Category: Brandpoint Lifestyle

2025-06-24T05:01:00

(BPT) – Bursting with energy, creativity and character, the Richmond Region is where history meets innovation, and culture collides with thrill. Whether you’re into timeless art or adrenaline-pumping adventures, this thriving hub in central Virginia offers something for every kind of traveler. This bold and vibrant destination is ready to impress, and it’s closer than you think.

Here are 10 unforgettable only-in-Richmond experiences that showcase why the Richmond Region deserves a top spot on your travel list:

1. Explore the heart of seven unique destinations

The Richmond Region isn’t one-size-fits-all — it’s a dynamic mix of seven distinct localities (two cities, four counties and one town), each with its own personality. Whether you’re drawn to downtown energy, small-town charm or outdoor beauty, you’ll find your perfect vibe here. Even better? It’s within a day’s drive for half the U.S. population, and for many it’s only a tank of gas or less to get there.

2. Witness history where it happened

Stand in the very spot where Patrick Henry delivered his fiery “Give me liberty or give me death” speech at St. John’s Church in 1775. This iconic site still echoes with the spirit of the American Revolution, with dramatic reenactments every Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day — just in time for the speech’s 250th anniversary. The Richmond Region is filled with other American Independence-inspired experiences and exhibits, too, including the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Scotchtown, St. Peter’s Church and more.

3. Immerse yourself in world-class art — admission-free

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is one of the country’s top art museums, and it’s open 365 days a year with free general admission. Explore everything from American and European masterpieces to decorative arts and the largest public collection of Fabergé eggs outside of Russia. Their blockbuster special exhibition this summer is Frida Kahlo: Beyond the Myth (ticket purchase required).

4. Step into nostalgia at the world’s largest tractor museum

Rev up your curiosity at the Keystone Truck & Tractor Museum where you can take a trip down the memory lane of America’s rich agricultural heritage. With its massive collection of antique trucks, tractors, cars, motorcycles and Americana, it’s an unexpected delight for gearheads, history buffs and wide-eyed children alike.

5. Celebrate 50 years of amusement park thrills

From coasters to kiddie rides, Kings Dominion has been serving up fun for five decades. Don’t miss the debut of Rapterra — the world’s tallest and longest launched wing coaster — plus classic attractions like the soaring one-third-scale Eiffel Tower and a summer of anniversary festivities.

6. Conquer whitewater rapids — downtown

There’s nowhere else in the country where you can raft Class III and IV rapids in the middle of a city. The James River in downtown Richmond offers urban whitewater adventures as well as tranquil and scenic flatwater, making it a must for thrill-seekers and paddlers alike. And along the river, you can now see hot music acts and other performances at the new 7,500-seat Allianz Amphitheatre at Riverfront.

7. Rev your engines for a night of NASCAR

Catch the excitement of an exhilarating NASCAR night race at America’s premier short track. With its unique three-quarter-mile layout and D shape, Richmond Raceway has been a favorite for drivers and fans since 1958. The August evening showdown? Unmissable.

8. Saddle up for pure horsepower

For more life in the fast lane, trade the roar of engines for the thunder of hooves at Colonial Downs, home to live horse racing all summer long and host to its first-ever Kentucky Derby qualifier this past spring. Their turf course is the widest grass racing surface in North America, and the dirt track is the country’s second largest.

9. Pay tribute to a racing legend

Keep following Virginia’s equestrian legacy to the stunning bronze statue of Secretariat, the Virginia-born Triple Crown champion who captured hearts around the world. “Secretariat Racing into History” is more than a monument — it’s a moving tribute to the Commonwealth’s most famous four-legged athlete. Every horse that raced in this year’s Kentucky Derby is one of his descendants!

10. Meet the zoo’s social media sensation

Say hello to Poppy, the pygmy hippo! She may not win any races, but she’s been stealing hearts (and headlines) since her December 2024 debut at the Metro Richmond Zoo. Poppy is part of a family of endangered pygmy hippos at the zoo and just one of many amazing animals you’ll encounter — from giraffes you can hand-feed to monkeys, cheetahs and more. For adventure seekers, there’s a zipline and adventure park too.

Ready for an unforgettable escape?

Discover even more amazing things to do, see and savor in the Richmond Region at VisitRichmondVA.com/things-to-do.

2025-06-18T11:03:00

(BPT) – There’s no end to the number of kitchen gadgets you can buy, but in terms of versatility, the blender cannot be matched. If you only use your blender for making smoothies, you’re missing out! The right blender can tackle a wide range of hot and cold recipes for any meal, snack or beverage.

