Picture this. The S has hit the fan in a big way. You're fairly well prepped but have the chance to get to ONE store to buy anything at all that might help you survive in the coming weeks/months. What if that ONE store is: Sally Beauty? Walgreens? Tractor Supply? The ... Read More
April showers may bring May flowers, but they also bring wild and crazy busy days for families like mine. Also, I might add, a lot of extra expenses with end-of-school teacher gifts, upcoming vacation plans, graduation gifts, etc. Just this morning I was telling myself, "No ... Read More
My great-grandparents were preppers way before prepping was a thing. Is there a specific term for preppers who are also hipsters? Hipster-preppers? Prepsters? If there is, then that's what you could call my great-grandparents, Dell and Hildegarde Stringham. They were the ... Read More
Based on my own personal experiences and mistakes, I do not recommend storing these foods in large quantities, long-term. Let me know what you think of my list and what other foods you would add. Foods to not store, long-term 1. Any canned vegetable or fruit that you do ... Read More
The first 72 hours following any disaster are the most critical, but it's also during those intial hours that emergency services and personnel are stretched to the limit. With a system of carefully planned 72 Hour Kits, your family can be self-sufficient until help ... Read More
Soccer moms, football moms, cheerleading moms, whatever they call us, "chauffeur" better describes what we, Survival Moms, do every day. In my world, it's not unusual to have a kid's dentist appointment, a field trip, and a swim meet all on the same day, transported by our trusty ... Read More
Have I told you about my collection of Vera Bradley blankets? I discovered these wildly colorful, plush blankets about 4 years ago when I was on a business trip and wanted to splurge on a little something just for me. Well, one blanket quickly turned into 2, 3 and now I believe ... Read More
How long can you go without craving a hot, homemade meal, if you have been eating only cold rations and snacks? If you’ve ever been without power for more than just a couple of days, eating cold ravioli or tuna out of the can gets really old, really fast. Most survival minded ... Read More
Stocking your pantry with home canned goods is not only prudent, it's a simple and inexpensive way to build your food storage. When you can up what is in season (at the peak of freshness, flavor and low price) you're taking a seasonal approach to your canning. I know that in ... Read More
Just before Christmas, my family and I were shopping at a local big box store. Near the dressing rooms, my daughter spotted a young man totally passed out on the carpeted aisle, with a pile of vomit nearby. Since that's not a normal thing, we immediately alerted a clerk. Being ... Read More
I sometimes roll my eyes at lists of "must-have" preps because they're pretty much all the same: Paracord -- check Multitool -- check Flashlight -- check Tell me something different! Something innovative! Something creative that is useful but out ... Read More
How many ways can you think of to use a paper clip? If you can think of just 2 or 3, your brain may be functionally fixed. What is functional fixedness? Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person's concept of how an object ... Read More
If you're looking for a beautifully written book that will captivate you from the very first page, you'll enjoy The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. This book tells the story about two sisters in World War II-era France, Vianne and Isabelle, and the ... Read More
For a seamstress, JoAnn Fabric is a wonderland. From hundreds of colorful cotton fabrics for quilting to luxury fabrics like imported silk, it's a store beloved by millions of women, in particular. My kids used to love to run their fingers and faces ... Read More
I wish you could have seen my Survival Closet before my intrepid daughter reorganized it a few months ago. When we moved into this house back in 2014, whenever we unpacked something related to prepping, I said, "Go put it in the Survival Closet," ... Read More
NOTE: I'm happy to work with the sponsor of this post, the American Cleaning Institute, to spread the word about keeping children safe from laundry detergent packets. Of all the household chores I do on a weekly basis, laundry is my least ... Read More
When I was in 1st grade living in Prescott, Arizona, I read 100 books during a single school year. Somewhere in the depths of my mom's photo bins, there's an old photo of little Lisa, me, wearing a bookworm costume and holding a certificate. Well, ... Read More
My daughter packed for college very thoughtfully and methodically. She sorted through her favorite books and mementos, then she went through her clothes, sorted them, and made decisions about what to take with her to her new hometown. During the ... Read More
Years ago, my cousin and her husband set a family goal to visit every National Park in the country. It was quite a lofty goal and by the time their boys were grown, oh, the memories they had! The National Park Service (NPS) is far and away my ... Read More
Find a way to re-use all organic matter on your property. When you mow, allow the clippings to settle back on to the ground as free, natural compost material. Spread fallen leaves along paths between raised planters and over your yard. Nutrients ... Read More
