Living in South Florida means I’ve seen my fair share of beach-goers. The beaches down here are filled with beautiful people with beautiful bodies and perfect tans. However, they aren’t always filled with people who are easy on the eyes. Nor is every beach day an episode of Baywatch. As summer approaches, more and more people are heading off to the beach to catch some rays and waves — which mean you’re going to do a lot of people watching. For better or worse.

Here are the 10 people you’ll definitely see at the beach this summer.

This post brought to you by Express. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’m getting a little tired of this whole “April Showers” thing. Monday was supposed to be 70 (a huge deal for anyone living in New England), but what happened instead? Rain! Again! I’m ready for those sun shiny days, filled with beach cook outs and margaritas.

OK, so, truth be told, I’m not totally ready. I’ve been so scared of whatever is going on under my clothes that I haven’t ventured out for my yearly swimsuit shop-a-thon. I just haven’t been ready to face my thighs under those unforgiving fluorescent dressing room lights. And it turns out, it’s a good thing I waited, because had I nabbed my summer 2011 swimsuits back in February like I normally do, I totally would have missed out on the brand spanking new line of women’s swimwear at Express.

The new line, available only online, is full of the eye catching styles Express is known for – like bold prints (think metallic animal!), bright colors and ruffles – all at wallet friendly prices. And (don’t you just love when there’s an ‘and’?) they come in all sorts of styles: string bikinis, halter bikinis, monokinis and more.

And here’s the best part, ladies. Express is currently giving away 10 $200 gift cards for their swimsuit line! What do you have to do? Just subscribe to Express e-mail and you’re entered! (Get the full sweepstakes rules .) Can you even imagine what you could do with that money? I can. And it looks a little something like this:

There is so much I love about this swimsuit that don’t know where to start. I love mixing styles on tops and bottoms. I love stripes. I love how a swimsuit can be sexy while still offering coverage and support so I don’t have some nip slip action at the family Memorial Day BBQ. I love how this purple will look against my tan skin. LOVE IT.

You’d never catch me in a hot pink ruffly dress, but I’d kill to strut my stuff in this bikini.  What is it about ruffles that just makes a girl feel sexy and feminine? This suit just screams “summer vacay” and that’s exactly where I’ll be sportin’ it.

Animal prints. Who doesn’t love some animal prints? And with this chic look not only will you be stunnin’ on the beach, but you’ll be doing so with no awkward halter tan lines.

The super funky pattern and fun little ruffle makes this the perfect suit to wear to all of those graduation parties you’ll be going to this summer. Hot damn!

Everyone needs a monokini, or at least some kind of one piece. And what’s better than a classic black one? It covers all your problem areas and slims you down at the same time. It’s like god’s gift to college girls. Just imagine stepping out of the pool in slow mo’ action while you crush drools over you. Yeah, I might buy 2.

So what are you waiting for? Start shopping….and sign up for Express e-mail for your chance to win!

With Spring Break fast approaching (more on that here!), it’s time to start thinking about what you’ll be wearing with that margarita on the hot, sandy beaches. That also means it’s time to get your bikini bod ready and prep yourself for the agony of swimsuit shopping.

But while you might dread seeing your pasty skin or winter bulge under the fluorescent changing room lights, there are so many adorable swimsuits to distract you from the horrors you (think you) see staring back at you from the unforgiving mirror. (Seriously, is that a fun house mirror?!)

Swimwear is fun! It’s also one of the best times to experiment with trends. If you’re otherwise shy about stripes, polka dots or colorful, abstract patterns, swimsuits are the easiest way to embrace it all. It’s a chance to make a statement and stand out. To go a little wild. To highlight your best assets. Because the chances of being remembered on the crowded beaches of Cancun in a boring black bikini are slim to none.

So dust the snow off your shoulders and strip down all those layers. It’s time to think Spring (Break)! [Click on any swimsuit to shop it!]

It’s starting to get hot, hot, hot outside! While I’m stuck in landlocked Alberta, where no one has pools, I’m sure many of you out there are gearing up to start hitting the beach, or hang out poolside on a weekly (if not daily) basis.

Whether you choose to wear a bikini or a one-piece, you’re going to need a cover-up for going to the beach, or even just covering up a bit to avoid extreme sun exposure.  Lucky for you there are some really cute options this year that will easily transition from the beach to the boardwalk (assuming you dry yourself up enough to avoid those pesky wet marks around your boobs…). Seriously, toss a pair of wedges and a few bangles into your beach bag and you can take these things all over town.

