Ask the Product Junkie: Self-Tanners, Take 2

Well, ladies, I've found two HG self-tanners! (and they are still on the market!!!!)

First is Neutrogena's Sun Fresh in Fair/Medium ($10 for 4 oz). Oh, what a find!

Scent: Billed as "grapefruit/nectarine", which I'm not so sure about, but I will tell you it's not at all like some of the other tanners I've used. Leaves a very faint tanner smell, so faint you'll be the only one to notice, and that's only if you sniff your own arm.

Color: Fab!!! Perfect for me- I'm very yellow and this looks so natural on me.

Texture and drying time: No complaints here- in fact, it dries very fast and is very smooth-able. I loved putting it on.

Con: The fact that you only get 4 oz for $10 bucks is definitely a draw back. I could see myself going through this tube very fast.

My most recent find is probably the best deal, bargain-wise. It's Loreal's Sublime Glow in Medium ($10 for 8 0z).

Scent: Just as good as the Sun Fresh above.

Color: A bit more brown than the Sun Fresh, but still a great color for me. As a bonus, there's a slight shimmery to this lotion. Now, it's not a "I'm going to the Prom in 1992" kind of shimmer, it's very pretty and really, you'll probably be only one who notices. But I like it.

Texture and drying time: Doesn't dry as fast as the Sun Fresh, but still dries nicely and isn't sticky once it's dried.

Verdict: I'll be using both- probably alternating.

Application tips: I start by applying a plain, unscented lotion (I use Cetaphil Lotion in the pump)to my elbows, knees, ankles, and tops of my feet. This keeps the color from grabbing too much in those areas. Then I slop the tanner on, starting with my arms and chest. I move down and do my lower legs and feet next, and then my thighs. I don't worry too much about my back and stomach. Who sees that anyway?

Two other tips: After I've done my arms, I get another squirt of Cetaphil lotion and rub it on the undersides of my arm and in the crook of my elbows- kind of to dilute the tanning lotion and blend it in there.

I also wash my hands when I'm done, and use a round cosmetic sponge to apply a drop of the lotion to the top of each hand.

Let me know if you try these and what you think!

Eureka!

I attended a Biting Workshop at Health Department last night, and it was beyond fabulous!!!!!!

In a nutshell, what they've found is that kids who bite are having trouble with sensory integration.

To help with that, they have discovered that if they pass out toothbrushes and have the children brush their teeth after breakfast, snacks, and lunch, they can reduce the biting by 85%!!!!! And for the children who are in that other 15%, if they are encouraged to brush every hour, they have a 98% success rate!!!!!

I talked to The Wild Child's teacher after my seminar (she was on her way into the provider version of the class) and this is definitely something we can try in her classroom. From what I understand, WC is not the only biter in the room.

Other suggestions from the seminar are to discontinue spill-proof cups and give more crunchy food to encourage the use of the back teeth. Basically, children who bite will benefit further development of their oral skills.

I am sure I said some of this wrong, cause I'm just an accountant, you know, and not a child development professional.

But I am so excited to have something to try and also to have confirmation that it's nothing that we've done (or haven't done) that is causing WC to have this behavior. Yay for me being a good mom after all!!!!!

Ebates Double Bonus Offer Again!!!!

Yay! Ebates is offering their Double Bonus Offer again, through May 31. If you sign up through my link, and make a purchase by May 31, we'll each get $10!

If you don't know about ebates, they offer rebates for doing your regular internet shopping through their site. They have Gap, Old Navy, Children's Place, Sephora, Snapfish, etc. I've gotten check from them totaling almost $400 over the past few years!

Click here if you would like to sign up. My referral email address is sasha2599[at]yahoo[dot]com.

Ask the Product Junkie: Eye Makeup Remover

Slim asked me the other day about eye makeup remover- she said she wasn't sure that she liked the Too Faced Lash Injection mascara because she was having trouble getting it off at the end of the day.

Turns out, she was using a different remover than me. I have been using the oil-free shake-up removers and they work great. Now, note that I also use a cotton round rather than a ball. Never had good luck with cotton balls.

Laurie (a Mary Kay consultant) left a comment a few weeks ago about her favorite remover, and I agree that it's a great product. I especially like that their bottle has a small opening that allows you to squeeze out just the amount you need rather than the wide opening that most of these type of removers have.

