5 Tips For Riding Out the COVID-19 Pandemic

Living through the COVID-19 Pandemic has changed the way we react to each other, and situations, when we’re in public.

We are all human beings, which means there may be a time where we need to leave our home for some kind of essential item.

We want to make sure you know your options, and are as safe as possible during this time.

We’ve put together a list of 5 Tips for Riding Out the Corona Virus.

1.       Do It Yourself: Hand Sanitizer

As you all know, stores are running extremely low on some essential cleaning products for us to purchase.

 A lot of stores all over the U.S. have reported being low, or completely out of a lot of some disinfecting Lysol products and sanitizing products are hard to come by in some areas.

Luckily, we have a sanitizing recipe that involves just 2 common household items, that will work as a disinfectant, and doesn’t require you to leave your home!

Ingredients:

1 cup Aloe/Aloe Vera Gel

3 Cups Isopropyl Alcohol

Directions:

Using a funnel, pour your Aloe Vera Gel into a large container

Add Isopropyl Alcohol

Stir or shake well

Store at room temperature, away from heat

Shake well before each use

Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6h-h67jv2s

2.       Do It Yourself: Face Masks

If you’ve been anywhere in the last month, you know it has become completely normal for almost everyone to be wearing some sort of mask.

Some masks you’ve seen out in public were made from some sort of household item as well, as most stores have been sold out of face masks for some time now.

Here is a helpful 2 minutes video that shows you how to make a face mask out of any cloth you may have around the house.

Supplies needed:

1 piece of cloth

2 hair ties or rubber bands

1 coffee filter

Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnBqwowZi5w

3.       Curb-Side Delivery/Online Shopping

Another amazing resource that many companies have given us are all of the “Curb-Side Pick Up” options.

Big names like Target and Walmart have stepped up their customer service in offering us a safe option for obtaining our groceries and essential items.

Other stores like CVS are offering FREE DELIVERY on orders $35 or above for the month of April 2020.

Best Buy is even offering curb-side for electronic purchases, for your convenience.

4.       Virtual Gatherings of Friends and Family

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic has begun, many of us have had birthday’s, and special holidays or events that have come and gone.

Easter 2020 was celebrated on April 12th, and for many families, it was hard to be away from each other.

There are many options to visiting with friends and family, without endangering anyone.

If you have an Iphone, you know that Facetime is a great FREE resource for video-chatting with your loved ones from a distance (as long as the other party has an Iphone as well).

If you’re an android user, here are 3 FREE programs that you can download and use for video-chatting in 2020.

Apps Available:

Facebook Messenger

Skype

Google Duo

All of these apps provide a FREE video-chatting platform for you and your loved ones to visit for hours upon hours, without risking each other’s health and safety.

5.      Taking Care of Yourself While Stuck at Home

Among other challenges the COVID-19 Pandemic has brought to us, being stuck at home is by far a big one.

Some people like to be alone, and find this time alone to be refreshing.

Others may not find it as easy, as we are social creatures!

It’s important to remember that staying home like this is only temporary, and there’s still many ways to be productive and live a full life in quarantine.

It’s important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself while you’re at home, not just physically, but mentally.

Here’s a short list for those of you who who are looking for some new ideas…

Pick up an old hobby

Try a new hobby of interest

Get lost on an interesting topic on Youtube

Stay in touch with friends and family

Practice better routines and habits

How’s your garden looking these days?

Find your “To-Do List” and get busy!

Deep clean your house and rearrange the furniture

Do the yard work you’ve been trying to get to

Listen to your all-time-favorite bands/albums and take a walk down memory lane

Read that book you’ve been meaning to pick back up

Binge-watch that Netflix show everyone’s been telling you about

Do something nice for yourself

Clean out that garage!!

Make a list of all the things you’re going to do when the COVID-19 Pandemic is over

Catch up on your sleep finally

Spend some quality time with the family dog

It seems needless to say, we have been given the tools needed to ride out this pandemic.

Just like you, we are all hoping this pandemic ends sooner, rather than later.

The key is to being safe and keeping others safe, which is why we felt compelled to writing this blog for you today.

We hope it helped some of you to feel more comfortable with the idea of staying home for a little longer.

We are all alone together, and that is how we will make it through to the other side!

How to Visit Citrus Hills During a Stay-at-Home Order

March and April of 2020 are proving to be a uniquely challenging time for many of us.

Many of us have been asked to stay home due to the threat of Corona Virus, while others have been required to work from home.

No matter who you are, or what your circumstances are, there’s always a way to escape to Citrus Hills.

We’ve made it easy for you!

