4 Simple Home Maintenance Ideas

2020 has been a weird year and while the sayings have all been along the lines of “We’re all in the same boat together”, it would, in fact, be more accurate to say we have all been in the same… storm. Some of us have been made redundant, some of us have been working overtime, some of us have been dealing with the horrible outcome of COVID and the lucky few of us have been able to enjoy some strange time off, sorting out our houses and trying things we have not had time to do before.

For those who want to be in the latter club, we feel you. Here are some simple home maintenance ideas that will have you feeling like DIY royals in no time.

Clean Your Gutters

It is not often we think about gutters really - unless it is our profession. They are one of those things that are out of sight and out of mind but are actually crucial to our home. Blocked gutters can cause all sorts of turmoil to your roof and your walls, and can even affect your drains – which would be a far larger problem to sort than clearing out the gutters in the first place! You don’t need any special equipment to clean out your gutters, just simply get a hard brush and sweep all the debris and natural clutter out. Though, it is worth knowing that there are some products with handles designed to allow you to avoid climbing up a ladder or trying to maintain balance! If you want to save yourself some time and trouble, you may wish to get a professional gutter cleaning service, such as Gutter Cleaning Asheville to do the hard work for you.

Fire and Ice

As the temperature changes throughout the seasons, so does our need for different equipment to keep us cool and collected or warm and dry. When we leave the fire for summer, the chimney can get clogged, old ash might still be present and small animals could have made a home inside the fireplace walls. Similar to the fireplace, your aircon will also need a good maintenance check, both inside and out for when the summer is coming, to make sure everything is in good working order.

Fix Your Leaks

If there are any leaks in your taps around the home then you might be familiar with how annoying that ‘drip, drip, drip’ is. However, you do not need to leave it until the last minute and get someone in to fix it – fixing a leaky tap can be a very simple DIY job. Most of the time, a leak is caused by a worn rubber washer which is located inside the handle and most good hardware stores will stock this simple part. Just make sure to do your research on how to replace it safely!

Fix Your Window Seals and Caulk

Nothing says money flying into thin air like having gaps in the seals of your windows. Not only can this raise the heating bill through the roof, but the drafts are unpleasant too. Replacing the sealing or caulk on your windows is simple enough though it will require patience and a few bits and pieces. However, the benefits are definitely worth it!

How to Entertain Your Teens on a Vacation

2020 has been a difficult year for so many people, but with the new vaccines being developed and successfully tested, it’s looking like Covid-19 will soon be under control. With all of the travel restrictions soon to be relaxed, many people are starting to look forward to a well earned vacation. Family vacations are a great way to spend time with your loved ones and visit a new place. Planning a vacation which will appeal to all the members of the family can be difficult, however, as everyone has different tastes and preferences. Teenagers can be particularly difficult to please as they often don’t enjoy the same things as their parents.

To help out all the parents who are looking to plan the perfect family getaway, here is how to entertain your teens on vacation.

1. Visit Amusement Parks

Teenagers absolutely love amusement parks and visiting a destination where there are amusement parks nearby is an ideal way to keep your teens happy. From rollercoasters with breakneck speeds to really exciting shows, there are so many fun attractions at amusement parks that you will also have a great time when you visit with your teens. Orlando has some of the most famous amusements parks in the world such as Disney World and Universal Studios and so this is one vacation destination that may be worth considering for your next family destination.

2. Do Some Watersports

Watersports are the ideal way for your teens to have fun, get active and enjoy the ocean. Taking a trip to the coast of Florida is perfect for the family, as there are loads of options for waterskiing, jet skis, banana boats and parasailing. Some watersports are not suitable for smaller children but they are ideal for teens who will enjoy the thrill and high speeds, twists and turns of different watersports. You can book your teens up for a couple of hours of jet skiing while you look after your younger kids, or even join your teens for a bit of thrill seeking yourself.

3. Go Canyoning

Canyoning is a really exciting activity which is not for the faint of heart. Canyoning involves going down into caves and canyons on special ropes or down precarious walkways built into the rocks. Professional guides will take your teens down and make sure that they are safe but it is still one of the most adrenaline pumping activities imaginable. There are many excellent places to go canyoning in the US. Most national parks will have specialized canyoning companies so search online for one near to where you are vacationing.

