Summer Reading Essentials From Nat Geo Kids + Giveaway

For many of us, summer break is already under way or is soon to come. During the summer break, there are several ways to keep your kids' brains engaged and active. Encouraging reading is a fantastic way to stimulate their minds, whether it's through a summer reading challenge or joining a local library program. Engaging in hands-on activities like arts and crafts, puzzles, and building projects can promote problem-solving skills and creativity. Encouraging them to explore nature through outdoor adventures, such as hiking or gardening, can foster curiosity and a deeper understanding of the world around them. Additionally, enrolling them in summer camps or workshops focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) can provide structured learning experiences and spark their interests in these fields. Lastly, limiting screen time and encouraging social interactions with friends and family can promote cognitive and emotional development. By incorporating a variety of activities, you can ensure a summer filled with fun and continued mental growth for your children.

There will definitely be times where kids have a lot of moments waiting in an airport, in the car, or even when they feel like they have nothing to do. Thankfully children's books from National Geographic are a perfect way to fill the time. It's even better when learning about animals is involved. I want to share some titles that your kids of many ages can enjoy this summer. *Please note that this post contains affiliate links. 

Little Kids First Nature Guide: Explore the Beach (ages 4-8, Flex-Bound, $9.99)

Make the most out of any trip to the beach wit this take-along nature guide that helps young children find, identify, and learn about the fascinating animals, plants, and other wonders to be found at the seashore. Young explorers discover a variety of cool creatures, shells, plants, and more at the beach, from crabs skittering across the sand to fish riding the waves to seagulls flying high in the sky. This sturdy take-along guide features:

• Easy-to-understand profiles of a wide variety of plants and animals commonly spotted at the beach, as well as fan-favorites out in the waves like dolphins, seahorses, and jellyfish
• Vibrant National Geographic photography that brings the subject matter to life and makes identification easy
• “Check Me Out!” fact boxes that provide more information about each creature, including its size and color, where it’s found, and what it eat
•  Gallery pages featuring various beach environments, such as tide pools and sand dunes
• Cool fun facts sprinkled throughout
• Simple text for reading aloud or for beginning readers
• Games, activities, and tips for how and where to explore
• Helpful glossary
• Flexible binding for durability

That's Fact-tastic! Mind-Blowing, Eye-Popping, Jaw-Dropping Stuff About Our World   (ages 8-12, Hardcover, $19.99)

Did you know that a giraffe’s eye is as big as a Ping-Pong ball? Or that about 19 million hot dogs are sold at major league baseball games every year? Or that there is only one bone in your body that’s not connected to another one?  This book is chock-full of fascinating facts, silly stats, and catchy little knowledge nuggets in all kinds of awesome categories, from amphibians to black holes to the gold rush.

Special features include Extreme Weirdness, Strange Places, What's the Difference, and more. Bold, colorful photographs in a supersized format and spectacular information create a winning combination for curious kids who can't wait to learn more about the world.

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2024 (ages 8-12, Paperback, $15.99)

The New York Times best-selling Almanac is packed with incredible photos, tons of fun facts, National Geographic exclusives, games, activities, and fascinating features about animals, science, nature, technology, and more. 

National Geographic Kids Personality Quizzes (ages 8-12, $9.99, Paperback)

What's your shark superpower? What kind of friend are you?

From weird and wacky (What stinky animal are you?) to thought-provoking and informative (What kind of explorer should you be? Which mountain should you climb?), there’s a personality profile for everyone in this totally unique book. Inside you'll find all kinds of quizzes: flow charts, multiple choice, this or that, and more and while you're at it, get to know about amazing animals, places, cultures, and even careers around the world!

Puzzle Book of the Ocean (ages 8-12, Paperback, $6.99)

Headed to the beach this summer?  Make the trip go by in a flash with this ultimate backseat boredom-buster!

Dive into pages and pages of crosswords, sudoku, word searches, mazes, quizzes, word scrambles, and spot the difference puzzles as well as fun facts and vibrant photos of fish, dolphins, sea turtles, and all sorts of ocean animals.  This book will have you swimming for hours through amazing information about the deep blue—just don’t forget to surface!

Explorer Academy Book 1: The Nebula Secret and Explorer Academy Book 2: The Falcon's Feather (ages 8-12, Hardcover/Paperback, $16.99/$9.99)

Adventure, danger, and a thrilling global mission await 12-year-old Cruz Coronado as he joins an elite school for explorers.

In this fan-favorite fiction series, Cruz leaves his tranquil home in Hawaii to join 23 talented kids from around the globe to train at the Explorer Academy with the world's leading scientists to become the next generation of great explorers. But for Cruz, there's more at stake. No sooner has he arrived at the Academy than he discovers that his family has a mysterious past with the organization that could jeopardize his future. In the midst of codebreaking and cool classes, new friends and augmented-reality expeditions, Cruz must tackle the biggest question of all: Who is out to get him ... and why?  Readers can get in on the excitement with puzzles and codes embedded throughout. Learn more here: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explorer-academy

GIVEAWAY

These titles are really great and will provide many hours of fun! They are all available on *Amazon, and make a great gift to family and friends. Thank you so much National Geographic Kids for the sample books, and for providing a set for a giveaway for one lucky Mom Files reader to win. Be sure to visit the National Geographic Kids website: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

If you are interested in winning a Prize Pack of these National Geographic Kids Books, enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway ends on June 17, 2023 and is open to U.S. and Canada Residents only. Please note that Mom Files is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes since our sponsor takes care of prize fulfillment. All opinions are my own. Thank you for stopping by today! 

How Business Owners Can Balance Family Life And Work

The modern entrepreneur is expected to wear multiple hats, from managing employees and finances to staying up-to-date with industry trends. However, balancing work and family life can be strenuous and often overlooked as business owners prioritize their work responsibilities. In this article, Dennis Bonnen will discuss eight recommendations for business owners to juggle their work and family life effectively.

1. Establish A Routine

Creating a work schedule and routine can help a business owner set clear boundaries between work and family life. Establishing a program reduces the likelihood of overworking or bringing work home, ensuring that personal time is not disrupted. Additionally, a routine promotes time management, allowing a business owner to allocate the necessary time and resources for work and family throughout the day.

2. Delegate Responsibility

As a business owner, delegating tasks can alleviate a sizable workload. Delegating tasks to employees with the necessary skills and qualifications can free up time for personal commitments. An increased volume of work can lead to burnout and may deteriorate mental well-being; it is essential to know when to delegate.

3. Prioritize Time Management 

Effective time management is vital to balancing work and personal life. Creating an action plan or to-do list for the day or week can help a business owner identify critical tasks and ensure they are completed. Time-management tools such as calendar apps can organize their schedule, preventing overlaps and scheduling conflicts.

4. Take Advantage Of Technology 

Technology tools can increase efficiency and productivity, allowing business owners to complete tasks quickly. Advanced software can automate processes, such as scheduling posts on social media platforms, freeing up time for other activities. Technology tools like video conferencing can save time, reduce travel costs, and enable work-life balance.

5. Communicate With Family 

Business owners need to communicate with families to ensure their understanding of the owner's responsibilities and time constraints. Communication with family members about work commitments beforehand is essential to avoid last-minute changes that may clash with personal obligations. Be straightforward about how workdays may be long, certain work obligations may unavoidably extend into private hours, and how the family should adjust to accommodate these occurrences.

6. Schedule Family Time 

As much as a business owner prioritizes work commitments, a business owner should also dedicate time to family activities. Quality family time can provide a much-needed break from work and increase happiness. Delivering family promises can be challenging for the business owner, but it's essential to prioritize leisure time without getting preoccupied with work responsibilities.

7. Take Time For Self-Care 

Business owners must ensure good mental and physical health and allocate time for self-care activities. Exercise, meditation, or a massage session can help reduce stress and increase energy levels. Creating a balance between work and personal life will likely positively affect your mental well-being and physical health, which should thus be deemed necessary.

8. Seek Support 

Some business owners find that staying connected with the community and seeking support is essential for a healthy work-life balance. Joining or forming a support group of like-minded entrepreneurs can help business owners improve their experiences and provide professional and personal growth opportunities. Additionally, seeking professional help from qualified therapists and coaches can provide business owners with the necessary guidance and support to maintain a work-life balance.

Conclusion

Balancing work and family life can be challenging, especially for business owners. As someone who has been working in the business industry, Dennis Bonnen knows full well how it's essential to maintain this balance as it ensures positive mental well-being and improved physical health. Creating a routine, delegating less urgent tasks, prioritizing time management, utilizing technology tools, communicating with family, self-care activities, and seeking support are all effective ways to juggle work and personal life. Business owners should try to employ these methods and find what works best for their specific situation to maintain balance.

Top 5 Ways Your Veterinarian Can Help You Prepare Your Pet for Hurricane Season

NOAA predicts up to nine hurricanes this season, including 1-4 major hurricanes: highlighting the need for preparations

Today, Thrive Pet Healthcare, a leading veterinary service network with 400 locations across the U.S., urged pet owners to take proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of their beloved pets following the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) prediction of up to nine hurricanes, 1-4 major, for the upcoming season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.  

“It only takes one storm to cause a disruption in your household,” said Dr. Anthony Coronado, Thrive Pet Healthcare’s National Director of Emergency Services and Urgent Care. “Pets are equally impacted by these disruptions and depend on their humans to protect them from the potential dangers of hurricanes. A few simple precautionary steps can ensure your pet's safety and well-being when they are at their most vulnerable.”

Thrive Pet Healthcare encourages pet owners to consult with their veterinarian when preparing for hurricane season. Below are the top five ways your veterinarian can help to better prepare you and your pet for hurricanes:

1. Vaccines – Make sure your pets are current on their vaccines, especially rabies, leptospirosis, Bordetella, canine influenza, as well as distemper combination vaccines. Keep a copy of your pet’s vaccination records handy. Some of the shelters, boarding kennels, rescues and hotels that might provide temporary housing for pets after a hurricane frequently require vaccination records.

2. Heartworm preventatives – In the aftermath of flooding, the dampness may result in an increase in the mosquito population. Dogs and cats are at heightened risk of contracting a mosquito-borne illness like heartworm disease if they are not on a routine heartworm preventative or if they miss a dose. Heartworm symptoms are often unnoticeable until irreversible damage has been done. Having your pet on a routine heartworm preventative can mitigate the risk. Ensure you have enough to get through hurricane season should there be any supply disruptions.

3. Flea and tick protection – Like mosquitoes, fleas and ticks also flourish after a storm. Veterinarian-prescribed flea and tick preventatives are the best way to protect your pet from harmful and sometimes deadly parasite-related illnesses.

4. Medications – If you regularly administer medication to your pet, ensure you have enough on hand in case there are supply disruptions or you and your pet have to temporarily relocate following a major storm. Ask your veterinarian for an extra supply of necessary medications.

5. Microchipping – During a storm, pets may escape out of fear or become separated from their owners. A microchip about the size of a grain of rice can be implanted during your pet’s routine wellness exam. It contains a unique ID number registered with the pet owner’s contact information. When a lost pet is found, shelters, rescue centers and veterinarians can scan the microchip, enabling a safe return home.

Pet owners are also reminded to ensure their pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification information, including their name, telephone number and any urgent medical conditions that require medication such as heart disease, epilepsy, diabetes or cancer.

To locate a Thrive Pet Healthcare location near you, including primary, specialty, urgent, and emergency veterinary care services, visit www.ThrivePetCare.com. 

