Survivalist Tips: How to Start a Fire with Chocolate and a Soda Can.

You can can start a fire with a soda can, chocolate bar, and a towel. Of course you will also need tinder and wood.


1. Rub Chocolate on the bottom of the empty soda can.
2. Wipe the Chocolate off of the can and polish the bottom of the can until it reflects like a mirror.
3. Find a direct ray of sunlight and angle the can so that it will reflect the sunlight on one area.
4. Place your tinder in the spot and hold the can steady until you see smoke.  You can use leaves, sticks, or paper for your tinder.
5. Once you see smoke start to add your wood to build your fire around it.

**WARNING: Do not eat the chocolate after it has touched the aluminum can as the residue may be toxic.

Check out the video below to see how it's done.

Ditch the Soda

I would say the majority of the population in the United States drinks carbonated beverages.  I call it soda but you may call it pop, cokes, or cola regardless it's all the same type of drink.  These drinks are characterized by a high sugar content or fake sugar content, artificial colors, artificial flavors and signature CO2 fizziness.

So what's the harm, it's just a tasty beverage right?  I often hear from diet soda drinkers "Mine has no sugar in it so it must be healthier."  Quite the opposite is true in fact.  I'll add a short list below of all of the concerns related to soda consumption.

• Empty calories leading to excess calories.
• Not getting enough vitamins and minerals.
• Tooth decay.
• Diabetes.
• Bone density/ Bone thinning.
• Diet soda may not help you lose weight in fact it may help you gain it instead.
• Heart Disease
• Depression
• Addictive
• Artificial colors/flavors
• High Acid content

Soda can really be addictive and it can be difficult to stop. I used to drink several sodas per day without ever thinking of the consequences.  Then I started having acid reflux issues.  I knew that drinking soda exacerbated the issue.
 I vowed to stop drinking soda.  For the longest time I never had not even one for years, now I'm to the point I may have one if I'm out but I never keep it in the house.  I also found it's best to wean yourself off.  I changed what I was drinking and replaced soda with tea and juice.
Some people think that switching to diet soda is a quick fix but in fact it's just as bad.  While they may be short on calories it doesn't necessarily mean it's good for your or that you will lose weight from drinking it.  In fact, many people actually gain weight from drinking diet sodas. Diet sodas also have many of the same health risks as regular soda like tooth decay and bone thinning and it's also been linked to heart disease and depression in women.
Below are some great ways to wean yourself off soda:

1. Cut back.  Figure out how many sodas you drink a day and work on cutting one out per week until you are down to zero.  So if you start out drinking 5 sodas a day then for the first week cut it down to 4 then the next week down to 3 and so on.
2. Water it down.  Trick your brain by adding water to your soda so you are actually drinking 1/2 water and 1/2 soda.  This way you are still hydrating while cutting back.
3. Track your calories.  Figure out how many calories you are drinking.  Soda is full of empty calories.  For 120 calories you get virtually no nutrients, nothing that makes your body better.  Think about how many calories you can save by giving up soda which could in turn cause weight loss.
4. Drink Tea.  Make the switch to unsweetened tea or tea sweetened with a healthier sugar with a lower glycemic response. 
5. Drink More Water.  If you're craving a soda, drink water first.  The water will not only hydrate you better but may also stave off your craving for the sugary drink.

Sources:
http://greatideas.people.com/2015/03/05/how-to-break-your-soda-addiction/?xid=socialflow_facebook_peoplemag

Life Hacks

I have to admit I love Life Hacks.  Anything that makes life easier gets an A+ in my book!

I noticed recently that one of the things I've done for years is now coming up in a list of life hacks!
I used to be an avid Amp energy drinker and I hate drinking straight out of cans.  The only way to get the straw to stay in was to do this.  I had someone tell me it's also a great thing to do to help when chugging beer, lol. 

Here are some other's I've tried that has worked!

Put your phone on airplane mode when you need it to charge faster.  Once the phone is in airplane mode it won't be sucking up energy trying to do multiple things while charging.

 

 Here are some great ones I want to try!

 I went to the site and it looks awesome.  There's a multitude of sites to choose from.

Here's a great link for directions on how to make this crib: Baby Bed to Desk Directions

Who doesn't love a good BLT?

 

I guess this would be a better use for those candles once you get done laughing.

This would probably be better than me stabbing plastic packaging with knives.

This looks better than hammering your hand.

Who doesn't love chocolate?  Cures migraines, reduces heart disease and cancer, boots appetite, makes you live longer, can work as a pain-relievers, and can reduce stress! Amazing!

 

I love repurposing things and what a wonderful way to hide things!

 I struggle with keeping eye contact with certain people.  I do know that when I'm able to maintain it I feel more powerful in the end.

 



This is common sense.  It's something you learn when you learn fire safety.

I like this!  I always forget my list or forget what I actually have.

 I'll have to try this.  I always have a suction issue when putting in the bag and taking it out!

 

 

I don't drink or smoke but I bet this would work to curb other bad habits.

I'm going to do this!  I have several allergies that emergency response would need to know about.

This site is pretty awesome!

Looks like a great idea!

 Ah, had I known this in college nutrition.

 

I'll have to try this one.

This would be a great idea on most phones.  My phone is always locked so they would have to get through that first.

I always roll my clothes.  Next time I go somewhere I'm going to try this method.

 This site is really awesome!  It has a lot of questions I've been asked in interviews as well as questions I've asked while conducting interviews.

 



I love random knowledge!

I've used Velcro for similar things, never thought about the remote!

So that's how you cover the bread!

I'm pretty positive this works.  My grandfather used to use a 20oz bottle of water instead of a brick.

Wonder if this really works?

This is the only way I know how to tie a tie.

This looks like an awesome storage idea!

Works in volcanoes why not my sink!

 Sources:

1. http://1000lifehacks.com/
2. http://www.epicdash.com/the-46-most-brilliant-life-hacks-every-human-being-needs-to-make-life-easier/
3. http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/100-life-hacks-that-make-life-easier.html