Top Camping Gear At Walmart For Under $100 - Under $50 - Under $20

If you are anything like me, you want an affordable camping product while still having a product that will last for many years. We find basically everything we need at our local Walmart and here are some of my favorite items so far:

The Coleman 6 Person Clip and Camp Dome Tent, Only $79.00.

CAMPING GEAR UNDER $10.00

This adorable mint headlamp by Ozark Trail is just adorable for under $2.00, it is sure to be a handy addition to your camping gear. It is so important to have several flashlights with you when camping and this one is perfect as a backup light. It would also be just perfect for children or for a great gift.

Mint Headlamp - ONLY $1.88 at Walmart.

We also got ourselves the below two headlamps so far they have been great. Top headlamp is the Ozark Trail 100 Lumens Headlamp for only $3.98 with also comes with batteries. The bottom headlamp is the Ozark Trail 500 Lumens Headlamp which was almost too bright and still only $8.97, but great if you will be in complete dark or just prefer to be able to see further ahead.

Below, this sweet Kids’ Camping Chair is so adorable in Mint!! Great choice for only $9.88 at Walmart.

Kids Camping Chair in Mint. Only $9.88 at Walmart, Ozark Trail.

Lightweight Day Pack Backpack for Only $4.98! I got myself one of these and use it almost every day now. This bag is great for waking the dogs to hold water bottles, or for running everyday errands. It is just perfect.

CAMPING GEAR UNDER $50.00

We have weighed the options with every single portable camping air pump and always come back to this one. It is the only one that plugs into your car AC adapter (aka the lighter thingie), and works well to blow up our giant air mattress pretty quickly. Find this at Walmart for only $13.88. This has been our most useful piece of camping equipment because it also blows up our inner tubes!!!

Below is a camping chair that I have always wanted!! It has a cooler bag on the side and I just LOVE the color of these lime green colored Adult Camping Chairs. Find them at Walmart for only $24.98.

Lime Green Camping Chair With Cooler - ONLY $24.98 at Walmart.

The below set of reusable camping cook wear is also something I never leave home without for a camping trip. These are also good for road trips and other adventures too. The utensils are very strong, and won’t bend and the collapsible bowls make the perfect addition to any campfire dinner. Find it at Walmart for only $17.97, which beats having to buy a package of single use products for each item provided here. Don’t forget the biodegradable soap!

CAMPING GEAR UNDER $100.00

We just purchased THIS TENT from Ozark Trail and WE LOVE IT SO MUCH! I love how tall it is, so I can stand up and change clothes easily. This will be easy to setup now that we had some practice. Our Queen Air Mattress fit perfectly inside of it (thankfully it fits THROUGH the door, because our smaller tent had a very small door and the mattress did not fit like it does in this one. The pups still had tons of room at the foot of the air mattress to be able to sleep comfortable. We had a fantastic night’s sleep in this tent and would recommend it to anyone! It fit two us adults and two dogs just perfectly.

Ozark Trail 6-Man Clip and Camp Dome Tent at Walmart - $79.

Get yourself a good night’s rest with THIS Coleman 22” Tritech Queen Air Mattress, shown below. DO NOT FORGET YOUR AIR PUMP (we use this one here)! You will not believe how difficult it is to find the ONE AND ONLY style of air mattress that does not require DD batteries OR does not plug in for a power source. We found this one worked with our handheld air pump that has the car charger included. This one is a winner.

Below, this Coleman Triton 2 Burner Camping Stove has also been wonderful. It’s nice to use when it is either too wet or too hot to make a campfire. The new model of the Coleman camping stove is also super easy to clean. ON SALE NOW FOR $104.51 at Walmart. Don’t forget your Propane Gas for the stove, found here.

What are YOUR all time fave camping items you can’t leave home without?

Allez Outdoors - Skincare + SPF

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Give this women owned company a try and let me know what you think! Learn More Here.

Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Camping Stove Review + The Best Camping Recipes

We recently got the new Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Camping Stove and LOVE it.