KitchenAid, the maker of the iconic stand mixer, has recently launched the KitchenAid^® Pure Power Blender. This handy kitchen appliance will help you turn everyday ingredients into delicious dishes to feed yourself or others. Thanks to its smooth variable speed control, asymmetric blade and three presets, what you can make is only limited by your imagination and your budget.

Not sure where to start? Check out these five recipes and see which is your favorite!

1. Smoky Chipotle Salsa

Making fresh salsa at home is simple with the right ingredients and tools. Take this smoky chipotle salsa recipe, for example. After roasting Roma tomatoes, onion, garlic and serrano peppers in the oven, you’ll toss them straight from the pan to the blender to mix with smoky chipotle peppers and other tasty ingredients.

No need to wait for the oven-roasted veggies to cool down. Thanks to a fitted vented lid, the Pure Power Blender can take care of hot ingredients like freshly roasted tomatoes just as well as it can frozen food straight from the freezer. In no time at all, you’ll have a perfectly textured salsa ready to scoop with your choice of chips or to spoon on top of tacos and other main dishes.

2. Peanut Butter

Have you ever made peanut butter at home? All you need is dry-roasted, salted peanuts, a neutral oil and a blender to make the magic happen.

An advantage to making your own peanut butter is that you control the texture. Whether your perfect spread is smooth and creamy or crunchy and chunky, you can make it happen with the right blender settings. Using the Pure Power Blender’s precision speed control knob and asymmetric blade design, you’ll be able to create the perfectly textured peanut butter that suits your taste and needs.

Pro tip: Add honey or maple syrup for a sweeter spread.

3. Roasted Corn, Potato and Zucchini Chowder

A hearty chowder is a delicious meal to share or eat on your own and save the leftovers. Using this recipe for roasted corn, potato and zucchini chowder, you’ll have a fresh batch ready to serve in under 1 1/2 hours.

Much like the salsa recipe above, you’ll roast the veggies in the oven before tossing them into the blender. However, you’ll still be putting the blender to work while the veggies are roasting by making a smooth basil oil for drizzle.

Don’t worry about cleaning up in between tasks. With the Pure Power Blender’s Clean cycle, you’ll have a clean blender jar ready in no time, so you can finish creating your veggie chowder.

Pro tip: For a smooth chowder, blend ingredients on speed 6 for one minute. If you prefer a chunkier chowder, blend on speed 2 for 5-10 seconds.

4. Citrus Cake

Can you make cake in a blender? You sure can! This recipe for citrus cake allows you to quickly mix all the necessary ingredients while you wait for dinner to finish cooking.

Using the precision speed control knob, you’ll set the blender speed to 7 or 8 to finely chop unpeeled clementines and lemons that give the cake its flavor, as well as blend other essential ingredients like sugar, oil, vanilla and almond extract. When you’re ready to add flours, baking powder and salt, simply glide the knob to speed 1 to incorporate these dry ingredients.

Once mixed, all you need to do is pour, bake, cool and top with simple sugar clementine glaze. Whether you serve this cake for brunch, tea time or dessert, your friends and family will be begging you for the recipe.

5. Acai & Berry Smoothie Bowls

No blender recipe list would be complete without a smoothie recipe! Gather frozen acai, blueberries, raspberries and bananas and get ready to mix it with delicious Greek yogurt, your choice of milk or milk alternative and your favorite toppings.

You won’t have to worry about which blender setting to use for this recipe. Simply push the Pure Power Blender’s Smoothie cycle button and watch your smoothie come to life.

Pro tip: You can use any berries you like, and don’t forget that you can sneak in vegetables like riced cauliflower, baby spinach and carrots. Vanilla protein powder is also a sweet and nutritious addition to your smoothie bowls.

Are you ready to blend the rules? Try one or all five of these recipes and see for yourself how indispensable a blender can be. To learn more about the Pure Power Blender, visit KitchenAid.com.

2025-06-18T13:15:00

(BPT) – Texas tops the safety charts, the Pacific Northwest makes big gains, and Boston returns as America’s riskiest driving city in Allstate’s 17th annual report.

The 2025 Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report reveals that Texas leads the nation in safe driving, with four cities in the top 20, including Brownsville, which reclaims its title as the safest driving city in America. Meanwhile, Boston is once again the most collision-prone city in the nation, where drivers are nearly 3.5 times as likely to be in a collision compared to the national average.

First launched in 2005, this year’s Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report revisits collision data published a decade ago to reveal surprising shifts in driving safety across the country, just as Americans prepare for another busy summer on the roads.

