A Consistent Approach

Back-to-school can be a challenging time - for both you and your children. The change in routines might be quite different for each member of the family - earlier mornings, homework and after school activities are just a few of the changes. With a consistent approach, this change can be made relatively seamlessly. Here are five tips to help

Consistency is key. Develop and organize the family schedule. Specify times and routines for morning & bedtimes, homework, household chores and playtime. Starting early will allow you to hit the ground running when the school year gets into full swing.

Rise and shine. Establish bedtimes and times to start the day. Set a routine that will allow everybody, including you, the time they need to get organized for the following day and ready each morning.

Time and space. Assign a consistent time and place in the house for doing homework. This practice is the best way to avoid the last minute rush to finish homework, and it reinforces a structured approach to learning.

Trash duty. Whether it’s actually taking out the garbage, doing the dishes after dinner or walking the dog in the morning, having regular chores to take care of teaches children responsibility.

Fun zone. We all need a little time for ourselves. It can be as simple as playtime for younger children or even an after school sports activity or music lesson.

Before you know it, the whole family will be back into the swing of it! We hope you and your family had a fantastic summer.

Better Eating, Better Living

Typically, Canadians generally eat too much and it's a fact that obesity among children is on the rise in the nation. With summer vacation over and the back to school routine getting under way, this is a great time to look at eating better. Here are five things that you can do to take a first step to eating better.

Cut back. Even Canadians generally eat too much. For
women, shoot for around 1,500 – 1,800 calories per
day, and men aim at 1,800 to 2,100 per day.

Eat protein. Not only is it essential, protein will
actually help to slim your waistline.

Go whole grain. Whole grains are a great source of soluble fibre to help keep cholesterol under control.

Fruits & veggies. These foods are low in calories, high in fibre and are packed with essential nutrients and phytonutrients.

The key. Making changes to your lifestyle is often more successful and sustainable if it happens gradually. Try implementing one step at a time.

Gardening Tool Tips

Your gardening tools should have regular maintenance. For even the most avid gardeners, the routine of garden tool care doesn't require a great deal of effort. Here is a simple 3-part approach to maintaining and storing your garden tools.

Clean Use a wire brush and completely remove all dirt and garden debris from the metal parts of tools. Keeping these parts dirt free will help to prohibit rust and make them ready for use the next time you want them. Wipe clean the wooden parts with soapy water and a rag.

Sharpen You can sharpen your own digging tools using a flat metal file. Be sure to wear gloves and use safety glasses. For tools with a refined cutting edge, like the lawnmower blade or garden shears, it’s better to take them to a professional.

Store For the metal parts of your tools, wipe them down with an oiled rag to prevent rusting - a little motor oil works fine. Use linseed oil and wipe down all the wooden parts; this will prevent them from drying and splintering.

Tip: Store all your tools in the same place, and for hand tools, store them in a bin or basket so they’ll be easy to locate later.

With regular maintenance and proper storage, your tools will retain their usefulness for years to come.

A Helping Hand

Patricia was finding it difficult to get the support that the family needed. “It was becoming difficult to find a financial institute that would deal with a mortgage on new land,” Patricia says.

Patricia and her family were looking for a mortgage that would fit a specific monthly budget; what they found was lender willing to help. “The website that was easy to use and so we contacted Capital Direct” Daniel explains, “We have mortgage we want and have paid off some debts.”

You've worked hard to build equity in your home, so why not ‘let your house lend a hand‘ © when you need it most! Contact a Capital Direct mortgage specialist to discover your options.

“Friendly service and quick
responses to questions was outstanding.”

Back to School Sudoku

7
4
8	5

5
9	1
7	6

	4
		5
		3

		2
6


8		1


		4
8

2
1
	3

	8	3
	5	6
		9

	6	1
		9
		8

Click here to view the solution

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