Every 4th of July we escape the sweltering city and head upstate to the Lake House. It's a small Adirondack town in the mountains where the vibe is seriously laid back. After going for several years, I've given up on certain things -blow drying, long showers, trying to avoid insect bites, mascara - and learned to embrace others - Navy Showers, serious SPF, buffed nails, the art of the air-dry and streamlined packing. Here are a few things that kept my bag light and organized this year:

1. A Maxi - I love a good maxi dress. Be it plain like this one or patterned, a lightweight dress is perfect for the lake. It can go from lounging to cover-up to dinner. To keep the bottom from dragging in the sand, while simultaneously adding a waistline, just add a belt. It's stylish without looking overdone (too many accessories is a sure way to standout in a too obvious way).

2. A Chambray Shirt. I was a bit late to the chambray party, but now that I'm here, I'm totally embracing it. I wore mine from Guess tucked into shorts, tied over dresses, and layered for extra warmth at the bonfire. I love that it can wrinkle and still look totally polished.

3. Lip SPF. If there is one thing that never leaves my side during a trip to the lake, it's this lip protecting balm. I try to be good about applying all-over, but I'm fanatical about applying to my lips. This one glides one and has a super high SPF.

4. Simple Tan Sandals. When I'm not in my Sperry's or flipflops, I love a basic tan sandal. They go with everything - shorts - dresses, jeans - cover-ups, you name it, it works. These are elegant in their simplicity.

This year we had beautiful weather, a packed house, the annual clambake, and lots of boating. Here are a few shots from the weekend: