It's always good to plan ahead and take the necessary items when going to the beach. Sometimes we get carried away with the excitement of going and we forget to take what we need to make the adventure enjoyable.
The beach attracts many people, whether locals or during travel. Some like to go for a swim to cool off. Some prefer to find a shaded spot and read a book and some even doze off. Children especially love to play in the sand and build sand castles. Whatever draws you to the beach, be sure to take what you need.
The most important items to take to the beach:
* sunblock
* cooler
* bottled water and juice
* sunglasses
* brimmed hat, especially for children
* healthy snacks such as fruit
* life jackets
* disposable wipes for cleaning up
* hand sanitizer
* appropriate footwear
* towels
* swimwear
* cover up
* beach chair or blanket
Fun things to take to the beach:
* plastic buckets and plastic shovels for building sandcastles
* a book or magazines if you like to read
* a Frisbee or beach ball
* portable stereo and cd's
* deck of cards
* balloons for some water fights
* a camera
Since the rays of the sun are beating down on the beach, one of the most important items to take along is sunblock. Make sure you purchase the SPF that is appropriate for your skin and the time you will be in the sun. A sunburn isn't pleasant and it's very important to protect tender skin on children, especially. A brimmed hat will also help.
It's important to drink plenty of fluids to keep from getting dehydrated. The summer heat and the beach can take its toll if you aren't well-prepared. You sure don't want to cut the day short by getting a heat stroke.
Wearing appropriate footwear can prevent your feet from getting burned. As cozy as the sand may feel on your feet, it can be way too hot for comfort.
Pack the important items to keep yourself and your children safe. Pack some extras to add to the fun and your day will be one you want to relive again and again.
Another tip: Print a list of what you need and like to take to the beach. Check it each time before heading to the beach so you don't forget anything.
Monkey Around - Eat Bananas for Health
Monkeys know a good thing. They love bananas. Bananas taste great and are very healthy for humans. They are easily digested and help to increase energy by the nutrients working into the bloodstream quickly. Bananas can be eaten in many ways and offer many health benefits.
Bananas contain valuable nutrients such as protein, vitamin C, vitamin B6, carbohydrates, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese and more.
The potassium in bananas help muscles to do their job. Potassium is crucial for maintaining a regular heartbeat and supplying oxygen to the brain.
Pregnant women can benefit from eating bananas because they aid in maintaining blood sugar levels and are said to help ward off morning sickness. Pregnant or not, bananas can help alleviate indigestion and heartburn.
There is little sodium in bananas, which makes them ideal for those who are on sodium-restricted diets. Let's not forget the fiber in bananas, which helps those who suffer from constipation or diarrhea and also stomach problems.
If you are anemic, bananas can offer a good amount of iron. For those having bouts of depression or insomnia, the substance tryptophan contained in bananas, which converts into serotonin, can be helpful.
In addition to what a banana can do from the inside out, they are said to help remove warts and heel scars if you place the peeling on your skin.
Bananas are best stored at room temperature. The nutritional value is decreased if stored in the refrigerator. Bananas should have a bright appearance and free of any bruising. They should be firm, but not too firm.
Suggested ways to eat bananas:
* add to muffin mixes
* add to hot or cold cereal
* add banana slices to yogurt
* add to pancake mix
* spread a banana with peanut butter
* make a peanut butter and banana sandwich
* a banana split is always delicious
* enjoy a glass of milk with a banana
* try a banana milkshake or smoothie
Bananas don't just taste good, but are good for you. Bananas are also an affordable food and readily available in most areas. Go bananas and reap the benefits!
Bananas contain valuable nutrients such as protein, vitamin C, vitamin B6, carbohydrates, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese and more.
The potassium in bananas help muscles to do their job. Potassium is crucial for maintaining a regular heartbeat and supplying oxygen to the brain.
Pregnant women can benefit from eating bananas because they aid in maintaining blood sugar levels and are said to help ward off morning sickness. Pregnant or not, bananas can help alleviate indigestion and heartburn.
