Summertime is a time for fun in the sun. But when the temperatures rise, it can be tough to think of ways to keep your kids entertained (and keep them cool). We've got you covered. Here are 6 water-based summer activities for kids that will help keep them cool and entertained all summer long. 1. Water Balloon Fight Water balloon fights are a summer classic for a reason. They are a perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day, and there are many ways to use them. Set up obstacles in the yard and play in teams, or go all out in a last-person-standing battle. All you need is a bunch of water balloons and some willing participants, so invite your kids' friends over and have a good time! 2. Homemade Sprinkler Dig out your garden …

Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors. One of the things that makes summer so enjoyable is having a beautiful lawn to relax on. A well-manicured lawn can enhance your home's curb appeal. Use the following tips to keep your lawn looking good throughout the summer. 1. Mowing One of the most important aspects of lawn care is mowing. Mowing keeps your lawn neat and helps ensure that grassroots get the necessary light and air to stay healthy. However, mowing can also damage your lawn if not done properly. For example, cutting the grass too short can make it more susceptible to drought and disease. Likewise, a dull blade can rip the grass, causing it to turn brown and die. To keep your lawn looking its best, mow regularly and…

We all know self-care is important. We feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally when we're caring for ourselves. We have more energy to take on the day, and we're better able to handle stress. But sometimes, finding the time or motivation to practice self-care is hard. Life gets busy, and it's easy to put our own needs on the back burner. However, there are simple things we can do every day to show ourselves a little love. 1. Get Enough Sleep A good night's sleep is important for overall health and well-being, but getting the recommended seven to eight hours of shut-eye per night is not always easy. You can do a few simple things to promote better sleep, including establishing a regular sleep schedule by going to bed and wak…

With the hot weather upon us, it is important to take precautions to ensure that our pets stay cool. Let's discuss some tips on keeping your pet safe during hot weather. 1. Never Leave Your Pet in The Car Never leave your pet in the car, even for a short period. The temperature inside a car can rise very quickly, and pets can suffer from heatstroke and die from being left in a hot car. 2. Give Them Plenty of Water Give your pet plenty of fresh, cool water to drink, especially if they have been playing outside. Pets can quickly become dehydrated in the heat, so ensure they have constant water access. 3. Limit Their Exercise Avoid walking or exercising your pet during the hottest hours of the day. If you must walk them,…

Growing a business takes time, energy, and effort. But you don't have to go it alone. There are plenty of resources and support systems available to help you, including business networking groups. Business networking groups can offer a wealth of benefits to small, medium-sized, and large businesses. If you're not already a member of one, here are some key benefits that you might be missing out on. 1. Access to a Pool of Potential Clients Customers are the lifeblood of any business. And one of the main benefits of business networking groups is that they can provide introduce you to potential clients. The people in your group will be from different industries and professions, which means they'll be likely to recommend or use …

When the weather warms up, you might start thinking, "How can I turn my backyard into a great summer hangout spot?" A few simple changes can make all the difference. Let's go over some ideas for transforming your backyard and making it the perfect spot for summer fun. 1. Add Some Color A pop of color can transform a space and make it feel more inviting. Add some brightly colored flowers or plants or even a colorful rug or outdoor furniture. 2. Create a Focal Point Every space needs a focal point that will draw the eye and make the space feel more cohesive. This could be anything from a fire pit to a water feature, to an outdoor dining table or kitchen in your backyard. 3. Add Some Lighting Lighting is important for an…

Do you snore very loudly in your sleep? Or, maybe you've felt like you've needed to gasp for air in your sleep. These are just two symptoms that are associated with sleep apnea, which is a potentially serious sleep disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly start and stop. What Is Sleep Apnea? There are three main types of sleep apnea that a person may have: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea syndrome.  Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax involuntarily and block the airway. This typically causes deep snoring throughout the night. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain doesn't send the correct signals to the muscles that control breathing while sleeping. A…

The guidance on how to get your content to rank high in search results has changed over the years. The focus is almost always on Google, which is the world’s leading search engine, and Google often makes changes to its algorithms that require content marketers to adapt their strategies. The algorithm updates that Google makes can often make or break sites. If it significantly changes ranking signals, some sites can end up losing a big chunk of their traffic overnight, and getting it back seems almost impossible.  However, there’s one SEO best practice that has stood the test of time: link building. Quality inbound links are viewed as a positive ranking factor by Google and other search engines.  Unfortunately, many p…

If you're looking for ways to stay cool and save on your energy bills this summer, you're not alone. Let's get into a few of the top ways to save money while still staying cool at home. 1. Service Your Air Conditioner One of the best ways to ensure your air conditioner is running as efficiently as possible is to have it serviced by an HVAC professional. Servicing your air conditioner will not only improve its energy efficiency, but it will also help extend its lifespan. Contact a local HVAC professional today to schedule an appointment. 2. Use Your Windows Wisely During the summer, natural sunlight can work against you when it comes to energy efficiency. If you have windows that face the sun, you can use window treatmen…

Every aspect of running a small business can be incredibly challenging, including creating a budget. Most small businesses are on a very tight budget, so you want to make sure that you delegate it in a way that doesn’t neglect any of your business needs. Depending on your digital marketing experience, it can be even harder to figure out how much to budget for this part of your business expenses.  Whether you need to create your first digital marketing budget or need to adjust your existing one, the following tips will make it much easier.  The Rule of Thumb by Percentage Remember that every single company is different, and your digital marketing budget will depend on a long list of factors. That being said, there are s…

