Tomorrow we are about to embark on our second big trip with our travel trailer (I feel like he/she needs a name, and usually our family is all about nicknames but the trailer just hasn’t gotten one yet, hopefully on this trip a good name will come to us!) So as we will be spending the next month in the trailer I thought it would be a great opportunity to answer some frequently asked questions that we get about the trailer and trailer life in general. We are definitely not experts by any means, we’re really only beginning our trailer life journey, but we did a lot of research before purchasing our trailer, and learned a few tips so far that I’d love to share, as I know it is something people can be very curious about (I know I was!)

How did you decide what trailer to get? And where did you find the one you wanted? We looked online to start getting the feel of different trailers at the beginning when it was all just becoming a reality that we may actually buy one. Then we went in person to see the actual insides of different models of trailers and get a feel for the different types that were out there. We knew we wanted to haul a trailer and not drive an RV so that narrowed the list down right away. We looked at lots of used and new trailers, and after seeing many used trailers that people did not take care of (the smells were real!), we realized we’d rather purchase new (for the same price as a used, actually less for us) and take really good care of it, to keep as an investment that we could possibly sell one day. Also buying new meant we wouldn’t have to do any renovations to it, whereas all the used models we saw needed a lot of work, and we didn’t have that extra cash to be able to invest in reno’s. If you have a lot of time to look I am sure there are some great used trailers out there that have been taken good care of, we just didn’t come across any during our search that were the size range we wanted, but I know my brother found a great used one that was like new! We ended up finding the one we liked the best at a big Trailer/RV lot in Orillia called “Heidi’s'“ there are a ton of big RV lots in that area to look for hours at different models, Heidi’s just happened to have the one we wanted at a good price.

How much does a trailer/RV cost? This varies greatly on what kind of trailer/RV you want. ‘Rv’s’ are the type that has a motor and you you can actually drive around in it, and a trailer has no motor and you tow it behind your vehicle. We opted for a trailer because it was more cost effect for us. We also found it safer to travel in our truck with kids and be able to have our own vehicle to drive around in once we get to our location, rather then finding a parking spot for a big RV everywhere. Trailers vary in price by brand, size, model etc, so we basically just chose our ‘budget’ and stuck within it, luckily they come in ALL different budgets so you can find what your looking for and not break the bank. You can also ‘rent out’ your trailer or RV to help pay for it after you purchase it!

Will you do school on the road? The answer to this is YES, one of the best aspects of homeschooling is the flexibility we have! This trip we will be doing school the majority of the time, with a few days off here and there. Our last trip was in the summer and only two weeks long so we did not do any organized ‘school’ during that trip. I think it will change based on the trip and the time of year that we do it whether we do school or not. Our plan this time is to do our math, reading and language first thing in the morning, and then have the rest of the day for exploring, other hands on projects and activities and lots of outdoor time. The kids will each have a ‘project’ that they will be working on throughout the trip, and will also be keeping a journal of our time on the road.

How do you do your laundry in the trailer? This is a very important question, especially for a family of 5 with towels and bathing suits, and clothes that have been played in hard and piling up quickly waiting to be cleaned. Luckily most national parks and trailer parks have a place to do laundry for a small cost (around 2$) and we also have a cool gadget to clean laundry in called a ‘wonder wash’ which is a small manual non-electric laundry machine that cleans a smaller load at a time. It’s good when your in a pinch without anywhere to do laundry and then you hang to dry on a drying rack that we bring with us. You could also use a laundromat if you needed to, as there are always some in every town. I ask the kids to wear things more then one time, especially things like jeans, shorts and PJ’s, that can be worn multiple times, not socks and underwear, haha, as I don’t want to have to spend TOO much time doing laundry. On our last trip, we only had to do laundry once!

Where do you find trailer parks and state parks to stay in? And how much does a site cost per night? My husband is the master at finding the best places to stay, he’s a part of many facebook groups, and forums, where people share the in’s and out’s of different parks. There are also great websites to find and review different sites, but sometimes you just never know what you will get until you get there. Thankfully thus far we have been pleasantly surprised with all the places we stayed, so I guess it’s all about paying attention to the reviews and talking to people who have been there. The cost really varies on location, and type of site. The state/national parks are generally cheaper (around $20 to $30 per night) but they don’t have any amenities, just a spot to park, and maybe some electricity and water. A trailer park is a bit more ‘fancy’ (around $40 to $50 per night) but they have all your ‘hook ups’ (electricity, clean water, sewage dump on site) and usually big bathrooms with showers, pools, laundromats, parks, waterfront, dog parks and more. We mostly stayed at national parks on our last East Coast trip, and it was very cost effective.

