30 Summer Must Haves from Amazon

Memorial Day is the not-so-unofficial kickoff to summer, and I am here for it! Now that I can actually enjoy my summers, it's become one of my favorite times of the year.

I don't think I realized how little time I actually got to relax and rest before becoming a teacher. Looking back, I'm not sure how I avoided complete and total burnout over the years. Summer was relegated to weekends, and if we're being honest, a lot of those weekends were spent doing nothing more than imitating a potato on the couch because I was exhausted from the week before.

Now, I get two full months off, which means once I get past the initial decompressing stage (if you're a teacher, you know what I'm talking about), I actually have the energy to live my best summer life. For me that means no alarm clock and staying up late without fear. It means little to no makeup, messy hair, and not feeling guilty for having a lazy day. Oh, and seizing every opportunity I can to have fun.

With summer now officially underway, I got to thinking about things that would make summer more enjoyable. Amazon is a great place to find affordable essentials, and I've rounded up 30 summer must haves for you.

Mesh Beach Bag - Whether it's the beach or the lake, sand is probably the worst part of the trip. It gets everywhere! These mesh bags are supposed to minimize the amount of sand you inevitably take home with you. I think it would also be helpful with preventing mildew since they're so breathable. And check out all those pockets!

Sunscreen Lip Balm - Your lips need protection, too!

Trendy Sunglasses - Sunglasses are a must in the summer months. I like these retro vintage ones.

Hawaain Tropic After Sun Body Butter - This is one of my favorite sun-care brands. This after-sun lotion has 19,000 reviews. It's supposed to shorten the life of a sunburn while maintaining your tan. Reviewers also say it smells amazing.

SoCozy Swim Leave-In - I've never used this but it's got over 6,000 reviews and a 4.5 star average rating, so it's worth a mention.

Mini Wet Brush Detangler - This is the perfect size to throw in your beach bag.

Beach Sandals - These platform slides are also popular right now. These would be good for the pool.

Sand Drink Holder - Where have these been all my life? Seriously, I want a set of these to take everywhere so I don't have to sit my drink on the ground and it get all gross with dirt, grass, etc.

Oversized Sand-Free Beach Blanket - I feel like this one doesn't need an explanation. It's like a picnic blanket made especially for the beach. It comes in 25 patterns and three different sizes. It has stakes to keep it in place, and a bag to store it in between trips.

Beach Towel Clips - Every year I say I need these, and every year I forget to buy them. Don't be like me.

Belt Bag - This belt bag is perfect for summer travel when you don't want to carry a heavy bag on your shoulder in the heat. Not only can it be worn around the waist, it can also be worn as a crossbody. It comes in 17 color/pattern options. I own this exact one in black and absolutely LOVE it.

Crochet Bag - Crochet is having a moment, and this tote bag is an easy way to partake in the trend without actually wearing it. I like the B-beige and the B-khaki options.

Cute Swimsuit Coverup - There are so many out there to choose from. I really like this one that can also be worn as a dress. There are a bunch of colors and designs to choose from.

Minimalist Flip Flops - Barely there flip flops are trending this summer. Cue the nostalgia.

Claw Clips - I've been gravitating to claw clips more than ponytails recently, and these are so cute and summery.

Sarong Wrap - I love these, even though I never actually use them for myself. 

e.l.f. Holy Hydration Face Mist - I've not used this brand before, but a couple of years ago I received a face mist as part of a promotion when I ordered something, and I fell in love.

Bikini Trimmer - This is not the same one that I currently have, but it's close and, I think, actually better.

Body Glide Anti-Chafe Balm - I don't know about you, but my thighs could use a little extra help in the summer time.

Pasties - These are perfect for those dresses and/or tops you can't or don't want to wear a bra with.

Handheld Fan - My students were all about the handheld fans this year for field day. This one has a USB charger but is also battery powered.

Cooling Towels - My dad used to swear by these when he carried the mail, and we got my daughter one last year for a tennis summer camp. You can throw them in your cooler for maximum cooling.

Marshmallow Roasting Sticks - Truthfully, we always find a stick to roast our marshmallows on, and it's fine, but I wouldn't say no to a set of these. You can get them in an 5, 8, or 10 count. They also come with a handy storage bag.

Buggy Bands - We've used these mosquito repellant bracelets before, and they work decently well.

Bug Bite Relief Patches - These are medicine-free and have a ton of great reviews, most from moms. Considering my daughter always gets ate up by mosquitoes and they always welp up so bad, these will definitely be part of my next Amazon order.

EverBrite Flashlights - These are so stinking cute!

Twister Splash - It's like Twister had a baby with a splash pad! Also comes in XL version

Toss Across - This bean bag toss tic-tac-toe game has been on my wish list for years. It would be such a fun camping game.

Reusable Water Balloons - My own kid would love these! There are seven different balloon counts to choose from and it comes with a mesh bag to store them in.

Collapsible Beach Toys - Storing beach toys is always a pain - the buckets take up so much room! But not with this set, and it comes with a convenient mesh bag to store it all in.