“No matter where you drive, the best way to protect yourself and others is simple: buckle up, stay focused and slow down,” said Sandee Lindorfer, vice president of auto claims at Allstate. “These are three of the most effective ways to prevent crashes, and they cost nothing but attention.”

Driving by the numbers: What the data reveals

East Coast or West Coast: Which is riskier?

• Seven of the 10 cities with the highest collision rates are located in the Northeast, including Boston, Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia.
• But don’t count out the West Coast: Los Angeles, Glendale and Oakland, California, round out the 10 riskiest cities for drivers.

Everything’s bigger – and safer – in Texas

• Brownsville, Texas, is the safest driving city in America, with Laredo, McAllen and Corpus Christi also landing in the top 20.
• Across the state, 21 cities, including major metros such as Austin, Fort Worth, Houston and Dallas, have climbed the ranks over the past decade.

The Pacific Northwest gets a glow-up

• Drivers in Washington, Oregon and Alaska are safer behind the wheel than they were a decade ago, with some of the largest reductions in collisions nationwide.
• Bellevue, Washington, leads the way, climbing 133 spots since 2015 to earn the title of most improved city. Other Northwest cities making significant strides include Anchorage, Alaska, and Portland, Oregon.

Midwest “nice” hits a speed bump

• Several Midwestern cities have experienced significant declines in safe driving since 2015.
• St. Louis saw the steepest drop, falling 90 spots to No. 175. Des Moines, Iowa, dropped 89 places to No. 108, and Kansas City, Missouri, slid 84 spots to No. 101.
• Other cities following this downward trend include Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Minneapolis; Cleveland; Omaha, Nebraska; and Indianapolis.

Collision rates climb in America’s riskiest cities

• While the average city has seen a modest decline in collisions since 2015, the gap between the safest and riskiest cities is widening.
• Several cities among the 50 most collision-prone cities have seen more than a 25% increase in crash rates since 2015, underscoring a growing divide in road safety.

How to stay safe and save on the road this summer

No matter where your city ranks, Allstate offers smart ways to stay protected and cut costs wherever you go.

• Stick to the speed limit and drive safely. It sounds simple, but it pays off. Avoiding violations and accidents for several months can earn safe driving discounts.
• Use a safe driving app. Programs like Allstate’s Drivewise, available in the Allstate mobile app, reward smooth driving habits like safe speeds, gentle braking and staying off your phone. It personalizes your rate based on real-time behavior, and people who use Drivewise are 25% less likely to have a severe collision compared to those who do not.
• Consider cars with strong safety features. Cars with airbags, anti-lock brakes, advanced driver aids and factory-installed anti-theft systems offer greater protection and reduce the risk of accidents and theft — benefits that may also translate into insurance savings.
• Set young drivers up for success. Young drivers under 25 can save by completing an approved driver ed program or maintaining good grades — proof that preparation and responsibility pay off.

Find more safety tips and ways to save before hitting the road this summer at Allstate.com/Best-Drivers. Curious how your city ranked? Check out the full list in Allstate’s 2025 America’s Best Drivers Report below.

Methodology

The Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report is the result of an in-depth examination of company auto claims data to determine the likelihood drivers in America’s 200 most populous cities will experience a vehicle collision compared to the national average. According to Allstate claims data, the average driver in the U.S will experience a collision once every 10.56 years. This year, Allstate researchers analyzed property and collision damage claims reported during the two-year period of January 2022 to December 2023. The report defines a collision as any auto crash resulting in a property or collision damage claim and uses U.S. Census Bureau data to determine America’s 200 largest cities. Allstate’s auto policies represent approximately 10% of all U.S. auto policies, making this report a realistic snapshot of what is happening on America’s roadways. The Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report is produced solely to boost the country’s discussion about safe driving and to increase awareness of the importance of being safe and attentive behind the wheel. The report is not used to determine auto insurance rates.

About Allstate

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) protects people from life’s uncertainties with a wide array of protection for autos, homes, electronic devices, and identities. Products are available through a broad distribution network including Allstate agents, independent agents, major retailers, online, and at the workplace. Allstate is widely known for the slogan “You’re in Good Hands with Allstate.” For more information, visit www.allstate.com.

2025-06-18T08:01:00

(BPT) – Summer is made for play — but when the temperatures rise, outdoor fun can turn into indoor boredom fast. If your kids are bouncing off the walls, take the energy somewhere it belongs — like Urban Air Adventure Park.

One pass, unlimited summer fun

After the strong success of last summer’s Summersational Play Pass, Urban Air — the nation’s leading indoor adventure park and part of Unleashed Brands — is offering families with kids an easy way to turn up the fun this summer. Its newly launched “Unlimited Play Summer Pass” is your ticket to unlimited visits to Urban Air for 90 days this summer.

