First, just because she looks amazing, let's talk about the amazingness that is Nicole Richie just casually strolling the beach in St. Bart's looking amazing.

The best part: to get that look, all you need are a black bikini, a white hat, and some big sunglasses (Nicole is wearing a House of Harlow pair that is the only item I have ever put myself on a waitlist for...and is also the only item I have ever taken myself off of a waitlist for, because I felt silly). You don't even need to do anything with your hair or wear makeup; the hat and sunglasses take care of those little issues for you.

Pictured above is a photo taken during the last beach-type vacation that Kendrick and I went on together: our trip to the Cayman Islands in March of 2011.

To give you context, it was on that trip that we recorded the yay-we're-having-a-baby video. So you could say it's been awhile since I've done the beach/book/pina colada thing.

We leave for the Dominican Republic in two days. I AM SO EXCITED.

Last time we went on vacation I crowd-sourced for beach book recommendations, and you guys gave me such great ideas that I thought I'd do it again. I'm looking for fun, maybe a little trashy, and definitely gripping, and nothing that requires a ton of...thought (see: pina coladas).

This kitchen/housewares/general cool stuff store was recommended to me by nearly every person who found out I was traveling to Boulder.

That makes sense, because it was basically Me Mecca.

Some favorite finds: