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More Photos From Quartzsite's La Posa South Side

Saturday, November 28, 2015

                     


                      Entrance to La Posa, South where we pass by every time we come through.



                                A few of these outdoor bathrooms around La Posa- but not alot
                                   ( and glad we have our own in the RV!!)


                                Garbage bins- and boy sometimes they get real full and overflowing!






                               Mountains behind the RV


                                Flea market tent  in town- and there's a few of these too! 

Review: The Soft Soap Holiday Body Wash Collection

Friday, November 27, 2015


This year, treat yourself, holiday guests and gift recipients to Soft Soap's Limited Edition body washes.These moisture rich, awesome smelling body washes will be sure to have you wanting to jump into the shower to clean up with. Especially once you get a whiff of them!

They have Peppermint Cream, Frosted Berries and Ruby Star. 18 oz bottles are retailing at $2.99 at Walmart and are limited from October till December 2015. 
So head to Walmart and go a sniffing!

Being a lover of peppermint- I would have to say the Peppermint Cream scent was my favorite. The fresh mint smell is energizing and really wakes you up. But it's not only the scents we love. All of Soft Soap's body washes will keep your skin soft and help to re hydrate dry skin. Which we can all use during winter's that tend to dry out our skin.

Be sure to give them a try this holiday season! They would make great stocking stuffers too!


Our 2 Weeks Desert Living

Well, it's been about 2 weeks that we've been desert living, but about 3 weeks gone from home.

It's hard not feeling homesick but it is nice not having to deal with the colder temperatures and snow.


                              

Guess you can't have everything.

It was a long drive here, and weather has had it's ups and downs- anywhere from 16 degree highs to 28 degrees. The temperature also drops quite a bit by 5:30 when the sun goes down behind the mountains. And since we're out in the desert, it gets quite dark- no street lights out here!

We're about 5 minutes into the town of Quartzsite but no Walmarts here! Small town shopping. 

We go into Ehrenberg- about 20 minutes out to get mail we have set up, and if we want to go to Walmart, we go the opposite direction into Parker, which is about 30-35 minutes out. Blythe, Arizona is about 5 minutes from Ehrenberg and we go there for groceries.. but definitely Walmart is cheaper.

Things we like about being here:
- warmer temps and no snow! Although Christmas will be very different with no snow.
- Jakey and us as well can get out for more walks and just enjoy more of the outside
- we'll have to explore more of the area at some point but have been busy just with day to day living. I do have some plans to travel in the area. And there is a big craft show in town this weekend so going to go check that out

Things that have been an inconvenience:
-not having a bath- no tub in this RV- although we are at some point wanting to buy one and get a bigger shower for it.
- not being able to use water freely. The water tanks in this are only so big so you run out of water fast.. and as well that goes for your dirty water from dishes, hand washing, toilet flushing, etc..


Because of this we have had to unhook everything, take down the add a room, etc., and head down the road to drain tanks and get water.. a real pain!!! Have had to do this every 2-3 days.. too much work, so Gerry has gone into town to buy water tank, pump and waste tank so all he will need to do is pump both at our location here and dump or fill down the road and we can have more unlimited water without all the inconvenience. Only bad thing about this is its costed $470 to get these tanks and pump. Grrrr... more money! Gerry said it will be a one time buy though, and make things more easier on him and us not having to move the RV so many times. So we have to bite the bullet on this one.
-Internet- costs me about twice as much as back home. I have to buy Verizon time cards for my Jet Pack. But if I want to blog, I need internet and there is no free Wi-Fi out here! 
- the fridge and freezer are alot smaller in the RV so that mans more trips out for groceries.
- also miss having my washing machine and dryer! wow you dont realize how much you miss these things till you have to do things the harder way. The harder way is either washing clothes in a bucket and hanging out, or running into town and sitting at the laundry mat- blah! 
-the exchange on the dollar is currently .36 per dollar of ours- so we're really taking a hit.

But other than that- for now, that's it for complaints! LOL




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Krusteaz- Baking Made Easy- Even in our Home Away From Home!

