Happy Friday, y’all! Today, I’m headed down to Daytona Beach for the weekend to spend some quality girl-time with my sister Luci and my two adorable nieces, Isabelle & Caroline.

Most of y’all know by now that I LOVE the beach (self-professed beach bum over here), and since we live relatively close (less than 10 miles) from two great beaches, I keep my beach bag packed all the time. Basically all I have to do is add a cold drink and some snacks, and I’m ready to go. I love seeing “What’s In My Bag” posts, so I decided I’d show y’all what’s in my beach bag!

1. Sunscreen, obviously. I tan pretty easily, but I still apply and reapply sunscreen frequently while we’re on the beach. I like to tan, but I hate getting burned. I’m a big fan of Banana Boat products, mainly because that’s what we’ve grown up using. I also think that sunscreen isn’t one of those things you should buy the off-brand of—just personal opinion.
2. Sea-Salt Spray & De-Tangling Spray. I really, really like the Not Your Mother’s brand of the Beach Babe Sea Salt Spray and Knotty to Nice de-tangling spray. Sometimes, if you’ve got a serious sea-breeze blowing, the de-tangling spay is crucial. And then, when I’m wrapping up my day at the beach, I like to go ahead and spray a little extra sea-salt spray on. It helps to really “set” those beachy waves, especially if you’re leaving beach and heading straight to supper or something like that.
3. Deodorant. I always want to smell clean and fresh, especially on a hot summer day. If you’re swimming in the ocean, your deodorant can wash off easily, so I carry a stick in my beach bag. I currently like Degree Motion Sense, but I also use men’s deodorant sometimes, like Axe. It feels a little more powerful and seems to last longer.
4. Bug Repellant. You’re probably thinking that the ocean breeze usually keeps bugs at bay, and it does. But, occasionally, the breeze dies down and the bugs come out! I hate those flies that land on your ankles and sting you, so I have started carrying bug repellant with me every time we go.
5. Zipper Bag. I like keeping my phone, keys, and ID in this little zipper bag so that they stay dry and safe. It’s also a great place to store any treasures you find on the beach—fossils, shells, or sharks’ teeth. T.J. Maxx usually has some really cute ones!
6. Hat/sunglasses. I rarely visit the beach without a hat in my bag (almost the only time I wear one), and I never go without sunglasses. Too much exposure to super-bright sunlight for a long time often triggers migraines for me, so I like to keep my eyes shaded as much as possible.
7. Koozie. You’ve gotta be able to keep your drink cold, so be sure and pack a koozie. Recently, Ryan purchased the Yeti Rambler to put his canned drinks in, and it’s really great!
8. Snacks. Something about the beach always makes me super hungry, so I try to pack something easy like Goldfish or my personal fav, Boom Chicka Pop Sweet & Salty Kettle Korn (not sponsored, just LOVE this stuff). Whatever you pack, just make sure it’s yummy!
9. Beach Towel. This is one of the most crucial parts of your beach gear, in my opinion. I use the towel to lie on, to cushion the back of my chair when I’m napping, to dry off with after a swim in the ocean, and to cover up with when I feel as if I’ve had to much sun. Sometimes I take two!
10. Hairbrush. This is another essential. Like I mentioned earlier, my hair often gets pretty tangled from the breeze, so I really like to take a hairbrush to the beach with me.

And that’s pretty much it! My bag is always full! Of course, I often throw some extras in there—a good beach book, a coverup, a pack of gum, and a bottle of tanning oil. My philosophy is that if you think you might need it, just take it with you! And if it won’t all fit… buy a bigger beach bag! I hope y’all enjoyed, and I’d love for you to tell me what’s in YOUR beach bag or you on-the-go bag!

Have a great weekend, y’all,

Emma