When I was contacted about doing a review of Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunscreen, I jumped at the chance. I have been using Neutrogena products since I was a teenager. Face soaps, moisturizer, hand and body lotion – the whole line – so I already know how good their products are. I am a white girl. This may come as a shock to you all, but it’s true. As my boo, Britt would say, I’m “white as daylight”.  I glow in the dark, literally, no radiation needed. I do not tan, I burn. I have had many horrible sunburns in my life. Some so bad that I could not go to school the next day because I couldn’t wear clothes. I have blistered and peeled more times than I can count.

Why? Because I’m a fish and love to swim or be at the beach. And apparently sunscreen wasn’t invented until I was hitting puberty. Until then people used suntan oil. Yes, oil. If you were fancy, you got Tropical Sun or something. If you weren’t, you used straight baby oil. My Mom’s best friend used almond oil. She said it made her skin both softer and browner. She would get so dark in the Summer, that you couldn’t see her in the dark. I’m not kidding. She wore a white crocheted bikini to show off her tan better.

But I digress. Again.

I didn’t start using SPF 15 until I was about fifteen years old. I think that’s when it became available. I’m forty now. As I said, I am a really white girl. The Diva has inherited my skin color. Though her Daddy is a Hispanic Mutt, he is not very dark and actually burns in the sun as well. Although not as quickly as I do. I can go from translucent to lobster red in .56 seconds. I am determined not to let Ro suffer the same way I did as a child. I put sunscreen on her daily, rain or shine. And I try to remember to put some on myself, as well. I do always have sunscreen on my face – it’s in my moisturizer. Although I do not go out in the sun much and will avoid it at all costs. I’m not a big fan of Summer. Where we live, once it gets hot, it stays hot until October and sometimes November. And not your run of the mill hot, either. We’re talking sustained stretches of 100+ degree heat.

We have no central air conditioning. It’s miserable. And yes, that was a ploy for sympathy and the mercy of someone to get me adequate cooling. Or a house that has it. Yeah, that’s the ticket.

We used the Wet Skin Kids Sunblock Spray SPF 70+. It has Helioplex® Technology, applies to wet or dry skin, is sweat proof, waterproof, oil-free, PABA-free and has a continuous spray. It is also hypoallergenic. The sunscreen is easy to apply, even on wet skin, but has a thicker consistency than the other sprays I have used. The Diva says it’s stinky but I didn’t smell anything too odoriferous. It is not good for the face, though, and burned her eyes for a significant amount of time, even after being washed and wiped with water. I followed the directions and sprayed the sunscreen into my hands to apply to her face, but it did not matter. The burning commenced just as soon as my fingers left her face.

I like that it can be sprayed over wet skin and still be effective. It saves time and keeps kids who want to play from getting frustrated about having to dry off, have the sunscreen applied and then wait until it dries before resuming their water activities.

You can see by the video how easy it is to apply on wet skin and how well the can sprays. You will need to wash your hands after application as they feel sticky, but overall, this is a good product.

If you would like to try this product for yourself, you can get a coupon when you buy online and save $2 on all sunscreen products.

Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunscreen is a post from: Last Shreds Of Sanity | Blog Designer | California Mom Blog

Have you heard about the World’s Greatest TV Dad contest hosted on ManOfTheHouse.com? This contest pits our favorite TV dads against each other head to head competition and it’s your votes that will crown the all time greatest TV Dad. It’s really quite fun and since June 19th is Father’s Day, what better way to get in the groove than a contest to see who is the best loved TV dad? I grew up in the 80′s, a time when family sitcoms were still pushing boundaries and the remnants of the hippie era were the ones in charge of programming. The 80′s were a rare mix of  burgeoning acceptance of everyone, Women’s lib still thinking they had to be militant to get heard, women wearing power suits with giant shoulder pads – essentially what a man would wear to the office if he was a woman – and aging hippies coming to the realization that they had now become part of the establishment they fought so hard against a few years before. A prime example of art imitating life is the character Steven Keaton {played by Michael Gross} from Family Ties:

He and his wife were full on peace and love hippies in the 60′s who settled down, got married {very establishment}, had three kids and got real jobs. They went to UC Berkley where Elyse became an architect {creative, but still an establishment career} and Steven became the manager of a public TV station, WKS-TV in Ohio {less of an establishment career, but still}. Their children, for the most part, did not embrace their parents’ liberal, hippie ways. Alex was über conservative, Mallory was materialism at it’s finest and the youngest, Jennifer, was just your average tom-boy…until puberty hit. And it was a great show.

