The Camp Life Crate Spring 2020 box had a theme of Life is a Picnic!

Subscription boxes are not new, but Camp Life Crate has a new owner and a whole new vibe.  Formerly Out of the Box Camping, this themed subscription box has totally been revamped for spring 2020.  For $49.95 subscribers are treated to carefully curated items to enjoy on your next camping or outdoor adventure.  The spring box for this year has several custom ordered items that showcase well and make this box really special.

10 Things You Can Do While You are Not Camping This Spring

Don't can still enjoy your RV and do other things even if you aren't at the campground.

Everyone is talking about the Coronavirus (COVID-19).  There all of the Negative Nancy's out there that are angrily posting on social media.  Then, there are the Positive Polly's that have the lemonade stand full of positive saying and quotes.  Either way, we are all experiencing a drastic change in our lives.  And, for many of us, this means camping plans have been canceled or are on hold at least for now.  This unwelcome change has us all filling our time with new things. The abundance of unfilled time and canceled plans can be overwhelming, frustrating and depressing.  But, it doesn't have to be this way.  What could you be spending this time doing?  I have a few suggestions to help you beat the quarantine blues!

RV Life - Spring Gear Guide 2020

Every season brings new adventures.  The journey fuels the need and interest in new things to make life easier and better on the road.  I've been curating a list of items that are practical, functional, fun and even pretty.  Today I'm sharing 10 pieces of gear for spring.  What made my list?

RV Bunk Bed Mattress Replacement

The Tochta mattress is custom made and provides amazing comfort.

Last Labor Day Weekend, we talked my mother into camping with us for one night of our trip.  While we had plenty of space, hot water and every comfort we felt she needed, my mom described our bunk bed mattress as "like sleeping on a soft board".  We may have given her permanent campground anxiety and nightmares of that bed!  I hope not.  But, I knew there would be a day that our young son would feel the same as he grew bigger.  It was just a matter of time.  We bought our RV with the plan to hopefully have a friend camp with us or even my mom joining us occasionally.  This mattress situation was a problem!

Glamping Style - Outdoor Table Set Up

Our outdoor table set up is practical, flexible and pretty!  What more can you want?

Eating outdoors is synonymous with camping for our family.  Unless the weather is rainy or cold, we almost always eat outdoors.  And, we have been known to eat outdoors when it is raining.  We just eat in our chairs under the awning.  Our table set up is many times festive, but it is also practical.  And, it is most definitely used often.  If you want to take your table from basic to brilliant, you can achieve this task with less effort than you think.  Today, I'm sharing my glamping table set up tips!

Freshen the Air Naturally in Your RV with Essential Oils

A small essential oil diffuser will work just fine for a small RV.

How do you keep your RV smelling fresh?  I find that air fresheners just mask smells and have limited effects.  Also, the heavy perfumes can be an irritant in small spaces.  I prefer essential oils.  You can choose scents to relax, refresh and repel unwanted insects.  Today, I am sharing how I like to use essential oils both at home and in our RV.

Urban Camping in Jackson, Mississippi

Timberlake Corp of Engineer Campground on the Ross Barnett Reservoir offers a convenient location for camping near Jackson, MS.

Jackson, Mississippi is the capital of my home state.  This centrally located city provides a variety of options for camping, dining, and sightseeing.  We took advantage of this capital city for an urban camping adventure for our first trip to 2020.   If you are looking for a new place to visit or might be stopping in Mississippi on a cross country adventure, maybe our experience could help you plan.

Odor-Free Tank Maintenance with RV Products - The Great Tank Debate: Part 2

These are my favorite RV specific products for keeping our RV clean and maintaining our tanks!

Last week, my friend Christy Rogers, shared about using the Geo Method for keeping RV tanks clean and odor-free.  Tank maintenance is a highly debated topic between she and I.  RV specific products are my preference for keeping our tanks clean.  Today, I'm sharing the product I use and why these are my preferred method.  My strategic method may end the great tank debate.

The Geo Method - The Great Tank Debate: Part 1

Guest blogger Christy Rogers is a big-time believer in the Geo Method.  Find out why today!

Today, Christy Rogers shares a guest post on her thoughts about the Geo Method for keeping her tanks clean and smell free. This is part one of a two-part series. Next week, I'll share Part 2 where I share my thoughts on only using RV specific products in your tanks.

Level Your RV - How and Why

The first time we parked our RV on our new parking pad at home and were level, I couldn't believe the difference this made!

Our home is not the ideal spot to park an RV.  There are no Home Owner Association rules that prohibit us from doing this.  We have plenty of space on our property, but our yard has a slope going downward.  There is literally no level space to park our RV at our home.  Over time, this is a bad plan.  So, we addressed this problem recently.  However, having a level RV is important when in storage at home and at the campground.  Even if your campsite or parking space is not sloped, there could be a need to level your RV.  And, it can be less complicated than you think.

Camper Decor - Fab Finds For $40 from Dollar General

Dollar General's expanded home collection has lots of choices that can be used at home and your RV.

I love to decorate.  I have enjoyed sprucing up our new RV this past year.  One of my favorite places to find finishing touches for May Belle is Dollar General.  If you have not shopped at Dollar General, you are missing out!  This general store has been serving others since 1939 and is my go-to place to purchase inexpensive and trendy holiday decor.  Regardless of your budget, Dollar General is an excellent resource for designer flair.  It is practical and can help you complete your camper decor.

Charcoal Cooking - Be Your Best Campfire Chef

Lump charcoal vs. briquettes - when and how you should use each of these varieties of charcoal.

Charcoal grilling, at one time, was restricted to picnics and campsites.  However, grilling became a popular backyard activity after World War II in the 1940s.  The woody smell of burning charcoal means dinnertime, summertime, parties, and delicious meals.  Cooking with charcoal isn't limited to one season or meal.  Charcoal serves as a heat source for both the grill and Dutch oven.  The type of charcoal and cooking vessel make a difference in your cooking experience.  Over time, I have improved my charcoal cooking methods to make grilled meals and Dutch Oven cooking easy and full of flavor.

RV Warranty - How to Tackle Needed Repairs

We were so happy to pick up our Grand Design RV from the dealership where she was having some warranty work done.

You have finalized the sale and taken your new RV camping a few times.  Now,  you start to notice a few issues here and there.  It happens to every single RV owner at some point.  How you work through RV ownership issues from the beginning will set the tone for the overall experience.  I see lots of angry posts in RV groups about warranty issues and maintenance.  But, what is the best way to handle problems with your RV?