Cool ways to enjoy your outdoor spaces through the dog days of summer (BPT) - When warm weather arrives, does your family head outdoors to enjoy your patio or deck? Do they then turn around and head right back into the air-conditioned comfort when summer sun and temperatures make outdoor living spaces too hot to handle? “In many areas of the country, the window of opportunity for enjoyin...
PTSD: Not just a military problem (BPT) - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. While it is often closely associated with combat veterans and other members of the military, the fact is PTSD can affect anyone who experiences a traumatic event. During the past year, many communi...
Navigating a lung cancer diagnosis (BPT) - Far too often, people make the mistake of assuming that lung cancer only affects people who smoke, but the disease can affect anyone. In fact, approximately 10 percent of patients with lung cancer have never smoked and approximately 50 percent of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients have already quit smoking. U...
The skinny on summer snacking [Infographic] Americans love to snack, and summer snacking is among the most popular of American traditions. When the sun is shining and the weather is wonderful, we enjoy feasting on our favorite treats at ballgames, picnics and outdoor activities. Yet the desire for indulgent taste can often get in the way of making good nutritional choices, especially while out and about. Snack smarter this summer and nosh on snacks that will fill you up, but not out.
Create an outdoor space that 'wows' (BPT) - Whether you own a cozy cottage or mega mansion, as a homeowner, you likely embrace the outdoor living trend. But when you look at your deck or patio, does it leave something to be desired? By taking a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach, you can affordably create outdoor spaces that enhance the style and functionality...
100 percent live like they mean it, 61 percent invest like they do [Infographic] Charles Schwab surveyed 1,000 Americans who express a significant degree of personal ownership in their everyday lives, and found that a majority are also highly engaged in investing: nearly two-thirds (61 percent) are actively involved in their portfolios. Though a majority of those surveyed also grab hold of the wheel when it comes to investing, a sizeable number of go-getters in life say they are not actively involved in their investment portfolio, revealing a dichotomy between how they...
Add years to your pet's life with expert tips (BPT) - Few things in life are as special as the unconditional love and loyalty a pet provides. With 78.2 million owned dogs and 86.4 million owned cats in the United States, according to The Humane Society, it’s obvious Americans enjoy having pets. What might not be so apparent is how best to care for them. When it com...
Father's Day gift guide for the outdoorsy dad Year after year, moms and children are faced with the same question: “What are we going to get dad for Father’s Day?” Finding the right gift can be stressful and the department stores filled sky-high with matching tie and sock combinations are less than helpful. This Father’s Day, take the guesswork out of gift-giving...
Preparation and technology can help you weather the storm (BPT) - The last few years have brought record destruction from natural disasters. While disasters such as Hurricane Isaac, Superstorm Sandy or the Oklahoma tornadoes are tragic and unavoidable, there is value in being prepared for the challenges Mother Nature throws our way. Technology can help you prepare for the unk...
You can donate your time as well as your money (BPT) - Nonprofit organizations depend on monetary donations to keep their operations running and support the communities they serve. Many people, however, want to do more than write a check to local organizations they support, so they become volunteers. When people choose to donate their time, energy and skills to sup...
Moving in the military? How to make the process easier (BPT) - Moving can cause stress for family members, especially military families that are required to move frequently and potentially without a lot of warning. Sometimes these moves are within a base, while other times they can be to a new base on the other side of the country. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) and Per...
Hands-on advice for getting the best from your touchscreen mobile device (BPT) - Few inventions have evolved as amazingly fast from science fiction to science fact as touchscreen technology. From its very basic beginnings in the mid-1960s to the first consumer applications on ATM machines in the ’80s, touchscreen technology has reached virtually everywhere – including our pocket-sized mobile...