Mr. Handsome only caught two fish (a sea trout and a pompano), but he was thrilled to hear from several locals that pompano are rare in that area and that they are considered a delicacy.
We stopped at the grocery store to pick up some veggies and then headed back to our beach house to cook the fish, which ended up being much cheaper than going out for dinner. We sauteed both fish whole in a skillet with a little bit of canola oil, salt, and pepper. The sea trout was decent, but the pompano was absolutely delicious. It had a soft, buttery taste and texture and was one of the best meals either of us have ever had.
Unfortunately, as we were cooking dinner, we started to feel our sunburns. Mine wasn’t too bad, but poor Mr. Handsome’s legs and feet were as red as a tomato. He had put sunscreen on his arms and shoulders but hadn’t bothered with the rest of his body, since we weren’t out in the sun for very long. His burn was actually much worse than the picture makes it seem. On the bright side, he proved that sunscreen works.
The following day, we skipped the beach and rented bikes (only $15 per person). In addition to its white sand beaches, the Florida Panhandle also has beautiful wooded areas.
Ooh, I cringed when I saw that sunburn!! Better get some aloe.
I know, it was pretty bad. We picked up some aloe lotion, and that helped quite a bit.
Ellie
If you put the aloe in the fridge, it helps even more. Also, taking something like aspirin helps (something anti-inflammatory). And putting cool compresses on the burned parts.
The one place you don't think the sun would ever bother always turns out to be the place that gets burned the worst. The scalp under the part in your hair is another spot often overlooked.
Ellie! Cold Tea Bags work well on a burn.
I got sunburn like that 16 years ago at my aunts house in Michigan I can't use suntan lotion I'm allergy to it. So I just use tea bags on my burn.
Thanks for the tips! I'll keep those in my back pocket for our next sunburn. lol
Ellie
Tandem bikes are quite fun too! A lesson in teamwork though, haha
Tandem bikes are definitely a lesson in teamwork. Lol. But once you get the hang of them, they are a blast…as long as you don't want to ride through heavily trafficked areas. Haha.
Ellie
Ellie, if you ever get burnt like that again and you have access to an aloe vera plant, cut off a branch and then slice it vertically downwards so that you end up with two long strips. Then rub the inside of the strips (the parts with the aloe vera sap) on the burnt skin. The burning sensation will immediately feel better and the skin will heal faster.
Thanks for the tip! I have an aloe plant here at home, but on vacation all we could find was aloe lotion. It helped a lot, but I'm sure pure aloe would have been best.
Ellie
Your pictures and descriptions make it almost like being there with you. Lots of fun! Thanks for sharing!
Glad to hear that! It's my pleasure.
Have a great day.
Ellie
I hope he didn't get sun poisoning!!! That looked bad!
No sun poisoning, but the burn was definitely the worst he had ever had. We spent a few hours outside on Memorial Day, and he slathered himself in sunscreen. LOL.
Ellie
Lavender oil also helps with burns.
Thanks, Tara! I hadn't heard that, but lavender oil is great for a lot of things, so I'm not surprised. How do you apply it on sunburns?
Ellie
The forest looks pretty. The sunburn looks so painful. I hope he had something to spray on his legs. My husband and I are going to Virginia Beach in September. Have you been there? It will be the first for us….Jane
We went to Virginia Beach with my husband's family last summer. It was great! Lots to do, and a very pretty area. Here's a post I wrote about the trip:
https://www.anashvillewife.com/2016/06/blogging-break-over.html
Ellie
I used to live near there. You should tour the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk. They have a large collection of Tiffany glass and other Tiffany Studios objects. I don't know what they might currently have on display, but they have quite a collection in their holdings. My great-grandfather worked for Tiffany, so those things are of interest to me.
Ouch!
Well at least his legs are looking much better the next day…
My husband got a burn just like that kayaking a few years ago. We never considered it would happen as he tans well but hadn't wore shorts in almost 3 years! We had to get aloe with lidocaine.
Never heard of aloe with lidocaine. Must have been pretty bad if you needed that though!
Ellie
I cringe just looking at MR Handsome sunburn. I burn very easy and have had many bad burns. I have to be extra careful. Seems like you enjoyed the rest of your trip. It was nice of your friends to let you use your their beach house.
Hope Mr. Handsome's sunburn is better.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
It took several days, but it's better now. Thank you. 🙂
Ellie
Next time you have a sunburn: use unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar – diluted with a bit of water – on a cotton ball and apply it to your affected area (as if you're applying a toner). Let it dry on your skin. Then apply Coconut Oil. The ACV helps to balance your skin's pH level and helps with the inflammation and stinging feeling of the burn. The Coconut Oil adds moisture back in to your skin and will keep it from peeling.
Love it! Thanks! Apple cider vinegar and coconut oil have so many uses. I use apple cider vinegar in my hair to get ride of buildup every once in a while, as well as for cleaning and cooking. Coconut oil makes a great alternative to butter on popcorn, and it's also a great "once in a while" conditioner for hair. Such great products!
Ellie
I learned so many remedies just reading the comments! Glad it was a fun trip😊