Your Summer Fun (and Summer Fashion) Checklist

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The weather is warming up, and summer will be here before you know it. There are many reasons that we anticipate the long, lazy days of summer. We have well-deserved vacations to look forward to, great weather for weekend activities like hiking, biking, and swimming, and there are summertime parties and potlucks to attend. Further, the vibrant beauty of summer lifts and renews our spirits.

To ensure that your outward image reflects the inner excitement you feel, check out my summer fun and fashion checklist. These essentials will guarantee that you make the most of summer and that you have everything you need to make it chic, enjoyable, and rewarding.

Happy and healthy skin… You will likely be showing more skin during the summer months than you do during other parts of the year. Before slipping into those tank tops, shorts, and sundresses, treat yourself to an in-home spa day to get your skin in top condition. Use an exfoliating body scrub to gently but thoroughly polish your body. This removes dead skin cells and leaves you feeling soft and smooth. Follow up with a nourishing lotion. When you’re finished, you will feel confident and beautiful in any outfit. Just remember to wear sunscreen if you’ll be spending time outdoors.

…with a touch of sun-kissed color. Lightly tanned skin disguises imperfections and looks stunning against bold summer colors like red, orange, and white. Once your skin is silky smooth, consider using a self-tanner to develop a base of color for the season. This is a great tanning option because you can achieve a sun-kissed look without spending too much time in the sun. I love to use Tan Physics True Color Sunless Tanner for creating a gorgeous and natural looking glow. If you prefer to stay out of the sun altogether, you can use a self-tanner to maintain your color all season long.

Bold and bright summer nails. Sunny and warm weather is a great time to show off beautiful nails. Start the season off right with a fresh new manicure and pedicure. Your tired hands and feet will enjoy feeling pampered, and a bold and cheerful color will make you smile! I am a big fan of bright coral orange, but you can’t go wrong with any color that you truly love.

A stylish pair of sunglasses. Eye protection is a must-have for the bright summer months. In addition to choosing frames that flatter your face, make sure you select polarized lenses that reduce the glare on bright surfaces and offer UV protection. Further, make sure that any frames you choose are large enough to protect your entire field of vision, including above and below your eyes and both sides. Trending right now are translucent frames, oversized frames, cat eye frames, and aviators.

A swimsuit you love. A beautiful swimsuit that fits you well and makes you feel confident is essential for every woman. Whether you choose a bikini, a one-piece, or a tankini, you’ll find a gorgeous array of well-made suits that are flattering, comfortable, and provide support in all the right places. Look for one that is appropriate for your age and stage in life, and that shows off your unique sense of style and personality. Swimsuits with ruching, which helps create a flattering shape, are popular right now. You’ll also see higher-cut swimsuits this season—a great way to make your legs appear longer. My favorite style of swimsuit is the tankini. It’s a great choice because you can choose different sizes for the top and the bottom and because you can choose the amount of coverage you prefer. On top of that, tankinis make for much easier trips to the ladies’ room!

An irresistible page-turner. If you haven’t already updated your summer reading list, it’s time to choose a few new titles and get to reading! Relaxing with a few great books is the perfect way to spend an afternoon under a beach umbrella or on your deck with a glass of iced tea. This summer I am looking forward to reading Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. But first, here are a few of my recent favorites that I’d like to recommend:

I just finished The Huntress by Kate Quinn, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Quinn has an incredible knack for writing real-women characters into captivating and historical stories. Set in World War II and its aftermath, she blends the stories of a female Russian bomber pilot, a British investigator-turned-Nazi-hunter, and a young photographer from Boston as they face a vicious Nazi murderess known as the Huntress—a thrilling story from beginning to end!

You will also enjoy The Alice Network, written by the same author. It weaves together the lives of two women—pregnant and unwed college student Charlotte “Charlie” St. Clair, and Eve Gardiner, a former wartime espionage agent haunted by the betrayal that disrupted the real-life cadre of WWII spies known as The Alice Network. Together they embark on a journey to find Charlie’s missing cousin Rose, who is lost somewhere in France. An engrossing tale, you won’t be able to put it down (and that’s the point!).

A chic white summer dress. Summer is the season for dresses of all kinds. From lightweight sundresses to long and flowing maxis, and everything in between, there’s a new summer frock out there with your name on it! I’ve always been a fan of simple white dresses in the summertime—nothing is more feminine, classic, or versatile. A white dress can be dressed up with heels and nice jewelry or dressed down for a relaxed evening with casual shoes and a denim jacket.

A delicious new recipe you’ll want to enjoy over and over. Break out a new seasonal recipe on a weekend afternoon or evening when you’ve got time to cook. One of my favorite recipes at the moment is this delicious Summer Pasta with Smashed Tomatoes, Peaches & Mozzarella recipe from the website Green Kitchen Stories. It is so simple to prepare and is bursting with bright summer flavors. I make this recipe with chickpea pasta. The heat from the hot pasta “cooks” the tomatoes on contact, and a fresh sliced peach or nectarine makes this dish irresistible. I finish it with fresh basil from my garden and even toss in a few ounces of arugula to add more greens to the dish. While the recipe calls for mozzarella, I also have tried this salad with ricotta salata and found it to be quite tasty!

I like serving the summer pasta salad alongside this bold and flavorful Sweet and Spicy Grilled Chicken recipe from the website Yummly. It’s a great excuse to fire up the grill! The sweetness of the honey mustard balances nicely with the smoky heat of the chipotle peppers, so you get plenty of flavor without burning your mouth.

Sizzlin’ summer sandals. Sandals are a great footwear option for summer. (What better way to show off that pedicure?) Choose a supportive pair of flat sandals for a casual and comfortable look that can be worn with almost any outfit. For your dressier looks, choose a nice pair of sandals with a bit of a heel, which will give you a little lift and lengthen your frame. Lately, I have gravitated toward the chunky-heeled sandals that keep cropping up everywhere. The larger heel is supportive and makes them comfortable to walk in, plus they look great with any outfit!

Remember, summer days are meant to be savored and celebrated while they are here. So, plan a few adventures, revel in the warmth, spend time with good friends, and make the most of this beautiful season. And above all, let the real you shine through every day.