I’m talking Summer fun as part of a sponsored post with SocialStars. #BestSummerEver
Summer and popsicles just go together, don’t they? Popsicles are pretty much the most perfect hot weather snacks, and my kids LOVE them! Since we usually spend our days outside and by the pool, it’s great to have something to cool down with while being delicious and super fun at the same time. We have a fruit garden in our back yard that’s in bloom right now, so luckily all we have to do is pick them and then we’re ready to whip up our frozen treats! The kids love helping make them, and I love trying new flavors and combinations, so it really is a great family activity to do together. Earlier this week we made a batch to take to the pool at my parents house, and they were SO perfect that I need to share. So, behold: the Fresh Berry Tie Dye Popsicle. Yum!
Don’t they just look amazing? And they are made with fresh fruit from our garden to boot! Now lets talk about how to make these. First, this recipe is ridiculously easy. It has just a few steps, and there is virtually no way to mess them up. I made enough for six large pops (you can find this mold here. I love it because they are bigger and easier to handle than the rest I’ve seen). Here is what you need:
- 1.5 cups fresh strawberries
- 1 cup fresh blueberries or raspberries
- 2 cups vanilla Greek yogurt (or any other flavor you like!)
- popsicle mold
- blender or food processor
The first thing you do is pulse your strawberries and blueberries separately until they are a thick, smooth liquid (kinda like a smoothie) and then pour them in small bendable plastic cups. Put your yogurt in one of those cups as well. Now, pour a little of each in your popsicle molds one after the other. It doesn’t have to be neat at all – the point is to get the colors separated. Once you’ve filled your pops all the way to the top, take a chopstick, kabob skewer, or even a thin knife and push it into your popsicle mold all the way to the bottom a few times at different spots. This breaks the placement of the colors up and gives it a “tie dye” look. After that pop them in the freezer for a few hours and they are ready to enjoy!
How incredibly easy was that? After we made these we headed to the pool to enjoy them, and they really helped cool the kids down in the hot sun!
Speaking of pools and sun, my kids have amazed me this year with how much the love the water. Up until now, they’ve liked it, but haven’t really been able to actually swim for themselves so I felt like I was on edge the entire time we ever went to the pool. But now? Well they’re quickly becoming part fish. Before they would only sit on the side of the pool unless one of the adults were right beside them, but now? Watch out world, here they come!
I’m super proud of Kaia especially for pushing off and going it alone. This girl is JUST now 3 and already solo swimming. With their newfound water independence comes a whole new set of worries, so safety is a top priority with us. I always make sure they have their puddle jumpers on when they’re in the water because while they are getting more used to swimming on their own, they’re not quite strong enough to stay afloat for more than a few minutes without them.
Another important part of Summer safety is sun protection, and since we spend a lot of time in the water now I need a sunblock that can stand up to the elements. I’m currently using Banana Boat Sport Performance Lotion Sunscreen with Powerstay Technology.
This is one tough sunblock! Not only is it water and sweat resistant, but the Powerstay Technology really locks it in place for any real life situation. It’s available in different levels of protection, too, so you can customize your coverage.
Want more great ideas for Summer fun? Banana Boat is sharing all kinds of fun things on their Facebook page right now, like this adorable craft idea!