Summer is coming and I am embracing the heat, the beach and the happiness of the best season of the year. Get your beach umbrella, your thirst quenching drink and your stylish sunglasses ready. Here are my six tips to make the most of this Summer season. I don’t know about you but despite living in a 365 days hot country, I LOVE the sun, the tan skin, the clear blue sky weather with marshmallow clouds. Love!

Make A Refreshing Cocktail

Fruit flavours generally mix well if they are from the same botanical family, just like this cucumber and melon. They both belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. This light cocktail drink is cooling and easy to make as well.

SWEET FENNEL SALT
2 tablespoons ground fennel seeds
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons kosher salt

COCKTAIL
1 lime wedge
8 ounces gin
2 cups chilled chopped peeled cucumber
2 cups chilled chopped honeydew melon
6 ounces fresh lemon juice
1 cup honey
5 cups ice

Cucumber wheels and honeydew melon balls, for garnish

1. In a medium bowl, mix the kosher salt, sugar and ground fennel seeds.
2. Moisten half of the outer rim of 6 chilled white wine glasses with the lime wedge and coat lightly with the sweet fennel salt.
3. In a blender, combine all of the remaining ingredients except the garnishes and blend until smooth.
4. Pour the drink into the glasses. Garnish the drinks with the cucumber wheels and honeydew melon balls.

Organize Beach Games With Your Friends

Malaysian generally tried to stay out of the sun whenever they can and sure I can name a whole lot of indoor games for you to kill time but why stay indoor when summer is here? Go tan that beautiful skin! Embrace summer with a beach volleyball game. It is simple and everyone can take part. No rules needed. Just play and have lots of fun. Remember to apply sunblock and mist on some summery smelling Gucci Flora perfume. Your friends will appreciate that.

Stir Up Your Kitchen For A Home Cooked Meal

A summer beach party is not complete without a good home cooked meal with family and friends. What’s best to cook up a storm than grilling. Grilling is easy, fast and it’s delicious too.

I love this Butter-Basted Rib Eye Steaks recipe from our favourite site – Food & Wine.

INGREDIENTS
Two 1 1/4-pound, bone-in rib eye steaks
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons canola oil
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 thyme sprigs
3 garlic cloves
1 rosemary sprig

1. Season the rib eye steaks all over with salt and freshly ground pepper. Let the meat stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
2. In a large cast-iron skillet, heat the canola oil until shimmering. Add the steaks and cook over high heat until crusty on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Turn the steaks and add the butter, thyme, garlic and rosemary to the skillet. Cook over high heat, basting the steaks with the melted butter, garlic and herbs, until the steaks are medium-rare, 5 to 7 minutes longer. Transfer the steaks to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Cut the steaks off the bone, then slice the meat across the grain and serve.

Have A Beach House Party

When is the last time you had a party? I love beach house party but only if it is held in proper manner. Do not go overwhelmed on the guest list and the alcohol. Prepare some good old fruit punch or a refreshing summer cocktail with some delicious finger food.

Laze On The Beach Sunbathing and Read A Book

I get it. All you want to do this summer is to not do anything but just laze on the beach and to catch up on the book that you left behind some time ago. There’s nothing more relaxing than sunbathing at the beach and read a book. It feels good to not go through the stress of doing something for the summer so that you have a story to tell when you are back from the holiday. Your friends might think you are a boring person but let them think all they want. There is nothing wrong with not wanting to do anything but to read a book by the beach.

Walk Around Smelling Like A Summer Blossoming Garden

And of course smelling good this summer is as important, said the girl with 30 bottles of perfume 🙂 . Gucci Flora was released in 2009 (if I am not mistaken) and I am happy to find out that it is now available in a limited edition Anniversary Edition in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Flora motif pattern. Flora motif is one of Gucci’s most beautiful signatures so for this special occasion, the scent, packaging as well as the inspiration are all centered towards the beautiful floral.

The perfume is described as a sophisticated and modern scent, exclusively created from the blooms at the heart of the original Gucci Flora fragrance. The scent opens up with a tangy fresh mandarin and pear and a hint of the spiciness from pepper. When the top note tones down, that is where the core of Flora scent burst out. Rose and Osmanthus create a resonant essence in this new fragrance. It has a blend of other flowers for a new texture for a contemporary mood. And of course how can we leave of the gorgeous Peony accord. This accord contrast with the Rose signature to amplified the elements. When your nose has been attacked by that fresh, and floral accord, it all tones down to a leathery base note, together with Cedar wood, must, and patchouli. This new accord adds richness and depth to the overall scent.

There you have it! This is how I would enjoy the summer. There are of course more things you can do to embrace the summer weather. All you need is just a little creativity, some effort and remember, have lots of fun along the way.

Disclaimer: This post has been brought to you by Gucci. Content and tips are all from my own.