How to Have a Fabulous Beach Picnic

Bringing food to the beach this summer?  Keep the sand out of your sandwich by following our handy picnic tips.  In no time, you’ll be eating healthy, safe from the weather, and equipped with everything you need for a fabulous beach picnic—all organized right at your fingertips.

So what should you bring?

• Food! Finger foods are easy to pack, easy to eat, and less likely to harbor potentially harmful bacteria.  With finger foods, you can still eat healthy without worrying about optimum temperatures for hot food and cold food, or about lugging around a grill and meat thermometer.  Try a hummus trio and fresh salsa with flaxseed tortilla chips and fresh veggies.  Pair whole-grain crackers with a rich cheese, such as brie or camembert, which will flourish in the heat instead of get oily and clump up.  Fruit is always a refreshing choice!  You can also pack sandwiches, but hold the mayo, which can quickly spoil and grow nasties.  And don’t forget the marshmallows for nighttime!

• A good tablecloth. Lighter than blankets and easier to clean, tablecloths are the best choice for on-the-sand or tabletop dining.  Plastic-backed tablecloths can even protect against spills.

• Service items. Don’t forget picnic essentials, including utensils, plates, napkins, plastic cups, condiments, and a corkscrew or bottle opener, if you’ve brought wine, beer, or bottled sodas.

• Weather protection. If you’ll be picnicking in the heat of the day, make sure you’re protected with sunscreen and adequate clothing.  An umbrella or tent is also a great choice to stay cool.  For you night beachgoers, stay warm with a jacket or blanket.  When the wind picks up, it can get colder than you think!

• Wipes and hand sanitizer. Let’s face it—the beach isn’t the cleanest of public places, and soap is a rare commodity.  Before and after handling food, keep hands fresh with wipes and sanitizer.  Washing in saltwater will only give you salty and sticky hands.

• Cleaning supplies. When the feasting is done, you’ll want to leave the beach cleaner than when you found it!  Make cleanup a breeze with a couple of large trash sacks and plenty of paper towels.

That’s a lot of things to bring!  Unless you have a magical bottomless picnic basket, you’ll never cram all this stuff inside.  The solution?  Pack everything you need in your Neatnix Stuff Bag!  Stuff bags are large and durable and perfect for a day at the beach.  An ample 18 exterior pockets keep utensils, cold packs, and hand sanitizer all neatly organized and close at hand.  And there’s plenty of room inside for all you can eat.  With ten fun and stylish looks, from black-and-white swirls to brown with blue accents, everyone will want to carry the picnic bag!

Don’t get stuck in the sand this summer!  Organize everything you need for your beach picnic in a Neatnix Stuff Bag.

Tips for a Beach Vacation With the Kids

As busy moms and dads know, a beach vacation with little ones can seem more like hot and sandy hell.  Emma is starting to swim too far from shore, Billy is eating those little sand crabs, and the baby’s cheeks are turning an unsettling shade of fuchsia.  You’re not sure whom to deal with (or yell at) first.  This was supposed to be a relaxing getaway!

…and it might have been, if you’d read our handy tips (although, to be fair, we didn’t write them until just now).  Just remember that safety and preparation are critical to any successful day at the beach, and think about these tips to make your beach vacation seem less like work!

• Slather on the sunscreen. A little tube of prevention means no crying or complaining from crispy, sunburned children.  Active kids will be in and out of the water and rolling in the sand, so choose a sunscreen with good sticking power.  A water- and sweat-resistant brand with high SPF (at least 30) is a great choice.  And how about a child-friendly consistency, such as a spray, gel, or lotion?  Be sure to reapply every two hours or sooner if your child was swimming.  Some sunscreens are even specially made for kids, so they can see how to apply their own sun protection.

• Prevent baby burns. If you’re traveling with an infant, she has extra-special needs.  She’ll need sunscreen, but should also be dressed to cover more of her body.  Make sure she has a floppy hat, sunglasses, and a cover-up.  You might also want to invest in a beach umbrella for extra protection and a shady place for her to crash during naptime.