See? I told you that former hippies were in charge of programming in the 80′s. I had a great dad. He was not perfect but he was pretty awesome. Sadly, he died of cancer in November of 1992. I still miss him to this day. I hate that The Diva will never know him. He was a really cool Granddad as well. It makes me very sad that she cannot have the same experience with her Grandpa that my brother’s son did. But my husband does a pretty good job as the fun, silly dad, although, he is sometimes far more lenient than I allow. We are working on that. So who is it? Who do you think should win? The character of Steven Keaton showed America that it was OK for a man to show emotions and be loving to his kids. I liked that and that is why he is my choice for World’s Greatest TV Dad. Go vote. A lot. It’s very fun.

Who Is The World’s Greatest TV Dad? is a post from: Last Shreds Of Sanity | Blog Designer | California Mom Blog

Check out my Whrrl for Vitamin Finder at Stater Bros. Markets.

Vitamin Finder At Stater Bros. Markets is a post from: Last Shreds Of Sanity | Blog Designer | California Mom Blog

This Sunday, February 27th, we are going to see the Imagination Movers in San Diego! The Diva is so excited. I mean jumping around the house excited. She cannot wait. Is it sad that I am excited as well? I haven’t been to a concert since we went to see Social Distortion in 2006. And no, Miss Ro did not go with us. She was babysat by Auntie Carol who had a grand time with her niece. She even gave her a bath. Of course, Ro was not quite a year old then…

As you can tell, I don’t get out much. We had the choice of going to one of the “In A Big Warehouse” shows in LA or San Diego. Since we live between those two counties, we chose the closest one, which also turns out to be one of my favorite towns. I love San Diego, specifically Oceanside. It’s just a beautiful place. I love the beaches. And they are just so laid back there. It’s a nice change of pace for me.

Ok, back to the show details….

If you would like to go to the San Diego show here is address of the theater::

February 27, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Spreckels Theatre
121 Broadway # 600
San Diego , CA 92101

This will only be the third time we have ever taken The Diva to a show/theater, so we’ll see how she does. The first time was for Disney On Ice at the end of 2009. She did pretty well, considering she was only four and she was freezing her butt off. The second time was a few weeks ago when we took her to the walk-in theater to see Tangled. She did so well! And we all loved the movie. Normally when we see a movie, we go to the drive-in so that Miss Ro’s eccentricities can be contained and we don’t end up bugging anyone else. Yes, we still have drive-ins out here and yes, some still have the speaker you hang on your window. It will be very interesting to see how she does at a kids’ concert. Hopefully the theater lets me take pictures and video inside so I can do a proper review of the show.

Don’t know who the Imagination Movers are? Watch the video below and enjoy!

Want to take your young’uns to a show? Check out the concert schedule at their website.

We’re Going To See The Imagination Movers! is a post from: Last Shreds Of Sanity | Blog Designer | California Mom Blog

What’s In Santa’s Sleigh today? Oh, you all are going to love this…

What’s In Santa’s Sleigh?: NOVICA.com Alpaca Wool Poncho Review is a post from: Last Shreds Of Sanity | Blog Designer | California Mom Blog

This was supposed to be the WAT-AAH! Summer Challenge, but…I’m a little late with this one. I’ve been busy. I do have an actual life away from this blog with responsibilities and a 4 year old with a teenage sized attitude. Besides, out here in SoCal, Mother Nature has a serious case of PMS and cannot decide whether it is Summer or Autumn. One day it’s 90*, the next it’s cold and Fall-ish. Our nights are dipping into the low 40′s. The weather forecast now says it will be 83* the day before Thanksgiving!!

OY!

Good God, woman, go get yourself some Midol and fix your weather problem, it’s really annoying us peasants down here on the big blue marble. Or do you need some hormones? You are at that age, after all.

But I digress.

Now before all of you in areas where it is freezing cold and snowing already get your knickers in a knot over my complaints about our unseasonably warm weather in November, realize that our Summers start in late April/early May and we have regular long stretches of 100+ degree days…we have no central air. This video review was filmed on our 11 year wedding anniversary and it was 108*.

Sorry, I digressed. Again.

WAT-AAH! is now doing a Fall Challenge, so this still counts. And I’m not all that late. Summer just ended here…sort of.

There I go digressing again…

WAT-AAH! Flavored water is fabulous. Anything that can get The Diva to beg for more after only a few sips is queen in my book. The Diva is, shall we say, particular. She wants what she wants, when she wants it. And NOTHING will change her mind. Well except threatening to call Santa and tell him she is not behaving. That works pretty nicely. However, I fear it’s effectiveness will not last long. The Diva is extremely smart; she’ll figure it out all too soon. *sigh*

From the WAT-AAH! Press Release:

WAT-AAH! is the first 100% sugar-free, functional beverage brand designed especially for kids. This summer, WAT-AAH! is challenging you and your families to stay away from the unhealthy, sugar-laden beverages and to DRINK MORE WAT-AAH!

You may already be familiar with “The WAT-AAH! Challenge.” During the months of March and April, our spunky little brand convinced 9 out of 10 kids (1,072) from all over the country to choose water over the sugary sodas and juices. Mom bloggers, families, and school teachers posted their results via video clips and photographs on http://wat-aahchallenge.blogspot.com.

