This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
These useful and fun products, all of which cost less than $40, will help keep you well-read, well-fed and looking your best as summer ebbs.
Pretty tweeze • Stainless-steel slanted-edge tweezers from Wooster & Prince (parksidepapers.com) make it easy to create the perfect arch. These tweezers come in fun patterns that brighten up a boring beauty chore, at $5 each.
Beach reading • The Light Between Oceans, by M.L. Stedman. Find a sunny spot and give yourself over to this suspenseful tale about a lighthouse keeper and his new bride, for $25.
Thrill team • Kick up your heels in lightweight 4-inch peep-toe wedges (amiclubwear.com), packed with vintage flair, at $34.
Perfect pouch • A color-blocked faux-leather wallet with a handy detachable strap (shopsosie.com) is the ideal place to stash your keys and a lipstick. It also comes in a brown-and-yellow style, for $21.
The bangles • This is summer's must-have accessory. You don't have to break the bank to look glamorous. Try this ritzy-looking armload of turquoise and gold-tone bracelets (amiclubwear.com), at $20 for a set of 13.
Cherry picking • A brick of Beekman Tart Cherry After the Garden goat's-milk soap, from TV's "Fabulous Beekman Boys," contains gently exfoliating cherry pits — an anytime indulgence (willams-sonoma.com), at $11 each.
Tee time • The new classic is a multicolored update on sailor stripes, with draped sleeves and button trim. This piece will give any casual day that extra flare. Not to mention, it's at a really nice price (oldnavy.com), for $18.
Precious metals • Let your digits test-drive the trend toward cool metallics. Good as Gold (essie.com) is our new summer standard. Try copper and silver shades, too, at $8.
S'mores anyone? • No fire pit required here. Ignite the Light'n Go Bonfire Log (ecoforestfirewood.com) in the yard, on the stoop or on the sand. Flames burn safely in a self-contained kilin-dried birch stump. It's designed to light with a single match, for $10.
Super shopper • This sturdy oversized Zig Zag Canvas Bag (zgallerie.com for stores) in black-and-white chevron stripes will be your constant companion at the beach or farmers' market. Rope handles give a modern design a nautical twist, at $30.
Bite size • Decadent Belgian milk chocolate becomes an entirely diet-friendly 150-calorie treat when shrunk into 3-inch Magnum Mini Classic bars (grocery stores), at $6 for six.
Shore shots • Kiss That Frog's mini tumblers with removable sea-grass sleeves (acmepartybox.com) are perfect for drinks , or for impromptu flower arrangements, at $28 for four.
Lash out • In the "Why didn't we think of that?" category, LashControl's squeezable tube (lashcontrol.com) lets you determine how much mascara goes on the wand, for $20.
Tiny bubbles • Mionettos's il Spritz tends bar on your behalf, combining semi-sparkling wine, citrus and herbs into a ready-to-go aperitivo, at $15.