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 season is to have your HVAC system inspected by an HVAC professional and upgraded if needed. An HVAC system that is not working 100% can cause smoke or debris to get inside your home, which can be very unhealthy for you and your family. Contact your local HV…

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 see if they have a program to join, or you could create your own "club" in your home or neighborhood! Make a tiered list of fun rewards or achievements for the amount of time, pages, or books your child reads through the end of the summer. 2. Neighborhood Sc…

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 for your garden or potted plants. Simply empty and clean the bottle, use a pushpin to make five or six small holes in the lid, and voila! Fill up the bottle, put on the lid, and place your new self-watering bulb lid-down in the dirt by the plant(s) you want t…

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 water If you have any injuries or joint pain, swimming can be a great exercise option for you. Swimming Engages the Whole Body Swimming engages all of the major muscle groups in your body, which helps build strength and toning. The swimming motion is uniqu…

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 tours that take you through the town, city, or neighborhood on foot! Walking tours are great for exploring your neighborhood and learning about nearby places of interest (some places even have underground tunnel tours). 2. Visit Local Art Galleries and Exhi…

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 can be grown in almost any size of garden. Most types of tomatoes need at least six to eight hours of full sunlight each day, so be sure your small garden or planter gets enough light. You could try growing smaller tomatoes in a hanging planter, or use trell…

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 also keep a water bottle on your desk or in your car so it's easily accessible! 2. Drink a large glass of water right after waking up Drinking water right when you get out of bed is a great way to start the day with hydration. It can also help you wake up quic…

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-long pet fur can get caught in mats and cause severe skin irritation, foul odors, and other general discomfort. At a grooming appointment, the groomer will brush out your pet's coat to remove tangles before bathing them. This keeps matted fur from ever formi…

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 you run a cycleFoul smells start coming from inside the dishwasher even after it has been runItems are not drying as well on the dishwasher's top rack As standard practice, you should probably clean your dishwasher every month to every few months to keep it fro…

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 movieMake homemade ice cream with red, white, and blue sprinkles or toppingsSet up an old-fashioned game of croquet on the lawnGo camping in your backyard Take a Little Trip Visit a local water park or splash padSpend the day cooling off at the beach or by the rive…

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 minimize the amount of sunlight shining into your home. If you want to block out the light completely, use blackout curtains or hang up a blanket over your window. If the temperature goes down at night, open your windows to let the cool air inside. 2. Keep Yo…

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 natural process of decomposition that occurs when organic matter, such as compostable kitchen scraps or leaves and grass clippings, are broken down in a controlled environment such as a compost pile, tumbler, or bin. The compost can be used to enrich the soil…

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 smart locks allow you to lock and unlock the door from the smart lock's corresponding app. Some smart locks can be programmed to automatically lock when you leave the house and unlock when they detect your smartphone being waved in front of it. Others have di…

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. What is an Elimination Diet? While the word "diet" is often seen as a means to lose weight, the goal of an elimination diet is not to count calories, track carbs, or fast. An elimination diet lasts 4-6 weeks and is a process of systematically removing an…

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's an easy task that doesn't take much time to do. It's also a good way to avoid any unwanted surprises, like getting stranded because you didn't know your tire was flat or running over the curb and ruining all four tires when one of them is low on air. A few…

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 floors are easier to keep clean, but hardwood is more prone to scratching. If you have carpet, be sure to vacuum thoroughly and regularly to keep it from collecting hair or foul odors. If you have hardwood, be sure to keep your pet's nails trimmed so they d…

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 from sun damage. Wear Proper Sunscreen Wearing sunblock is the best way to protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays that can lead to premature aging and skin cancer. There are many brands of sunscreen on the market, but not all offer identical p…

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 sell. However, choosing what to sell can be the reason someone decides to browse (or not browse) through your items. Just because you need to get rid of something doesn't necessarily mean you should sell it at your yard sale. Make sure you're only selling thin…

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). While it may seem like more water = healthier plant, it's actually quite the opposite. Giving plants too much water can cause root rot—especially if their containers don't have drainage. If you notice your plant's leaves are yellowing, turning brown at the tip…

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? Taking breaks when working at a computer are important for multiple reasons. First, your eyes are in a fixed position for hours at a time, and regular breaks give your eyes the chance to focus on something different, which will help reduce eye strain a…

Planting a butterfly garden can be an exhilarating experience. It will bring beauty and fragrance into your life and can act as a natural mood booster. Here are the steps to successfully start your own butterfly garden. Devise a Garden Plan The first step in the process is to identify which plants will draw butterflies to the garden you create. Ideally, the garden should have spots where eggs can be laid. It also pays to use plants that caterpillars will want to eat. You'll want to make sure the garden has shallow areas where rainwater can be held. All of this will help provide a safe environment for metamorphosis to take place. Choose the Right Spot You will want your garden to be in an area where it is exposed to sunlight but is at least…