Escape Your Tiny Home For a Grand Vacation

Take a break from tiny home living with VacationsFRBO.com

Summer is winding down, but there is still time for some last-minute getaways. And it won't be long until we are looking for a warm-weather winter vacation or ski holiday. With over 15,000 vacation rental properties, you will likely find great choices no matter where you want to go at VacationsFRBO.com         Never a booking or service fee!

                                                      Summer Heights, Virgin Islands

Caretaker Opportunities

Take a break from Tiny Home Living with the Caretaker Gazette.



THE CARETAKER GAZETTE is a unique newsletter containing property caretaking and house sitting jobs, advice, and information for property caretakers, housesitters, and landowners. Published since 1983, it's the only publication in the world dedicated to the property caretaking field.

Deep Discounts

Inflatable Lounger Sofa for Travelling
60% off with multiuse code: 3LKQMUKN
Reg price: $24.99 Discount price:$9.99
Click here

Electric Bug Zapper Fly Swatter
70% off with Code: IXW96AB2
Reg price: $19.99 /Discount price: $5.99
Click here

Electric Fly Swatter
70% off with Code: 7E9VRGVN
Reg price: $26.99 /Discount price: $7.99
Click here

Electronic Mosquito Killer Lamp
68% off with multiuse code: MC3RTMJL
Reg price: $24.99 /Discount price: $7.99
Click here

Keeping an RV Cool in the Summer South

Dear Miss Mermaid... Do you have any tips to keep the rv cooler and - or keep the air conditioner working as well ( read as cheap) as possible? Living in our 5th wheel in Alabama, after living in Northern Michigan is taking a toll on me. Our Electric bill is so high due to the air conditioning. I have 2 dogs and one is an older English Bulldog, Iz needs the rv kept as cool as I can afford as the heat is very hard on Bulldogs. If you did a blog post on keeping cool I would so love it. I don't know how you feel about sharing the expertise you have, but thank you for the blog as it is. I love it. Sandra 

Thank you for your comments and postings.  I am flattered you love my blog.  You make me bush blush blush.

Expertise?
Me?
GULP!

I hardly know what I am doing but it's a grand adventure for sure. Here are some of my tips that might help you and your fur babies chill out. Staying cool in an RV is never easy in the summer months especially in the south. Many RV's are not built to be eco-friendly. This puzzles me in this day and age, but it's the way the dominant manufacturers seem to do things. Keeping dogs cool means lots of fresh water to drink. Mine slobbers and drops fur from his mutt-stache in the water bowl. I change his water out often to encourage him to drink lots of it. Then there are doggy baths to help cool the creatures. Next is technology which for pets has soared over the years. Your bulldog might benefit from a cooling pad made for canines. Amazon sells a huge assortment.  It may take some training and encouragement. Some dogs are suspect over newfangled things while other readily take to it. Mine will do most anything if a toy or treat or cheese is involved.

OK, now to cooling that RV for everybody. First off is geography. If you can get to a higher elevation (mountains) and enjoy cooler weather, all the better. Some of the coolest places to camp in the south often come without modern techno amenities. Remote mountain camps that can't provide wifi or TV, though this seems to be changing as technology and cell towers are spreading far and wide. Still some companies don't want to serve low volume areas. Profits are paramount. So you may need to adjust your lifestyle to enjoy a cooler elevation. Camping under trees is a lot cooler than in unshaded areas. Sadly many RV parks are being built without consideration for landscaping and some resemble a cramped Walmart parking lot with no trees or grass at all. Don't commit to a long term stay at a place until you have reviewed it in person. No need getting stuck financially in a less than ideal park if it means you can't cool the RV to your liking. Keeping your awning out and open as much as possible will throw shade on the side of the RV and assist a great deal. If you fridge is on the awning side this helps the fridge cool better. Most RV's come with absorption refrigerators that run off propane or electric. Sadly the electric portion really draws a load of electricity. It's not near as efficient as typical home electric only fridges that are not the absorption type. So part of you high electric bill may be the gas/electric fridge. Then there is the RV itself. You can close up all the shades as much as possible. For me though, I need my natural light, so my shades are up when the sun is up. Personal tastes. I do know I could save on cooling if I closed the shades. I sometimes do that when I am gone if the pooch is with me. He loves his window views as much as I do, so if I am leaving him home alone, the shades are up for his patrolling. My motorhome did not have tinted windows, but my 5th wheel came with tinted windows. These do keep fabrics from fading and help somewhat with the heat. However it's easy to add some UV protection to help with cooling costs with static cling window treatments you can do yourself with water and a small squeegee or credit card. The key words are static or non-adhesive. I used some static cling to do a stained glass window in my motorhome's bathroom window. It was stunning. When I sold the motorhome, it had been on there 7+ years without failing. Check out these static non-adhesive window films that are made to repel the UV rays and help cool your rig.

