CREATING A SIMPLER LIFE OFF-GRID
  • Home/About
    • What does OFF-GRID mean?
    • MINIMIZING >
      • Home Size
      • Room by Room
      • Get Organized
      • Household Waste
    • MINIMIZE DEBT, MAXIMIZE SAVINGS >
      • Bills & Other Debt
      • Saving Money
      • Shopping Tips
      • Affordable Fun
    • BACKYARD CHICKENS >
      • The Coop
      • The Chickens
      • Feeding the Chickens
      • Fresh Eggs
    • HOME GARDENING >
      • Building the Garden
      • What We Grow
      • Seeds, Weeds, & More
      • Preservation & Storage
    • DO-IT-YOURSELF >
      • Health & Wellness
      • Simple Cleaning & Tips
      • Crafts & More!
      • Printables
    • CROCHET >
      • IDEAS & MORE
      • VIDEO TUTORIALS
  • HOMESTEAD
    • The 5 Year Plan PLUS! >
      • 2017
      • 2018
      • 2019
      • 2020
      • 2021
      • 2022
    • WHY AN EARTH SHELTERED HOUSE?
    • OFF GRID TINY TRAILER
    • BUILDING our HOMESTEAD from Scratch >
      • BUYING LAND & GETTING STARTED
      • BUILDING THE CONCRETE DOME
      • FROM DOME to HOME
      • SURVIVING OUR FIRST WINTER
    • HOMESTEAD MACHINERY >
      • GENERATORS
      • KUBOTA TRACTOR
      • ATV'S & UTV'S
      • WOOD CHIPPER
      • CHAINSAWS
      • LOG SPLITTER
      • POWER TOOLS
      • SNOWMOBILES
      • AUTOMOBILES
    • BUDGETING THE BUILD
    • SUSTAINABILITY >
      • WATER
      • FOOD
      • SHELTER
      • ENERGY >
        • SOLAR POWER
    • The Adirondacks >
      • Wildlife & Nature
      • Insects & Bugs
      • Things to Do
      • Water Fun
    • ADIRONDACK CRAFTS
  • VLOG
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021

Blog

A little bit of anything and everything that's part of
​creating, enjoying, and living a simpler life!
Picture

Why I Don't Consume Hot Tap Water

7/31/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Recently we had a last minute backyard barbecue. My sister and her family had nothing to do, and neither did we. Since we literally live on the same block, and it was really hot out and we have a pool, they came on down for some swim time, and of course, food. We are Italian and we had to have food. Not just a little either. We had enough to feed half the block because well, you never know who else might decide to visit!  

Anyway, thats not the point of this post. The point is that when my niece was filling the pot to boil the fresh corn I noticed that she was using the hot water to fill it so I said that she shouldn't be using the hot water out of the tap.  And of course being a highly intelligent young lady she questioned me as to why. Naturally I was more than willing to share my reasoning with her but it started me thinking that maybe a quick post with some information for anyone who is interested in why would also be a good idea.
Picture
So why not consume hot tap water? This is really a personal choice and I personally choose not to drink it because I would rather be safe than sorry.  The science teacher in me further solidifies this decision and I have taught my children to never consume hot tap water as well for three basic reasons (and in this precise order): lead, contaminants, and disease.
​

Lead

How old is your house? When was it built and what are the pipes made of? Just about any home or building built before 1986 has lead in the pipes unless they have been fully replaced. Even newer metal pipes have some lead in them. Read about this at the CDC.

I live in a house built in 1931 and I KNOW there is lead in these old pipes. Drinking the cold water without running it for a few minutes (5 is recommended) first would be foolish, but drinking the hot tap water would be even more foolish! Keep reading for the reason why...
​

Contaminants

Where does your water come from? Is it treated by a water company with chemicals or does it come from a  private well? Do you have a filtration system in your home? If it is well water have you ever had the water tested for contaminants and particulate matter?

