Family Activities

There’s a reason why the dad that’s had to shop for has become somewhat of a stereotype. Dad’s are tough, and most of them seem to believe that they already have everything they could possibly need. At least, that’s the case in my family.

You can’t very well go ask him what he wants for father’s day. Still, even if you did, he would probably fire back a response along the lines of, “Ohh, I need a new blade for the chainsaw, but other than that, I have everything I need.”

If the chainsaw is all that he needs, well, that’s perfectly fine, but there are a few things to think about that your dad doesn’t need but would want. He works hard, and just because he doesn’t have extravagant taste doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve a thoughtful (if not unnecessary) gift.

With father’s day coming around the corner, we figured doing a little thinking on the subject would be beneficial to all of us. Whether you’ve got a dad who already has it all or the dad who wants nothing, here is a list of gift ideas for dad to consider as you shop.

Gifts for the Active Dad

These gifts are for the dad that’s always on the move. Whether he’s picking up a new sport or training for a triathlon, these dads never stop.

An Insulated Water Bottle

First on our list of gift ideas for dad is an insulated water bottle. For millennials, carrying around a water bottle is second nature. But for people who grew up in a different time when standards were different, they can get forgotten. On top of dehydration, disposable plastic water bottles present a big issue as well.

A nice 32oz. Hydro Flask brand water bottle will run you just about $40 and will keep your active dad’s water cool all day.

Soft-Shell Backpack Cooler

Next on our list of gift ideas for dad is a trendy softshell cooler bag. Whether your dad loves enjoying a cool beer on top of a mountain or at the 9th hole, a softshell cooler is a great gift for the drink lover of the family. These drybag style backpacks offer superior cooling power and sleek, trendy design. Your dad needs some help looking cool sometimes, trust me, they all do.

These packs are made by many different brands and range from 30 to $200.

Proper Pumping Power

Active dads always seem to need something blown up with air. Whether he needs his bike tires pumped or the inflatable raft for the 4th of July, if he doesn’t have one already, your dad needs an air compressor. Now buying one new can cost an arm and a leg, but if you start looking at used air compressors now, you should be able to find one by Father’s Day for somewhere around $100.

Gifts for the Project Dad

Is your dad obsessed with the intricacies of different types of roofing material? Or is he giddy at the prospect of a new lawnmower blade? These gifts are great for the dad who’s always out in the yard. Whether he’s starting a new project, finishing an old one, or working on three simultaneously, these dads need the right tool for the job.

Services He Won’t Buy Himself

Your dad probably won’t ask for help finding something at Lowes. He’s certainly not going to shell out the cash for that garage door installation that has been on the back burner for three years. So maybe it’s time you skip the middle man, go over his head, and get him that forklift rental or awning services he’d never get for himself. It’s entirely possible he never knew he wanted or needed a forklift until he’s maneuvering the junk piling up in his backyard around himself, or an awning to relax with family on the deck after all that heavy lifting.

If dad doesn’t need help around the house but needs help planning the family vacation. Vacation services and travel agencies can take a lot of weight off your dad’s shoulders, and consider that one in every ten Americans planned to take a family vacation in 2019, chances are your dad is thinking about it too.

These things can, of course, be very pricy. But these are the kinds of gifts that go a long way and save your dad a lot of back pain.

On Property Transportation

Here comes the big-ticket item on our list of gift ideas for dad. If your dad has a yard that’s big enough to be a nuisance to carry yard tools around, chances are he would love an easier way to get around.

A nice all-terrain 2×2 can be very expensive, and if you can splurge on your dad, he would be forever appreciative. However, if you need to pinch your pennies, keep your eyes peeled for used golf carts for sale. A used gas-powered golf cart would really save your dad the trouble of walking across the property yet again. There’s always the potential for some kid-friendly fun riding along with dad, too!

Many yard supply stores may offer you a mower package deal at a great cost. This could be a great way for you to get your dad a new mower and a mode of transportation around the yard.

Small Yard Accessories

Yard tools are essential to this list of gift ideas for dad. Garden supply stores are chuck full of little knick-knacks for the yard loving dad. Whether he needs a new pair of gardening gloves, seeds for next season, or a new spade, these are easy little things you can get a few of that will score you a lot of brownie points.

Gifts for the Car Lover Dad

It seems like every family has one. The next category on our list of gifts for dad is the car enthusiast. If you don’t know much about cars, this category can be very intimidating. Still, fear not, these men are easier to please than you think!

Custom Canvases and Pictures

Whether your dad is into used cars, hot rods, or supercars, they will love this gift.

Take a picture of your dad’s beloved car, or find a shot of his dream car online, and any Staples or Office Max will turn it into a masterpiece for your dad. You can either have the picture blown up and printed onto a stretched canvas or print it onto a metal plate. Either option is affordable and makes even the most stubborn of car guys fall to his knees.

