We’re coming at you with moody, crooning French tunes in November and full-on holiday spirit in December. These may be branded for Winter, but they’re available to listen to for free all year long. Personally, I love to listen to Christmas music in the Summer when it’s way too hot outside and the A/C isn’t doing enough. If you have any recommendations, or want your music on the next playlist, send us a DM.
For your outdoorsman or outdoorswoman.
Backpacking Tent – $100-500
Why are my friends always lifting up each other’s tents? What? REI just dropped their Best Backpacking Tents of 2022 list. Know anyone walking the Camino de Santiago on their gap year? Or someone who took a sabbatical from work to hike the Appalachian Trail? This is perfect for that lovable hippie in your life.
Hydroflask – $14-40
These insulated stainless steel water bottles are perfect for adventuring. They come in every single color, size, and shape so you can get one for everyone in your life. Their charity Parks for All benefits public green spaces and has raised over $2.5 million for the environmental cause. There’s a holiday sale right now for 25% off sitewide.
Kombucha Making Kit – $32-69
Bottles, tea leaf blends, SCOBY’s, and starters galore! Do you have a friend who spends too much money on store-bought kombucha? I have several. If they were crafty, I would gift them a kombucha kit so they could brew their own. There are so many options like The Kombucha Shop, Cultures for Health, and Fermentaholics, so pick whichever makes the most sense for their ability level.
Rainbow Multi Tool Set – $20
The MOMA Design Store is offering two exclusive aesthetic multi tool sets. The rainbow multi tool set is a 9 in 1 including allen keys, screwdrivers, and more. They also have the more masculine Society Paris Hammer multi tool for $55.
For those of sound mind and body.
Masterclass Subscription – $180/year
Masterclass is exactly what it sounds like. These expert-led online classes are priceless and encourage personal growth. From Modeling Fundamentals with Naomi Campbell to FBI Profiling Methods, they offer sessions for every person and every interest. Masterclass is offering a BOGO sale right now, so you can get two memberships for the price of one.
Headspace Subscription – $69.99/year
Breathe in and out with these guided meditations. Having good mental health hygiene is more important than ever. They offer playlists with a range of topics from managing anxiety to falling asleep. Headspace’s mission is to “Improve the health and happiness of the world.” Try it for free now.
Mold Test Kit – $9.87
This may be the only gift guide ever created that recommends a DIY mold testing kit… Not only is it unbelievably useful and budget-friendly, but it’s also fun. You’ll get immediate props for this since it seems like a gag gift, but you could be saving your friends life! Think about it!
Mother-in-Law’s Kimchi & Cookbook – $19.99 cookbook & $10.39 kimchi
Mother-in-Law’s is an iconic artisanal kimchi brand. Pairing their cookbook and any of their jars of kimchi is a great gift for any foodie or health nut. The nutritional benefits of eating this Korean food are off the charts good. I recommend buying your MIL kimchi at any major grocery store in the refrigerated section, not necessarily online.
Holiday present ideas for your favorite Zillenial.
Chamberlain Coffee Cold Brew Starter Pack – $44
You may not know who Emma Chamberlain is but your Gen Z definitely does. Chamberlain Coffee’s beverages include Matcha, Hot Cocoa, Chai, and obviously coffee. They offer single serve cold brew, bundles, reusable straws, travel mugs, and every other drink accessory you can think of. If you’re not sure which roast to get, they have a fun Flavor Quiz. They’re offering 10% off your first order and shipping is included over $50.
Sentro Knitting Machine – $65.99
Knitting machines are all the rage on TikTok. Even if the recipient has never knit, a knitting machine is a great starter to the craft. A lot of the work is done for you so it’s easier to feel satisfied and quickly see a finished product. With one hand on the crank and the other holding down the machine, this is a good gift for those who want to spend less time on their phones.
Sunset Lamp Projector – $19.99
Sunset lamps have been going viral for the last few years. These cast an ethereal glow and are perfect gifts for those interested in photography, prop styling, or interior design. Keeping bright lights on late at night can lead to sleeping troubles. They’re also a great natural alternative to harsh overhead lighting or colored fairy lights.
Nintendo Switch Lite – $179.99
The Nintendo Switch Lite is a lightweight handheld gaming device. It’s a great alternative to an iPad because the Nintendo E-Store features video streaming apps like Hulu and Netflix but not social media. There’s no ability to stream to Twitch or other online gaming platforms so it’s one of the safest video game consoles on the market.
Halloweekend 2022 is coming up and I’m out of costume ideas. Luckily, Pinterest is a photo gold-mine of spooky content. Mommy bloggers and holiday enthusiasts alike have shared some of their most creative children’s outfits online. There was a surprising amount of homemade inspiration including how-to sew DIY instructions. It’s giving Waldorf school and we’re loving it. Keeping in the theme of nature, outdoors, and wilderness, here are some of our favorite kids costumes.
MERI MERI TREE CAPE(from Target)
In 2022, it seems like every company is taking a stab at creating a series of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). Even celebs like Bella Hadid came out with an NFT project made in her image this past year. If you’re new to the world of blockchain and web3, these digital products can seem intimidating or even ominous. Technological advances have the potential to go too far and subtract from humanity. For example, algorithms show us content for our demographic. This means we could get stuck in an echo chamber of only hearing from people with the same opinions and background as us. Even Sci-fi movies show our job duties being replaced by AI’s. It can feel like we’re being taken advantage by social media and Big Tech.
