Use Your Sunscreen!

Warning, warning. We have a red alert at our place. We have the red not enough sunscreen blues! I feel so badly for one of my Tigers, as he really got red out at the pool today. You really have to be constantly vigilant when it comes to using sunscreen! What really gets me is the fact that we have already had an extended weekend at the beach with no sunburn!

Remember, all it takes is once! Another quick reminder about cloudy days: The UV rays still get through the clouds! We all got just a little too much, with a little too little on the coverage! The sunscreen of choice for our family is anything 30-50 spf, in the spray bottle! It is a little pricier, but worth every penny. It really helps get full coverage.

Another trick we use which really works well and helps save a little sunscreen are the long sleeve rash guards. We use Lands' End rash guards.
Any kind will do. These things are awesome! For the beach and the pool, you really get a lot of coverage with those beauties!
(It's also great for those of who do wish to be modest in public!)

Just a quick, friendly reminder to use that sunscreen (rash guards) at all times, and at all costs! It really is worth it in the short and the long run!

Friday Family Fun

It's Friday Friends! This is my first ever "Friday Family Fun!" post. I thought it would be neat to share ideas that I have about family fun with you on Fridays. Therefore, Welcome to "Friday Family Fun!"


This is one incredible step back in time. The next time CarolinaMama and I take the Tigers back to Colorado, this is on a must do list! We have been enjoying the story of Buffalo Bill's life recently. Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave makes for a great family outing. The history that is discovered at this fun place is really awesome. Bill Cody was certainly one of the pioneers for living in the "Wild West."

There are two ways to get there, I recommend going both routes so as to take advantage of the awesome scenery! The way through Golden is rather steep, winding and narrow. If you're not big on driving those kind of conditions, take the 1-70 route! I really enjoy the 1-70 route because many times there is a live buffalo herd right off the exit on the highway that you can see right up close. If you can handle both, I am always up for going 2 separate routes, especially in the mountains.

How are you celebrating Family Fun?! Do you read history with your children? And I want to know, Have you been to Buffalo Bill's Grave and Museum?!

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Cree LED Lighting, LED Lighting Leaders

Cree LED Lighting has really stepped up to the plate in the issue of energy efficiency with new super efficient LED lights for commercial and residential use. Check this exciting press release about one of their awesome new products Cree LED Lighting offers!

This is some really innovative, ground breaking technology well ahead of the competitors. Just one of the incredible features of the new CR6 LED Downlight is that it is designed to last 50,000 hours and features a 5-year warranty! 50,000 hours equates to not having to change your light bulb for up to 20 years! As of May 2010, Cree LED Lighting is introducing this new aspect vital to future residential energy efficiency.

This is some exciting new technology that I am very excited about! Not only am I excited about it, University of Florida has already adapted the CREE LED lighting in the Student Union! Kudos U of F for embracing this awesome and green technology!

Are you going green? Do you use energy efficient lighting?

Soy Good Part 2

Just wanted to follow up on the soy eating. It has really changed my lifestyle for the better. It is a lot healthier than eating the meat products, and in my opinion tastes just as great. CarolinaMama and I have found that Morning Star Farms is a fantastic product that you can find in your local grocery store in the frozen section. Check out all their awesome options for a healthier everyday diet!

Not So New, But So(y) Good

It was great to recently be invited to attend a webinar by Silk Soy Milk about "Going Green for the Health of It" with Terra Wellington. I've got to admit, when I first tried soy in general, I was a little hesitant. But I have got to say I absolutely love soy products now.

When I first married CarolinaMama, she was a vegetarian that would eat dairy and fish. I started eating some soy based products and more fish as a result of her diet. It is now a mainstay habit in our healthy diet around the house. I still do eat meat, but not near as much as I used to!

I have just recently aquired a taste for the Silk Soy milk. Not only does it taste great, but Soy Silk is donating to greater going green causes such as wind farming. You really need to check them out. What a great simple way to eat healthier and go for a greener cause!

Check this recipe out from Silk Soy's awesome website. (They really do have a cool website!)

INGREDIENTS

1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup Silk, any flavor except Light
2 tsp. vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup grated zucchini
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 cup chocolate chips
PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a muffin tin with 12 paper liners.

In a medium bowl whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl whisk together Silk, vinegar, vegetable oil, beaten egg, and vanilla until combined. Pour Silk mixture over dry cocoa mixture and stir by hand until all the flour is incorporated. Stir in the zucchini followed by boiling water. The mixture will be thin.

Fill muffin liners 3/4 of the way full, sprinkle with chocolate chips and bake for 13-17 minutes until tops spring back and a tester inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Yields 12 muffins

Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Baking Time: 15 minutes

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Here's the nutritional information for you:

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Nutrition Facts
using Silk Original
Serving Size 1 muffin Servings Per Recipe 12 muffins

Amount per Serving

Calories 196

Protein 3g

Carbohydrates 29g

Fat 8g

Saturated Fat 0g

Cholesterol 18mg

Sodium 216mg

Fiber 2g

So there you have it! A delicious treat, healthier than your average muffin, and supporting our great country in using our renewable resources!

Story Time w/ the Tigers

I have twin sons, which my wife CarlolinaMama refers to as the Tigers. We have Tiger A and Tiger B, whom I spend as much time with as I can.

I have tell this quick story about a precious time I had with my boys reading bedtime Bible stories.
We were reading about the story of Joshua at Jericho. Part of the story reads "Joshua, the son of Nun." As I was reading it,
Tiger A had a just precious observation: "But Dad, he had to be some body's son." I just thought that was too awesome!
Of course I explained how it worked, and he was completely satisfied that Joshua had a daddy, too.

We read our Bible stories almost ever night, it is a good extra scripture time for me as I do attempt to read some in the early am as well!