Month: April 2018

2018-04-30T11:01:00

(BPT) – Spring is many things to many people: the smell of freshly cut grass after a long winter; blue skies; warm days; and the crack of the bat, sending a ball far into the outfield.

For millions of Americans, the start of the baseball season is the best part of spring. Indeed, as spring settles into summer, it’s the best part of the year.

Though many would wish to sit in the bleachers for every game, the fact is, you can also have a great experience watching the game at home.

Not to make season ticket holders feel any regrets, but here are five ways watching the next baseball game at home might be better than watching it at a stadium:

1. Throw your own theme night. The most popular events at both major and minor league ballparks are the themed nights. These don’t have to be confined to the ball field. Call up your friends, send out invitations and throw your own themed baseball party. Disco, ’90s flashback, carnival night, pirates — the possibilities are endless.

2. You can get an umpire’s view of things. Even umpires can’t catch the same level of details that you can with the right television. The LG Super UHD lineup offers some of the best televisions available, and your ticket to the best seats anywhere. Their Advanced Nano Cell technology renders more accurate colors, precise brightness and perfect blacks. Plus, these sets support multiple HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, 4K Cinema HDR, Advanced HDR by Technicolor, HLG and HDR10. In layman’s terms, this will make every hit, catch and strike feel like it’s happening right in your living room.

3. Load up on the food you want. Not everyone thinks that a warm hotdog in a soggy bun is the ideal meal. The great thing about watching the game at home is you can stock up on all your favorite snacks and treats ahead of time, and not pay an arm and a leg for them.

4. Watch smarter. Do you want to know what the upcoming schedule looks like for the team or what your favorite player’s season stats are? Do you need to order your favorite gear or show your friends that funny cat video during the commercial break? All you need to do is say it. That’s right. The LG Super UHD lineup of televisions combine LG’s award-winning webOS Smart TV platform with LG’s own ThinQ AI along with third-party AI vendors through a voice-control feature that allows the ultimate in connectivity during the game.

5. Fantasy baseball. Major League baseball teams are scheduled to play 162 games a season. That’s more than most sports, but for many fans, it’s just not enough. If you’ve always wished your team made that trade or you secretly like your rival’s star player, then it’s time to start up or join a fantasy baseball league. It’s a great excuse to watch more games, track more players and get more baseball out of the baseball season.

Watching all those games, you want to be sure you’re doing it right. Take advantage of the technology that’s available.

2018-04-27T15:31:03

(BPT) – The backyard barbecue is a staple of the American summer. Long days filled with sun, fun, family and friends are what make lifelong memories. Now is the perfect time to start planning for your next barbecue, so you, too, can create memories you won’t soon forget.

However, before you fire up the grill, you will want to ensure your backyard is prepped and ready to host your friends and family.

Here are three tips to help you create the perfect setting for your patio party:

1. Lay the groundwork

The first step to setting any stage is to lay the groundwork. Unfortunately, many deck or patio surfaces become uncomfortably hot in the direct sun. The problem affects dark-colored deck boards, especially, which absorb heat throughout the day, as well as some composite boards that hold heat. As a result, what should be a comfortable stroll across your deck might end up feeling more like a crash course in the ancient art of fire walking. An overly hot deck is especially problematic for young children and pets, whose feet are more heat sensitive.

“Many people tell us they love the beauty and durability of their composite deck, but not the heat,” said Brent Gwatney, vice president of MoistureShield Decking. His company has developed a solution they call CoolDeck technology. The boards are engineered to absorb up to 35 percent less heat than other composites in similar colors, for a noticeably lower surface temperature on hot summer days.

2. Create shade

Once you have protected your feet from the heat, you’ll want to shield the rest of your body from the summer sun with a pergola or gazebo. These stylish coverings provide a refreshing shady area for friends and family to relax and enjoy themselves. Turn this area into the ultimate relaxation zone by adding hammocks or hanging chairs, along with climbing vines for added beauty and extra protection from the sun.

If you are a weekend do-it-yourself type, look for gazebo and pergola plans on popular social media sites like Pinterest and Houzz. For the less handy, many deck builders will complete the project for you without breaking the bank.

