What's in My Pool Bag? (2014)

Pools around where I live begin opening up this weekend for the summer, and I couldn't be more ready for them to open. I have been seeing Instagram photos for a few weeks of people sitting pool sit, but the public pools around here do not open until Memorial Day weekend.

On Friday, I am actually going to a local waterpark for a picnic so I thought since I am going to a waterpark and since summer is coming up, I would show you all what I am carrying in my pool bag this year.

As you can see, I decided to use the grocery tote bag I purchased from Target and told you all about in my post about cheap pool bag ideas. Link for that post will in listed below. I am using the TJ Maxx bag as well, and I will tell you what I am using that for as well. This bag has two pockets beside the big pocket. There is one on the outside of the bag, and one on the inside of the bag. On the outside, I right now do not have anything in it, but it will probably have either a water bottle or I will put things I need to grab quickly.

Here is what the inside of the bag looks like. As I said above, the inside also has a smaller pocket there as well. This is one reason I love this bag. I have never seen a grocery tote for this cheap that had pockets with it. This bag will also fold up when not in use.

This is what was inside the smaller pocket on the inside.

• Cheap Sunglasses: I will take an extra pair of sunglasses incase the ones I am wearing break or if someone in my family needs as pair. I also take an extra pair for Lily. Her sunglasses are typically the one thing we forget to pack so I just keep an extra pair for her in case. My rule of thumb for sunglasses at the pool is to take sunglasses that you don't mind getting stolen or lost. I take ones that were free or one I got at the Dollar Tree. The Dollar Tree can sometimes have pretty good sunglass for one buck. The ones pictures my college was handing out at the beginning of last school year.
• Pen: You never know when you may need a pen. Rule of thumb for me is to always have a pen on me.
• Quart Liplock Bag of Goodies:
• Bandaids- It's good to always have bandaids on you just in case something happens
• head band
• extra hair ties: I always end up losing the hair tie that will come in with me at the pool. I have learned from several times of losing my hair tie in the water, and then I don't have one. I like to swim with my hair in a pony tail.
• Couple of bobby pins
• Napkins.
• Venus Snap Razor: This product I did receive complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. I did an unboxing blog on this, and the link will be below. I have been using this razor a couple of times, and I have to say I am liking this one. It doesn't nik my legs, and it leaved them extra smooth. TMI, but I really like this for my underarm area. The razor is just the right size to get the underarm area real smooth. I like to take a razor to the pool for it seems that I will always find an area that I missed shaving, or we go to the pool and I have forgotten to shave. This is perfect for putting in your pool bag for it's small and in its own case.

In the big pocket I like to keep

• Pad of Paper: I never know when I will get an idea or have to write down information. This pad is for my blog, where I write down ideas, draft blogs, and to do list for my blogs.
• Book: Pictured is "Unravel Me" By Tahereh Mafi. I have since finished this book, and I recommend this series. This is the second book of the Shatter Me Series. I tend to go to my local library to get books. I do own several books, but I read more than I can afford to buy.
• Pool Shoes: I wear pool shoes to protect my feet. The pools around here tend to have a rough concrete bottom that will crack my feet. Also this provides some traction when walking around the pool. I do tend to fall a lot.
• Wet Brush: To detangle and brush my hair after the pool
• Wipes: You never know when there isn't going to be a sink or need to wipe a table down
• Ball Cap: Have to protect your head. I do not wear it in the pool, but I will wear it when I am just sunning or sitting pool side.

Also I keep a gallon ziplock bag in there as well

This is where I keep all my liquids. I keep in in a ziplock bag for if something busts then it will not get all over my other stuff. Also I tend to leave the majority of my pool bag in my car at all times, but I do not leave this cause the sun will cause it to bust.

What I keep in the ziplock bag:

• Rx Suncare Hair Guard HPF 20=SPF 20: I got this stuff back in April at Rite Aid in the clearance for 1.99 so I am unsure whether you can still get it, but there are many hair protection items out there. I know L'Oreal has one. I am planning on using this to protect my scalp. I am going to focus it at my roots to protect my scalp. I have had a burnt scalp before and it sucks.
• Rx Suncare face sunscreen SPF 50: This is also from Rite Aid's clearance section so I am unsure you can get it, but there are many face sunscreens out there as well. I got this for 2.07.
• Hawaiian Tropics Silk Hydration After Sun and Sunscreen in SPF 30: I got both of these last year at Walgreens from 2.99. They do have this year. I said in my Spring Essentials Blog (link below) that I was unsure if they would have them this year. Chlorine tends to dry my skin out so the After Sun really hydrates after you have been in the pool. but also it refreshes you after being in the Sun all day even without a sunburn. The sunscreen I tend to use after I am out of the water and not going straight home. It also hydrates you.
• Bath and Body Works Bali Mango: This is a couple years old now so I am unsure if you can still get this scent from B&BW.
• Banana Boat Sport cool zone SPF 30: I like a spray sunscreen especially to get my back cause I tend to go to the pool with only Lily. Also I like a sport sunscreen if I am going to the pool. It tends to last a little longer than others.
• Pocket Bac in Farmstand Apple
• Degree Girl Just Dance Body Mist
• Hawaiian Tropics Lip Balm SPF45: I like to keep a higher SPF lip balm in my pool bag. You don't want sunburnt lips.
• Spray bottle with Ion Miracle Leave in Conditioner: I received this free from Sally's Beauty after winning a giveaway they were having. It does not say on the bottle, but I believe this is suppose to be a dupe for It's A 10, but I have not tried it out yet. I decided to put it in here because it's cheaper than It's A 10. I put this in to condition my hair after the pool as my skin Chlorine dries my hair out as well.
• I also keep a small deodorant in here, but that's one thing I forgot. This is why I tend to do these post.

This is what is in my pool bag so far, but I tend to have more in there that I pack on the day I go to the pool.

• Lily's diaper and two swim suits. I take two swim suits because it's hard to put a wet swim suit back on her when we have to change her little swimmer.
• One towel: I will only take one towel in with me and leave the rest in the car. I take one of the two person towels.
• My swim suit

As I said I will also be using the large TJ Maxx that I pictured in my Cheap Pool Bag blog. This bag typically doesn't go into the pool with until it's time to get ready to go. I keep in there:

• More towels
• Extra Clothes: Typically a pair of running shorts and a tank top.

I also keep a cooler in my car that I put water and snacks in there. You are playing in the pool so you will get hungry, and I know if the pool has a concession stand that it typically is more expensive so I take my own and leave in the car.

Blog Post mentioned :
Pretty Inexpensve Pool Bags:

http://ruesworld52.blogspot.com/2014/04/pretty-inexpensive-pool-bags.html

Venus Snap VoxBox Unboxing :

http://ruesworld52.blogspot.com/2014/05/venus-snap-voxbox-unboxing.html

Spring Essentials:

http://ruesworld52.blogspot.com/2014/04/rues-spring-2014-essentials.html

2013 Pool Bag:

http://ruesworld52.blogspot.com/2013/07/whats-does-rue-take-to-pool-leaves-in.html

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Comment below and tell me what you have in your pool bag.

Peaceful and Happy Thoughts,
--Rue.