DIY Rainbow Dash Birthday Party

I had always planned to do a Little Mermaid theme for my daughter’s first birthday. However, when the time came, I decided to go with a My Little Pony (specifically Rainbow Dash) theme instead because that was my daughter’s favorite thing at the time. She was obsessed with Rainbow Dash, and I wanted to do something I knew she would love. I began looking up ideas for the theme, and this is what we ultimately came up with and used.

Photo Backdrop

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Rainbow-colored tablecloths
• White balloons
• My Little Pony Happy Birthday sign
• String/Tape

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Hang rainbow-colored tablecloths on a string (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple). I bought a pack of cheap plastic tablecloths that were multicolored.
2. Blow up some white balloons and tape them to the top of the rainbow string.
3. Hang up the Happy Birthday banner across the rainbow.

Highchair Decoration

Supplies You’ll Need:

• String
• Rainbow colored tulle
• Scissors
• Tape (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Measure how much string you need to go around the highchair. Take into account extra string if you plan to tie it versus taping it, and cut it.
2. Cut pieces of rainbow-colored tulle (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple) and tie them around the string. **Take into account that when you tie the tulle, it will make it half the size, so make sure to cut a piece twice as long as you want it to be. (i.e., if you want the tulle to hang 6 inches from the string, then cut it at 12 inches total in length.)
3. Tie the string around the highchair. Or tape it if you prefer.

Birthday Outfit

Supplies You’ll Need:

• White onesie
• My Little Pony Fabric
• White thread
• Cutting tools
• Sewing machine
• Stretchy baby headband/elastic
• Rainbow colored tulle

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Cut the My Little Pony fabric into letters for the age (you can also just do the number). I personally used a heart shape for the O in “ONE” for my daughter.
2. Sew the letters/numbers onto the white onesie.
3. Cut rainbow colored tulle for the skirt. You can make it whatever length you want. Make sure to take into account that you will fold the tulle over, so make it twice the length of what you want for the skirt (just like with the highchair decoration).
4. Tie the rainbow-colored tulle onto the child’s stretchy headband to create the skirt. I bought a cheap $1 baby headband from the craft section in Walmart. These are a favorite of mine to use when making baby tulle skirts. You can also use some elastic if you prefer.

Cake

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Cake mix
• Blue icing
• Rainbow-colored icing/food coloring
• Fondant
• Candle

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Mix and bake a little cake.
2. Spread blue icing all over the cake. You can also use white icing with blue food coloring if you don’t have blue icing.
3. Use rainbow colored fondant to twist and make the hair.
4. Use black and white fondant for the eyes.
5. Add a birthday candle on top.

Balloons

If you’re like me, you love balloons for birthdays. You can use extra white “cloud” balloons or rainbow-colored ones. And don’t forget the shiny numbered balloon(s) for the age.

Plates & Cups

My Little Pony is pretty popular right now, so we were able to find party paper plates and cups that we got to use for the party.

Wrapping Paper

Another way I tied in the birthday theme was by using My Little Pony wrapping paper to wrap the presents.

My Little Pony Accessories

To tie in the theme (and her love of the ponies), my daughter also got some My Little Pony toys and accessories for her presents. Pony Little People toys and Rainbow Dash sunglasses.

I hope these ideas help to inspire you to throw your own My Little Pony party and have just as much fun as we did. Happy celebrating and creating!

11 Physical & Mental Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is one of my favorite ways to practice self-care. I started yoga about 4 years ago. It was the only workout routine I was able to stick to during both of my pregnancies. It’s so relaxing and peaceful. I definitely notice a difference in my body both physically and mentally when I’m doing yoga regularly vs. when I’m not.

If there is only one workout routine I can get done in a day, yoga will always be the one I choose. There are so many wonderful benefits to it. Before I started yoga, I had many preconceived notions about it (which were false), so I wanted to share with you my own personal experience and proven ways that yoga benefits you both mentally and physically.

1. Increased Flexibility

This is probably one of the most obvious benefits of yoga. Yoga flows are a lot of stretching postures that, when done regularly, help to increase flexibility. One of the things I love so much about yoga is that you don’t have to be super flexible starting off. There are many options for poses so that you can find what works for where you are at. The more you do it, the more your flexibility will grow.

I was always pretty flexible growing up, having danced for 10 years. However, it’s now been about 13 years since I have danced, and I have lost quite a bit of my natural flexibility. Since I started doing yoga regularly, I have been gaining that flexibility back.

