Clever Camping Coordination

This past summer seemed like the summer of being outdoors. I am a HUGE fan of hiking, traveling, and roughing it. Camping is the perfect way to incorporate all three! Nothing gets the creative juices flowing like trying to figure out how to provide a meal for a company of four with only a campfire and one pot.

So can you guess where I started?

LISTS!

I made several lists, including:

1. clothing & toiletries
2. camp supplies
3. cooking supplies
4. perishable and non-perishable foods
5. recipes & meal plans

Ha! I just made a list of lists!

Anywho.

Depending on the weather and campsite accommodations, you can figure out what kind of clothes, toiletries, food, and supplies you'll need to bring along.

Most campsites will have a toilet equipped with toilet paper and running water, although right now in California water may not be available due to the drought conditions.

First things first: research the campsite! Check any advisories as they might change what you can or can't do within the campground or area you are camping in.

Some questions to ask yourself:

• Is it reservable or walk-in? A lot of campsites are first come - first serve. And let me tell ya, people like to get there EARLY. You may find yourself with a car full of gear and nowhere to park it.

• Are toilets available? If the answer is no - then you have a whole new list of things to bring. Include a trowel and toilet paper (ick).

• Is there drinking water available? If not, you'll have to bring enough water for you and your party to consume, as well as wash themselves and their dishes. It is suggested that you'll need 1.5 gallons of water per human per day.

• How close is it to a grocery store? It is recommended, and even required in some areas, to purchase and use only local firewood to keep invasive pests at bay. It is also a good idea to know where you can get ice or emergency supplies.

• Are there designated fire pits? Do they have grills? Sometimes a fire pit is just a hole in the ground and you have to cook things the old fashioned way - like on a stick. 

• Are there picnic tables at the campsite? You may have to bring your own table and chairs.

• Do they provide garbage disposal? Many sites are pack-in pack-out, meaning leave no trace behind. This can be simplified down to.. yep you are going to have to haul your trash out with you too. 

• What is the weather typically like around this time of year? If it's going to be screaming hot, you're going to want to plan to be away from the campsite during the hottest time of day. Plot a course to the nearest body of water! 

• Are there any advisories (fire or otherwise)? You must be aware of fire restrictions, they may limit how you can prepare your meals. We always bring a propane stove as backup. Other things to look out for are closed or rough roads, natural habitats or migrations, and my personal favorite: What to do if you encounter a marijuana cultivation site.

Most of these questions can be answered through a little digging on the internet. The US Forest Service and U.S. National Forest Campground Guide usually have great information including campground names and locations as well as information on special places and areas designated for recreation. Check out recreation.gov as well! You can make reservations or just check out different campsites. They also have maps of campgrounds so you can choose a site that fits your needs. Some folks even post pictures so you can get a clearer idea of what to expect.   

If you are looking for a state or regional park, try this directory. Some states even have their own well organized and maintained sites with regional information (like California and Nevada).

One other idea I use to get a better picture of the area is entering the forest or campground name into Google and checking out the associated images. People LOVE to document their adventures on personal blogs so there could be some good info here. Check out these Google images associated with Humbug State Park - you can get a really good idea of the surrounding areas and campgrounds.

*Side note: be aware if the campground is RV friendly. Nothing like experiencing the great outdoors along with 20 loud and rumbling power generators. Look for tent-only sites if you like the peace and quiet.

Once you've gathered all the information you need, it's time to sharpen your pencil and get to list making!

Things to think about:

• Will you be swimming? don't forget swim gear, sunscreen, river shoes, towels, and a hang line for drying.

• Will you be heading out to the wilderness on foot or driving? Bring backpacks, water bottles, and easy to carry snacks. Oh, and MAPS! Always grab a couple brochures at the entrance of a campground or forest. These are usually loaded with relevant information and places of interest. 

• On the subject of maps - you may be headed into a fearsome no-data zone. Two ideas: (1) use this guide to download some nearby sections in your google maps app on your smartphone. (2) purchase a Gazetteer. They are SO HANDY you'll almost forgive the fact that they are SO HUGE. But seriously, they have everything you need to know in order to travel through any region, with or without phone signal.

• On a budget? Bring road trip snacks and food with you in a smaller cooler with ice. Make it easy to have a quick meal on the road instead of having to stop and spend money when you get hungry or thirsty. This will help your travel time as well!

• Will you need cash? Some campgrounds are unmanned and require a cash drop to reserve your space when you get there. It's also a good thing to have if you plan on buying firewood at the campground as well.

• Are you bringing a beloved pet? Check out any pet restrictions you may need to be aware of. Reserves usually have a no-pet policy so as not to disturb the wildlife.

• What do you have on the menu? Go through the mental motions of preparing the meal and make a list of everything you would use if you were home, then figure out what supplies will cover those needs while you are out camping.  And don't forget the wine/beer bottle opener (like I always do)!

In later posts, I will publish my all-inclusive and comprehensive lists of things to pack. Stand by for information overload!

OMG Shoes

Alright, let's get focused on footwear.

One of my very first jobs was at Payless ShoeSource. A wonderful mecca of low-priced and equally low-quality footgear. With fingertip access and a generous discount, I ended up bringing home at least 40 pairs of shoes during my 1 year tenure.

Gimme a break, I was 19!

Unfortunately it hasn't stopped since then. I usually end up buying shoes that spark my interest (aka the dreaded impulse buy), shoes I liked at the time but would match literally nothing in my closet, and shoes that were a great price, but terrible quality.

I... don't make good decisions sometimes.

At it's largest, my shoe collection was at an out-of-control 50 pairs of shoes ranging from snow boots to stripper heels, from running shoes to "leather" boots, and flip flops to ballerinas that left me blistered and bleeding. I still have a pair of pumps that were comic book themed I purchased in 2002 and have worn all of one time. They slip off my heels when I walk, but look great!

