Fun Activities for the Family on Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a fun and festive time to celebrate love. While Valentine’s Day is commonly used to celebrate romantic relationships, it can also be a good day to spend time with family and friends and celebrate the love you share for each other. If you’re wondering how to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your loved ones, here are some family-friendly fun activities for you to consider.

Decorate Your Home

Decorating your home in pink and red is a great way to start. Make decorating an enjoyable activity by putting on some light music and having kids help with hanging up the decorations. You can even make Valentine’s Day crafts with your kids, friends and relatives who share your knack in making heart tassel charms, sequin pins, tissue paper wreaths, air-dry clay hearts and the like. Another sweet way to decorate is to get some colorful post-its from your neighborhood drugstore and write kind loving notes to each other. You can use these to decorate by sticking them on the wall, the fridge, the kitchen table, or just keep them for a bad day.

Spread Love Through Gifts

Heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, candy hearts, and cards are inexpensive gifts that can make a big impact on Valentine’s Day. You can also often find fun toys, salty snacks, and other small Valentines-themed items throughout the first two weeks of February. These are cute gifts to give to kids or other family members to spread love. Your local drugstore is a great place to find festive gifts for your family members, even at the last minute. Shop local helps spread love to your local community too!

Spend Time with Family

Valentine’s Day is a good day to spend time with family looking back on the memories you share. With elderly parents, you can look back on old photo albums from weddings, births, and other family milestones. If you’re unable to spend time with a parent, share albums with another relative or pass albums along to home care aides who offer companionship to your elderly loved one.

If you have kids who are old enough, you can also reminisce on old memories with a Valentine’s Day theme, looking back on old home videos or baby books with some heart-shaped snacks.

We all remember fun times in the kitchen at home. How about making Valentine’s Day cupcakes or candy together? Be sure to prepare plenty of coloring, frosting, powdered sugar, and other fun ingredients!

Dress Festively

Wear pink and red at home or work and take pictures to celebrate Valentine’s Day! You could even buy fun accessories like feather boas or bead necklaces and do a family photoshoot. If you enjoy throwing parties, have a pink and red themed party. Valentine’s Day parties are a great way to put your festive decorations and pink and red attire to good use.

If you’re throwing or attending a party where you plan to wear pink or red, some Boston dry cleaners offer Valentine’s Day discounts for pink or red garments and household items. Get your garments and table linens cleaned before your party to look your best!

Enjoy Valentine’s Day with plenty of fun, laughter, good food, music and dancing, and don’t forget to show your love. Take advantage of local stores and discounts to get in the community’s Valentine’s Day spirit too!

Tips For Caring For Your Elderly Loved Ones at Home

As our loved ones age, they feel most comfortable at home. That’s why if it’s safe for them to stay home, with some help, that’s usually the best option. But it definitely can be overwhelming for us to transition into becoming a caregiver, even if it’s not full time. Here are some tips for caring for your elderly loved ones at home.

Make the Home Safe

As we age, it becomes tricky to navigate certain spaces. Adding grab bars in the bathroom, shower and sitting areas is an easy way to give your loved one a little extra help and prevent falls. Consider reaching aids like grab claws kept in convenient places like under cabinets or in pantries.

elderly woman in the kitchen — Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Make Moving Around Easy

Canes and walkers are a helpful way to give your elderly loved ones some independence when moving around. There are even foldable walkers that can be stored away in closets or under furniture.

Prescriptions and Medical Reminders

If your loved one takes medication regularly, there are several ways to remind them to either refill prescriptions or pick up meds. You could set alarms, have them set up for monthly refills, or have the pharmacy set up reminder calls.

Companionship

If your elderly loved one is still in good health, a pet may be an option for companionship. Cats are generally less maintenance than dogs. However, some small dog breeds make great companions. If pets aren’t an option, consider hiring a sitter for the elderly a couple of days a week.

Delivery Services

There are so many grocery delivery services today, and some of them even offer special services for its elderly and high-risk clients. You can even download an app and order the groceries yourself, from your own home or office, and have them delivered to your loved one at their home. Some Boston dry cleaners and online laundry apps provide laundry delivery services as well.

Local Services

Get with your community park services. They may offer special hours or programs for elderly citizens. Even if that’s not an option, regular walks to the park or in the neighborhood are always a great idea.

Using these easy tips, caring for your elderly loved ones can be a rewarding experience for everyone.

