I got an email from Canaan with the Hatchette Book Group about some new books coming out. I saw the one titled LOVE YOU S’MORE that was released on June 7th, and thought it would be perfect to read to my granddaughter! The illustrations were adorable and I’m sure that the story will be so fun to read with her, even as she gets older and can help with some of the words. I love how it focuses on camping and family, which are two very important things in our life! Being able to spend time together is so important, and it needs to be a focus of so many, especially during these recent times.

The LOVE YOU S’MORE book helps to share memorable moments with family, and enjoy time reading together. In this digital age, true books have gotten dusty on so many shelves. Don’t get me wrong, reading anything is super important…but there’s nothing like a true book, with pages turning to get you into the story.

This one by Melinda Lee Rahjen is adorable. The illustrations are by Rob McClurkan and they are amazing. I love seeing the little faces of the characters, show what they are talking about. Plus, it makes you kind of want to make a s’more – and there’s never anything bad about that, right?

Let me know someone in your family that might enjoy this book. Enter to win a copy below, and leave a comment of what you think. Is there another book that means a lot to you? Tell me about that, too – and I can add some new ones to my reading list!

Check out the new Love You S'More book by Melinda Lee Rathjen with @HachetteUS Great story for #kids and #family that enjoy #camping and #reading! Visit the link to find out more & enter to #win a copy!
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About the Love You S’More Book:

Embrace the puns in this charmingly campy board book about two raccoons who insist they are the one who loves the other “s’more.”

Love, puns, and s’mores are three of life’s greatest pleasures. In this little board book, two competitive raccoons declare themselves to love the other “s’more.” The fireside banter crackles with puns, and the silly competition heats up until they finally realize that with all that love, everyone wins. Outdoorsy and camping-loving families will love this book, as will anyone looking for a new way to express “s’more” love to someone in their life.

Product Details:
Publisher ‏ : ‎ WorthyKids (June 7, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Board book ‏ : ‎ 20 pages
ISBN-10: 1546002154 / ISBN-13: 978-1546002154
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 1 – 4 years
Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7″x0.55″x7″
Best Sellers Rank: #2,370,306 in Books, #1,881 in Puns & Wordplay, #2,529 in Children’s Baby Animal Books, #14,099 in Children’s Books on Emotions & Feelings

About the Author & Illustrator:

Melinda Lee Rathjen grew up in southern Illinois, reading past her bedtime whenever she could get away with it. As an editor at WorthyKids, she still spends a lot of time reading, though stealth and flashlights are rarely necessary. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Rob McClurkan is a storyteller. Sometimes he uses words and sometimes pictures. He has written and illustrated two picture books, Aw, Nuts! and Playdates Rule!, and he has also illustrated a bunch of other fun picture books, like Beware the Flerken and Super Rooster Saves the Day. He lives in Georgia with a dog, two kids, and a wife. He also has a snake in his backyard that says hello every spring. It’s a nice snake but keeps to itself, and Rob likes it that way.

About WorthyKids:

Hachette Book Group (HBG) is a leading U.S. general-interest book publisher made up of dozens of esteemed imprints within the publishing groups Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Audio, Hachette Nashville, Little, Brown and Company, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Orbit, Perseus Books, and Workman Publishing. We also provide custom distribution, fulfillment, and sales services to other publishing companies. Our books and authors have received the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal, Booker Prize, Nobel Peace Prize and other major honors. We are committed to diversity in our company and our publishing programs, and to fostering a culture of inclusion for all our employees and authors. We are proud to be part of Hachette Livre, the world’s third-largest trade and educational publisher.

HBG is headquartered in New York City with offices in Boston, MA; Lebanon, IN; Nashville, TN; North Adams, MA; Boulder, CO; Philadelphia, PA; Berkeley, CA; Portland, OR; and Chapel Hill, NC. HBG also owns Hachette Book Group Canada, Inc., a marketing and publicity company based in Toronto.

As a leading book publisher, we believe that including and representing diverse voices in all aspects of our business is fundamental to what we do. Our staff and our publishing programs must reflect the broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and ideas that shape our society. We are committed to working together and with all our partners to foster diversity and a culture of inclusion, so that HBG can provide a truly welcoming and fulfilling environment for all employees and publish books that appeal to all readers.

