July Fix It by Emma Ray Garrett The Fourth of July, picnics, playing in the sprinkler, with sparklers, lightning bugs and bar-b-que! Summer is well underway, vacations are being planned and taken, the kids are either sleeping in or whining about boredom. And if you're anything like me you're wishing everyone was back in school and that the sun would stop turning your garden in the Gobi Desert, LOL!

This month's Fix It isn't really about fixing anything, LOL! It's some tips and tricks for surviving the heat of summer and all of her annoying companions.

Mosquitoes are the bane of summer. Skin-so-soft is an absolutely wonderful repellant that's cheap, smells good, and is gentle on sensitive skin. It's safe to use on children, too, which is a big plus in my book. Don't use it on pets, though. While it's fine for horses, and a lot of horse owners use it to keep flies away from their equine friends faces and rumps, it's toxic to cats and dogs.

Speaking of pets, fleas can be a real bother. There are tons of products you can get from your vet or from the local pet supply house. But if you're looking for something a little less toxic and more affordable try yeast tablets. When consumed by your pet, or you, yeast creates a natural barrier against fleas and ticks. It takes a week or two to build up in the body, but once it does it actually repels fleas and ticks from even hopping on you or your pet. Plus, it's non-toxic and natural. Here is a good website for more information and for ordering a reputable brand: http://www.fleatreats.com/welcome.htm.

Also, here's a reminder to use a good sunscreen and sunglasses. For normal skin tones, an SPF of 15 is fine. Fair skinned people should use a minimum of SPF 30, and children 45. Sunglasses and sunscreen help to protect us from the effects of Sol, without preventing us from enjoying it! Finally, for trips out into the great outdoors, long pants and short sleeves are a good idea, along with a ball cap, to keep away ticks and other woodland irritants like the poison ivy family, LOL!

So, get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather without all the side effects! Until next month, be naughty and love it!

Emma Ray