Great Fly-Fishing Areas Around The U.S.A.

Fly-fishing offers thrilling rush of adrenaline when the long-awaited fish takes the fly. Below are some of the most popular and fruitful fly-fishing destinations in America — ideal for both beginners and long-time anglers.

Bighorn River, Montana
This river is one of the best fly-fishing locations in the nation, and it is especially a great choice if you’re looking to hook some large trout. The waters are full of fish because insects hatch year-round. Here, you can expect to make catches from between 17 and 22 inches in length. Fall is a particularly great time to fish on the Bighorn because the crowds are less heavy and you have a chance to catch some of the brown trout that migrate during winter and fall.
 
Colorado River, Colorado
There are many chances for fabulous fly-fishing along the Colorado River, including ample opportunities for private and guided fly-fishing tours. Here, you can expect to encounter a variety of trout, including rainbow, brook, cutthroat, and brown trout. In this region, you’ll have the chance to fish in rivers, alpine lakes, and spring-fed ponds, and you’re likely to make hefty catches – with two pounders being average but six pounders always an exciting possibility. Another boon is that there are several wonderful lodging options near the Colorado River, certain to make your fly-fishing trip as comfortable and homey as possible.
 
San Juan River, New Mexico
This is often considered one of the most ideal locations for fly-fishers looking to catch very large trout – four and five pound catches are average, and it’s not hugely uncommon to find a nine-pounder on the end of your line here. The river is lavish with rainbow, brown, and hybrid trout, and it’s known as one of North America’s most fruitful tailwater fisheries. If your schedule allows, you should aim to head to the San Juan River in the off-season (early spring) so that you can avoid crowds. 
 
Alagnak River, Britson Bay Region, Alaska
This area of Alaska is known for the exceptional guided fly-fishing outings that are offered along the Alagnak River, particularly great for the beginning fisher. You can expect to find rainbow trout, a variety of Pacific salmon species, and arctic grayling, and you’ll learn about traditional Alaskan angling methods while also taking in the breathtaking surroundings – the area around the river teams with wildlife, and you’ll have a chance to spot beavers, brown bears, caribou, and even bald eagles.
 
Potter County, Pennsylvania
The Hammersley Wild Area in Potter County, Pennsylvania is a great destination if you’re looking for an exclusive private, guided fly-fishing experience. The area abounds with miles of private streams that are divided into small sections, with no more than two anglers and one guide allowed on a section at any given time. You’ll enjoy a great deal of privacy and top-notch instruction as you fish for the large brown, brook, and rainbow trout that fill the streams. 
 

BAL-4 & B-T Learn About Reusable Bike Tires

Not only is May Sustainability Month, it is also Bike Safety Month! Follow BAL-4 & B-T as they learn about reusable bike tires.

Tap Into Your Creative Side: Starting a New Hobby

Tapping into your inner creativity can offer rewards to both your personal and professional life. If you've been wanting to pursue an artistic hobby at home at NSY Portsmouth Homes, these tips can help you get started.

First, gather the materials you will need. There is nothing more challenging than getting your creative juices flowing only to discover that you are lacking a necessary tool or piece of equipment. That said, don’t pressure yourself to purchase the most expensive or fanciest supplies — you just need something to get started with.

Next, set aside some time where you won’t be interrupted — this is key. In order to learn a new skill you need both time and undivided attention. We all know it can be difficult to schedule the time, but be realistic. If you can only set aside fifteen minutes, then make those fifteen minutes count.

Sometimes, it's helpful to set aside time to get creative with your friends. Finding people at a similar level of skill can provide an environment where you can all learn together, and also support each other as you learn. Whether you’re crocheting, scrapbooking or whatever, a group can’t do anything but help you improve, and make the process more fun!

If you're finding your new talent a challenge, seek out some professional instruction. You don’t have to commit to an overwhelming schedule of lessons, but having a few pointers can be really helpful as you get started, and make the whole process more pleasureable.

BAL-4 & B-T Learn to Pack a Waste-Free Lunch

Follow BAL-4 & B-T as they learn to pack a waste-free lunch.

Great Beauty Blogs

We all like to look our best, but sometimes it's hard to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. If you're looking for some beauty inspiration, check out these awesome beauty blogs!

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic
A wonderful resource for women who don't have a ton of time to get themselves ready in the morning. This blog is a must read if you need to squeeze the most out of your makeup routine when you're on the go and without a moment to spare.

Makeup and Beauty Blog
This blog is split up into different categories such as tips, reviews, and drugstore finds. Full of helpful information about cosmetics, it is a popular website with a devoted following, and for very good reason.

Sephora
Sephora's blog makes sure you get the scoop on lots of new products while also featuring a load of advice on makeup experts. This blog is great to hit up if you want to stay up to date on the season's makeup that you shouldn't go without.

Savvy Skin
Focusing mainly on skincare, Savvy Skin is a great place to go for informative help on taking care of your skin. They offer product reviews and offer the latest news on skin-care are conveniently paired in this fantastic, informative blog.

A Mom in Red High Heels
A refreshingly unique blog for mothers who want to remain fabulous and fashionable. This site offers beauty tips, product reviews, and sale information, all with a focus toward readers who also have families to raise.


