Geocaching Friday - 5 Dog Walking Tips for Geocachers

Today's geocaching article is about sharing your adventure with your dog. In addition to the dog walking tips below, you'll want to have a way to prevent your dog from getting lost and picked up by animal control. That would be a horrible way to end your day!

Geocaching is a type of scavenger hunt that lets you search for treasure. The treasure might be as ordinary as a marble or a plastic army man, or it might be something coveted like a trackable geocache coin. And sometimes it's just the satisfaction of finding the cache and signing the log note that is the best prize of all, depending on the degree of difficulty and the challenge of finding it.

This is an activity that is perfect for everybody, whether you are single or married with several children. Some geocachers team up and go out searching together. And it's the perfect free vacation activity because there are geocache sites all over the world!

But if you are a pet owner, then you are really in luck. Geocaching takes place outdoors, which means your dog is welcome to join in the adventure. You might even meet up with other geocaching dog owners and seek cache sites as a group with your pets in tow.

Geocaching Dog Walking Tips for a Fun Adventure

However the last thing you want to do is offend someone by using bad pet etiquette or end the day stapling lost dog posters to utility poles. Here are some quick tips to help you and your dog have a safe, fun geocaching adventure.

1. KNOW YOUR LIMITS - If your dog is not people friendly and pulls on a short leash, then urban geocaching is probably not for you. If you plan to geocache in a park or a wooded area where squirrels are likely present, is your dog going to take off after them?

2. USE A LEASH - Even if there is no leash law, some geocache sites are tricky and involve caving, climbing trees, or wading through water. You'll want to have your dog nearby, especially if he is the only friend you have with you during your adventure, in case something goes wrong.

3. VISIT THE VET - You'll want to know that your dog is not only up to date on vaccinations (like a rabies shot) but also that she is in good physical health to make the hike. Make sure you explain geocaching to your vet so she knows this is a little more than a typical hike on a trail.

4. TAKE WATER - Ideally you want to have enough for both you and your dog. Dehydration happens quicker than you'd think, and the last thing you want to do is adventure your way into the nearest animal hospital for a parched puppy.

5. SCOOP THAT POOP - You don't want to step in doggy doo-doo while out on a geocaching adventure, and neither does anyone else. Be a responsible pet owner and carry biodegradable poop bags that you can safely dispose of in the nearest trash bin.

The Best Collar to Prevent Lost Dogs

The above dog walking tips are a good start, but what happens if your dog bolts during your geocaching adventure? This is where the dog walking tips get tricky. If your dog has a tattoo or microchip to identify it, then aside from randomly searching your primary goal is to pray someone finds your dog and contacts you.


However because you are already using GPS technology for geocaching anyway, you might consider investing in a GPS dog collar like the one above. Unlike other GPS collars, it combines a highly sensitive GPS receiver with an antenna that connect to a waterproof transmitter.

The battery life on this collar is 17 to 48 hours, depending on how often you have to update your dog's location. That gives you a great head start on finding your dog before he is picked up by animal control or meets some terrible fate like darting into traffic on a busy highway.

While I hope you never have to experience the fear of not knowing where your dog is, this collar can help save you time and stress in reuniting with him if he decides to take off on an adventure of his own. Just click the picture above to order one for your dog now!

Tastefully Tuesday - Best Use for Juicer Pulp? 5 Ideas for You to Try Out!

What's the best use for juicer pulp? You know, that stuff leftover after you make delicious, nutritious drinks with your juicing machine? Tossing it out unused is like opening up your fridge or pantry and throwing out perfectly good foods. It's just a waste of money to throw out juicer pulp!

If you throw juicer pulp away, then it's not only like throwing away money, but it's also like throwing away vitamins and nutrients that could be keeping your physical health in tip top shape! It's no secret that your body absorbs vitamins and nutrients from food sources better than it ever could a pill created in a laboratory.

Don't Toss that Pulp!

Before you toss out your juicer pulp, take a look at these creative ideas for ways you can use it to enhance the things your family already eats. You might be surprised at how well received they are by your family.

