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United EVENTures

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national parks, centennial, bryce canyon, yellowstone, death valley, grand teton, zion, olympic, badlands, crater lake, sequoia, denali, great sand dunes, black canyon of the gunnison, redwood, glacier, petrified forest
The 15 Most Beautiful National Parks to Visit Before You Die
 The 15 Most Beautiful National Parks to Visit Before You Die 960 635 Emilie
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Here at United EVENTures we love getting outdoors, and we especially love the United States’ National Parks. This year is actually the Centennial of the National Parks service, so it’s the perfect time to start visiting some beautiful landmarks. Here are 15 of the most beautiful parks to put on your bucket list.

1. Bryce Canyon: Southwestern Utah

Bryce Canyon, Canyon, Usa, Sand Stone

2. Yellowstone: Wyoming, Montana & Idaho

Yellowstone, National Park, Wyoming, Hot Springs

3. Death Valley: Eastern California

Sunset, Death Valley, California, Landscape, Dark

4. Grand Teton: Northwest Wyoming

Grand Teton, Grand Teton National Park, National Park

5. Zion: Southwest Utah

Zion Park, Utah, Mountains, Landscape, Scenic, Sunset

6. Olympic: Northwest Washington

Landscape, Fog, Olympic Mountains, Mist, Countryside

7. Badlands: Southwest South Dakota

Badlands, Landscape, South Dakota, National Park

8. Crater Lake: Southwest Oregon

Crater Lake, Wizard Island, Oregon, National Park, Blue

9. Sequoia: Central California

Giant Sequoia Grove Near Auburn, California, Trees

10. Denali: Southern Alaska

Denali National Park, Mountain, Snow, Peak, Alaska

11. Great Sand Dunes: Southern Colorado

Colorado, Landscape, Scenic, Sand Dunes, Mountains

12. Black Canyon of the Gunnison: Western Colorado

Black, Canyon, Gunnison, Colorado, National Park, Usa

13. Redwood: Northern California

Redwood, Giant, Trees, California, Path, Natural, Tall

14. Glacier: Northern Montana

Montana, Glacier National Park, Lake, Water, Mountains

15. Petrified Forest: Eastern Arizona

Petrified, Forest, National, Park, Arizona, Usa, Nature

 

twitter, team building, best of twitter, #teambuilding
The Best of #teambuilding That Twitter Had to Offer…
 The Best of #teambuilding That Twitter Had to Offer… 1024 768 admin
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We went searching on Twitter this week to see who had the best #teambuilding posts. Here is what we were able to find! Take a look and leave some comments.

 

happiness, healthy living, office, workplace
5 Simple Changes for a Happier and Healthier Workplace
 5 Simple Changes for a Happier and Healthier Workplace 960 640 Emilie
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It seems like every year offices become more and more focused on productivity and streamlining processes, and less focused on the health and happiness of employees. But not only should we care about the wellbeing of our employees because we want them to be happy, we should also remember that keeping employees happy and healthy actually improves productivity. When employees’ health and happiness rates drop, so does burnout and turnover rates. So whether you are an employee or employer, here are 5 ways you can make simple changes to make the office your happy place.

1. Increase views of vegetation and green space. Studies have shown over and over that happiness increases when we have regular scenic views or are surrounded by other greenery. Of course, the ideal scenario is to have an office with a large window overlooking a park or other vegetative view. However, most of us don’t have this as a viable option. Instead, try bringing additional plants into your workplace. If you do have a window near you, try rearranging your desk or chair so that you have better sight-lines to see outside. Being surrounded by plants and vegetation instinctively improves our mood because of biophilia, which is the term that refers to our innate connection to other living systems. Having these plants to water each day and take care of will make you feel more cheerful.

2. Foster those friendships. It shouldn’t be surprising, but having those close friendships in the workplace is incredibly important to being able to maintain the tedium of the daily grind. Often times the people we work with are more important to our happiness than the actual work itself. Employers should try to foster interaction, group bonding and acceptance amongst their employees. Remember, happy employees means a better work environment and more effective productivity.

