staying hip + tranquil in the heat

ah, summertime in Atlanta. Hot, hot, hot. Steamy, steamy, steamy. I've been riding my bike a lot to teach classes and it's been so fun. My '82 Benz lacks air-conditioning, so i prefer pedaling through traffic, possibly creating a little breeze, rather than sitting in traffic in a hot car.

fabulous DC-area creativity maven, yogini-businesswoman, and eco-yoga-clothing designer Kimberley Wilson, "The Hip Tranquil Chick" (check her out, she's so inspiring) recently blogged about staying relaxed and happy in the summer heat. Her suggestions:

- drink oodles of water
- don fabulous sunglasses
- wear a flowy dress
- enjoy the complimentary hot yoga
- apply waterproof mascara
- surround yourself with people who make you laugh
- go for a swim
- stay locked up in AC with a yummy book (for an even better dose of tranquility, add in a yummy cupcake)
- don open-toe shoes and get a pedi
- drink more water
- eat a yummy spinach salad with strawberries
- focus on all you have to be grateful for
- call someone you love and thank them for being in your life
- meditate on a comfy cushion
- write it out in your journal

for me, i love to eat tons of fresh fruit - i just got a big bag of cherries, which I'm hoping came from northern Michigan, near where my cottage is - they grow the most and best cherries in the US.

I also tend to make a lot of fruit smoothies. I worked at a vegetarian restaurant many, many years ago and came away with this simple recipe:
in a strong blender,put
organic apple juice (approx. 3-4 cups)
1 banana
handful of frozen fruit of your choice: cherries, blueberries, strawberries, mangoes
a few teaspoons of organic vanilla yogurt
Blend well. Take a test taste. If you want more sweetness, drizzle in some honey or agave nectar and reblend. Also, for a thicker smoothie, add a few ice cubes.

yum.