5 Tips to Make Family Meal Planning Easier

Find latest Walmart Coupons 20 OFF any purchases with Walmart promo codes August 2016. Save up to 20 OFF any purchase w Walmart coupon codes now. Up to 20% OFF on Clothing at Walmart with FREE Shipping included for orders of $35 or more! Choose hot items of  Holiday Clothing Collection with Walmart coupons 20% off any purchase

When it comes to raising a family, one of the hardest jobs is trying to come up with solutions for dinner every night—let alone trying to find the time to cook!

Because of our super busy lives, serving our families homecooked meals may seem impossible, but I’m going to share 5 tips about meal planning that will be well worth your time and effort..

Benefits of Having Family Meals Together

Depending on your family’s lifestyle and schedule, the benefits of investing the initial time and effort into meal planning will vary, but overall the number one goal is to help simplify what should be an enjoyable and special part of every day—sharing a meal together.

Once in a routine of planning meals, you will be able to:

• Save money on your grocery bill each week.
• Save money (and boost your health) by not eating last-minute prepackaged or fast foods.
• Eat a wider variety of healthy meals because you’ll be in the habit of planning and checking out new recipes and controlling the ingredients.
• Get your kids involved in the process of cooking family meals.
• Save time and gas by not making extra trips to the store on the fly for dinner.

Additionally, when families share daily meals together:

• Children and teens are less likely to develop addictive habits such as drugs, alcohol, or smoking.
• Children feel heard and important and therefore have a greater sense of self-confidence and are less likely to give into negative peer pressure.
• Children do better academically because dinnertime is a great opportunity to teach communication skills.  Lots of chatter at the dinner table and adult conversation gives kids an edge with their verbal communication skills.
• Children learn proper table manners. Waiting until everyone is served, no chewing with your mouth open, elbows off the table, etc. are all important manners to learn at a young age. 
• Parents are able to save their precious sanity by spending more quality time with their loved ones, and less wasted time figuring out dinner.

3 Steps to Choosing Kitchen Finishes Wisely

Find latest Walmart Coupons 20 OFF any purchases with Walmart promo codes June 2016. Save up to 20 OFF any purchase w Walmart coupon codes now. Up to 20% OFF on Clothing at Walmart with FREE Shipping included for orders of $35 or more! Choose hot items of  Holiday Clothing Collection with Walmart coupons 20% off any purchase

Lost your way in the field of options for countertop and cabinet finishes? This advice will put your kitchen renovation back on track.

Deciding on finishes is one of the most challenging parts of a remodel — particularly a kitchen remodel. Browse the Houzz discussion boards and you'll get a taste of how confusing the process can be. 

Of course, what makes it even more complicated is that there's no set rule to choosing materials and finishes. "There are as many rules as there are clients and designers, or even combinations of clients and designers," says architect Thomas Ahmann. Every project is different. But there are still some general guidelines that can help you make sense of your kitchen remodel. We talked to three Houzz professionals — Ahmann,Steve Justrich and Robert Kelly — who gave us their best professional tips for choosing a kitchen materials palette.

Hart Associates Architects, Inc.

1. Start with your countertops. "Countertops require careful contemplation, especially for a large island, as this can be the biggest single item of color and texture," says Ahmann. This large surface area is a great place to start and can be the basis for the rest of your kitchen's materials palette.

Choose a countertop that's durable and easy to clean. Justrich recommends looking into granite or composite materials like Caesarstone first. For a bigger statement, go for stainless steel, zinc or natural wood. Aim for light, smooth and reflective materials. Large-format tiles or slabs of stone will minimize grout lines and create a smooth and easy-to-clean surface. 

Kelly recommends sticking with a single countertop material, with a slight variation at the pantry or island, for consistency and simplicity.

Beach Dwellings

2. Consider the cabinetry.Depending on the kitchen, Ahmann might start with the cabinet as the beginning of the materials palette. "This is what ends up being most 'in your face,' as the wall cabinets are smack dab at eye level," he says. 

Kelly keeps his materials choices as simple and natural as possible. Slate, marble and wood are all common choices. He recommends sticking to a small palette — three or four materials — to keep it simple. Look for light-colored cabinetry to keep the space open and bright, using other materials in small doses for visual depth and texture.

