So This Redhead Marries This Girl

So this redhead marries this girl. . . 

She is darker- skinned and brown-haired and he hopes that his kids won't inherit the "curse."

By that, he means the ability to sunburn if he even looks out the window.

Well, he's my husband.  And we did indeed make two babies and. . .Did it work?

The first one we've tested a bit.  And she will survive.  She may appear fair, but she has those yellow undertones that means she has yet to burn.  Still, part of that is because I slather her with sunscreen.  I went all EWG and tried some of least horrendous.  (My husband, having been slathered his whole life, hates sunscreen of any type.  All he will use is bullfrog gel.  I won't let my kids near that stuff.  But with hubs, well, I choose my battles.  And make him carry his own sunscreen.)

For the rest of us (me, my daughter and my son) we get one tube. 

There is NO WAY everyone gets their own sunscreen.  

Too much crap in my bag/stroller/car/purse.

Here is what we have tried:

1) Badger Balm - Um, it smells like peanut butter?  No.  Just, no.  Next.

2) California Baby - Love it.  But $22 bucks a tube?  One tube a week in the summer...no fucking way is this "sustainable." At least not for my wallet.

3) That cheaper pink option everyone likes.  BabyGanics? I don't know.  It was crap.  Like completely useless, shaving cream consistency crap.  And literally NO sun protection.

4) Then, Block Island Organics said HEY!  Try our stuff!  And I was like: "Wait, my family lives on Block Island!"   Worth a shot. Maybe it is a sign.  Maybe I can find something that works and doesn't leave me for poor.  

And...the results are in and it is good! We've tried Block Island Organics in the bright, strong spring sun and NO BURNS!  Not even on the little dude!  It is unscented, which is great.  And i can spread it all over my kids' faces with no streaks!  

This summer we test kid two.  Will he have the redhead curse?  Or will he be soooo protected by Block Island Organics that we won't be able to tell?

So, in order to SPREAD the LOVE.  Block Island Organics is giving my

sun-warrior readers

a coupon code good today thru 5/12.  Go forth my flock.  Buy sunscreen.  Use code hannah at check out.  And show them some love on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.

And now.  Me and my kids and my sunscreen are going to go sit our butts in the yard. Protected. 

So Lost the Damn Smoothie Blog Post and Then I Lost My Shit.

I suppose there are people in the world who go to sleep at night and then wake up the next morning.  That hasn't happened for me in over three years.  I was up last night (googling smoothie recipes with almond milk frozen in ice cube trays) and thinking about what this might do to my brain, this lack of sleep. 

So I got up.  And I wrote a WHOLE LONG BLOG POST about my favorite smoothies, with tips and techniques and tricks and it was so clear and awesome and then I hit the FUCKING DELETE button like an idiot. 

So, in former days I might do something like throw my computer.  But these days a I am a whole lot more in tune to the fact that the universe is whispering to me: Girl, get the eff of the computer and go live your life.   So I walked away and took some time away and come back to you now with two DOPE smoothie recipes that I have perfected in the times spent living my life OFF the computer.

Bomb Ass Not-So-Fruity Smoothie

This one will fill you up.  I swear by it when I won't get to eat for an hour (yes, I eat almost every hour.)  Also, my daughter loves it, she says it is "better than the blue one." 

1. Throw coconut flakes in any milk (almond, cow, soy). I just put it in the bottom of the blender. Add a bit of vanilla or almond extract and some cinnamon.  Then, let it sit for a bit.  I sue this time to unload the dishwasher, wipe some surfaces, make cereal for my daughter or something like that.  Efficiency, folks!
2. Then I add two whole frozen bananas (I freeze mine quartered, cut once the long way and once the short way) .  Then a heaping tablespoon of peanut butter and a bunch of plain greek yogurt.  Then a few cubes of ice and blend away!
3. Yum. 

Crunchy Fruit Smoothie

This is a pretty basic milk and fruit based smoothie.  But I decided to include it because it is a fun baseline to work with and has a couple of sweet tricks.  I think I have talked quite a bit about being a fruit hoarder, so this means I always have an ample supply of frozen fruits and as everyone knows, frozen fruit an awesome smoothie doth make.

1. Start with any milk in the bottom of a blender.  I know, I know, I am getting repetitive here, I obviously like this step.  Throw in some chia seeds (google if you don't know of what I speak).  I also like coconut flakes in here...but I just like coconut in general in the summer as it reminds me of the tropics and sunscreen.
2. Add a lot of frozen blueberries and peaches (mine I never have long enough to freeze) and greek yogurt (for protein, ya'll) and blend.  Some people choose to use a sweetener in this, depending on their fruits - If I do use something I use a spoonful of some kind of corn syrup free jelly or jam from the fridge.  Honey or agave are also fine, clearly, but I don't like agave and having a little kid has gotten me off honey.  I really like to put fresh raspberries or blackberries in this one too as it is one that makes a virtue of the drink that you must chew.

So, go make some smoothies and report back. 

 *it is fun to make jars of frozen fruit mixes and leave in your freezer.  Then dump them in to your blender in the AM and add right back to the same jar.  PRETTY THINGS!