Lake life has been agreeing with me lately and I think I know why: it's impossible to wake up on the water and not feel at least a little bit zen. I definitely get up much earlier now to enjoy the stillness of the water, go for a n easy jog, and drink my coffee in peace. While I've definitely paired down on my possessions in preparation for my move, I have found a few things I simply cannot do without up here on the water.
1. A good book
As I've said before, I'm a total bookworm and have been known to buy purses big enough to stash a book, so you better believe that there is one next to me on the beach! I'm currently geeking out about anything Dan Brown writes but I read The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd every summer and love it more and more every single time. If you haven't read it yet, it's the perfect summer read. I'm pretty sure you can buy it anywhere. Right now I'm reading Patty Jane's House of Curl by Lorna Landvik and it's absolutely lovely.
2. A swimsuit
This should be obvious! My goal this summer is to spend as much time by the water as possible. I've got a few favorite swimsuits and rotate them through regularly. I tend to go for suits that will create minimal tan lines and are good for water activities such as kayaking or swimming. As a general rule of thumb, if you feel like you belong next to some hottie in Baywatch (looking at you, Mr. Efron) when you try it on, it's the right swimsuit for you.
3. Campo Energy Body Oil
This has become my go-to summer fragrance because it's light and it pulls double duty. I can dab it on like perfume and hit the road, or I can mix it with coconut oil and use it like a lotion after a long day in the sun. The options are endless and the earthy, fresh smell makes me think of summer camp. I got it on a whim and will definitely be keeping it in my regular rotation because of its versatility.
4. Deep Conditioner
With all the sun, sand and lake water, my hair definitely takes a beating. I swear by deep conditioner to keep my tresses from drying out, especially since I started dying my hair a few months ago. Briogeo makes a great deep conditioner called Don't Despair, Repair! It's pretty great and it smells AWESOME! That being said, if I hadn't found it at a deep discount, I would still be standing by my tried-and-true 3-Minute Miracle by Aussie. It really lives up to the name and it's less than $3, so go nuts!
5. Sunscreen
I can't stress this enough. I'm from Minnesota. We love our summers by the lake, especially after our winter lasted for SEVEN MONTHS, but those of us with Scandinavian or German ancestry have to be extra careful about the sun's harmful rays or we'll look less like a bronzed goddess and more like the tomato from Veggie Tales. Honestly, I didn't think I was super picky about sunscreen until I tried the mineral sunscreen from Bare Republic. It works well with my skin and doesn't break me out like other sunscreens. Sun protection is important, people! Find one that works for you like five minutes ago. We all need it.
6. Lipstick
Even if you don't wear any other makeup, lipstick makes you look like you tried. I've become a lipstick hoarder over the years simply because the right shade of pink, red, orange or magenta can make your day feel exponentially brighter. My current favorite is Bite in Mimosa. It's the perfect warm red and I get compliments every time I wear it. And I love it because it looks like I didn't just roll out of bed ten minutes ago. Extra points if you top it off with a shiny gloss.
Do you have any lake life essentials? I'd love to hear about them!