By Rachel H
If you are logging on prior to 9am this morning, flip on Fox 8 News and you might catch Katie, Rachel and Allison from the TSP Team LIVE as we show this summer's must have items! And if you are visiting our site for the first time after seeing us on the news - welcome! We'd love for you to surf around the site for a while and sign up to receive our free weekly newsletter!
Below are the items we talked about on our segments today. (You may also catch a blurb of the segments by visiting http://www.myfox8.com/.) We have gathered items that some of us have used for years, as well as new items that have just come out! Feel free to email us at triadsmartypants@gmail.com with any questions, or post a comment at the end of our blog if you have a "must have" item to add!
Summer Must-Haves for Traveling with Children
~ Lap Desk - We found this cute version atPaper Sassy. There are also cool prints for boys, too. It can also be personalized and will keep kids happy with books, art, cards, you name it!
Brain Quest Games - We've blogged about these many times before! They are educational, but fun for kids and will pass the time on long trips as well. You can find great deals on these at Costco.
~ Portable DVD Player - We all agree that a DVD player should not be used consistently in the car, only on long trips. Even then, we think you should just use it for a portion of the time. Play videos at night when the children can't see much else anyway, or put on a video after you want things to start calming down in the car after your many games of "I spy" or "I'm going on a picnic!" If you do not have a DVD player installed, the RCA dual screen is one that we have found to be great. Two screens secure on to the back of seats with Velcro and have earphones as well. Children do not have to watch the same movie with this version.
~ "No fail" DVD's - depending on the age of your children, of course their taste in movies will vary, but we showed some of our children's favorites this morning. Video ideas begin at age two and go through age eight: Leapfrog Letter Factory, Leapfrog Math Circus, Leapfrog Word Factory, Annie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Home Alone, Charlotte's Web, The Princess & the Frog, Spirit, Alivin & The Chipmunks The Squeakquel, Hotel for Dogs, G-Force, and Up.
~ Travel Tic Tac Toe - We thought this was cute for kids OR adults! Easy game for all ages to comprehend. We found this travel version at Evy's Gifts.
~ Illumineyes Reading Glasses - This was another great find at Evy's Gifts. These look funny once you get them on, but they work so well! Once it gets dark, no one has to give up reading when you have these! They have two little lights on the sides of these glasses so that you can read while you travel at night!
Summer "Must-Have" Fashions for Women
Moe and Jamie, from Poshh Boutique in High Point, educated us all on the fashion finds for this summer! All of the items shown on the news segment, as well as those shown below, can be found at Poshh boutique, 5870-105 Samet Drive at The Palladium Commons in High Point. (next to McAlisters and Donato's) Phone-336-841-2009
Black Cocktail Dress
This classy "Cluce" black couture layered dress with a sexy cutout back, is sure to be a show stopper, pair this dress with some sexy strappy heels and chandelier earrings to complete your semi-formal look.
Floral Off Shoulder Dress
Hot Must have for this Summer! Floral is "in" and the off shoulder look is totally IN!! With this cute little number you can accomplish two great looks; pair with some diva sandals for a dressy look, or wear some killer flats for a more casual look!
Yellow Silk Romper
Yes ladies Rompers are BACK!!! Venture out and try a new look with this yellow romper. Definitely not the momiformKatie blogged about!
Black Lace Back Romper
This sexy black, lace back romper is Haute!!!! This would be a great look for a date night or Girls Night Out on the town ... sexy yet comfy!!
Necklace
Be transparent ... statement jewelry is surely in and this clear crystal necklace definitely makes a statement!
Summer "Must-Haves" for the Beach
~ Backpack Beach Chair - Lugging everything to the beach with kids is always a hassle. Make it a little easier with one of these! Wear your beach chair like a backpack! One of our favorites for style and comfort is the RIO. You can find beach chairs similar to these at Costco, Sams, Kmart and Wal-Mart.
~ Mini baby pool - of course these are great for the backyard, but we have also found that these are perfect for beach trips as well! They keep little ones occupied who may not be comfortable in the ocean or on the sand.
~ We thought these monogrammed beach towels were so cute! They are soft as can be, and are also the perfect size to keep you warm after a dip in the ocean, or spread out on the beach for some sun-bathing. These towels can be found at Evy's Gifts in Kernersville or Greensboro.
