5/26/17

Paws For Thought Before You Get A Dog


If you’re thinking about getting your first dog, there a few little tidbits of information that might come in handy. First, you should start as you mean to go on. The first night your dog stays with you, you’ll need to decide where he or she is going to sleep. If you’re going to let it sleep with you on your bed, remember, that’s the type of treatment it will expect from then onwards. If it’s going to sleep by itself, the same follows. Unfortunately, puppies will hate being left alone so you should be prepared for at least a few hours of crying each night until it settles in. At that point, it should be more than happy to sleep alone. But if you break even once and let it sleep upstairs with you, the process will start all over again.

 Energetic Every Day

Dogs love plenty of exercises, they like to explore and run around. A lab needs about two hours of exercise every day, and this isn’t the most energetic breed. There are others that require a lot more and some that are happy to sleep right through the morning. It all depends on your unique pet pooch. You might have an incredibly busy lifestyle. If that’s the case, you should think about setting up an area where the pet can play by itself while you are away.

The best way to do this is to set up an enclosed area. The garden works well for this. If you have an open garden with no fencing, you’ll need to set some up. The fencing you can find on sites such as https://www.longfence.com/content/chain-link-fence-durable-resistant is high enough that the average dog won’t be able to jump it. Once you have an enclosed space, you need something they can play with. You can get an automatic ball thrower that will keep working, even when you’re not in the garden. There are even some that can be controlled by your phone if you’re not in the house.

However, you should remember that dogs are very sociable and they love company. So, if you don’t have much time to spend with a pet you might want to think twice about getting one.

Obey

Does your dog obey you? It should, but it will take a few months of training. Even then, you can get the occasional rough patch where they ignore you completely. If you want your pet to be completely obedient, you should think about carrying some treats around in your pocket. That way, you can control good behavior and reward it. Eventually, you’ll condition the dog into responding this way every time. You might think this takes away a dog’s personality. But actually, it’s more or less how we encourage babies to do things like use the toilet. You can read more about conditioning on https://seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-infobooks/.

Feed Me

Is a dog ever full? It depends on what’s on the menu, and that’s why you have to be careful feeding your dog your food. He’ll probably never say to no to getting extra food at dinner time. It’s up to you to properly regulate his diet and make sure that he’s getting everything he needs without going overboard.


I hope you find these tips useful when you take home your furry new friend.



Preparing Your Home: How To Avoid Food Poisoning


No parent wants their child to become ill because of something they’ve eaten at home. They might have to take days off school, and that means you can’t go to work. Also, you’ll feel guilty that you’re to blame for their illness. With that in mind, there are some simple alterations everyone can make in their kitchens to stop that from happening. The ideas on this page should reduce the chances of bacteria causing upset stomachs. They will also help your family to become a little more hygienic when preparing food. Considering that, put these tips into action as soon as possible. If you do that, you shouldn’t have too many concerns.
  
Never use open trash cans in your kitchen. One of the biggest mistakes people make relates to open bins in kitchens. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out the problem there. Dangerous bacteria will breed and spread like wildfire. Before you know it, all your sideboards will become infected. So, do yourself a favor and purchase the best kitchen trash can your money can afford. Ideally, you want something with a decent seal around the lid. You’ll still have to empty it every day to remain safe. However, you should decrease the chances of cross contamination. That means your kids aren’t going to spend hours throwing up after eating.
  
Always store raw meat at the bottom of your fridge. Another mistake people make relates to how they store meat. In most instances, you will take it out of the freezer and place it in your refrigerator before cooking. As everyone should know, raw meat contains lots of harmful bacteria. That is why it’s vital you put it at the bottom of your refrigerator. If you use any of the higher shelves, you could contaminate all the other food. That means your family could become ill time and time again without knowing why it’s happening. Make sure you pay attention to that tip because it will make a significant difference.

Clean your kitchen using specialist antibacterial formula. You only have to head down to your local store to find lots of antibacterial products. Make sure you use them as much as possible when cleaning your kitchen. If you’re unsure which brands are the best, you can read reviews online. It’s also possible to create cleaning solutions from things you might have lying around at home. If that idea appeals to you, just search for information using Google. Hundreds of websites will point you in the right direction.

With a bit of luck, you should manage to avoid food poisoning in the future if you make use of that advice. At the end of the day, nobody enjoys spending their evening praying to a porcelain god. For that reason, it’s critical that you take steps to stop it from happening. The basic rule of thumb is that you just need to keep food waste out of the way, and clean as much as possible. If you do that, you shouldn’t have any issues. 