Enter to Win a Copy of Love You S’More:

Connect With Love You S’More:

Disclaimer: I, Jamie Tomkins, own and operate TigerStrypes Blog located at www.tigerstrypes.com. From time to time you’ll hear about my real life experiences with products and/or services from companies and individuals. Let it be known that I have no affiliation with these said companies, and have not received compensation for reviewing their service/product. The service/product was given to me by the company or any agents of the company. The review that I give regarding the product/service is based off my own personal experience; I do not guarantee that your experience will be the same.

The post Love You S’More Book Review appeared first on TigerStrypes Blog.

Create a Redneck Dopp Kit

#Camping #Outdoor #Upcycle #TigerStrypesBlog

As most of you know, my husband and son are offroad UTV racers.  The team name of “Redneck Edition” is one that my husband picked while talking to some guys at work.  They were looking at one of the trucks and how it said it was a certain kind of “edition.”  My husband looked at his 4×4 Suburban and said, “Yeah, I guess mine’s Redneck Edition!” and that’s how it stuck!  Here’s a picture of the truck, so you know what he was talking about:

Our team goes camping often to join in the UTV races here in Arizona.  We’re blessed to have a toy hauler to haul our UTV and family around, as well as have a bathroom available when needed.  I always see some people camping in tents, etc. and visiting the woods, as their relief.  I saw something online about having a camping kit, and thought I would change it up a bit to better go with what they might need.  Thus, the Redneck Dopp Kit was created.

If you’ve never heard of a Dopp Kit, it’s usually a small toiletry bag, made of leather, vinyl, or cloth, that is used for storing grooming tools for travel. I figured for us mountain folk, we don’t always need all of the toiletries that some do.  A bit of paper and something to clean our hands, and we’re set!

I sure hope that you like it!! I hope you have a blessed day, and please be sure to comment and share this craft on your social media channels – thanks so much!!

Learn how to make your own #Redneck Dopp Kit 4 #Camping - Find out more at
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Create a Redneck Dopp Kit

Materials/Tools Used:

• Coffee Can
• Toilet Paper
• Sanitizer
• Rope/String
• Scissors
• Label/Decor
• Tape
• & Time!

Instructions for the Redneck Dopp Kit:

I started by creating some artwork to cover the old coffee can.  Using a site with free graphics, I found the farm guys and then added it to some other things to make the label, and printed it out.

I then cut a hole in the coffee can, where the toilet paper would be able to feed through.

When that was done, I used some double-sided tape to attach the printout that I had trimmed to fit the can.  I attached it right over the hole in the side, so that I could cut it out to cover it all up nicely.  I just trimmed it in an “X” and then taped it to the inside of the cutout.

After that, I started on creating the rope hanger.  I began by making a hole in the bottom of the can with a hammer & screwdriver.  Making sure to have it large enough for the rope to go through, but also for the knot to hold it and not slip.

I knotted one end of the rope and slipped it through the lid part to start.

Then I trimmed the rope to the length that I needed, and had my son use a lighter to melt the end of the rope, so it wouldn’t fray.

Next, I inserted the roll of toilet paper into the can and slipped the end of the roll through the opening.  This would make it easy to roll from the outside and not have to open when you are in a precarious situation.  I also inserted some hand sanitizer to help keep you clean afterwards.  After all, there usually aren’t any sinks in the woods.

Now, you can just hang it in the tree near where you are camping, and be ready when the time comes.  Easy to use and a great way to camp with style…Redneck Edition Style!

I hope you like it!  Please take a minute to leave me a comment.  Let me know what you would do different, or what you would add, etc.  Be sure to tweet, pin, share, etc. – thanks!!

HERE ARE SOME OF MY PREVIOUS PROJECTS:​

The post Create a Redneck Dopp Kit #Camping #TigerStrypesBlog appeared first on TigerStrypes Blog.

Thank you HAMSWAN for partnering with me on this blog post!

