I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array...
Looking back on Easter as a child, I remember how excited I was to dig through my Easter basket. Full of chocolate bunnies, malt ball Easter eggs, Peeps, golden coins, and my favorite Cadbury...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
For your next beach getaway, don’t waste time in the last-minute packing frenzy; think of this post as your checklist for everything you need for a fun-filled day in the sun. From beach umbrellas to floaties, safe sunscreen and insulated cups, these are your essentials you won’t want to hit the sand without.
Preparedness always pays off on a day at the beach, so remember that more is more when it comes to your comfort. Think large beach blankets like these from the shoppe, a couple of hand-held fans, as well as a light and portable sun umbrella that you won’t mind carrying for a few blocks for much-needed relief from the strong rays. Don’t forget a well-stocked cooler bag, along with insulated cups that just so happen to be ice cream cones to keep your drinks cool and refreshing all day long. And of course, you’ll want to bring plenty of fun floaties like this one and this one, and a good old game of bocce ball, am I right?!
Scroll down for more ideas on what to pack for the beach, and tell us what items you can’t be without! Cheers, Kat
Spread out in the sand with a bright and bold beach blanket. This one is perfect because it’s light, extra large and a perfect backdrop for your vacation ‘gram.
Another vital way of protecting yourself from the sun: stylish sunnies! This pair won’t break the bank, and has a fun and playful silhouette fitting for your OOO.
This straw tote is an absolute beach day must-have. With multi-colored cotton tassels and leather handles, it also features a cotton-lined interior that doubles as a drawstring closure. This way, all of your goodies will be protected from the sun, sand and travel!
How fun are these tumbler cups?! Having an insulated cup on the beach makes a world of a difference with keeping your cocktail or H2O cold throughout the warm day. And in these adorable ice cream cones, how can one resist?!
Lazy days on the beach are not complete without a set of playful games. This beautiful wood bocce ball set is always a bestseller this time of year for good reason. It also makes for a great summertime gift at a reasonable price point!
This lightweight, water-resistant sunscreen is a WOM team favorite; it’s formulated with non-nano zinc oxide to blend seamlessly into skin without leaving white streaks, protecting you against both UVA and UVB rays. A lot of other safer sunscreens don’t blend well into the skin, but this one does. It also has aloe to help hydrate skin, and antioxidant-rich green tea and blood orange work to extract fight free radicals.
This flamingo-shaped pool float has a tube-shaped base that holds 5 cups. The spacious interior compartment has a Velcro lid, which will keep your drinks cool and safe inside.
Don’t forget to bring this spacious cooler tote in a bright, vibrant pattern. We love the top-zip design and the insulated interior that keeps our drinks cold on a sunny day. Depth inside is a little over 12 inches.
This portable beach umbrella with its timelessly chic stripes is another must-have for a long day in the sun. It weighs about 12 lbs, and comes with a carrying bag and pole…everything you need to set it up in the sand.
This AM/FM radio is designed with a short handle for convenient, grab-and-go use. The interior compartment has a small storage space and an auxiliary cable which plugs into a phone or MP3 player, all while keeping your phone safe from the sand!
There’s nothing worse than stashing a wet bathing suit into your beach bag to ruin everything else inside. Pack this adorable bag into your tote next time in advance; it has laminated, ticking-striped lining with a zip top and pom-pom pull that does the trick, in style.
Is there really anything better than floating around on a giant rose gold flamingo float? This new color is an instant team favorite from the shoppe; snatch it up while you can!
I’ve always thought that there’s something so special in holding a physical photograph. So today I want to celebrate the art of the photograph by sharing some of my favorite photo albums, framing services, and picture frames…hello Aerin shagreen frame! And with Mother’s Day and Father’s Day on the horizon, what better time to share a few of my picture project gifts!
I think we’ve all gotten away from the true beauty of personal photography with the digital age. I know I’m guilty of taking pictures on my phone and never doing anything with them! Whether it’s lack of time, energy or what, it’s easy to put off doing something with your photographs. But I promise you, you’ll be so happy you did it when you do.
Gone are the days when the only way to get pictures on the wall was by bringing them into the framers or printers and waiting a week plus. Now a simple trip to your neighborhood Walgreens can print frame-worthy photos from your recent vacation. And fortunately, there are several companies that make the framing process incredibly simple and seamless, with a handful of customized options available that don’t cost an arm-and-a-leg. Simply Framed is one of my favorites, and I also keep Artifact Uprising in my back pocket should I need a meaningful gift idea for family and friends.
