Cute summer necklaces
In summer, it’s fun to have some beach/summer jewelry pieces to bring the sunshine mood! I love these fun pieces:
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions for items purchased through my links.*
Cute Summer Necklaces
Category / products
The Carry-On with Removable Wheels
The Carry-On with Removable Wheels…
Recently, I had some lingering back issues. I love to hop on an airplane as much as anyone, but because of said back issues, I can no longer carry a heavy backpack or anything over five pounds for any distance. I’m simply afraid I will mess up the back again. Therefore, I need wheels on my carry-on, and I must have a carry-on, because I have some prescriptions I like to take with me when I travel. Therefore, I bought the cutest, tiny, wheeled carry-on that will fit under almost any airplane seat. I don’t say it will fit under any airplane seat, simply because there could be exceptions. However, I have flown several different aircraft with it, and it fit.
And then I ran into a problem when I was returning home from a wedding in April. I had flown into Montgomery, Alabama, for the wedding, and when I left Charlotte on the American Eagle Embraer RJ145, the gate agents and flight crew took no issue with my very small (14″) bag. In Montgomery, on the return, I walked down the jetbridge, and just as I was about to step onto the aircraft, an employee started to tag my bag. I simply said, “You’re not taking my bag. It fits under the seat.” “They told me to take anything with wheels.” “I don’t care. You’re not taking my bag. I will DRIVE back to Charlotte before I let you take it, because I know it fits under the seat. I came down on this aircraft a few days ago. This bag has my meds in it, and I will not let you take it.” He wasn’t happy about it, but he gave in once I said my meds were in it, and just as I said, it fit perfectly underneath the seat in front of me. I saw numerous people board behind me with much larger bags, but since they didn’t have wheels, they were acceptable. Whatever…
The next time I flew on a small aircraft, I was traveling with my husband, and I just packed a small duffel bag for my carry-on, because I knew he would carry it. As soon as we arrived at the airport, he complained, “Why didn’t you bring your little wheeled carry-on bag?” I explained to him that I wasn’t going to have that argument again with another agent.
When we returned home a week later, I went straight to Amazon to find a small carry-on bag with removable wheels, and I found exactly what I was looking for! At 18″, it’s a little bigger than my tiny carry-on, but it fits the dimensions of a carry-on, and I can remove the wheels! So I ordered one, and I guess it will be my carry-on when I fly on smaller planes. The wheels pop off with the touch of a button. Reattaching the wheels is pretty easy too! I promise you I will take it the next time I fly to/from Montgomery, and when that same guy tries to take my bag from the jetbridge, I will pop off the wheels, stick them in my handbag, and say, “No dice!”
This bag is great for travel and would make a great gift for anyone going to college!
You can purchase the bag with the removable wheels here.
Happy Shopping!
*As an Amazon associate, I receive commission on items purchased through my links.*
Rush-Ready Hair
Sorority rush-ready hair.
When my daughter was preparing to participate in sorority rush/recruitment four years ago, she wanted a Dyson Airwrap. Lucky for her, I had one I had only used once or maybe twice. I was just an old dog who couldn’t learn a new trick, so I gave it to her. She loved it, and she used it…still does! It delivers beautiful curls or beautiful straight hair without as much heat damage as lots of other hair tools. It’s also faster than using multiple tools, because it dries and curls (or smooths) at the same time. It also has a hefty price tag, but Shark makes something similar that’s on sale right now.
If you or someone you know wants the Dyson Airwrap, you can get it at Amazon here. My daughter loves hers, and if it suddenly stopped working, I’m sure she would want another one of the same brand.
However, I have a friend who purchased her daughter the similar item from Shark brand, and her daughter loves the Shark. The regular price for the Shark brand item is about $350, but right now (at time of writing), you can get two versions of it for $199. That’s a huge savings for a great product. It would make a great graduation gift or birthday gift. Or maybe you are already doing holiday shopping! It would make a great gift for Christmas or Hanukkah. Purchase here.
Happy Shopping!
