The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Win Cool Stuff: Summer Essentials Goodie Bag from Americas Basics

And the winner is… #64 Heather, who wrote "I love spending the day outside: at the park, zoo, or pool with my two year old. I also enjoy going to the local farmer's markets."

Congratulations to our winner and thanks to everyone who participated. Good to see how everyone's favorite summer past times focus on friends, family, food, and the great outdoors - the simple pleasures of life!




Please note: This contest is now closed to further entries.

Since its launch in October 2008, America's Basics has been serving up simple yet sexy basics for women at super affordable prices. I own a couple of their pieces and find myself always reaching for them to layer under clothing or wear alone now that summer is finally here. If you haven't checked them out yet, here are three ways to help you get to know this Brooklyn-based company:

Get: Head on over to Americasbasics.com where you can shop for cute tees, tanks, camis, dresses, hoodies and more, with most items currently priced under $10. Enter coupon code BBABE in the "comments" section of your order and you'll receive one free tank with your purchase. (Free tank will be selected by Americas Basics.)

Win: Americas Basics is giving one lucky BB reader a summer essentials goodie bag—including a coverup, dress and 100% cotton tee—valued at $50! To enter, tell us about your favorite summer pastime in the comment section below.

Save: Americas Basics is celebrating the season with great sales all summer long, including a quote-unquote "BIG CRAZY" clearance section starting next Monday. Mark your calendars!

