10 Way to Summerize Your Home
July 25, 2007
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Summer in the City
- Summerize Your House
- Free Wellness Pack
- Cheryl’s Blog - recent posts
- Healthy Habits Workbook
Summer in the City
I just got back from a 2-mile walk along the Kansas river with my dog, Jasmine. I thought you might like to see a picture
of her.
She’s 10 and in great shape except for a limp on her right front leg that we’re still trying to diagnose. Any dog whisperers out there?
Jasmine and I chat up quite a storm, but as of yet she hasn’t told me what’s up with her shoulder (foot, leg?)
Jasmine’s panting and I’m sweating. Even though the sun has gone down, it’s hot and humid. I found myself humming Summer in the City by the Lovin’ Spoonfuls—Remember this song?
Hot town summer in the city
Back of my neck gettin’ dirty and gritty
Been down, isn’t it a pity
Doesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city
All around people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk hotter than a match head
Thinking about the heat reminded me of an article I wrote about how to summerize your home to make your home feel cooler - even if it isn’t cooler. I thought you’d enjoy reading it - especially if it’s hot where you are. The picture is of my little bungalow.
10 Ways to Summerize Your Home
When we winterize, we prepare for the cold winter months by blocking out anything that might make us feel cold. We plug holes, caulk windows, and turn up the heat. Our home decorations reflect this desire to be warm and cozy. We surround 
ourselves with things that say “warmth” like candles, throws, festive arrangements, and an abundance of pillows on our beds and couches that invite us to sink into the warmth. Now that it’s summer, I get hot just thinking about this.
If your energy is a little low and you feel hot, how about summerizing your home to reflect the changes that have taken place in nature? You might just get an energy boost.
Think light and cool. As the temperature rises, we seek a feeling of lightness and coolness in the way we dress, the foods we eat, and the decorations in our homes. Off come the heavy clothes, the layers, and the preference for warm colors. We begin to eat more salads and lightly cooked foods.
Summer is a perfect time to take a look at your home with new eyes. What makes it feel hot and heavy? What simple changes can you make that will improve the way it feels?
10 Ways to summerize and shed some of the “heat”
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Eliminate excess. Pack away many of your nicknacks. Clear away anything that feels cluttered or “hot.” Favor simplicity and lightness. Consider taking down some of your pictures for the season. It will be fun putting them back up for the winter months.
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Remove dark colored pillows from the bed and sofa and pack them away for now. Or if you prefer, replace them with cool colors or cover them with slipcovers.
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Take the “fire” out of your house. Pack away the candles for use next season. Consider putting away everything on the hearth for an open, light feeling.
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Roll up any area rugs or throw rugs that you can live without to open up and lighten the room.
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Pack away your winter comforters and replace them with lighter weight comforters in cooler colors.
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If you have an excessive number of plants, take them outside for the season to open up your spaces and cool them off. You don’t want your house to feel like a tropical jungle.
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Take a look at your curtains and drapes. Do they feel too warm and heavy? Consider taking them down and leaving the windows bare. If that’s too shocking for you, put up some lace curtains, sheers, or other lighter material.
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Wash your windows or have them washed. Bye bye grime and grit, hello clean. There’s something quite pleasing about sparkling windows on a sunny day.
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Consider giving your house a face lift with new interior paint. Paint is relatively inexpensive and can dramatically improve the look of a room. Home decorating trends favor using color instead of the conventional off-white.
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Determine where you will store the off-season items you have taken down. You can store them in containers under beds, in available cabinets and closets, or in an off-season storage area in your basement. Large trunk-style plastic containers with lids work well. Label them with the contents (e.g., Winter accessories). If you use clear containers, you can even see what’s inside.
This uncluttered summer look will be easier to keep clean. I think you’ll find that summerizing will put a bounce in your step. And when the winter rolls around again, you’ll enjoy warming up your home with the accessories you packed away for the summer.
Take Action – Nothing Changes Without Action
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Set aside time this week to give your home a summer face lift by getting rid of things you don’t love or use. Decluttering lightens the energy instantly.
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Start where you are. Have fun. You don’t have to worry about doing this perfectly. Just get started. Take small steps.
Your Turn
See the comment link at the very bottom of this page? Click that link and tell us what small step you will take to summerize your home. Please share your comments and questions too.
To your healthy, happy life!
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July 25th, 2007
These are great tips, Cheryl!
I agree with putting the plants outdoors during the summer…I made the mistake one summer of keeping my plants in the house for the first half of the summer and my house felt like a rainforest. Now, I put them out once it’s good and warm for a day or two and then bring them inside for a day or two…they really like that…especially when they catch a bit of rainwater while they’re outside.
