6-29-2025 MY INSPO: my summer survival kit

 

ohio entered the official 'hell' part of summer time, and we're battling heat waves, humidity, and headaches. i grew up in a place where summers are brutally hot, not as humid at all - quite the contrary - we had severe droughts and wildfires. 

going from one summer extreme to another, and not to mention i never lived in a place with perfect air conditioning. 

so i am here to provide you my extreme summer survival guide.

1. always equip yourself with ice cream

ice cream is my favorite snack. growing up we had a rule it was strictly a summer snack, but now i deviate and will treat myself frequently with an icy-cool snack. one ice cream a day will actually help in maintaining a cool equilibrium - scientifically proven by me, and maybe ben and jerry. my recommendation? the two dudes ben and jerry are my sweetest couple. i don't discriminate though, and will always prefer a local creamery any day.

2. bikini's are clothes too

there is no need to elaborate fits in the daytime, the more frugal, the better. i will toss the trash in my bikini if i have to. and especially there is a no pants rule. dresses are fine. t shirts sure! jeans come out only after the sun goes down. a baggy t shirt was on my thrift search as of late (think men's xxl) - and particularly cool band ones are best ones. pure cotton is a must, and dresses need to be sleeveless and flowy. 

3. respect the rule of fjaka

in croatia, fjaka is defined as a state of relaxation and the art of doing nothing. think siesta, or zen meditation. but it's being the process. it is a mindset. there's a negative correlation between level of heat vs the rush to do a chore or errand. the higher the temps, the lesser urgency there is to do - anything! 

4. sunglasses and sunscreen at all times

i wear contacts solely to be able to wear sunglasses. no squinting in this household. i've got versace, gucci, forever 21, vintage german ones, the john lennon kind, or oversized. each event, vibe or outfit needs a special sunglass pairing. and they stay on at night.

i was blessed with lack of pigment and a complexion shade one might find as the palest foundation you've ever seen. my sunburn, sun rashes, and everything in between is no joke. i accepted the fact that i cannot tan but i won't accept aging like lather or developing skin cancer. i used to use elta md with zinc, but i just recently switch to a cerave one with zinc as well. much cheaper. i apply daily, and when at the pool, each time i get out and dry out i reapply. since i don't tan, for nights out i use a body shimmer spray with light tint to help bring out a summer glow (at least...)

5. no cooking meals

i love a good soup - but anything that needs to be microwaved is a big no during these summer days. we stack up on cheeses, prosciutto's and such, and a variety of veggies to make quick and fun salads and dips. grilling things is the only exclusion. the essentials are corn, chickpeas, spinach, microgreens, blueberries, strawberries and mangos, blue tortilla chips and a light homemade vinaigrette. i try to incorporate every color in the rainbow, and mix and match savory and sweet. for extra protein, i love adding nuts as well. 

6. try every cocktail on the menu

when i was living in cro, every summer i would choose a few bars and make sure to go down the list of every single cocktail on their drink list. no exceptions made. while most were phenomenal drinks, the zombie and manhattan are on the bottom of my list. currently i have a cocktail recipe book which helps me in mastering the art of mixology. i am mostly working with the alcohol and mixers i currently have before purchasing more, which makes mixing more experimental and exciting.

my summer survival kit is extremely basic - it's exactly what one may assume would help. as simple and expected they are, they make the summertime, and lack of a/c bearable.

whether it's humidity or ashy skies, summer is always best spent next to a body of water, man-made or not. a good book is a necessity, and music needs to be played at all times. and i've learned best that minimal movement helps with less sweating. and i guess it gives me a reason to be lazy...