Summer Life Hacks

 

1. Maxi Skirts:

Ditch the denim this summer in favor of a flowy maxi skirt made from a light material such as jersey knit or a nice cotton blend. The modesty of the maxi allows you to comfortably wear a crop without feeling over exposed. A maxi skirt is flattering on most body types and they can easily be transitioned from day to night with the right accessories and coordinating pieces. Statement necklaces are a great addition to make your look feel less causal and more sophisticated.  

2. Ice Cube Trays:

It never ceases to amaze me how cute ice cube trays have become. Some the most affordable ones that I have found have been at Target and Ikea. Instead of adding water to the trays, I have been adding different varieties of juices to get great flavor combinations. My favorite combination lately has been raspberry tea flavored ice cubes added to lemonade. 

3. Milk:

Ever get unbearable sunburns that make it difficult to sleep? Being fair skinned means that I get those kind of sunburns if I even look at a picture of a beach. My skin blisters and the pain seems to spread to every inch on my body. An old, Southern woman taught me a trick that I will use for the rest of my sunburned days. She told me that putting milk or plain yogurt on a sunburn takes away the sting. I don't know the science behind this gross trick, but it has worked for me for many summers. 

4. Lemons:

Not only are lemons delicious to drink in lemonade, they are also quite useful. I have bleached and highlighted my hair to get it my color blonde, however lemons are a great natural alternative to hair dye in the summer. Spraying a mixture of lemon juice and water can bring out your natural highlights. If lemons weren't already cool enough for being a natural hair dye, they also can clean your clothes. Arm pit stains are as embarrassing as they are disgusting. By rubbing lemon juice and 1 tsp of salt on your shirts underarm, deodorant and dark coloration stains are lifted. 

5. Hand Fans:

In Korea, many people believe in something called " Fan Death ". Motorized fans are replaced by adorable hand fans that are as practical as they are cute. They are incredibly light weight and very easy to carry around. My fan is an shaped like an elephant and was purchased at my local Daiso (very similar to Dollar General) for 1,000 Won (around $1). Hand fans are not very stylish in North America, but I think it is time for them to become a new trend. 

6. Deodorant:

 

Who says that deodorant can only be used on underarms? No me! Deodorant is by far my favorite summer secret. I don't sweat profusely, however I still like to keep a deodorant stick in my purse just to be safe. Not all girls were born with a thigh gap, and that is okay. Being one of those girls whose thighs rub together means that summer time = chafing time. Every summer, I would get horrible blisters until I learned that all chafing could be eliminated by putting deodorant on my thighs. Deodorant is also very helpful to break in a cute, new pair of flats. A little bit of deodorant on your heel can help the breaking in process become significantly less painful. If you are worried that the deodorant will stain your clothing, a little lemon is an excellent solution. 

I hope my summer secrets work for you as well as they have worked for me. 

Besos, 

Erika