(BPT) - We all have heroes in our lives who go under the radar. Often among the first to make quiet, inconspicuous sacrifices for the ones they love are dads and father figures. Last year was challenging for most families, and this coming Father’s Day gives us an opportunity to show our appr…

(BPT) - Owning a home is the cornerstone of the American dream. There's nothing like having a permanent plot of land you can call your own.

(BPT) - Pets nationwide are considered beloved members of the family. In fact, pet ownership throughout the U.S. has skyrocketed, with approximately 12.6 million Americans opening their home to a new pet since March 2020, according to a study by the American Pet Products Association.

(BPT) - A fresh new color scheme, the sparkle of quartz and a chic tile layout can transform your bath from drab to fab. But when we renovate, sometimes we prioritize style over function when we could achieve both.

(BPT) - As we head into the warmer months, we can always look forward to those seasonal staples — from staying cool in the pool to indulging on snow cones for that sweet summer feeling. How do we continue to munch on our favorites without that guilty feeling of overindulgence on unhealthy sn…

(BPT) - Blending fashion and function, the best bathroom design addresses needs of the homeowner while also reflecting their personal tastes. What often separates good from great design can be found in the details.

(BPT) - Just because you’re not a homeowner (yet) doesn’t mean your stuff is disposable. Chances are you’ve got pricey electronics, musical instruments or other valuables you wouldn’t want to lose to theft or damage.

(BPT) - Sleep is essential for everyone. It's what allows the body and the mind to recharge at the end of every day. Without sufficient, healthy sleep, the brain and the body cannot function properly, so it's important to recognize signs that you might not be getting quality sleep.

(BPT) - COVID-19 has shaken communities worldwide. Despite strenuous efforts by caregivers and medical professionals alike, people needing long-term care and living in communal care settings have suffered gravely. According to a New York Times database, almost one-third of U.S. coronavirus d…

(BPT) - The products you put on your body matter as much as the ones you put in your body. That’s why so many cosmetic labels now include buzzwords like “clean,” “natural” or “organic.”

(BPT) - Parkinson’s Disease (PD) impacts up to one in 15 individuals in the United States. People with PD often experience symptoms that impact their movement, like tremors, shuffling feet while walking, “freezing,” and stiffness in the arms and legs. While medications are available to help …

(BPT) - Life at home has been harder on your hair than you might realize. If you have found yourself stretching the time between hair washes, wearing a perpetual ponytail in a hair elastic, or twisting and twirling strands with your fingertips on virtual office calls, your hair is ready for …

(BPT) - The sound of the sizzle, the smell of foods cooking outdoors, the undeniable taste — it’s time to get back to the barbecue. For many people, a grill becomes a second kitchen. For others, it’s their primary way of cooking all year long.

(BPT) - No art form engages all five senses the way cuisine can. We hear it being prepared, we smell it and see it as our anticipation builds, we feel it on the lips and in the mouth, and of course taste its delicious flavors. All five senses come together to complete an immersive sensory ex…

(BPT) - An often-overlooked aspect of elder abuse is cybercrime — and it’s a problem that’s getting worse.In 2020, the FBI reported a record amount of cybercrime complaints — nearly 800,000 — adding up to over $4.1 billion in losses. More than half of those losses were suffered by people age…

(BPT) - Collagen is the glue that holds your body together. Whether it's your hair, your skin or your nails, collagen provides the structure your body needs to keep everything intact. That’s one of many reasons it’s been trending so much in recent years. Your body makes it by combining amino…

(BPT) - When Phil Green, a husband and father to four children, was diagnosed with ALS in 2018, he decided he was going to dedicate his life to advocating for other people and families affected by the disease. It’s something he believes his life prior to diagnosis had prepared him to do, so …

(BPT) - Arthritis is a common health condition in the United States, affecting one in four adults according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Characterized by the inflammation of one or more joints, arthritis can cause joint pain, stiffness and swelling that can limit one’s …

(BPT) - As one of the world’s top paratriathletes, Amy Dixon is always looking forward. Even though an autoimmune disorder has taken away most of her ability to see, she has extraordinary vision for reaching her goals.

(BPT) - According to a new survey, routine activities are making people feel unsafe, including walking through a parking lot or garage or even taking a run.

