This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #BestSummerMemories #CollectiveBias
Make this personalized cooler bag to take with you as you make your summer memories this year!
I cannot believe it is May already. That means, for us, school is out in three weeks! Summer vacation is right around the corner!
A few years ago, I had one of the best summer vacations! When I was in college, I had a special group of roommates. I had moved halfway through the previous year into an apartment to escape a horrible roommate situation. As the new year was about to begin, I found that that I would be joined by 5 roommates that all knew each other. I thought for sure I would be the odd man out and have another rough year.
These girls became my best friends. They took me in their group with no hesitation and we made some amazing memories.
A few summers back, we had a roommate reunion. Not all were able to come, but those that did got together, rented a lake house, and spent days just playing together at the lake. It was so much fun to catch up with these lovely ladies, to meet each other's families, and to watch our kids play together.
We also had a crazy experience while we were there. My son Kyle had an accident on the playground where a carabiner clip from the swing tore his arm. We had to rush him to the hospital (30 minutes away), where he received 27 stitches. Thankfully my roommate's husband is a doctor, and he helped keep everyone calm and prepare Kyle for the trip to the hospital. (I won't put a picture because it's kind of gross).
His wound ended up being severe but mostly superficial (no muscle or vein tears), and could have been so much worse. It served as another reminder to me how precious my family is to me, and how much I love each one of them.
It truly was a unique and special vacation.
That trip required a lot of time in the car and outside at the lake. We all had coolers and cooler bags, like this one I picked up at our local drugstore. You can make your own to take with you on your summer adventures this year.
I designed a decal to cut out of heat transfer vinyl and press onto the bag.
Simply download this file, mirror it, cut it in layers (words and pineapple separately), and weed away the excess vinyl.
Press the pineapple first (I guess pineapples are all the rage this year!) and then your phrase on top.
If you don't have a cutter but still want to make a cute bag, then check out this easy tutorial for a Painted Pool Tote from my Fun in the Summertime Series. It's so easy and so cute!
In case you're wondering, this phrase on my cooler bag comes from one of my favorite country summer songs. "Ain't Ever Gonna Beat This Summer" has the cutest video ever, and is all about summer memories. I just love it! I love how music can evoke so many memories.
When I hear old 90's music, I remember days of "laying out" for a tan with my friend down the street. (Don't do that. Your 40 year old self will thank you.)
When I hear "Brown-Eyed Girl", I think of a trip to Chicago's "Taste of Chicago" Festival over the 4th of July Weekend.
When I hear "Hold My Hand", I think of a last summer trip made with friends for a concert in the next state over. I had to beg my mom to let me go on that one.
Coca-Cola™ is also celebrating your memories with it's "Share a Coke and a Song" campaign. You can stop in your local CVS store to pick up a 20 oz Coca-Cola for the road or whatever else you might need last minute. I stopped in at 11:30pm for a glue stick once. I love shopping at CVS because they are so friendly, convenient, and always have what I need. Check out the Best Summer Ever Deals at your local CVS. Buy 2 20oz bottles of Coca-Cola products for $3
I picked up a few bottles of Diet Coke®, which had these fun song lyrics on them. Some stores have a special display, but mine didn't. These were just back in the coolers in the drink section.
I immediately started singing them and wanted to play them in the car. So I used the Shazam app, which you can download on Apple, Android, and other devices, to get my Coca-Cola Share a Song. Then my kids and I had a little dance party in the car!
