Organizing Your Beach Bag

There was a time when I would head to the pool or the beach with a towel and a magazine and be fine for the day. But then I made little people that wanted to go with me to the pool or the beach, and my beach bag supplies list got a little longer.

First: Sunscreen 

Bring a lot and reapply it often. This isn’t 1985, and skin cancer and wrinkles are real things that can damage you. Also, if you don’t put sunscreen on your kids, all those other moms are going to talk about you.

Second: Towels and Extra Towels

Sand itches, people. And wrapping yourself up in a towel that was used as a base for a sandcastle is not fun.  Also, when your little people get sand in their eyes (and they will), you need a clean towel corner to wipe their faces.

Third: Food

What exactly is it about the sun that depletes our bodies of all nutrients and makes our stomachs forget that we JUST ATE?  Beach and pool days make you hungry.  There is something about being in a stomach-baring bikini that makes you think, yes, I will have more crackers and hummus, please, I need the carbs.  Pack lunch. And snacks. And then when your cooler is full, throw some apples and grapes in there too.

Fourth: Contingencies

Bring a trash bag. Bring extra Ziploc bags for wet bathing suits at the end of the day. Put your phone in a sandwich bag to keep it safe from sand and water damage. Leave dry, clean towels in your car to sit on for the ride home in case you are wearing your bathing suit home. Bring Kleenex and paper towels for emergencies. Bring wipes. Bring baby powder to wipe the sand off at the end of the day. Bring a bandaid or two for cuts on the bottom of your foot that inevitably happen at the beach or the pool.

And bring a very strong person with a rolling wagon to help you carry all the goodies to the perfect spot for your relaxing day.