Category / pool

by Kelly Mattei

When I Was a Kid…

When I was a kid…

***Feature photo from ABC News***

When I was growing up, I heard adults (including my parents) start sentences with “when I was a kid” all the time. As a teenager, I would hear it and think, “Everything’s not like it was in the 1950s!” Now, I catch myself saying it.

We are staying in a rental beach condo for the long weekend. Our college student daughter and a friend met us here. Yesterday, my daughter texted me at 8:30am, asking, “What is that noise?” I thought it was probably people at the elevator, so I told her to turn on white noise to drown it out. This morning, she texted me again, “I hear kids outside my window again.” Her window faces the hallway. I decided to investigate, expecting to find people talking while waiting for the elevator.

I opened the door and stepped into the hallway, and I was surprised to find four little boys…ages approximately 3, 4, 8, and maybe 10…playing in the hall. Yes, playing in the hall. Don’t get me wrong. I love when children play, but in the hallway of a hotel-type building? No, thank you.

This is where “when I was a kid” comes in. When I was a kid, my parents had very strict rules about hotels. We were not allowed to run and play in hotel hallways. We were not allowed to talk loudly in the hallway or even in the room…no indoor “horseplay” at all. We were not allowed to play on the elevators. We were allowed to play as much as we wanted in the pool and in resort play areas. It was about respecting the other hotels guests. We didn’t want to disturb them. My husband and I held our daughter to the same standard and had the same rules. We didn’t even have to “enforce” the rules, because she understood she wasn’t supposed to do those things. Not once in my life have I ever had someone ask me to hold down the noise in a hotel.

I know I’m not alone about this rude behavior, because I read an article about the “most annoying” hotel guests, and you can read it here.

That brings me back to the kids in the hall. I was on the phone with a friend when the kids were playing in the hallway today, so I asked my friend what she thought. She told me her parents had the same rules as mine, and she and her husband have the same rules for their kids. Apparently, the parents of the kids in the hall this morning don’t have the same rules.

There is no way I would admonish them, but I decided to speak nicely with them. I stepped outside where the four kids under ten were playing and said, “Hey guys! I have a favor to ask. Do you mind holding the noise down a little? My kids are trying to sleep in the room right here.” They said, “Yes ma’am.” And I said, “Thank you so much. Y’all are very sweet.”

And you know what? They actually kept the noise down! They were good kids. It wasn’t their fault their parents were allowing them to engage in the most annoying hotel guest behavior. When I was a kid, that wouldn’t have happened on my parents’ watch.

by Kelly Mattei

Someone On Your List Wants Barbie™ x Stanley Quenchers

Someone on your list wants Barbie x Stanley Quenchers. Now there’s a collaboration with the Barbie brand, celebrating 65 years of Barbie! Barbie x Stanley! These are hot items this holiday season! See all eight variations here. This is a great opportunity to get the perfect gift for the people on your list who love Barbie, or Stanley, or both! Get them before they’re gone! Use your Amazon Prime membership for free shipping!

  • Stanley x Barbie™ Icon 40 Oz Quencher Icon is the key word here, because this one is iconic! This beauty features the iconic Barbie logo in…you guessed it…pink! This 40-oz Quencher is priced at $60 and makes a great gift! Get it here.

  • Stanley X Barbie™ ’60s Twist ’N Turn Quencher 40 Oz With a soft, sorbet gradient and tangerine lid and straw combo, this vibrant Barbie Quencher captures the movement that made the Twist ‘N Turn Barbie doll so striking! Great colors and great for the Barbie collector too! Get it here.

  • Stanley x Barbie™ ’80s Rockers Quencher 40 Oz Inspired by the Barbie and the Rockers dolls, the Rockers Quencher features bright, retro graphics that are ready to rock. In a new wave style that is quintessentially Barbie, this unstoppable Quencher is born to lead. Purchase here.

  • Stanley x Barbie™ ’70s Superstar Quencher 40 Oz The hot pink and purple gradient of the Superstar Quencher is all about glitz and glam. A pattern of gold, dainty stars echo the sparkle and star-shaped stand of the Superstar Barbie doll. Purchase here.

  • Stanley x Barbie™ ’80s Western Ken Quencher 40 Oz Lasso your own Western Ken Quencher in a Midnight-black. With a print that mimics the contrast stitching and silver buckle showcased on the Western Ken doll, stand tall — adventure’s calling. Purchase here.

