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My husband and I recently made a BIG (but temporary) change to our diet.

You probably guessed it from the title, but let's remove all doubt and just get it out there: We went Keto.

We made this change because Keto has been known to reduce inflammation, increase energy levels, reduce hunger, and turn our bodies into fat-burning machines.  We've both been working really hard on our fitness, and wanted to do something to help us burn additional fat and hopefully finally be able to see the muscles we've been working so hard to build.

Related: 10 Different, Free Camping Meal Plans.  Download now!

And since we're going camping this Labor Day Weekend, we found it necessary to build a 4-Day Keto Camping Meal plan.

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I really, really want the snow, rain, and fog to let up so we can go camping.

The weather is understandable, since it's February, but I'm still impatient.

For me, the "I can't wait to go camping" attitude is a far cry from 3 years ago, when our daughter was under a  year old, and we were tent camping - not in a cushy camping trailer like we are now.  And let me tell you, the experience is VERY different.

Related: Camping with A Baby?  Read This First.

While I'm so thankful for the way we camp now, in the time that we roughed it in a tent, I learned a few tricks about how to make it easier, cooler, and a happier experience for everyone.

Here are 7 Life-Changing Tent Camping Hacks you need to know:

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Don't discount Illinois just because it's in the Midwest!

Nestled in between Chicago and St. Louis are hundreds of amazing parks, and today I've rounded up 5 of the best places to camp in Illinois.  So skip the legwork and use the link and info here to plan your next camping trip in Illinois.

Going camping with the kids?  Here are activities you can do with no special supplies

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For the last 3 years, we've been living and camping in Missouri.

Now we live in Southern Illinois, we're still only 30 minutes from the Illinois/Missouri border, making some of the parks we've come to know and love - some of the best places to camp in Missouri - accessible to us still.

Not many people know it, but Missouri is more than fields, trees, and the city of St. Louis.  Getting a bit outside the comfort of the city you'll find some amazing state parks with rivers, cliffs, boulders, and caves.  Missouri is filled with diverse landscape and breathtaking views that everyone should experience at some point in their life.

Today, I've created a roundup full of the best places to camp in Missouri.  These parks are all state-run, and some of them contain National Landmark.  Of course, there are a lot of great private campsite out there too, but today I'm focusing on Missouri's best State Parks.

One thing you'll notice is that since all of these sites are run by the state of Missouri, you can book them all on the same website, nightly charges remain fairly constant, they've recently added one awesome perk: free wifi.  In some cases the wifi runs through the entire park, while in other cases you have to go the lodge to use it, but it certainly is nice to have while camping is a remote location.

So if you're planning your next getaway, check out this list of the best places to camp in Missouri for everything you need to know!

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So you're thinking about going camping...

Daunting, isn't it?

I remember our first time camping with an 8-month old - I was terrified.

Granted I had absolutely no experience camping, or with a baby, but we decided to go anyway and give it a try.

So I know how you're feeling, and it's definitely warranted.

BUT, there are so many reasons why camping is good for you and your kids.

Here I've listed several of them, as well as links to relevant resources to help you get organized and get ready for your first camping trip!

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While we'd all like to think that camping is only sunshine and happy times.

But the reality is that weather is unpredictable, whether you've scheduled a camping trip or not.

Even if you monitor the weather like a hawk before you go, it's always best to be prepared for anything.  Here's how:

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Camping Unplugged.

Those two words are sure to strike fear into the heart of any teenager - and probably you, as the parent.

Whether your family has teenagers, toddlers, or some mix of the two, unplugging is hard for everyone, regardless of if you immediately realize it.

For teenagers, their desire to be connected all the time is pretty obvious - and they tend to be pretty vocal about it when you tell them your camping unplugged.

But for toddlers, the change can be just as hard. They just don't know it yet.

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Camping is a time for unplugging, for getting to know one another (since you're family and all) and for spending time in the great outdoors.  No kids camping activities needed.

If you're in the tent, watching a movie, or playing on  your phone the whole time, then you've missed the point.

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Kids are eager to learn.  It doesn't matter their age, their experience level, or how reluctant they are to go camping with you - they can benefit from getting their hands a little bit dirty, trying something new, and learning these 23 camping skills.

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If spending your leisure time outdoors is one of your first loves, you can invest in a 2 person tent for camping that allows you to enjoy communing with nature for overnight trips, while still allowing you to avoid the heavy packs and complicated setups that some tents require.

Whether you backpack, bicycle or snowmobile, you can find a variety of high-quality, 2-person tents that will provide maximum comfort with a minimum of weight and hassle. These come in a variety of designs and configurations.

Here are 5 of the top 2 person tents for camping on the market today:

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When we started camping several years ago, I disliked it.

And not just a little bit of dislike, but I had full-fledged hatred for this activity that happened to be one of my husband's favorites.




The bugs, the heat, the cold, the sleeping on the ground/air mattress/sleeping bag, cooking over a fire and so many other things left me scratching my head, trying to figure out why on earth he loved camping so much, when we could be comfortable, at home, Netflix bingeing.

But you know what I disliked the most?

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When it comes to camping food, the meals that I plan for have to meet a couple of criteria:

• They Must Be Easy
• They Must Be Affordable
• They Must Be Filling

These requirements are found in all of my camping meals, and therefore in my free camping meal plans.

Camping Sloppy Joes are no exception.

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Let's talk about s'mores for a bit.

They're everything that's good about camping.

They can make the worst day better.

And they bring out the best of the flavors in chocolate.

When we go camping, they're absolutely essential..... I would sooner leave home without bug spray than I would without the ingredients for s'mores.

{Well really, there are other essentials I won't leave without.  Here are some awesome examples}

This, of course, begs the question: Why change something as good as s'mores?

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When we go camping, we play hard.

We've gone floating down rivers for hours at a time (harder than it sounds), swam the day away, hiked, fished, biked, and of course jetskiied.

Even though I always fear we're going to be bored, we find ourselves exhausted and happy at the end of each day.

Which is why we try to make dinner pretty hearty.  Full, rich flavors, plenty of protein, and warmth for the cold nights are absolutely essential - but so is ease.  I don't mind cooking over a campfire, but after a long day who wants to slave away to make dinner?

Not me!

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Oh I am so looking forward to the crisp leaves, falling temperatures, and oh-so-much time spent outside.

And boots!

I love boots!

Fall is the perfect time to make family memories over a nice, hot, bowl of soup, especially when we're  camping!

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