Protecting the Environment on Earth Day and Beyond

Earth Day is right around the corner and if you want to start getting more involved in environmental protection efforts, there are several easy ways you can do your part to protect the Earth. When everyone makes small changes, eco-friendly attitudes catch on and the world slowly becomes a safer, healthier place.

Consider these eco-friendly ideas if you want to make an impact on Earth Day and beyond.

Reuse

Using fewer plastic bags during your shopping trips is one effective way that you, as a customer, can help protect the environment. Plenty of stores sell resilient, reusable shopping bags that can easily be folded up and stored in your car.

Additionally, if you use laundry services in Boston, ask about reusable laundry bags. Some designs allow you to use them as an all-in-one reusable laundry/duffel/garment bag. At home, the bag serves as a hamper. You can use it as a duffel bag to take your laundry to the cleaners, and at pick-up, it transforms into a side-zippered, breathable, water-repellent, hanging garment bag that protects your cleaned clothing.

Recycle

Recycling protects the environment by preventing the depletion of the earth’s limited resources. If you have unused medications, take them to your local pharmacy for safe, proper disposal. Return unused hangers to the dry cleaner you frequent.

If you do happen to receive groceries in plastic bags, return the empty bags to the depository that many supermarkets now have for bag recycling.

Use Clean Energy/Green Technology

Plenty of companies offer clean or green products you can use in lieu of those that damage the environment. For example, you might want to consider using propane or solar energy to cut down on your energy consumption when cooking, heating your home, and using appliances.

Green dish and laundry detergents also exist, and they’re just as effective as standard store-brand products. These items may be a little more expensive, but they don’t pollute groundwater.

Buy from Green Companies

When you make active choices to shop at green stores and subscribe to eco-friendly companies, you’re doing far more than making a move to protect the environment. You’re also influencing your friends and family to follow your example, and you’re incentivizing other businesses to adopt greener practices.

Try visiting eco-friendly dry cleaners, landscapers that practice environmentally-conscious work, and low-waste grocery stores.

Celebrate Earth Day with Your Family

Earth Day provides families with a reason to go outside and have fun, but the day also serves to present parents and children with teachable moments. On Earth Day, educate your children about the environment and give them easy tips and activities they can try out if they want to live a greener lifestyle.

If you have senior loved ones living with you (or you visit them frequently), encourage them to participate in a few low-impact gardening activities with the rest of the family. Not only is gardening a great way to pursue sustainability but this sort of activity can be shared by everyone in your household. You may also be able to hire a home caregiver that can help your senior with gardening or other earth-friendly activities.

Earth Day focuses on protecting the planet on which we live, but it’s not the only time people should care about the environment. Use the activities you adopt during Earth Day to take your eco-friendly efforts beyond the holiday. See what sort of difference your changes make if you keep them going throughout the year.

Welcoming Fall in Boston

New England is known across the world for its gorgeous fall colors, and Boston is no exception. As temperatures begin to drop, it is also high time to prepare for the colder winter ahead. Here are a few tips on getting your home and life more organized as you welcome the fall season in Boston.

Clean Up Your Yard

Boston is famous for its stunning fall foliage, with vibrant shades of red, orange and gold. People travel from far and wide to witness the glorious colors, as the trees change from hues of green, and living in Boston gives you prime viewing of seasonal splendor.

However, falling leaves also need cleaning up to reduce the attraction for pests. Fall is also the time to get your vegetable patch in order for next spring.

Give your grass one final mow before the winter, feed the lawn, rake up dead leaves, trim back dead tree and shrub branches, power wash the deck and plant fall flowers. Take time to de-clutter your yard and clean your gutters, too.

If removing debris and leaves seems like a big task, why not consider renting a roll-off dumpster to make your clean-up project smoother?

Organize Inside Your Home

As well as tidying up outdoors, have a thorough clean and tidy inside your home. Clean out cabinets and closets and get rid of any clothes that you no longer wear. You could consider donating unwanted items to charity.

