January is one of my favorite months, and not because my birthday happens to fall at the end of it. I love it because it's the start of a new year – kind of a “do over” if you will – and a great time to start getting ready for the coming Spring. Of course, what better Springtime activity is there than camping? This month is a great time to begin making plans for those first few camping trips you plan to take in the Spring. Maybe your first trip...[More]

Ever wish you could find a multi purpose, eco friendly cleaner that actually worked and was actually eco friendly? Well now you can stop looking for - and stop buying - those expensive cleaners because we have a great solution for you!One part vinegar to two parts water (I prefer apple cider and white do to its 5% plus acidic base) works as well as commercial products at killing germs. For light cleaning it is also as good, but for tougher messes it doesn't do as well. The recipe listed...[More]

Many of you have noticed our logo in the top left hand corner of the site and have I will attempt to answer those questions for you. Gripper came about one day while I was tossing out logo ideas to a friend. After listening to me for a while, my friend came up with the idea for the tire and at that moment Gripper was born. We dreamed up the rest of him, giving him a bit of an upscale punk feel, kind of a cross between a motorcycle...[More]

Wishing you all a very merry holiday season. May all your wishes come true. But don't for get to take a moment to go sliding around on the ice.Christmas Cheer This poem written by one of my Grandmothers.Crowds of people rushing here and there, A spark of excitement fills the air.Hustling around from place to place, Quick as lightning in the pace.Rich with songs of glory past Tells the story that lasts and lasts.In every store a Santa appears With his sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.Silver bells ring out...[More]

At it's beginning, December brings with it the holiday season. Weather you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Yule, Kwanza or another observance, this time of year typically is bedecked with lights, holly, warm fires and (if you live near me) lots of snow. In my home, we are gearing up for another kind of season – Girl Scout cookie season! My little girl is in her first year of Daisies (the first level of GS, ages 5-7)) and has been waiting patiently since September to get her cookie information and start selling....[More]

Brrr! The Secrets of Layering Part of planning for a camping or hiking trip is making sure to pack the right clothing for comfort and protection against the elements that may come your way. This is especially true during cold-weather adventures. Outdoor gear has made leaps and bounds in the last two decades; strength, quality, and even fabrics are better and offer more choices than ever before. Hopefully the following information will help you prepare for your next cold-weather trip. The Three-Layer Plan Layering outdoor clothing is a strategy well-known...[More]

I’m sure you’re already well aware of the (legally I have to use the term “alleged” but it sickens me to do so) abuse cases surrounding the assistant coach at Penn State. If not, my apologies but you’ll have to look it up; I’m not going to detail it here. The more I learn about this case the more nauseated I become and the more determined I am to keep my kids and all the other kids safe from predators.The children in the afore-mentioned situation all had one major thing...[More]

I hadn’t heard the following story until recently, but it’s really an inspiration. If I find myself in a situation that seems completely dark and hopeless (believe me, it’s been happening quite a bit lately), I think about this story and the lessons within it; I always seem to feel a little brighter and more positive after reading it. I hope you will get something from it too. An eight-year old boy walked up to an old man in front of a wishing well, looked up into his eyes, and...[More]

21st Century humans are evolving into a people who take life for granted. Go to your local supercenter at any given time and watch the kids throwing fits because they don’t get the latest and greatest “whats-it” if you need proof. Most of us have grown so accustomed to the homeless people on the corner that we don’t even see them anymore – not even the kids. I would like to share the following letter with you, with the hope you will share it with others. Maybe we can all...[More]

The First Lady is asking military children from around the globe for some personal contributions to the finishing touches on the White House decorations this holiday season. The request is for military children to submit 5x8" handmade holiday cards with words of appreciation for their military parents, as well as pictures and drawings. The White House will display as many of the cards as possible.Participants are asked to send holiday cards to the following address along with information from where they are sending it by November 16, 2011:Reservation 1Attn: Social...[More]

I love Halloween. What other day of the year can we transform into a wholly different persona and be accepted for doing so? As a parent, Halloween has taken on a new kind of joy for me: picking out costumes with my kids, carving spooky and fun jack-o-lanterns, the anticipation of the loot to be gained from trick-or-treating. The parent I have become is also a little concerned every year at this time. I worry about my kids’ safety when they’re out going from house to house, I worry about...[More]

I am supposed to write today’s post about how to stay pretty on the road. I am having a really hard time doing that, mostly because no one ever “stays” pretty on road trips – unless (a) they are traveling in an RV or (b) they are one of those people who is always beautiful no matter what they do or where they are. Now, for the rest of us….Keeping clean on the road is relatively simple. Make full use of rest stops when you get to one. Freshen up...[More]

Let’s face it – kids have a very short attention span. In the age of electronics, kids’ attention spans are even shorter. So how do keep your kids’ attention on a camping trip without bringing along the Xbox and DSi? Yes, there will always be card games, Frisbees and the like, but after a while those things get a little boring. With a little imagination and a few inexpensive – or even free – tools, every camping trip can be fun for kids of all ages. Do you have digi-kids?...[More]

My blogs posts almost always reference first aid kits in some way, shape or form. As a mom of three kids I sometimes feel like I went to sleep one night as a pregnant lady and awoke the next morning as a nurse! As much as kids (and adults) tend to get bruised, burnt, scraped up or even broken, a first aid kit should be priority number 1 on the packing list. If you have a group of people to look after, your kit is likely going to consist of...[More]

We have been camping as a family for a few years now; my husband and I both camped as kids too. I think that qualifies us as being a little more than a camping “newbie”. Despite our experience we make mistakes on just about every camping trip we take. Now, I always tell my kids “you can’t learn if you don’t make a mistake”, and I absolutely believe that. Sometimes we’re able to laugh right away at our mistakes and sometimes it’s a few days/weeks/months…even years (no dear, I haven’t...[More]

 

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