Wandawega Blog Archive

What you carry around with you in your bag says about you:Good Housekeeping has a quiz you can take. Mine reported that Im a Hopeless Hoarder. It stings, cause its true. *link at bottom to take the quiz.So to embrace this, Ive just added one more thing to my bag. (And to our glove box, catch-all-drawers, and the inside liner of my coat where everything slips through that damn pocket liner hole). Its a new product, inspired by what the neighbors have been growing.LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Mint crops are a staple of Wisconsins agriculture Industry. We just discovered that 30 minutes from camp is one of the largest mint farmers in the country, suppliers for all things that contain peppermint. (So the only logical next step was to make a locally inspired product). And if youve ever met us, you know that we are suckers for old package design and fell in love with these simple industrial style old-school tins (introduced back in the 40s, and used for everything from salves to hair creme, saddle soap to rolling papers, bullets to yes – lip balm.) So there you have it. Ours just hit our camp store this morning and contain peppermint flavored natural beeswax lip balm. DETAILS Balm is made in the USA Made with white bees wax pearls, sunflower oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, vitamin E, aloe vera, soybean oil, peppermint flavoring Weighing in at a tiny 12 gramsTake the quiz to find out if youre organized, chaos, or a hoarder like me:https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/fashion/g2830/what-the-inside-of-your-purse-says-about-you/

November 5, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

If youre like us and also looking for a mental escape…This is for families who are looking to get into a different headspace during these crazy times of uncertainty. Honored to be a chapter in this new book: Family Adventures. Exploring the World with Children by @austinsailsbury via @gestalten The cover quote pretty much sums it up: Adventure provides an ideal context for personal growth. It involves being disconnected from day-to-day life, trying something new, and being with people you care about. – Steve Dubbledam, Founder of Wilderness Collective. The book follows the stories of everyday families living across the world from from Italy to Africa, Denmark to India…each exploring with their kids in tow. It makes us miss the days when we could jump on a plane with Charlie…but at the same time so grateful to be in a place that we never want to leave. Congratulations to our dear friend @austinsailsbury (who wrote this from Copenhagen where he moved with his family from America).Photography by our talented powerhouse women and friends @JuliaStotz, @janegoodrichphotography & @thayerandco. (With a cameo of @donnalukascp & her girls )EXCERPT:”We get to meet folks from all over who are getting away from the pressures of everyday life,” David says, “and we get caught up in all that positive energy, we get to see these people at their best – when they’re reconnecting with each other and with nature, making new friends, and just plain letting their guard down.” Each summer, the couple shares the property with non-profit organizations who put on camps for kids, young artists, musicians, and local church groups, endeavors Tereasa calls “the most emotionally fulfilling money-losers ever.” Now, more than ever here at camp, we are looking for anything that is emotionally fulfilling- and giving back in a small effort to bring unity and community is what we want – and need- to lean in on. Especially now

November 4, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Hallows Eve, Camp style. Cohosted by Little Dead Riding Hood @ahutchgram & a park Ranger with a dark secret @bhwoodworks . A few BTS pics from @williammgolden and @melhog of the best Little Edie @nicolemarietoalson, woodland creatures @lori_seidemann @struggle_inc @bird_and_george

November 2, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

We FALLAll the canoe trips, hot boozy drinks, campfires and music. So we made our fav spiced (and spiked) apple cider for Halloween last night.A few bts shots for a fav fall camp feature story with friends @nathanmichael + @jolinerivera. We were asked to come up with a few simple & fast fall crafts. The easiest one was the hot toddy drink sleeves: we hit up the thrift stores for vintage wool sweaters. Wash hot and over dry to shrink up. Just cut off the cuffs for cup koozies, then upcycle the sleeves for instant leg warmers & then whip stitch the sweater body as a pillow cover. Fall crafts make us happy.But studies show that you are up to 37% happier when you combine crafting with spiking your hot cider with cinnamon schnapps. And add friends. Happy fall, friends!!

