Avoid Summertime Auto Accidents with These 5 Safety Tips

Summer is fast approaching. This new season is a time when many families get in their cars for beach trips and family vacations.

School is also out during summer. This means that will be more teenage motorists on the road going to work at summer jobs, spending quality time with friends and taking summer break road trips.

The added traffic of summer motorists and vacationers, unfortunately, increases the likelihood of road accidents. A report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) revealed that summer and autumn are dangerous seasons for drivers, with July and August (two summer months) being the deadliest.

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When you're traveling on the road this summer, remember that safety comes first.

Here are five tips that all motorists should observe to stay safe and arrive alive during this season:

Prepare Your Car for Summer Driving

The last thing you want to happen on the road is for your car to break down in the middle of a hot, sunny day. You can prevent breakdowns by conducting periodic maintenance on your car, including:

• Air conditioning maintenance
• Wiper blade replacement
• Fluid refills
• Tune-ups
• Oil changes

You should also make sure to check your tires, as there's an increased risk of tire blowouts due to increased mileage and higher temperatures. Check if your vehicle has properly inflated tires.

Also, find out if the tires in your car are properly balanced. If you're unsure how to fix this, take your vehicle to a qualified mechanic who can use an automotive wheel balancer in their garage. While you're at the service shop, ask the mechanic if there's anything else in need of repair. This is important, especially if you're planning to take a long road trip.

Avoid Distracted Driving

When you're driving, you should always focus your attention on the road. This is the best way to avoid vehicular accidents on busy highways and streets.

When you're at the wheel, make sure you avoid the following distractions:

• GPS Device - You need to program your car's GPS before you start driving. If you forgot to do this and you're already on the road, have a passenger do this for you. If you're driving alone, pull over at a safe spot and configure your destination. Never attempt to program this device while you're driving.
• Conversations and Arguments with Passengers - This includes arguments with kids in the vehicle. If you need to have a serious discussion with anyone in the car, pull over. Also, if you don't want your kids to bother you, bring games and toys to keep your little ones entertained.
• Food and Beverage - Never attempt to quench your thirst or fill your belly while driving. If you need to eat something or rehydrate because of the heat, pull over or make your way to the nearest stop, gas station or diner.
• Mobile Phones - While you're behind the wheel, never pull out your phone to check your social media, make calls or answer the text. These activities can significantly raise the likelihood of a vehicular crash. If you have to make a call or send a text, ask a passenger to do that or pull over.

Take Care of Your Eyes

Driving can be difficult on the eyes, especially during summer. You can expect the sun to be out in full force. The glare coming off-road objects and other vehicles may impede your vision.

So make sure that you buy and wear a good pair of polarized sunglasses. These aren't just cool-looking summer accessories. They can cut down painful glare and protect your eyes from fatigue and damage.

Pay Attention to Weather Forecasts

Depending on your location, the summer weather patterns could include raging thunderstorms, torrential downpours and tornadoes. Some of these weather events can happen with little to no warning. So, make sure you check the forecast on your local weather channel or by going to reliable weather forecast sites.

Avoid Driving When You're Fatigued

When you're taking a road trip late at night or early in the morning, you should have enough energy to get to your destination safely.

Schedule your trip wisely. Refrain from driving during hours when you're typically exhausted or drowsy. If you failed to get a good night's rest the night before your road trip, have someone else drive your vehicle.

If you're beginning to close your eyes while you're behind the wheel, do not power through the fatigue. This raises the risk of getting into an accident or colliding with another vehicle. Instead, let someone else drive. If you're alone, pull over and find a safe place to take a nap. If you come across a hotel or a rest stop, stay the night there and continue your journey in the morning. 

Don't let preventable accidents ruin your summer road trips. Avoid the consequences of a breakdown - or worse - a potentially deadly highway crash.

Essential Strategies in Improving Logistics for Small Businesses

Another challenge that many small businesses will also need to keep in mind is that there are bound to be many competitors in the market. Since many competitors are constantly looking for an advantage over other businesses, you must keep your business on your feet by being alert to what the market wants. 

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For businesses to be successful, being responsive and agile to changes is key. Logistics will play an important part in your business's efficiency. After all, being able to move resources on the fly can create a well-balanced organization.

Whether you're a small business that's just entering the market, or a large business with branches and hundreds of employees, having a constant flow of supply and responsive logistics will always be an integral part of every business model. Just like a well-oiled machine, your business's logistic plan should help your business run more efficiently and reduce resources that are being wasted on more trivial matters. That said, many businesses that don't emphasize their business plan will start experiencing rising costs for much of their resources.

The good news here is that it's never too late to start adopting a comprehensive logistics plan for your business. Here's what you'll need to know when it comes to improving the logistics of your small business.

Laying Out the Objective

Right before you start making any final decisions regarding your logistics plan, it's important to know the nature of your industry and what the strategy might be when it comes to moving resources around. For instance, if your organization's strategy is to ensure that all deliveries are done in a timely manner, you'll need to emphasize logistics and equipment that can help ship these parcels.

Is your company's strategy more along the lines of making these deliveries as cheap and cost-effective as possible? You'll need to invest in equipment and tools that can cut down on costs. Having a clear objective in mind can give you and your company a long-term goal that you can strive for.

Focusing on Customer Service

A huge part of logistics is that your organization should be responsive to the concerns of customers. Although the company might be focused on controlling the cost of services, you'll need to ensure that the customers are happy with the services that they receive. Although cutting down on costs might mean that the "experience" of customers is affected, that doesn't mean that you're entirely abandoning a customer-centric goal.

Although your company might be responding to customers' queries and updating the status of their deliveries, it's still important to keep in mind that many customers want to have a personal experience when talking to representatives. That said, communication is an important part of keeping customers happy.

