Ahh, Memorial Day, the official start of summer. It’s time to break out the grill, take advantage of the sales and maybe get a start on that summer tan.

Here’s some Memorial Day trivia while you’re waiting for those burgers to get done:

1. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, a day set aside to decorate the graves of our fallen Civil War soldiers with flowers, wreaths and flags.
2. Before it was considered that start-of-summer holiday weekend, Memorial Day was celebrated every May 30. It wasn't until the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971 that the holiday was moved to the last Monday in May.
3. Nine states observe Confederate Memorial Day, honoring those who died fighting for the Confederacy in the Civil War: Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
4. Red poppies are the Memorial Day flower.
5. Since 1911, the Indianapolis 500 has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day.
6. It's estimated that over 35 million Americans traveled more than 50 miles from home last Memorial Day weekend.
7. New York was the first state to officially recognize Memorial Day.
8. “Taps” is often played at ceremonies on Memorial Day.
9. The highest grossing movie that opened on Memorial Day thus far has been Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007). (Opening gross: $139,802,190)
10. Americans typically consume 7 billion hot dogs between Memorial Day and Labor Day. (That's 818 hot dogs every second during that period!)

So, welcome in the summer.  Happy grilling, everyone!

The stack of papers seems like it will never come to an end, but as you sign your name on the last one, you’ve realized the dream of millions of people.

You’re now a home owner.

Owning as opposed to renting comes with some long-term financial advantages.

Taxes  No one likes paying them, but home owners enjoy certain perks when tax time rolls around. While you can’t deduct the cost of repairs or improvements to your home, you can deduct the real estate taxes and mortgage interest you pay, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars in taxes.

Appreciation  Many of the things we buy start to lose value as soon as we get them. Houses are a pleasant exception. In many cases, if a home owner decides to sell, he or she can expect to get more for the property than they originally bought it for.

Home Equity  A home is a valuable asset. If you find yourself in need of a sudden influx of cash, maybe for an emergency or for a potential investment opportunity, you may be able to use your home as collateral to secure a loan. Banks see home owners as more financially stable, so they will often offer better lending rates than renters get.

Owning a home is more than just having a place to call your own. It can be a valuable investment for your future. 

“M is for the many things we've made her....”

Mother's Day is May 10th this year, and Mom likes nothing better than homemade gifts from the heart.

Here are three crafts that are flexible enough that small children, teens, or adults can make them.  And all are quite inexpensive as well. 

Shredded paper seed starters   Mom won't know whether to plant these small works of art or keep them. Either way, they're very easy for little ones to make with a little help, and all the supplies are easily obtained at the local dollar store.

Personalized candles   This craft is sure to inspire the artist inside anyone who tries it. Stumped for ideas? Recreate a child's drawing, write a poem or love letter, or simply doodle. While small children will need an adult to etch onto the candle, they can easily apply and wipe the paint themselves. Once again, the supplies are available at the dollar store.

Homemade Shrinky Dinks  Make your own Shrinky Dinks with recycled plastic (read the directions carefully, and children MUST be supervised while working on this craft). Make jewelry, bookmark charms, keychains, plant markers—you're only limited by your imagination! Again, if you need any extra supplies, you can find them at the dollar store. Along with markers, scissors, and a hole punch, you might want to purchase beads, elastic, etc. 

(The real Shrinky Dink sheets and kits are still available in craft stores and online, too.)

Happy Mother’s Day.

Are you looking for ways to incorporate more exercise in your daily life? 

Walk.

If it seems like you never have the time to go for walks, here are some ideas on how to fit walking in every day:

• Lay shoes and clothes out at night so you can walk first thing in the morning. 
• Instead of meeting friends or co-workers for a cup of coffee, meet them at the park for a walk.
• When you are on the phone, stand up and walk around. Remember, any movement is better than none!

Save five minutes circling the parking lot for a “good space”and park further out. Get into the habit of returning the grocery cart to the store instead of the cart corral in the parking lot, too.

Do your chores.

Maybe you find yourself putting off exercising because you've been neglecting the house. Tackling those mundane chores around the house can feel a lot more productive if you consider them part of your workout routine. Washing the car, sweeping the sidewalk, mowing the yard, cleaning the bathroom, carrying laundry up and down stairs—these activities all use different muscle groups and burn calories. 

Watch TV.

An hour spent watching your favorite TV show can burn around 60-70 calories.  If it's a comedy, laughing could help you burn an extra 70! Get more out of your TV-watching time by standing up periodically, stretching and walking around the room. Throw in a few arm circles and toe touches; not only will you use a few more calories, but you'll be helping your posture.

By the way, you just burned 3 calories reading this article! 

Your neck and shoulders are so stiff you’re convinced they’ll crumble to dust if you try to move too suddenly. What in the world did you do? Maybe the culprit is closer than you think. 

Every year thousands of work hours are lost because of repetitive-motion injuries caused by, of all things: just sitting at your desk.

Here are 4 ways to optimize your workspace:

1. Find your natural posture…and work around it. Ideally, your back should be straight and your shoulders in a relaxed position. Your hips should be positioned so that your spine is lined up properly. Now that you have your natural position, build your office space around it. 
2. Position your keyboard and mouse or other pointing device so they’re within easy reach. They should be set so that your arms are at or below a 90 degree angle in order to reduce strain. The keyboard should be about 1 or 2 inches above your thighs. 
3. Align your computer monitor so that when you stretch out your arm the tips of your fingers can brush across the screen without having to move your shoulders. To adjust the height, close your eyes. When you open them, your eyes should land on the address bar of the webpage you’re on.
4. To help you sustain your natural posture, find a chair that offers good lumbar support. When you sit, your feet should be firmly on the floor, not dangling in front of you.  

Desk ergonomics isn’t just a fancy word. It can save you time and money, not to mention your joints. 

Phones. Clothes. Music. Electronics.

They’re pretty much the same things teenagers have always wanted. And many of those items can come with a very expensive price tag. While we don’t want to deprive our kids, it’s important to teach them how to manage their money.

The old-fashioned allowance goes high-tech.  Unless your teen has a job, it will be nearly impossible for him/her to learn about spending without actually having money. Loading a monthly allowance on a prepaid debit card can give your teen practical knowledge about budgeting and spending. A good rule of thumb for both adults and teens is the 40/30/20/10 savings plan.

• Forty percent of the allowance is for spending,
• 30 percent goes towards short-term savings goals (a smartphone, for example),
• 20 percent towards tong-term savings goals (such as college or a car),
• and the final 10 percent goes to charity.

Let your teen in on the family finances.   Show them how much a car costs for one month. A trip to the grocery store to purchase one meal for the family with a set amount of cash can be a real eye-opener.  

Encourage your teen to research.   Whenever you’re planning to make a purchase, ask your teen to go online and look for the best buy. If you’re planning a vacation, involve your teenager with the budget and hotel, plane, and car reservations. 

While teaching your teen about money might not make them a multi-millionaire, it can give them a head-start to a brighter financial future.