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For Brick, New Jersey

Fire season is in full swing in the United States and Canada, and it's never too soon to take action. Even if you're not in an active evacuation zone, the air quality outside can become unhealthy in a matter of hours. Your home should be a refuge from the smoke, but what if it isn't? Here are a few easy ways to help improve air quality inside your home during fire season. Inspect and Upgrade Your HVAC System One of the best ways to prepare for potentially unhealthy air quality this fire s…

Back to school season may be coming right around the corner, but summer break isn't over yet! To ease your kids back into school mode, we came up with a list of five educational summer activities you can squeeze into your schedule before your child returns to the classroom. 1. Summer Reading Club or Reading Challenge A summer reading club is a summer program that keeps children engaged with books and can get children back into the mindset of learning. You can visit your local library to s…

Plastic is a very common material found in our everyday lives. From grocery bags to plastic containers, this material can be upcycled and reused in many different ways. If you have any old plastic containers that you want to reuse instead of toss out or recycle, read on for a few clever ways to upcycle them! 1. Plastic Bottle to Self-Watering Bulb Why buy a new self-watering bulb when you can reuse old plastic bottles? You can upcycle any size plastic bottle to make self-watering bulbs fo…

Swimming is a great form of exercise that is often overlooked, but it can be an excellent way to stay fit, strengthen your body, and relieve stress. Let's discuss a few benefits of swimming as a form of exercise! Swimming is Easy on the Joints Swimming is considered a low-impact exercise, which means it puts very little pressure on your joints. Compared to running or other high-impact cardio, swimming puts less stress on your body while still giving you a good workout. The buoyancy of the…

Discovering local history and culture is a fantastic way to spend your spare time and learn about where you live. Whether you are looking for something fun to do with kids or friends or want to find out more about the neighborhood you live in, here are a few activity ideas to get you started: 1. Look for Local Tours One of the best ways to learn about the history of your town is to find local museums, historic sites, and other attractions that offer local tours. You may also find walking …

Growing your own vegetables is not only a great way to save money, but gardening can also be very therapeutic and rewarding. However, if you live in an apartment or have a small yard, gardening might seem impossible. With some creativity and clever gardening techniques, it's possible to grow some of your favorite veggies even if you've got limited space! In this article we will discuss five vegetables that are perfect for gardens of any size. Tomatoes Tomatoes are a gardening staple and c…

Do you have trouble drinking enough water throughout the day? Drinking water is one of the most important things you can do for your health, yet many people struggle with drinking water regularly because they don't feel like they have time, they forget, or they don't enjoy it. Let's go over 10 simple ways to make drinking water an easier task! 1. Carry water with you Our first tip is to carry water with you in a water bottle or water jug so that you always have water to drink. You can als…

If you have a pet, regular grooming is essential to keep them happy and healthy. While grooming might just seem like a nice bath and a fresh haircut, there are many underlying benefits you might not realize. Let's discuss five of the main reasons why regular pet grooming is necessary for your pet's wellbeing. Prevent Tangling and Matting One of the biggest reasons to have your pet groomed regularly is to brush out tangles and prevent matted fur. If never brushed or maintained, medium-to-l…

Wondering why your dishes aren't getting as clean as they used to or why your dishwasher smells weird every time you open it? That usually means it's time for a deep clean! Cleaning your dishwasher regularly will help extend the life of your dishwasher and make it run more efficiently. Signs to Look For There are a few telltale signs that mean it might be time to clean your dishwasher. You notice staining in places on dishes that weren't there beforeThe water doesn't drain away after y…

While 4th of July is all about celebrating the United States' independence (and eating good barbecue), it can become dangerous once fireworks are involved. During unprecedented dry weather and in places where wildfire danger is high, it might be best to skip the fireworks during your festivities this year. Luckily, there are plenty of fun and safe 4th of July activities you can try instead. Celebrating at Home Set up an outdoor movie theater at home and watch your favorite summer movieMak…

