The holidays are here, and chances are, you've seen the stores putting out all the baking needs. Festive sprinkles, colored frostings, chocolate chips, and candies galore adorn the entryway displays, and people are stocking up for Christmas baking.

We have a question for you though; How often, when pulling out those ingredients each year, have you heard the words "Can I help?" asked excitedly by your children? It's no secret that the kitchen tends to draw little ones (and even older ones!) in, but it's also well-known that baking with kids can be messy and take a good deal longer than it would if you were just left to your own devices. After all...isn't it quieter and cleaner to work on your own while the kids watch a favorite Christmas movie?

Maybe. Well...probably.

However, this year, we encourage you to bring your kids into the kitchen! Why? Well, here are some reasons experts say baking together can be beneficial for you and your kids this holiday season (even if the ingredients aren't necessarily on the healthy side)...

Family Bonding. Cooking and baking together gives you a common goal to work toward, and then everyone can enjoy taking pride in the results! Instead of everyone being engrossed in phones, tablets, video games, or the television, you're all engaged together. Some great conversations can take place around the kitchen island!

Hands-On Learning. Cooking offers practical application of math skills through measuring, weighing, following directions (recipe reading) and even reading temperatures! It's a great way for young students to continue what they've learned in the classroom over holiday breaks. For older kids, it helps give hands-on practice with life skills. You won't always be there with them to make the Christmas cookies or Grandma's famous cake!

Passing down traditions. Speaking of Grandma's famous cake, many families have recipes that have been made during certain holidays for generations. Letting your children participate in creating these recipes, and allowing them to see slips of paper in loved ones' handwriting or recipes clipped from old magazines, , you are passing down a love of, and appreciation for, family history without even realizing it. Tradition is often passed through the family line on a plate!

Time to talk. How often are your children attempting to talk to you, or you to them, with a phone, work project, or household task taking part of your attention? Being in the kitchen offers an opportunity to shut out the world around you and just focus on spending time around the mixing bowl with your family.

Share the gift of giving! Baked goods are a great way to show someone you care! Teach your children about the joy that can come from working hard to make something for someone else. It's a wonderful way to incorporate a lesson in what Christmas is supposed to be about.

We hope this year you'll consider making family time in the kitchen a new tradition of your own if it isn't already. Don't consider yourself a "chef extraordinaire"? Don't worry! Your kids won't care if it's a from-scratch recipe, or a box of cookie mix and some pre-made frosting. The memories made together go FAR beyond the results that come out of the oven. As a family owned business, EZ Roofing Systems believes that taking time for the ones you love is important. We encourage you to use this holiday season to make memories with the ones you love, and find ways to share the joy of the season with others.

Merry Christmas to you and yours from everyone at EZ Roofing!

It goes without saying that a roof is a very important part of your home. In fact, your house wouldn't even BE a home without a roof overhead, since it offers shelter, protection from elements, insulation from the heat or cold weather, and basically, it just tops off your home (pun intended). Here in Central Florida, those aspects are key, since we have extreme heat and excessive sunshine, and we also endure heavy storms and rain during the summer months. Add in the threat of hurricanes and you see just how important a roof is for Florida homes, and how vital it is that homeowners maintain their roof and replace as needed to protect their investment in their house. 

Maintaining and replacing a roof though is not a wise DIY option. Roofing is not something you just pick up and learn as you go. An oversight, no matter how small, could result in major damage to your roof and long-term issues. Additionally, choosing a roofing expert affects your insurance, since using someone unqualified (including yourself) can mean loss of coverage, or failure to process a claim in the event of an accident or problem. 

So, how should you choose a roofer? 

Licensed and Insured.  This is, hands down, the most important part of choosing a roofer. Ask for those licensure numbers, and check them twice. If your roofer has the proper license and certifications, he or she will (usually) have the appropriate insurance as well, but it's always wise to check. These requirements protect you in the event that something goes wrong, or your roof has issues down the line. 

Experience. Much is learned through hands-on experience, and while a roofer who is new to the field can still do a great job, there is something reassuring about using a provider who has extensive experience. Look for a roofer who has been in business a long time, has experience in a variety of areas (not just maintenance for example, but also in roof repair and replacement), and is very well established in your community. 

Referrals.  Proof of the experience mentioned above comes through referrals. If they aren't provided up front, request referrals from your chosen rooferbefore you sign the deal and let him or her begin work on your home. Hearing from other customers firsthand lets you know what to watch out for with a particular roofing expert. Perhaps your prospective roofer does high quality work, offers great pricing, but is a little slow on the billing and paperwork side of things, or maybe they have crisp, efficient billing and work methods, but their personal demeanor is distinct and doesn't mesh well with everyone. Hearing things like this from others who have used a particular roofer can help you make an informed decision that you can feel confident in. 

If you are local to the greater Winter Haven area here in Central Florida, EZ Roofing Systems is here to help with any and all of your roofing needs. We are fully licensed and insured, have years of experience in our field, and are well-established in the Polk County community and beyond. We offer routine maintenance, repair services, and full roof replacement, so no matter your need, we're ready for it. Give us a call, and we'll personally come out and inspect your situation so we can give you a full and accurate quote. We make the whole process "EZ!"