4 Summer Events in the CSRA

        The CSRA is full of fun during summertime. Now that we are nearing the tail-end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the CDC is beginning to lift guidelines and restrictions, many areas and businesses are planning events. Here are 4 upcoming events to check out:

Aiken Hops and Hogs Festival

        On June 5, head to downtown Aiken, South Carolina for the Hops and Hogs Festival from 4:00 pm-9:00 pm. More than 20 different craft breweries will be lining Newberry Street with beer selections as well as BBQ vendors and live music. Other than the alcohol, this is a family-friendly event to check out. There will be a kid zone as well! Admission is free and food and beverages are available for purchase.

Evans Summer Beach Blast

        The Evans Towne Center Park will hold a Summer Beach Blast event on Saturday, June 12 from 5:00 pm-10:00 pm. There will be fun for the entire family with an A1A Jimmy Buffet Tribute Show, bounce houses, water slides, a beach sand area, Polynesian dancers and more. Food and beverage vendors will be on site as well. Tickets range from $20-50.

Juneteenth Mega Festival

        Saturday, June 19 will be the Juneteenth Mega Festival at the Landing on Bogus Hill Road in North Augusta, South Carolina. This festival celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans which took place on June 19, 1865. There will be history presentations, gospel singing, cornhole, DJs, a step show, southern soul food, black-owned business spotlights and more. There will also be a kids zone and a soul concert at night. The event begins at 8:00 am with the Saturday Market and runs all day.

The Big Bounce America

        The Evans Towne Center Park will host the Big Bounce America from June 4-6. It features the world’s largest bounce house with time slots for specific age groups to play. The Big Bounce is a 10,000 square foot bouncy castle that gets as tall as 40 feet high! More information and tickets can be found here.

Going Grey

        Grey is a classic color choice when it comes to decorating homes. It can be as muted or bold as you like and can achieve a cozy, yet classic look. It is an easy way to set the palette for a room without using plain white. Here are a few design ideas to consider when using grey in your home:

Layer it Up

        Using just one shade of grey can make a room feel dull. Instead, give it some depth by using various light and dark tones. If you have light grey walls, a dark charcoal-toned couch could anchor the room and give it a focal point. Add a grey striped throw blanket for some dimension.

Bring in Some Plants

Summer Daily Routines

        How do you make the most out of long summer days? It can feel overwhelming to keep the creative juices flowing when it comes to finding things to do. If you have little ones home for the summer and need to keep them entertained, there is an added challenge. While lazy days are great, it’s important to stay on a routine for everyone to function well.

        First, see what changes are being made naturally now that the summer season is here. Are you eating dinner later since the sun is out longer? Plan pool times around that. It’s okay to have a “new normal” temporarily.

        Changing sleep times is okay as long as you’re still getting a healthy amount of sleep. It can be hard to start winding down at 8:00 pm when the sun is still out. Add blackout curtains to your room if needed to help you fall asleep easier and stay asleep longer.         

        If chores need to be completed around the house, try to dedicate some time in the morning to get them taken care of. That way, you can relax and plan more evening activities without having to worry about exhaustion at the end of the day when there are still things to be done.

        Daily routines and rituals can make a difference in your summer schedule for the better if they’re consistent. Choose certain days of the week to do certain things, such as going to the pool (weather permitting).

        The sun can be exhausting and a full routine can add to that. Mix new activities into your schedule gradually as opposed to creating a huge bucket list in the beginning of the season.

        No matter what you have planned for the summer, keep it all realistic. There is no need for a spreadsheet with every half-hour mapped out. Start out small and focus on a few things each day to keep your routine somewhat normal for the whole year. Although the days are longer, you can still find space to relax in the midst of all the fun and sunshine.

International Yoga Day

        June 21 is International Yoga Day. This day celebrates the physical and spiritual benefits that yoga has brought to the world as well as recognizing it as an important form of exercise.

