5 Tips for Having Fun on the Beach this Summer

The weekend hits and the weather is right, the thought on many people’s minds is usually the beach. There’s just nothing quite like a perfect day at the beach with people you love. But, without a doubt, the best beach days are made up of fun activities, great people, and snacks and beverages to last all day, and these things need to be planned out in advance. By following these five tips, your future beach days will be fun and worry free.

1. Have the right supplies!

Bringing the right supplies to the beach means that you’ll never run out of things to do. But before you think about packing your games and towels, the first thing you should do is find your sunscreen. No one wants to deal with a painful sunburn after a great day at the beach, and avoiding sunburn is as simple as applying sunscreen early, and often throughout your day. Make sure you choose a sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher, waterproof, and long lasting. Throw it in your beach bag right away after applying at home, so you don’t forget to reapply later. It’s also a good idea to bring a beach umbrella to provide an escape from those UV rays throughout the day.

Now that we’ve got sun safety covered, we can think about the supplies to have fun on the beach! Easy activities to pack are beach volleyballs, footballs or frisbees. A game of catch is simple and entertaining for everyone, and you can find water friendly options for catch, here.

Another vital supply to your beach day is music. A true, summer beach day is simply not complete without a perfect playlist to accompany it. Bluetooth speakers will make it simple to play directly from your phone, are often waterproof, and are easy to throw into a beach bag. If you need help choosing speakers, take a look at this list of the best portable bluetooth speakers.

2. Pack the right food

Having plenty of games and music will keep you entertained all day, but don’t forget to pack plenty of snacks and water to keep you fueled up for the day. It can be easy to get dehydrated quickly while in the sun and sand and saltwater, so bring a cooler, if possible, stocked with plenty of water. If you can’t get your hands on a cooler, check to see if your beach has a water fountain nearby where you can fill up water bottles easily throughout the day. If you’re planning on having beach cocktails like these ones, or other alcoholic beverages during your day, you will especially want to make sure you are keeping hydrated with plenty of water.

When you’re thinking about snacks on a beach, try not to pack heavy or rich foods that will have you feeling sluggish. Think light and refreshing food, like chopped vegetables and dip, or crackers with hummus and fruit. Prepacking things like sandwiches will help you save on money from expensive beachside stands, and will hold up in the heat of the day. Take a look at this list of beach friendly foods for more ideas of what to pack.  

3. Pick the right day

It’s obvious that when there’s a storm or rain in the forecast, you won’t be considering going to the beach. But what about cloudy days or when there’s a chance of rain? You certainly can’t wait all summer for the perfect temperature and cloudless skies, so don’t be afraid to go on a day that is less than perfect. Cloudy days will offer less crowds on the beach and can be a bit cooler to accommodate more beach games.

On beautiful days, make sure you make it to the beach early in the day to scope out the best spot. Perfect days don’t come around every weekend, so don’t let one go by! On less than perfect days, you can still find plenty of activities to do, especially at the right beach. This brings us to the next tip for having fun on the beach.

4. Find an activity beach

If laying in the sun all day or dipping your toes in the water doesn’t sound appealing to you, you might want to find a beach that has plenty of activities to do. Many beaches will have running or walking paths nearby, parks and playgrounds for the kids, or even extreme sports options like skate parks, surfing or windsurfing. These kinds of beaches can be perfect for large groups who all want to do something different at the beach.

Bring along that volleyball and start up a beach volleyball tournament, or challenge someone to a running race from one end of the beach to the other. You could even spend the day taking a surfing lesson or hire some gear and go snorkeling on a calmer beach. Even if the water isn’t warm enough to swim in or too rough to surf, try your hand at building a sandcastle, or go hunting for treasures in the tide pools.

5. Go with the right people

Finally, find a fun and happy group of people to go to the beach with. There’s nothing better than a beach day spent with family or friends who all get along and enjoy the same things you do. Remember that all ages can love the beach, so feel free to invite the older friends or family along with the kids of the group. If you’re bringing kids along, this article might be helpful to review before heading out for the day.

Now pack up your beach games and umbrellas, grab some water and snacks on the way, and head to your nearest beach armed with your new tips for having the most fun on the beach this summer!

Tips to Help Your Child Find the Best Musical Instrument

Playing a musical instrument can benefit children in many ways. When learning to play an instrument, children build their confidence, learn patience, develop discipline and gain a sense of achievement. However helping a child choose the right instrument for them can be challenging. These tips will help parents explore the available options with their child and ultimately find the right choice for their child’s size and abilities.

Choose an Age-Appropriate Instrument

Very young children do not have the physical skills necessary to play a large instrument or one that requires them to perform more than one action at a time. This is why many young children start with piano or violin. Although there are certainly complicated pieces that could be played on either the piano or violin, they are both easy to learn because even beginners can produce pleasing music. These two instruments are also ideal for teaching music theory to young children. The education they receive while learning to play piano will help them in any other musical training they receive in the future.

Some kids opt to improve their skills on their beginner instrument as they get older. Others want to learn a new instrument. They may be influenced by other children at school or by someone else they saw playing another instrument. It’s important for a child to choose an instrument they can hold and manipulate. Large brass instruments are better for much older kids. By taking a child into a music instrument store in NZ and allowing them to hold the instruments, parents can get a better idea of which might be easiest for their child to hold and play.

