Happy Wednesday, friends!
It’s another edition of LET’S LOOK!
If you don’t know what this is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!). We have been doing this little linky party for years now, and it’s always one of my favorite posts each month because most of the topics are YOUR suggestions!
So far in 2023, here’s what we’ve “looked at”…
In January, we looked at HOW WE ORGANIZE FOR THE NEW YEAR.
In February, we looked inside OUR MEDICINE CABINETS.
In March, we looked at our ALL TIME FAVE AMAZON FINDS .
In April, we looked at MY PET PEEVES.
In May, we looked at MY MORNING ROUTINE.
In June, we looked at MY BEST TRAVEL TIPS.
And today, we’re LOOKING AT MY FAVORITE SUMMER FINDS.
You guys, this post is about to get BEACHY!
Here’s the deal about blogging your life for 16 years…you start to eat a lot of your words.
I’ve eaten so many words that I’m full. I’m stuffed. It’s basically Thanksgiving evening over here.
Here are a few things I’ve said on my blog/social media/podcasts/etc and then later, had to eat…
1: We will never go on a Disney Cruise. (We’ve been on four.)
2: We will never build a house. (We built a home in 2014.)
3: I will never get on social media. (I mean, how stupid was that one?)
4: We will never have more than one dog. (Um…)
5: We are done with two kids.(Sigh.)
6: We are done with three kids. (Can I introduce you to Madeley?)
(For the record, this is me saying “We are done with four kids.” Heaven help me if that’s not true.)
7: We would never have a second home. (What do you mean, Shay? Like the one you’re currently sitting in as you type this blog post?)
8: We are not beach people.
You guys…WE ARE REALLY FREAKING BEACH PEOPLE.
We are now those people who have apps on their phone (APPS!) that tell us the surf, estimated wave height, the wind, the weather, the tide.
We are now those people who drive around ALL DAY LONG with a surf board strapped to the car. Going to a fancy dinner? “No worries, valet! Please excuse the sandy surfboard.”!
We live with sand in our car. SAND IN OUR CAR! I hate sand! My home in McKinney is within walking distance to a beach club that is included in our HOA dues that I have not set foot in since 2010 (2010!) because I hate sand so much. And now, I just dust it off myself every time I get out of the car like it’s no big deal.
Who am I? What is happening?
Needless to say, my favorite summer Amazon find for this post is basically everything we need to get from sitting at my computer to the beach in about 5 minutes.
Hi, my name is Shay and I am a beach person 🙂 .
Just now, I walked outside to show you guys some of my faves…
Welcome. This is our beach vehicle on wheels 🙂 . Please note a few things…first, the surfboard and boogie boards on top. Second, please note that black thing flung over the railing. That’s Smith’s wetsuit. See? Beach people 🙂 .
Now, here’s a peek in the back of the car so that you can see some of our favorite things from Amazon this summer…
The best BEACH BAG in the world, friends! Seriously, how many times have I blogged about? Maybe a million? The pockets, the size, the durability (we are hard on this thing), all the fun color options, and the price! It’s the BEST!
Three years in a row, and this is still my #1 beach bag 🙂 .
Speaking of bags…
We also really love our PICNIC BACKPACK! This thing is super light and holds everything you need for eating on the beach including little plastic plates, a little cutting board, reusable plasticware…it’s the best!
We keep our BOSE SPEAKER with our beach gear so that we can easily listen to music while we’re there. I’ve also blogged about this a million times too. It’s fabulous for both inside and out!
Need to keep your can cold? No worries, just use these YETI RAMBLER and your cans stay nice and cold even in the hot sun. We keep them in our beach bag and take them with us every time.
Speaking of Yeti…
…depending on how much food we’re taking out, we either pack snacks in our YETI BACKPACK or…
…if we’re going to be there all day/have a larger meal, we use our YETI TUNDRA COOLER. Please note how the cooler is sitting on the rack that easily goes on to the back of our car. This way, we free up all of the seats and the third row with all of our beach gear in that instead of inside the vehicle.
