....until then, I am going thru a mental list of things to pack. Its a short trip, I'll only be gone for 3 days, but here are my Top 5 Beach Vacation Essentials I never travel without:
1. SPF for face & body. An absolute must......in 30 or higher because the sun is a COMPLETELY different beast near the equator. Im obsessed with sun protection (yes, I heap it on even in winter) and here are the best SPF products Ive ever used:
L'Oreal Ombrelle Face Stick SPF 60 - Phenomenal. Convenient packaging, hands-free application, lasts forever, NEVER goes on greasy, and I dunno how they do it, but I left this shit out in the African sun for hours and it didnt melt. I also coat it around my eyes and it doesnt sting. Worth every penny.
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| courtesy of beautyeditor.ca |
Life Brand Continuous Spray SPF 30 - I absolutly hate using my hands to apply SPF, so the continuous spray feature is a must for me. Dont waste your money on brand names, this Life brand SPF really gets the job done. I couldnt find a photo of it, so please enjoy the Shoppers logo instead:
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| courtesy of timinganddelivery.com |
2. My Beach Uniform. Being a girl, I always feel the need to overpack. I hate feeling fashionably unprepaired for any occasion....especially considering the amount of money I spend on clothes. So I load up my suitcase with all sorts of random shit; heels & stuff, but no matter what I shove into my suitcase, I ALWAYS end up living in the same outfit while Im away:
-BIKINI. 90% of mine are from Old Navy. They have a MASSIVE selection, adorable prints & colours, they never get see thru when wet, great quality & price. Plus you can mix and match because most of us are different sizes on top & bottom. Bikini tops also serve as a great bra under sundresses & tanks.
-FLIP FLOPS. I used to be undyingly loyal to Havainas.....until I discovered Old Navy flip flops. Amazing colours & great prices. Other than the logo, I honestly cannot tell the difference between these & Havainas.
-LOOSE COTTON SUNDRESS. Perfect for throwing on over a bikini...but be sure to get cotton, it dries super-fast and is breathable in hot climates. A loose fit is essential for feeling comfortable & breezy....I like to keep my skin-tight clothes where they belong: THE OFFICE.
-SUNGLASSES. Not only do they look effin' cool, they protect your eyes from the sun and offer a bit of coverage to a make-up free face.
Here's Hayden Panettiere looking very fiercewithahighwaist. While I acknowledge the fact that I am nowhere near as cute as her, this is a perfect display of my classic "Beach Uniform" (minus the blackberry...ugh...get over yourself):
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| courtesy of osoblog.tv |
3. SECRET CLINICAL STRENGTH DEODORANT. Being human, when I get hot, I sweat. Being Pakistani, my sweat stinks. Regular deodorant in the opressive heat doesnt cut it for me. This product, when applied to freshly washed skin at night, actually stops my pits from sweatin' & stinkin'. Seriously, so fresh & so clean all day long.....
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| courtesy of lipglossandlaptops.com |
4. ZIPLOC BAGS. Dont waste your money on make-up bags....take a cue from Vanessa Kensington in Austin Powers and organize everything in Ziploc bags. Technically they dont have to be Ziploc brand.....The Dollar Store has durable & supercheap ones.......but I pack EVERYTHING in these and bring a few to spare. A small one is to get my carry-on liquids thru security, toiletries go in one (because my stuff ALWAYS bursts on the plane), each pair of shoes goes in one (because I HATE the soles touching my clothes), undies & bikinis go in another (cuz I hate the idea of the crotch part touching ANYTHING....jesus christ Im like Rain Man), one to keep my electronic stuff organized and dry, and I pack spares to put my wet bikinis into on the plane ride home. Bonus: they are reusable......
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| courtesy of poly--bags.com |
5. A JUICY Read. Whether its every gossip rag & fashion mag available, or one of my fave novels, I LOVE to read on the beach! I dont care to pass the time with an IPOD because the sounds of the waves crashing is so beautiful....but still I can only stare at the water for so long. Here are my reccomendations:
Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. Dysfunctional relationships, drug abuse, lesbianism, fashion commentary, body image issues & unnecessary cosmetic surgery......all wrapped up into a beautiful pink book.....whats not to love??
Confessions of A Video Vixen and The Vixen Diaries by Karrine Steffans. A seriously juicy read because the bitch names names. Especially great if youre a hip-hop fan like me.
The Book Of Negroes by Lawrence Hill. - Considering this book was published in 2007, its shocking how Hill can write so vividly & seemingly accurately about the 1700's slave trade from West Africa to South Carolina. Its also shocking how a male can write a novel from a female's perspective so well.
On that note, I gotta start packing.....see you suckas next week!!!
FIERCEWITHAHIGHWAIST
