Tanning is the New Trashy?

Mr. Spots and I were out enjoying an adult beverage and listening to a local band Friday night when he made the offhand comment that he could almost smell the burned skin in the bar. There were that many tan females who had worked hard on baking their flesh. Like in any bar scene, there was a mix of people. You had your couples enjoying a night on the town, your girls wanting to find Mr. Right (or right now?), and you have your cool guys wanting to be Mr. Right (Now). Looking around the room, the tannest chicks were also the girls who were trying the hardest to be noticed. I'm talking booty shorts, backless shirts, and F.M. shoes. (I will not translate that if you are unaware of the terminology.) It made it hard for me to relax because I kept judging their skin and becoming angry. Why is it "hot" for them to look like Snooki before pregnancy whereas because of embracing my natural skin tone, I get asked, "Have you been outside lately?" Do people really believe the Tan Mom appearance actually looks good? (This is not an exaggeration. Ask Mr. Spots.)

Is tan skin really considered to be the most beautiful even today or is the fake tan becoming a less than classy accessory?

Let me compare a few famous faces.

Tara Reid

OR

Reese Witherspoon

OR

 Paris Hilton

OR

Scarlett Johansson

OR

Lindsay Lohan

OR

Emma Stone

OR

Kelly Ripa

OR

Natalie Portman

OR

Snooki

OR

Rachel McAdams

I could make this list last forever; however, I think my point has been made. Being tan used to indicate wealth and class. I am beginning to wonder if that has already changed. Is the fake & bake tan slowly going out of style?

Health reasons aside, is being tan really that beautiful compared to our natural glow?

Let it Be

I can hardly believe that in 2 weeks from today I will be back in New York City for my next round of scans and treatment. My months of freedom just fly by! As always, scanxiety is starting to hit. How am I focusing this nervous energy? Well, I have been writing for Everyday Health, I have been working my butt off at my office job, I have been attending yoga once a week (Love it!) and I have been going to the gym. Needless to say, I sleep well at night out of pure exhaustion.

I know I can't change or predict what the scans will show. I can only wish, hope, and pray that life will continue on as it has been going. Like Jason Mraz sings, I can't worry my life away.

I hope you are all doing well. Were you wearing your sunscreen in the hot weather today?! I sure hope so!

Use Sunscreen

picture

I am having a very busy work schedule, but I wanted to share this article with you that discusses Meghan Rothschild from the Dear 16-year-old Me video. http://businesswest.com/2012/06/her-place-in-the-sun. 

My favorite quotes from the article: 

"But she said it was the reaction of her friends, all her same age and who didn’t seem fazed by the skin-cancer diagnosis as a result of her years of weekly tanning, that most alarmed her. “It wasn’t like I had breast cancer or ovarian cancer,” she recalled. “I think there just wasn’t that link that it can go inside your body and become deadly.”

Haven't we all felt this way? We have to stress to people that melanoma is not just skin cancer.

“I think that, eventually, the tanning booth will be the cigarette of our generation."

I encourage you to read the entire article. It's a good one. It's all about sharing melanoma awareness!

I'm too sleepy to write anymore. 

Night, friends! 

The Girl in the Mirror

What do you see when

YOU

look in the mirror?

http://www.everydayhealth.com/cancer-center/cancer-images--the-girl-in-the-mirror.aspx 

Big Things Are Happening!

Did y'all hear the news? Chicago teens will no longer be allowed to use tanning beds! Read all about it here. I want to give a big shout-out to my molemate, Donna, for her help in putting a face to melanoma. You are a reason why this was passed! You go, girl!

Quebec also passed the NO tanning beds for minors as well! Way to go! Tanning salons must be fearing skin cancer awareness folks...big things are happening. Lives are being saved.

Speaking of tanning beds, have you seen the pictures all over the internet of the Tan Mom before she became the leather mess that she is today? She was such a pretty lady. What a shame.

I have something good to say about Dr. Oz for a change. He did a little video for Perez Hilton promoting sunscreen. It would be nice to see him discuss this in greater detail on his show.

I hope everyone is having a decent week. I know my friends Lynette and Michelle are having good days--they both received clear scans! YES!

Protect your skin. XO!

Happy Survivor Day!

All of you inspire me.

I Am Somebody.

Melanoma Awareness Month is going out with a bang for me! This has been such an exciting day that I do not even know where to begin. First of all, thank all of you for putting up with my many Facebook posts this month. Just a warning, they won't be ending just because May is over. As one melanoma friend told me, we are lifers when it comes to sharing awareness!

I rushed home during my lunch break to pick-up a box from Fed-Ex today. The box contained copies of the 2012 Skin Cancer Foundation Journal!

As I have mentioned before, I am so honored to have played a part in the Skin Cancer Foundation's journey toward raising awareness. I think the Foundation itself is incredible and the people who work for them are absolutely amazing. The folks that I met in the office in April were so kind and inspirational. They, without a doubt, are saving lives. I want to thank them again for including me in this project. http://skincancer.epubxp.com/i/65757/0

What project am I mentioning? I was a part of their article about teenagers who have used tanning beds. I was included with 2 other girls as the new Faces of Melanoma. You can read the article online here; however, I encourage you to purchase the entire Journal for $5.00!

While you are reading the Journal, I encourage you to check out their new program geared towards middle school students. http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/education-program Maybe you can encourage your own local teachers to use this free program to educate their students on the dangers of skin cancer. Oh, and you can check out the interview I did with them here, too! (There are two parts to the interview. One, on the page I linked above and also here.)

As if the release of the Journal was not exciting enough, I also was notified that 2 of my articles were published today on Everyday Health. I would love it if you check out these articles as well. I am proud of both of them. I would love to hear what you think.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/cancer-center/meta-what--metastatic-melanoma-.aspx

http://www.everydayhealth.com/cancer-center/melanoma-monday--what-can-you-do-.aspx

One more bit of exciting news, I received my first paycheck for writing. As a lady with a degree in English, I never imagined I would actually accomplish the dream of making a (small) living by sharing the thoughts in my big ol' head. Today, it was shocking to look at that little sum in my bank account and know that someone valued my words enough to slip me a few dollars. I didn't think I had the ability. Heck, I still don't think I have the ability, but I am so proud of myself. I am making my dreams come true. (Oh, and I am using that expensive college degree.)

When I was first diagnosed, I wanted to read the words of people who had experienced this cancer. I wanted a campaign that would encourage me and tell me the truth. I didn't want to just read the facts, I needed to read about the experience. I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for, so after the advice from my mom, I started this blog. I started something that I needed.

...and I am doing things.