Spring Is Here Time To Plant Your Garden

Spring Is Here Time To Plant Your Garden
     The days are finally starting to get a little longer and definitely warmer especially here on the west coast where it seems that winter must have past us by. Every year at this time of year I start thinking about what I'm going to do in the garden. What am I going to grow that will be different than last year. So now that spring is here it's time to get ready to plant the garden. 


Raised Bed Gardening
Personally this is how I plant my garden in raised beds in the backyard. I have several to keep me busy throughout the summer months. These consist of boxes made of wood that I have filled with mulch. I much prefer this type of gardening now to the large half acre that we had when I was a kid. When your a kid though you really don't mind bending so far over to pull the weeds but as you get a little older then it helps to have these raised beds so you don't have to bend over so far. Especially for people with bad backs or other problems like that. Depending on your location though and how much space you have in your yard will determine what type of gardening you would like to do.
Container Gardening
 Container Gardening is really great for people who have very little space in their yard or they really don't want to grow that many plants so they don't need a whole raised bed but a couple of wine barrels cut in half with two or three tomatoe plants and some cucumbers thrown in for good measure and they have a pretty good little garden that takes up very little space in their yard or even on thier balcony if that's what you have. My grandmother always had a regular garden but then she had a container garden that consisted of some old tires filled with mulch. One of the things you need to watch out for with container gardening is the plants will generally need a little more water than normal since the container is exposed to the outside air and it gets a little hotter especially if you live where it's hot. So give those container plants plenty of water.
 If any for that matter. Some people's idea of gardening is going to the local grocery produce aisle and that is good too. I have so many great fruits and vegetables to try to grow that way. 
My Plan
So that's my plan to get my garden going hopefully this week or next before it starts to get really hot out. Do you plan to have a garden this year? If so what do you like to grow in it?    
 tomato sans aqua, a photo by Darwin Bell on Flickr.

Age Related Macular Degeneration

What is Age Related Macular Degeneration?

     Age Related Macular Degeneration often times known as AMD is very common in people over the age of 65. I know that's pretty much the middle of the baby boomers retirement age right. Well, taking care of your eyesight is a very important matter as we age. AMD is one of the number one causes of loss of eyesight for those over the age of 65. This is not your typical thing where you just need glasses to read this is more serious damage to the retinal cells of the eyes. That can actually blind you in the central part of your vision that is so important for driving and reading. Hey which of us wants to depend on someone else for driving us around? Not me, for sure that would be giving up too much independence. What can you do. There are two types of AMD dry AMD which is the most common and it is caused by deteriorating tissue that builds up slowly over the years around the macula which is part of your retina. As this tissue builds up slowly you lose you vision. Then there is wet AMD that is actually caused by a growth of blood vessels under and around your retina which leak blood. This blood and other fluid damages the retinal tissues and kills the retinal cells slowly over time. There were two studies done the AREDS and AREDS 2 that is still ongoing by the National Eye Institute on the effects of high doses of vitamins on AMD and Cataracts. If you are at risk for these diseases you may consider taking these supplements but only with your doctors consent. Always talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement as they may not go with some other med you are taking. The Supplement is put out by Bausch + Lomb and it's called Ocuvite Preservision. So if your doctor is on board you might want to give it a try and see if you get some relieve from AMD symptoms. I think we all have a lot of worst fears as we age and losing our sight or ability to drive is one of them.

Save Money With Amazon Coupon Codes

Save Money With Amazon Coupon Codes

     We have probably all shopped at Amazon.com first for books and then for pretty much everything under the sun right. But as we are looking towards retirement amazon has always been a nice way to save a few dollars. Sure you had to pay for shipping but they had a really good deal where you didn't have to pay for the tax. Most states are now enacting laws to make us pay taxes on everything we purchase on Amazon.com so that little loophole is slowly disappearing for us all. But now there are Amazon Coupon Codes.

Amazon Coupon Codes

     Amazon Coupon Codes are codes that you put in during checkout that are just as good as having a coupon but you don't have to cut anything out of the newspaper. So during the checkout procedure on Amazon.com one of the last questions before checkout is, do you have any coupon codes and there will be a little box to type in your code. So how do you get Amazon Coupon Codes? How do you get anything nowadays? Simple right, you Google it that's how ask any 8 year old they can tell you. So before you make your purchase you simply Google Amazon Coupon Codes and some websites will pop up that have the daily codes and when you are checking out of Amazon you put in the code and you save money either directly on the purchase or you get free shipping or whatever. So next time you are buying a gift on Amazon.com try getting a coupon code on Google first let me know if this saves you some money. If you like this post please five it a Facebook like or a Google +1

Get In Shape

Boomers Get In Shape

     A lot of boomers here are in very good shape but a lot could do a little better in the workout department. Now were not talking about doing 100 push ups and running 5 miles before breakfast like you may have done when you were twenty years old to get in shape. This is not about keeping up with twenty year olds anymore this is about keeping our hearts and our bodies healthy and in shape and giving us a way to get out in the world and be social. Because humans are social animals and we need that social aspect to our lives. Somewhere they say, I know who are they? But, they do that people with friends and support live longer happier lives.

