winter

Ignore Myths About the Cold and Get Exercising

1:10AM Kevin Purdy | Has the winter season and its frigid air put a serious hamper on your exercise habit? The New York Times’ Personal Best column dispels a number of myths about the supposed “dangers” of running or other outdoor activities in the cold. Among the most common: Lungs are not damaged by cold, said Kenneth W. Rundell, the director of respiratory research and the human physiology laboratory at Marywood University in Scranton, Pa. No matter how cold the air is, by the time it reaches your lungs, it is body temperature, he explained. The column also suggests that as long as you keep moving and don’t under-dress (or pile on too much garb), you’ll generally be fine on your average cold day. How do you keep your fitness routine going when the going gets cold? Trade your tales in the comments. Photo by Elsie esq.. Too Cold to Exercise? Try Another Excuse [New York Times] More »

Make a Draft Dodger with Paper Towel Tubes

4:00AM Gina Trapani | If cold air is seeping in under your door (and you’ve visions of your money flying out the door courtesy of your heating bill), you can make your own “draft dodger” to block out the cold. Blogging Mom Carolyn made one with paper towel tubes, hot glue, some powerful magnets (to keep it in place), and festive fabric. In about 10 minutes, for about 2 bucks, she’s saving money and her toes from the cold. Crafty! It’s time to abolish the draft [Juggling Frogs] More »

How Do You Prepare Your Car for Driving in the Winter?

5:00AM Tamar Weinberg | Many of you might have already experienced your first snowfall of the season, and it’s far from over. How do you prepare your automobile for winter? Weblog Dumb Little Man suggests ten tips, from ensuring that your windshield wipers give you maximum visibility on the road to inspecting your antifreeze to adding a protective layer of wax to your car to prevent rain, snow, or salt from wearing down your car’s paint. What else do you do for your car before the season gets really chilly and the snow begins to fall heavily? Let’s hear your tips in the comments. 10 Tips to Prep Your Car for Winter Driving [Dumb Little Man] More »

DIY Window De-Icer On-the-Cheap

9:00AM Adam Pash | For many of us, along with winter comes an endless expanse of mornings spent freezing our fingers off scraping ice from our windshields. Rather than walking that chilly road again this winter, the Dollar Stretcher web site suggests several DIY solutions for keeping your windshield ice-free this winter. For example: To prevent your car’s windows/mirrors from icing up… treat the windows before you go to bed each night. The window treatment can be made up of 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water and placed in a spray bottle… [and] will prevent ice from forming. From other posts in the thread, it sounds like rubbing alcohol can be substituted for vinegar, and the solution can be applied either before or after the ice has formed. Photo by DJ Curly. Homemade Window De-Icer [Dollar Stretcher via DIY Life] More »