7 Things...To Pack for a Trip to the Beach

Summertime is fast approaching, and for those of you that live near the coast -- or in the hot, sunny state of Florida, like me -- you'll probably be headed to the beach at some point for a cool down. I'm usually an indoors person myself, but I've managed to make it down to the beach twice so far, bringing my vampire-like white skin to a...well, what counts as a tan for me.

If you do hit up the beach this summer, here are 7 things you'll probably want to pack:

1. Sunscreen
I've been completely under the shade and protection of a beach umbrella and still burned after just a couple hours. Sunscreen is an absolute must. I understand wanting to a get a tan at the beach, but safer is always better! You don't want to end up looking like a lobster. If you're like me and don't like to get your hands too dirty, try a spray sunscreen like Banana Boat Ultra Defense Continuous Spray Clear Sunscreen SPF 30/50/80. To protect your face, I suggest Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer -- I use it every day! Also consider bringing a lip balm with SPF.

2. A Large Blanket/Mat
The sand can really hot and you'll need something comfortable to lie on. Try one of these straw mats -- they're actually more comfortable than they look. 

3. A Cooler
Depending on how many people you're going with or how long your trip is, definitely consider taking a small cooler to the beach. Pack water bottles and/or other beverages to stay hydrated. And throw in some sandwiches and any other snacks you might want.

4. A Beach Umbrella
If it's a sunny day out, trust me, this will save you from melting underneath the sun. Also consider bringing a hat and/or sunglasses.

5. Towels
I don't like to lay on beach towels (that's what the blanket/mats are for), but if you're going in the water, you'll definitely need a towel. And you can always use it as a pillow while you're laying on your mat.

6. Entertainment
Sometimes it's nice to just sit or lay down at the beach and stare out at the waves. But if you need something more to do, consider bringing something: a Volleyball, Frisbee, Surfboard, Magazines/Books, iPod/mp3 player, Pail & Shovel and any other toys (for the kids) -- these are just a few ideas.

7. A Beach Bag
Gotta have somewhere to store all of your stuff!

Baked Ziti

Just made this today! This is a delicious recipe--that I tweeked a bit--for Baked Ziti. I was surprised it turned out so good -- I'll definitely be making this again!

Ingredients (Yields about 8-10 servings)
1 pound Ziti pasta
1 pound ground beef
26 oz jar of spaghetti sauce -- I used Prego Italian Sauce: Traditional
6 oz  Mozzarella Cheese, Shredded
4 oz Parmesan Cheese, Shredded/Grated
4 oz (or about 6 slices) Provolone Cheese, Sliced

Directions 
1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add Ziti pasta and cook for about 8 minutes. Drain.
2. In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat, add sauce, and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, combine Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Apply cooking spray to a 9x13 baking dish. Layer the pasta, sauce and cheeses as follows (or desired): Half of Ziti, Sauce, Mozzarella/Parmesan cheese mixture, Remaining Ziti. Top with sliced Provolone cheese.
5. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 5 minutes, or until cheeses have melted.
ENJOY!

(Optional: If you like extra sauce, add an extra 26 oz jar of sauce to your sauce/meat mixture. Layer half the mixture after the first layer of Ziti and the second half after the layer of Mozzarella/Parmesan cheese.)

Summer at AEO

Is your wardrobe ready for summer? Whether you're getting ready for a day at the beach or a walk downtown, here are a couple affordable picks all from one of my favorite stores -- American Eagle Outfitters.

Cupcake Craze

My best friend and I got together and baked some cupcakes. After several hours of decorating, this is what we came up with:

Preparation...

Star Trek Insignia -- Command, Science, Engineering. Yes, I'm a nerd.

Pop culture references -- a mesh of some of our favorite shows/movies. Mine represent Chuck, The Big Bang Theory, Star Trek, Heroes, and Star Wars. Can you find them all?

A shout-out to Chuck's Zachary Levi and his company The Nerd Machine.

Ms. Pac Man!!!!

The British flag gone Pink.

And all of them...

Get a friend or two together and have a fun baking day. All it takes is a box of cake mix (Funfetti, all the way!), about 2 jars of frosting, food coloring, and LOTS of creativity!

Baby Monkey...Riding on a Pig

If you haven't already seen this video, you should. If you've already seen it, you should watch it again...just 'cause. I first watched this a couple months ago thanks to a tweet by Zachary Levi. I'm sure it'll bring a smile to your face as well. Beware: the song is very catchy.