I have lived in both situations. Years ago I had well water and I paid to have it tested once a year.  I also had a filtration system since we lived in an area where the water table was only 4' below the surface.  Now I live in an area with a government run company that pumps up the groundwater, tests it, filters and treats it with chemicals as needed. Not ideal, but it is what it is. But either way, using hot water means that the contaminants and/or the added chemicals are more concentrated. Think about it: when you boil water only the water is steamed away. Everything else remains behind in whatever water still hasn't become steam. Simply put, the amount of contaminants stayed the same and the amount of water decreased. The heating that boiled some of the water created a greater ratio of contaminants to water. The same thing happens in the hot water tank. As the water is heated and some turns to steam, the amount of ratio of contaminants and/or added chemicals to hot water in the tank will be greater. When you use the hot tap water you will be getting water with a greater than average amount of contaminants.

Then if you cook with it the ratio of contaminants to water becomes even greater!  Of course there are variable such as the temperature you keep the hot water tank set at, how often you use the hot water, how much hot water you use each time, etc. Me, I still prefer to be safer than sorrier. Oh yeah: and lead is considered a contaminant so that would mean there would be a greater concentration of lead in the hot tap water verses the cold.
​

Contaminants and Disease

How old is your hot water heater storage tank and how often do you use it? How long does the water sit in there heating up? An older tank releases potential contaminants into the tank. Some people say there is actually a sludge in the bottom. I am not sure if this is true or not, but why test the theory out?  Maybe if I ever need the tank replaced I will open it up to get a look! But for now, I am not taking any chances.

The same goes for how often you use it.  If your hot water sits for hours, or even days (or more if it is a vacation home) at a time in the tank this is just more opportunity for more water to boil away and the contaminants and chemicals to become even more concentrated. Sitting also allows molds and bacterias to grow in there. Some of the growth depends upon the temperature that you keep the water at, but it could be a potential problem that I don't even want to think about. Again, no thanks.
​

Disease

Do you live in a large apartment building? Or maybe you're away on vacation staying in a big hotel and just want a quick cup of hot tea. Don't do it! These types of buildings have huge water storage tanks with the potential for Legionaires disease  according to the EPA.  

​I don't live in an apartment building but I have friends that do and I have stayed in many a hotel in my travels over the years. For me it is just something to remember and keep in mind during my visits and travels. 


Those are my personal reasons for not drinking hot tap water in my home, or anywhere else for that matter. In my opinion, it's just not worth it to use it. Do you have any other reasons to add? I would love to hear from you! But remember, everything is a choice. I am not telling you not to drink hot tap water, just the reasons that I choose not to! The choice to drink it or not is yours!

Check our our other Health & Wellness posts and follow us on social media :-)
Sincerely,
Picture
Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/health/29real.html
​http://mesaaz.gov/residents/water-resources/services/water-quality/lead-and-copper
​https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/water.htm
​http://www.labtechtests.com/page/Common_Drinking_Water_Contaminants.aspx​​
​
https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/legionella
0 Comments

Tandem Bike Redo for Wedding!

7/29/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
My brother and sister-in-law have had this old 1970's Vista duo tandem bike in their garage for several years now. I always thought it was the coolest thing to ride a tandem bike, especially as a kid because brings up good memories of when my cousin Lynn and I used to ride her families tandem around town. So when my in-laws  recently said their's was going in the garbage if we didn't want it  I jumped on the offer....but not for me.

My daughter is getting married in September and she and her fiancé live on Fire Island. If you know anything about living on Fire Island it's that there are NO cars driven around (other than for emergencies). You get around by walking or biking so what could be more perfect than having a "just married" tandem bike for them to ride around together on?

My brother and sister-in-law agreed that this would make an awesome gift to for the 'married couple to be' and so we set to work! And of course it is far better than simply throwing it out ;-)

With little bit of time, some MONEY, and a lot of love we  finished it up just in time for my daughter's bridal shower.  Let us know what you think!
BEFORE....
Picture
and...AFTER!!!
Picture
Check out our video of how we did it!
We did have to purchase a few items to make it work, mostly from Amazon, but a few from Target, Michaels, Lowes, and The Vicious Cycle (the local bike shop that used to be Sally's) as well.  Kudos to The Vicious Cycle by the way, who must have parts saved from the beginning of time! They actually had handlebars for the second seat that worked perfectly (we couldn't get rid of the rust on the originals)! 