Gardening Tips You May Not Have Considered

Gardening season is here! After the last few months we’ve had, spending time outside with our hands in the dirt is incredibly welcome. While gardening is a great hobby to have, it also helps to be prepared. Here are some gardening tips you may not have considered.

Prep for the Bugs

Bugs are inevitable when it comes to gardening, it comes with the territory. But with a couple of precautions, you can be ready for those creepy crawly gardening buddies. Your local drugstore or pharmacy will have all the insects sprays you need to keep protected, including kinds for sensitive skin. Be sure to look for calamine or aloe lotion to soothe itchy insect bites.

Protect Your Skin From the Sun

Even if you’re just spending a few minutes outside watering your plants, it’s essential to protect your skin from the sun. If your skin is on the pale side or you tend to burn easily, look for sunscreens at your nearby pharmacy with an SPF of at least 50.

Be Prepared for Cuts and Scrapes

Weeding your garden can come with some drawbacks, like cuts and scrapes. Use good quality garden gloves to stay protected and keep a stash of first aid supplies nearby. Your local drug store will have bandaids, antibacterial cream, gauze and all the necessary things you need in the event you hurt yourself gardening.

Remove Dirt Stains

Grass and dirt stains aren’t easy to remove from clothing, so it’s best to designate some clothes specifically for gardening that you won’t mind if they get a little grungy. However, if you want to have your gardening clothes clean and stain-free, take them to the dry cleaners nearby. Be sure to tell your local Boston dry cleaner how your clothes were stains, so they can treat accordingly.

Consider Planting a Garden for a Loved One

Your elderly friends or family members may still enjoy gardens but can’t take care of them because of physical limitations or mobility issues. Planting and tending to a garden for someone else is an amazing gift, and can be so rewarding. Alternatively, a home care aide can provide great companionship by tending to the garden with your loved one.

Have fun gardening this season and take a few small precautions to stay safe and healthy in the summer sun!

Dealing with Skin Allergies

So many Americans are affected by skin allergies, so much so that skin allergy remedies are a lucrative industry. Different factors can make skin allergies worse like weather, pollen and common airborne allergens. Here are some tips for those dealing with skin allergies.

Check With Your Local Pharmacy

Skin allergies are sometimes tricky to treat since they vary so much from person to person. Check with a compounding pharmacy about medications specifically for your individual needs. Compounded medications for skin will be specially formulated for you by type and dosage, so you’ll get the quickest most reliable results.

Be Aware of What Fabrics Irritate Your Skin

You may be unaware that some of the clothing you wear regularly is irritating your sensitive skin. It could be the fabric itself, or the detergent you’ve been using to wash them. Always look for “free and clear” detergents that don’t contain any dyes or perfumes. Additionally, look for a local green dry cleaner nearby that tailors to those with sensitive skin. Ask for no fragrances and hypoallergenic products.

Check With Your Doctor

Sometimes skin allergies could be pointing to a more serious health problem. If your skin suddenly becomes dry or irritated, its best to have it checked out by your doctor or dermatologist. Raised rashes, odd-shaped markings or irritation paired with fevers should always be checked by a medical professional right away.

Moisturize Frequently

Dry weather or heat can bring on skin allergies, especially if you’re already prone to dry skin. To avoid this, I always keep my skin moisturized with a natural, perfume-free lotion or oil. I like to buy lotions and creams specifically formulated for sensitive skin at a local drugstore near me, which also can fill prescriptions from my dermatologist. Older people also tend to have dry skin, so family caregivers or professional home health aides should also take care to keep their loved one or client’s skin moisturized.

Skin allergies are a pain, but they don’t have to be. Take care of your skin and take care of each other.

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Father’s Day is right around the corner and it’s time to start thinking about gift ideas for all the special guys in your life. This year is undeniably different than previous Father’s Days, so it may require a little thinking outside the box. Some traditional stores aren’t yet fully open, and special outings and celebrations may not be possible because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not to worry! I’ve compiled some unique Father’s Day gift ideas that are perfect for our current situation.

Gift Cards

Gift cards are always a good idea for any holiday gift. But this year, consider a gift card from your Dad’s local dry cleaner. Once things get up and running again, he’ll want to freshen up his wardrobe and get out of those sweats and t-shirts. Or he may try shirt laundry service at his office so he can look his best always at work. If the dry cleaners won’t work for your guy, the local drugstore will have a large selection of gift cards for local restaurants and stores.

