I've never been the most toned beach bum out there but I've loved summers in the Philippines ever since my tender years. My parents took me to the beach every year until I was a teenager at least 2-3 times a year.
Swimsuit by Roxy Ph, shades by Sunnies (gifts from both brands).
I thought I'd just let loose and tell you a couple of real things about myself and summer then you can tell me your 5 summery facts in the comments. Scoot over, Olaf.
A shot I took at Bellevue Hotel, Bohol , the morning of our Nivea challenge during my sprint.5 SUMMERY FACTS ABOUT ME 1. I WILL JUMP INTO OPEN WATERI will get a running start and cannonball into bodies of water (better if it's near some people standing in a pool and talking) even if my cellulite waves back at you. I get fidgety when it comes to standing around and getting deep into conversation (that's set aside for a jacuzzi in my book)...I prefer to move around. You usually see the ripped people running and shooting into the water first and then the camera awkwardly pans way right and defocuses "Oh, here comes Julia...here she comes, here she...oh."
3. I WILL VENTURE OUT AT LOW TIDE AND PESTER THE LIVINGNow that I'm an adult I like to bring multiple sunscreen products with me on holiday. The three I bring are one that I'm okay to lend out to anyone, because friends/guys in general tend to "borrow" when they've left theirs (and not give it back haha), and I let them take it so they can reapply, then one for my body, and one for my face.
4. I TAKE AGES TO DEVELOP A DECENT TAN BUT IT DOES HAPPENWhen the tide recedes lots of people tend to head back in for siesta because for them there's nothing to do, but I grew up a Guimaras island girl. When the tide was mid-shin deep, that meant one thing to us, knives, flashlights, buckets, and foraging time. All sorts of edible things could be collected when the tide was out, even seaweed that we could pickle. I remember my Dad (who was once National Director of PADI as a divemaster) hacking open a sea urchin and letting me touch and taste the inside. If it was dark at low tide he would crack diver neon glowsticks (the ones you need to keep cold) asking which color I wanted.
5. I WILL REPEAT SWIMSUITS AS LONG AS THEY STILL CLING TO METhe only time I ever decently got a tan long enough to brag about it wasn't even at the beach. I was a Living Asia Channel travel writer and we covered the Padyak Pinoy bike Marathon (Manila to Laoag, top of Luzon) for 10 days and shot multiple travel features to make the most out of the trip. I wore just enough sunblock so the tan built beautifully over those ten days. I was so dark by the end of the trip (at which point the reddish tan begins to deepen further) I showed up at our church's youth service and one of my friends almost didn't recognize me if not for the whites of my eyes. He flinched and said "Ngyak, kaw pala yun" when I smiled. Being at the beach for five days will get me a tan that will disappear in as quickly as three days.
I'm not as much of a beach bum as some more athletic surfer friends are (who probably have tons of swimwear given how frequent they head out) soo0...I probably get a new swimsuit every 2-3 years. As long as it still snaps back, stays on, and keeps me decent it's good to go.
So that's about it, thought I'd keep it simple and just tell it to you like it is as it came to me, thought by thought. Let me know your 5 facts in the comments if you feel like it. No need for paragraphs, can be like one phrase or sentence.