Review: Backyard Camping Fun With Coleman Gear

With today’s unpredictable economy, more and more families are trading in their luxury vacations for fun and exciting vacations at home. A camping-themed “staycation” is a great way for families to escape the everyday stresses without breaking the bank. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for young children to get in touch with both nature and their imagination.

The Coleman Company provides outdoor gear such as lanterns and stoves, coolers, tents, sleeping bags, airbeds, backpacks, furniture, and grills to help people all over the world have fun and make lasting memories while partaking in their favorite outdoor activities.

Interested In Having Your Own “Stay-Cation”? Here’s What You’ll Need:

A good tent is probably the most important piece of backyard equipment you will need for your vacation. They come in various sizes, shapes and price-points. A great tent to begin with is the Coleman Sundome 6 Tent.

The Coleman Sundome 6 Tent includes just two shock-corded fiberglass poles for easy set-up. It’s designed to comfortably fit 6 people in its 12' x 10' dome structure. The Sundome 6 Tent includes a 72" center height and features adjustable Variflo ventilation, 2 interior gear pockets, 2 doors, an electrical access port, a privacy vent window, and a vented Cool-Air port.

Other Features Include:

• 6 person/2 room tent
• Dome structure, easy to transport & simple to set up
• Exclusive WeatherTec System
• Durable carry bag with separate storage bags for tents, poles and stakes
• Control airflow with adjustable Variflo ventilation
• Rain fly included
• Easy set up with continuous pole sleeves
• Easy to follow instructions sewn into durable carry bag
• Pin and ring design and InstaClip attachments make tent simple to set up

Materials Used:

• Fly: Polyester taffeta 75D
• Mesh: Polyester 68D inner tent
• Floor: Polyethylene 1000D-140g/sqm floor
• 11mm fiberglass poles

At $149.99, the price is just right for this 6-person tent. It’s a wonderful value for all of the features included. However, if you are looking for a smaller or larger tent, Coleman has them as low as $49.00 and up. It’s the easiest tent I have ever pitched. It took my husband and I just under 15 minutes to setup. The 2 door feature creates a nice airflow and I love that you can close the “doors” and still have the mesh net closed to keep the bugs out.

The next two items you’ll need to make the most from your backyard vacation are, of course, a sleeping bag and an air mattress. I received the Willow Creek Sleeping Bag as well as the Extra High Queen Airbed. 

The Extra High QuickBed Air Bed includes a 120V built-in pump, and zippered carry bag storage system. It measures 78" x 60" x 10" and features 48 coils, heavy-duty PVC construction and a soft suede top for luxurious comfort. I love this airbed! It was surprisingly more comfortable to sleep on than my own mattress. It fits standard sized sheets, although the suede top was so soft that we decided to skip the sheets altogether. The cord plugs into an electric outlet and takes just a few minutes before it’s fully inflated. The Coleman Airtight System guarantees a leak free mattress and in fact, the mattress stayed fully inflated during our entire staycation. This mattress offers versatility because it can be used in the home when guests stay over!

The Willow Creek Adult Sleeping bag has a unique contoured design which helps keep your head on the bag and off the ground. The patented zipper offers a no snag feature and the QuickCord feature allows for easy closure- no ties required! This Coleman warm weather sleeping bag is made for camping temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees. Since the weather in Texas is still in the high 90’s, we were not able to truly use this bag.  It does feel incredibly soft, almost like a down comforter. It measures 33” x 78”, and claims to fit adults up to 5’11” tall. Personally, I like to be completely covered when I sleep outdoors. I am 5’9 and found this bag to be a bit shorter than I would have liked. My head extended past the contoured headrest even though my feet were pressing firmly against the inside of the sleeping bag. I would recommend the Willow Creek (Adult Regular) sleeping bag to adults 5’8 and under.

Whether you are going on a backyard vacation or a far away camping trip, a lantern is a must have. The Coleman Quad Lantern is the best lantern ever! I think it is so neat! First, it is battery operated and has a run time of 75 hours. The part that is really neat is that it has four detachable panels! How cool is that?! Each panel detaches so that each member of your family or group can carry theirs around with them using the convenient handles. The light range is 26 feet and operates using eight D cell rechargeable batteries. There is a master switch on the top which will turn on all panels at once. Additionally, each panel includes its own on/off switch.

