1. Prepare the Beach Bag

 

Your first summer beach trip is often chaotic. Trying to find all the miscellaneous items that are in the back of your closet can turn your sunny beach trip into a sloppy outing. To prepare yourself, get your beach bag ready early. Here is what to always keep in mine: sunglasses, towel, flip flops, sunscreen, a hat, and a cover up. We’d also advise finding your beach chair now and maybe give it a test drive in the back yard on a nice spring day.

 

 

2. Prepare the Beach Body

 

 

Winter is the time for warm chowders and heavy meals, which means by summer the whole bathing suit concept seems like a rude joke. Take a look at these simple workouts you can do around the house. One of our readers, Mark, also recommended the perfect push up. Sounds better than my current adequate/ non-existent pushups.

 

 

3. Find Your Best Bathing Suit

 

A big part of finding the best bathing suit is knowing your body. If I had known bandeaus where a bad idea for me a little earlier I could have saved myself from lots of embarrassment. (body surfing + strapless suit = accidental wardrobe malfunction.) Check out these bathing suit tips from Glamour Magazine.

 

 

4. Get Your Summer Playlist

 

It’s not summer unless you have the perfect music to crank in the car with the windows down. I think this country mix might be just what you need to start your summer! Would you listen to this poolside?

 

 

5. Find the Perfect Vacation Rentals

 

 

A week with the family in a villa just screams summer to me. Where do you want to go? Are you starting to plan your summer vacations? Comment with your summer plans.

 

Do you think I missed anything? How are you getting ready for summer?