Humidity. Pets and people put out humidity. A lot of humidity! So all of you being inside will raise the inside humidity faster than you realize. I looked into running a dehumidifier plus air conditioner but from what I learned, the dehumidifier makes the AC work harder. However, you can run a dehumidifier in the basement area, to help keep the humidity chased out of there.  You do need electricity access and the dehumidifier will need some room for it's fan to work. Luckily they come in all sizes. You will need to empty the water collection daily. They have an auto shut-off if the water is full. I use one in my storage shed, because I am in and out of there a lot cobbling together various projects. If you can make room for a fan in your RV, the effect is amazing. Fans come in all sizes. Test the fan before purchasing if at all possible. Many oversea manufacturers have redesigned fan blades that spin around but don't push any air. DUH. In my 5th wheel I use a unique bladeless super efficient portable fan. It's billed as  a pureFlow QT7- Bladeless 90 degree Oscillation Fan-Safe Energy Efficient-Powerful-Quiet Airflow-12 Fan Speeds by GreenTech Environmental. For me, it's done an outstanding job. I am able to keep my AC at much a higher temperature setting then turn on this oscillating fan that is powerful and quiet. It fits neatly in a corner where I mostly keep it yet blows out a powerful breeze circulating the air and giving the illusion that the room is much cooler than what the thermometer reads. It even comes with a tiny remote control. I use mine in the bedroom in a corner on a cabinet across from the bed, so the remote is super handy for adjusting it without getting out of bed. My dog sleeps next to it on the cabinet when I nap in the heat of the day, so it's canine approved.

If space is tight (like it was in my motorhome) I had good experience with 6 inch trucker fans for 12volt such as those made by Roadpro that work really well. Most come with a clamp or the option to mount it somewhere with screws. In my motorhome, I had two of these fans and enjoyed them.  I was using the 12 volt TV outlet to power mine, since my TV was using regular 110 plug.They put out a lot of wind for pennies.

One way to lower the humidity indoors is more time outdoors. What an oxymoron. My many years of living in the Caribbean where the trade winds were fairly constant might have turned me into a fan-oholic since moving to America where tradewinds are not prevalent. On my sailboat which I lived aboard for over a decade, I had emergency 12 volt fans. When I had to close up the boat for rain squalls, I would turn them on to keep cool until I could open the hatches again. While workamping and regular camping, I enjoyed a lot of time outdoors under my awning. I ended up using a fan outdoors. I fondly call it electric wind. As a bonus, if it's buggy, it chases off the mosquitoes.  I cover it in plastic when not in use or I put it away to help protect it from the elements. Supplmenting your AC with fans can keep your family cool without running the AC at full tilt boogie. The fan positioned to cool you or the dogs gives off the illusion of much cooler feeling. If your Ac unit has a choice of auto fan, then use that setting. My auto fan function on my AC unit means that the fan is adjusted by the temperature. When the compressor is off, the AC fan turns off but my portable fan is still running (aimed at me) so there is the illusion of being much cooler. You can close up the entire RV, pull down all the shades and cover all the skylights with special pillows or insulation. This is a bit extreme and can be very depressing. Humans need natural sunlight to promote emotional well being. So it is a trade-off. Skylight pillows type insulators can block the sun and heat especially if you are parked in full sun.

