Category: Home

How to Raise a Healthy Dog

Statistics show that 95.5% of dog owners consider their pets to be a part of their family. A companion to play outside with and lounge on the couch with. Dogs can be a calming presence in a busy home and give more than they take. Keep reading to learn a few tips on how to raise a healthy dog to live a long life with you and your family.

 

Proper Nutrition

What your dog eats will have an effect on how long it will live. Many dog owners overfeed or underfeed their dogs, so learning the proper amount based on your dog’s breed and their activity level is important. A young labrador may eat more than an older German Shepard. There are many different brands to choose from, so finding a fit that agrees with your dog’s digestive and gut health is key. Be careful when switching brands of food, as your dog may take time to adjust to the new recipe.

 

Focus on Regular Exercise

Like humans, dogs need regular exercise. They are active pets and are not meant to be sedentary for 20 hours a day. This exercise can come in many different forms. First, you can take them for a walk. This is an easy solution that you can build into your morning and evening routine. It also lets you keep track that they exercised for 20 minutes in the morning and 40 minutes in the evening. The dog will appreciate the routine as well and come to expect it as a part of their day.

 

Keep up on Grooming

Have you ever seen a pet that has been ungroomed? Do they look healthy? The lack of grooming not only affects the outward appearance of a dog but can have damaging effects on its skin. Dirt, moisture, and bacteria can build up and cause issues if it is not addressed. One way to avoid this is to groom your dog regularly. This includes brushing their fur every few days and regularly bathing them yourself or taking them to a pet place that does grooming. In addition, trying salmon bites for dogs regularly can help them maintain a healthy coat and skin. This will supplement the grooming that you are already doing and help their skin stay healthy long-term.

 

Interaction with other Dogs

Dogs crave social attention and not all of this can be solved by the owner giving them attention. This can be achieved by going to the local dog park or getting together with family and friends that also have dogs and letting them play for a few hours. This will help break up the mundane day-to-day for your dog since they don’t travel to work and other places like humans do. There is a new sense of energy and discovery whenever dogs meet for the first time and get to play together.

 

Proper Amount of Attention

Neglected dogs are a difficult sight to see. You probably have seen the result of this in rescue shelters or maybe even in your neighborhood. People that are too busy to care for a dog or no longer want it, typically don’t treat them with respect. Giving your dog the right amount of attention so that it feels loved and cared for is an important part of its overall health. Rewarding good behavior and finding ways to calmly address poor behavior will help the relationship between you and your dog.

 

Vet Checkups

Humans typically go for a yearly physical to see a picture of their overall health. This same concept is important for dogs to go to the vet. Not only can they get the preventative flea medication they need or the rabies shot, but you can also see what their overall health is like. You may find that your dog is overweight and needs to make nutritional and exercise changes moving forward.

 

Practice Patience

Dog
A dog is looking straight to its owner

Dogs are not humans. As much as they feel like they are a part of the family, owners can have unrealistic expectations of how the dog will act. They are an animal and will occasionally go crazy with energy when they spot a squirrel. Chasing the neighbor’s cat up a tree is a burst of adrenaline for them and seems harmless. Practicing being patient when teaching your dog how you expect them to act will help the process go smoother for both you and the dog.
Now that you have read more about tips for raising a healthy dog, you can start practicing these tips today. Adding a walk into your day with your dog can bring many positive benefits to both of your health. Check out our website for more helpful articles like this one. 

Finding the Right Contractor for Your Next Home Improvement Project

If you have been through a home renovation process, you know how important it is to find the right contractor for the job. Building a patio is different from remodeling the bathroom, but most remodeling work requires an expert to be in charge. Here are some tips to help you find the best contractor for your upcoming home improvement job.