I couldn’t wait to try out the new HAMSWAN HB-09 2-Pack Portable Camping Lantern set from Amazon. With the season getting closer for us to be able to go camping here in the mountains of Arizona, I thought this would be perfect to add to our camping kit!  We do have the ability to use a generator for lights, but sometimes when you’re out in the wilderness, you love the peace and quiet.  Having the HAMSWAN HB-09 2-Pack Portable Camping Lanterns will make it easier for us to have light, and still keep the peace.

The size of the lanterns at first worried me.  They were really small out of the package, and I figured that they wouldn’t be able to produce much light.  Was I wrong!  Putting in the batteries, and clicking the power button, made me realize that they could put out a lot of light!  These are going to be perfect, when we want to go out and hike the trails, or just have a bit of light with us at camp, without being too overpowering for nature around us.

The quality was amazing, and I love how the handles can bend up or down, to make it easier to store.  It also helps with where you want to place it.  I hung it in a tree for some light, and figured that it could be used almost anywhere that you wished!

I took the lantern outside in the evening, at about 10:30 pm and was amazed at how much light that it put out.  This small lantern, lit up my whole back yard.  It’s hard to see in the photos how much of the yard it did illuminate, but let me tell you, if I had to go out for a walk at night, I would mighty pleased to take the HAMSWAN HB-09 Portable Camping Lantern with me.  I lit up almost all of the area around me, and even further out than I planned to go.  The choice of the three (3) light modes really didn’t matter for area, either, which was surprising. They all lit up a very large area and would be perfect for camping, or hiking in the evening.  Here are some of the photos of it in our backyard last night:

I would definitely recommend these lanterns for your family!  The great thing, too, is that they come in a package of two (2), so you’re able to have one in different places, or even share with a friend.  Ours will definitely get some great use this year! Check out the link below, where you can purchase one for your family!

Get a Set for Yourself:

About the Product:

The HAMSWAN Camping Lantern has three separate light modes, which include White-Warm, Yellow-Warm & White.  These can be switched by lightly touching the power button, being able to meet your different needs.  Whether you are just reading at home or even walking at night.  Each includes a 12pcs LED bulb of 100 lumen, providing energy-saving, non-dazzling and ultra-brightness of up to 50′ for your camping and outdoor activities.  The bulbs are: 5730*6 (6500k) + 5730*6 (3200k).

The unit also has dual battery containers.  These are designed to be powered by 4 AAA batteries, or by using the other – 3 AA batteries.  This promises super long durability of over 56 hours, no matter where you go.  The unit has a foldable metal handle, which makes it easy to store.  Enables you to turn the handles up to make it easy to carry or suspend on a branch when in need, working well for camping, hiking, fishing at night, etc.  The mini size of the lantern particularly helps you to store it effortlessly, without taking up too much room.

Comes in a 2-pack set, which makes these lanterns an excellent gift for any outdoorsman!

Here are some photos of the different modes:

White-Warm	Yellow-Warm	White

​Package Content:
• 2 x Camping Lantern
• 1 x User Manual

Lantern Details:
Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
ASIN: B06WRRM11X
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,270 in Sports & Outdoors
#201 in Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Camping & Hiking > Lights & Lanterns > Lanterns

#ad The @HAMSWAN_US HB-09 Camping Lanterns are amazing! Check out my review at
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About the Company:

HAMSWAN Network Technology is an innovative technology company established in 2014. We are headquartered in Shenzhen, a fast-growing high tech city. Our company has direct connections with many excellent suppliers, and we have gathered a large number of outstanding R&D talents to deliver the latest high tech products. In addition to this we offer top quality customer service for our customers who are located all over the world. Our products include certified iPhone accessories, smart wearables and other creative gadgets, which we market to many countries including America, UK, France, Germany, Spain and Japan. In the future we plan to include other international markets. Since the end of 2014 we have focused a significant effort on the research and development of gaming products such as PC gaming headsets, gaming mice and fan regulators. We have released a series of gaming headsets that have achieved outstanding success in global markets. We uphold the principles of Honesty, Team Work, and Innovation, and we join hands with our valued partners and employees to achieve even greater success in the future!