What is it like living in a small space with a family of 5 and a dog? It can no doubt get quite squishy if you are all in the trailer at the same time, so a very rainy day could get a bit tricky ;) but what I like so much about the trailer is that it forces you to spend tons of time outdoors. We try to only be inside the trailer to sleep, shower, make food, change clothes etc. Everything else we try to stay outside for, and the fresh air does everyone so good! Lot’s of hiking, biking, and beach time happens instead of being inside. If you have to be stuck inside for bad weather, it’s good to have some board games or card games to play, some art supplies on hand, as well as some movies downloaded on your laptop and ready to go just in case. Probably my favourite thing about ‘trailer life’ is that you are outside so much, even at night sitting around a fire and listening to the crickets is so nice and not something you get to do every day.

Do you have internet in the trailer? No, there is no internet IN the trailer, but generally we can connect to the trailer park ‘wifi’ (which is usually one of the perks of staying at a trailer park over a state park) OR use the wifi at other spots that offer it (coffee shops, walmarts etc) so the ‘internet sitch’ isn’t always amazing, but that’s why we pre download shows that we can watch at night before we leave, so we don’t need to rely on the internet too much. Honestly it’s so good to get away from too much screen time for a break!

Where do you want to take your trailer next? Do you have any other trips planned for the future? There are so many places we dream to take the kids, like out West to see the beauty of B.C. and California (Yosemite is on my bucket list ever since we went there a few years ago) We would also love to go back out East again and see Newfoundland and Nova Scotia this time. Our hope is to do a bigger West coast trip in 2020! We will start with that and see where we go from there :) the possibilities to explore are too many to count!

What is the shower like? This is a LEGIT question, and one I googled about before I had ever tried a trailer shower, lol. That daily shower is important to my sanity ;) it’s a mental thing I think, I feel better and ready to tackle the day after I have showered, so it was important to me that we had one. The trailer shower is decent! You have to ‘heat it up’ before you get in, so if your planning on taking a shower you’ll want to heat your water at least 20 mins before. The pressure isn’t too bad, it’s not going to massage your neck, but it does the job. The biggest thing to get used to is that the hot water only lasts for about 5 or 6 minutes, so you can’t ‘linger’ LOL it’s an ‘all business’ kind of shower and not a long luxurious one. It’s great to have though, as obviously everyone feels more comfortable to shower in their own personal space and not in a public bathroom.

How do you ‘dump’ your waste & water? Many sites that you stay at will have a “sewer hook up’ where you can empty your ‘black water tank” (that’s trailer talk for ‘sewage’) and your ‘grey water tank’ (that is trailer talk for all the dirty dish, sink and shower run off water) so if you are staying on one of those sites it is super easy to ‘relieve’ your tank as much as you want! Generally you would empty the black water first, then the grey water which kind of flushes everything out, it’s actually not that gross, but I can’t take the credit, my husband does it and he wears gloves just in case :) If there isn’t a sewer hook up at your site then you have to empty your tank at a ‘dump station’ which all national and trailer parks have. A little less convenient, but it can be done easily when your coming into a park or leaving. There is also a portable device that you can fill up and then roll over to a dump station so that you don’t have to move your trailer at all. They really have come up with everything to make trailer life easier!

How do you make your meals? Many of our meals are done on the portable BBQ that we bring with us, mainly because it is so easy to do ‘camp style’ cooking on a BBQ outside, and then you don’t stink up the inside of your trailer, which is a plus. We also have a gas stove top inside the trailer in our little kitchen, so I can boil things (rice, pasta etc), and make coffee and tea. We also bring a toaster which fits on our little counter top. We bring some pot’s and pans, mugs, cutting boards, knives, and cutlery, all the things needed to cook our own meals. We have a microwave to heat things up, and we have the cutest fridge which is actually a really good size and holds quite a bit! That is another one of my favourite things about having a trailer, that fact that we can cook our own healthy meals and not have to eat out much when traveling is the best for our tummies and our health.

