How To Create A Garden That Encourages Your Kids To Stay Active

We all want our kids to be happy and healthy and encouraging them to get out and exercise is an important part of that. But unfortunately, that’s harder than ever to do because of the influence of screens on kids. Finding ways to get them away from screens and convince them to do something more active instead is a struggle for a lot of parents and they worry about their child’s health as a result. If you’re going to get them outside more, you need to find ways to make it more exciting for them. One of the best ways to do that is to create a great garden area that they’ll love playing in. These are some of the best changes that you can make to your garden to encourage your kids to play out there more often.

Open Up The Space

 

Kids need a lot of space to run around and play, so you need to make sure that the garden has a lot of open areas. If you’ve got big trees and bushes that are growing into the garden and taking up a lot of room, you need to know how to use a reciprocating saw because it will make light work of those branches. Cut away all of the trees and bushes and you’ll open up a space that the kids can play in easily.

 

Add Some Color

 

Kids respond well to color so you should try to make the garden as bright and colorful as possible. If you’ve got flower beds around the edges of the garden, try to fill them with lots of colorful plants. Just make sure that you check before you plant anything because you need to make sure that there isn’t anything that is poisonous if eaten. Kids tend to explore the world through touch and taste and if you’ve got young kids you need to be sure that they’re safe in the garden. You can also add a bit of color and make the garden more exciting by painting murals on the fences.

 

Grow Some Vegetables

 

Getting kids involved in a project is a good way to keep their interest in the garden, so you should try to grow some vegetables out there. They’ll enjoy planting them and watering them regularly and they’ll be excited to get out in the garden to see how they’re growing. At the end, they’ll learn a valuable lesson about hard work and patience when they finally see the end product, and they might even start eating their vegetables more often if they’ve grown them.

 

Play Equipment

 

You’ll need some play equipment out there to keep them entertained. You can pick up a cheap sandpit or just make your own with a few bits of wood and some sand. If you’ve got a big tree out in the garden, you could even try to build a treehouse up there. You can also get a swing set for fairly cheap and they’re easy to put together.

 

If you set up the garden so the kids love playing out there, it will be a lot easier to encourage them to stay active.

This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.

AmericanMuscle’s Justin Dugan Gets Wild with a 2019 Shelby GT350

The new 2019 Shelby GT350 is out and oh man is it slick. This muscle machine is this St. Louis Dad’s dream car. Shelby has always been on my mind, Ever since I was a kid and Nic Cage stole on in Gone in 60 Seconds, I have always wanted one. Fortunately, I can live vicariously through others like Justin Dugan who recently was out to Pontiac, Michigan so he could ‘have at it’ on the M1 Concourse racetrack with the new 2019 Shelby GT350.

What might be just ‘another day in the office’ for Justin allows us, to gain a first-hand look into the development and driving characteristics of this flat-plane crankshaft equipped road-legal race car. Get it Justin!!!

PONTIAC, Mi. (May 14, 2019) – In this episode of AmericanMuscle’s Hot Lap YouTube video series, Justin Dugan visits M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan to get behind the wheel of the brand-new 2019 Shelby GT350 and experience some of the updates Ford Performance made, while ripping down the racetrack. While the weather wasn’t optimal during the trip, Justin makes the most of his adventure, spending some one-on-one time with the GT350 on and off the track. Justin also meets with Shelby Automobiles Marketing Manager, Jim Owens, to share his excitement and learn more about the platform’s development phases.

From the 5.2L Flat-plane V8 under the hood, to the improved aero, and Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires; the remarkable grip and handling of the GT350 will make any driver feel like they are ready for the next race in the Michelin Pilot Challenge Series.

Watch it here: https://www.americanmuscle.com/hotlap-may2019.html

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About AmericanMuscle

Starting out in 2003, AmericanMuscle quickly rose to be one of the leading aftermarket Mustang parts providers in the business. With the addition of Challenger in 2018, AmericanMuscle provides the most sought-after parts, accessories, and fast shipping. Located just outside of Philadelphia, AmericanMuscle is dedicated to offering the Mustang and Challenger communities with the highest level of customer service. Please visit http://www.AmericanMuscle.com for more information.

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This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.

Throwing a Retro Style BBQ

Want to relive the good ol’ days with your family and friends? Consider throwing a retro style barbecue party. This is the best way of bringing men together to bond with the family across generations. From setting the menu to decors, you will need a retro touch to have an unforgettable BBQ party. Bonus points if you hold the party at the backyard!

A retro BBQ party is an excellent occasion for reuniting with family and friends. The party provides everyone with an opportunity to catch up with Uncle Joe and Aunty Mary whom they have not seen for some time. If you are throwing a BBQ bash for friends, you can relieve the happiness and escapades of the yesteryears and form even closer bonds.

Here’s a quick guide for throwing a retro style BBQ bash.

Timing is Everything

Timing is big when planning any party. Parties are more fun when there are many people involved. Therefore, it is essential to get the timing right. You may want to call your guests in advance to find out about their schedules before settling on the date of the party. The last thing you want is to get a lot of apologies because of poor timing.

Ideally, you should plan your BBQ party on a summer weekend or a holiday. These are the times when most people have some free time on their calendars. Your old buddies will gladly show up for the party in their summer shorts ready to get wild! Also, require the guests to confirm attendance in advance so that you plan for the meals and drinks appropriately. Finally, make sure you distribute a map to your residence or the BBQ party location, just in case some people will be driving from out of town.

Get the Menu Right

When planning a retro BBQ party, you have to get the menu right. Consider the people you’ve invited to the party and find out their favorite dishes. Since you can grill different entrees at the party, go all out with variety. You can prepare steak, roasted veggies, kebabs, hotdogs, hamburgers, and more. Having variety is essential as you want to be sure all guests can build a la carte plates to their liking.