This all-access pass is perfect for keeping kids active, engaged and out of the heat at a great value. With prices starting at $59.99 (depending on location), families nationwide can enjoy unlimited indoor summer fun with no blackout dates and daily access to the park’s top attractions. Summer Pass members also get exclusive food and beverage deals at the Urban Air Café all summer long.

“Our guests loved last year’s Summersational Pass and this year, we wanted to go even bigger with our Unlimited Play Summer Pass,” said Kyle Martin, chief marketing officer at Urban Air. “With rising temperatures and growing demand for screen-free activities, we’re proud to offer families an affordable, exciting option where kids can be active, explore and have fun every single day.”

Why Urban Air?

As a part of the Unleashed Brands family — which includes other leading youth enrichment businesses such as The Little Gym, Premier Martial Arts, Snapology, Sylvan Learning, Water Wings Swim School, XP League and Class 101 — Urban Air knows how important it is to give kids a space to learn, play and grow. You can rest easy knowing your kids are playing in a safe, climate-controlled environment that’s ideal for beating the summer heat and boredom.

Serving 20 million families nationwide, Urban Air Adventure Park offers kids a diverse lineup of attractions. Attractions vary by location, and include the Sky Rider, Adventure Slides, air court, warrior course, climbing walls, trampolines and more! Urban Air is open seven days a week, so you can have fun on your schedule. This indoor adventure park may soon become your family’s go-to destination for affordable, action-packed fun all summer long!

Are you ready for 90 days of summer?

Don’t let your kids spend the summer indoors just because of the heat. Families who act fast will lock in an entire season of adventure for the price of just a few visits. Visit UrbanAir.com/Summer-Pass to purchase your “Unlimited Play Summer Pass.” You can also head to your nearest Urban Air location and purchase a pass in-park.

2025-06-17T09:17:00

(BPT) – Heating and cooling systems account for around 55% of the average home’s energy use, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). And during the warmer summer months, HVAC systems are working at their hardest to keep homes cool — which means that as temperatures rise, energy bills often do, too.

Consider the following tips to boost a home’s energy performance and save on utility bills to help keep costs down and improve HVAC efficiency.

Practice routine maintenance

Clean or replace filters on air conditioners or furnaces regularly, ideally once a month or as recommended. This routine practice will ensure systems run efficiently.

It’s also important to schedule seasonal inspections with a professional technician, such as a Rheem Pro Partner^®, to identify and address potential issues before they become larger, more costly problems. An expert will also help evaluate the health of key components such as filters, refrigerant levels, and thermostat calibration to keep units working at peak performance.

Maintain clear airflow throughout the home

Proper insulation and air sealing techniques can achieve whole-house energy savings of 10%-20%, proving a cost-effective way to reduce energy waste.

Ensure air return points are not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes so that air can flow freely. Confirm that doors and windows are closed when the HVAC system is in operation, and check that loose seals or gaps around windows, doors and ducts are not causing conditioned air to escape from the home. Additionally, during warmer months, keep window coverings closed during the day to block the sun’s heat.

All these practices can prevent energy waste, lower utility costs, and improve overall performance.

Evaluate equipment options

Another option homeowners may consider is upgrading their home’s HVAC equipment. According to the DOE, upgrading a home’s cooling and heating system can cut energy use by 20% or more, depending on the existing setup.

Most cooling and heating equipment today is built for energy efficiency. Rheem, an innovative, century-old manufacturer of trusted air solutions, crafts HVAC equipment built for energy optimization while keeping the environment in mind. Rheem offers a comprehensive lineup of sustainable solutions engineered to ensure a comfortable home and efficiencies that provide long-term budget savings. A trusted, local contractor can help a homeowner evaluate the best equipment options.

No matter a home’s heating and cooling needs, these are a few tools and solutions homeowners can explore to better understand how to make a space more energy efficient.

2025-06-17T07:01:00

(BPT) – Anyone raising children knows how challenging it can be. For today’s parents, the heaviest load is often mental: navigating household logistics, daily routines, meal planning and more. While the school year adds homework and after-school activities, summertime means juggling irregular schedules, family vacations and back-to-school shopping.

How demanding are these pressures of modern parenting? According to a report from Harris Poll and Skylight, parents spend up to 32 hours per week managing household logistics. For moms, the burden is even heavier: They shoulder 71% of the planning, scheduling and organizing at home.

But a new qualitative survey from HP spotlights an ally many parents are using to support the daily juggle: AI.

