Cool Things To Make It Through

 The Summer Heat Gracefully & In Style

Things are Hotting Up!

But that may not necessarily be a good thing. Summer is the time for ice cream, lawn sprinklers, paddle pools, long lazy days and sipping a cocktail or two in the amber glow of twilight as the sun slowly sets. But it’s also the time of pit stains, badly behaved kids, sweaty sleepless nights and that gross peeling sound you make when you get off a leather sofa on a really hot day. For parents, summer can be a particularly tricky time as we navigate the trials of work while making sure that we have time to be there for our kids over the school’s’ summer break.

The season can be as magical or miserable as we make it. Here are some top tips for surviving summer gracefully and in style (and hopefully having a little fun along the way).

1. Reinvent your look

Looking good and feeling good about yourself is the first step to making sure your outlook is positive and can give your outlook a rosy tint (or is that just the glare of the sun).

Summer is the perfect time to reinvent yourself and your home and you’d be astonished just how far a good makeover can go to giving you a new lease of life and keep you feeling fresh despite the intense heat. Get into your closet and show no mercy. Throw out the drab, the dowdy and the dreary. They have no business being anywhere near the fabulous new you! Replace it all with bright colors and light fabrics.

Whatever your shape, make sure you wear something that feels light and flattering. If you’ve been extra disciplined with your food or putting the hours in at the gym all through fall, winter and spring then now’s the time to show off the results!

Many ladies worry about the havoc that heat and sweat can wreak with their makeup but there’s no need to worry so long as you keep the following tips in mind.

• Build on an oil-free foundation.
• Invest in a good primer.
• Bronze… subtly!
• Apply as lightly as possible.
• Invest in a good, waterproof mascara.
• Keep colors vibrant.

2.  Get in the garden (avoid the pollen!)

There are few things quite so serene and satisfying as being close to nature, and gardening is not only a relaxing activity but a great way to turn the heads of friends and neighbors. A beautiful well-maintained garden is a great place to spend time and catch some rays. If you’ve been feeling down then the combined benefits of activity and sunshine can give your mood a much needed boost.  

The last thing you want is to spend the whole day sneezing, so check on the local pollen levels, take an antihistamine if you’re allergic and avoid gardening immediately after heavy rainfall.

3.  Get plenty of sleep

Starting off your day sticky, cranky and sleep-deprived is a surefire way to ruin your day before it’s even begun. But hot summer nights aren’t exactly conducive to a good night’s sleep. Bedeck your bed with light, breathing fabrics like cotton or linen (save the satin and polyester for when things cool down). If you have a hot water bottle then fill it with icy water for a quick and easy bed-friendly cold pack.

But there really is no substitute for a good air conditioning system. AC systems of yesteryear were noisy and cumbersome but nowadays there is a whole generation of portable and silent AC units. Check out acpulse.com for more information on some handy, portable, noise-free and surprisingly affordable AC units.

If, however, you just don’t have the budget for a new AC unit then you can always deploy the old-school solution of placing a baking tray full of ice cubes in front of a portable desk fan. Whatever your solution; a cool, breezy night is the surest way to waking up fresh and ready to enjoy a summer’s day.

4.  Eat outdoors wherever you can

Alfresco dining is a fun way to bring your family together to eat together and enjoy the sun without the distraction of television (chances are there’ll be fewer handheld devices too). But you’d also be surprised at the health benefits of eating outside.

A change of scenery is always a great way to stimulate social interaction between your family members which is likely to be good for everyone. You’ll also be fortifying your food with a healthy shot of vitamin D courtesy of the sun.  

After dinner, help your dinner digest with a family stroll. A relaxed walk amidst sun-kissed scenery will bring you closer together as a family and help the kids to release some of their seemingly infinite supply of energy.

5.  Encourage the kids to play in the water

School’s out so the kids are likely to be little dynamos, full of potential energy that needs a healthy outlet. Pent up energy and summer heat can lead to nightmarish behaviour so we need to nip this in the bud and cool down those (literal) hot heads. Whether you’re fortunate enough to have your own pool or live close to the sea, or whether you’ll be taking them down to the local public swimming pool, there are so many benefits to giving your children some fun time in the water. Swimming is great physical exercise so they’ll be able to burn off some energy and have a restful night’s sleep. It’s also a great way for them to interact socially with other kids.

6.  Throw a home and garden party

As the days grow longer, and the nights become balmy a home and garden party is the perfect way to watch a hot afternoon blossom into a gorgeous summer night alongside family and friends with good food, fine wine, and sparkling conversation.

Summer has a funny way of bringing out cheerful and convivial behaviours in people so whether you’re looking to make new friends, reunite with old ones, bring different groups of friends together or even doing a spot of match-making, garden party games are a fun way for you to bring out the social chemist in you.

Garden parties are a whole lot of fun, but they can also require a lot of hard work and preparation which can be daunting, especially if this is your first time. But with a little patience and effort, you could find yourself hosting a home and garden party that your friends are talking about for years to come.

As with so many things, the key is in the planning. Make sure you start your planning early (it’s the surest way of building up anticipation and reducing the risk of last minute no-shows). Maybe you could set up a Facebook event or send out some cute invites in the post (since the kids are floating about, why not get them involved in some fun family crafts).

When the big day comes, make sure as much of your food is prepared in advance as possible so you can flutter about the party like the social butterfly you are!

You can create a sense of theatrical fun and adventure by transforming your garden. Check out Pinterest for great ideas for decorative themes, and you can even invite guests to dress up in something thematic for the occasion.

As the night draws in, keep the conversation flowing by keeping a nice selection of drinks on hand and proving a nice wood burning kiln or brazier for everyone to gather around.

Summer can be a wonderful time, but it can also be a cranky, sweaty season of discontent. Make sure you stick to these fun tips to make sure that you and your family stay happy and fun until the leaves turn brown.

Have a fantastic Summer!

Klaudia