Balancing Corporate & Homesteading Lifestyles
Coffee Anyone?
Do you like coffee? We do, it's a daily morning ritual in our house.
There is a lot that goes into coffee, more than most realize ... good coffee is an art ...
The history of coffee begins in the 15th century when coffee beans were first exported out of Ethiopia to Yemen by Somali merchants. Monasteries in Yemen employed coffee to help with concentration during prayers, then spread throughout Europe.
Many legends state a much earlier date for coffee's beginning ... but no matter the date, it's become a staple for many in our current day.
The Benefits of Coffee
- Boosts energy levels
- It May be linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes
- Could support brain health
- May promote weight management
- Linked to a lower risk of depression
- Could protect against liver conditions
- Supports heart health
- Could increase longevity
- May enhance athletic performance
(Source: Heathline)
Characteristics of Coffee by Region:
- Central America: traditional coffee taste, frequently with hints of a chocolatey, nutty flavor
- East African or Arabian coffee: undertones of fruit and a lighter taste than coffee from other regions
- Asian coffee: more bitter with an earthy rich flavor
- Indonesian coffee: has an earthy flavor, along with a hint of spice
- Colombian coffee: not overly sweet, with light, floral undertones
Roasts:
- Light Roast: The lighter the roast, the easier it is to access the sweetness and tartness of the coffee
- Medium Roast: Tends to preserve flavors the best during brewing so if you're trying to preserve a coffee's unique flavor, opt for a medium roast
- Dark Roast: Tends to diminish the flavor a little so you still get some of the coffee's original flavor, but you may end up with a bittersweet aftertaste
Going back in time, Maxwell House and Folgers dominated the market and were common tv commercials. I still remember them clearly! Still popular for those that drink coffee to drink coffee, I am sure that you won't see these in the homes of those who truly appreciate the taste of a good cup of coffee. (And no offense to anyone who enjoys these brands, but there are better.)
This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Love coffee and dogs? Then check this coffee out ...
If you are a coffee lover AND love dogs ... then you want to check out Grounds & Hounds!
20% of all profits generated by Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. are used to fund innovative and impactful rescue programs throughout the country.
They strive to support the hard-working organizations and volunteers who fight for our friends day in and day out, and promise to deliver an amazing cup of coffee along the way!
All Grounds & Hounds coffee is 100% Arabica, specialty grade coffee. After sourcing from the top growing regions around the world (Peru, Colombia, Sumatra, Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua), the coffees are small batch roasted to create the perfect beans for the perfect brew.
We hope every coffee sipping, rescue-loving, pet parent gives this coffee a try and joins us in changing the world one cup and one pup at a time!
Pet Insurance: Is It Right For You
Lets face it, being a pet parent means your daily life is full of little surprises, sometimes good and other times not so much.
Pet Vet Statistics:
- Americans spent $31.4 billion on vet care and pet products in 2020.
- Dental disease is the most expensive health cost for canine owners.
- Average vet visits for dogs cost $242, and for cats, the cost is $178.
Source: PetKeen
Our Story:
We know this first hand. Less than a year ago our dog developed a tumor on her foot ... $2500 later and one toe less she is well ... BUT she now has dental disease and is scheduled for surgery next month ... estimate is between $1200 and $2000. Five years ago, I couldn't have afforded these bills ... as a pet parent, not being able to afford care health care for our loving companions is devastating. People are faced with this issue every day and it's heartbreaking.
Five Reasons:
Here are five reasons you might benefit from pet insurance:
- Dogs and cats get sick
- Dogs and cats get injured
- Vet bills can be huge and come at unexpected times
- It’s the responsible thing to do!
- Savings account vs. pet insurance
When you think about it, we have health insurance, car insurance, and homeowners insurance to protect us financially against the unexpected.
This blog receives a commission (at no extra cost to you) for products shared with you in our posts.
These are our fur babies. They are family and their companionship brings much joy, happiness, humor and occasional frustration to our lives. When all is well .. well, all is well ... but when it's not ... it can be expensive and heartbreaking when you have little or no resources to provide unexpected care for your dog or cat.