Now, here are a few more fun Amazon finds for the beach that we use every time we go out…
We officially have eight of these BEACH BACKPACK CHAIRS. They’re light enough that even Mades can wear one easily. I love the big pocket in the back (that’s where we put our beach towels), plus, there is a drink pocket and another pocket for your cellphone/keys/glasses/etc on the side. These babies are super sturdy too and can recline.
BEACH TOYS for the win! I’ve shared this a million times too, but THIS SET is our favorite set of beach toys.
Our favorite BEACH TOWELS 🙂 . We bought and brought with us about 20 of these towels. I cannot rave about them enough. The size is great, they’re soft, they don’t shed…I love them!
We have had this exact BEACH BLANKET now for three years. It’s been to Nantucket every single trip (and lives here now), Hawaii, Mexico…it’s so super amazing. When the Slaughters were here, we pulled it out every time we went to the beach. It rolls up into the smallest little pouch that’s light and easy to throw in your bag…AND IT TRULY KEEPS SAND AWAY! It’s so simple and easy to use.
Now, if you’re at the beach, you most certainly need…
…to grab my very favorite WATERPROOF KINDLE and read one of my 30 BEST BEACH BOOKS too 🙂 .
Now, coming up soon, I’m going to do an entire post specifically about the different beaches here on Nantucket, but for now, get your gear and head out to the sunshine.
Don’t forget, coming up this year on LET’S LOOK…
Oh goodie, I get to discuss my worst habits next month. Agh!
Okay, if you also blogged Let’s Look, make sure you link up below.
One last thing, don’t forget that TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO ENTER…
…MY ANNIVERSARY SALE GIVEAWAY! One winner will receive TWO ($500) NORDSTROM GIFT CARDS. One for her and one to gift! All of the details and how you enter to win is RIGHT HERE on YESTERDAY’S POST.
Have a wonderful Wednesday! I’ll see you back here tomorrow! xx
Elspeth Mizner says
So many fun beach finds! Looks like you guys are set for the beach every day!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Alison says
This is a great list of finds! That’s hilarious that you hated sand and now you live in sand. Haha!! Thanks for sharing!
Joanne says
Oh that introduction! LOL. It’s amazing how many times our words come back to bite us in the ass isn’t it?
Christi says
You need to get yourself a car vacuum during the prime day sales! It’ll take care of the sand!
And I love how you shared your nevers and how they’ve changed. I have some too.
Katie Compton says
I bought the beach bag on your recommendation a while back and got the exact color in your first picture! I’ll be testing in out come Saturday when we head to the Outerbanks in NC! We go every summer with some of our besties and it’s always such a great week!
Mix and Match Mama says
Have so much fun! You will LOVE the bag!
Sheaffer says
It’s like I don’t even know who you are.
Mix and Match Mama says
I just lol! The last time I went to the beach club by our house is when Smith puked on me and I didn’t realize it and you were like “um, Shay, the baby has puked on you”…and I left. Hahahaha!
Jaime Matherson says
When will the next Top 5 bottom 5 post come out?:)
Mix and Match Mama says
I need to do one soon!!!
Erika Slaughter says
Show me two people more organized for getting to the beach. I’ll wait…😉😂
Mix and Match Mama says
I am laughing out loud!
Maria says
Would love to know the Beach Apps you use. You know there’s also shark tracking Apps? Scary how we now need this!
Question, curious where you’re going to park your car for the winter without a garage? My hubby has so much cr@p in our garage at our summer house I can barely get our car in!
Mix and Match Mama says
We have that too! I should have mentioned it! It shows you where tagged sharks are located. Our favorite app right now is Windy! Our car will stay parked at our house during the off season.
Joyce Witt says
Hi Shay, trying to look up this app but there are several…which Windy app is it? Can you please show the logo? Also which app do you use for Shark tracking?
