Disclosure: I received a sample in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
D and n like to go swimming at our community pool on a regular basis. Although they are diligent about putting on sunscreen, I found a line of products that provides another literal layer of protection: UV Skinz. UV Skinz specializes in swimwear, clothing and accessories that provide “built-in” 50+ UPF sun protection that blocks 98% of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays.
The founder of UV Skinz lost her husband to skin cancer when he was 32 years old. She is now committed to educating and promoting sun safety through her company.
I was quite impressed with the quality of this swim shirt. The fabric is thicker than other swim shirts we have bought, and the seams look and feel very durable.
I purposely ordered a size up in the hopes that he will be able to wear the swim shirt next year as well. At first, I thought it looked pretty small for size 14, but there is some room to grow.
n said the swim shirt was comfortable to wear in and out of the water. He has had other swim shirts that really stretch out when wet, but he did not have that issue with this shirt.
Based on our experience, I would highly recommend UV Skinz. It is reassuring to have extra protection when out in the sun.
Where to Purchase UV Skinz
UV Skinz products are available for purchase on the UV Skinz website. They offer free shipping on all US orders. UV Skinz has swimwear and clothing for the whole family, in sizes from 3 months to 4XL! I really like the sun hats, which also provide UV protection.
UV Skinz Giveaway
A big thank you to UV Skinz, for providing a $50 gift certificate to their online shop for one of my readers. Enter the giveaway below!
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Probably like many others, our family is still spending a lot of time at home. Board games are always a fun option to keep everyone entertained. Winning Moves has some of the best games on the market.
Large Print Tile Lock Scrabble makes significant improvements on the classic Scrabble game. First, the board and tiles are much larger, which makes it easier to read. Second, each tile has its own compartment, which “locks” the tile in place. No more tiles sliding around. Third, the board has a turntable function, which makes it easy to spin so that players do not have to try to look at the board from an awkward position.
Large Print Tile Lock Scrabble is for 2-4 players, and is recommended for ages 8 and up.
Pass The Pigs
Although Pass the Pigs has been around for more than 25 years, it is a new game for our family. The game involves rolling the pigs like dice and adding up points depending on the pigs’ position when they land.
I like how all of the game components fit into the compact dice cup. This game will not take up much room on your game shelf!
Pass the Pigs is easy to learn and recommended for kids ages 7 and up. Have your kids add up the points and they can get some extra math practice in at the same time!
Here are some more details about our two-night stay at Pineknot Campground near Big Bear Lake. This campground is actually located at the base of Snow Summit ski resort. We made reservations online ahead of time. There is no one to check you in at the entrance, so we drove directly to our reserved site. At around 8:30 at night, we were all in the tent talking, and we heard a voice call out asking “Are you in there?” We thought the question was directed towards someone else, but n yelled back to be funny. Then a flashlight beamed on and off in our tent, so I sent D out to see what was going on. It turns out the camp host had been looking for us to officially check us in. He claimed we were not there, even when he saw our car at the site. Hmm…
As you can see, the sites are pretty large. This was site 31, which was nice because we only had neighbors on one side. The bathroom was just the right distance, too. Not too close, and not too far. (There are no shower facilities).
I had read multiple reviews that commented how well this campground was maintained. Unfortunately, that did not seem to be the case when we were there. The trash dumpster that was near us was at-capacity during our entire stay. I would say that the bathrooms were in the bottom third in terms of cleanliness/pleasantness of all the campgrounds we have stayed at. You know it is bad when you are seeking bathrooms in the grocery store just so you can avoid one trip to the one at your campground.
Breakfast at Dank Donuts
Our current car is a small sedan, so we did not have any room for camp cooking equipment. This meant eating out, which was fine with us! We stopped for breakfast at Dank Donuts. We ordered coffee for D, split two breakfast burritos, and three donuts.
You know how we love our breakfast burritos! It was premade, and kept in a warmer, but it was still very tasty. The accompanying salsa made it even better (not shown). Also, not sure why I did not take a picture of the donuts, but they were good as well. Someone needs to try the croissants and tell me how they are. They were HUGE! We ate our breakfast on the side of the road before our morning hike.
