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5 Fun Late Spring Activities to Enjoy This Year

May 9, 2017 by

Here in Charleston, it’s beginning to feel a lot like summer.

But for many in the USA, spring is in full swing, which means it’s time to get outside and enjoying the warm weather, fresh air, and beautiful budding trees and flowers.

Need some inspiration on how to get out and enjoy this beautiful season before it comes to an end?

Not to worry. We, at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction, have a few ideas we think you might enjoy. Check them out…

Do Some Spring Cleaning

At first thought, spring cleaning may not sound like such a fun activity. But, you can make it fun when you get your family…and even your neighborhood…involved!

Spring is a great time to finally clean out your home and garage and host a neighborhood yard sale.

Start by finding gently used clothing, toys, and other household items that you don’t use or want anymore, and assign price tags to them.

Then talk to your neighbors and see if they want you join you. Pick a date for a neighborhood yard sale, and before you know it, you’ll be clearing unused item out of your home while earning a little extra cash to spend on something you enjoy doing!

Bring Out the Bikes

Biking is a fun activity…especially when you can get a group of friends or family members to go biking with you.

This time of year is one of the best times to bring out the bikes and go for a ride. Not only is the weather nice, but the flowers and trees are all in bloom. This makes for a beautiful ride!

It doesn’t matter where you bike. Do a lap around your neighborhood, go to a local park, or if you’re feeling adventurous, try some biking trails at a local state park.

Here in Charleston, there are a variety of locations to enjoy biking. Here are some of our favorites…

Francis Marion National Forest

Mountain biking in the no-mountain Lowcountry is a blast. We recommend you try the trails in the Francis Marion National Forest, which is located on nearly 259,000 acres in the coastal forest north of Charleston.

Sullivan’s Island

This three-mile-long island has low traffic roadways, which makes it the perfect place for riding bikes. If you bike down to the Charleston Harbor end of the island, you can climb on former military grounds of Fort Moultrie.

Downtown Charleston

Want to get a good view of downtown Charleston, a 300+ year-old city, and take in all the history? If your answer was “yes,” we suggest you bike the city! Sunday morning is the best time to avoid heavy car traffic downtown, so plan your ride accordingly.

Plant a Veggie Garden

Why go to the grocery store when you can grow your own delicious and nutritious vegetables right in your backyard?

All you need to grow your own garden is a garden plot or raised garden bed (we recommend at least 4 foot by 4 foot), garden soil, a shovel, a hose, and some seeds.

Everything mentioned here can be purchased at your local home gardening center or home improvement store.

Then all you have to do is till the soil, plant your seeds, and water your garden every couple of days, and as summer arrives, you’ll have your very own homegrown veggies to eat.

Not sure what to plant? Check out our recommendations for spring veggies.

Visit a Botanical Garden

If you’re not a fan of gardening, but still enjoy the sight and smell of flowers, we recommend you visit a botanical garden.

Botanical gardens are filled with trees, shrubs, and flowers that are native to the area where the botanical garden is located. And because these gardens are planted and maintained by professional gardeners, they are stunning to go see.

Most botanical gardens charge a small entrance fee, so be sure to do some research on the garden you’re going to visit so you’re aware of costs and other important information.

Tip: A trip to a botanical garden makes a fun ladies’ day out! Get your girlfriends together to enjoy this activity.

Visit a Local Farm

If you love animals, springtime is the very best time tovisit your local farm.

The reason: it’s the time of the year when new baby farm animals start to make their grand entrance into the world. And boy, are they adorable!

Local farms that allow visitors also tend to have little shops where you can buy fresh produce, milk, and eggs. Not to mention, many places also make homemade ice cream with milk from their cows! Delish!

Note: Before you visit a farm, always make sure that they allow visitors. It’s a good idea to give a courtesy call before you visit, unless the farm you’re going to has established public visiting hours.

What’s your favorite thing to do in the spring? Let us know in the comments below!

 

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5 Reasons Cleaning Is Good for You

March 24, 2015 by

lady cleaning in evening gownSpring has officially arrived, and along with the warmer weather comes, well, spring-cleaning.

It may be a sign of getting older, but somewhere along the way cleaning has somehow become…relaxing?

Sure, we put it off now and again (*cough *all the time), but when you truly get into the cleaning mode, there is something truthfully therapeutic about decluttering your home.

For those who are a little more skeptical of the benefits of spring-cleaning, we have listed the 5 ways cleaning de-clutters not only your house, but also your mind.

1. Clutter is stressful

This is just a plain and simple fact. When our house is a mess, we always have that in the back of our minds. We may even avoid coming home, because the mess is so overwhelming.

Spring-cleaning tip: tackle the clutter and disorganization first—that way everything is out of the way to finish the cleaning process.

2. Swiffer those calories off

Cleaning can be a real workout. You’re vacuuming and climbing all around dusting, and the next thing you know you’ve broken a sweat! When you workout, endorphins are released. And we all learned from Legally Blonde: “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.” The takeaway: cleaning makes you feel good, because you are up and moving about.

Spring-cleaning tip: to stay moving and motivated, put on some energetic music!

3. Sense of control

With life being so unpredictable and problems always arising, there is something comforting about cleaning. You know that if the fridge is dirty, you can fix that problem. Having the ability to tangibly make order out of chaos is a reassuring feeling.

Spring-cleaning tip: Pinpoint what is overwhelming you the most about cleaning your home, and tackle that first. This will help ease your mind.

4. Peace of mind

There are very few things as frustrating as when you’re trying to get out the door and you can’t find something, because the house is a disaster. Part of the reason cleaning is so relaxing is that it’s so nice simply knowing where everything is. When everything has its own place, your day-to-day routine becomes a lot less hectic.