So put on your sunscreen, grab your shades and don a cute cover-up as you get ready to hang out by the water!

OK, so I might be mixing up my analogy here (I don’t think sodium wears cut-offs or weird kids make you retain water), but you get my point: sodium is annoying, it’s bad for you and it happens to be in everything. Which might be tasty, but is also a problem when we’re only supposed to consume around 2,300 mg of sodium a day (which is basically a teaspoon of salt). Besides the other harmful effects sodium has on the body (think high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, etc), the biggest offender – especially in bikini season – is bloating.

Blah. Bloating. Even the word sounds fat.

Summer bloat is every girl’s worst nightmare. No matter how hard we hit the gym to get fit for summer, that extra water retention always manages to come back and haunt us right before we hit the beach. So how can we prevent it? Easy, avoid sodium. And how do we avoid sodium? Well, you gotta know where to find it….

On average, only 5% of our daily sodium intake is from adding salt into our foods. The real culprits are processed and prepared foods. A whopping 77% of our daily sodium intake comes from these foods! In my personal war against all bloat-inducing-foods (BIFs?), I’ve come across a few unlikely salt culprits that you should consider before slipping on your bikinis this summer – and probs during the rest of the year too.

Dairy foods.
Unprocessed dairy products have pretty low amounts of sodium, but once they are processed the sodium is way higher than expected!
- 1 cup low-fat milk = 107 mg
- 1 oz. slice American cheese = 406 mg
- 1 cup cottage cheese = 851 mg

Condiments.
Who knew mustard and ketchup contained this much sodium? Not I. And that low-sodium soy sauce we’ve all been reaching for? Yeah, don’t let that green cap fool you.
- 1 tbsp. mustard or ketchup = 190 mg
- 2 tbsp. fat free Italian dressing = 430mg
- 1 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce = 600mg
-  1 tbsp. soy sauce = 1,000 mg

Soup & Sauces.
These stats are borderline obscene.
- 1 cup Cream of Chicken soup = 1,047 mg
- 1 cup Chicken Vegetable soup = 1,068 mg
- 1 cup tomato sauce = 1,284 mg

Frozen/canned/packaged foods.
I was expecting these to be high, but not for canned beans to have nearly the same amount of sodium as a chicken pot pie! Cray cray.
- 2 slices deli turkey meat = 450 mg
- 1 cup canned beans = 856 mg
- 1 frozen chicken pot pie = 857 mg
- 1 cup mac & cheese = 1,061 mg

Snacks & Grains.
Bread & cereal are never places I expected to find sodium! But that stuff is hiding (in major amounts) everywhere. Even dessert. What’s the deal, pudding!?
- 2 slices whole wheat bread = 268mg
- 1 cup Honey Nut Cheerios = 269 mg
- 1/2 cup pudding = 470 mg
- 10 pretzels = 1,029 mg

Fast food.
These numbers really makes me rethink my love for Taco Bell.
- Cheeseburger = 1,108 mg
- Egg & sausage biscuit = 1,141 mg
- Large taco = 1,233 mg

Clearly we can’t just NOT eat any of these foods anymore, so here are simple ways we can get around the high sodium problem until the food industry shapes up:

1. Limit the toppings. Get the dressing on the side, use unsalted butter if you have to use butter, and leave that extra sauce on your plate. You do NOT need to lap it up with bread, peeps.

2. Get creative. Instead of lamenting your lack of sodium, you could be discovering an entirely new world of herbs and spices! Think garlic, vinegar, basil, cilantro, pepper, etc., which won’t put your tummy (literally) over the edge (of your bikini bottoms).

3. Pick fresh over processed foods. Unsalted peanuts have 8 mg of sodium. Three ounces of steak has 55 mg of sodium. A plain baked potato has 5 mg of sodium. Yes, you can eat well sans salt. And if you need something pre-made, just look for the low sodium options.

4. Skip the fast food. But really, sodium is the least of the problems with this stuff!

Whether you want to make these changes in the long run or not, you might need a quick fix. Maybe you’re about to catch some rays, go to a pool party tonight, or you’ve just annihilated a half a box of Cheez-Its while reading this article. Never fear. You can prevent and/or alleviate bloating by:

1. Eat fiber & probiotics. Eating fiber-rich foods like spinach and whole grains will help regulate your system. Also, anything with probiotics (like yogurt) helps too!

2. Drink water! Not enough will definitely cause water retention, and drinking a little more than usual can help flush sodium out of your system.