“Parents today are doing the impossible — juggling work, family and nonstop logistics,” said Laura Morris, global head of Consumer PC Marketing, HP Inc. “We’re designing AI PCs to take some of that work off their shoulders. Whether it’s prepping for a meeting or a birthday party, our technology is helping people feel more supported, present and fulfilled — at work and at home.”

Here are practical, inventive ways parents are using AI not just at work, but in the everyday moments that matter most at home.

Kitchen helper: Meal planning is complicated for busy parents, especially when their children have discriminating tastes, but AI can generate meal ideas and recipes based on family preferences.

One mom trained AI on her family’s food preferences and inputs ingredients to get customized variations that suit everyone — her fitness-focused partner, picky toddler and weaning baby. She even uses AI to create “menu cards,” giving her toddler more autonomy at mealtime.

Travel planner: Coordinating family trips involves lots of details, from routes and itineraries to reservations and meals. Whether you’re planning quick getaways or extended vacations, AI can be a resourceful travel buddy.

When planning an international trip, one mom tapped AI to build a practical, fun-filled itinerary with something for every family member. AI saved her hours, helped with jet lag tips and local food suggestions — making the trip smoother for everyone and helping her reconnect with the joy of planning.

Magic moment manager: For holidays, birthdays and graduations, it’s tough to continually create magic. Some parents are turning to AI to plan special moments, without all the stress.

For example, AI helped a family develop scavenger hunts to find holiday treats and customized notes from childhood icons like the Tooth Fairy. Another family used AI to create customized invitations, decorations and themed games for a birthday party celebrating their child’s favorite character. AI planning tools transformed what might have been a stress-inducing occasion into a fun event for everyone.

Support finder: Growing up is not just parties and vacations. Sometimes children need support for mental health and other challenges, and it can be hard for parents to know where to turn.

One dad sought support to help his son during a mental health crisis, including navigating the medical and insurance systems. AI generated a shortlist of providers specializing in their child’s needs in their insurance network that offered flexible appointments, helping the family avoid delays and focus on being fully present for their son when he needed them most. Another family relied on AI to learn about autism when their daughter was diagnosed at age 14. They discovered useful books and resources to help them manage home, school and work responsibilities to meet their child’s needs.

Athletic trainer: From team coaches to weekend warriors, many parents struggle to juggle children’s — or their own — athletic pursuits with busy schedules.

A busy dad used AI to design focused, age-appropriate drills for his son’s Little League team. With limited time and energetic 6- to 8-year-olds, it helped make practices fun and focused — turning time crunch into connection, and effort into joy. For a mom training for a triathlon, AI developed a training plan with short, impactful workouts, plus tips to help combine family time and active time so she could accomplish her goals.

Transition tackler: Childhood can involve tricky transitions, like moving houses. Moving cross-country with a 3-year-old was eased for one family with AI’s help to map out a plan of action ahead of the transition. This included conversations to help ease the change, rituals like saying goodbye to friends and teachers, plus ways to practice adjusting to change in smaller ways first.

From tutor to college-planning coordinator: For many parents and students, AI has come a long way with them, from serving as a real-time tutor as they worked to understand and study new subjects, to a personal coordinator as kids take their biggest educational step. That transition to college is often one of the largest for families and can seem overwhelming. A family preparing for this milestone used AI to manage everything from comparing schools and tracking application timelines to planning campus visits, navigating financial aid forms and more. Streamlining this process helped the family feel confident about tackling this transition together.

“These insights from families really hit home for me,” added Morris. “AI is often my own hero at bedtime when my kids insist on personalized stories — with AI, every night brings an exciting new adventure, and I escape the struggle of coming up with new ideas constantly. AI really lightens the mental load, giving more time for what truly matters — whether it’s work or being more present with family.”

AI’s potential isn’t limited to cloud-based assistants. It’s now part of the PCs people rely on every day — powering faster, more secure ways to get things done. The HP OmniBook 5 AI PCs are the newest series of AI-enabled laptops that help parents stay on top of it all, with tools that run locally, keep data private and support life on the go.