Small Detail and General Maintenance Items

By nature, many car guys are also a perfectionist. This means that some of the cheapest and most simple gifts can score the biggest for them. For example, let’s say your dad’s car is missing a tire pressure cap. You know, those super easy to lose plastic caps? Well, you can buy him metal ones that match his car online. That’s exactly the type of little touches that car dads love.

Even more basic maintenance items like an adjustable hose clamp, a new set of spark plugs, or even a fresh batch of fuses will make your dad tickled pink that he doesn’t have to worry about going out to buy those items himself.

Vintage Swag

Every list of gift ideas for dad should include vintage swag. But keep in mind that this one isn’t for everyone, so you have to take a second to think about what kind of car guy your dad is. Basically, is he the type of guy that would wear a pair of vintage European racing gloves, or is he more the vintage MG Motor Company baseball cap kind of guy?

Whatever type of car guy your dad is, there something that’s right up his alley, you just have to look hard enough for it.

Gifts for the Crafty, or Stay-At-Home Dad

Does your dad enjoy classical jazz’s calming sounds, or is he the type of guy to finish two or even three books a week? These types of dads are always learning, debating, and thinking. The intellectual list of gifts for dad is a mile long, but here are a few ideas to get you started.

Masterclass Year-Long Subscription

Masterclass is an online program that allows subscribers access to hundreds of lessons on a huge number of topics, taught by professionals, celebrities, cooks, writers, doctors, comedians, and more.

No matter what your dad is interested in, Masterclass is a great gift for him if he loves to learn. Subscription options, packages, and prices vary, making this an option on any budget.

Cast-Iron Everything

If you have a dad who loves to cook, he probably loves cooking on cast-iron. All the rage in today’s cooking world, you can get just about everything in cast-iron.

But, before you go buying him a cast iron utensil set, start simple. A set of cast iron skillets would be the perfect way to get him started. Three skillets in 8, 10, and 12 inches will get him nearly everything he needs to become a cast-iron addict.

A New Pet

Have an animal lover in the family? If he is, it could be time to learn how to introduce a new dog to the family! Make it a year he’ll never forget with a dog to cherish for years to come. Not only that, but the bonding and family time required to train and get to know the pup could bring the whole family closer together.

Gift Cards, Gift Cards, and More Gift Cards

This is the easiest item on this list of gift ideas for dad. Whether it’s Home Depot, Barnes and Noble, or your local bookstore, gift cards are always a safe bet. And don’t worry about him thinking that a gift card isn’t a thoughtful gift, it is, and he thinks so too. This way, he doesn’t have to decide what he wants right away; he can fester over the decision for weeks or months even before he decides exactly what he needs.

Corny Dad Gifts for Classic Dads

You just can’t make a proper list of gift ideas for dad without talking about the corny dad energy that we all know too well. There will always be a few corny dad things that never get old. Embrace your dad’s unavoidable lameness and give him something that will really bring a smile to his face.

Daily Dad Joke Calendar or Book

You will kick yourself for getting him this somewhere down the line, but for now, it’s all in good fun. He’s going to make dad jokes, either way, so you might give him a little more material to work with.

Any book store will have a plethora of corny dad joke related books and calendars. These are great small cheap gifts that will put a smile on his face every day. On top of the joy he will get, it will make him think of you every time he gets a chuckle from one of the jokes, hopefully just not while he’s on the toilet.

Custom Bobble Heads

As our list of gift ideas for dad grows longer, it also grows stranger, and I think that’s how dad would want it anyway.

Whether you want to get your dad a bobblehead replica of himself or a set representing his favorite band, a custom bobblehead will always brighten his day.

Use some of your dad’s weaknesses to laugh about to bring a smile to his face.

No matter who your dad is or what he loves Father’s Day is the time to show him just how much he matters to you, even if he is hard to shop for. With this list of gift ideas for dad, I hope you can go out into the world and see through the eyes of a dad, as burry as that might look. Take this year as an opportunity to show your dad how much you love him and his corny dad energy; you’ll be glad that you did.

Fact: nearly 100 million Americans – four in 10 U.S. adults – are planning to take a family vacation in 2019

The COVID-19 quarantine is, as of this writing, still in effect across the United States, and some parts of the nation have been more heavily affected than others. Whether you and your family live in a hot zone or whether you are far from the nearest confirmed case, it is likely that your daily life has been heavily disrupted. Millions of workers are forced to stay in their residences and practice social distancing, and many small companies may be in trouble. But that is the problem on a large scale; what about your own household, and any family activities you had planned for this year? Some family activities, such as going to a crowded Hawaii beach, may have to wait, while simple family activities like board games are totally an option. There are right ways and wrong ways to spend money during a quarantine like this.