The cost of this lantern is $69.99 which is a great price. I am what you would consider a girly-girl. I typically like manicures, shopping for clothing and home decor. But this is the coolest product I have seen! I never thought I would have any thoughts regarding a lantern, but Coleman has outdone themselves. My father, who is an avid fisherman, asked if he could have my lantern. I told him “no way!” The next day he went and purchased one for himself. If you are looking for a great lantern- try this one. You won’t be disappointed!

Finally, the last items you will need to complete your ultimate backyard vacation are coolers. Coleman has a huge selection of coolers to choose from. Certainly, they have something for everyone. I received the 50qt Extreme Cooler along with two smaller beverage coolers.

The 50qt Extreme Cooler features a retractable handle and large durable wheels. The lid includes for cup holders to conveniently place your beverages. The design is rustproof, leak resistant and includes a drain for easy, no-tilt draining. Insulated with environmentally friendly Thermozone insulation, this cooler is designed to keep ice up to 5 days at temperatures up to 90°.

I like that it has the ability to hold 84 cans. However, it did not keep ice for 5 days. We recently moved and for the time being, we are without a refrigerator. We have been using our cooler to keep our perishable food cold. This cooler kept our ice frozen for 3 days at temperatures up to 80°. It is quite possible that my husband did not fully close the lid after every use, but we have refilled with ice numerous times, which keeps for 3 days. Regardless, this is still the best cooler I have ever owned. I told my husband that the only thing preventing this from being the ultimate cooler was a radio. He said “Coleman does have radio coolers”, and in fact, they really do!

The 2 gallon Party Stacker Jugs are great for any occasion. The spigot easily twists off which makes it simple to clean using either tap water or the dishwasher. This jug includes an easy to grip handle and an innovative stacking design which allows the jugs to stack directly on top of each other. These are great space-savers!

They are perfect for family functions, school events, luncheons, camping trips, tailgating and much more. My husband uses one to fill with water or Gatorade while working. My husbands son had a football game last night and we brought ours along with us to help keep us cool and refreshed.

Backyards are a great place to vacation with your family, especially when you’re on a tight budget. Coleman brand products make the best of outdoor life whether you are on a far away camping adventure or a backyard staycation!

A huge thanks to the Coleman Company for providing the “stay-cation” review package and giveaway.

PURCHASE INFORMATION: Coleman products may be purchased online, at local Coleman Factory Outlets as well as most mass retailers and sporting goods stores.

WIN IT: Enter my Coleman Giveaway!

Connect: with Coleman on Facebook and Twitter! 

*Disclaimer: The opinions and thoughts expressed are my own. The sample products mentioned in this review were provided to me in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review or host a giveaway.

Getting To Know You (Me) – Aug. 8th

The Questions

1. Do you think mustaches are sexy?
Yes and no. No to thick mustaches, un-groomed mustaches, handlebar mustaches. Yes to mustaches which lead to a sexy goatee…on a sexy man…

2. What's the last concert you've been to?
Edgefest – May 9, 2009 in Dallas. Okay, so we had a blast listening to bands such as Korn, Blue October, Papa Roach, Shine Down, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The Used, Anberlin and more. But what was more fun than that was taking pictures of the drunken party-goers. If you happened to be at Edgefest and were one of the drunken girls flashing your boobs, hubby probably has it on our camera. Here are a few of my favorite shots:

 

3. What was your favorite 80's sitcom?
Duh, The Facts Of Life

4. Were you named after anyone?
No, thank goodness. My grandmothers are both named Virginia, which was almost my name. Genevieve was a close second. Thanks mom and dad for going with the most popular girl’s name, Jennifer. I attended a large high school and there were always at least 3 other Jennifers’ in my class. Good decision.

5. When you buy new clothes, do you wash before wearing?
Really? People actually wash their new clothes? I never do. I only wash pajama bottoms, undies and swimwear.

6. If you didn't blog, what would you do with your spare time? I was going to say what the heck is spare time!? Hmm….if I didn’t blog I would probably…I would…. What the heck, this is sad. I don’t know what I would do. Okay, I figured it out. I blog at night when the family is sleeping, so if I didn’t blog, I would sleep. haha Wow, it would be so nice to sleep. Something I miss dearly.