I hope these ‘frequently asked questions’ help to paint a realistic picture of what living in a trailer is like, it has it’s ups and downs for sure, but it’s such a great way to travel economically as a family and that is why we chose to do it! Have you ever camped in a trailer before? It really brings the family so close together (no pun intended!) and forms so many amazing family memories through all the crazy travel times :) well…I am off to sleep because tomorrow morning bright and early we are headed south!

stay cozy,

Shelley

The snow was falling down like crazy, it looked like a beautiful snow globe outside, and the kids were so happy as they have been asking to go skiing in some fresh snow. So after our morning reading time before we sat down to do any book work for school, we grabbed our skis and headed down to the lake to enjoy the powdery snow. Being outside and active with my kids makes me so happy and full of joy and I am thankful to be able to do these activities with them. As we were skiing up a large steep hill there was a part where it got really difficult to keep climbing without my skis crumbling awkwardly beneath me, My 12 year old son called out “That spot is tricky Mom!” and he started to coach me on a few techniques that would help me get past the difficult spot. His encouragement filled me, and some super human Mommy strength came from within and I was able to get right up (not without huffing and puffing of course) immediately my son said loudly “WOAH Mom!” obviously impressed with my skills (haha) and I smiled realizing how good it felt to keep up with him. Sure I was trying to catch my breath, my ankle was being twisted and there were some mild hot flash moments, but I pushed myself and did it. After I got to the top of the hill my reward was skiing all the way down with my kids cheering me on, and then falling in a heap at the end, getting sprayed in the face with massive amounts of snow and hearing my kids then laughing their heads off at me as I stumbled to stand up again. All in all it was a great morning and experience and got me thinking about something that God has been speaking to me about lately, and that’s getting out of my ‘comfort zone’.

So often we unknowingly find ourselves living a life that revolves around comfort, and it becomes very easy to get caught up in a day to day that leaves us feeling very ‘comfy’ much of the time. If I am being really honest with you, staying home in a bubble with some coffee and books sounds pretty nice to me, and I am sure many of you (introverts) would agree. Not just at home either, it can be easy to get too comfortable at church, with our jobs, and even being a parent. Staying comfortable is easier, there is less to make us worry, less to do, and much less to have to think about.

When I asked friends online what they do to get out of their comfort zone on a regular basis a few of the answers were, going to the gym or working out, starting at a new job where you have to put yourself out there, and traveling with kids. Think about those things for a minute…when you go to the gym and work out for the moment it is hard and uncomfortable, but the benefit is keeping your body healthy and strong. Starting a new job where you have to meet many new people and learn how everything works is terrifying at first, but maybe you can make great connections with people and a good income from doing it. Traveling with kids can be a huge challenge, having them away from their own bed and routine is enough to make them spiral (not to mention the parents too haha) and it’s definitely easier to just stay home, but the benefit is seeing and experiencing new things and making amazing family memories that you never would have had if you didn’t go.

I am seeing a trend here…going out of your comfort zone can be hard…REALLY hard, but the benefits seem to far outweigh that difficulty and be totally worth the effort of leaving your ‘zone’. Taking it a step further, being a follower of God and going to church can get comfortable too, if I never had the courage to start playing piano on the worship team again after 11 years I never would have had the sweet opportunity to serve alongside my husband in a ministry that is so dear to us and see many be lead in true worship. If I never had the courage to pray for someone on the spot as they were going through a hard time, I wouldn’t have been able to share God’s love with them and encourage them. And if I never served in the children’s program, I wouldn’t have been able to see many children make a decision to live for Christ! All these things that came from going out of my comfort zone are so special, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

  Fortunately I’ve always had that little voice in my heart that will tell me when to do something even though it’s not my favourite thing.  Something that I know will be good for me or my family even though for the moment it’s uncomfortable.  Or maybe it won’t be as good as I thought, but I felt God calling me to do it.  I’ve been ‘blessed’ with that conscience, so I’ve felt that little nagging when I know I should do something even if it’s out of my ‘comfort zone’.  But having that little voice of reason doesn’t mean it’s any easier to leave my comforts and step out (it’s actually still really hard every single time!).  Thankfully I don’t have to do it alone or on my own strength, because I am weak and if it were only up to me I may still be found in that permanent coffee bubble with a good book ;)  gratefully God can give me that strength,  Joshua 1:9 says  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” and 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”  also Isaiah 40:29 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”  God’s word shows us so many times that He will hold us up and strengthen us when we can’t do it on our own.

