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I am reminded why living in California is so desirable now that the rainy, cold days of winter have been replaced by the pleasant temperatures of spring . Vibrant green grass and patches of wildflowers cloak the hillsides. Our wide open beaches are still too chilly for water sport seeking tourists and belong to the locals. In the distance stand our snow capped mountains that reflect the peachy-pink sunsets and velvet blue night skies. It truly is beautiful countryside.

My husband, kids and I have begun spending much of our weekends outside since all this beauty is just outside our door.. We have enjoyed spur-of-the-moment picnics in meadows at the side of Ortega Highway and day trips to Big Bear to partake in snowball fights. There have been sun filled and exhausting days spent peddling our beach cruisers back and forth on the boardwalk between the Huntington, Newport and Balboa Piers, followed by evening marshmallow roasts at the fire pits on the beach. Yes, life is good.

For each of these little journeys we pack an collection of stuff; Frisbees, a playing cards, blankets, beach towels, sunscreen, lip balm, snacks, sodas, water bottles and so on.

Of all these little necessities, my most favorite is the Ice Mule. My husband picked up our Mule at a hunting/fishing store (which is funny because he would never harm a fly). Thinking it might be of use one day, he brought it home. He was right.

This remarkable cooler bag has kept our refreshments icy cold for incredibly long periods of time. In fact, I a short time ago discovered that it had been left in the car overnight and was dreading to removing the deviled eggs that surely would emit toxic fumes upon removal from their Tupperware tomb. To my delight the eggs and the water bottles inside the Ice Mule were still cold to the touch, even though they had been in the bag for over 24 hours!

The Ice Mule now accompanies me on trips to the grocery store. I transfer the perishable items into my Mule and go on with my errands all over town before returning home. Quite simply, I adore this thing!

Soon the blossoming green hills will turn golden brown and the seaside will become a swarming, noisy mecca for the tourist traffic. Traffic on Pacific Coast Highway will be reduced to a snail’s pace due to tourists looking for the closest spot to the beach (hint, these don’t exist in the summer).

You can bet that our Mule will be with us to keep our beverages, snacks, sun tan lotion and temperaments cool when we do feel brave enough fight the summer crowds. Yes, it will soon be time to relax by the pool with our diet sodas, frozen yogurt and lemonade as the temperature climbs past 90 degrees. To minimize effort during the lazy days of summer, I intend to use my Ice Mule poolside, even though the kitchen will only be a few feet away. In fact I might not move from my lounge chair all summer long.

Written by Windy Reigns Mom, Author and Creative Consultant Cooler Bag Online College

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