        While it has integrated well into American culture, the practice of yoga actually dates back centuries. It is believed to have originated in India at least 5,000 years ago. It was developed as a way to connect the mind, body and soul into enlightenment and became popularized more as an exercise method as it gained traction in the West.

        The date of June 21 was chosen because it is also the Summer Solstice, the sunniest day of the year. The UN General Assembly moved to make International Yoga Day official in 2014 with support from more than 170 nations. Since it is a relatively new holiday, there aren’t any time-honored traditions. But since yoga is such an ancient art, there are many ways to adopt the lifestyle and incorporate this practice for exercise, inner healing, flexibility and more.

        Are you looking to add yoga into your routine this summer or want to find new classes? Here are a few studios in the CSRA to check out:

Space Yoga Studio, 1502 Monte Sano Avenue, Augusta

        Space is the Augusta area’s first and only donation-based yoga studio that offers a range of classes such as Hot Power, Yin Yoga, Aerial Yoga and more. The owners aim to make classes accessible in all ways from the physical to the financial. More info as well as a class schedule can be found here.

Oxygen Fitness Studio, 357 Highland Avenue, Augusta

        The owners of Oxygen wanted to bring the lively atmosphere and cutting-edge group fitness classes they experienced in New York City to the Augusta area. They offer Hot Yoga, Flow & Chill, and Power Hour Yoga classes in addition to their wide variety of other workouts such as Spin and Pilates classes. Visit their website to sign up and view the classes offered.

Good Vibes Yoga, 4111 Riverwatch Parkway, Evans

        Good Vibes provides a welcoming, educational and fun space for anyone to enjoy. They have pricing and class options here.

        There are also many YMCA facilities in the area that offer yoga classes as part of their group class schedule.

Flag Day

        The United States Flag Day is June 14. When the American Revolution began in 1775, there was not a single flag for colonists to fight under. However, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in June of 1775 to create the Continental Army and aimed to create a more organized battle against colonial oppressors. At that time, a flag consisting of 13 red and white alternating stripes with a Union Jack in the corner was created. Essentially, it was the first “American” flag. However, some thought it was too similar to the British flag that was being fought against.         

        Because of the similarities, George Washington wanted to create a new symbol of freedom to build confidence in Revolutionary War efforts. While the Articles of Confederation were being written in June of 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution stating that the United States flag would be 13 alternating red and white stripes with 13 white union stars in a blue field to represent a new constellation.

        There is a widespread belief that Betsy Ross helped design the first American flag when she was repairing uniforms and sewing tents to assist during the Revolutionary War. However, it wasn’t until 1870 when her grandson recounted her possible role in its design that she received any credit for it. There is no solid historical evidence that Ross actually made the first American flag.

        More than 100 years later, President Woodrow Wilson officially established June 14 as Flag Day. While it became official under Wilson’s administration, a small-town Wisconsin teacher named Bernard Cigrand is credited for having originated the idea of an annual flag day. He led his school in a formal observance of the flag on June 14, 1885. He promoted the concept and taught respect for the flag throughout his life.

        Today, Flag Day can be celebrated with parades, ceremonies, picnics, and military events. The colors are flown at all government buildings, although Flag Day is not counted as a federal holiday. The National Flag Day foundation is also in place to preserve the traditions, history and respect that are due to America’s symbol.

Iced Tea Month

        June is National Iced Tea Month. America’s love for cold tea can be traced back nearly 200 years. Cold tea recipes began to show up in cookbooks prior to the Civil War in the 1800s when winter ice would be stored until the hot summer months of July and August.

        While there are many different varieties and flavors of tea, the most popular version in the South is sweet tea. The earliest published version of sweetened iced tea is from Marion Cabell Tyree’s cookbook, Housekeeping in Old Virginia, in 1879. She recommended preparing green tea in the morning to have at dinner time, pouring the tea over ice and two teaspoonfuls of sugar.

