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Between the high heat, the unrelenting humidity and oily sunscreen, your skin can really take a beating during the summer months. But there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a perfect complexion along with the summer sun. Here are some tips to keep you looking and feeling great.

Exfoliate Daily

Before you go out and in the sun, it can be a good idea to rid of all the dry, dead cells sitting on the surface of your skin. Using a lightly abrasive scrub, towel or loofah will help remove this dried up layer and get you ready to shine. Exfoliating will also help stimulate your skin, encouraging new growth and overall health.

Use the Right Moisturizer

After you exfoliate, shower or shave, it’s always a good idea to moisturizing your skin. It’s important to find the brand that works for you. If it ends up clogging your pores, you’re going to have a harder time keeping your skin rash and complexion free once you hit the heat outside. Read the ingredients and experiment with different types to find the one you like the most.

Always Use Sun Block

Some people think they’re going to get a great tan by not applying any sunscreen – this approach will leave your skin dry, damaged and worse for wear. You should always apply at least SPF 15 before stepping outside for long periods of time. The trick is to find the right level of protection along with a formula that works best for you. Sunburn, heat rash and hives are definitely not summer fun.

Quick Tip for sunburn – try soaking a paper towel in green tea and applying to the burnt area. This will prevent any damage to the skin cells from taking place. As for cooling off the burn – aloe, aloe and more aloe.

Drink Plenty of Water

Your skin is the largest organ of the human body. And considering we’re made of almost 70% water, it’s a good idea to stay hydrated. Water will help keep your skin looking great and even help cool it down. If you think your skin is taking a beating, find a nice shady spot and kick back with a glass of water. A book and hammock are optional.

The most important thing is to stay safe and enjoy the summer weather while it lasts. Take care of your skin and you’ll be looking as great as you feel.

Summer is finally here. But with the nice weather can come some nasty downsides. So we’ve compiled a short list of summer tips that will guarantee a good time no matter what – From avoiding pests to salvaging that sunken cellphone, these tips are sure to come in handy.

Relieve Mosquito Bites

It’s inevitable – if you’re going outside, you’re going to get stung. But don’t worry, next time your scratching away at that bite, try a little toothpaste or vinegar right on the bump. Within a few minutes, you’ll forget it’s there. Another option is to crush some aspirin and add a few drops of water – rub on the bite and done. You can stop scratching and get back to horseshoes.

Save a Soaked Cellphone

Oh no. You jumped in head first and forgot your phone was in your pocket. It happens. Try quickly dropping your soaked electronic device it in some uncooked rice. The rice will absorb all of the surrounding moisture and, hopefully, draw all the water away from the vital sections of your phone until completely dry. In some really severe cases where phones are all but lost to water, try spraying them down with some WD-40. WD-40 actually stands for Water Displacement Formula Number 40 – so it’s designed to repel water. It may buy you enough time to dry out the phone before it’s lost.

Repel Bugs Cheaply and Safely

Bug repellents can get costly and often contain some rather unwanted chemicals. So why not make your own bug repellents at home? Start off with some soy wax, melt it in a double boiler, add some citronella oil (found at most health food stores) and pour into an empty jar or old can with a wick. Now you have your own citronella candle, perfect for keeping off the bugs. Add some different scents and colored crayons to your mix for a more pleasant candle.

Don’t like the idea of candles, some plants will naturally protect against mosquito and other bugs. Flowers like citronella (for obvious reasons), catnip, rosemary, and marigolds all repel bugs. And, as it turns out, Mosquito hate soap. So next time you’re in the backyard, hang some dryer sheets on the deck or set up a bubble blowing machine. Independent research shows these can really cut down on the number of unwanted bug visitors.

Clean the Grill without Harsh Chemicals

It was a long winter. And we’re willing to guess that those grill grates prove that fact. Or maybe it’s just been a few years since they’ve had a good scrub. Well, not many of us have a pressure washer to blast that grit away and chemicals that close to food just seems like a bad idea. Don’t worry – there’s an easy fix. Use a halved onion face down on a heated grill to remove grit and grime without the use of harsh chemicals or expensive pressure washers. If onions bring tears to your eyes, you can also use a balled up piece of aluminum foil to get the stuck on grease right off.

So there are some of our tips for having a perfect summer. If you have any tips, let us know by sounding off in the comments below, on Facebook or through Twitter. Have a great summer!

It happens to all of us – we walk into another room to grab something and suddenly can’t remember what it is we were looking for. For the most part, episodes like this can be attributed to lack of concentration. Unfortunately, we can all count on these events happening more often as we get older. Well, new research shows, maybe not.

Much of our creating and accessing a memory day-to-day is based upon pattern separation. Although we might eat oatmeal for breakfast or park in the same area each morning before work, we tend to recognize the smaller differences in each day. This helps separate and “file” our memories accordingly. You may have had oatmeal three days in a row, but maybe you had it with apples on Monday, yogurt yesterday and cinnamon today. These small, but significant, details help provide a distinct memory.

Age, as we all understand, has a tendency to dull the ability to make these distinctions causing our memories to blur together. That’s because of a degenerative process caused by aging to our dentate gyrus – the part of brain thought to be responsible for the formation of new memories.

But new research has shown that there may be a way to help stimulate this portion of our brain and help stimulate the creation of new brain cells. No, it’s not crossword puzzles or brain teasers –  it’s good, old fashioned exercise.