Another important part of increasing customer service is investing in the proper equipment to ensure that customer experience is maximized. Studies have shown that customers and clients are willing to pay more than what's expected to ensure that they are satisfied with the results of the services and the product. This is one reason why many companies and businesses will invest in a department that caters solely to customer's queries and concerns.

Fortunately  many logistics companies specialize in giving customers and clients the best service experience in the market. You won't have to look for when it comes to reliable commercial truck dealers that can provide heavy-duty transportation that can maximize your logistics infrastructure.

Streamlining Your Operations

Lastly, an important part of logistics and cutting down on your costs is effective sales and operations. Being able to plan out your pipeline of services can lead to new prospects. This can lead to more accurate forecasts when it comes to your business's inventory. This is especially important for many busy businesses that need to ensure that products are there to meet the demands of customers and clients.

Not only does the proper streamlining of operations lead to better logistics in the long run, but this can lead to promotions, better product impressions, and adaptability to changes in the market.

There is a myriad of benefits to improving your business's logistics. Although many companies jump straight to making a good amount of revenue even if they've just started their business, your business's growth and traction should be your priority. Being quick on your feet and moving resources around is known for being one of the best ways of growing your company towards its full potential.

Responsible Car Ownership: How to Take Better Care of Your Car

Your car is an extension of your family. It takes you everywhere (that is possible by wheels), reduces the need for commutes and simplifies your transportation. Because of how useful cars are, there's a tendency to overuse them and forget to care for them, which results in breakdowns in the future.

Instead of overusing your car, it's time to step up your maintenance plan. Remember: your car won't take care of itself. Invest in important maintenance tasks like adding all-weather car floor mats, checking the gas regularly and having your brakes checked.

The car maintenance to-do list can be a long one. Instead of spending more time watching mind bending movies, it's time to care for your car.

If you want to care for your car but don't know where to start, here are some tasks to add to your list.

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Clean the Windshield

This is the easiest first step in any car maintenance routine. A dirty windshield is a safety hazard since it obscures your view of the road. Reduce your risk for accidents by regularly cleaning your windshield.

Use the spongy part of your squeegee and soak the windshield with the cleaning fluid. Pull the squeegee tightly from the middle of the window to the sides and wipe off the remaining streaks. Cleaning your windshield is especially important after long drives on the highway, especially if your windshield is littered with dirt, dust and insect carcasses.

Be Patient During Your Break-In Period

This piece of advice is for the new car owner. So you've bought your dream car and want to make it last as long as possible.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you pull your vehicle out of the dealer's lot:

• On your first 1,000 miles, refrain from going over 55 mph or to your car manufacturer's recommended speed.
• Your new car shouldn't be idle for long periods. Drive whenever you can to keep the oil pressure from breaking down.
• Use only light to medium acceleration.

Drive Your Car With Care Daily

Being considerate with your car shouldn't stop after the break-in. Every day, drive with care so your car will reward you with longer services without repair.

• Refrain from racing your car's engine, especially during the start-up. This is the quickest way to prolong your car's life, especially if it's cold outside.
• When you start to drive, accelerate slowly. The most wear to the drive train and engine occurs within the first 10 to 20 minutes of operation.
• Refrain from warming the engine by letting it stay idle in your driveway. The car's engine doesn't operate when it's warm, resulting in soot deposits on cylinder walls, oil contamination, incomplete fuel combustion and damaged car components.
• Avoid accelerating quickly and driving at high speeds, especially when it's cold or hot outside. This driving behavior will result in more repairs.
• Extend your tires' lives by driving carefully. Avoid fast turns, stops and starts. Also, be more mindful of the objects and potholes on the road. Refrain from running over curbs or hitting your tires against the curb when parking.
• Consolidate short driving trips. Most of the wear your car experiences, as well as the pollution it can generate, happens during the first few minutes of driving.

Change the Oil

Routinely checking and changing your car's oil keeps the engine in a good condition. Make it a habit to check your oil monthly and change it as instructed in your owner's manual.

You can always have a pro to do the oil change for you but you can also change it yourself. If you want to do the oil change on your own, learn to set the correct oil level, drain the fluid and dispose of old oil.

Also, know which type of motor oil is the best for your vehicle, regardless of whether you take it to a service center or change the oil yourself. This requires consideration of three important things: your car's mileage, the oil viscosity and whether you want to use non-synthetic or synthetic oil.

Check the Fluids

Apart from the oil, other fluids should be maintained at appropriate levels to keep your car running properly. You or your mechanic should check the following:

• Transmission fluid
• Brake fluid
• Power steering fluid
• Coolant

If there is a leak with any of these fluids, it will impact the way you drive. If you spot a leak, you can identify the leaking fluid by its color. This can help you determine where the leak comes from, as well as speed up the repair process.

Keeping your car clean and in good shape keeps you and your passengers safe, ensuring a smooth drive. If you're still unsure how to go about your maintenance, get in touch with your local mechanic for help.

The Surprising Tool to Landscaping Success: Eley Hose Reels

It is a common phrase that many of us have heard over the years. If you have the right tools for the job that makes the work easier and faster, the more likely you'll produce the correct result time and time again. Whether you are in the business of landscaping or simply looking to elevate the landscaping of your back and front yard, this is exceptionally true. 

Getting the correct result when landscaping, especially if it is your business and job, is essential for reputation, positive customer relationships, and crucial for growing your business. When it comes to landscaping your yard, getting the correct result means less hassle for you, less work, and less cost of having to redo less than excellent results too. 

For these reasons, it is vital to own quality landscaping tools, regardless of whether you are a professional landscaper or a hobbyist. And one surprising tool to landscaping success is in the form of Eley Hose Reels. How is it that Eley hose reels are tools for success? 

• The temptation to go for budget tools, unfortunately, can result in subpar hose reels. The saying, "you get what you pay for," can become all too true. For successful watering and use of hoses, whether for professional service or at home, it depends on whether or not your tools can stand the test of usage and time. And as a landscaping business owner, your business's success may rest partly on the reliability of your equipment. Eley ensures that their hose reels, carts, and every product they make are created from the top of the line, premium, heavy-duty aluminum alloy along with stainless steel hardware. 
• Eley hose reels are incredibly well-built and ultra-reliable. These hose reels practically pay you back for your investment as they outlast, out-perform, and resist corrosion longer than almost any other hose reel on the market today. Plus, Eley products come backed by an industry-leading 10-year, no leak, no break, no rust guarantee. 

Eley's exceptional quality design, premium high-grade materials, and hard-grade powder coat paint combined to create a commercial-grade landscaping tool that rarely fails make it a tool made for success. By fully identifying the needs of their customers and offering only the highest-quality, fit-for-purpose tools on the market today, Eley will help your landscaping succeed.

Is Following Interior Design Trends a Bad Idea?

Trends are almost impossible to ignore. When you're active on social media, you feel tempted to jump on the latest design trend and satisfy your craving for beauty. This is especially true for homeowners who want to keep up with the latest home trend to increase their property value and make their homes aesthetically pleasing than ever. From textures to wall colors, there's always something declared as necessary or popular to stay ahead among everyone else. 

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Home experts such as interior designers and building maintenance companies made it possible for homeowners to enjoy their living spaces by delivering professional quality work. This also gave them a fresher perspective on how they view their homes as their sanctuary. Meanwhile, some try to keep up with the latest design trend without thinking about its practicality.

While trends are fun to play with, they can sometimes be overwhelming. They're also very expensive and time-consuming since trends often involve reworking the interior and exterior spaces to highlight the style. So before shopping for new furniture or decorative item, you better understand what it means to follow the trend cycle and how it will affect your home and finances. With this in mind, we'll discuss why homeowners should avoid following trends in interior design.

Trends come and go

When researching the latest home trend, we tend to forget that it will not stay around for too long. This often happens when exploring your Instagram or Pinterest feed and a particular design keeps appearing. Even home decor stores are lining up their inventory with the newest trend to encourage people to buy something. The next thing you know, you're stocking the house with new decors to complement your purchase.

When it comes to trends, remember that the quicker they appear, the quicker they will fade. People have a habit of looking for something new once they're over with a design. While trends come and go, timeless classics never go out of style. In fact, there's no need to keep up with the latest home trends since architectural designs don't fade away easily.

Adopting classic designs doesn't mean you have to settle with a traditional home. If you want a contemporary style without looking over the top, look for modern designs that complement your personal taste. For instance, a neutral theme can look more contemporary by adding minimalist furniture and neutral colors, such as gray, white, and black. These elements certainly blend well together and look more coordinated.

Trends are not good for the environment

Online retailers and high street vendors always push for new trends as it encourages customers to buy more, which helps them increase their sales. But this approach is actually promoting the 'throwaway mentality' by excessively using items and draining the environment of its resources.

Although iconic furniture and decors can be expensive, you can guarantee they will last for a long time and easily blend with your home regardless of the season. They are also more cost-efficient and durable if you add the cost of buying several cheap items in a few years. Sticking to timeless finishes and neutral colors will also encourage reusing items and reduce waste.

Trends keep you from following your own style

If you are redecorating the entire house, you'll likely develop a core theme that mimics your personal style. Finding a design you love is tough work and takes trial and error. While a trend seems appealing to you at first, keep in mind that it will eventually wear off.

When designing your living space, incorporate design elements you feel happy and comfortable with. You don't have to feel compelled to replace a certain element because you know it already reflects your unique style.

If you're joining a trend wagon, there's a chance you'll be riding along with it for some time. But as the trend expires, you'll be looking for something else to satisfy your design craving. This can be costly, time-consuming, and frustrating.

The best part of developing your own signature style is you can easily apply a few changes if you want to add something new. Since you're following your own design pattern, there's no need to remove everything else. 

As you begin your journey towards redecorating your home, it's fine to check the current trends of the season, but don't forget to add your personal touches as well. You need a living space that will inspire you to live comfortably and not something out of an Instagram feed. Invest in decors you appreciate and designs that reflect your personal style. In the end, interior design is all about embracing your choices and creating a home that suits you.

Top Three Community Amenities to Increase the Resale Value of a Property

Aside from home upgrades, there are plenty of ways to increase property value and desirability. One of them is the accessibility to various amenities within a community. Amenities have two types: tangible, which includes gyms, parks, and pools, or intangible, such as low crime rate, leisure activities, pleasant views, public transport.

A community with complete amenities is considered a huge "plus" in the real estate market. If you have a child, you likely prefer living in a child-friendly community where they can freely roam and play. It also reduces the travel time to access public facilities, such as going to school and supermarkets.

Companies that offer professional open space structure services help homeowner associations (HOA) create a cleaner and stronger HOA community. For example, Landmark Products Pty Ltd offers park shelter construction services and landscape solutions for urban design projects. They help in building public infrastructure in communities, schools, councils, and private enterprises.

Since amenities are among the determining factors to increase property value, it's important to consider which neighborhood amenities are the most important to improve the value of your home. Here are some of the must-have amenities that can be great assets for your property:

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Parks

Parks are very important in enhancing the economy and spirit of a community. They also serve as playscapes for children to bond with community members. Most communities have green spaces and open amenities featuring grass areas and playgrounds where people of all ages can run, play sports, or just simply hang out. Other parks have community gardens, exercise equipment, and dog park.

