If you are new here, welcome to my little corner of the internet where I sort through my thoughts, share my current obsessions, and try to make sense of the world one month at a time.
As someone who deeply struggles with the month of August, I have realized that having non-negotiables is the only way to survive it. This month is incredibly challenging for me. The triple-digit temperatures make me feel completely delirious, and I become very particular about my surroundings. With most of the world battling historic heatwaves right now, I know I am not alone.
Here are the specific items, routines, and rituals keeping me sane, comfortable, and grounded while the world burns outside.
1. Iced Drinks Only
At this point in the summer, hot beverages are completely dead to me. No cappuccinos, no lattes, if it doesn’t have ice, please don’t bring it near me. I am living on iced matcha, iced coffee, and endless pitchers of fruit-infused water. Even with my AC working perfectly, the relentless Texas heat keeps my house at a steady 80°F. The system simply cannot bring the temperature down to a comfortable 75°F. On the hardest days, when I just need to take the edge off, an ice-cold dirty martini is a non-negotiable.
2. Low-Cook “Mains”
I have been relying heavily on seafood because it cooks in minutes without heating up the kitchen. Salmon in the air fryer takes exactly ten minutes, and I appreciate its simplicity so much right now. I am also tinned fish’s biggest fan; it serves as my lunch for weeks straight. A tin of high-quality fish paired with potato chips, olives, pickles, radishes, cilantro, and pickled onions is a perfect, no-cook meal. But the true pièce de résistance is shrimp cocktail. It is my ultimate emotional support dish. I boil enough shrimp to last three days. Nothing feels better than coming home from a dreadful, humid day to a cold, zesty shrimp cocktail.
3. Hopeful TV & The Album of the Summer
I was incredibly excited for Silo to return, but if I’m honest, this season is a bit too slow-paced and I’m finding myself bored. Instead, I’ve turned to Ted Lasso. I don’t know why, but I have cried during every single episode. It radiates the same hopeful, comforting energy of Parks and Recreation. I am also enjoying Star City, dare I say I enjoy it more than the original series.
For music, my absolute album of the summer is Heatwave by MICHELLE. I cannot stop listening to it. It perfectly captures all the emotional stages of the season, from the fun, playful early days to the late-summer delirium. If you listen to their track “IDEAL,” you will instantly understand. This band is guaranteed to be my number-one spot on Spotify Wrapped.
4. Ultimate Hydration & Cooling Skincare
I wish I could write like an editorial fashion magazine and give you a glamorous guide to achieving sun-kissed skin. But let’s be real: I am just trying to keep my skin from melting. I heavily rely on facial mists and never leave the house without one in my purse. My absolute favorite is the Summer Fridays mist. If you are looking for deeper hydration, I alternate between the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Moisturizer and the Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream. I live by these two moisturizers. My favorite evening ritual involves the pixi eye patches, followed by a Dr. Jart Hydro Firming Face Mask before bed. Its the perfect way to end my day.
If you do want that glowing, sun-kissed look, skip the sun and grab the Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil (which has beautiful amber notes) or my personal favorite, Soleil Neige, for its crisp, citrus-floral scent. Th beauty gurus got me hooked on these years ago, and they still deliver the perfect summer glow.
5. The Sacred Peppermint Shower
Because of the environment I live in, a shower is no longer just a routine, it is a sacred daily ritual. I need to feel completely refreshed, so I am leaning heavily into peppermint-scented everything: shower gels, body scrubs, shampoos, and lotions. I don’t think I have ever bought this much from Lush during a single summer, but we’ve also never experienced a summer this terrible. If I could recommend only one product to survive August, it is the Lush Magic Crystals Body Scrub. It completely transforms my mood, elevates my shower, and resets my day.
6. Fragrances to Replace My Garden
My Texas garden has been completely decimated by the heat dome. I am used to it by now, August is notoriously the worst month for gardeners, but it still breaks my heart. To make up for the loss of my blooms, I am leaning heavily on floral fragrances inside. I recently treated myself to La Bomba by Carolina Herrera. It has my favorite scents of peonies and vanilla. I am not ready for summer floral scents to leave just yet, so I am wearing this one as much as possible.
7. Curbside Pick-Up & Delivery Services
I have entirely given up on traditional grocery shopping. Getting my groceries delivered is a splurge, but it is one I willingly make for my sanity and comfort. I used to go shopping at 6:00 AM to beat the heat, but life has simply gotten too busy this year. I keep telling myself I will make it up to my wallet in the autumn. Who am I kidding, though. When fall arrives, I always end up spending more money than any other time of the year.
8. Crafting for the Future
To keep my hands busy while staying indoors, I am currently working on cempasúchil (marigold) garlands to decorate for Día de los Muertos. I know the holiday is still a couple of months away, but you can rarely find authentic decorations like this in the US. If I want them, I have to make them myself, and this indoor time is the perfect opportunity to get ahead.
9. Escaping Into Another World
InKONBINI: One store. Many stories is were I escape to when I need peace and quite. First, lets talk about the graphics, they are so nostalgic. One of the reasons I was drawn to this game. Second, the music delivers unmatched lofi vibes. Japan just gets it; they know exactly what people want, and it feels like the creators listened to the masses and leaned entirely into it.
August please be kind to me, I am really trying…..
August won't last forever, even if the thermometer says otherwise. Until the autumn breeze finally hits Texas, you can find me hiding indoors with my air fryer salmon, my peppermint showers, and a very cold drink. If you are also battling this heat dome, please let me know: what are the non-negotiables keeping you sane this month?
- Lily H
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