The Move

I think Jakey was not liking this empty place too much - already missing his couch and bed - and whiny -poor guy!

Left our home today.. and Alberta bound! ( You can see Jakey is up on the dash in this picture!)

And we are off ! But not one to say good bye - but see you again soon-

 and back to get mom in a few weeks, for her upcoming move , so we’ll be around again..

When it’s the cheapest gas in town - yeah you have a line up and have to wait …. 1.89 / litre in Saskatoon, Sask. today, as opposed to the 2.19 back home.

Check Out the Hottest Toys of the Season From Gazillion Bubbles

With Summer fully underway, Gazillion Bubbles is the hottest toy for every young kid this season. Gazillion Bubbles creates innovative bubble toys that let kids blow perfect bubbles every time. With Gazillion Bubbles, you’ll run out of breath before you run out of bubbles! It’s an affordable way to have endless hours of fun.

 

Check out the hottest toys of the season from Gazillion Bubbles.

Gazillion Bubbles Incredibubble Wand

Create GIANT bubbles with the Gazillion Bubbles Incredibubble Wand! Dip the wand into the specially formulated GIANT bubble solution and wave to make massive incredibubbles! Simply pour the solution into the provided tray, dip the wand into the solution, and give it a wave to create incredibubbles!

 

Retail Availability: Walmart Canada

MSRP: $12.98 CAD

Ages: 3+ 

Gazillion Bubbles Whirlwind

Instantly create a bubble party with the Gazillion Bubbles Whirlwind Party Machine!  With no pump and no wait time, you can get the party started in a flash. This ultimate bubble party machine blasts 7500 bubbles per minute at the push of a button!

Retail Availability: Walmart Canada

MSRP: $29.98 CAD

Ages: 3+ 

I can even see the adults and the teens having fun with these!

Happy Father's Day

Wishing all dad's, grandpas, fur baby dads and more... all a wonderful Father's Day! Enjoy YOUR day!

Ready For Your Next RV Adventure?

Have you heard of Harvest Hosts?

Members can visit and stay overnight at any of their 3233+ stunning locations without any camping fees! Why? Because  members support the wonderful Hosts they visit by purchasing local wines and products, all while making lasting memories.

I just signed up and can't wait to visit some of the many great locations! 

And right now you can save 15% with my referral link! 

Let's both have some great adventures!

Summer Game Hits for the Kids

We’re thrilled to share some special new launches for the summer by leading board game distributor, Asmodee Canada!

Betta and Box Monster, are sure to be a huge hit for kids this summer.

Be sure to pick them up for your youngsters this summer.

Box Monster is the perfect game to teach communication skills in a fun way to children. As a team, players must reach into the box and help each other find pairs of unique shapes before the time runs out. Players must always pull out the same shape at the same time, so good communication is a necessity. Kids learn teamwork and pattern recognition at the same time while playing this highly addictive, super fun game.

Discover the wonderful world of the Betta. They are

beautiful and colorful, but their displays need to be

organized so that they really stand out. In Betta, all you

need to do is display the fish by using them to create

different patterns. You are assigned a species of betta and

to score points, that species must be the one that appears

the most in the various displays.

10 Interesting Facts About Employee Retention

In the past, there was a question about how much power lied in the hands of employees, but in today's market, there is no question that they do have a lot of power. Leaders have to pay attention to their employees in order to retain their workforce, and employee loyalty and skill taxonomy is the key to running a successful business, but it can be difficult to earn.

It can be difficult to pin point why an excellent employee chose to leave a business, but here are 10 interesting facts and ideas that you can use to help improve your employee retention rate.

1. Employees are four times more likely to leave their place of employment due to poor or bad performances from their boss.

Managers should always be held to higher standards, because it has been proven that managers that are held to high standards tend to get better reviews from their employees. Employees that rate their manager's performance low, are more likely to go searching for another job, rather than fight for their current one.

It is important to make sure that your managers have the best training possible, prior to being let loose on employees. Managers that have actual manager training tend to do better with their employees, increasing the employee retention rate. One of the worst things an employer can do is promote managers prematurely.

2. Employees want to stay at a position where the business culture encourages upward feedback.

Feedback at a company should not only flow one way. Employees should feel free to also provide feedback on upper management. Those that don't feel this option are 16% more likely to seek employment somewhere else. In order for a company to run successfully and have a successful employee retention rate, the flow of feedback and information needs to run both ways. There should be an open line of communication that gives employees the idea they have a voice in the company.

3. Come up with quality ways to make employees feel valued, otherwise they will start job searching.

About 34% of employees that find they are undervalued in their current job will start searching for a new job within a year. They want to feel like they matter in the workplace. It is important to come up with some way to validate and commend the work that your employees do, on a regular basis, to help fix this issue. 

4. Every time an employee quits, it will cost the company an average of 33% of their salary annually.

It costs a company time and money to train every new employee. Therefore, it is better to have a higher employee retention rate to keep from having to spend extra money on training all new people on a regular basis.

5. Employees are happier in general when there are clear on-boarding processes in place.

It is important that employees know their responsibilities and roles. It has been proven that more employees tend to be happy with their jobs when they know their boundaries and what is expected from them at the start. It keeps them from having to constantly seek out and ask what they should be doing during the work day.