7. What is your favorite department store?
I love a good deal and JCPenney and Kohl’s always have the best clearance sales. Otherwise, Nordstrom Rack or Macy’s.

8. If  you were to get Laser Hair Removal..where would you get it? Considering I have PCOS, hair is a big problem. If I had to choose one area, I would have to say my “sideburns.” No, they’re not manly sideburns, but they bother me. Ideally, I would like to have laser hair removal anywhere there is hair, except my head. Waxing and shaving every other day is a pain in my butt. 

What Happened To Your Giveaways?

If you are a loyal reader, you have probably noticed I have far less giveaways then usual. You may think I have been neglecting my blog lately *gasp*, but it is not on purpose. I think about you blogging almost all day, everyday. Here is a little glimpse into my daily life and actions regarding blogging:

Excuse me if this post appears scattered. I originally intended to organize my thoughts into two categories: life and blogging. However, since blogging is a part of my life and my life effects my blogging, it is nearly impossible to keep the two completely separate.

I think it’s safe to say my biggest problem right now is time. Lately, I just don’t seem to have enough of it. I thought summers were supposed to be a lazy time, a time to relax and spend tons of quality down time? Somehow, I missed out on that opportunity. I have been extremely busy tending to family matters while still trying to find a moment to sleep.

In regards to the family matters, everyone in the household recently suffered from bronchitis, and/ or an upper respiratory infection. My toddler also broke out in a mysterious rash, which is finally clearing up. Everyone is feeling better physically, however emotionally, I am drained.

The reason behind my emotional turmoil is the constant fear and worrying about my mother. To make a long story short – she is an alcoholic who has made many mistakes in regards to breaking the law by drinking and driving. Not only do I worry about her, but I worry about the long term impact her mistakes will have on my son (her only grandchild) along with constantly worrying about other drivers and pedestrians who may cross her path.

At the present time, we are awaiting her court date to find out the judge’s decision. With her prior drinking/driving record and complete disregard to follow the requirements as assigned by the judge, we expect a jail sentence of no less than 5 years. I know in my heart she will never learn. I’m completely torn. On one hand, I know the best thing for the community as well as my mother is to sit in jail. She won’t learn, but at least I can sleep soundly at night without worrying whether or not she will end the lives of an innocent family. On the other hand, I wish she would be required to complete a rehab program or be sentenced to jail if she does not comply. This way, my son would have his given right to know his grandmother.

My blogging is limited to night hours. I am a stay at home mother to a two-year old, and spend the days with my son. Bedtime comes at 8:00-8:30pm, and that’s when I hop online. Most nights I am online doing something blog related until 2-5am. Then, I’m up at 7am. I have been very busy working on the Fit For Fall blog event I’m co-hosting with two other wonderful women. I feel like I’m constantly going all of the time. All I can think about is how tired I am. My batteries have run out of juice, and I’m pushing through to make it through another day.

Honestly, I  did not intend on going into so many personal details, but I wanted to explain my lack of posts and I wanted to be open and honest with you – my loyal readers. With that being said, I have several great giveaways coming up including gift certificates, food, clothing, jewelry, gifts and much more. I hope my lack of giveaways has not deterred you as I truly value each and every one of you.

What are you are doing this summer?

Do you have any big plans? Vacations?

What are you doing to keep the kiddos busy? I’m curious to know what you are doing as well!

Ceiva Digital Photo Frames Review and Giveaway

Picture frames are a great way to display all of your favorite memories. But often times, regular picture frames can take up so much space. Digital picture frames are a great alternative to display all of your favorite photos, without taking up much needed space.

CEIVA offers you the convenience of sending pictures from anywhere in the world to a home or office digital picture frame using your camera phone, iphone, computer or laptop, Facebook, Picasa, email or even your camera.

CEIVA Digital Photo Frames resemble traditional frames, but they are anything but traditional. Whether you are tech-savvy or not, you can enjoy a daily sideshow of digital photos from friends and family around the world or from your own camera – without a computer.

CEIVA Logic, Inc was founded in 2000 by former Disney executives who had the pioneering vision: to bring the world together through the power of digital photography. Industry Leaders then and now, CEIVA was the first company to invent and market digital photo frames. Their award-winning, patented technology positioned their product line as the premier choice in the marketplace. CEIVA continues to innovate advances in the way consumers see, share and store their digital photos.