Fivecat Studio | Architecture

3. Use additional finishes to pull the space together. "Let contrast be the key," says Justrich. "If the counters are rich and dark, go with a lighter backsplash. A monochromatic approach is great, but if the countertop is visually active, calm it down on the backsplash." Choose a backsplash color that visually contrasts with your countertop and cabinetry. Floors are usually decided based on the surrounding rooms, but make sure the colors won't clash with what's in your kitchen. 

The other little things — lighting, fixtures, bar stools and hardware — can tie the look of the kitchen together. Again, less is more here. "Kitchens of multiple materials and colors require a lot of finesse," says Ahmann. 

How to Choose the Best Chaise Lounge Chair?

Find latest Walmart Coupons 20 OFF any purchases with Walmart promo codes June 2016. Save up to 20 OFF any purchase w Walmart coupon codes now. Up to 20% OFF on Clothing at Walmart with FREE Shipping included for orders of $35 or more! Choose hot items of  Holiday Clothing Collection with Walmart coupons 20% off any purchase

The name lounge chair was a typo for the chair’s original French name “chaise longue” which literally means “long chair”. Over the years, the name was adapted and is now commonly used to refer to a type of chair that is designed to accommodate one or two persons in a seating or reclining position. Strathwood chaise lounges are designed for comfortable seating where you can sit in a reclined position with your legs outstretched. There are many varieties of chaise seats and most are made with different materials such hardwood, teak, wrought iron, plastic, aluminum and wicker. Chaise lounges are great seating alternatives to chairs and couches because they are designed for indoor or outdoor use, depending of course, on the type of materials you choose for the chair and the cushions. Chaise chairs that are designed specifically for indoor use usually have plush cushions and are upholstered with rich fabrics to provide ultimate comfort to the occupants of the chair. Some of the more expensive lounge chairs often include long armrests, plush pillows and padded seats. Common materials used for outdoor lounges however include tweed and faux leather. Regardless of materials and designs, these chairs give a sophisticated and elegant look to any space and they are commonly used in family rooms, bedrooms, sundecks, swimming pools, gardens and patios.
How to Choose the Best Chaise Lounge Chair?
With the many varieties of chaise lounges available, there are things that you need to consider when selecting or buying one. Your first consideration is the location where you are going to put your Strathwood chaise lounge; are you going to use it for relaxation inside your house or outdoors. For indoor use, a good choice would be the Strathwood St Thomas cast aluminum chaise lounge with cushions. You can choose to buy a lounge set or you can just purchase a lounge frame and decorate it with your choice of plush pillows and cushions. If you already have the frame, you can purchase the Strathwood chaise lounge cushion of your choice as well. Whatever you choose, you want to make sure that the frame is sturdy and durable and the cushions are comfortable and made with durable fabrics.
If you are buying a lounge seat for an outdoor area such as by your swimming pool, the Strathwood aluminum chaise lounge is also a good choice because the materials will fare well under wet conditions. If you want a chaise seat that can be easily moved to a different location, chaise lounges with wheels are also available. This type of lounge seating typically folds down and can be stored easily and efficiently in the closet or storage room when not in use.
Specific Details about the Strathwood St. Thomas Chair
The Strathwood St. Thomas Lounge Chair is an all weather chair with cushions made of synthetic tweed. The back support can be reclined in 6 different positions. The Strathwood chaise lounge furniture line is made with cast aluminum; therefore it is lightweight and very durable. It can accommodate weights of up to 300 lbs. It has an elegant design with a ribbed frame, dark finish, and highlights of bronze and silver. The lounge chair measures 28-1/2 inches wide by 84-1/2 inches long by 44 inches high and has a single cushion measuring 83-1/2 inches long by 23-1/2 inches wide by 3 inches thick. No matter your height, you can sit or sleep comfortably in this perfectly sized chair. It weighs about 30 lbs so you can easily transport it from one place to another.