6. It is important that an employee's work life is balanced to add more value to their job.

It is important that employees feel that their work life is balanced, because it actually make them 10% more likely to stick around with the company, rather than going out to look for another job.

7. Professional growth of an employee should be a top priority.

For most millennials, which makes up a large majority of the workforce today, professional growth and opportunities in the company they work for is extremely important. They want to feel like they are invested in the company that they work for, and these two things are the best way to make them feel that way.

8. Career advancement is always a major a way to help retain talent.

It has been proven that companies that provide their employees with skill building and advancement opportunities. Employees want to feel like that they have a future in their company, and it is an excellent way to help retain talent from searching for work elsewhere.

9. Employees who feel disrespected tend to search employment in other companies.

Everyone wants to be respected, and it has been proven that if employees feel like that are being disrespected by their fellow colleagues, they are about 26% more likely to search for another job and quit their current job. Respect and trust from senior management is also extremely important for most people to feel satisfied at their job.

10. Companies that have a bad culture have a low employee retention rate and breeds for a higher employee turnover.

The day-to-day culture of a company is extremely important to many employees. According to some poles, a lot of employees do not enjoy the un-personal aspect of a corporate culture, which causes them to search for a different job. They don't enjoy feeling like a corporate drone, and they want to know that they are appreciated.

Today's Random Thoughts

The move is getting closer for us. Just another 2 weeks. Mom has her place for sale too and coming with us as soon as hers sells. After doing some checking around Gerry was able to save us quite alot on movers - 1/2 price on what alot of others were charging. Mom is also going to get the same deal. Have been busy selling lots of things, so we don't have as much to take with us. It will a good move for all of us. Alot of family drama too about her moving, but she is happy to be going. She is 76 and needs good medical, less stress, and shopping therapy! Don't have alot of that in this small town. She will have to go for a hip replacement in 2 weeks though. Same time as our move so we are trying to balance all that into the mix.

We have Jakey too that is set for a dental cleaning in a couple of weeks- I couldn't imagine myself having dirty teeth for a year so he gets his cleaned too! I don't like the doggy breath anyhow.. so it's time for another cleaning. Only thing I don't like is that his isn't too happy after he comes out of his anesthetic. Just doesn't feel good for a bit. Poor guy got some ticks on him too from the last time we were out of town and were at the campground. Didn't even know till they all filled up on him. Gerry had to pull them off - so yucky! Now he is back on tick medication to prevent that happening again. He even had brought one into the bed, as I remember Gerry having one on his side in the morning!

On another note- isn't everyone just fed up with the price of gas and groceries on the rise?? With a 37' RV, gas isn't cheap to begin with, but these prices really are going to limit our travels. I have even noticed more downsizing of products in their sizing yet pricing is staying the same. Boy oh boy!

Today's Random Thoughts

With the tv playing in my ears behind me, ( Gerry is in the house now for the evening), I think I may have to update about things with us in little bullet points LOL.. sometimes I just can't concentrate with that outside noise.. This coming from someone that sleeps with a sound machine.

-Decided to get a booster shot. We have been yes, no, yes, no.. but have one set for June 10

- Been busy packing for our move mid- June and now mom wants to move so that's really making our heads spin. We sold our place. Possession date is June 24. We haven't found a new place though. We are hoping something will still come up but we at least have our RV that we can stay in in the meantime and we can store our stuff at our daughter's. I have to count on Gerry alot to do alot of the packing too with my limited mobility with my back also.

-Spent a week in the city for medical/ specialist appts- Gerry and I.  The 6-7 hour drive in the RV was a nightmare for most of the part. Our northern road is so rough and full of pot holes that it really hurts my back. We are trying to look at changing some of the seating in the RV.. and hopefully not much longer to have to drive on that road. Gerry is waiting on his results for his nuclear heart scan... and I was to see the vein doctor, and the dermatologist . I found out through my CT scan a while ago that my back had bulging discs and lumbar stenosis. Today I went for a X- ray on my SI Joint as well. I find I have to do daily exercises and walk to feel half way normal, and am on Gabapentin at night now so shooting nerve pain in my back I have been getting for about a year. So it's that, stretches, and just over the counter drugs too to get me through the day most times.

-I was inquiring about bio-identical hormones if anyone has heard about these.. well wow- its $2500, trips to the city for various appts.. and a ton of bloodwork. The lady that called me today said they take 17-21 vials of blood! Boy talk about donating blood! I can see why female celebrities are promoting it.. but it was more all those vials of blood they take that scared me more than the money side of it -LOL. I would love to hear from anyone who has had this done or knows of someone that has. 

Introducing Linkimals! Learning Possibilities Your Little Ones Can Link Up To

Straight from the Fisher-Price® Play Lab, we are excited to introduce you to your baby’s new crew of talking, singing, light-up friends! Fisher-Price® Linkimals® toys, introduce babies and toddler boys and girls to educational concepts like shapes, counting, colours, and first words with fun lights, music, and sing-along songs. For infants and toddlers 9 months and older, when Linkimals™ meet up with other friends, they light-up, talk, sing and play together! These interactive and educational toys got the Play Lab stamp of approval from tiny toy testers and are sure to get little ones’ and parents’ approval too!

