HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Kellen Reid Rowe, 7, Hampton
NATIONAL STARS
TV personality Pat O’Brien (“The Insider,” “Access Hollywood”) is 73.
Magician Teller of Penn and Teller is 73.
Opera singer Renee Fleming is 62.
Singer Dwayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Tone! is 60.
Actor Enrico Colantoni (“Just Shoot Me”) is 58.
Actor Valente Rodriguez is 57.
Singer Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty is 49.
In recent months, families have turned to nature for inspiration and exploration. While in many ways outdoor adventure can translate into wide open spaces and a safe haven, it’s important that our skills, gear and intel are up to speed. Here are a few ideas to consider:
Use caution in the backcountry. Whether you venture into the backcountry via skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles, it’s important to be well-informed and fully prepared. Check the forecast before you head out and take note of any changes in weather that might create unstable snow conditions. Be aware of your surroundings and be on the lookout for temperature and wind shifts.
Learn about mountain lions.
Mountain lion attacks on people are rare. Yet, recently, interactions have increased. Experts believe the shift is due in part to humans moving closer to lion habitat, an increase in deer populations (their prey), and more people sharing trails with lions.
If you venture into lion country, experts recommend exploring in groups and making plenty of noise to avoid a surprise. Should an encounter occur, do not run. Stay calm. Pick up any children and talk firmly as you slowly back away. Do everything you can to loom large, raising your arms, opening a coat while not blocking a lion’s escape route. If the lion acts aggressively, fight back with rocks, sticks or whatever you can find without getting low or turning your back.
Hiking, climbing and camping in many parts of the country means a snake encounter is possible. Make sure kids know to steer clear
Snake smarts.
of anything that resembles a snake. According to the University of Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, more than half of those bitten intention
ally provoked the snake in some way. Stay on hiking trails and keep hands and feet away from wood and rock piles, deep grass or crevices.
Whether you need stress relief or some alone time after being cooped up with your family, there are plenty of reasons you can’t seem to get enough of your bathtub this winter. But one variable to consider the next time you go for a much-needed soak: Would your bath be better with a bath bomb?
If you’re new to bath-related self-care, bath bombs are little pucks of scent and salt. They fizz and turn dips into a multi-sensory experience. While you can buy bath bombs at major cosmetic retailers, you don’t always know what’s in them. And when it comes to potential allergens, “there aren’t any bath bombs that are completely risk-free,” said Hadley King, a New York City-based dermatologist.
Making them at home, however, lets you control the ingredient list, said Jovana Ristić, the writer behind the beauty blog Be Spotted, which focuses on DIY beauty products. You may already have most of the ingredients in your pantry too.
While the make-yourown approach allows you to avoid irritants, it also lets you add in beneficial ingredients. Ristić’s recipe for bath bombs includes colloidal oatmeal, which is known for its skin-soothing properties, King said. It also uses shea butter, which can help moisturize the skin.
Most bath bombs rely on the same base: Epsom salts, baking soda and citric acid. The soda and acid cause the fizzing, and when used together, they should cancel each other out when it comes to changing the pH of your bath water, meaning it will neither be too acidic nor too alkaline, King said. That’s a concern because significantly altering your bath water’s pH could lead to vaginal irritation or yeast infections.
If you have sensitive skin, patch test ingredients by applying a small amount to your forearm. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse and see if, in 48 hours, you’ve developed a reaction, King said. (Essential oils are especially important to test, as they tend to be the most likely irritants, she said.) Finally, to play things safe, don’t soak for longer than 15 minutes with any bath bomb, and rinse off when you’re done.
This recipe for oatmeal bath bombs, courtesy of Ristic, takes some practice. To get the bombs to the correct consistency, you’ll want them wet enough to hold together but not so wet that they start fizzing in the mold. The great news is that even ill-shaped bath bombs will fizz and smell great, so don’t sweat it if yours don’t look store-bought on your first try.
Ingredients
cup colloidal oatmeal (you can also use ¼ cup of oatmeal pulsed in a food processor until it’s finely ground.)
cup Epsom salts
cup citric acid
1 cup baking soda 2 tablespoons of shea butter, melted (you can use other oils like coconut oil or almond oil too)
20 drops of the essential oil of your choice
Water in a spray bottle
Equipment
You will need a mixing bowl and some sort of mold. A meatball, ice cream or cookie scoop will work. Amazon sells purpose-built molds multi-sensory too. You’ll also want to wear rubber or latex gloves since citric acid can irritate skin when not diluted with water.
Method
Mix the dry ingredients in a medium-size bowl. Add the melted shea butter and the essential oil and mix to combine. Mist the mix with a small amount of water and fill the molds. With your gloves on, start pushing the mix into the molds. It should be just wet enough that it clumps together when you squeeze it. Let it sit for a minute or two before tapping the mold to release. Let the final products dry for at least two hours before using.
Here are the bestsellers for the week that ended Feb. 6, compiled from data from independent and chain bookstores, book wholesalers and independent distributors nationwide. (Tribune News Service)
HARDCOVER FICTION 1.“The Four Winds,” Kristin Hannah
2.“The Russian,” Patterson/Born
3.“The Sanatorium,” Sarah Pearse 4.“In Love & Pajamas,” Catana Chetwynd 5.“The Vanishing Half,” Brit Bennett
6.“The Midnight Library,” Matt Haig 7.“The Invisible Life of Addie Larue,” V.E. Schwab
8.“Send for Me,” Lauren Fox
9.“Serpentine,” Jonathan Kellerman 10.“Neighbors,” Danielle Steel
HARDCOVER NONFICTION 1.“Unmasked,” Andy Ngo
2.“Four Hundred Souls,” Kendi/Blain 3. “Keep Sharp,” Sanjay Gupta
4.“A Promised Land,” Barack Obama
5.“Just as I Am,” Cicely Tyson
7.“Caste,” Isabel Wilkerson
8.“That Sounds Fun,” Annie F. Downs 9.“Untamed,” Glennon Doyle
10.“One Day You’ll Thank Me,” Cameran Eubanks Wimberly
TRADE PAPERBACK 1.“Burn After Writing (pink),” Sharon Jones 2.“Bridgerton: The Duke and I,” TV tie-in, Julia Quinn 3.“Fair Warning,” Michael Connelly 4.“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 20,” Koyoharu Gotouge 5.“Home Body,” Rupi Kaur
6.“The Girl from the Channel Islands,” Jenny Lecoat
7.“The Perfect Marriage,” Jeneva Rose 8.“The Dutch House,” Ann Patchett
9.“The Step-by-Step Instant Pot Cookbook,” Jeffrey Eisner 10.“Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 8,” Gege Akutami