Category: Lifestyle

How to care for your dog the eco-friendly way

From eco-friendly dog treats to sustainable dog accessories, The Puppy Gazette has all the information you need to care for your dog while caring for the planet. Photo: Google/Bliss Planet

Earth Day is an annual event held globally on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection and promote environmental protection and climate action. The theme for this year’s Earth Day is Planet vs. Plastics. In the spirit of Earth Day, I’d like to shine the spotlight on a recent article from The Puppy Gazette about the importance of eco-friendly dog food when it comes to reducing our beloved dogs’ environmental footprint. It emphasizes various earth friendly ways to care for them including natural dog grooming products and eco-friendly dog housing and bedding.

Earlier this month I introduced you to Allen Kimble’s website The Puppy Gazette. His goal is to be your new source for dog related information. If you are one of a growing number of global citizens concerned about your carbon footprint as well as a dog parent, there are ways to ensure that how we care for them is also eco-friendly. In the recent article, “Eco-friendly Dog Food for a Reduced Environmental Footprint,” he breaks down everything you need to know regarding dog care to make sure it is as environmentally friendly as possible.

I was impressed by the number of ways we can help reduce environmental damage while also caring for our dogs. Some of them I have heard of before, but I admit, some of these ideas are new to me. I will summarize them below but check out the article for more details.

• Eco-friendly Dog Treats
   Yora Pet Foods – insect protein
   Jiminy’s – crickets
   Wild Earth – high quality plant proteins
   Chippin – planet-friendly proteins
   Yarrah – organic, healthy, and sustainable dog food
   Beco – grain-free dog food
   Pezzy – pet treats made exclusively from invasive fish found around Mexico
• Pet Biodegradable Waste Management
   ATIFBOP dog poop bags
   MUAMUA Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags
   Walker Good Boy Poop Bags
   Doggy Do Good Compostable Waste Bags
• Natural Dog Grooming Products
   Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo and Conditioner Set
   Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Grooming Wipes
• Eco-friendly Dog Housing and Bedding
   New Age Pet Pet Crate
   West Paw’s eco-friendly beds
• Sustainable Dog Toys and Accessories
   West Paw Zogoflex Hurley Dog Bone Chew Toy
   Beco Pets Hemp Rope Jungle Ring Toy

These products come from companies that are committed to producing quality pet products that minimize environmental impact. This is excellent news for pet lovers who also care about the planet. From dog food to dog toys, nowadays there are more options available so we can rest assured that we are doing all we can to care for the planet and reduce our carbon footprint. What I found most interesting is the biodegradable dog poop bags, as opposed to plastic ones that can take hundreds of years to decompose. So take a few minutes to peruse the information in the article and while you are there, check out all the other outstanding articles. It has so much useful information.

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Photo: The Puppy Gazette

How to prepare for the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse

10 ways to prepare for the upcoming eclipse. Photo: Almanac

I am totally excited about the eclipse next month and plan to be in the totality path. If this is a big event in your to do list, Total Eclipse DFW has put together a checklist to help you prepare. Regardless of where you are in the totality path, whether in Dallas-Forth Worth area or not, this is extremely helpful information.

With the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8 fast approaching, Dallas-Fort Worth residents have only a few weeks left to prepare for the extremely rare celestial event happening in the region for the first time in over a century. (Total Eclipse DFW, 2024)

Total Eclipse DFW shares this checklist of the top 10 things all DFW residents need to do now to get ready:

