Elevate Your Time Outside

I am finally in full summer mode and wanted to share some recent purchases that I’ve loved using in the past few weeks.

I spend as much time outside as I possibly can, even into the night, as summer is the best season where I live. We live in the woods and have no shortage of wildlife of all types. I am prone to bug bites and normally am covered in them from both deer flies and mosquitos. 

This first product is a bit of an indulgence, but if you can swing it, I’d highly recommend the Diptyque Summer Spray. It’s a really lovely alternative to the typical harsh-smelling brands that you can find in every drug store. I’d not rely upon this on a deep woods camping trip, but for my backyard, dining al fresco at my local winery, or taking evening walks in my neighborhood, it seems to do the trick and feels like a great little treat. Plus, who doesn’t love the scent of geranium? 

A less-expensive alternative is something many of us grew up ordering from those fun little Avon catalogues. Skin So Soft has been around since at least I was in elementary school and I have loved it for as long. This too is a nice departure from the very stinky aerosols that we all know. I keep a bottle of this in our mud hall bathroom for easy grabbing. 

When we are on our patio we appreciate the extra help from these bug zappers and have two strategically placed in our yard. We hang them from shepherds hooks and utilize an extension cord. Yes, you do hear the zap when a bug meets its demise, but I’d rather that than discover itchy spots all over myself later in the evening.

I bought these little fly fans for our son’s graduation party so that we could keep flies away from the food, but I find they do a brilliant job of keeping them away from me as I sit on my patio and read or work on my laptop. I highly recommend them.

I’m a big fan of pickleball and play it in my driveway with anyone who has the patience to play with me. We bought this set last year and it’s still looking brand new. It is so easy to roll into and out of our garage and takes up very little space.

My Sea Glass lotion and candle are instant mood-setters for the season and make incredible hostess gifts. I highly recommend trying them if you want to transport yourself to a high end seaside spa or terrace. 

I hope some of these items elevate and improve your time outside this summer.