Product Reviews: Secret Clinical Deodorant

I received a year's supply of Secret Clinical Waterproof Deodorant in the mail as part of a Kloutperk. First i have to admit that i was surprised to open the box and find that it contained on 4 sticks. While i don't really pay attention to how fast i go thru deodorant i was expecting roughly 6 containers. I was almost at the end of the current stick of Dove so i started using the Secret a day later. This was my first time ever using Secret Clinical Waterproof. I haven't used any of the Secret line in probably year. I'm not opposed to it i just buy whatever if the best price out of that, Degree for Women and Dove. I have purchased a travel sized sized Secret which my daughter has used but i've never used it myself.

The directions say to use twice a day, and to use 2 clicks worth. I will admit i didn't use according to directions. I'm a once a day deo person unless its the dead of summer, I sleep alone i don't put it on again after my shower at night to go to bed. I did not change my habits. i ended up using the 2 clicks per arm once a day. I will admit i didn't use it every day. I went to the beach, and took 2 trips and i didn't pack it, i have deodorant in my travel bag so i didn't switch it out. The secret stayed in my bathroom at home so basically every night i slept in my own home i used it without fail. I spent around 17 days not using the Secret Clinical.

i did like it the protection was good even in the 90 degree southern summers. There were days where i was on vacation and i was wishing i did have it because i had wet pits halfway thru the day while with the secret it only happened once. The product is good definitely worth buying for use in the summers. As for the years supply? About that...

As i said i received 4. Using it once a day (and adding the 17 days i didn't use it) one stick lasted 79 days. That doesn't add up does it? Even with my once daily use and days i didn't use it it still didn't reach 90 days needed for 4 sticks to make a years supply. On my usages i need 5 sticks maybe 6. Someone who uses it as directed probably needs closer to 10 on more.

While the size was worthy of questioning that doesn't change that it is a really good product. I would spend my own money to purchase it no question, i just have to be mindful that the size of the pacakging means i will have to purchase a bit more often.

Disclosure: I was given a free product or sample because I'm a Klout influencer. I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company. http://klout.com/perks/disclosure


-

The digital divide in our schools

Photo Credit: Aron Balogh

Last week I sat in a conference room with parents educators and PTA members from 4 different districts in my state and several schools. We were all there ready to hear a presentation from the State Dept of Ed. concerning how in the next coming year the standardized tests that the kids in my district, heck the whole state take would soon be administered completely online. Yes no more scan-trons (eventually) or essays to be sent to a scorer in another state and returned 6 weeks later. The plan is for students to sit at a computer and take these tests. Depending on where your school is this news made you feel

Excited

Scared

Confused

I was on the interested and borderline excited but looking around the room and the followup questions thru-out the presentation I was more aware that many others were not feeling as I was.

Like I said earlier I was there with people from various schools and various districts. The move to online only is not mandatory for next year, it will be available but the guess is it will take a few years to get everyone in the state on it. Why so long? The same reason why some of the people in the room were scared. There are schools in this state that don't have the capacity to implement this.

Most people think of the digital divide in terms of at home, the haves and have nots with computers and internet access. C1 got her own laptop as a pre 8^th grade present so she could do her assignments. I have high-speed internet at home, her laptop is set up so she has bookmarked access to all her teacher's blackboard sites, videos explaining math concepts, links to the library online catalog so she can put a book on hold to pick up later or search the databases. This is also where all her textbooks are. Every signal class she's in has an online textbook. Lighter backpack? Nope she frequently has 4 or more library books in her bag at any given time using that now free space. The thing is her having her own laptop or at least easy home access to a family computer in her school is pretty normal. We fit right in. Her school has SMART boards, and computers in all the classes anywhere from 4 to a full set for the room. When we are out around my neighborhood its not unusual to see several children walking around with jump drives on lanyards around their necks. We even have 2 schools in the district who are in the One-to-one program where every child is given a laptop to check out and take home for the school year. This is my normal. This wasn't everyone else in the rooms normal. One person spoke up asking how to do it when they have computers for maybe 1/3 of the school. Another just got a bunch of machines but they are still being set up so its not known that ratio of computer to student. Some are in very rural districts so even library access is a pretty good drive away and there may not be public transportation to get to it without a car. And that's when I hit me.

The state is moving forward but not everyone can keep up and those children are losing. One school is stressing writing at the same grade level another is past that and teaching PowerPoint. Both are important but one has the tools to move forward. We talked about keyboarding a middle school or high school elective in some districts an elementary class in others. I've always made a point to pay attention to my district and how funds are spread and how the top in the district compares to the bottom but I never thought much of the districts that touch mine or are 2 hours away. How is it that what I see as a school that needs improvement in my district might be the top tier in another. It makes my head hurt thinking about it. We all get a share of the pie, a split of the lottery but what's making some dramatic differences? I don't know what to do about it other then talking with others, making contacts with neighboring districts and sharing ideas. They are trying to keep up with the Joneses. I just wasn't aware the Joneses were me.

-

Walking down the aisle for my Graduation

After a lot of hemming and hawing and even asking here if i should even bother, i decided to attend my graduation. It seemed like a OK idea to graduate with my favorite uncle and say yes i did attend an actual graduation of my (i didn't go to my high school one i went to Coney Island instead).

As my graduation got closer i started to mildly panic and considered at least a dozen times blowing it off and heading to the beach.  The prospect of my mom visiting me which is always a terrifying experience was making me very antsy. My mom in my home makes me extremely uncomfortable for reasons i won't go into now. Some of my friends know and they still think its crazy i don't like it be trust me it doesn't work.

Well the day before my my graduation my mom was supposed to fly to the airport at 9am then we would later head up to Norfolk that night for the actual ceremony Saturday morning. Due to lots of crazy weather we didn't get her till after 3pm. We ended up getting on the road after a nice dinner at Cheesecake Factory.

The morning of the graduation it was a light drizzle and i couldn't find my uncle. He decided to drive down that morning and left late. i was standing inside waiting for him and he literally ran in as his line was walking into the arena. And then i don't know why but i started getting REALLY nervous. The walk down the aisle into the arena and i was shaking. I don't know what came over me but it wasn't until the keynote speaker that i calmed down. Something about me finally after 3 tries and more than 15 years since i graduated high school i finally could say i have my degree. It was surreal. I cheered loudly for my uncle and i smiled proudly when they handed me that rolled up fake piece of paper.

This is the gathering of the graduates before we enter.

Beginning of processional

Yep that's me and my favorite uncle.

I found my mom, aunt and C1 in the audience, C1 head down tapping away on her DS. I packed the earplugs since i wasn't sure how she would do in the arena. She managed to make it thru the ceremony and wasn't stimming too badly when it was over. My mom quickly got outside and across the street away from the crowds with her. The rain was light but took a funny step walking back down the aisle and hurt my knee.  It was an amazing feeling of relief when it was over and after some quick talking and hugs we said goodbye to my aunt and uncle and i drove my mom to the airport. It really hit me when she hugged me goodbye and whispered "i'm really proud of you" My mom usually says critical things to me so that really meant a lot to me. C1 and i quietly found a Sonic and drive home. I called my grandma on the ride home and told her i'll be at her beach house in the morning.

-