Love

First things first, find a notebook, sketchbook or some sort of book that you love. I’ve been using a Motto Journal, but I’m also a fan of Leuchtturm notebooks and sketchbooks. You’ll know the notebook you love when you see it or feel it. Whether you’re looking for one with a bright cover, dotted pages or ruled pages make sure you love it and can’t wait to write in it. Don’t pick something that you think is “too nice” to write in. This is going to be your creative journal, it’s destined to be filled with your thoughts, your dreams, your doodles and your sketches.

Find the Pen or Pencil of Your Dreams

Laugh all you want, but you know you have a favorite pen or pencil. The fact that you read this far down in this post is proof of that. If you need the safety of a good pencil so you can erase your mistakes go for it. At the moment I’m favoring my Blackwing 602 pencil (if you’re into sharpening) and my Lamy Safari Mechanical Pencil (it’s pretty much the best!).

If you prefer to write and sketch in pen go for it. Choose your favorite color, shape, type of ink and start writing. When it comes to pens I have a couple favorites. I’ve enjoyed writing with the Pilot G-2 since high school (always in blue) or the Pentel R.S.V.P. (also a classic). More recently I’ve taken to the ZIG COCOIRO which allows you to buy the body of the pen plus pretty much any color ball point you can think of. No matter what writing instrument you choose make sure you love it and enjoy writing with it.

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Start Filling Your Pages

This is probably the hardest part of the whole creative journaling thing. I think we can all admit that buying the notebook and the pen is fun and exciting. What happens next requires a little more work and consistency.

Don’t think of creative journaling as something you have to do everyday. Yes, that is one way to approach it, but that’s not the only way. You can write in it daily, weekly, or even monthly. The key is to use it when you’re feeling inspired or when you have ideas you don’t want to forget. Pull it out when you’re feeling lost or discouraged. Open it when you have so many thoughts that you just need to do a brain dump on paper. No matter when or where you use it, just try to be consistent. That might mean writing in it daily, weekly, bi-weekly or even monthly.

If simply starting to write is a little too difficult start by writing a gratitude list. It can be filled with simple things. Maybe you’re grateful for your morning cup of coffee or the snuggles you got from your cat. Perhaps your partner gave you the worlds greatest hug or you finally finished that book you’ve been wanting to read. All things are welcome on your gratitude list no matter how big or small.

Another option is to choose a single word and expand out from there. Take the word expand. Now think about how it makes you feel. What areas of your life are you trying to expand? How can you illustrate the word expand? You can go through this activity with any word. Maybe there’s a feeling you’ve been battling or a mantra you’ve been saying to yourself. Use those as a jumping off point and see where it takes you.

One more option is to use creative journaling prompts or open ended questions to allow you to explore your thoughts. Here’s a few examples:

  1. Who is your favorite artist? Why does their work inspire you or make you feel those big feelings?
  2. Think about your favorite song. What’s the one lyric that really speaks to you? Write about why you love it, how it makes you feel and what it inspires you to do.
  3. Read an article by your favorite writer. Do you agree with what they said? Do you have a different point of view? Write about it.

If none of those prompts inspire you, do what you always do….Google journal prompts. I promise you there’s a lot of ideas out there.

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Why Bother with a Creative Journal?

There’s plenty of reasons to start a creative journal, but let me just run through a couple. For me the number one reason to keep one is to get my thoughts and feelings down on paper. I find writing things down (whether on paper or in this little blog of mine) to be very cathartic. There’s just something about writing your thoughts and feelings down. It frees up space in your head and allows you to process emotions, move forward, or figure out where to go next.

Creative journaling also allows you to explore your own writing and drawing/painting/sketching style in a safe space. Your creative journal is just for you (unless YOU decide to share it). That means that you can mess up, make mistakes, create weird or interesting things in a no judgement zone. Think of it as play time. Time to experiment. Don’t be afraid to cross things out or rip out an entire page. Or don’t. Maybe you’ll look back on it with different feelings. You won’t know unless you keep it in there.

Conclusion

Whether you decide to start creative journaling or not I hope this post got you thinking about ways to engage with your own creativity. Maybe start with a creativity challenge like I did, or just take the plunge and go out and buy a notebook and pen or pencil. Think of this process as a stress release, not something to stress you out. Write about how you feel, where you want to go or dreams you want to become reality. Draw doodles, shapes, whole scenes or just practice some fancy lettering. Finally, there are no rules with creative journaling, the most important thing is to start.

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