Bathing suit season: The worst time of the year

But since Memorial Day kicked off the unofficial start of summer, I knew I had to find a new swimsuit (I haven't bought one since I had my baby so all I have is a worn-out maternity suit.)

Over the years, I've had many hideous bathing suits: the neon orange one that came with "boy shorts" that highlighted the widest part of my thighs; the blue, yellow, white, and blue plaid (yes, plaid) one piece I lugged to summer camp; the super tight, high cut red lifeguard suit I wore for work in college; and finally a black maternity suit with a silly little skirt that would flatter no one.

I have always hated trying on swim attire so much that I usually just grab something in my size, throw it on in the dressing for for about 2.5 seconds and pray that when I wear it (probably under a t-shirt) that it doesn't show off anything I don't want to show off.

This year, even though I am now 12 pounds away from my goal weight, I still dreaded
trying on suits. But, I decided to come up with a plan of attack to help ease my sense of doom.

First, I decided to focus on function.
Basically, since I am not convinced I will ever like the way a bathing suit makes me look, I decided to pick a suit based solely on I would be able to chase my toddler around and still be comfortable and not have things ride up, slide down or otherwise expose a body part.

Next, it had t be a solid color.
I've gone down the plaid bathing suit road before. I didn't want to repeat that. Ditto that for the swim suit with the horizontal stripes that made me look like a prison inmate.

Finally, I decided to take along a brutally honest, but caring girlfriend.
I knew armed with the right help and feedback, I'd end up looking at least halfway decent.

In the end, I wound up with a navy blue tankini that I don't hate and am actually looking forward to wearing.

How do you feel about bathing suit season?