Kelty…Everything You Need For Camping This Summer (+Giveaway)

Memorial Day is this coming Monday, and you know what that means?  SUMMER is here!  Honestly I have to tell you that I cannot be more excited about the start of summer; I love being outside with the kids, swimming, tanning (in moderation of course), and all of the other outdoor activities that make summer so much fun.  One of our favorite things to do as a family in the summer is camping and while we haven’t been on an actual camping trip for a while we always find a way to make camping a part of our summer fun, even if that means we’re pitching tents in the backyard!

If your family is planning a camping trip this summer then this post is for you!  You can’t really plan a family camping trip without the proper equipment and one of our favorite places to turn for the best camping equipment is Kelty!  If you’re not familiar with Kelty allow me to introduce you…

The KELTY Heritage:
Since 1952, Kelty has built affordable, reliable outdoor gear that enables everyone, from the first-time camper to the experienced mountaineer, to embrace any experience with confidence. Kelty: Go Anywhere.

KELTY is based in Boulder, Colorado, and uses the natural backdrop of the Rocky Mountains to test, create and continually innovate within their diverse outdoor product families of Backcountry, Trail, Vintage, Lighting, Basecamp and KIDS. Kelty combines the best in new technology with a healthy dose of common sense to create exceptionally made, affordably priced outdoor products.

We recently received an awesome tent from Kelty for our review, the Kelty Gunnison 2.1 to be exact.  We’ve had other 2 person tents in the past and I was very excited to see how the Gunnison compared to other brands…I was very impressed!  First and foremost this is by far the easiest tent that I have ever put up, usually I need help, but I was able to assemble the Gunnison by myself in less than 5 minutes.  The easy setup is due to the clip construction, instead of sliding the poles through the small openings in traditional tents the poles clip on the outside of the tent and it makes it so much easier to put together.  I was also impressed at how light the Gunnison is, weighing in at under 6 pounds the Gunnison 2.1 is a perfect choice for a hiking/camping trip.  Another of the features that I really liked about the Gunnison 2.1 is that for the most part the tent itself is very airy due to the wide mesh panels that run the length of the tent on each side, one of my biggest complaints with tents is that they are too enclosed creating an almost smothering feeling for someone like me who does not like confined spaces, but the Gunnison 2.1 is not at all that way.

About the Gunnison 2.1

Highlighted by Backpacker Magazine for 'Best All-Around' tent for 2009, this feature-rich tent is perfect for multiday trips! Fly vents, welded windows, and two doors and vestibules for all under six pounds, this is a great piece for any outdoor enthusiast

Gunnison 2.1 Features

Body Features:

• Free-standing
• ArcEdge™ floor 
• Taped Floor Seams
• Mesh Wall Panels
• Internal Storage Pockets
• Clip construction
• ITW Stakeouts

Fly Features:

• Taped seams
• Side-release buckle tent-fly connection
• Fly vents
• Noiseless zipper pulls
• Guyout points

I have tried for the better part of 2 weeks to get this tent put up in our backyard, but the unusual amount of rain here in Ohio lately has made that nearly impossible.  If it’s not raining it’s too muddy to put the tent up, which is upsetting since I wanted you to see the Gunnison in all it’s glory.  I did however, give in and set the tent up in my living room a few days ago.  I immediately was surprised by how roomy it is, compared to other 2 person tents the Gunnison 2.1 seems to be roomier and could easily fit myself, my husband, and our 2 youngest…it would be a tight fit, but it’s absolutely doable!  You can check out the pictures below of the Gunnison 2.1!

Notice how far the mesh wall wraps around…great ventilation for hot summer nights!

Of course Kelty has much more than tents!  Take the FC 3.0 Kids Carrier for example…now how would you like to win it?  That’s right one MIBR reader will win a FC 3.0 Kids Carrier (ARV $249.95)…details below!

What You Can WIN!!!!

One MIBR reader will win a FC 3.0 Kids Carrier from Kelty!

How To Enter!

To enter this giveaway please visit the Kelty website and have a look around, then come back to this post and leave a comment  telling me what product from the website you like most.  This is mandatory and must be completed before any additional entries are allowed!

