CHECK THIS: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU NEED FOR ALL YOUR FAMILY SUMMER FUN

 

{This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Banana Boat®. The opinions and text are all mine.}

 

Los Angeles is known around the world as a warm, always-sunny place.

We love living here, mostly because we are close to the beach, and Red Bear has LOVED the beach since he was born.  We spend a lot of our family weekend time at the beach, whether at Newport, Santa Monica, Venice, or Santa Barbara.  

What do we normally do at the beach? Well, we have found 5 fun family beach activities that actually don’t really require a lot of money or preparation. 

Let me share them all:

1. Build sandcastles. We have some little buckets and shovels that we sometimes remember to put in the trunk of the car, but if we don’t have them with us, we just use empty cups (making sure to trash them properly when we leave the beach) or just with our hands. Personally, I like use my hands to build sand-castles, it’s such a nice feeling to touch our earth in this way.  Once the castle is built, we like to watch to see if the waves will be able to defeat it. 
2. Walking dogs, meeting friends, or a kids’ play date! (Be sure to check the beach policy before you walk your dogs; only a few beaches in SoCal allow pets on them).
3.  Picnics on the beach. These take a little planning, because there is usually some wind on the beach, so we’re careful to bring just a few things to eat, and in heavier containers that won’t blow away — and that will keep the sand out as much as possible!  Of course, at the end, all the trash must be disposed of properly — Red Bear is a Cub Scout, and we abide by their rule, “If you pack it in, pack it out when you leave.” 
4. Walk along the beach and watch the sunset. Barefoot and hand in hand!  We might chase each other or race, too, if the beach is not too crowded.
5. Go swimming, and get some vitamin sea!  We all love to be in the water, and Red Bear likes to surf, so this is as good as it gets for us.

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Thanks to the beautiful weather here, where we enjoy lovely sunny days almost every day of every year ! Before Banana Boat® asked me to work with them and write this post, I already was a diligent user of sunscreen, and I have Banana Boat® Simply Protect™ Kids Sunscreen in each of our bathrooms, and inside each of our cars. I like that it is a spray sunscreen, and doesn’t feel oily like many creams do. Warmer days are here now, and we will get to enjoy all the fun outdoor activities more, so I really want to remind you to put sunscreen on yourself and on your little ones before all of the summer out-door fun. Sun protection is the most important thing you need during all of the family summer fun!

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We took these pictures on Venice Beach, CA, last weekend, when the weather hit 90 degrees F where we live.  Blue sky, sand, and water, together with sun — we had so much fun, and that always marks a great moment in my life. And, of course, I won’t leave my Banana Boat® Simply Protect™ Kids Sunscreen behind.  As you all know, it’s better to put on the sunscreen 15 minutes before you head out into the sun, and it’s always good to reapply the sunscreen every two hours, or immediately after swimming, sweating, or towel drying.  And if you didn’t know that before, you sure do now!  To apply this sunscreen to your face, always spray some on your hand, then apply it from the hand to the face.  We don’t want to take a chance of accidentally spraying anything in the eyes, do we?  The same thing goes for the kids, too, of course!

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What else do I love about this Banana Boat® Simply Protect™ Kids Sunscreen? It is free of oxybenzone, which could cause allergic reactions, and it is also free of parabens, which create environmental concerns when they are washed into water; this sunscreen also has no added oils or fragrances, which I like. It provides broad spectrum UBA/UVB protection with 25% fewer ingredients*. Another plus is that it is “tear free” for the kids, lightweight, and easy to rub into the skin. It’s also water-resistant, so it stays on longer than others! According to the brand’s website, it also stays on in 7 conditions – sun, pool water, ocean water, wind, sweat, sand, and even 100-F heat** (that has been my personal experience, too).

*by number vs. Banana Boat® Sport Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50+.

(**7 conditions does not apply to tanning or oil products, SPF 100 lotions, lip balms, Kids FREE and Zinc Faces.)

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You have seen me wearing hats and sunglasses a lot, but what you can’t see is that I also wear sunscreen even under my hat! And I love using this Banana Boat® Simply Protect™ Kids Sunscreen on myself, on my hubby, and my sister, too! That’s why we buy the big family size.

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I normally shop for my home care products at Walmart, including Banana Boat® products. You may use the Ibotta rebate offer for $1 off any Banana Boat® product (some exclusions apply). You can also check out this Banana Boat Summer Fun Pinterest board for summer fun inspiration with your kiddos!

 

 

“Children learn best through their everyday experiences with the people they love and trust, and when the learning is fun. And the best place for these experiences is outdoors, in the natural world.”

We thank Banana Boat® for kindly sponsoring this post, and thanks to all the Banana Boat® sunscreen products for giving us sun protection while we enjoy all of our summer outdoor fun!