Geocaching Friday - Staying Hydrated while Hunting for the Cache

You don’t have to be an athlete to be proactive about staying hydrated. Average adults should have at least a couple of liters of water each day, if not more according to the Mayo Clinic. This is especially important if you are a geocacher! That is because geocaching involves being outside in all sorts of weather.

Benefits of Getting Enough Water

Drinking enough water has so many benefits, and not just for staying hydrated. Here are some of the ways that water keeps your body healthy whether you are driving across town to find GPS coordinates or hiking through the woods to find an especially elusive cache container.

Body Function – The water you drink speeds up your metabolism. While drinks like soda pop, tea, and juice have water added, it is not as nutritious as drinking plain, refreshing water. Our bodies require water for proper digestion, blood circulation, and keeping the inside of our mouth hydrated for saliva production.

Feel Better – Did you know that drinking enough water can help prevent migraines and sinus problems? That’s what Netherlands-based University of Maastricht has found! Drinking enough water keeps everything functioning properly, which results in overall feeling better with regards to your physical well-being.

Eat Less – An apple a day might not keep the doctor away, but drinking enough water every day will help keep those extra calories at bay. Hunger is a symptom of dehydration. But drinking more helps you avoid those junk food cravings that pile empty carbs on your hips and tummy. And speaking of apples, this fruit is filled with natural water. Try eating an apple with a big glass of water between meals to stave off snack habits.

More Energy – Fatigue is another sign of dehydration. When you stay hydrated and can function properly, and do not have all those extra calories, then the result is more energy. More energy means increasing the chance of finding more geocache locations in a single outing! Who wouldn’t want to do that – especially if there’s a popular event going on, like a flash mob.

Drink Healthy to Stay Healthy

Now you know why you should drink water, but what is the best water for you to drink? Reports of contaminated tap water that causes gastrointestinal problems are becoming increasingly common. But buying bottled water just heaps tons of plastic trash in landfills - unless you plan to recycle water bottles into neat arts and crafts projects. The best drinking water is purified through a filter, and poured into a reusable bottle like the one shown below.

Unlike sports drinks which are only beneficial during extremely intensive activity, and juices or soda pop which are just containers of liquid sugar, water is the best choice for staying healthy and hydrated. But what about when you want to add some flavor? That is another way the bottle shown above comes in handy.

How or Cold, Flavored or Unflavored, One-Handed Operation

The bottle above has a built-in filter combined with vacuum insulation. If you want hot tea or cider for a wintertime geocaching event or iced green tea or chilled lemon water for a sweltering summer day of geocaching, this bottle will do the job. Its top locks up as securely as a Lock & Lock container and the push-button operation allows you a free hand to hold your GPS.

Don’t go out on another geocache without this Thermos 16-Ounce Leak Proof Drink Bottle with Tea Infuser, Black. When you consider how many times you can use it without having to buy individual bottles of water, the price makes up for itself in savings several times over. Click the picture of the bottle to order yours from Amazon today! And if you're a Prime member, enjoy free shipping as well!

Tastefully Tuesday - Wheat Germ, Not Just a Food Booster

According to Dr. Oz, “Wheat germ is the most vitamin and mineral rich part of the wheat kernel.” The embryo of the wheat plant, this tiny particle provides the entire plant with all the nourishment it needs.

It takes about 50 pounds of wheat to get just a pound of wheat germ. However as wheat is refined into flour, the germ is removed to prevent the flour from going rancid as quickly. (Could this be why it now takes bread so much longer to mold than it did just a decade ago?)

Benefits of Wheat Germ

That’s why going with a whole-wheat diet doesn’t provide you with the health benefits that you’d think. Wheat germ is so much more beneficial! Here are some of the things it has that are good for you:

• B vitamins – important for brain and heart health
• Fiber – balances sugars, controls cholesterol, and detoxes the intestines
• Omega 3s – healthy fats that naturally lower cholesterol, inflammation, and anxiety
• Minerals – necessary to repair the body after an accident or illness

Wheat Germ at Any Time of Day

Adding wheat germ to your food is easy. At breakfast add it to pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, or a protein shake. During lunch try some wheat germ in a salad of lentils and bay leaves, a dish of pasta with basil pesto, or some baked parmesan chicken fingers and sweet potato fries.

