1 | Prepare a camping bin
This was seriously the best thing I ever did! My husband and I love to go camping and having all of our gear in one spot makes every trip #flawless. In the bin, I have stored batteries, plates, cutlery, pots and pans, etc. You name it, it’s in the bin! (Even a spare tent)

2 | Plan your meals
I am a firm believer that if life brought you to it, Pinterest will get you through it. They have some UH-MAY-ZING recipes on their platform for camping. I especially love anything and everything that I can just throw in foil, add some oil and place it on top of the fire. Quick, easy and simple to clean.

3 | Soapy Cinnamon Water
My friend Kaela recommended this recipe to me to combat the inevitable ant takeover that is likely to happen when you camp. Instead of using harmful chemicals, this clean ant defense is sure to keep them at bay and help your camp site stay fresh!

4 | Air Mattress
I cannot stress more how miserable camping can be sleeping on the hard ground, I know personally that my back cannot hang with that. As much as a nature girl I think I am, I still need the comforts of home.

5 | Tools to Thrive
One of the best thing’s we did was register at REI, we got some seriously awesome camping gear that we wouldn’t have bought ourselves. Compact pots and pans? You mean I don’t have to drag our old and crusties from the house? If you want some compact pots and pans like the one’s we have, check them out here: MalloMe Camping Cookware Kit with Folding Spork, Nylon Bag and Ebook (10-Piece)

6 | Yeti Iced Down With Some Silver Bullets
My favorite thing we have ever gotten is our Yeti 45 cooler, it holds ice for 3 days (in the winter, I have found it can hold it for up to 5 days). Can you say ice cold drinks for days? Usually what we do is we fill the Yeti with ice and have a separate cooler where we keep our drinks so we just transfer the ice as it melts. Not saying that other coolers aren’t as great, but our Yeti takes the cake on all other coolers we have ever owned. If a Yeti is in your budget, snag yours here: YETI Tundra 45 Cooler White

7 | Games
Don’t get bored, get fun! Bust out all those lawn games, card games and drinking games. Our favorites are corn hole, horse shoes, Cards Against Humanity, beer pong and king’s cup. Yes, it sounds like we are a bunch of college frat boys but hey, its camping! Why not make it fun?

8 | Research
Don’t forget to research your camp ground and it’s surroundings just in case you’re not too handy with a traditional map and your cell phone doesn’t have service. Know where the nearest gas station is, the next campground and where the local fire station is. These things might seem small but if someone gets injured or you need immediate assistance, you will be happy you knew! Also, know your limits. Bring a first aid kit full with all the essentials to treat everything from a burn to a broken limb.

9 | Take a Hike
The best part of camping is the one on one experience you have with nature! Usually around every camp ground there are some great trails that you can explore and discover. At our favorite camp ground in Wrightwood, CA. There is some great trails that follow the Mountain High ski lifts, it is really awesome to see lifts and runs without all the snow!

10 | Bug Spray
As someone who has Lyme disease, I caution you to always wear bug spray and to do self checks every few hours to make sure that you do not have any bites that look alarming. While mosquito bites always seem minor, mosquitos and fleas are known to carry diseases that can cause damage to your health. Be diligent, SPRAY DOWN!

 

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