I am re-blogging this post and hope you enjoy. I like what she says about failure – how even porcupines can fall from trees.  It’s helpful for me to feel connected to the natural world when I make mistakes. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/202004/wisdom-and-life-lessons-humble-jellyfish                   Professional Website:  http://www.BethLevineCounseling.com…I am re-blogging this post and hope you enjoy. I like what she says about failure – how even porcupines can fall from trees.  It’s helpful for me to feel connected to the natural world when I make mistakes. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/202004/wisdom-and-life-lessons-humble-jellyfish                   Professional Website:  http://www.BethLevineCounseling.comWW…

The Swiss army knife is one of the most well-known and iconic multi-purpose tools and is often regarded as the go-to item for any survival crisis or camping trip. Many people consider the Swiss army knife to be the perfect on-the-go multi-tool since it has everything you need in a compact and portable package. The issue is, that while most Swiss army knives appear to be the same, not all of them are. It’s critical to get a Swiss army knife that is both sturdy and efficient, with the correct tools and design, so that it can be used when needed. Whatever you need a Swiss army knife for, make...…The Swiss army knife is one of the most well-known and iconic multi-purpose tools and is often regarded as the go-to item for any survival crisis or camping trip. Many people consider the Swiss army knife to be the perfect on-the-go multi-tool since it has everything you need in a compact and portable package. The issue is, that while most Swiss army knives appear to be the same, not all of them are. It’s critical to get a Swiss army knife that is both sturdy and efficient, with the correct tools and design, so that it can be used when needed. Whatever you need a Swiss army knife for, make...WW…

Do you ever look at your home in the winter and notice your family all cozy and warm and then you get all sorts of questions pop into your head? What if the electricity went out? How long could we keep ourselves warm? “How can I prepare for a power loss in the winter (cold weather)?” my inquisitive mind couldn’t help but wonder. We got a killer ice storm this past year, and if we didn’t have our winter power outage gear prepared, things would have been a lot worse than they were. Here is what you need to prepare for a power failure in the wintertime, even if you’re not expecting a severe...…Do you ever look at your home in the winter and notice your family all cozy and warm and then you get all sorts of questions pop into your head? What if the electricity went out? How long could we keep ourselves warm? “How can I prepare for a power loss in the winter (cold weather)?” my inquisitive mind couldn’t help but wonder. We got a killer ice storm this past year, and if we didn’t have our winter power outage gear prepared, things would have been a lot worse than they were. Here is what you need to prepare for a power failure in the wintertime, even if you’re not expecting a severe...WW…

If you’re looking into durable saws that can help you in survival situations, you’re in the right place. I’ll tell you all about the different types of saw options available on the market today and you can figure out the best option for you. Getting into an emergency situation without a survival knife or a saw of some kind of not a good thing. It’s always a top priority of mine to add some type of saw to any emergency kit that I am making for my family. Some survival kits have a pocket knife that has something that resembles a survival saw, but that is not the same thing as a proper...…If you’re looking into durable saws that can help you in survival situations, you’re in the right place. I’ll tell you all about the different types of saw options available on the market today and you can figure out the best option for you. Getting into an emergency situation without a survival knife or a saw of some kind of not a good thing. It’s always a top priority of mine to add some type of saw to any emergency kit that I am making for my family. Some survival kits have a pocket knife that has something that resembles a survival saw, but that is not the same thing as a proper...WW…

If you’re ever in a situation where you need to take a shower but you’re nowhere near home, or running water, then an off grid shower may be just the thing you need. Off-grid life does not have to be unhealthy. Showering is a must from time to time, and showering in a DIY outdoor shower with a hot shower is a great joy. A simple vinyl shower bag hung from a tree, a bucket shower, or a luxury stone and mortar sanctuary are all examples of off-grid outdoor showers.  There are some requirements for an outdoor shower. In a typical home, these things are standard and anticipated. These...…If you’re ever in a situation where you need to take a shower but you’re nowhere near home, or running water, then an off grid shower may be just the thing you need. Off-grid life does not have to be unhealthy. Showering is a must from time to time, and showering in a DIY outdoor shower with a hot shower is a great joy. A simple vinyl shower bag hung from a tree, a bucket shower, or a luxury stone and mortar sanctuary are all examples of off-grid outdoor showers.  There are some requirements for an outdoor shower. In a typical home, these things are standard and anticipated. These...WW…