Store your summer garments for next year and make sure your warmer winter wear is conveniently at hand. Wash any items that need freshening up after being folded away over the summer, and buy anything you’ll need to see you through the winter, such as a new coat, sweaters and footwear.

You’ll soon want warmer bedding for the colder nights. Freshen up blankets and comforters with a trip to the dry cleaners to make sinking into bed on a cold evening even cozier.

Heat Your Home

Check that all your heating appliances are in good working order. After all, it’s better to arrange any necessary repairs in fall than over the winter.

If you use propane to heat your home, you’ll likely have noticed that prices have recently increased. Research suppliers and make sure that you have a reliable propane supply to fend off the cold when the temperatures drop even further.

Stock Up

Snuggling up at home is especially appealing on cold days, and having well-stocked pantry and medicine cabinets is a great idea for those times when you simply don’t want to go out or think about trying to order goods.

Fill your pantry with long-life staples, such as canned and dry goods, so you’ve always got a supply to fall back on.

The colder weather is, unfortunately, a peak time for catching bugs and getting sick. Stock up on fall medications to keep your family as healthy and comfortable as possible. Buy things like painkillers, allergy products, cough medicine, throat lozenges and nasal sprays, making sure to also have items suitable for younger members of the family, to get ready to stave off colds and germs. You might also like to add vitamin supplements to your list.

Don’t forget to buy seasonal personal care products too, such as items to prevent chapped lips, combat dry hair and nails and keep your skin in great condition.

Practice Self-Care

In today’s busy world, it’s all too easy to be so focused on taking care of others that people forget to take care of themselves.

Self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s essential.

You may have been focused lately on getting the kids ready to go back to school, and settling them in. Buying uniforms and supplies, arranging after school clubs, sorting lunches and transportation, helping with homework and dealing with other school-related matters can quickly start to take its toll.

Have you also been taking care of elderly parents? If you’re in need of a breather, get some valuable time to rest, recharge and feel more in control of your life with temporary respite care services. Your family will benefit much more from a rested you; being frazzled helps nobody!

Enjoying Summer Safely

As you head outdoors, don’t forget the sunscreen and bug spray, clinicians urge

RACHEL COPPOLA | COVERAGE, NEWS SERVICE OF BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MASSACHUSETTS

As summer vacation season kicks off, taking commonsense precautions to avoid sun, heat and insect-borne illnesses can help ensure a fun and safe season.

Follow these summer safety tips:

Stay sun safe
Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection on all exposed skin, and reapply it every two hours regardless of SPF rating or more if you are swimming or sweating. “Consider a mineral-based sunscreen instead of a chemical-based one because it reflects UV rays away from the skin, and make putting it on part of your everyday routine like eating breakfast and brushing your teeth,” says Dr. Ashley Yeats, a family physician and VP of medical operations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Wear sunglasses, a broadbrimmed hat and long-sleeved shirt or clothing with built-in sun protection, and try not to go outside midday when the sun is most intense. Yeats also advises doing monthly skin checks according to the ABCDEs to help identify concerning moles: Asymmetry (half of the mole doesn’t match the other), Border irregularity, Color that is not uniform, Diameter greater than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser), and Evolving size, shape or color.
Keep critters away
Yeats advises applying insect repellant with EPA registered active ingredients such as DEET that are appropriate for the age of the person to ward off ticks and mosquitoes that can carry and transmit Lyme Disease, West Nile Virus and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), and to bathe before bed to wash it off. Yeats also recommends wearing pants tucked into long socks, especially if you will be hiking or walking in high grass, and avoiding activities at dawn and dusk. When you come in from the outdoors, check your skin for ticks and a bullseye rash that can indicate a tick bite. “Symptoms of Lyme disease, West Nile and EEE are fever and lethargy — unfortunately the same as COVID-19,” Yeats says. If you notice these symptoms, call your doctor and discuss your recent activities.
Stay cool and hydrated
As temperatures and humidity climb, Yeats notes it’s important to guard against dehydration and heat stroke by staying cool. “The very young and very old are less capable of dispersing body heat than others,” she said, so special care should be taken to keep babies and the elderly cool. Drink plenty of water: “If you are thirsty, you are past the point when you don’t have enough water in your body.” Make sure you have a fan or air conditioner or cool down by putting a cold washcloth on your neck. Additionally, she recommends checking in on elderly relatives, friends and neighbors, especially now, when many of the climate-controlled places these folks used to go to, such as the mall or senior center, may be closed because of the pandemic. Yeats says to be on the lookout for signs of heat-related illnesses, including a rash, fever, nausea, light-headedness and fatigue.

