Life's A Beach Awarded Four ADDYs at 2015 Local Competition

On Saturday, February 28, Life’s A Beach Publications was ecstatic to win four ADDY Awards during the 2015 American Advertising Federation of the Emerald Coast ADDY Awards Gala held at Bric á Brac in Destin. The following are photos of our winning entries, along with descriptions of their category and what each entry entails.

A  big THANK YOU to our clients as well as our fans!

Gold ADDY:

Collateral Material Publication Design, Cover

The Destin Area 2014 Visitor’s Guide & Membership Directory for Destin Area Chamber of Commerce

Silver ADDYs:

Non-Traditional Advertising, Single

Life’s A Beach Collection 2015 Beach Calendar for Life’s A Beach Publications

Collateral Material Publication Design (Magazine or Book), Series

Life’s A Beach THE Visitor’s Guide to the Emerald Coast

Collateral Material Publication Design, Cover

Currents: Greater Fort Walton Beach 2014 Community Information Guide and Membership Directory for Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce

Beach Fun Checklist

Everyone can benefit from some tips for ensuring a stellar day at the beach. So, we researched some of the best tips as seen on the popular site, Pinterest, and included some of our own, and here is what we came up with!

1. Pack the sunscreen and apply it often

Depending on what level SPF you purchase, apply the good stuff around the clock even if it doesn’t look like you are getting burnt. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! Also, don’t forget to apply a lip balm with SPF to keep your lips safe from the sun.

2. Wear eye protection

Whether you prefer to wear sporty sunglasses or a floppy sunhat, any sort of protection for your eyes is a good idea.

3. Pack plenty of towels

Towels at the beach can be used for drying off after playing in the water or for sitting on while tanning, so pack away!

4. Load up an ice chest with plenty of water

Heading to the beach with a cooler stocked with cold waters, drinks and snacks is great for keeping hydrated and making sure you have food for energy while out in the hot sun. For those who want to be super prepared, purchase a cooler with wheels!

5. Put your cell phone in a plastic Ziploc bag

This is a safety precaution for keeping your phone sand free and from accidentally forgetting it in your swimsuit pocket before jumping in the water. If only phones could swim!

6. Pack baby powder

Now, this one may sound a little odd at first, but for those beach goers who don’t want to track a pound of sand back into your car or hotel room, check out this is a neat trick. Apply a generous handful of baby powder to your legs and feet, and watch as the powder absorbs the moisture on your body, causing the sand to fall off.

7. Don’t forget the Toys

A lot of people, especially children, like to be active on the beach. Pack some buckets for sandcastle building, a football or Frisbee for throwing around, or some boogie boards for riding the waves.

8. Throw some floaties/arm inflatable floaties in your beach bag

You can never go wrong with having a floatie for the children to play on in the water or packing a pair of arm inflatable floaties to put around a young child’s arms to aid in helping to keep them safe when you take them for a swim.

9. Bring along a good book

For those of you who love to enjoy a good read while relaxing, be sure to pack that new novel you’ve been wanting to dive into.

10. Be cognizant of the Beach Warning Flags

This isn’t a physical item that you can bring along, but we thought it was too important to not list. Please do heed the beach warning flags as they are displayed to keep you safe.

Above all, enjoy your day at the beach and we hope you make many wonderful memories with your family and friends while doing so!

Emerald Coast Cities Make Headlines in Coveted "Top" Lists

As if the people of Florida's Emerald Coast aren't already proud to call this beautiful and much admired place home, popular news outlets have recently ranked the area for its alluring qualities, raising the level of gratitude even more.

In summer 2014, leading media outlet, MSN News, named Fort Walton Beach as one of the “10 Happiest Cities in America.” The Fort Walton Beach area landed as the happiest location in Florida and the 10th overall happiest city in the nation, according to the rankings. The results are based on satisfaction levels reported by respondents to a multi-year survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and were presented in a working paper through the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Also in 2014, Destin was voted number six for "Best Spring Break Destinations: Readers' Choice Winners" by USA Today. After four weeks of voting in 10Best.com's Readers' Choice contest, USA Today readers helped name the best Spring Break destinations.

These acclaims are much appreciated and adored by locals and visitors alike, and we look forward to receiving more in the years to come!