Skip to contentI’ve been trying to brain storm up some easy plant-based meals lately, and this week’s creation was these Creamy Coconut Curried Lentils with Spinach, which are kind of like the creamy cousin of my Curried Chickpeas with Spinach. I swapped out the canned chickpeas for quick cooking lentils, and instead of a tomato-based curry sauce, I went with a super rich creamy coconut sauce, that pairs oh so well with the earthy lentils and heady curry spices.As you can see in the photos, I paired these Creamy Coconut Curried Lentils with my Curry Roasted Carrots and some naan. The...…Skip to contentI’ve been trying to brain storm up some easy plant-based meals lately, and this week’s creation was these Creamy Coconut Curried Lentils with Spinach, which are kind of like the creamy cousin of my Curried Chickpeas with Spinach. I swapped out the canned chickpeas for quick cooking lentils, and instead of a tomato-based curry sauce, I went with a super rich creamy coconut sauce, that pairs oh so well with the earthy lentils and heady curry spices.As you can see in the photos, I paired these Creamy Coconut Curried Lentils with my Curry Roasted Carrots and some naan. The...WW…

Skip to contentIf you’ve been appalled at stories produced today that are aimed at kids and teens, you know there’s a wide range of books, movies and tv programs and finding the good ones can be challenging. Leaving our reading choices to algorithms is a bad idea, whether it’s the kids in our lives or ourselves. It takes some effort to do the research to make sure that what your kids are getting aligns with your beliefs. Let me help you. These titles are handpicked with an eye toward good writing, absence of profanity, good storylines and morality depicted favorably.My...…Skip to contentIf you’ve been appalled at stories produced today that are aimed at kids and teens, you know there’s a wide range of books, movies and tv programs and finding the good ones can be challenging. Leaving our reading choices to algorithms is a bad idea, whether it’s the kids in our lives or ourselves. It takes some effort to do the research to make sure that what your kids are getting aligns with your beliefs. Let me help you. These titles are handpicked with an eye toward good writing, absence of profanity, good storylines and morality depicted favorably.My...WW…

Skip to contentAlgorithms can work against us when someone is pulling the strings behind the curtain. I think our reading lives— or better said, the use of our time— is too important to leave to algorithms. One way to fight this is to be intentional about the use of our time, do the research and only read what is beneficial. Another option is to make the algorithms work for you. My top pick for a resource to use algorithms to find personalized book recommendations is The StoryGraph and the most important factor is to tailor your input to get the best results.  Besides...…Skip to contentAlgorithms can work against us when someone is pulling the strings behind the curtain. I think our reading lives— or better said, the use of our time— is too important to leave to algorithms. One way to fight this is to be intentional about the use of our time, do the research and only read what is beneficial. Another option is to make the algorithms work for you. My top pick for a resource to use algorithms to find personalized book recommendations is The StoryGraph and the most important factor is to tailor your input to get the best results.  Besides...WW…

Skip to contentWhether you’re looking for a compelling series of audio books for your commute, a quick pick to take on vacation or a recommendation for a male reader in your life, this list compiles the best fiction for men.  What do these stories have in common?  Male protagonists facing overwhelming odds, strong heroes in the face of danger and compelling story lines.My top picks for best fiction for men are Beneath a Scarlet Sky, The Kremlin Conspiracy and Peace Like a River.Note: Book cover pictures are Amazon affiliate links. Clicking through to purchase will generate...…Skip to contentWhether you’re looking for a compelling series of audio books for your commute, a quick pick to take on vacation or a recommendation for a male reader in your life, this list compiles the best fiction for men.  What do these stories have in common?  Male protagonists facing overwhelming odds, strong heroes in the face of danger and compelling story lines.My top picks for best fiction for men are Beneath a Scarlet Sky, The Kremlin Conspiracy and Peace Like a River.Note: Book cover pictures are Amazon affiliate links. Clicking through to purchase will generate...WW…

My dog, Dali, is a steady presence to all my different ways of being. If I’m sad, Dali is licking my tears. If I’m angry, Dali follows me from room-to-room. If I’m anxious, Dali sits patiently as I pace. If I’m depressed and lay down, Dali lays down with me. She is confident and courageous and calm and if she could talk, I imagine she would say, “It doesn’t matter how you are.  I am here.  I’m not going anywhere.  You can count on me.” I’ve learned from Dali what it means to be present to all my different parts.  Through this experience, I’m better able to do that for...…My dog, Dali, is a steady presence to all my different ways of being. If I’m sad, Dali is licking my tears. If I’m angry, Dali follows me from room-to-room. If I’m anxious, Dali sits patiently as I pace. If I’m depressed and lay down, Dali lays down with me. She is confident and courageous and calm and if she could talk, I imagine she would say, “It doesn’t matter how you are.  I am here.  I’m not going anywhere.  You can count on me.” I’ve learned from Dali what it means to be present to all my different parts.  Through this experience, I’m better able to do that for...WW…