camping

Three Ways to Make Being Active Part of Your Routine

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.  #NewNutrishPEAK #NutrishPets #CollectiveBias

Our pup is a picky eater and we’ve spent a lot of time, money and worry on her diet. Rachael Ray products are such a great brand in every other category and we knew her dog food would be the same. Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Peak™ Wetlands Recipe™ with Chicken, Duck & Pheasant is not only tasty for her but has caused our dog to gain a bit of weight back that she had recently lost. She has never been a big eater but since we switched to Rachael Ray’s Nutrish Peak she now nudges me once her bowl is filled so she can devour it. PEAK is a protein-rich food for dogs with nutrient-dense meats.

gift of experiences

Nutrish Peak Dog Food by Rachel Ray

Nutrish Peak Dog Food Rachel Ray

Our pup Lexi always wants to play. She’s a German Shepard Chow Chow mix with lots of enthusiasm and personality. Thankfully we have a 4 year old daughter who is the same energy-wise and they are best friends. We love camping, hiking and playing at the park with them both. Right now I am pregnant so we’ve been doing walks any day the weather allows. My daughter rides her bike and Lexi and I jog behind.

Lexi and our daughter both have so much more energy and strength because of these regular walk/jogs and are always tired at bedtime. Staying active is incredibly important no matter your age or situation (or species). We make taking walks, visits to the park, hiking and camping part of our regular routine to keep active and learn about nature. One way we’re able to keep our dog’s energy up with all this activity is to have a dog food she enjoys and has nutritious ingredients.

Three Ways to Make Being Active Part of Your Routine

1. Family Walks – As the days get longer in the Midwest we will be doing more walks as a family after dinner. For now, my daughter, dog and I go for walks before Daddy gets home. This is a great way to start our habit before the baby comes.
2. Weekend Hikes – We are so very lucky to have beautiful parks all over Indiana. Each of us likes being outside and we hit the trails for fun on the weekends whenever possible. Even better if we find a creek to stomp in!
3. Camping Trips – Our family makes it a point to schedule camp sites with lots of trails several times throughout the year. We have a camper so booking ahead is key but it allows for inexpensive family mini-vacations that makes us all happy.

camping at brown county

We added Lexi to our family in 2010 after finding her at the Humane Society. As many others have said, we didn’t save her, she saved us. She is always there for us when we need love or a snuggle and makes us happy every day. We always encourage others to shop at a shelter or rescue for their pets. This is also a big reason why I decided to purchase Nutrish Peak for Lexi.

A portion of proceeds from each sale of Nutrish is donated to The Rachael Ray Foundation, which helps animals in need. Through December 2017, more than $23.5 million dollars have been donated to animal charities and other organizations that do good for animals. The funds are used for food, medical supplies, treatments, and more. Many more animals around the country need help, and through The Rachael Ray Foundation, together we can make a real difference in the lives of many four-legged friends. Check out the Nutrish PEAK website for more information and where to buy this wholesome and delicious product for your dog!

Nutrish Peak Dog Food

We love that Nutrish PEAK dry food for dogs contains 30% high-quality protein and 0% grains, glutens or fillers. If your pup likes wet food, every Nutrish PEAK wet food recipe is made with real chicken, combined with protein–rich duck, beef or lamb for a flavor your dog will love. I purchased Nutrish PEAK at PetSmart and used this coupon for additional savings! PetSmart had Rachel Ray’s pet line in the center aisle as soon as I walked in as well as in the Natural Food section of the dog food aisle. Let me know some activities you like to include to make being active part of your routine!

Nutrish Peak Dog Food Rachel Ray

Gourmet Campfire S’mores

Gourmet Campfire S’mores- Summer is coming to an end so we’ve been trying to squeeze in a few last camping trips. Back yard camping is one of our favorites. We’d had this trip planned for a year and it turned out so different, yet exactly how I would have wanted. Growing up, my parents took my sister and I camping often, and I wanted to share that experience with Sophie. Staying at Camp Robertson allowed for us to play outside all day, have camp fires, go on walks, pick flowers and blow bubbles all day long while having the convenience of AC for sleeping. To make things a bit easier, we divided the meal prep ahead of time so everyone had a chance to help out. I gladly volunteered for dessert and chose to make gourmet campfire s’mores!

Gourmet Campfire S'mores

Gourmet Campfire S'mores

There is no camping without s’mores. There’s also no reason to have the traditional chocolate + mallow + graham when there are so many wonderful choices out there!

Gourmet Campfire S'moresSome of my favorite toppings are:

  • Hershey’s Cookies n’ Cream
  • Reese’s Bar
  • Butterfinger Bar
  • Nutella
  • Peanut Butter
  • Crunch Bar
  • Carmelo Bar
  • Toasted Coconut

Gourmet Campfire S'mores

Gourmet Campfire S'mores

Prep is key in making the perfect s’mores. Getting the graham prepared with the toppings ahead of time makes the transition from campfire to s’more much smoother. Quick tip: I like my chocolate a little melted, which is easy to accomplish in the summer months, otherwise, I balance my chocolate on my roasting stick over the fire for a few seconds.

