12 WATERSIDE ESSENTIALS
I just have to say: this post is a pain. Not intrinsically. I just have a huge paper and a lot of stress and I had almost totally written this post up – then I accidentally deleted everything and couldn’t recover it thanks to the auto save feature and my computer’s funny idea to make the undo feature stop working. Are you serious? But the world isn’t over – I just rewrote it, frustratingly (sorry). I really wanted to share my summer essentials and what I keep with me by the water or out in the sun. So check out after the jump to see my sunny day necessities!
BEACH TOWEL. A giant beach towel is the best. Really, the bigger the better. There’s nothing worse than freezing from the breeze after you get out of the water. A big towel is covering and warm and doesn’t get soaking wet in ten seconds.
BEACH BAG. Picking the perfect beach bag is a challenge, but it’s worth looking around and investing. Mine was a gift. It’s more of a basket, which is perfect for the beach or pool. I don’t have to worry about things getting crushed sunblock exploding because I accidentally sat on it. I can also make sure any food or water stays upright and doesn’t leak. It’s not the best for running around, but it’s big enough that I can pack a small wristlet or cross body (like this one) in it and if I have to run in somewhere, I can leave the basket in the car. SIMILAR BY TORY BURCH, JONATHAN ADLER & STEVE MADDEN.
SUNGLASSES. Sunglasses are a necessity even in the winter. There’s nothing cuter (read: not at all cute) than walking around with a scrunched up face. When it comes to poolside sunnies, I usually leave my favorite nice pairs at home unless I know I won’t be too active. I’m too clumsy and it wouldn’t be unlike me to drop a pair in the lake or crush them under a beach bag. You can always keep a nice pair in a sunglasses case in your bag if you really want to be over-prepared cool.
WATER BOTTLE. A bottle of water is as important as sunblock. Just the other day I witnessed a girl pass out from apparent dehydration. Spending time in the sun really depletes your body’s water supply and you dehydrate way faster. It’s important to keep at least one bottle of water with you, but the more time in the sun, the more you need. I love my CamelBak water bottle, it’s super sturdy and has a straw and loop to hold onto or tie to your bag. CAMELBAK WATER BOTTLE.
HAT. I love hats in the summer time. My face burns fast, so I’m all about protecting it. Big floppy sun hats are great, but a baseball cap is my go-to pick. It’s small and I don’t have to worry about it being crushed as much as a big floppy hat. Plus, a snap back has an opening that is perfect for quickly pulling my hair up off my neck. Treat it like a hair tie, grab your hair and start to pull it through the loop, then stop once your hair is about half way through, just like a quick bun. It doesn’t last forever, but it works when I’m in a pinch.
COVER UP. I’m not the type of person to go from the car to the beach in just my bikini. Plus, I’m running errands all the time. It’s nice to be able to coverup. Check out my last post for tips on rocking your coverup when you’re pulled away from the pool.
BOOK. A summer themed novel is a great way to pass the time by the water. This one really isn’t summer themed, but I started it over winter break and I’m dying to get back to it once classes are out. I have a Kindle that I love, but an actual paperback book has no glare or battery. I try to pick up a few paperbacks when I see them on sale or if a new book by one of my favorite authors is available.
BEACH SANDALS. Like I said before, errands. I don’t want to wear a sloppy pair of sandals while I’m out running around, but I also don’t want to worry about my nicer shoes getting ruined or filled with sand (that’s the worst!). I always keep a spare pair of rubber flip flops around for just this purpose – they’re easy to wash off and super inexpensive. TARGET FLIP FLOPS.
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER. Depending on if you plan on laying around or playing around, you might need to add a few other things to your bag. These might include: bandaids and alcohol wipes, waterproof mascara, hair ties, leave in conditioner and lots of snacks.
