Tag / ice maker

Closet with hanging shirts, shoe rack, storage bins, and step stool in a bedroom
by Kelly Mattei

New Apartment? You Might Need These

New apartment? You might need these…

My daughter is moving into a new apartment. She had an apartment in college, but this is her first apartment post-college, and she’ll be in New York, where space is limited. She is excited, and so am I, but there are some things we decided she would need that she didn’t need at a college apartment.

  • Countertop nugget ice maker. The refrigerator in her new apartment doesn’t have an ice maker, and ice trays take too long to actually make ice. Therefore, we got her a countertop nugget ice maker. It makes ice in 5-7 minutes, and it’s pretty compact, so it doesn’t take up a lot of counter space. It would be great in any apartment or at the bar in any home, if you don’t have a built-in ice maker. Or maybe you just like nugget ice in your beverages? Purchase here.
  • Windowless Portable Air Cooler. Running an air conditioner can be expensive. I know that for sure, because our power bill quadruples in July and August in North Carolina. Even New York summers are hot, so I got a windowless portable air cooler for her room. She is accustomed to sleeping in our cold house at night, so she can run the air cooler at night to keep the power bill from escalating. The one we got doesn’t require a window tube, hence the word “windowless,” and it’s supposed to drop the temperature anywhere from 5 degrees to 16 degrees in a small room. We got here from Amazon here.
  • Shoe racks. A friend gave us her daughter’s stackable wood shoe racks to put in the bottom of a closet. Before, when our daughter was in college, she had an over-the-door shoe hanger but didn’t use it like she should have. Because she likes to keep the shoes in the bottom of her closet, I’m hoping this will work better. Purchase some similar to the ones we have here.
  • Towel/linens storage. In her college apartment, she had plenty of room and had her own bathroom. Towels could be stored there, and linens could be stored in her huge walk-in closet. Fast forward to her NY apartment, and she is sharing a bathroom with a roommate and has a much smaller closet. Therefore, she needs a place to store those items. We opted for a wicker hamper that will fit inside one end of her closet. She will actually have two hampers: one for dirty laundry and another for the towels/linens…one at each end of the closet. We found a great deal on Amazon here.
  • Tension closet rod. Because she has only one closet, and it it only has one long bar in it, we decided to purchase a tension closet rod, so she will be able to hang more clothes, even if it’s just a lower rod for hanging pants. That will free up some space on the other rod. We found a great one on Amazon. You can see it and purchase here.
  • Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtains. These are great for so many reasons. First, the obvious: they block sunlight when you don’t want it. But also, they block some noise and provide some level of insulation, trapping air between the curtain and the window to help maintain desired temperature in the room. We are big fans of blackout curtains, and my daughter loved the ones she had in her college apartment. Unfortunately, they are too long for her new apartment, so we ordered new ones. We need to just cover the window, because the air conditioning unit is below the window, and we definitely don’t want to cover that! We purchased these.
  • Clothes Drying rack. Some clothes just don’t need to go in the dryer: workout clothes, cottons, etc. And some clothes can be handwashed in the sink and hung to dry…like underwear, swimsuits, and lightweight blouses. Therefore, we got our girl a drying rack. There are different kinds. Some people prefer the tripod version while others prefer the standard ones. Get a tripod drying rack from Amazon here. Or get a standard, folding drying rack here.
  • Folding step stool. Because our daughter is only about 5’5″, we knew she would need a step stool to reach the upper shelf in her closet. Therefore, we got her a folding step stool. It will come in handy when she needs to stack sweaters or whatever she wants to put up there. Purchase here.

We will be moving her into the apartment in two days. I’m sure, as we go, I will come up with more items we need, and I will share with you!

***As an Amazon affiliate, I receive commission on items purchased through my links.***

by Kelly Mattei

Stay Cool

Stay cool.

With temps all over the country at or above triple digits, staying cool is a priority these days…and it’s not easy. Last weekend, I went to Sorority Bid Day at the University of Alabama with a friend, and we both declared it to be as hot as the surface of the sun. Every year, we declare it to be the last year, but somehow, we keep going.

