Hey it’s June, it’s summer, yay, blah blah blah. Annie’s last day of preschool is TODAY and she’s got a full summer of swimming ahead of her. I mean that literally: I have her signed up for weeks and weeks of swim lessons. This requires us being at the pool at 9 am Monday through Friday…I obviously wasn’t in my right mind when I signed up for this. But you know, hurray for lifesaving skills that lead to afternoon lethargy!
She’s also been invited to a bunch of swim parties already, and my enthusiasm for those is in the 0-10% region. 10% because I like when Annie spends time with her friends. 0% because, despite how good a swimmer Annie is, she’s only four, and that means I have to be ready to go in the water at any time. That means wearing a bathing suit…which means buying a bathing suit.
I’ve been wearing the same bathing suit for a few years. It’s now too-big and when it’s wet I get saggy bottom like whoa. Still, I dread buying a new suit not because of the process of trying them on, but because of the process of actually wearing a suit. Because it’s A Process.
There’s just, ugh, so much that goes into literally wearing a bathing suit. I don’t even care about my weight or flabbiness. I own it because I am currently choosing to do very little to change said weight and flabbiness. To be fair, it helps that I busted my butt last fall before we went to Hawaii and I’m still riding the coattails of that hard work. But my body’s shape is at the bottom of my list. There are other important things, like grooming, or my own personal slice of hell, sunscreen application.
I am a fanatic about sun exposure. I’m covered in freckles, or as I like to call them, Ticking Cancer Time Bombs. But I absolutely hate putting on sunscreen. I hate how sticky it is. I hate that I have to contort my body to apply it. I hate how I ALWAYS MISS ONE FREAKING SPOT. I hate how my kids scream the entire time I cover them in it. I hate how James is so pale he uses up half a bottle of sunscreen in one application.
If it were up to me, I’d stay inside all day and swim at night, but my kids don’t want to live like vampires (lame). I told Mike I’m going to invest in one of those tourist parasols and some full-body swimwear. He laughed but he hasn’t seen my search history. I feel like he and Annabel just have to see how good I’d look.

I’m so jealous of fictitious me.
Look how jaunty that outfit is! I could even wear heels. SO much better than a rash guard and visor.
Gwensarah says:
I’m super pale so sunscreen is a must but I hate it too, it’s like putting snack packs of pudding on my skin..ew but then I found the spray on kind which is sooooooo less gross.
Rachel says:
I love the spray on sunscreens too. BUT, I ruined one of my favorite white sleeveless tops by getting sunscreen on it. The sunscreen was clear, but turned the top yellow after it went through the wash. The fabric is now yellow around the neck and arm holes =( Just a heads up to use caution around clothing.
Nelly Ritchie says:
I am so with you on this one, luckily I live in the UK so not much sun to worry about.
I would strongly recommend you check out some aerosol spray sun screen, I use a Nivea factor 50 and it is SO MUCH EASIER to apply and not at all sticky. They even do coloured ones for kids so you can see it go on, but it rubs in clear.
Sending sympathetic red-head/pale/freckly hugs to you xx
Nelly Ritchie says:
This is the one I buy
http://shop.nivea.co.uk/protect-refresh-spray-200ml.html
I’m sure its different in the US, but its a god send!
Alanna says:
Aw its even got an anchor on it. I hear you on the not stressing about your body thing. I feel the same way!
Jewl says:
exactly how i feel! ugh. and living in Phoenix our kids want to swim every! single! day! and its really the only option for outside activity this time of year. such a process. i would so buy that outfit (although I would fear getting it off after it got wet
Elizabeth says:
When Q was about two I bought rash guards with SPF for both of us. I’ve been known to wear mine with my husband’s swim shorts to minimize where I have to put sunscreen. Now both girls only have bathing suits which are rash guards (Target, Disney, and Old Navy have really cute ones!) and I force them to wear hats in the pool (as do I!) until they swim/play under water. I’ve considered the long sleeve rash guards, but the southeast is just too hot. Bad enough when you’re not in the water in your rash guard. Good luck!
Elizabeth says:
Oh! And I bought my rash guard in the boys’ section of Target. XXL is plenty long/roomy enough and it was a quarter the price of adult ones.
Dianne says:
We are in Florida but all four of us wear long sleeved rash guards from Land’s End…even with the Florida heat. My daughter grumbles intensely about being so covered up, but she knows that her only other choice is to stay inside the house while everyone else is in the pool. The long sleeved rash guards are warm until you get in the water and then they are fine!
Elizabeth says:
Dianne, good to know and you are right that I should just suck it up as I know it is better for our skin! Atlanta humidity just seems so painful, but it could also be that I was 8-9 months pregnant the first time I wore one and it is linked in my brain as being too hot – but then I was always too hot! I’ll look into them for all of us.