Why WAT-AAH!? Water is simply the key to true, healthy hydration. WAT-AAH! is ultra-pure water containing the right amount of essential minerals to fortify and maintain children’s health (www.wat-aah.com). WAT-AAH!’s mission is to reverse the established behavior and dependency on sweetened drinks among America’s children, and ultimately help fight the battle against childhood obesity and to teach kids that healthy bodies can be obtained through healthy hydration.

I highly recommend WAT-AHH! Flavored waters. They are quite good. My Husband really liked them as well. And even I, the pickiest person in the known universe, liked this water. What are you waiting for? It’s available at some Whole Foods Markets and Amazon.com. Please check the WAT-AAH! site to find a retailer near you. Sadly, we have no local stores that carry WAT-AAH! Go get some for your kids and yourselves. You will not regret it.

We Took The WAT-AAH! Summer/Fall Challenge And We ROCKED It!! is a post from: Last Shreds Of Sanity | Blog Designer | California Mom Blog

Do you always forget about a friend’s birthday until the night before? And they live in another state? Ever gotten ready to go to a baptism, graduation or anniversary party and realize you forgot to pick up a card? Well, I have the solution!

Have you heard of GotFreeECards.com? They are this really cool site that lets you send greeting cards FOR FREEEEEEEE!! Really. No joke. No hidden agendas. No “you must participate in this sponsored offer first” things. Just free cards. And they are nice cards, too . Not like the other free card sites where the graphics are terrible, the sentiment is not so great and they tease you with the really thoughtful, pretty cards if you would only pay $9.99/month. Nope not here.

They even have FREE printable cards. How cool is that? No running to the store at the last minute to get your Honey or child a birthday card, just print it right from your computer. You can even make personalized photo cards! This site is AWESOME!

I’m a SAHM, so I rarely get to get out of the house, much less go by myself. So being able to shop for just the right card for that special occasion that you almost forgot about is amazing for me. Plus it’s FREEEEEEE!!!!

You all need to go check out GotFreeECards.com. Look around. Stay a while. Get out your calendar and pick out a card for every birthday, holiday, and special event you have listed through the end of the year. Upload a photo of the kids and send it to the Grandparents. Pick a “just because” card and email it to you Husband at work. I just sent an “I miss you” card to a friend I haven’t heard from in a while. I am hoping she will get it and be so touched that she at least emails me. I did it all from my PC and it was all free.

Come on, what do you have to lose?

WOW! Free E-Cards To Send When You Forget A Birthday…. is a post from: Last Shreds Of Sanity | Blog Designer | California Mom Blog

Just after I started my blog, I asked a friend of mine from a chat room I go to (a big MUAH to all my RickChat friends!) if he would take a look at my site & tell me what he thought. He is a real internet dude & has a few of his own sites & blogs, so I figured he might be able to give me some good advice on how to bring in traffic to my bloggy blog & how to make some money from it as well.

He liked my site, but said I had a lot of competition out there & that I needed to have really good content & give information to my readers. Basically, he said don’t just be another crazy mommy blogger. He also suggested that I review something. I had no idea at the time what useful information I would have to give my visitors nor any clue what I could possibly critique that would be of interest to anyone out there in the blogosphere.

After pondering on this for a while, and knowing full well that I am not going to have a merchant just offer me nifty products to review, neither do I have the disposable cash to buy any cool new items to play around with, I have come up with the following, something I do, in fact, have a very strong opinion on…

Do not buy these, they suck the Big Kahuna. They do not fit well nor do they contain any bodily fluids as stated on the package.

Pull~Ups leak & will leave your child with pee running down their leg and onto the floor in the middle of Wal~Mart.

The “easy open sides” are pretty cool, though. Of course, this is the only positive thing I can say about this product.

Buy these. They don’t suck.

Pampers Easy Ups are awesome! They fit well & perform the way the company says they will. There are only three drawbacks for me:

1) if your child has a poopy butt, then you have to rip open the sides of the training pant in order to keep from getting dookie all over your young’un’s heiney & clothing.

2) They only come with Dora the Explorer on them. That is a problem for us because my Husband’s youngest niece looked just like Dora (she even had the same haircut! LOL) when she was a toddler/preschooler. Now, every time we see a Dora product, we say “Look it’s Cousin Makayla!” Consequently, our daughter now says the same thing when she sees Dora.

3) The “feel and learn liner” does not phase The Diva, at all. And yes, we are still trying to get her completely potty trained. She is being stubborn. (I wonder where she gets that from??)

So there is my first “product analysis”. I hope it was helpful.

Pampers Easy~Ups vs. Huggies Pull~Ups: A Review…Of Sorts is a post from: Last Shreds Of Sanity | Blog Designer | California Mom Blog