Snack on fruit muffins, key lime pie, or pumpkin cookies with an extra helping of wheat germ. And for dinner try adding wheat germ to homemade pizza, spinach frittata, or vegetarian chili (as well as the accompanying buttermilk cornbread).

Wheat Germ – Not Just for Food Recipes

Everything that goes on your skin or scalp soaks into your hair. Here are some alternate uses for wheat germ that have nothing to do with human consumption.

Hair Treatment – Mix up 2 eggs, 1 avocado, and 2 tablespoons of wheat germ oil. Process the egg until it’s almost frothy enough for meringue before adding the other two ingredients. Apply to your scalp and work outward. Cover hair with a plastic cap and don’t touch it for 30 minutes. Finally rinse out using cool water and a mild shampoo. Also safe for dogs!

Sunscreen – The sun is a great source of vitamin D but too much will have you at risk for skin cancers. Mix together 1 ounce each of beeswax (for waterproofing), raspberry seed oil (SPF 30-50), Shea butter (protects skin and has an SPF of 6-10), carrot seed oil (SPF 30), and wheat germ oil (SPF 20 and also super nourishing for skin). Heat in a double boiler until everything melts together. Cool and then add 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil, 1/3 ounce of zinc oxide powder, and 30 drops of essential oils. Pour until an empty push-up deodorant container and you have roll-on sunscreen that isn’t filled with cancer-causing chemicals.

Dog Treats – Who wants to feed their dog products they wouldn’t eat themselves? Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix together 1 cup of flour, 1/4 cup of wheat germ, 1/4 cup of brewer’s yeast, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 1/2 tablespoons of coconut oil, and 1/2 cup of fresh chicken or beef stock. Roll out dough to about 1/2” thickness and cut cookies with a bone-shaped (or any other shaped!) cookie cutter. Bake for 20 minutes and turn off oven, leaving biscuits to stand in oven to dry, for about 2 hours. Store treats in an airtight container at room temperature.

The Best Way to Mix Ingredients

I used to stand at my kitchen counter with a hand mixer, trying to count off two minutes in my head. Because who can hear the microwave timer over the noisy mixer, right? Or worse I’d use the microwave timer but then have to stir by hand, taking time to switch arms when one grew tired.

But then I got the Hamilton Beach mixer, pictured above. It has 12 speeds, is quiet, and best of all my recipes turn out better when they are mixed according to the instructions. At half the price of a KitchenAid or Cuisinart, the money spent was a true investment, not only in kitchen appliances but also in my family’s health.

Click the picture of the mixer above to check it out at Amazon, where 74 people’s reviews give it an average of 4 out of 5 stars. As one happy purchaser shared, “This thing is amazing. The mixer looks and performs like a pro!” And I for one am inclined to agree.

Don’t wait for time to holiday cooking to make the choice to upgrade your mixer – order yours now!

Tastefully Tuesday - Chilling Out During the Dog Days of Summer

It's really hot outside in most areas of the United States. If your dog spends any time at all outside, keep in mind that he wears a fur coat year round and that his body temperature's inner core will soar long before yours. And never, ever leave your dog in a hot car - even for a short amount of time!

That being said, when it's hot outside you long for a cold treat. Well so does your dog! Unfortunately the ice cream treats sold for dogs in the grocery store can get expensive. Here's a more economical, not to mention healthier frozen treat to help even the most panting pooch enjoy the dog days of summer.

The treat is ice, but not just a run of the mill ice cube. This ice is flavored with things like chicken stock and apple slices, and might just have a surprise inside that will keep your dog amused the whole hot summer afternoon. The most difficult part of this for us, besides waiting for the water to freeze, was figuring out how to float ingredients in the water. Fortunately we found an easy method that we are sharing with you here.

How to Fill a Large Container in 3 Easy Steps

Some of the ingredients float. Some of them sink. If you are wondering how to fill a large container so the ingredients are spread out, here is the method I use.

1. Fill container 1/3 filled with water and ingredients that float and freeze.
2. Add ingredients that both sink and float. Fill 1/3 of the way with water and freeze again.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients and fill with water, leaving room at the top for the water to expand as it freezes into ice.

Here are some of my favorite recipes for making your own summertime dog treats. My dogs love them, and I'm sure your dogs will love them, too!

- Frozen Fruit Water - Use clean drinking water, apples, and bananas. Then fill container using the 3-step method.