Emily says:
I’m with you – totally pale and totally hate sunscreen. This summer, I caved and bought one of those athleta SPF rash guards that matches the swimsuit. Somehow it feels slightly less frumpy. WINNING.
Shannon says:
So I know you are kind of joking about full body suits, but I absolutely wear one and it is the ONLY way I can swim outside now as a melanoma survivor. Coolibar has *amazing* stuff, though it’s pricey. I wear a long sleeve zip front rash guard on top and swim tights and I love how they feel. They even look pretty great, honestly. Very active and sporty. I highly recommend their other stuff too for sitting around the pool. SO much easier and more comfortable than sunscreen!
Jaynah says:
Lands end has fabulous rash guards for women this year! Much less sunscreen needed!
Jessica says:
I bought Alba Lavender sunscreen recently. I liked it! The smell made application more pleasant. I’m going to try to make my own this summer and add any nice smells I want! It’s not that hard. You just have to buy a few ingredients online.
Casey says:
OMG, I am literally laughing out loud about this post. That picture is cracking me up! On a slightly more serious note, the only thing worse than slathering yourself in sunscreen is slathering your children. My 5 year old and 8 month old hate it almost as much as I do
Jen says:
As a fellow ticking time bomb for skin cancer (hello multiple abnormal moles and a family history of melanoma!), I must admit that I am SO grateful for rash guards to be a thing now for us non-surfers.
Jenny says:
My favorite bathing suits are from Lands End. I call them lady suits. They won’t turn heads, but they keep everything in place.
Jodi says:
My friends and I found the perfect suit last year, it’s inexpensive and perfect for all body types. I’m in the black and white stripes picture in this blog post:
http://www.motherflock.com/the-perfect-swimsuit-we-think-so/
Auntie_M says:
That DOES look like the perfect suit!!!!
Meg...CT says:
I totally agree with the bathingsuit conundrum…I have no answer for that. But this sun screen CHANGED MY LIFE…I have 5 VERY FAIR (read: glow in the dark) kids for whom I need to apply sunscreen…SOLRX 50 spray on. Amazon. GAME CHANGER. I promise
Jolene says:
I’m intrigued and already on Amazon! Can this be used on toddlers? I looked for a kids version but can’t seem to find one. My daughter is 19 months so wondering if I can use the SPF50 you mention above on her? Thanks for the rec!
ella says:
Are you kidding??? I seriously don’t think you’ve looked better!!! You keep disappearing in your pictures!! Rock that bathing suit, you tiny mama
Nicole says:
I also loathe trying on/buying/wearing a bathing suit, but found this one at walmart dot com and it’s less than $35, you can do free site to store shipping, and if you hate it you can return it to any walmart. Score!! I know you’re probably thinking, “A swimsuit, from WALMART?” with your face all scrunched up in disgust, but I promise it is super flattering on those post partum, eats a pack of Oreos in 2 days, couch potato bodies…. Not saying that that is your life, but it is mine. And yes, I’m still blaming my body’s shape on being post partum — who cares of my kids are almost 4 and just turned 1. Ain’t no shame in my game!
http://www.walmart.com/ip/29507937?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedItemId=17804481&adid=22222222227014596294&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42076322470&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=34194261670&veh=sem
This is the suit! I have 3 of them! I hate wearing all swimsuits, but alas swimmy classes force me to get into the water and the community rec centers frown on me going in fully clothed. Hrmph.
ALSO, I too and a fair skinned, freckled lady and will be googling all of ^those^ sunscreen suggestions because I haaaaaate putting it on, haaaaaaaate the fact that I have to reapply every 45 mins, and haaaaate how it feels! Blech!
Kat says:
That really does look amazing on you. And you will be able to cut out the sunblock lotion altogether. I’m a fan!
Auntie_M says:
I LOVE that suit you’re modeling! LOL Should you not wish to wear that, these suits are chlorine resistant and you can simply order one & return it if it doesn’t fit without struggling to try on suits in a dressing room with 2 kids in tow. http://www.onehanesplace.com/outlet/swim/swimwear-features/chlorine-resistant
Also, Amazon has really cute sarongs to keep you more covered up…I got my sister a really cute one for Mother’s Day from 1 World…they are individual works of art.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_5?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sarongs+for+women&sprefix=saron%2Caps%2C414
And you would look fantastic with a big floppy hat!!!!
Like the one Emily wore to the horse races on Revenge. http://hollywoodlife.com/2014/04/14/revenge-recap-season-3-episode-19-victoria-discovers-emilys-identity/
Can’t wait to see the beautiful Sun & Pool ready you!!!