 

Ask for Referrals

You probably know people who are happy with the home renovations they’ve had done. Ask for recommendations, references, or referrals for contractors they have worked with. Often, word-of-mouth advertising is the most effective way to find a reliable and talented construction expert. Try to see the work done for an idea of the quality and style you might expect with your project. Ask about timeliness, materials, and cost to see how those factors line up with your home remodeling plans. It is also good to ask about anything they didn’t like about the contractor or the work. Maybe it was a minor issue with that person, but it might be important to you.

 

Check Credentials

Many contractors have building licenses and credentials, depending on the area where they work. Some have specializations like concrete or landscaping, so keep that in mind when searching for an expert to help with your home improvements. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if complaints have been filed and resolved. Not all contractors are listed with the BBB, so don’t worry if you don’t see the names of those you are considering. Some homeowners even check municipal and county criminal records or do a background check to see if a contractor has a prior conviction or pending litigation. While not directly related to your home renovation, a suspended driver’s license or a domestic violence charge may still raise red flags about the integrity of a contractor that you may want to hire.

 

Look for Online Information

Most established contractors have a website that prospective customers can easily find. The website will provide information about the type of work the person handles and experience or credentials in certain areas of home remodeling or construction. The design and overall impact of the website can reveal aspects of the contractor’s work as well, such as its completeness, accuracy, sponsors, and last update. Search for online reviews that may be on the contractor’s website or located elsewhere, especially those that serve as warnings about the credibility and skills of a contractor. Social media can offer clues to an individual’s online identity and connections as well. Without being directly connected, you can look for the person’s presence on Facebook and Instagram and the more professional Linked In. Reading their posts and interactions with others may provide added insight into their character and work ethic.

 

Consult Professional Agencies

Client
The employee from the agency is presenting all important information to her client

Some contractors are vetted and referred by chain home building stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot. Others list their services with professional agencies like Networx. Many contractors use Networx leads to reach out to potential clients, which means those searching for home improvement professionals can read Networx reviews before deciding who to hire. Many agencies vet those who register with them by checking credentials and sometimes screening their abilities with basic tests. You can save time and possibly stress by contacting an agency like Networx to find a reliable contractor. There is no obligation if, after meeting a contractor, you decide not to hire that person.

 

Get Several Estimates

Aim to get at least two or three contractor estimates for the work you want to have done. You can tell a lot about a person by how the work is discussed and how that person would handle the job. Someone who takes a casual approach to the project may not be as focused as you would like. Compare timelines, schedules, and materials for an idea of how each contractor would do the work and decide which will be the best fit. You can also keep looking if none of them seem suitable.

Don’t get stiffed by paying an unknown contractor in advance and then finding the person has disappeared without doing the work. Do a thorough search and use professional resources to find the right person for the job.

Meal Prep 101: Things You Need to Know

The term that gets thrown out a lot these days in every cooking channel is meal prep. You might wonder what meal prep is and how does it benefit you. Well, first of all, meal prep is not for everyone; it is not for people who don’t like to eat the same thing on two-three days in a row. Meal prep is not for people who look for variety at every mealtime and do not enjoy leftovers. However, meal prep can work wonders for people who want to manage their time better and spend less time cooking. It is also for those wishing to avoid the temptation to go out and eat. You can save a lot of money and time by prepping your meal beforehand. You can work at a stretch without worrying about the next meal because you already did that two days ago; all you have to do now is heat that food up, and you are good to go. Continue reading this article to find out the dos and don’ts of prepping a meal.

 

Type Of Food:

When one thinks of making food for two-three days, one would naturally like to make all of their favorite foods. But that is hardly the goal of meal prep. Certain foods stay good for two-three days while others don’t. Most people (non-vegans) like fried chicken, right? But making a large batch of fried chicken to store for later consumption will not work because the chicken will lose its crunch and become soggy. 

