5 Summer Starter Pack Essentials

by Rachel Naud

Bring on summer! Whether you’re road-tripping, going to the cottage, hosting friends over or enjoying some downtime alone, we have your Summer Starter Pack. Rachel Naud, editor of INBETWEEN magazine, a digital magazine geared to parents of teens, has ideas to get you through the summer no matter what your plans.

Canadian Club Ready-To-Drink Cocktails

What’s better than a cold drink on the dock or sharing some drinks with friends at a backyard party? I love having my girls over in the summer and this season, I’m serving them Canadian Club Ready-To-Drink Cocktails! I love the Canadian Club Ginger Ale, its an award-winning cooler! It won a Gold Medal at the 2024 International Wine & Spirits Competition! This pre-mixed cocktail expertly blends the smooth honeyed notes of grain and spice of Canadian Club whisky with the sweet, candied notes of ginger ale. Citrus Smash also just launched this year, and it just might be your drink of the summer because the citrus perfectly complements the zesty and sweet notes of Canadian Club whisky for a balanced, refreshing beverage. Both are proudly Canadian, which I love! You can check them out at www.CanadianClub.com or follow them at @CanadianClub on Instagram.

Sensodyne Clinical White

Every summer, I go and visit my mom in Winnipeg. I like to stay there for a bigger chunk of time because it’s kind of the only time I get to see her for any extended length. Because I’m there for a while, I like to bring the comforts of home with me, especially my toothpaste. I have sensitive teeth, which doesn’t bode well with my ice cream addiction unless I use my Sensodyne. It’s the #1 Dentist Recommended brand for sensitive teeth and ​developed by scientists. Now, they’ve just launched a new product Sensodyne Clinical White, which features  24/7 sensitivity protection in an enamel-safe formula, and clinically proven to get your teeth up to two shades whiter. I love that it’s gentle enough for everyday use, protects against cavities and tastes great too! Fresh breath, a brighter smile and no more flinching with every bite of ice cream? Yes please. 

Billie Starter Kit

Summer is when we break out the shorts and swimsuits and that calls for a smooth shave! To make the experience luxe, Billie offers premium-quality shaving products at an affordable price and empowers women by emphasizing that shaving is their choice. That’s why I think the Billie Starter Kit is perfect – especially if you have a teen daughter – because it’s designed for a smooth and fuss-free shaving experience and it comes in 3 cute colors – Pink Sparkle, Lilac Pop, and Pink Pop. Each kit comes with one ergonomic handle, two five-blade cartridges and a magnetic holder to keep your razor stored on your shower wall. Prep your skin with the Billie shave gel and see the razor gliding like a dream over your skin— no irritation, no nicks, just smooth skin. You can pick these up at major retailers across Canada.

Ventus Evo Tires From Hankook

My inlaws live in Ottawa and we often like taking day trips to discover new places during the summer, which means we spend a good chunk of our time driving. When it comes to road tripping, we want to feel safe, which means replacing our tires with The Ventus EVO tires from Hankook. These are my go-to for tire replacements because it makes me so nervous when I get caught in a rainstorm, and these tires have improved handling in rain and wet conditions. We have an SUV but these tires are also great for performance vehicles and passenger cars. This summer, we’ll be helping my father-in-law move so that means carrying big loads and doing some back and forth between Toronto and Ottawa and the Ventus evo tires are great for this because they can travel up to 32% farther due to an optimized tire shape that ensures balanced contact pressure across the tread to ensure even wear, even under heavy loads. For more info, you can check them out at hankooktire.com

Shoppers Beauty Fun in the Sun Beauty Bundle

I love this next idea because it’s perfect for the beauty lover who likes to try different products and look cute doing it! It’s the Shoppers Beauty Fun in the Sun Beauty Bundle and this is perfect if you’re travelling this summer because it’s packed with 12 travel-sized products from popular beauty brands like Clarins, Drunk Elephant and Nudestix. This stylish bag is packed with everything you need to care for your skin this summer — from sun protection to self-tanning and moisturizers. You can shop it at Shoppers Drug Mart.