1. SOUP STOCK - The next time you boil chicken or beef for soup stock, add the pulp from carrots, squash, spinach, and other ingredients from making your own version of V8-inspired juices. The vegetables will give the stock a richer flavor, and add a punch of healthy nutrients your body needs to survive.
2. MEATLESS MEATBALLS - That's right! You can take your veggie pulp and mix it with yeast and flax to make vegetarian meatballs. There's a great Spaghetti and Veggie Balls recipe at the weight loss blog called Reboot with Joe.
3. BREADS - Find your favorite recipe for carrot cake, zucchini bread, or pumpkin muffins. Then replace the vegetable the recipe calls for with juicer pulp. Depending on the vegetables you use for juicing, the things you bake will taste a little different each time.
4. SMOOTHIES - Instead of adding a handful of baby spinach to your next smoothie, add a cup of juicer pulp. You'll get a wider range of nutritional benefits without worrying about whether or not the spinach molded while hiding in the bottom of the crisper in your refrigerator.
5. PET FOOD - Mix some juicer pulp (using only pet-safe ingredients!) with white rice and boiled, shredded chicken breast. Then blend 1 cup of this mixture for every 2 cups of your dog's dry food. They will love you for it, and because you are giving them a healthier meal you are potentially giving them an extra lease on life.

The Best Machine to Use for Juicer Pulp

We like the Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus 850-Watt Juice Extractor, and here's why. First of all the price is very affordable. Secondly, the compact machine does the work of a large, restaurant-quality unit. And third, you can't go wrong with 600+ positive reviews on Amazon. Here's what just a few other people are saying, but you can click the picture above to read all the reviews.

I've had this juicer for 5 years - one word... Quality. Proceed with ease of mind, you will not regret this choice.

This is the best juicer ever! Easy to use and it is so easy to disassemble and clean. It is everything and more than I expected from the previous reviews!

What I liked about this juicer is how easily it cleans up. For me this was very important. Most juicers are a real pain in the rear to clean. This one we were able to clean in less than 5 minutes. That is taking it apart cleaning it, and puting back together. It also gets every drop of juice out leavings very little waste.

Don't waste time with other juicers that splash a mess onto your counter and give you pulp that drips with juice that could be going into your drink. This is the best machine to use for juicer pulp while making delicious, tasty drinks. Click the picture above to order yours now!

Tastefully Tuesday - 3 Non-Dessert Foods to Prepare in Metal Baking Pans

Out of all my metal baking pans, the oblong one is my favorite. It’s so versatile! I use it for everything from enchiladas to Rice Krispy Treats. It cleans well, and the edges are just slightly darker showing a lifetime of delicious meals that I managed to not burn. (Because oven cooking is good, and the stovetop hates me.)

Baking Doesn’t Mean Dessert

When most people think of the oblong-shaped baking pan, they think of cakes or brownies. But my oblong baking pan has brought many delicious entrees to our family’s dinner table, and not one of them had to do with baking desserts! Here are some of our favorites:

1. Shake & Flake Chicken – Heat your oven to 400F degrees. Dip tenders of chicken breasts into a small bowl containing a mixture of 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of buttermilk or heavy cream. Then dip them in a bigger bowl that has 2 cups of crushed, plain cornflakes, a dash of pepper, 1/2 a teaspoon of paprika, and 1/2 a teaspoon of garlic. You may have to press down to get the seasoned flakes to stick to the chicken. Lay them in a baking pan and let them cook about 35 minutes, or until the outside is to a golden crisp and the inside is done.
   
   
2. Breakfast Enchiladas – This bakes up just like regular enchiladas, with slightly different ingredients. Fill your tortilla wraps with sausage, scrambled egg, green and red peppers, onions, mushrooms, and anything else you like. Fold the tortilla around the ingredients and lay in your metal baking pan. Continue until you have a row of tortillas! Instead of enchilada sauce, pour country gravy over the tortillas and liberally sprinkle cheddar cheese over the entire dish. Bake at 250F until cheese is bubbly and contents are warm, and then enjoy!
   
   
3. Chinese New Year Spareribs – You don’t have to wait for any New Year to enjoy this dish. Cut apart 2 pounds of spare ribs and put them in a gallon-sized plastic bag. Add 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of pure, local honey, 1 tablespoon of white wine, 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, an entire clove of garlic diced into fine pieces, and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Marinate overnight. The next day, preheat oven to 350F, empty contents into oblong pan, and bake for about 45 minutes. Turn heat back to 300F and heat for about 20 minutes longer. When meat begins to shrink, the ribs are ready to eat.

The Perfect Spatula for Metal Baking Pans

When my husband and I were first married, we were given a spatula from a popular pizza restaurant in the town where I grew up. It had a sturdy metal base and a durable wood handle, and was just perfect for use with metal baking pans! A few weeks ago while surfing Amazon, I finally found a similar replica.

As you can see it is the perfect size! And it does not only work with square-cut pizza, but also with brownies, cake, or lasagna. Click the picture to order your own today, and you’ll be wondering how you ever served up food without it!