Other Reviews of Trusted House Sitters

Meeting the pet sitters in person or over a video call really helped me feel comfortable about the person I was entrusting to care for my animals and home. And you can read tons of reviews on TrustPilot.com. Here are a couple reviews that felt like a good reflection of our family's experience:

Marta says

---

The pets stay in their familiar place while the sitters get to experience new destinations at no charge. It is a win for everyone. I like that TrustSitters.com verifies sitters' credentials, posts reviews, and clearly showcases the expectations.

Helen says

---

We have now had six pet and house sitters using this service, all have been different, and all of them 5 stars. Our most recent trip was a long one (7 weeks), and the constant communication and photos really helped me feel everything was okay at home.

The post Reviews of Trusted House Sitters: Pros and Cons for Families Traveling appeared first on Lies About Parenting.

have you heard of cognitive dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a person holds two or more conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or values, and experiences mental discomfort or tension as a result.

In the context of alcohol, cognitive dissonance may arise when someone knows that alcohol consumption is harmful to their health or well-being, but continues to drink despite this knowledge. Yes, even one glass (stay with me).

To reduce the discomfort caused by the conflict between their behavior and beliefs, you rationalize the drinking by minimizing the risks or emphasizing the benefits, such as socializing or stress relief. This can lead to a cycle of denial and self-justification, making it harder to change drinking habits even if you want to. 

Even if it's "just one drink." Because it's not.

And your kids are watching. No judgement, just fact.

Discuss Alcohol With Your Tween or Avoid It?

Ugh, the hypocrisy of the conversation and actions around alcohol. The truth is that what we tell our kids about alcohol and what we do around alcohol are too often polar opposites. 

This is bad for you, as we sip our craft beer. 

Drinking and driving will kill someone. "Okay, I'll just have a bit more."

As I explored having more honest conversations with my daughter around the topics of alcohol and drinking, it quickly became obvious that the whole strict-parent do-as-say-not-as-I-do thing wouldn’t cut it. 

She could sense the appeal alcohol held for adults.

So I started pointing out the double standards of drinking — to myself! 

And then I started pointing them out to her. 

In passing, not in any big-talk kind of way, but just when it came up. My tween would giggle and, if she continued the conversation, off we went.

A Few Double Standards Of Drinking You Can Point Out To Your Child About Alcohol

• Driving past an all-day happy hour sign, I’d wonder aloud why they call it happy hour when alcohol is a depressant (yes, even just one).
• Seeing another parent drink too much, I'd mention it at home later. "Wow, Anna's dad drank too much tonight! It happens sometimes but it's weird, right?" (The relief that I noticed was obvious.)
• A mention that: Did you know alcohol is made from ethanol, which is what we fuel our cars with? I'm basically drinking gas when I drink wine (or any alcohol), which is really gross when you think about it. 

Baby Steps To Big Discussions

Laughing makes it so much easier to discuss alcohol with your tween. And pointing out the double standards around drinking alcohol allow us to more deeply explore our perceptions and beliefs around the culture of drinking.

This isn't just about them — it's about us, too.

8 Conversation Starters To discuss Alcohol With Your Child

Here are 9 double-standards you can point out as you start to discuss alcohol with your tween. Just casually mention it.

Driving by an ad with alcohol in it or walking past a restaurant advertising happy hour is always a great time to bring it up!

Why Do We drink it when it tastes bad? 

It's like voluntarily drinking the sweat of a gym sock. Alcohol actually tastes pretty awful. So much so we had to train our bodies to like it way back when we first started drinking. [Note: This where my tween gasped and exclaimed, "But you LOVE wine!" — ouch] But I had to teach myself to like it. No one puts this kind of effort into liking brussel sprouts. No one.

Why is alcohol EVERYWHERE?

It's like an all-knowing overlord that we pour out our problems to. If we're happy, we pour a drink. If we're sad, we pour a drink. If we're bored, we pour a drink. If we're overworked, we pour a drink. If we're upset, we pour a drink. Isn't that kind of weird? It's like alcohol is more important than the feelings sometimes.

We pay to poison ourselves?!

 When we drink alcohol, we knowingly ingest poison. AND PAY FOR THE PRIVILEGE. Think about that. We choose to put a toxin in our body, closely related to fuel, that causes cancer, and adults happily pay to do it. Imagine if I handed you a drink and told you it would make your brain work slower and your body feel awful. How mad would you be if I then asked for payment for it!? Sheesh.

Do WE Need Alcohol To Socialize?

Many people feel like they need a drink to loosen up and have fun in social situations. But is that really true? Are grown-ups unable to enjoy life without alcohol? It's like we need liquid courage to be ourselves, like we're some kind of social superheroes who can only fly when drunk. I wonder how people who don't drink feel about socializing?

Why Do we Glamorize Alcohol?

Why do we glamorize alcohol in media and pop culture? From TV shows to movies to music, alcohol is often portrayed as cool, sophisticated, and glamorous. But in reality, drinking too much can have serious consequences and is rarely all that it's cracked up to be. It's like when you're trying to look cool by leaning against a wall, but you accidentally knock over a vase and everyone stares at you.

Are We being judgy?

We often make assumptions about people based on how much or how little they drink. But someone's drinking habits do not define their character or worth as a person. It's like judging a book by its cover, or a cake by its icing. You might be surprised by what's inside, so while it's not our job to judge, hopefully we can take some inspiration from what we like and don't like about drinkers in our lives.

Does everyone drink?

 I always assumed that everyone around me drank alcohol like I did, which can create pressure to conform to social norms. However, not everyone drinks (63% of adults in the U.S.A. do, according to Gallup) and it's important to respect that. It's like when you're the only one in a group who doesn't know the latest dance move, but you try to fake it anyway and end up looking like a flamingo on roller skates.

What are we like when drinking? 

When you discuss alcohol with your tween, ask them what adults are like when they're drinking, even just at dinner. The response is almost always, "Boring!" or, "Loud. All you do is talk." We are not nearly as witty and entertaining as the other drinkers have led us to believe.