  • Beans, cooked grains, pasta, roasted veggies are great for storing. Cooked meat, roasted meat, and meat in any other form are good for a couple of days. 
  • Whole fruits, nuts, and seeds, homemade sauce, dips are good options to store without the risk of spoiling.
  • However, softer fruits and vegetables such as lettuce, barriers, and cut fruits are not good options when it comes to storing them for a few days. An excellent solution to keeping your fruits longer than usual is to dehydrate them. Many people use food dehydrators for storing cut fruits and leftover foods for longer without the fear of wasting them. A dehydrator takes away the moisture from food items, helping them stay fresh for a longer period. 
  • One should not include crunchy food items like fried chicken, chips, and crackers during meal prep. 
Pumpkin
A lot of different kinds of vegetables are displayed on the old wooden table

Duration:

You might wonder, how long will the food be safe to eat? And how would one know if the food has gone bad? Well, there’s no hard and fast rule. But as a rule of thumb, one usually makes meal prep for not more than four days. You need to keep the food in airtight containers and put them in the refrigerator. While making the food, be sure to count the number of people and the days for which you are making the food to avoid wastage. There’s no point in wasting a day’s worth of food if your goal is to save money and stay on top of a strict budget. 

How to Create a Perfect Study Room for Your Chid?

People with enough space in the house may like to create a dedicated study room for their children. A study corner will help the little one learn better without outside distractions. There are many things to consider while planning a study room. The process of education has shifted over the last few years. Therefore, modern study rooms should accommodate students with all the facilities needed to perform to their absolute ability. Continue reading the article to know more about how to design a study space for your child. 

 

Décor Of The Room:

 One of the fundamental things to remember while decorating a study space is that the Room should not feel cluttered with unnecessary things. The study corner needs to be spacious and airy. Ideally, natural light is preferable for the study place, but if you live in a congested city and want to block the outside noise, you can always install more lighting to brighten up the space. 

  • The wall color should be muted without much detailing work. The minimalistic décor will help one focus more on the study without distracting too much. 
  • A strong desk is required in the study room. The desk should have many drawers to keep all the papers and learning supplies intact. 
  • The study table can double as a laptop table since most of the studies are conducted online. Even if you are not keen on online studies and want to provide your child with hardcover books instead of PDFs, a student must research topics online to stay updated on the subject.

 

Learning devices: 

As mentioned earlier, most of the studies are conducted with the help of gadgets these days. Therefore, one must furnish the study room with the desired gadgets and instruments. These classroom devices help students continue their studies without difficulty. 

  • A computer is a must-have gadget in the study room. Make sure you install a high-quality internet connection and Wi-Fi system to run the system smoothly. One may also install parental control software on the computer to monitor the child’s online activity. 
  • Other gadgets such as a Tablet, printer, and interactive projectors are conventional devices installed in a smart classroom.
Children
A boy and a girl are attending online lectures together

 

Soundproof Room: 

If you live in a busy city, the child will likely have a hard time dealing with the noises from the outside. Therefore, a parent may also consider soundproofing his child’s study room to help him concentrate on the lessons. The Room should be big enough for your child to have a group study session with his classmates. During an online study session, you don’t want the noises from the house to be heard by others on screen. The global pandemic has taught everyone that one should treat their study room as a classroom in the school. Therefore, these days when most of the classes are held online, soundproofing is even more required.

 

Quick Storage: 

In addition to having a large desk with drawers, one may also install a bookcase in the study room. The bookcase will serve as a library in the study, with plenty of storage space at the bottom for extra copies and supplies.

 

Military Family Life: 10 Ways To Improve Quality Time Together

Getting quality family time is crucial for all members of the family. When a parent is in the military, it can mean long periods of separation and frequent moves across the USA and beyond. Finding the time to ensure your family gets to bond is essential to help kids grow up well-adjusted and mentally healthy.  

You should consider all your options when trying to make family time. You can spend time bonding just as well at home as you can on vacation or a day out. What is important is that you make time for each other and stay present for your kids.  

 

Put The Electronics Away

When you have the chance to spend time in person with your family, you must be present. Avoid using cell phones and other electronics. Consider having a ban on phones at the dinner table. Engage with your family and actively listen to what they tell you.  