*As an Amazon Associate, I receive commission for items purchased through my links.*
My New Favorite Shampoos
My new favorite shampoos…
A couple of weeks ago, I returned from the Bahamas with a special souvenir: green hair! I wrote about it in a previous post, and I also shared a link to the shampoo I used to help correct it. After trying the Swimmer’s Wellness Shampoo from Malibu C, I decided to try some of their other shampoos! (You can purchase the Swimmer’s Wellness Shampoo and Conditioner here. It’s great for frequent swimmers, as it fends off the chlorine and copper in water that will turn hair green.)
After that Bahamas trip, our next trip was to California. I love the hotel where we always stay, but I always find the water to be hard, so before we left, I checked into Malibu C’s haircare products. Lucky me…they have a shampoo formulated for hard water! I ordered it immediately and took it with us. For once, my hair was manageable in southern California. There were days I styled it, and days I just went with the natural curls. The shampoo worked great at making my hair feel healthier than it usually does there, and I have even continued to use it at home! I love it. Purchase the Malibu C Hardwater Wellness Shampoo/Conditioner here.
Next, I’m trying the Malibu C Blondes Shampoo/Conditioner. If it works as well as the others, I will be very happy and have less brassy blonde hair! Over the years, I have found it can be difficult to keep blonde hair from turning brassy in summer, so I welcome the opportunity to try the Malibu C product. I will report back, but if you’d like to try it too, you can purchase it here.
They also offer a Color Wellness Shampoo/Conditioner for all colors that you can purchase here.
Malibu C also offers a clarifying shampoo called Undo-Goo that’s especially great if you use a lot of hair products. Sometimes, we all just need to kind of “start over” with our hair, and a clarifying shampoo is a great way to clean it all up. You can purchase Malibu C Undo-Goo Shampoo here.
I’m on my way to trying all Malibu C has to offer! I love the brand! The shampoos/conditioners I have tried smell fantastic too! Even my 22-yr-old daughter gave them the stamp of approval. And did I mention they’re vegan?
***As an Amazon Associate, I receive commission on the items purchased through my links.***
Your Sorority Recruitment “Rush Bag”
Your sorority recruitment “rush bag.”
I know it’s only June, and most high school graduations haven’t even happened yet. Congratulations to all the 2026 graduates! You’ve finished that big part of life, and now you’re starting something new! Maybe you’re entering the working world. Maybe you’re going to trade/vocational school. Maybe you’re traveling for a while. Maybe you’re going to college. Whatever you’re doing, best of luck to you! If you’re planning to participate in sorority recruitment at a big, southern school, it’s time to start thinking about your “Rush bag.”
What’s a “Rush bag,” you ask? Well, it’s a water-resistant handbag that holds all the necessities for keeping one’s self fresh during a long August day outdoors in any southern state. What kind of bag should you use? What things should go in it? Fear not, for I have answers.
My own daughter rushed at a big, southern school in 2022, and much to her surprise, she used almost every item I put into her rush bag. She thanked me for taking care of business for her.
For the bag itself, I recommend waterproof or, at least, water resistant.
- Rush bag. If you know a young lady who is graduating from high school and planning to participate in sorority recruitment at a big, southern university, a “rush bag” makes a great gift. She will definitely need one! You’ll want to start with a water-resistant bag with a zipper closure. These bags will be left outside sorority houses on the ground when they go inside, so they don’t need to be fancy bags. I found a perfect one that comes in multiple colors on Amazon for about $27 here. (See photo at bottom of page.) If you opt for that one, I think the medium size is great. If you want to go with a Longchamp-style nylon bag from Amazon…shop here. If you want to add the necessities for recruitment, you can add all of these or some of these items:
- Handheld, battery-operated fan. It’s hot in the south. The heat and humidity are no joke. She will need a fan. Our daughter used this one last year. And at $7.99 (at time of writing), it’s priced right and comes in a variety of colors.
- Archies brand flip flops. Your daughter will want some comfortable shoes to wear between parties, and she can slip a pair of Archies right into her bag. These awesome flip flops offer great arch support, and they are designed to absorb shock. They might look like regular flip flops, but I know how much better they are, because I have some! They come in lots of colors, so pick one she likes. Highly recommend! And when rush is over, she can use them as shower shoes or anytime! Purchase for $40 here.
