Blog POP! One Log Fire For Backyard Smores + More Giveaway 8/25

****I received the below product sample in order to facilitate my review. No further compensation was provided. All photos contained within are property of Momma Told Me Blog 2013.

Momma Told Me: Smores are for camping.

I won't lie; growing up I never had a 'smores experience.' My family went camping, once, as part of a (Girl Scouts) troop activity and Momma was over it before the sun even went down. We packed up long before the campfire was tended and Kum Ba Ya began. Ever since that fateful day, some 22 years back now, I've longingly swooned at the sight of roasted marshmallows in reality TV shows and iconic movies (yes, even the tainted mallows used in Hangover II). It's not so much about the chocolate and graham crackers; you can get those in just about any type of sweet (pop tarts, ice cream, cereal, candy bars), really. It's more about the symbol of unity one associates with sitting around a campfire telling jokes and stories while scraping the lightly charred layer of fluff off their skewers. It's about bonding and making memories.

Living here in Southern California, just minutes from the beach, one would think I'd have a plethora of opportunities to create my own 'Smores moment,' but the perfect storm of circumstances has eluded me all these years. The beaches have strict fire pit and bonfire regulations, as the houses just feet away are truly million dollar homes; and living in a condo does not provide much freedom in the way of outdoor leisure. I was watching yet another stereotypical family gathered around flames, enrobed in blankets, and building Smores on TV when I decided to find a solution. I would scour the internet until I found the perfect, low cost, contained, answer to a raging fire outdoors. I came across the usual fire pits, and even some disposable grills, but all were high maintenance or quite costly upfront. Then, by pure luck, I stumbled across a camping solution from Minnesota; handcrafted single burn logs known as One Log Fire.

Now I'm literally ignorant when it comes to roasting mallows, or managing a contained fire, but the myriad of suggested uses for this single log fire was impressive enough to convince me to give it a shot. Starting at $13 a piece, these individual logs burn from the inside out and have an easy, food safe, fire starter that will not taint the flavor of roasted foods. Measuring 8" tall, by about 6.5", these single logs are outfitted with an easy carry rope handle and are impressively lightweight. With approximately 2 hours of burn time, and a pre-drilled side mounted vent hole, fire lovers can enjoy a roaring flame in just about 5 minutes from light to fan. I'll admit, I was a bit confused as to where the instructions were, at first, until we discovered that they were on the back of the label, which also covered up the ventilation hole. As it turns out, the label is suggested to be used as a fan to lift the sparks and help rise the initial flames. It's important to note some settling may have occurred in shipping and the fire-starter should be situated upright and central prior to lighting to ensure an even and upright burn.

While we had a mini extinguisher and a bucket of water on hand at all times; it is best to use One Log Fire in an open, non residential area. Familiarize yourself with your city's fire ordinances, and be sure to clear your burn space of all clutter and flammable objects. We used our glass patio table as a sturdy base, and kept the bucket of water at the same level of reach during the burn process. While the fire-starter is getting going the log will also put off a considerable amount of smoke (just like a fire pit), so be sure to sit up-wind to avoid inhalation. In all, our log burned near an hour and half before the side began to split from the heat and the flamed began to peek out the side vent hole. Flame height reached about 8" at it's peak, and even with moderate wind, was safe enough for me to trust the 10 year old roasting.

One Log Fire logs are the perfect camping aide, or even a must have emergency kit staple. They are great for a sunset dinner on the deck, camping by the lake, or giving as a gift. We spent a good 45 minutes after making our smores just gathered around watching the dancing flame and enjoying the warmth. Sabrina (10) kept calling it a giant 'candle log,' which, I suppose, is a good way to put it. Considering how simple One Log Fire is to use, and how easy it is to transport and store, I can't see why anyone wouldn't keep a few of these on hand, no matter where you live!

What Daughter Says: Enjoy the freedom of a roaring fire without the hassle of pits and camping, thanks to One Log Fire.

One Momma Told Me reader will win a 2 pack of One Log Fire logs and some Smores supplies!
Hop along and enter the other Blog POP! School Rules giveaways on the linky found here.