BKYD Life

Gather. Create. Grow.

swimming pool

Protection from the Sun

There’s no denying that spring is here and summer is on the way. To be safe outside, you need to limit your time in the sun, wear sunscreen and clothes that will provide protection. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, “Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of age, gender or race. In fact, it is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.” So, everyone needs to be cautious. The Association recommends sunscreen that “offers broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays), SPF 30 or higher, and (has) water resistance.” They also recommend limiting time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm, wear light weight clothing that covers (like long sleeves and pants), wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses.

While the sun can damage your skin any time of the year, we always think about it when we are showing more skin. According to the Summer Skin website, “Sunscreen is an absolute necessity. We should all wear it — even when it’s cloudy, but sunscreen alone isn’t enough. Shade, the right clothes, and common sense are your best weapons against sun damage.”

I want you to enjoy all the activities you love in your backyard ~ gardening, swimming, playing games, reading, cooking and, of course, eating. But I want you to be safe. I use sunscreen everyday and I apply it often when I am outside. So when I recommend a product it’s because I use it and trust it myself.

Supergoop is a great product. I love how it is lightweight and smells great! I don’t know about you, but the way a product smells has a big impact on me. Reapplying Supergoop is something I look forward to and I really think it is because of the fresh scent. If you click the link above and use my code, THERESA10, you will save 10% on your order. I always keep a few bottles or tubes on hand, sunscreen is not something you ever want to run out of.

When you wear sunscreen, it is important to remember 3 things.

  • 1. Make sure it is SPF 30 and above.
  • 2. Cover those sensitive areas (around your eyes and lips, top of feet, back of neck, ears and backs of legs)
  • 3. Reapply, reapply, reapply!

You should also wear a hat to protect you from the sun. I love this hat. It is both great for many outdoor activities, but also pretty enough to wear for a special day out with friends or that certain someone. It has a UPF of 50, so you will be well taken care of when wearing.

Take care of your skin ~ According to the American Academy of Dermatology, excessive sun exposure is one of the leading causes of premature aging.

If you need any more motivation to use sunscreen and limit your time in the sun ~ I am also a skin cancer survivor. Skin cancer is best prevented by using all the tips mentioned. It is better to prevent it than hope you survive it!

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Is it Time to Swim?

Imagine the warm sun on your shoulder, maybe its a bit too warm. It would be great to jump into some cool water to cool off. But you can’t because you don’t have a pool in your backyard.

Sound familiar? Well, if you want to be swimming this summer, now is the time to begin the process. I’m going to tell it like it is ~ because, well, I have been living with a pool designer for a long time and every summer he is shocked that so many people are surprised that pool construction takes as long as it does!

As with anything, the sooner you start the sooner you will be done. If you wait until it’s hot, you might but probably won’t be swimming this summer! That is just the hard facts. Now, since everyone was home last summer (and might be again this coming summer) the pool industry was hit hard.

  1. Pool sales were up in 2020, so that meant more demand for the contractors that build pools. Which also meant it took longer to build.
  2. Supply lines were impacted. Concrete and shotcrete prices increased. Pool equipment was in short supply.
  3. Now that Texas has had the winter storm of winter storms, their pools were impacted (to the extent we don’t yet know). But they might need new equipment and definitely need some TLC (by the same people that you might need to build a new pool).

Are you seeing a pattern? If you want a swimming pool in your backyard to enjoy the summer of 2021, the time is now to begin the process. It will cost you more and will take longer than you think. So get your budget ready and prepare to be patient through the process. Click here for a helpful article I wrote last year that will walk you through the swimming pool planning process.

Now, if you are goin to put a pool in this year, let me know how it goes and tag us on Instagram with a photo of the finished product.

Swim-up Movie Night

Drive-in movie theaters, movies in the park, and dive in movies at resorts and water parks have happened in the past. Right now, not so much. But you can do one in your own backyard.

Have a pool ~ then let’s call it a swim-up movie night. No pool? No problem, it’s a backyard movie night! Either way, most of the elements are the same.

Outdoor Movie Screens

You can use a plain, light-colored wall of your house or if you have a wall around the backyard that will work, too. The lighter the wall, the better for viewing.

No walls available? You can make a frame for a light or white sheet using PVC pipe and zip ties. Click here for a link to a Youtube video that explains how to put it all together.

Looking for yet another option? There are many screens that can be purchased. I found one on Amazon, it has 4.4 out of 5 star rating with over 1900 reviews.

Projectors

Next on the list is a projector. This one, also on Amazon, also has a 4.4 out of 5 star rating with over 900 reviews. This projector is wifi-enabled to stream movies and shows for a great night out in the backyard.

Snacks

Popcorn may be a crowd favorite when viewing indoors, but outside under the stars the snack options need something a bit different. I would like to suggest a different route. Now, don’t get me wrong, if you want popcorn outside then have popcorn.

But seeing as we are trying to make this a little more special of an event, how about an elevated snack? I found several fun ideas and pinned them to my Pinterest board. You can click here to check them out, if you find or have some ideas to share please feel free to add them or share in the comments below.

Now what movie to watch? Please tell us your favorite movie…

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