Connect With Hamswan – Learn About the Lantern:

Disclaimer: I, Jamie Tomkins, own and operate TigerStrypes Blog located at www.tigerstrypes.com. From time to time you’ll hear about my real life experiences with products and/or services from companies and individuals. Let it be known that I have no affiliation with these said companies, and have not received compensation for reviewing their service/product. The service/product was purchased by me with monetary means, points, or coupons. No portion of the product/service was given to me by the company or any agents of the company. The review that I give regarding the product/service is based off my own personal experience; I do not guarantee that your experience will be the same.

The post HAMSWAN HB-09 Portable Camping Lantern Review appeared first on TigerStrypes Blog.

Thank you Wayfair for partnering with me on this blog post!

A Night Around the Campfire with Wayfair!
#Sponsored / #Wayfair

I remember years ago when we lived in California, always loving when we would plan a trip to go on vacation and enjoy camping with our family.  The only thing was that the trip took forever and being a young kid, with a little brother, the “are we there yet’s” got a bit old!  Now that I’m living in the mountains of Arizona, it’s like we’re camping every single day!  Living in the Ponderosa pine forest, we always feel close to nature.  Having our great fire pit in the backyard, lets us enjoy a campfire whenever we wish.  Well, that is as long as there are no fire restrictions in force – we wouldn’t want to go against that.  Here’s one of our fires, doing a great job at keeping us warm:

Being able to enjoy the time outside, as a family is always fun.  We love sitting by the campfire, and roasting marshmallows to make some s’mores.  Even if we’re just sitting in the quiet peace of our mountains, enjoying the sounds of the crickets and the wind around our campfire, it’s always a great time.  We still love to go out and camp away from home once in awhile, when friends come to visit, or we want to be out riding the forest trails on our UTV.  The joy of the mountains, though, is that you can have that night around the campfire as often as you wish.

Here are my guys enjoying some time around the fire when we went camping at the lake:

I’m always looking to make the area we use even more welcoming, and better to entertain with.  Shopping at one of my favorite sites …. Wayfair …. makes it super easy.   The deals that they have, and their amazing customer service, makes you feel like a valued customer and able to decorate or furnish the area you wish to enjoy quickly and affordably.  Leave a comment below and tell me if you enjoy camping.  What are some things that your family enjoys doing together?  Is there something you found on Wayfair, that would help make that time even better?

Make your campfire fun with these great Wayfair products:

Cast Stone Wood Burning Fire Pit Having a fire pit is so much fun.  You can have a safe place to burn, and a great conversation area for you and your friends, and family!	Bon Fire Patio Pagoda Fireplace When you want to be able to take the fire with you, you can use the Pagoda Fireplace.  This is perfect for the fun times of driveway parties!	Stool by Aspire Having extra places for people to sit, or even to sit your drinks,etc. is always important.  This stool by Aspire fits our decor perfectly and would be a great size for the area.
Solar Light Welcome Bear Sign There’s nothing like making everyone feel welcome.  This cute little solar light welcome bear sign is adorable and will make everyone smile, and be able to see where they are going.	Laborde Aluminum Garden Bench This garden bench would be the perfect place to sit together and enjoy the beauty of the campfire.  A comfortable place to sit and relax is so important!	S’more to Love S’more Maker Who doesn‘t love a sweet treat while enjoying the campfire?  Now you can make them even easier!  This S’more to Love S’more Maker is perfect for when you just don’t want to deal with a stick!

Check out how @Wayfair can help you enjoy a night around the campfire! #family #fun
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About The Company:

Wayfair offers a zillion things home. With one of the world’s largest online selections of furniture, home furnishings, décor and goods, including more than seven million products from over 7,000 suppliers, Wayfair helps people find the perfect product at the right price. Our extensive selection and superior customer service coupled with the convenience of online shopping, make it easier than ever before to find exactly what you want for your home at a price you can afford. Our culture: Wayfair is a rapidly growing company with a variety of career opportunities.We offer employees exciting work in a fun, dynamic environment that encourages learning and growth.

