The Taming Of The Beard

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Dad Central Consulting for AVEENO. I received product samples and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

As many of you know, I am one hairy dude.  I was recently asked to try a trio of Aveeno shaving products, and I figured why not.  Anything that might help to get through this mess is worth a shot.  Also the women in my family have used Aveeno products for years and have always been happy with them, so I had a sense that the products would be good.

Ok, so I'm fat, I had a few drinks, and I'm ugly.
BUT, this IS proof that I have one heck of a thick
beard.  This thing grew in in 2 weeks.

Here's what I tried out.  The Face Wash, Shave Gel, and After Shave Lotion.

Even though I might be able to get away with it, as a former Marine, I never go to work without a shave in the morning.  It just doesn't feel right.  I always take a shower to soften up the mess, and jump right out of the shower with a wet face and jump right into shaving with my usual shaving cream and favorite razor.  I've been using the same products for my whole life, like father like son I guess when it comes to shaving habits.  Since I've started using the Aveeno products I have been following the same routine, except I have been using the Face Wash before I jump out of the shower.  This stuff is pretty cool.  It has an Active Naturals Oat Formula that acts to deep clean and strip away some of the dead skin on your face.  But the thing that I like most about the Face Wash, is it leaves a slippery layer on my face.  This really helps create a smooth shave when I actually apply the Shave Gel (which also has Active Naturals Oat Formula - just not the exfoliating component) and take a razor to my beard.  It definitely seems to make shaving a little less harsh, and by the end of the week my face is not in quite as tough of shape as it can be after a week of regular shaving.  Don't get me wrong, my beard is still tough, and I don't think anything short of my facial hair falling off is going to change that, but I am definitely happy with the results I'm getting from this product.  Here are a couple of before and after mugshots.  I know these photos will bring a lot of ridicule.  My huge nose, and ugly mug don't lend themselves well to photos at 6:00 in the morning, or 6:00 at night either, but here goes anyway!  

             

That's really hard to look at, but you can see, I actually did get a pretty good shave out of it.  I did try the aftershave lotion once, and I can see if you have dry skin that it would work great.  I have anything but dry skin. To the contrary, I think my Italian face emits its own natural olive oil moisturizer, and I have never used any kind of aftershave throughout my life. All in all I really like these products, and the pricing is pretty much in line with other products out there. I would categorize this as "definitely worth a try"!

Happy Shaving!

Wacky Dad

Wacky Dad's friends doing good - The National Call-In Day to Support Pancreatic Cancer Research

More info at www.pancan.org/nationalcallin.

Hundreds of of my PanCan friends who are Advocacy Leaders for PanCan.org are in Washington, D.C. today meeting with their members of Congress to ask them to protect #pancreaticcancer research.

I am hoping that you will help me support these hard working volunteers by participating in today's National Call-In.

Will you help this Wacky dad out and take 5 minutes today to call your members of congress in order to ask them for their support for Pancreatic Cancer research?

Just head to www.pancan.org/nationalcallin for your congress members' names and phone numbers.

A sincere thanks from this Wacky PanCan Fighter 

Wacky Dad

Dishwasher Torture Test With Cascade Platinum

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Dad Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a gift card to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.” www.dadcentralconsulting.com

Hey Wackys!  For the past couple of weeks I have been using the new Cascade Platinum dishwashing pacs for my dishes.  I am the eternal skeptic, and am always resistant to buy brand names because I often think I am overpaying. We have used Cascade products in the past, and I have always recognized their products as high quality, but this new Platinum product is really a step up from any dishwasher detergent I have used in the past.  I have been on a mission to defeat this stuff! I have introduced some pretty gnarly looking stuff to my dishwasher in the past 2 weeks, and without fail Cascade Platinum has come out on top. My three daughters and I haven't been able to best this stuff! 

A before and after shot of an guacamole encrusted bowl that I put through the Platinum torture test.  I couldn't believe there wasn't one speck of guacamole left on the bowl!

