single girl sunburn

Whenever I go to the beach with my daughter I carefully sunblock her up before she darts into the water and then rolls in the sand (ew!)  Then it is my turn.  Uhh, hello?  Just me standing there... so I get my legs, arms, face sun-blocked, and then at that point I have a choice:
1)  Let wet, sandy 8 year old sunblock me.
2)  Buy the spray sunblock and just kind of shoot it back there.
3)  I did read once about using a spatula to sunblock your own back, but never remember to put one in my beach bag.
So, it seems whichever choice I make, things usually turn out the same- the single girl sunburn!

This is not my back.  If I can't get sunblock back there, how do you expect me to get my camera back there???

Scalloping

Scalloping is such a fun thing to do with kids!  I like to describe it as an underwater Easter egg hunt.  We usually go every summer.  Here is what you need for a good time scalloping:
1)  Check the reports online and find out where to go!  Scallops like to hang out just north of where a river meets the gulf. 
2)  Round up your equipment: snorkels- check!  masks- check!  flippers- check!  shell bag and 5 gallon bucket- check!  dive flag- check!  fishing license- DOH! (had to renew mine at the last minute online!) 

 3)  Find the spot and start finding them!  Usually the water is pretty shallow when we scallop which makes it fun for everyone, even the kids, but it still helps to have snorkel equipment.  You can find them just hanging out in the grass and sandy areas out in the bay.  

4)  Head back in and find a shady spot to shuck!  We usually sit under a tree back at home, and have some cold drinks to help us along.  Shuckin' tips:  Dark side up, use a grapefruit spoon, sometimes ice makes them pop open, but sometimes just keeping them in their own water works better.  

 5)  Cook em up!  I dip them in egg and put them in a baggie full of panko breadcrumbs and shake it all about!  I put a little oil in a pan and fry them for about 3 minutes on each side until they are brown.  At the last minute, I pour 2 tablespoons of Rose's lime juice and a pat of butter in the pan and let it sizzle.  Serve over pasta or yellow corn grits.  Mmmmm!  
Are you ready to try scalloping?


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Woobies

Does your child have a "woobie"?  Mine does.  His name is "Bear" and it is a small green blanket that she has had since she was born.  

 Well, correction, she has lost him 3 times and 3 times I was at the mercy of E-Bay to try to find another one since it is no longer made.  I even paid 35 dollars one time.  (There is a business that I should invest in- forget stocks, I should start investing in woobies!)  I went to a baby shower the other day and they asked all the ladies to write advice for the mom-to-be.  My advice is that if your kid has a woobie, buy several and hide them.  Oh, and don't wash the woobie- your kid will cry and you will feel bad.  Woobies are stinky, and kids like them that way.  So many times when we are out and about and someone sees my daughter and her woobie, they will stop me to tell me about one they had when they were a kid and how their parents threw it away, or slowly cut pieces off until there was nothing left!  I could never do that to my daughter!  I don't think it hurts anything for her to keep her bear- to tell you a secret, she comes by it honestly.

Bear hanging out with my old woobie, Hansel!

Do you still have your woobie?


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Linking to lovelinks!

Wordless Wednesday

Should I set her free???

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It's Hot, Hot, Hot

Well, I guess summer is here!  It is so hot here in Florida that you practically melt when you go outside.  So, what are some ways to keep cool with your kids?
1) Go to the movie theater.  I usually freeze there, so it feels great in the hot weather!
2) Go ice skating!  Ice skating is an awesome summer time activity- your nose may even run!

Not me!

3) Check out synchronized swimming.  I have been doing synchronized swimming with my daughter this summer.  She is way better than me because when I get my arms going good, my legs stop, and when I get my legs kicking good I forget to move my arms.  I am not a multi-tasker in the water apparently!

Really not me!

4)  Hook up a sprinkler to your hose and run through it.  Or scoot or bike through it.

 5)  Spend the day in the library.  It is nice and air conditioned there!  I usually grab the latest issues of the gossip magazines and sit in the comfy chairs in the children's room while my daughter plays on the computers there.
6) Hit the beach- build sandcastles and find shells.  We usually go in the evening when the sun is not so bright.
7)  Make homemade snowcones or popsicles.
8)  Visit a spring.  There are many beautiful springs and they are so refreshing to swim in when it is cold.  Springs have this great smell and your hair is SO soft after you swim in one!
9)  Go tubing!  Take a fun group of people with you and don't forget to take an extra tube for your cooler full of snacks and drinks!  It also pays to arrange for a ride at the end of the tube run to take you back to your car.

 10)  Visit a museum.  Take a sketch pad and colored pencils for your child to draw the art that they liked the best.  

What do you do to stay cool on the hottest summer days?