Connect With Them This Campfire Season:

Disclaimer: I, Jamie Tomkins, own and operate TigerStrypes Blog located at www.tigerstrypes.com. From time to time you’ll hear about my real life experiences with products and/or services from companies and individuals. Let it be known that I do have an affiliation with the said company, but have not received compensation for reviewing their service/product. The review that I give regarding the product/service is based off my own personal experience; I do not guarantee that your experience will be the same.

The post A Night Around the Campfire With Wayfair! appeared first on TigerStrypes Blog.

Pepperoni Pinwheels #TastyTuesday

I wanted to start doing something about recipes here at TigerStrypes Blog. I see so many others having some great things on theirs, and figured it would be fun to share different ones here at TigerStrypes Blog. I love finding new ideas on Pinterest, or other social media and actually making something yummy for my family.  I always hear of families having Taco Tuesday or Meatloaf Monday, and sorry, that’s just not for me. There are a few recipes that I use that are saved in my special recipe file, and I’ll make those a little more often than others. I just want to offer my husband and our son different choices. I don’t want us to get bored with the same thing and the same flavors. Now don’t get me wrong, when things are on sale at the grocery store, I’ll be figuring out all different things to make with that. I’ve heard the “Oh Mom, Chicken Again?” drama line from DJ, but hey, if you don’t want to eat, then see ya!! Like the sign says in my kitchen…”You have 2 choices for dinner…Take it or Leave it!”. Pick one!

So with this “Recipes & More! – #TastyTuesday” weekly blog post, what I decided to start with is making something you see on a box mix, or a can, etc. How many times do you buy a cake mix or a bag of mix for cookies, and always see that recipe on the side, but never make it? I figured it would be fun to go through my pantry and use the ones I had and make something from what it shows. I saw that some of the mixes I had didn’t have a recipe on them, so for those, I’ll be heading to the manufacturer’s website to find one for the mix, if applicable, and sharing that. Be sure to share a favorite from your blog at the end, as well!!

This week’s recipe is for “Pepperoni Pinwheels“.  This is one using a tube of “Pizza Dough” from Pillsbury and a recipe that I found on their site.  It looked really easy to make, and I thought it would be fun to make for dinner one night!  Mine came out a bit different than the picture.  Not sure if I rolled it the wrong way, or needed (2) sheets of pizza dough.  Either way, it tasted good, just wasn’t as pretty as the photo on the site, but we’re all used to that type of thing, right?  Enjoy this yummy simple recipe, and I hope that you and your family like it!

“Pepperoni Pinwheels”
Using Pillsbury Pizza Crust

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What do you think? Does this look like something you would make, for your family? This recipe is so easy and great to take to a friends house for a potluck, or to enjoy at home.  It will taste yummy, and be really easy to make!   Hope you like it!

I would really appreciate it, if the wonderful readers of my blog would be sure and share this post, as well as use the InLinkz tool below to add your own recipe post. Let’s use this as a way to share our great ideas, and help build support for each others blogs!! Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day!

DISCLAIMER: TigerStrypes Blog (www.tigerstrypes.com) in no way provides any warranty, express or implied, towards the content of recipes on our website. It is the user’s responsibility to determine the value and/or quality of the recipes and/or instructions that are provided for preparation, and to determine the nutritional value, if any, as well as the safety of the prep instructions. Recipes presented are intended solely for entertainment and/or informational purposes, and for use by those having the appropriate technical skills, at their own discretion and risk. TigerStrypes Blog is not liable, nor responsible for: Adverse reactions to any food which is consumed (i.e. as food poisoning, any kind of food-borne disease), a misinterpreted recipe, domestic accidents (including, however not limited to: house fires, medical accidents, etc.). I make no guarantees of the outcome of your food preparation. Before testing out a new recipe, please read and re-read the complete recipe. Verify that you are not allergic or hypersensitive to any of the ingredients included. Use the correct amounts and necessary tools. These may change due to your location, diet restrictions, etc. Sometimes, the recipes that TigerStrypes Blog posts are created by others and we’re just trying them out. We will post where they can be found, so you’re able to try it yourself, your way. Every recipe that we do test, we will post about our own experience and not those of the recipe author. If you do decide to try this recipe for yourself, you do so at your own risk. Enjoy!