Sigh.

It was finally time to let it go.

First, I decided to take a look at the shoes I really wear all the time.

Then I decided to evaluate what shoes I would need for any given situation I would find myself in normally.

Lastly I decided on the importance of keeping the shoe around "just in case".


1. THE FIRST STEP TO REDEMPTION

Pick out the shoes you wear all the time. Evaluate them. Are they about to fall apart? How many different situations or outfits would they work with? If they aren't versatile and they aren't good quality - replace them! For an everyday shoe - you should feel comfortable dropping some sweet cash money on something that will last.

My go-to shoe is an ankle boot with a slight heel I picked up at Aldo.

It looks a lot like this:

This shoe is awesome to walk in. I've even gone hiking in them in a pinch. They work for casual affairs as well as outfits that are a little spiffier.





Another few types of shoes I find myself using frequently are my flip flops and my vans. These are my more casual weekend shoes when I want to change it up.

I try to go for a classier style of flip flop like this one and avoid the cheap rubber kinds. I've learned my lesson with those Old Navy ones that I'll never forget... I'll save the story for some other time but I assure it includes pain, blood, and embarrassment.



So, let's count it up: 3 pairs of shoes I wear all the time. 50 minus 3 is.... naw let's not go there yet.


2. THE SECOND STEP TO REASONABLE FULFILLMENT

Everybody needs occasion shoes! Right?!

An occasion shoe is something you bring out for a certain situations or weather. Are you planning on getting some gardening done? There's a shoe for that. Are you sexing it up at a club tonight? There should be a shoe for that. Are you walking for 6 hours straight on a mountain today? There should definitely be a shoe for that.

Some shoes that I decided I needed for those occasions are:

• Classy sandals for nicer hot weather occasions.
• Black heels for fancy dress
• Nude heels also for fancy dress but with a summery vibe
• Knee high boots for winter
• Ugg boots for when I need to run to the laundry room (I use them like house shoes)
• Running shoes for the frightening workout regimen that follows my winter fattening routine, but also those times when I feel like I need to hack away at the plants trying to take over the sidewalk.

Alright, whew. That makes a total of 6 occasion shoes! Not bad... but the third portion of this exercise is always the hardest.

WHAT ABOUT THAT ONE TIME YOU NEEDED THAT PAIR OF SHOES AND EVERYTHING WAS RUINED BECAUSE YOU THREW THEM AWAY 3 MONTHS AGO??

AKA

3. THE LAST STEP TO SANITY

We've covered shoes we use daily, shoes we use occasionally, but what about the shoe you purchased for that one time you went to band camp and never used, but someday you might go back and then it would be silly to have thrown them out just to have to go buy another pair... right?

Well that's how we get into these silly "I'm the girl with 50 pairs of shoes that I don't wear" situations.

So let's be honest.

Evaluate each shoe individually with these criteria:


1. When is the last time this shoe would have been useful? Did you use it or did you decide to use another type of shoe to fill in?

If it's been more than 2 years since there was an occasion to use the shoe, or if the last time it might have been useful you decided to not use it, it's toss time.


2. Was the shoe terribly expensive?

I get it. Dropping major money on a shoe means that now you have to justify the expenditure by making the most out of that investment. However, if you bought those snowboard boots under the impression that you were going to just FALL IN LOVE with snowboarding 8 years ago and then never went to the snow again because you hate being cold and wet... it's time to say buh-bye. And who knows, if they are in good shape you might be able to recoup some of that investment by selling them online.


3. Is the shoe easily replaced if the rare situation comes up that you might need it?

If you are holding onto a pair of brand new river shoes on the off chance you'll be headed to a rocky beach where you might want to walk into the water without hurting your sensitive soles.. but they cost $10 at Target and you have no plans in the near distant future of doing such things.. sayonara!

I know most of you might feel a lot like Arya giving up Needle in that one episode of GoT, but the relaxation you'll feel when you can navigate your closet with ease will be just as satisfying as having a shoe for every dreamed up / made up occasion!

If you follow these guidelines, you should be well on your way towards a closet like this:

Instead of this:

Good luck and Godspeed.

Doing It Right

I've known for a loooong time that efficiency and organization are two of my greatest strengths. I always have a plan for everything, plus a few contingency plans to boot. I love thinking endlessly about possibilities and it makes me happier than a cat with a bowl of cream when I have just the thing I need at exactly the right time I need it.

Being organized is a sure-fire way of gaining control over your life. Which.. is pretty important if you ask me. It's also like a magic trick to those who don't plan very well - when you pull out exactly what they need at exactly the time they need it! Voila!

So!

A quick snapshot of me:

I get grumpy and cannot function when things around me are messy.
I am at my best when I am in the midst of an organizational tornado.
I am relentless.
If someone paid me to write to-do lists full time, I'd be a happy camper.

I love to organize. I need to have multiple systems in place. Whether it be a morning ritual, how to hang up clothes, or where to place my credit cards in my wallet.

Efficiency is life!

I am hoping to share my love of keeping things straight and tidy with anyone who loves this stuff as much as me, or anyone who is looking to become a little bit more organized in their own lives.

Since I was young, I realized that there are people out there who absolutely refuse to organize. Who refuse to be efficient in their own lives. Truly, it blew my mind!

So here's the deal.

Do you want to find more time to do the things you like without letting your "adult" life fall to pieces?

Do you want the piece of mind that comes with a well-designed home space?

Do you want to find sanity in an insane world??

Follow me down the rabbit hole of getting your life on track so you can focus on those little free moments that make life oh-so-worth living!