Steve Wade Mysteries Book Spotlight Tour & $10 Amazon Giveaway

We have a new mystery series in our featured spotlight spot this morning!  Check out the first two books of the Steve Wad Mysteries series, learn a little about author Iris Wynne--and enter for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card in the book tour giveaway at the end of the post!

The Missing Mah Jongg Player
A Steve Wade Mystery Book 1
by Iris Wynne
Genre: Crime Mystery, Thriller
Steve Wade is an ex-cop with an ex-wife and girlfriends he could never commit to. Now he’s a private investigator known for his knack in solving crimes.
This handsome private eye never has a problem finding customers. His newest case involves five frantic Mah Jongg players who are in search of one of their players who disappeared after meeting a man on an Internet dating site.
Wade is reluctant to take the case, believing it to be just another woman not wanting to be found. But the Mah Jongg players are insistent that Marilou did not vanish on her own. In the meantime, they organize a Valentine’s speed-dating gig inviting all the suspects who dated Marilou in an attempt to find her.
As he watches the dinner play out he begins to realize she may not have gone willingly when all the suspects are before him. He even hires his sometime drop-dead gorgeous girlfriend for the event to lure the culprit out into the open. Steve just hopes no one goes home with a potential killer.
Wade has to work fast as the case begins to unravel when lies and betrayal become evident and the truth of what happened to Marilou becomes clear. Will he be able to find the suspect before they choose another victim? This may be his biggest challenge yet.

The Missing Housewife
A Steve Wade Mystery Book 2

Steve Wade is an ex-cop and now private investigator. His reputation for solving crimes is growing.
His newest client is a man charged with a murder he says he did not commit. The convict's sister has evidence that the person he supposedly murdered is alive and living somewhere in Shanghai after an old classmate of hers sees a double of the murdered victim while touring parts of Asia.
Is the murder victim, a woman, really alive and the man charged with her murder innocent?
Steve does not know what to think. Should he believe a convicted killer who was once a drug addict living on the streets? Steve however does not want an innocent man to spend the rest of his life in jail.
It's a dilemma he must think through and to try to prove the convicted murderer's innocence.


Iris Wynne is a book lover, a day dreamer and a hopeless romantic. She is a writer of cozy mysteries with an element of romance. She is a mother of two girls and in her spare time she dog walks, plays golf in the summer and of course grabs a game of Mah Jongg whenever she can.
Iris lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband. Her children live on their own and her parents are relieved to receive a text message from them now and then.

5/25/17

Common Mistakes Divorced Parents Make



The average American marriage lasts seven years, so if you’re contemplating or going through a Michigan divorce, you’re not alone. Compared to the 1960s when only 13% of families entered a subsequent marriage or step family stage, 40% of all families today are part of a stepfamily situation. According to the United States Census Bureau, almost 74 million (or 69%) of all minor children live with two parents. And yet, there’s no current dominant family style across America. Nonetheless, two parents are better than one, right? Well, that depends on how you continue parenting together after the divorce. Here are some of the most common mistakes divorced parents make. 

Photo Credit
Talking Badly About the Other Parent.  Just because you have a volatile relationship with your ex doesn’t mean your kids do or should as well. Kids feel the stress and experience the outcome of the divorce decision, but they don’t divorce their parents. To them, mom’s still mom and dad’s still dad… the living situations have just changed. Talking badly about your ex doesn’t make you the good parent. In fact, it can cause problems down the road as a kid thinks, “Everyone says I’m like my mom/dad, so does that mean I’m worthless, too?” 
  
Not Choosing Your Battles Wisely.  Parents often get caught up in their own emotions and forget that divorce is stressful for the whole family. And what do kids do naturally, let alone when they’re stressed? They act out. Not all issues are actual battles, and not all battles need to turn into wars. The best way to avoid extra household and family stress is to just let some things go. Obviously, that doesn’t pertain to everything. If the kids are misbehaving at school, sassing authority figures outside the home, or becoming violent, discipline and potentially outside therapy may be needed. Your Michigan divorce lawyer can suggest competent professionals for those situations. 
 