- Archies brand flip flops. Your daughter will want some comfortable shoes to wear between parties, and she can slip a pair of Archies right into her bag. These awesome flip flops offer great arch support, and they are designed to absorb shock. They might look like regular flip flops, but I know how much better they are, because I have some! They come in lots of colors, so pick one she likes. Highly recommend! And when rush is over, she can use them as shower shoes or anytime! Purchase for $40 here.
- Waterproof folding changing pad. Sounds crazy, I know, but the girls will be wearing dresses and will need to sit on the ground some during the day. They can save their dresses from grass stains or water spots with this. We got our daughter this one.
- Blotting papers. All that heat and humidity produces sweat…blot away the shine with blotting papers. Get some from NYX at Amazon for just $6 here.
- Insulated Water Bottle. They’ll need cold water each day. Pick a water bottle from Amazon here.
- Hand sanitizer. This is pretty obvious. We purchased our daughter some Purell travel-sized hand sanitizers to use between parties. Get them from Amazon here.
- Small umbrella. A small folding umbrella is crucial in the south, where thunderstorms can crop up at any time. When I asked my daughter which item she used most from her rush bag, her immediate answer was “the umbrella.” We got a great one at Amazon here.
- Tissues. These come in handy. You never know when you’ll need a tissue. Get Amazon’s Choice here.
- Deodorant. This is a more personal item, so you can include it or not. I think it’s nice to include one just as a possibility. Personally, I love Carpe antiperspirant/deodorant, which you can buy here. They have lots of different scents, and I have tried lots of them. For women, my favorite scents are Cashmere, Fresh Powder, and Rose Water. They also offer sweat absorbing lotion for face and hands, and they actually work! I know, because I have tried them! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
- Breath Strips. The girls spend a lot of time going to lots of parties, and they are in crowds. They want fresh breath. Sure, they can use mints, but I think breath strips are better, because they dissolve quickly. Get them from Amazon for under $6 here.
- Portable charger. The girls don’t want their phones to die in the middle of the day, so a portable charger comes in handy. For a small, inexpensive one, click here.
- Lip gloss or balm. Most people have their own cosmetics they love, but Dior Addict lip products are loved by lots of people! If you don’t want to choose a color, their lip balms, maximizers, and oils come in clear versions too. See them here.
- Band Aids. I would add some regular Band Aids from here. And some blister Band Aids from here.
- Snack. Gatorade Recovery Protein Bars are great snacks for those hot days…something to put some pep in their step. It’s a great small snack, because it provides a little protein.My daughter loves these on the go. Get some here.
- Safety pins. For little emergencies, these come in handy. Get a small packet here.
- Feminine products. You definitely want to have feminine hygiene products on hand, in case you need them.
- Painkillers such as Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen. Also, a dose of any regular medications you take.
- Medication Sorter. If your daughter takes any regular daily medications, a med sorter can be a big help. See the one I recommend here.
- You can include a notebook and pen, but I feel like most girls take notes on their phones.
In reality, you hope you won’t need to use the items in your rush bag, but you want to be prepared. You don’t want to have to walk around asking people if they have safety pins or Band Aids if you need one, and you definitely don’t want to use someone else’s makeup or deodorant.
***Items purchased through my links generate commissions for me.***
Birthday Trip Souvenir
Birthday Trip Souvenir
I returned home yesterday from a lovely week in the Bahamas with my family. We had a great time celebrating my husband’s 60th birthday. 60! It’s hard to believe, but he is, indeed, 60 years old…or young, however you want to look at it.
I might be the only one from the trip who brought home a souvenir…green hair. Yes, you read it right…green hair.
While we were there, we swam in the Sea of Abaco. We swam in pools. We visited different islands. We rode in the boat. We ate too much. We stayed up late at night talking, drinking, and laughing. And on Thursday before we returned home on Saturday, I spent some time swimming in a pool at a resort on one of the islands. We all swam in it, but I’m the only one who came home with green hair.