2. Increased Circulation & Mobility

Yoga flows are not only gentle and good on the body, but they also increase your circulation and mobility. The different stretches and postures for yoga really help to assist with blood flow, which improves circulation. Many yoga poses involve joint rotation and lengthening of often-ignored muscles, which in turn helps with mobility.

One of my favorite things about yoga is that it targets so many areas at once and often forgotten areas too. If I am sore, I do a yoga flow that targets that specific sore area. I have noticed a difference in my joints and overall mobility thanks to yoga.

3. Increased Energy

It is a proven fact that working out regularly increases energy, and yoga is no exception. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. By getting your blood flowing and heart rate up, these endorphins also raise your energy levels.

Have you ever found yourself with more energy after a workout than you had before it? You have those endorphins to thank. I always find that no matter how exhausted I am, if I just manage to get my yoga in, I always feel better and more energized after.

4. Increased Happiness

Not only do endorphins from exercising boost energy levels, but did you know that those endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in your body that is similar to morphine? That positive feeling creates happiness.

I have noticed this over and over for myself. Since I have started doing yoga, I am more relaxed, less stressed, and overall happier. I am a very positive and happy-go-lucky person, to begin with, but I have noticed that when I do yoga regularly, I am in a better mood and don’t get as overwhelmed or upset as easily.

5. Decreased Stress

Along with increased happiness comes decreased stress. Stress comes in all forms and can negatively affect your body physically, mentally, and emotionally. It can affect your sleep and weight. Yoga flows help to calm you down and keep you centered, which in turn decreases stress.

Whenever I’m stressed or my mind is running a mile a minute, I always crave some yoga time. Getting a yoga routine in (even if short) instantly calms me down and helps me to unwind.

6. Relaxation Habits

Yoga has some great breathing techniques. Controlled breathing is a great tool to help with relaxation. Yoga breathing helps to increase lung capacity, which leads to better breathing. Yoga also helps improve your sleep. If you need some help sleeping better or just getting into better relaxation habits, give yoga a try!

If I am feeling stressed or anxious, I just hop on my mat and do some yoga. After I finish a yoga routine, I feel so relaxed and peaceful. The breathing I learned in yoga has really helped me to relax more easily. When I get mad or worked up about something, I just take some deep breaths and try to focus so I can calm down instead of blowing up.

7. Meditation Habits

Yoga is great for mental health simply for its meditation traits. Meditation is a huge part of yoga. It helps you to slow down and unwind. It puts life troubles behind you so that you can focus on the here and now. It teaches you to quiet your mind and just be.

Meditation is not something I’ve done regularly. Thanks to yoga, I have a better understanding and appreciation for meditation. It is hard to really quiet your mind and stop it from running a mile a minute. I have learned how to slow down and let my mind and to-do list wait while I do yoga.

8. Increased Focus & Awareness

Breathing, balancing postures, and being more involved with yoga bring increased focus and awareness. The breath control and meditation aspects of yoga teach you how to stay present. It also brings awareness to yourself and how you feel both physically and mentally.

Patience and focus during the slow moments of yoga have helped teach me how to stay present. The balancing and postures have helped to bring me more body and mind awareness. You know where you are at, good or bad, for both. Being able to recognize that and address it is so helpful.

9. Better Posture

Yoga poses are great in aiding better posture. While practicing yoga regularly helps to strengthen muscles, it also helps you become more aware of when your posture is off and teaches you how to correct it. This is great for those of us who slouch mindlessly. Some poses help to strengthen and relieve neck and back pain, which could be a cause of bad posture.

I grew up as a dancer, where posture was very important. After becoming an adult and having many desk jobs, my posture habits went out the window. Yoga really helped to improve my posture again.

10. Better Metabolism

Along with many other health benefits of yoga, a big one is a better metabolism. When you practice yoga every day, you increase your metabolism, which helps you burn fat. This, in turn, can help to aid in weight loss.

Prior to starting yoga, I thought that yoga wouldn’t aid in weight loss at all. That is simply not true. When I started my fitness journey, I started with a HIIT workout and started gaining muscle weight. It wasn’t until I started doing yoga that I actually started losing weight again. I truly believe yoga was a huge help for me in staying in shape and maintaining a healthy weight gain during my pregnancies. By helping boost your metabolism, yoga can help aid in weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight.