3. Make your workplace your own. We spend so much time decorating our homes. We hang up pictures of our family and favorite memories, we decorate with our favorite decor, and we buy new furniture to make each room reflect our identity. But why do we spend so little time making our workplace feel like home? After all, we probably spend more waking hours there than in our actual houses. Try finding a new shelf for your desk, or get some cubicle wallpaper. There are tons of ways you can spruce up your workspace through personal mementos and your own design flairs. Making your workspace feel homey should be just as important as making your actual house feel like home.

4. Get moving! We all know that during the work day it is difficult not to be too sedentary. However, there are many small ways to be more active throughout the day. Treadmill desks have been shown to benefit postprandial glucose levels and cholesterol levels, and both treadmill and standing desks have been shown to improve psychological wellbeing. You can also try bringing some light weights to use as you are on phone calls, or take a quick walk around the building every hour or so to stretch your legs.

5. Work for flexibility. Research has shown that flexible workplaces result in increased feelings of empowerment as well as improved quality of life. Employers should be aware of this relationship in order to increase happiness and efficiency within their employees. Of course, employees only have limited control over how flexible their workplace is, but there are several ways you can work to increase flexibility. A flexible workplace is one in which you are allowed to complete your work in convenient ways. Be firm about not completing tasks when you are not available, such as outside of office hours. On the flip side, when you are allowed flexibility, prove that you can accomplish the task effectively even with added leniency.

Gilchrist, Kathryn, Caroline Brown, and Alicia Montarzino."Workplace Settings and Wellbeing: Greenspace Use and Views Contribute to Employee Wellbeing at Peri-urban Business Sites." Landscape and Urban Planning 138 (2015): 32-40. Web.
Chaiprasit, Kemakorn, and Orapin Santidhiraku. "Happiness at Work of Employees in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Thailand." Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 25 (2011): 189-200. Web.
MacEwen, Brittany T., Dany J. MacDonald, and Jamie F. Burr. "A Systematic Review of Standing and Treadmill Desks in the Workplace." Preventive Medicine 70 (2015): 50-58. Web.
Subramaniam, Geetha, Peck-Leong Tan, Balasundram Maniam, and Ershad Ali. "Workplace Flexibility, Empowerment and Quality of Life." Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 105 (2013): 885-93. Web.
DiPirro, Dani. "5 Tips to Make Work Your Happy Place." Livehappy. N.p., 26 Jan. 2016. Web.
july fourth, weekend, new jersey, festival, fair, fireworks, independence day, parade
Best Activities in the Jersey Area for 4th of July Weekend
 Best Activities in the Jersey Area for 4th of July Weekend 960 640 Emilie
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Who doesn’t love Fourth of July weekend? Personally, it’s one of my favorite holidays. Fireworks, parades, food on the BBQ, sparklers, lawn games… the list goes on and on. So as we get excited about this coming weekend, we wanted to tell you about the best Fourth of July activities around New Jersey. We can’t wait!

Wildwood Fourth of July Celebrations: North Wildwood has a ton of awesome Fourth of July activities. Start your day at 9 AM with the Independence Day Parade, Yoga on the Beach, or the Wildwood Patriotic Beach and Boardwalk 5k. A free concert starts at 2 PM, and will showcase the incredible Tim McGraw and Hunter Hayes! McGraw is set to start at 8 PM, with fireworks at 10 PM, followed by an awesome after party.

26th Annual Oceanfest: Oceanfest is a huge and diverse festival for Independence Day located right on the Jersey shore. Oceanfest is comprised of live music, tons of food, a street fair, and all kinds of entertainment including dancers, jugglers, magic shows, balloon makers, and much more. The fair will open at 10 am on July 4th, and will close at 10 pm. There will also be an impressive fireworks display starting at 9 PM. This is not an event you want to miss!

Jersey City Freedom and Fireworks Festival: This festival is known for the beautiful fireworks display highlighting Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, but the Freedom and Fireworks Festival is more than just this colorful display. It features a ton of amazing food vendors, including House of Cupcakes, Dellano’s Zeppoles, Coney Island Pizza and Bacon me Crazy. It also has free musical performances, carnival rides, and children’s entertainment. Fair is open from 1-10 PM.

