Weather is unpredictable at best, and heading into a change of seasons makes it even more so. Here are some helpful tips to prepare your home for the coming winter. These are things that will help to protect your investment - your home.

Systems Check
This is the time to make sure that your home’s critical systems are all functioning properly and ready to go into service. This is the right time to get things checked out by the people who know what to look for.

Every couple of years you should inspect your heating system. A general tune up, like replacing filters ensures the system functions optimally and efficiently.

If your home relies on a sump pump, make sure that it has been maintained and working properly.

With homes with aging roofs, it is important to have an inspection every few years. Many roofing companies are happy to do this for free. If concerns are identified you may be able to deal with them immediately and avoid much bigger issues.

The Winter Check List
Here are a few important things every home owner should be doing each winter season. They don't take long and don't require special expertise.

Safely inspect your eaves. Make sure that drains are free of debris. During the winter the snow on a home's roof can warm up and melt. The run-off then freezes and creates a dam, which can back up more run-off, damaging roofing and eaves drops.

If you live where it snows, make sure you are stocked up on things like salt and you have a snow shovel.

It’s not winter yet, but before you know, it will be here. Hopefully these tips will help to make sure you and your home are winter ready.

Our health is the most important investment that we can make. Eating better has a direct impact on our overall health. Here we’ve assembled some useful tips to improve your health by eating better.

Change how much you eat. It’s not uncommon for us to eat more than we need. Men should typically eat 1,800 to 2,100 per day and women we should typically eat 1,500 – 1,800 calories per day.

Protein is really good for you. Protein helps to stabilize your metabolism and help it work more efficiently. Protein in the morning helps to keep the appetite under control because it makes you feel fuller.

Whole grains. They help to keep your cholesterol under control because of they are an excellent source of soluble fibre.

Fruits & veggies. These are packed with nutrients and phytonutrients. They are low in calories, a high source of fibre.

If you approach this gradually you will have more success. Try implementing one step at a time, and if you fall off your program, don’t be discouraged - just get back at it.