I saw a meme the other day that said that if you want to know how it feels to live in the Carolinas, strip your clothes off, spray your entire body down with the garden hose, don’t dry off, then put your clothes back on. I've never felt more seen by a meme in my life. I'm literally living that nightmare everyday.
I hope all of you summer loving enthusiasts out there are enjoying what I can only refer to as Satan’s sauna. These 90 degree days in early July aren't for the faint of heart. And for farmers, the relentless heat and lack of rain is unbearable.
To help me deal with the unrelenting rays of fire, not only on the farm but on the ball field (my son plays travel baseball) I've relied heavily on a few products. And I thought maybe I would share in hopes of helping others survive this insanity.
I'm calling it "Satan's Sauna Survival Guide"
Walmart Shorts - I needed something inexpensive that I wouldn’t mind farming in and tearing up if it came down to it, but also looked cute at the baseball field. These fit the bill and exceeded my expectations! They have the panty liner, not the shorts, so I’m not constantly at war with them riding up in my hootie hoo. I feel like they fit pretty true to size. I wear a medium but also sized up to a large for a few of them just because. I tend to gravitate towards the larger size though for a more relaxed fit.
Blender Sunglasses - I LOVE this brand of sunglasses, and have bought them for years. Not only are they stylish and cute, they have come in handy so much at the farm lately when the sun is scorching down and I’m out in the field. When I'm sweating more than God ever intended a lady to sweat and it's dripping down my face, these don't slip down my nose or fall of my face when I have to bend over. There are so many awesome options but I do prefer the mirrored lenses. Hiding behind those lenses allow me to be nosey and people watch at the baseball field without anyone noticing how judgemental I'm being. I mean you can't exactly people watch if everyone can see your eyes.
Gold Bond Friction Defense - Calling all my curvy girls!! This is a life saver! A friend introduced me to this when we were in Cooperstown, NY for baseball with our boys. Apparently Cooperstown didn’t get the memo that us North Carolinians were looking forward to some cool mountain air. Nope, it was just like being at home. As we were all trying to stay cool in our cute Walmart shorts because it was 95 degrees outside but had LOTS of walking to do, a few swipes of this friction defense on my thighs kept the thigh rubbiing at bay . No more biscuit making! I've tried other brands before, but I felt like this one was a keeper.
Elf Suntouchable Whoa Glow - During the summer months when I’m constantly dripping sweat and need four showers a day, I don’t typically wear makeup to the farm. Well, I always have to put on mascara…I just feel naked without it. Is that really makeup though, or a necessity? Other than that, I keep my face bare, except for Elf's Suntouchable Whoa Glow. I don't really want to scare off customers with my nekkid face, so a little dab will do ya. It gives my face a dewey glow and keeps my skin protected throughout the day. Or at least until I take the first of many showers.
Ultima Hydration Sticks - I’m not a big soda drinker. Typically during the day, I stick to one cup of coffee and the rest is water. But sometimes I get so stinkin’ tired of drinking water and fail short of reaching my daily water goal. You have to stay hydrated in this heat! To get me started in the morning, I use Ultima Hydration in my Stanley cup. My favorite flavor is the pink lemonade but I also love the plain lemonade, watermelon and orange. There are several other flavors to choose from, but these are the ones I keep stocked up. The best part is they have ZERO sugar, taste amazing, and are kid approved.
Retro Igloo Cooler - When I drink my Stanley dry, I switch to my igloo cooler which I bought this year. I mean, there isn’t anything fancy about it, I just loved the bright summer colors and that it holds a half gallon of water. It's useful at the farm and at the ball field. I love that the lid locks in tight so it doesn't spill. It also helps me keep track of how much water I am drinking in the day. I try to drink at least one of these a day plus my Stanley, and a few seltzer waters at lunch and dinner. Other than its super useful funtionality, isn't it cute? You know you're getting old when you get excited about water bottles.
Rechargeable Fans - This one sounds crazy but they have been so handy this summer not only at the ball field but also the Farmer's Market where we sell our flowers every Saturday. There is no air condition in the building and we are located in a section where the air is stagnant. These fans keep it somewhat bearable when it's just as hot inside than it is out. On the ball field, having circulating air on your face and body when there is no wind is plain magical.
And just for fun…
Books - I saw a friend post something on Facebook the other day about her favorite “spicy brain break” books that she read recently, and I loved that description. I’ll tell you a little secret...these make up 99% of the books I read! When I pick up a book, I want to escape. I am drawn in by easy reads that make me laugh, have a little romance and a little spice.
Recently, while on vacation at Sunset Beach, NC, a friend of mine, my daughter, and myself visited a small bookstore called Pelican Books. If you find yourself at Sunset Beach sometime, go visit this gem. I left with FIVE books, two of which were signed by the authors which was a nice little surprise. And one of those just happened to be one of my favorite authors, Mary Kay Andrews! She had been to the store for a book signing just a month prior. Now that I follow them on instagram, I'll be on the lookout for more of my favorite authors visiting.
After that visit, I am set for a while with several books lined up to read. I just finised a Jill Shalvis (another favorite author) book called "The Bright Spot." Her books are pretty spicy, the stories are always entertaining, the characters are super relatable and I usually laugh out loud. I'm pretty sure I've read all of the books she has written. I always look forward to her new releases..
The signed Mary Kay Andrews book I bought is called "Summers at the Saint." Her books aren’t really spicy. She has great stories that suck you in, and I'm always sad when they end because I feel like I personally know each of the characters.
I also snagged a book called "The Beach Boys of Sunset Beach" by Jaqueline DeGroot which I will actually be starting next, and a book called "Hook, Line and Sinker" by Tessa Bailey. I've never read their work before but I am looking forward to diving in.
And I will dive in, in the air condition.
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