State Fair Meadowlands: Looking for something to do this weekend before 4th of July celebrations on Monday? Check out the State Fair Meadowlands. Not only will they have a huge fireworks display on Sunday (starting at 11 PM), there will be tons of activities the rest of the weekend. Both days you will find racing pigs, magicians, a high dive show, an open air thrill show, and tons of food, booths, crafts and music. This weekend parking will be $5, with the fair opening at 2 PM and ending at 1 AM.

Ridgewood Fourth of July: If you are looking for something a little more low-key, try going to Ridgewood for the Fourth. This is the 106th year that Ridgewood is hosting a Fourth of July celebration, but this year they will also be celebrating 100 Years of the United States’ National Parks. Flag raising will begin at 9 AM, the parade at 10 AM, and evening activities including Illumination Twirlers and the Patriot Brass Ensemble will start at 6 PM. Fireworks will occur later at night.

 

 

 

fitness, walking, step count, 10000 steps, exercise, weight loss, health , weight management, pedometer
10,000 Steps a Day: Everything You Didn’t Know
 10,000 Steps a Day: Everything You Didn’t Know 960 539 Emilie
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We all know what it means: walking 10,000 steps is the recommended daily step count to prevent obesity or prevent regaining weight after a dieting or weight loss program. 10,000 steps is approximately the same as 5 miles a day for the average walker. This level of walking has a load of tremendous benefits, from weight management to lowering blood pressure, from reducing stress to improving sleep. Here are 4 ways the 10,000 step goal might have different effects than you knew.

10,000 might not be enough for weight loss. Most people that google calorie loss information will find that walking burns 100 calories per mile, meaning that 10,000 steps a day burns about 3,500 calories per week. This, however is based on the false assumption that walking and running a given distance burns the same number of calories. A study cited by Runner’s World demonstrates that depending on how strenuous your activity is, 10,000 steps a day may burn anywhere between 2,500 calories and 4,300 calories per week. A pound of fat requires 3,500 calories to be burned (more than the number of calories you are likely to burn in a week if all your steps are accomplished through walking). So if you’re walking 10,000 steps a day and treating yourself to some icecream at the end of the week, odds are you are only maintaining your weight. In order to achieve weight loss, some of those 10,000 steps need to be achieved more strenuously (through running, speed walking, hiking, or playing games). Or, you can try to increase your daily step count to increase that calorie burn. Research has shown, for instance, that overweight adolescents should actually be aiming for 11,700 steps a day to reach moderate-to-vigorous activity standards.

There’s a gender difference post childhood. This same study that Runner’s World calls to attention demonstrated that the same number of calories burned for women were on average lower than those for males. More specifically, males burned an average of 124 calories per mile when running, and 88 while walking, whereas the females burned an average of 105 calories while running a mile and 74 walking. This difference may easily exist due to weight and BMI differences between the average male and average female. However, another recent study also demonstrated a difference in step count between the genders: showing that although both genders tend to have a lower step count as they age, this step count reduces much more steeply in females than in males.

Having a sedentary job isn’t the end of the world. Recent research analyzed groups in terms of both their job style (sedentary or non-sedentary), and their physical activity level (active or non-active). Believe it or not, those with both non-sendentary jobs and an active physical lifestyle did not have a significantly higher step count or lower BMI than those with a sedentary job yet active physical lifestyle. The only difference seen in BMI and step count was for those that have both a sedentary job and are inactive. So remember that just because you have to sit at a desk all day, you can still be appropriately active!

Using public transportation helps your step count. Not only does public transportation help the environment and decrease wear and tear on your car, it has been shown that people who use public transportation actually have a greater step count than those who use private vehicles. This shouldn’t seem surprising, as those with public transportation often have to walk to their bus or subway stop. If you are unable to use public transportation to get to work, try using public transportation whenever possible (like going out to dinner or running errands). Otherwise, try parking your car in the back of parking lots, and always take the stairs instead of the elevator. Or if you have street parking, try parking your car further down the street instead of right next to your house, forcing yourself to walk to your car each morning. Small changes like these will quickly increase that step count.

Overall, the 10,000 step goal is a great one, with a wide array of health benefits. So get walking!