What Are Previous Consumers Saying about This Chair?
Based on customer ratings and reviews, the Strathwood St. Thomas Cast Aluminum Lounge Chair is a good value for your investment. It looks more expensive than it actually is and looks good especially beside the pool. The cushions are very comfortable and easy to clean and the lounge chair is easy to assemble. Although some customers find it difficult to lay the back completely flat, this can easily be accomplished by folding the support inside the chair. All in all, this Strathwood chaise lounge cheap price and good quality makes it an easy and wise investment.
Summing Up This Product
There are many chaise lounges available in the market, ranging from inexpensive to pricey. The low price Strathwood chaise lounge is good balance between quality and affordability. With your investment, you get a chair that is both durable and very comfortable. In fact, it contains the same level of comfort and durability you can find in more expensive models that are available for sale today.
Tag: cheapest Strathwood chaise lounge online, low price Strathwood chaise lounge, Strathwood aluminum chaise lounge, Strathwood chaise lounge, Strathwood chaise lounge cheap, Strathwood chaise lounge cushion, Strathwood chaise lounge furniture, Strathwood chaise lounges, Strathwood St Thomas cast aluminum chaise lounge with cushion

5 Tips for Choosing Safe Cleaning Products

Up to 20% OFF on Clothing at Walmart with FREE Shipping included for orders of $35 or more! Find latest Walmart Coupons 20 OFF any purchases with Walmart promo codes June 2016. Save up to 20 OFF any purchase w Walmart coupon codes now.  Choose hot items of  Holiday Clothing Collection with Walmart coupons 20% off any purchase

We all know that we need to be using safe cleaners, unfortunately not everything on the store shelf is created equally. Many products contain corrosive, toxic chemicals that might “clean” well but they certainly don’t do much to protect the health of your family. These toxic chemicals can leave awful residues, especially harmful on food surfaces, and contribute to indoor air pollution – or worse.

Choosing safe products is so important but the waters can be hard to navigate at first. Here are some tips to choosing safe products with ease.

#1 Ingredients Matter

Start at the ingredient list. If the product you pick up doesn’t tell you what’s in it – stop . right . there . Send that company a message and do not purchase their product. Transparency is huge when looking for safe products in this day and age. While there may be safe products without a disclosed ingredient list, you have no way of knowing that the product you are about to use is safe. The absence of an ingredient list is a big red flag and it’s not worth the risk.

#2 Know What To Watch Out For

Though there are more toxins out there, this is a great place to start.

• Ammonia Toxic when inhaled, swallowed or touched. I remember my Mom using this stuff as a kid and man, it is seriously strong stuff, not to mention potentially deadly when mixed with the wrong stuff.
• Antibacterials & Disinfectants These include a whole list of ingredients ranging fromBleach to Triclosan. The overuse of these types of products are blamed for antibiotic resistant bacteria, and the truth is that extreme disinfectants are rarely needed. Your DIY Household cleaners (even dish detergent), or a bit of soap and water should be most of what you’ll ever need. There are natural options, just read the labels!
• Butyl Glycol, Ethylene Glycol, Monobutyl This is common in most general cleaners and is dangerous to the nervous system, liver & kidneys.
• Chlorine Bleach Bleach is very obviously strong, corrosive and irritating to both the eyes and lungs. Avoid this stuff when at all possible – plus you’ll probably save some cash by not accidentally getting bleach spots on clothes and other household fabrics.
• Petroleum Solvents Many ingredients are derived from petroleum and are commonly found in many cleaning products as surfactants (watch for this term on ingredient lists). Other derivitives, including formaldehyde, can be found in a variety of household cleaners.
• Phosphates These are harmful to aquatic life and are often found in laundry & dish detergents.
• Phthalates Watch for fragrance on ingredient lists. These hormone disruptive are often components of complex synthetic fragrances. Avoid artificial scents at all costs. They are toxic and this goes for everything from cleaners to shampoo to candles. Choose options that say “Phthalate Free” or mention the use of essential oils for fragrance.

#3 Outsmart Labeling Tricks

Just because the label says “Natural”, “Non-Toxic” or even “Eco-Friendly” doesn’t mean that it is. It can be a good place to start when you’re looking for products, but verify it! Look at the ingredients and judge for yourself.  If you aren’t sure how your favorite cleaners measure up, look them up on the EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning where they rate products by their health safety.

