A Girl’s Guide To Camping

A Girl’s Guide To Camping

As a city girl who has gone country from time to time, I can honestly say youll never see a prettier sight than a sky full of bright starsplus making smores while gossiping about the men in your lives will undoubtedly breathe new life into your friendships. But before you head for the great outdoors, here’s what you need to know about camping.

Reserve your spot.

If you are new to camping, it might be best to stick to established campsites. You can research and reserve a campsite for you and your girls on websites like www.reserveamerica.com.

Prepare for the trip.

Personal Gear

Food. Think of what is light and easy to cookinstant oatmeal and soup, PB&J sandwiches and nuts are all good options. Pack all of your food in plastic bags to keep out moisture.

Water bottles. Besides containing your water, they come in handy if you get a bit chilly at night. Simply pour hot water into your bottle and put it in the bottom of your sleeping bag before you go to sleep. Nalgene is one of the most popular brands of camping water bottles.

Warm clothing. Its good to have at least one lightweight pair of pants with you to keep you warm and your legs safe from bugs and poison oak exposure. Avoid jeans because they are heavy and dont dry quickly.

Good socks. Bring an extra pair just in case the others get wet or muddy.

Hiking boots or a good pair of trail runners. No need to spend big bucks on heavy hiking shoes. These days, you can use trail runners with knobby treads for most hiking trips. Check out Salomon XA Pros or Teva X-1.

Sunscreen. Choose a sport, sweat-resistant sunscreen like one from Himaya. The brand offers disposable packets of sunscreen. One packet works great for two to three people.

Bug Spray.

Sleeping bag, or a large sheet for warm areas.

Sleeping mat.

Camping pillow.

Extra batteries. For all battery-operated equipment youre bringing. You dont want your flashlight to die during your night-time bathroom run, do you?

Headlamp or a good flashlight. Headlamps have thick elastic bands that allow you to put the light on your head and keep your hands free to set up a tent or start a campfire. You can get a cheap headlamp at your local discount store or a brand name one online or at a wilderness store.

Group Gear

Small, easy to set up tent. When sleeping under the stars, tent-free may sound attractive, but dew, dust, rodents and creepy crawlers are reason enough to carry a tent. Lightweight ones can be found at REI for around $100. Most fit two people.

Portable stove. Make sure someone has a light, compact camp stove that runs on white gas.

First-aid kit. Besides the usual suspects, get a product called Zanfel, an over-the-counter lotion for skin exposed to poison ivy and poison oak, just in case you or one of your girlfriends accidentally rubs up against one of these nasty plants. Also, throw in a pair of tweezers to help remove splinters or bee stingers.

Newspaper or pieces of scrap paper to help build a fire.

Test your gear.

Its important to test your gear days before everyone caravans to the destination. Make sure at least one of you knows how to set up the tent and that someone has lit your stove to make sure it works. Check your headlamp and make sure the bulb isnt burnt out. Also, make it a point to try your backpack around your neighborhoodpack it full and walk around for 30 minutes through a park and uphill. Youll get a better feel for what you can handle on the trail.

On the trail.

How to start a fire.

Your good looks may be enough to get things sizzling when out on the town, but, unfortunately, in the woods they dont count for much. To start a real fire at a campground, look for a fire pit. Once youve found one, crumple the paper you brought into tight little balls and place them in the pit. Next, look around your site for dry branches and bark of different sizes. If you come across wood that is green, dont use itit wont burn. Place small branches over the paper. Lay three to four branches one direction and then a few more in the other direction, making almost a little house on top of the paper. Light the paper and then let it burn a little bit. After the first pieces of wood start to burn, put bigger pieces on to keep it going. Be careful not to put big pieces on too quickly as they can smother the fire. Think about getting as much air through the pieces of wood as possible. To put it out, simply throw dirt on top of the burning embers. NEVER leave a campsite with a fire still burning.

Use this girl’s guide to camping and youll not only camp in style, but youll have as much fun as you do shopping for a new pair of stilettos.

Types Of Effective Portable Alarms.

Types Of Effective Portable Alarms.

Portable alarms add convenience and versatility to your safety plan. With proper portable alarm protection, you increase your safety in dangerous zones, such as dark parking lots. Carry these small alarms alone, or in combination with other self defense devices, such as safety sprays. These small alarms pack a mighty punch, usually emitting a loud, ear piercing screecher shriek with enough decibels to exceed the comfort level of humans.

There are added security benefits to carrying a personal alarm, one of the most important of which is the ability to possess a personal safety device that cannot be turned against its owner. You can use the device to stun or disorient an attacker, and you do not have to worry about the perpetrator grabbing the device and using it to cause you harm. Also, these devices are allowed in many places other personal safety devices, such as chemical agents, may not be allowed. This gives you great versatility and portability.

Keychain Alarms :

These small but mighty alarm devices are cleverly disguised as a key fob. Their small size allows them to be easily carried anywhere in a purse, glove compartment, or in your pocket. Some even come equipped with a strobe light or flashlight.

Once activated, the portable alarm emits an ear piercing screecher sound that will frighten off your attacker. These devices can easily be tossed into the bushes, forcing the attacker to choose between continuing his assault and risking capture, trying to locate and deactivate the alarm, or fleeing. Most will flee without delay.