  1. Clear schedules – Take the day off work and avoid scheduling any appointments on Eclipse day. Remember, this is likely a once-in-a-lifetime event for DFW, with totality not returning for 300 years. With over 1.5 million visitors expected, residents and visitors don’t want anything interfering with experiencing this spectacular phenomenon.
  2. Get certified Eclipse glasses – Don’t risk permanent eye damage by viewing the partial Eclipse phases without proper eyewear. International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-compliant glasses are required for direct solar viewing. Because there are many fraudulent Eclipse viewer sellers, participants should only purchase Eclipse glasses from a reseller listed on the American Astronomical Society (AAS) Suppliers of Safe Solar Filters & Viewers list to avoid potential harm and legal liabilities. Total Eclipse DFW is the only AAS-approved reseller from DFW. Total Eclipse DFW’s glasses are $3 each and can be purchased online here. Residents are encouraged to order their glasses soon as experts expect a shortage.
  3. Choose an ideal viewing spot – Carefully research prime locations along the path of totality in DFW and have a viewing plan for April 8. Massive crowds are expected, so participants should arrive several hours early to secure a spot. Have backup options in mind, too, due to expected traffic and accidents. Total Eclipse DFW has compiled over 300 DFW cities and totality times here. Those viewing in areas with as much as 99% will not experience totality, so plan to arrive in an area that will experience totality at least two hours in advance to make sure you have a good spot
  4. Book accommodations – If traveling to DFW or have family and friends coming in for the Total Eclipse, secure lodging immediately before rooms disappear. Hotels are filling up fast, so lock in reservations now. Consider vacation rentals, too, for the full Eclipse weekend.
  5. Monitor weather forecasts – Be ready to change locations even the day before if meteorologists predict clouds. Have a flexible backup option to drive to if needed. Thankfully, DFW has some of the best historical weather conditions for April 8. However, should overcast skies prevail during totality, thinner translucent clouds can still reveal glimpses of the moon-obscured sun; regardless, attendees can still experience the Eclipse’s striking impact on ambient surroundings like light levels, animals’ reactions and temperature changes.
  6. Brace for heavy traffic – Local authorities are expecting gridlock before and after totality. Fill up car tanks by April 7, map alternate routes and pack provisions in case you are stuck in traffic. Plan ahead for traffic jams as a million of your friends and neighbors are trying to head home after totality, as well.
  7. Pack provisions – For residents planning on going to a viewing location or event, bring food, water, chairs, picnic blankets, layers of clothes, sun protection and other necessities to be self-sufficient on Eclipse day. Treat this like an outdoor event or camping trip. Come prepared.
  8. Test photo gear – Experiment with cameras and lenses ahead of time if capturing images. Confirm settings and equipment functioning, including any special solar filters. No smartphone is built to withstand the intense solar rays emitted by the sun.
  9. Check school schedules – Many districts are closing on April 8 so families can witness the eclipse together. For schools holding classes, parents should inquire about safe viewing policies and ISO-compliant glasses for students.
  10. Secure eclipse merch- Capture this rare celestial event’s excitement by picking up solar Eclipse merchandise like apparel, glasses, posters and pins from DFW vendors before stores sell out. Eclipse swag makes ideal gifts for Total Eclipse parties happening in the DFW metroplex on April 8!

Jo Trizila, Total Eclipse DFW founder, emphasizes, “Don’t miss this incredible four-plus minute Total Solar Eclipse here in DFW. Start preparing today using our website’s convenient guides and resources!”

Total Eclipse DFW is a regional campaign dedicated to showcasing the April 8, Total Solar Eclipse and the awe-inspiring path of totality as the quintessential celestial spectacle in North America. Operating as the central nexus, Total Eclipse DFW is the go-to resource for all aspects of the once-in-a-lifetime event, including Eclipse-related information and events specific to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Their core mission is to ensure universal access to ISO-certified safe Solar Eclipse viewing glasses while simultaneously engaging and partnering with residents, visitors, governmental entities, businesses and media to orchestrate an unforgettable Eclipse encounter for all involved. Furthermore, they take pride in championing Dallas-Fort Worth as the premier location to witness this extraordinary astronomical phenomenon.

 

Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa officially opens spa

The Spa at Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa is set to open on March 8, 2024. Photo: Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, used with permission.