Now, the bargain shopper in me also needs to tell you about a cheaper version that I also like. You can typically find Neutrogena's version packed with two bottles together and sometimes you can even pair this find with a ECB deal at CVS- in fact, this week if you spend $15 on Neutrogena skin care, you get $5 ECB. Although it has the wider opening, I still like this product, especially at the price.

Anyway, using this type of remover will remove the fiber mascaras very well. Now, remember they come off differently. Your cotton round won't have black smeary stuff all over it, and you won't get black smear under your eyes. Instead, these mascaras come off in clumps- little balls of product. It's a much cleaner removal process that I just love.

More Notes From School

Notes sent home yesterday:


The Politician had to talk to the director in her office for calling his teacher stupid.


We are so happy to have The Wild Child back. She was so sweet to all her friends. She kept hugging her teacher Ms. Q and telling her she missed her.


Well, that's a reversal, now isn't it?

Maybe This Should Be My Motto

So you guys have heard about Randy Pausch, right? He's the Carnegie Mellon professor and father of three small children who was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and only given a short time to live. He was asked to give a "last lecture", which you can watch at the above link, and I guarantee you there is no way you won't shed a tear and be touched.

Something he said really spoke to me, and I hope that I can raise my children like this:

As a professor, I’ve seen how disruptive it can be for parents to have specific dreams for their children. My job is to help my kids foster a joy for life and develop the tools to fulfill their own wishes. My wishes for them are very exact and, given that I won’t be there, I want to be clear: Kids, don’t try to figure out what I wanted you to become. I want you to become what you want to become. And I want you to feel as if I am there with you, whatever path you choose.

Parade Magazine, April 6 2008, page 7

Dear Jennifer Garner,

You know I was one of your biggest fans when you were on Alias. And really, I still am. You just seem like you're a super-cool gal and you also seem to be a fab mom.

And when you go and say something like this, I'm still blown away by how down-to-earth and in-touch you are.

"My younger sister is my hero: She's a mom and an accountant for the state of West Virginia. She's able to juggle a job, kids, volunteer work and church, and she still manages to cook dinner every night without feeling bogged down. There are a lot of people out there who are literally heroic, but what she does counts too."

Glamour Magazine, December 2007, page 312 (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know that's not MLA)

San Antonio Report

Well, that trip just aged me 5 years. And I gained 4 pounds. But hell, we had a great time. Here's a wrap-up report:

• Number of times P asked "Are we there yet?" on the way there: 997
• Number of times we had to listen to the Wiggles CD on the way there: 2
• Number of times Mr. Sasha told P "No more Wiggles CD": 58
• Number of hours spent in the car on the way there: 7 or so
• Number of margaritas I had that first night on the riverwalk: 1 (but it was giant)
• Number of bathrooms in our VRBO rental: 1 (!)
• Number of bathtubs in our VRBO rental: 0
• Number of children given baths in the big kitchen sink: 1 (WC)
• Number of times we ate at the Mexican restaurant down the street from our rental: 2 (it was fabulous) (and it's 3 if you count Mr. Sasha's breakfast taco yesterday)
• Number of times WC fell and scraped up her knees: 5
• Number of band-aids she put on herself, me, and the girl behind us in line: 65
• Number of beers Mr. Sasha and I consumed at Sea World: a lot (and expect a whole blog post on that!)
• Number of hours the return home trip took: seemed like 10
• Number of my favorite stores I got to shop at on the way home: 2! (Coach and Ann Taylor outlets!)

And things WC said while in the car:

• I wanna go to San Antonio!
• I wanna go to Sea World!
• I want my shoes off!
• I want my shoes on!
• I don't want that!
• I want that!
• I wanna color!
• I want a snack!
• I want a drink!
• Momma!
• Momma!
• Momma!
• Momma!
• I'm wet!

P feeding the sea lions! He loved it and he insisted we do it again the next day. WC did not want any part of it.

Here is a pic of WC doing what she did most of the trip- run from us.

And here is a pic of her getting a little talkin' to. Doesn't Mr. Sasha look serious?

It was super fun and we will probably go back later this year.

Not sure if you noticed, but the moons were all aligned perfectly and I held my tongue just right and somehow managed to get my blog to re-direct to my own domain, http://www.sashasays.com/!