11. Builds Strength

Another myth I believed about yoga before trying it myself was that the workouts really weren’t “real” workouts that would tone you. Boy, was I wrong! Yoga may seem simple, but it really is a good workout. The routines can target specific areas of the body just like other workout routines. And they do it healthily. There is stretching, flow workouts, and cooling-down periods during a typical yoga routine. There are also different kinds of intensity flows that you can do.

Doing yoga regularly helps you build strength and gain muscle in all the major areas of the body (arms, abs, back). I have personally found my arms and legs to be sore after practices. I have noticed a big difference in my strength since doing yoga regularly, specifically in my arms. My upper body has always been the weakest area for me, and yoga has greatly increased my arm strength.

In case you couldn’t tell from this list, I have absolutely fallen in love with yoga. There are so many benefits to it, and I love the positive changes I have seen in my body both physically and mentally since I started on my yoga journey.

I am not an expert. I am still learning and growing in my own yoga journey, but I am so glad to be on it. I would encourage each of you to give yoga a try. Go into it with an open mind, and you will be surprised at what you discover about yourself and yoga along the way. Namaste.

Trip Planning: What to Do Before Booking

Since we aren’t able to travel right now, I have been daydreaming and planning future trips I want to take. Even if you can’t pick a travel date, you can still be planning your next adventure and learning all about your dream destination(s). I want to share with you some ways you can use this time at home to your advantage and how you can still get ahead in your travel planning before booking a ticket.

Research the Destination

First things first, when planning a trip, you need to research the destination you have in mind. What makes it special? Why do you want to visit it? Is it safe to travel there? Is there a language barrier? Where are the good and safe places to stay? When is the best time of year to visit?

Research as much as you can about the destination that you have in mind to get an idea of the place you will be visiting. Find insider info on the destination by reading blogs and articles from locals who live there or people who have traveled there. Ask around in travel groups for advice and recommendations.

Pick Trip Activities

Find out what activities there are and which ones you want to add to your itinerary at the destination you have in mind. Are there any restaurants, landmarks, or other places that you want to make sure to visit while there? Any bucket list adventures you want to accomplish while there? Include these on your activity to-do list for your trip.

Make a Trip Budget

After you have your to-do list for your trip, start figuring out the pricing for everything. Make sure to take note of any exchange rates between your local currency and the currency of the country you are visiting. Take into account hotels, transportation, and any activities you are planning to do that cost money. You may not know the exact amount for all meals or souvenir shopping, but creating a general budget will help you to save up for the trip and have an idea of what to expect to pay while traveling.

Check Your Passport

If traveling internationally, make sure to have your passport ready. If this is the first time you are traveling internationally, allow yourself plenty of time to get your passport before your trip. Passports can take quite a while to get. I believe when I applied for mine, it took me about 6-8 weeks to receive it. You can pay to have it expedited, but it is not cheap, so I would just give yourself plenty of time before your travel dates to get it done.

For current passport holders, double-check the expiration date on it before traveling internationally. I have heard that some places won’t allow you to enter their country if your passport expires within 6 months of when you arrive. If your passport is up to expire within 6 months of your travel dates, it would probably be worth it to just renew ahead of time. Also, some countries require a certain number of blank pages in your passport for stamps, so double-check that too.

Research Visas

Make sure to research the visa laws wherever you are traveling. Some countries require a visa (not just a passport) to travel there. If the place you want to travel requires a visa, make sure to apply and get your approval before purchasing your ticket. Some visa applications can take a while to get approved, and you don’t want to risk having to cancel your flight if you don’t have the visa yet.

Check Vaccine Requirements

Make sure to double-check if the place you are traveling to requires any medical exams or vaccines prior to entry. Some countries require you to be up to date on certain vaccines or get secondary ones if you travel there. It doesn’t hurt to get a quick physical/exam before traveling to make sure everything is up to date. Some places may require the vaccines to be in your system a certain amount of time before you enter their country, so check this before booking.

Shop Around for Flights

Do your flight research and take your time shopping around before booking a ticket. Traveling in the off-season for your destination and using major airports can help you save. Take a look at layover times and locations. You want everything to run smoothly and be able to navigate airports as best as possible when traveling.

Shop Around for Living Arrangements

Do some research and shop around on living arrangements while on your travels. Is a hotel, resort, rental home, or hostel the best fit for your price and space preferences? Your choice may be different if you are a solo traveler vs. traveling with your whole family. I personally love Airbnb because it is a great alternative that can provide more space and better pricing oftentimes. Look around and see what works best for you.