Other parts we purchased:
  • Bike Seats (Amazon affiliate link)
  • Matching handlebar grips (Amazon affiliate link)
  • Toto Basket (Amazon affiliate link)
  • Flowers were from Michaels
  • The bell and new tires were from Target
  • Paints were from Lowes
I also added a tin can wedding thingy to the back so when they ride it back to the house after the wedding ceremony by the beach it will be absolutely perfect!  And here are the bride and groom riding it after their ceremony!
Picture
And here are the newlyweds on the bike! They rode it from the beach ceremony to the back yard reception a few blocks away. It was perfect :-) Thank you to Samantha Brancato for the beautiful photo.
Thanks for visiting.
I really hope you enjoyed this post. I have to say that this was one of my absolute all time favorite projects! Not only did I get to spend time with my husband, but we worked with his brother as well. Best of all the gift was for my beautiful bride-to-be daughter and her fiancé. What could be better? Doing wonderful things for our loved ones is what life is all about!
​Don't you agree?
See more DIY Shower & Wedding projects here!

Sincerely,
Picture
0 Comments

How to Be Happier & Healthier

7/22/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Happy people are healthier people. I know you have probably heard this a thousand times, but it is true, and it's pretty simple too!

Why are happy people healthier?
  • The biggest reason that happy people are healthier is because of their heart. They literally have healthier hearts. I believe it's because they have less stress which we we know is the big K>I>L>L>E>R when it comes to heart problems. 
  • Happy people are also healthier because they are able to fight off infections easier and have less aches and pains. It is because they tend to have better immunity and a more positive attitude about not getting or feeling unwell!
  • And finally, happy people are healthier and generally will live longer, mostly because of the reasons stated above. ​So why waste time being unhappy and miserable?  Start being happier today.

But how? How can you simply make yourself happy when  you really aren't? 

Mind over matter, with a little practice.  Trust me when I tell you, I have my good and bad days just like anyone else but here is what I do to be, and stay, happy:
  1. Think happy thoughts and choose to be happy. This is the most important thing you can do. I say to myself , " I am going to choose not to let 'such and such' bother me." And then I don't let it bother me. I also try to find some positive about everything, even if it is small. If the thought creeps back in I shut it down again and focus on the positive instead.
  2. Smile. A lot. It's contagious.  I can't stress this enough. If you are smiling all the time for yourself and at others, they generally will smile back and it just makes everyone nicer, and happier, to be around. Including you!
  3. Be thankful and count your blessings for what you have, not what you don't have. One of the big reasons people find themselves unhappy is because they are always thinking about what they don't have. Instead, think about what you do have: family, friends, your pet, a nice home, etc. Focus on all the wonderful things in your life instead.
  4. Let go of anger and forgive. This is huge.  It takes a lot of energy to stay angry at people for both big and little things. Thats angry, stressful energy and it is very unhealthy. For your own health you need to move forward and forgive. It doesn't mean you have to forget, but if you forgive them their transgression no matter how big or small, you can then use that energy to move toward happiness instead.
  5. Be generous. Do nice things for others for no reason other than to feel good about it. Hold a door, help out, compliment them, smile and ask them how they are. When you do nice things expecting nothing in return it feels good and leads to feeling better about who you are as a person which in turn leads to happiness.
  6. It's your responsibility to to make yourself happy, not anyone else's. It's also not your job to make others happy, it's theirs. If we leave it up to others to make us happy then we can never really be truly happy inside.
  7. Find a balance. This is the last thing, but it is important.  There has to be balance between work and play. Take time to chase butterflies, smell the flowers, etc.  You deserve it!
​Of course you can find this extra time by creating a simpler life for yourself and your family!
You knew that was coming, didn't you?
Hang in there, my book "The ABC's of Creating A Simpler Life" should be out this fall, but in the meantime there are a lot of ways to help simplify your life throughout this site so there is no reason not to get started right away!
​But most importantly, be happy :-)

Thanks for visiting!
Sincerely,

Picture
Sources:
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_ways_happiness_is_good_for_your_health​
0 Comments

"Colored Spots" Crochet Placemat

7/13/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
This is a great way to use up those leftover pieces of yarn that aren't big enough to do anything else with!

The beauty of this pattern is that the second row is basically the connecting row. There is no special connecting stitch to be done later on!