3D Virtual Tours

With 20 different models to choose from in Citrus Hills, it’s hard to choose just ONE!

There are so many unique features that we love about all of our homes.

A great tool that we have to offer in this time of “staying home” are our 3D Virtual Tours!

We have them for just about all of our homes, so you can take a walk through one of our gorgeous models, without even leaving your couch!

Click the Pictures Below to View Our 3D Virtual Tours

Single-Family Home 3D Virtual Tours

Model Pictured: Waterford

Carefree Home 3D Virtual Tours

Model Pictured: St. Christopher

Live Streams

Take advantage of our LIVE virtual tours!

That’s right, Citrus Hills is going LIVE!

Getting creative in times like these are important.

Citrus Hills is excited to bring you a new level of visiting us on Zoom, to give you a real taste of our community!

The platform we will be using is interactive, and allows for 2-way communication for viewers, just like yourself!

Feel free to type in a question to the chat, and we will answer you live on the air!

We plan to have 2 Live Streams sent out to our email list over the next week or two.

The first Live Stream will cover our Amenities inside the gates, so you can see what it’s like to walk through the Tiki Bar or Bella Vita Spa and Fitness Center!

The second Live Stream we will be hosting includes our model homes St. Thomas, St. James, St. Christopher, Wentworth, and Waterford.

Both Live Streams will last anywhere between 20-30 (approximately) minutes EACH, and will be scheduled ahead of time.

Because of this, you will have plenty of time to work us into your schedule!

After these Live Streams, if you’d like to schedule a private one-on-one Virtual Visit for more information, you will also have the option to do so!

(Dates and times will be sent out in an email.)

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Daily Posts on Instagram

It’s true, Citrus Hills has started its own Instagram profile, to bring everyone a taste of what life is like behind the gates.

Staying up-to-date with the latest Florida Lifestyle perks is what it’s there for!

With content ranging from Citrus Hills amenities, to the unique wildlife in Florida, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

We also love suggestions!

If there’s something you want to see, just send us a message!

You don’t need your own Instagram account to enjoy the great content posted here, as this is a public account.

Don’t miss a night at the Tiki Bar, or a Manatee Appreciation post!

We’re passionate about where we live, and proud of it!

All in all…

A Stay-at-Home Order doesn’t stop us from bringing Citrus Hills right to your living room.

We also hope it doesn’t stop you from dreaming and drooling over our beautiful community and homes.

We’re on a mission to make sure you have every advantage to experience our Virtual Resources first hand, and follow our awesome content.

We hope that all of these resources will suffice until we open our doors again, and start meeting with your friendly-faces soon!

Dames and Peace Caves - Unique Florida

As we all know, there are many different day-trips to choose from in our area. Our area offers everything from beaches, springs, hiking, biking and really and natural wonder that you can think of for our state! One unique day-trip that we HIGHLY recommend here in Citrus County would have to be the Dames and Peace Caves which in the Withlacoochee State Forest!

Trail 22 Location and Information

Located just 30 minutes South of the Villages of Citrus Hills gates, this trail-head can be somewhat hard to find if you don’t know exactly where to look. If you’re looking for the correct trail, it’s called Trail 22, off of S. Lecanto Hwy (491).

There are no signs or parking area to let you know you’ve reached your destination, but there is a small peace sign spray painted at the trail-head to indicate you’ve reached it. You’ll usually see a few cars parked on the side of the road as well.

The Dames Caves Trail is an easy 1.2 mile out-and-back trail that brings you right back to the road where your car is parked. Since the trail is only elevated a total of 45 feet, the only climbing you’ll have to do is if you actually want to get in or out of some of the caves. This mild elevation makes for a nice day-hike for any age groups!

Vandal Cave

Two of the most popular caves on this trail are called “Vandal Cave” and “Peace Cave.” Vandal Cave is located if you follow the main trail-head East, and you will stumble across it right in front of you. It may look like a giant hole in the ground at first, as this cave had a roof collapse many ages ago. You are able to look directly down into Vandal Cave and see the bottom!

If you walk around the side of Vandal Cave, you’ll find a smaller cave that grants access into the heart of the beast. After a short climb, you get to experience all the natural beauty of Vandal Cave. At this point, you will also notice why it is called “Vandal Cave” with much of the walls covered in graffiti.

Peace Cave

Peace Cave is located on a sub-trail connected to Trail 22. It’s a short walk from Vandal Cave, and you can make it there in just minutes. You’ll know you’ve reached the cave when you see a giant tree with a peace sign spray painted at the base of the tree. The opening to this cave is more of a squeeze to reach the inside, but it is still very-doable. You’ll also need a flashlight for this one, as there won’t be any light to guide you in this time, like in Vandal Cave!