 

Spend Quality Time With Your Partner

Carve out time for you and your partner to connect. Have a regular date night where you hire a sitter for the kids. Do something different each week to keep the spark between you bright.  

 

Make Care Packages

Send care packaging back and forth when on deployment. Military members can send trinkets and keepsakes from wherever they’re based, and families can send reminders of home and country. Include handwritten letters and drawings from the kids.  

 

Play Board Games

Have a regular games night at home. Stock up on various games to suit the ages and interests of your kids. Look out for games in thrift stores and online.  

 

Create A Permanent Home Base

Create a permanent home base to give your kids stability and make homecoming more special. Consider buying a property with a VA mortgage, which doesn’t require a down payment. Find out how much you can borrow using this VA mortgage calculator from Hero Loan. Always choose a dependable VA loan provider like Hero Loan.  

 

Travel Together

Go on family vacations regularly. Travel throughout the USA and beyond. Choose unique experiences each time you travel to give yourself and your kids strong and fond memories. Consider adventurous vacations like camping in a National Park, trips to Disneyworld, or city breaks abroad.

 

Think Of Unique Days Out

Explore all your local area has to offer. Take your kids to try different activities like white water rafting and horseback riding. Make every family day memorable by trying something new. Ask your kids what they want to do.  

 

Read To Your Kids

Father
A father is telling the goodnight story to a baby son.

Make reading time a regular fixture in your home. Read to kids before bed as part of a bedtime routine. Let them choose books for you to read.  

 

Cook And Eat Together

Cook meals as a family to get your kids interested in healthy eating habits. Ensure everyone has a job to do during meal prep, and everyone helps wash up afterward.  

 

Help Out With Homework

Help your kids with their homework to improve their academic abilities. Have designated homework times where you gather around the dining table to help them work. Consider hiring a tutor for any subjects they struggle with.

Best Home Improvement Blogs to Follow

Home improvement sounds like a pretty intimidating thing, but it really isn’t. Contrary to what you might believe and what’s shown on TV, home improvement can range from just getting a new vase or painting an accent wall in the bedroom to a massive renovation project with a big budget. 

Any good home improvement blog covers all these topics, and its goal is to make you realize that home improvement is very much within your reach. Not only is it their job to give you new ideas and suggestions on what to do, but it’s also their job to make sure you know exactly how to pull it off. 

Keep reading to find out about some of the best home improvement blogs that will make you feel like your new project is no big deal! 

1. HomeZada

Are you ready to discover strategies to save money, save time, and be better organized in managing your largest financial asset and biggest expense, your home? Are you managing one or multiple homes and struggling with the best tools to manage these properties? HomeZada provides homeowners with a complete digital home management system. This includes offering a secure, cloud-based solution to track a home inventory, a home maintenance calendar, managing home improvement projects, storing important documents, and understanding total homeownership costs with home finances. When you know more about your home, you can make the best decisions for your family, your home health, and your personal finances.

HomeZada also provides our partners in insurance, lending, real estate, and homebuilding the ability to stay connected to their customers in a new educational format by being present inside HomeZada during a time when homeowners need exactly what they need to manage their homes. This enables these organizations to engage, retain and gain net new customers.

2. Box Construction 

logooo

Box Construction is the premier general and remodeling contractor serving clients in the Temecula and Murrieta areas including Wildomar, Menifee, and Lake Elsinore among other surrounding communities. Their core focus is a home remodeling and room addition. They specialize in kitchens, baths, and ADUs.

3. TONA

TONA is an international sanitary ware brand that advocates advanced sanitary ware culture and is known for its superb German craftsmanship and unique cutting-edge design. TONA’s design is inspired by natural elements, pursuing the design concept of “Less is more”.The brand logo of the European daisy, which has a fresh temperament, and exquisiteness, reflects the brand’s vigor and vitality. TONA began as a manufacturer of German-style bathroom furniture after nearly 20 years gradually grew into a global bathroom furniture brand merchant. The main products are bathroom furniture sets, bathtubs, smart toilets, and shower enclosures.