~ Sunscreens - We contacted Alan B. Fleischer, Jr., M.D. Professor and Chair of Dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine to ask the all important question about sunscreens. Dr. Fleischer told us, "There are no differences between adult sunscreens and children sunscreens, except in the color of the bottle. This is a pure marketing difference that the manufacturers use to expand their market. I suggest that parents choose an SPF 50 or higher product, preferably very water resistant or "sport", and use these products every day. No individual brand is better than another. The key to effective use is to:
1. Use a lot
2. Use it 15-30 minutes before any water exposure
3. Use it everyday
Also, don't forget about hats and clothing or swimshirts." We also asked him about spray vs. lotions and he said it is pretty much a matter of consumer preference.
~ BUILT NY - this brand has awesome products, but one of our favorites is this water bottle coozie. It keeps your water bottle even colder and keeps the ice in solid form even when you are out on the beach. It is also great because it can hang from your beach chair. You can find these on www.amazon.com.
Summer "Must-Haves" for the Pool
~California Baby Bug Spray - found at local drugstores and Target - safe, natural, and fun!
~ ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent - This works wonders by the pool, in the backyard, or camping. This ThermaCELL device dispenses a small amount of repellent into the air over a long period of time. It is powered by a butane cartridge and is cordless. (batteries are not needed) A mat saturated with Allethrin, a copy of a naturally occurring insecticide found in chrysanthemum flowers, is placed on top of the metal grill. The heat generated by the butane cartridge vaporizes the repellent allowing it to rise into the air, creating a 15 x 15 ft (225 sq ft) “Mosquito-Free-Zone” in minutes. The repellent is very unpleasant to mosquitoes, but when used as directed, will not harm humans or pets. You simply replace the small mat for your next use.
~ New Balance Sandals for kids - We thought these were adorable, functional, and just too smarty! These sandals are available in blue or pink and are perfect for this summer. They are available in infants sizes 7-10 and kids sizes 11-3, whole sizes only. You can find them at New Balance Winston-Salem (located at Thruway Center) and can receive 15% - 30% off by using your Smarty Pants/New Balance Kids Club card (ask for this at the front desk)! 336.722.9559
~ Flip-flop wine glass coasters - These are not only a must-have for yourself when throwing a beach or pool party, but they are a great gift, too! We found these at Evy's Gifts. They have two locations in the Triad - Main Street Kernersville or Battleground in Greensboro.
~ Reusable Swim Diapers - read more about these in our blog here! We have found these at very affordable prices at Babies R Us and Target. Buying a few of these at $6-$10 each is much more cost effective then buying pack after pack of disposable diapers. Plus, you are helping the environment!
~ Puddle Jumper Life Jacket - Found at Target - Just arm floaties alone don't always work well for younger children. We also know that a regular life jacket can help keep your child afloat, but often rotates them in the water so that their face may be submerged or their head thrown back so that they are not upright. This Puddle Jumper life jacket puts two in one and gives children security in the water as they learn to swim. *Parents should still remain close-by, as this is not a life saving device.
~ Picnic Baskets and Coolers - surely you have spotted these adorable picnic baskets by now. We found ours for a bargain at the Buckhead Betties sale, but if you missed it, you can find baskets similar to these at many local gift shops in the Triad including Kim Taylor & Co, and Hip Chics! You can also order one online at GoosiePie Monograms. Baskets can be insulated and some even come with a lid. A new mini version has also been recently distributed to local stores. If you know of other places who sell these, leave us a comment below.
~ The Ultimate Beach bag - Read our blog here! We can't say enough about how much we have loved this bag.
~ Orthaheel Flip-Flops - We found these at Fleet Feet Sports in Winston-Salem. There are variations of this flop for men and women and all are so stylish! But even better than looking good, these flip-flops serve a purpose - "Orthaheel orthotic design helps "reclaim" your natural footprint by restoring the foot's natural (neutral) alignment, enabling the feet, ankles and legs to function as efficiently and dynamically as they were intended."
~ Dry Shampoo - I wrote about this in my Random Show and Tell post. It is great for the pool so your hair does not get the greasy look!
~ The Spooneez Sackpack - You know how we love our Spooneez! Well, we are the first to debut this new item called the Spooneez sackpack! It is so stylish and cute! We thought this was the perfect bag for swim team practice and trips to the pool. It is machine washable, made int he USA, and eco-friendly! These will be available mid-June on the website or at O Baby Organics in Winston-Salem.
Have anything to share on the items above? Did we miss a great "must-have" that you think should be featured? Leave us a comment below!
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