Author name: Valerie Whittle

Valerie Whittle. Over the years I have been an attorney and a homeschool mom--there is no question as to which is more fun. I now enjoy life with my husband of 29 years, assorted cats and dogs, and a garden.

image: woman in striped shirt and overalls smelling a sunflower sitting on a yellow stepstool to illustrate beauty in hard times

9 Ways to Use the Power of Beauty to Boost Wellbeing in Troubled Times

1 Comment / Family / By

During challenging times, finding moments of joy and pleasure can be essential for maintaining overall wellbeing. Incorporating elements of beauty into our daily lives, such as admiring nature, enjoying art or music, or simply adding a touch of aesthetics to our surroundings, can have a powerful effect on our mood and mental health. Engaging with beauty can stimulate the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, which can improve our sense of wellbeing and help us cope with stress and uncertainty. By prioritizing sensory experiences that bring us joy, we can cultivate a greater sense of resilience and positivity, even in difficult times.

image: woman with curly hair with pointer finger to her lips shushing about stealth prepping and prepping under the radar

Stealth Prepping: Preparing for the Worst without Raising Suspicion

4 Comments / Skills & Knowledge / By

Guerrilla prepping is all about learning survival skills and becoming fully prepped, all while staying under the radar. Unless you like the idea of being an obvious prepper and possible target, start thinking about how you might incorporate this concept into your own life and prepping. To help you get started, everything on this list doubles as a “fad” AND an important survival skill, but not one eyebrow will be raised when you sign up for a class, buy necessary supplies, or start checking out related books at the library.

image: variety of superfoods for food storage on dishes on table-ginger, tumeric, blueberries, cinammon, chia seeds, oats, lentils

Superfoods: An Effective Way to Boost Emergency Food Storage Nutrition

2 Comments / Basic Prepping / By

Wheat, rice, and beans are the building blocks of most survival food storage checklists, but on their own, even with canned food, they don’t create a healthy, highly nutritious diet. Building an effective emergency food storage requires more than just storing shallow calories. Superfoods, combined with staples, allow us to build a food storage pantry with the nutrition to help us thrive, not just survive.

image: food storage containers, bucket, vacuum sealer, mason jars, #10 cans

Food Storage Containers: Choosing the Ones That Best Fit Your Needs

1 Comment / Basic Prepping / By

Finding food storage containers that will fit your needs, your space, and your wallet can be a challenge. Regardless, there are a lot of options from which to choose. To help you find the best fit for you, the author has critiqued many of the traditional and some not-so-traditional food storage containers. Almost everything on this list is available second-hand so don’t let cost deter you initially.

image: woman's hands cutting in half a ten dollar bill with black-handled scissors

What to Buy Before Hyperinflation Hits Your Budget Like a Runaway Train

22 Comments / Economic collapse, Worst Case Scenarios / By

Are you concerned about continuing shortages this year and into the next? Are you wondering what to buy before hyperinflation? You’re not alone. I think those are some of the biggest questions on people’s minds right now. The most important thing is don’t panic. Food is not running out tomorrow and you have time.
Having said that, it’s time to make some lists and calmly focus on stocking some essentials.