Sprits are at an all-time high as the first official day of summer fast approaches! To help you welcome warmer weather into your life, we've put together a list of fun activities and tips to help you organize your yard and arrange your travels. Let the summer festivities begin!

Use Your Imagination When Landscaping Your Yard

For the second year in a row, the month of June will be spent enjoying the comforts of home, despite restrictions being lifted in some areas. That’s why home reno projects and at-home activities are still on the table.

Work Out in Your Yard

If you love getting your daily sweat on, you may be having a tough time with gyms being closed. While you wait for your favourite gym to open back up, why not make your very own training setup at home?

Here are some tips for a basic backyard setup:

• Choose a dedicated space in your backyard
• Get an outdoor storage bin to stow away all of your workout accessories
• Purchase a Bluetooth speaker so you can listen to your favourite tunes while working out
• Get warmed up and ready to go because your private workout area is ready!

Another option: if you have enough space in your backyard, you can add a roof to your outdoor gym. Investing in a hardtop or canvas roof will allow you to train outdoors in any weather.

Level up Your Yard and Your Comfort

The nights are getting warmer, which means it’s time to get to work on your yard!

Whether you have a 30-acre plot or a small patch of grass, June is the perfect time to put the finishing touches on your backyard oasis. If you're looking to buy new outdoor furniture, now is the time! If not, dust off your faithful patio set and unpack your barbecue in preparation for the sun-filled days ahead!

We also suggest giving your yard a quick once over. Have any patches of grass turned yellow? Are your flower beds cluttered with leaves and dead plants? If so, don’t hesitate to get your hands dirty and clean things up.

Of course, don’t forget to hook up your garden hose!

Plant a Garden

Doesn’t the summer heat make you want to have a beautiful garden that will provide a bountiful harvest?

Many avid gardeners started planting seedling indoors weeks ago. However, for those who only want to plant a modest selection of vegetables and fruits, the planting frenzy starts now.

The best part is you can take advantage of your harvest to try out new recipes on the barbecue or in the blender.

Carrot

Make good use of your carrot harvest by grilling them on the barbecue. Combine carrots, zucchini and any of your other favourite summer vegetables to create a crowd-pleasing treat.

Cucumber

Cucumbers are a light and refreshing vegetable that can easily be incorporated into an appetizer or featured as the star of your summer salad.

Tomato

This fruit pairs wonderfully with just about any recipe you can imagine! Tomatoes are perfect in homemade salsa alongside guacamole, sour cream and freshly baked chips! In addition, tomato plants add a lot of charm to your garden or patio.

Make Your Vehicle More Comfortable

Do you find that the summer weather makes you want to clean out your vehicle and make it as comfortable as possible? If you’re planning a few road trips this summer, you should follow this simple list to ensure you enjoy yourself behind the wheel.

If you're passionate about cycling, look for a sturdy bike rack that can be installed on the roof or at the back of your vehicle. There are several models to choose from—whether you’re a couple or a family of four!

Are you worried about not having enough storage space on your next family road trip? Well, worry no more! Get yourself a cargo carrier for the roof of your vehicle. Similar to bike racks, cargo carriers vary in size and capacity depending on your needs. Just make sure you also purchase a rack to keep it securely attached.

With sanitary measures still in place, face masks and hand sanitizer will be part of your summer routine once again! Before you hit the road, set aside a storage space in your vehicle for the essentials, including spare face masks, bottles of hand sanitizer, tissues and more.

If getting from point A to point B seems to be taking forever and your passengers need a little pick-me-up, bring along a few joke books or funny stories. If you're more of a techie, make sure to download some mobile game apps to test your general knowledge or challenge your memory.

Topping off your comfort experience is all about the accessories. We recommend packing a few no-spill cups and insulated mugs to keep your drinks piping hot or ice cold. Plus, these reusable accessories will help prevent trash from piling up in your vehicle.

If you still have some room, bring along a small rechargeable vacuum cleaner that plugs into your vehicle’s power outlet. You’ll be able to quickly clean up crumbs and dirt while on the go! If you run out of space, simply keep the vacuum cleaner at home.

Enjoy Some Family Time

June marks the start of summer, as well as Father's Day! To celebrate in style with those closest to you, we suggest kicking off the festivities by trying out some new recipes on the barbecue.

Who says you can’t test out new recipes all summer long? Take advantage of the warmer weather to get adventurous on the grill.