Top 3 Tips for New Dog Owners

If you’re about to become a dog owner for the first time, you’re likely excited to meet your new furry friend but may be wondering what you should do to prepare for the extra responsibility. Whether you’re planning to breed a dog Augusta GA or adopt a puppy from a friend, there are a few things you should know before starting on your journey as a dog owner. Check out these three important tips to keep in mind for when your new friend finally arrives.

1. Get Supplies Together

While it might seem like a water bowl and a doghouse are enough to welcome your new dog into your home, you’ll actually need more supplies than you might have thought at first. For instance, a collar and leash are essential for walking your dog in public spaces, as is an identification tag. You’ll also want to keep a steady supply of dog food and maybe get your pooch a few toys, too.

2. Dog-Proof Parts of Your Home
Before your dog comes home, take some time to dog-proof risky areas of your house. For instance, block off areas that you want to keep off-limits, as well as access to plants that could be toxic if ingested. Consider moving breakable items to out-of-reach spaces, and be sure to hide electrical cords so they won’t be chewed or pawed through.

3. Find a Quality Veterinarian
Finally, be sure to find a quality, trustworthy veterinarian. Besides initial vaccinations, it’s good to have a vet you can rely on for regular check-ups and potential emergencies.

Having a dog can add tremendous joy and value to your everyday life, but for new dog owners, the extra responsibility can seem challenging or even confusing. Thankfully, being prepared before your new pooch arrives can help you navigate dog ownership smoothly. Keep these top tips in mind and you can look forward to years of enjoyment with your new furry friend.

How to Decorate Your First Home

Decorating your first home is a big deal because it’s a way to announce to the world who you are as an adult. It’s time to sweep aside posters of your favorite bands and corsages from school dances, but where do you look for artwork that reflects your personal style?

Shop for Art
Big box stores sell lots of art. They have aisles of decorative objects, matted pictures of cute animals or folksy sayings. When a store sells to the masses, it’s likely you’re going to find that cute llama print at your neighbor’s house too. Buyers for big box stores decide what the style will be for the year, and that shapes what you can choose from. A more personalized approach to decoration is to look for one of a kind artwork that you find at galleries or individually owned shops. Look around for a consortium that features several artists. That way you’re sure to get a unique piece that actually appeals to you rather than a style that someone else chooses for everyone.

Enlarge Photographs
If you’re a decent photographer, you might discover that some of your own pictures make really nice decorations once they’re blown-up and nicely printed. As a kid, you probably had lots of pictures of your friends hung around your room. As an adult, consider some landscape shots or close-ups of flowers or architectural details. Chances are if you found the plant, animal, or object interesting enough to take a picture of, it would look great hanging on your wall.

Take an Art Class
Consider taking a watercolor or other art class at the local recreation center. It’s a great way to create art for your home. You might not want to display everything you make, but it’s likely, you’ll paint with colors that appeal to you innately (rather than with colors that are in style that year). Plus, anything you make will be a great conversation starter with guests.

Decorating your home with artwork is an ongoing activity as tastes change as you age. How will your new home reflect the adult you?

Benefits Offered by Renting Furnished Apartments

When you begin searching for an apartment, you will like find several options. From different layouts and styles, to all the related jargon, you may find this search is rather daunting. However, when you know what you want, you can narrow down the options and find the perfect place to live.

If you are like many, choosing furnished apartments New Braunfels TX is something that makes sense. However, if you are still on the fence about this, get to know some of the benefits offered by this rental.

Reduced Upfront Costs
One of the most appealing parts of renting a furnished apartment is that you don’t have to worry about spending money on furniture. You also don’t have to move in these items.

Easier to Move In
Moving into a new place is hard work. If you have to move heavy furniture, it will likely be daunting. It is also expensive to move large items from one location to another. When you choose a furnished apartment, you don’t have to worry about any of this. You can move your personal belongings in and call it a day. The process is faster and easier.

You Can Decorate
You may think that if you rent a furnished apartment, you don’t get to add your personal touches. This isn’t the case. You can still use your own personal style and elements to show off your personality in the space.

As you can see from the information above, renting a furnished apartment offers an array of benefits. Knowing what these benefits are can help you decide if this is the right living arrangement for you. Remember, the rent may be slightly higher, but it is usually well-worth it in the long run, and will help you get moved in faster and usually without as much hassle.

Blaze and The Monster Trucks and Shimmer and Shine New Releases!!

Hey neighbors!!