3. Light up the night

Once the sun sets and the temperature drops, you might find yourself missing the light and warmth of the day. While tiki torches offer a temporary aesthetic solution, a more permanent outdoor fireplace can provide heat, light and ambiance to keep your guests happy long into the night. There are many style options, from wood-burning designs to more modern styles that burn gas or propane.

The pricing varies greatly depending on whether you decide on a custom build, or choose to purchase a prefab or portable unit from a home improvement store. With a custom-built fireplace you can even include an outdoor pizza oven and give your guests an alternative to the typical burgers and hot dogs menu. A custom-built fireplace will cost more, and will require a stonemason, but will allow for more personalized features. For more budget-friendly options, you can always pick up a simple wood-burning fire pit from your local home improvement store, starting as low as $200.

Whether you are designing a completely new backyard or just giving your existing one a face-lift, these three tips will help you to create a stylish space that will keep you and your guests comfortable and happy during all of your summer events.

2018-04-27T12:31:00

(BPT) – When award-winning chef and culinary visionary Michael Voltaggio was remodeling his West Hollywood home, he purposefully selected kitchen essentials that facilitate restaurant-level culinary innovation in a residential setting. Chef Voltaggio’s home kitchen couples superior functionality with style, integrating handpicked fixtures and tools of the trade necessary to establish an environment that inspires an elevated culinary process.

Mindful mise en place

One of the most important lessons a chef learns is the concept of mise en place — French for “everything in its place” — to streamline organization and enable efficiency. With expert forethought and understanding of the importance of countertops as a prep canvas, Michael incorporated creative cabinetry and storage solutions into his home kitchen, creating a clean, structured environment. To maximize space, he used his favored methods, such as a vacuum pack machine to clear freezer space, and stackable containers to organize ingredients and increase efficiency. Infusing versatility wherever possible is also key to a high-functioning kitchen. Michael incorporated a rolling cutting board island to provide more prep space when needed, and to be used as a serving station while entertaining.

Tools meet technique

Seamless integration of carefully selected everyday essentials will ensure an at-home chef is set up for success in the kitchen. Michael’s personal kitchen is no exception, being fully equipped with must-have tools such as a customized knife set made to ensure comfort and secure handling, an immersion circulator for commercial-style sous vide cooking, and a Japanese mandoline to slice consistently sized portions for a professional meal aesthetic. Each tool should serve a purpose, enhancing individual technique and empowering the user to cook at restaurant-level quality.

Sophisticated functionality

As an anchor fixture in the culinary process, the faucet serves as a key essential for function and design in Michael’s kitchen. The Solna Articulating Kitchen Faucet with SmartTouch Technology by Brizo is inspired by a sleek, Scandinavian aesthetic, bringing crisp lines and beautiful simplicity into any kitchen. Akin to the industrial feel of a commercial kitchen, the faucet’s design offers a full range of motion, a magnetic docking system and innovative touch technology that allows simple water activation ideal for fast-paced kitchen environments. Merge functionality of this caliber with sleek design elements to create a contemporary, commercial-inspired setting in the comfort of a residential kitchen space.

Ceaseless inspiration

Maintaining a source of creative inspiration will ensure at-home cooks are constantly evolving and refining their culinary skills. A must-have essential for Michael is the ever-present stack of cookbooks, offering new and unexplored recipes of classical chefs and contemporaries alike. A dedicated place to take notes also enhances a chef’s ability to ideate while experimenting in the kitchen. Build in space for a chalkboard or whiteboard to plan and curate recipes, enabling real-time improvisation and setting a foundation for restaurant-worthy culinary creativity.

2018-04-27T10:00:00

(BPT) – Are you in touch with your comfort culture? More than just a catchy buzzword, comfort culture is that sense of comfort and pride that comes from who you are, where you’re from and how you do things. It’s the space where you can relax and let the stresses of everyday life melt away, even for just a few minutes. It’s the feeling of being with old friends who really know you, sitting around the table with family enjoying a great meal or taking a walk under the stars with someone you love. It’s living authentically. How long has it been since you felt that way?

