Pineapple, Basil, and Coconut Ice Pops

Welp, it’s officially hot outside in Kansas. And I am LOVING IT. Seriously, I hate being cold. I violently hate it. It just immediately frustrates me intensely when I am freezing. Hence, winter = no bueno. Except for snow and Christmas – I like those things. Cold weather just hurts, know what I mean? Yes, hot weather can be extremely uncomfortable, but it doesn’t hurt like cold weather does! Cold weather hurts your skin and face and joints and…and…it just hurts.

Hey…side note…I’ll bet you anything that in a few months when it is 150 million degrees in Kansas, I’ll be talking about how I miss cold weather. #Callingit.

A second random side note…speaking of coldness, my classroom at school is always cold. Always. Yes, I have been accused a few times (by few I mean at least fifty) of being a tad overdramatic in my claims of coldness in my room, but I stand firm that it is always freezing in there. BUT, the other day, another teacher heard me talking about it and brought me a space heater for my room.

Um…lyfe. I have barely moved from that space heater all week. I put my stool right in front of it and just bask in its warmth. BEST THING EVER.

Aaaaaanyway, since it is finally hot outside (YAS), it’s time to break out the hot weather treats. Liiiikkkkeeeeee…

THESE!!! Oh my gosh, the mother of all ice pops. Or popsicles. Whatever tickles your fancy. These things take all other ice pops and slap them in the face, saying “GET OUT OF HERE. You are not worthy of my presence.”

They are sooooo good. They are fresh, sweet, creamy (in a popsicle? Yes. Shhh, just trust me), basil-y (?), coconut-y (??). My adjectives are not on point today. Give me a break – it’s the last few weeks of school before summer. JUST ACCEPT ME FOR WHO I AM.

Are you sitting here thinking, “Um. Why is she putting basil into a popsicle? Why?” I will tell you why. Because I discovered that basil is a secret power bomb of deliciousness when you mix it with fruit. Why? I don’t know. I don’t make the rules. I just eat them.

If you don’t believe me, try these popsicles, and try this too while you’re at it.

They will be your summer faves. PROMISE!

You know how I was telling you recently that Seth comes home super super soon?? Like one month? He is actually coming home earlier than the rest of his peeps because of this thing called ADVON. The Army has approximatelyyyyy…let’s see…ten million acronyms. I know what .03% of them actually mean. I don’t know what ADVON stands for, but I know it means he comes home early to get everything set up before everyone else gets back. Isn’t that amazing?! God has totally provided for us in SO many tiny and huge ways throughout Seth’s deployment, and this is just another example of that. He has been right by my side throughout this entire process, and I love that He worked it out for Seth to come home a little early.

So, obviously this was good good GOOOOOODDD news, and I was very excited about it. BUT, at the same time I was kind of sad because I thought it meant he didn’t get a coming home ceremony. When the big group of guys come home, they get this huge dramatic ceremony, and it is so awesome and I was soooooo looking forward to that. Since Seth is coming back on ADVON, I thought it basically meant he was going to walk out of a building alone in the middle of the night and that would be our reunion. Now, don’t get me wrong – I would still prefer that less dramatic homecoming if it meant he could come back sooner. Trust me. But I was still disappointed about the lack of ceremony.

WELL – I was at an Army wife party-type-thing the other night, and I found out that Seth DOES get a ceremony just like everyone else! He just joins in on the troop’s ceremony that is coming home before him!!! This news seriously made my entire night  week  life. And now I am even more excited for him to come home (if that is even possible).

It is going to be so exciting! They call you 24 hours before they are home and say “This is your 24 hour notification,” and then they call you when the guys land in Kansas and say “They have landed in ____ [insert random Kansas town].” And then everyone goes to this big building and just waits for their husbands, wives, moms, dads, kids, etc…to arrive!!!! Then they get dropped off, march into the building in formation, and the ceremony starts. And then when it’s over, everyone runs and finds their person…cue ugly crying.

I’ll post pictures ? (probably not of the ugly crying). It is going to be the best day EVER. Evvvveeeeeerrrrrr. And then I am going to film he and Boone’s reunion, too. Which I am just slightly less excited about than our own…does that make me weird? If you even keep up with this blog semi-regularly, you all know how stupidly obsessed I am with my dog. So this information should come as zero surprise to any of you. #BooneandAnnieFoEva

Must. Eat. 20. Of. These. Ice Pops. To. Relieve. Anxious. Energy.

For you 21 Day Fix people, here are your container amounts:

• 1/2 purple container (pineapple)
• 1 blue container (coconut milk)

*The basil, lemon juice, and honey are “free”*

Click here to see more 21 Day Fix recipes!

*This recipe makes 2 1/2 cups of popsicle “batter.” This fit into four of my popsicle molds, so that is what the nutrition information below is for (a little more than 1/2 cup of “batter” per serving). It might differ slightly depending on  the size of your molds.*

This recipe is gluten free and (if you omit the honey) vegan.

If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries!

In the mood for more healthy summer treats? Check these out:

Superfood Popsicles

Caprese Salad Bites with Garlic Balsamic Reduction

Superfood Green Tea Smoothie