Mace Screecher Alarm :

This noise maker comes in the shape of a small aerosol device, such as a personal can of pepper spray. Activate the screecher aerosol alarm by depressing the spray button, to release a one second burst of deafening noise. One canister of the Mace Screecher Aerosol Alarm will emit 20 one-second blasts. Just be sure to protect your own ears by using it at arms length.

Portable Alarms :

These small, portable alarms can be worn on a belt or attached to a purse, known as Sport Strove light alarms. They have a cord that can be pulled in the event of an emergency, activating the alarm, and they are ideal protection in danger area, such as dark parking lots. Many also have a strobe that activates with the alarm, for a double-whammy of personal protection. In addition to being highly portable, many of these Sport Strobe light alarms also double as doorknob alarms, allowing you to maximize their use while ensuring your own safety while traveling or at home.

Carrying a personal alarm makes a great deal of sense. Affordable and easy to use, these portable alarms do not require any special training and are not prohibited by law. Anyone can purchase a personal alarm, and many serve double duty as premise alarms. You can activate the alarm any time you need to fend off an attacker or potential attacker, or if you find yourself in need of assistance. The loud , ear piercing screecher sound emitted by these devices is easily recognized as a call for help, allowing you to summon assistance in the event of illness or injury, in addition to the devices function as a personal protection item.

Whether used alone or as an addition to your personal protection arsenal, portable alarms greatly enhance your ability to escape an attack without suffering any harm.

Prepare Yourself For Whatever Comes Your Way

Prepare Yourself For Whatever Comes Your Way

Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood, workplace or school or can confine you to your home.

What would you do if basic services-water, gas, electricity or telephones-were cut off? Local officials and first responders will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away. Therefore, the best way to make you and your family safer is to be prepared before disaster strikes. Here are some tips for preparing for natural disasters:

• Get to know the types of disasters that can occur in your community.

• Make a family communications plan that includes an evacuation plan and coordinates with your school, work and community communication plans. Practice this plan with your entire family.

• Create a disaster supplies kit that includes enough supplies for each family member for at least three days. Remember to check your kit every six months.

• Make sure your child knows what smoke alarms, fire alarms and local community warning systems (horns, sirens) sound like and how to respond.

• Teach your child how and, equally important, when to call for help. Even very young children can be taught how and when to call for emergency assistance.

• Children should memorize their family name, address and phone number. They should also know where to meet in case of an emergency. Some children may not be old enough to memorize the information. They could carry a small index card that lists emergency information to give to an adult or babysitter.

• If you commute to work, make sure you know alternative routes and carry appropriate supplies, such as a disaster supplies kit in your car and a compact kit with bare essential items such as a flashlight and whistle on public transportation.

Being prepared helps you and your family minimize the impact of a disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake or an emergency such as a fire or a broken leg. The Red Cross has tips and tactics to help you prepare. The time to get ready for unexpected situations is now-while you have time to plan.

13 Things For Your Child To Do (instead Of Watch Tv)

13 Things For Your Child To Do (instead Of Watch Tv)

C’mon, admit it. You sometimes use the television set as a cheap babysitter. That’s ok…we ALL do it sometimes! Ah, but it’s a double-edged sword, because kids who watch a lot of TV have trouble keeping themselves entertained, which in the long run makes your job harder!

If you’re trying to limit the TV viewing in your household, you might need a little inspiration. Try these TV-free activities guaranteed to keep the kids busy… at least for a little while!

1) Make paper airplanes
Warning: This one is highly addictive! My two boys absolutely love making paper airplanes. Buy them a book on the fine arts of paper airplane making, and then put your feet up and read a book.

2) Make a tower with toothpicks and peas
Go ahead- encourage them to play with their food!

3) Make homemade ice cream
Put two parts milk and cream and one part sugar in a coffee can, with any flavorings you want. Put the lid on, then put it in a bigger can and pour ice around the little can. Put rock salt on the ice. Put a lid on the big can, and give it to your child to roll it back and forth for about 1/2 hour or until it turns into ice cream! (Do this one even if it’s winter…I won’t tell!)

4) Give them a magnet and instruct them to run it all over the house and see what they find.
And loose couch change is fair game!

5) If you have bunk beds, put blankets around the lower one and make a submarine. Make it a yellow blanket. Then sing the appropriate Beatles tune.

6) Play First Family Savings and Loan
Save your cancelled checks and fake credit cards that come in the mail. Supply the kids with a calculator, pencils, small table and Monopoly money. This one was my favorite as a kid!

7) Build a mini log cabin with twigs

8) Have a tic-tac-toe tournament

9) Make your own soda.
Here’s an easy recipe: http://www.easyfunschool.com/article2052.html

10) Make a card for Grandma.
Get out the rubber stamps, art supplies and construction paper and make a greeting card for Grandma or another loved one.

11) Bake a cake
Buy the kids an easy cake or brownie mix and let them loose in the kitchen. Tell them they can enjoy the fruits of their labors as long as they clean up all mess.

12) Make up a treasure hunt
Buy cheap dollar store toys. Hide in your closet. Make a list of items they must find outside. (A white rock, a feather, a red leaf, a penny, etc) Tell them an exciting booty awaits when they bring all the items to you.

13) Make a cave inside the house.
Put old blankets over the backs of chairs or over a table to make a tent. Grab a flashlight and instruct child to go read scary stories inside it.