Once you reach the inside of these underground caves, you’ll instantly feel the temperature drop. If you’re quiet, you can hear the underground waterways passing by. There’s just no place like it.

Sandhill Cranes - Unique Florida

The Florida Sandhill Crane (Scientific Name: Grus Canadensis) is a beautiful and unique creature, and we are lucky enough to have them in Florida. Being a non-migratory bird, this species spends its entire life in Florida. Natives of the sunshine state can easily identify this bird by the red skin on its head, and its unique trumpet-like call.

Protected

Cranes are the oldest birds on the planet. The oldest Florida Sandhill Crane fossils are estimated to be 2.5 million years old! There are now estimated to be around 5,000 left in Florida’s population today. Since these cranes are usually found in freshwater ponds and marshes, they have many obstacles that threaten their species. These threats include wetland drainage and conversion of prairie for development. Reasons such as this have made the Florida Sandhill Crane a protected species by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Appearance

Some unique features about this wondrous crane are surrounding its appearance! Not only is its head an interesting brick-red color, but this bird also stands up to 4 - 5 feet and has been recorded to weigh around 10-14 pounds! That’s a big bird! In many cases its wingspan is longer than the bird stands. A Florida Sandhill Crane can have a wingspan up to 6 – 7 feet! Newborn Sandhill Cranes have an orange tint to their feathers for the first couple of months of its life. Many residents in the Florida region look forward to June/July to start seeing the newly born cranes.

Reproduction

Florida Sandhill Cranes are monogamous, which means they breed for life. Since their lifespan can be up to 30 – 40 years, that is about as long as some humans spend their lives together too! If you’re driving down the road, and you see a Florida Sandhill Crane, chances are they are not going to be alone. Usually they are seen in pairs, or groups! The mating season for these Florida Cranes falls in the spring, between April and May. Their eggs take anywhere from 29-32 days to hatch, and then the little orange newborn pops out! Florida Sandhill Cranes also raise their young together.

If you’re a Florida resident, you already know the beauty we have here, and how lucky we are to have this beautiful creature living in our climate. The Sandhill Cranes adds a unique experience to any day on the river, or even a bird-watching tour at one of the state parks!

Sunscreen is a Vital Tool in the Fight Against Skin Cancer

Dermatologists Say Sunscreen is a Vital Tool in the Fight Against Skin Cancer, the Most Common Cancer in the U.S.

With summer just around the corner, it’s important to remember that daily use of sunscreen could decrease the incidence of melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer. It is also important to use sunscreen in conjunction with seeking shade and wearing protective clothing, to include a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. This will all assist in protecting you from skin cancer and early skin again, such as wrinkles and age spots.

For the best protection, the AAD recommends looking for sunscreens with the following terms on the label:

-          Broad-spectrum: This means that the sunscreen helps protect from ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, both of which can cause skin cancer.

-          SPF 30 or Higher: This indicated how well a sunscreen protects you from sunburn. Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97% of the sun’s UVB rays (the burning rays). Higher-number SPF’s block slightly more, however no sunscreen can block 100% of the sun’s UV rays.

-          Water Resistant: Sunscreens can be water resistant for 40 minutes or 80 minutes. However, they ae not waterproof or sweatproof and need to be reapplied every two hours when outdoors, or after swimming or sweating.

Recent reports suggest that less than half of Americans look for a product with broad-spectrum protection. Considering that unprotected exposure to the sun’s UV rays is a major risk factor for ski9n cancer, its important to make an informed decision.

Additionally, there are two types of sunscreens available-chemical and physical. Both protect you from the sun but not in the same way.

-          Chemical sunscreens work like a sponge, absorbing the sun’s rays. They contain one or more of the following active ingredients: Avobezone, ensulizole, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene or oxybenzone.

-          Physical sunscreens, also known as mineral sunscreen, act like a shield. They sit on the surface of the skin, primarily deflecting the sun’s rays. They include the active ingredients titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide, and are recommended for people with sensitive skin.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and nearly one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. To assist in the prevention of this most common skin cancer, follow rules above, perform self-checks of moles and lesions on your body routinely, see a Board-Certified Dermatologist for annual exams, or whenever you see a change in any lesion. For any questions or concerns, feel free to call our informed personnel at Suncoast Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center, PA

Citrus County: 525 Dacie Point, Lecanto FL 34461 - (352) 746-2200

Marion County: 9401 SW Hwy 200, Ocala FL 34481 – (352) 873-1500

We would like to thank Suncoast Dermatology for sharing this important information with us!