for a summer less cray and a summer more fun!
Something magical about summer that let’s us check out of routine, monotony and stress. But before you check out, check these tips, for littles to tweens to teens (and something here and there for you).
O N E / / The Summer Bucketlist.
Every summer we are excited and then it hits- “what are we going to do; I’m bored.”
So every summer, I print up a list. It gives them ideas, but also us as a family. Life gets busy. All of a sudden today is tomorrow. This is a way to just help make those moments happen or be captured as a family.
Whatever the stage- The Boredom List or The Adventure List or The Tradition List-print the lists and have them out. You will find yourself checking them and thinking, “Hey let’s go get a lobster roll!”
*Some ideas are here locally in San Diego. Left them on there that you can adapt to your area or good to know if you ever visit.
Feel free to print all three pages (page 1 of 3).
(page 2 of 3)
(page 3 of 3)
T W O / / Sunblock Station.
We literally have a “sunblock station” in the backyard and in the garage (and in the car).
Keep it handy, keep it within reach, keep it where you need it the most.
S O M E W A Y S to do this-
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- I put sunblock in a clear plastic bin and keep them in the shade in the backyard
- A shoe organizer for the garage door (I like to use stick on hooks). If the plastic shoe organizer is too long you can cut it to make it shorter. Keep in mind extra pockets are great for goggles when the kids come back from swim class
- Use a cute little bin or bag in their bathroom
- If friends come over, I will display the sunblock on a table right in the middle of the yard
Another idea//each child would get these little blow up drink holders and we would put their favorite candy and a small sunblock.
inflatable palm tree / / clear plastic bin / / bucket bag would be cute for sunblock
Sunblock and Teen Acne.
T I P S / /
- They should not be using the same sunblock for face and body (use one specific for face)
- Encourage them to wash their face after they are done needing the sunblock.
Our favorite sunblocks (and a favorite with many of our friends, moms with tweens/teens)-
what we use for face / / for body on those active and hot days / / spray when they are in a hurry
T H R E E / / Pool floats, Life Jackets & Goggles
The. Summer. Water. Formula.
Pool = life jackets (because everyone swears so and so has been swimming all their life and you have learned by now to have a life jacket to offer)
+ goggles (because little eyes get big red)
+ lots of extra towels (because no one comes out of the pool dry)
= 2 towel racks; towel valets if you’re fancy (one for life jackets & goggles and one for the towels)
black life jacket / / white life jacket / / outdoor white towel rack towel valet / / top goggles anti fog / / bottom goggles anti fog / / oversized beach or pool towel
Or…, if you just hang out on a float in the middle of the pool, you don’t need to worry about any of it.
solid white cabana pool float / / white with palm leaves cabana pool float / / rainbow lounger pool float
This, is how you summer.
F O U R / / Chlorine Shampoo.
Pool, chlorine and blondes. If you know, you know.
The chlorine can make the hair dry. On blondes, it starts to leave a green or bluish hue.
So this product, you need to know about!
(I have heard many people say they use it for other hair color too.)
chlorine removing shampoo // chlorine removing conditioner
F I V E / / Party Prep Like A Summer Breeze
Have you seen these!
cups with gold rim / / gold utensils / / square bamboo plates / / round bamboo plates
Disposable party. So. Freaking. Cute. We recycle the drink ware and serving ware.
F U N T I P / / We use the bamboo plates for fire kindling (scrape off food first).
P A R T Y T I P / / How many times does the trash fill up and guests do not know what to do with their trash? Girl-the disposable trash pop up bin.
So fuss less and keep it a breeze.
S I X / / Who Let the Bugs Out.
Bugs don’t go with our whole “party easy like a summer breeze theme.”
Try these popular and recommended candle and skin sprays to keep flying bugs away.
candles / / bug soother repellant / / proven repellant / / organic bug spray repellant
S E V E N / / Summer Trunk Kit.
Keep it in the bag. Keep it in the car. Keep a “summer” trunk kit.
Y O U R L I S T / / A L I S T / / I N T H E B A G
- sunscreen
- extra towel (which can always be used as something warm for those late days at the beach)
- change of clothes (mostly for the littles)
- hat
- flip flops (hello! impromptu summer manicure)
E I G H T / / Collapsible Laundry Basket.
“But it’s summer! Why the laundry!,” says every mom from here to there.
Picking kids up from the beach, swim, sports, or after your own adventure fun, having a “flat,” waterproof bag that you can just pop open and collect it all. OMG! Perfect.
bag one (with brown handles) // bag two (word laundry) // bag three (grey striping)
Because wet and sandy happen during summer.
N I N E / / “Sweaty Sleepers” Need Summer Sheets.
Fun by Day, Sleep hard by Night
Summer sheets. Sweaty sleepers. I went on the hunt for a solution for my teens boys. Moisture wicking bed sheets!
Holy hot nights! These have been approved.
T E N / / The Dog Days of Summer.
…means summer pet hair. Like a lot of it, all over the place.
I love my dog. I adore my dog.
But come summer time, the kids leave towels on the floor and my dog leaves his coat.
Sanity! Help! Tips for that summer shedding-
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- Swiffer Sweep Vac. Super easy to use. And quick. Hair all over your wood floors is gonna happen and this has been a sanity saver.
- Have your tried a deshedding bath at your local pet groomer? They use a special hair release shampoo and then hair tool.
- Increase the brushing. Up to 3-4 times a week. With a hair release brush.
- Use a microfiber towel and rub it vigorously all over him (while he is dry) outside to grab any extra hair.
- There is an oil you can add to food that encourages hair release then maintains so it slows it down. I tried it. I did not feel like it helped and the dog had a weird not clean smell to his coat. But wanted to share in case you wanted to read about it further.
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Back to yelling at the people who can avoid leaving their things on the floor.
Swiffer sweep vac / / Swiffer sweep replacement cloths / / deshedding brush / / deshedding brush / / microfiber towel
One easy spot to find it all. Just tap below on “The Summer Edit”
The Summer Edit
I hope you have a great summer, making memories with your family and friends. Enjoy your fam-it goes by quickly-and meet up with your tribe-laughter is always needed.
xo,
Dyanna
