Make the Most of Summer with these Essentials

Happy summer! These are the items that we use the most during warmer weather, from bedding to art to breakfast smoothies.

Let’s Transition to Summer

The transition to summer is in full swing here in Chicago! We’ve spent the last few weekends traversing the city on our family tandem (with this attachment for Lucy!) and it’s bringing us so much joy. When we’re not exploring the neighborhoods and beaches by triple-seater bicycle, we’re enjoying our home and the small conveniences that bring the feeling of summer to us! From hosting Lucy’s entire T Ball team for a post-game brunch to movie nights by the fire, we put all of these summer essentials to good use throughout the warmer months.

Our Summer Essentials

All of the items below are in heavy summer rotation already… And I can spot 5 of them from where I sit right now. A couple of them are even live here in Chicago and at your YBH Tree House!

Summer

1. Cold Brew Coffee Maker, $18

Coffee shop cold brew prices are getting insane! We’ve vowed to brew our own whenever possible and this sub-$20 Primula does the job extremely well! We had an older version that was tall and skinny, but this new shorter and wider form factor is a huge upgrade! It’s also cheaper than buying three coffees from the shop, so it’s a very worthwhile investment in caffeination!

2. Enamelware Pitcher, $64

This enamelware pitcher is great to have out on the table full of water or batched cocktails. It’s dishwasher safe and nearly indestructible, so it makes cleanup a snap. Plus, if it gets dropped or knocked over, the chips just add character!

3. Cotton Throw Blanket, $43

This lightweight throw is the perfect thickness to take the chill out of a crisp evening porch hang. It’s just heavy enough to keep you cozy without overdoing it.

4. Linen Blend Duvet Set, $140

Like the blanket above, this linen blend sheet set is perfect for summer weather. We love the way linen breathes to keep temps just right for sleeping through a warm summer night with a couple of windows cracked.

5. Nutribullet Blender, $130

Smoothies are a morning staple through the warmer months and our Nutribullet has changed the game. No more fussing with the cleanup of a full-size blender just to spin up some fruit! The ingenious inverted design even allows you to drink straight from the blender cup with the included lid!

6. Cherry Bomb Candle, $26

We generally love a warm, earthy scent for our home’s candles, but MoCo’s Cherry Bomb is an absolutely perfect scent for summer weather! It’s fruity without being overly sweet and we’ve got it in heavy rotation when we find ourselves indoors.

7. In Colour by Jamie xx, $23

Jamie xx’s 2015 debut is an absolute masterpiece. There’s something for everyone here and I don’t think a month has gone by in the last 9 years that we haven’t played it through from start to finish. It’s an essential spin for summer weather and we couldn’t be more excited for the long-awaited followup, In Waves, to drop this September!

8. Vintage Fan, $50

This handsome little guy plays a lot of roles in our house! It’s a sound machine, clothes dryer and an air conditioner all in one! The compact form factor is highly portable and it has a solid weight that just feels high-quality. Every home needs one. Including our Tree House!

9. Changeable Kids Artwork Frame, $26

Lucy is never not creating art at home or school, so these changeable photo frames are the perfect way to both store and display her masterpieces. We love to swap things out to match the season, and these frames make it incredibly easy!

10. Air Purifier, $134

I’m a long-time environmental allergy sufferer and I’ve got quite a few tricks (and tissues) up my sleeve to help alleviate the symptoms. For starters, we’ve positioned Bissell air purifiers on each floor of our home and they do a great job cleaning the air to bring me a great deal of relief. They’re among the nicest looking purifiers we’ve tried and they operate so quietly that we forget they’re eve there!

Looking for more? See our recent front porch refresh, the turkey burger you’ll want to grill this weekend, and other summer favorites!