It’s funny how when we were young we didn’t care so much about sun protection. As Mothers we made sure to put sunscreen on the babies & kids but as they got older did you somewhere along the way slack off on it? I am guilty of that. Did your Mom ever yell at you to put on the sunscreen? I don’t remember my Mom ever doing that. I would lie out in the sun to get a tan just like all the other girls. Somewhere along the way I realized two very important things…
1 – I do NOT tan. I burn. I peel. I’m white again. I honestly think I am the only one in my family who does this. Even my blonde haired blue eyed daughter TANS!!
2 – It gets hot in the sun. And you sweat. You don’t glow or sparkle. You SWEAT!! This to me is just plain gross unless you’re sweating for a good reason with a hot sweaty man. Which is a whole other blog.
My family used to make fun of me because while they were all outside getting baked by the sun I would be inside. I am the first to admit that I am white. I don’t mean like a pale “egg shell” white with a little bit of color. No. I am white like Casper, The Friendly Ghost.
My daughter, nieces, & nephews get a kick out of putting their legs next to mine throughout the summer to see how dark they are getting. Which scares me.
A Great Uncle is undergoing treatment for skin cancer. One of my Great Grandmother’s passed away from skin cancer. My Aunt had skin cancer removed from her face one year ago.
USE SUNSCREEN!! Make your kids use it. I don’t care if it’s sunny or cloudy. Use sunscreen. It’s more important now than ever. Especially on the face, neck & ears. Yes, you read it right. Ears. Don’t forget your ears!!
My personal favorite is Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion w/SPF 70 for the face. Yes! SPF 70!! How awesome is that?! Along with buying my daughter facial moisturizer I bought her this. Plus, the Skin Cancer Foundation endorses this product.
You should also get your skin/body checked by your Doctor or a Dermatologist. Have them look at your moles and blemishes. From what I’ve been told by a family member they check everywhere. I mean, E V E R Y W H E R E!! You lose your shyness real quick. But most importantly……
Be the Mom or Dad who yells at the kids to put on their sunscreen!!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Life Lessons (07.03.09)
I received the following in an email today from one of my cousins. It really resonated with me since I’ve had a pretty crappy start to my day. I’m only 39 & I think I’m still learning some life lessons so I don’t have any to contribute but I would have to agree with almost all the ones that the author wrote down. Especially #45.
Do you have any life lessons? I’d like to know what they are if you do.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more.”
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
Do you have any life lessons? I’d like to know what they are if you do.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more.”
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
Pro Athletes & Steroids (06.18.09)
So, Sammy Sosa “allegedly” lied to Congress about using steroids. Is anyone really surprised by this? Seriously.
Come on. We all know that steroids are used by athletes in ALL sports. I don’t condone it but why does everyone act so surprised when an athlete who looks like a WWE wrestler is found out? It shouldn’t be so surprising that so many of these athletes are getting found out. Haven’t they realized by now that when you lie you always get caught? My main thing is….
OWN IT!
If you used steroids just admit to it, deal with the consequences, & move on. I’d have more respect for these athletes if they would just say, “Yes. I used them. I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”
All of these athletes seem to think that they are not gonna get caught. Even when they take a test that is supposed to be anonymous. Hello! Did they seriously believe that some lab tech wasn’t going to cover his a** & label the test results?! If I was that lab tech I sure as well would have done that!! Who wouldn’t?!
BTW……
Mark McGwire is still my favorite baseball player!!
Come on. We all know that steroids are used by athletes in ALL sports. I don’t condone it but why does everyone act so surprised when an athlete who looks like a WWE wrestler is found out? It shouldn’t be so surprising that so many of these athletes are getting found out. Haven’t they realized by now that when you lie you always get caught? My main thing is….
OWN IT!