If you have a medical concern, Yeats says, call your primary care provider as a first step.

“It’s important to be prepared and take these necessary precautions,” Yeats says. “But the good news is that many of these conditions, including moles, rashes and bug bites, are highly amenable to being evaluated and screened through telehealth.”

“We want you to get outside with your family and go for runs and hikes and bike rides,” Yeats says. “But we also want you to be safe.”

PICTURE OF DR. ASHLEY YEATS BY MICHAEL GRIMMETT

Coverage is a news service of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

Celebrating Dads and Grads

Whether you’re a city native or a visitor, there’s much to enjoy in the Boston area at any time of the year. But with Father’s Day and graduation around the corner, you’re likely gearing up to celebrate, Boston-style. Here are a few tips to help you plan a happy and memorable Father’s Day or graduation celebration.

Dine at One of Boston’s Many Fine Restaurants

Whether you’re celebrating graduation day or hosting a Father’s Day event, you, your family, and your loved ones will enjoy having a night out and eating a nice dinner. And with many restaurants offering al fresco dining, you may even consider reserve an outside table.

Make it memorable by getting a makeover, dressing up in your favorite dresses and best evening wear, and taking lots of pictures. Before you go, take these fine garments to a Boston dry cleaner to get them cleaned and conditioned. Be sure to dry clean them again afterwards to remove any food stains and keep them in shape for the next wearing.

Enjoy an Outdoor BBQ

Or, instead of going out for dinner, why not stay in and host an outdoor BBQ party for your Grads and Dads celebration? Not only does BBQ make for a quintessential American party, it is also the best way to enjoy the early summer weather. (But if it’s going to be hot, you can always opt for some shade in your backyard or deck, or take your party to the local park picnic shelter.)

And when it comes to BBQ, you might want to invest in a propane grill if you don’t already have one. Propane is a clean fuel and propane grills are easy to start, easy to control the flame, and easy to clean. Just don’t forget to fill your propane tank or get propane delivery from a trustworthy provider.

Because of the warm weather, you can expect to work up a sweat and maybe get food on your clothes. If you are too tired after the party to do laundry, just call your local wash and fold delivery service!

Bonus Tip: Where to Buy Gifts

Every dad and new grad deserves a gift on their special day. If you had been too busy with party preparation and either forget or can’t spare time to shop for a gift, you can find gifts suitable for both dads and grads at the local drug store. For example, you could put together a gift bag of bathing products including bar soap, bath soaks, cologne, aftershaves and more.

If all that great food at the restaurants and BBQ gives you a bad case of indigestion, you can also rely on your local pharmacy for digestive help.

Hope you find these ideas useful and wish you a great Father’s Day or school/college graduation celebration with your family and loved ones.

Spring Into Action: 5 Practical Spring Cleaning Tips

Cleaning season is here and homeowners are ramping up their efforts. Nearly 80% of the American population performs a major cleaning every spring. This figure is 10% higher than the prior year. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a renewed emphasis on sanitation.

In addition to the everyday vacuuming and dusting routine, there are a number of other cleaning steps we should take in Spring cleaning. Here are five practical spring cleaning tips that you may find useful.

1. Clean Out Your Closets

Over the course of winter, your closets take a beating. The vast majority of homeowners are removing and storing seasonal decorations from October to January. For many, these holiday decorations get shoved in a corner. Some people tend to hide clutter in their closets when hosting guests. The end result is an unorganized and messy closet.

