Search Results for: blog stay cool and chic in the summer heat

Simple Sanity Savers

Believe it or not, summer vacation just started for students attending Chicago public schools.  Last fall’s highly publicized teacher strike, which affected nearly 400,000 students, forced kids to stay in school through the end of June. But, now they are free and can join the rest of their compadres in making the most of summer… or what’s left of it. If you are looking for ways to keep your kids busy during their break from school consider the following simple and affordable projects: FLOWER POWER Rather than letting fresh flowers go to waste after they’ve sat pretty in a summer … Continue reading →

Staying Cool with Kids

It’s so hot… my neighbor’s chickens are laying omelets. It’s so hot… squirrels are picking up nuts with potholders. It’s so hot… you can wash and dry your clothes at the same time. It’s so hot… you can catch fried fish in the lake. The last one’s no joke. The heat wave that has blanketed much of the nation, including here in Wisconsin, has caused a rash of deaths among local fish. Thousands of Northern Pike and Perch are dying in area waters because of the recent string of record breaking hot temperatures. DNR officials say the fish can’t survive … Continue reading →

Spring Fling in Kentucky

College basketball survived Kentucky, but can you survive spending spring break in the “Bluegrass State”? Popular to contrary belief, Kentucky is not only for sports fans. The state is filled with natural wonders, historical landmarks and quirky travel attractions. Exploring all of Kentucky’s recreational opportunities may be a bit much if you are planning to stay for just a week; however, that shouldn’t stop you from soaking up as much of the surroundings as possible. Don’t miss: Mammoth Cave National Park: Even if you are not a nature lover, you will be duly impressed with Mammoth Cave National Park. Categorized … Continue reading →

The Best Laid Plans

What’s that they say about the best laid plans often going awry? I’d bet anything that a parent came up with that one. It was probably a mom traveling with kids. A mom on vacation desperately trying to squeeze a million activities into a single day in order to make her children happy, but finding that the universe, and the kids, had other ideas on how the day should unfold. Sound familiar? It does to me. A few days ago my 6-year-old daughter and I took a summer road trip to Six Flags Great America, so that she could be … Continue reading →

Help Your Family Get Along Over the Holidays

The holidays are upon us, and that means there will be several family gatherings for you to attend. If you are like many people, you may be experiencing feelings of intense dread when you think about having to spend time with certain members of your family. This is especially true if your family happens to be dysfunctional, and prone to arguments. What can you do to survive these gatherings? Here is some advice to help you connect with your relatives, even when you don’t particularly want to. If your family is especially large, what might be intended as a simple … Continue reading →

Did Your Deodorant Stop Working?

The deodorant/antipersperant aisle at the store is full of options. Sporty, teen, extra strength, spray, invisible, transdimensional, does the dishes too, etc. I used Secret because that was what my mom used… and I stuck with it for years. One day, I noticed that it wasn’t working as well as it used to. The powder fresh scent wasn’t lasting as long, and I was starting to feel sweaty. Betrayed! By my favorite deodorant! Oh, the horror! Heartbroken, I switched to another brand — Suave, if you’re curious. I’ve more or less been switching between the two every few years now, … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Summer Getaways

You know the travel industry is hurting when you can find roundtrip non-stop flights from Chicago to Honolulu for around $500. I paid more than double that amount for my ticket last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. Bottom line: If you haven’t been able to score a sun-sational deal on a summer getaway, then you simply haven’t been looking—at all. Perhaps, you can’t afford to take an extended break from work. If that’s the case, then consider soaking up the summer sun during a long weekend away. So what if you can’t take two … Continue reading →

Baby Blog Month in Review: July 2008

Two of my three children are summer babies. That is, they were born in the summer and had their first months surrounded by sunshine streaming in the windows, the sound of birds chirping, and days spent wearing nothing but a diaper and a “onsie.” I made sure that they had Fourth of July outfits ready, even though one of them arrived a week after the holiday. I guess he just wasn’t interested in the parade. Do you have a summer baby, too? We had a lot of new information to share this past month, such as recall notices and new … Continue reading →

Sleeping in the Heat

I have a hard time falling asleep when it’s too hot in the room. I just can’t get comfortable! If you have the same problem, here are some tips to help you sleep easy in the heat. Heat rises. You might be cooler on a lower story than an upper one. Help prevent heat build-up inside. Use blinds to keep the sun out. Open windows at night if the temperature is cooler. Cool off with a shower before bed. Keep in mind that hot showers can increase the humidity, which can make the heat seem worse. Cool off with a … Continue reading →

Dealing With Sunburn

It can happen when you least expect it. Maybe it was a cloudy day. (Shame on you! You should wear sunscreen anyway!) Maybe you were on a long drive and your arm got burned. Maybe you forgot your hat or your sunscreen. Sunburn happens, even when you’re prepared and careful. Here’s how to deal with it: When the burn is fresh — red, itchy, and achy — you need to focus on keeping the skin hydrated and soothing the inflammation. Use a moisturizer as frequently as needed. A cream with steroids, like hydrocortisone, will help relieve the discomfort, too. Aloe … Continue reading →