Christmas is just a few weeks away, and as the holiday crunch sets in, it's easy to get stressed and overwhelmed instead of enjoying the season. While you can't just sit back and relax when you're the one responsible for pulling off the Yuletide traditions in your family, there are some hacks and shortcuts that can make this time of year easier to manage and more enjoyable for everyone, including you! Try these ideas as you plan and participate in holiday events in the coming days:

• Make a Christmas bucket list. Kids naturally want to do everything Christmas if they're given the opportunity, but when you fill up every date on the calendar and still have to find time to deck the halls, prepare food, shop for gifts, and do all the wrapping, the season loses some of its magic. Instead, give your kids (even teens!) the opportunity to share their favorite one or two Christmas events/traditions that they'd like to see on the family calendar. Local parades, parties, gingerbread house decorating as a family, visiting favorite Christmas spots, etc. are all fair game for the list, and it can easily be tailored to fit your family's own specific needs. By having each person contribute a limited number of events, and by seeing which events overlap among your family, it's easier to manage your holiday calendar and make sure everyone gets to celebrate without you being stressed out by Christmas Eve.

• It's ok to take shortcuts. Not everything holiday has to be made from scratch, perfectly Pinterest, or Instagram worthy. Taking shortcuts like using premade dough for Christmas cookies, ordering the holiday ham from a local restaurant, or asking family members to bring potluck sides to take off some of the load is perfectly fine, and will make the holiday happier for everyone since you'll be in a better mood and able to enjoy the fun.

• Turn a chore into a party! Putting up Christmas lights alone can feel like a drudgery...unless you make it a neighborhood event! Hot chocolate served in the driveway, Christmas carols playing, and everyone out in their yards at the same time is a wonderful way to make a chore into something fun! In the same way, "wrapping parties" are a popular way to make gift wrapping an enjoyable experience for groups of friends. Everyone contributes a few rolls of paper, BYO ribbons and tags (and a bottle of wine or a fun holiday drink) and can enjoy chatting with friends, watching a Christmas movie, or listening to tunes while they knocked out that pile of gifts for their family and friends.

We hope these tips will help you soak up the season and make memories this Christmas. EZ Roofing Systems encourages you to take time to appreciate the small things this year, and put aside some of the busyness to cherish memories with the ones you love most. All of us at EZ Roofing Systems send our wishes for a joyful and peaceful Christmas to you and yours.

With just a little over a week left until Valentine's Day, many of us are busy making preparations for showing the ones we love just how much we care. It's no secret though that this year's holiday looks different than years past. No crowded restaurants, no big parties, no surprise cruises or last-minute vacations and no large-scale community events will be making their way onto the calendar. However, the reason for the day still rings true, and it's a good reminder that love isn't something you buy, but rather, something you show...and you can show it in SO many ways.

Here are some fun ways you can celebrate (safely) with the ones you care about most this holiday, whether it's your sweetheart, your kids, or someone else that's special in your life:

• Do a "ding-dong and dash" surprise! This could be dropping off dinner, a homemade valentine card, a special dessert, or a bouquet of roses, but the idea is to ring the doorbell, and run away quickly after leaving the surprise at the recipient's front door. This is a fun way to show your love to an aging parent or loved one stuck at home, or to surprise someone who is currently in quarantine and can't celebrate the way they usually would.

• Classic candy and cards...with a twist! While we all remember exchanging homemade valentine's and treats with our classmates, teachers, or coworkers in years past, this year the tradition might need a little tweaking. Instead of homemade goodies that could seem risky to some people, opt for store-bought candies or treats that are safely and individually wrapped. Put plenty of extra effort into your homemade card to give it the unique and special element that the treat will be missing this holiday!

• Make early reservations, or enjoy a candlelight dinner at home. Restaurant reservations will fill more quickly than usual this year since most dining spaces are operating at limited capacity. Reserve your table as soon as possible, or make plans for a romantic dinner with candles for your sweetie at home. A simple setup on your own patio makes it feel more special than eating at the kitchen table, and if you add in takeout from their favorite place and a decadent dessert, they're sure to be just as happy as they would be in a 5-star local eatery!

• Give back! Showing love to others is one of the best ways you can celebrate the holiday of love. Many community charities are in need right now, and donating to a local food pantry or shelter, or volunteering your time and energy (if you feel safe to do so) is a wonderful way to love those around you and bring yourself tons of joy in the process.

EZ Roofing Systems is proud to be part of the Polk County community, and we can’t think of a better place to live and love. While many of our holidays and traditions have looked different over the last year, we know that our resilient and resourceful friends, neighbors, and clients always find a way to celebrate the love and joy behind each holiday in whatever ways they can. We hope these tips and tricks will make Valentine’s Day 2021 just a little bit brighter for you, your family, and those around you!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, with Christmas close behind, and we know many of you are gearing up for holiday preparations. While there's always your "standard" list of things to get done (like pulling the Christmas wreaths from the attic or hunting for your grandmother's famous pie recipes) each year brings its own unique to-do list. This year is certainly no exception, with 2020 bringing new elements into our holiday traditions. Maybe you're adding hand sanitizer by the door, or doing "virtual" Thanksgiving dinner with faraway relatives who can't travel. No matter how you plan to celebrate, everyone can agree that holidays go better when your home is ready.

