I wasn’t going to write another Dare to Prepare post this September. However, as I write this, I’m watching news coverage of Hurricane Harvey as it advances towards the Texas coast. We live on the Texas Gulf Coast and, though we’re not in Harvey’s direct line of fire, we will receive significant rainfall (and likely floods) from this … [Read more...] about Dare to Prepare: Finding Supplies Before a Storm When Store Shelves are Bare
health and safety
Dare to Prepare: What You Really Need in a First Aid Kit
It is National Preparedness Month again, so individuals all across the country are taking steps to get their homes and communities ready for potential disasters. As I’ve done for the last several years, I’ll be joining in by taking a straightforward look at a disaster preparedness topic. First aid kits are an essential component of … [Read more...] about Dare to Prepare: What You Really Need in a First Aid Kit
6 Ways to Cultivate Silence
As we saw last week, there are numerous benefits to carving out periods of silence in our daily lives. Given most of us are busy and are surrounded by technologies that make noise, this isn’t easy to do. Let’s consider some simple ways to cultivate silence. We’re never going to experience complete silence, of course. There will always … [Read more...] about 6 Ways to Cultivate Silence
Why We Need Silence
After putting my girls to bed a couple of nights ago, my husband and I sat in companionable silence as I folded clothes and he reorganized some old computer equipment. I thought about turning on some music, but I realized I was enjoying the silence. There were no children’s voices asking for snack, no towers of wooden blocks crashing … [Read more...] about Why We Need Silence
30 Resources for a Safe and Fun Summer
When I was growing up, summer meant going on family vacations, playing outdoors for several hours each day, and eating frozen treats. It also meant lots of bumps and bruises, fights with my sister, and an occasional sunburn. With today being the “unofficial start to summer,” I thought it would be nice to look at some resources that will … [Read more...] about 30 Resources for a Safe and Fun Summer
7 Reasons to Choose Raised Beds for Your Garden
There are numerous approaches you can use when growing fruits and vegetables. We use raised garden beds in our yard, and we’ve found this to be a wonderful approach. There is not necessarily one best way to garden; what’s best will depend on your specific situation. However, if you are thinking about starting a garden in your yard, then … [Read more...] about 7 Reasons to Choose Raised Beds for Your Garden
10 Really Cheap Foods that Are Also Really Nutritious
Keeping the grocery bill low is a challenge. It seems like this is especially true when I’m trying to purchase nutritious foods for my family. However, the reality is that healthy foods aren’t always expensive. By purchasing several unprocessed or minimally processed foods and cooking with them at home, we can save a lot of money and feed … [Read more...] about 10 Really Cheap Foods that Are Also Really Nutritious
The Surprising Environmental Impact of Clothing
Last year I read a couple of eye-opening articles about how clothing impacts the environment. The impact of the manufacturing of clothing, our use of clothes, and how we discard unwanted items is pretty shocking! We’re causing significant harm to the environment with items as seemingly innocuous as t-shirts. What do I mean by this? Each … [Read more...] about The Surprising Environmental Impact of Clothing