Do It! Discuss Alcohol With Your Tween

Talking to your tween about alcohol can be a difficult conversation, but using humor and pointing out the double standards around drinking can help make the conversation easier and more engaging. 

Because they've already noticed the double standards around drinking if you drink around them. 

But by exploring the deeper reasons why we drink and the ways in which alcohol is often normalized and glamorized in our society, we can encourage our tweens to think critically about their own choices and develop healthier attitudes towards alcohol. 

And remember, by promoting honesty and openness around the topic of alcohol, we can help our tweens make informed decisions that will benefit their health and well-being in the long run.

Whether or not they choose to drink one day.

The post Discuss Alcohol With Your Tween: 8 Easy Conversation Starters appeared first on Lies About Parenting.

Is It Time For a Toy Cleanse?

Are you tired of tripping over toys or having too many toys in your home that your child doesn't even play with? Then it's time for a toy cleanse.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of toys your child has accumulated, it may be time for a toy cleanse. This process can help simplify your child's toy collection, making it easier for them to engage in deeper play and reducing clutter in your home. In this article, we'll walk you through the steps to do a toy cleanse, using the Simplicity Parenting Toy List as a guide.

Simplifying your child's toy collection, bedroom, and/or playroom doesn't require squirreling away toys when your kids aren't watching or yelling and screaming that there's too much stuff. (I've done both!) 

Once I discovered Simplicity Parenting and the Simplicity Parenting Toy List, I learned to reap the benefits of the Waldorf educational model that encourages children to explore and engage in imaginative play.  

After years of simply moving clutter around, a this toy cleanse provided me with a variety of multi-use toys that sparked imagination, deeper play, and a happier, healthier home.

Bonus: There is no more screaming about the house being a pigsty. 

I wrote the original toy cleanse article over five years, when my daughter was almost five years sold. In 2023, it was time for an update, and so this article was born. 

The page is new in 2023, but the information is not. This post contains the information about the original toy cleanse, with before and after photos, as well as a 2023 (five years later!) update. Enjoy!

A Step-By-Step Toy Cleanse Guide

Step 1: Explain the Toy Cleanse to Your Child

Sit down with your child and explain that you want to simplify their toy collection so they can enjoy their toys more and move around their room more easily. Assure them that you're not getting rid of everything, but rather, you'll be creating a list of their favorite toys to keep. This conversation is important as it helps your child feel involved in the process and less anxious about the changes.

Step 2: Create a List of Your Child's

Favorite Toys

Have your child make a list of their favorite toys. Do this away from any visible toys to avoid any impulse additions to the list. If your child is hesitant to make a list, prompt them by asking what their favorite toys are. The goal here is to have a concise list of toys that your child loves and plays with often.

Step 3. Promote thoughtful additions

to the toy list

Prompt your child to include some toys you know they love that might not be top of mind. These could include toys like building blocks, stuffed animals, musical instruments, and more. It's essential to be mindful of not including toys that they rarely play with. Remember that the goal here is to simplify and streamline their toy collection.

Step 4: Create a Toy List

The Simplicity Parenting Toy List is a great resource to help you determine what toys to keep. This list includes high-quality, open-ended toys that encourage imaginative play and creativity. The list is designed to help reduce clutter in your home, promote deeper play, and foster stronger connections between family members. The list includes items like dolls, dress-up clothes, musical instruments, and art supplies, among others.

Let us send you a copy of

The Toy Cleanse Planner Worksheet

plus the occasional life-changing parenting tip or trick! 

Send It!

Your personal info is locked up tight with us. We hate spam as much as you. Unsubscribe via the email that arrives at any time.

Step 5: Sort, Remove, and Store Toys

Once you have your list of toys, it's time to sort through your child's toy collection. Use black trash bags to sort through toys and reduce the risk of your child asking for a toy that has already been set aside. Place the toys that you're keeping in a box or bin, and store them out of sight. Make sure to keep them accessible, so your child can access them easily whenever they want to play.

Step 6: Donate Unwanted Toys

Rather than throwing away unwanted toys, consider donating them to a local charity or shelter. This not only helps declutter your home but also provides toys for children who may not have access to them otherwise. Remember to only donate toys that are in good condition and can be enjoyed by others.

Afraid You'll Miss The Toys?

Pro Tip!

If you're worried about permanently parting with stuff during a toy cleanse, box them up in stackable, opaque (not see-through) containers and store them away. Then you have them if you need them! 

The process of doing a toy cleanse can be overwhelming, but the benefits are worth it.

By simplifying your child's toy collection, you create a calmer and more intentional living space for your family.

And involving your child in the process and explaining why you're doing it, you can help them adjust to the changes and feel empowered in the decision-making process.

If you follow the steps outlined above, and you'll be well on your way to a simpler, more intentional home.

Final Thoughts On A Toy Cleanse

Involving your child in the process of purging their toys can be beneficial. Sit down with your child and explain that you want them to enjoy their things and move in their room. Then ask them to help you make a list of their favorite toys.

Be sure to do this away from any visible toys, so they don't add unnecessary items to the list. And encourage them to choose high-quality, fun items that allow them to engage in imaginative play.

By cleansing your home of excess toys, you can create a more intentional life for your family, where your child can engage in deeper play for longer periods of time.

After doing this for years, I can promise you that a toy cleanse every now and then makes life easier, calmer, and much more enjoyable!

Remember to keep only high-quality, fun items that allow your child to explore and engage in imaginative play. The Simplicity Parenting Toy List is an excellent resource that can help you and your child simplify your playroom and your life.

Ready to Start The Toy Cleanse?

Now that you know what a toy cleanse is, it's time to get started! 

• Get a copy of our Toy Cleanse Planner below, which helps you stay inspired and stick to your toy cleanse goals. 
• Check out the Simplicity Parenting Toy List if you're ready to shop. 
• Leave a comment about your toy cleanse! We'd love to hear about your experience. 

Let us send you a copy of

The Toy Cleanse Planner Worksheet

plus the occasional life-changing parenting tip or trick! 

Send It!