Today Blaze and The Monster Machines: Race for the Golden Treasure released on DVD!!  Aren't you excited!!

Blaze and the Monster Machines: Race for the Golden Treasure episodes:
Race for the Golden Treasure
Treasure Track
The Island of Lost Treasure
Wishing Wheel
Blaze and the Monster Machines: Race for the Golden Treasure synopsis:
Arrrgggh you ready for high-speed, high seas, treasure hunting? Set sail with Blaze and Pegwheel the Pirate-Truck to search for three keys to unlock the golden treasure. Then, use a treasure map to find the most amazing treasure, race to The Island of Lost Treasure for more riches and speed through an ancient racetrack in search of a magical Wishing Wheel.

Blaze and the Monster Machines: Race for the Golden Treasure fast facts:
Street Date: July 28, 2020
Catalog: 59211292000 (US), 59211293000 (CN)
Running Time: 1 hour, 29 minutes

Give healthy snacks a green light with these adorable Blaze-inspired sandwiches! BLAZE AND THE MONSTER MACHINES: RACE FOR THE GOLDEN TREASURE is available on DVD today! https://bit.ly/BlazeSnacks

One neighbor will receive a a DVD combo of:
Blaze and The Monster Machines: Race for the Golden Treasure and Shimmer and Shine: Glitter Magic!

Be sure to enter and keep an eye out for our post on Shimmer and Shine: Glitter Magic that releases Aug. 4th.

Planning A Camping Trip

Those who enjoy spending time outdoors should consider going camping for their next trip or family vacation. It’s a great way to get close to nature and see all that it has to offer. If you are planning your first trip, here are a few things you should think about before you go.

Lodging
One of the most important things you will need on a camping trip is a place to stay. You could go out in the middle of the woods or find a nice campground that has several amenities for you to enjoy. Once you find a place, you’ll need to decide how you want to camp. There are several different options you can choose for this. Some like to sleep under the stars with just a tent, while others prefer a modern camper or RV.

Food
No trip is complete without the right food, and camping is no exception. There are several styles and types of food that are a known must when going on this type of trip. The supplies for smores should always be on hand, and hot dogs are another essential most campers bring on every trip. When you plan your meals, remember that you will not have all the amenities of a full kitchen. Do things that are quick, easy and don’t require a lot of cleanup.

Activities
Going camping is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and spend some quality time together. Board games, fishing equipment, and hiking gear are just a few things that can help ensure this happens on your trip. Take the time to make memories and do things together. If you are going camping by yourself, it’s a good way to unplug from the daily grind of life and refresh yourself. You could bring a book to read or just relax in the quiet nature brings.

Supplies
No matter your destination, there are some things that should always be brought on a camping trip. Matches should be brought so you can always start a fire and having plenty of flashlights could be the difference in you knowing where you are or not. First aid kits should always be brought in case of emergency, and you may want to add some extra things like bug bite treatment, allergy medicine, and pain relievers.

While some may be scared to go stay outside, there is something fun and exciting about it. If you find that you really enjoy it, you could even plan trips with your extended family and friends to make your next one even more of an adventure.

Fun Games for Families - Quarantine and Beyond

Hey neighbors!

We were supposed to do a whole month of craft posts, but majorly got sidetracked with the Covid-19 quarantines.  We have had to change several things that were planned this month.  I am not complaining, it has not been overly difficult, but we had a pup that was supposed to fly out to Oregon and the flight was cancelled, indefinitely. Two of our daughters were heading out to work at the Creation Museum, and that has been put on hold.  Overall though, we are doing well and making adjustments to our schedules.  One thing we have been doing is finding activities to fill up extra time.

We have been having a game night or afternoon several days a week.  We received a few games from PlayMonster.  We LOVE them!  We have played Relative Insanity.  The entire family enjoyed this game.  I did pull some cards we felt were not necessary in a family game, which is easy to do.  Otherwise a hysterical game to play!!  I think we all decided the more outrageous the answer sounded the better.  Below is an example of some of the cards.  One player reads the Red card and the other players choose from the cards they have been dealt an "appropriate" answer.  They turn them in and the original player reads them out loud and chooses a winner.  Next turn another player reads the question and so on.  The answer can get really silly.

We also pulled out our older game from PlayMonster, called the Logo Game.  My daughters became frustrated because I new more of the answers than they did.  Mainly because I remember old commercial jingles and such....but, when it came to more modern logos they definitely had me beat.  Below is the game board. First one in the Winning Zone wins. Each card has a subject on the front, many of which are just Potluck, while others focus on one company or niche.  On the opposite side of the card are four questions each with one of the four colors on the board.  When you answer correctly you move to the next available spot on the board matching that color.

