Keeping up with the seasons: time for fall tasks It’s about time for cooler weather here in the PNW! Whether or not you’re psyched for milder temps and rain, if you’re a homeowner, you ought to read this piece from our friends at Cincinnati – it goes over several tasks to prep for the onset of fall. We’re less than...

From supply chains to outdoor barriers: 4 restaurant risks in the post-COVID-19 environment We may be approaching a point where COVID is much less impactful on our day-to-day lives, but labor and supply chain shortages are still causing plentiful issues for so many industries. Restaurants are no exception. This article from our partners at Liberty Mutual explains the top four...

Trouble focusing? Try these tips to build attention span More people than ever are experiencing issues focusing and struggling with shortened attention spans. This article from our partners at Kaiser sheds light on why, and lists four tips from a psychiatrist on how to improve your focus. If you’ve been struggling to focus, you’re not alone. Human attention spans are...

Seatbelt use down, crash fatalities up The last few years have seen an increase of traffic fatalities involving unbelted riders. Our friends at PEMCO shared some troubling statistics, including data showing that the PNW may be especially guilty of failing to buckle up. Remember – seatbelts save lives! We may be getting lazier about buckling up, study says People still...

Tips to help control insurance costs We get it – it’s frustrating when your rates go up with no apparent explanation. (It happens to us, too!) While some of it is tied to inflation and thus out of your hands, this great article from our partners at Cincinnati explains how you can exert some control over your premiums, including the...

What is a trust? It’s pretty simple to grasp the basic definition of a trust, but there’s a lot of nuances that can be harder to parse. This piece from our friends at The Hartford breaks it down – how trusts work and how they differ from wills; common reasons why people create a trust; the different types of trusts;...

Independence Day 2022: fireworks policies in & around Vancouver In 2021, on the tails of a record-breakingly hot June (remember how it was hotter than the Mojave Desert in Portland for a second there?!), a fireworks ban was instated across Multnomah and Clark counties. Those bans have since been lifted; however don’t think just because we had a super-rainy...

How can I make my refrigerator last longer? Want to extend the life of your refrigerator? Follow the below pointers from our friends at Pemco, including one surprising tip about where not to store dairy items. (And yes, some of these are focused on deep-cleaning your fridge… be sure to have some ice cream set by in the freezer to...

Landlord-friendly states If you’ve ever considered buying an investment property, you aren’t alone – statistics show that as many as 10.6 million Americans earn rental income – but some states are more attractive than others for prospective landlords. Our partners at Foremost compiled this list of factors that dictate how landlord-friendly a state might be. You may dream about owning...

The healthiest oils for home cooking When it comes to selecting the best cooking oil for a given dish, there’s so much to consider – what temp will it be heated to? Or is it going into a salad dressing? And health-wise, which ones check the right boxes – refined vs. unrefined; saturated vs. unsaturated? Fortunately, our friends at Kaiser...