SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW: OUTDOOR PREP

It's time to get ready for the best time of the year - the weather is warmer and you get the chance to be outside all the time! With that said, you want to make sure that you are protected from the elements.

Being outdoors is always fun, but swatting insects isn't! Although there are a lot of options, they include sticky sprays, smelly candles or harmful topical chemicals! Halo, from Thermacell, allows your backyard, sporting event, picnic and other locations with a 15 x 15 Mosquito Protection Zone in minutes! It's silent, virtually odor free and there are no open flames. The 48 hour fuel system uses up to 4 butane cartridges at once. The ZoneCheck system allows you to check your unit's status.

We're a big believer in Safe Sun (UVA/ UVB protection) but we need to be mindful of products that are "reef safe" as well! According to the EWG, an estimated 25 - 60 million bottles worth of sunscreen chemicals wash off into coral reef areas each year. About 25 percent of sunscreen applied to the skin is released into the water within 20 minutes of submersion. When we shower, these chemicals wash off our skin and can pollute wastewater that ends up in the ocean as well.

Australian Gold’s New Botanical Sunscreen Mineral Lotions, is reef-friendly, with antioxidant rich formulas free of Oxybenzone, Parabens, Phthalates, Petrolatum, PABA, SLS, Dyes and Oils. Their non-chemical sunscreen lotions have a powdery-clean feel and aren't greasy which is great!

The last essential protection comes from Koru Swimwear, an eco swim and sport line whose fabrics come from sustainable and organic fabrics.