Summer Essentials For Ladies That Prefer To Hang Out Under Trees
Don’t get me wrong, I love summer in New Zealand. It rarely gets too hot (high 20s), everyone is getting their required dose of vitamin D and it’s making them happy, holidays abound, and there is a general sense of love and frivolity in the air.
However, above New Zealand is a giant hole in the Ozone. This means an extremely fast burn time (think 5 minutes at midday for someone fair skinned like me) and a high risk of skin cancer whether you tan or not. I’m not a sporty type, I don’t get much enjoyment from battling waves in the ocean or feeling uncoordinated while trying to throw a frisbee, so I usually sit under a tree with the other pale uncos or amuse myself with books, photographs, and music.
What you need
- Cool Clothes – I’m a big fan of rockabilly clothing but it’s almost always too windy to wear flowy dresses and skirts in Wellington. Pencil skirts are great for combating the wind but make lounging on the grass and sand difficult. Capris are sexy and generally stretchy – perfect for summer! I wore my pair a lot last year, this year I’m thinking of getting a few more and embracing by ass and thighs.
A pair of loose dress pants are also essential for night time in summer. Mosquitoes, evening breezes, and sunburnt legs stuck to chairs be gone. - Distractions – While everyone else is off doing cartwheels I like to read a book, listen to some music, or take pictures of the fun. Books and music are also great for occupying the pockets of time you can grab for yourself in between holiday visitors.
- Protection – For pasties especially a wide brimmed hat and plenty of sunblock are essential for staying healthy during summer. Sunburn is never fun and never hawt. If you have tattoos make sure to either keep them out of the sun or heavily sunscreened, you don’t want your artwork fading do you?
If you’ve got darker skin, or skin that tans don’t forget you’re still at risk for sunburn and skin cancer! The only safe tan is one that comes from a bottle. - Hydration – Worse (IMO) than sunburn is heat stroke. You really don’t want to go there, it’s a nasty nasty business. Stay hydrated when it’s hot outside and if you’re drinking alcohol match each drink with a glass of water.
Bottomless pitBag – Gotta have somewhere to store your travelling fun, and a big pretty bag is most ideal. You’ll probably end up being asked to look after everyone elses stuff too so lots of pockets are a must.
What do you need to get through summer?
23 Responses to “Summer Essentials For Ladies That Prefer To Hang Out Under Trees”
I NEED that bag!!!
And so true about hydration, one summer in NYC we walked for hours in the hot sun and suddenly S was dizzy and about to pass out. He had heat stroke and was so dehydrated, scared the heck out of me and my family.
That bag is cuuuute and I love the skirt too!
It always amazes me when people forget how important water is! I try to have a bottle with me all the time during the summer.
I read this cut post while looking outside at the windy, grey rain. Have fun in the sun!
I have had a difficult time finding some daily facial moisturiser that had SPF30 rather than merely 15 and wasn’t worth a gazillion dollars to purchase. I finally came across some in my search and it will be my summer essential this year; I don’t want skin cancer of any sort, but the face and my poor nose are particularly prone.
Am I the only person in the world that doesn’t have an ipod? I think I may need to buy one for the commute to uni next year, but I guess up until my car was stolen I didn’t really need one!
Slushies – can’t forget about those!
Can’t wait for summer!
That bag btw is worth almost $2000 USD! Here’s a link to the polyvore set http://www.polyvore.com/summer_essentials/set?id=13609206
Aw, it’s just payback for all the fun I have to read about when it’s crappy here!
What brand did you find? Because like you I can never find anything that’s above a SPF15 unless I just smear greasy sunblock on my face.
That terrible about your car! I love my ipod and use it mostly in the car on our road trips. So great to have hundreds of CDs at your fingertips.
It’s crazy how fast we burn in NZ…it’s not really the temp that gets too hot but sitting in the sun you just melt…great list
Also a member of the fast-burning brigade! :( It’s awful, but I have to admit that I am doing something I don’t usually do – instead of staying inside all day, I am being super diligent with the sunscreen and just braving it. Not to get a tan, just so that I can actually enjoy summer days rather than having to waiting for dusk to play tennis, go to the beach, etc. I figure you do something like 95% of the damage-that-can-turn-into-cancer when you are a kid, so maybe now I will be okayish? .. yeah, okay, wishful thinking!