Playground parks are great amenities for families with small children. Children get easily bored around the house, and parks make an ideal place to become active and develop children's social skills. During the summer, HOAs organize mini parties and concerts to gather community members together while families can stay at thebarbeque and picnic areas to enjoy the warm weather.

Dog parks also make a great amenity. Since more people want to have pets, pet-friendly amenities such as dog parks, green spaces, and walking trails make a community more desirable and friendlier. In fact, dog parks are a huge factor in urban neighborhoods with small yards. This helps their pets exercise and run safely, which gives them a chance to stay active as well.

Gym and fitness centers

Due to the increasing cases of weight gain, obesity, and other chronic diseases, people are becoming more health-conscious. The renewed focus on healthy living drives homeowners to buy home fitness equipment to encourage themselves to exercise at home. But sometimes the comfort provided by their homes makes them more sluggish and live a sedentary lifestyle.

Having a gym and fitness facility in a community helps in increasing a property's value. It allows community members to meet their fitness goals without leaving the community premises or paying costly fees for gym memberships. All they have to do is to drop by at the community fitness center and use the gym equipment.

Other communities organize fitness classes, such as Zumba, yoga, weight training, aerobics, and other exercises to keep residents motivated and active. It also brings the community together since most classes are done by groups.

Athletic amenities may vary depending on the HOA. These include basketball and tennis courts, locker rooms, weights, and cardio equipment, yoga room, bike racks, and storage rooms. Even swimming pools are a must-have community amenity. Communities offer open club membership to enjoy a whole year-round of swimming sessions.

Connectivity

Most homebuyers today are making technological conveniences a priority in finding a property. Online capabilities are now a huge trend as more people have become tech-savvy and eco-conscious. They prefer to do everything online, from making financial transactions and shopping for basic needs.

People like it when they can easily connect to the Internet even outside their homes. Communities that offer a good cellphone reception, high-speed Internet, free Wi-Fi, and other connectivity solutions can easily increase property values. This offers convenience and a wider opportunity for the community to connect outside their social circle. Some communities even offer co-working spaces to help remote employees find a comfortable office space near their homes.

All these amenities play an essential role in improving the quality of life and the value of a property within a community. Besides the examples above, consider your home's proximity to your workplace and the overall safety and vibe of the community. Every neighborhood has its own unique charms, so it's important to pick which one works for your lifestyle.

9 Gift Ideas for that Health-Conscious Person in Your Life

Americans are taking steps to improve their health. A study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that the American diet has slightly become better in the last two decades.

When you have a health-conscious friend or family member who's celebrating their birthday in a few weeks, you'll want to give them a great gift that will help them stay physically and mentally fit.

Here's a look at some gift ideas for the health and fitness junkies you have in your social circle:

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Health and Fitness Tracker

Fitness watches and bands are a fantastic gift for health enthusiasts, especially people looking to lose weight or maintain their shape. Some of the best trackers that you could buy on the market are devices that record your sleep patterns, the amount of calories burned and your movement (both steps and miles). Other trackers also come with built-in heart rate monitors that offer a more accurate picture of a person's health.

Electric Toothbrush

A top-quality electric toothbrush offers a more thorough cleaning than a traditional oral brush. It's better for gum health, as well. When shopping for the best electric toothbrush, consider looking for oral devices that come with add-ons and benefits. Examples include a two-minute timer, Bluetooth capability and teeth whitening.

When getting an electric brush, don't forget to purchase the appropriate head replacements. If you purchased a whitening toothbrush, for instance, buy a couple of ultrasonic toothbrush replacement brush heads, too.

If you're on a budget, consider buying the less expensive option: a travel electric toothbrush. It's easy to carry and won't hurt your pocket.

Portable Blender

Getting and staying healthy requires the marriage of two activities: eating right and working out regularly. If you want to make your meals healthier, you could start by making smoothies. They're like milkshakes, but filled with veggies and fruits instead of ice cream.

If you know someone who likes to drink healthy smoothies after a long and exhausting workout, give them a portable blender. This device will allow them to whip up a post-exercise treat or a liquid breakfast in a matter of seconds.

Jump Rope

Jump ropes aren't just for school playgrounds. Some fitness enthusiasts use them in heavy-duty workout training sessions. You can find jump ropes in most fitness centers and gyms across the globe.

If you know someone who's thinking of adding interval options to their exercise routine, this portable equipment is a great solution. A jump rope is a convenient and affordable way to introduce a powerful cardiovascular kick to any workout session.

Mini-Trampoline

Some people associate mini-trampolines as a toy for children. This, however, is more than just a plaything. Adults who want to work out their whole body can bounce on a mini-trampoline.

Bouncing using this piece of equipment is an easy and safe way to obtain a decent workout. It's suitable for individuals who prefer pain-free and low-impact activities that are good for the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal system.

Wireless Headphones

While some fitness fanatics love to work out with a partner or a group, others choose to exercise on their own. If you know someone who prefers to work out solo, a wireless headphone may just be the perfect gift. This device allows people to sweat it out while they play "Eye of the Tiger" on repeat.

Workout Clothes

The fitness market has better options for workout clothing than a cotton race t-shirt and an old pair of sweats. If you have a family member or a friend on your list who could use this reminder, get them actual, high-quality activewear. Make sure the clothing pieces you buy are the right fit. What's more, look for pieces that are well-cut, sweat-wicking and comfortable to wear.