(BPT) - You check your alarms regularly and practice your emergency escape plan — but are you overlooking an essential component of home safety? Having fire extinguishers — and knowing how to use them — is important to help ensure your home and family are prepared for the unexpected.

(BPT) - Feeling itchy, sneezy and congested? If you or a family member find your allergies are worse this year — or if you have allergy symptoms for the first time — you are not alone. The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America reports over 50 million people suffer from allergies nationwid…

(BPT) - Congratulations on your new puppy or kitten! Like babies, kittens and puppies have special nutritional needs. To help establish the foundation for a future of good health, welcome your new pet with the right foods packed with proper nutrients, and feed them appropriately for their ag…

(BPT) - As summer approaches, it’s time to get outside and bask in the warmth and sunshine. But it’s not easy to bare your body when you have eczema. Those with eczema-prone skin know the signs and symptoms — the itchiness, redness and dryness that indicates a flare-up. Nothing can be more i…

(BPT) - Paid Content by Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc

(BPT) - What are two things that dads all over America would love to do the most this coming summer?

(BPT) - The best time of year to sell a boat fast and for the most money is before the height of the boating season, plus any time when demand for boats is strong and supply is low. That means, if you’re looking for cash and have a boat you’re willing to sell, now is a great time to get top dollar.

(BPT) - For many Americans, a run to the grocery store is a simple task. You quickly grab items off the shelf with the next week of meals in mind. By the time you get up to the checkout counter, your cart is full of essentials and you swipe your card without a second thought. But for many ot…

(BPT) - As the world looks with hope to the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, there lies another ongoing health crisis that, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), kills more Americans than anything else: heart disease. In the last year, heart disease claimed more than 690…

(BPT) - When is the last time you replaced your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms? Smoke and CO alarms are critical elements of home safety. Yet, many people overlook replacing their batteries — or even the alarms themselves. Fire safety experts have linked the incidence of fatal fires t…

(StatePoint) Are you an older adult looking for your next big adventure? The Peace Corps is encouraging U.S. adult citizens to volunteer their service abroad to promote world peace and friendship.

(BPT) - Many people are reassessing goals in light of the turmoil of the last year. There is a renewed focus on gaining control of finances, especially through increased saving and getting professional advice. Even Americans who did not lose work lost a sense of confidence in the economy.

(BPT) - She's the rock-solid foundation of your family, the one everyone turns to when they need help or comfort, and who always seems to know the right thing to do or the best words to say.

(BPT) - The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our lives in more ways than we could have imagined, but one unexpected impact is the long-term symptoms some people are experiencing for weeks or months after recovering from the disease, a syndrome called long COVID. Researchers estimate 10% to 30%…

(BPT) - Dinner menus, smartphones and computer screens are all things you encounter daily. But have you noticed that since turning 40, you're having issues seeing them clearly? If you've found yourself holding the menu at arm's distance, increasing your phone's font size to read text message…

(BPT) - There’s nothing like the arrival of warmer weather to get you energized to pick up some home improvement projects.

(BPT) - As days are getting longer and temperatures are heating up, people are enjoying more time outdoors and this requires updating skincare routines for the months ahead. During the spring and summer, people are exposed to stronger UV rays from the sun and for longer periods of time, whic…

(BPT) - Heather, of Yorba Linda, California, was diagnosed with a form of leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), in late 2017. One morning, when she woke up extremely pale and covered with bruises, she sought medical help to see what was wrong. After contacting her doctor, who ran her blood…

(BPT) - Medicare fraud is not a new issue and long predates the pandemic, but during times of crisis, scammers often get more aggressive and creative with targeting seniors. Scammers have taken ample advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic by offering Medicare beneficiaries fraudulent services, r…

(BPT) - When they first got together, Andy and Nicole Hill thought they were doing fine financially. They made about $130,000 a year. They bought what they wanted and went out to dinner when they felt like it. When they decided to figure out their net worth, they were in for a shock: It was …

(BPT) - As most Americans have heard by now, whole grains are good for us — dietary guidance tells us to “make half our grains whole,” cereal boxes and bread bags tout their whole grain goodness, and news headlines repeat the message.

(BPT) - The pandemic created a lot of uncertainty for people, especially when it comes to their finances: unemployment was up, spending was down and pretty much everything felt like a roller coaster. One year after much of the world shut down due to the coronavirus, it’s time to rebuild your…