Essentials for an endless summer
No matter what the calendar says, it’s still hotter than August outside. Until the thermometer gets the word that Autumn is on the way, drink up, stock up and gear up to beat the heat with these Indian summer essentials.
Nothing’s cooler than a well-dressed pool
Dress up your pool with fashionable floaties that will be a conversation piece at your next pool party. Airhead, the trendsetters in floats and watersports products, features a stylish new line of brightly colored SunComfort products made from soft-to-the-touch EcoCell foam, a durable material that does not require inflation. The line includes the SunComfort Lounge ($109), a tri-fold lounger that is just as comfortable on land as on water and folds to store easily; the SunComfort Saddle ($29.99) that immerses its rider in the water and features a convenient carry handle; and the SunComfort Noodle, a noodle in a fun flat design, perfect for wrapping around the body to hang out in the water.
Ice bites
Ditch the popsicle stick for LifeIce bite-sized frozen cubes of coconut water and agave along with all-natural fruit flavors that kids and grownups alike will love, alone or plopped into a drink. The treats come in a ready-to-freeze tray with perfectly portioned squares of yummy flavors like Berry Bite and Green Grind, great for those times when you just want a little sweet treat. $6 for two trays of 48 cubettes.
Bug off
Don’t let pesky insects ruin your evening out on the patio. Kite Shield natural. Chemical-free mosquito repellent spray is DEET-free with botanical actives that won’t harm people or the planet. The non-oily formula is pleasant smelling and lasts for up to four hours. A 100ml bottle runs for $20 (including shipping) for a 100ml bottle, available at bit.ly/KiteShieldIndie.
Mix it up
You won’t have to work up a sweat to mix up a frozen tropical island drink with a refreshing frozen drink with the Velocity Ultra Trio Bender ($149) from Cuisinart. The workhorse blender does it all for you. The blender’s smart power and sophisticated electronics minces delicate herbs, whips up smoothies, and even chops ice to a fine powder. Blend your smoothies right in the two travel cups, put on the lids, and enjoy healthy breakfast on the go.
Ice cream that’s anything but plain vanilla
Your staycation just got better with Choctal, the ice cream made with exotic flavors that will take your taste buds on a world tour. Experience cacao and vanilla from rainforests all over the world with a multipack of flavors from the Choctál Single-Origin Ice Cream family, including Ghana Chocolate, Kalimantan Chocolate, Costa Rican Chocolate, Dominican Chocolate, or the vanillas: Indonesian Vanilla, Papua New Guinea Vanilla, Madagascar Vanilla and Mexican Vanilla. Sold at select Target stores and other national grocery stores or online for $11 a pint.
Shoe in
Talk about cool shoes. Moms will never yell at their kids for getting their shoes wet when they are wearing UNEEK footwear ($39-$65). These strapping shoes are a cross between a sandal and a sports shoe, made with water-repellent nylon cords designed to adapt to the natural form of the wearer’s feet for a custom and comfortable fit and for a cool open- air feeling. So go ahead, run through the sprinkler!
Comfort is good
Be cool and wear your optimistic attitude on your sleeve, and on your back, with the Life is Good line of optimist apparel. For those fun first days of school, kids can pull the 100-percent cotton Elemental Air Time Crusher T-shirt ($18), and when temperatures drop, they can walk the halls with a positive flair in the Peace Sign Hangout Hoodie ($38). Mom can spread her happy attitude at the drop off line in her own Oh Happy Day T-shirt ($34). All of the Life is Good apparel is pre-washed for comfort and double-stitched for durability. The best part? Life is Good donates 10% of its annual net profits to help kids in need.
Sounds great
Take your tunes outside and rock your patio party with the VAVA Voom 20 Series speaker ($79.99). The little log-like speaker blasts high quality sound with two 8W drivers and two passive subwoofers to pump up the base. The IPX5 splash protection lets you take the speaker pool side without worry, and the rechargeable 5200mAh lithium-ion battery with up to 10 hours of play life, and connectivity with Bluetooth, NFC and AUX cable makes the VAVA handy wherever you go.
Just in case
Whether indulging in summer sports or heading off to school, an Otterbox Defender Series ($59.95 for iPhone 6) smartphone case will protect your life line. The cases, made for a variety fo smartphones and tablet devices, features a built-in screen guard to prevent scratches, and the solid hard case will absorb drops and dings. Plus, with an assortment of designs, you can get a case that stands out in the crowd and expresses your inner selfie.
Tequila Tea
When the sun goes down, it’s time to mix up some grown-up refreshment with Sparkling Ice drinks. Try this recipe for raspberry iced tea that will cool you off and get your end-of-summer party started. Ingredients:
- I bottle Sparkling Ice Raspberry Iced Tea
- 1 fl. oz. Tequila Blanco
- 1 fl. oz. Mescal
- 2 fl. oz. Coconut water
- 3 drops Mole Essence
Instructions:
- Freeze cubes of the Sparkling Ice Raspberry Iced Tea
- Blend frozen cubes with other ingredients for frozen delight
- Pour into margarita glass and garnish with single mint leaf