Another thing I try to remember is that when I am leaving the RV for a few hours, I turn up the Ac to a higher temperature setting. The RV is still plenty cool when I return. Normally when I am home, I am in and out of the RV many times a day, so I know I lose a lot of AC going in and out so much. The AC and keeping cool is a matter of personal preferences and choices. I find relying on fans to assist in the illusion of being much cooler to help the most and my power  bill has been somewhat reasonable. Thank you for stopping by today and thank you to all my gentle readers for your comments, suggestions and questions. 

Deep Discounts

Here's some fun stuff with discounted promotional codes from Amazon. Some products also come with an additional coupon you can check off when ordering. then enter your promotional code as shown below and watch the price fall to the discounted price plus enjoy the extra coupon.

Inflatable Lounger Sofa for Travelling
60% off with multiuse code: 8PKTF48L
Reg price: $24.99 Discount price:$9.99

Electronic Mosquito Killer Lamp
68% off with multiuse code: MC3RTMJL
Reg price: $24.99 /Discount price: $7.99


Electric Bug Zapper Fly Swatter 
50% off with Code: UUNKY9L2
Reg price: $13.98 /Discount price: $6.99


Meat Tenderizer, Dual-Sided, Meat Mallet, Meat Hammer
64% off with multiuse code: JFO7XQHY
Reg price: $16.58 /Discount price: $5.96

Toyota RV's

Welcome to ToyotaRVs.com!

Here you'll find Toyota Motorhome classifieds, a comprehensive Toyota RV Buyer's Guide, links to other helpful Toyota Motorhome related sites, where to find parts and accessories for your Toyota motor home, and much more!!  We're working hard to put together a great Toyota RVs site, with lots of useful information.

You can place a 90 Day Classified Ad to sell your Toyota Motorhome, peruse the classified listings for Toyota RVs for sale, or just browse around as we add tons of valuable tips and tricks.

Also of note:

The Toyota Mini Motorhome – A Quirky RV With A Strong Following 

ToyotaMotorhome.Org

THOSE MARVELOUS LITTLE TOYOTA MOTORHOMES is all about Toyota motorhomes in general and a 1977 Toyota Pont-X motorhome named Little House in particular. Between the mid-1970 and 1994, over thirty motorhome manufactures mounted motorhomes on Toyota cabs and chassis with many different models available from about 16½- to 23-foot in length. Many of these Toyota motorhomes are still on the road today, and used ones are still available. This book is a complete how-to guide for joining in on the Toyota motorhome fun. It gives a brief history of these marvelous little motorhomes and describes what’s available.
Read More...

Available at Amazon

Compact Handy Desk Lamp with Unique Extra Features

                                                             



Super cute desk lamp with extra functions.

Can run on USB or wall socket, both cords included.

Has 3 white lamp settings plus assorted color lights for mood lighting when not working.

Includes time, date, day and temperature.

Love that it has included pen and pencil holder. No matter how sophisticated technology becomes, we are never going to eliminate the need for good old fashioned pens, pencils and paper.

The USB charging port is handy for charging phone while working.

                                                                        



Dimmable Desk Lamp with USB Charging Port, Pen Holder & Alarm & Thermometer All-in-One LED Table Lamp for Reading, Study, Working By Uvistare                                                                         

Great Bargain Sponges That Work Hard

Heavy duty sponges that dry quickly.
Scrubber works nicely.
Great bargain.

It is not an eraser sponge or magic sponge with extra cleaning solvents.
I am not sure why they put that in the title, it should be removed from the title as it's a bit misleading.
For that I took off one star.

But as an all purpose sponge for cleaning up around the home, they are perfect and fit the hand easily as many sponges are too long and these are the perfect size. I use mine 30-50 times a day tidying up around the kitchen with a separate one for cleaning around the bath vanity daily.

I especially like their quick dry time, no time for bacteria to grow.  Just rinse and squeeze dry. They keep their shape with no bits and pieces falling off. Every other day or so I microwave mine fully soaked for 2 minutes on a plate, then let it cool, this will kill germs and keep the sponge fresh. As a bonus, the steamy microwave can be wiped down with a paper towel or microfiber cloth, giving it a steamed cleaning. Once the sponge cools down, squeeze dry and it's germ free and ready to work.

