The Fourth of July is here! With these three reminders, you'll be able to look back on the holiday with pride.

It's time to celebrate our nation's independence. Fourth of July is a time for patriotism, food, fireworks and lots of fun. Everyone has their own way of celebrating, but for the most part we will be spending plenty of time outdoors.

That being said, there are some things to keep in mind while frolicking in that summer sun in your finest red, white and blue outfit. If you want to enjoy the holiday and the days following Fourth of July, there are some things you need to keep in mind. I would say these are non-negotiable so yes, I'm going to nag you about them just like your mother would.

Guzzle Down that Water

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It's summer. It's hot. And you're about to spend an entire day outside? You bet your bottom dollar you need to hydrate. Many of us have been keeping ourselves protected from the heat in our air conditioning, but today  will give us a front row seat to this season called summer. Keep a water bottle handy throughout the day. Make sure you are sipping on it periodically. And don't wait until you're sweating before you reach for that H2O. Dehydration will set in before you get to that point. You'll want to up your intake of water even more if you are indulging in those adult beverages.

Lather On the Sunscreen

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I've seen plenty of people look like the Star Spangled Banner after a Fourth of July celebration. They neglected to put any kind of sun protection on their skin and they're left with pretty vivid red and white stripes across their body. That's gotta be painful. Aside from the discomfort, failing to protect your skin can lead to serious medical issues down the road. You leave yourself susceptible to melanoma, not to mention dark spots and wrinkles. Just make a mental note to reapply throughout the day.

Armor Up with Bug Spray

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There are some very lucky people in the world who seem to be immune to mosquitoes. For some reason these little suckers (pun totally intended) aren't attracted to them. That being said, I don't think anyone is safe from the wrath of Fourth of July mosquitoes. With all the time you will be spending outside while the sun is out and even setting, you're going to want to protect yourself. Mosquitoes are known to carry yucky diseases too. Some may even make you allergic to red meat... forever. That's a summer buzzkill for sure.

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