UVA, UVB, and UVOwwww

In Michigan, it always seemed like the sun took its time warming up and summer didn't really (consistently) arrive until July or so. This gave your skin and the sun lots of time to get used to each other, and by the time it was really hot, you could have already gotten a little tan from riding bikes, reading outside, doing errands, etc. It was all very unconscious.

This swamp we've designated as our nation's capital is not like that. Dave and Jenna have an awesome rooftop pool, and I spent a few blissful hours up there on Saturday chatting and having great girl time. The breeze and refreshing water combined to trick me into forgetting that it was over 90 degrees, that I hadn't been in just a bathing suit in half a year, and that I should be required to wear SPF 75 for my first week in the sun. When I got home and watched my sunburn begin to "bloom" as the Leutheusers say (you have to come up with cute terms when dealing with fair skin and chronic sunburn), I quickly remembered all of these points.

Today has been spent slathering on aloe lotion and perusing J.Crew's 30% off swimwear sale. I probably won't actually pull the trigger, but these are on my wish list:

Last year's (actually two year's ago...or three?) hat is now sunbleached, crushed from weird packing jobs, and covered in paint speckles. Time for a replacement.

If I were wearing a cute tangerine and blue bathing suit I'd try not to look angry.

And I finally appreciate the importance of a cover-up. Mom, making me wear t-shirts in Florida actually paid off!