Summer Necessities for a Fabulous Summer - American School of Charm

Quick teaser … today’s post highlights my 10 summer necessities that are an absolute MUST to keep your life looking and feeling fabulous.

Yes, I’m totally in lake mode after getting a few hours on the boat this week and it’s changed my entire mindset. So today, I’m sharing my personal list of summer necessities for being out in the summer elements whether you’re enjoying the lake, sea, or shore!

Most of these are the actual brands and products that I use. Yet there are a couple of things (apparel) that I’ve bought over the years randomly. For your access and ease, I’ve found a well-rated comparable product available on Amazon.

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1. Atomic habits by James Clear

I read (okay, actually listened to) this on my drive from Upstate New York to Wisconsin. Not only did it keep me awake and alert the entire drive, it also made me insanely pumped to make some new goals for the upcoming months and beyond.

I mean, honestly, I had to force myself not to stop at every rest stop because I wanted to make notes for myself at each chapter.

This book is on the list of summer necessities because we often have a lot of mental downtimes. You can use it to think about the grand plans you have for your life and family and how you can stick with them. Whether it be health, fitness, lifestyle, financial, etc. This book will put you on the right path and have you excited to start any journey that will develop a better you!

2. Book Cover

Typically, I only bring magazines out to the lake because I don’t want my hard cover books to get wet. Here’s a solution to at least half of that problem, a book cover to protect the exterior of your book from splashes and other drips of H2O that might otherwise damage the cover.

Yes, you still have to be careful when the book is open, yet here is a hack that I have in mind, use one of these covers for the exterior, and then use another to slide on and off the page your reading! Since they come in a pack of 25 you’re set for lots of reading this without restocking. Perf!!

3. Waterproof belt bag

What we used to call “fanny-packs” are now trending as “belt-bags”. Admittedly, I never gave up on my ol’ fanny pack. I had one for running, one for long walks, and another for when I was out with the kids and needed my hands free. All of these progressed in size.

Now, it’s time for their return as a waterproof case for your phone, keys, lip gloss, etc. So smart and you can mix being on and off the water without having to change bags for your small essentials.

4. Waterproof sandals

Okay, I didn’t totally dig these when I first saw them a few years ago. I still don’t love them in white, although that’s totally personal opinion, but I do absolutely LOVE their feel and function so they’re a winner.

Now, with all the colors available even I can find one I like. I’m really picky. My fav right now is the copper. If my legs ever do tan up again, they’ll look great with the subtle metallic shade.

5. Packable sun hat … huge on the summer necessities list

In my college days, I’d wear a hat out to the bars all year long. Now, I’m a little less adventurous with my outfits yet I remain insistent on wearing one while I’m out on the boat or in the sun.

Baseball hats, always easy to grab and pack, lack ear protection. Visors, leave your scalp exposed. Open weave hats let the sun pop right in as a sneak attack. Canvas hats, while functional, often leave style to the elements (I’m funny) and can get really sweaty.

Moving away from the options I’ve just cited, a wide brim woven hat is perfect. The challenges that remain are storing it as you go to and from the water with hands inevitably full and, of course, the wind. So what features are essential? Packability. Wide brim. Lanyard. Tight weave. Take a look at this favorite of mine:

If you don’t like this one, just head over to their brand page. They have lots of options to choose from to match your personal style!

6. Sun protection for your face

Hands down, my absolute favorite sunscreen for my face is by Image. They offer both a tinted and non-tinted option in SPF30 and SPF50. I’ve been using this brand for years after discovering them through my esthetician in Wisconsin (shout out to Valley Skin Studio). She’s amazing and only caries Image brand products for skincare.

They are light enough to use every day and I really love the subtle tinting, which at first I didn’t. If it’s a really hot day in which you’ll be sweating a lot then I would prefer the non-tinted. Otherwise, tinted all the way!

Note: the non-tinted smells amazing.

7. overnight masque for face

After a day in the sun and outdoor weather, your face needs a LOT of TLC. One that takes no time is an overnight masque to nourish and refresh all your poor skin cells. We all know that we shouldn’t go out in the sun. We should hide away and make sure our skin is snowy white. If you adhere to this policy, bless you! For the rest of us, let’s at the very least give a hardy apology to our faces in the form of this refreshing baby!

8. exfoliating gloves

Let’s not forget the rest of your body and it’s exposure to the harsh summer elements (that we love so much). You don’t need a fancy or expensive exfoliating body wash when you have gloves that do the job with any body wash you like.

This multi-pack is great as it allows you to use them once or a few times and then toss them into the laundry. It’s not necessary to use one on each hand, I just switch them as I’m washing up. Your skin will feel so much smoother and it will glow as the dead skin cells are sloughed away!

9. Maxidress

I’m going to try to control myself on this one as I LOVE LOVE LOVE maxi dresses so much! I’ll keep this to the Cliff’s Notes version. I have a spaghetti strap floral maxi dress that I bought for $3 off the clearance rack of H&M. My daughter and I laughed at the price and I figured it would just be a nightgown.

Then, last summer, I was running out fast to get to the lake and I grabbed it as a cover up. Ever since, it’s been my go to. The reason, it’s so versatile!

I wear it completely as is when I’m feeling like covering up my 50-year-old bod’ or if the sun burned me a touch. When it gets hot but I still want to be covered up, I knot it on the side to lift it up and show a bit of a tanned leg. If I’m heading to dinner, a cute belt works well to give my figure more shape and form.

The trick is to find one that doesn’t wrinkle terribly bad if you knot it, and that is machine washable. Aside from that, it’s just color preference! Here’s one I found on Amazon that looks like it matches the requirements and comes in a wide assortment of colors/patterns.

10. The perfect tote

Yes, I’m highlighting a tote bag that isn’t one that I’ve made. Please, visit my shop so you can pick from there as well but I wanted to give you an option that is straw, which to me screams summer. I don’t weave bags so this really isn’t like you’re cheating on ASC Handmade 😉.

What features of a bag put it on the summer necessities list? The perfect summer tote bag ISN’T precious. It can get water sprayed on it, be left on the ground, and easily transitions from a day on the water to a casual dinner onshore. Ideally, having a zipper compartment is great, whether it be attached or a separate zipper pouch.

I love the shape of this one as it won’t collapse when you set it down so there’s a little more protection for the contents.

summarizing the top 10 summer necessities for a great experience on land or water

There, of course, is the blanket, towel, cooler, etc. yet for me, these are my absolute necessities. Anytime you head out, you can have them ready and be out in just moments of getting home. Waste no time indoors when the fleeting days of summer arrive.

Here’s the quick look:

Get these and you’re ready to look great, feel great, and remain great through this summer and beyond!

Have questions about anything here? I’d love to hear from you so drop me an EMAIL and I’ll give you my two cents!

Email Me

Oh, I almost forgot … if you want to get posts, updates, advance purchases, and freebies then make sure you subscribe to “Coming Unzipped”. That’s the ASC newsletter that gets you all of that and so much more! Just fill in your name and email below and you’re in the know!

That’s it for today! XOXO,

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