  One of the biggest things I’ve done and still do out of my comfort zone is photographing weddings.  If you had asked me years ago that THAT is what I would be doing as a profession, I would have laughed!  A ‘shy’ girl like me does not have a job like that?!  Somehow with encouragement I mustered the courage to do it once, and realized ‘hey, this isn’t so bad’  I could direct people, and use my voice to organize people and capture their memories in an uncontrolled and high stress environment, and have a lovely outcome.  That’s not to say it hasn’t been a challenge and I haven’t made mistakes (because I sure have) but I still keep doing it, and it becomes easier every time.  Shooting weddings has allowed us to form our own business and give me flexibility to stay home with my kids when I want to, and still help provide for my family and be creative.  I am so thankful that God gives me that strength to get out of my comfort zone so I can do those things!

  I took a fun little quiz on new year’s day which was designed to help me find my “word of 2019” and sure enough after the quiz was finished my result was the word ‘Courage’ which made me smile, as I knew that God had been calling me to show more courage and leave my comfort zone more often.  For some people it's something as simple as just leaving your house that can be so hard (I’ve been there!), and for some people like my husband you have to literally search for something that is genuinely out of your comfort zone (he’s an anomaly) but whatever it is for you, big or small in the eyes of the world I want to encourage you to keep doing your best to get out of your comfort zone, and watch and see what the Lord can do. 

What is something that has brought you out of your comfort zone and been a big blessing afterwards?!

Thanks for reading guys, have a great weekend and see ya next Friday!

-Shelley

If you know me or follow me on Instagram you know I LOVE dogs, puppies, pretty much anything that is furry and barks :) and it was always my dream growing up to have a dog. My parents weren’t dog people (which is totally fine, I respect that! You should only get a dog if your ready to care for one as it’s a huge commitment) so I had to wait until my adult life to become the dog mom I always dreamed of. Our first pup Ruby was a ‘mini golden doodle’ we lived in a small house at the time, and she was the perfect little addition to our family. We loved her for 8 good years, and in her later years as she started to get many health problems we knew it was time to think about getting dog #2 as we weren’t sure how much longer we would have her. Once you get used to having a dog in the house, it’s hard to imagine your house without one, as they become such a big part of the family.

  When researching breeds I was always very drawn to Golden Retrievers, they are the quintessential family dog (think ‘Comet’ from Full House!), and I love their easy going and sweet personalities.  The only thing is they shed, A LOT and both my husband and I who are allergic to cats weren’t sure how we could handle a very furry dog allergy wise.  I knew I really liked doodles because they were mixed with poodles and were very low shedding.  They are also SUPER CUTE (let’s be honest!) how can you look at a picture of a Golden doodle and not say “awwwwwwwwww” (if you can your stronger then me!)  In researching their breed I also really liked their personality traits, they are known for being friendly, loyal, intelligent, gentle and affectionate.  They are actually one of the perfect breeds for comfort or therapy dogs as they really love people, and are very trainable.  They love being active with you, but they also love to settle down and snuggle.  They really want to be doing what their humans are doing, which was perfect for me as I love having that companionship from my pet.

  All these great personality traits and knowing that they would be low shedding, and less people would be allergic to them had me hooked.  We just needed to find a good reputable breeder and hope that a litter was in the near future.  Now I know a lot of people would say ‘adopt don’t shop!’ and I do totally agree with that method if it works for your family.  We have kids and sometimes an older dog that hasn’t been exposed to children or grown up with our specific children wouldn’t be used to their crazy monkey ways.  Our house is loud and busy and the kids are always running around here or there and making loud noises, which isn’t necessarily the best environment for many rescue dogs who have been through some trauma.  So we decided on raising a puppy at this time so that we could acclimate them to our family, children and lifestyle as they grew.  When our kids get older we do plan on adopting next time we welcome a dog into our family, as we know that is a wonderful thing to do also!

  When your looking for the right dog breed for your family make sure to do lot’s of research online.  There are so many good websites that outline the personality traits and tendencies of different breeds and that is so helpful.  If you are an active family that loves to be outdoors, then you’ll want to look for a breed that has good energy and drive to keep up with you.  If your looking for a quiet companion to hang out indoors with you, or if your like us and you need a breed that works well with children then make sure you choose a breed that lines up with your needs.  This way you set you and your dog up for success together.  When your dog is in it’s best environment he will listen better and be a better companion for you.

