Summer in Texas

So my first semester teaching went well and I know that I have been neglecting my blog... Therefore, I thought it would be a nice thing to talk about Summer in Texas. Because, boy is it hot here! TX has like 5 months of summer and I am not a hot weather person.

Here is the advice I have for surviving summer in Texas.

1. Air conditioning- soooo important, have it in your house and in your car. This is the most important thing you can have down here. Many people die each year of heat stroke because they didn't take this advice. Air conditioning makes it livable down here period.

2. Ok so you have somewhere to escape the heat, What else can you do? Second on my list is POCICLES- yes anytype of frozen desert, snack or beverage, ice cream, fruit pop, sherbert, whatever. I survive this season by stocking up on fruit juice popcicles- I like popsicles because they help you cool your body down and they add a bit of joy to life. They are also easier to just grab and go plus, it is easier to monitor how many you eat per day and, if you choose a company that makes them with natural ingredients and fruit juice- it is healthy too- heck, you can even buy reusable plastic molds and make your own all summer long :)

3. Clothing needs to be paid attention too as well. For guys- just make sure you choose fabrics that breath, shorts are ok too and flip flops can be your best friend- My boyfriend in highschool wore flip flops in the winter as well come to think of it..... haha
Now for girls !
This is where I can really give some advice, in addition to all the strappy sandal styles-girls have a bit more in the way of choices than boys do but in Texas you will probably end up preferring the shorter things and dresses. I like asian fashion, so I like short shorts which can look nice under an appropriate long top. However, it works best if your frame is "long and lanky" which can be the case even if you are short. If your legs are not long and lanky this approach can make you look top-heavy. I myself prefer a more balanced look by wearing skirts and dresses. I have a modest collection of summer dresses and flowy skirts. The skirts are good to put under ones shirts and blouses and the dresses are good for low maintenance effortless outfitting. Also a maxi dress is always a must have if you feel uncomfortable showing your legs off as many people do. Maxi dresses look good on every body type, and they are more sophisticated and mature looking. You may have to look around to find one but Ross always has a few and the internet abounds if you know your size :)
All of this translates into keeping cooler in your clothes...

5. WATER ....Drink water and keep hydrated- I have to put this in even though I feel it's a no-brainer. Also if you do spend any time outside let it be in the pools or the sprinklers. Kids especially love this and a bathing suit is a must for the season.....

6. Sun-Glasses- you would need these down here, sometimes it is so bright that I can hardly see and I'm squinting the whole day- no good.

7. I will tack on sun- screen too because they say you should always have some. Now, in Texas you will probably NOT want to bask in the sun. You can choose makeup that has spf in it, though I think you may want to wear lighter makeup in this season...... Try for a light non-gressy sunscreen and I do believe that several makeup companies make good ones.

8. Reading- if you have more free time than usual during the summer you may feel bored but there are indoor things you can do! You can watch movies, or surf the web but you don't want to do that all day everyday all summer long!!! I recommend reading as a laid back way to relax on a hot day. Finding a good book or series of books can translate into hours of time lost in another world in a way movies just cant.

9. When it is hot - what to do with your HAIR? Some of you may have long hair and may always like to wear it down however, in hot areas like Texas in the summer- this is not best. Nothing makes you hotter than having hair on your neck and it only takes about 10 minutes before I end up putting even the cutest hairdo UP. I would say that having a collection of hair ties, hairbands and hair clips will do the trick ... cute updos abound and the current flower clip trend looks even cuter in the summer.
On a side note- one should also invest in a body spray on some light fruity or citrus-y or clean fragrance a body spray is a good way to cool off-stay away from musky and warm scents as it often makes one feel a tad warmer..... however this may be a personal preference.

10. Well, what else?