Adams, Mark A., Susan Caparosa, Gregory J. Norman, and Sheri Thompson. "American Journal of Preventive Medicine." Translating Physical Activity Recommendations for Overweight Adolescents to Steps Per Day 37.2 (2009): 137-140. Web.
Tudor-Locke, Catrine, Nicola W. Burton, and Wendy J. Brown. "Leisure-time Physical Activity and Occupational Sitting: Associations with Steps/day and BMI in 54–59 Year Old Australian Women." Preventative Medicine 48.1 (2009): 64-68. Web.
Barreira, Tiago V., John M. Schuna, Jr., Emily F. Mire, Stephanie T. Broyles, Peter T. Katzmarzyk, Catrine Tudor-Locke, and William D. Johnson. "Normative Steps/Day and Peak Cadence Values for United States Children and Adolescents: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006." The Journal of Pediatrics 166.1 (2015): 139-43. Web.
Burfoot, Amby. "How Many Calories Are You Really Burning?" Runner's World. N.p., 18 July 2005. Web.

 

daniel goldstein, ted talk, motivation, long term goal, future
How to Resist Instant Gratification and Reach Long Term Goals
 How to Resist Instant Gratification and Reach Long Term Goals 960 640 Emilie
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Daniel Goldstein, who is in charge of the blog Decision Science News, is an expert in how we make decisions that impact our future. He focuses on the impact of economic and financial decisions, but his research analyzes the way in which we make all kinds of decisions. In his Ted Talk, “The Battle Between Your Present and Future Self,” he discusses the way in which we are less in touch with our future selves than we might think. Although we all know that one day we will get old, and that our present decisions will later effect us, we see our present selves as more “us” than our future selves, and thus show more loyalty to our present selves.

If we eat junk food now, we will gain weight in the future. If we don’t exercise now, our heart and muscles will be weaker later down the road. If we don’t save money, we will have less money for retirement. Often, we do not think of these things as definite. We figure we can exercise more later, or save more money at a later point. But in reality, these are just tactics for us to avoid the reality that our future selves are a direct result of our present. And when forced into a decision, we show more allegiance towards our present selves than future selves.

The key to reaching those long term goals is to remember that we are just as much our future selves as we are our present selves. Protecting and helping yourself in the future should be just as much a priority as helping yourself today. For this, we can try several tactics. Goldstein suggests simulating outcomes so that you can directly see the correlation between what you do today and what happens in the future. For instance, create example investment plans that demonstrate how the amount that you save now influences how much you will have later. Or create model exercise plans that demonstrate how this will impact your health later down the road. If you are a more visual learner he suggests using apps or images. For example, show yourself pictures of apartments you will be able to afford depending on how much you have saved for retirement. There are also apps that can make it look like you have aged or gained weight.

Overall, if you are finding it difficult to keep those long term decisions, do whatever you need to do to simulate future outcomes. And remember, your future is directly impacted by your present!

Jason Fried, Tedx Midwest, Ted Talk, Productivity, Workplace, Interruptions
How Your Workplace is Secretly Killing Productivity
 How Your Workplace is Secretly Killing Productivity 960 638 Emilie
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Jason Fried, who wrote Rework along with co-author David Heinemeier Hansson, is an expert at reanalyzing the way we assume our workplace is productive. In his Tedx Midwest Ted Talk, he takes an inventive look at what allows us to work productively. Shockingly, he claims that working within the office actually hinders us from being productive or accomplishing any meaningful work. Instead, we must wait until we get home, or work at some other time of day in order to successfully accomplish tasks.

But why is this? Fried argues that work can only be done productively when people are given long stretches of uninterrupted time. He compares work to sleep: if someone was constantly interrupting you as you were trying to sleep, would you ever be able to reach a deep sleep? Of course not. Work, he says, is the same. Work can be done efficiently and effectively when we have been working for long, uninterrupted periods. The problem arises when we have constant distractions that rip us from any productive flow state which we have entered.

The reason why the workplace reduces productivity is the same reason why so many of us worked productively in the library or coffee shop back in college: people are the most productive when they do not have distractions, or the distractions they have (email, Facebook, instant messaging) can be answered on their own time. The workplace uses constant check-ins and meetings with the idea that this will keep everyone working, therefore increasing productivity. However, with these constant interruptions, most people enter the office each day and never end up having even a few hours of uninterrupted time. By the time you account for brief check-ins and un-wanted conversations, most of us rarely have a full hour of uninterrupted time during the day. This means that we aren’t ever able to work on anything thoroughly and deeply.