4.  Imagineer Remodeling

Imagineer Remodeling is a Southern California-based full-service home remodeling company. We specialize in complete home remodeling, renovation, and design services for every room of your house. Your imagination is the basis of our inspiration and the cornerstone of an exceptional yet functional design. By providing you with a one-stop remodeling center, we handle every stage of your project, from your vivid concept to a professionally crafted design and completion. We work directly with designers and manufacturers to cut out the middleman and offer you the best prices, quality, and customer service.

5. HowTL – Home With Technology

HowTL – Home With Technology, is a Smart Home Tech and Home Improvement Blog that helps you make your home smarter, safer, and more efficient. Whether it’s controlling lights, thermostats, or monitoring security systems from a smartphone, tablet, or computer; they provide the latest technology solutions for all of your needs. They offer detailed product reviews, step-by-step instructions, and helpful tips. They also feature articles from industry experts ranging from home automation veterans to professional installers, so you can get an in-depth look at the technology that’s out there for your smart home. HowTL understands that nothing is more important than the safety and security of your home and family. That’s why they provide helpful advice on protecting your home from intruders, scams, natural disasters, and other risks. They also offer informative posts about energy-saving methods and tools that can help you save money on your utility bills each month. Whether you’re a homeowner looking for the latest trends in smart home tech, a renter interested in upgrading their living space, or an experienced installer searching for the best products and services; HowTL can help you get the most out of your home.

6. Campark

CamPark logo

Founded in 2008, Campark is a technology company focusing on security products. We’ve been dedicated to creating the best smart security camera for home and business owners for years. We hope that every small step we take can serve as a protective shield for you, your family, and your privacy. We always adhere to the business philosophy of customer first, starting from customer experience, and constantly innovating and improving products. So far, we have provided a full range of reliable and affordable innovative home products and won the trust of our customers in a professional manner.

Selling Your Home? Here Are Five Ways To Make Things Go More Smoothly

Selling your home is a stressful and emotional time. You are probably in the middle of buying somewhere new, and you are saying goodbye to somewhere that may have a lot of special memories. It is also a process that can be long, complicated, and costly. Here are some tips to help things go more smoothly.

 

Start Preparing Now

Put your home on the market as early as possible. Remember that the process takes time and rushing may lead to accepting a lower price. Ask yourself if you can wait out property market trends. Shop around for the best real estate agent. Get multiple quotes on what you should be asking for. Give yourself room to maneuver in the price but be firm on the lowest offer you would consider.

 

Think About When You’re Selling

Consider the season carefully and what people will be looking for. Focus on the yard, green space, and exterior in the summer. Remember that surface-level issues may be more visible in bright sunlight. Think about how you could make your yard bright and enticing to boost the curb appeal of your home when selling in winter. Get your heating and insulation working to boost your chances of winter home selling. Take photos of your home for listing sites that best showcase your home regardless of the weather.

 

Put Yourself In The Buyers’ Shoes

Ask yourself what your priorities would be when buying a home. Work on the areas that often cause problems for new homeowners, such as the bathroom, kitchen, and lounge. Avoid undertaking any major new work while your home is available for viewing. Focus on making your home clean and tidy. Hire a professional cleaner to conduct a deep clean of your entire house before you allow viewings. Start getting rid of non-essential items and clear as much space as you can. 

 

Spend Money To Make Money

Invest in repairs and updates to your property that will attract buyers. See if your boiler or heater needs an upgrade. Upgrade to double glazing and better insulation. Spend money on fixes and updates that you can show off, such as new appliances, tiling, and new guttering. 

 

Remember That It’s A Long Process

Hourglass
An hourglass is measuring the time

Prepare yourself for several failed attempts at selling. Find a real estate agent who has a good track record for chasing leads. Be firm on your price and know when the time is right to tell the buyer to keep looking. Remember that new COVID-19 strains will affect the market. Gather as much information as you can about your property and prepare for a long list of questions. Stay up to date with the latest changes in the property market so you can adjust your price accordingly.

