Gear Review: Contigo Water Bottle To Keep Drinks Cold

Use the Flip Chill bottle when it’s extra hot outside to keep cold liquids cold longer.

little league baseball batter

My kids participate in sports leagues outside of school, and one of the must-haves that go with them to every practice or game is a reusable water bottle. We have at least 2 dozen of them in various states of cleanliness and in various locations at any given time: in my car, in their dad’s car, in their sports bag, in their other sports bag, or worst, left behind at the sports field or venue.

Sigh.

That’s better than getting a new plastic bottle of water every time we go somewhere though. And I hope that when we misplace or lose one, someone else finds it, washes it well, and makes use of it.

Now that summer is coming again and California is in a drought, leaving us all parched and dry and drinking more water than usual, those water bottles are even more important. My younger son plays baseball a few times a week, and when there are games, it’s usually blazing hot and the sun beats directly down on the dugout. That means that any water he brings, even if I put ice in the bottle, basically gets heated up while he’s on the field.

Contigo Flip Chill Water Bottle

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It’s a perfect time to test out a new bottle. Contigo’s new Flip Chill water bottle has Thermalock Vacuum Insulation – it’s a double wall of stainless steel between your beverage and the elements that is meant to keep the cold inside. I have been a fan of the Contigo water bottle for several years. This one has a flip-top spout that can be locked back down when not being used, keeping the sipping area hidden. That way the place where your child puts his mouth is less likely to be rolled in the dirt that accumulates in the dugout from the field.

We tested the bottle at baseball practices and games, and at school. Each time, I filled the bottle with cold water and ice and sent the boy on his way.

At school, it worked perfectly. The bottle comes into class with my son or he leaves it in his backpack, which is under shade most of the day. He reported that his water stayed cold until he finished it.

At the field, though, the sun was just too strong, and this particular bottle only comes in a 10 oz. size, which is perfect for younger kids. My 8-year-old plays hard, though, and while the bottle kept the water cold, that water was gone quickly. Refills from the baseball field’s water fountain were only mildly cold.

mom and boys hiking

The bottle is certainly an improvement on just a plain old single-walled one, and we do really like it. It’s good for car rides, school days, even short hikes. If it ever comes in a larger size, that will be the perfect one for my big sweaty boys.

Contigo AUTOSPOUT® Flip Chill Kids Water Bottle
$15.99

Christmas in February – our minted Christmas card, revealed

Back in December I posted some of the shots from our Christmas card photo shoot and I realized I never posted the final version. Here is what we sent out:

xmas card 2014 front xmas card 2014 backThanks to minted for the complimentary batch of cards this year. Last year. Whichever you want to count.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Random Delightful Gift: the Toddy Wedge

Here’s a random product that I tried out this fall that I have been meaning to share with you: the Toddy Wedge.

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It’s just a little bean-bag filled triangle thingy that you can use to prop up your phone. There’s no charger or anything like that, and it’s soft and squishy. You can use it as a hacky sack, which my kids have done.

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All it does is prop up your phone. While that might seem simple, it is, but it makes a huge difference when I am using the phone to display a recipe as I cook, or to play music or podcasts while I am sitting at my desk.

The Toddy Wedge has these advertised features:

Support for your iPhone, E-Reader, GPS or gaming devices without removing the case
100% microfiber for wiping screens clear of smudges and fingerprints
Dual-sided: Plush side to clean and silky side to polish screens

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No need for messy liquids or sprays that can harm your screen
Antimicrobial coating, preventing the build up of mold and mildew
Washable, air dry
Proudly Made in the USA

It’s only $14.99 plus about $4 shipping (for First Class mail) and the website takes PayPal. I unexpectedly love mine – anyone who receives a Wedge as a gift will likely do the same.

I received a free Wedge to facilitate this feature.