Month: July 2021

2021-07-14T09:53:00

(BPT) – Home improvement projects and repairs increased during the pandemic, and demand is expected to continue with permanently transformed work schedules and remote telecommuting here to stay. According to a recent report, more than half of homeowners are finding time in their schedule for home improvement projects. There’s been an increased demand for in-home office spaces, gyms and deck expansions. While these amenities are gaining popularity, many homeowners want to build them in a way that’s sustainable.

If you plan to refresh your outdoor space, it’s important to think about how these improvement measures retain or increase sustainability. At the same time, there are many ways to achieve a more sustainable home, starting with your backyard.

You can personally help make a difference by considering these simple tips:

Add an eco-friendly deck

Your outdoor deck is the social cornerstone of your home. You probably use it for outdoor dining, grilling and even late-night stargazing. Whether you’re looking to expand your home’s living space or need to replace an old deck, ditch the run-of-the-mill wooden deck for a sustainable, composite option like TimberTech^®. With artisanal finishes and realistic wood grain textures, TimberTech looks just like wood but is more sustainable because it is made from recycled materials like milk jugs and detergent bottles. While wood decks need to be replaced every 10-15 years and require annual maintenance like staining, your new composite deck can be enjoyed for a lifetime, with innovative protection that safeguards your deck from mold and moisture damage.

If you’re planting, utilize plants that are native to your area

If you want to reduce your impact and add some color to your home, spruce up your yard and planters with native plants and wildflowers from your area. In fact, planting native plants can benefit the local ecosystem, as they provide diverse nutrients and resources for the surrounding wildlife, require less water than lawns and help prevent erosion. Non-native plants could be harmful to the local ecosystem as they are one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss.

Use solar lights to minimize energy consumption

To enjoy your backyard haven well into the night, improve your exterior lighting with solar lights. Even on the cloudiest of days, solar output is abundant, making solar lights an eco-friendly option that uses a renewable power source. Standard lightbulbs can increase energy consumption and carbon emissions in your home. Be sure to replace the old, worn-out incandescent bulbs with LED lights that use less energy and glow brighter.

Going green doesn’t mean sacrifice

As more people recognize their environmental impact, they’re looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, starting right at home with the sustainability of the materials they use in their home improvement projects for in and outside the home.

Visit www.timbertech.com/about/sustainability to learn how you can go against the grain with your eco-friendly outdoor living space.

2021-07-14T08:01:00

(BPT) – Parents are spending way too much time negotiating food choices with their kids. Rather than fight, consider the always-permissible, no-negotiation-needed snack.

2021-07-14T09:01:00

(BPT) – Parents look forward to it, but kids might not — the time when families everywhere start thinking about going back to school. As savvy parents know, starting early can mean a less stressful transition.

Unfortunately, a new study finds parents facing a more costly back-to-school shopping season this year. The survey, conducted by KPMG, found that parents may pay as much as $268 per student for school supplies and clothes, compared to $247 last year. With masks and hand sanitizer on the shopping list, budgets may be even higher.

So how can you make sure your kids have what they need without breaking the bank? Here are some tips for back-to-school shopping that can help you stress less — and spend less — this summer.

1. Make your list and check it twice

Check out your school’s supplies list as soon as it’s available. While you can use last year’s list as a starting point, it will likely be different this year. Check your school district website to see when they’re available.

Take inventory of items you already have. No need to keep buying more rulers! And if that box of colored pencils was barely cracked open last year, don’t buy a new one. Let kids pick out something new (and small) that they like to prevent complaints about reusing supplies.

2. Scout the deals

Check to see which of the items on your shopping list are the most expensive, like a new backpack or graphing calculator. Compare prices on your favorite stores’ websites to find the best offers and take advantage of cash back apps and loyalty programs that may provide additional savings.

3. Get shopping rewards — and free supplies

To help millions of children heading back to school this year, mobile rewards platform Ibotta has teamed up with Five Star, Kleenex, Skippy, Nature’s Own and more to provide free school supplies and lunch items at Walmart and online at Target, H-E-B and more.

“We want to help make sure every child goes back to school with a full backpack and a full lunchbox,” said Richard Donahue, chief marketing officer, Ibotta. “This year, we hope to ease the financial burden for teachers and families alike as they head back to school.”

From July 14 to August 31, shoppers that download the Ibotta app or Ibotta browser extension can get 100% cash back on a bundle of school supplies including:

• 3-Subject 5 Star Notebook
• Package of pencils
• 3-pack of erasers
• Box of Kleenex
• Loaf of Nature’s Own bread
• Jar of Skippy peanut butter
• Squeeze bottle of Smucker’s Fruit Spread

Ibotta’s Back to School Free-for-All offer is available exclusively in-store at Walmart or online at Target.com, HEB.com, Walmart Pickup & Delivery, or Shipt.