How Not to Spend Money

First, you should take stock of how you should not spend money and put yourself in financial trouble during times like these. Some family activities are great fun, such as vacations, but these are too expensive for a time like this, and they might not be feasible anyway. Under normal circumstances, around 100 million people (and four in 10 American adults) once planned to take a vacation in 2019. Similarly, around 44% of Millennial travelers (aged 25-38 or so) took vacations with their children coming along. Millennials love to travel, as their families represented 15% of all active travelers and 9.5 million households across the nation. Countless popular tourist spots can be found across the U.S. and abroad.

But now is not the time for such extravagant family activities, unfortunately. Many households are facing financial difficulties due to being out of work, and a costly vacation would be a huge blow. And as mentioned earlier, most of, if not all popular tourism spots are shut down right now and would be difficult to visit. Simply put, all vacation plans must be put on hold or canceled, and something similar can be said about buying recreational vehicles.

In a similar vein, now is a poor time to visit motorcycle dealers or ATV dealers, or indeed any PowerSports dealerships. Such vehicles, whether bought new or used, are costly to buy and maintain, so those don’t fit well with a quarantine budget. Fortunately, for practically all Americans, missing out on this is no real loss, other than missing out on some fun. Very few jobs rely on ATVs or motorcycles or speed boats, so you are taking practically no risk in skipping the ATV dealership.

If you are spending a lot of time in your home, is this the right time to get some hard work done on the plumbing and woodwork, and so on? In the case of hiring plumbers, yes, but in terms of whole home renovations, probably not. Normally, the home remodeling industry is a robust and popular one, and Baby Boomer homeowners, in particular, like to spend large sums to have their residences renovated. In fact, one in three home remodeling jobs involves the whole house, rather than just one or two rooms. Such work can be costly, yes, but it also generates a high ROI (return on investment) when that property is sold for a bolstered price. Millennial homeowners lag behind spending-wise, but they are starting to catch up. For now, this is the wrong time to hire workers to remake your kitchen or master bathroom, even if you’ve been meaning to have those rooms remade. It is better to wait until the quarantine is over and your financial life becomes more stable before spending money like this.

Cosmetic surgery is another thing that is best of skipped for now. Ordinarily, Americans like to pay well for the likes of FUE transplants to fill out bald patches of hair, or botox for the lips or similar work. For now, though, this can wait; having a bald spot never harmed anyone, so avoid spending money on this type of medical procedure. The same is true for bigger operations, such as rapid weight loss surgery. You can do some light exercises at home and adjust your diet if weight loss is your goal, but don’t go under the knife for it in this context.

What about hiring legal help for divorce or bankruptcy? This might be worth the trouble, such as hiring divorce mediation, but this should be a matter of discretion. If possible, see if you can delay the divorce process until the quarantine is over, unless there is abuse taking place in the household.

Should you spend money on home security features, such as cameras and sensors? Some Americans have spent good money on smart homes, which can operate themselves and maintain their own security while the owner is away. It is one thing to keep your home secure against intruders during quarantine, but most likely, your finances can’t support the cost of a smart security package right now. Even if you can afford it, you might opt for low-cost methods such as curtains to block people’s view of expensive electronics, or having your locks replaced with tougher ones.

And, of course, very large expenses such as buying a new house, a new car, or a business is likely a bad idea right now, for similar reasons as listed above. The same is likely true of investing, and a common rule is to not invest money without having a few months’ worths of cash saved up in case that investment goes bad. During quarantine and a time of financial uncertainty, it might be downright impossible to have such a cash reserve on hand, making an investment a strictly bad idea. Investments can wait until the quarantine is over, and the same is true of buying rental properties, etc.

Financial Strategies for Quarantine

While a variety of family activities and purchases are risky during quarantine, not all of them have been stricken out. Now is a time for you to reassess how you and your family spend time together, and you may be surprised at how many family activities don’t actually cost anything. Such inexpensive hobbies and activities aren’t necessarily boring or cheap, either; many of these family activities are actually quite fun and enriching, and they are a great alternative for constant electronic screen use.

First, let’s consider which types of healthcare are still a good idea. During this time, it is vital that you keep on top of your dental health and your management of any conditions you may have, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Modern medical techniques and medical software make American healthcare very high quality, and you don’t need an emergency to visit your dentist. Be aware, though, that your dentist’s office may have altered hours due to the crisis and you should check to see if you have to reschedule any upcoming appointments. When you do visit the dentist, try to arrive right on time so you don’t spend any time in the waiting room, and preferably, the other patients have a similar idea. This is especially prudent if you are ill. In any case, though, don’t let COVID-19 discourage you from getting dental work, especially if you have tooth pain or an emergency. A dental health crisis is the last thing you need on top of everything else.

