Winter is coming, as evidenced by the chilly mornings and shorter days of October. In years past, a timely flu vaccine and a winter coat were all you might need to navigate the winter months. This year, however, will prove a little different thanks to Covid. The uncertainty of the pandemic has caused a greater sense of urgency to be prepared. It is challenging to plan for the ‘somewhat’ unknown. As the winter months approach, the experts are indicating you should have the following supplies on hand.

Cleaning Supplies and Sanitizers

For the past several months nothing has been in shorter supply than sanitizing wipes and sprays. Thankfully, cleaning and sanitizing supplies have recently become more available. Now is a great time to restock your supply. Most stores will limit how many cleaning supply items you can purchase so be sure to pick up one item on each shopping trip. Be mindful, these types of products degrade over time so be careful not to overstock your supply. …

Unless you have been unaffected by the Covid-19 pandemic, health and wellness are a big concern. Summer did not bring the hoped for respite; cold and flu season is looming. So, take a deep breath, embrace a marathon mentality and redouble your efforts to maintain good health. The following are ways to bolster your health:

The Flu Shot
A flu vaccine this season could prove more beneficial than in prior seasons. Why? It is possible to become ill with Covid-19 and the seasonal flu at the same time. While a vaccine for Covid-19 may not be available in 2020, there is one for the seasonal flu. The flu vaccine is worth getting if it’s an option for you. This year’s vaccine is anticipated to cover 3 of the 4 potential flu strains circulating. …

As August draws to a close and September begins, there is a subtle shift toward fall. Warm days and cooler nights provide the opportunity to continue enjoying salsas and salads while starting to think about heartier breads and savory herb-rich recipes. Now is the time to encourage your thoughts toward improving your overall mental and physical health. Take the time each day to nurture wellness with delicious, healthy food. This week, we celebrate the stone fruits of summer.

What Is A Stone Fruit?

Stone fruits contain a pit or stone in their center. Varieties include peaches, nectarines, cherries, many berries and even olives. …

Beautiful summer. With long, sunny days and gardens flush with glorious fruits and vegetables, summer is a perfect foil to winter’s doldrums. As summer winds down, we encourage you celebrate it’s healthy fruits and vegetables.

Tomatoes are abundant. With their endless textures, colors, flavors and sizes, tomatoes are to summer what apples are to fall. Read on to explore the health benefits, delicious recipes and other creative uses for late summer’s most varied fruit.

All About Tomatoes

Tomatoes are low in calories and carbohydrates, but packed with fiber, vitamins (Vitamins C, K1 and B9) and minerals (potassium). They are also rich with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant compounds including lycopene, beta carotene, naringenin and chlorogenic acid. …

Life has been intensely stressful these past few months. Concerns over becoming ill, job security, homeschooling, and general finances lurked around every corner. Summer’s arrival brings a small slice of normalcy and some freedom to pursue activities we have been missing. While hopping on a plane for your dream vacation may not be an option, there is plenty of safe summer fun to enjoy. Take advantage of the long, sunny days with some of the following light-hearted suggestions for close-to-home outdoor adventure.

Have Some Fun

Step into your backyard or head to a local park to enjoy one or more of these outdoor games and activities. Grab some water, sunscreen, easy to eat snacks and relish the fun and relaxing afternoon. Many outdoor games require little skill to be enjoyable. Some old-fashioned favorites are croquet, badminton, and capture the flag. If you’re looking for something a little fresher Spikeball or Kan Jam are popular choices. In addition, many indoor games have been reimagined for the great outdoors and look to be quite fun.

Cook Al Fresco

Summer is a great time to up your outdoor cooking game. Check out these 40 easy recipes ideas for inspiration. Enhance your green beans with crushed salt and vinegar chips or make a classic shrimp boil in foil packets. No grill? No problem. Check out these high-quality tabletop/portable grills. If you have the outdoor space, you can try some high adventure cooking using a cast-iron Dutch oven. Desserts, like pineapple upside-down cake, are a great starting place for amateurs. If your interest in recipes doesn’t extend to the outdoors, this iron skillet Caprese brie is a delicious alternative.

Outdoor Makeover

If spending more time at home has made you realize you’d like more from your outdoor space, this could be the perfect time to update. Regardless of budget or size of outdoor space, there are many options. Potted flowers, herbs, and a hammock could be ideal for a balcony. A coat of paint and new furniture cushions are great options for a larger space.

Indulge In A Hobby

Now may also prove to be the time to indulge your creative side. Whether it’s the garden you’ve always dreamed of, landscape painting, camping, or hiking, beginning a new hobby will likely require a little research and supplies. To get started, you may consider this list of 78 outdoor hobbies ranging from beekeeping to stone skipping. …

This is a piece from our archives. As we forge ahead with life alongside the challenges of Covid-19 our lives are being reshaped. Now is an ideal time to consider what you want from life and begin to make it happen.

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” — Aristotle

One of the hardest questions to answer is also one of the simplest and most profound — What do you want? Whether it’s your personal or professional life, a short-term or long-term situation, it’s not an easy question to fully answer. Your desires can seem to change every year, every week, every day and sometimes multiple times a day. Stop and think for a moment. What do you want right now? …

Now, as we are into the third month of living with challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic, our concerns over personal financial health are more urgent. This pandemic’s upheaval of our lives has highlighted our financial vulnerabilities and forced many to change spending and saving behaviors.

Economic instability has left many wishing for a stronger financial safety net. At the same time, the need to focus spending on essential items combined with the absence of convenient options for spending discretionary funds has given rise to an unprecedented opportunity to experience the type of budgeting and spending encouraged for financial success.

As states begin to open more non-essential businesses and commerce begins to increase, we have an opportunity to evaluate how, or if, we return to our pre-pandemic financial habits. The time to think carefully about the direction of your financial future is now. Unquestionably, different spending habits and possibly increasing savings have become habitual the last couple months. …

With large portions of the world’s population staying home, people have turned to online devices to expand their world. Online grocery and retail shopping have increased anywhere from 25% to more than 200%. While the ease of access to the internet has made it possible for people to buy food other goods, it also provides a potential gateway for your personal information to fall into the wrong hands.

According to research by Javelin Strategy & Research, 1 in 20 Americans were affected by identity theft in 2019. Losses from identity theft rose 13% to $16.9 billion. Fraudsters are increasingly using personal devices to access sensitive data. Between 2017 and 2018, the rate of mobile phone account takeovers went up 80%. Getting your identity and accounts back on track after a theft can be time consuming and stressful. …