By Gabrielle Enfield, August 31, 2023
One of the many joys of living in the Pacific Northwest is the access to outdoor recreation and incredible camping in just about any direction. Working Magic loves camping! Forest bathing, friends, campfires (sometimes – be sure to check for fire safety), memory making.
Like many busy folks, getting equipment, food and plans together can be complicated for us, so we thought we’d share some of our favorite camping hacks to make things as easy as possible to get out there.
INCREASE COOLER SPACE & MAKE DINNER EASIER
After a long day of swimming, hiking or laying about the campsite, putting together ingredients to cook in the outdoors can feel like an incredible chore. One of the ways our Client Joy Coordinator, Moira, gets around this is to make and freeze food at home. She recommends doubling batches of soups, stews, chilis and anything you can heat on a stovetop. Add food to a plastic freezer bag and freeze the food flat. When you add these frozen pre-made meals to your cooler, they act as both easy dinners and ice to keep other things cold. Reheating food means you can be eating dinner around the fire in ten minutes or less, and provides lots more time for s’mores.
USE A SHOE ORGANIZER FOR YOUR CAMPING KITCHEN
Hang a shoe organizer from a tree or your camping shade, and fill the pockets with your needed kitchen items – cooking utensils, napkins, utensils, spices, and assorted food prep supplies. You stay organized and keep your kitchen clean. Here’s a great example you can get in a hurry.
USE DORITOS AS KINDLING
If you’re having trouble locating appropriate kindling to light a fire, look no further than your snack bag for Doritos as quick kindling. Apparently, all the delicious starch, oil, and flavorings make ideal conditions for a fire. Corn chips work as well in a pinch!
CARRY BREAKFAST IN A BOTTLE
While there’s nothing better than a delicious breakfast in the outdoors, carrying eggs or throwing together pancake batter can be a hassle in the woods. One way to solve this problem is to plan ahead. Scrambled eggs are much easier to carry when they’re pre-scrambled into a water bottle, no worries about those shells cracking and making a mess. When you’re ready, remove the cap and pour a portion of the eggs into a hot skillet and cook them off. Make sure to carry the bottle in the cooler. If you’re more of a pancake lover, try making the pancake batter at home and then putting the batter into a squeeze bottle. Again, simply squeeze the batter out into a hot pan to cook off the pancakes. You save space, avoid cracked eggs, and have an easy clean-up. Voila!
MAKE A HEADLAMP LANTERN USING WATER JUGS
Two things we always recommend you bring camping are headlamps and water jugs! But did you know that these two things together can create an easy, glowing camping lantern? If you find yourself flintless, out of gas, or in need of an additional light, using the head strap of your head lamp to secure the light against the plastic of a gallon water jug gives you an instant glowing lamp with easy light. Also a great nightlight for the kiddos if they get nervous about no-see-ums.
We hope these tips will help you have an easy and enjoyable camping experience! Off we go for a long weekend – stay tuned to hear about Gab’s adventures in Dosewallips, in the Olympics. More soon!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Til then, high fives! Have fun out there,
Working Magic Group
Article written by Moira Reilly, Client Joy Magician
Gabrielle Enfield
Broker | OR
She/Her
Real estate can be a wild ride. It's important you find your wingperson.
At Working Magic Group, we understand the important decision of choosing an agent partner for buying or selling in Portland. It's a relationship for the long haul. The team's goal is to apply myriad experiences, both personally and professionally, to help guide client partners through a thoughtful, strategic, seamless and fun journey. Founded by top broker Gabrielle Enfield, Working Magic's goal is to bust down the stereotypes of who Realtors are and how they serve. We are full service brokers, in it for the long haul, and believe in the relationship imperative. We operate from a place of trust with people at the center. Without that, we can’t do our work. Need an understanding of where to start, when it comes to getting ready to sell? We'll put backgrounds in project management to work and let you know what needs to happen, complete with spreadsheets, if you're into it. We've got the magicians on speed dial to show up and get it done so you can hit the easy button. We treat each listing as a brand we're launching and create emotional and sensory experiences that stand out. Custom playlists, anyone? We've been told our open houses are the best in town. Looking to purchase a vacation property and need it to generate rental income? Expect sharp pencils to make sure the numbers make sense. We can even help with the interior design and advise how to set it up to make top dollar. Ready to downsize? We'll be with you on this important chapter and gently guide you to what stays and what goes. First-timer who needs a steady hand to help guide you through the real estate process? Mama Bear's got you covered, and we'll be sure to point out what you need to look for or stay away from. Moving to PDX and need a proxy to get to know Rose City? Gab's a Pac NW native, and even with all its growth and change, this place still gives her butterflies. Plus, her background in video production makes those remote FaceTime home tours a breeze. About Gabrielle Enfield, Founder, Working Magic at Living Room Realty: I grew up in Woodland, Washington, and live in the wooded hills of Bridlemile, where I'm raising my family. #boymom. Today I am the #1 agent at my brokerage - which is Portland's #1 real estate office - and consistently rank in the top 1% of more than 8,400 brokers in the Portland metro. I love what I do and it shows. Before real estate, my career spans two decades of expertise I'm fortunate enough to apply every day. These experiences range from being a TV news anchor (visual storyteller) to helping develop some of the world's beloved brands like Xbox and Dave's Killer Bread (strategy and engagement). I also helped launch Paul Allen's MoPop to a global stage; it combined two of my life loves: music + architecture. I was on the forefront of integrated media, crisis communications, digital productions and managed events and massive teams that delivered headline-making news. I was practically born to sell Real Estate: my Dad is a retired custom home designer and builder, my Uncle is an architect and my Grandpa was a Realtor and developer. I am an active listener, have a keen eye for "good bones", and solving my clients' real estate needs in a creative and often unexpected way brings me joy. In my spare time, I am raising my kiddos to be confident weirdos, championing my spouse Per who is an IP attorney at Nike, hitting the thrift store circuit as often as I can, and volunteering my time as a Broker Advisor at Living Room. In 2023 I launched Hi Buddy Hospitality Group, a burgeoning hostel and restaurant in NE Portland. I also am a member of Project Color Corps Portland Chapter, a national non-profit that collaborates with people to add color to their essential community spaces, creating beauty, belonging, and joy. Please give a call – I'd love to see what it would be like to partner with you. For a look inside my everyday life, be sure to follow along on Instagram. Let's Work Magic together. High fives!
- T: 503-388-2788
- gabrielle@livingroomre.com