Your personal info is locked up tight with us. We hate spam as much as you. Unsubscribe via the email that arrives at any time.

The post How to Do a Toy Cleanse: A Step-by-Step Guide to Simplifying Your Child’s Toy Collection appeared first on Lies About Parenting.

Favorite Tween Jewelry Style From "Adult" Brands

Okay, so my tween personally scrolled through these with me and selected her favorites, both for her and her friends. I quickly saw a trend of delicate styles with a modern twist being the favorite.

Oh, and we try hard to be inclusive at LiesAboutParenting.com. While we talk about girl style, we simply mean that: style. Every tween deserves to wear what makes he, she, or they feel best. This is an inclusive space and we want you to know you are welcome here just as you are. XOXO 

LAP worked with Responsival agency and was compensated to review some of the jewelry in this post, but opinions are 100% honest and our own (if we don't like the product, we don't publish!).

Birthstone studs or drop earrings

Whether you choose studs or drop earrings (we're a fan of drops), her birthday will never change and birthstone jewelry is a solid bet. Again, aim for simple and delicate. We found these on Etsy and we love these drop birthstone earrings by Alex and Ani

Alex and Ani Birthstones Drop Earrings

Buy Now Our Review

on Amazon (they're geared towards teens and tweens). But the ones we are eying for ourselves are over at Aurate. Either pair will on trend and oh so sweet. Also check out Maison Miru, who make flat-backed nap earrings that are amazing! 

Animal earrings

Sloths sleeping on huggie hoops? YES, please! We have heart emoji eyes over here. These little guys are sure to make your 10 year old smile. The finish and delicate nature give them a timeless (not little kid) style. They're affordable and on Amazon. Check them out here.

Sloth Huggie Hoop Earrings 925 Sterling Silver

$31.99 $29.99

Buy Now Our Review

03/20/2026 12:21 am GMT

Our Favorite Earrings:  Jewelry For 10 Year Old Girl

Celestial Style

Whether you splurge on 14k gold huggies or stick to the more affordable (but just as pretty) gold vermeil, gold earrings will always be a hit. Stick with ones that are on the delicate, lighter side. Our favorites (I just ordered one!) are the gold and diamond pave moon earrings. You can get away with buying a single if your tween has a second piercing in one ear. There are tons of affordable options if you filter for gold vermeil. 

Shop Aurate.com

Harry Potter Forever

This book is timeless, and so are these Alex + Ani Harry Potter gold earrings on Amazon. As an adult, I often pull out a pair of earrings that were given to me as a tween to wear. They get more special with age. A simple gold or silver pair will be around for years to come. 

Alex and Ani Harry Potter Glasses Earrings

$47.50 $40.00

Buy Now Our Review

03/20/2026 12:22 am GMT

Check Them Out On Amazon

birthstone studs

Whether you choose studs or drop earrings (we're a fan of drops), her birthday will never change and birthstone jewelry is a solid bet. Again, aim for simple and delicate. We found these on Etsy and we love these drop birthstone earrings by Alex and Ani on Amazon (they're geared towards teens and tweens). The ones at Aurate are cute, too. Either pair will on trend forever. Also check out Maison Miru, who make flat-backed nap earrings that are amazing! 

Shop Alex + Ani on Amazon

Animal Earrings

Sloths sleeping on huggie hoops? YES, please! We have heart emoji eyes over here. These little guys are sure to make your 10 year old smile. The finish and delicate nature give them a timeless (not little kid) style. They're affordable and on Amazon. Check them out here.

Check Them Out On Amazon

The post Jewelry for 10 Year Old Girl (Gift Ideas!) appeared first on Lies About Parenting.

Frizzy hair solutions — girl, SIGH! I’ve spent every day of the the last twenty-five years thinking about thin frizzy hair and what could be done to smooth or fix it. That’s a quarter of a century of hating my hair and it’s finger-in-an-electric-socket look. 

Heads up: Affiliate links below. We believe and test everything we recommend and may earn a bit of dough at no additional cost to you.

Tried All These Thin Frizzy Hair Solutions?

• Supplements and diets
• No-poo (cleaning with rye flour)
• Low-poo (clean shampoos used sparingly)
• Co-condish (cleansing with conditioner)
• Quitting styling tools
• Transitioning to natural (wavy) hair & products
• Not dying your hair (let it 100% grow out)
• Dying your hair (color deposit to smooth the hair cuticle)
• Every mask and conditioner that promises smooth locks
• Olaplex treatments

Then keep reading, because I am so excited to be the one to introduce you to a life-changing DIY at-home smoothing hair treatment!!! 

Just want the DIY product?

Thin, Frizzy Hair, Meet Keratin Treatments

Frizzy hair solutions have failed to deliver what they promised me, too many times to count. The only thin frizzy hair smoothing treatment that has ever worked, until now, was the in-salon keratin smoothing treatments.

And honestly, if you can afford and don’t live by the ocean (salt kills keratin smoothers), stop reading. Just get yourself to a salon that offers the Keratin Complex Treatment and do that.

No, it’s not that Brazilian treatment that kills your hair. It’s a Keratin Smoothing Treatment.

Hear me out.

In-Salon Keratin Treatment (Option 1)

• The in-salon treatment keratin smoothing treatment I’m talking about does NOT take your natural curl away. It’s just a smoothing treatment.
• Yes, it’s crazy expensive, but maybe worth it if you spends hundreds a year searching for the magic potion that gets rid of frizzy hair. 
• It binds keratin to your hair so it’s smoother and shinier. And, you don’t have to wait to wash your hair after the treatment has been applied. 

I tried the Express treatment and it was great—while it lasted. It was supposed to last 4-6 weeks if you avoided salt and chloride. 

The Express treatment cost $150 + tip, not including cut, color, or styling. 

It was beautiful while it lasted, but my hair was back to its normal frizzy mess in about three weeks, so I couldn’t justify the cost. Nor was I springing for the full treatment at $250 for 10 weeks, knowing it would wash out sooner than expected.  

But I’m unwilling to shell out $150-350 + tip every four to ten weeks, so I had to find another way. 