Mindfulness Cards

Maintaining your mental health is just as important as preserving your physical health. If you're looking to give a fantastic present for anyone in your life who appreciates bringing quiet time to their day and slowing down, get a few mindfulness cards. Pick ones that come with simple and easy-to-do reminds that promote wellness for both the mind and the body.

A Box of Fresh Meat and Produce

A locally sourced and organically grown community food box is a sustainable present that lets those on your list to eat healthy and fresh foods minus the trouble of shopping. This gift is also a fantastic way to go organic and support local farmers. Look for a program in your recipient's city that will arrange to have fresh meat or produce delivered at their doorstep.

The health nuts in your social circle will surely appreciate receiving one of these nine presents. Take note that you could also give these gifts to people who wrote, "to stay healthy" as a New Year's resolution.

4 Ways To Improve Your Backyard & Make It More Enjoyable

 

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Your backyard should be a place that you enjoy and can spend time in during the summer and when the weather is pleasant. There are ways you can improve your backyard and make it more enjoyable so it’s a fun place to be and you feel proud to show it off.

You’ll love spending time around your home and having guests over that much more when you can go outside and you like what you see. Implement the following ideas to help turn your backyard into a more relaxing and attractive oasis that makes you feel happy and puts you at ease.

1. Create A Sitting & Entertainment Area

Improve your backyard and make it more enjoyable by creating an area where you can hang out and sit. Make sure you have all the right elements you need for either relaxing and putting your feet up or entertaining visitors. For instance, you should invest in comfortable furniture, a grill, and make sure there’s plenty of available shade for when the sun beats down. One idea is to contact a pergola builder so you have a built-in patio cover and your yard looks more attractive.

2. Enhance the Lighting

Another way to improve your backyard and make it more enjoyable is to ensure there’s plenty of lighting. It’s especially important when the sun goes down and it gets dark. Consider replacing old fixtures and light bulbs you have along the house and hanging string lights for a charming look and feel. You may also want to invest in a fire pit that will not only add light when nighttime rolls around but that you can also use to roast marshmallows and for warmth when it cools off.

3. Maintain Your Landscaping

If you want your yard to be beautiful and more enjoyable then you should do a good job of maintaining and updating your landscaping. Make sure you cut and fertilize your lawn, trim your trees and bushes, and plant colorful flowers and other greenery. Rake and pick up any loose twigs or leaves and mulch any beds you have to make them look more appealing. Also, make it a point to keep your planting beds neat and tidy throughout the season. Control weeds and inspect your trees and shrubs for any diseases or dead elements that need to be addressed.

4. Grow A Garden

You can also improve your backyard and make it more enjoyable by growing a garden. Maintaining it will be a wonderful excuse for you to spend time outside and it might turn out to be a relaxing activity you truly like doing. It’ll be nice to go out and pick fresh vegetables or herbs that you can use when you cook meals at home. Your garden will not only be a fun hobby for you to take up but it’ll also help enhance the look of your backyard. Consider sprucing up the area by adding a small bench for sitting and water features that are calming and soothing to listen to and view. 

5 Questions to Answer When Bringing a New Pet into Your Home

A new pet can be a welcome addition to any new home, and it can bring together your family and unite them, but what should you be thinking about when you bring a pet home, and what do you need to consider?

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Is Your Home Pet Proof?

Whether you get a parrot, a cat, a dog, or a pet rat, you will want to make sure your home is as pet-proof and pet-friendly as possible. For example, if you decide to have a bird, then do you have enough space to keep a large cage? Or, if you get a cat, do you have prized soft furnishings that you need to cover before they sink their claws into them. Getting and preparing your home for a new pet is essential.

What Healthcare Requirements Does Your Pet Have?

Not all pets have the same healthcare requirements. For example, pet rats do not need annual boosters as cats and dogs do. So, what healthcare requirements does your pet have or need? If you are unsure, then you need to use easyvet.com to ensure that you get expert veterinary advice and guidance. Knowing what healthcare requirements your pet needs and has before bringing them home will make pet ownership all the easier and more enjoyable.

What Food Does Your Pet Eat?

Cats and dogs have different dietary needs, as do birds and other small furry animals such as house rabbits, so what dietary needs and requirements does your pet have. For example, does your pet dog require a specialist diet full of nutrients that can only be found online, or does it require a mix of both wet and dry food? Knowing what food your new pet eats and when will allow you to plan your daily routine, and it will also allow you to work out roughly how much your new pet will be costing you to keep. 

Where Will Your Pet Live?

Does your new addition need a cage or a crate to be kept safe, and if so, where will this be kept? If you are getting a cat or a dog, then will they sleep in a living area, or will they sleep in a bedroom? It may not sound like an important consideration, but animals thrive on routine, and getting their living area established and maintained early on will make sure that bringing a new pet into your home goes as smoothly as possible.

How Long Will Your Pet Be Left Alone?

When do you leave the house and for how long? Pets, especially dogs, are social creatures, and they can suffer from separation anxiety which could lead to destructive behavior if it is not managed. So, how long is your pet going to be left alone in the day, and where will they be left? All animals need access to water and food, so it is important to ensure that you provide them access even if they are crated or caged when you leave the house, even if only for short periods of time.

Home Improvement: Garden Maintenance and Its Benefits

The mention of spring brings with it visions of warm weather, fresh fruits, green vegetables, colorful flowers, and the promise of growth. This vision of life growing from the smallest of things to picturesque scenery is a natural masterpiece-a paradise on earth. What's even more thrilling is the fact that you can grow this masterpiece in your own home. A personal paradise, so to speak.

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Having your own replica of Eden is the best home improvement method out there that doesn't just beautify your home but also increases its total value. If you plan on building your garden, or you already have one, here are some tips, tricks, and benefits you might want to know.

