Miscelaney

Go-o-o-o-o-o-o-d morning, Seattle! Are we ever having a heat wave or what? Looks like tomorrow could possibly propel us to break (temperature) records. Where o where is the AC, for the love? While most of us have one or two tricks up our sleeves at staying cool, thought I’d corral up a few collective ideas needed to chillax during the unbearable heat, just in case it helps.

Ten Ways to Keep Your Cool

1. Dress the part. Be sure to wear light, loose clothing. Channel your inner Panama chic and don light linen or cool Cotton. Don’t forget your feet. Sandals all the way to keep the piggies breathing.

2. Button down the hatches. Of course we’re all sleeping with doors and windows open at night. But during the day when you are gone, warm heat will pour in through any available means and all of your cool air will escape. Shut drapes and blinds and shut all windows. Make your home a tomb during the day, and an open-air pavilion at night and in the early morning.

3. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Keep cool and liquid-filled with chilled, non-dehydrating drinks through out the day. And keep those meals small and frequent. This is not the time for large, protein-heavy meals that will stoke your metabolic fires, making your body heat up.

4. Two Words: Pulse Points.You know in the movies when the steamy actor holds up the sweating low-ball glass to his temple? Yeah, he’s cooling down those pulse points. Wrists are key, too. Chill with an ice cube or run your wrists under cold water, anything to bring the freeze to these key places (temples, wrists, back of knees) which in turn will lower your overall body temp.

5. Spritz. When it’s super hot, I always have a spray bottle filled with cool water so I can mist at my desk, on the couch, in bed at night. Particularly if you are in front of a fan, really does help.

6. The Ghetto AC. It’s old school, but whatever helps, right? Fill a large bowl with ice and place it in front of your fan. Your fan will circulate the cool air rising from the ice cubes.

7. Don’t forget the cross breeze. You’ve got to move that hot air through and out of your place. It is impossible to do usually, unless you open up opposing windows and doors (on the opposite sides of the house or office). Often this means opening your front door to the world, or to your neighbors. If privacy is an issue, prop the door open half way. You’ve got to get that air circulating through!

8. Calling Grandma. A hot water bottle filled with cold water and ice is going to be your best friend at night, I guarantee. Prop your feet, knees or head on top of this chilly pillow and you are going to understand the brilliance of this simplistic relic.  

9. Freeze your sheets. I know I know, sounds extreme. Throw sheets into your freezer until they are icy cold. It is well worth the effort when you climb into a cool bed.

10. Call your friends. (This tip is from HP, who hails from Hotlanta, so is an expert on surviving the heat) Surround yourself with your best friends–Ms. Mojito, Madame Martini, Senor Margarita, Miss Daiquiri, Mr. Vodka Tonic, and Sir Gin & Tonic. Being the lively bunch they are, undoubtedly they have more friends, but this is certainly a case of “love the one you’re with”.