7 Tips for Sun Safety This Summer

The first day of summer was Sunday and with this weather heating up, we’re in for a sunny summer! Keeping your skin protected from the sun’s rays is smarter than lying out and soaking them up all day. You can enjoy the sunshine while still staying safe. These tips and facts from Real Self will help keep you safe from the dangerous UV rays.


Summer's almost here, and you know what that means: outdoor festivals, backyard barbecues, and days at the beach! Unfortunately, there's nothing like a sunburn to put a damper on the fun, not to mention leave behind some pretty unsightly tan lines.


However, there's more to using sunscreen than preventing crazy patterns and itchy skin. Any time a RealSelf user asks our doctor community how to prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging, their #1 tip is to wear sunscreen daily. Not only is UV radiation the most common cause of facial aging, but 90% of skin cancer is caused by exposure to the sun. (An even scarier statistic is the fact that one in five Americans are expected to develop the disease in their lifetime.)


You may think your avoiding UV damage isn't always as simple as "my moisturizer has SPF 15." To help you avoid the risks of too much exposure, we turned to dermatologistDr. Susan Van Dyke and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) to bring you these seven facts about proper sun protection:

1. Anything greater than SPF 50 provides the same protection

"A 50 SPF blocks 98.00% of UVB light (the burning rays) while a 100 SPF will block 99.00%,” says Dr. Van Dyke. “This level of benefit [to either] is of course contingent on applying enough and reapplying frequently."

2. Makeup and moisturizers with sunscreen aren’t always enough

Unless your makeup/moisturizer provides broad spectrum sunscreen and is reapplied throughout the day, it isn’t enough protection for all day sun exposure. According to ASDS, it’s fine if “you are only walking to your car from work or going into the store. But if you are going to spend a few hours outdoors, then you need to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen."

3. You need to reapply every 2 hours

"The active ingredients in sunscreen break down when exposed to UV light," says Dr. Van Dyke. "To maintain the SPF on the label, you need to keep reapplying as the ingredients lose effectiveness: every 2 hours, more often if you sweat or swim."

4. You should use one ounce to cover your whole body

According to ASDS, “Research shows that many people put on about half of the amount of sunscreen they need, so be sure to lather it on." And don’t forget the sensitive skin on your lips: Use lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher.

5. It’s not a free pass to suntan all day

"Sunscreen is not 100% even in the best of cases," warns Dr. Van Dyke. "Realistically speaking, few of us follow guidelines perfectly. If you really want to save your skin, the best approach is to use sunscreen, cover up (hats, sunglasses, SPF clothing), and seek shade."

6. Tanning oil with SPF 10 doesn’t count

“Less than an SPF of 15 doesn't protect you from the cancer-causing side effects of sun exposure,” says Dr. Van Dyke.

7. Don’t wait til you’re in the sun to apply

“Sunscreen should be applied one-half hour before going outside, giving the skin time to absorb it,” says ASDS.

The next time you're picking out sunscreen, here's what you should look for:

• Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide
• Minimum SPF 15, ideally 30-50
• Broad spectrum UVA/UVB (UVB causes burns, but UVA is also damaging to the structure and health of skin)
• Water resistance if you'll be swimming or sweating

4 Alternative Uses for Tool Totes

Keeping things organized is important when you live in an apartment is imperative! Small spaces call for getting creative with your storage. Sometimes giant plastic crates aren’t going to get the job done. That’s where tool totes come in. These multipurpose tool carriers don’t have to be used just for tools. They can be utilized by everyone: kids, crafters, car enthusiasts. Check out how the folks at Apartment Therapy use theirs. Do you have anything that you use for things other than its intended purpose? Let us know on the Facebook page.

My dad recently gave me this tool tote and, organizing fanatic that I am, I immediately started looking beyond its intended use and wondering what unexpected uses I could come up with. This little thing is handier than you might think, so read on for four uses, as well as some suggestions for similar totes, in case the red and black look isn't your thing...

Kids' Tote: Keep the things that keep your child entertained handy. Because of it's portability, a tool tote is easy to take with you or to keep in the car, and the pockets are great for all the odds-and-ends that kids adore.

Some sample items to keep in the tote:

• books
• stickers
• pencils and markers
• coloring books
• earphones
• iPad or other electronic device
• small toys
• card games
• snacks
• construction paper
• stuffed animals

Craft Tote: Stash everything related to your latest project in this tote so that it's easily to handle. When I lived in a studio apartment, I used a similar tote as my mobile "craft room." It kept me from acquiring too many crafty things, but it also kept all my items organized and accessible for whenever inspiration struck. Plus, everything is easily packed up again, so your coffee table isn't perpetually strewn with yarn and paper.

Some sample items to keep in the tote:

• filing folders filled with decorative papers
• yarn
• knitting needles
• embroidery hoops
• sewing needles
• scissors
• glue gun
• glues
• craft paint
• threads
• hole punches
• stamps
• ribbon
• markers
• sketch pad

Car kit: In case of emergencies, having a designated tote means that necessary items are close at hand. Consider adding daily essentials like parking passes and a phone charger in addition to emergency items like jumper cables and a tire iron. The whole kit is easily moved from the backseat to the trunk and vice versa.