Frankly, if anyone had to come home with green hair, I’m glad it was me. My 22-yr-old daughter would have been horrified. Let it be me. At 58 (I’ll be 59 Wednesday!), I didn’t really care all that much that my hair had a green tint. In fact, I was a little amused by what I called my “mermaid hair.”
However, no matter what you call it, it is not attractive. It was mostly on the ends and in one section of my hair. I say “was,” because I have already remedied the situation. I searched all over the internet for the best solution, and I read that ketchup is the way to go. My brother dates a lovely woman who is a hairdresser, so I confirmed it with her before I saturated my hair in cheap ketchup from Publix. The red color and acid in the ketchup is supposed to counteract the green color from the copper/chlorine. This afternoon, I got to work. I put on a button-up shirt I was willing to part with, and I saturated my hair in ketchup and waited 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, I washed my hair.
As soon as I realized I had green hair, I placed an order on Amazon for a special shampoo called Malibu C Swimmers Wellness Clarifying Shampoo for Chlorine and Hair Build Up, and that’s what I used to remove the ketchup from my hair. Just as I had been told, it worked. So if you ever find yourself or your child in a similar predicament, I highly recommend ketchup, followed by the Malibu C shampoo.
If you’d like to keep it on hand this summer when your kids are spending lots of time in swimming pools, you can get it from Amazon here. I purchased the large bottle, because we have a pool at home, and since I wash my hair regularly anyway, I might as well use this fantastic shampoo. It smells great and made my hair super soft.
Next time I go to the Bahamas, I hope I will return with a better souvenir.
***As an Amazon associate, I earn commissions for items purchased through my links.***
Great Gift: My Favorite Daily Earrings
My favorite daily earrings.
I have lots of earrings that I wear for different occasions, but for travel and for regular days around the house/town, I have some hoop earrings I love. Add in the fact that they are super inexpensive, and they’re even more fun to wear! They’re so inexpensive that I don’t worry about losing them. In fact, I have at least six pairs of them. Obviously, I really like them. They are “gold” and “jeweled” with multicolored “gems,” and they match anything I want to wear on the daily. I get compliments on them every single day. These are another HIGHLY RECOMMEND item. Get them for everyone woman on your list! Check out the pics an purchase them from Amazon here.
*As an Amazon associate, I receive commission on items purchased through my links.*
My Favorite Advent Devotional
My favorite Advent devotional.
The holidays can be hectic, but I have found it helps to sit down and focus on the reason for the season. Bestselling author and fine artist Anne Neilson beautifully captures the angels’ essence in this devotional designed especially for Advent. Gorgeous, original art showcases Anne’s timeless angels, which are accompanied by daily devotions, that will guide you into the sacred beauty of the Christmas season.
It makes a great Advent gift for family and friends. I have ordered six of them for my own loved ones (and myself), and they will ship in September. If you’d like to bring peace and focus for the holidays to yourself and others, this is a great gift. The artwork is guaranteed to be beautiful, and the daily devotionals can be a calming moment during a busy season.
Purchase here.
***I receive commission for items purchased through my Amazon links.***
My Favorite Dupe Shoes
My favorite dupe shoes…
***I receive commission from Amazon on items purchased through my links.***
This summer, I found the cutest designer dupe chunky heel slides, and they are at a great price point on Amazon! I ended up ordering five colors, but they’re offered in seven colors, and I still might go back and purchase those other two colors! Y’all know that when I find something I like, I order it in every color, because it isn’t always easy to find something I like. I have worn them all summer, and I plan to continue to wear them into fall, because they look great and they’re comfortable. The work great with pants and even dresses! I have received compliments on them every time I have worn them. Get yours today. Run, don’t walk, to your computer and order through your Amazon Prime account! Right now, Prices start at $36.98. Yes! Under $40 for some great dupes! Purchase here.
Favorite Dupe Handbag
My favorite dupe handbag. * I receive commission for items purchased through my Amazon links.*
I have always loved handbags, and I especially love a good dupe. This one is inexpensive and cute, so I love it. It comes in several different colors, and I have four of them. At these prices, if they get messed up, just buy another one! Purchase here. They pair great with some dupe shoes you can purchase here.
Kelly's Favorite Things 