4. Go to a Waterpark

Waterparks are like the perfect fusion of amusement park rides and watersports. The best waterparks these days have frighteningly fast and high slides and shoots which terrify most of us older folks but which teens absolutely love. As well as these high octane slides, there are always gentler rides for younger kids (and cowardly grown ups) so that waterparks are perfect for the whole family. There are amazing waterparks in Florida and with the year round sunshine, you will be assured of a great day out.

5. Check out Some Movie and TV Sets

Teens all have their favorite movies and TV shows and one really exciting day out is to go and visit the sets to see where they are filmed. A family city break in LA is not complete, for example, without visiting the Warner Brothers Studio where you will be able to see many sitcom sets like Central Perk from Friends and the famous living room from The Big Bang Theory. There are also fascinating exhibits which display loads of props and memorabilia from the Harry Potter movies and all of the Batman films. If you’re lucky, there may be some live filming going on when you are there and you might get a glimpse of a famous movie star.

6. Watch a Show

Everyone loves to see a live show and there are so many great ones which will entertain both your teens and the rest of your family. A city break in New York will give you the opportunity to take in a show on Broadway which you will never forget. Alternatively, why not take a family trip to Las Vegas and see the famous Cirque du Soleil before your teens head off to bed and you have a little spin of the Blackjack wheels. 

Going away with your teenagers is the perfect way to spend some quality time together as a family. Planning lots of activities which they will enjoy, and which you can do together, is important in ensuring that everyone has a great time. Try out some of the suggestions in this article and you are sure to put a smile on your teenagers’ faces!

Benefits of Solving Word Puzzles

Everyone enjoys solving a really tricky puzzle, there are perhaps none so tricky and ultimately rewarding as word puzzles. There are many different kinds of word puzzles which people around the world enjoy taking on, and they are all super fun and also have a lot of great benefits. From keeping your mental faculties working properly to helping you to expand your vocabulary, regularly solving word puzzles can have a really positive impact on your life. 

In this article, we will explain some of the major benefits of solving word puzzles.

1. Make Learning More Fun

There have been so many pedagogical and psychological studies which have shown that everyone learns more easily and effectively when they are having a good time. Language learning is one of the most difficult disciplines and so any way to make it more interesting and exciting is always advantageous to students. Word puzzles are a great way to introduce students to new words or concepts. For young children especially, word searches, anagrams and simple crosswords are perfect for teaching without the students realizing they are in a lesson. 

2. Expand Your Vocabulary

When you are learning a new language, memorizing long lists of vocabulary is both difficult and boring. One of the best ways to expand your vocabulary in a more interesting way is to study new words through word puzzles. Completing a foreign language crossword is a great way to learn a new word and connect it to its meaning. As your grasp of the new language improves and you start to build your vocabulary you can level up to more difficult crosswords. Even in your own language, crossword puzzles are one of the best ways to expand your vocabulary and become more eloquent. There have been various scientific studies which have shown that finding words in a random jumble or word search creates an immediate memory of the words. With no reference points it can be difficult to remember the vocabulary of other languages but puzzles which require you to pick out the new words gets every part of your brain working so that the word is more likely to stick.

3. Keep Your Mind Sharp

As life expectancy has been increasing steadily over the last few decades, we have unfortunately also seen a rise in dementia and other aged related mental issues. Various studies have shown that regularly doing a word puzzle in your senior years helps to keep your mind sharp and may help to slow down the onset of dementia and other mental degeneration. Many older people like to do the weekly crossword puzzle in their newspaper as well as the Sudoku puzzle and other activities. Keeping the mind active slows mental stagnation and so it is always better to start young to prevent any debilitating conditions from developing.