Petfirst (through MetLife) Insurance Plans offer robust annual benefit amount options, chronic care coverage, and no lifetime or per-incident limits for pets of all ages. You can customize your deductible and reimbursement rates so they work best for your pet's needs and your budget. Get a quote and customize a plan that is just right for you and your pet.
Is Your Dog A Food Waste Warrior
Did you know?
In the US (not including other countries) over 63 million tons of food gets tossed out every year! Even worse ... this food waste accounts for 8% of greenhouse gas emissions!
So .... what if I told you that you can buy healthy treats for your dog AND make a positive impact on the planet. Shameless Pets is not only a nutrition-driven pet product company, but also environmentally-conscious.
Upcycling Ingredients
Upcycling ingredients is an eco friendlly solution that doesn’t sacrifice taste or quality using misfit and surplus produce.
Misfit ingredients meet all grocery standards, but can’t be sold because they don’t meet cosmetic standards.
Note: This blog receives a commission for using Shameless Pets products that we shared with you in our post. Although we receive a commission (at no extra cost to you) for using and linking their products, we love the products and all our opinions and suggestions are unbiased.
When you see ingredients like sweet potatoes, blueberry, beet, carrots, pumpkin, or bananas, in your Shameless Pets treats, just think of a wonky (misfit) looking (but still delicious) version of those ingredients, and that’s exactly what’s going into our treats.
Just as tasty, but a little weird looking. Surplus ingredients are the parts of perfectly good food that is leftover after production. Like the bits of butternut that don’t get spiralized when making zoodles, or the pulp leftover from squeezing juice. In Shameless Pets treats, you can find surplus ingredients like apple pomace, butternut squash, egg shells, salmon skins, sunflower seed meal, all of which are great for your hound.
Our hounds LOVE these treats and are proud to be Food Waste Warriors making a positive impact on our environment.
If you are interested in learning more about healthy alternatives for your hounds then check our previous posts: Understanding the fat to protein ratio in dog food.
6 Healthy Foods High in Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential contribution to our body. It contributes to healthy bones and muscles, prevents many diseases, such as cardiovascular ones and certain cancers, and benefits the kidney, as well as the immune system. Its deficiency can cause serious health consequences. Although this vitamin is produced naturally by the skin under sun exposure, it can also be drawn from certain foods.
1. Cod liver oil: the best source of vitamin D
Despite its unpleasant taste, cod liver oil is renowned for its quality and nutritional value. It can be ingested as a capsule or you can find canned cod liver in some supermarkets. It is a fatty acid that supports the cardiovascular system and stimulates memory. It should be noted that 10 cl of cod liver oil is equivalent to 250 g of vitamin D, and the daily requirement for vitamin D for a person from 1 to 70 years is 15 g.
2. Fatty fish: salmon, trout...
These fish provide valuable vitamin D intake without the need to consume much. Indeed, eating fatty fish once a week would suffice to take advantage of all the benefits that these foods provide for your cardiovascular health. It is recommended to bake or grill them. It should be noted that 100 g of salmon contains between 6 and 23 g of vitamin D, and 100 g of baked trout contains 11 g of vitamin D.
3. Animal livers
For those who do not like fish, the liver is a very good alternative, since it is the natural storage place for vitamin D. Veal liver is more advised, as it is tender and more flavorful and because a serving of 100 g already guarantees 2.5 g of vitamin D.
4. The egg yolk
It is a great food rich in vitamin D. 100 g of raw egg yolk provides 2 to 3.2 g of vitamin D. It is better to consume, on average, 4 eggs per week, as only one would not be enough to fulfill the required amount.
5. Milk and dairy products
Cow's milk strengthens the bones and teeth, while dairy products, consumed whole, that is, with fat, are a source of vitamin D. Despite their low intake, regular consumption is very effective. 250 ml of cow's milk, containing 0 to 3.25% fat, yields 3 g of vitamin D.
6. Enriched soy beverages
Enriched with water and protein, a 250 ml glass of any soy beverage contains 2.125 g of vitamin D. It should be noted, however, that a natural soy beverage does not contain vitamin D.
In any case, nothing is simpler than a 10-to-15-minute daily sun exposure, because the diet only partly compensates for the lack of vitamin D.
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Spring Garden Plans In Process
It's that time again and spring will be here before you know it. Time to start thinking about our garden!