Be sure to use a valid email address and include info(at)thebudgetbabe.com in your address book so we can contact you if you're the winner. Email addresses will not be shared and will only be used to notify you if you're the winner for this giveaway. Comments must be posted by 12 noon ET on Thursday July 16 to be eligible to win. One lucky winner will be chosen at random, and will be announced on Friday July 17.
Comments
My favorite summer past time is water skiing on the lake. Every year when I was a child my parents took all 7 of my brother and sisters to a lake on the Texas/Oklahoma border. We would spend a week fishing, swiming, skiing. I was only 5 when my parents taught me how to water ski and now a summer has not gone by that I am not out on the lake with my boat have a great time.
#1 Jeanne Anne Weir on 2009-07-09 06:36
During summer, I love to go camping! I try to go a couple times every year. The weather is beautiful and I always have a lot of fun.
#2 cherie on 2009-07-09 06:43
My favorite summer pastime is traveling to Ft. Meyers, FL with my best friends. There is usually about 8 of us and we have all gone to school together since we were in the first
grade (we are now in our 20s)! One of my friend's parents own a house there so we have made it a summer tradition to go and stay there. All we do everyday is go to the beach then come back to the house and play games, cookout, and laugh our butts off. We all look forward to it every year!
#3 Emily Blunt on 2009-07-09 07:40
I love eating mango sorbet and drinking iced tea in my backyard! It's the epitome of summer. :-)
#4 Erica on 2009-07-09 08:51
sitting on park swings with old frends. we'd reminisce and update each other on our lives, get mr. softee, watch the sunset, and chill. it's one of the sweetest moments i look forward to each summer
#5 julia on 2009-07-09 09:08
Definitely convertible rides at twilight!
#6 ZM on 2009-07-09 09:13
I love going to the mountains. I grew up in the foothills of the rockies, and heading to the mountains always feels like going home to me.
#7 ChristineB on 2009-07-09 09:16
My favorite summer pastime is going to
soccer matches with my husband!
Beer, garlic fries, and a hot sunny day--
can't get any better than that!!
#8 Jordan on 2009-07-09 09:25
I love hanging out with my friends and going to the beach :-)
#9 Helena (Homepage) on 2009-07-09 09:27
a summer past time would be having deck parties and blending fruit smoothies for them
#10 sarah nguyen on 2009-07-09 09:33
My favorite summer pastime has got to be cooking fresh summer food - beautiful vegetables and fruit fresh from the farmer's market.
#11 Anu on 2009-07-09 09:33
Weekend roadies are my favourite summer pastime! I love to jump in the car on Friday afternoon, explore, then find a sweet spot to camp for the night.
#12 Jaklyn on 2009-07-09 09:49
my favorite summer pastime is having picnics on the grass!
#13 Connie on 2009-07-09 09:52
My favorite summer pastime is eating watermelon with my family....so delicious.
#14 Rachel on 2009-07-09 10:07
Nothing says "summer" to me like backyard barbecues with the family.
#15 Vivian on 2009-07-09 10:14
I love summer festivals--the weirder the better. They are just such great places to go with a loved one or a significant other to find unique jewelry, art, and fashion, delicious food, and great music! Something about the smell of food grilling with the throbbing of the crowds of people and the sounds of folk music mixed with the sticky midwest heat just makes me so happy!
#16 Allison on 2009-07-09 10:14
My favorite summer pastime is to go out on the boat in the Bay with my family. I love being able to catch fish and dig up clams with our bare feet. There is something refreshing about having dinner that comes from nature instead of heading to the grocery store.
#17 Nicole F. on 2009-07-09 10:44
My favorite summer pastime is eating watermelon, having family bbq's and lounging around in a sundress all day
#18 Ashley on 2009-07-09 11:03
Summer time in our household means family get togethers, LOTS of food and BBQing steak, ribs and sausages! Good times indeed!
#19 J on 2009-07-09 11:08
I love going to the beach in the summer. I live in Southern California and I can remember going with my family to the beach almost every day during the summer when I was a little girl. Brings back great memories. :-)
#20 Kitty on 2009-07-09 11:09
As cliche as it is, summer for me is all about going to the beach. I live in Southern California, and going to the beach really means that summer's here. I love jumping in the water, boogie-boarding (sometimes), playing beach volleyball (with one of those inflateable balls--the real ones hurt!), splashing around, sunbathing, or just sit around reading magazines and talking. In the afternoon, walk around the beach's surrounding shops, and at night, have a bonfire and watch the stars. PERFECT summer day.
#21 eliza on 2009-07-09 11:29
Fav summer pastime? Hands down - beach camping. Nothing like it.
#22 Rayna on 2009-07-09 11:38
My favorite summer pastime activity is spending time with my family! I am a college student and go to school across the country, so anytime with the family is time well spent! From vintage shopping, to listening to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, to even going to a classic summer movie flick, nothing beats time with the family.
#23 Cori on 2009-07-09 11:43
Driving up the canyon and having a bonfire with all of my friends.
#24 Jessica Smith on 2009-07-09 11:53
shopping, heading to beach, or sitting at a streetside coffee shop with a book and my fav coffee :-)
#25 Nonie on 2009-07-09 12:00
Summers in Manhattan can be pretty rank, with the heat causing the smells of the city to increase ten-fold. But there is one place to go for refuge, that being Central Park. The best thing to do is to rent a tandem bike and go for a stroll, enjoying all the fairs and festivals on the way, and being in a stank-free environment. :-)
#26 Rahi on 2009-07-09 12:01
Summer is the time to be out in sun! I love to go sailing around the San Francisco Bay. Not only do I get a great tan, the salty breeze that blows through my hair reminds me of being on the beach. I get to have two world in one!
#27 Steffi (Homepage) on 2009-07-09 12:10
Does sleeping count? OK, OK, I ADORE riding my bike all summer long. Till the snow hits, actually!
#28 Sal (Homepage) on 2009-07-09 12:23
I love to sit on the lawn in the park... feel the summer breeze, listen to the birds and river.
#29 Stephanie on 2009-07-09 12:54
Definitely going to the beach with a good book!
#30 Amber on 2009-07-09 13:52
In the summer, I most love taking evening walks in a park, searching for fireflies, making sun tea, and playing late-night mini golf. Since I'm in Texas, and I'm fair-skinned, most of my summer activities take place in the evening when it's cooler outside. However, when I go to the lakehouse, I also enjoy a bit of swimming, riding jet skis, or riding in paddleboats. :-)
#31 Kristin on 2009-07-09 14:14
My favourite summer pastime is enjoying all the beautiful lakes around where I live! I live near Whistler, and each lake up here seems to have a different amazing quality. Some are crystal clear blue, and others are so deep that they are scary and black. But they are all beautiful, and packing a picnic and some suntan lotion is the perfect way to spend a day.
#32 Chelsea (Homepage) on 2009-07-09 14:49
Going to Disneyland for my birthday (actually...it's their birthday too)!
#33 Jennifer on 2009-07-09 15:10
Favorite summer pastime is going to visit family in Hawaii every year. Love it in Hawaii.
#34 Jennifer on 2009-07-09 15:22
1 "vintage" projector + 1 big empty white house + Casablaca = my favorite summer pastime. Even though we only have one movie, we're flat broke, and the projector is hardly ever cooperative, at least once every summer my friends and I get together and camp out on the grass for one night to catch up. Our outdoor movie night is a summer tradition that I plan on keeping up with for years to come. =)
#35 Cassandra on 2009-07-09 15:54
I've recently rekindled my love of the Chicago air and water show. I used to go as a kid and have started going again. definitely summer.
#36 Justine Urbikas on 2009-07-09 16:38
My favorite summer pastime is anything involving water! I love hot weather! ; ]
#37 Vanessa on 2009-07-09 17:43
My favorite summer past time was coming back from a long day at work and even though it was at night, it was really hot. I got home, washed up some strawberries, and just sat down near window, and relaxed. I remember taking the first bite of those juicy red strawberries and just thinking, this is summer :-)
#38 Caroline on 2009-07-09 19:17
My favorite summer past time was the 4th of July celebration my small hometown would have every year. Everyone would go to the city park where we had lots of games, fireworks, food and fun entertainment going on!
#39 Mel on 2009-07-09 19:37
Ooooh this one is easy...favorite summer pastime is sitting on the beach with a good book, and with any luck, a cocktail!
#40 Mairead on 2009-07-09 20:27
my favorite summer pastime is the mini vacations!
#41 giselle on 2009-07-09 20:49
My fav summer pastime is packing up the car with a picnic, some iced tea, our doggie and hitting the beach!
#42 Heather (Homepage) on 2009-07-09 20:53
After going for a swim in the ocean, I love laying out in the sun. Drying off reading a book while eating watermelon is the best!
#43 Modaholica (Homepage) on 2009-07-09 23:48
Going to the drive in with my husband and going back home to visit friends and family!
#44 Roxanne on 2009-07-10 00:19
My favorite thing to do in the summer time (after I finally get a break from classes) is to see my boyfriend. We have a long distance relationship and its wonderful to finally be able to relax and enjoy spending time together doing anything and everything.

