Let’s go on a summer shopping spree! These are some of my summer favorites, and I’ve split these items into 3 categories:
Beauty and Fashion Kids Food
So here it is – a list of 14 things that I’ve purchased with my own money that I now cannot live without for summer!
Actual Growth For My Eyelashes and Brows
Product: Dime Eyelash Boost Serum* and Eyebrow Enhancing Gel* I bought these a couple months ago for my thin and sparse eyebrows and eyelashes. And while it’s not like people are stopping me on the street to ask me about my fluffy lashes and brows, I have definitely noticed growth on both my eyelashes (longer) and eyebrows (fuller). In a couple weeks, it took my brows from “Extremely Sparse” to “I Can Live With These”, and that is a very happy thing for me.
Noticed lash growth Noticed brows filling in Beautiful product design Easy and fast to use
Eyelash serum occasionally stings
The Softest, Coolest, Best Sheets Ever
Product: Layla Bamboo Bed Sheets* I bought these sheets almost two years ago and we have since bought two more sets because we REALLY really love them! Super super soft, lightweight, and nice and cool which is especially awesome for the summer. Every single night when I get in bed, I feel like I am at a luxury resort (minus the toys and clothes strewn about my bedroom). They’ve held up well and are still silky smooth even after almost two years. Highly recommend!
So incredibly soft Cooling, which makes them especially great for summer Easy to care for
Nothing!
New All-Time Favorite Denim Shorts
Product: Gap Low-Rise Stride Shorts* I am passionate about these shorts! I am wearing them right now while I write this! I have the light wash, which I just absolutely adore, and I just bought purple lotus and the indigo wash as well. They are, hands down, my favorite shorts right now. They’re my perfect rise, my perfect length, and they give the perfect casual-but-semi-put-together look. It depends on how you want them to fit, but I sized down one full size from my normal jeans size and they fit me just right.
The length is perfect – not too short, not too long The rise is perfect for me – all my slightly cropped shirts land just above the waist (like the picture) Not stretchy, so they wash well and stay snug on my hips without riding up Fitted but not tight Distressing on the light wash gives them the perfect casual look and feel
Nothing!
Really Good Basic White Ribbed Bodysuit
Product: Kinship Ivory Ribbed Bodysuit Seen here with a Canadian tuxedo, but most commonly worn with overalls (my uniform) or a cute pair of shorts! I wear a lot of overalls and just denim in general, and this bodysuit is a go-to. It gives a perfectly sleek look, but the ribbing on the shirt prevents it from being overly tight or showy. It’s on the thinner side, but I actually enjoy the weight of the material. It’s breathable and light so you don’t feel so heavy and constricted – just make sure you wear a nude bra if you don’t want it to show. I would recommend sizing up on this one! There’s enough soft stretch in it to keep it form-fitting, and the bigger size will make it a little more roomy and comfy.
Super soft Super stretchy Ribbed texture gives it some interest Good sleeve length Ideal for all kinds of sleek layering
Runs a bit small, IMHO – I prefer to size up on this one
Now I Wear A Sun Hat
Product: UPF 50 Summer Sun Hat* I had to have plastic surgery on my face this spring to remove a severely atypical pre-melanoma spot, so now I am aggressive with my sunscreen and my sun hat usage. The good news is I actually really enjoy this hat! It’s pretty, feminine, casual, and the quality feels super nice. I think you probably could travel with it, but I love mine so much that I don’t want it to bend or wrinkle, so I travel with my less-nice hat instead. This is my prized favorite summer sun hat!
Floppy and cute Brim is nice and wide Stays put really well Beautiful golden color Quality of the straw-like material feels really nice
Can be hard to travel with since it’s big and you don’t want it to wrinkle
The First Chunky Gold Hoop Earrings I’ve Ever Loved
Product: A New Day Thick Gold Hoop Earrings* I bought these as a “let’s try these and see if I might become a gold hoop person” and it absolutely worked. I especially like the weight of these – they are chunky in the cutest way, so they really pop and have a bit of playfulness to them. I’ve worn them in the pool, on several trips, for lots of daily activities, and they are still holding up great, especially for costing less than $10.
The chunk factor is so cute The size is great for a statement that’s not TOO statement-y Holds up well to pool usage, outdoor time, and daily wear and tear Comfortable even for sensitive ears Costs less than $10
Nothing!
The Holy Grail Of Kid Jammies
Product: Cat and Jack Kids’ Jammies* In my experience, Target kid jammies have historically been kind of stiff and scratchy, and I’m really particular about making sure the girls have something comfy to sleep in. We buy a lot of jammies from Little Sleepies, but they are super expensive, which is why I’m SO, SO happy that Target is now starting to sell similarly soft and comfy jammies with fun patterns at a fraction of the price. This is the first season I’ve seen these soft ones, and we absolutely love them. We bought every single pattern available for both girls! Our 4-year-old giggled about her “hippo jammies” for two weeks straight and I love that they’re – did I say this already? – SO soft.
SOFT SOFT SOFT Supremely comfortable Fun patterns that are not overly gendered Affordable
Nothing!
And The Holy Grail Of Kid Sandals
Product: Ten Little Kids’ Sandals My children wear all manner of weird and obscure clothes to play in, but when it comes to jammies and shoes, I’m kinda picky. I want their shoes to be cute enough for my eyeballs to not glitch every time I look at them all summer, but also I want them to be top-notch comfortable and supportive for all types of activities – running, jumping, climbing on things they shouldn’t climb, etc. These sandals are THE ONLY SHOES my girls wear in the summer. We have water shoes, tennis shoes for soccer, and these. They both get one pair of summer shoes and this is the one! We love these shoes.
Cute for all kinds of outfits Super supportive and “healthy” for all types of kid movement Cooling Secure with closed-toe coverage – I never worry about flopping or slipping Not meant to be waterproof, but dries out easily
Nothing!
A Really Great Kids’ Bike
Product: Woom Kids’ Bike We are new to the bike era of parenting! We’ve been getting by with cheap or free bikes from Buy Nothing, Facebook Marketplace, and neighbors, but this summer the time has come for us to get a proper kids’ bike for our 4-year-old. This bike brand was recommended to us by some friends who have older bike riders, and it is awesome. High quality, while also lightweight, for easy balancing and learning.
Top quality Intentionally designed for kids Lightweight which makes it easy to maneuver, balance, and learn Simple styles
Expensive
The Glass Bottles I Use For Everything
Product: Liter Glass Milk Bottles* We use these things ALL THE TIME, and especially in the summer! I put batches of agua fresca in them, or iced coffee, simple syrup for the NA Margs… they are so versatile. I never knew I needed them until I bought them, and now we can’t live without them.
Perfect size for small batches Multi-use – iced coffee, simple syrups, juices, etc. Cap makes it easy to travel with – we often to take these to friends’ houses
Nothing!
The Griddle That Never Leaves My Stovetop
Product: Lodge Cast Iron Reversible Griddle* This is now a permanent fixture in our kitchen! It sits on our stove and it gets used almost daily for anything ranging from pancakes to grilled sandwiches, quesadillas, smash burgers, toasting buns, and fried bread for toasts. I can do a bunch of food at one time which means less waiting around for everyone’s food to be ready. As a family of 4, we love this thing!
Reversible! Perfect for quesadillas, pancakes, grilled sandwiches, smash burgers, reheating or re-crisping things Heavy duty Long enough to cover two burners so you can do lots of food at one time
Can be heavy and awkward to move – which is why we don’t move it! 🙂
Smash Burger Essential Tool
Product: Lodge Cast Iron Grill Press* Two words: Smash Burgers! We make these smash burgers all summer long, and you just can’t do it quite right unless you have a grill press. This is the one we use and love!
Solid and heavy Works perfectly for smash burgers
Nothing!
My New Summer Hobby
Product: Blackstone Flat Top* This is a fun toy. I prefer this to our grill because it’s just like having one huge frying pan, but outside! And it works well with the types of foods I like to make: pancakes, eggs, bacon, sandwiches, quesabirria, noodle stir fry, fried rice, smash burgers, etc. It takes a bit of work to season it – I’m still getting mine perfected since we got some rust this winter – but it’s such a fun way to bring a bigger variety of food into your outdoor cooking repertoire.
Can cook a wide variety of foods on it: pancakes, smash burgers, stir fry, etc. Fun for summer and fall entertaining More user-friendly for people who aren’t huge into grilling (me)
Requires a moderate level of maintenance
I Am So Passionate About These Drinking Glasses
Product: Glass Tumblers by Williams Sonoma* I get that not everyone cares about glasses the way I do, but I am certifiably obsessed with these glasses. We’ve been drinking out of mason jars for years and while that’s totally fine and good, I really get a lot of enjoyment from a delicate, thin-lipped glass. So I decided to go for it and buy an actual adult-like set of glasses, and these are now my pride and joy. For sure one of my top five favorite things in my kitchen. Drinking out of these is a very delightful experience.
Delicate glass Thin lip Dishwasher safe Really nice size Just so beautiful
Nothing!
