|
The toys of summer
Julie E. Houston • Bankrate.com
Everybody's free to wear sunscreen, but sunscreen's
not free. Find out what it's going to cost you to get ready for
summer.
Summer's here and it's time to head outside. But,
before you hit the beach or plan your picnic, you need to make room
in your budget for the toys of summer. Grab your grill, slide on
your sandals, lather on the sunscreen, stave off the pests, put
the top down and don't forget the brew; you're going to have a great
time this season, if you've got the goods.
I blew out my flip-flop
Boy, that sand can be hot as you're skipping across
it with your lounge chair in hand. Get yourself some new sandals
that will keep your tootsies happy. Rob BonDurant, marketing director
for Teva (pronounced teh-vuh), in Santa Barbara, Calif., says that
Teva has a sandal for you.
"Ask yourself what are your intended uses (for the
shoe). A good salesperson will be able help you find what you want,"
says BonDurant.
Teva makes shoes for wherever the hot
summer days take you. If you're up for some rock climbing, whitewater
rafting and hiking, they've got a "reversed engineered" sandal for
you, which BonDurant explains is built like a running shoe. Or,
if you're like me and your idea of adventure in the great outdoors
is the sprint from the air-conditioned car to the air-conditioned
office, Teva has a utility sandal for you. Prices range from $24.95
up to $100 for the trail runners.
If that sounds a bit stiff, BonDurant says to remember
that, "This is not your dime store flip-flop." Teva features continuous
strap webbing that prevents the straps from coming out of the base.
Good thing, since the shoe is ruined if that happens. Teva also
offers a lifetime warranty.
Feel the burn
Before you step outside, put on your sunscreen. Patricia
Agin, research director of photobiology for the Coppertone Solar
Research Center, in Memphis, Tenn., says that applying sunblock
should not be reserved for the summer months alone. "Sunscreen should
be part of your daily routine. When you are out every day, UV rays
are coming through the windows and do damage to the skin," says
Agin.
She notes that incidental exposure to the sun day
after day can result in skin cancer and aging. And after seeing
"There's Something About Mary," I'm not taking any chances.
She suggests determining how your skin reacts to the
sun and finding a sunscreen with enough SPF to keep your skin from
turning a la lobster. SPF tells how long you can be in the sun before
you will burn. For example, if you're standing in line at Disney
World and your skin burns in 10 minutes, get an SPF 30 and you're
good to go for five hours.
If you still aren't sure which SPF is right for you,
Agin suggests, "It's always better to choose a higher SPF."
But don't think that if an SPF 30 will get you through
five hours, then two coats will get you through 10 hours. "Protection
factors are not additive," Agin assures me.
Coppertone makes a whole line of sun care that will
fit your summer activities. "There's something for everyone," says
Agin as she notes the line of waterproof, convenient, moisturizing,
oil-free products they carry. Prices range from $1.18 for lip care
to $9.49 for their Bug & Sun product -- sunscreen and bug repellent
in one.
Itch at first bite
Speaking of those nasty critters, stop the itch of
mosquitoes and sting of bees with products from the Lanacane Itch
Information Center, in White Plains, N.Y. Stephen Pennisi, itch
expert, suggests using an anti-itch medication, such as Lanacane
for mosquito bites. This will prevent you from scratching and infection
that will leave your summer tan less than desirable. Lanacane Creme
runs $3.97
Even better is Lanabiotic, an anti-itch creme and
antibiotic gel in one that kills bacteria while soothing your bites,
stings and burns. A tube is only $2.99.
And if you have a brush with death, or the barbecue
grill, try Lanacane Maximum Strength First Aid spray. A four-ounce
can retails for $4.99.
This next part can be grilling
Let's just hope that the only brush you have with
your summer barbecue will be flipping your famous ribs, or marinated
kabobs. Barbeques Galore, in Irvine, Calif., has a grill solution
for you.
From a portable tabletop grill with a mini propane
tank from Weber, for $50, to the 825 square inch, Fiesta Regency
for $199, you'll be searing your steaks in no time. Looking for
a more gourmet approach to the summer picnic? Check out their wok
toppers, marinade injectors and roto-kabob, for the perfect kabobs.
"People just don't know what all they can do with
grills," says Charlotte Bradshaw, marketing coordinator for Barbeques
Galore. If your spatula is a little rusty, though, don't worry,
they have recipe books available, too. Check out their Web site
for more product information.
So what are the rest of you drinking?
No summer picnic would be complete, at least at my
house, without some cold brew. Beck's Beer, distributed in Greenwich,
Conn., has got you covered. They now have a five-liter keg available
for your next get-together. Convenient and easy to operate, you'll
be chugging your heart out for $16. This puppy is definitely coming
home with me.
Need a pick-me-up after a night of beer drinking?
William Vaughn has your needs wrapped up in a tube. GU, developed
in Berkley, Calif., is an energy gel that will give you a kick.
After co-creating PowerBar, Vaughn decided to develop the same kind
of energy supplement in a toothpaste-like tube for when you are
on the run. It can be used after a long run, or even to get you
through that Friday afternoon under the glow of your office lights
for only $1.25 per one-ounce packet.
Now this is my kind of pick-me-up
If your summer leaves you will some extra cash, then
Volvo has its own summer staple for you. The new Volvo C70 convertible
is ready for you to hit the streets with your hair whipping in the
wind. You can spend your summer topless, according to Avra Goldstone,
of New York, for only $40,000.
And honey, if you know someone that includes this
pretty sports car as a staple of the season, see if they have a
cute son for me.
-- Posted: May 6, 1999
|
