Who wants to have a sensational summer?
I do. That’s what I was thinking as I flipped through a recent issue of Good Housekeeping. One of their summer lovin’ tips included lining the trunk of your car with a shower curtain. After a day at the beach, you just carefully remove it and shake off the sand as opposed to driving around with it for the next six months before you get around to vacuuming it out.
Now I don’t live close enough to the beach to worry about much sand, plus I’m too lazy to go to the store, buy a liner, and then lay it out over my car’s trunk. But the magazine’s tips did inspire me to think of my own easy ways to have a sensational summer. Here they are:
- Throw some empty garbage bags in your trunk. I whip these babies out every time I go to the garden center. They protect my trunk from dirt and mud.
- Speaking of trunks, carry an old towel in yours. When my kids were little, a towel was useful for wiping down dirty feet or cleaning up that puddle of water that’s always on the bottom of the slides at the park.
- Buy more than one bottle of sunscreen. Scatter them all over house. I keep one in my bathroom so I put it on after I get out of the shower. That way I’m covered for the day ahead. My kids use the bottle by the garage door.
- Wear a hat and sunglasses. Okay, I’m starting to be a sun protection nag, but really do you want crows feet? Or basal cell carcinoma on your eyelids? Trust me, the scar won’t be pretty, even if you’re 65 when you have to get the skin cancer burned off (yup, I’m resorting to “Scared Straight” tactics, but you’ll thank me when you’re 65).
- Freeze green grapes and use them to keep white wine cold. I actually prefer ice in my white wine, but if you don’t want watered down Pinot Grigio, and don’t mind the extra effort, use the grapes.
- Freeze your ice pops straight up and down. You’ll get a cleaner cut off the top this way. I don’t take credit for this idea, but it’s genius, no?
- Eat the freeze pops. And the watermelon. And the ice cream. Drink the wine. Or sangria. Or pop. Live a little this summer.
- Send the kids outside to play. If they come back in, then send them out again.
- When you’re tired of sending them out, let them watch TV. If I survived an entire summer of watching “Grease 2” on HBO in the 80s, then my kids will survive a summer of watching Nickelodeon or Matthias on YouTube (their current favorite).
- Smell the flowers. Feel the sun on your skin (protected skin, of course!). Linger outside during the long days. Go to the lake or the ocean. Enjoy summer!
May you have a sensational summer. Now I’d love to hear your tips for making the most of the season. Do share in the comments below.
Aren’t you the clever one? I am loving all of your tips, especially the one about the freezies and the addition of frozen grapes to my wine. Brilliant. As for the great garbage bags idea, you’ve reminded me of that memorable class field trip to the pumpkin patch that was of course held on picture day. Everyone dressed in their finery despite the zillions of notes sent home advising parents to provide a change of clothes for the muddy field trip. I shall never forget the darling girl who emerged from the field encased in mud, from the tips of her satin shoes to the sleeves of her velvet dress. She was traveling with the teacher who had a brand new car. Teach took one look at Ms. Filth and whipped out a green garbage bag and had her step into it. All of the other passengers were also asked to don the bags. Teach had no need to clean out her car, while mine was fumigated.
kelly L McKenzie recently posted…How My Sister Mothered My Children When I Couldn’t
It would be really fun if you, me and Mo could meet up and try out the frozen grape and wine tip, no? Frankie can come, too. We’ll do it at White Spot of course, pending Mo’s approval of the wine list. 🙂
That teacher and her garbage bags are amazing. She must have had mud-caked children in her car before to know that handy tip, though.
Katy recently posted…Easy Ways to Have a Sensational Summer
Love these tips. My mom always kicked us outside. She even brought our lunch to us out there. Wish I had seen the ice pop tip earlier. Next batch I am totally freezing that way.
Now I want to bring my kids their lunch outside! That’s a great idea. Our Michigan summer weather is usually so nice, too. Perfect. 🙂
Yes eat the freeze pops! Oh, and my hat is my new summertime BFF. Is that a sign I am old?
Jen recently posted…The Happy Now Blog Link- Up #65
Nope, you are older and better for wearing a hat!
Katy recently posted…Things I Don’t Get
Love that freeze pop tip! Summers are huge for us, since all three of our kids were born during between June and August, and we have at least three other July birthdays. It’s basically 3 months of partying. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Leslie recently posted…Free Lemonade Art Print with Blackberry Lemonade Recipe
You are the perfect person, then, to be able to throw so many summertime bashes!
Katy recently posted…Things I Don’t Get
What clever tips! I especially love the freezer pops! I must rearrange the freezer this evening! TY for your insight, and have a happy Summer! #globalblogging
The freeze pop one is great, especially as I hate when you cut off the top and get a little bit of the freezer pop and then it melts in your hand in the 3 seconds it takes to throw it away!
Katy recently posted…Things I Don’t Get
awesome tips here – that I am stealing asap!
Thanks for linking up to #globalblogging
Love these tips! Especially the grapes. Not just for wine (which is a must of course). My kids love chewing on them and any frozen fruit really! Summer is def a time to live a little! Thanks for sharing! #globalblogging And yes, TV won’t kill the kids… 🙂
I will actually have to try the grapes, just for fun. Of course, that means remembering to buy green grapes, LOL.
Katy recently posted…Things I Don’t Get