Hey Lovelies!
I need to get motivated and start posting here more. So I'm a part of a wonderful group on facebook for Curvy Hoopers and I put this list together for them in preparation for our retreat hopefully happening sometime next year.
I feel that the most important thing is sleeping arrangements. I can have all kinds of fun but when it gets to that point when you realize you haven’t slept in two days, you need a clean, comfortable place to crash!
Let’s start with absolute necessities.
HULA HOOPS! (Ok that's a whole other post, but yeah don't forget them!)
1. A tent. - You need some sort of shelter from wind, rain, the sun, bugs, etc. I spent hours searching for the perfect tent for my needs as well as wants. What you need, is a basic tent, with stakes, and a working zipper. What I want, is something tall enough for me to stand up in. I mean, rolling around on an air mattress trying to get my jeans on- it’s not pretty. I also want something easy to put up because let’s face it I’m a clutz and I’m lazy.
SO! You have a few options. Get tent mates, four people could easily throw in on a cabin tent and it’ll be cheap yet easy and comfortable for all.
You could also just buy something big enough for you and whoever else is going with you.
MY tent choice -
If we have tent mates - With this 14 x 8 Instant Tent
You can also find bundles, like this tent, while it doesn’t have as good of reviews as the first, it comes with two air mattresses!
For just me and Corey - A smaller cabin tent will do just fine.
These tents allow me to have everything I personally want out of it, so think about what you want. I want to be able to take most of my clothes out of the suitcase and set on a crate or box of some sort. I want to be able to walk around both sides of the air mattress, because often I have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night and Corey doesn't like it when I bounce him all over the place trying to get out of the tent. If all you care about is climbing inside and passing the heck out, go for a smaller (thus cheaper) tent.
-It’s also a really grand idea to have a tarp underneath your tent to protect the floor from rocks as well as help regulate the temperature.
-I also bought a battery operated fan for about $15 from walmart, it can hang from the ceiling of the tent or I can set it on a folding table, it works well for us.
And if we’re not talking about absolute necessities anymore, there are tons of glamping tips on Pinterest and YouTube for decorating and making your tent really homey. Like a dollar store doormat in front of your tent entrance, or a glowstick chandelier.
2. Airmattress. For me, I need it. I’m not sleeping on the ground, no matter how drunk I am, it just ain’t happening. I already have several air mattresses and invested $9 in a battery operated air pump about seven years ago and it still works fabulous, the batteries last 6 months ish.
You can find airbeds pretty cheap, remember to check not only the sporting good section of your store of choice BUT ALSO the bedding section, sometimes you’ll get a better deal.
Alternative, throw a yoga mat or pool floaty under some sleeping bags.
3. Bedding. I have tons of blankets so this is a cost free item to pack. I just use a blanket down on the air mattress, with a fitted sheet over that, and then another sheet and my comforter. And I sleep with a ton of pillows so I have those too. Then I usually have a throw blanket to wrap up in at night or in the car on the way there/back easily accessible. The great thing about doing this on private property is the possibility of having a vacuum cleaner available. This means you can buy a space bag from Wal-Mart and stuff all of your bedding into it, seal it at home, then seal it again before you leave the retreat. (Assuming Lindsay would be ok with letting us do this!) Some air pumps are capable of doing this too, so if you’re buying a new one this is something to consider, but since my handy pump has been with me for so long I don’t want to replace it yet.
4. Clothes. This is the hardest thing to make a list for. I don’t know what you need, I don’t know how often you change your underwear or socks (though hopefully it’s frequent enough haha) so I’ll just tell you what I do.
**Just a tip: Practice packing a few times, roll your clothes, utilize all spaces of a suitcase, and limit your amount of bags. You don’t want to be carrying six messenger bags and backpacks from your car to wherever you’re camping, take one big suitcase instead.
-Always assume it will be extremely hot, extremely cold, extremely dry, and extremely wet at some point during your trip. I’m not saying pack your whole closet, but it is so much easier to grab a jacket than to stand in the fire all night.-
Let’s also assume this is for a two night three day stay plus a two day round trip drive.
For me:
Five t shirts
Four tank tops
Three bras
Ten pairs of socks (I really dislike wet socks and I’ve never run out with ten pairs)
Eight pair of underwear (Can never go wrong with extra, k?)
One pair of leggings
One long sleeve shirt and hoodie
Two or Three pair of pajama/yoga pants or shorts
Jeans, I hardly ever own more than two pair at a time so, both pairs.
Swim suit and cover up.
One pair of closed toed shoes I don’t mind trashing (Mud sucks)
Flip flops
Two pairs of flats (One for the ride there and back, one I don’t mind trashing)
Typically I wear loose clothing on the drive there and the drive back, so that’s pajama pants and a t shirt. Then I pick out a day and night outfit for the three days that I’ll be there. And then another loose outfit too sleep in each night. So maybe I’ll have a dress and some skirts or some jeans, it always depends on the event.