#4 Have a Love/Hate Relationship With Honesty

Products tell you right on the packaging if they are dangerous. This is good news, though you may have to look at several products before finding one you are satisfied when you first start out. Bottom line – listen to them and stay away! It’s so easy. Avoid products with terms like Caution, Corrosive, Danger, Irritant, Poison, or Warning.  Instead look for products that don’t say they’re toxic and suggest simply to “drink water”. That’s a good thing to see!

#5 Know Your Options

There are lot of great products for cleaning. Know them, use them, save money and you’ll be thankful for the decrease in toxic matter in your home!

• Baking Soda is great for cleaning so many things. From hard water to pet messes and smalls, baking soda is a hero. Combine it with a little water to scrub up just about anything to a nice shine.  Add to vinegar (carefully, it gets very fizzy!) or dish soap for super strength to clean tile, pots and pans, carpet, tubs, toilets and even stains on clothing!
• Borax is a great laundry additive and can be use for household cleaning, though use great caution in a home with small children as ingestion is not safe. The powder form makes it a special concern around little ones.
• Castile Soap is a gentle soap made from vegetable oil (often olive) as opposed to animal fat or synthetics.  This stuff is great for use in general cleaning, laundry, body wash, hand wash, shampoo, and I even know people who have used it in place of toothpaste!
• Lemon Juice is great in cleaners, cutting grease and lightening stains – or hair!
• Washing Soda is similar to baking soda but stronger.  It is a great laundry additive and can often be found in the laundry isle. If you’re having trouble locating it, try Amazon or Alice.
• Vinegar is good for just about everything.  I have used both White Vinegar & Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in cleaning. I like white vinegar for mixed and general cleaning, but ACV is great for soaking toilets, showers, sinks and other tough water/mildew spots (oh and it’s also a fab hair conditioner). Mix up your own all-pupose and glass cleaners.  Add it to your laundry in the rinse cycle for a great fabric softener.  Even put it in your dishwasher’s rinse aid compartment. Vinegar is amazing!

 Do you have any favorite non-toxic cleaning tips, tricks or products? I’d love to hear them!

5 Tips On Choosing Clothes For A Baby

Find latest Walmart Coupons 20 OFF any purchases with Walmart promo codes 2016. Save up to 20 OFF any purchase w Walmart coupon codes now. Up to 20% OFF on Clothing at Walmart with FREE Shipping included for orders of $35 or more! Choose hot items of  Holiday Clothing Collection with Walmart coupons 20% off any purchase

Buying clothes for oneself can be hard, but buying them for another person is sometimes more difficult for most people. What we noticed though, is that it’s really difficult to buy clothes for other people. For adults it is harder because taste is so subjective, but it’s easier because you can ask, and for children and babies it’s easier because they won’t comment, but it’s hard because you might not know what to buy for the same reason, you’re not getting any feedback (until a certain age).

Any baby will likely spend their first few months in comfy romper suits, super soft baby grows and cute little vests. While you may want to dress your new born baby in the most adorable of outfits, it is always a good idea to have a few practical outfits ready at hand – that way you can easily change baby when those favorite outfits are in the wash.

At many times, people who raise babies learn  what to look for after a “trial and error” process, so our tips today will make you have more ‘trials’ and less errors.  Also, many people, both men and women often find themselves in the situation where they need to buy baby clothes as a gift (because what can you get a baby?) and have no idea what to get and what to look for.

To help pick the best baby clothes for your little one, here are a few tips on what to look out for when choosing baby clothes.

Look out for Lightweight MaterialsSoft cotton vests and romper suits are ideal for filling your baby’s wardrobe with. The lightweight materials ensure that you can easily dress baby for the changing seasons – adding extra layers such as a cardigan when it is cold or simply letting baby roam around in one layer during the warmer months. Lightweight materials are also preferable as they can be easily packed away into your changing bag for when you and baby are on the go.

Choose Accessible Clothing
Baby grows and romper suits are some of the most popular types of baby girls designer clothing that you can buy, and the reason for this is that they offer easy access for changing baby’s nappy. When buying your baby clothing, go for clothes that offer handy press studs that can be opened and closed quickly and easily when dressing and undressing baby for nappy changes.