2025-06-17T15:15:00

(BPT) – Relocating from a Northern region to a Southern U.S. state can provide a mild respite from frigid winters. However, if problems exist within your new home’s energy infrastructure, moving to a warmer climate zone could potentially be followed by your energy bills heating up. Still, there are steps homeowners can take to keep their cool and keep their budget on track — even in Southern climate zones. According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, even modest weatherization measures like air sealing and increasing the quality and thickness of attic insulation can reliably reduce energy usage by 12%-18%.^1*

Consider Climate and Location

IECC residential construction energy codes for different climate zones take temperature and humidity into consideration. These codes primarily aim to improve energy efficiency and reduce building energy consumption, which in turn, with proper levels of materials like attic insulation, also help support comfort. For example, the recommended level of insulation for homes in west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California (climate zones 1A-3A) is a minimum of 13-14 inches — sufficient for an R-Value of 38.² The R-Value is a measure of insulation’s ability to resist heat traveling through it. Inside a home’s attic, insulation helps keep warm air from passing into cooler parts of the home. In cool weather, insulation works to keep warm indoor air from moving to the cooler outside.

Beyond supporting comfort inside a home’s living spaces, an adequate amount of insulation in the home’s attic can help keep energy bills in check. Energy Star estimates that a home with low insulation levels could have utility bills that are 10% higher than a home that is well sealed and insulated.²

In addition to adding insulation, other steps to support energy efficiency include repairing or retrofitting ducts and ensuring that a home’s attic is inspected by a contractor who brings a whole home approach to caring for a home’s air.

Considering a move to a warmer climate zone? Follow these tips to help reduce your home’s energy use, potentially leading to lower utility bills and better comfort in every season.

Assess Attic Insulation: If a home’s attic floor joists are not buried in insulation, that’s a good sign that more insulation is needed. Measuring attic insulation is the first step in getting the insulation level right. An Owens Corning AirCare^® Professional will measure the thickness of attic insulation and provide a recommendation on the appropriate level to support comfort, improve energy efficiency and care for the air throughout the whole home. How much can installing sufficient attic insulation reduce energy bills? Savings may vary depending on the project, but Energy Star estimates that the average savings may be up to 15%.³

Check out the Ductwork: An efficient duct system is a prerequisite for a comfortable and energy-efficient home. A home’s ducts — known collectively as the air distribution system — carry air from the central air conditioner (or furnace in the winter) to each part of the home and back again. Energy Star reports that in a typical house, about 20% of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts.² Even the most energy-efficient HVAC equipment will not deliver its full value if the ducts that deliver air are compromised. Additionally, holes and loose connections can allow dust and particulates in attic air to infiltrate into other parts of the home, affecting indoor air quality. An Owens Corning AirCare^® Professional is trained to look for ductwork issues and may use special tools, such as thermal imaging, to identify where air is exiting ductwork, plus provide strategies for mitigating duct issues.

Look for Signs of an Issue: When shopping for a home, stay alert to signs that may indicate an issue in the attic. Are some rooms warmer than others? Do some rooms smell musty or have an unusual odor? Can you feel warm air infiltrating from attic access doors? Is condensation, which can support mold formation, visible in the attic? Any of these indicators may be a sign of issues in the attic.

Bring a Whole Home Approach to AirCare: Reviewing a home’s energy bills and records of maintenance performed on the heating and cooling system may provide an indication of monthly utility bills and how well equipment is functioning. And when you move into your new home, choose a contractor who is trained to care for air in the whole home. To find an Owens Corning AirCare^® professional, visit the Owens Corning online contractor locator.

¹ https://www.aceee.org/blog-post/2023/06/weatherization-key-effective-low-cost-building-electrification

² https://www.energystar.gov/products/ask-the-experts/how-check-your-homes-attic-insulation-level#:~:text=If%20you%20live%20in%20the,13%2D14%20inches%20of%20insulation

₃ Rule Your Attic! For Comfort and Savings | ENERGY STAR

*This is not a guarantee of savings. Savings may vary depending on project.

2025-06-17T14:39:00

(BPT) – A spike in home energy bills often leads consumers to suspect a problem with their heating or cooling equipment. However, before assuming faulty equipment is the cause of high energy bills, it’s a good idea to consider other potential culprits that can reduce energy efficiency and lead to costlier heating and cooling bills. Some areas within a home can allow heated or cooled air to escape before it enters the desired room. The attic is a good example of a space where undetected issues can reduce comfort, adversely affect air quality and decrease energy efficiency.

Signs of thermal problems in the attic may be visible from a home’s exterior. During cooler seasons, heated air escaping from a home’s attic may pass through the roof deck, melting snow or frost. If nearby homes’ roofs are covered in snow or frost while your home’s roof is bare, this may be a sign of attic heat loss.

