The wedding of Samantha Duckert and Kendel Clark was definitely a day neither the happy couple nor the wedding guests will ever forget. The guests were in shock when they saw the bridal party walking down the aisle holding rescue puppies instead of traditional floral bouquets.

Samantha is a dog lover and always wanted dogs to be a part of her special day. Kendel said, “I originally wanted to use my own three dogs but decided that they already have love and a home, so I decided I wanted to try to help rescue dogs.”

The unusual bouquets were welcomed with open arms (quite literally) and the bride and groom said all of their guests loved the idea. Samantha wanted a wedding that suited her dog-loving nature, much like the 40% of brides and grooms-to-be who look for unconventional venues to better represent their personalities.

Kendel said the reception had plenty of adoptable dogs available and that all the money raised during the dollar dance, where guests pay to dance with the bride or groom, would also be donated to the rescue shelter.

The newlyweds teamed up with De Soto-based AHeinz57 Pet Rescue and Transport for the Chiweenies, which are a chihuahua and dachshund mix, for the big day. AHeinz57 is a non-profit, foster-based animal rescue. They provide free transportation all over the Midwest and Canada for dogs from traditional shelters to no-kill shelters. They also take dogs that are on death row and place them in foster or forever homes.

The animal shelter was “pretty delighted” that Samantha wanted to use her wedding day to raise awareness about adopting shelter dogs. Kendel was worried they’d be uncertain about the idea, but the owner of the rescue organization, Amy Heinz, thought “it was a really sweet way to bring awareness to rescue dogs.”

Kendel told local outlet KCCI TV that the wedding photos went viral. The posts had thousands of likes, shares, and comments. And luckily for the puppies, this brought in a massive number of applications from people wanting to adopt them. The wedding was not only a dream come true for the newlyweds, but people are sure to continue admiring their selflessness to share their wedding day with some puppies in need.

Moms and dads, we all know how frustrating it can be to buy clothes for our children just to see them outgrow it after a single wash. Or even worse, for us to buy something that we think will fit, but then the child grows overnight and can’t even squeeze into it!

This is the bane of many parents’ existence, but have you ever wondered how much waste is actually formed because our kids grow like bean sprouts?

It may be the last thing on your mind, but one forward-thinking entrepreneur has been bothered by this fact for a long time. London-based designer Ryan Yasin first noticed there was a problem within the clothing and textile industry when he kept buying clothes for his niece and nephew but they would grow too fast to actually be able to wear them. The 24-year-old was frustrated not only because having to buy clothes all the time posed a huge financial burden to parents but because all this clothing was going to waste.

Now, even though internationally more than 14.3 million tons of donated American textiles help to clothe families worldwide, Yasin believed there was something he could do to help limit the amount of textile waste produced all over the world. So he invented Petit Pli, a line of children’s clothing that grow as they do.

Using scientific principles he studied for his aeronautical engineering degree, Yasin was able to create a pleated lightweight fabric that actually becomes thicker as it expands. The fabric is machine washable, waterproof, and recyclable, and a child can wear the same outfit from three-months-old to three-years-old.

According to the Guardian, Yasin wanted to focus on creating a garment that could last through a child’s initial growth-spurt. He was able to do this by incorporating the idea of “negative Poisson’s ratio,” which means that when stretched, the fabric’s fibers expand in two directions at the same time. This results in a thicker, more durable material that literally stretches as the child grows.

Unfortunately for frugal parents everywhere, Petit Pli isn’t available in retail stores yet. But Yasin vows that when it hits the shelves, he will aim to keep the clothing at a competitive price and will ensure that everyone involved in the production of the material will be paid ethically.

When it comes to childhood dental care, many parents assume that a one-size-fits-all regimen is sufficient enough to maintain overall good hygiene. This means that parents simply take their child in for cleanings twice a year in addition to brushing twice daily. However, what these parents fail to realize is that childhood dental care is cyclical, and the back-to-school season is one of the best times to prioritize dental care in the whole year.

“Regular dental visits are important year-round, but a back-to-school checkup is key in fighting the most common chronic disease found in school-age children: cavities,” writes Mouth Healthy, a website from the American Dental Association.