About Thrive Pet Healthcare:

Thrive Pet Healthcare is a leading veterinary service network that uniquely delivers a continuum of care to pet families and services to veterinary hospitals. With an industry-first membership program and over 350 acute, primary, and specialty providers, Thrive Pet Healthcare offers personalized, accessible care through every stage of a pet’s life and health. The veterinarian-founded organization provides premier benefits for practice staff while elevating privately held veterinary hospitals with innovative service and technology solutions. By focusing on the needs and aspirations of veterinary care providers, Thrive Pet Healthcare is supporting the well-being of the industry and raising the national bar for veterinary excellence. To learn more about Thrive Pet Healthcare, please visit www.thrivepetcare.com.

New BUC-EE’S Travel Center Coming to Sevierville, TN on June 26th

Have you ever been to a Buc-ee's Travel Center? We visited the one in Florence, SC a couple times and all I can say is WOW! Everything you've heard is true. It is HUGE and filled with so many goodies, clean bathrooms, and gas pumps galore. There's a new one opening in Sevierville, TN in case you will be in that area at some point. More info is below. 

Buc-ee’s, home of the world’s cleanest bathrooms, freshest food and friendliest beaver, will unveil its newest travel center in Sevierville, Tennessee, on Monday, June 26, 2023. Doors will open to the public at 6 a.m. EST, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony will follow at 11:00 EST. Local and state leaders will attend the celebration. 

When it debuts, Buc-ee’s Sevierville will be the largest travel center in the world. The store’s 74,000-square-foot floor plan will remain the biggest Buc-ee’s until that record moves back to Texas, where construction is currently underway on a 75,000-square-foot location in Luling, TX. 

Located at exit 407 off Interstate 40 and Winfield Dunn Parkway, Buc-ee’s Sevierville offers 120 fueling positions just outside its store with thousands of snack, meal and drink options for travelers on the go. The new travel center also features a state-of-the-art car wash (coming soon), along with the same award-winning restrooms, cheap gas, quality products and excellent service that have won the hearts, trust and business of millions in the South for 40 years. Buc-ee’s favorites including Texas barbeque, homemade fudge, kolaches, Beaver Nuggets, jerky and fresh pastries are all available as well. 

State and local leaders attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony will include Sevierville Mayor Robbie Fox, Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters, EBCI Principal Chief Richard Sneed, and many other partners and officials who helped Buc-ee’s bring the project to Sevierville. 

After the opening of Buc-ee’s Sevierville, Buc-ee’s will operate 46 stores across Texas and the South. Buc-ee’s Sevierville is the second Buc-ee’s location in Tennessee, joining Buc-ee’s Crossville, which debuted on June 27, 2022. Since beginning its multi-state expansion in 2019, Buc-ee’s has opened travel centers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Buc-ee’s recently announced the brand is headed West with store groundbreakings in Colorado and Missouri. The first Virginia location was announced in March of this year.  

“Buc-ee’s Sevierville, located at ‘The 407,’ is nestled in the gateway to Pigeon Forge, Dollywood, Gatlinburg, and of course, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” said Stan Beard of Buc-ee’s. “We are thrilled to join such a beautiful community that has long-since been a destination for travelers from around the world.”

Buc-ee’s Sevierville will bring at least 200 new full-time jobs to the area with starting pay well above minimum wage, full benefits, a 100% matching 401k up to 6%, and three weeks of paid vacation. 

About Buc-ee’s

Buc-ee’s is the world’s most-loved travel center. Founded in 1982, Buc-ee’s now has 34 stores across Texas, including the world’s largest convenience store, as well as 12 locations in other states. Buc-ee’s is known for pristine bathrooms, a large amount of fueling positions, friendly service, Buc-ee’s apparel and fresh, delicious food. Originally launched and still headquartered in Texas, Buc-ee’s has combined traditional quality and modern efficiency to redefine the pit stop for their customers. For more information, visit www.buc-ees.com.