        In 1900, black tea started to gain popularity. A man at the 1904 World Fair serving hot tea realized that no one would want hot tea during the intense summer heat. Instead, he ran the black tea through iced lead pipes and served free iced tea to people visiting the fair. This is where the popularity of the popular American iced tea was launched.

        In the 1920s and 1930s when prohibition made beer, wine and other alcohol illegal, Americans looked for alternative beverages to enjoy. During this time, sweetened iced tea made its way into just about every southern cookbook.

        Today, you can’t go to a single restaurant in the South that doesn’t serve sweet tea. In fact, Georgia attempted to pass a bill in the early 2000s to require any establishment that serves food to also serve sweet tea. It didn’t pass, but it may as well have! In the state of South Carolina, sweet tea is the official hospitality beverage. By the way- the recipe has changed a bit since that initial “2 teaspoonfuls”. Southerners like their tea SWEET, and some places add sugar by the cups when preparing this popular drink.

        Celebrate National Iced Tea Month by stirring up your own sweet concoction and enjoying a glass in the summer sun!

What to Include in a Summer Emergency Kit

        Summertime is full of fun, sunshine and adventures. However, emergencies can happen at any time and in any situation. It’s better to be prepared ahead of time instead of scrambling around in the event you’re stuck in a bind. Here are a few things to remember to include in your summer emergency kit:

Pre-made First Aid Kit

        If you don’t have a first aid kit on hand, look for a pre-made one at any big box store or pharmacy. These will contain small packages of antibiotic ointments, gauze, bandages and other necessary items should an injury happen. Look for something that comes in a sturdy container with extra space for any additions you need for it.

Water Bottle

        Water is always necessary to keep around to avoid dehydration, but it is also important to have for cleaning out wounds to prevent infection. If you’re out on the beach or on a hike and someone gets scraped up, a water bottle can provide a quick cleaning solution until you’re able to get to a place to take better care of it.

Antihistamines and Itch Creams

        Bugs are out full-force during the warm summer months. Add itch creams and allergy medicine to your first aid kit in the event you get insect bites, hives or have a reaction to poisonous plants.

Sunscreen

        If you end up outside longer than expected, you will need sunscreen. Keep it with you at all times as it is important to re-apply at least every 2 hours.

Bug Spray

        Keep a DEET insect repellent with you to help prevent bug bites, especially on little ones.

Flashlight or Headlamp

        If you are out at night or lose power in your home for any reason, make sure there is a flashlight readily available to help you navigate. If you have an evening hike or trip planned, this will come in handy. Find something with reliable battery power so there are no worries of losing light.

Clean Towel

        Keep a clean, high-absorbency towel with you to easily set up a care area if an injury occurs. It can also come in handy for simpler issues such as spills in the car.

Spare Tire

        If you are on vacation away from home, it would be highly inconvenient to experience any vehicle issues. Flat tires can happen anywhere at any time, so keep a spare tire in your trunk in case of emergency.

        These are a few basic necessities to get your summer emergency kit started. Don’t be caught off guard and be ready for any situation that may come your way!

Ideas for Summer Camp at Home

        Summer camps are always a fun way for kids to get out of the house, stay active and meet new friends. However, it isn’t always possible for summer camp to happen. It may be out of the budget or just doesn’t work with family schedules. Add a pandemic on top of that and you are likely to plan on staying home. However, that doesn’t have to mean a boring time! Bring summer camp to your home for memories and fun that the kids will enjoy.

        First, you’ll want to set goals for how you want summer camp to go. Do you want your child(ren) to learn new skills or hobbies? Do you want them to simply have fun and burn some energy? Also, what is your budget? Try to use materials you already have at home to set up your summer camp if you’re not looking to overspend. How long do you want the summer camp to last? If it’s one week, set a theme. You can also create multiple themes if you want it to run longer.

        Create a schedule. Decide how the days will be structured and print everything clearly to be displayed on the refrigerator or wall for the family to keep up with. Be sure to add times each day as well so everyone knows what to expect.