If you are looking for a dog who will love you wholeheartedly then a Golden doodle is for you!  They love their ‘people’, and being with them all the time (though following me into the bathroom is a BIT much, good thing he is so cute :)) so if you have a job where you will be out of the home often, then you may want a dog that is not so people oriented.  Since we homeschool we are home the majority of the time, so our dog is spoiled with pretty much 24/7 love from all of us (and he laps it up daily!)  We hope for many more years with Forest to spend loving him. Even though he’s still learning and has plenty of naughty moments, the bond I have with him is so special and I am thankful for him everyday, my pup brings me so much joy. If you’ve ever had your dog come lay his head in your lap and close his eyes as you pet him you know what i mean.

What kind of dog do you have, and what do you like best about them? if your a fellow #doodlemom I salute you ;)

stay cozy,

-Shelley

It’s January, the time of year that all the Christmas decor is put away, and your house get’s a bit of a ‘re-fresh’ as you prepare to hunker down for the rest of the long Canadian winter. Sometimes after you put all the bright and happy holiday decor away the house can seem a bit ‘empty’ or stark, so I’ve found one of the best ways to survive the rest of the cold weather season is to make your home as cozy as it can be. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to do this, just by using what you already have around the house, or pulling a few DIY’s from your sleeve you can make your home a beautiful oasis to warm up in as you watch the snowflakes fall outside.

1. Candles & yummy smells: This is probably my top tip to gain coziness which is why I am putting it first up on the list! After I tidy up dinner every night I love to light a candle and put it on the coffee table in our living room, as that tends to be where we all hang out in the winter evenings either playing card games, working on crochet projects, or watching hockey. The warm flicker always set’s the tone for a cozy night together. Certain smells can make the home so inviting also, if your not a fan of using scented candles, you can diffuse oils that have cinnamon, clove, and citrus in them, or make a ‘simmer pot’ for your stove. I am a big ‘smell’ person, and a house that smells inviting is what makes home feel like home to me.

2.Different textures of blankets and pillows: I like to use an old antique crate and fill it to the brim with different warm blankets, some fleece, some knit, and some furry and keep it by the couch. Then there is always something cozy close by to curl up with. Add to that some throw pillows in different materials and textures, and an area rug and you’re headed straight to cozy town, haha. I love to mix textures in the winter as it really gives that ‘homey’ feeling where not everything needs to match perfectly, but goes together nicely.

3. New & unique art and wood pieces: Switch up your regular wall art with something more suited to winter, that includes a favourite quote or bible verse, anything that you really enjoy looking at and makes you happy.  Display more family photos that you love in frames around the house.  Try making something out of scrap wood for either your walls or a little side table.  My husband recently made a gorgeous live edge wood coffee table and it really brought that rustic element into the house.  I also clearly love wood mosaics and we have just put this HUGE one up in our living room and truly love how unique it is, and how my husband made it with love of course!

4. Twinkle lights inside & outside: Never underestimate the power of twinkle lights!  Just because Christmas stuff is all put away, doesn’t mean the lights have to go away :) keep out your lights and drape them on your fireplace, or on window ledges.  Frame your windows with them, or put them in mason jars.  We also ended up keeping a little Christmas tree with just twinkle lights on it in our kitchen area,  and my kids just love it.  It adds a warm glow and definite coziness that is so needed in winter when the sun goes down so early.  We also keep lantern style string lights up on our back porch all year round, it’s always nice to look out the window and see that twinkle on a cold night.

5. House plants & greenery: When nothing is green outside, make sure there is something green and filled with life inside. Some of the plants that do the best in my house in the winter are cactus and succulents, money trees, evergreens and Ivy. They all need minimal water and sunlight and do well if you happen to forget about them for a few weeks ;) Having house plants also gives you something to care for and water and adds such a cozy ‘lived in’ element to your home. It’s my secret weapon of house decor and I’ll probably always have plants in my home till I am a little old lady!

  Try using some or all of these ways this season to help transition your home from Christmas to winter cozy and I know you’ll make your home even more inviting then it already is!  Making my home a desirable and lovely place to be is really important to me, it doesn’t have to have the newest trends, or the most expensive decor, I just want the things we choose to have in our home be things that we love and that bring us joy even if it’s a $15 wal mart pillow;)  What is your favourite way to keep a cozy home in the winter?  Comment below and let me know! 

stay cozy,

Shelley