Unbelievable- and it only took me two tries! Mr. Sasha registered it for me a few years back but I never got around to using it. Now, the old link will still work too, but you are welcome to change your links or bookmarks- I think it has a nice ring to it!

I Can't Believe No One Ever Told Me

that they have beer at Sea World!!!!!!!

What the hell were we doing taking the kiddos to Silver Dollar City and Six Flags when we could have been taking them to Sea World all along? And drinking beer? Damn, who knew? If you knew and didn't tell me, I'm super pissed at you.

Does Disney serve beer? This may figure in to our vacation planning for next year.

Anyway, when I was attempting to get my 2nd beer of the day, they happened to be out of light beer. No big- I just went on about my way and headed over to get P some popcorn and frozen lemonade. All of the sudden Mr. Beer Guy was tapping me on the shoulder- he managed to get about 1/3 of a cup out of his tap and brought it over to me- free! I suppose he thought I needed it- the Wild Child was napping in the jogging stroller, and P was tagging along, looking beyond tired, and Mr. Sasha wasn't around as he was riding an adult ride by his lonesome, and I'm sure I looked out of control as usual. What a sweet beer guy- made my day!

More family fun to come tomorrow......

Ask the Product Junkie: Hershey's Bliss

Ash asks: I keep seeing these commercials for Hershey's Bliss. Have you tried them? You are the snack food/candy guru as well. Let us know if they are worth the $ :)

Ash, you are in luck! (And you can call me Sash, by the way!) CVS has them on special this week (2 bags for $4 after ECB) so I picked up a bag of the Milk Chocolate, and also the Milk Chocolate with a Meltaway Center on Sunday when I was doing the Huggies diaper deal.

Now, typically, I'm not a Hershey chocolate fan. I don't particularly care for their plain chocolate bar, and don't like their plain chocolate kisses. The chocolate just tastes "off" to me. However, I do like some of their specialty products, so I was glad to try these, all in the name of product review of course.

Simply put, love them! They melt fabulously in your mouth, if you can keep from biting into them, and they leave a wonderful taste behind. So go for it, Ash, I really think you'll like them!

Progress? Maybe?

WC has been asking about going to school- and we've been telling her she can go back after she stops biting. She'll say, "OK".

I had to take her with me yesterday when I picked up The Politician, and his class was on the playground. WC's class was out there too, and her teacher came up to us and started crying, so upset that WC wasn't in school this week because of her behavior. It's been the talk of the school, I believe.

Wow. Such drama at such a young age. More to come, I am sure.

Our Pet Piranha

is home today with her DeDe.

Mr. Sasha said she stuck her bottom lip out this AM when he told her she wasn't going to school, looked upset for 1/2 a second, then went and found her Elmo book and said "Read it to me!"

Yeah, cross your fingers that time with grandparents and mom and dad without Bubba around doesn't turn out to be The Most Fun Ever.

Sorry, no lylas from me today. I'm kinda meh. I mean, I do love ya, just don't feel pink and swirly right now.....

For Holly: Target Liquid Dispensing System

I love this so much that I will actually pass on the of convenience of CVS's drive thru pharmacy and drag my two ornery kids smack dab in the middle of Target to pick my liquid meds up since I heart their liquid dispensing system so much.

See the pic above? There is this little insert in the bottle that allows you to insert your dosing syringe, flip it over, pull out just how much you need, flip the bottle back up, and voila! No mess!!!!!!

And if you ask super nice and bat your eyes a bit, they will even give you the inserts for your OTC meds like Motrin and Sudafed!!!!!!! Oh, it rocks. Best thing ever, and I totally should have thought of it.

Well, Crap

The Wild Child bite someone today. On the face. Left a huge bite mark, even though it didn't break the skin. I imagine the parents freaked out when they got their to pick up their child.

So Mr. Sasha and I have made the decision to suspend her from school for a week ourselves. I am trying to call the director to tell her what we've decided, but she doesn't seem to have call waiting.... "I'm sorry that line is busy..."

Anyway, this is unacceptable behavior and we've got to do something radical. Six months ago and I would have freaked out about her being out of school for a week, but it's time for something BIG. Between my parents, Mr. Sasha's parents and sister, and the planned vacation we have for next Thursday and Friday, we've got next week covered.

Hopefully the school and the parents of the child/children she's been biting will appreciate our efforts. And most of all, hopefully it will break the cycle.