A couple examples are, "What two colors appear twice in the Google logo?" And "What does the D in DC Comics stand for?"  The game really gets hopping at times.

Any one of these games would be a good choice for a family evening with young teens to adult ages.

PlayMonster has exciting games for the younger generation as well.  Orangutwang is one of the fun games for the younger crew.  I have to admit I jumped a few times when it went off.  Basically you roll the die and slowly hang fruit and friends on the orangutan until he pops in the air and sends everything flying.  A simple yet fun game to play and no batteries required.  This game is designed for ages 4 and up.

So while you and your family are spending more time at home, pick up a couple of fun games to play together.  Let's make this a time of drawing closer to our families.

3 Ways to Prepare Children for Rewarding Lives

As a parent, you want the best for your children. A positive, loving start in life sets the groundwork for a happy future. Like many parents, though, you may wonder exactly what that means. While every child is an individual and each situation is unique, here are three ways you can prepare your children for rewarding lives.

Give Them Chores

When children have regular household duties, whether it be washing dishes or picking up sticks before you mow the lawn, children learn key life values. They learn the importance of working hard. They learn the need for responsibility. They learn how to work with others to finish tasks, and they see first-hand how each task contributes to the betterment of the common good.

Give Them Good Surroundings
Choose a great neighborhood to live in, which does not mean the wealthiest or fanciest one that boosts your ego. Take time to get the feel for specific neighborhoods in the area where you want to live, and choose one you feel will give your children a great place to grow and have adventures. Consider multiple factors, including:
Proximity to green spaces and parks
Crime rate
Lifestyle, including proximity to businesses
General attitudes, especially toward children

Good surroundings also mean good schools. You may want to consider enrolling your children in a private high school in Florida to give them a quality education.

Make Them Read Each Day
Require your children to read each day. Turn off games and distractions, but make reading a fun time rather than something they dread. Perhaps even set a specific quota of books they must read each month. Reading sets the stage for a rich life.

In addition to loving children for who they are, you can take specific actions to give them a good start in life. When children have positive, well-rounded lives and feel supported, they can go far. You can plant the seeds now for their brighter tomorrows.

Make the Most of Your Backyard

If you want to spend more time in your backyard this summer enjoying the warm weather, there are a few things that you should consider doing to enhance your space. Here are three ideas on how you can make the most of your backyard.

1. Treat Pests Proactively
During the summer months, insect populations can boom. Biting insects such as mosquitoes and fleas can be a plague in your backyard that sends you running inside for cover as soon as the sun starts to set. You may also notice that they come out mid-day during humid weather or just after a rainfall. Bug spray can only do so much, and your dog’s flea treatment may not fend off every little bloodsucker. Ongoing treatment can help you reclaim your backyard from these irritating pests. To find a good outdoor flea control price Cary NC, work with a company that specializes in outdoor extermination and has extensive experience serving customers in your area.

2. Install a Refuge From the Sun
An awning will create an awesome space to hang out and enjoy your time outside for longer. You’ll feel a lot cooler when you’re under shade, so you can relax comfortably or sit down for a meal outside. Ideally, you should get a retractable awning so it will be easy to take down when you’re not using it, and it won’t be at risk of getting damaged in high winds or heavy rain.

3. Get a Great Grill
No great backyard setup is complete without a great grill. Decide on the features that are most important to you, pick a size that’s big enough for the meals that you’d like to be preparing, and then start shopping. Look online for competitive pricing from retailers in your area who can deliver a grill directly to your home.

How To Find the Perfect Home for Your Family

Every family deserves to live in a home that serves both its needs and its desired comforts. Whether you are looking for your first home or upgrading from your current house, the steps that get you ready to move are the same. Here are a few tasks to complete to get you started.

Find a Realtor
Everyone around you is likely to have an opinion about the house you buy. Many people have strong preferences over the neighborhood you choose and the amenities you need. Just because something worked well for another family doesn't mean it will serve yours. REPYYCrecommends that you hire a realtor to help you navigate the buying process. A qualified realtor has the knowledge and experience you need to make decisions that are right for you.