Extra Entries!

Follow MIBR via GFC (2 extra entries)
Follow MIBR via Email (2 extra entries)
Follow MIBR via RSS Feed (e extra entries)
“Like” Misadventures in Baby Raising on Facebook (3 extra entries)
Follow MIBR on Twitter (3 extra entries)
Follow MIBR on Networked Blogs (3 extra entries)
“Like” Kelty on Facebook (3 extra entries)
Follow Kelty on Twitter ( 3 extra entries)

Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter…Make sure you leave the URL to your Tweet in your comments!  (2 tweets per day = 2 extra entries per day)

#WIN a Kelty FC 3.0 Kids Carrier just in time for summer at MIBR @KeltyPacks   #giveaway @Allie_23| Enter Now: http://tinyurl.com/4xc6st7

Share this giveaway with your Friends and/or Fans on Facebook by linking to this post on your wall.   (You can share 2 times per day with your friends/fans on Facebook)

Submit this giveaway to a giveaway site or linky…please leave a link to the giveaway posting in your comment.  (5 extra entries per giveaway site or linky)

Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.  (5 extra entries)

This giveaway ends on June 9, 2011 at 1:59 PM EST.  One (1) winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post shortly after the giveaway has ended.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim his/her prize, failure to respond to winner’s email in a timely manner will result in winner forfeiting his/her prize and me choosing a new winner.  Giveaway open to US residents only please!

* I received the product(s) above from either the company or PR for my review.  All opinions expressed are my own.*

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How To Save Money and Still Have Fun This Summer!

Hey y’all!  I hope everyone is enjoying “What’s HOT For Summer” so far, I know I am!  It’s finals week for me at school, though it’s mucho stressful I’m actually thankful that this semester is nearly finished, and today is a particularly heinous day with 2 finals and a paper due.  That means that I decided to switch things up a bit for today’s post!

 

Since rising gas prices have us most of us wondering if summer vacation will even happen this year I decided to get some advice on how to save money and still have a great summer from consumer savings expert  Andrea Woroch.  “As a media expert source, Andrea has been featured on NBC's Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more” and she has some great tips on how we can all have a rockin summer without breaking the bank. 

 

Q:  Is it possible for families to vacation on a budget and still have fun?

Andrea Says:  Yes, of course! Being frugal doesn't mean you have to drastically change your lifestyle. With a little bit of planning and research, you go on an amazing family trip without sacrificing the fun stuff.

 

Q:  What are your top 3 tips for saving money on vacation?
Andrea Says:   Create a budget and research various vacation options to find one that suits you and your family. If airfare seems out of your price range, you can still getaway. Consider a road trip which can be full of memories and a wonderful bonding experience for you and your family. Look for free events in various cities along your route and consider camping to save on hotel. You can hike, bike and participate in various outdoor activities that are not only free but a healthy and fun way to spend time together.

2. Research destinations that are experiencing their off-season to save on airfare, lodging, dining, attractions and more. As well, consider traveling during the week -or off-peak days- to finder better rates.

3. Always compare prices online, read trip reviews and look for coupons to save on hotel, car rentals, theme parks, event tickets, restaurants and more.

 

Q:  What if our family doesn’t want to spend the extra money on vacation this year, are there ways that families can have fun closer to home? What are they?

Andrea Says:  Plan a "staycation" when you can't afford a getaway. Organize several family activities like hikes, picnics and bikes rides and then camp out in your backyard with a few tents, games and marshmallows to recreate an exciting weekend away.

 

Q:  When should families ideally start saving money for a summer vacation?

Andrea Says:  The farther ahead you plan, the better prepared financially you're family will be for any vacation and the better airfare rates you'll be able to book. However, you can still save money with short-term planning by being smart about other daily purchases and living expenses. For example, forgo restaurant outings during your saving period and stash that cash away for the vacation. Look for other areas where you can trim down on your spending to save more in the long or short term.

 

Q:  How much money should the average family have saved before they consider going out of town for a vacation?

