Finding Adventure Close to Home | Arboretum & DIY Canvas Quote Bag

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With only a few days left of summer vacation, camps have ended and we’re really getting ready for back-to-school. The lazy days of summer are behind us and I’m scrambling to get everyone ready, while fitting in a few last days of some fun drop-in camps (thank goodness for drop-in camps!). I’m thankful for online shopping, pre-ordered school supply kits and of course, SToK™ Cold Brew Coffee – my favorite way to fuel up.

Each year that we start school, I’m both happy and sad. I’m glad to see the routine begin again and see my kids head off to school all day. They need to be busy! But the other half of me realizes that it’s another year that has passed too quickly and my kids are getting older. My son is in third grade and my twins are officially out of the preschool stage and beginning full-day Kindergarten. So when I find myself with one-on-one time with each of them over the last few weeks, we’ve taken full advantage.

Doing something special doesn’t mean you have to go far and one morning that I found myself with a few hours to kill with one of my twins, we decided to explore the Frelinghuysen Arboretum. I grew up not far from this beautifully maintained place but hadn’t really walked around in years. You can find outdoor adventure close to home and for free. Look at the places that you drive by every day but never take the time to explore – a museum, park, gardens, etc.

Here are some of my favorite parts of our quick adventure:

A little history: The historic Frelinghuysen Mansion was built in 1891 by George Griswold Frelinghuysen and his wife, Sarah Ballantine. It was only ever a summer home, as the couple resided in nearby New York City during the colder months. A working farm, the estate was donated by the couple’s only daughter Matilda upon her death in 1969 to the people of Morris County, NJ. Source: https://www.arboretumfriends.org/content/about-frelinghuysen-arboretum

Although it looks beautiful and peaceful, it’s anything but a slow stroll. There’s a lot of walking, many trails and paths through the woods and hills. We got a workout in after taking one path through the woods and back up a large hill. Thankfully, I started my day with SToK™ slow brewed coffee. SToK™ is pure coffee with no weird ingredients.

It’s slow brewed and cold brewed, enough to make sure you get there. Made with an Arabica Blend with a Brazilian Blend Flavor profile, it’ s bold and strong just like I like to be. That’s why I keep SToK™ 48 oz Cold Brew Coffee on hand – my favorite variety being SToK™ Unsweet Coffee.

You can find SToK™ Unsweet Coffee or SToK™ Chocolate at Walmart in the aisle by juice/dairy and in my store – by the Iced Tea.

With SToK™ Unsweet Coffee in my fridge – keeping me ready for anything, I also created a fun, canvas quote bag to take my necessities on any adventures. It’s always a good idea to throw a tumbler of ice cold coffee in there, too!

What you need:

Blank Canvas Bag

Transfer Decal – Pressure Applied

Paint

Stencil

It is so easy to create any look you want on a canvas bag. Simply place your stencil in the center of the bag and apply. I like to add a pop of color, like I did here with the chevron stencil.