If you want to invite your family to come together for a family reunion, you may be worried about how much work it will take to plan and how much it might cost. The good news is that you don't have to plan an elaborate event or break the bank to host a fun family reunion. Let's go over a few planning tips. Hold the Event Outdoors Instead of renting a venue or vacation home that might be expensive, hold your family reunion outdoors. You can choose to host the event at a park, at the beach, or even in your backyard. Pick a time of year when the weather is typically cooperative! Host a Potluck If you want to save money on food, you can have each household bring a food item to share at the reunion. Potluck-style events avoid ca…

More than 35 million people in the United States have a physical disability, which can make it difficult to navigate physical spaces. Whether someone requires assistance in the bathroom or uses a wheelchair about the house, here are some tips to make your house more accessible and disability-friendly. Install Ramps in Addition to Stairs Stairs are a barrier and risk for many disabled people, not just those who use wheelchairs. Even with a single-story home, it's typical to have one or two stairs leading from your porch to your entryway or an interior step into a living room. Having a ramp available as an alternate route will make for an easy transition into the home. Be sure the slope of the ramp is compliant with ADA requirement…

A financial advisor assists individuals in broadly planning their client’s financial future and determining financial goals and how best to accomplish those goals. There are specialties in this field, which include Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Investment Advisers (IA), Registered Representatives (RR), and Investment Adviser Representatives (IAR). The law requires a licensed fiduciary financial planner to act in their client's best interest. Other types of financial advisors don't have the same requirement.   What Does a Financial Advisor Do?   Each type of financial advisor utilizes a structured process to help the client develop their fi…

A clean and tidy home can help make you feel more relaxed in your space. However, with any hectic lifestyle, it can be difficult to keep your house neat and clean. Hiring a cleaning company is a great solution to help you regain your time and energy for other things, like your family or your job. Before you commit to one company over another, take a look at this list of essential features that every quality housekeeping company should have. Reliable References A high-quality house cleaning company will have testimonials. Based on the time they have been operating, they should have a track record of providing high-quality service. Start by checking their online reviews and ask your circle of influence if they have any recommendati…

Giving gifts expresses love, support, excitement, and happiness for the people you care about. Choosing to gift someone a handmade gift basket can be a great way to say many things, like "Congratulations," "Happy Birthday," or "I love you." Let's look at a few special occasions and holidays that are perfect for giving personalized gift baskets. 1. Births Births and baby showers are unique occasions to honor new life and are ideal occasions for giving presents to the baby or new parents. During events like baby showers, friends and relatives shower the mother-to-be with baby presents. Baby clothing, stuffed animals, books, toys, and various sizes of diapers are all great items to include in a baby shower gift basket. You can al…

Are you a first-time homebuyer? If so, you're likely thinking about the best home improvement projects to add value and personalize your space. However, many big home improvement projects—like renovated kitchens, new windows, or updated HVAC—are expensive and time-consuming, which means you likely can't tackle everything at once. The good news is that there are plenty of small changes you can make that are simple, affordable, and can make a big impact on your new place right away. Here are five to consider! 1. Add a New Coat of Paint One classic home improvement project to consider is adding a new coat of paint to the walls. The color of paint can change the atmosphere of your home, making this a simple, yet effective way to tran…

You never know when you’ll get sick or injured, and you may need medical treatment fast if your condition is more serious. You can get the prompt health care service that you need by going to either an urgent care center or an emergency room. Knowing the difference between the two—and knowing when to go to each—will save you extra time and stress. Whether Your Condition Is Life-threatening Life-threatening conditions require immediate attention in a local emergency room. You should definitely go to the emergency room if you are experiencing a medical emergency, such as: Chest painHemorrhagingBreathing difficultiesHead traumaSevere burnsA gunshot or stab wound If your condition doesn’t put your life in immediate dang…

Sometimes it can be difficult to hit the ground running and get all of your tasks done each day. Whether for work or personal tasks, there are many tools and systems that exist to help you organize your time and get the task done on time. Here are four popular tools that you might want to consider using. Daily Planner One of the most popular tools for organizing daily tasks is the daily planner. This can be a physical book that you keep with you at all times, or it can be a cloud-based application on your phone or computer. The key to using a daily planner is to write down everything that you need to do each day, as well as when you need to get them done. Once you complete the task, check or cross it off and move on to the next t…

Managing a small business can be a challenging task. While there are many online resources available to help you keep going, there may come a time when you need additional help. That's where hiring a business consultant comes in. Here are some reasons why hiring a business consultant may be a good idea for your small business. 1. Expert Advice Business consultants are experts in their field. They have a deep understanding of the challenges that small businesses face, and they can offer valuable advice to help you overcome these obstacles. Whether you need tips on pinpointing your company vision, improving your sales pitch, or avoiding common pitfalls, a consultant can be an invaluable resource for your business. 2. Access to N…

There are many benefits that come from using raised beds in your gardening. If you're just starting out with raised garden beds, here are five easy-to-grow vegetables (and a fruit!) that will flourish. 1. Root Vegetables Because you can control the soil and depth in a raised garden, carrots, radishes, beets, and other root vegetables are an excellent choice and will thrive with the extra space to spread out. For ideal growing conditions, make sure the soil has no rocks, debris, or clay. 2. Tomatoes Tomatoes love loose, nutrient-dense soil and grow well in raised garden beds because the soil can be better controlled. Consider planting companion plants such as carrots alongside your tomatoes, which tends to increase the yield…

Lower back pain is a common concern for many people. For some, the pain may be a result of repetitive motions or a sedentary lifestyle. For others, pain may be due to an underlying health condition. Whatever the reason, back pain can be quite disruptive to your daily routine. The good news is that stretching can be an excellent way to alleviate your symptoms! Here are four stretches that may give you some relief. Child's Pose Child's pose is a traditional yoga pose that gently stretches your thighs, glutes, and spinal muscles. This pose is great for lower back pain because it helps loosen those stubborn back muscles that can be difficult to stretch. Child's pose is also great for improving flexibility and blood circulation. Kn…