And it’s true — in fact, more than 40% of children have dental cavities by the time they reach kindergarten. (Yikes – my son had 2 cavities when he started kindergarten. Both he and I were not happy! -Lisa)

So how can parents prioritize both professional and at-home dental care for their children during the back-to-school season? Should you really schedule a dreaded dentist appointment amidst late night study sessions, sports practices, and hangouts with new friends? Here are just a few simple ways to say “Yes!” to back-to-school dental hygiene!

Look At Their Lunch

Children often drink more sugary snacks and drinks during their school hours than after school or during the summer months. Why? Their parents aren’t watching over their shoulders, and many schools offer cheap but sugar-laden snacks in vending machines that are easy to access as well. One way to remedy this is to pack your child a healthy lunch. Don’t forego a sweet snack completely, but be mindful of what’s in it. Natural fruit snacks, for example, are a great alternative over gummy and hard candies, and your child is bound to enjoy them just as much. Of course, packing your child’s lunch doesn’t guarantee that they’ll stay away from the tempting treats of the cafeteria, but it’s a whole lot healthier than school-bought lunches and processed snacks.

Ask Plenty Of Questions

According to an AACD survey, virtually all adults (99.7%) surveyed believe a healthy smile is socially important, but it’s medically important as well. That’s why it’s important to ask your child’s dentist a number of relevant questions during their back-to-school dental visit. In addition to inquiring about your child’s overall dental health, you should request a cleaning and ask if an x-ray is necessary. If your child plays sports, this is the perfect opportunity to ask for a quick check of their mouthguard as well.

“If your child is having a growth spurt, losing teeth and getting new ones, the mouthguard might need to be redone,” says ADA pediatric dentist Dr. Mary Hayes. This is probably the most important question for parents of child athletes to ask their pediatric dentist: emergency room visits now number approximately 110 million annually, and the last thing any child needs during the start of the school year is to have to make a visit of their own due to a sports-related mouth injury.

Keep Age In Mind

Finally, the best way to prioritize back-to-school dental care is to develop and maintain a vigilant yet age-friendly routine for your child. Children ages six and under can start brushing their teeth by themselves, but they don’t have the motor skills to do a thorough job, so you may have to step in as needed. Children ages seven to 12 know what they should be doing, but it’s more about getting them to do it regularly, so you may have to take over occasionally as well. Children ages 12-18 are undergoing a critical period in their dental development as well and should be both brushing and flossing twice a day, every day.

Ultimately, these are just a few simple steps you can take to prioritize dental care during the back-to-school season. With these tips in mind, your child will have a happy and healthy school year! (And you’ll probably have fewer dental bills, too!)

As a budget-conscious family, purchasing health insurance can be a tricky task. Whether you are purchasing it on your own or opting in through an employer, you likely want to get the most coverage possible without breaking the bank. By considering the following factors, you can ensure that you choose the most feasible plan for both your health, your budget, and your family.

1. Do your kids qualify for no-cost coverage?

Remember: it’s completely normal to go into shock after seeing the sky-high family health insurance premiums. Don’t panic. Here in Minnesota, many kids qualify for low- or no-cost coverage through the Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Before you make any decisions, find out if your family would qualify. This can drastically reduce your monthly health insurance premiums right off the bat.

2. What does your doctor accept?

If you want to keep your same primary care physician or pediatrician, then it’s important to consider what plans their office accepts. While some offices may accept only a narrow number of plans, others are linked with one of the 5,564 registered hospitals in the United States. In that case, your doctor’s office may accept more plans.

3. How could your health needs change in the near future?

Depending on your current life stage, you might consider getting a plan with more coverage. For example, if you are planning to have children in the coming years, you may consider something with thorough prenatal coverage. Be sure to weigh your actual plans more heavily than the “what ifs,” since it’s easy to get carried away and choose too expensive of a plan.

4. Does anyone in your family have any chronic conditions?

While you should account for your future health needs, current health needs are also critical. If you are living with a chronic condition, such as diabetes or MS, you may benefit from a lower deductible, lower co-pays, and a wider selection of doctors. This is especially true if you seek medical services for your condition often.