We are starting plans for our summer garden keeping the bees and our needs in mind. If you have an interest in beekeeping then you will want to read this post.
Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission at NO extra cost to you. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
This is what I'm growing this year! I am so excited to start planning my garden. I have chosen some of my favorite vegetables and herbs AND flowers that will provide pollen and nectar for my honey bees.
In addition I have a variety of sunflower seeds that I harvested from last years plants AND lots of elderberry seedlings which I am planting along the fence line.
And as you can see, I have been saving egg cartons all winter (Yes, we go through a lot of eggs! My dogs eat an egg every day with their breakfast.)
These are perfect for starting my seedlings and a great way to repurpose egg cartons and saves money on pots. I love using egg cartons because they can go right into the ground.
So excited about my sunflowers! These are plants from last year (2021) from my 2020 sunflowers. I also use some of the petals to make a variety of sunflower infused oils for custom natural balms. I also do this with dandelions and golden rod ... all of which I have in abundance on my property AND no pesticides.
If you like bees, then you might want to check out this previous post: Bees
Easier Than You Think! Strategies For Marketing Your Business
For anyone who has their own business or interested in a side hustle (who couldn't benefit from some extra $) ... marketing skills and a marketing plan are critical to your success!
You can only sell to friends and family for so long. It may work in the beginning, but this method will not necessarily grow your business or be sustainable for a long period of time.
People pay thousands for a degree in marketing (not to mention college), I know I did ... not to mention law school and the student loans that I am STILL paying. What if I told you that for only $7 you can learn ALL the skills you need to start and/or grow your business.
For only $7, I thought "why not!" I've tried many things in the past, and nothing particularly worked well so what was a few more dollars and I gave it a shot.
In the past, I spent more than I made. After a few times of putting money out and getting nothing or minimal returns, I became somewhat skeptical... BUT in the big picture $7 was a small investment and I gave it a try ... and wow, I wish I had learned this stuff years ago!
In the 15 day course, which takes about an hour a day ... and can be completed at your own pace, I learned so much!
Check out these sales funnels that I learned to build. I was pretty happy with myself for creating these:
By the way, these are my affiliate links. (Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)
Anyway, regardless of your business model, this 15 day course (applicable to almost all business models) will teach you just as much, if not more than you would get in a college course for FAR less money!
It's all very simple. Once I understood the system, after taking my 15 day course, set up an Aweber account, which is an email marketing program (and free) and started with Click Funnels to build my funnels.
It's easier than you can imagine ... And so much fun!
Check out these cool dog items ... another company that I'm an affiliate. Although I don't have a funnel for these products, they are in my email campaign and go out to people in my email list. And even better - for anyone who purchases from me, they can get a 15% discount with my coupon code: PAWSITIV15. Nova & Finn have these coming! They are called Zoo Snoods! (Another affiliate link)
Like bees? As in honey bees ... I do ... and I am an affiliate for an awesome bee course which I tied it into my blog post, which you can read here.
It's so easy to promote things that you like and use! Whether through Facebook, TikToc, Instagram, YouTube, Blog or email list, you can easily review and promote things you use every day. Check out this blog post about one of my beef jerky recipes. Another opportunity to share products that I use daily! The best thing about selling as an affiliate ... people can purchase regular products at no extra cost and YOU can earn a commission.
Does this sound familiar ...
For anyone who wants to start an online business but doesn’t know where to begin...
Here’s the online marketing expectation:
- Start a business.
- Share your link on social media.
- Make a million dollars.
Here’s the REALITY:
- Start a business.
- Share your link on social media.
- Launch to crickets and tumbleweeds.
NOTE: This "challenge" is a marketing workshop that can be applied to almost any business model. This is NOT an MLM. The information learned in the workshop can be applied to an MLM business model, as well as affiliate marketing, other online businesses and brick and mortar businesses. Learn marketing strategies that can work with any business model.
Your business is up and running and now what? Any of these sound familiar?
- Freak out
- Consume 29k hours of YT videos
- Decide laundry doesn’t matter because your imaginary followers can’t smell you anyway
- Download 20,000 freebies
- Open none of them
- Now you’re subscribed to 20,000 new email lists
- Take 50 online courses
- Get 2 modules in before your A.D.D. squirrel brain kicks in
- Realize you haven’t eaten, peed, or talked to a human being in 3 days
- Early mornings
- Late nights
- More coffee
- Try to do all things and be all things to all people
- Realize you’re making it way harder than it needs to be
- Finally find your thing
- Break through!