The Spa Plaza San Antonio opens to the public and guests on March 8 with signature treatments and wellness rituals including feather therapy, crystal wand massages, ayurvedic massages, Rainbow Chakra Mats, virtual relaxation journeys, custom tea ceremonies, and the use of oils indigenous to South Texas. Located on the grounds of the Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection, The Spa Plaza San Antonio is surrounded by lush gardens and greenery and sits within two 19th-century homes, the Elmendorf-Tyler House and The Staffel House, built in the 1850s. The homes were thoughtfully restored to preserve the property’s rich history and transformed into a luxury spa setting featuring six treatment rooms, a Zen Lounge, and a Wellness Concierge. (Plaza San Antonio, 2024)

The Spa Plaza San Antonio offers a restorative approach to health and wellness, including a selection of treatments like Body Rituals, Massage Rituals, Skincare Rituals, Nail Rituals, Immersion Packages, and Enhancements. Guests will be guided through a holistic spa experience to enhance the mind, body, and spirit.

In honor of this momentous opening at Plaza San Antonio, The Spa is offering a Buy One Get One Free promotion for guests who take advantage of this offer by Sunday, March 31. The offer is valid for services scheduled until December 31, 2024 and is subject to availability and excluding blackout dates. This promotion is NOT applicable to add-ons. The free service must be equal to or more than the first service. Standard spa booking terms and conditions still apply. To redeem this promotion and confirm availability, guests must call the spa at 210-353-8016 or stop in and mention the promo code: Wellness2024. 

The Spa Plaza San Antonio Opening: Friday, March 8, 2024
***Operating Hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 9a.m. – 6p.m.

BOGO Offer: Now through Sunday, March 31, 2024
***Services can be scheduled through December 31, 2024
***Scheduling is based on availability

Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection
555 S Alamo St.
San Antonio, TX 78205

Making it as a streamer

Black flat screen computer monitor on wooden desk. Photo: Roberto Nickson/Pexels.

While it used to be something on the outskirts of the culture, now streaming is a hugely popular thing to do. Not only that, it can even be very lucrative, with many people making quite a lot of money this way. You can approach streaming in so many different ways – gaming is a particularly popular genre – and it’s something that you can bring your creativity to easily in order to make the most of it. Here are some tips that you may want to consider if you are trying to make it as a streamer.

Find Your Niche

First of all, you should think about finding a niche that you can get into. While you might already know the genre of streaming you want to try, you’ll ideally want to get more specific than that and land on a particular type of streaming. So rather than just gaming, are you going to be playing certain kinds of games, or talking about particular topics within gaming? These are the kinds of things you need to be asking yourself if you want to make it as a streamer. It will help you to make much more of your experience and get a lot more out of it.

Behind the scenes of a female content creator. Photo: Ivan Samkov/Pexels

Develop An Audience

It can take time to build an audience with anything, and that’s no different when it comes to streaming. But if you want to make sure that you are developing an audience as well as you can, there are quite a lot of ways in which you can do this, and it’s something that you are definitely going to want to think about. Mostly it’s a case of just doing your thing and seeing who follows, but you might also find that some practical marketing can help too, especially if you want to start making money from it.

Monetize It

Speaking of which, you’ll have to figure out what you can do to monetize the streaming that you are considering. This is something that can be quite simple to achieve, but there are a lot of potential ways to do it and you’ll have to make sure that you are aware of what approach is best for you. As well as that, you’ll need to put the systems in place to accept money. Knowing how to accept credit cards as an adult entertainer is going to help a lot, and it’s worth looking into as soon as possible.

Keep Going

Ultimately, with this kind of thing you really then just need to persist. If you can do that, and keep going, you are going to find that it helps you to make it as a streamer much more effectively, and it’s amazing how much that can help. So make sure that you are keeping at it no matter how hard it seems to get. If you can do that, you’ll find that you end up in a situation where you are really able to make it work for you.

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Three ideas for a memorable day out with friends

Ferris wheel during the daytime. Photo: Laura Cros/Unsplash

Everyone wants a day out every once in a while. Most of the time, they’ll do this with their friends, and they wouldn’t want to do the same things over and over again. Why would you want to keep going to the movies when you could try an escape activity for groups and bring all your friends? There’s something to be said about organizing fun days out, but you want it to be a fun one for everyone so make a point of talking to the group and getting opinions from everyone! With some great ideas for a day out, you shouldn’t have much to worry about.