Once I have these most time-consuming items taken care of and the best prices figured out, then I start the actual booking process. If you’re unable to travel for any reason, use that time to get ahead by getting some of the prep work done early. That way, when you’re able to travel again, you’ll have less to do. What is the #1 thing you do before booking a trip? Let me know in the comments below. Happy planning!

To the Daughter Who Made Me a Mother

I started a tradition after my daughter was born of writing a letter to her each month of her first year and then one for her birthday each year after that. It’s a way I use my love of writing as a way to preserve our memories, her favorite things, things she dislikes, and all of her milestones as she grows. It’s a way for me to be honest about my struggles and good times, as well as share my hopes and dreams for her life.

As a mom, the days can blur together, and it’s easy to forget exact moments and dates. Time flies so fast, and I want to remember everything. I have continued this letter-writing tradition with my son and plan to do so for any future kids I have as well. It is a great way to have a little keepsake that my kids can always go back to and read.

With Mother’s Day coming up and today being my daughter’s 3rd birthday, I have been reminiscing on those letters from her first year and all our wonderful memories together. We have learned and grown together through my first-time motherhood journey. There is no one else I would have wanted to experience this with than my sweet little girl.

To the daughter who made me a mother, I have loved you since the moment I found out about you. The first time I felt your flutter and kick inside of me was pure magic. I dreamed you’d be a girl but was still shocked when I found out you actually were. I giggled over your little personality and the way you made sure we knew your gender with legs wide open.

I stressed over finding the perfect name for you and argued with Daddy, trying to agree on one. I worried over you through extra ultrasounds and cardiologist meetings. I held onto hope and stayed optimistic despite Daddy stressing. I prayed many prayers over your health.

I taught myself to sew and made you many blankets and accessories. I kept myself busy with DIY projects, counting down the days until we would meet in person. At every appointment I had, I was so anxious to hear your little heartbeat and know you were growing well.

To the daughter who made me a mother, I will never forget the day you were born. It was the happiest day of my life and also felt like the longest. I was a little nervous but so very excited to meet you. I will never forget the laughter of the doctor as you tried to screwball your way out. The moment they placed you on my chest was the most perfect moment of my life. Holding you, I was instantly in love, wrapped around your finger, and my heart felt complete.

To the daughter who made me a mother, the first year of your life seems like a blur. There were so many sleepless days and nights. But just as many snuggles and hugs. Watching you learn and grow is the best moment. Seeing your passions and little personality develop is so much fun to witness. Seeing you be kind, generous, and loving is the proudest moment of my life. I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.

To the daughter who made me a mother, we have learned and grown so much together. I feel like I have learned more from you than you have from me. You have taught me true unconditional love. You have shown me how good it is to have a short memory for the bad and how a simple smile heals anything. You have pushed me to chase my dreams again.

You have taught me the importance of saying you’re sorry and knowing someone is watching even when you don’t think anyone is. You have inspired me to do better, be kinder, and lead by example. You have shown me how impossible it is to stay mad for long whenever you are around. You have pushed me to be braver by watching your fearlessness with any animal. You inspire me to experience new things and go on new adventures. You help me to be the best that I can be in all areas of life.

To the daughter who made me a mother, just when I think you can’t surprise me anymore, you do. I’m amazed by your imagination and childlike wonder. You can lift my spirits with just a hug or kiss. Snuggling with you is my favorite. I hope you never grow too old to talk with me about your day or hold my hand.

To the daughter who made me a mother, I couldn’t ask for a better daughter. You truly are my answered prayer and dream come true. I am so thankful that God chose me to be your mommy. You are one of my absolute favorite people. I love going on adventures with you. I can’t wait to see all the places you’ll go and the things you’ll do in life. You are a blessing I never take for granted. I’m so very thankful for the gift of being your mommy every single day.

12 Simple Ways to Live Greener

I try to do my part to make the world a better place, and as an ocean and dolphin lover, I really try to make a difference by being more environmentally friendly. People often think that living green means giving up a lot and changing your whole way of life. In all actuality, there are plenty of little things that you can do every day to get into better habits and live greener.

After just celebrating Earth Day one week ago, I thought now would be the perfect time to share my tips and tricks to help you create new habits that are simple and easy to do. Every little bit helps and makes a bigger impact.