Tricks in Maintaining Your Homegrown Eden

The beauty of a garden lies in how good you maintain it. All the planning and planting will be a waste if you don't tend to your garden regularly. Here are a few reminders to keep your homegrown Eden a paradise.

Do Not Leave Your Bugs Unattended

Bugs work like a transporter. Once a plant is infected with a disease, a bug may carry it towards another plant, and before you know it, the rest of your garden is at risk. Always make sure you examine your plants for symptoms and drive away those bugs and pests with pesticides!

Plan Your Landscape

One common mistake beginners make is to avoid planning their landscape. They often assume that once they have decided to start a garden, that's all they need. However, you want to make sure that you have a plan or blueprint for what you want your garden to look like. As you may have known, beautifying your garden is quite expensive, and if you don't consider the home improvement costs, you might have to stop the project midway because you ran out of funds. If you made this mistake and didn't want to halt your project, consult your credit card provider regarding home improvement loans. However, you need a good credit score for this. Ensure that you also look for a company that provides credit solution services to increase your credit record and get your loan approved.

Plants Love Pasta Too

One clever trick in maintaining your garden is that every time you cook pasta, do not just flush the nutrient-filled water down the drain. After boiling, let it cool for a while and use this to water your plants. All the nutrients will not go to waste as this will help fertilize your plants.

Make Your Cat Cut the Crap

If you own a cat, chances are they might not understand how much you cherish those flowers. The delicate, gracious bloom of these flowers may be a litter box to a cat's eye. Protect your flowers by sticking plastic forks onto the flower bed to keep your cat away.

Wat-er You Doing?

Are you sure you are watering your plants properly? The tricky part about watering your plants is that it can either help them or cause their diseases. A moist leaf is a good place for pathogens to grow, so ensure that when you water your plants, keep the leaves out of the way and direct your water towards the roots. Always remember that too much or too little water are both bad for your plants.

The Benefits of Gardening

Believe it or not, gardening is actually a great way to reduce your loneliness. In an age of modern technology, we have fewer avenues for social interaction, but gardening provides us with one. Being outdoors gives you a chance to talk to your neighbors while you take care of your plants. Some towns and cities even have community gardens to provide their people with a place to enjoy their hobbies. How nice is it to have a specific place where people of the same interest get to meet together?

Whatever you do in gardening requires a number of your muscles to function, which makes it a good exercise-not too heavy that you tire easily, and not so light that your body doesn't get to benefit from it. A good physical exercise that involves bending and stretching is just another wonder of gardening.

Having a garden in your home also benefits not just ourselves but also the environment we live in. It provides a home for butterflies and bees and even helps keep the air that we breathe cleaner. After all, keeping our environment clean is also crucial in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Gardening is an adventure for all walks of life. In addition to all of its health benefits, the experience of going home to a place where the sun shines on blooming plants and flowers is a major stress reducer. Now, only one question remains, do you have what it takes to grow your own Garden of Eden? The answer lies in your hands.

Choosing The Right Car For Where You Live

 

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There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a car. If most of your car journeys are likely to be local, taking into account the area that you live in could be an important factor. Certain cars can be better suited to certain environments. By buying the right car, you could save yourself a lot of money and stress. Below are just a few different environments and the types of vehicle you may want to consider.

Urban living

Smaller cars can be better for built-up cities. They can be ideal for negotiating narrow streets or fitting into small parking spaces (if you live on a road that doesn’t come with off-street parking or designated bays, this could come in handy). Smaller cars also tend to be cheaper to buy. Urban living costs can often be high and so a cheaper car could be beneficial.

Smaller cars tend to have smaller fuel tanks, but in a city this isn’t likely to matter. City dwellers tend to use their car less and may only need to take short trips - plus there’s always a gas station nearby. You may even want to consider a hybrid of an electric car (cities have more charging points, plus may have free parking areas for electric cars). This guide https://lawnstarter.com/blog/studies/best-cities-to-own-an-electric-car/ details some of the best cities for owning an electric car. 

Suburban living

In suburban areas, you can usually get away with driving a bigger car. For some suburban residents, a bigger car may even be essential - suburban areas tend to contain more families and longer distance drives are more popular, which could make a bigger tank useful.

Station wagons and SUVs are popular in suburban areas. You can read a guide to some of the best suburban cars here. If you don’t have kids or a dog, you may prefer something smaller. 

Rural living

In rural areas, having a bigger car with a bigger engine can often be handy. You may have to travel longer distances to get basic essentials and there may be a need to carry more items in one trip. 

Road conditions may not be as great in rural areas and so it could be worth buying a car with off-road features such as a higher suspension and deeper tread tires. Pickup trucks tend to be more popular in rural areas for this reason. When tackling really bumpy terrain, you may even want to consider buying a truck and making some mods such as these offered by https://tcsupfitting.com/heavy-duty-truck-upgrades/. Low ride sports cars are likely to be a bad choice.

Other factors to consider

Climate: The climate could have an impact on the type of car you buy. For instance, a convertible could be appropriate for somewhere that’s warm and sunny most the year round like Florida, but less appropriate for generally colder states like Alaska. 

Crime rate: If you live somewhere with a high local crime rate and don’t have a garage, you may want to think twice before buying a flashy car. Either that, or you may want to research into cars with good in-built security features. 

State laws: Different states may have different rules on which vehicles are legally roadworthy. For instance, certain levels of window tint are not acceptable in some states. Some states and cities also have their own emissions laws to discourage high-polluting cars.

