Wishing you a girl's trip in your future and if not, at least you can make a wish-list packed with must-haves for weekend getaways! And for weekend getaways, the Breeze Bag is the perfect company. Even fits in the overhead bin!

WHAT: Pact Breeze Cotton PJ Shorts

WHY: These are my favorite PJ shorts! Great prints. comfy and made of organic cotton so a little lighter on the planet. Also available in pants.

WHERE TO PACK: When packing clothes, I usually pop out one section of my Breeze Bag for shoes and toiletries. And leave the other section closed so I can fill the middle with clothing. That's where I'd pack these.

WHAT: Saie Makeup

WHY: They boast of some of the best beauty standards in the business. Made with your health and environmental health in mind. Plus their products deliver! Perfect for a night out on the town with the gals.

WHERE TO PACK: I keep these in a toiletry bag and toss in one of open pop-sections.

WHAT:  Carter + Jane Organic Aromas

WHY: The fragrance can be a little unexpected a first, but I am obsessed with these fragrances. So good and truly takes me away. Great for vacations of any destination - whether a spa is involved or not. Beach house is my favorite, but have yet to try them all.

WHERE TO PACK: Toss in your toiletry back and stow in one of the pop sections.

WHAT: Maaji Swimwear

WHY: I love their prints so much and you can opt for minimal or max coverage with their sexy suits. I've just can't resist and invest in a new one every year. Pro-tip: the reversible ones do take much longer to dry, so if packing these ones be sure to bring a couple extra suits.

WHERE TO PACK: Toss in the middle section along with your clothes. If still damp upon you return, you can pack in one of the water-proof pop-sections.

WHAT: Farm Rio Dress

WHY: You've got to have a great dress for a girls weekend. I've got a couple of dresses in my closet just waiting to get out courtesy of Farm Rio. Fun, festive, one-of-a-kind prints and unique styles, make for a party in the making.

WHERE TO PACK: Fold up and stash in the middle section along with the rest of your clothes.

Tis' the season for gift giving and beach vacations.  So thought it would be fun to roll that into one with a combo gift guide and packing guide. I often get asked on how best to pack up the Breeze Bag — you'd be amazed about how much it holds!! So here's a round up of how I pack up my bag for a day at the beach with the kids, with the added bonus that all of these items would make gifts for those on your list dreaming of a beach getaway. Happy holidays!!

First off, here's a guide to all the features, pockets and more for reference:

THE BEACH EDITION GIFT GUIDE

WHAT: Local Beach Visors - $36 at Local Beach

WHY: Available in adult and kid sizes - my youngest stole mine and the one I got for my mom  —don't think we'll even be getting those back! It's got a nice wide brim to keep the sun off your face and an elastic band for a snug fit. Also, always love supporting a fellow woman-owned small business!

WHERE TO PACK IT: If not on your head, clip it into the cargo straps so it doesn't get squashed or blow away.

WHAT: Turkish-T Towels - $24-$36 at Turkish-T.com

WHY: Obsessed with these towels for many reasons. No, they don't give you that plush dry feeling when you get out of the water, but, if you are like us and a day at the beach has you in and out of the water several times this is your towel because they actually dry in between swim sessions. Just lay out on the rocks or hang on your beach tent or chair and they'll dry in no time.

WHERE TO PACK IT: Since these towels pack up nice and small, you can fit five plus a matching beach blanket in the dry pop-section. It's amazing really. If they are still wet upon your return, roll them up and toss in the wet section or just strap them on the outside of the bag with the cargo straps.

WHAT: Babiators - $24-$36 at Amazon

WHY: My kids wore these from age one — and are still wearing them at age 6. They are comfortable, stylish, available in polarized and — best of all — my kids will actually wear them! So that's a huge win. Bonus, Babiators will replace damaged or lost glasses for free!

WHERE TO PACK IT: I keep these in the case in the upper inner zip pocket to extend the wear and keep it packed with the glass cloth so when they are inevitably covered in sunscreen I can wipe them clean.