GET YOURS HERE.

We used to reply solely on making a fire to cook our camping dinners and breakfast recipes, and sometimes that was challenging if we arrive to the campsite after dark, or if it has rained and firewood is saturated.

Travis set the stove set up in ten minutes or less. The only additional items we needed was a Coleman Propane can and a lighter of some sort. You have to turn the gas going to the burner on first, then light it second. Food cooks super quickly on this stove and we would definitely recommend it.

Within minutes we were cooking our mix of chopped potatoes and onions and seasoning in a small skillet. That took some time, but only due to the fact I should have cut the potatoes smaller. Our brats cooked super quickly after that.

Just stir your veggies every few minutes to keep them cooking consistantly.

The pups are excellent helpers :)

TOP EASY AND DELICIOUS CAMPING RECIPES:

Camping Recipe: Easy Chicken Tacos by Damn Delicious

Don’t forget your camping cutlery and utensils, found here!

Cute Camping Cutlery Set, great for travel!

Simply boil water on your camping stove and add to the jars, below. Super fresh ideas here.

Try this upscale meal while camping! Bring frozen prepared shrimp and cook over the stove.

Happy Birthday to Me!

What an exceptional birthday! I turned 34 last weekend, and we celebrated at a cute pavilion on Devil’s Kitchen Lake. The weather was just perfect, and the full moon that started on Friday the 13th and carried into my birthday things even more special. Wow, I am so thankful for all the wonderful people in our lives!

Camping With Dogs – Tips and Tricks with #WalgreensPetshoppe

I was asked by Carusele to participate in the #WalgreensPetshoppe campaign, sponsored by Walgreens. Although I have been compensated, all opinions are my own.

I was asked by Carusele to participate in the #WalgreensPethoppe campaign, sponsored by Walgreens. All content and opinions are my own.

We recently had the opportunity to take the dogs on a fun camping trip in Montana. There were almost more dogs than people, but that’s how the majority of our gatherings wind up anyway! Here are a few tips to help you through your next camping experience with dogs. We stocked up on TONS and TONS of amazing Petshoppe items from Walgreens before heading out, and since we had a pack of dogs, they all behaved very well because of the Petshoppe treats from Walgreens. What a fun addition to an already amazing weekend.

We have been taking our pups hiking and camping for over ten years now, and we always learn something new each time. It’s such a fun learning experience, and moreover, camping trips are the absolute best way to help our pets get lots of fresh air, exercise, and even social time with other dogs. The campground becomes such a fun experience for everyone. We could hardly imagine a camping trip without our dogs around. Below, our pupper friends Craig and De De came for a visit as well!!! Porter LOVES playing with these two brothers.

TOP CAMPING TIPS FOR PET OWNERS:

1. If there is no water spigot in the campground, or fresh water available, please make sure to pack 2-3 extra gallons of water for your pets per day. They drink a ton of water every time we are camping, especially if it’s super hot out, or if we are in an arid place like the mountains or desert.

2. Bring food and water dishes. Each dog needs their own food dish, and they generally all share their water bowl.

3. We love using our electronic collars to keep our dogs close by. While most camp grounds are going to require dogs on leashes, these e-collars add a bit of extra protection to make sure your dogs are listening to you and behaving around the campground.

4. Stock up on treats because the dogs will need a bit of extra incentive to listen J They also burn so many extra calories while camping, hiking, and swimming, that we always treat them to a few extra treats while camping.

5. Bring soft, supportive, and warm bedding for night time. We bring an air pad for the dogs to use in the tent at night, and we also either cover them with our coats, or bring extra blankets for them. Cabbie loves cuddling in, and Porter loves the chilly air and would never want to be under the covers.

6. Watch your dog(s) around the fire pit. Sometimes dogs will try to play around the fire, or play with extra fire wood, just keep an eye on them!

7. Make sure to keep an eye on your dog(s) at ALL times! They could wander off and disturb wildlife or eat something they find in the woods that could upset their tummies.