Profitable Investments: Reasons to Invest in Residential Properties

Making investments allow you to significantly increase your income and build wealth to help secure your future. It helps you prepare for unexpected situations and also improves your ability to manage your earnings. However, some people think that investing automatically helps them become rich. In reality, investing your money is a risky move, especially if you are unaware of the basic strategies for gaining profit. Remember that you can potentially lose your hard-earned money if you don't have any idea how to grow your money effectively. Thus, you must educate yourself first about the best tactics in generating more profit using your choice of investment strategy.

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What You Need to Know About Investing in Residential Properties

People are becoming more aware of the benefits of investing in real estate. They recognize the excellent opportunities that this particular industry can provide them. No wonder interested investors often consider purchasing properties as investments. If you also want to start investing in the home buying process, you need to determine the best tactics to grow your money using this method. For starters, you need to find out if a property will help you generate profit or not. Here are a few ways to determine if purchasing residential property will be worth it:

• The property is accessible to interested buyers/renters - One of the first factors to help find out if the residential property will be profitable or not is its location. You need to make sure that the property is located near amenities, excellent views, recreational parks, etc. In short, you have to determine if the property will be an ideal home for most people. This way, you can expect that purchasing the residential property will bring in more money.
• The property can provide you with multiple ways to earn a profit - Another key factor you need to check out is if you can use the property to add income sources. This means the property should have useful features that will help you earn more money. You need to find out if the value of the property will appreciate after some time. Also, you can identify if you can convert it into a rental property without spending too much on renovations. With this, you can determine if investing your money in that particular home will be worth it or not.
• The property is priced reasonably depending on the market - You also need to check if the property is priced accordingly. This means you need to make sure that you are buying the house at a reasonable price. To confirm this, you can check the prices of other existing home listings. You can also ask around the neighborhood and find out the average price of homes in that area. The key is to find out more information about the property so you can determine if the total cost of the house is reasonable or not.
• The property is in great condition with no remarkable issues - Don't forget to inspect the property for damages and issues. Before making a purchase, you need to make sure that the house is in great condition. Aside from this, you need to determine if the property is durable enough to last for years. To learn about this, you can check out common issues that homes in that neighborhood usually experience. With this, you can avoid buying properties that will have major damages in the future.

Practical Tactics to Start Earning Through Home Buying

If you are interested in earning through purchasing residential properties, you need to start taking note of the abovementioned suggestions. Also, you have to make sure that you start improving your finances so you can continue paying for the monthly mortgage. If you lack funds, you can consider getting an FHA loan. The Federal Housing Administration loan allows low and average-income earners to succeed in purchasing a property. With this, you will be able to afford an ideal property to convert into an income-generating asset. Aside from the funding, you also need to gain more skills in managing your properties. This means you have to learn more about the best strategies to generate more income from your properties.

Some people hire assistants and work with experts to ensure they can maximize returns on investments when buying a home. You can also use this strategy to make sure that you get expert advice about the best moves to increase your profit and eventually build wealth. The goal here is to continuously learn about the real estate industry and keep finding better ways to attract more clients. The key is to stay motivated, driven, and dedicated to converting your properties into actual assets. This way, you can rest assured that your investments will not become a liability.

3 Tips For Improving Your Business’ Profit

Running a business is complex, and it can be hard to make sure your business is making as much profit as it should. There’s no telling how much your business should be bringing in, so long as it’s making enough to keep the lights on. Still, you can put in the extra work to make sure your business is bringing in a lot more than you’re spending. Many businesses find that upon inspection, they’re able to cut down on their spending while increasing their income. It’s not as simple as clicking your fingers, but once you learn where you can and can’t cut corners, you’re safe to start making moves in that direction!

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Hire an advisor

If you’re running a small business, the chances are you’re the person in charge of the business's finances. If you’re not a trained expert, you might find that you’re not able to get the most from your business. It takes someone who knows what they’re doing to give the best advice. Veracitycapital.com has professionals who can help you when you need assistance in changing things up within your business. You need someone who can properly analyze your cash flow, to make sure you’re making the most money possible from your business.

Exploit cheap/free marketing opportunities

When you’re trying to get yourself out there to find new customers, there’s a lot of risks involved in your investment. It doesn’t matter how much you invest, if you don’t execute it properly, you risk having a negative return on your investment. You can’t go wrong when you’re taking advantage of the cheaper marketing methods, though.

Many businesses use social media to get themselves heard. Big or small, a social media page can help you reach a much larger audience if you know how to use it properly. Jumping on trends, appealing to your audience, and being an overall great business for customer service can help you get a significant boost in sales for your business. Running a social media page takes a lot of work if you’re aiming to get the most from it, and it’s not something that can be tended to every now and then. Investing in smaller ads to be made for the sake of social media means you can run ads cheaply, or in some cases for free.

Prevent oversupplying

If your business deals with stock that can expire over time, or items that won’t permanently be in demand, you want to make sure you’re not overstocking. Know what your customers want, know how much you can sell - and you could save yourself from wasting money on products that don’t sell.

To combat this, businesses often have sales on items that are close to the expiration date, incentivizing people to buy them. While you might not make much of a profit on these items, you can still break even on their sale, so your mistake in supply wasn’t much of a loss!

You should always strive to do better as a business, and if you’re not constantly looking for ways to improve; your competitors are going to outshine you.

Proper Ways to Store Meat, Seafood and Produce

Food wastage is something we do not want to do especially during these uncertain times. Just think of those people in other parts of the world that are going hungry and here we are, improperly storing our food and making it spoil. 