WHAT: Mott50 Swimsuits at Mott50.com

WHY: Available in kids and adult sizes for your family matching dream come true! Love the prints and the full sleeve/legging options which makes for less chemicals on your bodies and less time applying sunscreen so you can spend more time beaching!

WHERE TO PACK IT: Well, likely you'll be wearing yours, but if your kids are extra like mine, they bring a change of clothes so they don't have to ride home in wet sandy suits.... it does actually make sense. So, we stash the wet sandy suits in the "wet" pop section for the return trip. Keeps everything else nice and dry!

WHAT: Welly First Aid Kit - $15 - 26 at Amazon

WHY: I always keep a first aid kit in my beach bag just in case of emergencies and so minor ouchies don't bring an abrupt end to our beach day. It has come in quite handy on many occasions.

WHERE TO PACK IT: This gets stashed in the lower zip pocket in hopes it doesn't get used!

WHAT: Sun Bum Sunscreen - $15 - $30 at Amazon

WHY: Through the years, I've tried and loved many sunscreens — Blue Lizard, Goddess Garden and ThinkSport to name a few — but Sun Bum is the current favorite and not just because of that delicious coconut smell! It also goes on easy (the kids love the Sun Bum face stick - goes on easy and they can do it themselves!), is highly rated by EWG which means fewer and safer chemicals on our bodies and is "reef compliant" so safer for marine animals and environments. Win-win-win-win!

WHERE TO PACK IT: I keep this in the outer pocket or the upper inside zip pocket, just so it's easy to get to when it's time to re-apply.

WHAT: Klean Kanteen Insulated Water Bottles - $15 - $30 at Amazon

WHY: I have been using Klean Kanteen's insulated water bottles for over ten years — in some cases the same bottle! Love the colors and it really does keep drinks cool so I've still got ice in my water bottle at the end of the day. I have a set for the kids, but they prefer the flip-tip insulated Thermos.

WHERE TO PACK IT: Most standard-size insulated water bottles (Yeti, Hydroflask, Corkcicle) fit perfectly) in the inner drink slots. Keeps them cooler and within hands reach so you don't have to dig around in the bottom of your bag!

WHAT: Thermos Funtainer Insulated Water Bottles - $20 at Amazon

WHY: And for the kids, they've been loving these insulated water bottles. Keeps drinks nice and cold, they love the press button flip top and I love it too because it keeps the spout clean. Available in multiple sizes with a straw and without.

WHERE TO PACK IT: Fits snugly in the drink cozies which conveniently also makes it easy for the kids to find when in need of a drink. Win!

WHAT: A Good Beach Read, of course!

WHY: And what's a day at the beach without a good beach read? This means many different things for many different people. For my husband, it's Grant's Interest Rate observer; for the kids, Narwhal & Jelly, and for me, Dwell Magazine.

WHERE TO PACK IT: Whatever your pleasure, keep it tucked away safely — dry and wrinkle-free — in the inner padded media pocket, and read on!

Happy holiday shopping and beach going!!

*These are all products that I love and use (and would happily be gifted - ha). That said, some of the links are affiliate links and I may earn money through purchases. Just want to be 100% transparent!

This has been the summer of the swim legging! What's that you ask? Yes, forget the thong, I am talking full length swim pants. I have fully embraced them and may never go back!

My kids have been wearing swim pants since they were wee ones to protect their delicate skin from the harsh sun. After a melanoma scare of my own, I realized the best way to protect myself, was to join the crew and get a pair of my own. What I didn't expect was that I would love them so much! Turns out everything that makes them great for kids, makes them great for adults too.

The benefits of head to toe sun coverage are many. Not only does it help minimize sun exposure and worry of reapplying sunscreen, but also because you'll need to apply less sunscreen overall, you are also reducing chemical exposure from the sunscreen itself. The chemicals in sunscreens are easily absorbed by the body and at potentially dangerous levels. The less chemicals we put on our skin, the better. (For more see the EWG 2020 Guide to Sunscreen).