Connecting Your CEIVA Frame

Connecting CEIVA frames proved to be a bit of a challenge for me. The first step is to set  up an account through Ceiva.com. Creating my account took just a few minutes as the instructions were very easy to understand. During the process, I added my frame serial numbers which were conveniently located on the bottom of my frame’s base.

After I plugged connected the power adapter, I was greeted with a “Congratulations, your frame has been registered” message. I then pressed the menu key and chose the connection wizard where I had the option to connect via land (analog) phone line, wireless, or high-speed/broadband.

I originally attempted to connect using the wireless option. When I chose wireless, I had the option to choose from several wireless networks. My connection attempt failed. I then tried to connect using the high-speed/broadband option, yet failed again. I don’t have a land line. Instead we have Magic Jack which is a digital line that connects through a computer. From working in technical support, I knew the chances of connecting through our digital phone line were slim, and the connection failed.

I was in touch with Donna (CEIVA) throughout the duration of my attempts to connect. She was very helpful in suggesting alterative ways to connect. I decided to attempt to connect one last time. I chose the wireless option and after using the “refresh” option to show other wireless connections, I noticed a connection I had not seen during my previous attempts. After just a few seconds, I was greeted with a message notifying me I had successfully connected!

I know it is my own fault for not understanding what type of connection I had. My only advice would be to find out what type of connection you have before trying to connect. If you do have wireless, and you do not see your connection when using the wizard, be sure to refresh until you do see your connection.

My Thoughts

CEIVA is more than just a digital picture frame. It’s a way for us to constantly stay connected to our loved ones. even though we live thousands of miles a way. CEIVA has truly changed our lives. My husband’s family lives in New York, while we live in Texas. My husband and I have a two year old son together. My mother-in-law has only seen him once when he was born. When our son was first born, I mailed pictures as often as we had them taken. Life has become so busy that we often forget to mail them. I love that I can instantly send pictures to my mother-in-law without the hassle of buying stamps and making long trips to the post office. 

In my opinion, CEIVA is the best option everyone. But CEIVA is especially great for the elderly and those not tech-savvy, including my mother-in-law. She doesn't have a computer and is not up to date with the newest technology. With CEIVA, all she has to do is connect her frame to her home phone line and she receives new pictures of her grandson as often as we send them. Not only that, but she can send pictures of our nephews to our frame using her cell phone. CEIVA is the best gift she could have ever received.

Sending pictures with CEIVA couldn’t be easier. I prefer to use the CEIVA Sender, while my husband likes the CEIVA Facebook App. The CEIVA sender is very easy to use and allows several photo editing options such as cropping, photo enhancing (auto-fix) and red eye reduction. CEIVA eliminates photo printing expenses and every cost associated with mailing photos. I love that the picture quality is crystal clear. Although I haven’t tried these features yet, I am looking forward to scheduling photos to be sent on specific dates, creating custom greeting cards, customizing photos and even setting my CEIVA channels to update me with the latest news, weather and even my daily horoscope! CEIVA has been a heartwarming gift and I look forward to waking up every morning to see new pictures being displayed on my beautiful CEIVA frame.

More About CEIVA

CEIVA Pro 80 can receive 60 photos a day from invited guests and offers built-in Media  Server connectivity to let you stream photos over your home network. They can also display photos from most camera memory cards.

CEIVAshare frames automatically display photos sent from anywhere in the world — without you having to do a thing. No PC or internet is needed. They can receive 40 photos a day, as well as photos from most camera memory cards.

CEIVA plans start at $6.95 for annual plans and  just $9.95 for monthly plans. When you buy a frame your first year of PicturePlan is automatically included free! 

CEIVA picture frames are powered by Picture Plan Photo Delivery Service. Your digital receives new photos automatically each morning.

If your frame ever breaks, you can get it replaced for free with CEIVA’s lifetime warranty.

 

BUY IT: Visit the CEVIA website to purchase your new CEIVA.

WIN IT: Enter my CEIVA giveaway.

Disclaimer: Two CEIVA picture frames and PicturePlan service was provided to me in exchange  for my honest review. I received no other compensation for my review. The opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.