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To avoid this, here are some tips on proper food storage:

Meat, Poultry and Seafood

Raw meat must be thoroughly washed in clean, running water and drained. Place meat, poultry and seafood in resealable plastic bags, like zip lock bags and store them in the bottom shelf of your freezer. You can also have an option to prep a meal by cutting the meat into desired chunk sizes and putting in the marinade. Label the bags and again, store them in the freezer. This would make meal prep a whole lot easier. Don't forget to label them with the date of purchase. Practice the "First In, First Out" rule when deciding what to cook for dinner.

Vegetables

Vegetables can also be stored in zipper bags and kept in the crisper section of your refrigerator. Carrots, cabbage, potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower are examples of such. Some vegetables need to be wrapped in paper towels to absorb excess moisture before storing. Other vegetables can be pre-cooked or blanched and stored in the freezer for use later.

Fruits

The best way to preserve fruits is my making them into jam or preserves, especially if you want to keep seasonal fruits available for the family anytime of the year. However, others would prefer to freeze them. Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries can be frozen and stored for later consumption. 

Resealable plastic bags or zip lock bags do really help a lot is food storage and organizing the contents of your refrigerator. It keeps the food fresh, so wastage is minimal. You can also use it to store left over chips and nuts or trail mix. But its use is not solely for food. You can also use those plastic resealable bags to keep your office drawer organized. Keep pens, paper clips and other small items in them and your drawer will look tidy!

Don't Wait to Fix These Summer Home Problems

A range of problems can pop up in your home during the summer. While some of them can wait to be fixed, there are some issues that you just don't want to leave. If they don't need to be fixed by the time summer is over, you might need to make some repairs while the season is still in full swing. If you don't, you could end up dealing with an even bigger issue, whether it's your home being too hot or problems from summer storms. During the summer, make sure you look out for these problems so you can fix them right away.

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Gutters and Drainage

Summer might make us think of sunshine and heat, but it often comes with rain and storms too. It's important to be prepared for it to rain, so pay attention to your guttering and drainage system. If there's a blockage or anything is broken, it could mean that something isn't working as it should be. This could lead to water not draining away from your home properly when it rains, which could cause flooding, leaks and other problems. These types of issues need to be addressed as soon as possible to prevent further issues.

Air Conditioning Problems

Your air conditioning can be your lifeline during the summer. But, not only does it keep you cool, but it also stops your house from overheating. If your home gets too warm, it could cause various problems, such as warped hardwood floors. Keeping your AC on during the summer is important, so make sure you're ready for any emergency AC repair that might be necessary. To prevent this, be sure to service your air conditioning system before summer begins. It will help to reduce the chance of anything happening that requires sudden repairs.

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Pests

Pests can become an issue during the summer because some pests like the heat. And those that don't still might want to come into your home. Pest problems might start off as a slight annoyance, but they can get a lot worse if you leave them for too long. It's always best to tackle them as soon as you can, which means it's helpful to know the signs of certain common pests. When you know how to spot them, you can pick up on them sooner and get rid of them faster. Of course, prevention is a good idea too, so take steps to stop pests from causing problems in the first place.

Moisture and Mold

Moisture and mold in your home aren't only problems during the winter. With summer rain and storms, it can become an issue during the summer too. Keep an eye out for signs of leaks, condensation, mold and mildew in your home during the summer. You need to deal with them as soon as you can so they don't become a bigger problem. You could eventually start to see structural damage if the issue grows.

Some problems need to be fixed right away. Even if you're having fun in the summer, don't forget to take care of these big problems.

Drains

Drains in our homes are often left until they are completely blocked. Sometimes the problem can be solved quickly and easily with a plunger, but other times more drastic measures may need to be taken. If you notice signs of water not draining away properly, it's important to take action before it turns into an even bigger issue. Get your drains inspected by drain cleaning specialists so that any potential blockages can be identified and dealt with as soon as possible.

The Conversations We Need To Think About Having With Our Older Parents

Have you noticed that a parent of yours is a little less capable than they used to be? Perhaps they’re a little less mobile, or complaining about aches and pains more, or even a touch forgetful? As we age, it’s a fact that we’re going to need a little more help than we used to. You need to be compassionate as you approach these questions, but it will be important to address them.

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How they’re getting around

Few people live close to the essential destinations they need daily access to, be it for grocery shopping, to see the doctor, or otherwise. As we get older, our driving skills can begin to suffer impairments. For that reason, it might be worth asking your parent if they have been driving just fine lately. If they have had any accidents or even near misses lately, then it might be time to consider offering to drive for them instead of putting them at such risk again in the future.

The health issues they may be experiencing

The majority of people don’t want to worry their loved ones, regardless of their age. As such, they may be likely to keep quiet about or at least downplay symptoms they may have been having. However, it might be a good idea to bring up the idea of an annual physical, something that we should all be doing anyway. Make sure that it’s clear your wondering about health comes from a place of concern first and foremost. People can be stubborn if they think that you’re trying to push them into making any decisions for them.

Where they’re living and with who

If your loved one is having trouble taking care of their daily needs, such as feeding, washing, and transporting themselves or there are real concerns of health risks if they are living alone, then it might be time to address their living situation. It can be a scary topic to consider, so it’s a good idea to do your research ahead of time to find good senior living care and facility options. Otherwise, they may assume the worst about where and with whom they’re going to end up.

Their plans for the future

No-one likes thinking about the idea that their life is going to end but it’s a reality that we should all address as soon as we are able to start planning that far ahead. A good way to broach the topic of end-of-life instructions is to bring up that perhaps you have begun planning your own estate. Trust is essential to help in this regard, of course, so if your parent isn’t willing to trust you in helping in this regard, you should at least encourage them to talk to an estate lawyer about it.

Remember to keep your parent’s experience and viewpoint as the most important weighing factor during all of these conversations. Encouraging them and considering their needs and wants is the best way to get them to cooperate.