The our planned late night trips to whatever store or place that is opened is pretty amusing.
#45 Leslie (Homepage) on 2009-07-10 00:48
What says more about summer than going to the beach? Love the sunshine.
#46 Karen on 2009-07-10 02:02
In between summer classes, I love to spend time with my husband and daughter at the pool, at family and holiday events, or just simply enjoy our hours together playing indoors until it's cool enough to go out (we live in Vegas) :-)
#47 Maria on 2009-07-10 04:39
My favorite summer past time - definitely the local farmers markets. My kids and I eat our way through and bring home whatever strikes our fancy!
#48 Rachel on 2009-07-10 08:46
My favorite summer pastime is every summer my
family rents a cottage way down Cape Cod in a
place called Wellfleet, Ma and everyday we
enjoy each others company and bring the dogs
down to the beach and enjoy the waves and
watching the surfers, reading a book or two,
playing some football, and enjoying the
weather and our company. It's so relaxing
and every year we meet new people. It's great!
#49 Danielle on 2009-07-10 09:49
My favorite summer pastime is grilling out with my dad. He made the best ANYTHING on the grill. He passed away a year ago, so I always get nostalgic when I smell a charcoal grill!
#50 Nicole on 2009-07-10 12:31
My favorite summer past time is bbqing and drinking good beers with my friends. It's a great time to just kick back and enjoy good weather and great company!
#51 Ida on 2009-07-10 12:50
I love going for drives in the countryside, with the windows rolled down and music playing!
#52 mj on 2009-07-10 12:59
I love packing up a picnic basket full of yummy treats and lounging in a park or on the beach all day.
#53 Joanna on 2009-07-10 13:34
I love a family trip with my husband and kids to the beach. I love quality family time and believe it is really important.
#54 Deborah on 2009-07-10 13:48
My favorite summer pastime is swimming at my boyfriend's pool with all of our friends. Our birthdays are in June/July, so we have a pool party every summer!
#55 Sarah on 2009-07-10 14:28
Summer time is travel time for me and family. I have already been to Smokies and Charleston this year. Thanks for the great giveaway.
#56 Archana on 2009-07-10 15:09
My favorite summer past time is making Smores, there is something special about making those treats by a fire in the summer heat at night. Its the best way to end or start the night.
#57 Sophie I on 2009-07-10 16:05
We have winter about 9 months out of the year, so when summer comes I make the best of it!

