Christen Krumm

Reader | Writer | Serious Coffee Drinker

  • Christen Krumm
  • Home
  • About
  • Notebook Musings
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • Atlas of Neely Spencer

What’s in Our Pool Bag

Summer is here which means we’re spending lots of time at the pool. I always have my pool bag packed with the essentials so that I only need to throw in a couple of things and we can be out the door.

Here’s what we always have in our pool bag.

What's always in our pool bag

Floaties and pool toys

I have one more little in floaties (and I’m crossing my fingers this year is the last year. Grandmother, the ultimate swimming teacher, has been working with him every time we’re at the pool). These are some inexpensive pair from Wal-mart — and I have about three other back-up pairs as well. My older two love diving for stuff, so I picked up some diving sticks (either from Wal-mart or the Dollar Tree) and goggled (note spend a little money on these because the ones I’ve found at the dollar stores are crap). I also have pool noodles living in the trunk of my car.

Sunscreen and Tanning Oil

Sunscreen for the kids. Tanning oil for me. I also picked up some “heavy duty” sunscreen for my face (so basically my face gets all the sunscreen and my body gets all the tanning oil. Yep. I realize that’s probably messed up, but whatever.)

Snacks and water

This is one thing that generally gets thrown into the bag on the way out the door. I keep it easy. Granola bars, bags of chips, apples, whatever fruit I already have cut up — basically anything that doesn’t really need too much refrigeration. My cousin (who’s amazing and lets us swim in her pool whenever we need) always has popsicles stashed in her freezer as well. I also fill up the kid’s reusable water bottles with ice water.

Book

One thing I discovered last summer was that my kids can basically swim by themselves — meaning I don’t have to be in the pool pushing around one of those baby boat floaty things. Instead, I can supervise from the sideline with a book. You, guys, it is marvelous! Of course, I always make sure to carry my books in a The Cozy Life book cozy. Are you needing a good book this summer? Book of the Month YA has you covered! Each month, Book of the Month YA picks 5 new YA books and you choose the one you want to read! They package it up and send it directly to you (so books + mail. Seriously can’t get better than that!) Click HERE to see all the July picks and to get your book today!

What essentials are in your pool bag?

Spread the love

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email
«
»

life 0

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

christen e krumm | author | blogger | coffee addictI'm Christen. I'm a reader, writer, and I seriously love coffee.

Connect with me

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Currently Reading

Search

Life on the Gram

Christen Krumm

christenkrumm

Podcaster @exploringtheblankpagepodcast | Author of On the Golden Cliffs & It Happened at Christmas & Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage

I’m not the only one am I? I’m not the only one am I?
Working on a new project between other projects… Working on a new project between other projects… which means, new characters to stare at me whilst I work begging for me to hurry up with their stories…
All my OG readers knows what this means … I lit All my OG readers knows what this means …

I literally just added this scene and my heart is 💔💔. You’re going to love it.
Well… the hall closet is now clean and organized Well… the hall closet is now clean and organized …
Sharing my editing process for my YA Murder Myster Sharing my editing process for my YA Murder Mystery that’s releasing with @blinkyabooks next year!
Why am I like this? @kikimojo says she can’t wor Why am I like this? @kikimojo says she can’t work at round tables and I 100% get it. I can’t spread all the papers and notes and post its when I’m sitting at a round table. 

I also hate (and love) that this table at this coffee shop is the best place to work - my brain made it a rule. So … if you need me the next week, this is where you’ll find me, working on the M*rder Mystery, because IT’S DEADLINE WEEK!
I'm excited to join in the cover reveal for Karabo I'm excited to join in the cover reveal for Karabos by @lyndseylewellen, releasing from @enclavepublishing  in October 2026! The first book in The Timebound Duology, a YA fantasy, is available to preorder in hardcover today.

This is one of my most anticipated reads for 2026! 