3. Consume anti-bloat foods. Incorporating a mild diuretic like parsley or pineapple into your meals can ease bloating considerably. Bananas and chamomile tea are purported to ease symptoms as well.

In the end, check your labels! Knowledge is power and in this case, knowledge is the power to beat the bloat.

Good (no, great!) news, ladies!

One-pieces are totally in this summer, which has us happy as a clam since the past few weeks of finals have left no time for the gym and a lot of time for late-night food deliveries. For the first time since middle school we can actually feel sexy and trendy rockin’ something at the pool that isn’t a bikini (and doesn’t give us uni-boob like a Speedo!).

There are so many gorgeous, sexy and flattering one-pieces out there right now and I spent hours scouring the Internet to find the best ones for you. (OK, so I did it for me, but I’m sharing the fruits of my labors with you people.) There’s a wide variety of style, coverage, and price so everyone can find somethin’ they love. Slip on one of these and all eyes will be on you at the beach this summer! Enjoy!

If you’re not lucky enough to be flaunting this number around the pool at an island resort, it will make you feel like you are with it’s gorgeous ruffles, flower print and gold accents! Plus, it looks like a bikini from the back if you’re still getting used to the one-piece thing. (Oh, and it just happens to be on major sale right now. What’s not to love?!)

This piece by Kimchi Blue is the bomb.com- the perfect mix of sweet and sexy. The coverage is balanced by the plunging neckline and cute cutout in the back- and it comes in three different colors!

A bright-colored one-piece that covers my belly while complementing my tan, for 20 bucks!? Oh Forever 21, how I love thee.

Oh my God, this one is JUST. SO. CUTE. The tie at the bust line accentuates and adds a whole lot of sexy, while the ruched midsection and ruffled hem are totally flattering for those who want the most coverage. Plus, once again, it’s on sale!

This one’s a splurge, but it’s GORGEOUS, and I have a mild obsession with all things Marc Jacobs. I’m absolutely in love with the hot pink color and ruffles. First summer paycheck, where are you!?!?

So cute, so flattering, and so cheap!  This one’s a basic staple that will look good on everyone.

The retro style of this suit makes it flattering. The metallic shine makes it faboulous. Wear this to the beach and you’ll be what the name says – a bathing beauty.

Think you’ll survive it? Think again.

1. Warm Pasta Salad – Unless you have concrete evidence the dish doesn’t contain mayonnaise then don’t take the risk. One bite of Aunt Sarah’s famous Mayo-and-Bacon pasta salad that’s been baking in the sun for 6+ hours will lead to one long trip to the toilet. Forget making an appearance at your best friend’s pool party. You’ll be lucky to make an appearance outside of the bathroom.

2. White Pants Stains – Every fashion magazine pushes white pants for summer… and every television sitcom warns us about the hazards of wearing ‘em. You’re asking for grass stains, ketchup spills, or worse, the dreaded period stain. Because your body is the ultimate prankster when it comes to making sure that you get your usually regular period at the worst times ever.

3. Family Members Speaking Aloud – Hypothetically, it’s a wonderful idea to gather the family together for the annual Memorial Day barbecue. In reality you spend the whole time chocking on mini hot dogs because you’re so shocked by the fact that your grandmother thought it was appropriate to ask if you think oral sex is not real sex.

4. Bikini Body – Sure, in a post-body-image-matters-world we would all throw on our bikinis regardless of what we look like. But we’re living in an age when we’re all supposed have the body of Dakota Fanning circa 1997. Nothing’s more disappointing than looking in the mirror in your string bikini and realizing that you never got around to getting those rock-hard abs that Cosmo promised you could get in 3 days or less (food optional).

5. Sunburn –  Odds are your skin hasn’t seen sun since last August and you’re whiter than Casper’s albino cousin. No better opportunity to fall asleep in the sun for 8 hours, right? Wrong. Unless you’re soaking in a vat of SPF 500, you’re going to fry and get weird tan lines and spend the rest of the summer wearing long sleeves to the beach and zinc oxide on your nose.

We all remember that scene in the first ‘Sex and the City’ movie. You know, the one where Miranda’s hair down there is doing a bit more than just peeking out of her suit. But if I’m being honest, when I first saw the movie I didn’t even pay attention to that extra “collection” south of the border. Not even a bit. For all I know, there could have been dread locks coming out of there because my eyes were glued to her amazing, fabulous, please-can-I-have-it-NOW Red swimsuit.

And every summer since then, I’ve spend many hours drooling all over Norma Kamali’s swim collection. Retro-inspired with real women in mind, her bathing suits make me want to put on some red lipstick and start dancing around to my favorite ’60s jams. Her prints are fun, her cuts clearly keep a woman’s body in mind, and there is really nothing bad I can say about ANY of these amazing swimsuits. Whether it’s her collection on eBay, department stores, in the magazines, every suit I see leaves me saying “I want. I want. I WANT.”

The only flaw is the upwards of $100 price tag that come along with looking so retro cool.
Until now.

Walmart’s Norma Kamali swim line is CHEAP – think $15-$30 for a swim suit – but still has the same look she’s known for. Here are three of my favorite looks: a bikini, a tankini and a one piece. All equally fabulous and all currently in my closet just waiting for a warm weekend to wear ‘em.

Tankini
I love the yellow detailing on this tankini, especially when paired with some yellow shades to compliment it and a big, floppy sun hat that keeps it so retro cool. The polka-dotted cover up mixed with the striped suit peeking through is a perfect mix of opposite prints still working together. I’m in love.

Product Information: Tankini Top: Walmart, $15; Tankini Bottom: Walmart, $15; Hat: Forever 21, $10.80; Sunglasses: Lulus, $9; Shoes: Madden Girl; $39.95; Cover-up Dress: Delias, $44.50

Bikini
This option is a bit more modern mixed with vintage. I love the solid top with the printed bottom. Throw on the bolder sandal, cute romper and funky shades and you’re ready for any beach party.

Product Information: Bikini Top: Walmart, $15; Bikini Bottom: Walmart, $15; Romper: Heritage 1981; $19.90; Sandals: Lulus, $20; Sunglasses: Forever 21, $5.80.

One-Piece
No matter your figure, this suit is flattering and fun. I love the graphic tote and the dark red shades to match!

Product Information: Bathing Suit: Walmart,  $15;  Cover-up: Old Navy, $24.50; Sandals: Forever 21, $9.80; Sunglasses: Lulus, $9; Tote: Forever 21, $3.50.

Now that Spring is officially here and I’ve busted out my flip flops, I can’t wipe this loopy grin off my face. It just makes me so happy, especially after the winter we had in New York. I swear, if I had to step in one more brown, slushy puddle I was going to kick someone. But now that all those nasty puddles are gone and the restaurants are setting up their outside tables, all I can think about is iced coffee, al fresco cocktails, the joy that comes from going out without having to lug a giant coat along, and SUNDRESSES!

Summer sundresses are awesome for so many reasons:  they’re comfy, they’re cute and they’re totally versatile.  You can pair ‘em with all kinds of shoes (flats, sandals, heels, wedges, boots; you name it, it can work), and you can wear ‘em over a bikini, for those last warm days on campus, or for a night out.

Go for any of these babies that are all under $20 and really, you can’t go wrong.

The colors, the light fabric and the water color flowers on this halter dress just scream summer. Wear it for some daytime errands with a pair of white wedges, or go man hunting at night with a pair of sexy nude pumps.

Think there’s no such thing as a black sundress? This adorable frock from Target proves otherwise. Add some bright bangles for a summery pop of color.

I have no words for the perfection that is this denim dress. The neckline is perfect, the rouching is perfect, the length is perfect, and the price is beyond perfect.

This floral number will not only look perfect with some gladiator sandals all summer long, but come fall you can pull on an oversized cardi, some tights, and black ankle booties and keep on lovin’ it.

Coral looks great against some summer sun kissed skin. Accessorize with lots of gold or some bright pops of turquoise.

You don’t need to have a yacht to embrace nautical style. But if you do have a yacht and want to invite me, I’ll definitely come in this adorable dress.

I love the combination of black and bright pinks in this dress. It can easily go from day to night, class to dinner, or beach to bar.

If I didn’t already have a boyfriend, I’d marry this dress. The cut is flattering, the buttons are adorable and you can easily jazz it up with some funky bracelets.

If only you could snap your fingers Sabrina-the-Teenage-Witch style and have your workout completed and your body looking Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition ready.

Well God is great, but he’s not that nice. Instead, he leaves us messages and makes us feel a little guilty, like the other day when I was waiting for my nails to dry (instead of working out) and I found this pamphlet next to the drying station: “14 Tips and Tricks for Looking Great in Your Swimsuit.” I flipped through the list, somehow managing not to smudge a nail, and now I will share these really great tips with you. (Don’t thank me, thank God. God or the nice Vietnamese people who placed these pamphlets on their drying station).