1. Recycle

Recycling is a big way you can help go greener without much effort. If you aren’t used to recycling, there will be a little adjustment period. I didn’t grow up recycling, and so when I moved to California, I had to learn what items could and couldn’t be recycled. I quickly got into a good rhythm with it, though, and even when we moved to North Carolina, I have kept up with my recycling habits out here. It has become a habit for me, and I do it now without even thinking.

2. Dryer Balls

About 2 years ago, I decided to give dryer balls a try. I had been hearing so much about the toxic chemicals in dryer sheets and wanted to stop using them. I got dryer balls as a Christmas gift and have been in love ever since! Not only do I not have to use toxic chemicals on my clothes, but it also saves me a bunch! Dryer balls are good for many loads, whereas dryer sheets are a one-time use.

3. Reusable Straws

This is quite possibly my favorite of all these ways to go greener. A lot of theme parks and big venues are switching from plastic to paper straws in an effort to help the environment more. I’m all about going greener, but I, for one, HATE paper straws! They get soggy and gross so quickly that you end up having to use multiple straws, which is just as wasteful, I think.

When we took a family trip to Disney World in Florida, they only gave out paper straws, which did not work for us lol. So we took straws from my daughter’s cup to use instead. After we got home, I invested in some stainless steel straws. They are an absolute lifesaver! Easy to clean, and you can take them with you. I have even started turning away plastic straws at drive-thrus to use my stainless steel straws instead.

4. Reusable Cups

Another way to cut back is to use your own stainless steel or reusable cup in place of cups at restaurants and gas stations. Just bring your own cup with you and fill that instead.

5. Rethink Water Bottles

Just like with reusable straws and cups, get yourself a reusable water bottle. Using a filter and then filling up your own reusable water bottle will cut back on the waste of plastic water bottles. I drink so much water every day, so this one is huge for me.

6. Reusable Napkins

Instead of using paper towels and napkins, give reusable and washable napkins a try. A lot of restaurants use cloth napkins, and they work great. I haven’t personally tried reusable napkins at home yet, but I have been looking into it more. If it can help save money and go a little greener at the same time, why not?

7. Manage Water Usage

Cut back on unneeded water usage. Wait until the dishwasher is completely full to run it, turn off the water while brushing your teeth until you need to rinse your toothbrush, etc. Being mindful of using unnecessary water, even if it is just a little, can all add up and make a difference.

8. Manage Electricity Usage

Cut back on unneeded electricity use. Turn off the lights when you leave the room, turn off the TV when you’re in another room, use outside light during the day instead of electricity, etc. My parents instilled in me to always turn the light off when I leave a room, so I do it naturally now. Again, even if it seems insignificant, it can all add up.

9. Switch to LED Lights

Making little changes in your home to be more energy-efficient is a great way to do your part and help. When we redid our house after hurricane damage, we put LED light bulbs in all our lights. They are more energy-efficient and, in turn, help to go greener.

10. Sign Up for Electronic Billing

If you want to cut back on paper waste, switch to electronic billing instead of paper. Most companies offer this as an option nowadays. It is a huge help for me. I handle the majority of our bills electronically.

11. Buy in Bulk

Buying in bulk helps to save money in the long run and also helps to cut back on the plastic and packaging. Even with a small family of four, we buy in bulk sometimes. I learned the art of doing that to help save money growing up in a family of 10. If there are items you go through fast or will use in the long run anyway (i.e., toothpaste, soap, etc.), why not go ahead and get them in bulk to help save and go greener at the same time?

12. Reusable Grocery Bags

Plastic grocery bags have been banned in a lot of places. They are also not environmentally friendly at all. Even though we still have plastic grocery bags here in NC, there is one store that doesn’t use them and requires you to purchase your own reusable bags if you want to use a bag. I’m starting to get more into reusable bags.

By doing these simple little things every day, you are helping. Every little bit you do to help eliminate plastic waste helps our ocean and marine animal friends. Any little thing you do to help can make a bigger effect and lasting impact. This is something that I am so passionate about because you have to take care of what you love so that it will last.

Baby Names Inspired by the Sea

Finding the perfect name for your baby can be stressful. There are so many options out there. Are you a water lover? Sea, ocean, rivers, lakes, etc.? The beach is one of my favorite places on earth. The ocean is so peaceful, beautiful, and houses my favorite animal.

If you love the beach/ocean as I do, then I have just the thing for you! I have compiled a list of about 35 names (for both genders) inspired by the sea for all my fellow ocean lovers. You just might find the perfect name for your little one.