Mix and Match Mama says
I wish I could add a picture here, but the Windy app is blue with a white circle and the shark app is Shark Tracker which is navy with a white shark fin.
Tina says
Bought and love the towels and beach bag, per your recommendation, and now we NEED those chairs and that picnic backpack! — I messaged you on insta but you were taking time off. If you guys haven’t seen/tried the shibumi beach shade, I highly recommend! We discovered it while spending the summer on the NC coast last year. Super lightweight and compact, easy to put up, and has a lifetime warranty. Perfect for leaving in your car for beach days!
Mix and Match Mama says
Looking it up right now! Thank you, Tina!!
Grace says
Shay, I love your blog and always read it every morning to get my day started. I laughed out loud when I read
“I’ve eaten so many words that I’m full. I’m stuffed. It’s basically Thanksgiving evening over here”. I so needed to hear this for MYSELF this morning. Have a wonderful day! Thank you!
Mix and Match Mama says
I mean, for the love, I eat them all the time. 😉
Beth Valenta says
The beach bag is a must! Love mine. Yes, I agree with top and bottom post! Those are so great. Have a super day!
MelanieL says
Oh yes, the beach bag and the beach blanket have now been on several of our beach vacations!! Love these finds!
Kathy Lang says
Just bought the picnic backpack for four! Shared it with Tim and he said it looked awesome. Can’t wait to use it at our beach here in Florida!
Kristin Lyngaas says
I loved this post. It just goes to show how God puts spice in our life and stretches us to be more flexible when we least expect it. 😁 He truly had a great sense of humor! Just like when about 26 years ago I was on a trip to Phoenix with my to-be husband, and said I hated it there. Jump ahead 20 years and here I am living in one of the hottest places on the planet 🤣🤣 Shay I hope you guys have the best summer ever. Life is meant to be lived and explored. 💙💙🙏
Allison Ferrell says
I’ve read your blog for 11 years and I remember y’all used to never go to the beach. On all yalls trips. And I would think HOW can they never go to the beach!? 😉 I love that y’all are beach people now!!
Lori Whittington says
Life hack….baby powder works great for getting sand off of legs and feet before getting back in the vehicle! 🙂
Anne says
I thought of you immediately yesterday when I saw the national news story about the sharks at Nantucket. Keep safe!
Terry says
Maybe your home in McKinney is really your second house! 😂
sandi says
Funny post! I live 20 minutes from the beach and am not a beach girl and at 55 will not ever be a beach girl. Lake life all the way! My favorite graphic tee says Lake Life… ’cause beaches be salty.
Of course I did say I would never own an RV and look at me now living the RV life.
Shannan says
We live on an island as well, 12 hours north of Nantucket. Use talcum powder to remove sand from hands and feet before getting into your vehicle. Or before your littles want a snack and have sandy hands, it is a must have in y lour beach bag!
andrea says
based on your recommendation a few months back, i bought your beach bag in bright pink and i absolutely love it. great quality, good size, very affordable and lots of pockets!!! thank you!!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yay! I’m so happy you love it too!!
Kelsey S says
Shay- I live at the beach too and I keep a paintbrush (any kind of scrub brush would work) to brush most of the sand off myself and my stuff before I get back into the car. Works great!
Patty says
I absolutely adore the beach and on the rare occasions I get to go, the last thing I want to hear is anything coming out of a Bose speaker. Give me the sounds of the ocean over almost any sound on earth! The sights, the smells, the sounds…I want it all!
Tina says
shibumishade.com
Tina says
The comment I made with this link didn’t send somehow.😄 This “shibumi” is the beach shade we bought while spending last summer on the east coast and it’s awesome! Lightweight, compact, and easy to put up. (Perfect for storing in your car or bag) Highly recommend! They also have a lifetime warranty! Just wanted to share since you’ve given us so many great recs over the years. 😊