When maintaining lawns, homeowners experience numerous issues that can damage their properties from pests, insufficient maintenance as well as negligence. Sadly, weather can also be a huge problem which sometimes cannot be predicted. Fortunately, lawn care experts provide some tips on how to prevent weather problems. Below are some of the following.

Create hardscapes

One of the best options homeowners can do in order to prevent weather damages in their lawns is to create hardscapes. Most of the time homeowners create hardscapes to improve their outdoor living space and to make properties appealing. However, installing hardscapes on your lawn can also help you prevent strong winds and rains from ruining your lawns. Because of this, you can make properties more attractive.

Make use of mulch

Another way homeowners can do to get rid of weather issues that affect their lawns is by making use of mulch. As of now, homeowners can create mulch from different materials from wood, rocks and even grass clippings. These materials will be then spread over the lawn which will act as a barrier against the extreme heat. In addition, making use of mulch can also help improve soil moisture.

Plant native grasses

Lawn care experts also recommend homeowners to plant native grasses. Of course, weather can be different from area to area. Therefore, some plants cannot withstand the extreme heat or strong winds in your community. Fortunately, by opting for native grasses, you can reduce risks done by the weather since native grasses are resilient … Continue Reading ...

January is an ideal time to visit St. Lucia. Visitors can expect an average of eight hours of sun during the day, and cooler temperatures at night.

The island of St. Lucia is a lush, mountainous, volcanic island located in close proximity to the equator. To give you an idea of just how close – the equator is located at zero degrees latitude, and St Lucia is located at 20 degrees latitude.

The average temperature in January will be in the high 70’s in the morning, rise to 80 degrees by early afternoon, and then drop to around 75 degrees in the evenings. Although this is not the rainy season, you might experience light showers which usually don’t last long. The North East trade-winds off the coast of Africa also pick up during this month, providing cooling breezes on the beaches and throughout the island.

St Lucia is one of the Windward islands, and the closest neighbor islands are Martinique, St Vincent and Barbados. In fact both Martinique and St Vincent are visible on a clear day. St. Lucia lies on the eastern side of the Caribbean Sea, but also borders the Atlantic Ocean.

The island drops off in a perpendicular angle into the Caribbean Sea which makes the water much darker than other islands in the Caribbean. As a volcanic island, the beaches are particularly unique and range from course black sand to soft white power sand – and every color variation from golden, beige and brown. Travelers are … Continue Reading ...

One of the leading causes of acne and other skin diseases. Acne affects more than 75% of teenagers and many adults as well. Most adults suffer from emotional trauma because of the scars that were left behind by the acne in their teenage years.

There are some areas, which are famous for its humid weather, and are worried about getting acne, then you can choose different skin care and lifestyle changes that may help you to keep pimples away.

• Wash Your Face After Perspiring

You must make a habit of washing your skin after you sweat, especially after exposure to hot and muggy conditions. This evacuates the oil and dirt particles that may have amassed on your sweat-soaked skin. Wash with an alcohol free, non-abrasive skin wash and flush it away with warm water. A bit of warm water helps to open your pores, but you need to stay away from too hot water as it might strip the moisture from your skin.

• Expel the Oil

Hot and moist natural conditions are known for acting as a catalyst in the production of oil in your skin’s pores, which thusly can intensify skin conditions and incite acne. You can prevent the excess amount of oil by simply using salicylic corrosive or benzoyl peroxide, two regular fixings in prescribed anti acne medications. Both of these chemicals are known for helping in natural dry up of the oil caused by the dampness, while additionally treating the real acne causing bacteria from the skin.… Continue Reading ...

Whether you have chronic back pain or pain that comes and goes, you may notice that the pain is worse in cold weather. While an exact causal link between increased pain and cold weather has not been found by the scientific community, the fact of this connection is certain. Cold weather back pain is common among people with arthritis, but it can also occur due to increased muscle tension.

Muscle Tension

When we open our doors to a frigid winter day, we tend to distort our posture and tense up our muscles to cope with the cold. This is usually done unconsciously for a couple of reasons. First, when your muscles contract, they burn energy which is released as heat. Tensing up, then, is a natural bodily response to cold. Shivering occurs when muscles rapidly contract and relax to release energy (heat) fast.

You may also notice that, in the cold, you tend to drop your head and raise your shoulders, which causes your hips to tuck under and your lower back to flatten out. You’re trying to share your shoulders’ body heat with your neck and ears. This is a natural reaction, but a reaction that distorts posture throughout your back and pelvis.

Sore necks, shoulders and lower backs in the winter indicate muscular tension. If you have widespread muscle soreness when it’s cold out, this is likely a sign that your apparel is not suited to your climate. It is important to have a winter hat that covers … Continue Reading ...

Autumn is here and winter is coming soon, but that doesn’t mean you should put away your grill back into the shed. Grilling is for all seasons, and a backyard barbecue is especially enjoyable with warm, tasty grilled food paired with warming side dishes. Soups are perfect as a side or an appetizer during this time, much like enjoying your favorite fall or winter drinks. Everybody loves soup and they are no hassle to prepare! Use in season veggies and add all your favorite ingredients to make a meal or a side that everyone will enjoy, even kids!

Try these delicious soups perfect for the cool weather:

Creamy Butternut Squash

What you need:

• 1 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded and sliced into cubes
• 3 cloves garlic, chopper
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
• 1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Chopped parsley, for serving
• Toasted pepitas, for serving
• Bread of your choice, for serving

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook until soft. Add the squash and cook, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes, or until beginning to soften. Stir in the garlic, sage, rosemary and ginger. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat and cover. Cook for 25-30 minutes or until squash is tender.

When ready, allow … Continue Reading ...

Riding your bicycle in bad weather can be a chore or a challenge. Here are four tips for bad weather cycling to help you overcome those obvious challenges and maybe even have some fun while you’re out there dodging rain drops and snow flakes:

Tip 1. Equip yourself and your bike for the weather. If it’s rainy, be sure you have good rain gear to wear for the trip. Be sure your bike is equipped for rainy weather, too. Keep the brake pads in top shape and, assuming you have a road bike with fenders, check that there is adequate clearance between tire, brakes, and fenders. You might want to adjust the angle of your fenders if your bike permits, so as to minimize the back-splatter from rain on the street or trail. Also, if you’re carrying spare clothing or important documents and riding to work, make sure you have sturdy, waterproofed saddle bags or paniers. In snowy weather, especially if you ride streets or trails that are not adequately cleared of snow and ice, consider riding without fenders. You might even want to look for wider and/or knobby tires for better traction in snow or ice.

Tip 2. Ride with even more caution than usual. If you’ve ridden much in urban settings especially, you know that automobile traffic sometimes fails to notice bike riders are even around. Knowing how cyclists are almost invisible to many drivers, be especially cautious riding in any sort of traffic if it’s raining, sleeting, … Continue Reading ...