In addition to the holiday onslaught, we also need to put away our winter coats and sweaters, ski apparel and boots, and bring out the spring and summer gear. Before going into storage, winter garments should be cleaned to ensure that left over body oils or spills don’t attract insects. Then fold and store them in a dark, dry, and well-ventilated area.

When you get your spring/summer clothes out of storage, check for any insect damage, decolorization, smells, mildew, etc. Air out the clothing and if necessary, take the clothes to the nearest dry cleaners to freshen up and make any alterations.

2. Clean Out the Garage and Attic

The garage and attic are two other landfills for seasonal decorations and clutter. When the weather warms up, the garage door opens and the neighborhood gets a peek inside.

It is a good idea to rent a dumpster for your decluttering efforts. You can arrange for waster removal companies to haul away your trash and unwanted items. This is a great way to start the spring fresh and clean.

3. Clean Up Medicine Cabinets

If your winter was like the rest of the country’s, there were lots of coughs and runny noses. Americans stocked up on cold and flu medication, as well as Covid-19 rapid tests. Now that winter has passed, we are starting to get seasonal allergies.

It is time to clean up your medicine cabinets to serve your family’s immediate medical needs. The first step is to replace all your expired medicine. Next, contact your local pharmacy to get your prescription refills as well as allergy and sinus medicine for the spring.

4. Refill Your Propane Tank

Warmer weather means it is time to start up the grill. Before doing so, you need to check your propane tank. It is likely that you need a refill. Order a propane refill or spare propane tank to get barbeque season rolling.

5. Change Air Filters and Clean Your Vents

Your heat pump or other central air system has been working hard to provide heat during the winter. It’s time to change the air filter to ensure that the cold air it sends through the home during the summer months does not bring in lots of airborne pollutants and allergens as well. Also, clean your vents to eliminate another dust source.

For many of us, cleaning your home is a spring ritual. This way, you can start the season fresh. With these five tips, we hope you will taking advantage of this perfect time to declutter and maximize your space, and prepare for a healthy and happy year ahead!

Celebrate Easter with These Traditions

Easter is this Sunday, April 17 — just a short bunny hop away! Whether you’re celebrating this holiday for a religious reason or because of certain traditions your family holds, check out the following ideas that can help you plan for a fun and memorable Easter this year.

Have an Easter Egg Hunt

Easter egg hunts are one of the most popular traditions held on Easter. What could be more fun than running around outside on a beautiful, spring day and searching for colorful eggs that have prizes or candy inside?

Looking to add something extra special to your Easter egg hunt this year or just want to change it up? Try writing activities such as “go for a bike ride together as a family” or “family game night” on pieces of paper and put them in the eggs. Let the kids redeem the activity they’ve found and enjoy spending some quality time together as a family!

If you’re hosting an Easter egg hunt for your kids outside, don’t forget to purchase some bug spray so that you can keep those pesky bugs away. Also, be sure to grab some allergy medication in case anyone struggles with spring allergies.

Dyeing and Decorating Easter Eggs

Another popular tradition that has been a part of Easter celebrations for decades is dyeing or decorating hard boiled eggs. Whether you’re using an Easter egg dyeing kit or prefer to use your creativity by using items from your kitchen or home, your family and friends are sure to make memories with this fun tradition.

Want to get extra creative this year? Purchase some pretty spring stickers to place on the outside of your eggs to give them that extra pop! You may be able to buy them from a nearby community pharmacy, where you can conveniently get some Easter gifts and cards as well.

Spend Time Outside

Invite your family members or friends over for a barbeque. If you are cooking on a propane grill, make sure to have a propane tank handy so that you are able to heat the grill and cook your food.

If you have kids, head over to your community park playground and have a picnic under a tree or picnic shelter! Whip up some traditional Easter food such as ham, deviled eggs, candied carrots and your favorite vegetable.

Whether you’re planning to have people over your house or meet up at a local park, make sure your table linens are clean and ready to go. If you’re short on time, or just prefer to have a professional clean your table linens, schedule a laundry delivery at your local dry cleaner in Boston.

Enjoy spending time with your family this Easter and getting outside for some fresh, spring air!

