(BPT) - Lives. Homes. Furniture. Even beds. People share a lot when a dog or cat is part of the family. Unfortunately, one trait that far too many owners and pets have in common is excess weight. In fact, two-thirds of U.S. adults and 55 percent of U.S. pets are considered overweight, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2010, and the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 2012 Pet Obesity Study.

Do you have treasured childhood memories of spending time outdoors with your parents or grandparents? Take the time to share this experience with your own grandchildren. Pack a lunch, put on some sunscreen and take them on your own hiking or fishing adventure.

(NAPSI)—When mosquito season is here, Americans need to be vigilant about protecting themselves and their families. Not only are mosquitoes a terrible nuisance, they can carry West Nile virus, so it’s essential to do all you can to keep the bloodthirsty biters away.

(BPT) - Few things in life are as special as the unconditional love and loyalty a pet provides. With 78.2 million owned dogs and 86.4 million owned cats in the United States, according to The Humane Society, it’s obvious Americans enjoy having pets. What might not be so apparent is how best to care for them. When it comes to making sure your pet stays healthy and lives as long as possible, what steps can you take?

(StatePoint) Do you have treasured childhood memories of spending time outdoors with your parents or grandparents? Take the time to share this experience with your own grandchildren. Pack a lunch, put on some sunscreen and take them on your own hiking or fishing adventure.

(StatePoint) Each summer, parents look for ways to combat “summer brain drain,” which occurs when children lose some of the knowledge they gained during the school year because they’re not regularly exercising their brains. According to research from the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University, students typically lose one to two months of reading and math skills during summer break.

(BPT) - Man cave, manspace, manctuary ... whatever he calls it, it’s Dad’s special place away from the rest of the house. This Father’s Day, give Dad the ultimate gift and make him his own man cave. It’s easier than you think, and a thoughtful gift that says to Dad, “I love you, and you can run away from us now.”

(NAPSI)—Most hosts and hostesses agree that entertaining with ease in just the right setting starts with a clean space, indoors and out.

Summertime is here, which means warm weather and longer days. For parents, it also means finding ways to keep kids entertained and busy during the out-of-school months.   

According to an NBC News report, the mother of a baby boy found stuck in a residential building’s sewer pipe in China has been found, police told local media.

(NAPSI)—The best way to protect your family during an emergency situation is to have a disaster plan in place. If you are a pet owner, that plan must include your pets. A little preparation can save their lives.

(StatePoint) With summer travel season upon us, families across the country are taking to the open road for family road trips. But while the destination always leads to excitement, oftentimes the long car ride can be a drag.

(BPT) - Sunnier skies and summertime fun are just around the corner, and with them comes plenty of outdoor activities like long days at the playground, sporting events and barbecues. With so many options, the last thing most people want to think about is household responsibilities … but all that outdoor fun can add up to a lot of laundry.

(BPT) - The second the school bell rings signaling that school’s out for summer, it seems that children immediately forget everything they’ve studied over the past nine months. When they return to school in the fall, playing catch up takes time.

(StatePoint) Do you have treasured childhood memories of spending time outdoors with your parents or grandparents? This summer, take the time to share this experience with your own children. Pack a lunch, put on some sunscreen and take them on your own hiking or fishing adventure.

(BPT) - Family vacations are always a great time for family bonding and exploring new places. With some careful planning, the trip can be packed full of fun from the minute you lock the front door to the minute you arrive back home, exhausted and ready to share stories of your adventures with friends and family.

Although it’s not much, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” really deserves credit where credit’s due. Its 2009 predecessor was one of the dumbest action movies of the past 10 years. In this sequel, director Jon M. Chu of those “Step Up” movies makes an attempt to incorporate some humor, creative action sequences, and impressive visuals. That doesn’t mean “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” is a good movie, but at least it’s an improvement. The film could have gone down the route of the “Transformers” series, which only got worse with every entry.

(NewsUSA) - While the season's warmer weather offers great opportunity for games of fetch with Fido, it also brings increased risk from exposure to pests, particularly ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and stinging insects. Safeguarding dogs and cats begins with discussions with your veterinarian, but in addition to prescribed healthcare repellents and preventatives, there are several things that can be done to make your yard inhospitable to the stinging, biting troublemakers.

The beautiful days of summer are here again. The sun is out, the air is fresh, the grass is green and the opportunities are endless for fun-in-the-sun birthday parties. The three summer months – June to August – rank in the top five for most American births, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. So chances are good you’ll be hosting or attending a summer birthday this year. You can go to the waterpark or visit the batting cages any day, but your child’s birthday is special.

Do you have treasured childhood memories of spending time outdoors with your parents or grandparents? This summer, take the time to share this experience with your own children. Pack a lunch, put on some sunscreen and take them on your own hiking or fishing adventure.

(BPT) - When you’re done with spring cleaning, you may assume you’ve eliminated any allergy triggers that were lurking in your home. But the truth is, if you don’t clean the right way, you might be making the problem worse.

(BPT) - Adding living space to your home can be an expensive prospect. However, creating an outdoor room is a budget-friendly option that gives you more square footage, as well as additional opportunities to enjoy the season. As an extension of the home, outdoor rooms with decks or pergolas can be personalized to truly bring indoor comforts outside for relaxation and entertaining.