Good bang for the buck.                  

 Esonmus 20 Pack Multi-Use Heavy Duty Scrub Sponge Extra Thin Magic Cleaning Sponges Eraser Sponge For Kitchen Bathroom Furniture Leather Car & Steel…

Cute Handy Passport Cover

A fun whimsical passport cover.
I am a fan of red and found the little alien ship kind of funny.
I think the laowaime means constantly foreign.
Just in case, I like to keep a passport handy with some cash and a credit card.
This cover holds all that.
I spent years working on yachts, and a passport was our most valuable possession because it was a ticket to the next job, the next port.
Even sailing for fun with friends, I always take my passport, you never know if something could go wrong and we could accidentally drift into foreign waters under another jurisdiction.
On a funny note, awhile back I thought my motorhome was on fire in America.
Since I was used to decades of traveling overseas, I pulled off the road, grabbed my puppy,phone and passport then ran from the potential fire while calling the fire department.
The motorhome had sent off alarms and a puff of smoke.
It turned out not to be a full fledged fire, but the firemen were staring at me funny then I realized why.
I had no pockets and in my haste to keep my passport safe, I had stuffed it in my bra, but part of it was sticking out above my shirt and they could see it was an American passport.

Laowaime Red Passport Cover Travel Wallet Holder Chinese Character Laowai Foreigner      
                                                                   

Fun Dance Song with Great Lyrics

Rita Ora Lyrics
"Anywhere"

Time flies by when the night is young
Daylight shines on an undisclosed location, location
Bloodshot eyes looking for the sun
Paradise delivered and we call it a vacation, vacation

You're painting me a dream that I
Wanna belong in, wanna belong in

Over the hills and far away
A million miles from L.A
Just anywhere away with you
I know we've got to get away
Someplace where no one knows our name
We'll find the start to something new
Just take me anywhere, take me anywhere
Anywhere away with you
Just take me anywhere, take me anywhere
Anywhere away with you

Fun, little less fun
Little less, over, over, over, over, me
Oh, fun, little less fun
Little less, over, over, over, over, me

Truth comes out when we're blacking out
Looking for connection in a crowd of empty faces, empty faces
Your secrets are the only thing I'm craving now
The good, and the bad, let me in
'Cause I can take it, I can take it

You're painting me a dream that I
Wanna belong in, wanna belong in

Over the hills and far away
A million miles from L.A
Just anywhere away with you
I know we've got to get away
Someplace where no one knows our name
We'll find the start to something new
Just take me anywhere, take me anywhere
Anywhere away with you
Just take me anywhere, take me anywhere
Anywhere away with you

Fun, little less fun
Little less, over, over, over, over, me
Oh, fun, little less fun
Little less, over, over, over, over, me

Take me anywhere
Oh, anywhere
Anywhere away with you
Take me anywhere

Over the hills and far away
A million miles from L.A
Just anywhere away with you
I know we've got to get away
Someplace where no one knows our name
We'll find the start to something new
Just take me anywhere, take me anywhere
Anywhere away with you
Just take me anywhere, take me anywhere
Anywhere away with you

Fun, little less fun
Little less, over, over, over, over, me
Oh

Download song now.

Sturdy Metal For Solid Footing on Floor Vents

Bought this for a 1992 5th wheel RV that had odd sized duct work.
My rig came with flimsy plastic floor vents including two that were broken.
I don't fancy breaking a leg these days, so I wanted to replace my plastic vents with metal.
Finding the exact size I needed turned out to be rather time consuming, but Amazon came to the rescue.
These were the exact size I needed, well quite honestly the flange was smaller, but they fit the cut outs beautifully.
As a bonus these registers have the flip open and close vents.
Very handy!
When my heat is on, it naturally rises up to the bedroom on a higher level,  where I don't need extra heat.
Now I can close off the bedroom vent.
In summer, I can close off the floor vents, so my overhead AC doesn't waft down the duct work where I don't need it.

