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Chosen by The Cheap Chick
Cooper Rocks!
Many fabulous people have helped The Cheap Chick Empire throughout the years, and one of the best and coolest people to give me a hand up is Cooper Lawrence. So I was THRILLED when I saw she had a new book out – The Yoga Club. Dudes, you should all go buy it now and then read it and then say awesome things about it.
Why? Because Cooper is an amazing writer. And? A vastly entertaining person. So it’s worth your time and money. Cooper Lawrence! She is Cheap Chick Approved.
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The Cheap Chick On TV
Need even more of The Cheap Chick? Tune into the FOX 9 Buzz on Tuesday and Thursday mornings!
The Trials Of Summer
Otherwise known as, “I Lived Through Winter For THIS?”
In Minnesota, where warm temperatures only comprise about one third of our yearly climate, we make the best of a cold situation by essentially living outside when the weather is nice. (BTW, “Nice” in MN means it isn’t actively snowing/hailing/tornado-ing directly over our heads). However, warm weather has its own challenges – mainly too much heat, and too many bugs.
Never fear, MN denizens! The Interwebs is filled with random ways to coexist with stinging insects and 90% humidity. Plus, I have a trick or two up my (short) sleeve. And yes, this was the topic of discussion on today’s Cheap Chick segment on Fox 9’s Morning Buzz. Thank you for watching, if you did. The rest of you? Can watch it here.
Innovative and Inexpensive Ways To Beat The Bugs AND The Heat:
How to repel bugs, without using DEET-based products:
- Try Skin So Soft from Avon, either the original formula or the Bug Guard formula. It’s currently on sale at Avon.com for 50% off.
- Go unscented. Perfumes, scented body washes and lotions, hairspray, even deodorant can attract stinging insects.
- Wear light clothing. Dark clothes attract mosquitoes – not to mention, absorb sunlight to make you hotter.
- Annectodotal evidence shows that taking vitamin B-1 or eating a ton of garlic should help repel mosquitoes. Granted, you eat too much garlic and you’ll repel just about everyone.
How to stay cool, for less:
- Cool your pulse points. Run cold water over your wrists, or rub them briefly with ice cubes.
- Instead of using a hot water bottle to warm your bed, use an ice-water bottle to chill it down.
- Mini, round gel ice packs are just $9.95 for five, and can be placed in strategic places on your person.
- Go wading in one of the 61 free wading pools located all over Minneapolis. Find a complete list here.
- Go ice skating at an indoor rink. Roseville Ice Arena is open all year long, and offers public skating at just $5 per person. There is also open skating at the Plymouth Ice Center for $4 per person.
- Go to an inexpensive movie at discount theaters like Parkview in Minneapolis or Main Street Cinema in Hopkins, and enjoy their AC. Every Saturday, Parkview has $2 matinees of classic films the whole family can enjoy.
- Turn off all the lights, turn on a good box fan, and plug in a movie that takes place in the Arctic. Watching people be really, really cold can trick your brain into making you feel cold. Some suggestions include: March of the Penguins, The Thing, Alive, Iron Will, Whiteout. (This idea comes tried and tested from the lovely due of Larue and her hubby, El Jefe.)
How are you guys chillin’ out, sans bugs this summer?