5. How does your age affect your choice?

For younger people, a high deductible and lower premium are usually safe bets. For older people, this may not be the case. A recent health study predicted that by 2030, six out of ten baby boomers will be living with a chronic condition. So, while your age is not the determining factor, it is undeniable that it affects your health needs.

6. Do you take any medications?

Just as you want to choose a plan that your doctor’s office accepts, it’s also important to find one that covers your medications. This is especially critical if you are taking a long-term prescription such as blood pressure medication. Likewise, if one of your kids has an asthma inhaler, then take that into account. Your insurer will be able to provide a list of medications so you can check see which medications are covered under different plans.

Another simple approach? Try calculating your options.

“First consider how much you expect to spend on health care,” Time Money suggests, summarizing advice from Justin Sydnor of the University of Wisconsin business school. “Then calculate whether your total payments would be higher with a low-deductible plan or a high-deductible plan.”

To streamline this process, remember that you can consult outside experts. Consider working with a financial planner to take an honest look at your financial situation. This will prevent you from over-spending while staying reasonable and covering risk.

Here’s a general rule of thumb among financial advisors: 30% of your family’s income should go to housing; 20% should go to the savings account; and 25% should go to transportation and food. That seems simple enough, right?

Of course, anyone who’s ever argued with their partner about money knows that it’s not quite that simple!

If you’re struggling to manage your household finances and it’s making you SO. STRESSED. OUT… then try to remember that you don’t have to resort to complicated spreadsheets. These apps can help take the guesswork (and the paperwork) out of balancing your budget!

Honeydue

A clever name for a much-needed app, Honeydue is meant to alleviate arguments that come up when you share finances. It allows you to see who has paid what and when, ensuring that everyone’s on the same page.

While most experts recommend having at least enough savings to cover six months of living expenses, Eugene Park, co-founder of Honeydue, says that 75% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. That means that people often have to prioritize which bills to pay when, and they often want payment reminders to ensure they won’t be subject to a late fee. That feature was added to Honeydue as a result of the extensive research the creators conducted prior to the app’s launch.

The creators hope to promote financial literacy and collaboration, two areas that are lacking in many other financial apps. If you want to stop those petty money arguments and make sure nothing slips under the radar, downloading this app might be well worth it.

Mint

Mint is a more well-known budgeting app geared towards individual tracking. Since 2006, the company has worked to give users a more complete idea of their spending. Along with the charts and graphs that show exactly how you’re spending your money and where you could be cutting back, the app allows you to set bill payment reminders, create monthly budgets, and actually take care of paying all your bills through the app itself. So instead of sifting through your emails to pay your utility bill or having to navigate to a different site to take care of an invoice, you have a one-stop shop for all of that.

Digit

This one is a personal favorite, and it makes saving money for your rainy day fund so easy. You may have the ability to put away more money than you realize. If you’re usually tempted to spend a bit too much of what’s in your checking account, Digit may be a great option for you. The service automatically takes out small amounts of money from your checking account to deposit into your savings, which means you will save money without even realizing it. Digit actually analyzes your income and spending habits so that it won’t take out more than you can afford. You can try out Digit for free for the first 100 days, but after that, you’ll have to pay $3 a month to save. But really, this app can help you save a ton of money while you sleep.

Clarity Money

We may understand that those iced coffees add up, in theory, but a lot of Americans have trouble figuring out exactly what they can cut out to save a good chunk of change. The Clarity Money app, launched last year, uses artificial intelligence and data science to help users make smarter financial moves. Basically, it analyzes spending habits and makes suggestions on how you can save better. For instance, it may recommend that you cancel unnecessary subscriptions, find ways to lower certain bills, or come up with better credit card solutions. Clarity Money recently announced a partnership with Acorns, an investment app, to allow users to get more out of both services.

As you consider these personal finance apps, don’t forget to consider going paperless altogether. Studies show that half of customers will pay an electronic bill before the paper version would have even arrived in the mailbox, and going paperless can make it so much easier to prioritize, pay, and plan.

Ultimately, if you’re going to use your smartphone for virtually everything else as it is, you might as well use it for better money management, too, right? Not only will it make family expense tracking more convenient, but it’s much more environmentally friendly than physical spreadsheets and paper invoice filing.

Plus, it means that monthly smartphone bill will hurt just a little less knowing that your phone is helping you save money too!