  • Stanley x Barbie™ ’80s Dynamite Quencher 40 Oz Rich colors, gold accents and disco lights of the Dynamite Quencher celebrate the first Black Barbie doll. Iconic in every way, the Dynamite Barbie doll debuted in a vibrant red bodysuit and wrap skirt with glamorous jewelry and star quality poses to shine. Purchase here.

  • Stanley x Barbie™ ’80s Rockers Quencher 40 Oz Inspired by the Barbie and the Rockers dolls, the Rockers Quencher features bright, retro graphics that are ready to rock. In a new wave style that is quintessentially Barbie, this unstoppable Quencher is born to lead. Purchase here.

  • Stanley x Barbie™ Icon 30 Oz Quencher The Barbie Icon Quenchers arrive in a bright pop of Barbie pink to celebrate shining bright together and creating limitless possibilities for all. This one holds 10 few ounces than the others, so it’s easier to carry and costs less! Purchase here.

These won’t last long! Take advantage of this opportunity to make lots of people on your list happy. Granddaughters? Check! Daughters? Check! Cousins? Friends? Moms? Check..check…and CHECK!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

by Kelly Mattei

DEAL on Rubbermaid Commercial-Grade Laundry Cart

Y’all know I encourage folks to purchase this on a regular basis. It’s a great cart for moving college students into and out of dorms. It’s great for moving towels to and from the pool deck. It’s great for moving laundry or other items around your house without having to carry them. Highly recommend, and it’s on sale ($127.93 instead of $200) until November 28, while supplies last! Get it here.

by Kelly Mattei

Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend

Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend

When I was a little girl, Memorial Day weekend marked the start of summer for me. School usually got out around Memorial Day, and I had the extra bonus of having a birthday at about the same time, so I loved the end of May…still do! And this year will be no different.

I have written before about how we need to remember the reason we celebrate Memorial Day…to honor those who lost their lives defending the very freedom we enjoy every single day. I have written about how my parents always made sure, when we were gathering with friends and family, that we remembered the meaning behind the day.

Does that mean it can’t be fun too? I like to think those who lost their lives would be happy to see us enjoying the freedom they made possible. We tend to have a pool day at our house. Sometimes we have friends over, and sometimes we don’t. Sometimes, our daughter invites friends over, and sometimes she goes somewhere else. This year, we will be fortunate to have some houseguests over the holiday weekend, and we are excited to hang out in the pool, cook out, and relax.

In fact, I’m ordering a few things from Amazon to help me be sure we have fun and stay safe at the same time, and if you order today, you can probably get them in time too! Even if you don’t want them for Memorial Day, these items can be great all summer! My new necessities for starting summer with some fun (and safety in mind):

  • Fun Boy Mesh Floats. I love being outdoors, but when it’s really hot, I need to be in the pool. And I don’t mean I need to be floating on top of something. I need to have some of my body actually in the water. These inflatable mesh floats from Funboy are perfect for relaxing and staying cool. Priced at just $39 for a mint colored or yellow one, and the pink ones are $41 each. Or you can get two pink ones or two mint ones for under $67. I just ordered two pink and two mint. They’ll add a little color to the pool and keep us all cool. Of course, on Saturday and Sunday, the weather isn’t likely to be cooperative, but it’s supposed to be pretty warm Monday. Purchase here.
  • Backyard Blast. When our daughter was a little girl, she and her friends loved to set up a Slip n Slide in our yard. They could play for hours. I even participated a few times. Personally, I think sliding water play is fun for all ages, so when I saw this Backyard Blast heavy duty waterslide for adults and teens, well…I had to have it. We haven’t tried it yet, but it’s 75′ long and 12′ wide! Priced at $159, it’s not cheap, but since it’s “heavy duty,” I hope to get lots of fun out of it. It gets good reviews. Purchase here.
  • Nerf Water Products. Nerf is a name we can trust in water toys, but there are so many to choose from! A good SuperSoaker battle is always fun, but Nerf also makes refillable water balloons for younger kids, and even ride-on floats for on-the-water battles! See what they offer here. The possibilities are endless!

