WINTER PROOF YOUR BODY

As the winter months draw on, it can be rough on your body. You may find that the dry, harsh conditions of winter cause a number of problems for you from chapped lips to dry skin.  You can protect yourself with a few simple tips: 

Flyaway Hair - Cold temperatures, wind, and excessive combing can create a buildup of negative ions on the hair shafts called static. Use a mild shampoo for dry hair, and always use conditioner, which should get rid of the negative ions. Ask your stylist for recommendations for your hair-type. 

Windburned Skin - Prolonged exposure to wind and the cold can leave skin raw and chapped.  Before going outside, put on a thick layer of Shea butter.  Then add a layer of sunscreen.  For men’s skincare, look at monthly luxury shaves and facials. Luxury shaves help exfoliate the skin while also providing a hydrating mask to help restore moisture. 

Chapped Lips - Chapped lips are a common problem during winter.  Most people reach for a petroleum jelly-based chap stick. Petroleum jelly doesn’t get absorbed by the skin; instead, it sits on your lips until it is wiped off. Use Shea butter.  It is absorbed by the skin and helps improve the moisture retention of your lips.

Dry Hands - Your skin is susceptible to dehydration during the winter months.  To protect your hands, wear gloves when you go outside and use rubber gloves when you do the dishes.  Moisturize your hands every time you wash them. Frequent washing without moisturizing causes cracked knuckles.

Rough Elbows - Elbows have a thicker top layer of skin, which gets rough by the loss of moisture. To keep them smooth, exfoliate with a scrub twice a week and apply a thick cream every day. 

Flaky Face - To keep skin from flaking, avoid products that contain alcohol, which is drying. Read the labels! You might be surprised. Instead, use a gentle cleanser and switch to a richer moisturizer.

FEBRUARY EVENTS

2 - Groundhog’s Day
3 - Feed the Birds Day
10 - Chinese New Year’s it’s the Year 4722!
11 - Super Bowl Sunday, Superbowl 58
12 - Lincoln’s Birthday
14 - Valentine’s Day
14 - Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) – the date varies
15 - Ash Wednesday – the date varies
15 - Singles Awareness Day –  Are you single or in between relations? Then, this day is for you!
19 - President’s Day – The third Monday of the month.
22 - Washington’s Birthday
29 - Leap Day – every four years

 EASY STEPS TO MASSAGE YOUR DOG

Did you know that massaging your dog provides many benefits such as improved circulation which supports both joints and muscles? There are several techniques and many ways to give your dog a massage. 

Here is a simplified routine to those who want to massage their canine companion.

With your dog lying on a cushioned mat and his head facing away from you, open your hands, thumbs touching, and placing one hand on each side of the head.  Curve your fingers and use gentle circular motion down the neck.  Be very gentle.

Move down to the top of the spine.  With your fingers, massage in small circles. With one hand on each side of your dog’s body, begin at the shoulder and then move down the spine down to the tail using the same circular motions.

At the tail, you can massage where the tail joins the body.  (Some dogs don’t like this. Let your dog made that decision).

Now move down to the dog’s legs.  Move your hand to gently knead the legs down to the foot.  Then, massage the foot pads.   With the dog lying on one side, run your hands from the head to tail in long, kind strokes.

Roll your dog over and do the same thing on the other side.