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Tips to choose the right lawn service for your home

SAN ANTONIO – Keeping your lawn beautiful and bright green can be a challenge if you’re doing all the work yourself. If you need that extra help and want a professional to do a job right, it’s essential to choose the right lawn service to meet your needs. Once you find the right company or individuals to do the job, the professionals will need to know your budget and the services you want for your lawn. A professional cannot be sure what treatment your lawn may need without seeing it first. Make sure to ask your lawn service about any safety precautions your family will need to take for the project’s duration.

Some tax tips following a year of coronavirus

But did you know where you dialed in from could impact your tax refund? “If you work in a high tax state or a state that’s separate from yours now you’ve got two state income tax returns you’re going to have to file,” said Gary Kane, CPA, at Kane & Associates. Each state has their own tax laws, which varies by the number of days worked, so check with your advisor. “The tax brackets are like stair steps and so if your income is down, you’ve gone down the stair steps, and you’re paying tax at a lower rate,” said Kane. Gary Kane does say that if you’re questioning your stimulus check, know that you don’t need to report your stimulus payment on the tax return unless you failed to get one.

How to keep your non-stick pans in good shape

Most home chefs know that you need a good nonstick pan in your collection of kitchen tools. Consumer Reports reveals some easy tips to keep your non-stick pans working year after year. Calphalon warns that storing pans or lids in its nonstick pans will void the warranty. AdBecause nonstick pans are so easy to clean, it’s tempting to take them right from the stovetop to the sink. Steel wool is used to test the surface of nonstick pans, something you should never use on them.

Some tips to help get 2021 more organized

“I always say, if it’s overwhelming, start small. “Pantries are a great spot to start because things expire,” Baer said. “Final piece of advice is shop for containers last, once you know what is going back in that space,” said Baer. Seeing an organized and uncluttered finished product will give you the satisfaction and confidence to keep going. They can create the plan, handle the clean out, and give some great tips for what to do with those items that you’re ready to let go of.

Be aware of domestic violence during the holidays

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Domestic violence is known to rise during the holidays and unfortunately, it’s even common for survivors that have made it out to go back to their abusers this time of year. How can you help family, friends, or even strangers from domestic violence? When uncontrollable stressors rise, so does domestic violence. If you or a loved one is in danger, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Tips on how to cook the perfect Thanksgiving turkey

If you have been given the big responsibility of cooking the turkey this year and you don’t want to dry out your bird, listen up. Make sure you let your turkey air dry for a couple of days in the fridge before you cook it. If you do decide to roast your turkey, roast it upside down. Roasting the bird upside down for the first half of the cooking time allows for the juices to sink into the turkey breast. Melt half a pound a butter to brush onto your turkey and sprinkle a bit of sea salt on it.

Want to participate in a COVID-19 clinical trial? Don’t fall for these scams.

SAN ANTONIO – Across the U.S., thousands of clinical trials are underway to study vaccine candidates and treatments for COVID-19. And some bad actors are working to take advantage of clinical volunteers to make a quick buck. If thinking about participating in a COVID-19 study for a vaccine or treatment, it’s crucial to know how to spot real clinical trials and weed out the fake ones, which are set up to steal money or personal information from participants. The Federal Trade Commission is offering the following tips to help you avoid clinical trial scams:

Tips to get your kitchen ready for the holidays

As the holidays are quickly approaching, many of us are gearing up to host family and friends. In all of the planning and list-making, there are some simple tips you can follow to make sure your kitchen is ready for the holidays. And don’t use the self-cleaning function right before the holidays, because that’s actually when your oven would be most-likely to fail. Instead, wipe out your oven out, clean up any crumbs that you can see and save the deep clean for after the holidays. Instead, wipe the area with a moistened cloth.

What you should know before getting a home inspection

For most of us, our home is one of the biggest investments we’ll ever make. So, whether you’re buying or selling a home, getting a quality home inspection is a must. While a professional home inspector will best know the most common problem areas to check, you, the homeowner, should be doing your own inspections yearly to maintain your home. If you don’t have any clue what to look for during your own inspections, make sure you’re available and around when your home inspection is being conducted. A good home inspector will point out the problem areas as you come across them and give you some tips on how to maintain your home.

More people are not managing high blood pressure, experts say

Experts from Healthline say high blood pressure can increase the risk of a heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. New research shows more cases of uncontrolled high blood pressure is a growing issue among adults. Experts say people with high blood pressure need to know that managing it is an ongoing process. Health experts recommend getting a blood pressure reading at least once a year. They say you need to be aware of which blood pressure category you fall under, and to make follow-up appointments with your doctor.

Most common places you’re likely to fall in your home

The CDC says falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide, and 43 percent of those fatal falls involved a ladder. September is Fall Prevention Month and although they may seem unavoidable in the moment, learning how to fall correctly could help save you from broken bones, torn muscles, lost wages, massive medical bills, and long recoveries. To avoid breaks and fractures, relax the tension in your body. The most common places to fall are the stairs, bathroom, living room and garden. It’s important to be aware of your surroundings and try to keep pathways clear.

Want to teach your kids about earning money? Here are some tips to help you get started.

Brad, who's 4, and his big brother, Ethan, who just turned 10, are learning about earning money with their dad, Danny. Now, since Ethan just turned 10, Danny can start discussing with him the power of choice someone gets when earning money. They can practice this with the money Ethan earned by doing chores around the house. These phrases can help Danny explain to Ethan that he must plan how he will spend his earned money. For more resources from the CFPB on how to discuss money earning with young children, click here.

Expect the opposite -- and it just might alter your whole way of thinking, podcast host says

Have you ever taken a few minutes to think about your expectations -- expectations about life, the people around you, and yourself? Because on a recent episode of The Best Advice Show, a guest and podcast host shared a brilliant tip involving expectations. Its a way to manually reset your expectations to open up room for something else to come forth, as Sarah May B. explained. She goes on to put it in more specific terms: For example, lets say you have a disagreement at work. This person thinks this or people think that.Sarah May B. says in the moment youre feeling all of that negative energy, close your eyes and mentally say to yourself the opposite.

Is the thank-you note dead? We hope not

Writing thank-you notes can feel like a chore -- but it shouldnt. Dalal, who lives in Detroit, said writing a thank-you note allows you to be reflective and nostalgic. So next time a person does something kind for you, or has you over and hosts you at his or her home or you go to an event you really love -- try writing a thank-you note. The Best Advice Show" podcast creator and host Zak Rosen wants to hear from you next. The Best Advice Show" is produced by Graham Media Group.

This tiny hack will change the way you do dishes, forever

You know what they say: Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest. We can all likely agree: The worst part of unloading the dishwasher is putting away the silverware back into your drawer or organizer. This advice was provided to The Best Advice Show podcast by Sam Langberg, an emergency room doctor, and Hannah Chalew, an artist, living in New Orleans. Be sure to include your name and your tip, followed by your email address, in case Rosen has any follow-up questions. The Best Advice Show" is a product of Graham Media Group.

Painting pointers to get you started on your next DIY home improvement project

First, start with a good paint and a good brush. CR recommends Behr Premium Plus from Home Depot, a Best Buy for $31 a gallon. Small, angled sash brushes from 1 to 2 and a half inches wide are best for trim. And for painting wide, flat surfaces like walls or siding, a flat brush thats 3 to 4 inches wide will do the best job. CR recommends Behr Premium Plus Ultra Exterior from Home Depot and Clark+Kensington Exterior from Ace.