So I went online, wondering if there was maybe an at-home treatment that would offer similar results. Like what I did for my rosacea problem. 

AND I FOUND ONE!

Meet Gussi: A DIY Thin Frizzy Hair Solution

Gussi is an at-home keratin smoothing treatment that works just as well as the in-salon one, in my experience. 

Full disclosure: I was SO stinking excited after trying Gussi that I contacted the company and joined their affiliate program. This is only the third time in my online “life” I’ve done that. So while I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you to help keep this website running, YOU get to use my link, get the kick-ass discount, and know I’m only recommending it because it literally changed my life!

A Real Before & After

I have been tricked far too many times by fancy photos of perfectly styled hair that’s been flat-ironed within an inch of its life. 

Seriously, your hair flat-ironed after a treatment is not what I want to see. What we need is before and after photos of air-dried hair.

Perfection is not what you’re going to see here. Below are some before-and-after Gussi treatment photos of my hair in its natural state. When you apply the treatment, you have to flat iron your hair, but I’m not showing it because my hair flat-ironed is nothing like it is dried naturally. 

Flat-ironed hair looks shiny, like normal hair, not the thin frizzy mess I have most of the time. 

The pictures show my hair air-dried. No hairdryer, flat iron, curling iron, or hair products. I will no have that JLo bounce, but the fact that I can regularly wear my hair down, even in the 90% humidity we’ve experienced all summer long?! Sold.

Verdict: I’m sold. Gussi works.

Gussi Before and after

Hair Before

My hair before my first Gussi at-home keratin hair treatment:

Note: I applied a toner treatment in-between these photos but that never changes the frizz factor. Just trying to keep it 100% honest.

…and after (air dried)

You guys, this stuff WORKS! It tamed my thin, frizzy hair into a manageable mane for weeks at a time! 

Why I’ll Keep Gussi

Okay, so here’s what really stands out about the Gussi at-home keratin smoothing treatment to me:

Humidity-proof

My hair doesn’t react to the humidity, not even the rain! Blew it dry in 89% humidity and wore it down. Girl, that is NEW. I’ve never been able to do that. 

KeePs Natural Curl

It didn’t take my curl away. The first time I applied it, my hair was definitely straighter than I like, but I went a little heavy on the product. Second time was a charm. Bouncy, frizz-free smoothness when using a round brush and hairdryer. No flatiron needed! 

Stink & Sting Free

Gussi treatments don’t smell, sting, or hurt me. There was a little tingle, but nothing like other products I’ve tried in the past. Yay!

Free Of The Nasties

No nasties! Gussi is formaldehyde-free, phthalate-free, gluten-free, and paraben-free. It’s also certified cruelty-free. I sound like an ad for them, but seriously, it’s just that good. 

Cost-Effective

With my thin hair, I get 2-3 treatments per bottle. That works out to $15-30/every 6-8 weeks (for me, anyway). Can’t beat that price.

Longlasting

The Gussi at-home keratin smoothing treatment ended up lasting me 8 weeks the first time. And that was during a humid, Deep South summer! Since then, I’m reapplying every 6 weeks or so. 

Pretty Quick Application

It me about an hour to apply Gussi from beginning to end. But the time I save blowdrying and styling my hair for the next 6 weeks makes it worth it! (And really, it’s no different than getting ready for a night out.) 

Thin Frizzy Hair Solutions That Work 

If you can afford the in-salon keratin treatments as regular part of your frizzy hair care routine, get yourself to your salon STAT. 

But if you’re like the rest of us, short on time and unwilling to spend thousands of dollars a year on fighting frizz, then grab discount code ASHLEY and head over to Gussi’s website to get you some. 

Seriously, Gussi as a frizzy hair solution is a game-changer. This at-home smoothing keratin treatments ensures I no longer have to guess at how my hair is going to react to the weather every day. Now, I just wash, maybe blow dry, and head out. If you have thin, frizzy hair like me, Gussi is a game-changer. 

I’m done searching for miracle products, masks, and treatments. I hope you are, too! 

Let me know in the comments if you enjoy it as much as I do! 

Gussi

Use this link or coupon code ASHLEY to snag 15% off!

Amazon

Gussi’s site ships super-fast, but Amazon has it too. Here’s the 2-piece set, or 4-piece set with shampoo & conditioner. 

The post Thin Frizzy Hair Solutions? Yes, Meet Your New BFFs! appeared first on Lies About Parenting.

Product Image	Product Name / Primary Rating / Price	Primary Button / Pros / Cons / Description
Best Full-Size	Nomadix Original Towel – Perfect for Beach, Pool, Travel, Camping, Yoga Primary Rating: 4.7 $39.95	Buy Now Pros: Quick drying Absorbs moisture Fun prints Cons: Some say they're a bit narrow Description: The Nomadix towels are our family's best towels for camping. Modern designs, nice weight but quick-dry, and they also make a smaller, super lightweight towels that has been perfect to stash in the car or use on the dog. Worth the investment!
Best Quick Dry	ECCOSOPHY Microfiber Beach Towel Primary Rating: 4.3 $35.24$27.59	Buy Now Pros: Super fast-drying Lightweight Quick-drying Cons: Wipes off moisture rather than absorbing it Description: The Eccosophy towels are actually two very lightweight layers of microfiber that are stitched together around the edge. It weighs almost nothing and has performed very well in all our testing. Personally, I prefer a bit more weight and the single layer of thicker microfiber that Tesalate and Nomadix offer, but my sister-in-law has taken this towel as her new favorite.
Best Lightweight	Nomadix Ultralight Towel: Melt Kingston Primary Rating: 4.4 $30.95	Buy Now Pros: Easily packable Lightweight Small is great for travel and on-the-go Cons: Less absorption than full-size version Description: Seriously, these Nomadix towels are the best. Simply hang them up, even covered in sand, and when dry, give it a good shake. EVERYTHING came off, every time. Which was necessary when camping with no washing machine for almost two weeks!
Kids & Pups!	ECCOSOPHY Kids Camping Towel & Pouch | Quick Dry & Sand Free Primary Rating: 4.1 $24.99	Get It Now Pros: Great size for kids, dogs, & travel 60"x30" Comes with storage pouch Super Quick-Dry Sand-free - just shake it out 10+ fun patterns to choose from Cons: None - we're impressed! Description: 60" x 30" with a storage pouch is perfect for kids and even the pups. 10+ cute patterns to choose from.

