i’m back w a new edition of toiletry tuesday!: recommend sun protection for mama and baby.
living in denver, we’ve got both high altitude and consistent sun (on average, 300 days out of the year!). higher altitude means stronger UV rays, not bc you’re closer to the sun–as i’ve heard been said– but bc the atmosphere is thinner and so absorbs less UV rays than a lower altitude w denser atmosphere. (interesting read: what factors determine UV strength.) so these geographic reasons, coupled with the facts that skin cancer runs in my family and my fair skin and blue eyes makes me prone to sunburn, i’ve really learned the importance of protecting my skin from those harmful rays. (i can also thank my mother for this as she was the one who constantly told me how beautiful my pale skin and blue eyes are while also firmly reminding me that pale skin and blue eyes mixed w my family’s history of skin cancer are no joking matter. she was never amused when she saw me slathering on tanning oil at the beach, knowing well before i did that i was kidding myself if i thought it would turn me into a dark brown goddess. ha.)
shown above are my daily go-tos for sun protection for my daughter and i. in the list below, i’ve also mentioned some items not pictured. what i have here is not the end all be all of sun protection but so far, for us, it’s proven pretty darn effective.
1. on my face i use neutrogena ultra-sheer sunblock || 2. for ramona, all over, i use neutrogena pure & free sunscreen || 3. lip trip by mountain ocean is my go-to for lip protection (runner up is the sun bum lip balm) || 4. i never leave home without my straw cloche || 5. all over, for me, is sun bum’s SPF 50 moisturizing sunscreen lotion || 6. sunglasses! jasper by warby parker || 7. neutrogena’s pure & free sunscreen stick makes it easy for me to thoroughly get ramona’s face and ears covered. || not pictured: a bonnet and a rash guard for ramona.
important things to remember when protecting yourself from the sun:
1. use sunscreen that says “broad spectrum” on it. this will protect from both UVA and UVB rays. || 2. sunscreen w SPFs of greater than 50 generally aren’t doing much more than the 50 does. || 3. sunscreens aren’t ever really totally water resistent. you should be reapplying at least every 80 minutes, certainly more if in the water or toweling off or after major sweating. || 4. you should be applying at least a golf ball size amount of sun screen every time || 5. spray sunscreens are less effective in that people tend to apply less sunscreen to their skin, even if they feel they are getting full coverage || 6. avoid the sun between the hours of 10:00 and 2:00. || 7. don’t forget the hats, sunglasses, and cover-ups!
these photos taken at the boulder creek during the saturday morning boulder farmers’ market.
dearest ramona,
i’m so very much looking forward to summer w you: creeks and pools and picnics and walks and playgrounds and ice cream and the zoo and bike rides and the market and hammock time. you love the outdoors a bit more than your mama. which is good for me, bc it gets me off my butt and outside to soak up the sunshine. thanks for being my little adventurous one.
i love you. love, mama.
a portrait of ramona, once a week, every week, in 2013. inspired by jodi’s project.
jp and i had the privilege of spending two days in aspen for the food & wine classic. jp was cooking w tender belly for an aspen 82 opening night event on the roof top of the motherlode. i got to tag along, help him grill some bread, and pretend i belonged amongst all the wealthy foodies. amazing. it was my first time to aspen and i’m already planning our next weekend there. it, seriously, is one of the most beautiful places on earth. i thought i had had my share of mountains between my visits to vail, breck, oregon, or even switzerland. nuh huh. this place is GORGEOUS. we spent all of our time either downtown or in the car driving. for those of you who’ve spent some time there: what are the great things to do just outside of town?
obligatory window selfie:
elsewhere on the interwebs there were some thought provoking articles i came across or had suggested to me:
- if rape warnings belong on alcohol products, these warnings do too.
- all mothers have, by now, read an article about how mothers from different countries do things, well, differently. here’s yet another one of those articles that i largely agree with.
- it is my desire that we have another baby and a large part of that reason is so ramona can have a sibling. here’s a talk of the nation interview of an only child author who is raising an only child. though the viewpoint is a bit bias, it certainly puts things in perspective if multiple children aren’t in the cards (not just for us but for other families for other reasons).
- ramona and i have been taking lots of outings w friends where packing a lunch is necessary. i’ve been eyeing these handy lunch totes for a great insulated and reusable way to hold our goodies and our sandwiches.