AP Products (13640) White 2-1/4" x 10" Floor Register                

See other sizes of metal floor vents.                                                         

Save Yourself Grief and Losses With these Money Checkers

                                                                  



Really works.
Tested this on money and on other papers.
I was selling a lot of used items for cash.
Being that forgers are notorious for shopping at odd places to pass off their fakes, I wanted to be able to test the money.
Years back I was stuck with counterfeit money. The bank's solution? They take it away, cancel your deposit and you lose out big time.
These markers have given me the confidence to sell used items, check the money and breathe a sigh of relief at the bank.
Just recently I attended a group yard sale where my friend was displaying her wares.
Later I found out she had been stuck with a counterfeit bill!
So this 5 pack came in super handy.
I immediately gifted her one of the pens, so she won't have this happen to her again.
During my sale, it was nice to have multiple pens so that my friend who was assisting could also check money.
For super safety, also use a black light to check money.

Money Marker (5 Counterfeit Pens) --- Counterfeit Bill Detector Pen with Upgraded Chisel Tip - Detect Fake Counterfit Bills, Universal False Currency Pen Detector Pack

Heat Wrap Failure

This worked beautifully, then it died!
I have tried repeatedly to get it going again, but it is just plain dead.
Sadly I had it less than 3 months.
It worked beautifully... until it stopped working.

I have changed it from 5 star to 1 star
Below is my original review:

Previous Review:
This is uniquely shaped.
I've never seem anything like this until now.
Felt toasty warm on my aches and pains.
Years ago I ripped out my shoulder in a boating accident.
I had one continuous bruise from my wrist to my elbow to my armpit, down my ribs and all the way to my ankle.
The nice doc said then that when you get older all these old injuries will come back with a vengeance.
I was laughing because I was young and anxious to get back out on the water.
Well, now it's years later... and I find out that doctor was right.
Using this pad when I need it has been wonderful.
I like that it will shut itself off. I was propped up in bed using it when I dozed right off.

I can not recommend this.
XL Heat Therapy Wrap with Fast-Heating, 25” x 26” Neck & Shoulder Heating Pad, Extended Back Heat Therapy, 6 Heating Sets, Auto Shut Off, Plum by Sunbag
Sunbag

There are many others to choose from that are better quality.

Great Love Song

Fabulous Song!
Here are the lyrics:

Starship – Sara Lyrics
Go now, don't look back, we've drawn the line
Move on, it's no good to go back in time

I'll never find another girl like you, for happy endings it takes two
We're fire and ice, the dream won't come true

Chorus:
Sara, Sara, storms are brewin' in your eyes
Sara, Sara, no time is a good time for goodbyes

Danger in the game when the stakes are high
Branded, my heart was branded while my senses stood by

I'll never find another girl like you, for happy endings it takes two
We're fire and ice, the dream won't come true

Sara, Sara, storms are brewin' in your eyes
Sara, Sara, no time is a good time, oh
Sara, Sara, storms are brewin' in your eyes
Sara, Sara, no time is a good time for goodbyes

(cause Sara) Loved me like no one has ever loved me before
(And Sara) Hurt me, no one could ever hurt me more
(And Sara) Sara, nobody loved me anymore

(Guitar solo)

I'll never find another girl like you
We're fire and ice, the dream won't come true

Sara, Sara, no time is a good time, oh

Sara, Sara, storms are brewin' in your eyes
Sara, Sara, no time is a good time for goodbyes

Sara, Sara, -- storms -- are brewin' in your eyes
Sara, Sara, no time is a good time, no
Ooh Sara, why did it, why did it, why did it all fall apart
Sara, Sara...
Songwriters: INA (EFH) WOLF, PETER WOLF

Sara (Remastered at BMG Recording Studios, New York, March 1993.)Starship

Fur Fun

Well Made and Fun For my Fur Baby                                                                        



My puppy dog loves these toys!
So far he hasn't destroyed any.
I have only given him a few to play with and I hold some back for later, for rotation.
He loves playing fetch but also enjoy keep away or hide and seek.
Also makes great gifts to have some spares for his doggy friends.