Decide What You Want
You may have a grand picture in mind about your ideal house, but it's important to make sure that what you actually look for is practical. Before you start looking at homes, separate fantasy from reality. Have a conversation with your partner and your realtor to discuss features that are necessary as well as a few that would be nice to have if possible. What are you missing in your current living space that you want to have in the new one? Having a clear idea about what you need in a new home helps you narrow your search and saves you time.

Analyze Your Finances
The state of your finances plays a huge role in buying a house. Set a clear budget for your house. As a general rule, the price range should be no larger than 2-3 times your gross family income. While that may seem incredibly limiting, having this expectation helps you make reasonable requests when you are applying for preapproval for a mortgage loan. Before you take on a home loan, it's advisable to pay off as much debt as possible and cut back expenses. Finally, the larger a down payment you can make, the less you will pay in interest in the long run, so take some time to save up if you can.

Set a Reasonable Timeline
Most people can't run out and buy a new home as soon as they get the urge to do so. Take your financial status and the housing market into consideration. Then plan out your tasks and give yourself a deadline for each of them.

Buying a home can be complicated but it's worth it in the long run if you get what you want. Plan ahead to find the house that's perfect for your family.

The Basics of Training Your Horse

Horses can understand human emotion and respond to body language. As prey animals with a strong fight-or-flight response, horses are difficult to train. They are naturally fearful to unfamiliar situations in places like a horse farm Easthampton MA. Taking the time to empathize with them will make a difference. There are several stages of training you must follow to ensure your horse can trust you.

Bonding
Each time you communicate with your horse, you form a bond based on trust and empathy. Herds of horses had to survive by fleeing dangerous predators, so you shouldn't intimidate them with fear or "tough love" if they don't follow your command. If your horse keeps a distance from you or refuses to move, you should be mindful of what environmental stimuli could trigger their response. You should learn how to desensitize your horse. Repeated exposure to the same stimuli will calm a horse's anxieties, which should make future training sessions easier.

Dressage
Establishing basic groundwork will help your horse feel more comfortable. You should engage with different exercises to teach your horse various behaviors. Lead them with your reigns by either walking in front or by the horse's shoulder. Tie a lunging line to a bridle when teaching your horse when to trot or cantor. It's important to transition different commands, as this will encourage adaptable behavior. Give clear, concise orders with a specific intent in mind each time. The horse will learn to obey with habitual learning. You should rely on circle work before establishing a consistent riding routine, which requires greater flexibility that must be ingrained by using different exercises.

To train your horse effectively, you have to understand and respect their behavior. Proper bonding will allow you to take full command of the horse and must be established over time with patience and observation. Teach groundwork with basic behaviors to build rapport between you and your horse. Before riding your horse, you want to reinforce basic commands and find ways to calm your horse's anxious instincts when necessary.

Popular Events for Professional Event Planners

Being a special event planner sounds like a pretty luxurious, not to mention lucrative, career. And according to some of the top special event planners in the country, it is! If you've thought about joining the events industry, you're certainly not alone. Fortunately, there's a high demand for this niche market, especially for those who pay keen attention to details and can delegate efficiently and effectively. If you're considering starting a new career, here are some of the most popular and highly sought after events you will most likely be asked to coordinate.

Fraternity and Sorority Events
Whether it's a good old fashioned party or a formal black tie dinner, planning gatherings for college students isn't going away anytime soon. There are so many fraternity and sorority events that there are companies that only specialize in them. You can read more about one such company at https://greeklifeevents.com/. Collegiate events are important for many different reasons. They are a long-standing tradition. They help build camaraderie and serve as a foundation for lifelong friendships. Many of them are put on for important causes such as raising funds for charities. Occasions that are designed for alumni are also very popular, and can also help bring in funds for scholarships, home improvement projects and more.

Weddings
Even if you don't know the first thing about event planning (at least not yet anyway), you still have to know that weddings are undeniably the most popular type of event that professionals get hired for. Even though there may be similar types of weddings, no two weddings are ever the same. Because most brides want their wedding to be the best day of their life, they will often hire professionals to tend to the most intricate of details and special requests. And those are the kinds of things that will be remembered for years to come. Plus, even though it can be stressful, planning weddings is incredibly fun and rewarding in the end.

Conferences
The great thing about conferences is that they are rarely the same from week to week and you're always exposed to new information. One day you may be catering to medical professionals and the next you could be hosting a Comic-Con. Conferences are also versatile, they can range from 30 participants to tens of thousands and they can occur at retreat centers, in executive meeting rooms or fairgrounds.

If you're tired of the standard 9 to 5 desk job and you want to explore a career that's versatile, exciting and detail-oriented, you may want to give event planning a try.

