Here’s a list of supplies you’ll need:

1. Milk jugs – I love the one 1/2 gallon jug I found.  I’ll have to add a few more next time
2. Black Sharpie Markers
3. Scissors
4. Box Cutter
5. Christmas Lights (white for ghosts, orange for pumpkins)
6. Google – used it to find different ideas for the faces

It’s really simple.  Clean out the jugs and let dry.  Draw faces on with black sharpies, I went over the faces twice, it made them darker.  Then I cut 2 holes on back side, first using the box cutter to start the hole, then the scissors to make it larger.  The hole should be about the size of a half dollar, then fish the lights through and keep the jugs in a row.  Plug them in and there you have it, Pumpkins!

These will travel great in the camper and I will line my sidewalk for Halloween at home.  Now, the house is almost fully decorated, bring on the trick or treaters.  How do you decorate your site/house?  Have you ever tried to make some of the decorations yourself?

I found the idea on Pinterest and decided I could do that!  This is what you’ll need:

1. 2 6 foot black boas
2. Various googly eyes
3. 1″ and 1 1/2″ styrofoam balls
4. 12″ styrofoam wreath form
5. Hot glue gun
6. Black spray paint (optional)
7. Colored ribbon (optional)

I thought it would be a good idea to spray my wreath form black before I started, just in case some of the boa moves over the years, or in case I didn’t wind it around tight enough.

I sprayed both sides and let dry for a few hours, then got started on the assembly.  I used the hot glue gun and put glue in small sections (otherwise the glue dries too fast and the boa won’t stick) and started to wind the boa around the wreath.

While the completely wrapped wreath dried I assembled my eyes.  I used different size googly eyes on each foam ball set.  I left them in odd parings.  I once heard you should always do parings in odd numbers or it looks too uniform.  I glued the eyeballs on first, then attached each pair together before I glued them on to the wreath.

Finally I added purple ribbon to the wreath to hang, I tried to find orange but my Michael’s didn’t have any in stock, and I’m happy now that I have the purple.

My kids loved it and its light enough to travel with us in the camper.  Now, just where to hang it since I can’t put nails in the camper walls.   Hummm…..

Reblogged from RVing is Easy at Lerch RV:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Ahhh.... The alluring sight of traveling the country with an RV in tow. A picture of a happy family making camping memories for years to come. If this is what you are looking for in life. Join us at America's largest RV and Camping Show. Beginning September 12 and continuing until September 16, the country's largest RV and camping show will have everything you can imagine.

Read more… 571 more words

Hurricane Isaac stayed at bay until Saturday night, we got some light showers, which forced us to finish watching the Michigan/Alabama game huddled under our awning.

Sunday was much like the rest, beach time, bike riding, games, campfire and of course eating!  I made my camping staple, rice kripsy treats, but something went horrible wrong.  They we’re a solid rock and nearly broke a tooth trying to eat one.
We always bring glow sticks with us for the kids.  I originally started buying them to help keep track of the kids in the dark/dusk, but now they like to make crazy things.  Not sure what it was, but it was a full moon, so I guess we blame that for the crazyness.

How was your holiday?

They regularly comb the beach to help remove any seaweed and anything else that floats up.  There are two beaches, one for the state park area, and one for the camping area, but you can access both.  There’s a huge slide, and for $1 per ride, or $10 all day pass you can ride.  The kids took about 3-4 turns each and had a blast.

About 1/3 of the their campsites have full hook up, which is my preferred method.  No internet/Wi-Fi or cable so the kids we’re a little disappointed.  The sites are large and have a blacktop pad.  The kids had a ton of room to run, and play football.

We were on site 57, which is on the outside ring, on the main drag.  Everyone drives pretty fast through the park, even the park rangers which I was surprised to see.  I was nervous about the kids riding their bikes. The bathrooms and shower’s were pretty well maintained and clean.

What do you prefer, state parks or privately owned campgrounds?

The park is beautiful, there’s a lot of woods surrounding the park, and there was even wild turkeys in the woods just on the edge of the park.  (Quite exciting for the kids!)

The pool is made for kids, there’s a zero entry wadding area for them and it’s only 1 1/2 ft deep.  There’s also a water fountain that the kids loved to play under.  That area opens to the larger swim area that goes from 3 feet to 5.  And they had a hot tub!  The first I’ve seen so far, and greatly appreciated!  That empties into the pool so that helps to keep the swimming area warm, and the whole pool is shaped like a duck!

Here’s our comparison list:

• Activities for the kids – No
• Pool – Yes and it’s heated!
• Full Hook Up – Yes
• Wifi – Yes
• Cable – Yes
• Playground – Yes
• Grocery Store – No, but they do sell ice and firewood
• Ice Cream – No
• Paved Roads – Yes
• Paved Paths – Yes
• Grass Lots – Yes, and they have flowers
• Shade Trees – No, there’s a few young trees around
• Friendly Campers – Yes, and lots of kids and young families
• Friendly Staff – Yes
• Overall Clean – Yes

Our site was 40 right on the corner by the pool.  I’d say it’s one of the best sites, there’s another site, #82, is right next to and faces the playground and would be perfect for our next stay. We’re thinking Labor Day next year.  The staff seemed nice and pretty much left you alone.  There wasn’t any planned activities for the kids, but we had enough to do.  All the families and kids we’re very friendly, unlike some other west side parks we’ve been to (River Ridge).

Muskegon is centrally located on the west side of Michigan.  It’s about a 1/2 hour south to Grand Haven, which has awesome beaches by the way, and a great toy store for the kids.  You can also go north to Pentwater or Silver Lake for a day trip and to see the sand dunes.  And then there’s Michigan Adventures right outside of the park and is a theme park with rides and half water park.  We’ve been there 3 times now and it’s fun and not too big like Cedar Point.

Do you ever make it over to the west side of Michigan and where have you stayed? Where do you visit?

(Images: Duck Creek and myself)

We use a rug to help keep our camper clean.  They help to keep the dirt off bare feet before the kids venture inside.  And they go in an out a ton! The grass at most campgrounds is 1/2 dead, so it also feels better on bare feet.

I secretly wish something would happen to the rugs I have now so I can replace them with the one below.  We found the PVC ones work better and clean up great.  But, don’t place them too close to the fire.  We learned the wrong way and our fire sparked and a few embers melted tiny holes in our rug.

I don’t like the ‘outdoor carpet’ type, we originally had one of these and could never get clean.

What is your opinion on rugs and what have you learned or like?