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Showing posts tagged tips
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Keeping Your Pet Safe Outdoors
With the nice weather comes more time outside. And who can resist taking their pets outside with them? Taking your pet outdoors does come with a certain amount of risk. Remember to always keep your dog on a leash and close to you so he can’t run away or get stolen. We usually remember that piece of common sense. But what about the safety hazards that don’t always come to mind?
- Chemical lawn fertilizers. Be careful about letting your puppy roll around in the grass. If chemicals have been applied to the grass recently it can be hazardous.
Vet checkups. Make sure you’re taking your pet to the vet once a year for their checkups. Doing so will help assure that you take care of any health issues before they become real problems and a real drain on your wallet. - Parasites. Watch out for fleas and ticks. Imagine being itchy all over your body and not being able to do anything for relief. This is how your pet feels when infested with fleas or ticks. They can also be quite dangerous for your animal’s health. Check with your vet and look at the box of medicine that you buy to make sure that it is appropriate for your pet’s size. Don’t use one intended for dogs on a cat. The dosage is stronger and can very possibly be lethal.
- Cleaning products. Be careful when cleaning your home and be sure to check the warning labels on your cleaning products. Many of them will say “keep pets and children away from area until dry,” follow these warnings!
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Football Season!
Football Season is here again! A time for unity & comradery, friendly rivalries, food, friends and hopefully some nice weather to ensue. Below is a fabulous list for tailgating from tailgating.com! No matter what conference you cheer for, you need to know “Tailgating 101”.
Going to a game this weekend? Take photos, like us on Facebook, and post them so we can see just how YOU tailgate and what team you root for. Show your spirit!
Tailgating 101
The TIA wants you to enjoy tailgating to the fullest. And, it’s important to start with the basics. Here’s a little “Tailgating 101” to get you started on the road to becoming an elite tailgater.
1. Dress in team colors. Wear a team jersey, t-shirt or sweatshirt. If you don’t have time to get to the team store, dressing in team colors is perfectly acceptable as well. Show your team spirit — because tailgaters are superb fans.
2. Plan the menu. Make sure that you get as much prep done as you can. Keep the menu simple — and keep packing as simple as possible too.
3. Make a list. And then check it twice. Think about the things that you want to bring with you. Check off items as you pack. Pack paper and plastic products (i.e. - plates, napkins, towels, cutlery) the night before. Don’t forget to bring a first aid kit, trash bags and damp towels in ziplock bags to clean hands and face.
4. Arrive early. Stay late. Get to the parking lot at least 3 to 4 hours early and stay 1 to 2 hours after the game. It will make it much easier to get in and get out.
5. Pick the prime parking location. If you can, park next to a grassy area or at the end of a parking row. This will give you room to sprawl to enjoy some serious tailgating.
6. Fly a flag. Get it up on a very high pole so that friends can find you.
7. Decorate. Get those team colors up on your rig. Pennants and other team memorabilia can turn even the most humble vehicle into a homage to your team.
8. Meet your neighbors. Tailgating is one of the most social activities in our country. Throw the football with your friends (old and new), share stories and recipes — have fun.
9. Have the food ready early. You should serve food at least 90 minutes before the game starts (we’ve seen some tailgates start with breakfast at 6am, lunch at 11am and a game a 1pm). This will give you plenty of time to eat and clean up.
10. A clean tailgate is a happy tailgate. Use the old hiking adage, if you took it in, take it back out.
Other Tailgating Must-Haves
Jumper Cables. The one time you don’t bring ‘em is the time you’ll need ‘em. You may also be the hero when someone’s battery decides to go kaput.
Toilet Paper. It is the MVP (uh, most valuable product). Just because the porta-let is there doesn’t mean it’s fully stocked.
Plastic Trash Bags. Make sure that you bring extras. Don’t get caught short because keeping your tailgating area clean after you’re done results in great future tailgating karma.
Extra Ice. Just bring an extra chest filled with ice. You never want to run out of ice. It’s a nightmare to go out and try to buy it “mid-game.
First Aid Kit. Bumps, burns and cuts can happen. There are plenty of drug stores and retailers who have full first aid kits to buy.
Sun Block. Go 50SPF or higher. ‘Nuff said here.
Comfortable Shoes. We haven’t done the ‘ol pedometer test, but people walk around tailgates more than they realize. Make sure that you have shoes that keep you and your feet comfortable. Leave the high heels and dress shoes at home. Trust us here.
Antacid. Defense wins championships. And sometimes, we need a little extra help to keep us on our game.
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Because We Love Our Furry Friends
Tips for walking your dog in the winter:
It’s cold. It’s rainy. It’s snowy. It’s icy. It’s not comfortable. We know this, so here are a few tips for the necessary yet dreaded early morning walk or late night outing with your pet!
- If it is early in the morning, think about a quick warm shower prior to taking out the dog. If he or she will let you that is. The warmth from the water will elevate the body heat before hitting the cold. This brings me to part 2 of this point…Do not, however, go outside with wet hair. That is a great way to get a cold.
- Double up on socks and wear gloves. Those fingers and toes seem to always attract the nip in the air! And they ache when the cold weather bites.
- Make sure to wear a hat! They say (who “they” are, I am not sure) that 60-80% of body heat escapes through the head.
- During the daylight, try to walk outside when the sun is shining or walk on the sunny side of the building. At least some heat from the rays might be able to keep you from absolute cold.
- And lastly, wear a coat for goodness sakes!
Besides these more obvious recommendations, anyone have any unique/MacGyver style options for tending to your pet and staying warm at the same time?
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Please don’t print this blog post - Show pollution & the demise of the tree who wears the pants on this earth!
So, today is the last day of January which means we are one month into (or out of…) our New Year’s Resolutions! TBQH, (I just learned that means “to be quite honest” in the social media world), it is a recognized fact that a good majority of folks drop their high hopes for change about 3 to 4 weeks in! Well…we got your back. We are going to dedicate a majority of this month’s blogging to getting back or staying on the wagon. Is it just me, or does “the wagon” always make you think of either the buggy from Little House on the Prairie or those old school station wagons with the wood siding? I digress…
First Up: Being more Green
These are easy and good for apartment living. Most of them anyhow…
- 10 Painless Changes You Can Make for a Green Home
- Funny Tips for Going Green(I like the way this person thinks!)
Next Up: Resolution TBD, any ideas from you?
Sources- EHow Home & Real Simple
