These are a few of my favorite things for bugs, nails, and water!

I thought I would take a moment to recommend some of my favorite things this summer! Here are my latest top 3:

Nail Polish – I am not one to go get manicures or pedicures. Time and money are not things I want to spend on my fingernails or toenails. I do like to have pretty nails, however! I usually just paint them myself and I have found the hope diamond of nail polishes. Orly Breathable is the best! In this picture I had painted my nails a week ago – this is how they looked after a whole week of gardening and dishwashing! This polish holds up better than OPI or the Revlon Gel Envy and I have bought it for a fraction of the cost ($6.98) at Walmart! It dries incredibly fast so I like using it on my little girls’ nails and toes. My favorite is “Soul Sister” in this picture but I have other colors I like as well. You can also find it on Amazon here. Orly has their Amazon listing grouped by color families so you can also check out this link for more colors.

Bug Repellent – I love being outside but I don’t like paying the price with bug bites. I also detest the smell and feel of bug spray. I have been on a lifelong quest for the perfect repellent that doesn’t leave me itching for a shower. My neighbor, Melissa, has been telling me about her new find for a while. I have been using this Johnson’s Baby Creamy Oil each morning when I go out to garden before my kids wake up and I am thrilled with the results! Bugs don’t find me. It doesn’t feel greasy – in fact it is really nice as a moisturizer. It has a very faint fresh scent. It does not smell like typical baby lotion. It is not expensive. As an added bonus it is great to use on my baby! I think if I were going “deep woods” I might still pull out the deet, but this is perfect for mornings or evenings when I just want to work in the garden for a bit without being mauled. (Side note: I live in Minnesota where mosquitos are our state bird and I have a pond in my backyard. If it works in my backyard it will work in yours!)

Lemon or Grapefruit – I put lemon on everything! I squeeze it on my broccoli, on my chicken, on my salads, in my water, etc. If I don’t happen to have a lemon in my fridge I reach for TrueLemon. It tastes just like lemon but it is easier than slicing and squeezing a lemon. No sugar or stevia or anything. It comes in a shaker and in little packets that are the right size to put in your water bottle. I have bought the little TrueGrapefruit packets as well and they make my bottled water into something amazing. There is nothing more refreshing to me than citrus.

I hope these small things bring you as much joy as they have brought me! If so, give this a share.

Note: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. I only link to products that I actually use and recommend. If you make a purchase via one of the links I earn a small commission.