After a year of bouncing around our homes like balls in a pinball machine, Americans are chomping at the bit to head to their favorite beach, lake or pool this summer.  It's easy to forget what to pack, so let's take a look at some essential items you won't want to forget to pack in your beach bag.

Sunscreen
We don't want to use just any sunscreen; we want to use one that doesn't add more stress to our oceans by leaving behind a residue that kills our precious coral reefs.  Environmental Working Group (EWG) has done an in-depth analysis of sunscreens that are healthy for our oceans and that offer the best protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays for us.  EWG also reports on which sunscreens  are best for kids, as well as detailed information on potential harmful ingredients.  Check them out and get the best protection for your skin this summer. LINK

Sunhat
The best way to help protect ourselves from the harmful effects  of strong sun rays is to provide shade for our body, including our head.  There are a lot of options in this category, but consider getting one with a wide brim and that folds up like this popular one from Furtalk:
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Sunglasses That Protect Your Eye Health
Not all sunglasses are the same so don't skimp on this item if you are going to be spending time in the sun.  Quality glasses that protect our eyes from UV radiation help prevent cataracts and other eye diseases.  Maui Jims are my personal favorite, not only do they 100% block the both the UVA and UVA rays, they also offer a really friendly repair program if your glasses get scratched, cracked or break in some way.  Wide-framed lenses, like this  Taro model, help protect the delicate skin around the eye area as well.
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Extra-Large Reusable Water Bottle That Keeps Your Beverage COLD
Keeping well-hydrated is important when we are out in the sun so we want to have plenty of fluids, but the last thing we want to do is add more plastic to the ocean, right?  Making the investment in a good quality reusable, insulated, stainless steel water bottle is a great investment for you and the environment.  This wide-mouth, 64 ounce bottle offered by Hydro Flask, not only holds a large volume of cold water, or your favorite drink, to the beach; you can also easily fill it with ice cubes.  Keep this properly cleaned and it will last you for years making it well worth the investment.  What makes this even better?  Hydro Flask provides grants to non-profit organizations focused on building, maintaining, restoring, or providing better access to parks.

A Good Book
There are millions of books available today so it's hard to choose which one to add to your beach bag, so I'll leave this up to you, since it is also a personal preference.  Be sure to post in the comments below which book you'll be adding, maybe I will add it to mine.
 
Have a fun summer!

​Is your perfect day at the beach one where you are lying on a chaise lounge, sipping a pina colada under an umbrella made of palm tree fronds? Eighty-degree trade winds whispering sweet nothings in your ears, a good book in your hands that pushes away every worry, an afternoon nap so deep that you wake up wondering where you are as you wipe away the drool that leaked down the side of your face?  Me too. But, that’s not always possible.  Alas, the beach can be great, even off-season. Here are 6 reasons why:

​​One: You get it all to yourself! Well, almost. You may have to share it with a solitary jogger or some old guy sweeping the sand with a metal detector hoping to find treasure. You probably won’t be hit in the head with a beach ball, however, or have to listen to a boom box playing your least favorite song.

​Two: No Bathing Suit required. Phew! Tired of trying to squish those extra pounds into a bathing suit that feels more like sausage casing?  Hit the beach off-season in some warm, cozy wear. You don’t even have to do your hair, throw on a warm hat or a worn baseball cap; you’ll be in style.

​Three: You can bring Rover. Many beaches allow dogs off-season.  Dogs love to romp on the sand and toy with the waves.

Four: Wildlife watching.  Wildlife behaves wild in the off-season when us humans around invading their turf.  If you're lucky you'll see dolphins teaching their young how to surf the waves close to the beach, whales migrating to and from the south to mate and bear their young, and seagulls fetching their own dinner when they don’t have your potato chip bag to raid. Why we even spotted a pig one winter on the beach hanging with his volleyball playing beach friends.

​Five: Save money.  Waterfront hotels offer low rates. No beach pass required.

Six: Good night sleep. The beach offers that salty taste and the lulling rhythm of the waves to tune down your internal chatter all year.
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Susan's novels feature escapes to the Caribbean. Learn more on her website www.susanallisondean.com 

​#beach #relax #books #reading 

Have you ever just wanted to pack a bag, throw it in the car and just drive away?  Far, far, away, leaving all your problems behind?  Jill Bradley, protagonist in I KNOW YOU'RE THERE, reaches that point in her life after life slams her from all sides.  In an effort to find a place to rest, and reshuffle her head, she impulsively buys a ticket on the next flight out to a Caribbean island.

Changing one’s environment, relinquishing oneself from daily obligations, or gathering with your old girlfriends can sometimes be just what the doctor ordered to restore a sense of calm, reboot your energy and hear yourself think.  This has become such a popular new health option it even has a name: Travel Therapy®.

You don’t have time, money, or someone to watch your kids so you can break away?  Grab a travel book and let your mind escape to your dream location, take a hike without walking a step, sip a pina colada in front of the fireplace and read from your favorite cozy chair.  Sneak in a chapter before bed, during a lunch break, while waiting for your doctors appointment.  Books have that magical quality to take you away.

Where can you find a travel book that you will enjoy?  Have you tried Goodreads?  Search the lists option and you’ll find books for nearly every interest. Click the Explore Tab on the top, then Listopia, in the Search box type ‘Travel Books’.  You will find lists of books for all kinds of travel related themes: Best Books to Read while Traveling, Best Scottish Romances, Foreign Lands, even Time Traveling.

Treat yourself to a mental vacation with a good travel book.  No need to pack.

I KNOW YOU’RE THERE, is available in print and on most e-reader platforms.  Special Offer now available for women’s bookclubs!  Choose I KNOW YOU’RE THERE as one of your next bookclub picks and Susan Allison-Dean will send your club members each a free copy of the book in return for a group honest review of the book.  Time limited offer: please email susanallisondean@aol.com for details.