SUMMER 2022 ISSUE
SPLASH PADS IN ORANGE COUNTY
8 SUN SAFETY TIPS
OCMOMCOLLECTIVE.COM
BRANDS TO KNOW AND LOVE
BEACH MUST HAVES FOR EVERY MOM
Summer 2022 Issue
CONTENTS Splash Pads in Orange County Sun Safety Tips OC Beaches to Know About Beach Bag Must Haves How to Beat the Back to School Jitters
Owner’s Note OC MOM COLLECTIVE I am so excited for you to check out our 2022 Summer Guide! Our team worked hard to put this resource together and are so proud of how it turned out. We are committed to providing the very best resources, local events, and business shout outs because we believe our readers and community deserve the best.
Meg Burns Owner + CEO, OC Mom Collective
Make sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date on things going around town, new resources, and more! @OCMomCollective
SPLASH
PADS
ORANGE
COUNTY
Yes, you can find Splash Pads in Orange County! Sometimes, the OC is not in a draught and that means that splash pads are open. With that being said – always be sure to check the park to see if they have opened their splash pads. Sometimes they close them due to water safety – remember you don’t ever want your child drinking the water from a splash pad! Summertime in the OC is filled with places to explore! So get out to your local park and cool off at one of our amazing local OC splash pads! The “Wet Saloon” at Harry M. Dotson Park Ponderosa Park in Anaheim Frontier Park – water feature play area Lemon Park – Spray Pool that opens May 31st. Sigler Park – You can rent out this splash pad for parties! Pioneer Road Park – A Tustin Park with a water feature Atlantis Play Center in Garden Grove – this does cost $2 to enter for ages 3 and up – check their website for splash pad opening date. Crown Valley Splash Pad – this is one of our FAVORITE splash pads! The park is under construction so check their site for updates on when it will be reopened! Adlena Park offers a spray pool Heritage Park in Irvine – a fun water feature in their playground area is perfect for little ones! Did we miss your favorite Orange County spot? Let us know and we would be happy to add it to our splash pads in Orange County list!
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By Megan Burns
Summertime equals more time in the sun for most of us. We wanted to compile 8 basic summer sun safety tips to share and also want to remind you that being out in the sun is actually a really important part of being healthy. If you grew up like I did, then you were potentially taught that any time in the sun could cause harm. But that just isn't the case. Many experts say that being out in the sun (not the mid day strong sun) for 5-30 minutes without sunscreen can help with melatonin production, fighting off depression, keeping your immune system strong, and more. Of course, too much sun can be damaging...so we wanted to share some tips on how to keep your skin protected while enjoying the beautiful sunshine this summer! 1. 30 is the number you need to know. The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends using a sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher, is water resistant, and provides broad spectrum coverage. 2. Reapply every 2 hours To make sure you get the most protection possible make sure you reapply every few hours. You may need to reapply even sooner if you are sweating or swimming. 3. Your lips need protecting too Snag a sunscreen chapstick and keep everyone's lips covered. Burning your lips is the actual worst! Ouch! 4. Prioritize shade Use an umbrella at the beach and make sure you bring hats for anyone that may want or need it! 5. Estimate a shot glass amount of sunscreen 1.5 oz is typically enough to cover your entire body. Don't forget the pesky spots that are easy to miss. Nothing worse than a hand print of non-burned skin in the middle of a big ole red patch of sunburn lol.
6. Even if you're only outside for 20 minutes you still may need sunscreen Depending on the shade of your skin you may not be able to be outside for 20 minutes without burning. You know yourself best, so just think ahead. And remember that the summer sun is often a lot stronger than it may feel! 7. Mineral sunscreens cut out the toxic chemicals You probably have seen sunscreens be recalled over the years on the news. In fact, several popular sunscreens were recalled last year because of benzene contamination. Benzene is known to be cancer causing. 8. Apply 15 minutes before going outdoors Do you ever slather your kids up in sunscreen and then they immediately jump in the water or start sweating it off? Get the best results by applying at least 15 minutes before heading out the door.