Monday, November 23, 2015

With traveling as we are, and  being on the road, you want to try to stay away from a life of take out food and frozen meals, and packaged cookies all the time. It's nice to have a little less of that if you can. Sometimes it's not always easy- especially if life it busy, or if your on the road, and away from home. But now that we're at our location here in Quartzsite camping for a few months, we can be a bit more settled.Time to get back to home cooking and some baking.

I hadn't tried out using a propane stove as of yet, so the other day had made some muffins that turned out great, so thought I'd try to make some home baked cookies next, with my mixes from Krusteaz.

Krusteaz makes it easy since all I had to add was an egg and some butter to my mix, and mix away and bake. 



Things turned out quite well, although I found with the propane stove that it took a bit longer to bake than the 8-10 minutes. Although I think I need to also get a thermometer for inside the oven so I actually know when my temperature is reached, as I just added the cookies into the oven once we turned on the pilot light.





The cookies taste great and I look forward to trying the other mixes out! 
These are also great mixes by the way for young bakers just starting out. Kids will love them and mom's will love the ease of helping them learn to bake.

Review: Carefree of Colorado Add A Room and Awning Mats

Sunday, November 22, 2015

While looking for an Add a Room for our RV, we came across a company called Carefree of Colorado . We found that it also has a lot of  other great products for the RV. They have a complete line of awnings and RV products for all your needs and have been in business for over 40 years. 

Some of the products that they offer are awning mats, LED lighting, storage lockers for your RV. They also have developed a variety of Shade Products for your RV. The power shades are designed to block the sun from the windshield or side windows, while you are driving or sitting in your RV. 

Another product that they have that is great is the Add a Room. We have one of these for our own RV. The Buena Vista, is an add on to your awning, it increases your living space. And lets you enjoy the outdoors! Below Gerry shows how he set his up here in Arizona-






Setting it up is very quick and easy too, it takes less than 15 minutes to set it up. It can be used on either the left or right side, and can easily be packed back up in the storage bag, when you are ready to move again. It also has stakes and skirting. The Add a Room, has clear weather view siding, and zippered panels to keep the rain out, ( although out here in Arizona, we haven't seen that yet, but good to keep the dust out as well). You can also have privacy by zipping it up too. We absolutely love the extra space it gives either to use as storage and/or work pace or just another spot to relax outside of the RV, but yet out of the elements.




Carefree of Colorado also have a variety of awning mats. These are a must have for your RV rooms. The awning mats are really great quality, and will last for years. They are very durable mats, and filter out the dirt and water. Your Add a Room shouldn't be without one and we highly recommend both.



Keeping Busy

Friday, November 20, 2015

Enjoying warmer weather here in Quartz site- today being 25-26 degrees and sunny.


Heard our Canadian dollar dropped more today. Not good.

We debated over getting satellite while here. Mainly our last RV had a satellite dish but this one didn't. They said at the dealer we couldn't remove it cause it would damage the roof. So we had to leave it.( Although satellite dealer here said it sits on a plate so that wouldn't happen - so feeling a bit cheated from the dealer !)  But being used to tv back home, and following our favorite shows, we wanted tv. So we bought a portable dish and stand for about $400 but they suck! You have to get the satellite just right and move it around outside and set up every time you were to move. It took Gerry one time hours to get a signal. So we said no more! We took it back to the dealer and getting a dish installed Monday. And yes, it IS expensive- it was $2,033 USD. But we had to think of how more convenient it will be to have- all set up on the top and never having to go outside and worry about finding signals, etc.. It's a long term investment for us. A big expense for sure and one we struggled with deciding if it was right or wrong. In the end, we decided it would be worth having.

Gerry just got his vacation pay payout from work. Also last cheque too before his first  retirement cheque December 1st.

Found ourselves beauty salon too in town- so off for hair cuts and such tomorrow.

Been doing some cleaning in here, and tried baking today with the propane oven- made some banana chocolate chip muffins that turned out great. 


So looks like I'll be selling the toaster oven I have now and using this oven all the time. Last RV had a convection oven/ microwave combo. Did not like it at all and way too complicated.

But off for another night/ day. Enjoy the photos!







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Our Back Yard View at our Campsite

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Pictures behind the camper....