I got the idea for this project from Atty's Blog Spot.  She does it a little differently and she makes a blanket instead, but there are pictures that can help you get the idea if you are having any trouble. I kind of simplified the basic pattern, but it is generally the same only I make a placemat and add a border.  Enjoy!
Supplies Needed:
  • 100% cotton yarn scraps (you could really use any yarn you want but then you would need to buy many colors)
  • 100% cotton yarn background color (approximately two 2.5 oz skeins per placemat) 
  • 4.5 mm crochet hook
  • yarn needle
  • scissors
Make the Spots:
You need a total of 29 spots for each placemat
Using scrap yarn...
  • chain 3 and connect to form loop
  • chain 2 (counts as one), and do 11 double crochets into the center of loop (total 12 dc)
  • connect to first chain and knot off.

​**HINT: I just make 6 of every color this is enough to make 2 placemats with a couple left over.

Picture
One spot completed.
Picture
Enough spots to make two placemats!
Complete First Spot:
Using your background yarn....
  1. Connect with slip stitch and chain two.
  2. dc into same stitch, then dc two times into next stitch (so two dc's per stitch)
  3. chain one, and do two dc into each of the next two stitches.
  4. repeat the chain one, two dc in each of next two stitches around.
  5. end with a chain and connect to first dc
  6. knot off (see finished picture below)
*NOTE: this is where my pattern differs a little from Atty's.
Picture
The second row creates a hexagon shape!
Add Second Spot:
Using background colored yarn...
  1. Connect to a different colored spot with slip stitch and chain two.
  2. dc into same stitch, then dc two times into next stitch (so two dc's per stitch - total of 4 stitches)
  3. Pull the loop so it is a little bigger than usual and remove hook (see picture 1 below)
  4. Insert hook into one of the hexagon corner spaces and pull the loop through
  5. chain 1 and then dc into next stitch on spot
  6. make a bigger loop, remove hook, insert the hook through the next stitch on the hexagon, and pull the loop through
  7. dc into same stitch a second time on spot
  8. make a bigger loop, remove hook, insert hook through next stitch on hexagon, pull loop through, and dc into next stitch on spot
  9. make a bigger loop, remove hook, insert hook through next stitch on hexagon, pull loop through, and dc into the same stitch on spot
  10. make a bigger loop, remove hook, insert hook through the corner space of the hexagon, chain one, and dc into next stitch on the spot.
  11. dc again into same stitch, dc 2x in next stitch, chain one and continue that pattern around to complete the second spots hexagon.
Picture
Remove hook from loop.
Picture
Insert hook into corner space and pull the loop through. Chain one after pulling loop through. This chain 1 is done in the CORNERS ONLY.
Picture
You will continue to remove hook and pull the loop through for three more stitches. After pulling loop through regular stitches simply dc into the correct stitch and continue on for a total of 4 stitches. There are no chains for these stitches.
Picture
Only one side of the hexagon is connected.
Add Third Spot:
  • It will be the same as the second spot, however you will connect two sides of the hexagon
  • After step 10 for the second spot you will go back and repeat numbers 6 through 11
Picture
Picture
Two sides of the hexagon were connected. Sometimes you may have to connect 4 sides! Just follow the same technique.
Picture
After every three hexagons I weave all ends (double weave) and clip remaining yarn.
Continue to connect more spots..
Picture
Add spots keeping like colors far away from each other.
Picture
All spots are done! There are 5 rows of spots as follows from top to bottom: 5 spots, 6 spots, 7 spots, then 6 spots, then 5 spots.
Picture
Crochet the border. In each space between spots (where there is a triangular space) there are 1 half double, 2 double, then 1 half double. These work to fill that space. Then you just continue with regular sc everywhere else.
Crochet the Border:
  • Round 1: single crochet in each stitch until you get to the space between each spot. In each space do 1 half double crochet, then 2 double crochet, then 1 half double crochet. Then proceed with regular single crochet until you get to the next space.n Repeat this all the way around adding an extra single crochet at each corner turn.
  • Round 2: single crochet in each stitch all the way around adding an extra stitch at each corner turn.
  • Round 3: Double crochet, chain 1, skip 1, then double crochet, chain 1, skip 1 etc. all the way around. At the corners do not skip one so the turn goes smoothly.
  • Round 4: single crochet all the way around adding an extra stitch at the turns as needed to keep it flat. Knot off and weave all loose ends.
Picture
Add the border!
It's beautiful! And it is for me...yes, I have finally made something for myself. Well, it is made with leftover scraps of yarn after all :-) How could I possibly give it away?