And, on top of all that, they are super fun to wear, look great and are totally effortless. Plus, there are so many cool styles out there now (I am slightly obsessed!) that you'll be sure to find one that suits you. Here are some of our current favorites from @carve designs and @mott50

I've also been asked if they are hot. Not at all. I find they are like built in A/C if you hop in the water for a dip. They keep you cooler longer. On cooler beach days I sometimes take mine off before going in the water.

Would you give swim leggings a try? Have a favorite?

*Note: this is not sponsored, just sharing things in life that make us happy!

#chasethesun #sunscreen #safesunscreen #reefsafesunscreen #swimleggings#rashguards #surflife #swimsuits #findyourbreeze #beachlife #beachvibes #easybreezy #backpack #findyourbreeze

Look familiar? Cramming all your belongings into an overflowing black hole of a tote. If you are lucky, there might be a too small pocket you can stuff your keys and wallet in to save them from the chaos. Either way, it's a mess.

And just another reason why we love the Breeze Bag. There is a place for everything! So nothing gets lost or crushed or wet that's not supposed to. It's an organizational dream.

Can you relate? Share your tote fails with the hashtag #totesfail

We recently took the kids for their first ski outing. Despite a bumpy start, the day was a success. It certainly helped that it was 60 degrees out and that gone are the days of the T-Bar. Hello magic carpet! After the first run down the bunny slope, the 2.5 year old desperately wanted to head up the big mountain. 

The only bummer was that we didn't have The Breeze Bag with us. Who knew it'd be the ultimate ski bag too? Spent a ridiculous amount of time rummaging around to locate socks, sunglasses, water bottles, hats, ugh. Time to take The Breeze to the slopes!

Update: We took The Breeze Bag on it's first trail run. Hats, gloves & goggles in one section, ski pants in the middle and change of clothes in the other section. It was glorious!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of our Kickstarter backers who jumped on board at the beginning and helped us reach our funding goal last September. I still feel overwhelmed by your support and am so very very grateful.

The Breeze Bag is something I've been dreaming up for a long time and now the order is officially in. Never in a million years did I think I'd actually make one Breeze Bag, let alone hundreds! Nor did I ever think I'd say 'it's a dream come true.' But it really is.

Thank you for being a part of it.

 ~ Rebecca

It's official. The order is in and production is underway for our very first run of Breeze Bags.

And the factory is wasting no time getting started. Once we signed off, the supplies started coming in. With over 60 components, there's a lot of ordering to do. Custom elastic, canvas, neoprene, nylon, waterproofing, foam, zippers and all the hardware, there's plenty of work to be done before that first stitch. The patterns are made and the team is in place, so it's only a matter of time! Crazy exciting.

In the meantime, we are finalizing the online store so we can let the pre-orders begin.

Photo Credit: Blip Photography

We've been doing a lot of field trips with The Breeze Bag to ensure everything is functioning as expected. You really need a full day at the beach to know for sure. Ha. Or a week in Bali... if only!

A typical beach outing with the kids involves the following, plus our favorite beach hats:

We easily packed all this with room to spare! Filled one pop section with dry coverups, the other with dry towels, and all the snacks, drinks and accessories tucked away in the middle. Dreamy. So easy to locate items. Plus the kids have the system down, proudly locating items on their own, and well aware that the orange is for dry stuff and blue is for wet. #momwin

I didn't quite get to read a magazine... but I'd rather be splashing in the waves anyways.

The struggle is real - too many bags and never enough hands. It's one of the main reasons we created the Breeze Bag in the first place, so that the getting to the beach doesn't have to be such a mess.

With kids, getting to the beach in one trip is the goal, especially if you are solo parenting! Multiple trips means trekking back and forth carrying or dragging your kids both ways. So we added a few extra inches and elastic cargo straps so you can get it all there.