Book Blurb: When sixteen-year-old homeschooled entomologist Winslet Nubek enters the elite, insect-hunting Tournament of Scarabs to save her family from ruin, she expects danger and magic bugs. Not time travel. Paired with a resentful cartographer, Rafe, who doubts her every move, Winslet accidentally triggers a forbidden time scarab and launches them both into volatile jumps through an ancient world.

As they struggle to hide their condition and stay in the competition, their time slips reveal buried truths about the scarabs—and the lies their glittering society is built on. With sinister forces closing in, Winslet and Rafe must capture legendary insects and expose the truth before the past bleeds into the present and destroys them both.
Everything I got written (or didn’t) this week! Everything I got written (or didn’t) this week!
I know you know … I know you know …
A Saturday in the life of an author on deadline. A Saturday in the life of an author on deadline. 

10.07 AM - arrive at the coffee shop (where I actually got a parking spot AND a seat at my favorite table!) 

11.08 AM - finally get some coffee. The line was long and I kept waiting for it to get shorter.

1.56 PM - trying not to panic because there’s still so much I want to get done and the coffee shop closing in a little over an hour.

2.53 PM - closing time. Time to pack up and leave. I’m also getting hungry, so place a Chick-fil-A order.

3.26 PM - lunch acquired. 

3.48 PM - it just so happens that the Chick-fil-A shares a parking lot with a Barnes and Noble. I think some wandering must be had (and I somehow walked out without buying anything!) 

5.01 PM - home again home again. A little reading in the office before dinner.
Y’all I have my edits back for the M*rder Myster Y’all I have my edits back for the M*rder Mystery (🎉), and I still don’t know where this Neely Spencer chapter is going (you know, the one I said I was going to post last week... or was it the week before?)

Instead of promising x number of chapters this month (and the next month), I’m going to promise that I’ll post the chapters as soon as I’m finished writing them. This means, there could be 4 chapters, or there could be 1 chapter (I’m shooting for the 4 ...) The M*rder Mystery has to be my main priority right now, but I’m hoping that I’ll have time for the whimsy (Neely Spencer is the whimsy). Because we call need a little more whimsy in our lives, right? 

Sorry to disappoint anyone — I’m writing as fast as I can. Thank you so much for sticking with me! You guys are the best! And if you haven’t started reading Atlas of Neely Spencer, now is the perfect time to get caught up!
I love connecting with readers and writers online. I love connecting with readers and writers online.

Here is everywhere you can find me. A follow is only a click away!

The best way to follow is my newsletter — let’s be honest, social media is a fickle thing and it can go down or crash at any moment, so if you for sure don’t want to miss anything, make sure to get on the list!

So glad you’re here!
Stuff I’ve written … Stuff I’ve written …
Hi! I’ve gotten some new followers whilst on my Hi! I’ve gotten some new followers whilst on my unintentional social media break, so time for a little updated about me! 

Instagram is my favorite + I’m so glad you’re here!
Chapters 14 AND 15 of Neely Spencer dropped this m Chapters 14 AND 15 of Neely Spencer dropped this morning! 

Can’t wait to hear what you think!!
I’m just going to leave this here… I’m just going to leave this here…
Emilie and Christen chat what they are working on, Emilie and Christen chat what they are working on, what they are reading,  and what’s coming up for the podcast
Chapter twelve has dropped. #neelyspencer Chapter twelve has dropped. #neelyspencer
A little birdie told me we’re getting more Neely A little birdie told me we’re getting more Neely Spencer chapters!
Chicken prints in the snow are my favorite. Chicken prints in the snow are my favorite.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Things of Note

Unless otherwise stated, all words and photos on this blog are my own. Sometimes I use affiliate links for products in posts as well as on my other social media sites. "We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites." Occasionally I receive books or products free of charge. This will be clearly noted and please know that when I am writing about something the words and opinions expressed are always my own. Thank you so much for reading.

Copyright © 2026 · Christen Krumm by SA Designs

 

Loading Comments...