We are full on in the dog days of summer here – the hottest time of the year. As I write this, we’re under an extreme heat advisory on top of already red-hot temps! My daughter, Katie, is chronically ill and super-sensitive to the heat – so this would not be our favorite time of year…

I can’t imagine it’s anyone’s favorite time of year, so I thought I’d share our “Dog Days of Summer Survival Guide” to help us all get through these last few weeks of heat until cooler temps start to show up.


Tools to Stay Cool. Besides the obvious, like checking the weather before we go out, heading to the pool, and staying close to AC, here’s what we do help my daughter get through these sizzling days.

Hydrate! Drink even when you’re not thirsty. We use our insulated bottles for access to ice cold water, even in a hot car. We store extra water bottles in the car for emergencies, always. We have Banana Bag packets on hand, too. These little packets will save you from dehydration. Banana Bags don’t taste as good as Liquid IV, but it is the closest medically to a hospital IV drip for dehydration. It’s got the good stuff your body needs and less sugars.

Misting fan – a spritz in the face, arms and neck and you’ll feel cool, even when there’s no shade. We keep one in the car all summer long. Cooling towels work with the same evaporative cooling. They’re even making these as neck gaiters now, so you can be cool and safe during the pandemic – those face masks get hot in summer! Menthol lotion is another tool you might not have thought about. Nice to toss in your purse – a quick way to feel cool by rubbing a little on your skin. (By the way, this is not a sponsored post – all of these products are just what we use here to help our daughter, and I can give you a personal thumbs up on all of them.)

Cool Treats. Cool treats are my way out of feeling hot and grumpy. Here’s a couple of our go-to treats. My #1 craving all summer has been Orange Julius’. Lucky for me, I have a dupe cookbook that teaches me how to make the restaurant version. Let’s just say, I have the recipe memorized at this point. Everyone’s got an opinion on what makes the recipe closest to the restaurant, and we’re on a quest to take these all these tweaks and come up with the “Perfect Orange Julius”. Stay tuned for the ultimate recipe!

We love ice cream! Any ice cream is awesome in summer, but making it homemade is going to a whole ‘nother level. You can make it the old fashioned way with rock salt like our folks’ did, but we use this ice cream maker here. I’m rediscovering the fun of ice cream cones and enjoying the built in portion control they come with. I’m also crazy for cold watermelon slices, and cool jellos or pudding icebox desserts. What’s your favorite cool treat?

Movie Marathons. The funnest thing we do to make the most of these impossible days are movie marathons. We intentionally schedule these every year during the dog days of summer. You’re out of the heat, in a air-conditioned, darkened (home) theater and having a fun escape! Something to look forward to.

In the past we’ve done a Middle Earth Marathon (all the Peter Jackson Tolkien movies from the Hobbit through Return of the King), Disney Faves marathon, Marvel Marathons, and Classic Movie Marathons (Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, The Thin Man, the Road Movies with Bing and Bob… the list goes on.) Really, there is no end of movies and/or shows to turn into a watch fest.

The trick is to make it an event – invite friends over, plan treats that match what you’re watching, break out the comfy blankets, pop that popcorn, turn down the lights and recline your chair into a cinematic experience. Who cares that it’s a 102 degrees outside? Inside is where it’s at!

This has gotta be my favorite movie night idea, one that adults and kids would appreciate. I saw this over on the One Crazy House blog: individual movie snack packs! It gets better – everything in this picture you can score at the dollar store! Shower caddies, popcorn boxes, candy, drinks, and cookies are all there for one-stop shopping. A cheap, easy and creative idea. Let the movie marathons begin!

Hot Dog Party. So, “hot” and “dogs’ are kind of the theme of the dog days of summer, so why not whip up a quick hot dog party? Find some shade and get grillin’! Spread your table with condiments galore, and have sodas on ice….boom! Done. Easiest party ever. Around these parts, the best hot dog you can get is at JDawgs. Seriously, best hot dog ever. Here’s a site that will teach you how to recreate the awesomeness and it’s awesome-sauce. Pun intended. No, really. That sauce is awesome.

Keep yourself cool and safe. Cheer yourself up with a cool treat. Push play on a movie marathon, and throw a hot dog party to celebrate the last of summer. You’re not just surviving the dog days of summer – you’re thriving! Have fun.