Castle Rock Trail
I wanted to hike Castle Rock Trail early in the morning, both to beat the crowds and to avoid the heat of the day. It is also best to go early because parking can be precarious. There is no lot, so you are parking on a busy curvy mountain road with no sidewalks. The trail itself is 2.4 miles round trip and is classified as intermediate/difficult. As we were returning to our car, someone asked D if the trail was suitable for strollers, and I would say definitely not! It is quite steep and rocky in places, and quite a workout.
This crazy guy had already woken up early and gone running before our strenuous hike.
Our arrival to Castle Rock was anti-climatic, as we did not even know we had reached it! We saw some rocks, but was not sure it was our final destination, so we kept on hiking. It was only after some time of not seeing many other hikers that we realized we had already passed it.
By this time, our energy and enthusiasm was running low, and the sun was warming up.
Woodland Interpretive Trail
Here’s a story for you: We recuperated with a picnic lunch at a local park, and then I convinced everyone to go on one last hike on the Woodland Interpretive Trail. We were trying to find parking, so I directed D to park on the side of the road where we saw a bunch of other cars parked. Unfortunately, we ended up getting stuck in sand! Our tires were spinning, but our car would not move-doh! I got out of the car to inspect the situation, and it felt like everyone was looking at our predicament, shaking their heads. Fortunately, two kind strangers (who were friends with each other) ended up helping D push our car while I put the car in reverse. I was so relieved that the situation did not end up being worse!! We ended up finding out that there was a whole parking lot dedicated to the trail, and parking was plentiful. (A national forest parking permit was required, but we had purchased one ahead of time for $5 at the nearby 7-11).
I would like to say that the 1.5 mi Woodland Trail was worth all of that, but in the end it was just too warm to be enjoyable. This was the only picture I took! I think it would be a good trail for younger kids in cooler weather, however. There are sixteen markers with an accompanying map that explains interesting natural features of the trail.
Dinner at Tropicali
For dinner, we treated ourselves to Tropicali. I heard about this place on Yelp, where they have a crazy amount of five star reviews.
We placed our order inside and ate on the back patio. I think the customer service is what sets this place apart. It is so over-the-top friendly, with a surfer dude vibe. Even though we had to stifle our laughter a bit at the corniness of it all, I can see why people appreciate the atmosphere.
The food was excellent, as well. We ordered three ahi tuna poke bowls and a chicken bowl for variety.
Post-Dinner Activities
We tend to eat dinner really early, and vacation is no exception. We had some time to kill back at our campsite, so we took a little walk around the neighborhood. D had seen some impressive homes on his morning run, so he showed some of them to us.
Pretty crazy, right?
n was bored, so he came up with a his own outdoor version of the game Mancala. I thought it was quite ingenious.
We tried to see Comet Neowise at night, but there were too many trees blocking our view, and I think it was too late in the month. Although the temperature dipped down to the 40’s, we stayed warm in our tent. We returned home the next morning in need of a shower. However, it’s these kinds of trips that I know will stay with our family forever.
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
Spending time outdoors definitely has its benefits. It is good for the body, mind and soul. However, precautions need to be taken when you are exposed to the elements. All Terrain is a company that is dedicated to providing products that provide natural protection.
All Terrain Herbal Armor DEET-Free Natural Insect Repellant
When you are near a body of water like a lake, mosquitoes and other insects are just a fact of life. I was a bit leary of spending a lot of time near Big Bear Lake, as everyone in my family has experienced some pretty nasty bug bites in the past. We prepared ourselves by generously applying the All Terrain Herbal Armor Natural Insect Repellant generously to our arms and legs. The active ingredients include soybean oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, lemongrass oil and geranium oil. I felt better about using an insect repellant with these natural ingredients rather than questionable chemicals. While there is definitely a strong scent, it is not unpleasant. Despite seeing and hearing several insects during our hikes and at the campground, we all survived the trip without any bug bites!
All Terrain KidSport SPF 45 Sunscreen Lotion
The weather in Big Bear was somewhere in the low to mid 80’s, and there was very little cloud cover. We did several hikes, and I made sure to have everyone to apply liberal amounts of sunscreen. Even though the All Terrain KidSport SPF 45 Lotion is obviously geared towards kids, my entire family tried it out. This sunscreen is oxybenzone and fragrance-free and is water resistant for 80 minutes. The SPF 45 was effective in protecting us from sunburns and did not leave a greasy film like some other sunscreens. I was definitely glad to have this on hand during our trip!