With heat waves becoming more common and more extreme, it's vital to find ways to stay cool. Unfortunately, for those without air conditioning, it can be a difficult task. Whether you're worried about heat exhaustion or simply can't get comfortable, here are our top 5 tips to help keep your body temperature down during the heat. 1. Close and Cover Your Windows Heat easily sneaks into your home through windows. To keep the hot air out, close all of your windows and keep curtains shut to mi…

When you compost your food scraps or yard debris, you can feel good knowing that you are recycling your food waste and providing rich nutrients for plants and soil. Even if you don't use your compost in a garden, composting now can help reduce methane emissions from organic waste in landfills. Composting is one small way to care for the environment while helping your garden grow! Let's get into more about how (and why) you should start composting. What is Composting? Composting is the nat…

Smart locks are a relatively new technology taking the home security industry by storm. These smart locks use Bluetooth and/or WiFi to communicate with your phone, allowing you to lock and unlock your door from anywhere, anytime. There are many benefits to having smart locks for your home, but the new technology can also bring some downsides and concerns. What is a Smart Lock? Smart locks are smart home accessories that let you secure your home without the need for a physical key. Most sm…

Food sensitivities are often an unrecognized cause of recurring symptoms like bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation, and nausea. If you're regularly experiencing any of these symptoms, elimination diets can help you identify if certain foods may be the cause. By eliminating suspected triggers from your diet and then reintroducing them one at a time, you to see if they cause any reactions. In this post, we will discuss what an elimination diet is, how it works, and how to try one yourself. …

Car maintenance is something that many people put off until "tomorrow" or "next week," but waiting can cause major problems down the road. Today, we're going to look at 3 regular car maintenance items you shouldn't put off for too long—tire pressure, fluid levels, and brake pads. Tire Pressure How often do you check your car's tire pressure? It might be a good idea to start doing this more regularly. There are many benefits of checking the air in your tires every month. For starters, it…

As a pet-owner, you know that pets are an important part of the family. But what is the best way to make your home safer and more welcoming for them? Here are five tips on how you can make your home more pet-friendly and make life easier for both you and your companion. 1. Keep Flooring in Mind It's important to keep your home's flooring in mind when it comes to your pet. Carpeting is generally not recommended for pet owners as it can be difficult to clean and maintain. Hardwood and tile …

The sun is one of the most beautiful things in life, but it is also dangerous. Thousands of people suffer from skin cancer every year due to overexposure to UVA and UVB rays. You may not notice any symptoms at first, but the effects of sun exposure can sneak up unexpectedly. There are plenty of ways to protect yourself while enjoying time outside on sunny and cloudy days alike! In this blog post, we will discuss some best practices to follow year-round so your skin stays healthy and protected f…

If you're holding a yard or garage sale to get rid of some things you don't need anymore, it might take a little more thought and planning than you think at first. Let's look at a few of our favorite tips on how to prepare for a yard sale by deciding what you're going to sell, pricing items appropriately, picking the right day/time for your event, and more. We hope these tips help make your sale a success! 1. Decide What to Sell You can't have a yard or garage sale without anything to sel…

If you have a houseplant and are noticing yellowing or wilted leaves, don't give up just yet! There are several reasons why your plant might just need a little bit of TLC, and every plant is different. Let's discuss the three main reasons why your plants might look like they're dying to help give you some ideas on how to care for them properly. Over/Under Watering One of the biggest reasons why your plant might be struggling is due to the amount of water it's getting (or not getting). Whi…

One of the best things you can do to reduce eye strain and fatigue when working on a computer is to take better screen breaks! Taking proper screen breaks will help reduce eye strain, fatigue, and headaches by giving your eyes a regular chance to rest. In this article, we'll talk about why taking breaks is important as well as how often you should be taking them. We'll also give some helpful tips on what to do during these breaks so they're not wasted time. Why Are Screen Breaks So Important…