                                                    Signs of previous campers- rock pit

                                                     Looks like a road- but a "wash"



                            Alot of these holes all over- heard lizards, rodents, etc go in here.. but haven't seen any out-people say it's too cold for them.



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We've Arrived! Quartzsite, Arizona

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

We arrived in Quartzsite, Arizona 2 days ago, and have been busy ever since. 
It was a long 7-8 days of driving and camping , driving and camping. I've been blogging, cleaning, setting up "house" and Gerry has been doing his own thing. It is a different type of lifestyle though, and one where you realize at home you have your laundry there for you, and your mail, and your fresh water, etc. Out here, that's all different. Your water tanks are only so big and last so long before you run out of water and have to go get more, and there's tanks to dump for waste, mail to set up in "town" somewhere, and either laundry mats to run to or to wash clothes at the laundry mat and hang to dry at your campsite. With our old RV we also had satellite tv and a dish. We don't have that with this one and miss tv. So we will be looking at a dish for this one. At least looking into it. We haven't really done much for exploring either yet, but do plan to once we're more settled. We have Jakey with us and don't like leaving him behind to do things either. Today we  wanted to go to Walmart but the closest one is half hour away so we took him into the town of Parker, Arizona, and had a lady at a dog grooming shop look after him for 2 hours- $8. 

Here's where we're at :









Our expenses for the trip from home to here, totaled $2115. Cdn. This included expenses for take out food only,(we ate most meals in camper with food from home or what we bought along the way), gas, propane for the RV and camping fees along the way. It also included a  $180 pass for up to 6 months on any LTVA land in this area.We are currently staying in La Posa, LTVA (long term visitors area) (Quartzsite) as shown on the map below. 

                                ( CLICK ON MAP TO ENLARGE)




Will get some more photos of our "neighborhood" tomorrow and the :add a room" we've put onto the RV. 



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2015 Holiday Gift Guide For Babies/Toddlers



Babies, Toddlers  and Christmas.  Often kids this age, prefer to play with the box instead of the gift. This is the perfect time to give a special gift that they will cherish for years to come and that will make their Christmas, very special. There are however so many gifts to get babies- from clothing to toys, to bedding to cherished keepsakes. See below for some great gift ideas:

Little Ocean Explorers 3-in-1 Adventure Course-


Little Tikes is making a big splash into the infant category with this activity course. It helps stimulate and entertain baby throughout 3 key developmental milestones: sitting, crawling, standing. Ages 6-36 months. MSRP $79.99.


Little Tikes Catch Me Crabbie-


From the Little Ocean Explorers line of infant products, Catch Me Crabbie provides hours of active fun for babies. There is a motion sensor inside so when baby approaches, Crabbie will move side to side clapping his claws and plays music. Ages 6-36 months. MSRP $14.99


Little Tikes Dunk 'N Juggle Seal-

From the Little Ocean Explorers line of infant products, Dunk 'N Juggle Seal is perfect for building motor and problem solving skills. When baby tosses the ball in the basketball hoop, the seal starts clapping its fins and plays music. It releases the ball to the floor via the floor for baby to chase. Ages 6-36 months. MSRP $19.99



Cloud b – Cuddly Comfeez-
Perfect for a cozy embrace, these plush seats with character are bound to be your little one’s favourite piece of furniture - and the softest chairs in the house! With an adorable character face and made of ultra-plush fabric, each of these lightweight pals (sold separately) is the perfect décor for any child’s bedroom and also a cuddly companion for naptimes and playtimes alike! Sleep Sheep and Twilight Turtle are two Cuddly Comfeez styles based on Cloud b’s best-selling characters!
Available at independent toy, gift, and baby stores
MSRP $69.99 | 0+ years



Cloud b – Hugginz Musical Plushies-
The irresistibly huggable and super soft Hugginz Musical PlushiesTM from Cloud b are  six-inch tall plush animal toys that will help calm and soothe your baby whether at home or on-the-go. The Hugginz Musical Plushies™ heirloom style with a classic pull-string mechanism allows the baby to start the soothing lullaby by simply pulling on the plush star. Each Hugginz Musical PlushiesTM toy (sold separately) exceeds the highest international standards for safety, is machine washable (when the detachable sound box is removed), and its velcro tab for easy attachment makes it perfect for strollers, cribs, car seats and activity gyms.