OC
BEACHES
TO
KNOW
ABOUT
By Viv Jones
If you follow us on Instagram, you'll have noticed we have a thing for beaches. (And if you don't follow us, head over to find us. It's worth it!) Living in Southern California, we have access to some truly beautiful beaches. And we love to visit different ones, though there are some that are better than others. If you like beautiful beaches of all shapes and sizes, read on. This is your go-to guide for the best OC beaches to visit with your family. One thing I must stress is that many of the addresses listed below take you directly to the beach, which you obviously cannot park on. A few involve street parking, so going early is definitely advised. Shaw's Cove, Laguna Beach Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 The parking for this tiny beach is in a residential area and when we went it was a case of every man for themselves. We went before 10am and parking was fine. If you have very little ones this may not be the beach for you. That is because, depending on where you park, there is definitely going to be some walking involved. However, once we got there the kids LOVED this beach. There is a natural sand step which the kids used to 'cliff jump!' Main Beach, Laguna 107 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 When we want to go to the beach, but we want minimal effort we either hit Laguna or Newport's main beaches (see below for Newport). The main beach in Laguna is long, sprawling and FUN! There are tide pools to explore at the far end of the beach. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes within walking distance and some delicious ice cream shops for a cold treat. As with many OC beaches, parking isn't the easiest to come by. But there is street parking to be found all over Laguna. I would recommend going early to the main beach in Laguna if you plan to visit in summer or at the weekend. Click over to our website for even more of our favorite beaches!
PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST.
LAKE LABEL Chemical free protection for peace of mind in the sun.
LAKELABEL.COM
BRICKS & MINIFIGS ANAHEIM YOUR LOCAL LEGO BUY SELL TRADE STORE! @BRICKSMINIFIGSANAHEIM
HOW THE
TO
BEAT
BACK
SCHOOL
TO
JITTERS By Elena Bosch
How to beat the back-to-school jitters in a pandemic: Get Back Into Routine This is a good tip whether your kids attend public, private, or homeschool. Getting into a routine with kids helps them recognize patterns and get used to their surroundings. In our house, we’re already setting a strict bath and bedtime as well as starting to curb television and screen time, especially during the week. We’re working in 15-20 minutes of reading time with the big kid and self-play for the little. I can already see a change in their attitude as they’re both getting more sleep and getting into a better rhythm. Do A Trial Run Both my kids have meet and greet type events taking place before the first day. For my daughter’s school, they encourage parents and kids both to come along to get familiar with the atmosphere and meet the staff. For my son who attends public school, they’re not permitting parents on campus, which makes me really uneasy, so we’ve done a few drive-bys to get familiar with the area. Encourage Safety In our house we have a saying that well predates the pandemic. “What’s my number one job?” I ask my son. He replies, “To keep me safe.” He bemoaned when I told him he would have to wear masks but when I told him we could pick out some cool new Marvel masks that made him look like Spiderman and a Stormtrooper, he seemed more excited about it. We also picked up a cute new baby Yoda sanitizer for his lunch and went over some good hygiene rules to avoid spreading germs. Get Outside And Play! Not only is illness less transmissible outside, it’s also a great mood booster and healthy habit. Over summer, we took advantage of longer days to go on bike rides at night, play catch in the street, or have movie night on the patio. We appreciated the summer sunsets and enjoyed dining al fresco. As it cools down, we will bundle up, light the fire pit, and make use of our flashlights if needed to be sure we get enough fresh air to feed our souls. Talk It Out We’re all getting a pretty hot temper in our household. I’ve noticed an uptick in yelling, screaming, and even some name calling during the pandemic. I don’t love it, but I know it’s a symptom of all the stress we’re still enduring. I don’t have great advice here, and I’m sure I’m doing it all wrong, but I have learned that the days when we take deep breaths and ask one another how they’re feeling, are the days we all sleep a little better at night. Click over to read the rest of the article with tips!
MEET YOUR NEW FAVORITE GLUE ON NAILS
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beach reads
1. The Bodyguard | 2. The Summer We Forgot| 3. Meant To Be | 4. It Ends With Us 5. People We Meet On Vacation | 6. It Happened One Summer