If you like to garden, be careful in extreme heat. Here are seven sensible tips to keep in mind during hot and humid weather. Whether you like it hot or not, it is important to take care while working outside.

Do your heaviest work early in the morning, as early in the day as possible, or in the evening. It’s good for both you and the plants. Take a cue from South American and Mediterranean countries where it is siesta time from 11 to 2 in the afternoon. Sit in the shade, relax, and enjoy your garden, listen to the birds, and watch the butterflies. The weeds will still be there waiting for you once the day cools down.

Slow down and pace yourself. Take frequent breaks. It’s okay if you can’t get as much done during a hot, muggy day as you can on a cooler day!

Keep hydrated. Drink plenty of cool water before, during, and after working outside. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink. And no alcohol. It just dehydrates you. Get in the habit of bringing a water bottle with you if needed. Drink in small sips to avoid getting waterlogged. If you’re feeling dehydrated, consider a sports beverage that will place the salt you’re sweating out.

Don’t forget the sunscreen! Apply the sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors. (I apply when I get up in the morning as part of my routine.) You may have to reapply it after sweating.

Wear a hat—a proper sun hat shades not only your face but your ears and neck as well. Wear light-colored clothes to reflect sunshine, too.

Tie a wet bandanna around your neck or even drape a wet cotton dish towel over the nape of your neck. If you have considered buying one of the fancy cooling towels, save your money. Consumer Reports tested several along with an ordinary kitchen towel (smooth, not terry cloth) and found that they only varied by about 2 degrees. Better yet, pop the wet bandanna or towel into the fridge or freezer for a while.

Go inside if you feel yourself getting overheated or breathing too heavily. Take a cool shower or spray yourself with the garden hose!

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You know that everything tastes better when grilled over an open flame. Let’s refresh our memories with some grill advice for the summer.

1. Start with a clean grill. (See tip #10.) Before you turn the grill on, lightly baste your grill grates with a cooking oil or spray to keep food from sticking. Be sure to let the grates come to temperature before you begin cooking.
2. Don’t put cold meat right on the grill. Bring ingredients to room temperature before you cook; they will then cook more evenly and quickly. If you need to, plan your meals so you leave 30 minutes for meat to sit on the counter.
3. Remember the 4-by-4 rule to determine how hot your grill is: If you can keep your palm 4 inches over the coals for 4 seconds, it’s at medium heat.
4. For even browning of meat and poultry, pat the surface with a paper towel to remove moisture before grilling.
5. To prevent your steaks from curling on the grill, score the outer layer of fat at 1-inch intervals. Do the same to skin-on fish fillets, scoring the skin side.
6. Refrain from pressing hamburger patties on the grill with a spatula or piercing meat with a fork; you’ll lose the juices. Use a spatula or tongs. Also, don’t move the food around. Best to flip meat once. The fewer times you flip food, the better. If the meat is stuck to the grill, let it cook more until it naturally loosens its grip and is ready for flipping.
7. If you prefer skinless chicken, be sure to marinate the meat first; then baste frequently with leftover marinade during grilling.
8. Use fresh lemon juice in your marinades. It tenderizes meat, blends well with many flavors (from soy sauce and ginger to BBQ sauce), and accents other tastes.
9. Let meats rest!  Let the meat rest once off the grill for at least 5 (if not 10) minutes before slicing them. The meat will reabsorb the juices it lost from cooking.
10. The best time to clean your grill is when the grates are still warm. With the back of a spatula, scrape anything on the grates into the fire, then use a wire brush to scrub the grates clean.

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Heat can be hazardous, leading to more deaths than any other weather-related phenomenon. While some parts of the U.S. are warm year-round, the summer months bring particular and more widespread heat hazards. According to Heat.gov, a federal clearinghouse for information on extreme heat, 41,490,714 Americans are under heat alerts.

The Biden-Harris Administration launched Heat.gov in 2022 to provide information on extreme heat, including who is most at risk, ways to prepare, and other tools and resources. The site identifies older adults as one of the groups most at risk as the heat index rises because of the prevalence of health conditions and their use of prescription drugs that can exacerbate heat-related problems.

Further, older adults and people with disabilities who rely on electricity for life-sustaining devices may be especially imperiled when the power grid is overburdened. People with mobility issues or other concerns about leaving their homes may also be in danger of heat-related injury. The site notes outdoor workers, children, pregnant people, first responders, athletes, and pets are also at increased risk due to rising heat.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) offers tips for those facing extreme heat, including avoiding the use of the stove or oven, staying hydrated, and taking cool showers. People should stay in air conditioning when possible, and the CDC advises those who do not have air conditioning to contact their local health department or search for an air-conditioned shelter in their area.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)  released a fact sheet outlining the importance of heat health awareness among people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders, as well as steps they, their caregivers, and providers can take to prepare and respond. Risk in these populations can be due to psychotropic medications or alcohol and other substances and because heat-disrupted sleep can exacerbate underlying conditions. SAMHSA also notes that housing insecurity and low incomes are both more common for those with mental health conditions and substance use disorder and correlated with little or no access to air conditioning or other methods of cooling.

