Beach & Pool Must Haves

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When I see May on the calendar I almost get giddy. At my house we are counting down the days until the pool opens and our family beach trip is on the horizon. I am usually counting down school days, too. This year is a bit different, I really don’t want the school year to end. In many ways I feel like we are just getting started. Nonetheless, school will end, we will say our sad goodbyes, and we will find our summer groove.

Being a teacher, I definitely count my blessings of being able to spend the summer with my girls. Our days are filled with countless hours at the pool and a few weeks at the beach. If I am lucky I can get my girls to do a little school work on the side, and hopefully I can catch a few beach reads, too.

Today, I am sharing my all time favorite beach and pool must haves. These are all items that we own, have used for a long time, and tested by my picky girls and finicky husband. This list will not let you down. If you have not checked out our Sun Protection post, make sure to check that out. I cannot talk about beach and pool must haves without mentioning sun protection. Protecting your skin from the sun is #1 in my book.

Swimwear & Coverups

These swimsuits and coverups pass my tests. They have held up to a lot of wear, and are comfortable to wear all day. I feel tucked in and covered but still stylish and chic. When buying swimwear, I typically size up. The two piece one shoulder strap is my all time favorite. I love the high waist bottom and everything stays in place whether I am in the pool or ocean. I adore this suit so much, I bought another color to add to my collection for this summer. It is the perfect suit. The blue and white stripe is a classic. This is my favorite to wear for summer holidays. It pairs beautifully with red, white and blue mix and match outfits. You can’t beat the classic black one pieces. They pair with many cover ups and a straw hat. So simple, elegant, but yet comfortable. All the coverups I have today are perfect for the pool or beach. When walking or playing a game, a little more coverage always makes me more comfortable. Most of these do not offer sun protection, so don’t skimp on the sunscreen, just because you have a cover up on.

Body

After long days in the sun and wearing sunscreen all day every day, my skin always needs a refresh. These are my favorites for reviving my skin after a long day. I use it right after a shower or bath. My favorite self tanner of all time is Jergen’s. The price point and gradual tan cannot be beat. Let’s face it, I’m a little careless to do a one and done self tanner. I always end up a streaky mess. The Brazilian Bum Bum is so great. It is such a loved item, I have to stalk Amazon to make sure it is in stock. It smells like you are on a tropical vacation, and feels amazing.

Keeping my face hydrated and protected is a priority all year round, but definitely during summer. Every Sunday I have a routine. I use these to “dermaplane” or shave my face Yes, you read that right, shave my face. Those small baby hairs no one wants to see in the sunlight, go away and leave your skin silky smooth. Finding these has saved me from making trips to the salon for waxing. After I shave my face, I need to rehydrate. I have lived by these face masks this year. They give my skin a fresh glow and are the best bang for your buck. My final Sunday routine: I swear by this product. The trick is to leave on for 6 min 30 seconds, then rinse off in the shower and you are good to go. This is by far the best hair remover I have found. It will save you tons of money on bikini waxes and you will be confident and carefree.

My final body product I now cannot live without is this foot peel mask. For this product to work best you need to pre soak your feet and leave the product on for a full hour. I use a large sock to make the plastic bags stick on my feet better, then rinse and soak. You will want to soak your feet nightly for a week. This is the perfect excuse that you “need” to take a bath each night. In a few days you will be stunned! The amount of dead skin that comes off is alarming but exhilarating at the same time. Give your feet about a week or two to work through the process, and they are renewed. I try to use the foot peel mask about every 3-4 months to maintain the results.

Hydration

Every pool and beach trip requires plenty of beverages. Whether you choose water or a cocktail, you need containers that are shatter proof and will keep your drink cold all day. This will hold an entire bottle of wine or a lot of water. It is leafproof and will keep it cold for 24 hours. If you don’t have a good tumbler for keeping your drinking cold, this is the best one. It works well with cold or hot drinks for the winter. Last year, I became a little White Claw crazy. These slim koozies were perfect for keeping them cold. If you are at the pool or a backyard get together, keep these on hand. They are perfect! I love that they look like glass, but are recyclable plastic. They come in every glass shape, and are much more chic than a solo cup.

If you are sticking with water, this is my go to. It holds enough to last all day and will be cold for 24 hours. For my girls, this is their go to. It is a perfect size for them. I love the rubber bottom, so it doesn’t make a loud noise every time they drop it or put it down.

Towels & Bags

We seem to have a towel collection at my house. Going to swim team in the morning and back to the pool later, we use many towels each day. This pack of beach towels is the perfect solution for our summer needs. I try to monogram our towels, so they don’t get misplaced. If we accidentally leave it, it can find its way back home. These are incredibly soft and durable. My favorite find the past few years have been these turkish towels. They are soft, air dry quickly, and are super versatile. They are perfect for wrapping around your waist as a quick cover up, covering up on car rides, and the perfect blanket for air travel.

This mesh waterproof bag is perfect for the pool and beach. It is perfect for putting wet toys, bathing suits and towels, and taking to the beach. I like that I can see through the mess sides, preventing me from digging around to find what I need.

Footwear

Having the perfect summer shoe is a must. I need options that are comfortable for a lot of walking, waterproof, and with hold up to wear and tear. I love the gold on the straps of these flip flops. They make a simple flip flop a little more chic. I have had mine for several years and they are still perfect. We love these so much, both my girls have matching pairs. This is another option that I can wear to the pool, beach, and even take to my hot yoga classes. These give a little more support, but will last forever. I have worn my fair share of uncomfortable sandals, and I refuse to do that anymore. These sandals are super comfortable and I can wear them all day. They give good support and are easy to wipe clean. A few years ago, I stumbled upon these Blowfish sandals. I have worn these on several trips that required a lot of walking. They gave enough support to get me through the day. They are perfect with sundresses and even jean shorts.

Chairs

Spending the summers outdoors, we always keep good chairs in our cars. Whether we are going to sporting events or a backyard get together we are prepared. Ryan found these a few years ago, I may have grumbled a bit at the price, but they are well worth it. They pack up so small I can put them in a tote bag. We keep them in our car year round and are always prepared. These chairs are super durable and will last for a long time.

When you are going to the beach, you may want a more comfortable option. We love these, because you can use the backpack straps, all the pockets, and it even has a cooler on the back. These are perfect for a day at the beach and packing up all your goodies. Ryan takes these on all his fishing trips and they have held up to the test of time.

This stadium chair is not only used at football games, summer camp, but also sports practices. I love that it rolls up super small and is comfortable to sit on the ground for several hours. This chair has saved my back many times, and is super handy to have.

Games

Having outdoor games is a must for the summer. Not only do they keep us entertained, they bring a lot of laughs and friendly competition. We love this game. It comes in a super small mesh bag that is easy to throw in the beach bag. Think cornhole without the big cumbersome board. I have gifted this game to several friends and family and everyone loves it. This dice game is super fun, too. It comes in a waterproof collapsible bucket and will provide loads of backyard fun. This has provided hours of entertainment for our family this past year, especially during quarantine.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer making new memories with your friends and family. Are there any must haves that you love? I’d love to know what I need to make our summer the best ever.