Speaking personally, it’s been a goal of mine recently to spend the time and work on a few projects with our old family photos. See, we lost a whole bin of old pictures because of a flood several years ago. For years I said I wanted to go through them and do something with them, and now it’s too late. But going through that ordeal helped me to treasure the rest of our family photo collection, and it inspired me to find heirloom-worthy frames like this one and this one and ways to preserve and enjoy them for years to come. Plus I can’t tell you what a trip it’s been to go through all of these memories.
I’d love to hear how you enjoy preserving your family memories and check out a few additional ways to get started on your own photo projects as well as my favorite frames! Truly, MKR
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These picture frames have been bestsellers in the shoppe for years! These beautiful frames are made of wood styled to look like authentic bamboo and are truly timeless keepsakes.
This sweet frame, along with just about everything in Aerin’s home collection, is a true heirloom piece; it’s handcrafted with an embossed shagreen finish with brass hardware.
The iconic Polaroid camera gets a facelift with this 600 Instant Camera. There’s just something about the instant gratification of a Polaroid picture, am I right?! Love the idea of having one of these on-hand for birthday parties and vacations.
I’m set on bringing back the photo album trend. This fun piece holds 160 4×6 photos, which would be perfect for memorializing an entire school year, a great summer break or action-packed Euro trip!
Wood Gallery Single Opening Picture Frames in White
These timeless frames in crisp white feature solid hardwood and fine biscuit corners. They also come with bevel-cut archival quality mats, allowing you to achieve museum-quality frames on your gallery wall.
Here’s another gorgeous timesake from the shoppe; this ivory picture frame is a great addition to any bedside table or console table along with any beloved photo.
kate spade new york makes the sweetest frames if you didn’t already know. This silver one is one of those to pass on to generations to come; its intricate edges and details give your favorite photo an elevated touch.
These beautiful, minimalistic photo albums by Artifact Uprising may be my favorite. The simple lines and extra-thick pages ensure that these albums are timeless, high quality favorites long into the future.
If you find yourself hanging a gallery wall or collection of framed photos anywhere around the house, be sure to use this easy tool kit to ensure that all of your bases are covered. There’s nothing worse than getting started and realizing you don’t have the right hardware!
Known for her dazzling gemstone jewels Kendra Scott has expanded into the home decor market, and I’m so happy she did! Her stone picture frames are absolute show stoppers!
Featured image, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha
I’m sure you’ve heard or seen the latest health craze by now; “golden milk” has become a household name in the wellness world in the past few months with its superfood ingredients and long list of health benefits. But it’s actually an age-old concoction with simple, yet effective all natural ingredients that just so happens to also be a comforting, warm, delicious drink. I personally love to enjoy my non-dairy golden milk in the evening as I unwind from the day, with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon on top.
The health benefits of non-dairy golden milk are almost too good to be true; the ingredients all pack a healthful punch. Its main ingredient is turmeric, which is known to be a strong antioxidant, but it also has anti-cancer properties and anti-inflammatory effects. The full list of benefits goes on and on, including being a liver detoxifier and immunity booster, too. But golden milk also includes coconut oil, which we’ve all ready about the 23498234029 health benefits of, as well as fresh ginger that helps with digestion, nausea, bacterial infections and even a big fighter against heart disease and stroke. Lastly honey, which helps to prevent heart disease as well, along with a whole slew of healing effects. And if you suffer from seasonal allergies like me and pollen is the main culprit then ingesting local honey is said to reduce your reaction to seasonal pollen by half. But keep in mind it must be local honey! *To make this vegan sub in maple syrup or agave for the honey*
Anyway, making non-dairy golden milk is easy; simply combine all of the ingredients, bring to a simmer for about 10 minutes, then enjoy! You can add more or less honey as you decide on your sweetness preference, as well as coconut milk versus almond milk with the range of richness and consistency for both. The drink can even be made as a batch, storing up to five days in an airtight container in the refrigerator before being reheated. My recipe below serves four, and I’m sure you’ll find that you want to keep it all to yourself to enjoy! It’s that good. Cheers to health and happiness, friends. Truly, MKR
P.S. You may be tempted to skip the black pepper but don’t; when paired with turmeric, black pepper helps your body absorb turmeric by 2,000%. xo
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