The Prissy Girl's Guide To Camping

Camping can be a lot of fun.  But if you are prissy (or semi-prissy like me), and don't like to get dirty or be uncomfortable, follow these steps to maximize your fun ... and maintain your sanity at the same time.

1.  Surround yourself with beauty

Communing with nature gives ample opportunity to see, taste, touch, hear and smell beautiful things.  Sure, there is a lot of dirt and bugs, but the natural environment makes beautiful things even more beautiful.

Sniff a flower, take in the gorgeous lake views, or really examine the glistening wings of a dragonfly.  All of these things help the prissy girl forget that she hasn't showered in days.

2.  Eat like a queen

Cooking while camping can be fun, but it is a lot of hard work too.  It is vital to have an array of snacks to enjoy (like chocolate lovers trail mix or kettle cooked potato chips, for example); but it is also important to think about meals.  This (semi) prissy girl isn't a fan of hot dogs, so I have come up with a great recipe for "beanie wienies".

Prissy Girl's Hoity Toity Beanie Wienies

1 package smoked sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced

1 large can baked beans (I love Bush's Southern Pit BBQ Grillin' Beans)

Cook sausage in frying pan until nicely browned.  Add beans to pan and allow to warm through.  Serve with salad or fresh fruit.  

The kids LOVE this dish and I unabashedly like to ignore the fact that smoked sausage really isn't that different from a hot dog.  It is cooked in one pan and is easy to clean up.  Voila, a fancy dinner while camping!

3.  Keep up your looks

Sometimes when camping, showers are not an option.  For those times when there is no running water or showers available, plan ahead.  Take a GOOD shower before your trip.  And bring along velcro rollers to give your limp greasy hair a little lift, or wear a hat.  A little lip gloss and mascara can give you a fresh, glamorous look in a pinch.  And don't forget your sunglasses! 

Even when wearing a grubby sweatshirt and jeans, sticking a flower in your hair can give you an easy, breezy cover girl look!

4.  Adjust the temperature

I don't know about you, but I hate to be cold while camping.  Some trailers have heaters, but if the campground has no hookups available or if you are sleeping in a tent, it can make for a miserable night if you can't get warm.  A great way to warm up the bed is to heat up water then pour it into a stainless steel water bottle.  Place the bottle in the bed a couple of hours before calling it a night.  When you climb into that sleeping bag, ooh-eee it is nice and toasty!  Just be sure to remove the water bottle before falling asleep.

5.  Invite a manly-man along

It really helps a prissy girl to have a manly-man along on the trip - perhaps someone who has been a boy scout or has experience in the outdoors.  A manly-man should be inventive and a problem-solver.  For example, how do you open a can without a can opener?  No problem for a manly-man!  Just use a hammer, of course.  A wrench works great for a bottle opener and to open a wine bottle with a poorly designed corkscrew ... create a device using a picnic table, ratcheting tie-downs and brute strength!

A manly-man's way of preparing a meal!