Look, we'd love to own a pool. Even though they can actually lower property value — this is what we call a worthwhile investment in our own joy and exercise. (Because we'd go swimming every single day, right?) However, although this sounds like an amazing fantasy, swimming pools also cost about eighty bajillion dollars to put in (we're rounding up, OK?) and who has the space? Not us. So instead of fantasizing about a pool that's impossible to actually own, we're opting instead for something far more practical: actual, small, affordable (sometimes free!) solutions that will keep us cool all summer long and don't require us to move house. The summer is our favorite season — we love all the fresh tomatoes and the sheer feeling of excitement and fun in the air — but it's also pretty torturous some days, so we need ways to stay cool.
We know that being a mom in the summer comes with extra challenges, too — especially when school gets out. For our own self-care, we love this story about ways to protect hair this summer, because normally, our hair gets absolutely fried from all the sun and trips to the local waterpark and community pool. And for pregnant moms, this list of things every pregnant woman will need to survive a summer pregnancy is absolutely genius — definitely check it out to stay … well, less miserable in the blazing heat! For kids, we love indoor activities on hot summer days, for when it's literally just too hot to go out to play. Check out summertime hacks to survive the heat with kids, which is more oriented on the kiddos, and these low-cost & super fun activities for your summer family bucket list, which is a general guide to clean, cheap fun this summer.
Make a DIY Cooling Spray
Sure, purchasing a cooling spray is an option, but they're so expensive. We get ingredients that are cheaper and better quality when we make our own cooling spray with witch hazel and aloe (and a drop or two of peppermint essential oil is nice, too)!
Pick up an iPhone fan
Yes, it's kinda nerdy, but also yes, this fan plugs directly into the one thing we have on us all the time — our phones — and works like an absolute charm. Also, we love that it comes in rose gold because we'll never get over that color. Don't judge!
iPhone fan ($12.99, Amazon)
Opt for a Classic Spanish Hand Fan
We also love going totally old school — this fan is a beautiful example of form and function combined. It's definitely also compelled more than one person to say, "Well, that's the smartest thing I've seen someone do today" to us, too.
Flamenco Wooden Hand Fan ($17.99, Amazon)
Avoid Getting That Haircut
Unless we cut our hair really, super-duper short, it's always better to be able to pin it up in the summer. Save some cash this summer by going for a quick trim to keep hair healthy instead of a full haircut, and pin it up in the back on super-hot days.
Pick Up a Serious Thermos
We may associate thermoses with the winter and keeping hot drinks piping hot, but we actually really love a seriously old-school thermos even more in the summertime, when normal water bottles get incredibly hot and sticky.
Thermos Stainless King 40 Oz. ($20.07, Amazon)
Add Some Houseplants
How can houseplants possibly keep a home cooler in the summer? Well, it turns out that plants do a lot of amazing things — such as purify the air in the home — and they also release moisture, which can make it feel more comfortable.
Get Spicy
It may seem counterintuitive, but spicy food is actually really great when it's hot outside. That's because the capsaicin in chili peppers causes us to sweat without actually raising our body temperatures, which cools us down.
Eat Plenty of Watermelon
One of the biggest problems in the summer is overheating through dehydration. Although we can remind ourselves to chug as much water as we want, it's even better to make sure snacks such as watermelon are what we reach for.
Throw on a Linen Dress
Linen is a material that wicks sweat and keeps us cooler than cotton. Check out these linen dresses that will keep moms cool (and stylish!) all summer for more info about why linen is absolutely magic (and find some on-trend options).
Grab Ice Cube Trays For Water Bottles
For anyone who isn't going to invest in a giant, awkward thermos like the ones we're in love with (above) we strongly recommend grabbing some ice cube trays that can make ice cubes that actually fit in a water bottle so there's no jamming and cursing involved.
Thermo Tank Ice Stick Tray ($14.95, Amazon)
Cool Off Wrists First
When we're incredibly overheated, the first thing we want to do is throw our wrists in the sink with some cool water or discreetly place an ice cube on our wrists. This is because the wrists are an easily accessible pulse point.
Throw Pillowcases in the Freezer an Hour Before Bed
On nights when it's just too hot to possibly imagine sleeping, toss the pillowcases in a plastic bag and then in the freezer. (We'd recommend just sticking them in the freezer, but our freezer doesn't smell that great. But to each their own!)
Buy a Cooling Pillow Gel Pad
Although the pillowcase-in-the-freezer trick does feel really great, a full-on cooling pillow gel pad actually works serious wonders. It stays cool to help us fall asleep, and it doesn't need to go in the fridge or freezer.
Cooling Pillow Gel Pad ($29.99, Amazon)
Make Popsicles a Daily Treat
We love popsicles in the summertime, and they can be a daily treat when we DIY them and the cost stays low! Check out these recipes for homemade popsicles everyone will love this summer.
Avoid Heating Up the Kitchen With Serve-Cold Recipes
When it's a million degrees outside, nobody needs to cook a whole dinner that involves standing in front of a stove or turning on the oven. Check out these serve-cold recipes that are still really filling.
Break Out the Slow Cooker
We're also a big fan of breaking out the slow cooker, which creates beautiful hot meals that don't involve making the kitchen boiling hot. Take a look at these Crock-Pot summer recipes for easy meals on hot days.
Spray Down the Curtains With Water
Spraying curtains with water from a spray bottle — or letting their bottoms soak in little tubs of water — is an effective trick for cooling down a house without air-conditioning. Open the window, set up a box fan, and let the water-sprayed curtains do all the rest.
Get a Cooling Shirt
Yes, these actually work. Run this T-shirt under cool water, and go for a run (or, uh, for anyone like us, just live regular life taking care of chores and errands). Yes, it involves wearing a wet shirt, but it's incredibly comfortable.
Arctic Cool Women's V-Neck Instant Cooling Shirt with Mesh Side Panels ($29.99 to $34.99, Amazon)
Avoid Using the Drying Cycle on the Dishwasher
The drying cycle makes the dishwasher turn into a little heat box. Instead, just let the dishes drip dry (or if something is really needed again right away, dry it the old-fashioned way with a dish towel).
Grab a Cold Therapy Pack
We love this cold therapy gel pack because it straps onto parts of our body that get way too hot — such as our feet — and cools them down in record time. They are also helpful to use on wrists, which are pulse points.
NatraCure Cold Therapy Wrap ($16.99 for two, Amazon)
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