Now, how might you spend your money? Food is a good example. Restaurants are closed, and many fast food places are also closed or have restricted hours of operation, so that’s not much of an option. Besides, going to restaurants too often is costly compared to cooking at home. You may notice this when your monthly spending on food goes down. Instead, you will buy groceries at the local grocer or failing that, you can order food online and have it dropped off at your doorstep (many Americans are indeed doing this). Don’t be afraid to try out some modest luxury items too, such as if you want to order coffee online or some tea packets or gourmet chocolates. So long as you devise and stick to a sensible grocery budget, there should be no problem with that.

If your children are old enough to help, they can assist you with some minor, DIY home improvement projects, too. Hiring contractors to totally remake a room is out of the question, but it’s much easier to repaint a wall or fix a table or have new locks and sliding components fitted into a drawer. Replacing drawer handles or putting in a new shower head is also totally feasible, and you can order any tools online that you need (among other parts) to get the job done. This quarantine may be a good chance to finally fix that stuck drawer or replace your old showerhead with a nicer one. On top of that, you can vacuum the rug and dust off everything.

How about organizing and tidying up the household? These sorts of family activities don’t cost a thing unless you buy new storage units (don’t be afraid to), and they can make your household seem like new. The average American household has over 300,000 items in it, and often, these households are cluttered or disorganized to the point of causing stress and inconvenience. It will cost you little to nothing to tackle that mess, and you may find lost items and clear up some room to make your household flow a little better. Also, consider hiring junk removal services to get rid of larger objects that can’t fit in the regular trash. You can gather up a lot of clothes to give away to charity or recycling centers, and you may also donate old kitchen goods, children’s toys, and books, among other items.

Now, what are some for-fun hobbies that are budget-friendly for just about anyone? You might be surprised by how much time per day you can spend without spending very much money, or any money at all. For example, why not catch up on all the books in your household, and if need be, buy some cheap used paperback books online? Books don’t need electricity or an internet connection and they can be taken anywhere and don’t make noise or light. They can even fit in a backpack or purse with ease while out and about, and books of all kinds can be educational or informative for hours on end. Many books also contain ideas or stories that aren’t easily found online or on TV. After all, many books have been adapted into movies or TV shows, but not all of them, especially not the obscure ones.

Books are a fine start, and so are creative family activities. You don’t have to spend much to try writing your own poetry, short fiction, or essays, and this can really give your mind a workout and cheer you up as you create something like this. In your family, you can all make fiction of all kinds and share what you wrote, like a miniature workshop. The same can be done for watercolors and drawing, too, and there’s an infinite variety of topics to draw or sketch like this. Meanwhile, card games and board games are also strong options, since they don’t need electricity or the internet, and they can be great fun for hours for multiple people. If you don’t have fancy board games and don’t want to order them, family activities can include card games with ordinary playing cards. Nearly all households have them, and even if you don’t, you can easily get them online for a low price. You can look up the rules for just about any card game you like online.

What about exercise? Fitness centers are closed right now, and so are some parks, but you can get moving in other ways, too. You can perform yoga in any room and look up videos on how to do it, and you can do light exercises indoors such as push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, etc. Just be sure that you’re physically fit for this. As for going outside, if you are not currently sick, you can go outside for a jog or walk, so long as you practice social distancing. Try not to touch anything, and contain coughs and sneezes in your arm and clothes. Otherwise, go ahead and enjoy the sunlight and open-air, which can cheer you up a great deal. And you don’t have to spend any money just to take a walk.

In conclusion, this quarantine is a good chance to reassess how you spend money, and once you create a safe budget for your needs, you can stick to the bare essentials and cut out any extravagant spending. Most likely, you had some poor spending habits (big or small) before the quarantine, and this pragmatic time period lets you diagnose and get rid of those bad habits. In a way, this quarantine can work for you, so long as you are careful.

They say the home is a man’s castle and that may be true, but it is important that the home look and feel like such inside and outside. A good paint job is a great way to achieve the perfect look for your home. Interior and exterior painting, when done correctly, can add value to your home and make any room feel more welcoming and inviting. There are many painting and decorating companies that can help you with every step of the process. From choosing the colors and the types of paints to actually doing the painting for you, these professionals are a source of invaluable information and assistance. One of the biggest concerns that homeowners have when looking for painting help has to do with painting services prices and what they can and cannot help with. If you are looking to pay someone to paint a room in your home, to do the entire interior of your home, or to give your home’s exterior a new coat of paint, the best way to get started is to find a few local paint contractors and see what rates and specials they have to offer. People painting houses is an everyday occurrence so don’t make it harder than it has to be and find a professional to work with!

Most DIYers are DIYing because it’s relaxing and enjoyable. You might be surprised to learn that only 39% of DIYers are DIYing for the purpose of saving money. Painters for example, enjoy matching their paint or their deck stains. If you’re a painter, here’s how you can match your paint or stain to the color you’re looking for.