Ariel

This is the number one name I think of when I think of baby names inspired by the sea. Three words: The Little Mermaid.

Aqua

A Latin name meaning “water”.

Banks

A surname that was originally given to people who dwelled on the banks of a river. Recently, Hilary Duff named her baby girl Banks, and I thought it was so cute and fitting for those who love water-inspired names.

Bay

I’ve heard this name a couple of times and think it’s great for water lovers, as there are many bays in the world.

Brooke/Brooks

Brooke is typically a girl’s name; it is an English name meaning “small stream”. Brooks, I’ve heard of as a boy’s name before, and it is also typically an English surname that means “dweller by the brook”.

Caretta

This is the scientific name of a loggerhead sea turtle. I heard this name in a movie and fell in love with how it sounded. It’s still on my favorite baby names list currently.

Cordelia

A Welsh name meaning “jewel of the sea”. Such a pretty and unique name.

Coral

This is a semi-precious sea growth, often deep pink or red. When I was pregnant with my daughter and we couldn’t agree on a name, my mom actually mentioned using this as a name because of my love of the ocean. We didn’t end up using it, but I thought it was cool.

Dune

This is a mountain of sand. If you love the beach, you probably know what a sand dune is. I thought this was a unique option similar to other names like Dunn.

Hurley

An Irish name meaning “sea tide”. Such a cool-sounding name similar to the popular name Harley.

Isla

A Scottish name meaning “island”. There is no better name for island and tropical lovers.

Kai

A Hawaiian name meaning “sea”. This is a popular name for kids and dogs. It just sounds so cool and laid-back.

Lake

This is a body of water that runs deep. I’ve heard it for girls and boys, and you can even play around with the spelling and try “Layke”, etc.

Lana

A Hawaiian name meaning “afloat, calm as still waters”. This is such a gorgeous name.

Marina

A Latin name meaning “sea woman”. It is also a word used for a harbor for small boats.

Misty

An American name meaning “covered with mist, dew”.

Moana

A Hawaiian name meaning “ocean”. It is highly recognizable now thanks to the Disney movie of the same name.

Navy

This is a shade of blue and also the name of the military branch primarily working on water/ships. I have heard it being used quite a bit recently for baby girls.

Nixie

A German name meaning “little water sprite”. This was the name of a mermaid in a TV show I love, and I just think it’s super cute.

Ocean/Oceania

This is another great name for water lovers that speaks for itself. I’ve heard it a lot lately for both girls and boys.

Pearl

This is a precious jewel found in the sea. It is such a pretty and sophisticated name.

Rain

I’ve heard this name quite a bit, especially as a middle name. You can make it more unique by playing around with spelling (Rayne) and even create a variation of it (i.e., Rainey).

Reef

This is a bar of rock, sand, coral, or similar material, lying beneath the surface of the water. I recently saw someone on Instagram whose son was named this, and I thought it was so cool! Similar in sound to the names Reed and Reese.

Ridley

The name of a small tropical sea turtle. A cool, unique name to use.

River/Rivers

An English name meaning “stream of water that flows to the sea”. This is a popular name lately, and I have also seen some people put an “s” at the end of it.

Sailor/Saylor

This is a name I associate with water because of sailors on boats. Its name has been growing in popularity for the last couple of years for girls and boys.

Sandy

This is another great name associated with the beach and sounds laid-back.

Sebastian

This is another name commonly associated with “The Little Mermaid”.

Shelly

Inspired by seashells, this is a pretty, beachy type of name.

Siren/Sirena

A siren is a song a mermaid sings to cast a spell on humans. I think it sounds so cool. You can also add an “a” to the end of it to have a similar feel to the name Serena.

Skip/Skipper

This is another word for captain and is also associated with skipping rocks.

Summer

Who doesn’t think of the beach and vacation when hearing the name Summer? I do. It is my favorite season, makes me think of the ocean, and is such a cute name!

Sydney

This is another name I love that makes me think of the sea because when I hear it, I instantly think of Sydney Harbour in Australia.

Triton

A Greek name meaning “God of the sea”. It was also the name of Ariel’s dad in “The Little Mermaid” and is a general term associated with mermen.

Zale

A Greek name meaning “strength of the sea”. It is such a strong and cool-sounding name.

I hope these names give you some inspiration while picking out the perfect name for your baby. I love names with special meaning, and if you love the water/ocean, these are great options to consider. Do you have a favorite baby name inspired by the sea? Share it in the comments below.