Best Full-Size

Nomadix Original Towel – Perfect for Beach, Pool, Travel, Camping, Yoga

Primary Rating:

4.7

$39.95

Buy Now

Pros:

• Quick drying
• Absorbs moisture
• Fun prints

Cons:

• Some say they're a bit narrow

Description:

The Nomadix towels are our family's best towels for camping. Modern designs, nice weight but quick-dry, and they also make a smaller, super lightweight towels that has been perfect to stash in the car or use on the dog. Worth the investment!

Best Quick Dry

ECCOSOPHY Microfiber Beach Towel

Primary Rating:

4.3

$35.24$27.59

Buy Now

Pros:

• Super fast-drying
• Lightweight
• Quick-drying

Cons:

• Wipes off moisture rather than absorbing it

Description:

The Eccosophy towels are actually two very lightweight layers of microfiber that are stitched together around the edge. It weighs almost nothing and has performed very well in all our testing. Personally, I prefer a bit more weight and the single layer of thicker microfiber that Tesalate and Nomadix offer, but my sister-in-law has taken this towel as her new favorite. 

Best Lightweight

Nomadix Ultralight Towel: Melt Kingston

Primary Rating:

4.4

$30.95

Buy Now

Pros:

• Easily packable
• Lightweight
• Small is great for travel and on-the-go

Cons:

• Less absorption than full-size version

Description:

Seriously, these Nomadix towels are the best. Simply hang them up, even covered in sand, and when dry, give it a good shake. EVERYTHING came off, every time. Which was necessary when camping with no washing machine for almost two weeks! 

Kids & Pups!

ECCOSOPHY Kids Camping Towel & Pouch | Quick Dry & Sand Free

Primary Rating:

4.1

$24.99

Get It Now

Pros:

• Great size for kids, dogs, & travel 60"x30"
• Comes with storage pouch
• Super Quick-Dry
• Sand-free - just shake it out
• 10+ fun patterns to choose from

Cons:

• None - we're impressed!

Description:

60" x 30" with a storage pouch is perfect for kids and even the pups. 10+ cute patterns to choose from.

03/04/2025 12:13 am GMT

Nomadix Original Towel

$27.13

Buy Now Our Review

03/20/2026 12:16 am GMT

Best Quick-Drying

ECCOSOPHY Camping Towel

$35.24 $27.59

Buy Now

03/04/2025 12:13 am GMT

Quality

So I'm picky about fabrics and this one just feels different. BUT that's because it is two very lightweight layers. If you like lighter clothes, this might be the one for you. The stitching and finishing is not super high-end, but we've been using it with no issues for months now. 

Softness

Eccosophy makes the softest towel of the bunch, no question. The type of fabric is more like shirting than car-towel chamois. Which is good if you're not getting soaking wet (lounging, not swimming). If you need towels to truly dry you off, go with one of the others. 

Ease of Use

This towel is super easy to stash in a bag and take with you. The two layers of fabric made me think it'll build up sand in between the layers, but so far that hasn't happened after being heavily used at the beach. It dries SUPER fast.  

Worth a mention: Tesalate Towels 

Tesalate sent me the towel for 2, which is a big square, and it is AWESOME. I use it as a sarong or spread it out by the lake and pool. It's heavier, but it's larger so, you know, science. This was such a close second to Nomadix but ultimately the size is just BIG. It's better for picnics and spreading out at the beach.

Get it on Tesalate's website.

The post Best Towels For Camping (Travel + Beach, Too!) appeared first on Lies About Parenting.

The post How To Talk About LGBTQ Awareness With Your Kids [+ Free Resources] appeared first on Lies About Parenting.

Is your rosacea caused by mites? The thought is so gross, isn’t it!? But there’s a good chance those tiny little critters living on your face — Demodex mites —  might be the reason for your rosacea. If you’re searching for the best rosacea treatment, you can stop the Google search spiral. 

Demodex mites live on everyone’s skin in small amounts, gobbling up bacteria and dead skin. In small numbers, they’re good, and you need them. But too many? Recent studies indicate an overgrowth of these facial mites is one of the primary causes of rosacea. 

The worst was the medical professionals I talked to had little to no idea that these pesky bugs are taking over so many faces! So today, I’m going to share how to quickly treat rosacea caused by mites – for about twenty bucks. 

No joke, and I’ll link to evidence-based research to prove it. 

The Root Cause of Rosacea

The root cause of rosacea is thought to be a dysfunction in your body’s immune system, which upsets the natural balance of your body and weakens your immune system. 

You can look and feel healthy on the outside, but what’s happening inside your body is what matters. A weakened immune system causes inflammation, an unhealthy gut biome, and vicious rosacea flares that worsen with time and age. 

Stress doesn’t help, either. 

Left untreated, it tends to worsen over time.

Google Gods of rosacea

[Rosacea is] A condition that causes redness and often small, red, pus-filled bumps on the face. Rosacea most commonly affects middle-aged women with fair skin. It can be mistaken for acne or other skin conditions. Key symptoms are facial redness with swollen red bumps and small visible blood vessels. Treatments such as antibiotics or anti-acne medications can control and reduce symptoms. Left untreated, it tends to worsen over time.

Getting Diagnosed With Rosacea

Over the past twenty years, my face went from smooth and clear as a baby’s bum to looking angry and old – mottled, dry, red, and crazy inflamed. My nose was the worst, sunburnt red all the time. 

In my teens and 20s, the redness only flared after a bout of heavy exercise — or alcohol consumption. As the years went on, my alcohol consumption increased to at least a glass or two a night, and the redness on my face grew worse.