 

May is Sustainability Month: Follow BAL-4 & B-T as They Learn to Make a Difference

Balfour Beatty has declared May as Sustainability Month. Throughout the month, employees across all our offices will be learning about ways they can implement sustainable behaviors and practices in the office, at home and throughout the greater community. Sustainability is a collective responsibility. We encourage you to follow BAL-4 and B-T each month to learn about ways you too can make a difference.

Smartest Magazines For Women

Print lives! Even in our days of Facebook and iPads, printed magazines offer tactile and visual pleasures all their own. Here are five of the most delightful women's magazines available today:

W Magazine
Full of sopisticated takes on style and living, W is a highly sophisticated fashion magazine. Gorgeous photography and great articles fill this elegant, over-sized publication, making it an essential read.

O, The Oprah Magazine
This relatively new magazine by Oprah Winfrey is all about empowering women and encouraging personal growth. Covering a wide range of topics, everything from fitness to career choices, this magazine is a valuable asset for the 21st century woman.

Prevention
With an emphasis on family health, Prevention works off of the basic premise that little changes can yield big results. It offers a friendly voice on issues of health, exercise, and nutrition, and is full of comprehensive and intelligent writing.

Bust
Tapping into women's issues intelligently and with a strong feminist perspective, Bust is a groundbreaking lifestye magazine. Its writing covers pop culture, news, music and book reviews, and a strong editorial voice that a strong, independent woman can read with pride.

Cooking Light
Unlike a lot of other food magazines, Cooking Light matches recipes with smart writing on health and fitness issues. This magazine is very educational and doesn't condescend, making it a good resource for nutritional information.

Top Travel Blogs

A global medium, the world wide web makes it easy to share stories about places both near and faraway. If you love to travel, the web's a wonderful resource for finding trip ideas and maybe even simply admiring (with maybe — just maybe — a small touch of envy!) other people's travel plans. Live vicariously and get inspired by reading some of these great travel blogs:

So Many Places
Kim and Brian are living out a dream of selling all of their stuff and travelling the world. This blog tracks that adventure, and also explores the need for adventure and to embrace the world around you.

Aviators and a Camera
A photographer and travel writer full of wanderlust, Kristen updates her blog with stories of where her work takes her. This site also contains a lot of useful tips on iPhone photography.

As the Bird Flies
This comprehensive record of a young traveller's life is full of great info for travellers and non-travellers alike. With everything from book reviews to musings from the road, the blog is an inspirational collection of thoughts that will make you want to pack your suitcase.

Where's My Toothbrush
Well written and full of humor, this site is full of interesting stories and fun observations. Created as a sort of travelogue for the author's toothbrush, Where's My Toothbrush is always a charming and interesting read.

Johnny Vagabond
Johnny Vagabond is a blog with great tips for travellers and lots of wonderful personal anecdotes. Well organized and full of beautiful photography, this site has a friendly, conversational feel and an infectiously big heart.


 

Look Your Best: Great Green Beauty Products

It’s important to help the environment however you can, and thankfully many companies are offering ways to do it. If you find the waste from traditional cosmetics to be a little excessive, check out these five great beauty products that are made with environmental safety in mind.

John Masters Organics is one of the most dependable producers of green beauty supplies, and many people rave about their sea salt sprays. These sprays give your hair a classic beachy look, and their combination of sea salt and lavender protects and hydrates your locks.

Burt’s Bees has made a great reputation for themselves as producers of high-quality lotions and other products. If you want an alternative to traditional alcohol-based hand sanitizers, try their excellent aloe and witch hazel-based product. It kills germs and leaves your hands feeling soft.

The German-made Dr. Hauschka products are very popular among skin care experts, and for good reason. Their rose day cream is made with natural rose petal extracts, and rose wax plus marsh mallow root strengthen and hydrate delicate skin.

To tone and clear up unsightly bags under your eyes, try 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream. Caffeine is a natural tightener, and it constricts blood vessels and makes skin clearer and smoother.

Makeup tools are also made with care for the future of the Earth. The brushes and sponges made by the EcoTools company are crafted from cruelty-free hair on bamboo bodies and natural, recyclable materials and come in a reusable storage pouch.

Not Alone Program for Military Families Affected by War

We would like to take the time to familiarize our residents with a helpful program that supports military families whose lives are affected by war. Not Alone, a non-profit organization, aims to “empower warriors and their families in their life after war.”

Not Alone provides many different avenues for receiving anonymous and confidential support at no cost, including:

  • eGroups
  • Training
  • Workshops
  • Personal Clinical Care for anything including post-traumatic stress disorder, clinical depression, and medical management
  • Forums/Discussion Boards
  • Social Networks
  • Retreats for warriors and for spouses
  • eClinic

Not Alone hosts weekly online groups for spouses on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Caregiver/Spouse Support Groups are held on Wednesday nights. The first Wednesday of every month is an open topic, with the rest of the Wednesdays dedicated to our series, 7 Lives of Military wives. Thursdays are Trench Talk, an open forum discussion revolving around deployment cycle issues.

To enter the group, go to http://notalone.webex.com

Under the "Today" tab, join the session up to 30 minutes before start time.

Wednesday password: "spouses"

Thursday password: "trenchtalk"

Are you unsure whether or not you should seek support? To determine your stress and anxiety levels, take Not Alone’s free Stress Assessment Test.

If you’re looking for immediate assistance, please contact the Not Alone eClinic, a 24/7 hotline at 1-866-781-8010.

For further information about Not Alone, visit their website at: http://notalone.com. You can also follow Not Alone on Facebook and Twitter.