Real Homemaking

In the summer it’s nice to lighten-up everything that you’re doing - cooking, dressing, even your home! Here are a few tips from Better Homes and Garden that will help you make your life feel lighter, cooler, and more summery!

Lighten up windows by removing heavy curtains and drapes for the season. Replace them with inexpensive bamboo shades, airy fabrics—or nothing at all.

Throw pillows, tablecloths and table runners are easy ways to dial up summer style. Look for cheery patterns and bright colors to add a lift indoors and out.

Nothing freshens an interior like colorful, fragrant flowers. As your garden flourishes, bring plenty of blooms indoors to enjoy throughout your home. Place them in casual containers next to the kitchen sink, a bathroom countertop and other unexpected places.

Speaking of bathrooms, vibrantly colored beach towels are a fun and practical choice indoors, too. ‘Tis the season of frequent showers—thanks to summer grit, beach sand and dips in the pool—so keep a good supply handy.

Take advantage of summer’s bounty and build meals around the freshest local fruits and veggies you can find—whether straight from your garden, the farmer’s market, or a local orchard.

Adopt a great healthy-eating guide and fill half your plate with vegetables or fruit at each meal. For best flavor, enjoy veggies raw, sautéed with olive oil and chopped garlic, or steamed with some whole garlic cloves.

To keep fresh on hot, sticky days, carry moisturizing wipes or a purse-sized body spray you can use as needed. Fill a misting bottle with water and keep it handy on the deck or patio for a cooling spritz while gardening or relaxing.

Give yourself a healthy summer glow with an exfoliating glove or loofah. Use it once a week in the tub or shower to scrub off dead cells and revitalize your skin.

Keep skin clean, fresh and comfortable with products best suited to summer conditions. Swap the heavy foundation for an oil-free tinted moisturizer with built-in SPF.