The temperatures are finally beginning to climb here in New England after a brutal winter.  Every winter, my husband and I ask why we haven’t moved south yet.  Then, every summer I am reminded of why I love New England so much!  So naturally, I am eagerly scheduling our summer, trying to suck every last drop of fun out of these few short months.  I thought I’d take a break from my usual educational posts and share with you some of my summer shopping list.

Picture from Amazon.com

Frio: If we are out in the sun for an extended period of time, I usually keep the epinephrine in an insulated container and out of the sun. However, due to the increasing amount of long, outdoor summer activities, I’ve decided to try out the Frio. It was originally created for diabetes medications but has found a huge following in the food allergy community as well. Note: It is important to keep epi out of extreme temperatures.

Picture from KissFreely.com

Kiss Freely: I just learned of this new line of allergy-friendly bath and body products.  The owner sent me a couple of samples and I was happy to give them a try.  My daughter has allergies to milk, sesame, peanut, tree nut and shellfish so that excludes a lot skin care products and cosmetics.  I love that this company is providing cosmetics free of the top 8 allergens.  The fact that the company is owned by a family managing food allergy is especially helpful.  They make it easy to find information about ingredients, cross-contact and how they source their materials.  They carry everything from lipstick to night serum to body butter.  I plan on purchasing the lip balm.

Picture from Honest Company

Wipes:  I carry wipes all year round.  They are portable, effective hand washers and surface cleaners (a must if you have food allergies).  I am stocking up.  I usually buy Huggies. I find they clean better and are a little thicker than most wipes.   I keep bins in the car and in the cooler.  But I recently ordered these from the Honest Company.  The travel size is perfect for your purse.

Picture from MixedBags.com

Cooler: Since we are on the go all summer, a cooler is critical.  I’m always on the hunt for the perfect size.  What I like about this cooler is that it perfectly fits a tub of wipes with tons of extra room for food and drinks.  Yet, it’s not SO BIG that I need to wheel it around; I can still easily carry it. I found this one through a school fundraiser from Mixed Bags.   There are plenty of prints to choose from but I really like this houndstooth.

Picture from Amazon.com

Sportbrella:  I spotted this “Sportbrella” last year on the lacrosse fields.  Every summer, I have the joy of watching my daughter play lacrosse in all-day, multiple day tournaments.  The tournaments are in June and July and usually are inland.  This means unrelenting sun and heat.  This year, I purchased this to give us a little respite and to provide some protection.  I purchased the extra large.  It pops up like an umbrella but gives coverage like a tent.

Sun Hat: I’m trying really hard to avoid damaging rays. A good friend of mine has had skin cancer removed multiple times and she has been a good influence on me.  She sports a different hat every time I see her.  So I’ve started to create my own hat collection.  TJMaxx has a great selection at affordable prices and they now have an online store!

Picture from LandsEnd.com

SPF shirts: I have been converted.  I no longer want my shoulders to burn after a day in the sun, but I don’t want to look frumpy either.  I ordered this shirt from Lands End, and it actually looks great!

I am ready for summer!  How about you?  I’d love to know your summer must-haves.

P.S. I haven’t bought my summer reading books yet. If you have recommendations, let me know!

Disclaimers:  I do not get paid to share these products. All opinions are my own.  I only share something if I like it and if I think it could benefit others.  Please check all ingredients of products to make sure they are safe for your family.  I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.