Family Living Online Features

(NewsUSA) - Whether it's your first house or your fourth, buying a home is exciting - but also stressful.

(NewsUSA) - August: the dog days of summer are still long and warm, and there's still time to indulge in an adults-only vacation before the pace picks up in the fall with a return to school schedules and the impending holidays.

(Family Features) As kids head back to school, it’s important to provide them with the necessary resources to succeed. As a parent, you can take steps to put your kids on the path toward a successful school year.

(Family Features) Whether you take shorter showers, reduce food waste or make eco-minded choices at the grocery store, adopting one simple habit can make a difference in protecting Earth’s natural resources. These simple, renewable lifestyle changes may even affect your personal mindset.

How chocolate milk can aid in replenishing nutrients for teen athletes

(Family Features) For many Americans, reaching and maintaining financial stability is a goal that tops their checklists. However, the strategies necessary for achieving that goal can quickly fall by the wayside.

(Family Features) If financial constraints are keeping you from exploring the world, it may be time to reassess your approach to travel. From road trips across the country to jaunts across your state, there are plenty of ways to curb costs, so your biggest challenge is finding more days away…

(Family Features)When it's hot outside, heat can seep into your home and make it unbearable. However, there are sustainable, eco-friendly solutions to maximize comfort and cooling when the thermometer creeps upward without racking up an outrageous electric bill or large carbon footprint.

(Family Features) The human-animal bond can be a powerful connection with pets providing positive impacts on the lives of their owners. Mars Petcare works to create a more pet-friendly world so that more people and pets can live happily together. A survey on behalf of its BETTER CITIES FOR P…

(Family Features) The smash hit “Toy Story 4” helped raise the 2019 summer box office even higher than last year’s record-breaking summer. That trend looks to continue in July with highly anticipated releases such as “Spider-Man: Far From Home” and “The Lion King” on deck. However, the local…

(BPT) - For those of us who were glued to the television during the launch of the legendary Apollo 11 mission that first landed man on the moon, it may be hard to believe that it’s been 50 years since mankind’s greatest leap.

(Family Features) North Carolina will gain 37,000 more jobs and insure 365,000 more people by expanding Medicaid. In addition to the new jobs and newly insured North Carolinians, according to a report from researchers at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., the state would i…

(Family Features) Forget the rules and restrictions. Today’s food trends are about enjoyment and simplicity, from decadent flavors your taste buds can’t wait to explore to convenient packaging that makes it incredibly easy to eat no matter where or when you make time to dine.

(Family Features) When you think about creating a better lifestyle for you and your family, you may first consider factors such as healthy eating and exercise. However, things as simple as a clean kitchen or stocking your pantry with gentle products can create a pure home and help to benefit…

(Family Features) Whether it’s across the street or across the country, moving can be a stressful and chaotic time for your family. This can be especially true for your four-legged family members, who don’t understand what’s happening. Detailed planning and foresight can help alleviate some …

(Family Features) Cats are naturally curious, and while that can make them entertaining and engaging pets, it doesn’t always lead to the best photos. While getting a perfect pet pic is hard enough, a frisky, playful or defiant cat can make a photo op nearly impossible.

(StatePoint) Playtime is important to a child’s development. Offering many social and emotional benefits, it helps lay the foundation for children’s future success and prepares them for school. One classic toy -- building blocks -- should be incorporated into every child’s playtime. Here are…

(Family Features) Bringing home a new furry friend can spark joy while adding new routines for the whole family. When adding a pet to a household, it’s important to take into consideration the type of companion, a pet’s life stage, size and how to select a veterinarian.

(Family Features) In the last five years, pet-friendly offices have increased in popularity and companies are developing accommodating policies that benefit both pets and the offices they join.

(Family Features) In addition to playing with a laser pointer and offering endless cuddle sessions, there are many more ways to connect with your favorite feline. Cats are curious by nature, and in order for them to stay happy and healthy, they need lots of love and care from their parents.