I think she'll be crushed Monday when The Politician goes to school and she doesn't. That's exactly what we are going for.

Cross your fingers it works......

Effective Discipline Method Found!

Yesterday, The Wild Child did a little chomping, but that led her teacher to find AN EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE METHOD for her!!!! Yay!

Nose in the corner. She hates it, cries, and it totally hits home that she did something wrong! I am now going to be using this method at home to be consistent. Trust me, there will be plenty of opportunities. I talked with her teacher this AM and she thinks we have struck gold. Relief is washing over me and maybe I'm not the worst mom ever, we just had not yet discovered what was effective with The Wild Child.

By the way, another photobucket steal above- people, if you don't want your photos thieved, make your photobucket account private! That's a message to you, a-1tilemom!

So Who Am I?

Christen writes: okay maybe i missed something.... how are you such an expert in makeup? I am def trying the two faced products! Sounds fab! :)

Christen, I am definitely not an expert, by any stretch of the imagination. I am a product junkie, however, and if you are wondering about a new product, there's a good chance I have tried it and have an opinion on it! Let me know what you think about the Two Faced products!

Here's the little bio blurb I wrote for A Million Little Glosses, the beauty blog I contribute to:

I'm 34 and grew up and still live in the Southwest, where it was pretty much all the rage to bake your skin (face and all) to a nice crispy dark brown shade every summer! As a result, I suffer from some sun damage, and of course some wrinkles, which may or may not have something to do with wearing contacts since 4th grade.

I have naturally light brown hair that I highlight the hell out of. Blue eyes. My skin is pretty combo and can have some dry patches from time to time. I'd describe my skin color as PDP (pretty damn pale).

I like a natural look but love to experiment with vivid lip colors and am partial to rosy stains with sparkly gloss on top.

I'm a self-professed product junkie. If it's new and pretty, I'll buy it.

Phew, Wed was a Good Day

Well, we gave The Wild Child some Motrin yesterday because she is cutting her top two year molars, and I am looking for something to blame the biting on.

Whether that was the reason, I don't know, but she had a fabulous day and didn't bite at all!

We are continuing the Motrin today too for good measure.

Plus the assistant director loves it when I brings meds with the Target dispensing system in it. Why didn't I invent that?????

Ask the Product Junkie: Tinted Moisturizer

sweet-seventeen writes: Oh, it would be so awesome if you could recommend a good tinted moisturizer. My skin tends to be sensitive, especially to new products on it, and I have no clue which ones are the best and which ones will make me break out or get shiny. (If it helps, I'm PDP, too. lol.) Thank you!

You betcha.

One of my long-time faves (probably 15 years!) has been Clinique's Almost Makeup ($19.50). Sheer, lightweight, non-oily, this is pretty fabulous. I have relatively sensitive skin, and never experienced breakouts or extra oil while using this product.

It even has an SPF of 15.

I have always purchased the Light, which used to be the lightest shade- but it looks like they have even more colors available now so I'd probably stop by a counter and see what shade works best before I purchase again. If you can time your purchase with a GWP (gift with purchase), even better!

Application is super easy- I typically use a damp sponge. However, I have recently been using a damp foundation brush and like that as well and it seems more sanitary.

Another tinted moisturizer I recently discovered is Stila's Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer ($32). It's become my weekend staple and I love love love this product. It's perfect for the PDP!

Even better, it's available as part of the above Best of Stila Set, which is a $120.50 value for only $40 at Ulta. For just $8 more, you get five more products! Well worth it.

I Am Failing

Note from school:

The Wild Child was playing with another child in the playroom under the slide and bit the child on the head above her right ear. No other children were affected. The Wild Child sat in the corner, was told not to bite her friends, and apologized.

Also, right after I was discussing this with her teacher, The Politician said, "Momma, I ate some moon sand today, so I'll probably throw up tonight."

Uncle.

Dear Bret Michaels,

Listen, why don't you just admit that Heather is your perfect match and call off the show? You know it, I know it, everybody in my office knows it, and even Ambre and Daisy and Destiny know it.

Now, I'm sure you are contractually obligated to continue the show with VH1, and yes, it's fabulously trashtastic. But we all know you and Heather have a thing going on, and basically she's your perfect match.

Now that the writer's strike is over and my other faves like The Office (and Greek!!!!) are coming back, I've got less time for fake trash TV. Just wanted to make sure you knew that.