When you purchase through some links on this site, I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). These funds allow me to maintain this site. Read my Disclosure statement for more info. Thanks!


An Easy Way To Monitor Your Body Composition

In an effort to stave off osteoporosis medications, I wanted a way to keep track of my muscle and bone mass. I soon discovered the advantages of swapping out my basic bathroom scale for a body composition scale. Regardless of your weight or fitness levels, these scales can provide valuable insights into your overall health.

A body composition scale is a device that can measure various aspects of your body. For example, your weight, water content, fat percentage, visceral … Read more »

Low-Cost Offline Maps for Outdoor Activities

One of my “go-to” apps when traveling to parks or going hiking is Avenza Maps. My favorite feature is the ability to use the maps offline (i.e., without Internet or cell service). The fact they are pay-as-you-go and affordable means I can buy what I need without paying a monthly or annual subscription fee.

You can search available maps on the Avenza Maps website or in their free app. To narrow your results, you can filter by category … Read more »

An Economical Microsoft Outlook Replacement

After leaving my job and turning consultant, I needed a capable “personal information management” software for managing my emails, calendars, tasks, notes, and contacts. Microsoft Outlook is the de facto standard and what my former employer provided. But I was on a budget so I researched alternatives. My search ultimately led me to EssentialPIM.

Not only does EssentialPIM manage all those things, it includes a password manager — a bonus providing me a repository to store my various account … Read more »

An Americana Holiday Tradition

Everyone has their own holiday traditions they’ve developed over the years. I suspect that one of them is watching their best-loved seasonal movies. My Christmas Eve tradition is to watch the perennial favorite, A Christmas Story.

A Christmas Story is about Ralphie, a 9-year-old boy who is consumed by his wish to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. I remember seeing it in the movie theater when it first came out and have enjoyed it ever since. … Read more »

No-Equipment Workouts to Keep You Fit

When the coronavirus first appeared and was spreading rapidly, I decided to forgo the gym. Instead, I started exercising at home. With minimal space to store workout equipment, I began researching “bodyweight” workouts.

Bodyweight workouts are exercise routines that use a person’s own bodyweight to create resistance. If you’ve done a pushup before, you’ve done a bodyweight exercise. Bodyweight exercises can improve strength, flexibility, and endurance.

My research led me to DAREBEE, a site that has over 1,500 … Read more »

Affordable Domain Name Registration For Your Website

Whether you’re starting a business or side hustle, creating a portfolio to show off your hobby (e.g., photography, writing, crafts), or want an online resume to assist with your job search, you’ve probably thought about launching a website.

The first step in the process is registering your domain name. The domain name is the name of your website and is the name that users type into the web browser to visit your website.

Namecheap is the registrar I use … Read more »

David Sedaris: Me Talk Pretty One Day

David Sedaris is one of my favorite writers. He’s authored several collections of humorous essays and autobiographical short stories. Many of his books are bestsellers.

Sometimes his writing is laugh-out-loud funny, while at other times very poignant. Either way, his power of observation is impressive, and he’s a great storyteller.

My introductory book was Me Talk Pretty One Day. I turned on the audiobook while driving solo on a long-distance trip. Speeding down the interstate, I began laughing uncontrollably … Read more »

A full-featured GPS for RVs and campers

Garmin makes great electronic devices in my opinion. So, when I needed a portable GPS to use instead of the subpar one in my RV, Garmin was the first brand I checked. I was pleased to find the Garmin RV 785. To use, simply enter the dimensions of the RV and select RV mode. Then when it calculates routes, it will avoid hazardous roads and low bridges.

In addition to providing accurate navigation, the Garmin RV 785 includes a … Read more »

A Free and Easy-to-Use Food Diary

Cronometer is a food diary that provides a comprehensive database of foods (so you don’t have to enter foods or nutritional values manually) and a detailed display of information. In addition to the standard breakout of calories, carbohydrates, protein, and fat amounts, it displays vitamins, minerals, added sugars, and more. Cronometer also allows for logging exercise, weight, and other biometrics.

Best of all, it comes at a very economical price – free!

Cronometer has both a web-based interface and mobile … Read more »

Hiking Help for Achy Knees

In my younger days, I thought trekking poles were a marketing scheme. Several years, numerous hikes, and many knee surgeries later, I should be a spokesperson for them. My current and favorite pair, TrailBuddy Trekking Poles, are great lightweight trekking poles for casual hikers. They are sturdy, easy to adjust and collapse, and have moisture-wicking cork grips usually only found in higher-priced hiking poles. Best of all, these poles are easy on the wallet!

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This