There is little sodium in bananas, which makes them ideal for those who are on sodium-restricted diets. Let's not forget the fiber in bananas, which helps those who suffer from constipation or diarrhea and also stomach problems.
If you are anemic, bananas can offer a good amount of iron. For those having bouts of depression or insomnia, the substance tryptophan contained in bananas, which converts into serotonin, can be helpful.
In addition to what a banana can do from the inside out, they are said to help remove warts and heel scars if you place the peeling on your skin.
Bananas are best stored at room temperature. The nutritional value is decreased if stored in the refrigerator. Bananas should have a bright appearance and free of any bruising. They should be firm, but not too firm.
Suggested ways to eat bananas:
* add to muffin mixes
* add to hot or cold cereal
* add banana slices to yogurt
* add to pancake mix
* spread a banana with peanut butter
* make a peanut butter and banana sandwich
* a banana split is always delicious
* enjoy a glass of milk with a banana
* try a banana milkshake or smoothie
Bananas don't just taste good, but are good for you. Bananas are also an affordable food and readily available in most areas. Go bananas and reap the benefits!
Labels:
Food and Drink,
Health and Fitness
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Winter
Serious damage can result from frozen pipes in winter. The repairs can get quite costly and cause a great inconvenience as well. As water freezes in the pipes, it expands and causes an increase in water pressure and causes the pipes to burst. It's important to check your home's vulnerabilities well before winter and make adjustments where necessary. How can you help to prevent and deal with frozen pipes in winter?
Vulnerabilities
Depending on where you live and how the pipes are located in your home, there may be existing vulnerabilities. Some homes have pipes inside the insulation, which is a protectant. Even with insulation, depending on where the pipes are, they could be affected by very cold temperatures. Anywhere there is a flow of cold air coming in contact with pipes, such as in crawl spaces, outside walls, etc., they have the potential to freeze.
During winter, if you live in a cold climate, always be aware of freezing temperatures. Even if you live in a usually warm climate, there is the potential for temperatures to drop cold enough for pipes to freeze. Pay careful attention to weather reports so you can take measures to prevent frozen pipes. Pipes tend to freeze when the outside temperature is around 20 degrees or below. Windchill factors have to be taken into consideration as well. But, this will also depend on individual situations such as whether pipes are insulated, where they are and how much cold air they are exposed to.
Preventative Measures
If you are building a new home, get professional advice about the best way to route your pipes to prevent freezing. If you have an existing home, you may not want to spend money on rerouting pipes, but there are measures you can take to prevent freezing.
Hardware and most any home supply store carries insulated sleeves made for pipes. These sleeves normally come in different thicknesses. The thicker, the more protection your pipes will have. Electric heating tape is also available for pipes, but these should be used with caution and only use ones that are up to code. Some of the electric heating tape comes with a thermostat to cut on and off as needed. Some do not have a thermostat and will have to be manually plugged in. These may not be the ideal option since it would be easy to forget when to plug in at the needed time.
Although you may not like wasting water, opening a faucet when the temperatures dip down, will relieve the pressure that builds and very likely will prevent your pipes from freezing. An open faucet with a very slow drip can be very effective. It's best to open both the cold and hot faucets. You won't need to open the faucets in areas where there are no vulnerabilities.
We all want to save money in the winter on heating costs, but this could end up costing you more for repairs if pipes freeze. Keep your thermostat high enough so pipes won't freeze, especially when you are going away for a while. Your indoor temperature should be at least 55 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing. If you are going to be away for an extended period of time in cold months, it would be best to have a trusted person to check on your pipes.
Be careful about keeping garage doors, crawl space doors closed where pipes can be exposed to cold air. Insulate these areas well. Insulation will keep the areas warmer in general, which will help to prevent frozen pipes.
