
As many of us reemerge from Covid life and start spending more time in our workplaces, myself included, I realized that I could use a few new summertime dresses. As a rule, I am trying more and more to get away from “fast fashion,” spending money on cheaply-made clothing that won’t stand the test of time, but every once in a while one of those Amazon deals catches my eye. This dress is $32, come in lots of colors, is lightweight and flattering and makes me feel great. I’ve never worn this shirtdress-ish style before because the shape of my body means that some buttons stay buttoned while others don’t, but this one works for me. For reference, I’m in a size large in the dark blue.

I’ve long been interested (some might call it obsessed) with sun protection, and that extends even more to protecting my kids’ skin. Eddie, however, howls when I try to coat his little bod in sunscreen. Enter the ultimate sunscreen hack- the sunscreen stick. We call it “paint” and I let him paint his own face, arms, and tummy before I get in there with another, more thorough application. I found the store brand version to be a little more clumpy, so this Neutrogena stick gets my (and Eddie Lawrence’s) full endorsement. (Hint: this stick is also great for husbands who are reluctant sunscreen appliers.)

For my entire life, I’ve been a bookworm. I remember the summer days when the Bookmobile would stop at the school across the street and I would hightail it over there and load up on chapter books. I always have my latest book with me, just in case I can grab an extra few minutes waiting in line for coffee or whatever. While I love Schuler Books most of all, my Book of the Month membership has become a huge bright spot every month. I bought a yearly membership for $149.99, which means each hardcover book costs $12.50. I can also add 2 additional books to each monthly box for $9.99. I can skip months and roll over the credit if I want to, which I haven’t done because they have some seriously great selections. One of my recent favorite has been “The Heart’s Invisible Furies” by John Boyne.

While tearing through books coated in sunscreen and wearing a dress from Amazon, I need water. And I mean I need to have a full vessel of water with me at all times- in the car, on the couch, on my nightstand. These Blender Bottles are relatively lightweight, have a locking mechanism, and won’t spill if you remember to close the top before your toddler grabs it and throws it on the floor. I’ve tested one million water bottles. Trust me, this one is good.

Ladies, most of us have thighs that chafe. I don’t know why I was so embarrassed by this for literally 30 years. Get rid of the biker shorts, the Body Glide, the baby powder, and order Megababe’s Thigh Rescue right now. It is the only thing that I have ever tried that really works, and works all day. I put it on in the morning and throw it in my bag in case I need a midday touch-up (but I generally don’t.) The product creates kind of a topical barrier so, although my legs are still touching, they aren’t creating friction and becoming irritated. Is there anything worse than having to wear pants the next day because your inner thighs are on fire? Learn from my experience and try Thigh Rescue.
What have you found that is making your day lately?