Summer is almost here, and what better way to prepare than by checking out our top 10 summer hacks for the perfect holiday!
1. Get fruity
Watermelon is delicious but so messy to eat. That need no longer be a worry! Cut a small slit into the skin at the bottom of a watermelon slice, thread a paper cupcake holder onto an ice-lolly stick, and wedge it into the slice, so the paper can catch any sticky juice.
2. Get the good glow!
Make-up meltdown in summer is real! Thankfully, blotting sheets are here to save the day! Avoid the cakey look that setting powder can create and keep your complexion matt but glowing by patting your face with a sheet to remove excess shine.
Bonus: These babies usually come in super convenient packaging to.
3. Light it up!
This one is for the campers (or if you plan to have a sunset picnic on the beach): To create a wonderful ambient light effect, strap a head-lamp to a 5-litre bottle of water, with the light facing inwards. Switch it on and voila! Beautiful lighting!
4. The Heat is Off
Find yourself sprawling out on every tiled surface just to get a touch of cool relief? Prevent the heat from getting into your house by keeping the doors and windows closed during the day, only opening them at night for ventilation and a refreshing draught.
5. Powder Power
Don’t head to the beach without talcum powder. A sprinkling of powder over sand-covered bodies means super quick moisture absorption, and the sand can be brushed off easily.
6. Bowl in a Jiffy
Got a packet of chips, but no bowl? No problem! All you need is a pair of scissors. Set the packet lying horizontally on the table, and start cutting in a spiral shape from the middle to the outside until you’ve cut a hole for your hand to fit in. The packet is now a handy bowl.
7. Flip Flop Fix
Flip-flops break at the hole all the time, but a bread-bag tag could save the day. Push the popped strap back through the hole and fit the bread tag around it, between the round end and the sole of the flip-flop. Ta-Da!
8. Pita Up
We do love the appeal of a freshly made sandwich (did someone say BLT?), but when it comes to entertaining al fresco, bread can quickly dry out in the summer heat. Enter the humble pita! These babies are better suited to warmer temperatures, plus you don’t risk the filling falling out the sides and making a mess!
9. We All Scream For Ice Cream
When you buy a tub of ice cream, store it in a ziplock bag and pop it in the freezer. The ice cream will keep it’s wonderful creamy consistency (no crystals!), and it’ll be a breeze scooping it up for a treat when the temperature rises.
10. Braai Master
Cleaning a braai grid looks like a mission until you’ve tried this trick: Cut an onion in half, pierce the round side of one half with a braai fork, and slide the cut side along the grid metal. It will be clean in no time!
Words: Dominique Brown