Available at independent toy, gift, and baby stores


MSRP $29.99 | 0+ years



*** Watch this spot for more gift giving ideas.








It’s Time for a Little Holiday Magic with Kellogg’s Rice Krispies* #TreatsforToys

Make. Share. Give.



The Kellogg’s Rice Krispies #TreatsforToys program helps bring a smile to children in need by encouraging Canadians to make a toy-shaped Rice Krispies treat and share a picture of it on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook using the #TreatsforToys hashtag.

For every image uploaded from now until December 21, 2015, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies will donate $20 to The Salvation Army to buy a toy for a child in need during the festive season!

This is the perfect time of year for extra giving. We donate to the food bank this time of year and as well participate in other giving- such as the Salvation Army Kettle bells and children gifting programs for the less fortunate. 

It's important we teach our children to give and think of others less fortunate than ourselves this time of year, and with the Kellogg’s Rice Krispies #TreatsforToys program , it's a perfect opportunity!

Petsafe's Holiday Gift Guide

Monday, November 16, 2015

With the holiday season upon us, PetSafe wants to make sure no furry friend is forgotten about in all the hustle and bustle. All pets have different personalities - whether they’re playful, rambunctious or calm, cool and collected, and the pet care company is making holiday shopping for four-legged family members of all personalities easy with this gift guide.

                                      CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Walkers Gluten Free "Shepherd’s Pie" (courtesy of ABC Gluten Free)



Walkers Gluten Free "Shepherd’s Pie" (courtesy of ABC Gluten Free)

Ingredients:
·        6 Walkers Pure Butter Gluten Free Shortbread cookies crushed
·        1 pound ground meat of choice
·        1 diced small onion
·        1 tablespoon tomato paste
·        1/4 cup of cola (may replace cola with gluten-free steak sauce or Gravy Master)
·        4 to 6 diced mushrooms
·        1 teaspoon of each rosemary, thyme, marjoram
·        1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper
·        1 tablespoon gluten free flour
·        6 cubed potatoes
·        ½ cup cheddar cheese
·        2 tablespoons olive oil
·        *optional one clove of garlic diced

Directions:

Begin by cutting and cubing potatoes. Once cut and cubed, toss with olive oil and bake at 400 degrees for approximately 10 minutes. Once baked set aside to use for topping.

Heat a pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add meat of choice. Once almost cooked through, add onions and mushrooms. Continue to cook the mixture until ingredients are softer. Then add tomato paste, cola, and spices (including garlic if preferred). Add 1 tablespoon of gluten free flour over the mixture and stir until a sauce is created. Then remove the pan from heat.

Begin to mash potatoes you had set aside and add crushed Walkers Pure Butter Gluten Free Shortbread cookies.

Prepare your baking pan with a layer of cooked meat on the bottom. Then add the potatoes and shortbread mixture. Be sure to top with grated cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until cheese bubbles. Once out of the oven, top with a pinch of spices and serve.

*If in a hurry can broil on low for 6 minutes. Keeping your eyes on it to keep from burning.

What We Woke Up To This Morning- Flagstaff, Arizona

                       What we woke up to this morning at the KOA Flagstaff/ Grand Canyon.




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Day 6- Done! But Tired of Being on the Road!

Sunday, November 15, 2015

After being on the road for 6 days I am TIRED of being on road. Gerry too. Tomorrow we will be at our final destination in Arizona. We'll be able to sit put for a while, relax, and not have to pay RV gas fees and electrical site, campground fees. Will let you all know more once we get there.
Left Fillmore, Utah today and arrived Flagstaff, Utah this evening- over 6 hours driving and some stops. We will say we found the folks in Utah very friendly though! The landscape has changed so much along the way- we've really seen some beautiful areas!

Despite being only 3 hours from Grand Canyon, it's out of the way and would mean if we went this time then we wouldn't make it to our destination tomorrow, and I really don't want to be on the road any longer...well at least not driving anymore. Just want to settle for a bit. So will see what we decide to do but may just pass it by this time.








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