Where to Purchase All Terrain Products + Discount Code
All Terrain products can be purchased through the All Terrain Online Store. Use discount code ATLL083120 for 20% off your purchase, valid until August 31, 2020! In addition to natural insect repellent and sunscreen, All Terrain also carries itch relief products, bandages, topical first aid products, soaps and hand sanitizer. They have everything you need to be prepared for spending time outdoors.
All Terrain Insect Repellant and Sunscreen Giveaway
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
In my constant quest to find natural products to use inside and outside the home, I came across Charlie’s Soap. This company is dedicated to the following motto: “Live Green. Deep Clean.” I appreciate that Charlie’s Soap products contain only biodegradable and hypo-allergenic ingredients both for my family’s health and the environment.
Charlie’s Soap sent us their Natural Laundry Liquid Detergent, Oxygen Bleach and Indoor & Outdoor Surface Cleaner to try out in our home.
Charlie’s Soap Laundry Products
Welcome to the not-so-glamorous laundry space in our garage! I don’t think our blog has ever gone here before-ha!
At first, I was surprised that this small bottle of laundry detergent could do 50 loads! The amount needed is just a small capful. I liked that this detergent is unscented as I personally find strong-smelling detergents to be off-putting. This liquid detergent is also a lot less “gloppy” than other detergents I have used, so there is no messy residue left in the cap. Overall, I was pleased with the cleaning capability of this detergent.
In the past, I have been weary of using bleach with my laundry. Let’s just say I have had some bad experiences in the past. However, I do have a lot of white towels and sheets, so I know that laundry products with bleach could be my friend. Charlie’s Soap Oxygen Bleach comes in a powder form that can be added to your load of laundry. It does not contain chlorine, nor does it contain any perfumes or dyes. I was quite pleased with how my whites came out whiter, all without any harsh chemicals.
Charlie’s Soap Indoor & Outdoor Surface Cleaner
I have to admit, cleaning outdoor surfaces is not on the top of my to-do list. It was not difficult for me to think of places in my backyard where I could try out Charlie’s Soap Indoor & Outdoor Surface Cleaner.
The application could not be simpler. I sprayed the cleaner onto the surface I wanted to clean and waited the recommended thirty minutes. I used a brush to scrub the dirt off and used a hose to rinse it down.
I was impressed with the results. This stain had been there for a long time. I think if I repeated the process again, it would look even better! Charlie’s Soap Indoor & Outdoor Cleaner does not contain any abrasives, perfumes, phosphates, bleach, lye or dyes. The bottle says this cleaner can be used for cars, boats, bikes, driveways, siding, walls, pets, hands, engines, grills, and furniture. The cleaning possibilities seem endless!
Where to Purchase Charlie’s Soap
Charlie’s Soap products can be purchased through their website, or at a store near you. I was actually surprised to see that this brand is available at several stores where I shop. I will need to pay more attention to the shelves the next time I am shopping for cleaning supplies.
Charlie’s Soap Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win Charlie’s Soap Natural Laundry Liquid Detergent, Oxygen Bleach and Indoor & Outdoor Surface Cleaner!
One week ago, we went on a two-night camping trip in Big Bear Lake, CA. Since school starts in less than two weeks, this was our last hurrah of summer.
It takes about two hours to drive to Big Bear from Orange County. There are a lot of switchbacks up the mountain, but thankfully D drove and I did not get carsick this time.
Boulder Bay Park
Our first stop was Boulder Bay Park. This park, located on the south side of the lake, is quite popular. We arrived around 11 a.m. on Sunday morning and the small parking lot was full. There were cars parked all along the street, despite “No Parking” signs. Acting like lemmings, we took our chances and did the same. (We sat at a bench within viewing distance of our car in case we saw someone starting to issue tickets). Our picnic lunch on a bench consisted of sandwiches, chips, carrots and drinks. The weather was SO pleasant with a slight breeze coming off of the lake. There was fertilizer on the grass, so I would not recommend sitting on the ground right now. I would also note that there is also a well-maintained restroom near the parking lot.
Big Bear City Hall-Happy Hills Trail
Next on our agenda was to do the short (.2 mi each way) Happy Hills Trail hike behind Big Bear City Hall. Since it was the weekend, the large parking lot was empty.