4. Shop online if you can

Shopping online means not only less rushing around, but also keeping your kids from getting distracted by all the shiny things on the shelves. You can choose to have items shipped, delivered or picked up curbside. Don’t forget to look for retailers that offer free shipping to further save on costs.

5. Shop alone when possible

If you do need to shop in-store, try to go without the kids. If you need to bring them along, try allowing each kid to pick just one item for themselves (like a lunchbox or backpack), to avoid overspending at the store.

Shop when it’s less likely to be crowded, and when you feel your best — not when you’re tired, rushed or hungry (same goes for the kids). You’ll feel better, and you’ll be less likely to give in to those impulse buys.

With these tips and a little planning, you can conquer the back-to-school shopping season with less stress — while saving time and money, too.

2021-07-13T10:59:00

(BPT) – All eyes are on Japan this summer as the world’s best athletes come together to compete in the most anticipated sporting event of 2021. Aside from the competition itself, these games are also the perfect time to celebrate cultures and cuisines from across the globe. So why not create a fun and meaningful watch party to honor participating countries with your family and friends?

From the opening ceremony to the most watched events, here are a few tips for hosting a medal-worthy watch party.

Serve up some global cuisines and cocktails

Treat your guests to tasty international party snacks, finger foods and drinks while cheering on the top teams from around the world.

Choose a few countries to highlight by serving up their signature cuisines, such as fish and chips to represent the UK or pelmeni to represent Russia. Pair your dishes with some creative cocktails — with or without alcohol — that incorporate a country’s flag colors or locally native fruits, juices and spirits. There are also plenty of global beers and wines to pair with dishes as well.

And to celebrate this year’s host country, create a true Japanese-inspired crowd-pleaser like the SPAM(R) Classic Musubi Crunchy Roll. The flavor of the SPAM(R) Classic mixed with the crunch of the fried panko breadcrumbs and sriracha mayonnaise will definitely earn you a gold medal from your guests.

Create colorful competition with your decorations

Use the colors of the summer games — blue, yellow, black, green and red — for streamers, balloons and table decorations to get in the spirit. Get disposable plates in these five colors and cut out the centers to create the iconic rings to put on display.

Choose country flags like the U.S., Japan and others that represent your family’s heritage, places you’ve visited or teams you admire, and recreate the flags on poster board. Expand the fun by having your guests create some flags and share who they are rooting for and why.

Plan your own summer games

Create games from silly to serious that both kids and adults can play to earn homemade medals. Include traditional games like relay or egg-and-spoon races, swimming and bike competitions, or beanbag-toss contests.

And for those who just want to focus on the real summer games, make bingo cards for each guest to fill out while watching. The cards can include items like medal counts from different countries, the number of athletes competing per country or individual athletes going for the gold. Find multicultural themed prizes to give out to the winners.

Go multilingual

Use your music streaming service to play national anthems, traditional songs or popular musicians from various countries before and after events. Do an internet search to learn how to say phrases like “Go team!” in different languages and incorporate the phrase when cheering on or celebrating teams.

Learning about and celebrating other cultures is what makes these summer games even more fun and fascinating. Do your research, get creative and prepare to party!

SPAM^® Classic Musubi Crunchy Roll

4 servings

Ingredients

2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1 (12-ounce) can SPAM^® Classic cut into 8 slices
3 cups cooked white sushi rice
4 sheets nori, cut in half
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups panko
Vegetable oil
3/4 cup Unagi sushi sauce
2 teaspoons sesame seed
1 cup shrimp chips, crushed
1/4 cup chopped green onion

Directions

• In small bowl, combine soy sauce and sugar.
• In large skillet over medium-high heat, cook SPAM^® Classic slices 3-5 minutes or until browned. Add soy sauce sugar mixture, cook 1-2 minutes or until slices are glazed. Remove from skillet.
• Place 1/3 cup rice into musubi press, or plastic wrap lined SPAM^® Classic can and press down. Remove from press on top of halved nori sheet. Wrap nori around musubi, moistening edge of nori to adhere together. Repeat to make 8.
• Place eggs and breadcrumbs in separate shallow dishes. Dip and roll each musubi in egg, then panko.
• In large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 inch vegetable oil. Fry musubi in oil, turning to fry each side 3-5 minutes or until golden brown.
• Slice each musubi into 4 slices. Drizzle with sriracha mayonnaise, Unagi, sesame seeds, shrimp chips and green onions.

Check out more internationally inspired recipes for your watch party at SPAM.com/recipes.

2021-07-13T11:01:00

(BPT) – Have you ever found yourself rearranging the dishwasher after a family member, roommate or partner loads the dishes? One of the great household debates is how to properly load the dishwasher, and how to use your appliance to properly clean your dishes. To rinse or not to rinse? Bowls on top or bottom? Should pots, pans and plastic go in the dishwasher at all?