Tips for Outdoor Dining in Your Backyard

With a little imagination and a couple of picnic benches, your backyard can be the main venue for your some of your summertime activities. Being home with family can turn out to be one of the best things to come out of the pandemic, so much so that you found you really like spending time together. Here are some ideas for outdoor dining in your very own backyard.

1. Throwing Shade Can Be a Good Thing

With summertime around the corner, the sun will be shining its toasty rays down upon you very soon. Fun in the sun is good, but alternate time soaking up that vitamin D with some relaxing and rehydrating in the shade. Shelter from the heat can include an oversized umbrella, a gazebo, or an awning over your patio.

2. Time to Refill the Propane

When you make the list for your outdoor dining necessities, put a propane tank or cylinder near the top. It is one of the most cost effective and clean ways to cook. Propane comes in handy not only for grilling but for fire pits and heat lamps. Keeping your backyard warm with heat lamps or a fire pit when the evening starts to cool down will let your perfect day continue long after the little ones start to doze off

3. Helium Balloons and Water Activities

What kid doesn’t love colorful balloons? Round up a helium tank for your festivities and kids of all ages will be lining up to get their balloons. Backyard summertime favorites that pair well with outdoor dining include playing in the sprinklers, water balloon fights, and croquet. If your yard is big enough, there is a variety of inflatable water slides that your kids would probably love to play on anytime they want to.

4. Formal Dining Outdoors to Make Any Day Special

Pick up the fancy linen tablecloth and napkins that you forgot were at the dry cleaners and break out your equivalent of ooh-la-la silver and china that your family uses for special occasions. Eating al fresco can be as decadent as dining at a fine restaurant. You don’t have to spend a fortune to dine in style.

5. Keep the Bugs Away

Bugs like to congregate wherever there is food, so put bug spray on everyone ahead of time. Citronella candles will also help to keep the bugs at bay and allow you to enjoy your friends and family without continually slapping away the irritating insects.

For ideas on more fun ways to enjoy time with your family, see other posts on this blog. There are plenty of ways to make memories together without even leaving home.

Three Simple, Eco-Friendly Changes You Can Make at Home

Humans depend on the earth for food, safety, and oxygen. It only makes sense that we would want to take better care of this planet. Eco-friendly living starts at home, and it does not have to be that difficult, either. Here are three simple, eco-friendly changes you can make to reduce your carbon footprint and make a positive impact.

1. Change laundry products and habits.

Making a few changes to your laundry routine can reduce the amount of pollution your household releases. If you don’t already use a natural, eco-friendly laundry detergent, it’s time to make the switch. Also make sure your fabric softener is eco-friendly. You may even want to try reusable, laundry-softening balls rather than a liquid product.

If you have clothing that needs to be dry cleaned, go to an eco-friendly dry cleaner. Look for a business that recycles hangers and uses reusable laundry bags rather than plastic ones.

2. Grill with propane.

Sure, grilling over charcoal makes for a tasty meal, but burning charcoal also releases a lot of pollutants into the atmosphere. If you want to live in a more eco-friendly way, switch to propane. You can buy reusable propane tanks and propane delivery from your local gas supplier. Propane emits 50% less carbon dioxide than charcoal when burned, and carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

Propane grills also make it easier to control your temperature. They heat up faster than charcoal grills, too!

3. Purchase eco-friendly personal care products.

It’s time to visit your nearby pharmacy and give your personal products an overhaul. Look for eco-friendly alternatives to your current toothpaste, shampoo, soap, makeup, and other cosmetic items.

Eco-friendly cosmetic and personal products are usually sold in recyclable packaging. They also tend to be free of polluting compounds like sodium laurel sulfate. If you can find products labeled as “vegan” and “cruelty-free,” that’s even better. These products are better for the animals, who are certainly part of this great planet. Eco-friendly and vegan products may be better for your own health, too.

If you want to preserve the planet and live a greener life, then it’s time to start making changes. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life. For now, focus on improving your laundry habits, purchasing more earth-friendly cosmetics and personal items, and grilling on propane rather than charcoal. The planet will thank you.