Thanks for visiting!
Follow me on social media or sign up for e-mail to stay connected.
Sincerely,
Picture
0 Comments

Why Our Fig Tree Survived the Winter

7/9/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Last fall I wrapped up our newly planted fig tree for the winter not knowing if it would survive or not (but I was really trying and hoping). Read more about Winterizing our Fig Tree here. This past spring I was nervous when we opened it up, but despite losing a few branches at the top to the cold winter, lo and behold, the fig tree was alive! It had survived the winter and the proof was the little buds that were growing on the lower branches. The way we wrapped it up apparently worked out pretty well and hopefully we will get better at it each year that we own this lovely, fruit producing, edible plant! As you can see in the picture we are now into summer and it is growing really well. We are so pleased with the results we thought we would share a few pictures with you.
Picture
This is what the fig looked like after surviving the winter. We did not 'unveil' it until there was no more frost.
Picture
A few of the branches you see were rotted and not getting any buds so we simply cut them off.
Picture
You can see that it is not as tall as it was because we had to remove some of the upper parts of the branches. But look at it! It is growing like crazy :-)
The tree had figs last year while in the pot, however we are not expecting any this year or even next year because it needs to make itself at home in it's new location.  But it will provide figs down the road and we can't wait!!
Thanks for visiting!
Follow us on social media for more ideas and ways to create and live a simpler life!
Sincerely,

Picture
0 Comments

Plants to NOT Plant on our Homestead!

7/5/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
We have a plan for our future homestead: to plant with purpose. That purpose will be edible landscaping. Basically, if the plant is edible and an easy to maintain perennial, it is in!  That doesn't mean we won't be planting a few other plants for medicinal or even decorative purposes, it just means that most all of our planting on our homestead will be done with prior careful thought and purpose.  That brings me to todays post. 

One the years my husband and I have planted many different types of plants at our suburban house for many different reasons: pretty, suggested by friends or family, free from others, or transplanted from somewhere else. Unfortunately there was little to no research on any of these plants prior to planting, and well, we regret it now because they are impossible to get rid of and a real pain in the neck to maintain. Some of the plants actually came with the house when it was purchased, and again, we didn't think much about them at the time. Either way these plants have provided us with not only a great learning experience, but a list of plants TO NEVER PLANT on our future Homestead!

Here's our list:
WISTERIA
Picture
I absolutely love how wisteria looks and smells in the spring. It is so beautiful the way it drapes down and hangs and to walk past it and smell the aroma is, well, heavenly.  But...that only lasts for about a week. And. That. Is. Not. Worth. It. The rest of the year I am chasing down the runners that spread 30 feet or more all over the yard, up trees, into the neighbors yard, all over the fence, and even into my pool once while we were away! I can't even begin to describe how horrible this plant can be all for the reward of one weeks worth of beauty.  It's simply not worth it. And, once it's planted you can absolutely never, ever, get rid of it! It will be a lifetime of maintenance and the plant will, literally, outlive you! if yore interested and willing to do the work you can learn more about wisteria here.

YUCCA
Picture
The yucca plant is well, yucka! I absolutely hate it.  Yeah, the flowers look kind of pretty but they attract so many ants that they become ugly really quickly! And cutting those long nasty stalks covered in ants really stinks.  The leaves are pointy and sharp and can really hurt you too. And seriously, trying to get rid of the plant is impossible. It spreads too easily and seriously, the leaves need a 'hair cut" every spring! The work to pleasure ratio just isn't there for me!  Oh, and I did my research and this is not the edible species of yucca.  Some yucca have edible parts, but this is NOT the one so bye bye yucca! Read more about the difference between the yucca and yuca plants and their usable parts here.

BLACKBERRY
Picture
Blackberries are delicious, but picking them really is the pits. We planted a blackberry bush a few years ago that we got on sale in Home Depot.  HUGE mistake. It grows like crazy, has the nastiest and sharpest prickers, and we absolutely can't get rid of it no matter how many times we "excavated" it out of the ground. When we bought this blackberry bush we had no idea there were different kinds and that some are invasive. Apparently there are ways to tell the species apart - the invasive ones have a hexagonally shaped stem with flattish sides.  Who knew?  Well, now we do, but either way the thorns are terrible so unless there is a thornless variety that is not invasive, blackberries will never be planted on our homestead! Read about invasive and non-invasive blackberries here.

