Guest Post: So Much to Smile About

Hi Capital readers! Liz here from So Much to Smile About. I’m so happy to be helping Kelsey out with a guest post today, and am super excited that she was wondering what is in my beach bag! I love summer and heading to the beach whenever possible (and you’ll find me at the pool when it’s not), so this was the perfect post for me. 

In addition to a cool drink and some good reading material, the most important things I pack are the swimsuit, towel and sunglasses (of course). My favorite swimsuit these days is this one from Old Navy – I wear it all the time. Also, I recently found this beach towel from Bloomingdales and need to make it mine. It’s a reprint from a Conde Nast magazine (and it’s on sale)! And my go-to sunglasses will always be Ray-Bans, either these aviators or the classic wayfarers. Finally, you can’t forget some sunblock (this Clinique City Block is perfect for my face), a fun hat, these sandals and some Bumble and Bumble surf spray to keep my hair looking beach-y perfect. When I’m all situated, I just put in my headphones and listen to some tunes (you can find my summer playlist here). Now, get me to the beach!

Guest Post: Capital Style

First, a big thanks to Kelsey for having me today! I LOVE the beach, so when she asked me to write about the must haves in my beach bag...well she didn't have to ask twice. So without further adieu, here are the 5 things you will find in my beach bag.

J. Crew {$165}

1. Sunscreen: I have darker skin and don't really sunburn (except that time I sat out from noon till 6pm on a cruise ship somewhere in the Caribbean - not smart), but I am concerned about sun damage and super concerned about wrinkles as my twenties disappear in the rear-view mirror. I usually use an SPF 15 or 20 - like Coppertone - on the bod and a SPF 30 for my face - like Kiehl's sunscreen.

2. Hair care: I wear my hair natural which, for those of you who do not know me, is super curly. If I put it up in a ponytail, by the end of day, it snarls and starts turn into dreadlocks and that's on a normal day. Add surf, sun and sand and well, you got a big ol' mess so I need stuff to fight the frizz. I am a huge fan of the "Not Your Mother's" line of products. It's affordable and available at most drugstores. My go to these days is the "Kinky Moves" curl defining cream {$5.99}. It does exactly what it says and gets rid of the frizz. That is after I brush out the tangles. I use a big flat brush cause it doesn't rip out my hair. I also love the ribbon hair ties - they actually hold thick hair and don't rip it out!

3. Tunes: I love music just about as much as I love fashion, so I'm certainly not hitting the beach without a soundtrack. One of our summer interns recently told me about Songza and I'm obsessed! It is "music conceirge" that offers you music for the situation. Just pick a playlist and voila - chilling by the water, beach party, BBQ - music for any occasion!

4. A good book: I saw they're doing a film version of Anna Karenina with Kiera Knightly. I'm pro reading the book before seeing the movie so that's my summer reading. For something a little lighter, I'd recommend "Let's Pretend this Never Happened" by Jenny Lawson.

5. Sunglasses: Remember how I said I was worried about wrinkles, yeah, wan't joking. I don't really leave the house without sunglasses, so they are definitely a staple for the beach. This summer I'm into the cat-eye shades.

So here's to sand-filled wishes and rum punch dreams! Hope you all stop by Capital Style sometime to say hi!

Guest Post: Cupcakes for Breakfast

Hey beach babes! This is Nikki from Cupcakes for Breakfast here to share a look inside by summer beach bag. Some of my essentials include a bright bikini, a great book, cold juicy fruit, and both bug and sun protection. I'm all ready. So, when are we leaving??

sequin straw tote | beach towel | pink polka dot bikini | Avon bug guard | sunscreen | Time Traveler's Wife | Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | wayfarers | OXO water bottle | Merimekko picnic bag | nectarines  

Kelsey, I hope you have a great vacation! Thanks for having me!

Guest Post: Mrs. In Training

Hi!  I'm Kelly from Mrs In Training.

I'm so excited to guest post for The Capital Barbie today, and want to tell you all about what I pack in my beach bag!  I just got back from a glorious week at the Outer Banks, and so I was able to snap a few shots to give you a peek ;)  Dressing for the beach is always the same for me - bikini, flat sandals (I hate the way flip flops "flip" up sand on my legs), a hat and sunglasses.  I also love this breezy Zara tunic as a cover up.  

In my bag, I always take a small lunch cooler to keep drinks and snacks cool.  Water is a must in 100 degree heat, and this week I was munching on fresh blueberries and Luna bars for some extra energy.  

How do I keep it all cold?  These awesome Cordina daiq-GO-ris!  You freeze them, and when you're ready to drink, just squeeze and unscrew the cap!  My aunt and I called them our adult Capri Suns, and with 6% alcohol they definitely made our afternoons more enjoyable!

Everything else I put in a large zipper bag to keep as much sand off as possible.  I love this clear one from DvF...it makes it so easy to see what is inside!

And it contains necessities like suntan lotion, a wide toothed comb for any snarls after dips in the ocean, and my personal addiction, Carmex chapstick.

I never leave home without my cell phone, but I also love this tiny speaker from iHome - it is really loud, and perfect to entertain a group over the sounds of the surf.  That, the Pandora app, and Amazon music Cloud Player really start a party.  

I saw a pin on Pinterest earlier this year about how baby powder helps get off sand at the beach, so I thought I'd give it a try since I HATE getting sandy.  And wow, does it work!  After I cooled off in the water and dried off with my towel, I rubbed a bit of baby powder on my face, hands, or wherever else I had a bit of sticky sand, and it came right off!!  I will never go to the beach again without it.  And I packed the wipes to take off any bits of baby powder before nomm-ing on some blueberries, but I really didn't need them - the baby powder wasn't messy at all.  My Kindle was another "must" - I love how perfectly it works in bright sun.

And of course, a towel, but I forgot to take a picture, and we all know what those look like ;)

Kelsey, hope you're having a great time at the beach!  Thanks for having me!  

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