No More Tears...50 Years!

Did you know that Johnson & Johnson has been giving tear-free baths for fifty years now?! From sterile bandages to Baby Powder they've been producing the things that improve our lives since the late 1800's. I was surprised, actually, at some of the brands that I didn't realize were under their umbrella; Neutrogena and Splenda being two of them.

I was excited to sign up when MomCentral offered the chance to try two new bath products from Johnson and Johnson in conjucntion with their celebration of a half-century of the No Tears trademark. JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE® Foaming Wash and JOHNSON'S® Baby Bubble Bath & Wash arrived in the mail today, just in time for me to give C his first bubble bath...he loved it! The Foaming Wash is soap-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested, and is specially designed for newborns. This is great for the dry, dry, dry winter months! I like having a pump because, especially when they're tiny, I like being able to use only one hand to deal with the soap (by using your palm to pump and curving your fingers over to get the soap) and the other hand can be holding your baby the whole time. Until they can sit up really well, it's nice to be able to have that extra hand free.

H is always up for bubbles, so he didn't need any convincing. After lathering them up and rinsing off, it was time for the real fun.

Thinking about childhood bathtimes, I remember the frosted glass sliders being soaped down at 'the gas station' by my sister and I and crazy hairstyles created with the soapy water that made us look like Snorks. My mom wasn't too impressed with us liberally rubbing soap on the shower doors, but she also didn't make us stop because we were having so much fun. The game-ender was always when my mom's bar of Ivory soap fell in the water making all the suds disappear.

I was a teen-ager when my oldest sister had her first child, and we got to bathe Jess in the bathroom or kitchen sink using that yellow bottle of No Tears wash. As an adult, I bought the Johnson's lavender scented body oil and use it in the dry months on my skin after showering at night, and I currently have a bottle of their Soothing Naturals lotion in my gym bag.

There is a great video library on YouTube at the Johnson Baby Channel with 'expert advice and real-life solutions.' You not only get to watch videos, but you can submit videos of your own to share fun tips you've figured out regarding the 'care and keeping' of your little ones.

For a great product line: Here's to the next 50 years!

Green Works Wipes WORK!

I've been finding that I look more and more forward to the blog tours I do for MomCentral which provide me with 'samples' of something to test. This is for a couple of reasons, one of which is they always provide full size products, so I get to try it, love it, and use it again.

I was recently given a canister of Clorox Green Works wipes. I'd already reviewed some of their other cleaning products, which my own dear daddy went out and bought after seeing my review, and really liked them. In fact, Target recently had a two pack of the glass and surface cleaner on sale for less than $5, so you can bet your sweet bippy I snapped them up!

Since these wipes are advertised to clean multiple surfaces, I decided to put them to the test, using them on two of the most heavily used areas of my home; the stove-top and the outside of the toilet in H's bathroom (remember, he's potty training...)

I used a damp (hand-knit cotton) dishcloth to get the crumbs and chunks off the stove-top, but then use a wipe only (no spray of cleaner) and just two wipes completely cleaned the baked on spills from the stove-top, streaks from the oven door, grime off the handle and the spatters along the panel on the back as well as the microwave front. I was pretty impressed.

Then in the bathroom, I used a wipe in lieu of cleaner and a cloth on the sink and counter (this bathroom gets used for hand washing and H brushing his teeth; my sink on the other hand...yikes!) I used a second wipe to clean around the entire outside of the toilet bowl. Mmmm...my job is so glamorous!

I was really pleased with the job that it did on both a black metal cook-top and white porcelain bathroom sink and toilet. The only downside I see is that there are just 30 wipes per container. However, you don't have to use very many to do a pretty decent job, and it's not priced to break the bank. Next, I'll be trying the toilet bowl cleaner!

Aside from the cleaning products, I like that the company putting it's money where it's mouth is, literally, through their "Green Heroes Grant Program." Five grants of $10,000 each will be awarded to eco-friendly community projects across the country.

Between January 15 and February 28, 2009, individuals can nominate eco-friendly community projects for a Green Heroes grant by submitting a photo and short essay about the project for consideration online at www.greenworkscleaners.com/greenhero. Each winner - or "Green Hero" - will receive a $10,000 grant to help their eco-friendly community projects grow and flourish!

Then, beginning on March 16 through April 10, 2009, the public will have the opportunity to vote online for their favorite eco-friendly community project. The final five Green Heroes will be announced on April 22 - just in time for Earth Day.

For more information about the Green Heroes Grant Program, including official contest rules and entry guidelines, log on to www.greenworkscleaners.com/greenhero.