UEETEK Pack of 8 Squeaky Dog Toys Pet Plush Chew Toys for Puppies Small Dogs 

Dancing Dress

Super Soft Fabric, Fun to Layer it With Leggings, Capris, Sweater, Scarf or Outer Shirt

At first I was dismayed because the fabric is so thin.
I am a plus sized gal and it would look great on a hard body, which mine is not.
Also I often go braless and this dress reveals more than I care to show.
Even with a bra, it shows the bra lines so care should be taken in choosing a bra that doesn't have seams across the cups.
Like I say, if you have a hard body, this won't matter, but my body is well padded.
At first I thought, oh well, I will keep this as sleepwear since it's super comfy, very silky soft fabric.
But then one day I dressed it up to go out by taking a colorful tie dyed cotton weave button up shirt and simply tying the shirt at the waist and leaving the buttons opened. This meant the shirt covered my breasts and hid the see-through effect. I wore it with capri leggings. It looked super cute and my date (men never notice but this one did!) said I looked wonderful.
I loved the swingy skirt part because I love to dance when good music comes around. I dance at home often too!
Also because I was wearing my capri leggings with it, I could ride my bicycle which I love to go out riding, so that was a huge plus.
I like that I can shove the sleeves up or down to whatever length I prefer.
Another day it was cooler and I had on long leggings with a colorful print, this dress and I had a longish solid color knit sweater over it, but the swingy skirt area was still visible. I was wearing ankle boots with faux fur. Holy cow! I received so many compliments and like I said, I am a plus size lady in my 50's so I was shocked anyone bothered to notice.
I ride my bicycle even in cool weather, so I went out riding in my outfit. I stopped to visit a friend and they said WOW, you sure are trendy these days.
Oh my gosh, I received so many compliments with this dress when I pair it with other items.
So forget about it being a sleep dress, I am wearing it with other items and WOW, I love it now.
I've washed it several times and even had it in the dryer with no problems.
However be careful washing it with zippered items, make sure the zippers are UP, so they don't snag the dress. Wash bras in their own wash bag so the hooks don't snag things. Or in my case since my washer is small, I just wash it with other similar items and it comes out fine.

Great pricing and free shipping!
LILBETTER Women's Long Sleeve Pocket Casual Loose T-Shirt Dress  

Bluetooth Waterproof Stereo Speaker

iGOKU Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Wireless Speaker with Built-in Mic for Hands-Free Call, Outdoor Waterproof Speaker with Micro SD Card Slot for Sports, Shower, Pool, Beach (Black)   

Fabulous crisp sound.
Awesome bargain.
I really like that is it waterproof, it will last a lot longer in the hot humid south.
For me, I just load up an SD card and have tunes where ever, when ever.
It's rechargeable.
For camping, it's a load of fun!
I use this on my patio at home, at work and in the bathroom while getting ready to go somewhere.
Easy to toss in your purse and have a party in your pocket!

Great pricing, free shipping, click here. 


    

Hair Extension

 Fabulous Quality!

Gorgeous real hair.
Top quality.
Nice curl and bounce.
No smell.
Arrived odorless.
Will post pics soon!

Check price and free shipping!

 YOUFA Body Wave Bundles Weave Hair 100% Unprocessed Virgin Brazilian Human Hair 3 Bundles 14 16 18 inch 8A Remy hair Extensions Natural Color                                                                       

Round Retro Sunglasses

These are trendy and fun.

The fit is comfortable right out of the case.
I like having the case and microfiber cleaning cloth included.
There is no use owning any sunglasses without having a case to store them in.
Not having to buy a separate case is handy dandy.

Cool and Trendy

Check prices and free shipping:
Round Vintage Fashion Sunglasses, Metal Frame Gradient Glasses    

Good Poop Paper

Delivered to my door!
We all gotta poop and pooping with quality toilet paper is pure luxury.
Saves on mess.
Underwear lasts longer.
Nice fat rolls.
Too much glue at the beginning to start the roll, but eventually I win the battle and get the roll rolling along.
Good stuff.
Every outhouse should have this.

Scott 1000 Sheets Per Roll Toilet Paper, 27 Rolls, Sewer-Safe, Septic-Safe, 1-Ply Bath Tissue, America's Longest Lasting Roll