The City Hall building looks nice and new and has beautiful landscaping.
The trail itself was not crowded at all. I think we saw one other party of two the whole time we were there.
This pile of boulders made for some good picture-taking opportunities.
n reminded me of a mountain goat scrambling up these rocks.
This Happy Hills “hike” is more of a walk, and could be done even with little ones in tow.
Big Bear Lake Village
It was still a little early to check into our campground, so we made a stop at Big Bear Lake Village. This cute shopping district has a lot of dining options as well.
Some of the streets were blocked off to cars, which I believe was due to Covid. This allowed some of the restaurants to offer expanded outdoor dining options. It made for a nice pedestrian experience. I was very impressed by the number of people who were wearing masks in the Village.
Since it was starting to warm up, we were yearning for a cool treat.
It was a difficult choice since there were so many options, but we settled on a mix of passionfruit and lemon gelato. The passionfruit was tart and creamy, while the lemon tasted more like sorbet.
D ordered a milk green tea with boba, half-sweet. This did not taste like the boba milk tea we are used to. D saw them brew the tea with a real tea bag, so they do not rely on powder mixes. It definitely had more of a tea taste, and was not very sweet at all. If we had been there when it was cold, I am sure n would have loved one of their outrageous hot chocolate creations.
We did not go into any of the stores, but just walked around and did a little window shopping.
Pineknot Campground
I will go into more specifics about the Pineknot Campground in my next Big Bear post. We found our campsite without any problem and set up our tent. Then we had some time of R & R.
Pizza in Big Bear
For dinner we ordered pizza at Saucy Mama’s back in The Village.
Unfortunately, we were not very impressed with this pizza. First of all, there was WAY too much cheese. Second of all, the dough was extremely uneven, paper-thin in the middle and a thick outer crust. This made the pizza impossible to eat, with all of the cheese and toppings sliding off. D was also displeased with the lackluster service that just seemed like a bunch of younger people who did not really care about their job. This place does have a lot of positive reviews, so maybe we just caught them during a mid-summer slump.
Stanfield Marsh Wildlife and Waterfowl Habitat Park
There is a nice boardwalk that lets you walk near the marsh. (Tip, once the first boardwalk ends, keep walking and you will find another boardwalk if you want to extend your walk).
We were able to see some birds off in the distance.
At the end of our walk, we also saw a large pelican take off from the water (no picture though).
We went back to the campground and had a good night’s sleep. I will write about our next day later this week.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Learning about how to handle money is an essential life lesson that kids and teens need. The following book review is written by my thirteen year old daughter:
The Money Challenge for Teens, by Art Rainer, is a finance book with a Christian perspective that teaches you how to start managing your money early by giving, saving, and spending wisely. The book’s topics vary from giving to your local church to saving for retirement as a teenager. The book is divided into 3 sections: Give Generously, Save Wisely, and Live Appropriately. Sometimes it can be hard to know where to start when you begin to handle money. This book solves that problem by giving you steps that you can take in order to have a successful money system in the future. In addition, there are 30 helpful and varied money challenges for you to complete. These challenges range from reading and reflecting on a specific Bible verse to opening a checking account. In every chapter, there are interesting and relatable fiction stories and personal insights from the author. The most interesting part in the book for me was the way Rainer describes debt. He shows how dangerous it can be and how it can negatively affect your future. The Money Challenge for Teens would be a great read for both boys and girls that are around 13-15 years old. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
Disclosure: I received a preview copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Like many people, I bought an electric pressure cooker a few years ago. Traditional pressure cookers seemed a little intimidating, but electric pressure cookers are simple to use. While I like that using the electric pressure cookers is a time-saver, I do not think I am using it to its maximum potential. As I am always on the look-out for new pressure cooker recipes to try, The Electric Pressure Cooker Soup Cookbook sounded interesting. The author, Karen Lee Young, is a popular food blogger at The Tasty Bite. I think it is so exciting when bloggers cross over to the “book world”!
Soups are a food that truly nourish the soul. This book offers an incredible array of different types of soup recipes, ranging from Old-Fashioned Chicken Soup to Oaxacan-Inspired Barbacoa Soup. It was difficult to pick a recipe to try out first, but I decided to go with Chicken Parmesan Soup.
