Five favorites

1. Matte nail concealer: I first found this non-toxic nail concealer in my favorite French store. It gives a holy grail, foolproof, barely-there blurring effect that makes your nails look instantly groomed. I love the matte effect, too. So helpful to be able to reorder from the couch!

   
   

2. Non-chafing shorts: Let’s get practical. It’s August, it won’t be cool in New Orleans until October, and we’re not going to waste all that time sitting inside. These shorts will help. I wore these ultra lightweight, silky-cool shorts under all my dresses on our most recent trip, and they were a game-changer for comfort and security. They also dry quickly so you can rinse them in your hotel room for reuse. 

   
   

3. Portable fan: Yes, another fan made the roundup. I still think my hand fan looks cuter while you’re strolling the streets, but this one is also small enough for a purse and does the work for you. It gives a surprisingly powerful blast and lasts a long time on a single charge. Our kids immediately asked for their own (choose from several colors).

   
   

4. Poster markers: We create a lot of banners in our house (birthdays, anniversaries, parties…). These markers have proved an excellent investment. The acrylic paint colors are rich and flow easily. The wide tips make it easy to draw big letters without having to go over the same spot a million times, plus you can use the chisel edge for finer details. 

   
   

5. Mesh pouches (4): I tend to rotate my bags more often in summer. I like the size of these little guys—they are small enough not to dominate your purse, but roomy enough to hold hair ties, tweezers, lip gloss, and hand cream. Swapping bags is a breeze. 

   
   

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