Essential Stanley Gear For Our Summer Fun

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What has your summer looked like so far? We’ve been keeping busy with a variety of activities, outings, and more. (If you’re looking for some ideas, I actually recently just shared this post: School Is Out But The Learning (and FUN) Doesn’t Have To Stop!). But today, I want to talk about a brand that has stood the test of time and become super popular in recent years.

Summer Staple: My Stanley Gear!

My husband used to give me such a hard time because I always had my Stanley with me. Seriously! Everywhere we went (all year round), my water bottle was my sidekick. But guess what? As soon as we’d be gone for an hour or two, I had lots of little people (and a husband) begging sips off of me! So while it may have taken my family a couple years to come around, we are now ALL Stanley loving peeps who usually have our bottles and cups along for almost every journey and I’m excited to partner with Stanley to share our love of this brand with you.

Summer Is Fun – BUT Be Sure To Stay Hydrated

There are lots of things to do in the summertime but my biggest tips are to stay hydrated and protect yourself and your family from the sun. Sounds easy, right? It can be! Just pack your Stanley bottles, cups, and coolers and get ready for some fun!

Choosing Your Busy

Everyone is busy, right? I know we all choose our ‘busy’. Because we dairy farm, we have to be a bit more discerning about where our time goes. While many families may choose to enroll their kids in sports, we do not. Farm life can be so unpredictable. From milking to field work and everything in between, it would be extremely difficult to commit to so many dedicated practices and games.

So instead, we put our focus more on activities we can do as a whole (family). Living in Minnesota, we are the land of 10,000+ lakes, right!? So you can bet we are definitely going to enjoy those lakes! One of the kids’ favorite things to do as they’ve gotten older is go jet-skiing and tubing. While we did have a speed boat for a couple years, we’ve found that jet skis are more our style. They are super fun to drive, can handle the tube well, and are smaller to store.

With a pretty big age span of kids, we try to find activities that everyone likes (which can be quite the feat). But one of those activities is our yearly trip to a local zoo. The kids love exploring all the new additions and arrivals each summer and you can bet we’ve got our bag of Stanley water bottles tucked under the stroller. Not only does it save money from having to purchase overpriced bottled water, it’s better for the planet too.

If you ever get to Minnesota and enjoy rides or water parks, you’ll want to make a stop at Valleyfair! This 90-acre amusement park in Shakopee is a summertime staple for many, us included. Growing up, my mom would take us every year with some friends. Now that I have my own kids, we’ve also made it a point to go. Two years ago, we even had season passes! Now owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the park opened in 1976 and features over 75 rides and attractions including eight roller coasters. And while outside food and beverages are not allowed, you ABSOLUTELY CAN bring in a water bottle, which I highly encourage to help you stay hydrated. I always top our Stanley’s with tons of ice and just refill as needed throughout the day at fountains.

These, along with checking out local parks, splash pads, biking trails, and hanging out with friends keeps us plenty busy each year. Right now, it also looks like we’re nearing the end of our almost year and a half long foster care placement. So emotions are all over the place and the extra visits and appointments we’re trying to squeeze in are also keeping us pretty tied up…..but that’s another blog post for a different day.

Grab Your Stanley Gear

I grew up watching my grandma pack my grandpa’s Stanley lunchpail and Classic Vacuum Bottle. <—- SERIOUSLY, these are what he had! Now as an adult, I’m also a huge Stanley customer and fan. Check out some of our must-haves below:

• IceFlow Bottle with Fast Flow Lid | 36 OZ: Stanley combines the best of the best – the IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler and the AeroLight Transit Bottle, now with a Fast Flow Lid wide mouth design for quick and easy hydration. My husband and boys really appreciate how they can REALLY guzzle from this bottle. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• IceFlow Bottle with Fast Flow Lid | 24 OZ: Same great style as the bottle above, just in a smaller size! (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• The IceFlow Bottle with Flip Straw Lid | 16 oz: This 16-ounce IceFlow Flip Straw 2.0 Bottle has premium AeroLight technology that makes it 33% lighter than standard stainless-steel bottles. Featherweight spun-steel insulation keeps your water ice-cold for hours. The folding handle makes this the perfect grab and go. My toddlers especially love this particular bottle! (Buy It: Amazon.com)

• The Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler | 30 OZ: This Quencher H2.0 is generously sized (but not oversized) with an easy-carry, comfort-grip handle and a narrow base that will fit most cup holders. It’s my go-to companion for every day life around the house or in the car. (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• The Quick Flip Go Bottle | 24 OZ: We’ve had this particular bottle in several color options over the years and it’s a fan favorite for sure! The Quick Flip GO Bottle can fit in most cup holders so it can ride along in your vehicle. The Double Wall Insulation keeps your favorite tea, coffee, or other hot drinks hot for up to 8 hours or cold for up to 12 hours. This trigger action lid makes this travel thermos spill-proof and easy for one-handed use. The lid is designed with a push button, which opens the mouthpiece on top. You can throw this in your work bag without worrying. (Buy It: Amazon.com)

• The IceFlow Bottle with Twist Flip Lid | 24 OZ: This new design intrigued me and let me say, it does not disappoint! With premium AeroLight technology, the IceFlow™ Twist Flip Bottle is 33% lighter than standard stainless-steel bottles. Featherweight insulation means your water stays ice-cold for hours. The stainless-steel carry hook makes it easy to grab and head out for the day. Pop open the lid with a twist of the outer ring. The Twist Flip lid locks and unlocks, while the Flow Steady control lets you adjust the flow of your 24-ounce drink. When you’re done, pop the lid closed and lock it to protect your sip space. (Buy It: Stanley1913.com)
• The All Day Madeleine Midi Cooler Backpack | 20 Can | 14.8 QT | 14.0 L: The All Day Madeleine Midi Cooler Backpack is made from 100% recycled polyester to make dining outside more sustainable. With a 20-can storage capacity, this Cooler Backpack maintains the perfect chill for up to 24 hours. There’s even a mesh pocket designed to fit your Quencher or bottled beverage of choice. The unique “doctor’s bag” hinge top pops open to help with unpacking, and padded straps make carrying more comfortable. Load up with reusable ice packs, pop it shut and the sturdy zipper keeps it all safely stored. A discreet zipper pocket on the cooler’s back helps to protect valuables. It comes in a variety of fun colors as well as neutrals. IT IS AMAZING!!!! (Buy It: Amazon.com)
• Adventure Quencher Travel Tumbler Straws | 40 OZ | 4-Pack: Damage or lose a straw? NO PROBLEM! Stanley has replacement packs in a variety of sizes as well as color options! (Buy It: Amazon.com)

• Classic Legendary Useful Box | 1.25 QT: This container is ideal for securely carrying your sandwich lunch and a snack for long days on the job. The name says it all – the Useful Box can also hold all your treasures and supplies– Everything from jewelry-making materials to seeds for the garden. Versatile, compact, and made with the same durable, easy-clean stainless steel that you expect from Stanley Classic gear. (Buy It: Stanley1913.com)

Tell me, have you jumped on the Stanley train yet?! If not, I suggest you do. They are a brand who has proven themselves over time. And now, they’ve listened to their customers and, while keeping their classics alive, they have expanded their product lines to include designs and colors that are loved by millions.

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