Some of our favorite treats from Walgreen’s Petshoppe collections include the Chicken Bites with Pumpkin and Cranberry, Sweet Potatoes with Cranberries, and Chicken Bites with Pumpkin and Cranberry – all of which contain NO corn, wheat, or soy! The dogs all shared very well – we definitely had more than enough to go around.

WALGREENS PETSHOPPE IN-STORE PROMOTIONS

2 for $10 mix and match Petshoppe toys and bones every day

Week of 8/5/18 – BOGO 50% off on Petshoppe Pet Treats

Week of 8/19/18 – Petshoppe Pet Treats and Petshoppe 50 count puppy pads on sale for $7.99!

Porter was extremely interested in every flavor variety, and the Chicken Strips were definitely a crowd favorite :)

Porter had a blast – she stayed up all night looking around the tent, listening for animals and noises that peaked her interest.

Select varieties of Petshoppe treats are Made in the USA – Look for the label on the front of the packaging! They take the utmost care in delivering high quality pet treat, which have no corn, wheat, or soy – perfect for almost every dog!

Their toys have held up super well! Above, the Plush Turtle which comes in two colors. Below, the two Boston Terriers were playing with this Squeaker Pig ALL morning together, it was adorable!

Above, you will see a few more varieties of their treats. We are definitely stocked up for a while. Walgreens Petshoppe offers quality products for your best friends!!

Connect With Walgreens On Social:

Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram / Twitter

Use hashtag #WalgreensPetshoppe to show us how you and your pets enjoy these products too.

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Music Festival Camping Tips with Coleman at Target

This post has been sponsored by Coleman®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Happy Memorial Day Week!

This weekend, I am attending the Summer Camp Music Festival and I am so excited. It’s been almost ten years since I first attended, so I am really looking forward to seeing old friends and listening to some live music. (I will share some photos of the event in this post throughout the weekend!!)

It’s important to set up a cute campsite to have as your home base for the weekend, and the NEW Coleman® Dark Room Tent is a great option you might want to consider! Head to Target to find everything you need for all of your upcoming adventures, and save on Coleman products with this Ibotta rebate offer here!

Since music festival season is upon us, I wanted to share some tips and tricks on how to make camping at a music festival even better, beginning with considering your tent.

This tent comes with a convenient carrying bag too!

Head to Target to get inspiration for your upcoming festivals and summer gatherings!

One of the features I find most appealing about the Coleman® Dark Room Tent would be the roomy interior, which is great for holding everything during the festival - plus, being able to change in the tent is priceless! There is more than enough room for us in here.

I love the dark outer fabric (which is considered their Dark Room Technology), that blocks light! Since you will likely be camping around a lot of other people, it’s so sweet that this tent’s rainfly blocks 90% of sunlight so you can sleep in past sunrise. Since a lot of music festivals have festival goers camp in open fields without trees, shade is very important. If your tent gets super hot in the morning the moment the sun shines on it, think of just how HOT you would be when you’re trying to get some good rest before another big festival day. Getting a little extra sleep is really amazing.

This tent is pretty easy to set up. I would recommend at least having two people on the job, but it’s pretty easy to find a friend to help you set up your tent in this situation. There are three poles, two that go into the actual tent, and one pole that gives the rainfly a nice awning, which would reduce any water dripping into your tent.

Speaking of rainy weather, you never know what to expect here in the Midwest, but this tent will keep you nice and dry because of the WeatherTec system, which uses a tub-like floor with welded corners and protected seams.

One of my favorite parts of any camping trip is actually when we get to head to bed. I do love that part of the night where we get to retire into our ultra comfy sleeping bags, cots, and our awesome, sunlight blocking tent.

In addition to awesome camping gear, we have lots of fun ideas of how to decorate our campsite, a few of which are shown throughout the post.

A dream catcher was so adorable and easy to hang, plus it brings that whimsical element into your campsite.

My favorite décor item would probably be adding an extra large sunflower (from a craft store), which I attached with zip ties.