Keep it Comfy
You will soon hear about it if your baby isn’t comfortable in their baby clothes. Choosing stretchy clothing that allows for plenty of movement as well as soft materials will easily keep your baby comfy and happy.

Are the Clothes Easy to Wash?Babies need changing regularly, so it comes to no surprise that your washing machine will always be on the go. When choosing baby clothes opt for easy to wash materials over hand wash only garments – this will save you time and effort when getting the next batch of clothing ready for your little one.

When buying from sales, also buy bigger clothesIf you want to take advantage of baby clothes sales, buy clothes that will not only be good this season, but that will come in handy a few months later, when your baby is bigger. Small children don’t need tons of clothes, but they do need them to be appropriate for season and their size.

What are your tips for choosing baby clothes?

5 Gift Ideas for Father's Day

Find latest Walmart Coupons 20 OFF any purchases with Walmart promo codes June 2016. Save up to 20 OFF any purchase w Walmart coupon codes now. Up to 20% OFF on Clothing at Walmart with FREE Shipping included for orders of $35 or more! Choose hot items of  Holiday Clothing Collection with Walmart coupons 20% off any purchase

Show the father figure in your life just how much you appreciate him on Father's Day, which falls on June 19 this year. These five products from local companies and stores are a great way to start.

Coffee Subscription from Calgary Heritage Roasting Co.

For those who need a morning java fix, a coffee subscription from the latest addition to Calgary's roasting scene will be just the thing. Calgary Heritage Roasting Co. offers two-, four- and six-month coffee subscriptions in either a medium or espresso roast (from $77). Your dad can expect to get two bags of roasted coffee beans at the beginning of each month.

​

Gourmet Popcorn from Sugar Creek Gourmet Popcorn

Consider some popcorn from Sugar Creek Gourmet Popcorn is a great gift for those who loves to snack. Popular flavours include sea salt caramel, brown sugar caramel and cashew caramel, and bags are available for $4 to $8 depending on the kind. Pick some up at the Calgary Farmers' Market or Crossroads Market on the weekend.

Triumph & Disaster On the Road Travel Kit

Forge Weekender Bag 

Calgary company Mother Co. makes beautiful bags out of waxed canvas and leather, and the Forge Weekender Bag ($129) is no exception. The water resistant bag comes in navy, chocolate and dark tan, and is a stylish travel bag for a quick trip. Pick one up at Meraki Supply Co. in Kensington or on Mother Co.'s website.

YYC Snapback

Show some Calgary pride with a YYC Snapback ($30) from Local Laundry Apparel. The Calgary company offers apparel inspired by the city and the communities within it. This hat, which is part of the YYC collection, comes in charcoal, navy and black and has an adjustable snap closure. Order one online or pick one up at Lukes Drug Mart, Meraki Supply Co. or Stuff.

5 gift ideas for your aging father

Find latest Walmart Coupons 20 OFF any purchases with Walmart promo codes June 2016. Save up to 20 OFF any purchase w Walmart coupon codes now. Up to 20% OFF on Clothing at Walmart with FREE Shipping included for orders of $35 or more! Choose hot items of  Holiday Clothing Collection with Walmart coupons 20% off any purchase

Chances are, your dad is a baby boomer or even older. With people living longer these days and more and more boomers hitting retirement age, the infamous Father's Day blue striped tie probably isn't the right gift for your still quite active father.

Sixty is the new 40, and 80 might as well be the new 60. What better symbol of the active, aging father than President George H.W. Bush, who jumps out of airplanes in his mid-80s? Our aging fathers do not need more things.

Intangibles. That's the ticket. Father's Day gifts should be consumables, which can be eaten, used, spent, sipped or enjoyed. No dust catchers for later generations to sort, no hideous Necktie of the Month Club ties.

If Wally and the Beav had given traditional father Ward Clever gifts from the five categories we'll look at, he might have been disappointed. But your modern dad would love getting such gifts.

The Sportsman

Fathers with established hobbies are usually inundated with hobby-related gifts. How many baseball hats or golf balls can one man have?