4. Improve Your Scrabble Scores

Scrabble is an incredibly popular board game which has versions in many countries all over the world. The goal of Scrabble is to put out the best scoring word possible based on a set of random letters which each player pulls out of the bag. In order to win, you need to have a great vocabulary, and solving different kinds of word puzzles is one of the best ways to learn new words. Cryptic crosswords, particularly those in broadsheet papers, often introduce people to new, obscure words which can then help you to win more Scrabble matches. The best Scrabble players manage to make words when they seem to have the worst selection of letters and that is all down to their quick minds and extensive vocabulary.

5. Help Your Spelling

Being able to spell correctly is a very important skill which is necessary for so many things in life. Whether it is writing work emails or putting together a business plan, poor spelling can seriously affect other people’s perception of you so it is vital that even in adulthood, everyone keeps up with their spelling practice. This can be very tedious but solving different kinds of word puzzles is a great way to reinforce spelling knowledge without being bored and wasting a lot of precious time.

Solving word puzzles has so many excellent benefits. As well as being a lot of fun, they can also help to sharpen your mind and help to improve your spelling and vocabulary. With so many different kinds of word puzzles available, you are sure to find one which is both super fun and interesting. Whether you are a keen Scrabbler or love to challenge yourself with the crossword in your Sunday newspaper, there is so much fun to be had with words.

Where you can play puzzles and word games. 

There are a variety of games where you can play puzzles and word games, as well as sites that can help you improve your skills

• Phrazle is like Worlde, but you have to guess the phrase.

• Unscrambled Words helps you take given letters and figure out different word combinations, which is very useful for games like Scrabble.

• Im–a-puzzle is a jigsaw puzzle site, but you can play a trivia mode where you answer questions to unlock puzzle pieces.

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Living Clutter Free: How to Get Your Home in Shape

After a long day at work, you get home after endless meetings and constant reminders on deadlines to achieve targets and make the reports. The pressure is surreal, and you hope to curl up on your sofa, coffee in hand, and catch an episode of your favorite TV show before going to bed. Or so you thought.

However, the environment at home is not appealing, and you wish to make it different. If you are looking to declutter your home and make it more habitable, the guide below can help you achieve the objective. Plus, think of the benefits of having a well-organized and attractive home that can make you relax at the end of the day. A smartly organized home is a bonus in also boosting your morale and even making you more productive. 

Set Your Goals

The first step in improving your home's appearance is to recognize the need to declutter your home. Anytime you feel your house can't create a conducive atmosphere due to different stuff all over the place, it is time to do it. After that, it is essential to develop a realistic and practical plan to help you in your mission to improve your home. 

Ideally, it reflects in making and objectively, which will help you identify what you need to keep and eventually get rid of from your home. Typically, the goal is to ask yourself whether you need specific items. Additionally, you can also ask yourself whether you love it. If you find things probably accumulating dust in a particular corner of your home, your guess is as good as mine; it is time to do away with it. However, the items that you will do away with can categorically fall into two piles. 

The Sorting 

The other step to have a successful decluttering system is to identify the process you can follow in cleaning the home.  

Room to Room 

For instance, you can decide on cleaning your house from room to room. This approach gives you a process to follow as you move from your bedrooms to your kitchen, living room, and even your bathroom. Ideally, the goal is to give your rooms an overhaul. 

You can opt to empty the room and arrange items one after another.

Categorical Sorting 

In categorical sorting, like the Marie Kondo tactic, you sift through the items in your home based on different aspects like clothes, books, papers, and sentimental stuff you wouldn't want to throw away. Plus, don't forget any miscellaneous items, like what you wouldn't know which category it falls under, but want to keep it.

The Cleaning 

When you decide to live a clutter-free life, one essential aspect that she will consider is cleaning your house thoroughly. A clean home has tremendous benefits like offering you the peace and calm you need together with clean and fresh air sifting through the rooms. 

Plus, you can also keep away any insect infestation, which can be troublesome. A thorough approach with domestic cleaning services in Chesterfield allows you to turn your home upside down, cleaning every spot even in hard-to-reach areas. Think of the places which are settling dust and would look fantastic with a sparkle.

