BellaSugar

9 Baby Beach Bag Essentials For a Successful Day in the Sand

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 23 May 2012 09:32:59 PDT

Remember when deciding to head to the beach for the day required little more than a blanket, some sunscreen, and some good music? Once there's a baby in the mix, an afternoon at the shore is still an option, it just requires a bit more planning! Before nixing the idea altogether, check out our nine baby beach bag essentials - blankets, towels, and umbrellas are still part of the plan, but here are a few other things that will make your experience one worth repeating throughout the Summer!

Snap Up These Swimsuits! A New Cute, Clever Line For Lil Girls

Kate Stahl — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:04:08 PDT

If you've ever taken your diaper-wearing daughter to the beach or pool, you've probably experienced the frustration of changing her while she's wearing a wet, impossible-to-pull-off swimsuit. When new mom Kimberly Goodwin took her daughter, Reese, to the beach in Nantucket for the first time a couple of years ago, she found inspiration from that frustration and created genius swimwear line, Snapping Turtle Kids. Goodwin, a New Yorker who formerly worked at Lucky and Vogue, has created a line that's equal parts fashion and function. The prints - inspired by different vacation spots like Palm Beach and Malibu - are totally adorable, and the designs feature stainless steel snaps for swimsuits and 100 percent cotton terry cloth for cover-ups and hats. Keep clicking to check out the line, which has officially made me even more excited for Summer - diaper changes and all!

Casa Quickie: Use an Oar as a Curtain Road

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:00:00 PDT

In an effort to stay within budget, and to cut back on consumerism, sometimes you gotta work with what your momma gave ya . . . or what you already own. When stars align, sometimes the furnishing that's a hand-me-down, a street find, or the like, is the perfect one for your digs. The owners of a beach shack on the Isle of Wight in the UK made the most of an old oar by using it as a curtain rod. In most homes, a paddling device used to hold up curtain panels would look out of place to say the least. But here, it's charming and a bit kitschy, and it has the worn-in, well-loved style that every beachside home should have. Have you used any unusual items as a curtain rod in your home?

Source

Did You Spend Time at a Beach House This Summer?

CasaSugar — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:00:00 PDT

My sister called me this past weekend as she was frantically shopping in Manhattan for a bathing suit. Why the sudden need? She'd been invited to a friend's beach house in the Hamptons. Talk about a lucky girl! Whether you own a beach house of your own, or are just fortunate to have friends who love to share theirs, it's certainly a great way to while away a Summer weekend. Were you lucky enough to do just that this Summer season?

Lauren Conrad's Beach Day Basics

Lauren Conrad — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 06:00:49 PDT

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with LaurenConrad! The TV personality, writer, designer, and style maven started LaurenConrad.com, a social networking site that features daily posts by Lauren on all of our favorite topics - fashion, beauty, food, party planning - and Lauren will be sharing her latest fashion finds with Fab every month. First up? We get the skinny on Lauren's beach day basics.

The sun is shining and the seagulls are singing (or more accurately, combing the beach for your sandy leftovers)-it’s summertime! You may have your swimsuit du jour squared away along with the perfect pair of sunnies, but the question remains: Are you really ready to hit the beach?

In addition to my door side “go” bag (see In the Bag: Prepped & Ready for all the details), there are a few key fashion items I keep around for hanging beachside…

Classic Cut Offs
Every gal needs a good old pair of cut off jean shorts. For me, denim cutoffs will always be a summer staple. They are as timeless as they are California cool. Lately, I’ve been wearing Levi’s because I like the looser fit and higher set waist. The Levi’s 501 cut works well with most body types. Other cute cut offs I found online include Madewell’s cuffed Midi Shorts or Urban Outfitter’s Urban Renewal Shorts.

Neutral Sandals
I cannot stress how important it is to have a great pair of neutral sandals. Your wardrobe choices are exponentially multiplied when you’ve got a pair of shoes that go with almost everything in your closet. A few of my favorites are the sandals I designed for my LC Lauren Conrad line for Kohl’s, Tory Burch’s Emmy Flats, Topshop’s Hoopa Sandals, and Aldo’s Dauster Flats. And for those of you who plan on treading into the sand, I suggest keeping a pair of Havaianas Slim Flip Flops handy (I like the sand grey and light golden color combo).