Fried’s suggestion is to limit interruptions that demand people to acknowledge the meeting or check-in at a specific time, and to increase communication which people can check on their own time. By using email, instant messaging, and collaborative platforms like Slack, it is easier for workers to finish what they are doing, and to then work on these other forms of communication when it is productive for them to do so. Fried further suggests that we should decrease check-ins and meetings, reduce personnel in meetings to only the essential people needed, and that we should establish weekly or monthly “No Talking Afternoons” in which no one in the office is allowed to talk to one another in order to decrease interruptions.

So if you’re looking for ways to increase productivity, start making changes that allow your workers longer and more frequent periods of uninterrupted time. Remember that the most important thing is to make the workplace a location people want to work because it allows them to accomplish their tasks efficiently.

festival, new jersey, new jersey beer and food festival, whitesbog blueberry festival, battleship beer festival, sip into summer, washington lake park wine festival, rocks ribs and ridges festival, state fair meadowlands
5 Great Fairs and Festivals in Jersey this Weekend
 5 Great Fairs and Festivals in Jersey this Weekend 960 686 Emilie
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Last week we brought you a list of our top picks for things to do in Jersey for the weekend. This weekend has so many amazing fairs and festivals going on, and we wanted to tell you about all the best ones!

The State Fair Meadowlands. This weekend is the first weekend for the state fair meadowlands! The fair extends from June 23rd to July 10th, however it is closed this Sunday. Saturday the fair opens at 2 PM and will close at 1 AM (although the box office closes at 11:30 PM). Saturday is offering several free shows, including the Steve Bayner Hypnotist Show, Rosaire’s Royal Racing Pigs, Commerford’s Education Petting Zoo, and free concerts throughout the day. The fair also has a huge variety of games and rides. Tickets are $9 for 12 and under, and $11 for 13 and over. It is located in East Rutherford, NJ.

7th Annual Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival. As the name suggests, this festival is devoted solely to the enjoyment of Rock and Roll and delicious ribs. Both Saturday and Sunday doors open at 11:30 AM, and bands start playing at 12:30. Bands include Kansas, Blues Traveler and The Outlaws, and “ribbers” include Texas Smoke BBQ, Butch’s Smack Your Lips BBQ, Pigtails BBQ and Skin & Bones. Cost of entry is $45 per day in advance, $50 at gate, or $80 in advance weekend pass (tickets do not include cost of food). The festival is located at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.

“Sip Into Summer” Washington Lake Park Wine Festival. With samples from some local Jersey wineries, food trucks, arts and crafts, and live music, the Sip Into Summer festival is sure to be a great event. The festival will be open from 12 PM- 6 PM on Saturday, and 12 PM- 4 PM on Sunday. 21+ tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the gate, below 21 are $5 each. Visit their website for more information and a list of participating wineries. Festival is located in Sewell, NJ.

Battleship Beer Fest. The Battleship Beer Fest this coming Saturday is aboard the Battleship New Jersey, the oldest battleship in our country, and allows people free access to tour the ship. Gates open at 12:30 PM and the festival ends at 4:30 PM. Tickets are $45 and include 15, 4 oz. samples of local craft beer. The battleship beer fest is located in Camden.

33rd Annual Whitesbog Blueberry Festival. This Saturday and Sunday you can attend the Blueberry Festival from 9 AM to 5 PM at the Historic Whitesbog Village (in Pemberton Township). Each day you will experience festival food, arts and crafts, vendors, food trucks, wagon tours, and live musicians playing everything from country to folk to blues. And of course, there will be blueberry picking and all of the blueberry pastries and foods you could dream of! The festival will go on rain or shine!

The New Jersey Beer and Food Festival. Located at Crystal Springs Resort in Sussex County this Saturday, the festival offers a range of craft beer (over 150 types) and food (cooked open fire style). Enjoy your beverages and meals as you listen to music by  Philly Cover Band and Lima Bean Riot, all while playing lawn games and enjoying activities like hot air balloon rides. Tickets for the festival are $75, but other events include a Chef and Shorts event, Beer and Chocolate Seminar, and Hops and Yoga, all of which occur before the actual festival and each cost $45. The actual festival is from 3-7 PM.