Entrees are huge, but they are not the only thing to concentrate on. There are BBQ side staples like green salads, pasta or potato salad, corn on the cob, and even mac & cheese to think of. If you are holding the party during the summer, you may need some ice cream as a refreshing dessert.

There are tons of BBQ necessities that will complement any menu you are preparing. You can use the essentials to prepare the BBQ and when done, offer them as gifts to the men who love grilling. Depending on the grilling equipment, you can hold the party in your backyard, rooftop, or even a local park.

Drinks. Drinks. Drinks.

Are the guests you’ve invited to the BBQ party big on beer or liquor? Get ready with the right drinkware. No beverage is as smooth and tantalizing as beer when taken with BBQ. Therefore make sure you’ve appropriately stocked.

Get double-walled drinkware to ensure the drinks will stay cold in the warm weather. To cater for cocktail lovers, make sure you have the right shakers that will let you mix the perfect drinks. The shakers can also make attractive gifts if you are celebrating someone special.

Depending on the number of visitors you expect at the party, the cost of drinks can quickly escalate through the roof. Don’t play Atlas and carry all the world’s problems on your shoulder. Instead, ask the guests to help with the drinks. For example, you can require guests to come with a case of specific beer brands. If liquor is your thing, have a guideline on the type of drinks to be brought and any mixers that may be required.

Retrorize the Scene

The scene has to be perfect for your retro BBQ. This means taking things further than what you would usually do with regular weekend BBQ parties.

To begin, you should have some fun activities lined up while the food is being prepared. Depending on the crowd you expect, you can have Yahtzee, dominoes, Jenga, checkers, and cards. These are easy games which can be played outside and are entertaining to people of all ages.

And what would be a retro party without some funky blues or jazz from the 1960s? Make a playlist of nostalgic music that will remind the guests of the golden era of music of their time. You may also want to set up some string lights to create a moody glow ambiance when the sun begins to set. LED lanterns would also be perfect for lighting up the tables without having to worry about them getting blown out by the wind.

Why We Need To Bring Back Victory Gardens

World War I and World War II took a toll on the country’s budget and led to an increase in the cost of living. With no end in sight for the war, the government was at a tight spot, trying to find food for the marines overseas while also keeping the cost of food in the country at an affordable level.

The solution? A rallying call to all Americans to grow food in their backyards to supplement the nation’s demands. These backyard gardens came to be known as “victory gardens.”

The concept spread like wildfire as citizens heeded the call. Communities came together and put idle land to use. Vegetables were grown in lands owned by churches, schools, and factories. Individuals heeded the call in their own way, growing vegetables at their front or backyards and even in parks.

The rallying call paid off, and food prices remained affordable during the war, which was critical in maintaining the stability of the country.

A New Call for “Victory Gardens”

The wars may be over, and today, the country is self-sufficient and faces no risk of escalating food prices. However, there is a new challenge to be tackled: expensive healthy and organic foods.

Today, Americans are taking processed food more than ever before. Processed ingredients are not as healthy as their organic counterparts. When food is processed, it is exposed to different chemicals to increase its shelf life. These chemicals deplete the ingredients in the plants, meaning we do not end up with the required nutrients for every serving we eat.

The foods that we buy are taking longer to reach the shelves. Moreover, they are being grown under controlled conditions with pesticides, which means they end up having potentially dangerous minerals in our food. Some pesticides have been linked to the development of chronic diseases like cancer.

Is it time to bring the Victory Gardens back? Absolutely yes!

Grow Your Own Food

A Victory Garden, or whatever name you may wish to call it today, allows you to grow your food at home and enjoy the benefits of a fulfilling outdoors activity. Keeping a vegetable garden is an excellent way of reducing your bill and bringing your family and the community together.

You do not need a large tract of land to start gardening. Even the little 10ft x 10ft backyard or front yard enriched with compost will do.

Here are some reasons why you should start a Victory Garden this year.

  1. Reduce your food budget – Starting a Victory Garden is an excellent way of supplementing your food budget. You can drastically reduce your grocery budget when you grow food at home. Moreover, you can determine what foods to grow depending on the quantities you usually need.
  2. Get nutritional value – Homegrown fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients since they are under your control. You won’t have to worry about the plants being subjected to harsh pesticides or herbicides. Moreover, you can ensure that the plants grow organically by engaging in good ‘ol farming techniques.
  3. Engage in outdoors activity – Farming is a great outdoor activity that will keep you and the whole family busy. The activity is not physically laborious, especially if you have a small parcel of backyard garden. You will love the fresh air and bonding with your children while carrying out the gardening tasks.
  4. Reduce carbon footprint – Growing your own vegetables also helps to reduce carbon footprint. With the dangers of the high amount of carbon in the environment, you can play a small part in reducing the footprint by planting your own vegetables.

How to Start Your Victory Garden

Gardening is not as difficult as it may seem. In fact, you may already have a flower garden at home. If this is the case, how about converting it to a vegetable garden? If the garden is in the backyard, you can transform it with the vegetables that frequently feature on your menu. Onions, spinach, carrots, and tomatoes would definitely be in the list.

If you do not already have a backyard garden, the first thing to check is whether you have some space that you can use for gardening. If you are a tenant, find out from the landlord whether you are allowed to keep a garden. If you own the land, nothing should stop you from starting to dig a small portion of the backyard to be the garden.

You may have to carry out some tests to know whether the soil is good enough for growing vegetables. Ask for help from an experienced local farmer or get a soil test kit online and carry out the tests on your own.

If the soil is not suitable for growing vegetables, perhaps you can enrich it by adding compost or look into creating a container garden. After this, you should be ready to plant your first vegetables.