We haven't been pre-washing, or re-washing any dishes since I have started using Cascade Platinum.  That has been a welcome change since we eat in the house almost all of the time, and our dirty dish load is always heavy.  We do at least one load of dishes a day just to keep up with the demand.  I am often disappointed by some of the other products I use, and have to do a considerable amount of pre-washing and post washing to get my dishes and glasses clean.  Any money I am saving on cheap detergent goes down the drain. I'm sure I am wasting an inordinate amount of hot water, which isn't cheap by any means when you burn oil, and pay dearly for public water.  I believe that my cheapskate self has actually been sold on this product.  Not to mention that I know my family is eating off a clean and sterilized surface when I see the quality of what is coming out of the dishwasher.  Another thing I have noticed is that my dishwasher is sparkling inside since I started using Platinum.  It looks and smells fresh, you can really tell that this stuff is doing it's job. Here's how the magic happens. Cascade Platinum Pacs feature an advanced triple action recipe that is specially designed to leave dishware virtually spot-free and help prevent the build-up of hard-water film on dishwasher walls. Here is a short video by Bravo's Gail Simmons explaining how clean plates can really make your meal presentation pop.  I'm happy to have a any meal on any plate in general, but she brings up some great points for all of you non-heathens out there!

Visit the following website to enter to win a new Whirlpool Dishwasher Courtesy of Cascade! http://tinyurl.com/PlatBlog. I am happy to say that Cascade Platinum gets a big nod of approval from this dad!

Happy Clean Dishes!

Wacky Dad

10 Reasons My Father Is Still Cool!

Happy Fathers Day to all of the dads out there!  I'm writing tonight about my own father.  As any of my readers know, I am very close to my father.  We share many of the same interests, and we really have a special relationship, that is more of a friendship, than a typical father/son relationship.  I have tried over the years to emulate my father, with varying success.  There is only one Leo Costantino, that is for sure!  Ok here goes, here are 10 reasons that my father is still cool!

He is pushing 70 and can still ski the moguls like a 25 year old, and he can do it all day long!

Like my old Friend Billy to the left he is always there when I need him.  This photo is at this year's Purple Stride Rhode Island which is a run/walk I have been the event coordinator for since it's inception.  My Father never shies away from helping out when he can.

Even when I have a stupid idea he still listens.  Hell he loves stupid ideas too!  This is me, and a water wheel contraption that I built out of an old heater blower.  Notice the beer bottles in hand.

When I rode my first 200 double century to honor my friend Karen Petty and to fight against pancreatic cancer he was there to support me in the support car for 14 hours straight, and then jumped on his bike for the last 10 miles to ride in with me.  Last year he rode 100 grueling miles of the ride at 68 years old to honor our friend Karen, and to support a cause that he knows is so important to me.  He has an iron will, and spirit that won't quit.  This morning while we were all laying in bed he was out busting out 50 miles on his bike.  He's 69 and he still does that like it's cool!

The man is the most mechanically talented person I've ever met.  Here he is flying in a plane that he built from scratch.  It was literally a pile of lumber when he started working on it.  Last Christmas he built me a miniature working steam engine out of scrap metal, and it's beautiful!

He's still an awesome teacher.  Where I sometimes lack the patience to teach my kids about the things I love, he calmly teaches them about things that he thinks might interest them.  Whether its sewing with Abby or cutting foam with a homemade hot knife with Ailey, he is always thinking of cool ways to show the kids about the things we love, and he passes those interests on so well!

After all of these years he can still take a joke!

He's always there right at the opportune moments to make a complete jack ass out of me.  Here I am after snaking a 6" flue pipe down my chimney.  Actually I couldn't have gotten that thing in without dad's muscle that day!

He's always there for my kids.  Here he is at an event my daughters ran to help raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.  This was a proud day for this Father/Son Marine duo!

He's an eternal jackass!  Here he is goofing off with his buddy Frank.  He's always up for a good time.  Always!

What can I say.  I've been blessed to have such a great father.  Almost all of my hobbies and interests that I love today were learned from my father.  Those interests have led me to an active lifestyle that has been awesome for me and my family.  I am truly honored to be called Leo Costantino's son.

Good God.  This is all going to go right to his head.  I'm almost afraid to press the publish button, but what the hell, it is Fathers Day after all!

Happy Fathers Day Dad!

You're Wacky Son - Eric

Happy Flag Day - June 14th

Happy Flag Day to all my fellow Wacky Americans.