10 Summer Essentials You Never Knew You Needed

1. To Organize Your Schedule

Pool parties, beach days, and picnics, oh my! Keep your hectic schedule organized with these pretty, bright colored pens ($7.99, Amazon). Use a calendar to track your commitments and write upcoming events in different colored inks. Even at a quick glance, you’ll see what’s coming up. For example, use bright green to remind you of birthdays, orange for medical appointments, and so on.

Another organizing option is to use an online calendar that syncs to your email and phone. Every email service, whether it’s Gmail, MSN, Hotmail, Yahoo, or the like, includes a free calendar that can be personalized. There are also options to set up multiple reminders per event that range from two weeks to 30 minutes. Now, you’ll know exactly when Sarah’s retirement party is or what time your town’s fireworks start.

2.  To Prepare a Favorite Summer Treat 

From strawberries to melons, summer has some of the year’s best—and hardest to slice—fruits. Of these, there’s no greater crowd pleaser or trickier fruit to prepare than fresh-cut pineapple. To create those perfectly-shaped rings that will be the envy of any summer party, try Nelipo Stainless Steel Pineapple Peeler, Corer, Slicer All-In-One Kitchen Gadget ($6.99, Amazon). This handy tool makes the tedious, time-consuming task of cutting a pineapple simple and easy, all while producing beautiful ring slices that will wow your family and friends! 

3.  To Jumpstart Your Summer Weight Loss  

Summer’s here and there’s no better time to develop healthy habits that will help you slim down and get in shape. Along with diet and exercise, try LifeExtension®'s AMPK Metabolic Activator ($28.50) to kickstart your weight loss journey. This supplement helps activate AMPK, an enzyme that signals to your body when it’s time to get rid of stored fat. With the AMPK Metabolic Activator, you take the fight against stubborn belly fat to the cellular level, so you can  achieve the sleeker silhouette of your ideal happy weight.* 

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

*This supplement should be taken in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise program. Individual results are not guaranteed, and results may vary.

4. To Use the Power of the Cloud for Photo Storage 

So many photos, so little storage space! Between family vacations, kids’ sport camps, and more, there will be lots of summer memories that you’ll want to capture forever. Because phones and digital cameras have limited storage capabilities, sometimes you’re forced to delete photos before you can take more. This just won’t do! Computers and smartphones now come with the ability to save images to the cloud for free, and they’ll stay there as long as you want to keep them. Be sure to create folders for your photos, so it will be easy to find images later (for instance, “Camping Trip, August 2019”). Transferring pictures from your digital camera to the cloud is also straightforward: just plug in the camera’s USB cable to your computer and upload them into the correct folder in the cloud.

5 and 6.  To Keep Your Legs Looking Their Best 

Shorts, skirts, and swimsuits mean legs take center stage in the summer. Pamper them with an aloe-infused shaving cream like the Pure Silk® Raspberry Mist Shave Cream ($19.99 for a pack of 6). The smooth glide formula protects and nourishes to leave skin looking and feeling as smooth as silk (and the sweet raspberry scent is perfect for summer!). 

Complement the deliciously textured and fragrant shaving cream with a razor that understands your body, like the Pure Silk® Contour 6 Razor ($10.99). Infused with aloe to calm and protect skin, the razor has a double flex head that adjusts to every contour and six thin blades for a close, comfortable shave. Use the cream and razor together for a spa experience for your legs! 

7.  To Prevent Blisters and Stop Shoes from Slipping 

Sandals, heels, and even flip flops can dig into your skin, creating blisters or worse. Or, you treat yourself to a cute new sandaled heel, only for your foot to start slipping forward the first time you wear them. The perfect fix to this problem is sitting on your bathroom counter: hairspray, yes, hairspray can prevent all sorts of shoe mishaps! To stop flip-flops from going awry on your foot, spray them with hairspray; when the shoe is damp, step into them. Your flip flops will stay on your feet and won’t cause blisters. To prevent your foot from slipping forward in heels, spray the inside bottom of your shoe—no more banged toes. Same thing for strappy sandals: spray your feet and the inside of the shoe before stepping into them. The hairspray will keep your feet damage free. 

8. To Not Miss a Moment

Whether it’s a friend’s outdoor wedding or family night at the ballpark, you want to be there for everything this summer. However, incontinence can make it difficult to be fully present during these special occasions. Now, with new Depend® FIT-FLEX® underwear (available on Amazon; prices may vary), you can be there for every moment and seize the long summer days.

The innovative design is thin and comfortable, comes in a variety of styles, and is made of a breathable fabric that feels like cotton. Depend® FIT-FLEX® underwear’s trusted protection lets you be you, all day and all night long. If you suffer from SUI, you can laugh and exercise with Depend® and feel confident all summer. 

9. To Keep Your Space Naturally Fresh and Clean

Between kids, pets, and gardening, somehow the outdoors always seem to end up indoors in the summer. Keep backyard dirt at bay with these easy, affordable natural cleaning products. Not only are they non-toxic and safer for little ones and four-legged friends, they also really work! Your kitchen will sparkle and floors will shine, while you rest easy knowing there aren’t in any harsh chemicals lying around the house.

10. To Always Look Good

The white T-shirt is your summer wardrobe secret weapon. With so many places to go, both casual and dressy, a classic white tee is the perfect easy outfit option. Pair it with any of your favorite items for an instantly great look and keep one in your beach or weekend bag so you’re never caught with nothing to wear. You can even style it under a strappy sundress or with a blazer or kimono jacket for a more elevated look. We recommend this extra soft one from J.Crew—plus, if you’re not feeling white, they have a variety of colors ($9.95, J.Crew Factory).