Getting a facial before my wedding in 2018, my esthetician refused to perform a microdermabrasion I scheduled. She said my skin was too damaged to have sand shot across it. I was officially diagnosed with rosacea in my mid-30s, though I’d had it for years. 

Even quitting drinking didn’t help. It was too late. 

The search for a cure started. I’m a researcher by nature, so I went down the Google rabbit hole. There wasn’t much to find. A few years ago, the only treatments I could find were expensive and prescription only. The published studies and findings mainly were for treating rosacea flares, but I wanted to find treatment for the root cause, not just the symptoms. 

How I Was Told To Treat My Rosacea

Doctors, estheticians, and the very nice ladies at Ulta all suggested different ideas and treatments. I wanted a natural rosacea treatment, free of endocrine-disrupting hormones, which eliminated SOOO many brands. 

At various stages, professionals told me to:

• Use Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), which are usually plant-derived and gentle but effective.  
• Never use glycolic or salicylic acid (glycolic is an AHA! eye roll) as they’re too harsh.
• Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
• Cleanse with oil.
• Don’t cleanse with oil.
• Do a skin detox.
• Get laser therapy treatments.
• Go to a dermatologist for prescriptions.
• Live with it – there was nothing I could do about it.

What Rosacea Treatments (Sort Of) Worked

For years, I resisted spending hundreds of dollars on treatment. However, I’m sure I paid it anyway by constantly trying new makeup and skincare products. I oil cleansed for a long time, but I was constantly dehydrated, so my skin could handle it. Once I stopped drinking alcohol regularly, oil cleansing made me break out. 

Biossance cleansers and moisturizers worked and didn’t make me break out, but they also didn’t treat my redness from the Type I rosacea. Trying new products was tricky, and everything would cause my Type II rosacea acne to flare.

But when even my foundation started looking bad – getting cakey and showing dry spots off – I knew it was time to get professional help. 

Finally, in the spring of 2022, I caved and tried two Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL) treatments for rosacea. While two treatments helped a bit, it wasn’t enough to justify $250/session!

And then I found a paper on Demodex mites that changed my life — like I hope this one will for you! 

Rosacea Caused By Mites, For Real?

Yes, rosacea caused by Demodex mites is a real thing. If your body’s defense system is shot, it can’t fight off tiny little bugs taking over your face. Rosacea caused by mites worsens over time and never goes away on its own — unless you take control. 

But first, understand everyone has these mites (and a ton of other little bugs) on their faces. It’s normal. But too many lead to inflammation and bacteria build-up. 

Rosacea worsens over time. I’ve spent years hoping to wake up one morning with magically clear skin, but the opposite kept happening. My rosacea was getting worse, and I started developing a hive-like rash when I ate spicy foods or drank red wine. 

Which makes sense when you think about it. My immune and inflammatory systems were out of whack, largely due to my diet which included way too much sugar, alcohol, and high-histamine foods. 

This isn’t an article about cleaning up your diet, but consider this a big wake-up call that you need to cleanse your body to treat your face! Phoebe Lapine has excellent food and detox solutions on her website that you should check out.

How Do I Know If I Have Rosacea Caused By Mites

Okay, here it is — how can you tell if you have rosacea caused by mites? And caused means the symptoms showing, not the root cause, which is your immune system needs help.

The short answer is you don’t know if you have rosacea caused by mites. The only way to diagnose Demodex rosacea is to go to the doctor and have a skin sample put under a microscope to count the little buggers. 

BUT people with rosacea typically have ten to eighteen timesmore Demodex mites living on their faces than “normal” people. 

The chances are that if you have persistent facial redness, you have too many Demodex mites and their associated bacteria on your face. 

Here’s my before and after just one week of treatment:

What Does Rosacea Caused By Mites Look Like?

Okay, so what does rosacea caused by mites look like? Rosacea flares in so many different ways it can be hard to tell if it’s caused by mites or something else, like a reaction to skincare products, environment, or diet. 

Rosacea caused by mites often (NOT always):

• shows as redness spreading from the nose outwards
• look like you wore oversized sunglasses but forgot sunscreen
• can spread upwards between your eyebrows (they like the hair follicles by your eyebrows)
• often getting worse after sleeping, not better (mites are primarily nocturnal, who knew?!)
• never totally fades away
• can burn and sting
• makes your skin dry

Cheap & Effective Treatment For Rosacea Caused By Mites

Have you ever heard of Azelaic Acid? It’s an Alpha Hydroxy Acid that’s plant-derived. You put it on twice a day for a few weeks, and it helps kill the Demodex mites that cause rosacea flares. 

If you have rosacea symptoms, this simple treatment could change your life. My skin went from looking sunburnt all the time to clearer and smoother:

All because I finally figured out what was going on with my skin!!

Azelaic acid comes in a more potent prescription form. Still, this over-the-counter 10% azelaic acid treatment has worked for me. 

Here’s one I love from Amazon:

What To Expect As You Treat Demodex Rosacea

YOUR SKIN WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER. 

Let me repeat. 

YOUR SKIN WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

One more time.

YOUR SKIN WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

Here’s what happens. The azelaic acid kills the mites, but the little buggers spent a bunch of time gobbling up bacteria off your face. This bacteria gets released back into your skin as they die off, causing acne and crazy breakouts. So gross, but true. All this crap has to work its way out of your skin. 

How To Use Azelaic Acid and Niacinamide To Treat Rosacea Caused By Mites

Get yourself a bunch of these two things:

1.  Azelaic Acid 10% treatment (plant-derived acid)
2. Niacinamide serum (basically Vitamin B3)

Or get this one, which has everything you need in one serum! 

You only need the azelaic acid to treat rosacea caused by mites. Still, your skin’s natural moisture barrier is likely compromised at this point, too. Putting niacinamide on before the azelaic acid (or with it, if you buy the all-in-one) helps repair your skin’s defense system.

How I Apply Azelaic Acid

I apply the suspension morning and night to clean skin, then pat moisturizer on top twice a day. 

Some people have to work up to this, but you know your skin. You can always start by applying a few times a week, then gradually increase. You’re an adult – make intelligent choices for your skin. My skin had no problem with the twice-daily application, in the morning and night. 

