Little things I’m loving lately: beach edition

For years, I’ve been keeping a list in my journal of the (mostly) little, everyday things bringing me a disproportionate amount of happiness. Last week my family got back from a mostly-annual trip to the place we love on the coast that’s become ours, in a sense. After my son made the pool float comment that kicks off the list below, I grabbed the journal I brought with me on the trip (I hardly ever leave home without it) and started my running list of the small things that contribute more than their logical share of happiness to our annual beach getaway.

I have found great value in noticing the stuff that makes my life work—or that makes it a little more wonderful—and it is in that spirit I’m sharing my list. I LOVE to hear the things the small things that bring outsized joy or utility to others. Please tell us all about them in comments?

1. Pool floats. This whole post is inspired by these pool floats, and my teenage son’s declaration mid-week that these are, hands-down, the best beach purchase we ever made. I impulse bought a three-pack just before our trip south in early 2022 and five summers later, they’re still going strong. Easy to inflate, easy to collapse, great for kids and adults, the pool or the ocean.

2. An awesome free tote bag. A million years ago—okay, in 2022—Dervla McTiernan’s publicity team shipped out advance review copies of her book The Murder Rule along with an inexpensive black mesh tote bag with pockets. It turns out mesh is the perfect material for sandy gear, and those pockets are invaluable for sunscreen, phones, drinks, and other beach and pool necessities. Of our zillion totes, this is the one we always grab for beach and pool. Bonus: strangers often comment on the tote’s murder quote, which leads to pool-side literary conversations and book recs.

3. Grady’s Cold Brew. We’ve tried a ton of iced coffee brands and recipes, and this has been our favorite for years. We buy Grady’s brew bags straight from the source (though they’re also available on Amazon and maybe even at your grocery) and keep it in our fridge all summer long. The bags are a cinch to pack for a trip, so a big container of iced coffee is an easy and appreciated vacation staple. (There are four of us Bogels who drink it, so we really go through it!)

4. Trader Joe’s sunscreen. The women of my family have sensitive skin, but we all tolerate and therefore love the Trader Joe’s spray sunscreen in the blue can. It’s reliable, effective, easy to use, and relatively inexpensive. Because sunburn ruins everything: the joy here is in the ease with which we can see to this priority vacation need.

HOWEVER. I am still on the hunt for a sunscreen my sensitive face can tolerate oceanside. I do okay at home with my go-tos like EltaMD, SuperGoop!, and even Trader Joe’s—but once salt gets added to the mix my skin rebels. If you relate, please send me your recs!

8. Speaking of hiding from the sun: I’ve never been a visor person, but since I recut bangs last year, I’m now a visor person and this inexpensive velcro one helped me keep my face out of the sun (without smushing my hair beyond saving, otherwise I’d go with this hat I’ve worn since the mid-2010s and own in two colors). Depending on time of day and intensity of UV rays, our MMD Well Read hat is also a favorite (and fun conversation starter).

5. Athleta Sunstop UPF jacket. I bought one on a reader recommendation pre-pandemic and it’s been helping me shield my skin ever since.

6. Hues and Cues. We’ve gotten in the habit of bringing one new game to the beach every year. I impulse bought this year’s choice based on the description: the idea is to use short word clues to prompt players to guess exactly which of the 480 colors on the game board you’re describing. This was simple enough that we could catch on quickly but challenging enough to be fun and engaging. We played it multiple times on our trip—always a good sign!

7. Cute new swimsuits! I’ve mentioned this Boden Bow Halter Swimsuit before (2–20/22) but this was my first time wearing it. It’s so darn happy looking that strangers comment and say hi; even this introvert thinks that’s pretty fun on the beach. My college-age daughter was very happy with her new leopard one piece (XS–XL); it was sooo cute and she loved how it was easy to wear and move in. And this may not be “cute” exactly but I still love my versatile basic black Tulum One Piece from Andie (XXS–3X), perfect for lounging by the pool or leaping to catch a frisbee.

8. Good books. This hardly needs explanation … but a well-stocked kindle and a saved-it-for-vacation paperback are guaranteed gateways to coastal (or anywhere) happiness. This year’s murder tote held (please note only the first entry is my reading!): Prague Spring and my loaded kindle, Yesteryear, Good Dirt, Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Malibu Rising and Maybe In Another Life, Red Rising, Empire of Pain, and more.

Do you have any new beach, pool, or just plain summer-y favorites? Anything small-ish that’s bringing you outsized joy in this season? Please tell us in comments!

P.S. 6 (mostly) little things I’m loving for summer, 3 offbeat summer grilling favorites, Little things I’m loving lately: kitchen edition, and Sweet treats for the summer heat.