I don't know if it's the pandemic, the buying of a house, the living five minutes from a state park, or maybe a combination of all three, but outdoor adventure has become such a wonderful joy in my life. 

I've bought my annual state park pass, which allows me access to any state park in Georgia without having to pay the typical $5 parking fee. I'm a proud owner of a shady hat and hiking boots. I've got not just one, but two Nalgene bottles. And most recently, thanks to Nakie, I've added a hammock to that collection of my outdoorsy supplies.

In our backyard, we have a fairly small yard, but the woods behind our house extend a bit further. They're not too dense and are perfect for a nice, cool place to spend time. Over the past few months, I've been building out a trail in the woods. So far, I've cleared out a trail and laid the weed control mat. Next up, I'll be covering the mat with mulch. Eventually, I would love to add solar-powered trail lights, some additional plants, stone markers, more seating, and maybe a small fire pit. 

For now, I've figured out how to strap up the hammock and chill between the trees just enjoying nature, resting, and reading. It's been so wonderful and so much cooler than not in the shade of the trees. (That Georgia heat, I'm telling you!)

I've wanted a hammock for such a long time, but I've always been so afraid that a hammock would not hold my body weight. I never wanted to just fall to the ground and break myself. But Nakie hammocks hold over 400 pounds, so I felt safe trying it out. But I actually had no idea what I was doing when I hung the hammock for the first time. I set it up so that when I was sitting in it, it was about a foot from the ground. I got used to that and then I moved it up quite a bit higher so I could really just hang. It was so lovely. 

And I've really enjoyed the Nakie hammock so much. It's made of recycled plastic bottles (much like some of my other favorite brands). I love the sustainability of turning trash that's destroying our oceans and our planet into new, functional products. It's the only hammock made from 100% recycled materials and eliminates 37 plastic water bottles for each hammock produced. Plus, for every hammock purchased, four trees are planted at a reserve in Madagascar that support local villagers. As mentioned, I also really love that the weight limit is more inclusive than a lot of other hammocks I've looked at. It really just makes me feel safer as a fat person trying to enjoy the outdoors.

The hammock, like many other sports hammocks (not fashion hammocks), folds up compactly into a pouch that's actually attached to the hammock itself. And that pouch is perfect to store your phone, a water bottle, or a book when you're actually using the hammock. Now I'm sure that's not its intended use, but it's worked lovely for me! Nakie even sells rain tarps and bug nets that are perfect for protecting you from the elements. The bug net is definitely next on my list, because the Georgia mosquitos have been eating me alive!