The post Recipes & More! “Pepperoni Pinwheels” – #TastyTuesday appeared first on TigerStrypes Blog.

S’Mores Brownies #TastyTuesday

I wanted to start doing something about recipes here at TigerStrypes Blog. I see so many others having some great things on theirs, and figured it would be fun to share different ones here at TigerStrypes Blog. I love finding new ideas on Pinterest, or other social media and actually making something yummy for my family.  I always hear of families having Taco Tuesday or Meatloaf Monday, and sorry, that’s just not for me. There are a few recipes that I use that are saved in my special recipe file, and I’ll make those a little more often than others. I just want to offer my husband and our son different choices. I don’t want us to get bored with the same thing and the same flavors. Now don’t get me wrong, when things are on sale at the grocery store, I’ll be figuring out all different things to make with that. I’ve heard the “Oh Mom, Chicken Again?” drama line from DJ, but hey, if you don’t want to eat, then see ya!! Like the sign says in my kitchen…”You have 2 choices for dinner…Take it or Leave it!”. Pick one!

So with this “Recipes & More! – #TastyTuesday” weekly blog post, what I decided to start with is making something you see on a box mix, or a can, etc. How many times do you buy a cake mix or a bag of mix for cookies, and always see that recipe on the side, but never make it? I figured it would be fun to go through my pantry and use the ones I had and make something from what it shows. I saw that some of the mixes I had didn’t have a recipe on them, so for those, I’ll be heading to the manufacturer’s website to find one for the mix, if applicable, and sharing that. Be sure to share a favorite from your blog at the end, as well!!

This week’s recipe is for “S’Mores Brownies“.  This is one using a box of “Ultimate Fudge Brownie” mix from Betty Crocker and a recipe that I found online that looked super simple to make, and like one that the family would love.  It was really easy to put together, and would be perfect to use for family/friend gettogethers or camping.  If you keep your eyes on the stove, there won’t be any burnt marshmallows!!  Enjoy this simple recipe, and I hope that you and your family like it!

“S’Mores Brownies”
Using Betty Crocker Ultimate Fudge Brownie Mix

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:11]

What do you think? Does this look like something you would make, for your family? This recipe is so easy and great to take to a friends house for a potluck, or to enjoy at home.  It will taste yummy, and be really easy to make!   Hope you like it!

I would really appreciate it, if the wonderful readers of my blog would be sure and share this post, as well as use the InLinkz tool below to add your own recipe post. Let’s use this as a way to share our great ideas, and help build support for each others blogs!! Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day!

DISCLAIMER: TigerStrypes Blog (www.tigerstrypes.com) in no way provides any warranty, express or implied, towards the content of recipes on our website. It is the user’s responsibility to determine the value and/or quality of the recipes and/or instructions that are provided for preparation, and to determine the nutritional value, if any, as well as the safety of the prep instructions. Recipes presented are intended solely for entertainment and/or informational purposes, and for use by those having the appropriate technical skills, at their own discretion and risk. TigerStrypes Blog is not liable, nor responsible for: Adverse reactions to any food which is consumed (i.e. as food poisoning, any kind of food-borne disease), a misinterpreted recipe, domestic accidents (including, however not limited to: house fires, medical accidents, etc.). I make no guarantees of the outcome of your food preparation. Before testing out a new recipe, please read and re-read the complete recipe. Verify that you are not allergic or hypersensitive to any of the ingredients included. Use the correct amounts and necessary tools. These may change due to your location, diet restrictions, etc. Sometimes, the recipes that TigerStrypes Blog posts are created by others and we’re just trying them out. We will post where they can be found, so you’re able to try it yourself, your way. Every recipe that we do test, we will post about our own experience and not those of the recipe author. If you do decide to try this recipe for yourself, you do so at your own risk. Enjoy!

The post Recipes & More! “S’Mores Brownies” – #TastyTuesday appeared first on TigerStrypes Blog.