Friday Favorites: Beach vacation edition

Well, hello there three-day holiday weekend. Aren’t you special?

Not only is it the Friday before a long weekend, but it’s just over a week until Dave and I head off on our vacation to Cabo.

I’ve got travel, the ocean and warm weather on my mind. That’s why this week’s “Friday Favorites” post features necessities for a beach vacation. Two are recent purchases, and one is an older item, which just screams happy times.

My favorite new bathing suit

While I normally purchase all my bathing suits from Victoria’s Secret, this time I decided to branch and shop at Macy’s. Good thing I did.

Jessica Simpson may have been a marginal performer, but her clothing brand is actually pretty strong. This is my first time buying a Jessica Simpson swimsuit (I’ve had some shoes from her line in the past), so we’ll have to see if it holds up, especially when tested by the elements in Cabo.

Earlier this week, I bought this adorable seersucker bikini (here is the top, and here are the bottoms). At first, I almost got a different suit, but saw this one just as I was leaving to check out. Something felt right about it, so I went back to the fitting room to try it on. I’m so glad I did, because it fits like a glove. It’s fun, comfortable and completely different from all of my other suits, particularly the little skirted portion.

My favorite new beach hat

A beach hat is key, because you’ve got to cover your face and shoulders during prolonged sun exposure. And when else can you wear a big floppy hat? Sure, these days all the kids are wearing those cutesy fedoras, but those just don’t provide the shade you really need when on a beach trip.

I purchased this summer straw hat last weekend at the J. Crew Outlet, and I knew it was a good one from the second I put it on my head. Now the only question is, does it count as a carry-on or a personal item when I board the plane?

My favorite beach bag

The Sea Bag. Ever heard of it? I hadn’t until nearly three years ago, when Dave and I took a trip to Maine (which is where he grew up). I noticed a lot of people carrying these gorgeous and unique bags. And it turns out, they’re not just cute, but also very special. Sea Bags are hand-crafted from real sailboat sails, and they’re all made in Maine. I purchased mine directly from a shop on the coast in Portland, Maine.

I love my Sea Bag, but hardly ever get to use it anymore in the city, so I knew it had to come on vacation. It doesn’t appear that the one I have is still available for purchase, but there is a similar style with an anchor on it that is also quite chic. Yes, these bags are a bit pricey, but just think about all the time spent to make them by hand.

And the Sea Bag carries some great memories for me, because Dave and I got engaged on that extraordinary experience in Maine, which is why we call it our “Mainegagement.” I came back with a ring and a bag. Now that’s a good trip.

There you have it. Three beach must-haves, all of which are favorites in my book. If you missed the first few “Friday Favorite” editions, here’s a recap:

1. A snack, a purse and a ritual
2. A delivery, a bra and a guy
3. A sweet, a wine and a read
4. A drink, a gadget and a plan 
5. A time, a bottle and a powder
6. San Francisco edition
7. Beauty edition

As always, thanks for hosting the link-up, Heather.

Questions of the day

Do you have any summer vacation plans?

What’s the best thing you’ve bought in the past couple of months?