Unfortunately, one major part of your home tends to get overlooked when it comes to maintenance and care. Your roof plays an important part in keeping your home's structure intact, and keeping the inside safe and dry, yet homeowners forget about it for years at a time. Until, that is, a problem comes up. It's important to understand though that there are things you can do all year long to keep your roof at its best and prevent major issues (and expensive repairs) from coming your way.

Three of our most recommended tips are:

1. Save the experiments for the kitchen. The holidays are a time of enjoying the smells and flavors of the season, and the kitchen is a great place to experiment with new dishes and flavor combinations. Your roof, on the other hand, is NOT the place to experiment. If you notice a small problem like a shingle coming loose or a tiny leak over your patio, "rigging" it with spray sealant, outdoor caulk, or some other bonding agent is NOT the answer. Not only are many of these materials not intended for use on your roof, but they could actually cause more damage in the long run. Before a small problem turns into a big catastrophe, call in the pros.

2. Don't let Santa be the only one up on the rooftop each year. An annual roof inspection by a licensed and insured roof contractor is the ideal way to keep your roof's structure and condition under watch, meaning any problems can be caught early and repaired easily. This can protect you from extensive water damage, warranting a full roof replacement, and will usually save you money in the long run.

3. Show your home you care...maintain your space! Not only does your roof need regular maintenance, but the trees and space around it do too. Failing to prune back trees, remove leaf litter, or let extensive algae build up can actually cause damage to your shingles and roofing materials over time. Trim back trees so they stay several feet from the surface of your roof, and have leaves and buildup removed professionally. Good news! EZ Roofing Systems now offers a cleaning service that does this for you, so you can get your inspection and your cleaning done all at one time!

We hope your Thanksgiving preparations go smoothly and you can look forward to the holidays with anticipation and joy after a hard year. EZ Roofing Systems is here to make it a little easier with our top-of-the-line customer service and attention to ethics and detail. We make roofing issues less stressful and easier to manage. When something goes wrong with your roof, call Bob the Roofer!

Christmas is a magical time of year, and no one can deny that there seems to be a certain bit of "cheer" in the air during this season. Whether it's the twinkling lights and upbeat carols, or anticipation of what's to come on Christmas Day, something makes us happier, more positive, and kinder at this time of year. This holiday season, EZ Roofing Systems is taking time to focus on just what makes this time of year so special, and how we can extend out the spirit of Christmas all year long. 

So, what does make the holidays so wonderful? 

First, we take time to focus on what actually matters. This time of year is when we step back from the hustle and bustle of work and monotony and look for opportunities to spend time with the ones we love. Making memories becomes the theme of the season and we carve out moments to bake the cookies that would ordinarily stay in the cabinet to avoid the mess, to stop for that warm cup of hot chocolate with our significant other and actually spend time cozied up in the coffee shop instead of running through the drive-thru, or to chat with our neighbor by the mailbox instead of rushing back into the house. By being willing to make time for people and memories, and not just rushing through our day-to-day, the spirit of Christmas tends to feel warmer and we feel more connected to each other. That's something we can certainly take to heart and spread out throughout the year. 

Christmas is when we focus on contentment as well. Yes, it's easy for us (especially our kids and young people) to focus on that Christmas list, whether it's going to "Santa" or to mom and dad, but overall this is the season when we focus on what we have instead of what we want. We recognize that others are less fortunate, we make charity and giving a goal, and we express thankfulness for our many blessings. Why though, do we quickly forget this when the Christmas trimmings are put away and life returns to “normal.” Practicing a spirit of contentment and gratefulness all year long is a wonderful way to extend the cheer of the holidays and to help charitable organizations function at their best all year, instead of hitting a high during the month of December and struggling during months afterward. 

Finally, Christmas is when we tend to go the extra mile. Graciously smiling at the person who cut in line at the grocery store instead of scowling and throwing out a negative comment, lending a hand to the young mom struggling with a stroller and her bags while opening a door, or "paying it forward" by picking up the tab of the person behind us in line are all ways we show "Christmas spirit" during the holidays, but sadly, by using the excuse of a holiday as our motivation, we lose out on the joy that would come from putting out this type of kindness 365 days a year. 

We believe the world be a better place if we all sought to make Christmas last all year long. Let's remember what makes this season special long after the cookies are eaten and the presents have been forgotten, and do our best to make our homes and our communities reflect the spirit of the holidays every day. We spend time "up on the rooftop" each and every day, so thoughts of the Christmas holiday and the mystery and wonder surrounding Santa is never far away. This year, we're making it our goal to let that be a reminder to treat each customer and client with a smile, a cheerful countenance as we do business and offer services to them, and by giving back to our community when the opportunity comes our way. Won't you join us? Let's work together and make spreading kindness "EZ" this year by simply remembering to keep a bit of Christmas spirit alive 365 days a year.