Summer Must Haves

I did this post around Christmas last year, and I feel like everyone really appreciated it. I know sometimes it's nice to get valuable reviews for things before you head out shopping. So, here's a list of my summer must haves (so far this year) all available on Amazon.

While it's marketed as a women's beach bag, I use this bag exclusively now for all of my grocery shopping and market shopping. I've been complimented on it numerous times, and find that it's just big enough to fit everything I need. The loose weave of the straw makes the bag flexible, light weight, and sturdy. I've loaded this thing - and it's not let me down yet! 

Also, who can beat $30? It's insane, free shipping, and you get it in less than 2-days with Prime. It's not only a summer must, it's a smart shopping tote year round. 

Summer is the time to wear all of your beautiful whites. White pants, white shorts, white everything! It's also the time that we tend to bring white into our houses - curtains, slipcovers, bedding, etc.. Now that I'm back to white slipcovered furniture, I'm back to using Oxi Clean White Revive. I have NEVER found anything else that leaves my whites as crisp and clean looking. Chlorine bleach does terrible things to fabrics and to the environment. This is must safer, less expensive, and powerful than bleach, and if you wear white or live with white, I recommend having this on hand at ALL TIMES! This link is much cheaper than I've found this same 5 pound container in my local stores, and at 75 loads per container, it's only about 14 cents per load! Save your whites, enjoy your summer, and don't stress out about stains and grime. Clean it up with Oxi Clean.

Speaking of environmentally friendly products, I have to share with you my favorite soap to keep in the kitchen and bathroom: Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day - BASIL scent. For those of you who don't know, Mrs. Meyer's products are 98% plant based, and is safe on even the most sensitive skin. I've tried the other scents they offer, but Basil is my go to scent. It's such a clean and fresh scent, you'll be washing your hands all day long. Their website claims that the hand soap is also safe to use on your body. I haven't tried that, but if you're in a pinch. I recommend buying the 33 ounce refill container, and using your own container for dispensing. The world is filled with too many plastics. Do your part, and buy in bulk when you can. Plus - it's so much cheaper this way. You'll thank me, I promise!

I've blogged my review of this book here. I love it, and find it to be particularly inspiring in these summer months for creating inviting and comfortable living space and tablescapes. Definitely a beautiful book! Take a look: 

A different kind of book, I read "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng on the flight back from Peru and was hooked! Every moment I thought, "Ok, I'll finish this chapter and then move on to something else" I found that I could put the book down. I read the entire thing in the span of 5-hours, and I would highly encourage any of you looking for a good book to read during downtime this summer to think about picking it up! Tyler actually bought this book and read it first, and then recommended it to me. So you're getting two thumbs up here ... check it out! 

I'm pretty predictable when it comes to scents at home. In the winter I have my favorite, and in the summer I have my favorite. The summer is, hands down, volcano by Capri Blue. If you've ever been into an Anthropologie, this is their signature scent. Capri Blue makes the candles for Anthro in a multitude of containers - but you can buy the same size for cheaper on Amazon in their blue glass option. It's heavenly, and heavily scented. It will fill the whole house with an incredibly fragrant, fruity air. If you're into that ... check it out!

Lastly, stainless steel straws. I'm not here to shame anyone. You have to make up your own mind about how you're going to do your part to help save our oceans and the environment. I'm not perfect, trust me, but if you're anything like me ...  watch one video about straws being caught in sea turtles' noses ... you'll be a fan of these stainless steel straws. They seem like they'd be a lot more effort than they're worth - but they're really not. Soak them in the sink for a bit, shove the bristle brush included in the pack through, rinse, and you're done. Give it some thought. 

Alright - there you have it. My summer must haves. I'll see you guys again on Friday with a peek at the art I'm creating this week, and a sneak peak at a little corner of the living room. Talk soon!