From better drying results, to finally settling the debate of how to properly load your dirty dishes, Bosch home appliances, a leader in high-quality appliances, shares their tips and tricks to best use and care for the dishwasher.

1) Select a quality dishwasher: The secret to spotless dishes starts with a quality dishwasher. When purchasing a new one, look for one that does the hard work for you, with features that simplify cleanup post-meal. These include drying technology, flexible loading features, energy efficiency and design options — and of course, a thorough, reliable clean.

2) Load your dishwasher like an expert: Dishwashers operate best and produce the cleanest dishes when loaded properly. To maximize space and ensure your dishes are clean and dry, load your dishwasher with the following simple steps:

• No pre-rinsing needed: Simply scrape food off the plate before loading.
• Load your glasses at an angle to avoid water pooling on top and dripping when unloading.
• Make sure your plasticware is dishwasher safe, and that you’ve followed your dishwasher’s manual and instructions for plastics (Pro tip: With Bosch dishwashers, you can place plastics anywhere, even on the bottom rack, for safe drying.).
• Ensure tall items, such as large plates or pots, are not blocking the movement of the spray arms.
• Avoid stacking silverware and put knives sharp end down for safety.
• If you own a Bosch dishwasher, your unit may have some of the following features that make loading easier:

• A third rack adds versatility and offers more loading capacity compared to those with two racks.
• The RackMatic feature adjusts the flexible middle rack to make room for large items on the middle and bottom rack.

3) Maximize drying: There’s nothing more frustrating than unloading your dishes from the dishwasher with your plasticware still dripping wet. A few simple switches in your cleaning routine can dry your dishes more easily and make cleanup a breeze.

First, look for a unit with CrystalDry technology. This feature in select Bosch dishwashers delivers thorough, reliable drying results as opposed to units without. Next, be sure to use Rinse Aid to help dishes dry faster, especially on plastics. Finally, for enhanced drying utilize special drying options such as “Sanitize” or “Extra Dry”; Sanitize operates at a higher temperature to help eliminate bacteria and enhance drying results, while Extra Dry delivers enhanced drying results.

4) Keep your dishwasher spotless, inside and out: Just because your dishwasher cleans your dishes doesn’t mean it remains clean itself. To keep your appliance clean and operating efficiently, follow these tips for a proper clean.

Starting with the exterior, wipe down door seals with a damp, soft cloth. To clean stainless steel, wash with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth. Always wipe in the direction of the steel’s grain, and never use abrasive cleaners, chlorine-based cleaners or abrasive sponges.

For the interior, use dishwasher cleaner to remove grease, starch and protein residues. To remove hard water deposits and limescale, use a dishwasher descaler. Additionally, clean your filter every few months to remove food debris that may hinder your dishwasher’s performance. It’s located at the bottom of your dishwasher and can be cleaned with warm, soapy water and a scrub brush.

2021-07-13T15:17:01

(BPT) – A person’s golden years may be some of the best years of their life, living each day to the fullest by doing what they love, from pursuing hobbies to spending time with their families and beyond. Thinking about senior living may seem like a distant concern, but it’s an important conversation to have now so you and your family are ready for the future.

Your may not feel ready to make the move, especially if you’re still physically and mentally healthy. However, setting yourself up for quality care in the future is important, especially as health care costs continue to skyrocket. According to a CNBC report, health care costs for retirees are expected to increase more than 5% every year through 2026.

In these instances, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) can be beneficial for both your personal and financial health.

What is a CCRC?

A CCRC, otherwise known as a life plan community, is a smart long-term option for seniors. CCRCs have different housing levels where seniors initially live independently and can transition to an assisted living or skilled nursing facility if needed, all at significantly reduced costs compared to the market.

What are the benefits of living in a CCRC?

Here are a few important ones:

A sense of community

Many seniors thrive on social connections, but in some cases they may live far away from friends or loved ones, be recently divorced or widowed, or have physical limitations that can lead to isolation. Meeting new friends at a CCRC is easy, as they provide many social activities, including mixers, clubs and, in some cases, organized travel. These activities can help seniors get out and meet others while still having a private home space to themselves.

All-inclusive benefits

Like a full-package resort, seniors who join CCRCs can get a full swath of benefits. This can allow them to age with ease and joy, especially if they don’t have loved ones nearby. Housing, health care, dining, fitness, and other amenities are all part of the CCRC package.

While CCRCs can be costly, many offer ways for seniors and their families to reduce those costs, such as Life Care contracts. While they’re expensive upfront, life care contracts can make a world of difference. If you end up needing assisted living or another level of care, a Life Care contract prevents your health care costs from increasing with that transition, which can save thousands of dollars over the years.