Having bonfires in my backyard while making smores and spider hot dogs and beer.

Running in the wooden trails near my house early in the morning when I can hear the birds.

Picking buckets and buckets of wild blueberries to freeze till next summer.

And last but not least, going to the beach! The water may be freezing in Lake Superior but our beach has white sand to rival the Caribbean and the water is pristine and clear.
#58 Jennifer on 2009-07-10 16:27
i love going to the beach and having a bonfire at night!
#59 cinderellee on 2009-07-10 16:39
My favorite summer pastime is eating green tea ice cream while sitting on a swing, after I've gone swimming.
#60 Jodie on 2009-07-10 23:30
I love ice cream and kite flying.
#61 Trang on 2009-07-11 01:39
I love grilling outside and eating everything from burgers and steaks to corn on the cob! Just enjoying time out on the deck. That and going to the beach of course!
#62 Nancy on 2009-07-11 02:02
My favorite summer past time is staying at the beach with my family. We used to go down to Wildwood, NJ and rent a house in the crest. My cousins and I would be able to go down to the beach less than a block away to build sandcastles and boogie board. As we got older sandcastles in the day turned to long nights at the boardwalk and late-night touch football in the sand.
#63 Gianni on 2009-07-11 11:55
I love spending the day outside: at the park, zoo, or pool with my two year old. I also enjoy going to the local farmer's markets.
#64 Heather on 2009-07-11 13:42
My favorite is staying in cottages; boating on a lake, bonfires, and of course, s'mores!
#65 Alanna on 2009-07-11 15:34
My favorite summer past time is to go tubing on the lake my family has a house on in Vermont, it may sound completely childish but it is one of the most exhilarating, exciting things! Its so much fun and I look forward to the simple happiness it brings every year.
#66 Maddy on 2009-07-11 18:49
My favorite summer past time is getting to go over to my parents so much! My dad grills out and we all sit on the patio!
#67 Nikki on 2009-07-11 23:54
Best summer past-time: packing a thermos of icy water with slices of lemon and lime, grabbing some sunscreen, shades and a fat book, and heading out to the nearest available pool to float. And then driving home with the windows down and singing along to the radio.
#68 Skaye on 2009-07-12 02:30
My favorite summer is pastime is going boating and having multiple boats tie up together with dancing, drinking and assorted debauchery. Good times.
#69 Annie on 2009-07-12 03:44
My favorite summer pastime is reading in the hammock on the front porch of the cabin, with a big glass of iced tea to help keep cool. It's s so relaxing to swing, read, sip, doze, . . .
#70 Julie on 2009-07-12 07:12
My favorite summer pastime is having BBQ nights with my friends. We all go play some frisbee outside and then cool off in the neighborhood pool before grilling out. It's a nice way to catch up and get a workout in :-)
#71 Lynn on 2009-07-12 14:14
my favorite summer pastime is going to the beach every day, i live at the jersey shore so summer is my favorite time of the year :]
#72 molly on 2009-07-12 21:57
My favorite summer pastime is having picnics! It's so much fun under a shade tree. :-)
#73 Sandra on 2009-07-13 16:22
My favorite summer past time is sitting outdoors at a BBQ eating, drinking and chatting with friends and family. Sweet good times!!!
#74 Teresa on 2009-07-13 20:44
I have a new favorite summer past-time: Hiking in the great Rocky Mountains of Colorado with my husband and our two dogs. The mountains are a majestic getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. Pack a lunch, bring your camera, and you're set! (An added bonus: If you have hiking gear, all you have to pay for is the day-pass to the state park!)
#75 Katie (Homepage) on 2009-07-14 09:59
my favorite summer pastime: going to the beach boardwalk with friends or family. We walk the boardwalk, stop along the way to eat or play games, buy tickets for the rides, and whenever it gets too hot- the beach is always there!
#76 Cheryl on 2009-07-16 00:33
I just loved to go to Santa monica , all that kind of shopping and go to the beach ! i will never forget it, i saw jennifer Anniston on the Hollywood boulevard

i had loved to win that goodie bag, because i love America's Basics !!
#77 Ariane on 2009-07-16 09:32
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