Additionally, it is essential to remember that you need to commit yourself to a cleaning routine to keep your home clean and free from clutter 

Keeping or Not

Even when decluttering your home, it is essential to identify what you need to keep correctly. Ideally, most of your items will fall under the 80:20 rules. For the first part, it reflects on what you don't need most of the time, and you can consider removing it from your home. The other percentage translates to what you most need and use it in your day to day life. Some items such as vinyls, cds and videos can all be made into digital versions of themselves which can save you room.

Keeping, but Donating

This category will include any item that is in good shape but is better off elsewhere. Ideally, the things should not be in bad condition, which may look like a bad call in gifting someone. Always be considerate. 

Discard 

The other option is throwing away any item that has outlived its purpose and is most probably in bad shape. It may include all the toys, shoes, clothes, and even old house decor items.

Go the Minimalist Way 

In another approach, you can integrate having the essential items across all rooms in your home. It will help you eliminate any items, but you don't need but are taking up space in your home. 

Additionally, when decluttering your home, always remember one essential rule. Everything must have storage, a designated particular spot for every item in your home, from the big appliances to the minor essentials like combs. Gradually, you will achieve a clean home that is inviting and calm.

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

What Documents You Need to Keep Safe in Case of an Emergency

Among the most important items that should be protected from different emergencies like fires, floods, hurricanes, or anything similar, lie vital personal, as well as family documents. This might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your valuable items, but the truth is, getting new documents like these requires both time and effort, and in case of emergency, you have none of those two.

You should also know that, in the wake of a real emergency, the probability is high that you are going to need at least some of them as soon as possible. Unfortunately, have in mind that paper documents are one of the items that are most susceptible to water and fire damage, as well as to similar problems that occur in case of pretty much any type of disaster.

All of that being said, in order for you to be as prepared as you possibly can be, in this article, we have prepared a list of all the important documents of vital importance that you need to keep safe at all times - as well as how to do so. 

Consider Getting a Digital Copy of Everything Important

Here’s the thing - everything that exists in a physical form regarding documentation experiences a certain degree of possibility that it can be destroyed. So, whether it comes to keeping your medical records safe from criminals, or your financial information away from the fire, experts explain that the best way to do so is to have a digital copy, safely encrypted and stored online. This way, you ensure that no matter what happens on-site, your documents are safe and sound off-site.

Surely, you can just as easily store them on a USB flash drive, but the problem with that is the fact that your USB is also extremely susceptible to damage, hence making it an inadequate choice for storage of important data.

Now that we have got that out of the way, let’s talk about which documents should you focus on the most and why.

Family Documents - What Should You Focus On 

First and foremost, you need to take care that all the documents regarding your identity are kept safe since these are the basis for gaining access to any other documentation. In case of losing any of them - regaining them is going to be a slow process, obstructing you from being able to proceed in the process of the emergency aftermath.

When it comes to emergencies, the key is to be absolutely prepared for the worst, but expect the best possible outcome.

Birth Certificates

Your birth certificate is arguably one of the most important documents that you have. While digital copies are fine as well, just in case, be sure to have your birth certificates in the disaster preparedness kit in order to be able to prove who you are exactly, as well as where you are a citizen. Also, it would be best if you even had this document safely stored in a secure location like a bank safe deposit box for instance.

Social Security Cards

Getting a new copy of your Social Security card can take a lot of time, and in case of a disaster, it may not be simple to do so. That being said, be sure to keep copies of social security cards of all your family members so that you don’t need to experience any unexpected inconveniences in case a disaster strikes.

Passports

In case anyone in your family owns a passport, it’s imperative that you keep a copy of it. These are going to be able to provide a starting point for replacing all sorts of different important forms of identification, so, be sure to keep a copy of them. It’s especially important that you bring a copy of your passport whenever you are traveling to a different country as well.

Driver Licenses

Just as passports, driver licenses are credible enough proof of identification and should hence be kept safe.

Photographs are Important as Well

It may seem far-fetched, but in case you have been separated from your family and pets, a recent photograph of them may be your best lead to reuniting with them.

Microchip Numbers of Your Pets

In case you are a pet owner and considering that your pets are microchipped, be sure to keep a copy of the microchip tag number - finding your pets in case of an emergency is a lot easier if you have this information safe and sound.

