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Homeowners Rise & Shine for Coffee Days

Celebration is in the air, and it smells like coffee! This Friday, September 29 is National Coffee Day, and Sunday, October 1 is International Coffee Day.

Across the nation, coffeehouse chain establishments are offering specials in observance of either or both Coffee Days. But if you really want to celebrate, consider supporting one of your local community coffee shops:

Fall Cleaning: Like Spring Cleaning, But With Pumpkin Spice!

Fall officially arrives this Saturday, September 23^rd, as we observe the Fall Equinox (when the sun is directly over the equator, and folks all over the world experience exactly the same number of hours of daylight and night).

So, how do we celebrate the arrival of Autumn? Let us count the ways: football, festivals, “leaf peeping” (yes, it’s a thing, but peak color in the North Georgia Mountains is still about 5-6 weeks away), apple-picking, and pumpkin spice, to name a few.

What Season Is It, Anyway?

Fall is in the air… or maybe it’s just the aroma of pumpkin-spice everything, because summer temperatures sure don’t want to loosen their grip. In fact, there’s an internet meme that says, “It’s almost Fall in Georgia. Do you know what that means?… Absolutely nothing! It’s still 90 degrees!”

Georgia has just entered its “fourth month of Summer,” so don’t put the shorts and flip-flops away quite yet. According to both meteorologists and travel experts, the earliest Autumn begins in Georgia is late September, but the Fall season here in the South is observed (by trees and wildlife, at least) in October and November.

Neighbors Kick Off Tailgate Season

Thankfully, the extreme heat of the past two weeks seems to be diminishing just in time for National Eat Outdoors Day (Today, August 31) and National Tailgating Day (first Saturday in September). While not “official” observances, both tailgating and eating outdoors are great reasons to celebrate.

Today, August 31, make plans to observe National Eat Outdoors Day by sharing a meal with friends at a restaurant that has outdoor dining space; enjoy coffee and a muffin on a park bench; pack a sack lunch and eat at a picnic table with friends or family; or prepare a home-cooked meal and eat in  your own courtyard or on the front porch. 

Practicing Mindful Kindness

In a busy world, even the kindest person can sometimes lose patience (or their temper). Be Kind to Humankind Week (August 25 – 31) is a global observance that offers an opportunity to consciously sprinkle some kindness into the world.

Following are some simple ways to add an extra dose of kindness throughout the coming week:

The Appeal of New Wheels

Electric vehicles (EVs) are growing in popularity, with more than 30,000 EVs registered in the state of Georgia, where more than 1,600 electric vehicle charging stations are now available in public places including city centers, live-work-play communities, even parking spaces at retail outlets.

And as more people choose to live in communities where amenities are within walking distance, another type of electric vehicle is rapidly gaining popularity: street legal golf carts/low-speed vehicles (LSVs). In fact, many cities and towns that feature central gathering spaces, such as parks and concert venues, now include designated parking spaces for LSVs.

Tips for Maintaining Healthy Eyesight

August is National Eye Exam Month, which was founded in 1989 to encourage eye exams for children so they’d perform well in school.

Of course, regular eye exams are essential for people of all ages, especially since we spend so much of our waking hours straining our eyes as we stare at screens.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends every adult have a baseline eye exam at age 40, to identify what is normal for your eyes, and to ensure vision changes are identified quickly at annual or biennial eye exams.

Time to Hit the Trails for Health & Fitness

This time, last year, the temperatures were soaring into the 100s, taxing our air conditioners, affecting our moods, and putting a serious (sweaty) damper on outdoor activities.

Now, a year later, we’re experiencing an unseasonably cool June, with temperatures in the 70s and 80s. And since we’re smack-dab in the middle of Hiking Season (March through September), it’s time to get out and explore some of the amazing trails close to home

Power Brunches for Business & Pleasure

Once upon a time, networking took place in a private club or at a nice restaurant, where business-casual attire and cards were exchanged over “elevator pitches.”

My, how times have changed. Thanks in part to the aftermath of COVID, and the work-from-home options available through ZOOM and other online platforms, the face of business networking has changed, as well.

What’s interesting, though, is that networking isn’t all about business anymore. It’s how we meet friends, share ideas, and provide (or receive) support so we don’t feel so separated from the world.

And that’s where BRUNCH comes in!

Big Benefits In Minimalism

Ask anyone what they want in their “dream home,” and you’ll hear things like:

• close to family/friends/work/entertainment
• easy maintenance – both inside and outside the home
• a sense of community

These responses all tie back to one common theme: enjoyment