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May Day (May 1) celebrates the return of spring! Learn about the origins of May Day and fun traditions, from surprise flower baskets to the Maypole. Don’t forget to wash your face in dew on the morning of May 1 for good luck.

Origins of May Day

Did you know that May Day has its roots in astronomy? Traditionally, it was the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice! In ancient times, this was one of the Celtic cross-quarter days, which marked the midway points between the (four) solstices and equinoxes of the year.

Here are 10 ways to “bring in the May.”

1. Among the many superstitions associated with May Day was the belief that washing the face with dew on the morning of May 1 would beautify the skin and bring good luck. We say go ahead! Walk outside and sprinkle your face with morning dew (or snow!).
2. On May 1, people in Britain welcome spring by “Bringing in the May,” or gathering cuttings of flowering trees for their homes. Bring in branches of forsythia, magnolia, redbud, lilac, or other flowering branches in your region!
3. Make that May Day Basket of flowers! Get the kids involved.
4. May 1 in Hawaii is called “Lei Day,” and people make pretty leis. Leis are garlands or wreaths that are often made with native Hawaiian flowers and leaves. These days, leis are given as a symbol of greeting, farewell, affection, celebration, or honor—all in the spirit of aloha.
5. Kids would go barefoot on May Day for the first time. Whatever your age today, walk barefoot in the morning dew (or snow?).
6. In parts of Ireland, people would make a May bush; typically, this was a thorn bush or branch decorated with flowers and ribbons. Create your own May bush or tree! Just decorate with colored ribbons!
7. Beekeepers traditionally moved bees on May 1.
8. Fishermen expect to catch fish on May Day.
9. Traditionally, farmers planted turnips on this day. Other folklore has it that, to protect cucumbers from insects, they should be planted on May 1.
10. The Kentucky Derby starts off the month of May (the first Saturday of the month).

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Published by: AARP

When was the last time your arms, legs, and torso saw the light of day? For many women 50-plus the wistful answer is “not recently.” This means shorts are a memory. Sleeveless tops and bare sundresses, too. Somehow body positivity is easier when we’re dressed … and covered. If the sight of your not-so-firm flesh, varicose veins, and sunspots send you running for a caftan, these 10 tips will set your body free.

1. Do it gradually

Going from full coverage clothes to a show-and-tell summer wardrobe is always a shock for mature women. After all, aside from your mirror, dermatologist, and significant other, who gets to see the stuff you usually hide? Simply exposing more skin at your neckline, forearms and lower legs instantly gives you a “barer” and more open look. Switch right now to V- or boat necklines, three-quarter or elbow sleeves, and cropped pants with sandals to get started.

2. Swap fitted clothes for looser-fitting ones

Exposing more skin feels better when clothes flow, billow, drape and give the body some space. Look for items with wider or looser proportions that blur body contours, especially those in breathable, lightweight fabrics like linen and gauze. Not only will you feel more comfortable, but any concerns about bulges (sorry, but even we body-positive fans have issues) will dissolve. Avoid body-hugging tops and bodysuits, tailored dresses, and leggings. Instead, look for relaxed A-line shape dresses like the Knox Rose Women’s Puff Short Sleeve Tiered A-Line Dress in Blue Paisley or Yellow Paisley ($35, target.com), tops with airy dolman or wide sleeves like the Boden Linen Wide Sleeve Top in Butter Yellow/Passion Bloom ($98, bodenusa.com), full skirts like Everlane’s The Easy Button-Front Skirt in Goji Berry or Pewter Green ($78, everlane.com), and wide-leg pants with a stretchy waist like the Talbots Plus Linen Wide Leg Crop Pants in Indigo Blue or Flax ($109, talbots.com). Sizing up in proportions means you’ll feel less sweaty on sticky days, avoid the so-called “chub rub” between the thighs, and enjoy having that ice cream cone with sprinkles!

3. Power up with body makeup

If you wear face makeup or even blend on a body lotion, you can apply this like a pro! In fact, if discolorations like broken capillaries, brown spots, varicose veins, or any skin condition that affects pigmentation stand between you and summer clothes, it’s time for a quick tutorial. Designed to resist high temperatures and humidity, sweat- and water transference (so clothes, seat cushions, and car seats stay pristine) formulas like Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Makeup in Fairest ($22 for a two-pack, target.com), Dermablend Leg and Body Makeup ($37, dermstore.com), Westmore Beauty Body Coverage Perfector ($39, amazon.com) or Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation ($40, sephora.com) stay put until you remove them with a makeup wipe or soap and water. All come in diverse skin-tone shades, so select your closest match. Here’s the drill: Use a makeup sponge to stipple body makeup on in thin layers, quickly blend and then let dry a minute; build up extra coverage as needed.

4. Make a midi skirt your gateway to bare legs

Don’t go straight from pants to shorts. That’s like jumping from a bathrobe to a bikini! Give yourself time to adjust mentally and physically to revealing more skin. A full-skirted mid-calf midi — like the Nine West Women’s Printed Pull-On Challis Skirt in Ocean Dabs ($36, kohl.com); Alex Mill June Pull-On Skirt in Vintage Khaki, Black or Deep Navy ($135, alexmill.com); or Universal Thread Women’s Plus Gauze Tiered Midi A-Line Skirt in Orange ($25, target.com) — is the perfect partner for tees and tops and gets your legs used to the new sensation of air, sunny warmth and freedom. Don’t be surprised if your hemline rises to knee length and you crave shorts as the season progresses and your gutsy attitude sets in.