 

 

getaway, weekend, vacation, new haven, connecticut, chesapeake bay, maryland, rehoboth beach, deleware, washington DC, quinebaug & shetucket rivers valley
Best Weekend Getaways if You Live in Jersey
 Best Weekend Getaways if You Live in Jersey 960 623 Emilie
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We all wish we could go on more vacations than we actually do, but work and school tends to get in the way. But here at United EVENTures we believe in getting in short and fun vacations wherever we can. So we comprised a list of the best weekend getaways that are easy to reach from NJ. Pack your bags and head out Friday night, and come back before work Monday morning!

Washington, DC. DC has so many things to do and see, from national monuments, to great museums, to shopping, to trying to find the best cupcake in the city (try the famous Georgetown Cupcake, as shown on the TLC show DC Cupcakes, Sprinkles, or The Sweet Lobby). The best part? Amtrak offers direct train rides to DC from several places in NJ (such as Trenton and Princeton), and the train rides are only slightly more than 2.5 hours long.

Rehoboth Beach, Deleware. One of the most well visited places in Deleware, Rehoboth has amazing coastline. The beaches have great boardwalks, and the city is full of amazing seafood (Henlopen Oyster House and Fins Fish House & Raw Bar are particularly amazing). Fishing is also very prevalent, and there are many great hotels and inns to stay at. Rehoboth is also well known for their Jazz Festival in mid October, so if you can’t go this summer, head over to Rehoboth then!

New Haven, Connecticut. New Haven is the perfect weekend getaway if you’re looking for some outdoor recreation. The city is located alongside the coast, where beaches and boardwalks are plentiful. Additionally, there is a ton of walking, hiking, and biking trails. Or, if you want to see the Connecticut Open (Warm up for the US Tennis Open), come visit between August 19th and 27th.

The Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay area has an endless number of things to do. Try visiting Annapolis (Maryland’s capitol) complete with great dining and a view of the city’s waterfront. There are also many historical sites located nearby, like Fort McHenry (which is approximately a 37 minute drive from downtown Annapolis). For more ideas of what to do in the Chesapeake Bay Area, take a look at VisitMaryland.org.

Quinebaug & Shetucket Rivers Valley. Located in Connecticut, Quinebaug & Shetucket is listed as a National Heritage Corridor, and encompasses 35 towns within the valley that help preserve the land. It is a great place for hiking and biking, and also has nearby historic sites and museums. For information to help you plan your trip, visit The Last Green Valley.

 

sunrise, solstice, morning, new jersey
Why You’re Going to Want to Watch the Sunrise this Week
 Why You’re Going to Want to Watch the Sunrise this Week 960 720 Emilie
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You might think a sunrise is the same any day of the year, but you would actually be mistaken. According to EarthSky, sunrises and sunsets are actually longer in duration close to the winter and summer solstice. That means that within the next 6 months, now is the only time to see such a long sunrise! Not to mention, Wednesday is perfect sunrise weather. The sunrise will occur at 5:25 AM in Oradell, NJ where we at United EVENTures are located, but times will change slightly depending on your location. The morning is supposed to be clear and sunny, and only 63 degrees, so you will feel comfy with a light sweatshirt and cup of coffee.

Thursday will also be a great morning for watching the sunrise. The sunrise will still be longer since we are close to the solstice, but the morning will be partially cloudy. Although it might sound counterintuitive, having some clouds in the sky actually adds more dimension to the sunrise, and will make it prettier to look at. This can especially hold true when a sunrise occurs right before a storm hits. Thursday morning will also be in the low 60s, but beware! It’s supposed to start raining right after sunrise, so you’ll want to get back inside quickly. The Thursday sunrise will also occur around 5:25 AM.

Additionally, starting Thursday morning you should keep your eye out for a daytime moon. This is because the moon will have entered its waning gibbous phase, in which the moon will not travel the same path as the sun during the day. The daytime moon will be seen throughout the end of June and throughout July, but once August 2nd hits it will disappear once again.