“Many people don’t realize that receiving higher levels of care in a CCRC usually means increasing monthly costs to some degree,” says Mary Clements, chief financial officer of Searstone Retirement Community. “With a Life Care contract, you lock in a monthly fee that never changes, no matter what care you need and how long you need it.”

Life care contracts can also help seniors qualify for tax deduction fees since Life Care is recognized as a charge for prepayment for future health services.

Peace of mind for seniors and families

According to the AARP, one in five Americans provide unpaid care for elderly loved ones, which can result in severe burnout for caregivers. CCRCs provide families with peace of mind for the future, knowing their loved ones will be taken care of no matter how their health changes over the years. CCRCs bridge the gap between independence and around-the-clock care by allowing for a smoother transition with the proper care on-hand.

Finding the right balance

Planning for senior living can be daunting, especially when you consider the cost. But having social, emotional and medical support doesn’t have to be out of reach. Check out searstone.com/life-care/ to learn more about Life Care and how it may benefit you — now and in the future.

2021-07-13T09:23:00

(BPT) – As people across the country are again starting to travel and plan those long-awaited vacations, many cities are promoting themselves as the ultimate family-friendly destination. Yet, only one city can officially call itself KidsBURGH. That would be Pittsburgh.

The city — long known for its hundreds of bridges, sports teams and Primanti Bros. sandwiches — now also boasts a thriving arts and culture district, including the world renowned The Andy Warhol Museum, a growing technology reputation in part due to the engineering and robotics talent annually graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, and the many Only in Pittsburgh family attractions such as the National Aviary, Carnegie Science Center, the Gateway Clipper Fleet and so much more. It is no wonder that Pittsburgh has become a major travel destination for business events, sports events and leisure visitors.

And, those leisure visitors include kids of all ages.

“We are so proud to officially say that Pittsburgh is KidsBURGH,” Tom Loftus, chief marketing officer for VisitPITTSBURGH, the city’s official tourism and promotion agency, said. “Not only does it have a nice ring to it, but our Only in Pittsburgh family attractions help differentiate us from all the other cities that also are reopening.”

VisitPITTSBURGH saw the value of the KidsBURGH brand many years ago when it sought and received a trademark, and the brand continues to be solidified with the quantity and quality of Pittsburgh’s family-fun attractions, including: Kennywood, the historic amusement park, and its sister attractions, Idlewild & SoakZone and Sandcastle; the Gateway Clipper Fleet, which makes cruising on one of the city’s famous three rivers a must-do activity; the National Aviary, the only indoor dedicated bird zoo in America; the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium; the Duquesne Incline, one of Pittsburgh’s centuries-old funiculars that shuttles riders to the top of Mount Washington, providing spectacular views of the Downtown skyline; Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens; and biking along Pittsburgh’s 24 miles of riverfront trails. Speaking of biking, an ambitious family could opt to ride the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail and bike from Pittsburgh all the way to Washington, D.C.

Not a bike enthusiast? That’s OK! Pittsburgh has 90 unique neighborhoods waiting for you to explore. Maybe the most famous neighborhood is the one not officially listed on the city’s map but easily identifiable by kids of all ages. Pittsburgh is, course, also Mister Rogers’ neighborhood. The city icon’s legacy is present during any visit to Pittsburgh. From the Tribute to Children statue, a bronze likeness of the television star located on the North Shore, to a special exhibit dedicated to Mister Rogers within the Senator John Heinz History Center, there are plenty of ways for families to connect with Pittsburgh’s friendliest neighbor.

“The Heinz History Center is very proud to feature the largest collection of original items from the ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ television set,” Brady Smith, the History Center’s Director of Marketing & Communications, said. “From the original entryway and living room set that Fred Rogers walked through to begin each show, to King Friday XIII’s Castle, Mr. McFeely’s ‘Speedy Delivery’ tricycle and more, old and new fans are sure to find plenty to explore at the Heinz History Center.”

An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the Heinz History Center is only one of an impressive collection of museums in the three rivers city. Families can spend hours if not days enjoying the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Science Center and the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, the latter of which showcases one of the country’s largest collections of dinosaur bones.

“The Carnegie Museum of Natural History invites you to step back in time and walk among the dinosaurs and other ancient creatures in our Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibit,” Sloan MacRae, the museum’s Director of Marketing, said. “Whether it’s Dippy, our friendly ambassador and most famous fossil, or the world’s first T. rex fossils, visitors of all ages are enthralled by our galleries, which feature many real dinosaur skeletons and 10,000 other natural wonders.”

“We have been told that it must be easy to promote a city that has emerged as a major travel destination,” Loftus laughed. “It does help that we have so many Only in Pittsburgh attractions, including our KidsBURGH partners. But, in a market that is bursting with options, our job is to convince travelers to visit Pittsburgh. We know that once they are here, the city will sell itself.”

For more information about how Pittsburgh is KidsBURGH, go to visitpittsburgh.com/kidsburgh.