Beginners Guide to Whiskey Drinking

Starting with a milder whiskey and cleaning your palate with water in between each sip is recommended for beginners. Adding water can also open up the flavors of the whiskey by diluting it. There are many different types of whiskey, and they all have unique flavor profiles. The most common are bourbon, Tennessee, and rye whiskeys. 

Smell

If you're new to whiskey, trying different kinds might seem like it could be safer. There are so many different flavors and aromas to choose from! However, the good news is that there's whiskey for everyone. The key to finding your favorite is experimenting with it and finding a reputable store like Curiada, which has many options. When you're drinking whiskey, take a moment to enjoy the smell. The nose has five million olfactory cells that can detect 32 primary aromas. You'll notice a lot of hints of the whisky's flavor in its scent. If you're a beginner, having a whiskey aroma wheel handy is helpful to help you identify the different smells and flavors. These are similar to wine aroma wheels and help you identify a whiskey's characteristics.  Whiskey is one of the most versatile drinks, and you can enjoy it in many ways. Whether you prefer your whiskey neat or in a cocktail, knowing how to enjoy it properly is essential. This comprehensive guide to whiskey for beginners will help you learn everything you need to know about the spirit. When tasting whiskey, sniff it before you take a sip. It allows you to detect more aromas and flavors the spirit offers. If you are new to sniffing, try experimenting with different techniques to find what works best for you. Be careful not to inhale too hard, or you could have a sore nose! When drinking whiskey, drinkers recommend using a large chunk of ice. It is because more giant ice cubes melt slower and will dilute the whiskey less quickly. Then, gently swirl the whiskey in your mouth before swallowing it. It is known as the 'mouthfeel' and is when you can experience all of the flavors that the whiskey has to offer.

Mouthfeel

The mouthfeel of whiskey can be complex for newcomers to accept. While it's partly a matter of physiology, it also depends on the individual's expectations and culture. For this reason, it's best to start with a standard whiskey drink before trying something more complex. Ideally, whiskey should be drunk neat or with only a tiny amount of ice. It allows you to experience the whiskey's authentic flavors. However, it's important to note that adding ice can change the flavor and texture of the spirit. It can also numb the taste buds, making picking subtle flavor notes more challenging. Many enthusiasts recommend drinking whiskey with a few ice cubes, which helps open up the spirit and bring out its flavors. However, there may be better ideas for beginners, as they can quickly mask the drink's complexity and make it unpalatable. 

Add water or ice

There are many ways to enjoy whiskey, and while some whiskey connoisseurs may frown upon adding water or ice to their drinks, there is no right or wrong way to consume it. What matters is that you find a method of drinking that maximizes your enjoyment. Whether it's a cut-crystal Glencairn glass, a well-organized ritual, or a brown paper bag, that's up to you. Adding water to a whiskey can help dilute it, which opens up more flavors. However, the type of water and how much you add will alter the taste, so it's essential to experiment with different styles. Filtered tap or spring water can make a difference since they have no chemicals. If you add ice, it's best to use more giant ice cubes or even ice balls, as they melt slower and dilute the whiskey slowly. Also, avoid adding too much ice, as it can numb your taste buds and make the whiskey too cold. 

Add garnish

As you become more comfortable with whiskey, you should experiment with garnishes. Adding a garnish can help you identify different flavors and aromas in the whiskey. It can also add a bit of color to your drink. Try using a lemon twist or a simple cherry to add color to your whiskey. You can enjoy it independently, but it's also a great addition to cocktails. Many novices prefer to mix whiskey with a mixer to get started, and there are many standard cocktails that you can try. Alternatively, you can use a low-calorie mixer. When drinking whiskey, you must take small sips and roll the whiskey around your mouth before swallowing. It will allow you to experience the whiskey's full flavor and texture. You can also add ice to your whiskey, but it's best to use large pieces of ice so that they melt slowly. It will prevent your whiskey from diluting too quickly. You can also use whiskey stones and soapstone chunks that chill your drink without diluting it.