Resources
Girl, I made you a list.
Everything on this page is something I personally use, love, and would text you about if you asked me – consider this your shortcut to all of my favorite things.
ON THE HOUSE
Freebies
Free guides, checklists, and resources to help you plan your next coastal escape. All yours, on me.
RECEIVE INBOX LOVE
Join The Sunkissed Squad
A weekly email you’ll actually want to open – filled with coastal travel, feel-good wellness,
and little reminders to slow down.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Travel Booking
I’m constantly keeping my eyes open for ways to save on travel and love passing what I find on to my people.
My favorite strategy? Earning rewards on everyday purchases so that the trips basically plan themselves.
Travel Deals
Booking + Expedia – My go-to starting sites for finding the best hotel deals. I regularly cruise both and consistently find great rates – it’s always worth comparing before you book.
TrustedHousesitters – This one has genuinely changed the way our family travels. Between sitting for other families and having sitters care for our home, we estimate we save over $20,000 a year in accommodation and pet sitting costs – and we’ve met some of the most incredible families along the way, some of whom we return to again and again.
Viator + FareHarbor – My favorite places to book local tours and experiences. I love being able to read real reviews from other travelers before committing – and both platforms connect you directly with local guides who make the difference between a good trip and an unforgettable one.
Transportation
Turo – We choose Turo over traditional car rentals almost every time – and honestly it’s become one of our favorite parts of trip planning. You get to pick your exact car (we love choosing something fun we’ve been wanting to try), and we’ve had nothing but great experiences.
Tip : Always choose a car with at least 5 strong reviews – skip anything brand new on the app.
Travel Cards & Miles
Southwest Rapid Rewards – Our family flies 3 for the price of 2 every time we fly SWA – and most of our Hawaiʻi flights are booked entirely on points (so we only pay $11.20 in fees round trip!). The Southwest Companion Pass has been a total game changer for us. I wrote about how my husband has flown free with me for the last 4 years!
Chase Sapphire – I transfer Chase points to Hyatt – and we’ve stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi for free. Twice! If you love boutique luxury hotels and want to make travel rewards actually work for you, this card is where I’d start.
Amex Platinum – I find myself really using the perks on this card – free LuluLemon, complimentary CLEAR membership, lounge access, and so much more. It pays for itself quickly if you travel regularly, but does have a hefty annual fee so it’s important to look at the perks to see if they’ll make it worth it.
FROM ONE OVERPACKER TO ANOTHER
Packing Essentials
I’ll be honest – my friends know I’m a hopeless overpacker. But every trip teaches me something new, and I’m slowly building out my list of favorite gear that actually helps me travel smarter. These are the things that have earned their place in my bag.
Sun Protection
A quick note – reef safe sunscreen isn’t just a preference for our family, it’s something we feel strongly about protecting the ocean ecosystems we love so much. All of these are reef friendly and personally tested:
Beach Essentials
Travel Gear I Love
FEEL GOOD
Wellness
Simple practices and products that I love whether I’m home in Colorado or somewhere with sand between my toes. There’s nothing overcomplicated on this list, just the things that help me feel my best wherever I am.
Wellness Products
OSEA Body Scrub + Oil – I swear by these for keeping my skin glowy when I’m not on the coast. Their ingredient list is clean, their values align completely with how I try to live, and both have become a non-negotiable part of my daily routine.
Apps
B The Method – Lia Bartha’s Pilates app is one I return to at home and on the road. The classes are thoughtfully designed, a lot of them require zero props, and I feel the difference in my body when I’m consistent with it. I love her teaching style.
Insight Timer – I use this app to assist with daily meditation, wherever I am in the world. The variety is incredible – whether I have five minutes or fifty, there’s always something that meets me exactly where I am.
Beach Reads
Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert – I come back to this one on repeat. It pulls creativity out of me every single time and reads like a conversation with a friend who knows me.
You Are A Badass – Jen Sincero – Easy to read and impossible to put down. This book has had positive impacts on my life and I find myself reading it again every couple of years to refresh my memory about it.
BEHIND THE LENS
My Camera Bag
Photography is one of my greatest passions, and these are the tools that help me capture the moments that matter most.
My Camera Gear
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 – My go-to for everything short form – and yes, I loved it so much I bought a second one. I love the gimbal on this camera, syncing to my phone on the fly is seamless, and I’m constantly surprised by the quality of what this little camera captures.
Sony Alpha a7 III Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera – I picked this up when I started leaning back into photography and have never looked back. The image quality speaks for itself, and the Sony community is very special.
DJI Mini Pro 3 Drone – Some of my favorite shots have come from this drone. The learning curve was surprisingly simple, and DJI’s replacement program gives real peace of mind when you’re flying over the ocean.
Selfie Stick Tripod – I actually purchased this as a temporary solution until I found something better – and then bought a second one because I loved it so much! Itʻs simple but beach proof, rust free, and has hung with me through my travels for years.
FOR MY FELLOW CREATORS
Blog + Creator Tools
If you’re a blogger or aspiring creator, these are the tools and resources that have made the biggest difference in how I run The Kai Life.
Education
The Blog + Newsletter Lab – This course changed everything for me after years of trying to figure it out on my own. Laura’s knowledge is truly impressive, and the generosity she shows her community through the education that she passes on to us is something I don’t take for granted. If you’re serious about growing a blog and newsletter, this is where I’d start.
Hosting
Big Scoots – After 15 years with another host I made the switch to BigScoots – and the difference in customer service and performance has been remarkable. I’m actually in the middle of moving my other sites over to them, which says so much about how I trust them.
Organization
Notion – I am in this app every day. It keeps my head on straight, my life organized – and my businesses functioning.
Travel Recommendations
Travel Payouts – I love to organize my travel recommendations in a way for my readers that they are 100% authentic and based off of my own personal experiences. Travel Payouts let’s me organize and monetize my own authentic recommendations.