Being from Texas, I know what it means to have a hot summer. Night time temperatures don't get below eighty degrees and the day time temperatures can climb to the low hundreds, and we aren't even in the hottest part of summer yet!

I am a winter girl at heart. I long for crisp air; jack frost nipping at my nose. I miss the layers of clothing I must put on before exiting any building. I yearn for the warm fireplaces, hot soups, and steamy hot cocoas waiting for me after a long day. I want winter!

Unfortunately I am not Mother Nature, nor do I pretend to be. So, like all my winter lovers out there, I must brave this horrid heat. I must conquer summer. As a seasoned summer survivor, I know the best ways of beating the heat.

1. Local Mall

Free air conditioning and people watching, what more could you ask for? I could literally stay in a mall for hours. There's all you could ask for: food, entertainment usually in the way of a movie theater, places to sit down and relax like a furniture store, and great stores to find almost anything you could every want/need. Be careful of that last point. Try not to spend all your money in one place.

2. Pool

A quick, or not so quick, trip to the pool can cool down even the hottest of days. A dip in the water is a great way to not only cool down, but also to get some exercise. Just make sure you put on some sunscreen. Sunburn, though it is a very summery thing to have, is not fun in the slightest, and summer is all about having fun.

3. Grocery/furniture shopping

This point is similar to going to the mall, but do not be confused. This is different. Going grocery shopping can lead to free samples, aka free food. I personally like going to Costco or Sam's on a weekend because they are always giving away food! Honestly some days, my lunch consists purely of free samples. They also have a wide selection of items to choose from so it's always an adventure. I also love going to IKEA. Looking at the different types of furniture is always a blast for me; I always drag a friend along to enjoy it with me. All three places provide a nice, cool, indoor, and entertaining space.

4. River

Go on an adventure down a river stream. Swim, raft, tube, any mode of transportation will be perfect and exciting. Take some food and have a picnic. A river provides everything the pool does but with more freedom and sometimes less people. Again, remember the sunscreen. Feeling the burn is no way to feel the fun.

5. Lazy Day

While getting out of the house and enjoying the outside world can and is fun, some days you just need to sit back and relax. Order some take out and watch a movie, with or without family/friends. Put on a Christmas classic if you are in desperate need of some winter. Bake some cookies, take a nap, read a book, crank the AC up, drink some lemonade, sit in a tub of ice! Anything that you consider to be fun, relaxing, and sweat free. Take a lazy day for yourself.

There are plenty more ways to enjoy summer without suffering through the heat. Leave a comment if you have any ideas for fellow readers. We must stick together if we are to overcome the battle against summer!