Happy summer, everyone! 'Tis the season for beach trips, picnics, fireworks, cookouts, and...sunburn. Yep, if you've ever spent a few too many minutes in the sun, you know the pain and discomfort that sunburn can bring. It's enough to ruin any vacation.

Luckily, you don't have to let sunburn dictate whether or not you have a good time. Here are a few natural ways to stop the burning and soothe your skin.

Essential oils: Lavender, rose, frankincense, and chamomile are among the oils that can help heal sunburn. Young Living recently wrote a helpful article about DIY sunburn relief using essential oils, including a recipe for DIY sunscreen. While lavender is by far the most helpful oil, it can be combined with other ingredients, such as apple cider vinegar and baking soda, to provide the best relief.

Cool milk compress: It just sounds refreshing, doesn't it? This is one of the easiest ways to soothe sunburn, and you probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen. All you need is a washcloth soaked in a cup of chilled milk to pat over your most painful burns. 

Witch hazel: This plant works wonders for the skin and has been used to treat acne, ingrown hairs, and sunburn. A few dabs of witch hazel on a washcloth or cotton ball will soothe the skin and decrease the burning. 

Oatmeal: Though the smell of oatmeal may bring you back to the chicken pox you had in second grade, it's actually a great way to calm irritated skin (obviously!) and ease some pain. And no, you don't necessarily have to take a bath in the stuff...unless that's your thing. You can just apply it to the areas where you need it most. 

Aloe vera: Last but not least, aloe is a tried and true way to relieve sunburn and cool the skin. In fact, aloe is often synonymous with sunburn as it has graced the cabinets of many homes for years...and for good reason. It works! Check out Humblebee & Me's recipe for Aloe & Silk Body Spray.

While using sunscreen should be the first method of prevention, sunburn happens even to the most careful of beach-goers. When it does, glance through your cupboard to see what remedies you already have on hand. 

Have you ever wondered which vegetables and herbs to plant seasonably to make the most of your garden? Naturally, certain plants thrive in the summer, while other cooler-weather plants wilt. Don’t waste your time tending to the wrong plants this summer. Instead, focus on these ten veggies and herbs for a garden that’s full to bursting with flavor!

Corn: A quintessential summer staple, corn on the cob is great to grill with burgers and other veggies. Corn requires proper hydration, so make sure you water it regularly, especially during dry patches.

Cucumbers: These thrive on sun, soil, and insects to thrive, making them a perfect fit for a summer garden. You can plant cucumber bushes in containers or plant cucumber vines directly in the ground—as long as you include a trellis for support.

Peppers: Like corn, grilled peppers are a great addition to any grill. They can also be planted early in the year. Make sure they stay consistently watered, and give them full access to the sun for optimal growth.

Okra: Another sun-loving plant, okra flourishes in hot weather—perfect for such a staple of southern cuisine. You can plant okra early in the year, but keep it inside until the end of June when the weather is warm enough to support its growth.

Tomatoes: Like okra, tomatoes can be planted inside and moved outside in consistently warm weather. These babies need hours of sun each day.

Basil:  It’s an annual herb that should be harvested regularly, so if you’re going to be out in the garden anyway thanks to the hot, sticky (I mean, delightfully warm) weather, why not pop some basil seeds in the ground? It’ll grow abundantly, and fresh basil is excellent on summer pasta dishes, cool salads, and classic Italian fares.

Dill: Did you know it’s actually a flower? Though it resembles Queen Anne's Lace, this flowering herb lends an excellent flavor to classic summer dishes like potato salad and fresh fish. Toss some into a bowl with some of your garden-grown cucumbers, a drizzle of olive oil, and some feta cheese for a refreshing side dish.

Cilantro: While cilantro requires some careful monitoring and clipping to keep hungry birds at bay, it’s a great summer herb with a distinct flavor for Mexican-inspired dishes and salsas.

Oregano: Like basil and cilantro, oregano thrives in hot weather and sunshine, making it an excellent choice for your summer herb garden. It’s also a versatile herb that can be used in everything from omelets to lasagna.

Rosemary: This classic herb also flourishes in heat and can be easily transplanted to larger pots, if needed. As an added bonus, it smells wonderful!

With a few complementary plants growing in your garden, you can put together full dishes without ever leaving your home. For instance, tomatoes, basil, and cucumbers chopped and mixed in a bowl make a bright, healthy salad. Add some fresh mozzarella and you’ve got a unique spin on the classic caprese salad.

Happy planting!