Private Home Care

This gift could work for grandpas as well as Dads. If your dad is caring for his elderly father, or could just use some help himself, contacting a private home care agency may be the perfect gift idea. A caregiver or home health aide could be a lifesaver, and something they may not always feel comfortable asking for themselves.

Last-Minute Gifts

Because of COVID-19, it’s hard to follow our usual gift-giving routines. If you haven’t been able to go to a department store or find what you need online, you may need to run out and grab something locally. Luckily, pharmacies are considered essential right now and almost all are offering special extended hours. The local pharmacy near me, for example, turns out to be a treasure trove of Father’s Day gifts. Cologne, coffee mugs, fancy chocolate – you’d probably be surprised what you can find at the drug store. The community pharmacy probably carries Father’s Day gift sets as well to make it even easier.

Don’t let the global pandemic stop you from treating those special Dads in your life to the perfect gift they deserve.

Photo by Mockaroon on Unsplash

Enjoying St Patrick’s Day in Boston

Canadian stand-up comedian, Russell Peters, once joked that everyone in Boston thinks they are Irish. Indeed, St Paddy’s Day Parade is a major event in the city of Boston, which is often called the capital of Irish America. The parade has been running since 1901 in South Boston, the most Irish neighborhood in Boston. It features marching bands and pipe bands from throughout North America, as well as colorful floats, music and plenty of Irish good cheer. The parade begins at the Broadway ‘T’ Station and ends at Farragut Road, South Boston. Stake out a spot somewhere on Broadway for a good view.

Kid dressed as a leprechaun — 3D render of a leprechaun leaning on an edge.

Whether you are Irish or not, it’s certainly worth sharing in the fun. Clearly, you need to dress the part – in green, preferably with Irish luck motifs like shamrock, or a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. You can even go all the way by dressing as a leprechaun, with green tall hat, red beard and even green hair! Be careful when you dye your hair and use other hair products. They can cause color loss to your clothing. When that happens, even your dry cleaner may not be able to save it. Kids often paint their faces, such as shamrocks on the cheeks, or a full-face Irish flag in green, white and orange.

How about Irish food? You will see these advertised on local supermarket flyers – cabbage, corned beef, soda bread and potatoes. Hop into an Irish bar for more festive beer and spirits, along with Irish music and dance! It’s easy to overeat or get drunk in big parties. If you do, you might need antacids, or gas relief and heartburn relief digestive aids from your local drug store. It’s better to control your appetite and save yourself the agony. Food spills are nearly unavoidable in parties, too. Don’t waste time trying to remove the stains yourself. Call the laundry delivery service and save your time for the more important things in your life!

How to Repurpose the Clothes in Your Closet

The New Year is right around the corner, so it’s time to unclutter your life. When was the last time you cleaned out your closet? Are there clothes that need washing, or even professional cleaning by a dry cleaner? Put them in a pile and if there are a lot of clothes that need cleaning, it is wise to use a laundry delivery service.

It’s a great idea to donate the clothes you no longer wear, but what about those pieces that aren’t quite in shape to donate? Or the pieces you want to hold onto but aren’t sure how to use them? Read on for some ideas on how to repurpose the clothes in your closet.

A T-Shirt Quilt

Have lots of old band or travel t-shirts sitting around? A t-shirt quilt is a super cute way to preserve your memories while repurposing those old shirts. If you’re not the crafty type, don’t worry. There are several different companies and services that do this sort of thing for you or, ask around for local artisans.

Turn Long Sleeve Shirts into Wrap Skirts

Most dress shirts last 6 months to a year, whether you use a shirt laundry service or not. Cotton shirts lose their shape after a while, but there’s no need to throw them out. By wearing the torso portion of the shirt and wrapping the sleeves around your waist into a bow in the front, you’ve got a comfortable wrap skirt you can wear over leggings or on its own. This works for solid colored shirts of course, but prints are even better!

Turn Tees into Cardigans

Have some old tees that are a bit too tight but you’d love to hang on to them? Turn them into cardigans! This awesome hack lets you hold on to your favorite old tees while repurposing them into your current wardrobe. And you don’t even need to know how to sew! Using a pair of scissors, simply cut a line straight down the middle of the tee. Then use hem tape, which you can find at any craft store, to straighten the cut edges. If I want to add buttons or fastens, I can simply ask the expert tailor at the Boston dry cleaner near me to do it for a small charge.

So time to go through your laundry piles and clean out that closet! After gathering up donations for your local organization or shelter, try some of these fun ideas to repurpose your clothes.