November 1, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Its here! We partnered up with our talented friend, @beardfoundation chef @mindysegal of @mindysbakery (Mindys Hot Chocolate Chicago) to create a custom Camp Blend Hot Chocolate mix. Mindy Segal has been a long time friend, so we are super excited to get to partner up with her on this for fall.It comes in a gift box set with two bagged enamel camp mugs (your choice red or green). And as all our packages arrive, stuffed with a little camp swag While supplies last. Sold Exclusively at Mindy’s Bakery (in bag packaging) and at wandawegacampstore.com in gift box sets).* all profits for this inaugural launch batch will go to benefit @thankfulforchicago ABOUT; Thankful for Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Sales to benefit The Peoples Free Food ProgramThis group made it their mission to feed Chicago when CPS stopped serving food. Out of the necessity to create community, nourish bellies and uplift spirits, The Peoples Free Food Program launched within hours to help. They fed thousands of people in their first week and have continued to grow the program. CPS has since reinstated their food program, but this group has continued to feed the people who need it through this effort. They intend to keep The Peoples Free Food Program going for as long as possible to serve the Chicago community with hot food, groceries, community, and support.To learn more about how to support this cause visit thankfulforchicago.orgThank you @nathanmichael for our portrait shot & campfire cooking.#mindysbakery #mindyshotchocolate #mindysegal

October 31, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

What should we do with this little guy?A: RANGER STATION (for firewood, charcoal, kindling, campfire, grilling supplies)B: WHISKEY CABIN (a mobile booze cart)C: COFFEE SCOUT (a little coffee service trailer)D: TOURIST SHACK (a tiny rolling souvenir shop)E: SHORT STRAW(an overflow guest room for over served friends)Welcoming our newest addition to the Camp family, A 1940s teardrop trailer. Originating from California, this company constructed them from WWII plane skins after the war. And used surplus Jeep wheels. It was used for a (small) family, and was outfitted complete with a kitchen in the back.We just bought + bartered for it from our friends at @outcold_official (every once in a while, they thin their fleet of cool old rigs and just put this little guy up on the block).So weve decided to ask y’all what you would want to see the most here, and then make it into whatever folks would like to use the most.Here’s our first brainstorm- any other ideas??This is one of our many winter projects, that well be introducing in the spring.shots here:first one, for now, he’s just sitting here in the camp parking lot, waiting to learn what his future holds. Shots 2-10 are shots of the history of the humble teardrop trailer movement, first made popular in the 40s.

October 30, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

We are pulling out the sweaters for this weekends (socially distanced) hay rack ride with the new camp tractor. Were setting up the bonfire for smores, the movie screen for Hocus Pocus, hitting up the pumpkin patch to erect a carving stations and crafts bar. And my mother in law has promised to help me make a vat of chili.Since the kids cant go traditional house to house trick or treating this year, we are setting up candy collecting stations at 15 different cabins tents, tipis, a frames and airstreams for Charlies quaranteam friends to do their own mini-version.This is my favorite season.If youre looking for me, I can be found masked up at the spiked cider and hot chocolate bar. Photos (last 9) by @bjornwallander for @countrylivingmag – one of my favorite camp shoots with one of my fav magazines

October 29, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

One of our favorite dinners at camp with Chicago chef Duncan @dbiddulph After a long day of casting practice, trout cleaning, hatchet throwing, skeet shooting lessons, archery tutorials and wood chopping classes we all hunkered down under a tent In the rain, exhausted. @maxwastler gave us lessons in bourbon while Duncan and his team brought out each dish -sharing the story behind how they sourced every ingredient. Its funny how an incredible meal can make you remember a day so vividly. Weve been a fan of Duncans craft since he was at Lula, Kinmont, Rootstock and the Winchester. Hes cooked for us at camp for the @shinola retreat here, the wandawega pop up Rod & Gun Club we did at Kinmont and our sportsmans weekend here. Most recently weve been loving his pasta at @tortello_pastificio (near our Chicago home). Been thinking alot about our favorite chefs and dinners lately – revisiting the most loved collaborations, partnerships and pop ups (and now weve got some ideas cooking for the 2021 season).#staytuned Photos by Daniel Davis Last shot of Duncan from @timeoutchicago @dbiddulph

October 28, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Treehouse dinner parties.We had a little couples dinner last weekendwith 2 of our fav humans. It was the first time I’ve used my stockpile of thrifted and flea-d antique pewter, transferware & stoneware for one of my favorite fall weekends — when we shot a camp feature shoot.Pulling these plates out made me miss dinner parties. And flea markets. And dinner parties with flea finds in the treehouse. So were trying to squeeze in as much as we can (while these colors are still perfect).The days are getting shorter, catch them while you can, friends! @NathanMichael@Finney-finney@JolineRivera for @sweetpaulmagazine

October 27, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt