14 Things I Bought For Summer That I Can’t Live Without

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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 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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.