Gourmet Campfire S'mores

It’s true, I may go a bit overboard when it comes to s’mores, but they only come around once per year, so I’ve got to make them special. What are your favorite s’mores toppings? Did you go camping growing up or are you taking your children on any trips this summer?

Want more Camping Tips?
Camping at Brown County State Park
What to Pack: Family Camping Trip

Tasty gormet s'mores recipe perfect for camping with kids.

 

Camping at Brown County State Park

Camping at Brown County State Park in Nashville Indiana makes for the perfect weekend. I would recommend staying at least 3 nights to get the most of your stay as there is so much to do. Indiana’s largest park is nicknamed ‘Lil Smokies’ for it’s 16,000 acres of rugged hills, deep ravines and scenic vistas overlooking miles of uninterrupted forestland. Large campgrounds, hiking and mountain biking trails, a saddle barn for guided horse rides and a separate horseman campground with 70 miles of horse trails are some of the things that make Brown County State Park popular year-round.

Camping at Brown County State Park*Our favorite sites are highlighted in the map above*

Camping at Brown County State Park

The Site

This past weekend we took our pop-up camper and shared a site with friends who had a tent. Although I do suggest checking out the sites ahead of time, many of them are large enough for two families. Ours was perfect as it was flat, shaded, relatively close to the bathrooms (but  not too close) and was far away from the main area which meant there weren’t many cars driving around our site.  TIP: Sites near culdesacs mean less traffic so kids can ride bikes and scooters safely. Make sure you check ‘driveway grade’ when reserving your site. If it says ‘sloped’ or ‘slight angle’ that could mean you’re on a hill. Hills aren’t as big of a deal with a camper but pay attention if you’re tent camping.

The site had pit toilets near by but there were also showers and normal toilets near by. We were able to easily walk to the playground that is nicely tucked away in the trees in a nice shady spot. Bike trails surround the playground making it a fun hiking obstacle course for kids.

 

camping at brown county

camping at brown county

camping at brown county

The Park

Brown County State Park is the kind of park you can go any time of year and it is absolutely stunning. I’ve heard it’s highest season is during the fall when all of their trees have turned beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow. I’ve been during the winter where everything is blanketed in soft white snow. The sledding hills at Brown County are awesome. During the spring and summer you can spot various types of wildflowers on the trails after learning about them at the Nature Center. There is a small wild flower garden marked with the flower names right by the Nature Center (keep going and you’ll see a beautiful vista view behind the center).

camping at brown county

camping at brown county

camping at brown county

We’re putting together a binder of maps with all of our favorite sites. Where are your favorite parks to camp? What do you look for in a park?

camping checklist
Print out this free Family Camping Checklist for your summer trip!

Camping at Brown County State Park

What to Pack: Family Camping Trip

hiking on our camping tripI was lucky enough to start my camping career while I was in diapers. I then went on to be a girl scout until I was a junior in High School. Needless to say, I’ve been tent camping almost every year for the past 31 years. If you’ve ever been camping, you’ll agree with me, that the hardest part about going on a trip is packing and unpacking. It’s stressful to remember what to pack each time you go and unless you have a set camping tote, a list is the best way to make sure you don’t forget anything. I’ve just recently been on a camping trip with my toddler and thought it time to edit my list to include necessities as a family.

Hiking on Camping Trip

What Should I Pack: Family Camping List

I will add a caveat, this is list is what I think are the necessities for camping. Some people may believe an RV to be a necessity while others may think this list is extensive. I am somewhere right in the middle where I prefer there to be running water, electricity for my boom box and restrooms nearby. Also, this camping trip was at the beginning of May, yet it was freezing. Be sure to prepare according to the weather forecast during your trip.

Interested in renting? Rent an RV with RVshare.

Family Camping Trip

family camping trip
What-to-pack-family-camping-checklist-_-Indys-Child-MagazinePrint out this free Family Camping Checklist for your summer trip!

I polled the other Indy’s Child digital writers and came up with this list of our top 5 Indiana camp sites:

  1. ‘My favorite so far is Timber Lake in Huntington. Great area not far from home. Beautiful lake and Zip Lines!’ – Luis
  2. McCormick’s Creek SP. It’s the oldest state park in the system, gorgeous landscape for hiking, fishing and riding, and there are accommodations for anyone’s preference: An inn, cabins, electric campgrounds and rustic camping. It is probably the most understated camping spot in Indiana.’ –Jeanine
  3. Turkey Run– I love that there is electricity, a pool, free concerts and the hiking trails are amazing. You’ve got to try the Ladder Trail!’ – Shelly {okay, so that’s me.}
  4. ‘So I’ve only been twice but Shades State Park for sure.’ – Pete
  5. ‘My family loves Brown County and Turkey Run! Brown County makes it easy to camp, or stay in the spacious family cabins. I love the trails, the horseback riding, evening hayrides, the cute campground store, the outdoor pool and the water park inside the Abe Martin Lodge, and we love to climb up the high lookout tower and take in the beautiful view. Turkey Run is awesome if you love outdoor hiking. The trails and rock formations are just beautiful!’ – Trisha

 Camping Scavenger Hunt

If you have little ones, don’t forget to bring along this Nature Scavenger Hunt! Let me know what you bring along on your camping trips and where you will be camping this summer!

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