 Linkimals™ Happy Shapes Hedgehog™

• The Linkimals™ Happy Shapes Hedgehog™ is packed with exciting play that grows along with your baby! Younger babies can spin, turn, toggle, and bat the activities on their buddy's back, or press the light-up buttons to hear songs and phrases about colours, shapes, and numbers. Then older babies can push or pull the hedgehog along for more fun music and sounds. 

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Linkimals™ Play Together Panda

• The Linkimals™ Play Together Panda from Fisher-Price® is a soft, take-along learning friend for babies with exciting lights, songs, and phrases that introduce shapes, counting, greetings and manners. Pressing the panda’s belly to get the lights and music playing helps introduce baby to the fun of cause and effect. And, it makes him giggle. Pandas are ticklish!

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Linkimals™ Counting Koala

• Climbing up a palm tree with their koala friend, baby makes a startling discovery: this tree grows squares, triangles and circles. The Linkimals™ Counting Koala from Fisher-Price is a musical learning friend for babies with exciting lights, songs, and phrases that introduce numbers, counting and shapes. Hands-on play, including a bat-at roller ball, shape spinner, and push buttons help strengthen your baby’s fine motor skills, while the exciting interactive content helps introduce cause and effect.

Linkimals™ Sit-to-Crawl Sea Turtle

• Baby can dive into exciting crawl-and-chase play with the Linkimals™ Sit-to-Crawl Sea Turtle from Fisher-Price®. This musical activity toy features two ways to play as babies grow from sitting up to crawling, plus fun music and phrases that teach the alphabet, counting and shapes.

Linkimals™ Smooth Moves Sloth™

• The Linkimals™ Smooth Moves Sloth™ gets your baby moving and learning with exciting lights, music, songs, and groovy dance moves. Press the buttons on the sloth's feet to hear all about numbers, colors and more, as the sloth claps its hands and bobs its head. 

Linkimals™ Cool Beats Penguin™

• The Fisher-Price® Linkimals™ Cool Beats Penguin™ musical toy is a super chill dance partner for baby with fresh tunes, multi-color lights, and jammin’ moves. When kids press the buttons, the penguin flaps its flippers and bobs side to side while music and phrases introduce the alphabet, opposites, and more.

5 Tax Tips for Small Businesses from Tax Relief Companies

 

When it comes to tax season, small business owners have a lot to worry about. Figuring out how to file taxes can be confusing and making sure you're taking all the deductions you're eligible for can be tricky. That's where Tax Relief Companies come in. They offer tax preparation and filing services, as well as advice on how to get the most tax relief possible.

If you're a small business owner, here are some tax tips to keep in mind when dealing with relief companies:

Research

Research different tax relief companies before choosing one. Different tax relief providers offer different services, so it's important to do your research and find one that offers exactly what you need.

Your choice may be determined by the amount of advice you require. This could be because of the size and complexity of your business. Tax relief companies are knowledgeable about different kinds of businesses and how taxes can be reduced as well as how payments can be made affordable for them.

File Taxes on Time

Make sure you're filing your taxes on time. One of the worst things you can do is procrastinate when it comes to your taxes. If you're behind on your tax filings, tax relief companies may be able to help, but it's always best to file on time if possible.

You want to avoid penalties for late submission of tax returns as this will only add to a business’s tax bill, when saving money is what effectively managing taxes is all about. You also do not want to prompt a tax investigation, as this could prove costly and time-consuming, even if you have insured against it.

Proactive Tax Planning

Be proactive about tax planning. One of the best things you can do for your business is to plan when it comes to taxes. This means staying on top of tax law changes, tax relief options, and tax deductions so that you can take advantage of all available tax breaks. With good tax planning, you can avoid having to deal with these types of problems in the first place.

Hiring Tax Professionals

Tax professionals are an alternative to hiring tax relief companies. While tax relief companies can be valuable resources, their fees may be beyond the budget of smaller companies. Tax professionals will have much expertise in tax law that will help a business. It is an option to weigh up but see what a tax relief company can offer first as that could prove to be the most cost-effective approach overall.

Keep Accurate Financial Records

Keep good records of your tax filings. This will come in handy if you end up needing tax relief services, as tax professionals will need to know exactly what deductions you've taken to produce an accurate tax filing and relief plan.

Some tips here are to:

·         Keep track of all your income and expenses throughout the year. This will make tax time much easier.

·         Use good accounting software to help you keep track of your finances.

·         Save all your receipts and document your business expenses.

·         Have a system for tracking your payments and invoices.

·         Stay organized and don't let your tax paperwork pile up.

 

Tax season can be a stressful time for small business owners, but it doesn't have to be. There are many tax relief companies out there that can help you with your tax woes. By following these five tips, you can make tax season a breeze. You can feel confident working with tax relief companies to get your taxes filed and minimize tax liability.

Every business needs to focus on any matters concerning tax because there will be repercussions otherwise. It is peace of mind to have someone who is knowledgeable in this area to help us.