I HATE mosquitos.... but it was fun

[ladybootlegger]

So the other night, I was enjoying a six pack with the neighbors. After the sixth drink, the mosquitos became our sobriety test. If you got one, you had to have another drink. It was fun enough at the time, but I am now COVERED in mosquito bites!! Normally, they leave me alone, but I now have like 20 bites.
When I went to my local pharmacist, they were telling me that the mosquitos are worse than ever this year. They were even biting her, despite the bug repellant she had been wearing. She recommended to me to use the Deep Woods Off! insect repellant, but only if I am not typically around children, and to re-apply it a couple of times per day for future prevention of bites.

So, here is my concern/question. Considering the upcoming season of frivolities at our festival, and also taking into consideration the current mosquito problem... How will you be preventing bug bites?

Why isn't there a sun block with insect repellant already in it??? Cause I'm thinking that the smell of banana boat (which I dearly love) and the smell of insect repellant (which I hate) will not be exactly pleasantly fragrant. Another concern is that if this Deep Woods Off! is not a good thing to wear if you are around small children, and since the festival attracts children of all ages, is it the best idea?

Thoughts?

[Hercules]

Had some drunk 'skeeters too I take it? 

There are sunscrens with bug repellant on the market. I think OFF made one ('Skintastic' I think it was).

My experiance is it's either good sunscreen or good bug repellant but not both.

I usually soak in a good DEET spray and then cover/shade hop to avoid the sun.   

[Norfolk]

Unless you plan to be in close physical contact with the wee ones, go with the Deep Woods Off and worry not.

[Jess Devyne]

I have had pretty decent results when using the citronella oils available at the ---can't remember the name of the shop, I am suffering from SCRS (severe can't remember s**t) --- but it does help. 

Otherwise, Off is always good to have on hand! 

I did something similar last week.  Sat outside in the evening, meditating a bit and the next morning I was covered in bites.  Didn't even think about using my oil or candles beforehand...lol! 

[Zoë]

The skeeters are pretty bad this year for Colorado, I guess we've had a pretty wet spring so far.  Just last week I got eaten alive at a friend's barbecue at 3 in the afternoon, they were out for the kill!

If you're worried about being on the move or whatever, there's that new clip-on bug repellent fan thingy that you could try, I imagine that would be easy enough to clip onto a garb belt and hide with a scarf or sash or whatnot, then you would be protected and wouldn't smell like bug spray or have to worry about the kiddos (as far as I know).

[mehan]

This reminds me of a baaaad joke my father used to tell at the beach.

"Ya know the best insect repellant?  Pour a fifth of bourbon over your body and roll in the sand.  The little buggers bite you, get drunk and start throwing rocks at each other"

He was the worst joke teller in the world

*ducks and runs for cover*

[Hercules]

This reminds me of a baaaad joke my father used to tell at the beach.

"Ya know the best insect repellant?  Pour a fifth of bourbon over your body and roll in the sand.  The little buggers bite you, get drunk and start throwing rocks at each other"

He was the worst joke teller in the world

*ducks and runs for cover*

That is bad....but I will be re-telling it! 

[Jess Devyne]

This reminds me of a baaaad joke my father used to tell at the beach.

"Ya know the best insect repellant?  Pour a fifth of bourbon over your body and roll in the sand.  The little buggers bite you, get drunk and start throwing rocks at each other"

He was the worst joke teller in the world

*ducks and runs for cover*

[Blushing]

Cotney Peak (based in Windsor, Colo.) has an all-natural mosquito and bug repellent (http://bit.ly/bbaN4o) that also doubles as bite relief.  I haven't tried it, but it smells much nicer than every other commercial repellent I've tried.

Thanks for the heads-up ... Apparently I have sweet blood and the mosquitoes LOVE me.

[Capt Spleen]

Wutz t' hate? It beez th' oldest form o' bloodlettin' tharrrr be!