How to Treat Poison Ivy Rash
Poison ivy grows all over North America, and too many of us have no idea how to treat the painfully itchy rash it causes. This green, 3-petal leaf look…
Poison ivy grows all over North America, and too many of us have no idea how to treat the painfully itchy rash it causes. This green, 3-petal leaf look…
If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that gets a decent amount of snow, then you likely spend at least a few days a year on a sled. Not only is it …
There’s nothing like spending a warm Saturday night watching the sunset from your own backyard. Sip on some sangria, hear the crickets begin to stir an…
If you’re about to take your first camping trip in the wilderness, it can be a little daunting. There will be no electricity, no plumbing, no instant e…
Poison ivy grows all over North America, and too many of us have no idea how to trea…
If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that gets a decent amount of snow, then you…
There’s nothing like spending a warm Saturday night watching the sunset from your ow…
If you’re about to take your first camping trip in the wilderness, it can be a littl…
Poison ivy grows all over North America, and too many of us have no idea how to treat the painfully itchy rash it causes. This green, 3-petal leaf looks harmless enough and grows almost everywhere in the continent (except Hawaii and Alaska); most rashes occur after an unintentional brush with a plant in the backyard.
So, you have the telltale tingling in your arm, and it soon turns to a blotchy red rash. The oil in the poison ivy causes the skin reaction, and it can get spread to others from your rash. What do you do? The first step is to wash your skin with warm and soapy water to try and remove the oil. Then, use a barrier cream from the drugstore, like IvyBlock, to prevent spreading. The rash will naturally fade in 1-3 weeks, but in the meantime, take cooling oatmeal baths to soothe the skin. Address the itchiness with over the counter calamine cream or aloe vera gel. Worst comes to worst, try an antihistamine that treats allergies.
Poison ivy affects most of us outdoorsy-folk at one point or another. It’s important to know what to do when it happens to you.
If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that gets a decent amount of snow, then you likely spend at least a few days a year on a sled. Not only is it fun for adults to toboggan, but it’s a great way to get your kids out of the house and away from their screens. However, there are a few safety precautions to take to make your sledding experience a fun one.
First, assess the hill. Notice any patches of ice, any large bumps that could project you into the air. Look at the surrounding area for trees, ponds and lakes, and other people or animals.
Second, assess your toboggan. If it has steering capacities, are they in working order? If it’s inflatable, is it leaking air? Are there any broken pieces that could snap off mid-ride and hurt you?
Third, check in with yourself. Are you wearing enough layers and warm enough outerwear to protect you from hypothermia and frostbite? This is especially important for the kiddos!
Tobogganing can be an awesome and exciting outdoor activity in the winter. Staying safe while sledding is the first step to having a great time.
There’s nothing like spending a warm Saturday night watching the sunset from your own backyard. Sip on some sangria, hear the crickets begin to stir and enjoy the company you’re with. We absolutely love the pictures of the backyard patios you’ve sent in, so we decided to create the quintessential list of backyard-patio must-haves!
Outdoor patios provide an easy and accessible way to spend time outdoors, while inside your comfort zone. Whether you host a dinner party on yours, or simply do your yoga practice on it each morning, having a well-designed patio space is crucial. We want to see if you use any of these ideas on your patio! Send us a picture of your backyard patio and it may get featured in an upcoming blog post.
If you’re about to take your first camping trip in the wilderness, it can be a little daunting. There will be no electricity, no plumbing, no instant entertainment on a TV. You will be spending a lot of time with your camping buddies or by yourself. We’ve compiled some tips to aid your experience:
Camping is one of the best ways to spend time with loved ones and spend time with yourself. There are no distractions of daily life; it’s just you and the planet. Although it can be nerve-wracking the first time, try and embrace your camping experience and treat it as a lesson. It’s not going to be perfect and you won’t be professional from the start, but you can and will enjoy yourself. You just have to let go, inhale the fresh air, and smile.
Firepits have become a backyard staple for many American homeowners. They add atmosphere and aroma to your yard, making it feel like you’re camping in the wilderness and not in Cincinnati. However, many cities across North America have made firepits illegal in backyards due to the safety and environmental risks. Safety should always come before design aesthetic.
In places that are prone to wildfires, like Southern California, lighting a firepit in the backyard can trigger a larger fire and cause serious damage. That’s why many cities will enforce a “burn ban” during certain times of theyear. One solution to this issue is to make sure your firepit is at least 10-30 feet from any house or structure. You can also create a natural gas firepit that burns on propane which is safer for the environment than burning wood.
Firepits can be extremely dangerous for small children to be around. There should always be an adult with children near a firepit, and someone needs to make sure the kids aren’t wearing loose clothing. Even after the firepit is put out, don’t let kids be alone with it. There can still be some lit embers in the pit that can burn you, or even reignite. The same goes for pets, keep them a safe distance from the firepit.
You should never use flammable liquids to light fires. Gasoline and lighter fluid are not intended for backyard campfires or any campfires for that matter. The fluid is so flammable that even the fumes they create in the air can catch fire. If someone lights a match or smokes a cigarette in the vicinity of these fumes they can go up in flames. Some people dangerously use gasoline to light their fire because it looks like an explosion which they find entertaining.
If you do choose to burn real wood as opposed to a natural gas fireplace, avoid using soft woods. Pine and cedar are a soft type of wood that when lit, they can spray and throw sparks in unpredictable directions. Use hard woods like maple and oak. Also, check the direction of the wind before you start the fire. Arrange seating so it’s facing the direction the wind is blowingtowards, this way sparks and smoke aren’t blown into your faces.
Firepits can be a great addition to any backyard looking for some campsite ambiance. However, there are multiple safety concerns that come along with building one. Make sure you learn about all the risks and dangers to avoid damage and injury.