CLIMBING HYDRANGEA
Picture
Where to start? Yeah, it looks pretty nice around our little front porch but it does need to be cut at least twice a year, the flowers aren't that pretty (and only grow in the sunlight so only the right side gets any flowers), and they don't even smell that good! The stems become like mini trees and literally rip the porch apart as they wrap around it and through it. They are also ripping the rain gutters off the roof! Finally they have these little tiny roots on all the shoots that literally grab onto anything so they can climb. Pretty interesting, but this means you literally have to rip it off sometimes. Again, too much maintenance for relatively minor return. Not worth it in my opinion. Here's more info on climbing hydrangeas if you are interested.

TRUMPET VINE
Picture
What. A. Nightmare. As pretty as this looks, it is a real pain to maintain. It can send runners out up to 10 feet (or ore) away that literally pop out in the middle of the lawn! This would literally take over my entire front yard if I let it. The flowers are pretty but they attract a lot of ants and other critters and it constantly needs to be 'trimmed.' Way too much work to simply keep it under control. Read more about trumpet vines here.

PRIVET HEDGES
Picture
I have a love-hate relationship with my privet hedges. Here in the suburbs I love the privacy they provide me in my backyard (hence their name), however with 50' feet of them on one side and about 20' on the other, it is a lot of work to keep them maintained.  Believe it or not I  used to have about 70' of them across the front of my house too, but we ripped those out.  We used to keep them trimmed ourselves but they are currently about 10 feet high and we just can't keep up with it anymore. This means we pay to keep them looking ok each season.  And that is just ok because they really should be trimmed twice a year.  Thankfully on our new homestead there will be no need for any privacy barriers since we will be building literally in the middle of our 30 acres! We won't have any close neighbors at all! Read more about privet hedges here.

ENGLISH IVY
Picture
These are great for growing on fences because it looks nice by kind of hiding the fence but it spreads and grows like crazy and I find myself ripping it out every season as it reaches for all my other plants and bushes around it. There is a tree in the neighbors yard that is actually being choked to death by this ivy and we worry that it will die and fall in our pool at some point.  In my opinion it just requires too much maintenance. Read more about English Ivy here.
Thanks for visiting!
Read more about our
future homestead garden here
and follow me on
social media!
​Sincerely,
Picture
0 Comments

Why Napping is Good for You

7/1/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
I take a nap every single day. I just have to. My body wants it and needs it. Even a small 15 minute nap rejuvenates me so that I can get through the rest of my day! Taking a nap is good for you at any age and this post will share why!

Taking a nap is nothing new, People in other countries take naps too! After all, isn't that what a siesta is?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the siesta, or midday nap, goes back thousands of years and is still common in warmer countries where Spanish is spoken. However, they are also relatively common in other countries such as Italy (called a riposo), Greece, the Philippines, Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Nigeria.

Apparently, the tradition began so that farmers could take a rest during the hottest time of the day, usually for about 2 hours. Even though this reason may no longer be necessary (for many of us anyway), a nap, or siesta, is still a good idea for many reasons!
  • It is still a very good idea to be out of the Sun at the time of day when the rays are the most direct (think skin cancer and more....) which is usually around noon.
  • ​Even if you don't rest for two hours, any rest 15 minutes or more will help energize you for the remainder of the day.
  • Many countries recognize the afternoon siesta as being important whether for resting or just spending time at home with family for a meal and their day literally stops for the afternoon siesta!
  • Napping not only re-engerizes you, but it will help with your motor function and thinking. You will be able to work like new again! This reduces mistakes and accidents as well.
  • Stress can be relieved through napping every day.
  • This in turn can boost your mood levels and make you feel better.