Installing a sufficient amount of attic insulation is one way to reduce energy loss. According to Energy Star, homeowners can save up to 15% on heating and cooling costs by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces and accessible basement rim joists.¹

Insulate to avoid the chimney effect

The proper level of insulation can help defend against the chimney effect (sometimes called stack effect). This term describes the phenomenon of less dense, warm air vertically flowing to the highest part of a structure — often the attic. Attic insulation functions as a thermal barrier that helps keep warm air inside the home from moving into the attic and escaping to the outside. Conversely, in warmer weather, attic insulation helps keep hot attic air from infiltrating the cooled interior of a home.

A proper thickness of insulation installed in the attic can also help avoid moisture buildup, which can lead to mold growth and potential structural issues. Attic insulation helps maintain indoor temperatures, reduce energy loss and support occupant comfort.

Are your attic ducts in order?

Other attic components can also affect air throughout the home. When ductwork is properly sized and in good condition, airflow is balanced to support comfort and efficient air distribution. Ducts that are too small can cause airflow resistance, resulting in an uneven distribution of air, causing the heating and cooling equipment to cycle more frequently and putting more strain on equipment. Similarly, ducts that are too large may result in lower air pressure and poor temperature control throughout the home. Even acoustics can be influenced by ductwork, as properly sized ducts may help reduce noise generated by air flowing through the ducts.

While duct size matters, so does the condition of ductwork. Holes and loose connections in attic ductwork can allow cooled or heated air to escape before it reaches the register in the desired room. Contaminants inside the attic can enter these breaches and flow into the rest of the home. An increase in dust levels inside the home may be a sign that attic ductwork needs attention.

Inspecting the attic with a whole home approach

A home’s energy efficiency relies on a system that includes the heating and cooling equipment, ductwork and ancillary components like insulation. Ensuring that all these components are properly functioning can help contribute to occupant comfort, support indoor air quality, promote energy efficiency and contribute to the longevity of the home’s comfort system. An inspection of a home’s attic — including measuring insulation levels and assessing ductwork — should be included in HVAC service and maintenance checks.

An Owens Corning AirCare^® Professional brings a whole home approach to caring for a home’s air. These professionals use the HVAC System Health Check which includes 11 checkpoints to evaluate the home’s comfort system. To find an AirCare^® professional, visit the Owens Corning online contractor locator.

1 https://www.energystar.gov/saveathome/seal_insulate/why-seal-and-insulate#:~:text=EPA%20estimates%20that%20homeowners%20can,over%20crawl%20spaces%20and%20basements

© 2025 Owens Corning.

2025-06-17T09:15:00

(BPT) – Macaroni and cheese is a quintessential comfort food everyone loves. It’s homey, cheesy and tasty, evoking comfort like no other dish. National Mac and Cheese Day is the perfect excuse to indulge in this beloved comfort food, experiment with fun twists or simply enjoy it just the way you like it. From customizable toppings to easy recipes, there are plenty of ways to make this cheesy favorite the star of your day.

Make it customizable

Get creative and make mealtime fun by setting up a mac and cheese bar with a variety of tasty toppings. Mix and match different textures and flavors to take your dish to the next level — think crunchy bacon bits or toasted breadcrumbs for a satisfying crunch, sliced cherry tomatoes and chives for pops of color or chopped broccoli and mushrooms for added freshness. The best part? You can customize it however you want!

Keep it simple

Hosting a get-together this summer? Macaroni and cheese is an easy crowd-pleaser for any occasion — from backyard barbecues to weeknight family dinners. You don’t have to be a chef to serve up something satisfying. Bob Evans Macaroni & Cheese takes the hassle out of mealtime by cutting down on prep and cleanup so you can spend more moments with friends and family and less time worrying about the meal.

Make it the main course

Bob Evans rich and creamy Macaroni & Cheese varieties are delicious on their own but can also be used in a range of recipes for added flavor and variety. Whether you’re mixing in protein, layering it into a casserole or reinventing a classic dish, it’s the perfect base to build your next mealtime favorite.

Here are some tasty recipes to inspire your next meal.

Macaroni and Cheese with Veggies

This simple macaroni and cheese pasta salad is quick and easy to throw together and perfect for any summer gathering.

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook time: 20 minutes; Servings: 5

Ingredients

• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 20-ounce package Bob Evans Macaroni & Cheese
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In large skillet over medium heat, add zucchini and stir in macaroni and cheese, tomatoes and spinach. Cook until vegetables are tender.
3. Pour into 2-quart baking dish. Bake 20-25 minutes or until hot.

Pulled Pork Macaroni and Cheese Sliders

Pulled pork, a touch of barbecue flavor and extra cheese will transform your favorite mac and cheese into fun-to-eat sliders your whole family will love.