Those capris are murder-worthy though..
i don’t know about 95% but you do do most damage when you’re a kid. But there’s still a good chance of doing damage now!
Just make sure you do use a heap of sunblock and get in the shade when you can. UV rays accumulate throughout the day and sunblock only extends the time you can stay outside, it doesn’t stop the burn altogether!
I’m going to hunt for my capris now, I hope they still fit.
I need a bikini top, hot pants, sunglasesses, water, fruit and salad, ice blocks, bbq, picnic mat and freshly cut grass, nearby beach, music, books, sun block of course, friends. That is all haha :-)
I LOVE summer! It never gets hot enough for me though I’m quite comfortable in 35 degree heat
x
i hate summer. no, thats not true, i hate it when its 29+, like today. ugh. i chillax in front of my fan, wishing i had air con at home…
I’d hate summer in those temps too! But it rarely gets above the low 20s in Wellington :]
I found an Olay SPF30 for $14.95. It is a little bit thicker than my usual moisturiser, but it hasn’t made me break out yet which is a good thing of course! Do you guys have Aldi in NZ? Because apparently they have a fantastic one that is more around the $7-$10 mark. I haven’t had a chance to get there yet, but when we get back from NZ I am doing some Aldi shopping! If you guys don’t have it, maybe I can send you some to try?
Yeah, I really do need an Ipod. We are heading your way tomorrow and we are in a campervan the whole way. We have so much music but of course it is all on the laptops. Mmmmm, maybe I will take advantage of duty free…
Move to Australia? It is 8.30am and it is already 30 degrees, meant to hit 40 today.
I am coming over your way to escape it!
Oo Olay! Thanks for that I’ll keep an eye out. We don’t have Aldi here, I hadn’t even heard of it before now. But if you try their one I’ll definitely be interested to hear what you think of it!
I hope you have a really great time travelling the South, the weather in Wellington has been mostly nice lately so hopefully it’s the same for the rest of the country. And by nice I mean we had our first 20 degree day since March yesterday. :]
Melbourne summer SUX! High thirties to forties with a HOT wind! It’s like walking into a fan-forced oven…blech! Thoughts of Autumn are the main thing I need, in order to remind me that this hellish weather is not permanent!
But on a lighter note, towards the end of summer i get to see Faith No More, so it can’t all be bad :) Hey, i just read yr last pick’n'mix, and i see you’ve been watching Crank-High Voltage-What did you think of it? I’m yet to see it, but interested, as the amazing and highly fuckable Mike Patton did the soundtrack ;) (Ha! Can you guess who this is ;))
Have fun under the tree, and send some of that nice NZ weather over here yah?
:D So happy to see you back!
I could never live in Oz solely because of the weather! They say Melbourne is comparable to Wellington. But that is so far from the truth!
I am so jealous that you get to see FNM, can’t believe the Wellington show announcement was either a fuck up or they moved it to Christchurch. :[
Crank High Voltage was as you'd expect a Statham movie to be. Action, explosions, and hotness. It wasn't terrible.
I did notice Mike's name as the credit were rolling. :]
Nice to be back! My new blog is far from ready, but there’s no time like the present!
Hmmmm, I WISH it was comparable to Wellington! Actually, I’d believe it during winter- we sometimes get snow in the mountains just out of Melbourne. I love it!
Aww that sux that FNM arent playing Wellington :( I will take photos and write a lusty blog on the Melb performance after it happens :D Oh Mikey! Sigh!
I am also slutted FNM aren’t coming :-(
I am wishing that I lived in New Zealand this week. I’m from Australia and we are absolutely baking already and it’s not even Summer yet! It can be 3am and it’s still 28 degrees celsius. It’s so uncomfortable and horrid.
That yellow dress is fabulous. It reminds me of Kate Miller-Heidke in her music clip for “Words”.
xx
It’s gray and rainy here in DC. Thanks for sharing a little summer with those of us up north.
That yellow dress is fantastic.
My summer requirements are sunscreen, 7-11 sour apple and cherry Slurpees, and a city bus with fully functioning air conditioning.
Leave a Reply