Welcome to CIRCA Magazine

“The summer night is like a perfection of thought.” – Wallace Stevens

Yes, summer is the perfect time of year – perfect summer days and perfect summer nights ... albeit hot ones! As I write this, it’s a scorching 90-something degrees outside, my kids are itching to go to the pool (again), and I’m rejoicing in the fact that my air conditioner is working well. Yes, it’s hot outside – and this issue of CIRCA Magazine is just as hot. So take a little time to cool off, whether it be poolside or lounging on the sofa, enjoy the perfect summer days and nights, and all that can be discovered within these pages.

The perfect summer night is the perfect time to get cooking outside. “Grilling The Perfect Burger” offers up some great tips for creating restaurant-style burgers without leaving the comfort of your own backyard, while “Cool Dining For Hot Nights” details delicious salad, appetizer, hors d’oeuvre, and dessert suggestions that won’t have you slaving over a hot stove, instead letting you enjoy the company of family and friends.

Who doesn’t want to look their best on that perfect summer night? “Summer Fashion Trends” lays out all the hot summer styles that are sure to get you noticed, while “Summer’s Hottest Hair – An Effortless Evolution” provides tips on how to achieve beautiful hair without a lot of fuss. For many, the perfect days of summer are spent in sundresses or swimsuits, and “Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow” outlines the various hair removal techniques available today, so you don’t have to spend your summer covering up.

The perfect summer night is sure to be enjoyed knowing you and your loved ones are safe and sound after a fun-filled day. “Child Summer Safety” reminds us that we need to keep our little ones sunscreened and swimmer’s ear-free, while “Boating Safety Made Easy” offers tips for watercraft wisdom. With school being out for the summer, more teens are on the road more often, so if you’re a teen driver, or the parent of one (or just need to be reminded of what’s legal and what’s not), you won’t want to miss “North Carolina Traffic Laws.”

As I said earlier, it’s a scorching 90-something degrees outside right now … while I enjoy lazy days by the pool as much as the next person, I also enjoy cooling off inside afterwards. This time spent indoors is the perfect time to update your interior. “Decorating For The Seasons: From Spring To Summer In A Snap” offers simple and cost-effective ways to transform your home from one of springtime bloom to a spa-like, summer retreat. “Decorating With Everyday Artifacts” suggests how you can incorporate salvaged architectural elements into your decor. With the temperatures rising, summer is the ideal season for reducing our homes’ energy consumption. “Stop Throwing Money Out The Window” details steps we can take, such as installing energy-efficient window treatments to reduce heat flow and control solar heat, to do just that.

This is just a sampling of the valuable information you can find in this edition. I hope you enjoy all that it offers, and these perfect North Carolina summer nights. See you when it’s cooler!