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! As the end of the summer break approaches, it’s natural for students and their parents to start planning for their return to school. Starting a new school year can be exciting, daunting, challenging, and nerve-wracking for children, so as parents, we need to help them get ready for the new school year. Here are a few back-to-school tips. Organize Your Home
Over the break, it’s normal for your home to have become somewhat messier than normal. Make a team effort with the whole family to clean up, de-clutter and get organized. Not only does this put everyone back into work mode and set the scene for being back in school, but it also means your kids have no excuse for not being able to find their gym kit or book bag the night before going back in school. If you’ve got lots of junk to get rid of, save time by renting a dumpster. It’s so much easier to be able to toss things away as you’re sorting, rather than maneuvering around piles in your home and making multiple trips to the local recycling center. Clean Out Your Closets Linked to above, make sure you sort through your closets while getting your home in tip-top order. If your child has had a summer growth spurt, it’s better to know beforehand instead of finding out they have nothing suitable to wear for their first day in school! It also helps your child find everything they will need for their schooldays. Get rid of clothes and shoes that no longer fit or are showing signs of wear and tear. You can donate items in good condition and discard the rest. In case you open the closets and discover a huge pile of hidden laundry, there’s no need to feel overwhelmed — get practical time-saving help from your local laundry or dry-cleaning service. Get Vaccines School can be a veritable breeding ground for germs. When kids start mingling again in school, you might find that your child comes home with colds, sore throats and earaches more frequently than when they’re off school. Head to your local pharmacy to get the family updated with their flu shots. While you are there, you can also conveniently pick up various school supplies and other back-to-school items like backpacks. Check School Updates in Advance Nobody likes being surprised on the first day back to school. Put your mind at rest and check for pertinent updates on your school’s website and prepare accordingly. Are there any special supplies your child needs for the next academic year? Give yourself plenty of time to make any necessary purchases. Confirm the actual first day back and read up on your school’s most recent COVID policy. Get any required COVID supplies like masks while you are at the drug store as well. Arrange Activities It doesn’t need to be all work and no play when the kids go back to school. Keep your kids engaged and motivated outside of the classroom by making sure they have plenty of fun with their peers in the evenings and on weekends. It can be as simple as arranging with other Boston parents for kids to meet up in the neighborhood park or playground. Alternatively, take a look at your town’s library calendar to find diverse activities and events geared toward youngsters. Set those school year daily routines in motion, like school transportation, lunches, study habits, bed time, etc. Finally, give your child a good pep talk, a pat on the back, hugs and kisses, and send them off to a good start! I can’t afford to hire a housekeeper, and I work full time. I don’t have other family members to share the burden of taking care of household chores. How do I keep my house in order and maintain a good quality of life? Automate! Here are some ideas. Cleaning the floor with robots Let the Roomba or similar robotic vacuums clean the floor for you while you are at work! This is a major time saver. Landscaping service or robotic mower?
While we are talking about robots, do you know there are robotic lawn mowers and weeders? These innovative products are offered by Automated Outdoor Solutions. Check them out! Laundry We all use washers and dryers, so laundry is automated. And if you use a programmable washing machine, you can schedule it to run at a convenient time, for example, two hours before you can come home to move the clean laundry to the dryer. But you can save more time by simply packing your laundry in a bag and call the local laundry delivery service. Your clothes will come back clean, fresh and ready to wear! You can further “automate” by subscribing to a weekly or biweekly delivery. Maid service Hey, automation doesn’t have to be by machines ;-) The robotic vacuum can only clean the floors. You can use automatic toilet bowl cleaners like Flush 2000. However, you’ll still need the clean the shower and the kitchen, do some dusting, etc. and there are no robots for those yet, as far as I know. Scheduling the cleaners to come every two weeks will do the trick! Rent a dumpster for cleanupsDe-clutter your house at least once a year to make your daily cleaning easier. Save yourself trips to the town recycling center and rent a dumpster instead. The dumpster rental company will haul your junk away for you and take care of the recycling, too! Online food delivery service No time for cooking and clean up afterwards? There’s nothing more convenient than having your favorite food delivered to you! You can use an app like UberEats, or order from your favorite local restaurant or supermarket as well. Drugstore deliveries You have probably used apps that allow you to refill prescriptions and have them delivered to you. But many drugstores, like the pharmacy near me, also have online stores where you can buy home healthcare products, personal care and even household products and deliver to you as well. Check them out! Automatic propane delivery If you use propane for heating, cooking, etc. for your home, sign up for automatic propane delivery. With automatic delivery, the supplier knows when to deliver propane to you without you having to call them. You’ll never run out of fuel because you forgot to check or to call. Isn’t that a life saver? Sign up for autopay I use autopay for all my utility bills, credit card bills, etc. It saves time and I’ll never get any penalties. There are so many ways to automate and make our lives easier. It pays to be on the lookout for more automated solutions! 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:
“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.