If you can only apply it once daily, do it at night! Otherwise, morning and night. You’ll likely need to moisturize on top of it. I love this moisturizer with probiotics in it from Biossance.

How To Tell Your Demodex Rosacea Treatment Is Working 

Be sure to do a patch test first! 

Once you start applying the product, expect your skin to get worse. Seriously, it’s awful, but it’s all the gunk working its way out. At first, I thought I was reacting to the products. Still, after about a week, the acne and the generally sad state of my skin started drastically improving. 

Acne and comedones (bumps on the skin you can’t see) will occur in areas where you’re prone to breaking out. Suppose you start getting a ton of acne or rashes where you don’t typically breakout. You might be having a reaction, or the product is too strong, and you need to apply less frequently. 

The redness started to fade after the first few days of treatment, and I noticed a vast improvement after one week. It can take a month to clear your skin of all the dead mites that caused your rosacea flares, so be patient. It’s worth it! 

People on Reddit in the rosacea forum are obsessed with azelaic acid. Reddit is an excellent place to go if you want to hear more first-hand accounts of treating rosacea caused by mites. Finacea is the Rx version of azelaic acid. Another commonly used treatment is ivermectin (yeah, the horse dewormer of COVID-19 fame), but it’s prescription only. 

July 2022 Update

Clearing the demodex mites with azelaic acid definitely helped jumpstart the rosacea recovery but I did notice I maxed on out results. I’m currently testing a histamine-restricted diet to see if that will do the trick. My point: This is a multi-layered process for many people. Try the acid and then you can at least eliminate or fix the demodex mite issue! 

Azelaic Acid Effectively Treats Rosacea Caused By Mites

If you don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on rosacea doctors, lasers, and prescriptions, consider giving azelaic acid and niacinamide a try! Too many Demodex mites are a leading cause of rosacea flares. Still, you can diminish the symptoms with over-the-counter azelaic acid. 

Remember, rosacea’s root cause is believed to be dysfunction in your immune and inflammatory systems. It’s worth trying out a low FODMAP or an elimination diet to see if certain foods like onion, dairy, and white flour are triggering your rosacea flares.

But the fact remains that rosacea sufferers have ten to eighteen times the usual amount of Demodex mites on their faces. If you have rosacea, azelaic acid may be an excellent treatment option. 

Be sure to patch test and talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your rosacea. As the mites die off, your skin will worsen before you see any improvement. It can take up to a month! If you decide to try azelaic acid to treat rosacea caused by mites, let us know how it goes in the comments below! 

The post Is Your Rosacea Caused By Mites? +What To Do About It appeared first on Lies About Parenting.

How do you review a book you have no business reviewing? A Guide To Crushing Girlhood: Feminist AF, by Drs. Brittney Cooper, Chanel Craft Tanner, and Susanna Morris is one of a growing collection of girl empowerment books that offers raw honesty and complete support for Black teen girls and their allies. The inclusivity of this feminist book for teens makes it suitable for every teen (and body!) who is questioning societal norms and the patriarchy. 

But as a feminist — and BIPOC, trans, queer, disabled, and nonbinary ally — I jumped at the chance to check out this feminist book for teens. 

Teens, Am I Right?!

Initially, I planned to get a few teenage feminists to help me with some real-life feedback. It would be a breeze to post a review with their help. 

“This teen feminist think it’s great!” sounds a lot better than, “This old white mom thinks….”

But not one single teenager followed through on helping me out in time for the deadline. And why should they? Why should the cis white woman (aka me) get a free ride? Not because they weren’t interested in the book or subject, but simply because I timed it wrong – school started, COVID surged, life got crazy with the holidays. The usual.

Oh, and they’re not my kids — so I couldn’t make them.

Which had me reading this intersectional feminist book geared towards marginalized feminist teenagers and their allies cover to cover. And yes, I would have read it anyway, but now my words have more weight in this review. This is what I was trying to avoid —giving white words weight on a subject where we could benefit far more by sitting down and shutting up. 

But so much of the advice and insight in this book applies to me. Decades of being told to play nice, stay skinny, look like a model, do more, be more, give more. These tropes are as ingrained in my psyche as they are in capitalistic patriarchal communities worldwide. 

The bottom line is I love it and highly recommend it — both for yourself and your feminist or feminist-ally teen. Let’s just hope I don’t screw up explaining why. 

Hey! If any of the words you’ve read have you confused, we’ve all been there. Honestly, don’t worry. You’re here, exploring a subject you probably never expected to be learning about, and you’re doing your best to help a teenager you know. High-fives all around! The first step into anything new is always a bit scary. So just keep going and know you’re doing the right thing. You got this! 

If your teen:

• Rails against white guys (or guys in charge) but doesn’t seem to have the right words to explain why
• Believe in #BlackLivesMatter and is interested in social justice
• Is questioning the outsized role that men (mainly white) play in society

Then this book, A Guide To Crushing Girlhood: Feminist AF, is for them. 

While it’s definitely written for and to Black teen girls, this girls empowerment book openly welcomes everybody who supports feminism and gender/identity freedom. Trans, queer, nonbinary, BIPOC, white – this book care who you are as long as you support freedom and feminism. The authors are clear that white supremacy, colorism, and the capitalistic patriarchy are all repressive means of keeping women and marginalized societies and people from being equal.  

Suppose your teen needs a feminist teen book and understands that not everyone is treated equally. In that case, this book offers excellent insights, knowledge, and inspiration for walking a path towards body positivity and freedom. 

Sidebar! You might be wondering: Black is capitalized, white is not. Why? Read why the Associated Press updated its guidelines around capitalizing ethnicities. To sum it up, it’s because Black people have a shared history of discrimination AND culture, whereas white people, well, don’t. And capitalizing the W in white just screams White Supremacy (<— see what I did with that capitalization there? It matters.) Capitalize the ‘B,’ not the ‘w.’ Moving on.