Sound familiar? Except for the part where you “find your thing?” And “break through?”
Right?
However…
Success has probably been ‘right under your nose’ the whole time…
Sorta like..
When you are looking for your sunglasses And they were on your head…The entire time.
So what if, in just 15 days…
You can put to rest all the sleepless nights and learn from a 7-figure online biz legend who's...
- Been featured in Forbes & Entrepreneur
- Endorsed by Shark, Kevin Harrington
- Sold over $220m of my his own products online
And…
You finally turn your breakdowns into breakthroughs?
Well, here's a proposition. Actually… It’s a challenge.
Press "Learn More" to see what I mean...
Beekeeping 101: In New England
Last year, my bees were highly productive ... a bit angry and aggressive, but they produced some awesome honey!
This was my 2nd year of beekeeping ... my 1st year, my bees absconded ... they ALL left the hive. It was VERY disappointing but last year's bees were AWESOME.
I did everything I could to preserve the hive BUT I'm not feeling very confident that they have survived our New England winter.
We just had 30" of snow, then a massive ice storm with temps in the negative. I cleared the entrance so the bees (if any survived) could get out for their needed cleansing flights but have seen no activity. My fingers are crossed and in about a month time will tell ... Right now I only have one hive, my hope is to get a second hive for next year ... I'm down to one little jar of honey left from last year and just LOVE my honey so much more than any of the store bought jars I've bought. (PLUS, my grandson loves honey so much! He was so excited when he got his own big jar of honey for Christmas!)
Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
Interested in learning beekeeping??!! It's easy and it's fun! Check out this awesome guide to get you started! Or a great resource if you are considering beekeeping.
As a new beekeeper (going on my third year). The first year, I had lots of help, the second year I did it on my own. I must admit, I got a little too confident and was stung a few times too many BUT it hasn't changed my love for my bees or the respect for the awesomeness of these amazing little animals. I even practiced Reiki with my bees.
As humans, we can learn so much from bees ... community and working together to achieve a common goal.
Spring will be here soon and my bees will be back ... fingers crossed that my hive has survived ... if not then I will start again.
Sweet & Spicy Beef Jerky Recipe
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission (at no extra cost to you) for purchases made through these links.
Making your own jerky is easier than you ever imagined! And tastes much better than anything you will buy retail!
I use the Ninja Foodie because it does everything! But there are many options (dehydrator only).
Whether making jerky from your own recipe (below is a great one to start) or with your favorite marinade, nothing beats it. AND if you like it hot, add some ghost pepper or this awesome hot sauce collection for some additional heat!
Ingredients
- 1 lb Beef Top Round (or London Broil)
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ginger (ground)
- 2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
- ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
- ¼ cup water (cold)
Instructions
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Trim the fat from the meat.
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Put in freezer so it partially freezes.
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Mix marinade ingredients in a ziplock bag.
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Remove meat from freezer and slice ¼" strips.
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Add sliced meat to marinade in the ziplock bag and let sit for 24 hours.
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After 24 hours, pat meat dry.
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Put meat in dehydrator (cook according to dehydrator instructions)
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The jerky is finished when it bends and cracks, but does not break in half.
-
Store jerky in air tight containers in a cool, dark, and dry place such as a fridge or cabinet. I use a mason jar in the fridge.
Note:
Cut the strips of beef against the grain for an easy chew and with the grain for a more chewy jerky.
Understanding The Fat To Protein Ratio In Dog Food
Which meat was used to make your dog's food?
Did you know that both photos are LEGALLY called “meat” on a pet food label?
It doesn't matter that one is cut from fresh, lean beef and the other is the fatty trimmings sourced from slaughterhouse waste.
So … How can you tell which type of meat was used to make YOUR dog’s food?
One thing to look for is the fat to protein ratio ...
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
What Is Fat To Protein Ratio?
The fat to protein ratio can help you detect excessive levels of fatty meat hidden in your dog's food. All the information that you need is found right on the label of your dog food. And best of all, it's easy to calculate yourself.