You’ll end up having an amazing time, and your friends should enjoy themselves, too. It could even let all of you bond, which is always worth the effort. If you’re planning a night out soon, it’s worth diving into a few great options.

Ideas For A Day Out: 3 Great Options

1. Wine Tasting

Wine tasting is one of the more unique ideas for a day out, and it can be much more fun than you would’ve thought. A wine tasting tour only takes a few hours, and you could end up having a nice time. It’ll even be a great way to spend some time out of the house.

Some of these tours even take place outdoors, so you can take in a bit of nature while you’re at it. No matter what, you could end up having an amazing time, and it might even be something you’ll want to do again and again.

2. Go To The Theater

You would’ve thought about going to the cinema with your friends, and it can always be a decent option. Sometimes, it’s worth going with something a little different, though. The actual theater can be a much better option. You might end up having a much better time when you visit it.

There’ll be plenty of plays and other events to consider going for, all of which could be interesting. Some of them could even be relatively interactive, and you could have a back-and-forth with the performers. These pantomimes can often be quite enjoyable, and they’ll be more fun than you’d think.

3. Go To An Amusement Park

Not all ideas for a day out have to be adult oriented. Instead, it can sometimes be worth focusing on your inner-child. You could end up having much more fun because of it. Going to an amusement park is one of the best ways you can do this. You’ll end up having an amazing time.

With the various rides and activities you can try, there’s no reason why you and your friends shouldn’t have fun. If there’s an amusement park near you, then it’s well worth spending a few hours there with your friends.

Ideas For A Day Out: Wrapping Up

With the right ideas for a day out, you shouldn’t have a problem having a great time with your friends. You wouldn’t have to worry about boredom, and you’ll end up getting closer to them. It could even be worth trying a few ideas.

You’ll end up making it a regular event while making sure you don’t get bored when you’re out and about. You’ve no reason not to consider a few great options. With a little bit of effort, you’ll end up having an amazing time.

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Four ways to give kids a strong start in life

Toddler holding camera. Photo: Pexels

Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or just someone else who cares about children in some way, you might well be keen to know exactly what it is that children need in order to have the best start possible in their lives. As it happens, there are a few things in particular that you might want to be aware of which can be particularly useful to children early on. In this post, we’ll look at four examples of things that kids generally need in order to have a strong start in life.

Encouragement
First of all, most people need plenty of encouragement, and especially when they are young. If you are able to provide this to your kids, then it’s going to make a world of difference to how much they feel they are capable of and what they are generally able to achieve, which in itself will affect their life considerably from here on out. So make sure that you are encouraging them in all they do, and especially where you notice any particular skills or interests that seem to be developing. That could make a world of difference to their lives.

Communication
Having the ability to communicate well is something that can set a person up very well in life, and it’s certainly the kind of thing you should be aiming to encourage in your kids as best as you can. There are many ways to do this. First, if there is anything specifically getting in their way of easy communication, then you might want to find them some help with that, perhaps through something like the Scottish Rite Foundation or similar. Then it’s about making sure that you are personally communicating well, so that they do the same in return. It’s amazing how much this can help.

Friendship
Nobody can do very well without people around them, and so this is something that you definitely need to make sure you are thinking about too. If you want your kids to be as happy as possible, it’s always going to be important for them that they have friends, but some kids find it naturally easier than others to make friends. If you happen to have children who are finding it somewhat difficult to do this, then you can help them along, and helping them is going to give them a much brighter start on the whole.

Education
Overall, a good, strong education is obviously one of the most important things of all. You can encourage and ensure this in a few ways, including finding them a good school, making sure that you give them the necessary motivation to actually learn well, and making sure that you help them with any areas of education that they tend to find difficult. If you can do those simple things, it’s going to mean that they have a much stronger, happier and well-rounded start in life, and the ongoing effects of this can be really quite profound.

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