My Beach Essentials

I'm so thankful to live so close to the beach. I am grateful to have my feet in the sand, to smell the salt in the air, to swim in the sea, to walk the boardwalk, to see how the sun hits the water and turns everything on shore gold around 7 pm, to sigh over amazing sunsets. I've been going to the Jersey shore every summer of my entire life. There's nowhere I'd rather go, and if I could choose to live somewhere, it would be there. I'm fresh off my second long beach trip of the summer, so it's a good time for me to share my beach essentials with you.

1. Beach bag - My ideal beach bag is bright and has long handles so I can sling it over my shoulder. It must be roomy to hold a lot of stuff. My beach bag contains:

• Sunscreen (SPFs 30 and 50, a special one for the face, a hair tie, and lip balm with SPF)
• Wet wipes - I need to get the sunscreen off my palms when I reapply
• Bug spray - for any bastard beach bugs
• A pen
• A towel
• Small pouch to carry camera, cell phone, and money
• Two books 
• Long sleeve denim button down shirt that I've worn for 10 years. At the Jersey shore, the air always turns between 3 and 5. I don't want to have to leave the beach because I'm cold. 
• Hat
• Baby powder - it removes sand

2. A good sturdy chair and an umbrella. Everyone needs to retreat out of the sun once in a while. I love my new Cadillac Escalade of chairs.

3. Cooler with cold drinks (water, iced tea, Gatorade, and beer) and sandwiches in baggies for lunch.

4. Beach snacks: my top two are Twizzlers and Goldfish.

5. Comfortable clothes - ain't nobody got time for high class club clothes at the beach. Or heels. Why do people bring heels to the beach? All bars are beach town bars. Wear your flip flops ladies.

What are your beach essentials?

Linking up with