5. Find your most body-friendly shorts

Skip trendy short shorts and clingy biker styles unless you’re training for a marathon and head for classy capris and Bermudas that balance bare-ability with coverage. Capris (these used to be called clamdiggers) cropped just at or over the knees like the Croft & Barrow Plus Size Classic 17-inch Pull-On Skimmer Pants in Medium Wash ($40, kohls.com) or Chico’s 17-inch Pull-On Denim Capris in Calypso Coral ($75, chicos.com) are the longest “short” and suit women who like the idea of shorts but not the reality — or their knees. Bermudas are cropped above the knees and are the casual sisters of knee-length skirts. They trim your thighs but make the most of shapely lower legs. Choose a pair that are sleek and tapered like the NYDJ Plus-Size Bermuda Shorts in Feather ($69, nordstrom.com) to wear with slides and mules.

6. Let bare dresses do the hide-and-seek work

If there’s one summer item that women of all sizes and shapes can depend on when it comes to baring skin, it’s a dress. Two styles are the most useful. Topping the list is a spaghetti-strap loose shift such as the A New Day Women’s Plus Easy Linen Tank Dress in Magenta or Orange ($20, target.com) — a throw-on that works on its own, over a tee or swimsuit to run errands or lounge around the house and under a cardigan or jean jacket. The second dress has a V-neckline, a defined waist (at the waist or above it in a baby doll or empire look) and an extended cap sleeve — like the Ava & Viv Women’s Plus-Size Short Sleeve Tied Dress in Metallic Gold or Red ($30, target.com) or Loft Striped Tie-Waist V-Neck Dress in Blue Multi ($85, loft.com). It’s a fuss-free way to go bare but still feel pulled-together and neat in the heat.

7. Pair air-conditioned sleeves with jeans, pants, and capris

Some of us just want a summer top that hints at bare skin. If this is you, fast forward to off-the-shoulder tops — like the CeCe Printed Off The Shoulder Top in Rich Black ($89, bloomingdales.com) — and peek-a-boo sleeves — such as the Venus Plus-Size Cold Shoulder Top in Red or Black ($36, venus.com) or the Bold Elements Women’s Keyhole Neck Long Sleeve Blouse in Verve Violet ($38, jcpenney.com) — that provide a way to feel beach bare even when fully dressed. These styles are delightful for evenings out or summer parties.

8. Go sleeveless confidently

We can’t ignore the elephant in the room … sleeveless tops. Many of us still obsess about our flabby upper arms and refuse to show them (but secretly long to!). Two tricks solve all. The first is to choose halter-neck tops like the Eloquii Halter Neck Top in Soft White ($50, eloquii.com) and cutaway racerback tanks like the All in Motion Women’s Essential Racerback Tank Top in Black, Charcoal Heather, or White ($12, target.com) or L.L.Bean Women’s Beyond Soft Tank in Terra-Cotta ($30, llbean.com). The sculpted and indented shape reveals extra scoops of skin at the upper chest and shoulder, which in turn creates the optical illusion of longer, trimmer upper arms. Be sure you have a T-back, racerback or strapless bra on hand. The second trick works if you’re in a dress mood: Head for an off-the-shoulder style like the LC Lauren Conrad Plus Size Off-the-Shoulder Tiered Maxi Dress in Yellow Beach Stripe or Watercolor Garden ($64, kohls.com). The ruffle provides subtle arm camouflage and diverts attention to your fabulous shoulders.

9. Make self-tanner a seasonal habit

Let a DIY self-tanner blur discolorations and create a more even skin tone from head to toe. It bumps up the background color of your skin for less contrast with spots, veins, and discolorations. However, the important thing to know is this takes consistent use head to toe on all exposed skin. Otherwise, you end up with tanned legs and pale arms and neck or tan lines that wreck your look. All it takes is a gradual self-tanner with hydrating ingredients like the Bondi Sands Pure Gradual Tanning Lotion ($22, target.com) with hyaluronic acid or the Hawaiian Tropic Sunless Tan Tanning Lotion in Gradual Tan ($15, target.com) with aloe applied daily or every other day. Try blending with a soft, dense kabuki makeup brush like the Beauty by Earth Self Tanner Blending Body Brush ($18, target.com) for seamless application and no telltale border lines at thighs, ankles, or neck.

10. Use accessories as your allies

Trust me: No one is looking at the spots you’re so hung up on, but here’s a final tip for extra insurance. Pack on some eye-catching extras to grab the spotlight and forget about your less-than-perfect parts (we all have them!). It’s a chance to break out of a clothes rut, too, and makes baring your body less of a risk and more of an adventure. Start with colorful nail polish, sparkly sandals, sexy sunglasses, an inspirational bead bracelet … and don’t forget the sunscreen.

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