Outside.io, The First Outdoor & Active Lifestyle NFT Marketplace, is part of Outerverse, a company making the initiative to create an NFT experience that actually benefits its patrons. They’re working on building a curated marketplace and creator platform on an energy efficient blockchain. They plan on releasing between 10-20 nature-themed series (with around 1,000 NFTs for purchase in each series) per year created in collaboration with recognizable outdoor brands and creators. Simply put, there will be between 10 and 20 images published and 1,000 times each image can be purchased. You’ll need to buy the Outerverse Passport to access their content. They plan on launching an Outside coin. Until then, you can buy the Passport with Solana (SOL), a cryptocurrency that got popular during the pandemic.
"Welcome to Outside.io, an outdoor community on a mission to promote wellness, diversity, and sustainability in the outdoors. Join us as we build the world’s first NFT marketplace dedicated to the outdoors. We’re minting with world-renowned athletes, brands, and non-profits. And everything’s designed for less screen time and more outside time. Join now for first access to all the drops in our marketplace, as well as the upcoming Outside coin."
Partnering with nonprofit organizations, Outside.io will dedicate a percentage of their profits to both Sustainability and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. Cryptocurrency is notoriously bad for the environment, so Outside.io has committed to being carbon-neutral. Their mission is to “Get Everyone Outside.” Check out their site to learn more about getting free gear, experiencing once-in-a-lifetime real world experience with athletes, joining community events, and more IRL.
Our Autumn Mixtapes on Spotify (September & October)
Curious minds want to know… why does a campsite need a monthly playlist? We love this question. Our dream is to create a vibrant diverse community filled with creative people like artists, dancers, and actors. Learn more about our Bonfire Concert Series and playlists.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re interested in playing music, taking photos, recording video content, or anything else you can think of at our Cambridge, Ohio site. On Instagram, we asked what musicians you’d like to hear on our playlist and included them all in the October mixtape!
Nature Photography Tips
On our social media (@glamplyfe everywhere), you’ll see we emphasize photography. We’ve found that featuring photos of our Ohio campsite online draws in a lot of new guests who live outside of the area. While “word of mouth” and good reviews are important, photography and videography convinces the aesthetically inclined. We’re always looking for new pictures from past visits to GlampLyfe! We especially want to see your pets and loved ones. In order to get the best photos, we’ve compiled a list of some of the top nature photography tips from Masterclass (which also includes gear suggestions) and American Forest.
4 Poems We Love (Summer 2022)
We’ve said it before and will say it again – we love creative people. Getting the opportunity to see our visitors photos and videos when they come to Glamplyfe is one of the best parts of working here. If you’re a writer, photographer, dancer, actor, or generally creative, please reach out about collaborating. Creating meditative moments by disconnecting from technology is easier to do in nature. A good book should be included in every packing list. We rounded up four of our favorite poems that elicit the summery feeling of roasting marshmallows around the campfire at Glamplyfe.
Zulick, Ian. “Ohio”
Torn cotton clouds
Lit like lanterns by bolts of
Sunlight, their wispy wicks
Burn hot and high over muddy rivers
And black asphalt mirrors
Factory fumes like Marlboro reds
Trail fiery and forgotten into the
Forest’s knotted, dirty hair
Where they fall asleep in
A warm bed of clay-choked soil.
A redtail circles the dull
Brown of unshorn fields, waiting
For rabbits to emerge and
Sweep them away like
A late April chill-
The sort that lifts your head
From the low window of a car
And lets you forget the snow
Even as the white of the sunlit clouds
Makes you remember it
As they stroll idly through the sky
Seeming to touch your flesh with the breeze
Blaydes, Colleen Olivia. “Summer”
a summer’s dance
a summer’s kiss
a summer’s romance
a summer’s true bliss
a summer’s light
a summer’s love
a summer’s night
a summer’s turtledove
a summer’s beginning
a summer’s ending
a summer’s destiny
a summer let free
Parker, Dorothy. “August”
When my eyes are weeds,
And my lips are petals, spinning
Down the wind that has beginning
Where the crumpled beeches start
In a fringe of salty reeds;
When my arms are elder-bushes,
And the rangy lilac pushes
Upward, upward through my heart;
Summer, do your worst!
Light your tinsel moon, and call on
Your performing stars to fall on
Headlong through your paper sky;
Nevermore shall I be cursed
By a flushed and amorous slattern,
With her dusty laces’ pattern
Trailing, as she straggles by.
Janca, Tom. “Camping Spot”
I like to camp along the creek,
high up the mountain, next to the peak.
Big green trees are all around
and little waterfalls make their sound.
Always a cool breeze,
that sings through the trees.
Big white clouds float across the sky.
Sometimes they grow so high,
they rain and shower.
But! Not more then an hour.
It’s okey when the sun goes down.
I’ve got a campfire to sit around.
Then late at night when the screech owl
sings.
I crawl in bed, and have sweet dreams.