Use 2 white twin sized sheets and zip ties or ribbons to add inviting softness and volume to your tent. I first folded one sheet in half to find the center. I then attached that to the sheets in an arched pattern. I used two sheets, but you could use a few more to get an even more festive and inviting look.

Think of your campsite as a living room of sorts, and try to create a relaxed, comfortable environment for your group, or for friends you might meet at the festival. Use outdoor rugs, tapestries, solar lights and more to personalize your campsite and make it stand out.
 

Prepare for the summer with the Coleman® Dark Room Tent and enjoy!

Tips For Camping At A Music Festival (Or Anywhere) - A Complete Guide

Tickets are already on sale for many of the bigger summer music festivals. Coachella is happening very soon, too! I wanted to share some camping tips with you so that you don't have to worry about being that person sleeping under a tent that has fallen in on itself or gets a puddle of rain inside, rendering the whole weekend a "wash"! If you're looking for ideas on What To Wear To A Festival, check out this post here! 

MUSIC FESTIVAL TIPS

YOUR HOME BASE

A good tent is the first step to ensuring that you have a good night's sleep, and that your personal belongings are safe. I have never had anything go missing from my tent or campsite, but if you want to be safe, get a small lock for your tent zippers and DO NOT lose the key :) I also like to toss my cooler in the car or under the tent vestibule while I am off seeing music or away from the campsite. 

Also be sure to set your tent up properly. Make sure to set your tent up ahead of time in the yard a time or twi before the big weekend! My dream tent (above), is one you can stand up in, comfortably fits two cots, and has a bit of extra room for your clothing bags and food bin. You don't need to spend a fortune, but if you get yourself a better tent that that crappy $50 one from a big box store, you can keep it for years, rather than tossing it after the zipper breaks from your first use. 

An Ez-Up Shade Tent is incredibly valuable for its' shade factor. It's also a great place to stake out your camp site, and is like a little living room. Hang tapestries, and even set up your tent under it for lots of extra shade and sleep time in the mornings! Make sure to stake the tent down, so it isn't affected by wind. Sometimes, staking it down doesn't always help - a huge storm crumpled my Ez-Up like it was made from aluminum foil, because we had used the provided bolts to attach the top fabric part. So, just check the weather if possible. Most of the time they will be fine :) 

SIT PRETTY

Alite Monarch Camping Chair 

Alite Monarch Camping Chair 

A good Camping Chair is very important, since chilling at the campsite is a big part of a festival camping experience. Make sure it has a cup holder :) We love our Alite Chairs so much and they pack down so small. Make sure to stow these away when you leave your campsite though, they might just "walk away" if you leave them out. They weigh nothing and are super nice. 

A regular camping chair ($20 or so) will do just fine! And, feel free to bring a couple of extra chairs to sit around your campsite, to invite friends and neighbors over for a drink! 

SLEEP WELL & IN COMFORT  

A good sleeping bag is key to any good night's sleep. I have had my Cat's Meow Sleeping Bag from The North Face for a while now, and always fall sleep right away when I get into this thing. It's pretty warm, so if you're going to be at a festival that is also warm at night, bring a couple of flat cotton sheets and a lightweight blanket. Something that's washable preferably, and nothing that grandma made, it may get dirty or be used on the ground for a nap in the afternoon. 

GET A COT - It's not likely that you will be near a power source, so instead of a clunky air mattress that can easily pop, do yourself a favor and get a foldable cot. You will get the best sleep of anyone in your camp! Here is one cot option (shown below), and the ones we have are old school, from Go-Kot, but work super well. If you get good rest, then you will be a happy festival goer! 

Mesh Stuff Sacks - Sea To Summit

Mesh Stuff Sacks - Sea To Summit

SHOWER UP!

If you're lucky enough to be attending a festival with decent shower facilities, I would recommend bringing a mesh bag that you can hang in the shower with you, so that you can bring the essentials with you, and hang them from the shower bar or hook. I use these ones by Sea To Summit for every adventure and LOVE them! 