Chicken Parmesan Soup
First, I gathered up the ingredients. This particular recipe uses rotisserie chicken, so that is a time-saver in itself.
The directions were clear and easy to follow. I used the Saute function to cook the onions and garlic in a little olive oil first.
Next, I just dumped in all of the other ingredients and stirred to combine.
I set my pressure cooker to 5 minutes on Manual mode.
When the timer went off, I did a quick release of the steam vent and stirred in some mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
I went with the author’s suggestion and served the Chicken Parmesan Soup with some garlic bread and a salad. Everyone in my family enjoyed this hearty soup! I like how you can prep the ingredients ahead of time and then let the pressure cooker do the work. I think the next recipe I want to try will be the Thai-Inspired Red Curry Chicken Noodle Soup.
The Electric Pressure Cooker Soup Cookbook also has options for gluten and dairy-free, vegan, and freezable soups you can enjoy later. It will be officially released on August 11, but you can check it out here.
The Electric Pressure Cooker Soup Cookbook Giveaway
Disclosure: I received a sample in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
I was so excited to hear that the July 2020 Kawaii Box theme was “Sanrio Summer Splash”. Sanrio characters bring back special childhood memories for me. Their cuteness has stood the test of time! Take a look at all of the goodness included in this Kawaii Box.
Gudetama Custard Biscuits
Are you familiar with Gudetama, the “lazy egg”? The detailed drawings on these simple cookies are so cute!
Sanrio Die-Cut Letter Set
My Melody used to be my sister’s favorite Sanrio character. This letter set is perfect for sending a sweet note to someone. Let’s bring back the art of letter-writing!
Munching Pudgy Hamster Pen
Cute writing utensils are my weakness.
Japanese Motif Washi Tape
Add some flair to your mail with pretty washi tape.
Sanrio Characters Sticky Notes
These Pompompurin sticky notes bring back me way back. He was one of my favorite characters. How can you not love a dog who likes to eat pudding? This set of sticky notes fit perfectly in a planner.
Hello Kitty Strawberry Jelly Marshmallows
The strawberry jelly filling really sets these Hello Kitty marshmallows apart.
Sanrio Character Socks
These Little Twin Stars socks are my favorite item in this month’s box!
Sanrio Soft Plushie Purse
This is a plushie, coin purse and bag charm all-in-one!
How to Order a Kawaii Box
To subscribe to Kawaii Box, sign up here. There are 1 month, 6 month and 12 month plans available. A box of cuteness will be delivered to your doorstep.
Kawaii Box Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a Kawaii Box!
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
I think everyone knows by now that applying sunscreen before going outside is essential to protect your skin from UV rays. However, it is also important to consider the ingredients in the sunscreen that you use.
Olita skincare products are all-natural and organic, which also makes them environmentally-friendly. Olita sent us some of their skincare products, and our family put them to the test.
Olita Organic Mineral Sunstick
I really like the idea of the Olita Organic Mineral Sunstick, which is sunscreen in a “stick” form. It is less messy than lotion and the small, TSA-approved size makes it so easy to toss into your bag. I received both the Coco Bronze and Light Tan Tints.
These sticks are SPF 30, last 80 minutes and are water resistant. They are fragrance free and zinc oxide is the only active ingredient. They leave a nice subtle sheen to the skin when applied instead of obvious white streaks.
Olita Kids Mineral Sunstick
Olita also makes a Kids Mineral Sunstick that offers SPF 30 protection. It is the perfect way to apply sunscreen to smaller areas such as your face, neck and ears. The small tube also makes it easy to carry along on a hike for reapplication.
Our family spent a lot of time hiking in the mountains this past weekend, and I am happy to report that we all ended the trip sunburn-free.
Olita Hydrating Body Oil
Olita Hydrating Body Oil is a spray for those days when you receive a little too much sun or just want to feel refreshed. It contains natural ingredients such as coconut oil and aloe. I was happy to try out the Soothing Citrus since grapefruit is one of my favorite scents!
Where to Purchase Olita Skincare
Olita Skincare products can be purchased through the Olita online shop.
Olita Sunscreen Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to receive the products I reviewed: 2 Olita Organic Mineral Sunsticks, Olita Kids Mineral Sunstick and Olita Hydrating Body Oil!