In a study conducted at the National Institute on Aging, researchers found that mice which regularly and voluntarily exercised using their play wheels showed an increased ability to separate closely spaced images on a screen – a test used monitor pattern recognition and memory in animals. When compared with their sedentary roommates, the mice that ran more frequently also showed more new neurons within their brain’s memory zone.

Although the extent to which exercise can help facilitate this reaction in humans is still unknown, it does lead to some promising theories. The bottom line – exercising can never hurt. So why not try it anyway? Get out and get active. The only problem is remembering where you left your keys.

We hope everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend. And you know that that means – the official start of summer!

It’s a perfect time to get outside and get active – fresh air and plenty to do in it. There’s running, biking, walking or even just sitting in the shade with a good book. It’s all great for your physical health and can help put your mind at ease.  But it’s also important to remain safe when dealing with those unexpected consequences of the summer heat.

A big, and often times overlooked, risk is eye damage. Strong UV rays in sunlight can damage your eyes and make for some painful beach memories. If you’re going to be out in the sun at all this summer, it’s a good idea to invest in some stylish shades. OK, they don’t have to be stylish, but sunglasses are always a good idea. The investment will pay for itself as eye protection is just as important throughout the winter with the sun refracting off the snow as it is in the summer while sitting on the beach.

It’s important to verify that your sun glasses are in fact 100% UV protective. If they’re not, they will actually help dilate your pupils which will allow more damaging UV rays to enter your eye. Most glasses will have a small information sticker letting you know that you’re good to go.

Another risk many tend to overlook is dehydration. Summer heat means Pina Coladas and pool parties. But as the temperature rises, so does your risk of dehydration.  Your body is about 60% water and that water is needed to help flush out toxins. It’s a safe bet that about 9 glasses of water are needed throughout a normal day so uping that to 12-15 when out in the heat is a good start. Of course the more vigorous your activity the more water is needed. Don’t be afraid to have some sugary drinks in there as well. Electrolytes are just as important to hydration when expending lots of energy out in the sun –  Of course, everything in moderation.

Additionally, if you’re attending that outdoor cocktail party, remember that alcohol can facilitate dehydration. Try having a glass of water in-between drinks to remain on track.

Another great part of summer is the vacation time. Many of us set off for a few days or maybe even a few weeks. But exhaustion is an often overlooked consequence of the summer heat. If you’re going on a long trip, try to keep the driving to reasonable distances. Driving accidents increase during the summer months due to the influx of drivers and increase in exhausting  while on the road. If you’re flying, give yourself some extra time to sit so you don’t have to run from terminal to terminal. These little breaks will give your body the time it needs to recover and make your vacation just that much less stressful.

It’s also important to know the signs of heat stroke while enjoying the summer sun. Keep an eye out for headache, fatigue, muscle cramps, rapid pules, confusion and the lack of sweating even in hot temperatures. Get to a cool place, relax and rehydrate if you think you are experiencing any of these signs.

So, as summer officially starts, let’s get out there and enjoy the weather while it lasts. Be safe and be happy!

There is no time like spring when it comes to healthy eating. The veggies are fresh, it seems like almost everything is in season and the weather makes for the perfect picnic conditions.

Honestly, there’s no better spring activity quite like a nice meal at the park or out on the grass. Picnics are a great way to enjoy being outside and get active when the temperature is right. Staying local means you can ride your bike or go for a walk with all your food packed tight. So we thought we’d share a few of our favorite picnic recipes that are both easy to carry and easy to enjoy.

How about a nice starter? An easy and perfect picnic snack like snow peas can put a little crunch in any meal. To start, add some sliced almonds, a squeeze of lemon juice, a tablespoon of unsalted butter or olive oil and a few bits of diced shallots and you’ve got a great salad that doubles as a finger food.

Maybe you’ve brought some heart-healthy wine for a nice evening under the stars. We’ve got just the thing – Apple-Goat Cheese Bruschetta. Toast some sliced French bread and store it in a zip-top bag. Then in another bag combine 1 chopped red apple, ¼ crumbled goat cheese, some fresh pepper and a little oregano for a nice mix that will compliment any picnic wine. Dip  your bread or spoon it out onto each piece.

Now it’s time for the main course! Chicken is truly versatile and can accompany almost any starter. If you plan on grilling, why not marinade your chicken while on the way to your favorite picnic spot? If not, simply grill the chicken before leaving and you’ve got a great tasting main course that’s easy to carry and won’t spoil in the sun. Put your chicken strips in a bag with some orange and lime juice. Add a little bit of olive oil, some ground cumin, and a little fresh time for the perfect citrus marinade.

Now, everyone’s favorite part, it’s time for dessert. But have no fear, you can hit that sweet tooth without having to worry about what you’re eating. If you’ve got a grill you’re using, try making some fruit kabobs. Skewer your favorite fruits like peaches, pineapple, grapes and strawberries and toss them on the open flame. In a few minutes, the sugars on the outside will start to caramelize leaving some sweet and crunchy grill marks behind. You can sprinkle a little chocolate syrup on at this point as well – we won’t tell anyone.

If you don’t have a grill, just prepare you fruit salad ahead of time and bring a light Angel food cake or whipped topping for the perfect complement to your fruit.

If you’ve got some favorite recipes or fun ideas on how to keep your picnic fun and healthy, let us know! Join the conversation by posting a comment below or reach us on Facebook and Twitter.