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Find products that make life better with these shopping ideas

When it comes to late-summer shopping, the road to a great life starts with good products. Whether you're trading summer styles for fall fashion, planning one last backyard barbecue, or getting ready to send the kids back to school, a number of things can help make the dog days of summer even better. Take advantage of these tips for easy-breezy shopping.

Health and wellness

As summer turns to fall, you want to enjoy every remaining minute of sunshine, so why not try something new? If you're an outdoor enthusiast, the end of summer is the best time to purchase products such as kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards. To make room for new merchandise, retailers offer great deals on all types of warm-weather gear.

When shopping for stand-up paddleboards, consider the hull or body. Choose a paddleboard with a flat, wide hull for leisurely paddling, SUP yoga, and whitewater adventures. Pick a thinner hull with a pointed nose for fitness paddling, racing, and SUP touring.

Family and living

For lots of families, back to school means stocking up on the latest supplies. Start your kids off right with stylish and functional backpacks. Look for backpacks with a roomy main compartment for books and notebooks, padded shoulder straps, a zippered pocket, and a water bottle compartment. While little ones love backpacks sporting bright colors and fun patterns, older kids appreciate features such as laptop sleeves, earphones ports, and durable suede bottoms.

Recipes

Once the school year begins, kids need delicious and healthy lunches to get through the day. Bento boxes can help. These multi-compartment containers are a parent's best friend. Fill them with crackers, sliced cheese, and berries, or wow your kids with innovative sandwiches. Use a simple cookie cutter to turn a PB and J from ordinary to fab or make a sandwich on a stick with chunks of French bread, diced meats, and cherry tomatoes.

When shopping for bento boxes, look for products with at least four separate compartments so that your child can enjoy a variety of lunchtime foods. Choose sturdy plastic products that are safe for the dishwasher and microwave, and shop for boxes with locking lids to prevent leaks and spills.

Entertaining

Whether you're hosting one last summer barbecue or getting ready for fall tailgating, you can always use a few new grilling products. At the end of summer, pick up a great deal on your dream grill or shop for extras that include grilling utensils, kebab skewers, and grill baskets for veggies and fish. To cook up mouthwatering fish for family and friends, look for a grill basket that folds, locks, and features a removable handle.

Holidays

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and the family is coming to your house this year. In addition to all the holiday foodstuffs you'll need, make sure to pick up essentials such as a new roasting pan, a gravy boat, an ice chest, wine glasses, coasters, and serving trays. When shopping for serving trays, choose products with handles for easy portability and beveled edges to keep food contained.

Make overnight guests feel welcome with new bath towels, bed sheets, scented soaps, and candles. To avoid harmful chemicals, purchase candles made from 100 percent soy or beeswax.

Crafting tips

Instead of spending money on store-bought Thanksgiving decorations, why not make your own? Welcome family and visitors at the front door with a wreath featuring elements from nature, including acorns, pine cones, berries, dried lavender, twigs, and moss. Get the kids involved making decorations like handprint turkeys, colorful leaf garlands, and Pilgrim hats.

Style

Before autumn arrives and the temperature cools, it's time to start thinking about fall fashion. Style trends for this fall include boyfriend-style plaid blazers, chic capes, dark floral prints, colorful faux-fur jackets, and leather pull-on booties. When shopping for leather booties, boost the style-factor with accents like laces, chains, buckles, decorative stitching, and braided leather.

Technology

Spend late summer and early fall evenings watching your favorite flicks in the backyard with a movie projector and outdoor screen. Don't forget popcorn, warm cider, and cozy flannel throws. Get smarter and more organized with virtual voice assistants like Siri, Cortana, and Alexa, and send your teenager off to high school or college with a good laptop. Look for laptops with responsive performance, eight hours of battery life, and a 12- to 14-inch screen.