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Cool down:
During hot summer months, pop your skincare products-face and
body lotions, eye creams, cleanser-in the refrigerator before hopping
into the shower. They'll feel even more refreshing after you step
out.
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Prolong your
manicure: Stay away from heavily pigmented browns and beiges that
tend to chip faster because of high levels of iron oxide and titanium
dioxide. And always apply a new topcoat to nails every other day.
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Exercise
anytime: No time
to get to the gym? Lunges, which tighten the glutes, can be done just
about anywhere. Do a walking lunge down the hallway in your home.
Or lunge in place when you're picking up toys and books.
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Soothe your
burn: Repurpose ice
trays you haven't used since you bought the new refrigerator with
the ice maker. Freeze aloe vera gel into single-serving sunburn relief.
The ice cools the skin instantly, and the aloe helps soothe the burn.
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Chill out:
Freeze berries in an ice-cube tray to use in place of ice. They
look stunning in fizzy beverages, won't water down drinks, and provide
a burst of flavor-not to mention a dose of antioxidants.
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Make a slushie:
Set up your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's directions.
Pour in one 12-ounce can of cola and start the machine. When a thick
slush has formed (after 10-15 minutes), scoop it into 2 glasses and
serve.
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Upgrade your
drink: Freeze slices of lemon, lime, and orange, then use them
to add a cold blast of citrus to your iced tea, lemonade, or plain
old glass of water. Slide a piece of plastic wrap between slices to
keep them from sticking. They'll stay fresh for up to two months when
stored in an airtight container in your freezer.
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Keep flowers
upright: Extend the
stems of roses to fit a vase. Place the bottom of each stem inside
a straw, then arrange the flowers as you normally would. Your blooms
will stand up tall, even if you've been overzealous with the trimming.
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Refresh your
flowers: To revive a tired-looking arrangement, submerge the flowers
completely in a sinkful of cold water for an hour. And to prolong
the lives of delicate flowers, stick them in the refrigerator at night.
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Preserve
guacamole: Squeeze
a little lemon into your avocado dip and give it a stir. The lemon
eliminates the browning that occurs when guacamole sits.
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Perk up dessert:
Fruit salad is healthy but ho-hum. But you can fill a waffle cone
with fruit salad, and you've got an instant party dessert. Bonus:
no bowls to wash.
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Grill smart:
Really hot grill bars equal dramatic grill marks on your porterhouse.
To concentrate the heat and keep it from escaping, lay a sheet of
foil over the grill for 10 minutes. Peel the foil off before cooking
(it cools fast), scrunch it into a ball and use it to scrape any reside
or ash from the bars.
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Set a summer
table: Worried your dinner table will look like a four-year-old's
birthday party if you use paper plates and plastic utensils? Elevate
the simple to the sophisticated-literally-by placing fruit and just-picked
blossoms on shoe or small gift boxes that have been covered in white
gift wrapping.
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Keep tissues
dry: A peppermint tin is perfect for keeping tissues clean and
dry in your purse or beach bag. Just fold over the pocket-pack size
and pop them in. You'll always have a supply of fresh tissues, minus
all the lint, dirt, sand, and rumples they usually attract at the
bottom of your bag.
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Save your
summer memories: Many photo websites (like shutterfly.com)
will put digital photos into an album for you, and Together Book (togetherbook.com)
will take photos you send them and bind them into a hardcover linen
album.
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Plan a party:
If you have to entertain guests but don't have time to plan an
elaborate party, assemble a memorable cheese spread. It takes just
one trip to the store, and everything can be purchased and set out
in under an hour.
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Create instant
atmosphere: To set a cool mood at a party the easy way, use pinking
shears to cut strips of blue paper long enough to fit around the outside
of thick glass votives, then attach with double-sided tape.
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Get a perfect
scoop: Before digging into the ice cream carton, wet the scoop,
then shake off the excess. Too much water can turn into ice crystals
and make ice cream crumbly.
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Serve something
special: What dessert could be easier than a cupcake? But easy
doesn't have to mean boring. Votive holders make perfect containers
for bite-size cupcakes. Bake the batter in mini-muffin tins, dust
the cakes with confectioners' sugar, and insert candles. Then just
make a wish.
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Put the world
on hold: Take some time to recharge in your own home. Turn off
the ringers on your phones. Stop the newspaper. Stash all your clocks
in a dresser drawer. Eliminating reminders of time helps wipe away
the stress of the daily grind.
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Protect with
style: A basic white
cotton T-shirt gives you the equivalent of only about SPF5. The key
to sun protection is the fabric's weave: the tighter the weave, the
better it blocks UV rays. Color also plays a role: darker shades absorb
UV light, so less radiation makes it through the fabric to the skin.
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Warm up:
When preparing your body for an activity this summer, do a similar
activity that's slower and gentler. So, if you're going for a run,
start with a walk, then gradually increase your intensity. Leave stretching
until you cool down to avoid the risk of injury.
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Condition
your hair: Run out of conditioner and need something in a hurry
to smooth your summer hair? Use a mashed avocado or ½ cup of
whole milk. They contain fats and oils that will coat and moisturize
your hair.
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Pack light:
When packing makeup,
save room by using a days-of-the-week vitamin holder to hold several
different cosmetics. And use clear travel pots for moisturizer, facial
cleanser, and hair products.