- classical sculptures dressed as hipsters.
i try to keep my smartphone uncluttered as i can find enough excuses to waste my time on it as it is. shown here are the apps i use the most, both for me and for ramona:
1. endless alphabet a great learning game that uses cute monsters to teach ramona how to identify letters. i certainly see how she’s absorbed it when she points out letters in our-day-to-day happenings || 2. heytell i’m more of a texter than a phone caller. but texting is not a good idea in a lot of situations. heytell allows you to voice text people. it’s a combination siri and skype and it’s great for sending quick messages when texting isn’t available || 3. dots: a game about connecting mamas need games too! try this game once and you’ll be hooked. hint: try and connect four in a sqaure || 4. simple grocery list i have lists on the fridge, in two notebooks, and in my agenda. all of which i forget whenever i head to the store. this app helps me consolidate and organize my shopping lists. and i never forget to leave home w/o my phone! || 5. instagram who doesn’t have this?! it’s my favorite way to socially network, by far. if you insta too: follow me at adenverhomecompanion || 6. pbs kids video sometimes i just need ramona to veg out and give me some time. this app streams a large variety of pbs kids shows.
what apps do you love having on your phone?
this week’s contributor is erin from an appetite for color. erin is a former denverite who, it turns out, i’ve met a couple of times out and about before i knew about her blog. well, i’m a dedicated reader now. those stunning photos! her simple and thoughtful recipes. her family’s dedication to living the good life. sheesh. it’s all quite wonderful. in her guest post today, she generously provides us w a tasty and nutritious recipe for warm-weather cold treats that little ones will love. recipes such as these are becoming more and more important to me as i find ways to get ramona excited about eating and eating well. enjoy…
Blackberry bliss stains her fingers and lips, before staining this moment ours, forever. I make a mental promise to never forget her sparkling eyes, impatient tummy, and smitten dimpled cheeks. These are the moments I was made for…
I come from a long line of sweet aficionados, and so my affinity for treats comes quite naturally. My father –a man with infectious passion, which does not stop with treats– left me no choice but to follow in his footsteps. I have an inkling that our history has already left my daughter, Octave, with no choice as well. Some of my most fond childhood memories revolve around root beer floats and mint chip ice cream. However, years later I find myself a whole-food enthusiast, bearing the responsibility and delighting in the honor of nourishing a little belly. I believe food is so essential that I find myself planning my life around food rather than food around my life.
I want Octave to experience joy and enthusiasm for the colors and tastes that fill her belly just as I did as a child. I believe her joy can be doubled when those colors and tastes come from real whole foods. Mindful treats are high on my list of importance and I have dedicated many adventurous experiments to creating just that. These blackberry creamsicles were dreamed up just in time for summer: creamy but dairy free, sweet yet free of processed sugar, and perfectly purple, just like all happy things are. Enjoy these tasty (a little more nutritious,) treats with your little ones and savor their eager, sticky hands with happy, messy faces. Because even after all these years, the moments surrounding special treats are the ones I remember and cherish most.
Blackberry Creamsicles (makes 6)
what you need:
- 6 popsicles molds
- 1 ½ cup fresh or frozen blackberries
- 1 cup of raw cashews
- 1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice (2-3 oranges)
- 1/4 cup raw local honey
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 4 tbsp. chia seeds (these, along w the bee pollen below, can be found at your local natural foods store)
- 2 tsp. bee pollen, divided for garnish & enjoyed as sprinkles:)
what to do:
- Soak cashews in a bowl of water, preferably overnight but an hour or two will do.
- When you’re ready to start making your creamsicles, melt coconut oil and honey in a small saucepan. Set it aside to cool for a few minutes.
- Drain the water from the cashews and place them in a food processor or high-powered blender. Add orange juice, honey, coconut oil, and vanilla. Blend for 5-8 minutes or until super smooth. It may take a little longer than you would think, depending on the quality of your blender or processor, but just be patient.
- Add blackberries and blend for another minute.
- Pour in chia seeds, and, using a spatula, fold seeds into mixture.
- Sprinkle a few pieces of bee pollen in the bottom of each popsicle mold.
- Pour the mixture into the molds and place in the freezer for 4-6 hours or until completely frozen.
- Enjoy!
thank you so much, erin! i cannot wait to get my hands on some molds and make this for ramona. though, i’m thinking i will have to hide them from jp who’s been known to put down a stash of iced treats when it’s hot enough outside 😉 cheers!
if you are interested in contributing to A Denver Home Companion, please submit original writing (or ideas!) to emily [at] adenverhomecompanion [dot] com. though i may not be able to publish everything, i certainly consider all of them.
welcome