 

How to match paint

There are a number of options you can try in order to find a paint that matches the color you want. The first option you could try is the eye test. This is best if you’re flexible on the color not needing to be an exact match. You can look at each color and choose one that looks closest to the color that you’re looking for. If instead, you’re looking for an exact match, it’ll help to use more advanced technology.

 

Apps are able to do almost anything these days. This is no different in the case of helping painters. Large paint stores have now put out paint apps to help you with finding the right match. It’s as easy as a few presses of a button. First thing you have to do is download the app to your smartphone. After that, you just need to get a photo of the painted surface you’re looking to match, and upload the photo to the app. The manufacturers will give the closest color they have to what you’re looking for. It’ll certainly save you time having to get out and look around at different paint stores.

 

Lastly, if you prefer to have someone else match it for you, your local paint store will help you with that. You can bring a fabric that’s the closest match to the color you want, or a photo of the color. At the store, the staff can use a spectrophotometer. This will breakdown the color into wavelengths in order to find the best combination of paint pigments to recreate your desired color.

 

How to match stain

 

Matching stain color can be a little bit more difficult than matching paint. There’s less variety of wood stain in comparison to paint. Nonetheless, it is possible to find a match for your deck staining. Use a stain sample booklet or color wheel next to the color you’re trying to match. Decide on which one most closely resembles it. Sometimes the color you’re looking for maybe a mixture of stains. In this case, you can try to mix some stains to see if you get a closer match. After you’ve got what you think is the right match, test it on an extra piece of the wood you’re trying to match. Determine if the color is accurate to you once it’s dried. If it is, you can then apply it.

Whether you’re a local painter or a professional, DIYing can be both a fun and challenging task. All painters should take their time in getting the closest match of paint or stain desired. Use these tips to help you get the perfect match, and create a home that looks beautiful to you.

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As a commercial property owner you need to take the steps to defend your property against unwanted damage-causing pests. Regularly scheduled commercial exterminator service can help reduce the risk of damage from pests and keep your property pest free.

 

Every year termites alone cause over 5 billion dollars in property damage. With the right commercial pest exterminator on your team damage from pests is something you will not have to worry about.

 

There is a Real Cost to Not Having Commercial Pest Control

 

Most property owners know that termites can cause a great deal of damage but that is not the only pest that can ring up the costs. Mice and rats have been known to chew through electrical wiring, communication lines, floors and walls.

 

Other pests also pose risks as well to your property. Roaches can quickly infest a space and cause damage. The cost can be plentiful when it comes to the damage that pests can cause. Not to mention the cost of unsatisfied tenants.

 

Eradication and Commercial Pest Management

 

A commercial exterminator has two main objectives: eradicate the current pest problem and prevent future invasions. If you are currently experiencing a pest problem or suspect that you are, experienced pest control services can take care of it.

 

Part of the pest control process includes an ongoing management program. Once the problem has been eradicated to ensure that there is not a recurrence, commercial pest control service at regular intervals is a necessity.

 

The Process

 

Whether you have a pest problem currently or not, it is important that you have reliable commercial pest management. Termites and other pests may not be present currently but there is also the possibility that they will find their way to your property. If you have the right treatment plan in place, if pests find their way to your property it will be protected.

 

A commercial pest exterminator will inspect your property for evidence of pest infestation. They will discuss their findings with you and recommend a treatment plan. The tech will know the most effective treatment option for your property.

 

The commercial exterminator has a very specific skillset and the knowledge that is necessary to effectively, safely treat commercial properties. The exterminator may offer a combination of treatment options to get rid of pests. They can safely apply chemicals, deploy traps for rodent control and ensure that your property is void of any pests.

 

You Can’t Afford Not To

 

Make commercial exterminator service part of your regular building maintenance and have one less thing to worry about. Call today for commercial exterminator service that you can trust for excellent results!

Fall brings many opportunities for fun family activities, both at home and away from home. Two of the most popular holidays — Halloween and Thanksgiving — occur in the fall. Football season and the school year also begin in the fall. Fall weather allows the last few opportunities to barbecue on the patio and the first few opportunities for hot soup by the fireplace. Still running low on ideas? Here are eight ideas for fun family activities for fall:

Leaf Peeping

Deciduous trees shed their leaves in the fall in a multi-step process intended to protect the trees during the cold and dark winter months. Nutrients, sugars, and water stored in green leaves are pulled back into the trunk and roots to fuel the tree as days shorten after the autumnal equinox towards the end of September. And by cutting off circulation to the leaves, the trees conserve energy that would otherwise be wasted trying to keep leaves green when they will just freeze once the temperatures fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

This biological process produces a spectacular show. Fall foliage usually peaks in mid- to late-October, depending on your weather and location. New England has the best-known and most vibrant leaf-peeping opportunities as maple forests turn red, orange, and yellow. However, many of the forests in the Midwest, Mountain West, Pacific Northwest, and Southeast — particularly along the Smoky Mountains — have oak, birch, beech, and aspen trees that will turn yellow, with some flecks of orange and red, in fall.

