You’re planning to read that trashy summer novel at the beach, but reading in the sun without your shades makes you squint. And reading without your readers makes you squint. And, unless you are Renee Zellweger, squinting isn’t cute! Well, check out these neat SCOJO GEL SUNREADERS. They are feather-light, come in attractive colors, and the frames have bendable memory plastic. Plus they have 100 percent UVA/UVB protection. Now you can read everything under the sun! How’s that for an eye-opener?
Front Porch, 24 S. Main St., Pennington; $38. 609-737-0071; thefrontporchnj.com

You are pale. Your bare legs have not seen the sun since the Carter administration. Your sallow pallor would make those fashionable vampires jealous. Friend, either you need to catch some rays or get some self-tanner! Sure, you may have tried self-tanners before, but ST. TROPEZ SELF TAN BRONZING MOUSSE is different. It dries super-fast, has a nice fragrance and it’s easy to apply for an even tan that’s golden brown, not traffic-cone orange. And P.S., don’t forget to take your vitamin D!
Blue Mercury, 72 Palmer Square West, Princeton; $32. 609-497-9100; bluemercury.com

Summer party time! Your foodie friends, Chandler and Monica, are bringing those fancy “things-wrapped-in-bacon.” Snookie, no doubt, will bring her special “les crackers avec Jersey fromage-in-a-can.” And Dorothy, Blanche and Rose have been out on the lanai sipping prune-tinis since 4. You need to bring something new to the table to wow this classy crew. How about a tasty Italian dish served on a tasteful Italian dish? U. GRAZIA HANDPAINTED DERUTA CERAMIC PLATTERS AND DISHES are festooned with embellishments that can only be described as molto-splendiferous! Tell your guests to eat pronto, so you can all admire the dazzling artistry!
Tuscan Hills, 4428 Route 27, Kingston; prices vary. 609-921-9015; tuscanhills.com

In days of yore: Mom poured grape Kool-Aid into an ice cube tray, added a long frilly toothpick to each cube and voila, ice pops! We couldn’t wait to suck on that clumsy frozen treat, but wait we did — peeking every half-hour to see if they were frozen yet. Flash forward to 2010: “Mom, what is this thing called waiting? Can’t you bend the laws of physics and freeze Popsicles in, say, eight minutes?” Hey kids, Zoku can do it! Pull the pre-chilled ZOKU QUICK POP MAKER base out of the freezer, pour in juice or milk, purees, chunks of fruit — let your imagination go wild! And before your long-suffering kids can say “Albert Einstein,” you have instant freeze pops for eager kids of all ages... relatively speaking.
Williams-Sonoma, Princeton MarketFair, U.S. Route 1, West Windsor; $48. 609-419-1300; williams-sonoma.com

Hey, you meat-mad carnivores! Aren’t you tired of the delicious, mouth-watering taste of BBQ’ed beast slathered with sweet, tangy sauce? Nah, probably not. But perhaps it’s time to expand your backyard cooking repertoire and impress your guests by baking a trendy, crispy, just-like-woodfired pizza. Open your grill, pre-heat the CHARCOAL COMPANION PIZZAQUE STONE GRILL with built-in thermometer, throw on your pizza, close the cover and soon you’ll have something else to offer those crazy corn-ivores besides coleslaw and tofu weenies.
Kitchen Kapers, 23 Hulfish St., Princeton; $89.99. 609-924-9190; kitchenkapers.com

It’s easy to recognize a VERA BRADLEY BAG, right? Those Bollywood colors, eye-filling floral and paisley motifs and, of course, the famous quilting. Now, V.B. has a surprising black and white “Night and Day” collection. It has all the familiar shapes and sizes with the smartly designed, multi-pocketed innards, sans the jelly bean colors. And the graphic flower motif is simple, not so flower-giddy. This line is truly sophisticated and elegant. Less “girls just wanna have fun,” more “women just wanna have dinner and martinis.” Pear Tree Creations in Skillman carries all styles of Vera Bradley bags (and stationery too) in every size, shape and color imaginable.
Pear Tree Creations, 876 Route 518 and Vreeland Drive, Skillman; $68.  609-924-6252

Let’s face it, we’re all a bit tense these days. Your nerve-wracking life has turned you into a tightly wound, pearl-clutching, angstipated crazy person! You just need to chillax, dear — but how? Go to Metropolis Spa in Princeton for a soothing, aromalicious  SPA MOSAIC BODY TREATMENT — the ultimate, customized spa experience. Gentle full body exfoliation is followed by a luxurious plant-based masque that delivers maximum hydration. A relaxing massage is included with aromatherapy oils and finished off with body emulsion.  Look over other ahhhh-inspiring packages and maybe next time, a hot stone massage followed by a Chocolate Sun spray tan? You deserve it, you crazy person!
Metropolis Spa Salon, Princeton Shopping Center, 301 N. Harrison St., Princeton; $150 (90 minute treatment). 609-683-8388; metropolisspa.com

Pillows are like jewelry for your couch and chairs — why not surprise your divan with a divine new bauble? Amy Karyn, a design resource store, on Palmer Square has mounds of tastefully designed PILLOWS to choose from. The always classy Amy Karyn (aka Amy Lichstein) is a one-woman design machine. She started with one-of-a-kind pillows whose popularity generated an impressive line of 150 fabric designs, gorgeous furniture, bedding and window treatments. The fabric collection consists of florals, paisleys, stripes and damasks inspired by antique textile designs. Your armchair will give you a great big hug!
Amy Karyn, 19 Hulfish St., Palmer Square, Princeton. 609-252-0022;
amykaryn.com

Flashback to the ’60s “Flower Power” movement! We had cool plastic jewelry in fluorescent colors and bold graphic “pop” designs — and now, here’s a neat modern translation. Less hippie-dippy and more funky-fun. Dandelion on Palmer Square carries FLOWER JEWELRY by Metal Monk, aka Donya O’Brien Kaufer, who creates rainbow candy bright necklaces, bracelets and earrings out of soft lucite, semi-precious beads, fabrics and metal. Wear them with some groovy sandals and a flirty floral spring frock!
Dandelion, 47 Palmer Square West, Princeton; $68. 609-921-0345;
dandelionjewelry.com

Tra la, tra la! Spring is here! Surely, this season is the reason that nostrils were invented — to capture the ambrosial odors of flowers, herbs and trees! You can bring those swoony spring aromas indoors with Volupsa Japonica REED DIFFUSERS — a long lasting alternative to a “gag me” spray or plug-in air freshener. Viburnum in Princeton has a nice selection of fragrances like lavender, fig, rosewood, frangipani and more. This fragrant oil diffuser comes in a notably elegant embossed glass bottle. A bundle of 15 reeds absorb the fragrant oil and perfume the air continuously, traveling to your nose faster than the speed of smell! If your nostrils had feet, they’d do a happy spring dance!
Viburnum, 202 Nassau St., Princeton; $48. 609-683-8800; viburnumdesigns.com