Some interesting facts:
Source: http://sleep.org/articles/napping-around-the-world/
Note: These are taken word for word from the site above as changing them would not have made any sense!
  • In China: Workers often take a break after lunch and put their heads on their desks for an hour-long nap. It’s considered a Constitutional right.
  • In Italy: The riposo may begin anytime between noon and 1:30pm and run until 2:30pm to 4:00pm. Businesses shut down, and public venues like museums and churches lock their doors so their employees can go home for a leisurely lunch and a snooze.
  • In Spain: The siesta is deeply ingrained, as businesses often close for hours to accommodate the mid-day rest. While the siesta can span two hours, only a fraction of the time is actually spent napping; first, there’s lunch with family and friends, then a rest. Because of the mid-day break, people often work later into the evening.
  • In the U.S., napping isn’t quite a cultural tradition—at least not yet. But we’re gradually moving closer to that lifestyle. Some big-name companies (like Google) are becoming increasingly nap-friendly, largely because they believe that it increases productivity. Go Google!​

I know that many people think that if you nap regularly you are either lazy or sick. Napping is usually only associated with babies, children, old people, or sick people after all. Right? Well, no, not right. There have been some very famous, and very significant people in history that were nappers! Here are just a few: Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Albert Einstein, Napoleon, John F. Kennedy, and George W. Bush are all said to have taken afternoon naps regularly!
​
Moral of the story?
Take a nap every day!
​It should be obvious by now that it is
​good for you :-)


Thanks for visiting!
Check out more Health & Wellness here and please follow me on social media.
Sincerely,
Picture
Sources:
https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/napping
http://sleep.org/articles/napping-around-the-world/
0 Comments
    Picture
    Hi there! I'm Kathie, the author behind Creating A Simpler Life blog. I'm excited to share our longterm projects (and planning) toward building our future retirement homestead in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. In the meantime I will be sharing all the other little things we do that are part of creating our simpler life!
    Creating a Simpler Life

    RSS Feed

    Visit Creating A Simpler Life's profile on Pinterest.

    Categories

    All
    Adirondack Crafts
    Chickens
    Conservation
    Crochet
    Do It Yourself
    Energy Savings
    Essential-oils
    Essential-oils
    Food-storage-preservation
    Food-storage-preservation
    Gardening
    Health
    Health-wellness
    Health-wellness
    Homemade-remedies
    Homemade-remedies
    Homesteading
    Homesteading Dreams
    Inexpensive Fun
    Minimizing
    Organization
    Products We Sell
    Recipes
    Recycling
    Saving-money
    Saving-money
    Shopping
    Wedding & Shower DIY

    Archives

    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015

mrandmrscorbi@gmail.com
Contact Us - Privacy Policy - Disclaimer
Copyright 2022©Creating A Simpler Life, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
  • Home/About
    • What does OFF-GRID mean?
    • MINIMIZING >
      • Home Size
      • Room by Room
      • Get Organized
      • Household Waste
    • MINIMIZE DEBT, MAXIMIZE SAVINGS >
      • Bills & Other Debt
      • Saving Money
      • Shopping Tips
      • Affordable Fun
    • BACKYARD CHICKENS >
      • The Coop
      • The Chickens
      • Feeding the Chickens
      • Fresh Eggs
    • HOME GARDENING >
      • Building the Garden
      • What We Grow
      • Seeds, Weeds, & More
      • Preservation & Storage
    • DO-IT-YOURSELF >
      • Health & Wellness
      • Simple Cleaning & Tips
      • Crafts & More!
      • Printables
    • CROCHET >
      • IDEAS & MORE
      • VIDEO TUTORIALS
  • HOMESTEAD
    • The 5 Year Plan PLUS! >
      • 2017
      • 2018
      • 2019
      • 2020
      • 2021
      • 2022
    • WHY AN EARTH SHELTERED HOUSE?
    • OFF GRID TINY TRAILER
    • BUILDING our HOMESTEAD from Scratch >
      • BUYING LAND & GETTING STARTED
      • BUILDING THE CONCRETE DOME
      • FROM DOME to HOME
      • SURVIVING OUR FIRST WINTER
    • HOMESTEAD MACHINERY >
      • GENERATORS
      • KUBOTA TRACTOR
      • ATV'S & UTV'S
      • WOOD CHIPPER
      • CHAINSAWS
      • LOG SPLITTER
      • POWER TOOLS
      • SNOWMOBILES
      • AUTOMOBILES
    • BUDGETING THE BUILD
    • SUSTAINABILITY >
      • WATER
      • FOOD
      • SHELTER
      • ENERGY >
        • SOLAR POWER
    • The Adirondacks >
      • Wildlife & Nature
      • Insects & Bugs
      • Things to Do
      • Water Fun
    • ADIRONDACK CRAFTS
  • VLOG
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021