Did you know that the dog days of summer are traditionally the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending Aug. 11? According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the 40 days coincide with the dawn rising of Sirius, the Dog Star. They might be the hot, sultry days of summer, but I have a few FabULyss Finds to cool you off.
No more time-consuming trips to the liquor store or carrying those heavy bags of glass bottles into the grocery store followed by a specialty store for the perfect cocktail ingredients and your favorite snacks for on-the-beach entertaining and barbecues. Boxed Spirits is giving everyone a one-stop-shop solution that delivers your must-haves right to your front door. Save on gas or MetroCard refills, skip the traffic, and conserve your valuable time!
With no membership fees, the company offers an extensive array of bulk-sized, non-perishable products from a highly curated selection.
Visit www.boxed.com.
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Looking for a new, FabULyss family show to keep everyone entertained and cool? My boys and husband loved the off-Broadway show “Vitaly: An Evening of Wonders.”
“Hailed as one of the most unique and innovative illusionists in the world, Vitaly Beckman recently stumped Penn and Teller on their hit television show ‘Fool Us’ with one of his clever creations,” according to the show’s website, Eveni
Don’t ask me how he does the license trick. It’s truly astonishing and amazing!
“Vitaly: An Evening of Wonders” at Westside Theatre (407 W. 43rd St. between Ninth and 10th avenues, www.EveningOfWonders.com) now through Sept. 30.
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I have discovered a new, FabULyss book series for little ones. The hardcovers, written by Shannon Jones and illustrated by Casey Uhelski, touch on international travel and so much more!
My daughter loves hearing Jones’ stories every night before bed. We journey to a different European city within each book in the “KeeKee’s Big Adventures” series. (Paris, France might be our favorite adventure.) The hot-air-balloon-traveling cat, KeeKee, has animal friends all over the world who have taught her about their country, language, culture, food, and traditions — which are brought to you in these colorful picture books.
Visit keekeesbigadventures.com
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A couple of FabULyss summer beach reads for adults are “The Perfect Couple” and “The Intermission.” I read “The Perfect Couple” (Little, Brown and Company), by Elin Hilderbrand, in two days. Set on Nantucket, this murder mystery is “perfect” for the beach. “The Intermission” (Berkley), by Elyssa Friedland, about a couple who decide to take a break from their marriage, is also a super beach read. You will not be able to put either book down.
Both available on www.amazo
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Most of the kids have been unplugged for the summer. When they come back from camp and are looking for something fun to do indoors, check out Yokey Pokey in Brooklyn. This provider of family-friendly virtual reality is FabULyss for birthday parties, as everyone is always looking for new, fun, and interactive birthday party venues.
Yokey Pokey [537 Atlantic Ave. between Third and Fourth avenues, (732) 965–3969, yokeypokey.com].
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Another new FabULyss Find is Little Aurelia Probiotic Skincare for little ones. Discover bio-organic, luxury skincare to nurture and support your child’s wellbeing and help them sleep soundly.
Designed for babies and young children, Little Aurelia blends gentle, yet effective, botanical ingredients with soothing essential oils to calm and settle them at bath time and before bed.
My daughter especially loves the “Sleep Time Top to Toe Cream,” made with linden blossom, angelica, lavender, and calendula.
Visit www.aureliaskincare.com/littleaurelia.
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Savor the last few weeks of summer and make lots of memories before the kids go back to school. Before we know it, we will be packing lunches, doing back-to-school shopping, and filling out lots of school forms. Enjoy the time with your families!
Lyss Stern is the founder of DivaLysscious Moms (www.divam
