Tonight: Summery gifts for picnics, barbecues, and block parties. Plus …
For many of us, the actual “official” start of summer isn’t the solstice on June 21. It’s the final bell on the last day of school or the first Friday when you can saunter out of a ghost-town office extremely early to meet pals for drinks (like, say, last weekend). These are the days of scorching marshmallows over a firepit until puffy and blistered brown, chomping into thick watermelon slices in a bathing suit, and bellowing “NO RUNNING!!!” at slippery rugrats from a lounge chair by the pool. Good company, good weather, and good food are the only real essentials for a memorably good time. But you can add a little something special with thoughtful extras — especially if someone else is playing host. For some surprise and delight at your next get-together, treat your favorite pool party captain, park picnic wrangler, or sweat-browed barbecue maestro (maybe that’s you?) to one of these:
Oh, and do yourself a favor, and stock up on sparklers right away — you’ll look like a fairy godparent alighting to an impromptu hang with an armload full of them. After all, what’s more magical than closing out a balmy night with a flurry of twinkling light?
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My dog is turning four this month. She’s an extremely picky eater and is very excitable. She loves squirrels, little kids, being outside, and playing fetch, but it’s hard to wear her out. She’s very intelligent and usually figures out doggie puzzles in seconds. I worry she is bored or depressed sometimes. Our budget is about $40. — C.G. From gifting expert Mari Uyehara: Compartment-based puzzle toys always made me question my own intelligence because I would spend more time filling them than our family dog did figuring them out. But frozen toys can keep her occupied, and this pupsicle is easier to clean and fill (with whatever your picky eater does like) than the Kongs I used to keep in the freezer. Also, our resident pet expert Mel Plaut says this plastic-free bone, which has beef and sweet potato bits in its grooves, is their dog’s new favorite (and takes Dave about 20 minutes to finish). Finally, these silicone collar charms might not seem like a gift that a pooch would appreciate. But spell out her name on her collar before a walk to the park, and passerby kids might just start calling out to her — our testers found they turned lots of heads. It’s harder to be bored when you’re a canine celeb. But if you’d really like to know what’s going on in her head, my colleague Annemarie Conte recently took her pup to a psychic. And she thinks it sort of worked.
Have someone who’s impossible to shop for? Submit your question here.
One last gift (for you): We love these vintage-inspired sneakers with an elevated yet laid-back vibe. We found them for $85 off today. Was this email kindly forwarded to you? Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.
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