Tips to Stay Safe This 4th of July
Avoid getting injured this 4th of july! Here are some tips to stay safe you may want to consider before shooting off those fireworks! There’s an endless supply of stories…
Lake Union 4th of July Fireworks and the Seattle skyline, as seen from across Elliott Bay at Seacrest Park in West Seattle, WA, USA
(Photo by paulacobleigh / Getty Images)Avoid getting injured this 4th of july! Here are some tips to stay safe you may want to consider before shooting off those fireworks!
There's an endless supply of stories this time of year about people who have injured themselves while celebrating Independence Day. Every year there are tons of videos of people blowing up items, buildings or body parts. Mostly because people are too careless when they use explosives to celebrate the holiday. Even though it makes our jobs easier - by giving up lots of videos to share and talk about - we would prefer that you keep your fingers, toes and eyes right where they are! We need to happy and healthy, so you can continue to share your dong and b-hole stories with us! So, here are a few tips to stay safe this 4th of July!
Fireworks
Obviously, the major offender when it comes to 4th of July injuries come from our favorite celebration of freedom: the use of explosives! That's right, fireworks and the 4th of July are synonymous and they are the main reason why so many people would call the 4th their favorite American holiday! That being said, when you aren't careful, they can injure you. Sometimes, severely!
Before lighting off the fireworks this year, it's a good idea to make sure that you have a fire extinguisher nearby! A badly aimed firework can ruin your day (and property) very quickly! Sometimes it's not even your own negligence that can leads to catastrophe; perhaps there was a mishap at the factory. Whatever the cause, if something catches fire that was not meant to, you want to be ready with the proper equipment!
Make sure you're igniting fireworks in an open area. You don't want your firework to hit a tree limb on the way up and don't forget that eventually that thing is coming back down tot he ground!
Kids like to get involved in the 4th of July celebrations, too! Always make sure that and and all fireworks are used under the close supervision of an adult!
Food
The 4th of July is also a favorite holiday because it's a grilling holiday! For many Americans, the best season is grilling season! Just make sure that your food is cooked all the way through to avoid food poisoning! You don't want days of pain and indigestion, all thanks to an undercooked piece of chicken! Most of us have enough diarrhea to deal with already!
Glow Sticks
Wait, what?! F---ing GLOW STICKS?
Sure, glow sticks may not be the leading cause of injuries, but - believe it or not - glow stick incidents are one of the most common causes of calls to the poison center. Glow sticks are the safer way for kids to get involved in the 4th, but keep an eyes open. Try to avoid puncturing or cutting them open!
Try to keep these tips in mind this year and have a happy, safe 4th of July!
10 Wild Ice Cream Flavors to Try This Season
Summer is officially ice cream season, and July is National Ice Cream Month. Actually, every season is ice cream season, if you ask me. I seriously enjoy scoops of my favorite ice cream whether it's 90 degrees outside or freezing cold. When it comes to ice cream flavors, it's hard to beat the classics. Vanilla, chocolate, chocolate-chip and mint chocolate-chip are always favorites. But, why not switch it up and try some really wild ice cream flavors?
As a graduate of Michigan State University, I've tried many random ice cream flavors at the MSU Dairy Store. MSU is an agricultural college, so it's known for the Dairy Store and having delicious ice cream. Honey Lavender and Spartan Swirl come to mind. But, enough about MSU. You don't have to come to Michigan to get some unique ice cream flavors.
Read on for 10 wild ice cream flavors that you need to try. These flavors are all from major ice cream makers, so they should be fairly easy to find, no matter where you're located. I've also included some non-dairy and gluten-free ice cream options for vegans and those on a gluten-free diet. I'm not vegan, but my favorite ice cream currently is actually non-dairy. Hopefully, there's enough variety on this list for you to find your new favorite ice cream flavor.
It's worth noting that some of these ice cream flavors are seasonal and only available in the summer. That said, the majority of the flavors below are currently available year-round.