If you can’t remember, you’re not alone. Those moments when you can relax, kick back and say, “Ahhhh” are hard to find. Everyone’s lives are so hectic and stress-filled these days. Between pressure at work, racing to get the kids to practice, bills stacking up, and everyone with their eyes on their cell phones instead of on each other, it can be difficult to find a minute to simply enjoy life.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are a few tips for finding your own personal comfort culture so you can enjoy real moments, real people and real food — all with an eye on quality connections.

Remind yourself to relax. It might sound odd, but many people don’t realize how tense they are at any given moment of the day. Take a moment to simply breathe and let go of the tension you’re carrying around.

Unplug. Disconnect from devices for a while. Declare your lunch hour to be an electronic-free zone. Take a walk outside, have lunch with a friend or co-worker, read a book, go for a workout, anything that doesn’t involve looking at a screen.

Kick back with friends and family. Do whatever feeds your soul with your favorite people on the planet. Be the grillmaster at a neighborhood barbecue on a Sunday afternoon. Meet down at the lake for a bonfire with the people you grew up with. Have your best friends over for movies and popcorn. Play a pick-up game of basketball at the park.

Enjoy your favorite comfort foods. Guilt free. Whether it’s your grandmother’s famous casserole, a burger and fries, or down-home, done-right, made from scratch biscuits, food and comfort were made for each other. And it doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Hardee’s, for example, has recently tapped into its own comfort culture, serving quality food the way you would make it, while celebrating real people, real moments and local pride. In its new campaign, “Tastes Like America,” they’re evolving the brand with a focus on giving people the comfort culture experiences they’re craving and honoring down-home, done-right food.

Let the chores wait. Ban the job jar! Busy working folks tend to load up their weekends with chores that they don’t have time to get done during the week. Cleaning out the garage, mowing the lawn, finally washing those windows after a long winter. But if you’re doing chores all weekend, you’re not re-energizing yourself from a long week. Designate Saturday as your chore day, and save Sunday for relaxation and recharge.

Pick and choose the tips that will work best for you. Tapping into your own, personal comfort culture is about filling your soul with whatever makes it soar. There’s time in everyone’s busy day for that.

2018-04-27T07:01:00

(BPT) – Did you know that humans are not the only ones who can catch the flu? Unfortunately for man’s best friend, dogs are also susceptible to their own version of it.

Dog flu is a year-round illness that can easily spread from dog to dog, but isn’t contagious to humans. Spring is a great time for pet parents to talk to their veterinarians about vaccinating their dogs against dog flu, either for the first time or for revaccination, because warmer weather means more time spent outside socializing with other dogs — and more social time can increase a dog’s chance of getting sick.

“Dog flu is highly contagious and we’ve seen thousands of cases being reported over the last year,” says Kathryn Primm, DVM, co-author of the Pet Parent’s Guide to Infectious Disease of Dogs. “The good news is that it’s also vaccine preventable. Dogs can be protected against both strains of dog flu with a single vaccine.”

To help pet parents across the country, here are answers to some common questions pet parents have about dog flu.

What exactly is dog flu? There are two strains of the canine influenza virus — H3N2 and H3N8. H3N2 is relatively new and is responsible for most of the recent cases. Common symptoms of dog flu include high fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, cough, runny nose and, in some cases, pneumonia — which can be life-threatening.

How do dogs get dog flu? Dog flu is highly contagious and can pass between dogs through virus particles in the air, physical contact with other dogs, indirect contact with an infected dog or contact with a person who has interacted with an infected dog. Since dogs have no natural immunity against dog flu, almost all unvaccinated dogs that come in contact with the virus will become sick.

Are certain groups of dogs more susceptible to dog flu? Pups that travel with their families or are frequently in contact with other dogs at places like dog parks, doggie daycare, grooming facilities and boarding kennels are at increased risk and should be vaccinated against both strains of dog flu.