Frozen Pipes
If you notice the dripping at your faucets has stopped, this could be a sign your pipes have frozen and need another way of relieving the pressure. Calling a professional would be best in this case. If the pipes have already burst, it's advised to turn the water off at the main, which is usually at the meter outside of your home, and keep the faucets open until repairs can be made.
Don't use an open flame to thaw frozen pipes. This can be dangerous. There could be damage to pipes or could start a fire. Some people use a hair dryer to thaw frozen pipes. This can work sometimes if done properly. The heat should be applied at a low setting and slowly applied. The utmost caution should be used when using a hair dryer since it is an electrical appliance. Never use an electrical appliance in standing water or near dripping water.
Vulnerabilities
Depending on where you live and how the pipes are located in your home, there may be existing vulnerabilities. Some homes have pipes inside the insulation, which is a protectant. Even with insulation, depending on where the pipes are, they could be affected by very cold temperatures. Anywhere there is a flow of cold air coming in contact with pipes, such as in crawl spaces, outside walls, etc., they have the potential to freeze.
During winter, if you live in a cold climate, always be aware of freezing temperatures. Even if you live in a usually warm climate, there is the potential for temperatures to drop cold enough for pipes to freeze. Pay careful attention to weather reports so you can take measures to prevent frozen pipes. Pipes tend to freeze when the outside temperature is around 20 degrees or below. Windchill factors have to be taken into consideration as well. But, this will also depend on individual situations such as whether pipes are insulated, where they are and how much cold air they are exposed to.
Preventative Measures
If you are building a new home, get professional advice about the best way to route your pipes to prevent freezing. If you have an existing home, you may not want to spend money on rerouting pipes, but there are measures you can take to prevent freezing.
Hardware and most any home supply store carries insulated sleeves made for pipes. These sleeves normally come in different thicknesses. The thicker, the more protection your pipes will have. Electric heating tape is also available for pipes, but these should be used with caution and only use ones that are up to code. Some of the electric heating tape comes with a thermostat to cut on and off as needed. Some do not have a thermostat and will have to be manually plugged in. These may not be the ideal option since it would be easy to forget when to plug in at the needed time.
Although you may not like wasting water, opening a faucet when the temperatures dip down, will relieve the pressure that builds and very likely will prevent your pipes from freezing. An open faucet with a very slow drip can be very effective. It's best to open both the cold and hot faucets. You won't need to open the faucets in areas where there are no vulnerabilities.
We all want to save money in the winter on heating costs, but this could end up costing you more for repairs if pipes freeze. Keep your thermostat high enough so pipes won't freeze, especially when you are going away for a while. Your indoor temperature should be at least 55 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing. If you are going to be away for an extended period of time in cold months, it would be best to have a trusted person to check on your pipes.
Be careful about keeping garage doors, crawl space doors closed where pipes can be exposed to cold air. Insulate these areas well. Insulation will keep the areas warmer in general, which will help to prevent frozen pipes.
Frozen Pipes
If you notice the dripping at your faucets has stopped, this could be a sign your pipes have frozen and need another way of relieving the pressure. Calling a professional would be best in this case. If the pipes have already burst, it's advised to turn the water off at the main, which is usually at the meter outside of your home, and keep the faucets open until repairs can be made.
Don't use an open flame to thaw frozen pipes. This can be dangerous. There could be damage to pipes or could start a fire. Some people use a hair dryer to thaw frozen pipes. This can work sometimes if done properly. The heat should be applied at a low setting and slowly applied. The utmost caution should be used when using a hair dryer since it is an electrical appliance. Never use an electrical appliance in standing water or near dripping water.
Labels:
Home and Garden
Self Improvement
Why Some People Cannot Succeed
How A Positive Self-Image can Turn into a Negative
How to Become a Better Person
Thoughts about Temptation
Stop Procrastinating and Become a Doer
How to Avoid Getting Stressed
Rid Yourself of Jealousy
Women and Self-Esteem
Labels:
Self Improvement
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)