Spring-cleaning tip: When you’re cleaning, don’t just throw everything into drawers and to the top of your closet. Take the time to thoroughly organize each area. By doing so, your house will stay orderly for a longer period of time.

5. Feeling of accomplishment

Doesn’t it always seem like your best cleaning comes when you have other things you need to be doing? That’s because you get a true sense of accomplishment from getting your home into good shape. The next time you have a hard time getting motivated to do something, try cleaning a small area of your home—it’s gets you moving and in the spirit to accomplish other things.

Spring-cleaning tip: If you’re feeling overwhelmed about where to begin, make a checklist in the order of items you want to accomplish.

What do you love about cleaning? Comment below!

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How to Deal with Spring Fever in 5 Easy Steps

March 31, 2014 by

Craving the outdoors is a normal part of spring fever and anticipating warmer weather. Most of us have had spring fever at one time or another and we all remember the desire to escape the classroom or office and simply get outside.

It’s not always possible to stop what we’re doing and go out, so here are a few tips to minimize spring fever’s impact. If you feel your spring fever is severe, talk to your doctor.

Keep an eye on your general health.

Eat properly, sleep adequately, and address any health issues with your physician. Spring fever may be your body’s way of telling you it needs more vitamin D, which we get from sunlight, or more exercise.

Speaking of exercise, do it regularly.

Sometimes spring fever is more about the need to move than it is about being outside. Stay with your exercise program if you have one, and if you don’t, then start one—preferably outdoors!

Exercise keeps your energy stable, your hormones constant, and your moods even. It will give you a good excuse to get out, but even when you can’t play in the fresh air, moving your body will help reduce the spring fever itch.

Go outside when you can.

Take any opportunity to leave the house or the office and do what your body is telling you to do—enjoy the sunshine and lovely weather. You know you want to! Be careful you don’t overdo it, however. You can sunburn in March, and you don’t want to be late back to work or to other obligations.

When you’re outside, allow your body to soak up a little sun. Mere minutes (fewer than 10 if you burn easily) are all you need to help your body produce vitamin D.

Spend time in active environments.

If you can’t go outside while the sun is out, then go to the gym or take a long walk downtown, no matter what time of day. The hustle and bustle of being around others tames the anxious energy spring fever gives you, and moving around outside will help the craving you feel for release from the office or the classroom.

Give yourself something to look forward to.

When you’re at work or school and cannot go outside, be kind to yourself and allow a few luxuries during your day. For example, take a favorite food for lunch, or splurge and buy your favorite cold drink from the beverage cart or machine. If you give yourself little treats during the day, the urge to go outside and be free will go away for a little while.

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Quick Spring Cleaning Tips

March 25, 2013 by

Here are some tips to clean quickly and effectively!Spring is here—and with the season of renewal comes the perfect time to get your house and life in ship-shape order!

But who wants to spend the bulk of their time actually cleaning? You have better things to do—like enjoying the fresh Charleston air! In the spirit of quickly tidying up, here are a few ways to make chores more efficient and effective, so you can have a sparkling home in no time flat.

Tidy the Kitchen

  • Sanitize the sink.Did you know that a dirty kitchen sink has more bacteria than a toilet seat? To disinfect, clean your sink with soap and water first, then spray a mist of vinegar followed by a mist of hydrogen peroxide, and let air-dry. (Note: Don’t mix the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together—spray one after the other.) If your sink is stainless steel, make it sparkle afterward by putting a few drops of mineral oil on a soft cloth and buffing. This prevents water buildup, which deters mold, and keeps the sink looking clean longer.

 

  • Ditch paper towels for good.Paper towels don’t stand up to the task of heavy-duty cleaning quite like microfiber cloths. When wet, they sanitize and clean floors, counters, glass and tile, and eliminate the need for other cleaning products. They’re reusable, too—just machine-wash and hang to dry. Easy!

 

  • Zap the sponge.Sponges can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Disinfect yours every night by squeezing it out and microwaving it on high for a minute. When it’s shredded and smelly, it’s time for a new one.

Beat the Bath

  • Clean the liner.Mold and mildew—a shower curtain’s arch nemesis. Throw your besieged liner in the wash with a few towels, which will help scrub it clean, then hang it back up to dry.

 

  • Scrub the toilet.Drop a teaspoon of Tang Drink Mix in the bowl. The citric acid acts like a natural scrubber—not to mention, it’s nontoxic, in case the dog takes a sip. Let it sit for a few minutes, then swish and flush.

Get Swept Away

  • Pick the right broom.For indoors, choose one with finer bristles to pick up smaller dirt particles. For outdoors, opt for stronger, stiffer bristles, which work better to clear uneven surfaces.

 

  • Sweep like you mean it.Turns out, there is a right way to sweep!Hold the broom like a canoe paddle, with one hand on top of the handle and the other toward the middle. Push your hands in opposite directions to get the most out of every sweeping stroke. Sweep from the outside in so that you don’t miss any spots, and move the dirt to the center of the room, where it will be easy to pick up.

Rein in the Bedroom

  • Make the bed.If your bed is made, your bedroom looks neat. When you wake up, pull the covers up to your chin, and then gently peel the covers away from your body, folding the covers down. The bed will be close to half-made, and you can easily finish the job before you walk away.

 

  • Tame the drawers.Most women have drawers full of clothes they don’t wear, and their dressers absorb the unwieldy burden. Donate the clothes you haven’t worn in a year, and commit to putting away your clean laundry as soon as it is done.A little more space and organization make a world of difference in how clean the room feels!

Let’s hear your time-saving cleaning tips. Share below!

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