Choose an Instrument That is Easy to Learn

If learning to play a new instrument is too hard, many kids will give up before they reach their potential. Children who choose instruments based on social aspects sometimes fall into this trap. They beg their parents to buy musical instruments online in NZ and shortly thereafter decide they don’t really have the skills, or even interest, in playing that instrument. When they choose one that is easy to learn, kids are more likely to continue with their lessons because they will be able to hear the difference in their music with each passing day.

Choose an Instrument the Child Enjoys

Every musical instrument makes a unique sound. Before investing in an instrument, it’s important to ensure the child likes the sound it makes. Some children see instruments in bands or orchestras and want to play one based on the way it looks or how a person appears when they play it. If they don’t hear that particular instrument played by itself, they may later decide they don’t like it and stop practicing. Before purchasing an instrument and music accessories online in NZ, parents could talk to teachers to find out what instruments are available for their child to try out in school.

Choose a Good Instructor

School band teachers may be able to teach music theory and the basics of playing several instruments but they aren’t generally able to help students reach advanced levels. When a child has progressed past the level their school offers, it’s time to start using a private instructor. The amount of tutoring any child needs is based on their goals as well as their interest in the instrument. Parents should not force children to play if they really have no interest.

Whether you are searching for your child’s very first instrument or upgrading them to a more complex one, Zalaxy has something for you. Visit www.zalaxy.co.nz to view their variety of instruments and accessories. If you are unsure which instrument might be right for your child, contact us for advice or a recommendation based on your child’s age and interests. Every child should have the opportunity to play in a band or orchestra. They merely need the right tools and education to get them to the top of their class.

Tips to Save Money when Shopping Online in New Zealand

Saving money is something every person loves to do when they go shopping. The savings show that they are a smart shopper and one who knows how to find a great deal. When shopping online, however, people often go to a site and never take the time to compare prices across multiple sites. They find the item they want and purchase it immediately. When visiting an online shopping store in NZ, make use of the following tips. Doing so will quickly show you how much you can save, regardless if you are visiting an online skate shop in NZ or any other shop on the internet.

Look for sites offering online shopping free shipping NZ to save a great deal of money over time. Many individuals never stop to calculate how much they can save by taking this step, but those who shop online regularly find they can truly benefit by taking advantage of this type of offer. There’s a reason so many people turn to popular programs, such as Amazon Prime, to save on this fee. It’s because free shipping truly does help, and many sites now offer speedy delivery to members. Be sure to look for free shipping whenever possible to achieve savings in a short period of time.

Pay a visit to popular coupon sites, such as retailmenot.com, to find coupons for retailers. This particular site offers codes for more than 65,000 retailers online, thus it’s easy to find a code for almost any item being purchased. There are numerous other sites that offer these codes as well, and small and large retailers alike offer discounts through these companies. Take a moment or two to look for a coupon code before making any purchase, and the savings will quickly pile up.

Find a site that allows users to create an online shopping list that tracks prices. With this option, consumers are able to save a great deal of money when they go to buy fitness equipment online NZ or any other item, as they will never miss a sale on something they wish to purchase. The site alerts the user to any price changes or when a voucher becomes available.

Take advantage of programs that offer money back when items are purchased from select retailers. With Ebates, users purchase items from participating retailers and, depending on the rebate percentage offered by the retailer, the user then has money deposited into their account, which will be provided to them at a future date. Consumers can expect to save anywhere from two to four percent, on average, when using this site, but some retailers provide as much as 25 percent of the total price in the form of a rebate. If using a site of this type, be sure to pay attention to specials they run. For example, Ebates often runs promotions where the cash-back percentage is doubled. When possible, wait for one of these promotions to save even more.

Consider taking advantage of one of the previously-mentioned rebate programs when buying an item, even if it is needed immediately. For example, when purchasing pet supplies for a furry friend, see if a rebate site offers money back through the preferred retailer and if they offer a store pickup option. If so, make the purchase online to take advantage of the rebate, then head to the store when the merchandise is ready to pick it up. Not only will you get cash back in the form of a rebate, you won’t have to walk through the store to pick up the items you need. There is less chance of picking up items that aren’t on the list, as you usually walk to the front of the store to retrieve the items selected online. This feature is especially helpful for those who tend to make impulse buys.

Make use of price comparison sites to ensure the lowest price is obtained on any item being purchased. Although some items won’t be found on these sites, the majority will, and the internet makes it easy to compare prices amongst multiple sites when an item isn’t found on a price comparison site. Doing research has never been easier thanks to the internet. Consumers can ensure they are getting a quality item for the price they are being asked to pay simply by reading reviews posted by current and former users of the product desired.

Like favorite retailers on social media sites, as companies often reward those who follow them on these sites. The rewards may come in the form of a coupon code reserved exclusively for fans, or they may be alerts to special sales only for those individuals who follow the retailer on one or more social media sites. Do the same with email mailing lists. Sign up for a retailer’s email mailing list and they will likely provide a coupon or discount code for the first purchase and additional rewards in the future.

Visit Zalaxy (www.zalaxy.co.nz), an amazing online shopping store in NZ, to make use of these tips today. You will find you can save a great deal of money and have a better selection of items to choose from. You may find that you never want to go into a store again, as it is easy and convenient to get the things you want and need right from the comfort of your own home, and this is only one of the many great sites you will find. There are so many retailers online today that everyone can find the exact item in no time at all and for a price they will love.