Best Personalized Holiday Gifts for Men and Women

For most of the country, people are still spending their weekends grilling by pools and enjoying the outdoors, but guess what….the holidays are coming!  In three short months, we will be surrounded by family and friends at holiday parties and events, dressed warmly, and keeping close to fireplaces and heaters. While some look forward to this, others dread this time of year due to gift-giving anxiety.  Well, we are here to eliminate any ill feelings you may have for buying and giving gifts.  

 

Let’s make things easy this holiday season and gift a personalized gift for him or her.  When a gift is personalized, it instantly becomes more meaningful to the recipient.  Check out the following personalized gifts below that are sure to bring a smile to his or her face when they finish unwrapping!  

 

Sports Gifts:

Set of weights
Green colored weights are placed on each other

We all have a person, or a few, in our lives that can’t get enough of sports. These may be the easiest to buy gifts for. There are so many options between tickets to sporting events, team apparel, or sporting equipment they can use between the lines. Groovy Guy Gifts has several options for personalized gifts for sports lovers. From engraved baseball bats to animal golf club covers, this online shop has it all. Take a look for yourself!

 

Travel Bags:

Bag
A modern-day brown travel bag

From leather to canvas, and everything in between, Groovy Girl Gifts have an embroidered bag for every lady out there! There is nothing classier than a monogrammed weekender around a lady’s shoulder.  Women love bags, and especially when they’re customized. This online shop has all the styles and colors you can imagine to beautify that special woman in your life. There is a clutch and a bag for everyone out there.  Some like them small, some large, some fabric, and some leather.  When you find the bag you’ll know the woman in your world in matches with. 

 

Drinking Gifts:

Flask and pair of glasses with ice cubes inside one of them

Personalized drinking gifts are all the rage these days. Coolers, Flasks, Decanters, and Beer items are being engraved and embroidered around the clock because people simply can’t get enough of them!  Groomsday is a great site to find customized drinking gifts for holiday sales. The site caters to all the guys at wedding parties, but as you will see, their items can work for Any Guy USA.  

 

 

Gift Box Sets:

Gift box set
Beauty soaps and planners are placed in a basket

It’s a known fact, women love to open gift boxes!  Whether it’s filled with a stylish robe and an engraved stemless wine cup or with a spa set for a night in a bubble bath, Bridesmaid Gifts Boutique has a wide variety of personalized Gift Box Sets for women.  The best part of the site is they offer customizable gift sets. Choose from wine glasses, robes, jewelry, bath bombs, and candles. You know the women in your life, so fill the classy-looking box with what they love!

 

Personalized Wallets: 

Wallets
Different kinds of wallets are exposed together

When gifting for guys, keep it simple!  Men NEVER buy their own wallets so when they get one as a gift it’s special.  Now I know buying a guy a wallet doesn’t sound too exciting on the surface, but a classy leather wallet with his name stamped on is a pretty cool gift.  How about a sleek high-security wallet with his initials engraved? There are several different types and colors of wallets and the guys at Groovy Groomsmen Gifts have them all!  

 

Stocking Stuffers:

Wine stoppers
The wine stopper is on a table with pair of crocks

Forever Wedding Favors is the place for all of your stocking stuffer needs. Wine drinkers will love their themed bottle openers and wine stoppers, as there are many to choose from. Personalized coasters are functional gifts that will fit nicely with other small gifts. A set of custom playing cards is perfect to slide down that large sock hanging on the mantle. Every woman has a stick of lip balm in her purse, so why not get her a few custom ones – now that’s the perfect stocking stuffer gift!

Gift-giving can be a tall task and can give anyone agita. This holiday season makes things easier on yourself and others and head over to the wonderful sites above for all of your gift-giving needs. I can’t imagine there’s a person out there that wouldn’t appreciate a personalized gift for the holidays. So start your shopping today with a simple click!