Give Me More Details

A Guide To Crushing Girlhood: Feminist AF is a girls empowerment book, part of a growing collection of feminist books for teens that focuses on introducing profound concepts surrounding identity and feminism in a connective, we-got-your-back way. 

Drs. Cooper, Craft Tanner, and Morris wrote this book for “everybody feminist — trans girls, cis girls, girls with disabilities, BIPOC girls, queer girls, working girls, nonbinary folx, and our non-girl allies.” 

Translation: If you have a budding feminist — or teen questioning their gender and identity —this is a fantastic empowerment book to add to their collection. 

This is one book that doesn’t discriminate. The underlying theme is to get a crew together who will support you as you learn, grow, and question society and your role in it. 

One of my favorite lines in the book is, “Have you ever heard the ‘prayer’ Lord, give me the confidence of a mediocre white boy?” – page 30

HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THAT?! It’s just so true. We breed boys as risk-takers and challengers while training girls to sit down and shut up. Anyone that has been to middle school knows that. 

A Guide To Crushing Girlhood: Feminist AF addresses common stereotypes and breaks down where they came from and why they need to change. It’s a breath of fresh air, delivered with snappy comments and tons of helpful links for body and identity positive influencers to follow, books to read, podcasts to listen to, and documentaries to watch. 

Let’s Talk Language & Triggers

This book is brutally honest but no more so than what’s likely going through your teen’s mind and social media feeds at this very moment. Hopefully, your teen already has a supportive crew, but if they’re struggling, this book will give them some hope. 

Support and good friends are out there, waiting to be discovered. 

Yes, there’s some language, but I’m betting your teen is well-versed in it already. But it’s not written for you, Mom/Dad/teacher, but for your teen struggling with identity, confidence, and essential topics. 

They cheer, swear, cry, educate, inspire, and promote feminists and their allies, all the while keeping it real and not wasting any time. 

Exploring girlhood and body image stereotypes and how these are fundamental ways to keep women and marginalized identities from taking more power make this a powerful introduction to intersectional feminism. 

Also, the authors do a great job of warning readers of potential triggers, offering enough detail to know if you need to skip ahead or keep reading. 

The Takeaway

It’s a win. Buy it. A Guide To Crushing Girlhood: Feminist AF is meant for anyone who has looked at the people “in charge” and thought, get the hell out of here— you don’t look, feel, or act anything like me. 

This book is for anyone who rolls their eyes when the white guy in the room “decides” something needs to be done a certain way and gets his way. Every time. 

It’s for everyone who agrees or is catching on to the fact that the capitalistic patriarchy (basically white men running everything) is meant to keep rich white guys in charge.

Let me be clear: This book is not about how much your white dad/teacher/boss/brother/classmate sucks, but instead how your teen can recognize, and do their part to change, an unjust system.

Whew, that’s a lot to unpack. 

The book gives the reader the phrases, definitions, support, and ideas for challenging traditional roles and biases in society. It offers teenagers the inspiration and tools to move confidently in a direction that meets their —perhaps unspoken—needs. 

A great example is when they discuss the nursery rhyme about girls being sugar, spice, and everything excellent. If a girl is deemed too bossy, she’s a bitch. If a boy is dictatorial, he’s usually “commanding” or “a natural-born leader.”

If your teen is a feminist or an ally questioning their own power, identity, place in the world, and/or the political and social structures around them. In that case, this is a great book to get them. 

A Feminist Book For Teens and Every Ally

There’s a saying that feels like it’s been around forever. Maybe you’ve heard it:

Those who can’t do, teach. 

Cooper, Craft Tanner, and Morris prove this trope is, beyond any doubt, a load of bull.

These women do it all – innovate, create, teach, and lead. And you can’t ask for a better teacher than someone who has not only the real-life experience but leads with the confidence and the hipness of your friend’s cool aunt.  

Where To Get It

Bookshop.org

We support small business and trying to move away from Amazon. If you don’t NEED it tomorrow and can wait a few days, 100% of profits from your purchase through Bookshop will benefit a local bookstore. 

Amazon.com

And if you do need it ASAP, here’s the Amazon link. 

Related Posts

The post A GREAT Feminist Book For Teens appeared first on Lies About Parenting.

Books On Death For Preschoolers Are Hard To Find

So we set out to find some of the best books on death for preschoolers.

Maybe it's because Death is a tough subject, and one we too often want to avoid. Saying, "We go to Heaven", is a lot easier than trying to explain something we might not fully understand ourselves.

And it's sad. Even if the person or creature lived a full lifetime, or your child is just naturally curious about death, dying is a sad, difficult subject to discuss.

The last thing we want to do as a parent is to make our kids sad, or worse, traumatize them with the wrong words.

But when your preschooler starts insisting on answers to questions like the following, it's time to offer them some age-appropriate information and discussion.

Below you'll find our favorite books on death for preschoolers. We've worked hard to find the most helpful and well-written books, but our Winner is the one we recommend you purchase first.

WINNER: Books On Death For Preschoolers

Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way To Explain Death To Children by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen is the one we know and love the most. In the meantime, keep reading to understand what your preschooler needs from you when talking about death and dying.

Death is not the happiest subject, but great books on death for preschoolers set the groundwork for answering questions in an age-appropriate manner.

Runner-Ups: Books On Death For Preschoolers

These other books come highly recommended and are very well-rated.

Start with The Invisible String if you're not ready to talk about lifetimes (remembering that if your child is asking, they are ready). The book introduces children to the idea that a mother and child can be connected, even when they're apart.

I ordered the book and waited. When it arrived, I read through it before my daughter could see it.

It's a good idea to this with any book, but especially ones with heavy topics like grief. 

Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children

$16.00 $9.39

Buy Now Our Review

03/20/2026 12:20 am GMT

The Invisible String

$9.99 $6.99

Buy Now Our Review

03/20/2026 12:21 am GMT

The Memory Box: A Book About Grief

$16.99 $10.37

Buy Now Our Review

03/20/2026 12:21 am GMT

God Gave Us Heaven

$11.99 $6.49

Buy Now Our Review

03/20/2026 12:21 am GMT

Get The Book

Get it on Amazon now. 

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