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1 pound cooked pulled pork in sauce
• 12 slider rolls
• 1 20-ounce package Bob Evans Macaroni & Cheese
• 2-3 tablespoons barbecue sauce
• 6 slices cheddar cheese
• 1 tablespoon barbecue dry rub
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Warm pulled pork in microwave as directed on package.
3. Slice rolls in half. Place bottom halves of rolls in 9×13-inch baking dish and top each half with pulled pork.
4. Microwave macaroni and cheese according to package directions and spoon evenly over the pork on each sandwich roll.
5. Drizzle barbecue sauce over sandwiches. Lay cheese in 2 rows of 3 over sliders to cover each sandwich. Top with top halves of the slider rolls.
6. Stir dry rub into melted butter. Spoon evenly over tops of sandwiches. Sprinkle with parsley.
7. Bake uncovered 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

Queso Macaroni and Cheese Tacos

Add a fun twist to this mealtime favorite with Bob Evans Queso Macaroni & Cheese, which brings Tex-Mex flavor and just the right amount of spice.

Prep time: 15 minutes; Cook time: 10 minutes; Servings: 12 tacos

Ingredients

• 14 ounces Mexican chorizo
• 1 15-ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 20-ounce package Bob Evans Queso Macaroni & Cheese
• 12 soft taco flour tortillas, warmed
• 1 cup pico de gallo
• Cilantro leaves to garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Cook chorizo in large skillet over medium heat until browned and crumbly; drain and stir in beans. Cook until beans are thoroughly heated. Meanwhile, heat macaroni and cheese according to package directions.
2. Spoon macaroni and cheese into warm tortillas. Top with chorizo mixture and pico de gallo. Serve immediately. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves if desired.

Celebrate the cheddar way

In celebration of National Mac and Cheese Day, now through July 14, Bob Evans, America’s No. 1 refrigerated mac and cheese brand, is giving 14 consumers the chance to win a one-year supply of Bob Evans Macaroni & Cheese, along with mac-and-cheese-themed items to help make the most of the summer season. To enter to win, visit the Bob Evans (@bobevansgrocery) Instagram or Facebook page and follow the details listed in the giveaway post.

Visit BobEvansGrocery.com to discover more recipe inspiration for the summer entertaining season.

2025-06-17T08:57:00

(BPT) – We’ve all heard of random acts of kindness — those spontaneous moments of generosity that warm hearts and spark smiles. Especially deserving of kindness are our military service members whose courage and resilience protect our freedom.

Companies like all-American snack cake brand MoonPie have been supporting U.S. troops for over 100 years through acts of patriotism. When America’s brave servicemen and women leave home, MoonPie goes with them. From the frontlines to the home front, MoonPie has been a comfort food soldiers have counted on since the heroic days of World War II.

Care packages lift spirits

Sending unexpected treats to troops not only boosts morale, it validates their service and reminds soldiers they are not forgotten. Something as simple as a snack cake can provide a meaningful connection to life before deployment. It’s a tangible reminder that service members who are away from home are appreciated and championed.

Patriotic Pies is a fundraiser that helps provide MoonPies to service members and veterans as a heartfelt way to thank them for their sacrifice. Schools and nonprofit organizations play a key role, promoting the program as they raise funds for their own goals, earning money from each Patriotic Pie purchased. Patriotic Pies has delivered half a million Mini MoonPies to troops since its inception in 2022.

MoonPies are available in red, white and blue — strawberry, vanilla and blueberry — in addition to classic chocolate, banana and salted caramel plus newer flavors like mint and birthday cake. Chattanooga Bakery has been making MoonPies for five generations, now over one million a day, with the goal of distributing one million Patriotic Pies to service members in 2025.

Volunteerism is a form of patriotism

The ultimate way to demonstrate appreciation is by donating time. Service-member support organizations like the USO, Friends of the Troops and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) offer ample opportunities for volunteerism. With more than 250 USO locations, volunteers can provide hospitality and assist with a variety of programs and activities. Through Friends of the Troops, volunteers can adopt a service member on deployment by sending care packages.

MoonPie works with the USO, Friends of the Troops and the VFW to distribute Patriotic Pies to active-duty troops on military bases stateside and overseas, as well as to veterans. Veteran-owned Averitt transports them for free to U.S. bases. MoonPies are also gifted to service members during deployment flight departures and arrivals and have even been shipped to Greenland for Space Force troops to enjoy a taste of home.

Whether it’s supporting efforts like Patriotic Pies in its mission to deliver a taste of home to soldiers, taking a few minutes to write a note of encouragement or volunteering to help military members and their families, gestures like these show our troops how valued they truly are for their service to our country.