The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Introduction

Hello Friends,

I am here to impart some knowledge, regarding camping. There will come a time in every girls life when she is forced to go camping- be it by family, friends, man-type-friends, or the burning need to see a band play in a field. And I am here to help make your camping experience top notch, so you are focused on the scenery/beaches/music and not how awful your hair looks and how bad your feet hurt.

What gives me the authority to dish camping advice? I’ve been going camping since I was small enough to be bathed in the washing up bowl:

So, I know what I’m talking about, ok?

We will be covering the basic concerns of girls camping:

• Hair
• Face
• Shoes
• Clothes
• Nails

Scenarios:

• Showers
• Choosing a plot/pitching a tent
• Food/Cooking
• Entertainment
• People
• Rain/Sunshine
• Assorted Tips and Tricks

The most important advice page: ATTITUDE.

Thank you for reading! Feel free to ask me anything.

Review: Trekmates Flameless Cook Flask

It's 5am, and you've been woke up by the rain beating so hard on the canvas that you're starting to think maybe it's in your head and you will never ever not hear it. It cold, its wet, and either there are wolves in West Flanders, or that is some serious wind. Nothing would make you feel better than a nice hot coffee...well maybe being indoors might, but lets be real here. There is too much wind for your cooker to stay lit, and you really don't want to have to de-sleepingbag anyway. That's when you need the Trekmates Flameless Cook Flask.

Available here

This little flask will save your life. I can't give you all the technical details, but I am able to give you the jist. It's a stainless steel cup, inside a plastic one. The heating pack chemicals goes into the plastic one, and the water for your coffee goes into the metal one, clip the lid on and wait 10 minutes. Ta-dahh hot water without leaving your tent (It doesn't create any fumes, so it's totally safe to use inside your tent).

It might seem a little gimmicky to you, but that just means you've never experienced a Belgian winter morning under canvas!

I give it 5 stars! Cannot wait to give the rest of this line a try!

Review: Glo-Worms

Glo-Worms

When I first found the Glo-Worms site,  I was giddy. I have a real issue with guy-rope induced toe stubbing, so thought these would be ideal.
They were purchsed from the site, and arrived very fast, within 2 days if I remember correctly.
So when I went camping over Easter, and tested them out.

First hurdle is getting them onto the guys. I was rubbish at it, but it's not difficult, especially if you use a tent peg as a needle to guide the rope through. Then you have to decide which is your main problem, tripping or stubbing. If you're a tripper, put them in the middle of the guy,and if you're a stubbed, move them closer to the ground.
There are two halves (obviously) one is reflective and one is glow in the dark, so whether you have lights around or not your bases are covered. I personally didn't see much glowing in the dark, but I suppose that's because there wasn't much sun during the day, however the reflective side worked wonders for my numerous night time trips to the toilets
I give them 4/5 stars. If you're a girl of minimal bladder size in a world of Beer, i.e. Belgium, being able to see your tent at night is a real treat!

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Nails

As with anything hands-on, your nails will get ruined. Not just the polish, but your actual nails, if you're a grower- prepare for breakage.
I found there are 2 methods to choose from, and you might not like either...

1) Give up trying to have nice nails, either let them chip and embrace your inner grunge, or start the holiday with no nail polish, just cut short and coated in a nail strengthener

or

2) Use a dark thick colour, which every time it chips you can just touch up the ends without it looking awful

For my camping trip next week, I'm going to rock a bright blue, which is opaque in one coat so I can touch them up occasionally (I say that, but honestly 3 days into my camping trips I forget to care! I think that is the overriding message here, camping is too fun to care about your nails or hair or face!)

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Attitude!

Have fun, it’s a holiday, stop worrying about how you look, and that you’re cold and wet, or hot and sticky. Be cool, chill out, have a beer.

Try to enjoy yourself no matter what. I’ve been camping since I was 1, and I routinely throw a strop cause I’m exhausted or burnt or soaked to the skin, and its ok to take 20 mins or so to be in a bad mood, but then try and see the funny side, try to lighten up- its everyone else's holiday too, and they’re in the same boat, and they’re not kicking up a fuss, so man up.

Play in a fountain:

Stalk a pro-cycling team:

Ya know, make the most of it!

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Tips and Tricks

This page I will update as and when I think of things.

1. If you wrap beer in toilet paper, or a sock, and wet it, then leave it in the shade, as the water evaporates, it cools the bottle- just like sweating cools humans down.
2. Avon Skin So Soft Oil Moisturiser is a cracking bug repellant. Even the army uses it. Plus it leaves you smoothy smooth.
3. Often shower blocks are warm, and showers certainly are. If you're camping in the cold, a long hot shower might seem tempting, but at night, it's only going to make outside seem colder. However in the morning, if you're going to be up and about, a hot shower after a cold night is a good way to start the day.

If you have any handy camping tips, comment below!

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Weather the Weather

Sleeping under canvas is a noble endeavour, but it gets cold sometimes, and wet…and snowy. Ever had icicles on your guy ropes? It can be chilly. Ever woke up in 3 inches of water? It gets wet too!

Don’t let that put you off, you just need to be prepared. Own a water proof coat, have a proper down sleeping bag, and if it all goes wrong, be prepared to sleep in your car….

I will do some reviews of weather based items, coats, tents, sleeping bags etc, so keep your eyes peeled.