A Hoodie that Replaces a Diaper Bag—and More Clever Items to Simplify Your Life

Fancy ice cream for dogs, the easiest pour-over coffee, and a tiny device for bug bite relief.

Photo:

thedadhoodie.com

Summer is officially here, and with it comes both seasonal joys and nuisances. One of the joys: Eating ice cream in the warm weather—and we found an option that lets your dog get in on the fun too. One of the nuisances: Getting mosquito bites—but we found a genius, tech-forward way to relieve the itch. Below, shop these items and more to improve your summer and your daily life.

01 of 06

A Fancy Ice Cream for Pups

van leewan and ollie dog ice cream
Photo by Ollie and Van Leeuwen.

If you love Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, buckle up! The delish, beloved brand has teamed up with human-grade dog food brand Ollie to launch its first-ever ice cream for dogs.  I was lucky enough to get a sample of it before its official launch on the 21st, and my pup Pidgin is OBSESSED with the banana and peanut butter flavor.

There are a few ways you can get this limited-time treat: It's available at Van Leeuwen scoop shops across the country, as well as at most Petco locations nationally and online at petco.com for buy online, pick-up in-store orders. Plus, Ollie subscribers can add this tasty delight to their orders, and those who join an Ollie subscription from June 3-13 will receive a free pint with their purchase. Let the drooling commence!

02 of 06

A New Way to Deal With Bug Bites

heat-it bug bite relief

Photo by Heat-It

Mosquito season is upon us. Luckily, there's a cool new (to me) device meant to stop itching in its tracks. Small but mighty, it plugs directly into your phone (they have one version for Androids and one for iPhones) and uses heat for itch and pain relief from bug bites and stings.

I tried it the past few weeks and can confirm it works like a charm—and I'm someone who is constantly plagued with mosquito bites. Best of all, it's small, and you can just throw it on your keychain so you won't lose it—plus it lasts forever, and you never have to recharge it. Genius!

03 of 06

A Waterproof, Convertible Jacket

green waterproof timberland jacket

Photo by Timberland

This waterproof jacket is the perfect companion for hikers, bikers, nature lovers, and general adventurers. It's made of 100% recycled polyester and made to be windproof and breathable with underarm vents to help keep the airflow...well, flowing. Plus, it's super customizable to fit your body and preferences—you can adjust the hood, cuffs, and hem.

But my favorite feature is the interior two bands that you can't see while you're wearing it, but if you get too hot on a hike or walk, you can take it off and use the bands like backpack straps so you don't have to carry it! Check out the link, above, to see more.

04 of 06

The Easiest Pour-Over Coffee

Pour Over Coffee

Photo by Copper Cow Coffee

As much as I love supporting my local coffee shops, buying a coffee every day can get pretty pricey pretty quickly. Enter Copper Cow Coffee's easy-peasy pour-over packets—they require no additional equipment (aka nothing, other than a mug, to clean afterwards) and take around a minute and a half to make. In other words, it's a great way to get my caffeine fix when I don't have much time before dashing out the door to work. Most importantly, it is delicious and sustainably sourced.

05 of 06

A Stylish, Automated Pet Feeder

cat and dog automated feeder
Photo by Litter Robot.

If your pet gets grumpy when they aren't fed on time, I get it. My dog will stare me down and bark at me if she doesn't get her meals at the same time every day. This automated feeder allows you to set a schedule and amount of food so you don't get the evil eye, and if you're gone all day, you don't have to stress about your cat getting its meals.

06 of 06

The Carry-It-All Hoodie

the dad hoodie sweatshirt

Photo by The Dad Hoodie

This hoodie makes a useful gift for new dads this Father's Day or a new mom who doesn't want to deal with lugging around a fanny pack or bag for shorter outings. With a ton of inner pockets, there's a spot for everything they might need, including one with an elastic meant to hold a bottle in place.

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