Keeping reading . . .

10 Beach Bag Essentials For Baby

Rebecca M Gruber — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 04:10:30 PDT

A day at the beach sounds like the perfect way to spend a Summer day – that is until mama thinks about everything her lil one needs to make it through the day. Just the thought of pulling it all together is enough to make some moms abandon the sun and surf until their tots become teens. Before jumping ship, take respite in knowing that we've thought it through for you. You remember the umbrella and towels, and we've put the rest of your list together!

Sunscreen

This year's list of the safest sunscreens is packed with brands that can be purchased at your local drugstore. Given the FDA's new regulations of sunscreens that go into effect next year, beware of lotions containing the word "waterproof" and don't be swayed into buying a tube that boasts an SPF over 50. According to the FDA, neither is actually true. Most importantly apply the sunscreen to your tot before you leave the house, and reapply often throughout the day.

Shoes

Sand gets hot after baking in the sun all day. Protect lil toes from scorching sand with a pair of waterproof beach or sand shoes that keep feet safe and covered throughout the day.

Toys

A bucket and shovels are a great start to a day at the beach, but there's so much more that can be played with in the sand. From plastic cars and trucks to make-believe cupcake kits, sand toys have come a long way. While you're at it, don't forget to add a beach ball to your bag – they collapse easily and can provide hours of fun while playing in the sun.

Keep reading to see the rest of your beach bag essentials.

A Vintage Day at the Beach

TresSugar — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:49:33 PDT

I don't know what it is about old beach photos - maybe it's that, beside the swimsuits, not much changes - but I love looking at them. To get excited for Summer, check out these old beach photos that date back to the turn of the 20th century.

Source: Flickr User Elisabeth Moore

How Pro Surfer Carissa Moore Stays on Top

Michele Foley — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 03:02:42 PDT

While in LA for the world premiere of Nike's all-women surf film Leave a Message, I chatted it up with pro surfer Carissa Moore, one of the film's stars. With such a laid-back disposition and easy laugh, it's easy to forget that Carissa, 19, is a no-joke serious athlete and currently ranked the number one in the world of women's surfing.

Besides Carissa's obvious natural talent, I was curious at what takes someone from being great at surfing to being number one. Carissa's answer was similar to what you might expect from any great athlete: dedication, confidence, and hard work. Oh, and training - lots of training. For Carissa that means having a surf coach (her father) and a passion for fitness, "As I've gotten older, my body has changed tremendously. I have gained weight, lost weight. It wasn't enough to just surf," Carissa says. "I have a trainer now. I have a diet."

Depending on her competition schedule, Carissa works out with Hawaii-based trainer Lisa Stewart two to five times per week. When I spoke with Lisa, she told me that they focus on "cardiovascular training, corrective functional movements, core stabilization, and flexibility training." She went on to say that before Carissa started training, "her body was strong, but undefined and had many imbalances. With a lot of hard work and training, Carissa is on her way to becoming a specific athlete who is adaptable to any surfing condition."

While most of us aren't trying to get in shape for the pro surf circuit, we can still learn a lot from Carissa's training sessions with Lisa. Get the lowdown from Lisa on how to achieve a surfer girl beach body after the break!

Katie Holmes Takes Her Daughter and Her Heels to the Beach

Noria Morales — Tue, 31 May 2011 09:36:28 PDT

Katie Holmes played with daughter Suri on a beach in Malibu over Memorial Day weekend. A normal mother-daughter activity, with the two ladies showing their usual chic style, but also a curious fashion choice: heels. Most of us go barefoot on the beach, but Suri and Katie kept their shoes on. Katie's pointy heel is no match for sand. The rest of her outfit is a perfect Summer casual mix of cutoff shorts, white tee, loose blazer, and straw fedora. Do you think Katie was making a fashion statement or she just got caught up chasing Suri?

5 Water Toys to Kick Off Summer

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 27 May 2011 05:46:54 PDT

Splish splash! Summer means beach, pool, and tons of sun for mamas and their tots, so before heading into the holiday weekend, take stock of your water toys to make sure they're up to par – meaning they're free of holes and mildew from last Summer. If you're in the market for some new playthings, check out these five toys that will make the most out of your time in the water!