Strawbraries at the Liberry

This is a good idea if you want to give someone a creatively packaged gift, or a treat box, especially if they love this type of chocolate bar. Although it is probably important to use mostly fair trade chocolate, the person I first made the box for was really into Hershey’s chocolate bars and was otherwise picky. So I have used 1.55oz sized Hershey’s bars in these boxes. They are very easy to work with and easier to buy in bulk, but there could be many other bars you could do this with! For this box, I used 13 1.55oz bars of chocolate and one Giant sized Hershey’s bar on the bottom, which sticks out and makes it easier to carry and makes for a more stable bottom. I think the XL bar size could also work.           Step 1:                          Place two candy bars at a 90 degree angle, for best results, make sure the Hersehy’s label is on the outside of the angle and right s...

  Ingredients needed:   8pks Instant Oatmeal (I used this GF variety) 1 cup Cashew Butter 2/3 cup Maple Syrup 1 Tb Molasses ½ tsp Cinnamon ½ tsp Ginger     Step 1:               Empty the packages of oatmeal into a big bowl to mix everything in. Add the cashew butter, maple syrup, molasses, cinnamon & ginger and mix well. I usually stir using a spatula or large spoon with a folding motion and then use my (clean or gloved) hand to squish everything together more evenly. I usually let the ingredients rest for at least 30 minutes at this point.   Step 2:               Now squish all those ingredients out flat and have your cookie cutters of choice ready. (I recommend hollow cookie cutters so they don’t stick in the cutter. I also used a bit of coconut oil on the inside of my cookie cutters to prevent sticking.) Yo...

So, originally, one often purchases something pricey with the best of intentions. But let me tell you, my solar panel has been through its fair share of mishaps, and it still works better than I was lead to believe solar worked! I am certainly no solar expert, just a user & fan. It enables me to be off grid, which I love. I designed my electrical system with my lack of expertise and lack of desire to buy and assemble many different parts (charge controller, solar panel, inverter, batteries, etc.) and learn all about these parts. Perhaps one day I will be willing to put in that effort- but I settled on buying a solar generator and hooking it up to a solar panel which I was to install on the roof of my Truck cap. (My “van” is actually a Truck turned into a van.) So after much research and agonizing over my options, I purchased my Goal Zero Yeti 400 & my flexible Renology 160w solar panel . I went with this flexible version in hopes that the flatter panel would be stealthy...

1.       Residential neighborhoods My favorite vanlife sleeping location is in residential neighborhoods. I started out staying in neighborhoods I know well, where I know you can park on the side of the road and in spots where people are unlikely to notice or likely to think I am just visiting someone in the neighborhood. I tend to pick quiet suburban neighborhoods. I would be reluctant to stay somewhere more fancy because people in nicer neighborhoods seem to pay more attention to who is in their neighborhood. I try to avoid taking anyone’s spot near their house, and opt to park somewhere perhaps under a tree or on the side of where a house is where I am unlikely to bother anyone or be noticed. So far, I have never had any issues in any neighborhood I stayed in. Some people think stealth camping is difficult or undesirable, but I find it thrilling to scope out new spots and so far it has been a very nice experience. Sometimes I have stayed near friends an...