If your dad plays golf, what better gift than tee-times? Many public clubs offer gift certificates. Even if you are a duffer, why not line up a tee-time or two with dear old dad? If he belongs to a private club, consider purchasing cart rentals or other extras that don't come with membership.

For the avid spectator sportsman, check out special sports packages. Most cable companies offer individual games or game packages. If your dad can't afford such premium sports channels, wouldn't that be a great gift?

Attending a baseball game is a summer American tradition, and the new MLB ballparks all across the country offer up an afternoon of total fun. Buy Dad tickets and pick up the food tab. After all, nothing tastes more like summer than a ballpark hot dog covered with onions and relish.

But, what if your dad doesn't like sports?

• Text Size:
• A
• A
• A

Planes, trains and automobiles

Older adults have time to travel. Send your Dad on a trip to his hometown. Better yet, go with him, or send the grandchildren. You might be able to use your own hotel points for lodging and airline points for travel.

If your parent lives in a major city, a subway or bus card is a great gift.

With gas prices soaring this summer, a gift certificate for gasoline or an oil change tucked in a Father's Day card is a thoughtful, useful gift for the father who still takes a Sunday drive.

If life has been very good to you, why not send your dad on an extended tour to someplace he's always dreamed of seeing? Didn't he pack you and your siblings up in the Chevy and drive to the Grand Canyon? Smithsonian Journeys offers upscale tours all over the world.

Tours are rated by intensity and activity level, so be sure to choose one appropriate to his age and fitness.Revenge of the nerds

For the Dad who's been on a computer run since Univac, there are many intangible gift items. BlackBerry, iPhone and Android all offer gift certificates for apps.

Maybe Dad is dying to play retro "Frogger" or the hot new "Angry Birds," both available as apps. Of course, that's when he's not playing chess at the dining room table with his pal, that Walter Matthau-lookalike.

Make sure Dad has good anti-virus and security software. Check with your own computer experts for the right system. Enhance the gift by overseeing the installation and cleaning up Dad's system. Make it a malware free Father's Day!

Buy Dad an external hard drive and if he doesn't know how, back up his system for him and set up the software to do regular back-ups.

• Text Size:
• A
• A
• A

Family guy

Digitize family pictures and put them on Dad's computer. Help him set up email and social networking with family members. If Dad is a collector of family treasures, sort through and label items with an archival-quality pen.

Give him a subscription to Ancestry.com, so he can research his predecessors and determine if Uncle Fred was indeed a fife player for the Yanks.

How about GO phone or Jitterbug phone minutes, so Dad can call those long-distance family members? And have your son, the engineering major, program the phone for Grandpa to make it super easy.

Time with Dad is precious, and someday you'll be very glad you did these things, and so will your children.

Use Walmart coupons 20% off for Pioneer Woman Cookware

Save on Pioneer Woman Cookware on WalMart's Rollback - up to 20% OFF! Use Walmart coupons 20% off and enjoy shopping!!

Pioneer Woman Cookware

Walmart.com is proud to offer the Pioneer Woman line of kitchen, cooking and dinnerware products. This new line of cookware products will equip an entire kitchen, from beautiful bowls to cast iron classics.

The Pioneer Woman is an award-winning food blogger and TV personality, and now she shares her expertise on whisks, pots, pans, wooden spoons, plates, knives, measuring cups, pitchers and more with Walmart. She has been involved with each and every piece to make sure they’re all pretty, practical, functional and in line with her personal style. In her words: "I want every single piece to be something I myself would drool over."

Get creative with versatile kitchen pieces designed with real life in mind. Set a perfect table for any occasion with Ree's fun and gorgeous kitchen and dining pieces that go right from oven to table. Get inspired by Ree's product catalog and learn to cook like a Pioneer Woman with her cookbook. Then, watch Ree herself in action!

Functional cast iron pots, pans and griddles are must-haves that are made to last. Beautiful bowls add a fun touch to the kitchen — the more the merrier. And best of all, all the kitchen and dining pieces are mix and match so you'll get a chic look every time.

Find Walmart coupons 20% off for everything you need for cooking, dining and entertaining with the Pioneer Woman and Walmart. Save money. Live better.