Desperate heat calls for desperate cooling measures. We’re certain you have resorted already to sprinklers, ice packs and the tried-and-true Slip ‘N Slide, but we thought you might want some fresh ideas for August. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of 10 genuine (though perhaps at times a little ridiculous) ways to lower your body temperature during the dog days. Here’s to hoping they provide you with a little relief from the heat.
1. Create a water-filled obstacle course
All it will take is a stopwatch and a little creativity. Imagine the possibilities: A lemonade chugging contest followed by a race to fill kiddie pools with buckets of ice water finished off by a potato sack hop through the sprinklers. If you have a pool, add doggie paddling races.
2. Host a water balloon toss
It’s a win-win. If your team goes the longest without breaking the balloon, you win the game. If your balloon breaks and refreshes you with a hit of ice-cold water, well, in this heat, we call that a win, too. Call together the neighborhood troops and play a few rounds — preferably under the shade of a big tree.
3. Make your own soft serve
The Yonanas Maker is still selling well a year after its introduction. In just minutes, it converts frozen fruits and vegetables into a creamy snack that’s similar to fro-yo. The new must-have appliance comes with a recipe book complete with instructions on how to make some clever flavors. Find it at Target for $49.99. See www.target.com for availability at local stores. Also available through www.yonanas.com.
4. Wear clothes that breathe
Try out Jockey’s Staycool line — a collection of men’s and women’s T-shirts and underwear designed to help keep you cool.
Outlast Technologies developed the Space Age fabric for the aerospace industry and NASA. Jockey promises that sporting this line of undergarments will keep you 3 degrees cooler. We’ll take what we can get! Men’s T-shirt two-pack: $27; boxer/brief three-pack: $29.50; women’s reversible T-shirt: $21; bikini underwear three-pack: $24. Prices are approximate. The line is available at Macy’s.
5. Eat a cold meal
Dishes hot from the oven don’t have quite the same appeal when it is as hot as an oven outside. Try cold staples such as salads, shrimp cocktails and gazpacho, or cool down your favorite pasta — a basil pesto sauce tastes great on chilled noodles. Anne VanBeber, chairwoman of the nutritional sciences department at Texas Christian University and a seasoned chef, offered her simple recipe for cold chicken tacos — a family favorite for hot evenings.
COLD CHICKEN TACOS
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups cooked, chopped chicken (chilled)
1/2 cup finely diced onion
2 tablespoons lemon juice
12 crispy corn taco shells
Blend cream cheese, chopped chicken, onion and lemon juice, and season mixture with salt and pepper. Fill taco shells halfway with mixture. Garnish with avocado, lettuce, diced tomato and shredded cheese.
6. Ice skate indoors
What better way to cool down than to spend time at Ice Palace Hawaii? You might even need to dig out a winter jacket from the closet. Public skating sessions are offered daily at the rink, 4510 Salt Lake Blvd; the cost is $8.90 per person. Call 487-9921 or visit icepalacehawaii.com.
7. Rest on a Chillow
Sleep sweet (and cold) with the Chillow, a unique product designed to keep your head cold while you rest. The Chillow uses a mix of memory foam and fluid-cooling technology to ensure a cold night’s sleep — or in this weather, a cold nap’s sleep or a cold backrest. The Chillow fits around a standard pillow and needs no refrigeration. Find it at Amazon.com for $24.95.
8. Go to the library
Winter, spring, summer or fall — at the library it’s always c-o-l-d.
Maybe it wants to make sure patrons don’t fall asleep while reading, or perhaps the thermostats at libraries nationwide are collectively broken. Never mind the reason, just get in the car and head to your public book repository. To be certain that you push hot weather from your mind, skip the beach reads and opt for a book that will make you say "Brrrr!" We like C.S. Lewis’ wintry white witch in "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "The Mitten" by Jan Brett, or, if you’re up for something scary, "The Shining" is sure to make you shiver — and not just because it is set in the cold.
9. Don icy outerwear
Cool your extremities by soaking outerwear in ice water, or by simply sticking socks, gloves and hats in the freezer for an hour. We don’t recommend actually leaving the house in your fresh-from-the-freezer getup, but we assure you that in the comfort of your own home, the relief will outweigh the embarrassment — just avoid mirrors.
10. Hydrate your skin
Soothe parched skin with a moisturizing mist. We like Mario Badescu’s Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater. A quick mist will leave you feeling fresh-faced after a hot car ride or stint outdoors. Cool Off’s Citrus Ice towelettes are a natural way to get a break from the heat. The individually packaged wipes are infused with a blend of natural cooling herbs, botanicals and oils that combine to create a building chill when pressed on skin. They promise to provide relief for at least 20 minutes, or up to an hour and a half. Find them on Amazon.com, where a pack of 24 will set you back $9.78.
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Star-Advertiser staff contributed to this story