Staying Fit in Bad Weather

Staying in shape when it’s too hot or too cold is a challenge, and unless you live in a perfect paradise, chances are it’s too hot or too cold about half the year if not more. It’s difficult to stay motivated in extreme weather, so consider adding a little variety into your workouts with these indoor exercise alternatives.

Indoor Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is a total body workout, and indoor climbs can happen in any weather. With rock climbing, every major muscle group gets exercised. Cardio is built into the sport as is stamina and strength training. Those who spend time at a climbing gym Denver discover that they are more mentally awake and centered after a climb. Not only can climbing lower stress, but climbers can burn over 300 calories in as little as 30 minutes.

Indoor Swimming

Although summertime and swimming go hand in hand, winter and swimming do not. Indoor swimming is an excellent work out for beginners through advanced athletes. Many YMCAs and recreation centers have large indoor swimming pools that are not overrun with small children during non-peak hours. Swimming is a great workout to do on the way home from work because it won’t matter what you look like afterward. Swimming is the perfect indoor sport for people with joint issues.

Spinning

Taking a heart-pumping ride on a nice spring day is ideal, but there are so many fewer worries in an indoor spin class. First, no one will try to run you off the road. Second, you never have to worry about someone stealing your bike. Spin class is a great way to burn calories, and you don’t have to be super coordinated to do it. Spinning improves your heart health and builds muscle. And when class is over, someone else puts the bike away.

Tai Chi
Once considered the singular domain of the aged, Tai Chi has been steadily gaining popularity with millennials. Gentle and low-impact, Tai Chi is great for those recovering from injuries, but don’t be fooled, it will give you a full-body workout if done correctly. Unlike a more dance-focused exercise class like Zumba, a Tai Chi video is easy to follow along from home.

Extreme weather is generally a very good excuse to not exercise, but if you have a few rainy days (or snow days) indoor alternatives already in your back pocket, it will be more difficult to use this excuse. And, who knows, you may discover that rock climbing or spinning become your preferred way to get in shape.

Improving Business Operations by Outsourcing

When you’re running your own business, there are a lot of aspects to keep track of. You’re responsible for staffing, contracts, tools, marketing, sales, IT and more. With all these necessary functions to stay on top of, when do you get the time and energy to focus on your actual company? How can you grow your business if you’re responsible for all these knowledge areas and the fine details? Outsourcing means contracting with other providers to handle parts of your operations, giving you the freedom to direct your efforts mostly towards your core business. Here are some commonly outsourced areas.

Information Technology
These days it’s nearly impossible to run an office without a reliable network infrastructure. From Wi-Fi access to email to deployment of software, your company has specific IT needs that are crucial to daily operations. While you might know quite a bit about networking, do you want to be the go-to when your employees are having network issues? You could hire someone in-house but are you prepared to support that employee’s knowledge-related needs? Contract with a firm that has certified IT professionals who can handle your office’s needs.

Business Tax Preparation
As the owner of an enterprise, the last thing you want to do is run afoul of tax rules and regulations. Making sure that your business is best structured to minimize your tax burden is an important aspect of successful operation. With tax laws constantly changing, you should definitely work with a professional Denver Tax Advisor Denver to make sure that you’re compliant with the law and not paying extra taxes or penalties.

Marketing and Sales
The marketing and sales processes will require your close involvement as an owner. Increasing market share and branding are key elements in growing your business; however, there’s an entire field of knowledge when it comes to formulating and executing marketing strategies. A specialist in marketing services not only understands various approaches and principles, but they are equipped to help you find the best way to leverage social media, search engine optimization and advertising to help you build you grow your brand.

Working smarter and not harder is a major element of being a successful business owner. Not only do you have an operations structure that appropriately divides the labor within the organization, you also need to understand which elements are best handled by an outside entity. Outsourcing affords you the time and energy to spend on your actual business, and leaves experts in other knowledge areas to see to your company’s needs.

I Still Believe Movie Review

I Still Believe is one of the most inspirational Christian movies to have been released in a long time. Following the true story of Jeremy Camp and the loss of his wife. It's a movie that tells the story of loss and hardship but still keeping the faith. Jeremy Camp is one of the most influential Contemporary Christian music artists but few know the story behind the man. Until now.
If you have yet to see I Still Believe do yourself a favor and stream it online or buy a copy. You won't regret it. The trailer alone had me in tears so do be warned it is a tearjerker.