Brought to you by “Pilatesyourway.com”

1. Mix strength training with cardio. You aren’t going to get Madonna’s arms if you just run every day. Adding a little weight training into your routine (be it with pilates, yoga, or actually lifting some weights) will help you tone all the right extremities and – bonus! – muscle burns more calories than fat. Woo hoo!

2. Don’t eat 2-3 hours before bed. This is by far the hardest rule for college students. Um, my roommate and I have Jimmy John’s and Coldstone on speed dial. But your metabolism slows down when you sleep (Translation: eating pizza/brownies at 2am is much worse than eating those same foods at 7pm), so you may really want to try this little tip out.

3. Eat Breakfast…ALWAYS. (Or if you sleep till noon like me, eat soon after waking up.) Experts say your breakfast will not only keep you from binging later (avoiding the problem in numero dos), but it will kick start your metabolism for the day. Breakfast should include protein (think eggs) and complex carbohydrates (oatmeal, Kashi cereal, whole grain toast).

4. Eat regularly throughout the day. Going Rachel Zoe “I only drink Venti Starbucks teas. OMG, I die! (Literally.)” style won’t help your figure. When you don’t eat, your body thinks you are starving and begins to store fat as a means of survival. The more often you eat, the more adapted your metabolism is to working at burning everything up.

5. Exercise correctly. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen people at the gym doing crunches so wrong. There is a reason your 1,000 crunches a day aren’t producing abs like Kara DioGuardi’s. You aren’t doing it right!!! Set up a one-on-one appointment with a trainer in your gym to make sure you’re doing everything the right way. Oftentimes, they’ll provide these for free, so ask!

6. Eat fat to lose fat. Your body needs fat, plain and simple. It helps your immune system; makes your hair, skin and nails healthy; and so much more. Make sure to incorporate some healthy fats into your diet every day. Choose olive oil, nuts, avocado or nut butters.

7. Variety in exercise. The same 45 minute stint on the elliptical will stop challenging your body and will decrease results. Keep your muscles guessing by switching it up each day (and keep your mind guessing by putting your iPod on shuffle). Try running on the treadmill one day, add a little stationary bike into the mix, try a kick boxing class once a week. Just shake things up a bit (literally and figuratively).

8. Enjoy yourself. Impossible you say? Not so! Run outside, swim, kick box, dance, etc. Just find something you like to do. You are more likely to continue an exercise program if it’s something you enjoy doing. Duh.

9. Drink lots and lots and lots of water. 8 glasses a day is recommended for the average Joe (or Josie),  but if you exercise (or, ahem, drink) you need to up that number. Even being mildly dehydrated radically affects how your body performs.

10. Set exercise appointments with yourself. We have all been there: “I’ll go in an hour” and somehow that hour turns into 6 hours later and you are still on your butt watching the American’s Next Top Model marathon (even though you’ve seen all these episodes 3 times) and your workout has gone out the window. If you make a set time to do it each day and make working out part of your schedule (like class and student groups), you will follow through.

11. Eat a lot of protein. Protein helps your body recover and repair after a workout. Upping your protein intake will decrease your soreness and will help result in a longer and leaner body. Ideas include: a few slices of turkey after a workout, a hard boiled egg, or pick up a Magic Bullet (Editor’s Note: BEST. PURCHASE. EVER!) and make your own protein shakes.

12. At the start of a fitness plan, do not be overly aggressive. You will hurt. A lot. You are more likely to stay motivated if you slowly build. Start small – just get moving!

13. Limit your alcohol consumption. Um, okay, so maybe wait till after graduation to follow this one. But really, alcohol not only leads to late night eating (and beer goggles, but that’s a whole different post), it also doesn’t require digestion – the carbs and dietary fats in your favorite vodka tonic are changed into body fat in minutes. Minutes! Such a depressing fact, I know.

14. Always stretch. Stretching improves blood flow, flexibility and muscle recovery. And it feels so, so, so good. Just keep in mind: 1) you should hold each stretch for 20 seconds to get the benefits, 2) you should never force a stretch – only go as far as you can comfortably, and 3)  NEVER bounce. Ever. Ever ever. It is bad for those muscles!

Alright, so now that I’ve done my duty of passing on these tips it’s really about time that I get back to that America’s Next Top Model marathon. I kid, I kid.

Well, sorta. I’m gonna watch it… just on the treadmill.