- Lake Effect Snow. This term gets thrown around a lot in the midwest and upstate New York, but most people don't know the science behind the weather. The major snow that gets dumped inland occurs when a cold front of air moves across a warmer lake. The lake/bay/ocean never completely freezes over, so even when it is cold, the massive body of water will be warmer than the outside air. When the cold air passes over warm lake, the warm air from the lake hits the cold arctic air and precipitation forms.
- Boots. I love winter boots, but the salt can really wreak havoc on any leather, suede or cloth product. My strategy for keeping my boots from getting demolished is a can of Scotchguard or sneaker protector. I'm sure you have been talked into buying shoe/leather protector spray at some point, but if not, buy yourself a can of Scotchguard. Make sure your boots are totally clean by using a leather cleaning brush, or if they are fabric, make sure they are dirt free. Follow the directions on the can, but make sure you don't spray too closely to the leather/fabric. If you are nervous about the impact on your fabric, test a small patch. After spraying two coats on in a well ventilated area and letting them dry, you should have somewhat water repellent boots.
- Driving. Once it starts snowing, people seem to forget important rules of driving. There is no sense bashing all motorists, so here are a few things you can do to help keep yourself and fellow travelers accident free! Start by slowing down and leaving enough room between you and the car traveling ahead of you. Get used to feeling out how your car reacts when you break on snow while you are driving at slow speeds on side streets. Also remember when you are traveling on the highway, bridges and overpasses tend to ice over more quickly than the regular stretches of road, so use caution!
- Car Kit. Make sure to throw a few essentials in the trunk of your car in case you do get stranded on the highway. A few people got stuck near buffalo last week on I-90 for over 12 hours! Bah! Your emergency kit should contain a blanket, a shovel, kitty litter or sand for traction, a few granola bars and bottles of water. You should also invest in a small first aid kit, they aren't too expensive and something that is worthwhile to have in your car for all seasons.
- Salt Stains. Despite the huge pain in the butt that rock salt is for clothes, it shouldn't cause stains to the back of your pants/skirts. Just wash regularly or dry clean and you should avoid too many problems. If you wear your nice leather shoes out, instead of your boots that you Scotchguarded, you can clean those salt stains with a tablespoon of vinegar mixed in a cup of water (or so says GQ style guy).
Are you ready for the winter and all the snow?!?!
-Looking forward to a great Tuesday!
Tips are great, but my advice is MOVE SOUTH! Down here in the "tuck" we can still drive like idiots because we only have a dusting of snow. If we get stranded in shorts & t-shirts, we just jog to the nearest bar and call AAA. Finally, if we get hurt, we just rub a little dirt on it. Life can be so simple if you also are.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you actually have an official blog. I joined as a follower!!!
ReplyDeletePS In response to your latest blog, I rode all over today in AZ with my top down and also laid poolside in my bathing suit. It was in the 80s today.