• Watch the water. If you have tiny ones, it’s best to visit a tot beach with a separate shallow area for swimming.  Older kids will probably want to venture out into the ocean, so make sure they know what they’re doing.  Educate your kids in advance about riptides and steep drop-offs.  Also try to choose a spot near a manned lifeguard station, for an extra set of eyes.  Notice we said “extra set of eyes”—an on-duty lifeguard is no replacement for parental supervision!  Never leave kids unattended, especially if they’re not good swimmers.  And don’t rely on floaties.  If you’re worried about your kids in the water, bring along or rent some life jackets.

• Watch the other water. Make sure your kids get plenty of drinking water!  Playing on the beach and swimming under the hot sun can take its toll on the body.  Watch your kids to make sure they’re drinking, so they don’t get dehydrated.

• Toys are great, but... Do you really want to chase that fun noodle into the surf?  Large or inflatable toys do better in swimming pools.  At the beach, stick to pails and shovels and maybe a Frisbee or beach ball.  There’s plenty of nature’s toys to keep kids occupied: sand, shells, seaweed, and so on.

Now for all the sunscreen, water, and floppy hats you’ll be bringing, why not keep them organized in a Neatnix Stuff Bag?  Our large Stuff Bags are perfect for a day at the beach and can hold everything from beach towels to snacks.  A nylon Cordura-like fabric makes them durable and long lasting, and with 18 storage pockets on the front of each bag, all your beach gear will always be close at hand.  How practical is that?  But wait—fun and colorful designs remind us that just because we’re parents, it doesn’t mean we can’t be stylish!

Parents have enough to worry about, as it is.  We hope these tips will make your day at the beach fun, relaxing, and safe!

Tips to Pack for an Unforgettable Weekend Getaway

What better way to celebrate your dad, grad, or this year’s long Fourth of July holiday than with a weekend getaway?  Weekend trips are becoming more and more popular in this economy, because they’re suited for most budgets and also for spontaneity.

But as some of us know, spontaneity can lead to trouble, especially in a last-minute scramble to make plans and pack.  One surefire way to remember everything for a weekend getaway—make a packing list!  By creating a list in advance, you can avoid that “morning of” packing panic and that unsightly pile of “should I pack this?” items strewn around your bedroom.  Not only will you have less to clean up when you get back, but you’ll remember to pack everything from your pajamas to your toothbrush.
CLOTHING

A weekend trip goes by fast, so unless you’re a high-profile celeb, you don’t need to travel with a luggage armada.  One outfit per day should do the trick, with one extra change of clothes in case of spills or other mishaps.  Also bring a pair of p.j.s and a light jacket or sweater for nighttime.  If you’ll be walking a lot, make sure you bring tennies, but also a dressier shoe for evening.  Remember your bathing suit if you’ll be in the sun, and winter gear if you’ll be in the snow!  And don’t forget to pack extra socks and undies, just in case.

When it comes to getting the most from your vacation clothing, versatility is key.  Pack clothes that will do double-duty, such as a tank top/T-shirt that will layer with a great shrug/collared shirt for an evening look.  A great pair of dark jeans will also go a long way toward transitioning from day to evening.  Pick neutral colors that will pair well with each other, no matter what clothing combination you need.  And to safe even more luggage space, many weekend trekkers roll their clothes to pack neater and stave off wrinkles.

TOILETRIES

When it comes to toiletries, expect the unexpected.  Sure, you can expect to brush your teeth, comb your hair, put on makeup, rinse your contact lenses . . . but you may not expect to cut yourself, develop a splitting headache, or get eaten by mosquitoes.  Come prepared with a basic first-aid kid, ibuprofen, bug spray, sunscreen, travel shampoo—you get the idea.
ACCESSORIES

These are the little things we too-often forget.  How about your phone charger?  Extra camera battery?  A belt?  Jewelry?

Now you’ve got your list together, get your stuff organized with a Neatnix Stuff Bag!  Perfect for weekend getaways, these versatile bags are big enough without going overboard on bulk.  Your treasures will stay safely organized in 18 exterior pockets, and your clothes will roll up neatly in the inner pouch.  Organization is always at your fingertips with this vacation must-have.  And with ten sassy and sophisticated looks, there’s a Stuff Bag for every weekend snowboarder or sunbather!