Documents Regarding Your Finances

After you have ensured that all the fundamental documents are kept safe, it’s time to do so for the financial documents as well - being in a disaster doesn’t mean that you are able to just stop paying your bills.

Tax-Related Information

It’s extremely important that you have a copy of your last year's tax returns. This way, you are able to prove your income should come in a situation where you need to do so. Also, making a copy of your personal and business property tax statements is advised as well. 

Financial Account Numbers

Having copies of statements from all bank or credit union accounts you have ensures that you are going to be able to have access to the account number in question. You should also make copies of a credit or debit card statement. This is vital since you need to be certain that you have access to your money in case a disaster strikes.

Your Insurance Information

All insurance policies you have should be kept safe since, if any kind of emergency happens, in order to get reimbursed it’s vital that you have these documents. This is especially important for medical insurance.

Medical Documents That You Need

In case of an emergency, people regularly happen to get hurt. This is why it is crucial that you have your medical documents preserved.

Allergy Information

You can’t know what situation can possibly happen when you are dealing with emergencies. So, in case someone in your family has any serious allergies, be sure to have a record of this information on hand.

List of Specific Medication

If anyone in your family happens to be taking any specific medications on a regular basis, it’s vital that you list the medications in question,  as well as the doses and the doctor who prescribed them.

All the Crucial Medical Records

While it certainly isn’t necessary that you store copies of all of your medical records, you should include any relevant information about some specific, serious diagnosis or procedures that you have had done in the past.

In the end, it all boils down to assessing the importance of your documents and being prepared. In case there is no need for those copies - even better, but if you just so happen to be in a situation where it can help you, you will be glad that you took the time to ensure that you are ready for that kind of situation.

How Secure are the Most Popular Online Casinos

Thanks to a high-speed internet connection, there are already several forms of online entertainment that you can indulge on. There is the option for you to stream videos and shows, or play various types of games online. In terms of the latter, you can even consider playing online casino games or betting on sports.

You just need to ensure that the website that you are engaging with to play your favorite casino games are safe and secure. This article focuses on the security measures implemented by the most popular online casinos.

Data Encryption

One of the primary security measures implemented by the most popular online casinos is data encryption. In this case, make sure to exert the extra effort to explore and understand what data encryption is and how it is implemented for you to be able to decipher whether an online casino site is leveraging this measure. When you perform ample research online, you will surely come across quality casinos you can trust | Gamblerspro.com gaming experts recommend. The site they highlight is some of the best online casino sites that strictly adhere to data encryption measures for the safety and security of their clients.

License

The most popular online casinos carry licenses granted by renowned regulating bodies. For this reason, you are guaranteed of their security because a license means that they adhere to the safety and security standards imposed by the regulating bodies. Thus, if you spot an online casino that doesn’t hold any license or certificate, then you should be wary of trusting the site immediately. Alongside this, ensure that their licenses and certificates are granted by official regulating bodies.

Software

The most popular online casinos also employ the best software, making their website secure and robust. As a result, players who win are granted their payout promptly. This also means that the best online casino websites regularly have their games tested by third parties to ensure that they are offering fair games. Otherwise, you may not have a bit of a chance in winning the games, or worse, as soon as you hit the jackpot, their terms and conditions are modified.

Financials

Lastly, the most popular online casino sites are legit, particularly when it comes to handling the cash flow between their site and their patrons. This only means that they implement stringent security measures to ensure that the sensitive data of their patrons are not compromised. As a result, you will be able to deposit money in your account seamlessly and garner your winnings as necessary. Alongside this, the best online casino sites don’t struggle to pay out winning clients or engage in shoddy marketing practices. It is important to be vigilant about this, which is why some people will look into eat-and-run verification sites (you can Visit site of one of these services) to ensure that there isn't a possibility of fraud and that play is fair on all of the games available.

Make your online safety a priority, most especially in playing online casino games. In this way, not only is your personal details protected, but your sensitive information is safe from hackers and those with malicious intentions as well. When you are guaranteed of your online safety, all that you will garner with your online activities is pure entertainment and fun, rather than stress and fear.