GoToobs are amazing! I take them with me on every road trip or camping trip, and they would hold more than enough shampoo, conditioner, face wash, and body wash for a long weekend festival! They're SO well made and you can even wash them in the dishwasher if you need to. 

DON'T FORGET SHOWER SHOES!

Foam flip flops are amazing as shower shoes, and then you can wear them at the site, or walking around to shows, if you wind up liking them. I absolutely LOVE my Teva Flip Flops, and can walk a long way in them, on many surfaces. They last forever, I get a new pair every year or so. 

FOOD & DRINK

A good cooler is the basis for making or breaking a festival. You can always buy food from vendors at a festival, but I absolutely try and avoid eating greasy, yucky vendor foods that make you feel so gross! Hey, the comforts of home are not always at hand, so eat and drink wisely :)

Most festivals do not allow glass containers, so plan accordingly. Don't bring glass bottles of beer, bring cans. Don't bring a glass bottle of liquor, pour it into a plastic container with a tightly sealing lid. Bring LOTS of mixers if you like mixed drinks. I would also recommend bringing a slew of airplane bottles of liquor, so you can easily bring them with you as you walk around to shows, and visit campsites! It's easy to find a mixer most of the time. 

DRINK TONS OF WATER!!! 

Other tips...

Keep your campsite clean! A few times throughout the day, and one of the first things you can do each morning is gather trash and food stuff, and toss it into a garbage bag. Lots of festivals are encouraging recycling (yay!!), and will provide a few clear trash bags for you to keep plastics and cans in. 

Have FUN!!! Enjoy :) 

Ooey Gooey Marshmallow Cones

Bonfire season is in full swing! I have a yummy treat that just about anyone will enjoy! You can either make these over a campfire, or even in your oven at home, suer easily. This recipe was featured on the Missouri Department of Tourism Blog! So honored to collaborate with them!

Ooey Gooey Campfire Cones - SO GOOD!!

INGREDIENTS:

Hershey's Candy Bars (roughly 1 candy bar per cone or a bit less)

Mini Marshmallows

Waffle Cones (store bought works perfectly)

Foil 

CHECK OUT MY MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM PORTFOLIO HERE.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) Break the Hershey's Bar into pieces, and set aside. 

2.) Take one cone in your hand, and fill the bottom 1/3 with mini marshmallows. Add a couple of pieces of chocolate, then more marshmallows. Once you get towards the top, fill the rest of the way with marshmallows, then put a few more pieces of chocolate on top. 

3.) TO HEAT: Wrap the whole cone (and luscious filling) in a couple of layers of foil. Place near campfire (not directly on the flame - you're just trying to melt the filling.), for about 8-10 minutes, being extremely careful to remove from the embers/coals. Once cooled a bit, unwrap the foil and behold the most wonderful thing you can eat while you're camping!

- If you want to easily make these in the oven, fill the cones with marshmallows and chocolate as described above, and wrap in foil. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees, place each foil-wrapped cone in a heat-safe coffee mug (ceramic go glass only). Make sure the pointy end of the cone is facing downward into the mug. Bake for about 7 minutes, carefully remove from the oven, and once cooled, unwrap foil to see if everything has melted enough. Enjoy!!!

Ooey Gooey Campfire Cones

Missouri Department Of Tourism

Super excited about this recent collaboration with Missouri Department of Tourism! They even posted my recipes on their blog (here). They asked me to submit ideas and then images of activities someone would do in Missouri in the Fall. I immediately thought about all the times we have camped, fished, hiked, and road tripped to Missouri! Bobby used to go down with his family to camp in Missouri a countless number of times when he was younger, and he was the one who really showed me the beauty of the state. 

CHECK OUT THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM BLOG HERE

Here are a few of my favorite images Bobby and I created for this amazingly fun and nostalgic project! View all the images in my Portfolio (here). 

VIEW THE WHOLE PORTFOLIO HERE

Let's Escape To The Woods!
Camping Essentials