Many weather websites track leaf color throughout the fall. When fall foliage season hits your locale, one of the most popular and fun family activities for fall is to pack a lunch for the entire family in a soft side cooler and rent a Jeep Wrangler or other SUV for a drive into the mountains. There you and your family can experience this annual event in its full glory. Just remember not to bring the dog unless he or she has had some dog training. While most national parks and national forests allow pets, they must be leashed at all times and you must clean up after them.

Tailgating

 

Football is an American fall tradition. Football (or American football as it is known outside of the U.S. and Canada) evolved from soccer and rugby over the first 70 years of the 1800s. In the fall of 1869, the first intercollegiate football game was played between Princeton University and Rutgers University. A standard set of rules was developed over 15 years from 1880, when the line of scrimmage and the center snap was codified, to 1895, when the first forward pass was completed. Walter Camp, a football player at Yale from 1878 to 1882, invented some of the most important and significant rules in football and is recognized as the “father of football” for his efforts.

From the beginning, football was a fall sport. Whether at the Pop Warner, high school, college, or professional level, the end of summer and the beginning of the school year are accompanied by football season. And football season has not officially arrived until the first tailgate party of the year.

Fun family activities for fall include gathering the family together for a tailgate party before a high school, college, or professional football game. You can even host a get-together before your child’s Pop Warner game so friends and family can show their support for the child’s nascent football career. While any party in the parking lot of a football game is technically a tailgate party, the traditional tailgating spread is a soft side cooler full of beer and burgers hot off the grill.

Block Party

Fall block parties can be an opportunity to get to know the neighbors and blow off some steam after a hectic summer. Block parties can be themed to any of fall’s big occurrences, such as the end of summer, back to school, Halloween, Veterans Day, or Thanksgiving. The best part of these fun family activities for fall is that you do not have to do all the work by yourself. If you hold a pot luck block party and get a few neighbors to help out with the decorations, the burden will be more-or-less shared equally among all the families in the neighborhood.

Some neighborhoods even hold block parties in lieu of, or in addition to, trick or treating on Halloween. Not only is this a safer option than trick or treating, it allows everyone, both young and old, to join in the Halloween fun.

Another idea for a block party is to combine the block party with a service project such as helping out a neighbor or raising money for a worthy cause. It is often easier to hit up the neighbors for help when you are supplying food, beverages, and entertainment than just going door to door.

For example, on Veterans Day, you could hold a block party to help veterans and families of deployed service members to clean their yards and get ready for winter. It should be easy to round up volunteers with the promise of a pot luck lunch and games for the kids after the work is done.

Fall Festivals

Pumpkin patches and other festivals can provide excellent opportunities for fun family activities for fall. While pumpkin patches primarily have games and activities geared toward children, hayrides, corn mazes, arts and crafts, and every type of pumpkin spice flavored food and drink under the sun can provide endless fun for parents and teenagers too.

Also, do not forget the most adult of all fall festivals, Oktoberfest, which happens in the fall as well. The largest Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany traditionally took place during the 16 days preceding the first Sunday in October. After German unification on October 3, 1994, the Oktoberfest schedule was modified to run until Unification Day if October 1 or October 2 falls on Sunday. Thus, if you and your family are headed to the airport to fly to Munich for Oktoberfest, it ends on the first Sunday in October or October 3rd, whichever occurs later.

Many state and county fairs also take place in the early fall or late summer after the harvest. While these festivals are largely known for their fun family activities for fall, they are also agricultural and animal husbandry exhibitions and competitions. With the shift in the U.S. economy away from agriculture and toward services and finished goods, however, you would be forgiven if you skip the livestock barns and exhibit halls of award-winning fruits and vegetables and head straight for the amusement park rides and food vendors.

Pick Your Own Fruit and Vegetables

Harvest time not only brings state and county fairs, but it also brings pick-your-own season. Depending on where you live, apples, figs, pears, and Concord grapes all ripen in the early fall. And no discussion of fall would be complete without noting that pumpkins ripen in the fall. Many orchards and farms are open to the public, allowing you to pick your own fruit and vegetables and pay a fee based on the weight of the produce you take home. Picking your own produce can be one of the most fun family activities for fall. It also helps you to teach your children where their food comes from.

There are many benefits to picking your own fruit and vegetables:

• Often, the price you pay at a pick-your-own orchard or farm is less than you would pay at a grocery store because you have supplied the labor.
• Produce sold at grocery stores is picked before it ripens to take into account travel time and its lifetime in the store. By picking your own, you can pick fruit and vegetables at their peak of ripeness.
• You can pick only those that meet your criteria and are not stuck with old, bruised, or under-ripe produce because of a limited selection at the grocery store.
• Supporting local farmers creates a more sustainable and carbon-friendly way to get your food.