Why should I get my dog vaccinated now? Dog flu is not seasonal, it is year-round; but because dogs tend to be more social in the spring in many parts of the country, they are more likely to encounter a contagious dog. Plus, with summer approaching, dogs that will be boarded should finish the dog flu vaccination at least two weeks before the planned date of boarding. Dogs vaccinated for the first time need two vaccinations, two to four weeks apart. Annual revaccination just requires one vaccination.

Can dogs transmit the flu to humans? No. To date, there is no evidence that humans can catch canine influenza virus from dogs.

Can I vaccinate my dog against both strains? According to the American Animal Hospital Association, dogs at risk, such as those that are boarded at kennels, attend doggie day care or visit dog parks, should be vaccinated against both strains of dog flu, available in a single vaccine. Dogs should be vaccinated on an annual basis to prevent illness or decrease the severity of symptoms if they do become sick. To find a vet that carries the dog flu vaccination, you can visit dogflu.com and search by your zip code.

How long has this vaccine been available? Bivalent vaccines, which are vaccines that contain both strains of dog flu, were introduced to the market in 2016 and 2017. Millions of dogs have been vaccinated against dog flu.

Spring weather is exciting for both pet parents and their dogs — it means it’s time to get outside and play. Avoid the risk of dog flu by talking to a veterinarian about vaccination and visiting dogflu.com to find a veterinarian and schedule an appointment for a dog flu vaccination for your pet.

2018-04-26T16:27:00

(BPT) – Finding great employees hasn’t been easy for small businesses lately. And this summer, the competition could heat up even more.

Thanks to a healthy economy, unemployment levels are low across the country. Many companies will be adding even more jobs as the weather warms up — especially those in seasonal industries such as tourism and hospitality, and other professions that are weather-dependent. While some of these positions may be filled by new graduates, this year employers can expect a fight for top candidates in any role.

Small businesses in particular will feel the brunt of the hiring squeeze, as they often can’t match the compensation and benefits offered by their larger competitors. This forces them to get creative to attract and retain the best.

One way many businesses get a leg up on their competition is with a small-business loan. Companies like Funding Circle offer working capital loans that allow businesses to get fast, affordable financing to expand their teams and achieve their goals.

Here are three more tips that can help small businesses gain an edge this summer:

Hire strategically

What are the different seasonal roles you need? While many businesses will be hiring for customer-facing positions, don’t stop your planning there. It may be worth taking the time to ensure your systems, website and marketing campaigns are up to snuff too as you head into a summer rush. With today’s gig economy, it’s easier than ever to hire high-quality, professional seasonal employees like web designers, marketing managers and accountants on an independent contractor basis.

You should also be creative about how you find the right candidates. Online, think carefully about the job description you post. It shouldn’t just be a list of responsibilities, but a chance to market your company to your future hire. Offline, get your current employees to help with the search by offering a recruiting bonus. And rethink your preconceptions about what work actually needs to be performed onsite — roles like administrative support, marketing and bookkeeping can now be done remotely with ease, which can widen your talent pool and be more appealing to prospective applicants.

Do everything by the book

Before making any job offers, acquaint yourself with state and federal fair hiring practices and job discrimination laws — and know how to implement them. If you have questions about any employment laws related to seasonal employees, talk to a lawyer.

Second, make sure you’re correctly classifying your seasonal employees according to state and federal laws (think: part-time vs. full-time, or contractor vs. employee). You could end up facing problems down the road, like being held liable for payroll taxes, if you’ve misclassified any workers.

It’s also important to make sure you get all employment agreements in writing. A lack of written contracts, including work for hire or consulting agreements, is a common small-business mistake, and a little effort upfront can save you a lot of headaches later.

Build your employer brand

Right now, the best candidates can afford to be picky about where they work. Every employer, big and small, has a reputation, and yours can either be a secret weapon or an Achilles’ heel in your hunt for new staff.

Your employer brand encompasses all the ways your business is perceived by staff and applicants alike. This can be shaped by everything from the interview process to the perks you offer, your policies, working conditions, company values, culture and more. Ensure that you’re consistently communicating that your business is a great place to work, even if only for the summer. When done right, you’ll get good employees to come to you rather than the other way around.

For more tips and information about small business loans, visit FundingCircle.com.