Before you dive in, make sure your pool party has these six must-haves!

The sun is out, the mercury is rising, and summer is in full swing! So bust out the sunscreen, the bathers, and the beach towels, it's time to party poolside – but not without these five things: 

A Great Towel 

Forgo the boring Target towel and, instead, opt for something that says you're here to party. 

Great Shades

Remember, everybody has a set of aviators. I'm no fashion expert, but apparently, cat-eyes are supposed to be the next hot thing. Get yours before the curve and be the pool-side fashionista you really are. 

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen

Since we're a mile closer to the sun, having adequate sunscreen is critical to protecting us from harmful radiation – or worse – aging. Consumer Reports gave Trader Joe's Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ a perfect score in its ability to protect from both UVA and UVB rays. 

Boozy Delights 

A while back we wrote about making your own sangria, which would make a great poolside drink. Not your thing? Not a problem, try a pink señorita or choose from the many Colorado craft breweries to quench your thirst. 

Ice Cream Cake

Pools are great for kids, and if you're having a kid-focused party you've got to have the right sweets. So why not blow it out of the water with a Cold Stone ice cream cake from either the Parker location or if you're further east, the Buckley & Quincy location. In our opinion, both have the best customer service and can do custom cakes – a nice touch. 

A Ridiculous Pool Toy

If there's any excuse to make a frivolous purchase, it's in the name of summer fun. Last year, I saw a pizza slice pool toy and c'mon, who doesn't love that? Check out this list of the weirdest pool floats you should buy this summer.

What are your thoughts? Did we miss anything? If so, let us know in the comments section!