Once you have picked your produce, cooking, preserving, and eating your bounty provides even more fun family activities for fall. These days, people forget that pickles, jams, jellies, dried fruit, and fruit roll-ups were invented to preserve fruits and vegetables through the winter. Learning the lost skill of home canning provides you and your family with knowledge and a source of delicious food throughout the winter.

Even if you decide to eat your produce rather than preserve it, you and your family will enjoy finding fun ways to use your fruit and vegetables. No fall season is complete without pumpkin cookies, apple bread, hot soups and stews, and, of course, pumpkin pie.

Field Trips

When kids head back to school in the fall, their fall fun does not need to end. Field trips offer educational opportunities along with the fun of traveling to a local educational museum or art gallery.

Moreover, field trips are not just for school-age children. Volunteering to chaperone a school field trip can provide fun family activities for fall. Many schools allow chaperones to bring younger children as long as they ride with the chaperone. This will allow you to introduce your younger children to both the experience of going on a school field trip and the educational or cultural lesson to be learned from the field trip.

If you live in one of the unfortunate school districts where field trips are a rarity, you can use weekends to plan your own family field trips. These field trips do not need to be elaborate. Most kids are happy to take the behind-the-scenes tour at a bakery, watch an educational IMAX movie at the planetarium, or stroll through the zoo. As a bonus, many museums, zoos, and galleries host educational events tied to fall holidays like Columbus Day, Halloween, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving that offer special exhibits and activities for kids.

Holidays With the Family

It may not require a trip over the river and through the woods, but grandma’s house always offers fun family activities for fall. Just a few of the benefits to spending time with your family, particularly during holidays and special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries, include:

• Traditions and culture. Children learn family traditions and cultural values by experiencing them first hand. Moreover, they learn the value of carrying those traditions on by seeing their importance to grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles, and other relatives.
• Fun. Spending time with family is fun. Many of our likes and dislikes come from our families. For a family of football fans, there might be nothing more fun than sitting down together to watch the big college rivalry football game.
• Family bonds. Knowing family members and spending time with them is the way to build family bonds. These bonds can last a lifetime. Close family members can provide a support structure in difficult times and share in the good times.
• Memories. If you think back on your life, you will likely find that many of your best memories involve family. Whether it is trick or treating with your cousins, attending your sister’s wedding, or singing at your grandmother’s 90th birthday, family time often makes the memories that we value the most and bring us the greatest happiness.
• Health. People with larger social networks are scientifically proven to have a lower risk of dementia. Moreover, people who experience bouts of loneliness are more prone to depression and have a shorter life expectancy.
• Social confidence. People, including children, who have closer relationships with their family are more confident in social situations and are better able to form stable and lasting friendships.

Fly Somewhere Warm

When you live in a cold climate, finding fun family activities in fall may require a family trip somewhere else. If you enjoy traveling with your kids, you are not alone. According to surveys, 44% of Millennials travel with their children. This is logical since most people have a cherished memory of a family trip and many of our own behaviors are attempts to recreate the best memories from our childhoods.

To involve the entire family, plan vacations where everyone can spend time together. Some trips naturally require the family to split up. For example, amusement parks may require older children to separate from younger children since they will be drawn to, and meet the height requirements for, different rides. However, a trip to the beach, boating or camping trip, or even a cruise can keep the family together for family time.

For older families, you may even want to consider a team-building trip, such as a river rafting or a mountain biking expedition. Working together to accomplish a common goal or overcome a common challenge can bring a family closer. If the trip is a guided expedition, you and your kids might even learn something new.

The end of summer does not necessarily mean that family fun time is over. Cooler temperatures and shorter days can bring relief from the heat that allows you to find fun family activities for fall in the great outdoors. The beginning of the school year does not mean seeing less of your kids if you volunteer to chaperone field trips or set up weekend field trips of your own. With a little creativity, fall can bring many family-friendly activities for you and your children.

In 2006, it was thanks to used clothing purchases that the United States kept 2.5 billion pounds of fabric out of landfills.

You may have noticed trucks or bins throughout your neighborhood dedicated to collecting old clothes to be reused. This shows the considerable importance of donating unwanted clothing, rather than simply throwing it away. Besides the environmental benefits, there are several reasons why it’s a good idea to donate clothes to charity organizations. The following are just a few such reasons.

Help Those Who Can’t Afford to Buy Clothes

Often, thrift stores operated by charity organizations offer the only possible way for disadvantaged people to buy the clothes they need. Obviously, it would be impossible for these charity organizations to do their good work if people like you were not there to generously provide the merchandise. Then, charity organizations use the money made from used clothing sales to further their own good work in other avenues, such as helping those with disabilities.