With 23 unique neighborhoods, Boston offers endless moments of discovery and excitement for you and your friends and family to explore and enjoy. Whether you live in the city or are visiting during summer vacation, you’ll never be bored. In fact, the choices can be overwhelming so we are here to give you a few good ideas to start the summer. Break out the walking shoes and sunscreen! Enjoy the Water
Nothing’s better than being by the water on a sizzling summer day. Enjoy the sea in Boston by taking a ferry ride or grabbing a spot on a Boston harbor cruise. Many visitors and locals enjoy taking a quick ferry ride over to Spectacle Island. There are plenty of hiking and swimming opportunities for everyone! If you’d rather just relax on the water, lounge on a cruise around the Boston harbor. Grab some motion sickness medicine from your local pharmacy if you tend to get seasick. Soak up the Sun Is being near the water not your cup of tea? Don’t worry. There’s still plenty you can do as you visit Boston. Pack some fresh fruit, a linen sheet, and allergy medicine for an outdoor picnic in The Public Garden. It’s a great location to quickly escape the hustle and bustle of the city. For a more active day, take a stroll with friends or family around the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University near Jamaica Plains. It’s a free public park and a botanical research center, easily accessible by MBTA Orange Line’s Forest Hills station. Dive Into the Entertainment There’s no shortage of Boston activities in the entertainment category. Between sports and live shows, you’ll keep busy. Visit the iconic Fenway Stadium for a Red Sox game. Stuff your face with hot dogs as you enjoy America’s favorite pastime. If you’re a music lover, check out local band performances at nearby bars or parks. Keep an eye out for flyers around town and popular concert venues, including the Paradise Rock Club or House of Blues. Relax at Home Believe it or not, one of the best Boston activities is enjoying a day at home. With lots of daylight and warm weather, Boston is a beautiful city to be in summer so you might as well soak it up. How about a cookout in the backyard. Grab some steaks, hotdogs and chicken wings, propane for the grill, cut up a watermelon, and make fresh lemonade for your family. You’ll never regret moments surrounded by your loved ones. A fun family day is also a great excuse to give your elderly family member’s in-home companion the day off. Your family members can help watch over your aging parents and spend some quality time together. Sunny Days: A Summer in Boston No one ever forgets their first summer in Boston. This historical city offers plenty of chances for laughter, smiles, and adventure. Don’t sweat the household chores. Let the dry cleaner do the laundry and the maid service do the cleaning. Soak up the sun near the sea or in a park. Cheer on the Red Sox or your favorite band. Or take a day to put your feet up in your own backyard. Have a great summer! 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. 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! 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! 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. With a pandemic raging, the last couple of years have been some of the strangest in modern times. From school and work closures to the banning of large gatherings, people have not been able to socialize and have fun! With people getting back to work and school, what better way to get back into the swing of things than to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Parades are a traditional way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Boston’s traditional St. Patrick’s Day parade is back for 2022 on March 20th at 1:00 pm. If you can’t make it to the parade, why not do a celebration of your own? Here are a few things you can do! Take It Outside
Invite some guests for a backyard BBQ. Don’t forget to make sure you have a full propane tank for your grill! If you want to serve traditional Irish food, make some corned beef and cabbage or beef stew. It’s also fun to make as many green foods as you can, like green soda bread, cookies, cupcakes, candy, etc. Serve a great Irish beer like Guinness and your St Paddy’s party would be perfect! Make sure to have some digestive aids on hand for the next morning! Green Balloons Helium balloons are always a crowd-pleaser. Get yourself a helium tank and some green balloons for the St. Patrick’s Day decorations. Attach the green balloons to the mailbox, a post in the yard, and even in the house. Balloons always create a festive atmosphere and once the party guests arrive, don’t forget to play some Irish music. Have a Park Party for the Kids Kids always love to play on the swings and slides at the park. Even if you’re not Irish, you can still load up on some green snacks and drinks, bring a few green balloons, and dress yourself and your kids in green tee shirts for an impromptu St. Patrick’s Day party at the park playground. While the kids rest after playing, pass the snacks around and tell them the story of St Patrick: St. Patrick lived during the fifth century and is the patron saint of Ireland. Although he was born in Roman Britain, he was captured and taken as a slave to Ireland. The Catholic Church credits St. Patrick with bringing Christianity to Ireland. There are several legends surrounding St. Patrick. One of the most well-known is how he taught the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of the Shamrock (Irish Clover). When is St. Patrick’s Day? People celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th — the day of St. Patrick’s death. Although the celebration falls in Lent, the Church waives the requirement for abstinence from meat if the day falls on a Friday. Amid the not-so-perfect weather of March, St. Patrick’s Day offers a fun respite from the dreary days of the pandemic. Do take advantage of it! |
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