July is when we find out which products actually earn their place. Here’s everything we’re reaching for when the heat is real and we’re determined to be outside anyway — plus a few things making the indoor hours better too.
July in St. Louis is not subtle. The heat index hits triple digits before noon, the humidity makes it feel ten degrees worse than it is, and every morning you decide whether you’re going to stay inside or figure out a way to enjoy part of the day anyway.
We’ve stopped waiting for perfect weather.
This is the list of what’s actually making that possible right now. Cooling gear, cold coffee, a few things for the backyard, and the dogs, who have their own opinions about the heat – Gus wants nothing to do with it and Gracie likes to sun.
Affiliate links throughout. We only share what we actually use.
Stay Outside Longer
The goal is always to extend the window — the morning before it gets bad, the evening after it breaks. These are the things that make that possible.
Wide-Brim Sun Hat — Different from the baseball cap. When you’re doing yard work or just sitting outside for more than twenty minutes, you need coverage on your neck and face, not just your forehead. After a damaging sunburn when we lived in Abilene, Texas, and years of being casual about this, I’ve paid the price — and stopped being so casual about it.
UPF 50 Lightweight Sun Shirt for Women and UPF 50 Lightweight Sun Shirt for Men— The other half of the sun protection system. Sunblock is good. Sunblock plus a UPF shirt is better, especially for long yard days or anything where you’re going to be sweating sunblock off. These are lightweight enough that wearing one doesn’t feel like punishment in the heat.
LMNT Electrolytes— Missouri July heat is the kind that takes something out of you even when you’re not working hard. Plain water isn’t always enough. We notice the difference on days we’re outside for a while. These live on the kitchen counter and in the car.
Handheld Portable Fan — Battery-powered, small enough for a bag or a cup holder. For the patio, the bleachers, anywhere you’re sitting still in heat that isn’t moving. This is one of those things that sounds small until you have it.
The Cold Brew Situation
I’ve been making cold brew at home all summer and I’m not going back.
Cold Brew Pitcher — Coarse ground coffee, cold water, overnight in the fridge, done. It’s smoother than regular iced coffee, less bitter, and it makes about four servings at a time so you’re not starting from scratch every morning. The setup is simple — steeper basket, rinse, repeat. It’s become part of our summer mornings.
Fun Ice Cube Trays — Large cube trays make ice that melts slowly so your cold brew stays cold and doesn’t get watered down. The fun-shaped ones make a glass of something cold feel like a small celebration. They’re unnecessary in the best possible way.
Summer at Home That Feels Like Something
Chilled Serving Tray with Compartments — Fill the bottom chamber with ice, load the compartments with whatever you’re serving — fruit, veggies, dip, shrimp — and it stays cold for hours without a cooler in sight. We’ve had this out at every backyard gathering this summer. It’s the kind of thing that looks like you put more effort in than you did, which in July heat is exactly the point.
Fruit Infuser Water Pitcher — Strawberry and mint. Cucumber and lemon. Whatever’s in the fridge. The water tastes like something, it’s actually cold, and it ends up on our patio table almost every weekend.
Popsicle Molds — Blend fruit, pour, freeze. Watermelon popsicles, strawberry lemonade, whatever sounds good. They’re better than anything you buy and they cost almost nothing. There is something about a popsicle in July that hasn’t gotten old since childhood.
The Dogs in July
Gracie and Gus have made it clear that the summer heat is not optional information. We’ve adjusted accordingly.
Cooling Mat for Dogs — Pressure-activated, no water or refrigeration needed. They find it on their own when they’re hot. Ours gets used every afternoon.
Paw Protection Balm — Pavement in July can hit 150 degrees. If your dog walks on pavement in the middle of the day, their paws need protection. We keep this by the door.
That’s What’s Making July Better
None of these products are necessities.
They’re just the things we’ve found ourselves reaching for over and over this month.
If they help you spend a little more time outside, make a backyard evening more comfortable, or simply make a hot July easier to enjoy, then they’ve done their job.
Thanks for supporting Handcrafted Adventure by shopping through our links. It helps us keep sharing what we’re learning along the way.
Shop the July Favorites
| Wide Brim Sun Hat | Shop → |
| UPF 50 Lightweight Sun Shirt | Shop women → Shop men → |
| LMNT Electrolytes | Shop → |
| Handheld Portable Fan | Shop → |
| Cold Brew Pitcher | Shop → |
| Fun Ice Cube Trays | Shop → |
| Chilled Serving Tray with Compartments | Shop → |
| Fruit Infuser Water Pitcher | Shop → |
| Popsicle Molds | Shop → |
| Dog Cooling Mat | Shop → |
| Paw Protection Balm | Shop → |
Affiliate links — we only share what we actually use. Purchasing through these links supports Handcrafted Adventure at no extra cost to you.
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