-Lena
July 25th, 2007
My suggestion is different in that it requires a purchase, but I am so excited with the results I’ve had that I just have to share this. I made a small investment that keeps me cooler (and more sane!) in summer and will also save energy in winter. I bought some solar mesh shades from JCPenney. (TIP: They are still on sale for 50% off.) They keep heat out in summer & keep heat in in winter. What I like best is that you can see thru them (like looking thru a window screen) so you don’t feel like you’re living in a cave. BackyardCity.com also has good prices on Coolaroo fabric shades, awnings, and materials for outside use. I rigged up some homemade awnings over all the sliders on the south side of the house, and it makes a huge difference in keeping the house cool. I live in the country and have never needed drapes, but I got so psyched about the effectiveness of these two products that I also just invested in some very simple thermal drapes — also on sale now at JCP. I bought them for winter, but have found them to be one more layer of protection against summer heat too. The combination of these things has kept my house very much cooler than outside — and without running the A/C — so I can keep my sanity without adding to global warming.
July 26th, 2007
Cheryl,
I LOVE this article… my husband and I were just talking about this last night - our downstairs is mercifully cool in the summertime… I love it! Our upstairs isn’t, but we’re taking steps to “lighten” our bedroom so that it’s a bit cooler.
Here’s an article I wrote that’s a similar theme… it’s about discovering stress pockets in your home. I loved your article so much I linked to it in my article!
http://www.bostonhealthcoach.com/homerelief.html
Warmly,
Christi
July 26th, 2007
I like your stuff Cheryl. You have fresh ideas and I don’t get the feeling you’re just trying to sell me something. Thanks - I’ll keep reading.
July 26th, 2007
About your dog’s limp, mine had a limp as well and we found out it was from a pinched nerve in his neck. A simple solution- go to a chirorpractor who will do animals or ask your vet. Good luck!
July 26th, 2007
Hi Cheryl, sorry to hear about Jasmine. We’re a two big dog family. Our ten year old Malamute developed a serious limp - several trips to several vets resulted in a six month treatment with Rimadyl and DGP with no improvement. (I was told it was either an age or large breed thing.)
A friend suggested a chiropractor - I wasn’t enthusiastic about it but took Molly to see him. He asked me to walk her in front of him and after four or five steps he stopped me. He said he couldn’t help Molly as she had a torn ACL. He showed me how it was affecting her stride and how she was trying to compensate for it. He wouldn’t even take my money.
So, off to a new vet with better imaging equipment and they confirmed an ACL tear. Six months later Molly was fully recovered. She was with me on a 3 mile walk (47 minutes) this morning.
Bottom line - I recommend a good animal chiropractor for Jasmine - ours was the only one who actually watched Molly walk and knew how to watch. The vets were capable and very nice but seemed trained to make a diagnosis statically or by generalizing by doggie demographics.
Wishing you and Jasmine well.
July 26th, 2007
Oh my I loved all of these comments. Where do I start to comment….. Working in an online business can be very lonely - you don’t know if anybody is reading your stuff, enjoying it, getting anything out of it. So these comments mean a lot to me! I love connecting with people. Thank you for doing that.
Lena - thanks for your great support. You’re the best - and a great business strategist (especially with social media) to boot! You rock!
Christi - I went to your article about finding stress spots in your house. Love IT! We should do a project on wellness and the home. We’re in sync sister.
Tom - Thanks for your swell comment. What I’m trying to sell you on is coming back and being a part of The Ville….so it sounds like I sold you on that…at least for now. I went to your site because I’ve always wondered about writing a grant. After reading about you (and seeing your honest, healthy face), you’ll be the one I contact.
Kerri - I’ll check in to the pinched nerve theory. Interesting. Thanks!
Michael - I read your comment twice. I have a sense that Jasmine may have the same thing. She first developed it after chasing another dog wildly. Whenever she chases another dog - fast - she limps more. Well, that was in the past. I don’t let her chase other dogs now because it’s a chronic limp. I’ll check into the torn ACL angle. I’m an exercise physiologist and I got a “hit” when reading your comment. And because Kerri also recommended a chiropractor…..that’s what I’ll do!.
Cheryl, Mayor of The Ville!
July 26th, 2007
Oopsie doopsie - I forgot to comment on Pat’s environmental suggestions. Love them. Thanks for being so specific - people can really take action based on your recommendations.
We’ve had enough global warming for the decade, so I applaud your smart solutions.
Cheryl, Mayor of The Ville!
August 1st, 2007
So useful advice! Straightforward, doable and effective. I have published it on my own blog for more people to share (with a link back to you). Thanks for sharing.
August 12th, 2007
I live in Florida, Any suggestions besides the great 10 already sent that might help out us hot ones. We don’t have to worry about putting away winter things. What is winter, we don’t seem to have one any longer.
Beverly
August 12th, 2007
Hi Beverly - I would recommend eating cooling foods. These include fruits and vegetables that have a high water content - melons, lettuces, pears, etc. That’s why tropical fruits are so popular in the tropics - they are cooling. Stay hydrated too - drink water! Nothing fancy, just water. Cheryl