Summer is finally here, and I'm beach bound in less than a week now, so of course I've already been packing (because I'm far too excited for my own good), which has led me to this list of five summer essentials you'd be way better off with this year.
1. A cute baseball hat
I don't know why I waited so long to invest in one of these, but I'm pretty sure I've been missing out my whole life. You can pick up a plain one at, literally, any store near you. Or you can go the extra mile and order yourself a monogrammed one off Etsy like I did (they're surprisingly reasonably priced and I got mine here).
2. Sunscreen
I know, everyone thinks they need to be a bronzed goddess for the summer time, but I promise your skin completely disagrees. And even if you can't see that now, you will in the next few years. I'm not talking about cute freckles, I'm talking sun-induced wrinkles and, at worst, skin cancer. So if you must, at least use tanning oil with built in sunscreen, but better yet, if you just absolutely have to be tan, save yourself the danger to your health and get a spray tan instead.
3. Books
When you're out on the beach or by the pool or outside in general, using your phone or tablet and especially your laptop, just isn't practical. Save the shows you've been dying to watch on Netflix for a time when you're gonna be inside anyway. The sun will make it impossible to see the screen, your battery will be dead in approximately twenty minutes anyway, and even if it isn't the chances that it's going to overheat are pretty high. Not to mention water and sand are your phone's natural enemies. Instead, find some great books that you didn't have time to read during the school year. There are lots of great summertime picks, no matter what genre you're into.
4. A cooler
A cooler is great for so much more than just ice and drinks. Sandwiches, fruit, veggies, and just about any other snack or meal that you can think of are great to toss into your cooler to save yourself a trip back inside while you're bumming it in the sun. Better yet, you can store your aloe vera gel in there for a cool relief once you get sunburn despite having applied sunscreen twelve times. Or least, that's what always happens to me.
5. Water!
The essential that I always see everyone forgetting, for sure. Being dehydrated is no fun and only serves to minimize any summer fun you're planning on having. Especially if you're sitting out on the beach or by the pool all day, make sure to keep a full thermos or water bottle nearby. To make it easier to make sure you're drinking enough, invest in a cute bottle so you're sure to want to show it off (you can also find those for pretty cheap on Etsy). If you don't know how much water you should be drinking, a good rule of thumb is to take your weight and half it. That's how many ounces of water you should be drinking every day, if not more based on how much time you're spending out in the sun, swimming, playing sports, ect.
Most important of all, bring your hunger for adventure, a willingness to try new things, and your ability to enjoy the freedom that only summer time can bring. Make this summer your best yet and enjoy every second to its fullest!
