When the mercury is climbing into the forties (or triple digits if you're on the Fahrenheit scale) it can be hard to remember why you prayed for warmer weather in the first place. Read on for our Top Ten Ways to feel summertime happy.
10. Go out and play.
In winter you have a perfect excuse to stay inside and play video games or tweak your internet dating profile: the weather's lousy. But if you try to do the same thing in summer, it's just going to make you feel disconnected and depressed. So get outside and play! Go to the park and fly a kite. Call that hot guy or girl you met at an internet dating site and play some frisbee. Join a softball league. It'll keep you fit, happy, and out of the house. And that's what summer's all about, right?
9. Put some color in your wardrobe.
Looking at bright colors always manages to make me feel happy. Especially when those bright colors are on me! Celebrate the summer starting with yourself. Be playful with your wardrobe and just have fun.
8. Get a thrill.
You can play it safe and take it easy in the wintertime. Summer, on the other hand, is about letting it all hang out and having a wonderful time doing it. So give yourself a thrill this summer. Visit a park and ride the roller coaster until your throat is hoarse with screaming. Take a hot air balloon ride. The more thrills you have this summer, the more alive you'll feel. After all, life is short!
7. Buy one heat-proof outfit.
It doesn't matter if you're as tight and toned as an aerobics instructor or have 100 pounds you're trying to lose: you deserve to be comfortable in the summer. So go out and invest in one heat-proof outfit that flatters you and that you'll love wearing. From a sweet sundress to a pair of linen pants, anything that breathes and flows and looks great on you is a perfect choice.
6. Visit a farmers' market.
One of the best things about summer is all of the wonderful fresh produce on offer. Instead of sticking to your local grocery store, get out to the farmers market on the weekend and buy your produce fresh. Then take it home and make a wonderful meal with your internet dating sweetie. There aren't many celebrations of summer like a light, fresh meal and a cool glass of white wine.
5. Host a party.
Don't wait for others to give you something fun to do this summer... plan something yourself. Whether it's an evening with food and wine at an outdoor movie theatre or a barbecue in your backyard or a picnic in the country, plan a summer party and invite along everyone you love. After all, you really can't celebrate without the people you care about most!
4. Make ice cream.
It's creamy, it's cold, and when you make it yourself, the calories don't count (okay, they do... but it doesn't feel like it!). There are plenty of recipes out there for homemade ice cream. You can either invest in an ice cream maker and make it all summer long, or look for recipes that don't require one. Just get a spoon and eat up!
3. Have an adventure.
Especially if, like me, you live in a busy city, the summer can be oppressive and sweltering. Don't let the summer heat get you down! Instead, get out of the city and have an adventure. Grab a bike and take a ride into the country. Or grab some snacks and a big bottle of water and go on a long hike out in the woods. Try to go somewhere you've never been before. Then take a deep breath, work up a sweat, and enjoy being away from the masses and the traffic.
2. Master some summer cocktails.
Nothing is as cheerful and refreshing in the summer as an icy glass sweating with condensation and topped with a little paper umbrella. So learn a few recipes for your favorite cocktails, and take a trip to the store for all of the ingredients. If you always have ice, rum, and a few fun mixers on hand, there is no end to what you can make. Some of the most refreshing options? Sangria, mojitos, daquiris, margaritas, and anything made with lots of fruit juice and ice.
1. Get sweaty together.
Sometimes you just can't fight the heat. When that happens to you, you may as well make a little more. Get sweaty between the sheets with your partner, and you'll forget that you were complaining about the heat just a moment ago.