Some sample items to keep in the tote:

• jumper cables
• flashlight
• maps
• cleaning wipes
• Tide stain pen (in case of an in-car eating mishap)
• a bottle of water
• granola bars, dried fruit, or nuts
• parking passes
• a pen and notebook
• an umbrella
• flat tire emergency spray
• an ice scraper
• bungee cords
• a tire iron
• first-aid kit
• extra chargers for electronics

A Bill-Paying/ Office Caddy: Tool totes are handy for corralling the things that you need every month when you spread out to tackle the bills. Even if you pay your bills online, having important papers and mailing supplies at the ready can be handy. Plus, in a really small space, this could serve as "mobile office", filled with all the supplies you need and easily stowed in a closet or a cabinet.

Some sample items to keep in the tote:

• File folders for receipts and bills (keep separate ones for bills that need to be paid, bills that have been paid, or bills that need to be filed elsewhere)
• calculator
• pens
• envelopes
• stamps
• checkbook
• letter opener
• scissors
• computer screen wipes
• a notebook and pen

I used a small sewing caddy from the dollar store to corral things like push pens, rubber bands, Post-it flags, staples, and the like

Oh, and of course you could use it for tools. Any other alternate ideas?

Travel Hacks

The sun is shining, the weather is heating up and that means it’s time for vacation! No matter where you’re going or how you’re getting there, traveling can be stressful. Buzzfeed has compiled a list of traveling hacks to make your traveling go much more smoothly. Where are you headed this summer? Let us know on our Facebook page!


1. When you pack a suitcase, wrap your shoes in a shower cap. This will prevent the soles from touching your clean clothes.

2. Call your credit or debit card company before traveling internationally so that you’re authorized for vacation purchases. The last thing you want is to be reported for suspicious activity and not have access to your money.

3. Store your loose cables/chargers in an old sunglasses case to keep everything in one place.

4. Bring an empty water bottle to the airport and refill it after you pass security. That way you can drink H2O without having to spend $4.

5. Enable private browsing when searching or booking flights online. Travel sites often track visits and will increase your price based on search history. You can also clear your cache.

6. When packing your suitcase, roll your clothes to save space and avoid wrinkles. This is how many flight attendants pack.

7. Put your bobby pins in a Tic Tac container to keep from losing them. You can also do this with toothpicks if need be.

8. If you forget the wall plug-in for your phone charger, check the back of your hotel TV. There’s usually a USB port.

9. And if you forgot your charger, ask your hotel if they have one you can borrow for the duration of your stay. People forget them all the time so they’re bound to have some lying around in lost and found.

10. Stick a dryer sheet in your suitcase with your clothes to keep them smelling fresh.

11. Use a pill container to store and sort your jewelry. Especially good for earrings. You should probably stick some extra backs in there for good measure.

12. Buy a portable phone charger (or charging case) for when you’re not near a wall plug. Great for planes, cars, theme parks, etc.

13. Turn a cereal container into a trash can for your car when on road trips. You can also obviously buy a small trash can, but if you already have this handy and don’t feel like running to the store and spending money, it’s helpful.

14. Buy a shower caddy from the dollar store and use it for easy eating. Especially good when there are not enough cup holders and you don’t want to make a mess.

15. When you’re driving in a new city and need to remember where you parked, drop a pin on Google Maps or take a picture of the parking space with your phone.

Just hold down on the location and a pin will appear.

16. To use Google Maps offline, type “ok maps” and the current area on your phone will save for later.

17. Roll up your belt and stick it inside your collard shirts to keep them clean and stiff.

18. If you’re heading to a theme park or the beach, put your phone in a plastic bag to prevent it from getting wet.

19. To protect wine bottles in suitcases, wrap them in Wine Skin or pool floaties.

20. Turn a pot holder into a case for your flat iron so you can pack it even while it’s still warm.

21. Use a binder clip to protect razors when traveling.

22. Scan your passport, ID, and itinerary and email it to yourself so you have a digital copy in the event of loss or theft.

23. To prevent bottles from leaking in your luggage, place plastic wrap over the container and then seal it with the cap.

24. If you want to bring a small amount of concealer or lotions, put them in contact cases. Better than bringing a whole bottle you don’t need.

25. If the back of your plane seat doesn’t have TVs, put your phone in a plastic bag and hook it to the back of the tray table (or use a barf bag). I don’t know how well this actually works, but you might as well give it a shot. Directions for the barf bag here.

26. You can google your airline name and flight number to check the status of your flight. For example: Google “Delta 2262” and this will pop up.

27. To keep your headphones and chargers tangle free, wrap them around old gift cards.

28. If you want to drink on your flight, you’re allowed to carry on miniature bottles.

Decatur Rated One of Best Small Towns of 2015

In Decatur we have it pretty good. On top of being one of the safest places to live in Georgia, Decatur has now been voted #36 on a list of the Top 100 Best Small Towns of 2015. To read more about how Decatur was ranked and where other towns ranked head to Decaturish.

What’s your favorite part about living here? Let us know on the Facebook page.


Decatur is on a list of the Top 100 Best Small Towns of 2015.

Livability, a site that looks at the best places to live in the U.S., ranked Decatur number 36. No other Georgia towns made the list.

The list was compiled looking at health care, housing, the economy, education, social and civic capital, amenities, demographics, and infrastructure. Livability said, “We examined more than 40 data points each for more than 12,000 towns with populations between 1,000 and 20,000.”

The site has previously done a Top 10 Small Towns list, but this is the inaugural Top 100 Best Small Towns list.

You may remember Decatur was named one of the 10 Best Atlanta Suburbs. And it’s one of the Safest Places to Live in Georgia.

Surprisingly, Decatur ranked third on an AshleyMadison.com Top 10 list of “Atlanta Neighborhoods With the Most Affairs.”