Next year, though, we will be more prepared, because I have done some research on staying cool. I’m also preparing for a couple of warm (hot) vacations, so I’m going to be prepared. You can spend your time doing your own research, or you can just listen to what I say here, because I’m going to share some products I have found that could save you from suffering from heat stroke:

  • Neck fans. I purchased a couple at Amazon recently, and they seem to work pretty well! My husband and I will be taking them to south Florida with us soon, and my cousin and I will use them when we got to Panama in October. It’s always hot near the Panama Canal, but we will be prepared. See these rechargeable neck fans here.
  • Cooling scarf. Yes, I will do anything to try to stay cool, and wearing a cooling scarf is definitely on my agenda! They’re cute and colorful, and they help you stay cool! Purchase here.
  • Be Koool Active Cooling Patch. This one is easy…an adhesive patch to wear during moderate activity, to help keep you cool. Priced under $7, it’s also Prime eligible, so you get free shipping, if you’re an Amazon Prime member. Offering about 4 hours of relief, I’ll be taking a few of these on trips with me. I purchased 20, so my family has them when we need them. Purchase here.
  • Gatsby Cooling wipes. Sometimes, when it’s crazy hot, you just want to “freshen up.” Well, Gatsby Cooling Wipes freshen you up and help cool you off! I’ve used them, and they’re awesome! Take them with you on the go! There are other brands out there, but this is the brand I prefer. Purchase here.
  • Drip Drop Hydration Packets. I carry these everywhere I go. They are great for keeping you hydrated, and they work great for hangovers and illness recovery too. In these crazy temps, it’s important to stay hydrated. There are other brands, but Drip Drop is my favorite, because I think their flavors are better. Purchase on Amazon here.
  • Yeti Insulated Cup. Add some ice, water, and Drip Drop to this insulated cup, and you’re set to move around in crazy temps. For the 26 oz cup with chug top, click here. Or to see other Yeti offerings, click here.
  • Countertop Nugget Ice Machine. Like nugget ice? Keep your drinks cool by making your own nugget ice at home with countertop nugget ice machine! The one from Antarctic Star can be purchased for as low as $159.99 for a light blue color…going up for other colors. Purchase here.
  • Misting fan from O2 Cool. I love this brand. They make my very favorite travel fan, which I will mention below. But for now, it’s all about the portable misting fan. These are a little big, but they’ll fit in a small backpack when you’re at a sporting event, riding a bike, going for hike, or touring a city. Now, get two for under $25 at Amazon! Purchase here.
  • O2 Cool fans. I have used an O2 Cool travel fan for years. I take it anytime I travel and set it up on my nightstand. It’s small but mighty, and you’ll be surprised how much it helps at night when you’re trying to sleep! I sleep with a fan in my room at home, but it’s too big for travel. The O2 Cool travel fan is perfect. Purchase here. O2 Cool also makes a necklace fan they sell in packs of four. This is not one I have tried, but I have ordered it. I expect great things, simply because I love the O2 Cool products. Purchase here.
  • Cooling Bedding. And if you need help staying cool while you sleep, there’s Rest Brand, which makes Evercool comforters and sheets. The comforters and sheets are made to dissipate heat 10X faster than cotton sheets and comforters. They’re not inexpensive, but hey…if you’re sweating at night, they could be the answer. Priced at $199 per twin comforter/$239 for queen/$279 for king. Sheet sets start at $199 for full/$209 for queen/$219 for king/$239 for California King. Like I said, not inexpensive, but they will be worth it for lots of folks. See comforters here. And sheet sets here.
  • Inflatable Pool. There are lots of inflatable pools out there…some smaller, some larger. The one I’m recommending is on the larger size and seems to be more durable. If you don’t have a pool in your yard, an inflatable pool can be the answer for cooling off! See one from Sun Club Inflatable Pools here.

It’s crazy hot out there, people! Stay cool!