Andrea Says:  This all depends on the size of the family and the destination. Careful planning and preparing a budget beforehand will make every trip go smoothly and be memorable. Save enough for your trip with a little extra on the side for those unexpected purchases or last-minute

 

Q:  What are your tips on teaching children to save money, as it relates to vacationing?

Andrea Says:  Involve your children in the planning the vacation and give your child chores so they can save up for souvenirs on the trip. As well, remind your children that you can't go toy shopping because you are saving up for that exciting trip to Disney Land!

 

Q:  What are your tips for parents when it comes to saving money on groceries this summer?

Andrea Says:

--First of all, always plan out your shopping trips and make a list. Shopping with a list will help you avoid impulse purchases on expensive and unhealthy foods.  Base your meals on sale items, simply review the circular before heading to the store and look up recipes online to find new ideas or to learn how to prepare a certain discounted meat that you've never cooked with before.

--Avoid out of season produce to find the best prices

--Use coupons. Most supermarkets accept manufacturer coupons and will allow you to stack coupons which means using the store coupon along with the manufacturer voucher to multiple savings. You can download these via the Cellfire mobile coupon app, upload them to your grocery store rewards card via the store website or search for manufacturer coupons on sites like CouponSherpa.com to print them straight from your computer. The Sunday circular still provides a number of great grocery store coupon so spend sometime each week looking for deals and you can save up to $1,000 a year with coupons!

--Use credit cards that offer supermarket and grocery reward points and cashback bonuses, some of up to 5%!  Just make sure to pay the balance off in full each month or after each transaction to avoid paying interest rates which would defeat the purpose of this action.

--Stock up at Warehouse stores like Costco, BJ's and Sam's Club where you can save anywhere from 20 to 40% on some groceries. Remember though to check the expiration date of perishable items and consider if you have room to store the bulk product and if you will use it before it goes bad.

--Shop Dollar Store deals - from canned to bagged and boxed food, dollar store offers some great deals. Make sure to check the exipration date though and if you don't recognize the packaging on brand name goods, sit's best to skip it all together. Basic kitchen and dining staples like dish towels, storage containers and cutlery as well as cleaning supplies are great buys there as well, so stuck up on your buck!

--Generic is always the cheapest and smartest buy at any supermarket. Shop by price not by brand and you'll quickly save a few dollars. Generic organic goods are a great option for those looking to stay healthy without overspending.

 

Q:  Are coupons always a good idea? What about coupons for attractions and destinations, are they worth looking in to?

Andrea Says:  Of course, coupons can save you a bundle and these days you can find coupons for just about anything including travel. From hotels to car rentals, themes and attractions, restaurants and luggage needs, your family can find great deals by researching coupons first. To save time when looking for specific deals, go directly to a site like CouponSherpa.com which aggregates all the top travel coupons and offers in one place. Families can also find discount gift cards for savings of up to 50% off at sites like GiftCardGranny.com.

 

Q:  What advice would you give to moms who want to save money this summer while still making sure their children have a memorable summer break?

Andrea Says: 

--Consider day camps instead of sleep-away as a less expensive alternative. Find out if there is an option to volunteer at the camp to receive a price break for your campers or ask about multiple camper discount rates.

--Get with other families and neighbors who too may not have room in their budget for camp this summer to organize daily activities for your kids. Parents can take turns chaperoning and coordinating kid-friendly activities, from arts & crafts to hikes and scavenger hunts.

--Go on a weekend or day road trip to visit the beach, drive through the mountains or a nearby city that offers some history lessons and site-seeing.

--Take advantage of all the free activities your city or nearby town have to offer.

--Check your local crafts stores for free family and kid activities. Likewise, stores throughout your community make offer free kid-friendly activities. For instance, Lowe's recently offered a free workshop where children built their own basketball game. Pottery Barn Kids featured a live Peter Rabbit Appearance and AC Moore offered a free "Make & Take Bloomin' Thomas Train" activity for kids. So search store's sites and create a calendar of all the complimentary activities in town for a memorable summer.

 

Those are definitely some fabulous tips that can help us all save a ton of money this summer while still having a blast!  You can check out Andrea’s website:  http://www.andreaworoch.com/ and follow her on Twitter @AndreaWoroch!

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