Workouts

     There are a lot of different  types of workouts that you can do to keep yourself in shape. It all depends on where you are starting at. Now if you haven't been off the couch in a year and have just decided it's time to get off the couch and start with a workout, congratulations that is the first step. But, your first workout might only be to start walking a little ways maybe only around the block at first. We are only taking baby steps here. Then after a few weeks of that  you will want to do around the block twice. So on and so on. For those of you that have been doing a regular workout program you know the different things that you can do but don't forget to throw some change into your workout routine. Just to mix things up. You can workout with some of those workout bands that provide resistance. Resistance Bands are practically a workout machine in themselves you can do almost all types of workouts with them. You name it you can do it with resistance bands.  Step Classes, these classes are in a group and you simply step up and down on a plastic step that's made for the purpose to music. Now I'm kind of challenged when it comes to having any kind of dance technique and that definitely showed when I actually took a step class. Also, I thought oh this is for the ladies and it will be so easy. Man was I ever wrong. I was huffing and puffing like you wouldn't believe. I definitely recommend it. It is a good cardio exercise. If you are a man don't be surprised if those ladies don't show you up a couple of times. Plates was originally designed as a way for dancers to stretch and man does it ever teach you to stretch out. It also makes you very limber. I recommend it.

Workout Machines

Elliptical machines and exercise bikes are very good ways to get aerobic exercise without the jarring and knee injuries common in running and other sports of that nature so they are very popular with the boomer population. As with the other exercises start small and work up to a longer program.

Why Boomers Should Workout

     Why boomers should workout well for all the reasons listed above in the first paragraph. For the social aspect of working out and the fitness aspect not to mention that the goal is to live a longer healthier life. But, also we are all living longer and since 50 is the new 40 and 60 is the new 50 everyone wants to look their best. Not to mention if you are in shape you can still catch the eye of the guy or girl across the way. I don't think that feeling ever goes away. So there are many reasons boomers should workout. If you know someone who is sitting on the couch invite them to the gym next time you go. The worst ones are the guys, especially who just retired for some reason they haven't figured out what to do with themselves yet.

Ask Your Dr. First

     Before starting any type of new workout program you should get the okay from your physician. Since I am not your Doctor I can not make personal recommendations for your own health care situation you should check with your own physician.

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Boomerang Kids How To Handle Yours

What is a Boomerang Kid?
     The term boomerang kid was coined because it's about kids that after they go out into the workforce or off to college they return home to live with mom and dad. So much like a boomerang you throw them out into the world and back they come. Sometimes over and over. Hopefully not for your sake or theirs but sometimes. If your child is coming back from college to live with you then maybe this will make this time a little less stressful for everyone involved.
Why Do Boomerang Kids Move Back Home?
     If you were anything like me when you go out of your parents house be it to college, the military or a job somewhere, the last thing you wanted to do was move back in with mom and dad. Am I right about that? I mean come on we had all the freedom we wanted we could come and go as we pleased with no one telling us what to do or when to do it. Besides maybe Uncle Sam.
     The reason many boomerang kids are moving back home now is the economy. The unemployment rate is very high in general but for kids that are just out of college age it is much higher. Some economists put it at upwards of 18% or so. So that is one reason they are moving home in droves. Also since so many are moving home now it's kind of acceptable to their peer groups. If you or I had moved home with our parents we would have been made fun of by our freinds but for your son or daughter many of their friends have done the same thing so it's okay. One other reason kids are moving home is lifestyle. The lifestyle you provide at your home is definitely much nicer than the one they can afford to provide themselves on their own salary if they do have a job. Think about it. I'm sure mom might still do their laundry and cook some or all of their meals and clean up for them. Not to mention giving them some cash when they are short or helping to pay for student loans. Then there are just the housing conditions look at the size and possibly location of your home compared to the small apartment they live in. Our kids are very entitled and dont' realize all the costs of running a home. Others still move home due to relationship problems where the other spouse or was the breadwinner.

Set Some Expectations and Rules
     The best way for all of you to survive this experience is to set some expectations and rules for your boomerang child. They can be simple but remember this is not a child anymore they are your child but they are adults.
Expectations for Boomerang Kids

• Pay Rent - whatever is appropriate and near market rate for a one bedroom at least. Even if you save all the money and give it back to them when they move out at least they save room in their budget so they can afford rent. If they don't have the bill then they will just spend the money and they will never be able to afford rent.
• They Have To Follow The Rules of The House - As far as having people over and smoking drinking partying that type of thing. You may be surprised how much your child has changed since going away to college.

• They Need To Cook Some Meals and Clean Their Toilets - if it's too easy at mom and dad's they will never leave. Heck if I lived at a hotel that provided free room service and I could leave a mess every morning that would be cleaned up by the maid I would never leave either
• This is Not Open Ended - So they can stay only for six months or a year or whatever you decide that they need to get back on their feet and you need to stick to it.

These guidelines will help to make this change in living situation better for all of you. Just remember to put a time limit on it that way if it's not working out you always think to yourself hey it's only one more month to go.
     Try to steer clear of giving your adult child cash or paying their bills this could really derail your plans for your own retirement. Think about it they have years and years to plan and fund a retirement but you are coming down to the wire and your adult children can unknowingly derail years of careful planning and saving. So good luck to you and your family as you go through this time. Also try to enjoy it as well because it is kind of a good thing to see how your child has grown up. Some of it you will be so impressed by. Always remember they economy will get better and it will no longer be cool to live with mom and dad.
     If you know someone going through this please forward this too them. If this post helps you through this transition please Facebook like or Google +1 it, thank you. 

Boomerang, a photo by Mundoo on Flickr.