How to Calculate Fat to Protein Ratio In Your Dog's Food
Look for the “crude fat” and “crude protein” numbers found in the “Guaranteed Analysis” section of your dog food label.
- Divide the amount of fat by the amount of protein
- And multiply that number by 100
And now you have the fat to protein ratio. It's that easy!
What Does The Fat To Protein Ration Tell You?
A general rule is that the higher the fat to protein ration, then the more likely the food contains an excessive amount of fatty ingredients when compared to the amount of protein in that same food.
However, remember: this is not an exact measurement but a relative indicator. It's like touching someone's forehead to determine if he has a fever but you will not be able to determine the exact temp with this method.
This "tool" is not intended to compare dog foods but is a good method to find foods that are outside the norm. A high fat to protein ratio is a good indication that it was made with excessive amounts of fatty waste products and probably best to avoid for your dog.
What Is A ‘Normal’ Fat to Protein Ratio?
The fat to protein ration will generally range from 30% to over 100%. Most dog foods fall below 80% with dry foods falling 70% or lower.
As a rule of thumb, we suggest staying away from any that are over 90% and I personally tend to be very cautious of any over 80%.
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
One of our favorite brands is The Farmer's Dog! They offer a variety of formulas that are personalized to meet your dog's individual needs. On average their food has a fat-to-protein ratio of about 69%.
Why choose The Farmer's Dog:
- Real Food: Human-grade meat and veggies in simple recipes, made for dogs
- USDA Kitchens: Safety and quality never before available to pets
- Made Fresh: Maintain whole food and nutritional integrity
- Vet Developed: Nutrition that exceeds industry standards for dogs (AAFCO)
If you purchase something after clicking on this link I’ll probably earn a few bucks from it at no additional cost to you.
To learn more about feeding your dog, you will want to read: You Shouldn't Be The Only One Eating Healthy
Taking Back My Health: Day 1
Introduction
I have wanted a Peleton bike for a long time (years). I have an exercise bike and a trainer I used with both my mountain and road bike but I wanted a Peleton. Today was the big day and my bike arrived.
The delivery team was awesome, they were courteous, quick, and thorough. In less than 30 minutes they had my bike set up and fitted to me and explained the basics.
My Story
I used to run (a little) and ride (a little more). I've done a marathon, a few halfs and a variety of other distances. I preferred trail running to the road. I also did a few mountain bike races (VT 50 2x) which I was proud to finish (and not last)... that was all about 10 years ago. Life gets in the way sometimes and although I still rode, I didn't have the time to put in like I did when I was self-employed. Then in Dec 2020 I got Covid. To this day, I'm still having issues and am considered a long hauler. I have not done much of anything for the last year. So as to be expected, I went from out of shape to badly out of shape. Each day passed and I finally decided it was time to do something!
First Ride
I was so excited for my first ride and my bike did not disappoint. I did a timed (15 minute) ride and loved it despite the disappointment in myself. My mind remembers the strength (I never had speed) and endurance of days gone by BUT my body did not want to cooperate. It was painful and I barely made 15 minutes.
The good news is I didn't need to buy new shoes! Peleton sells shoes (you clip in) for about $125 BUT my road bike shoes worked perfectly ... or as perfectly as a pair of my less than favorite shoes (I never particularly liked them.) I will likely swap the pedals with my mountain bike. I LOVE my mountain bike shoes. Anyway, whatever I do, I don't need new shoes!!
Anyway, I took a break and then rode again for another 10 minutes. This time I just did a "plain" ride (nothing on the screen).
I admit, my legs felt like jelly when I got off the bike and I really was disappointed to have gone so far backwards but excited with the opportunity to do something about it.
My Goals
I've gained about 15lbs in the last 15 months. One goal is to lose 20lbs.
A short term goal: do my first live class after I am able to ride for 30 minutes. I am guessing maybe 2 weeks.
A long term goal: I will ride 5 days a week (at minimum).
A short term goal: Complete the February Challenge and hit at least 50 miles for the month.
Some of my old memories to help inspire and motivate me to become the best me that I can be RIGHT now.
Join me on this journey to take back my health, feel good about myself again and become the best version of myself and simply feel better!!