(Family Features) The 2019 summer movie season is filled with exciting big screen events, from mega-blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame” to “Toy Story 4.” After the closing credits roll, however, movie fans can explore plenty of complementary film titles at home.

(Family Features) The reasons for understanding the past are plentiful. Historical knowledge may illuminate the moments that shaped a loved one’s life or simply satisfy a curiosity about events and people that occupied a different place in time. A look into yesteryear can help make sense of …

(Family Features) Pets are more than just members of the family – they also make great co-workers. As more offices work to create pet-friendly environments, a survey conducted by Mars Petcare shows that workspaces allowing furry friends are more likely to attract and retain (human) talent. C…

(StatePoint) Raising a child in the U.S. is an expensive proposition, particularly when using name-brand products. For most growing families, finding ways to make life more affordable is a top priority. Unfortunately, when it comes to feeding babies, many unknowingly make unsafe choices in a…

(NewsUSA) - Julie Embling and her fiancé were traveling from Milwaukee, WI to Bridal Veil, Oregon to mail their wedding invitations. It was a quick 36-hour trip that was supposed to be filled with bliss but turned horrifying when Embling noticed her engagement ring was gone.

(NAPSI)—BookBites is a continuing series bringing readers information and ideas for their next read. Here are four new books in which to get lost—something for all different tastes from BookTrib.com.

(StatePoint) A vacation from school is no excuse for a vacation from thinking. Not only can learning be made fun, but you can avoid a rusty return to school in the fall by keeping kids’ minds active all summer long.

(NewsUSA) - Summer cookouts. Relaxing nights. Weekend staycations. Whether entertaining friends or simply relaxing with family, homeowners are enjoying vacation vibes in their own backyards. Serene porches and oasis-like patios are all the rage these days, and design pros - aiming to pair co…

(NewsUSA) - Whether you're creating your wedding registry, preparing for a bathroom makeover, taking advantage of holiday sales or just ready to towel off like a grownup - here's a handy visual guide to selecting quality bath linens from Micro Cotton®, which has been crafting quality comfort…

(Family Features) Educational activities and plans that allow kids to flex their brain muscles in fun and creative ways can be ideal ways to spend family time that makes lasting memories.

(NewsUSA) - While property damage caused by extreme weather often makes headlines, even isolated spring and summer storms can wreak havoc on your home's roof.

(Family Features) Despite the certainty of death, many Americans delay dealing with the fact and avoid funeral planning.

(Family Features) Living a healthy lifestyle takes effort and diligence, but with common stressors of day-to-day life, health can take a backseat to jobs, social engagements and tempting treats. While adopting more healthful habits may not be top-of-mind for your family, there are some simpl…

(Family Features) With crowds of unfamiliar people and loud, scary noises, the Fourth of July can make even the most laid-back, four-legged family members apprehensive and unpredictable.

Educational activities ideal for making memories together

(NewsUSA) - Aspiring artists and authors in the science fiction and fantasy arena have an outlet to finding a wider audience, thanks to the L. Ron Hubbard Achievement Award.

(StatePoint) Whether it’s dance lessons, computer projects, art class or yoga, kids these days are busy bees. And while such activities are enriching and fun, experts say that many kids aren’t spending enough time doing something much simpler and every bit as important as structured programm…

(Family Features) Between sorting, washing, pouring, transferring, drying and folding, laundry can often feel like a daunting chore.

(BPT) - After many months of learning through the school year, kids are understandably ready for summer vacation. But hitting pause on academics can cause significant challenges when returning to school in the fall. Some children lose the equivalent of one month of learning over the summer a…

(NewsUSA) - Artificial Intelligence is becoming commonplace across major industries and retail is no exception.

(NewsUSA) - When you combine the acting talent of Thomas Haden Church (Sideways, Spiderman 3, Divorce), Alice Eve (Before We Go, She's Out of My League), and Finn Wittrock (La La Land,The Big Short, Unbroken, American Horror Story) with a twisted tale of deceit, passion, and dark humor, what…