Haagen-Dazs - Summer Berry Cake Pop Ice Cream
I've definitely never heard of "Summer Berry Cake Pop Ice Cream." What is a summer berry cake pop? Regardless, it sounds great. "We swirl velvety strawberry ice cream with sweet cream ice cream, add perfect, fluffy cake pieces and then finish with a tangy raspberry sauce," they describe on their website.
Breyers - Layered Dessert Caramel Apple Pie
Breyers' "Layered Dessert Caramel Apple Pie" is a special treat, bringing you that feeling of having a piece of apple pie with ice cream on top. "We start with smooth Breyers® and stir in real apples between two layers of caramel with pie crust pieces. The experience of caramel apple pie topped with Breyers, all in one scoop!" Breyers states on their website.
Halo Top - Blueberry Crumble
Halo Top ice cream is diet ice cream, with way less calories than regular ice cream. Their flavors are pretty standard, but they do have one, "Blueberry Crumble," that's super unique. I don't eat diet ice cream, but my friend had me try this one, and it was good. "Swirls of sweet blueberry pie filling and chunks of pie crust, our Blueberry Crumble light ice cream delivers the best of spring with a good source of protein," Halo Top states on their official website.
Baskin-Robbins - Cookie Monster
When I think of "Cookie Monster" ice cream, I definitely picture something blue, just like the real Cookie Monster. Well, Baskin-Robbins has that flavor of ice cream, and it's blue. They describe it as "sweet cream ice cream stuffed with chocolate sandwich cookie pieces, chocolate-chip cookie pieces and cookie dough batter flavored swirls." That sounds delish.
Dreyer's - Triple Fudge Brownie Boulevard
"Triple Fudge Brownie Boulevard" is a wild take on your typical brownie-packed ice cream. Dreyer's describes it as, "A fan favorite re-imagined: our beloved Double Fudge Brownie now with crispy brownie edges! A delicious pairing of brownie pieces and brownie batter swirls is now complete with extra indulgence for the ultimate brownie lover."
Blue Bunny - Cherrific Cheesecake
Blue Bunny keeps their flavors list pretty classic. That said, they do have a few flavors that stand out. One is "Cherrific Cheesecake," which taste like it sounds. "Cheesecake frozen dairy dessert, cherry and graham swirls," they describe. It's like cherry cheesecake, but it's ice cream.
Ben & Jerry's - Oatmeal Dream Pie
"Oatmeal Dream Pie" from Ben & Jerry's is kind of like those Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream cookies. You know, the soft, tasty, cream-packed oatmeal creams. This is a new flavor from Ben & Jerry's, and this is the non-dairy version. It uses sunflower milk. It's also gluten-free. "Our friends at Partake have provided the oh-my-goodness-this-is-gluten-free!? oatmeal cookie you'll find in this snacktime favorite of a flavor," they state.
Cold Stone Creamery - Oreo Overload
Everyone has heard of cookies and cream ice cream. But, Cold Stone Creamery goes one step further and packs its cookies and cream ice cream with a ton of real Oreo cookies, making it stand out. "It’s just like dipping an Oreo in milk. Except, you know, with chocolate chips. And fudge," they describe. I'm in.
Haagen-Dazs - Black & White Cookie Ice Cream
Here's another unique flavor. I've definitely had cookies and cream ice cream. But what about "Black & White Cookie Ice Cream?" I've never heard of such a thing! Haagen-Dazs describes it as, "Inspired by New York’s classic Black & White cookie, we mixed vanilla bean ice cream with soft cookie pieces and ripples of chocolate frosting. Forget the cookie and grab your spoon."
Dairy Queen - Non-Dairy Dilly Bar
Here's an option for vegans. Dairy Queen offers a "Non-Dairy Dilly Bar," which is "gluten free, dairy-free, and plant-based, made with a coconut cream based protein and finished with our delicious crunchy chocolatey coating," according to their website. So, you can have the fun without the dairy or gluten, which is a good thing for sensitive diets.