- K9 Frozen Beef Stew - Beef broth, chunks of potato or sweet potato, green beans, and carrots. Then fill container using the 3-step method.

- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Blast - Freeze the bottom third of the container with plain water and freeze. Spread a generous portion of creamy peanut butter on the ice before filling the middle third with chicken broth and freezing again. Finally spread plain, cooked (non-instant) oatmeal on the frozen chicken broth before filling with clean water and freezing again.

Be sure to let things like broth and oatmeal cool enough so that they won't melt the frozen sections of your dog's new favorite summertime treat. You can also fill using broth or water and your dog's favorite pepperoni or bacon style treats. Just make sure you clear any homemade recipes with your vet before allowing your dog to enjoy them.

No Bones About It - Your Dog Will Love This!

We quickly learned that plastic food storage tubs are not ideal for freezer use. Over time they tend to crack and break apart. And they can leak BPAs into your dog's frozen water treats if the plastic is not graded for use with food products. A better option is silicone, like this particular item.



In addition to its trendy bone shape, the pan is as safe for freezer use as it is for oven use. And with the generous size, it is enough to keep your dog busy for hours, even on the hottest of summer days. Or you could make several and invite your dog's favorite neighborhood friends over to join in the summertime fun.

Click the picture of the pan above to go straight to Amazon. And as an added bonus, Prime members will receive complimentary 2-day shipping on this item. Don't make your dog wait any longer than necessary to indulge in this fun way to enjoy summer. Click on over to Amazon and order the pan, and you can have treats in time for the weekend!

Geocaching Friday - Confessions of a Geocache Fail

My name is Becky, and I failed at geocaching.

The reason for the fail was not failing to locate the cache itself. That part I did perfectly fine. And boy was I ever excited to see a trackable coin!

For those who are unfamiliar with or new to geocaching, trackable coins are just what they sound like - coins with a special code that, when entered at the appropriate website, allow the owner of the coin to track its whereabouts. It's pretty fun for both parties!

Let the Woes Begin!

Sadly just after I found the coin, I began to have car trouble. I've been in my house for the past 5 weeks. The worst part is this coin that hangs from the key holder by the front door, taunting me.

Adding insult to injury are memories of all the forum posts at www.geocaching.com from disgruntled owners of coins that were picked up never to be seen or heard from again.

And to make matters worse, this trackable has a really awesome story and a request not to hold it for more than 15 days. I have had this coin for going on 15 weeks. OUCH!

Reaching Out with an Apology

Finally I decided that enough misery was enough misery, and it was time to take responsibility for my fail. I decided to man up and email the owner of the trackable.

I told them all my car woes, not to mention that my beloved dog died during the same time frame) and tried to assure them that I am not the type of geocacher who gets into the hobby and then flakes out, coin in hand.

If they respond then I'll post in a future episode of Geocaching Friday. I don't blame them if they don't, though.

Sticking My Trackable Swag on the Line

In the meantime I think it only fair that I plan to put my own trackable swag on the line. After perusing all that Amazon had to offer, I've decided to go with dog tags.

These tags come 4 to a pack which makes them quite the deal from an economic standpoint. And as many as 85% of the reviews give this item a 5-star rating, which was a big factor in my decision.


If you're a geocacher, then you know the value of great swag. And if you're new to geocaching, why not start out by dropping a trackable or two?

Clicking the picture takes you over to the Amazon site where you can order your own trackable swag. The quicker you place an order, the quicker you can track the whereabouts of your tags!

And if you have geocaching adventures - fails or successes - to share then I'd love to hear about it in the comments section. Until next Friday - happy geocaching everyone!

Tastefully Tuesday - Supporting Paula Deen

In the last week or so it was revealed that Paula Deen said something offensive nearly three decades ago. Having only been around for about four decades myself, I can't imagine being judged to the level that people are hating on this woman!

So instead of getting on my soapbox and blathering on and on about my opinions and feelings, today's Tastefully Tuesday is a list of some of my favorite Paula Deen recipes that are perfect for your family's 4th of July celebration.

THE LADY AND SON’S SMOKED BOSTON BUTT ROAST

SWEET POTATO CHIPS

GRILLED CORN ON THE COB

LEMON BERRY TRIFLE

Have a safe and happy July 4th!

Becky