  • Fun in the Sun Toys. In fact, there are lots of summer fun toys out there: Bubble machines, bubble wants, reusable water balloons, beach balls, splash pads…fun stuff to keep everyone cool and keep everyone moving! These toys are great for kids of all ages…including those like me who will be turning 56 this weekend! Amazon will ship quick and free if you have an Amazon Prime account. Check them out here.
  • Sunscreen. You have to stay safe in the sun! Sunscreen is essential. There are lots of different brands to choose from. Personally, I prefer Coppertone lotions when I’m going to be outside for a while, because they smell like my childhood. Other times, I like Hawaiian Tropic oils, because we used them when I was a teen, and it reminds me of some happy times. I do not like sprays, because one of the first ingredients listed is often alcohol, so while it’s easy to apply a spray, it actually dries out your skin! Not good. To purchase Coppertone lotions, click here. To purchase Hawaiian Tropic oils with different SPFs, click here. (You might have to scroll down a little.) And remember to protect your lips, which can burn fast. We use Coppertone Sport Lip Balm with SPF 50. Purchase here.
  • Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Products. Don’t forget you’ll need something to soothe your skin after you’ve been in the sun. In our house, we swear by Sun Bum Cooling After Sun Gel. Purchase here. They offer lots of products to choose from: lotions, gels, body butters.

Summer’s almost here! Let’s be ready for some fun! Happy Shopping!

by Kelly Mattei

Get Ready for Summer

Get ready for summer. In my mind, May 1st is a reminder that summer is just around the corner. I need to prepare myself for what I consider the most fun season of the year! But if you think I’m going to recommend swimwear, think again. Swimwear, to me, is a personal decision. And if you think I’m going to tell you how to get in shape, you’ve come to the wrong place. Aside from that, here are some things I need in preparation for the Summer 2023 season.

For the backyard/patio/pool:

  • Funboy floats (and other products). Y’all, I love Funboy. I started buying Funboy products a couple of years ago when an ad popped up on Instagram, and I love them! They have a huge line of pool floats, beach floats and toys, towels…you name it. You can see their products on Amazon by clicking here. Or click around. To see their beach towels, click here. To see their bestsellers, click here. Pool floats, click here. See their Barbie line here.. And their kids line here. Highly recommend!
  • Unbreakable plates. I love dining outside on the patio/poolside during the summer, but I don’t like chasing paper plates that blow in the wind. That’s why I purchased some unbreakable plates in pretty pastel colors that are dishwasher safe. See them here.
  • Unbreakable Tumblers. From Scandinovia, I love clear, unbreakable tumblers for poolside. See my faves here.
  • Unbreakable stemware. Planning to serve wine poolside? These unbreakable, stemless glasses are perfect! See them here
  • Fly Fans for Tables. If you’re going to be dining outside, you need to keep the flies and other insects away from food. The easiest thing I have found? Fly fans. They’re awesome. I first saw them used at an outdoor restaurant in the Bahamas, and they work like a charm! They’re battery-operated, and they keep the flying insects away from your food! Get yours here.

For you:

  • Miracle Heel Stick and Miracle Foot Repair. We can let our feet become less than pretty during winter, but sandal weather calls for smooth heels and feet. I tried these products after a friend told me about them…good stuff. I even use them on my elbows. Purchase here.
  • Summer nail polishes. Summer calls for summer colors, and Essie has some great ones. If you like to do your own nails, or if you prefer to take your own polish for your mani/pedi, check out the selection here.
  • Volatile Wedge Flip Flop. Like a little lift with your flip flops? These are foam platform with a wedge heel, and they’re super comfortable. I have them in the beige color, because I feel like they make my legs look longer. Perfect for pool days, but I wear them all the time, They come in three color options on Amazon. Get them here. Volatile offers other styles, as well, but I prefer these, because they are the most comfortable to me. You can see their other styles here.
  • Show Me Your Mumu Coverup. I love the Show Me Your Mumu brand, and their Paula pullover has always been a fave. I’m not sure they market it as a cover up, but I love it as a coverup. See it here.
  • Other Coverups. Some of my favorite coverups are simply gauzy, buttondown, long shirts. I have some favorites I got from Amazon here.
  • Head scarf. Riding around with the top down on your convertible or Jeep in the summer? I need something to keep my hair out of my face. A pretty head scarf makes me feel like Jackie O. See some options here.
  • Full headband. Don’t want the scarf? Consider a wide headband to keep your hair off your face. Click here.
  • Beach fragrance. If you like to walk around smelling like the beach even when you’re not at the beach, you can get the fragrance from Bobbi Brown Beach perfume by clicking here, or from Vacation perfume by clicking here.

I’m ready for summer to be here! Bring it on!