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Stuff This in a Ziploc and Call It Summer Prep
Summer slow days are coming. Here’s how to prep a backup fun kit so you don’t become the full-time cruise director.
The weather’s warming up, our calendars are weird, and my kid keeps referring to the buffalo in her toy box as “mama.” Cool cool cool. This week’s issue is your anti-meltdown plan — three fast, low-effort ways to prep now, so you don’t become the default cruise director in July. Let’s build your Backup Fun List in one night (or during one episode of “Bluey”).
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💸 The “Out of the House” Kit That Lives in Your Car
👉 This isn’t a “just in case” kit — it’s your say-yes-to-spontaneity stash. Stock your trunk now so you can pivot to adventure without detouring home or melting down mid-errand. Here’s what to toss in:
Beach towels (bonus: they double as a picnic blanket)
Back-up swimsuits + cheap-o flip-flops (don’t forget your own!)
Sunscreen + baby powder but keep that sunscreen bagged up just in case
Baby wipes + bandaids (duh)
A stash of small bills for rogue ice cream trucks
Shelf-stable snacks (also duh)
Mini summer play kit: bubbles, sidewalk chalk, a couple of small water or pool toys in a Ziploc
Bonus move: Use a cheap over-the-seat shoe organizer across the back bench to store it all neatly and visibly. That way, when the splash pad calls or the playground turns into a beach day, you're ready — no home pit stop required. 👏
💬 The $0 Fun List (Crowdsourced, Not Brainstormed)
👉 You don’t need a summer Pinterest board — you need your people. Text your parent group chat:
“What are your go-to free activities when you don’t want to try?”
Make a list from the replies and stick it on the fridge. The point isn’t novelty. The point is never having to Google “activities for 3-year-olds” while someone’s whining.
To start your list, here are two crowd favorites:
🔹 Ice + paintbrush = “arctic rescue mission”
🔹 Spray bottle water art on the sidewalk
Did you know? 🧃 JuiceBox is built by a tiny team of working parents just like you. We curate and write this stuff so you don’t have to but we’d LOVE for you to get in on the action.
💬 Got a time-saving tip or a chaos-fighting hack of your own? Hit reply and share it—we all need a village, and we’d love to hear from you.
👯♀️ Know a fellow parent who needs this? Forward away or hit this button:
🧘 The Weird Bin Is the Activity. That’s all.
👉 Take a plastic bin and fill it with safe-but-random stuff you already have:
Old gift cards
Plastic measuring tape
Dollar store tools
Broken sunglasses
Calculator
Magnifying glass
Measuring cups
(Skip anything tiny = choking hazard)
Hand it over with some science flair like an apron, rubber gloves, or a plastic badge if you’ve got one. Say: “This is your experiment bin. Go nuts.”
That's it. That’s the play. They’ll make up the rest. Well…we hope.
💼 This Week’s Work WTF
Inspired by real life events.
Scenario:
During a project crunch, your boss says, “We’re a family here” — right after rejecting your request to leave early for your kid’s school play.
What We Wish We Could Say:
“If we’re family, I expect paid time off, inheritance, and the last slice of cake at meetings.”
Steal This Response:
“Hi [Name], I’m committed to supporting the team, but I have a prior family commitment during that time. I’ll ensure my deliverables are complete before I head out.”
K that’s all. You’re the best and we love you.
-CK “Ready for Summer” Fuller (Editor) & the JB Crew 🫡