For Corey I pack just about the same amount of stuff except more jeans because his get dirty faster and more socks because he changes them twice a day. Also he refuses to take extra shoes but I always have them in the trunk just in case. He doesn’t care as much about clothing as I do. (Girlfriend tip: He says he doesn’t care, he says he won’t swim, he’s probably not really lying but his mind will change when he gets there so pack it anyway)
4. Personal hygiene and care
I have all of these things in my bathroom and hardly ever have to buy new stuff, if you know you’re going to be tight on cash, buy one package of travel supplies every other paycheck until you have everything you need. I bought five travel bottles from the Dollar Store and I just refill them. There’s probably four different kinds of shampoo in one little bottle because I forget what I filled it with. You don’t need all the fancy containers and whatnot, throw some Q-tips in a ziplock back and call it a day.
Shower bag- Preferably one that is large enough to fit all of these things in it (With the exception of the towels, you can easily just carry those)
Razors
Shampoo/conditioner
Coconut oil to repel bugs
1 bar of soap or bottle of wash
1 scrubby
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Perfume/deodorant/cologne
First aid kit (I have afterbite, benadryl, bandaids, vitamins, peroxide, and some cloth patches, enough to keep me alive until I get to a hospital if something terrible happens)
Hair brush
Comb
Hair ties/clips/headbands
Tampons/Pads/Wet wipes/Ibuprofen (A period kit basically, take some chocolate while you're at it)
Six or so towels
A few extra large and small ziplock bags (If it’s pouring be sure to put your money, phone, ID etc in the bag so that it doesn’t get damaged)
So those are the basic necessities.
5. Furniture. I typically have a folding table or two for the tent and around the campfire. If everyone brings at least one chair for themselves, great. If people happen to have extra chairs, bring and share! I don’t like my things being on the ground so a large folding table is also good because you can keep dry food on top.
-Canopy (for shade and shelter, I like to put mine right against my tent so that if it’s raining I can at least get out of the tent and everything I left outside can be packed without getting soaked)
-A trash can isn’t a bad idea either
6. Food and Drinks.
-One cooler for drinks
Two cases of water
Caprisun
Tea
Orange/Pineapple/Banna juice
Sparkling water
-One cooler for food
Here is a list of menu ideas I have come up with, obviously this is up to you and whoever is going to be eating with you! I really don’t eat very healthy and I also love meat and junk so.. yeah.
Biscuits, pepperoni, salami, mozz cheese, garlic, oregano, spray butter.
Wrap meat and cheese in biscuits, spray on butter sprinkle seasonings, bake in dutch oven or grilled cheese maker.
Heat marinara on grill.
Make a few boxes of various pasta salads and mix, store in containers, eat cold or heat up on grill. Italian, Caesar, Ranch, butter and herb, alfredo. Could also use rice sides butter and broccoli and add chicken. Could also use au gratin potatoes add bacon bits and croutons.
Shepherds breakfast
Chopped bacon, sausage, turkey sausage, ham, etc.
Cook meats.
Thawed hash browns. Add to meat.
Eggs, add to meat and hash browns.
Top with cheese. Serve with toast.
Walking Tacos
Prepare taco meat and store.
Heat meat, spoon into mini fritto or dorito bags, add lettuce,sour cream, tomato, cheese, peppers, sauce, etc.
Breakfast burritos
Premake and mix meat (sausage, bacon, ham) eggs, hash browns. Let cool.
Spoon mixture onto tortilla shells, sprinkle with cheese and preferred toppings, peppers, onions, etc.
Roll tortillas and wrap in foil. Place foil on fire or grill.
Mix pancake batter and store in ziplock bags.
Lay bacon in strips on griddle, poke holes in ziplock bags, pour batter over each strip.
Quesadillas
Tortilla, meat, cheese, sour cream, mild sauce. Heat in pan.
Potato Pouches
In aluminum foil add diced potatoes, cheese, peppers, onions, garlic, olive oil, salt/pepper, rosemary etc. Roast on fire. Add sour cream spray butter.
Nutella Banana Smores
Cookies or Graham Crackers, marshmallow, banana slices, nutella.
7. Other random things
-Trash bags (just a few, no need for a whole box)
-Paper towels
-Paper plates
-Paper bowls (if you plan to eat things that require bowls)
-Plastic cups
-Plastic silverware
-Storage (Ziplock bags, maybe one tote that holds all kitchen necessities)
-Lots and Lots of toilet paper (You never know what you might need it for. I usually buy a six or nine pack and take a few rolls with me to the campsite and leave the rest in the car)
-Grill (Unless someone has one you can use or the place you’re at provides one)
You’ll have to shop around for this, get something cheap and durable, perhaps a griddle.
-Pots, pans, spatula, knife, spoon, grilled cheese maker, skeewers, if necessary to what you’re eating)
-Bug spray
-Bug repellant candles
-Incense (stick in the ground around the campfire)
-Flashlights
-LEDS
-Batteries and Chargers (perhaps extension cord? Car adapters?)
-Tapestries (with clips to hook onto tent or canopy or in trees)
-Glowsticks
Another great thing to invest in is Wet Wipes. Buy them in the toilet paper aisle, they're wonderful! They work for so many different things I can't even fit them into a category. I used them to line the portapotties at an event once, washed my hands and face with them, washed the bottom of my shoe off when I stepped in gum, wiped down the chairs and tables with them, I mean really they were just wonderful.
So I hope you enjoyed this list, if you have suggestions on things to add please share. This list is actually a smaller less detailed version of my plans for Sacred Earth Open Air.
Have a lovely day! Hope to see you all at the retreat =]
-Rahslynn
xoxo
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