My wife and I have used various reward systems throughout the years with varying degrees of success. Starting when our kids were fairly young, we used it as a mechanism to encourage them to earn the rewards that they get in life.

Now that they're a little older (3rd and 5th grade), we've stepped up the concept with a full-blown chore chart and weekly allowance.

I have been completely blown away by how motivated they've been and how well it has worked, and I wanted to share our experiences.

Working through sleep issues with our kids feels like something that has been a lifelong battle. It starts immediately after birth and, for us, has continued up through ages eight and ten for our boys.

Addressing sleep issues as a family has taught me the importance of patience, consistency and communication and I hope that you can benefit from the struggles I have gone through on the topic.

Making an air gap for my water softener drain was simple and straightforward, and I'm glad I realized that I needed one when I did. I'll walk you through the process so you can save yourself some hassle and avoid a potential health hazard.

I've been spending a lot of time this year trying to get my lawn back into decent shape. Along the way I came across an herbicide called Tenacity (chemical name mesotrione). In this article, I want to walk you through the process and share the good and the bad about using Tenacity herbicide.

I installed and tested two in-ground dog fences recently. The bad news is that I had to try out two different brands to find something that worked. That's actually the good news, too, because now I have the experience and knowledge with both brands to help you make a decision.

Buying a home for the first time is a major milestone in any person's life. It's filled with highs and lows, and all sort of new experiences that you've never had before. To help you prepare just a bit, I've created this list of tools that were absolutely essential for me as a first-time homeowner.