Did you know there are more than 70 million green thumbs in the United States? With the summer season coming to an end, you can still reap the benefits of growing your own produce well into the fall months -- it's not too late to start! In the northeast, vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, peas, spinach and other hearty greens can be planted right now and harvested well into October. In warmer climates, you can garden into the early winter months. The trick to making this work is to plant your vegetable seeds deeper than you normally would. It insulates them and protects them from colder temperatures in the morning and at night.

We take care to make sure the food we serve our family is properly stored to ensure freshness and safety, but have you thought about taking those same steps to protect your dog's food, too? Bagged dry dog food should stay in the bag since the bags are designed as a "fat barrier" to help protect flavor and freshness for an extended period of time. Storing dog food outdoors or in the garage is not recommended since hot temperatures can degrade any vitamins in the food and it can spoil. One last tip: Store dog food off the ground to deter rodents.

A reusable water bottle is a great way to ditch disposable plastic bottles and help the environment. But did you know it's imperative to rinse the bottle every day? Just like a coffee mug, utensils or a plate, a reusable bottle (and the lid) should be rinsed with hot, soapy water. If you don't wash it, you risk having harmful bacteria grow inside, which can make you sick. If you are using a reusable bottle at the office and don't have time to rinse it, try this one trick: Leave it in the fridge. A refrigerated bottle won't have the warmth to grow germs and bacteria overnight.