Keep Your House Organized

We all have clothes that have been sitting in our closets for months, but which we never wear for some reason or another. Perhaps we don’t like the style or the fit. These are the perfect items for donating, as they are typically in decent condition, and would help keep someone warm and clothed. By clearing out your closets once in a while, you not only put these unused items to good use — you also help eliminate clutter from your life. This can be a dramatic emotional boost since mess and clutter can cause unnecessary amounts of stress. On top of that, cluttered rooms and closets are actually a fire hazard.

Help Victims of Natural Disasters

While the Federal Emergency Management Agency says they prefer cash donations to help with disaster relief efforts, donations of old but useful clothing are also helpful. But instead of donating directly to FEMA, you can choose a great charity organization that helps disaster survivors. They will make sure your used clothes are put to good use from there.

Preserve the Environment

This is a benefit we can all get behind. When you choose to give away your used and unwanted clothing to charity organizations, instead of simply throwing them away, you help keep huge amounts of fabric out of landfills. This is a great help to the environment since disintegrating clothing can be harmful to wildlife. Worse yet, clothes made from synthetic materials never really decompose.

Additionally, by giving others the chance to reuse your old clothes, fewer new ones need to be made to fill consumer demand. This alleviates another strain on the environment, as fewer resources are required for manufacturing these clothes in the first place.

Write Off Donations on Your Tax Return

When making used clothing donations to qualifying charity organizations, you get the chance to write off your donations on your tax return. This can mean savings for you at the end of the year.

There are lots of great reasons for donating clothing to charity. Perhaps one of the best reasons why is the good feeling you’ll enjoy, knowing that those clothes won’t be taking up space in your closet anymore, and are actually doing good in the world where it’s most needed. Consider donating your clothes to Green Drop when you’re ready to help others and streamline your life.

Imagine this: it’s a bright, sunshine-y day and you’re watching the birds flutter in and out of the trees; you’re watching the leaves blowing on the trees; you’re soaking up the sun’s rays and really enjoying the beautiful day.

You can certainly enjoy all those things by being outside, but you can also enjoy them from the comfort of your own home by looking out a brand new set of replacement windows. Not only can brand new window installation allow you to enjoy the beauty of nature, it can also save you money. Energystar.gov estimates that replacing standard windows with more energy efficient ones can lower energy bills anywhere from 7 to 15%

When it comes to replace window installation, there are no shortage of options and plenty of benefits. If you’re thinking about replacement window installation, here are some of the benefits you can expect:

• Improved Safety: When it comes to preventing break-ins, brand new replacement windows can be just what you need to stay safe. These days there are many kinds of replacement windows have reinforced glass and tempered glass that will stay together if it’s broken. Another option is laminated glass, which has an interlayer made of polymer that helps hold glass together if it shatters to aid in preventing break-ins. Bottom line, you can pick from several options that will keep your home safer.
• Better Home Value: When you go through replacement window installation, there’s a good chance that you can recoup the money and increase the value of your home. If you’ve got new tempered glass windows for example, that can be a good selling point if you ever want to sell your home.
• Easy Maintenance: Getting replacement windows with today’s advances in design can make your home safer and they can also be very easy to maintain. Window contractors can install brand new windows that will last a long time and are very easy to clean. In some cases, you might just need to give them a quick wipe or you can install shades or curtains to reduce cleaning time.
• Adding Tint: Another option for replacement window installation is getting tinted ones or using window film. Tinted windows can lower energy costs and offer comfort as well as additional protection from UV rays. It’s another layer of added protection you can use to keep yourself, your home, your car and your valuables safer.
• Lower Energy Costs: As previously mentioned, getting replacement windows can end up saving you quite a bit of money over time. The upfront cost of the window installation might be a little high, but over time you’ll end up saving money because your windows are well insulated and you’re protected from the elements.
  Depending on where you live, different window companies have different types and styles of windows are offered for different climates. Let’s face it, whether you live in the cold of Alaska or the never-ending heat of the South, you’re going to need windows that will help you regulate the temperature in your home.
• UV Protection: Natural light coming in through a window can be great when you want to curl up with a good book, but over time too much sunlight can have some negative effects. If you’ve got furniture near windows, sunlight can cause it to fade. Fortunately, a lot of today’s window styles can protect your home’s interior from the sun and can block a large percentage of UV rays.
• Looking good: Getting replacement windows installed in your home can keep you safer and reduce energy costs, but it can also make your home look good. New windows can make a home look more appealing to onlookers from the outside and can also increase your home’s value as previously mentioned.

Whether you’re looking to protect your home’s interior from sun damage, lower your energy bills or make your home a little safer, replacement windows can provide all those benefits and more. A local window company can help you find the right residential windows for all your home needs.