Making the Kids the Messengers.  Divorcing doesn’t mean you’ll never have to talk to your ex again. Unless you have full custody and/or your ex signs over their parental rights, chances are you’ll still need to deal with them on a regular and ongoing basis. The screaming matches should, however, stop… at least around the kids. Technological options allow parents to text, email, and even send schedules via social media if necessary to avoid talking. At no point should you ever send a note or message with the kids to inform your ex of something you should be mature enough to handle yourself. 
 
Complaining About Money with the Kids.  Finances and bills are details adults need to handle. While it’s a smart plan to teach your kids about money, doing so after divorce by putting the ex on the hot seat is unfair on both ends. Not only does it make the ex look like a loser (which is probably the end goal), it also makes the kids feel responsible for the situation. Divorce is never the kids’ fault and loving parents go to the ends of the earth to make sure they know this. Take care of your financial issues with your ex and your legal team. And let your kids enjoy their childhood. 

Pretending Your Kids Don’t Know What’s Going On.  Some stats: Approximately 1,300 new American stepfamilies form daily. Half of all U.S. families are re-coupled or remarried. Around 75% of all American divorces eventually remarry. So guess what? Your kids know what’s going on. They likely have friends whose parents have gone through a Michigan divorce, and chances are they vented to their friends about home trouble before you even told them about your divorce plans. 

Kids aren’t stupid and shouldn’t be treated as such. Be honest without offering too much personal information or negative opinions. Make home a safe place to share thoughts and emotions. And keep the lines of communication open. It’ll come in handy in the teen years. If you need extra help or suggestions, be sure to ask your Michigan divorceattorney.

5/24/17

MAX 2 White House Hero Blu-Ray Giveaway & RUN GAME App Fun!

I have always been a sucker for family movies about dogs saving the day!  Hero dogs are just the best movie heroes ever in my book!  We are excited to announce that MAX 2:  White House Hero was released from Warner Bros Home Entertainment on DVD, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack & Digital HD this week!  Since summer break is nearly upon us, we wanted to share a little about this family friendly movie, share a fun, FREE, new, movie themed,  blog app for the kids--and give 1 lucky reader the chance to win a Blu-Ray copy of MAX 2:  White House Hero in the giveaway at the end of the post!

Disclosure: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is providing me with a free copy of the Blu-ray featured in this Blog Post.   They are also providing a copy for the giveaway winner.  The opinions I share are my own.
About the Movie


Man's Best Friend Is The Country's Biggest Hero
MAX 2: White House Hero
The All-New Original Movie Is Available on DVD, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack On May 23, 2017 & Digital HD Now.
Duty calls again, and our hero dog Max returns to action in "Max 2: White House Hero." His new assignment brings him to Washington, D.C. to serve on the U.S. president's Secret Service detail. When a foreign leader arrives with his precocious daughter Alex (Francesca Capaldi), tensions arise between both countries. First Son TJ (Zane Austin), along with Max and Alex, uncover a dangerous plot that puts both kids and both nations in jeopardy. A highly-sensitive mission will push Max’s specialized skills, intelligence and loyalty to the test.
Visit the Max 2: White House Hero Website:
http://max-themovie.com/
Follow Max on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MaxMovie

Buy on Amazon
Dog Lovers Should Enjoy MAX 2:  White House Hero
We love dogs in our family--especially our own Max!  (And..yes, his name is really Max!) While he may not be as brave...or as energetic...or maybe as intelligent as the movie MAX--he is still our family's loyal hero!  The jury is still out on whether he'd rush into danger to save me from an evil villain--but, he's always ready with a tail wag, a Maxi-Smile and a snuggle!


I can't wait to watch this movie with the kids!  We love dogs, we love a little suspense--and we love a good hero story!
 Play the MAX 2 White House Hero Run Game Below-
& Then Enter for a Chance to Win a Copy of the Movie in the Giveaway at the End of the Post!
To celebrate the release of Max 2: White House Hero, readers can play a fun game to help Max run and jump obstacles to save TJ and Alex! Just Click on the game screen via the app to jump over obstacles and make your best time.   My best time was only 1:33--and I'm sure that nearly everyone playing will beat that! 
....after you and/or the kids play the game...make note of your best time and enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a copy of the Blu-Ray movie!!

Win a Copy of MAX 2:  White House Hero on Blu-Ray

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway is open to U.S. entrants only.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is providing me with a free copy of the Blu-ray featured in this Blog Post. They are also providing a copy for the giveaway winner. The opinions I share are my own.
Booking.com