If you used steroids just admit to it, deal with the consequences, & move on. I’d have more respect for these athletes if they would just say, “Yes. I used them. I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”
All of these athletes seem to think that they are not gonna get caught. Even when they take a test that is supposed to be anonymous. Hello! Did they seriously believe that some lab tech wasn’t going to cover his a** & label the test results?! If I was that lab tech I sure as well would have done that!! Who wouldn’t?!
BTW……
Mark McGwire is still my favorite baseball player!!
Liking What You See & Lost Sunglasses (05.29.09)
Do you like what you see in the mirror?
I’m not talking about the you in the mirror before you leave for work or go out for the night. I’m talking about YOU. No makeup. No clothes. Just YOU.
I used to not like what I saw. I couldn’t even look at myself naked. Since I’ve started on my journey I’ve gotten more comfortable with not just my skin but my soul.
I used to hate being defined as a “Single Mom.” I didn’t want to be a “Single Mom”. Now I realize it’s not such a bad thing. Do I miss having someone to share adult things with? Yes, however I’m not going to shrivel up & die because I don’t have a man in my life. There is no such thing as a Prince Charming. I know I’m not drop dead gorgeous but I’m not ugly either. The right man will come along.
I started to make it a point to look at my naked self once a week, SMILE, and say something positive about myself. It worked. I look at my body now and I’m comfortable with my naked self. Can you say the same thing?
I’ve also come to realize that I don’t need a man to be happy and complete. I can thank a pair of lost sunglasses for that!! I freaked out when I lost them. Why?! They are only stupid fraking sunglasses. I didn’t buy them. Asshole did. Then I realized one day when I was driving home from somewhere that I felt FREE!! I felt like I had finally gotten rid of that last little hold that Asshole had on me.
Yes, BILL ARTZ, I lost the $80 Bolle sunglasses you bought me & told me not to lose.
Oops.
I have 2 challenges for everyone…………
1) Look at your bare self in the mirror at least once a week, SMILE, & say something positive about yourself.
2) Let go/lose that last little something that is still holding you to the past.
I’m not talking about the you in the mirror before you leave for work or go out for the night. I’m talking about YOU. No makeup. No clothes. Just YOU.
I used to not like what I saw. I couldn’t even look at myself naked. Since I’ve started on my journey I’ve gotten more comfortable with not just my skin but my soul.
I used to hate being defined as a “Single Mom.” I didn’t want to be a “Single Mom”. Now I realize it’s not such a bad thing. Do I miss having someone to share adult things with? Yes, however I’m not going to shrivel up & die because I don’t have a man in my life. There is no such thing as a Prince Charming. I know I’m not drop dead gorgeous but I’m not ugly either. The right man will come along.
I started to make it a point to look at my naked self once a week, SMILE, and say something positive about myself. It worked. I look at my body now and I’m comfortable with my naked self. Can you say the same thing?
I’ve also come to realize that I don’t need a man to be happy and complete. I can thank a pair of lost sunglasses for that!! I freaked out when I lost them. Why?! They are only stupid fraking sunglasses. I didn’t buy them. Asshole did. Then I realized one day when I was driving home from somewhere that I felt FREE!! I felt like I had finally gotten rid of that last little hold that Asshole had on me.
Yes, BILL ARTZ, I lost the $80 Bolle sunglasses you bought me & told me not to lose.
Oops.
I have 2 challenges for everyone…………
1) Look at your bare self in the mirror at least once a week, SMILE, & say something positive about yourself.
2) Let go/lose that last little something that is still holding you to the past.
Why are high school girls so bitchy?! (05.14.09)
I really just don’t understand high school girls these days. Does it really make them feel better to be mean & petty to the new girl in school? Why can’t they just welcome the new girl and be friends? Are their lives that miserable that they need to be this way? Do their parents know their kids are acting like this?
When I went to high school, which admittedly wasn’t very often my junior & senior years, I don’t remember the girls being so mean, petty, & bitchy. Sure, we all had our own little groups that we all hung out with but I don’t remember them being so flat out mean. They didn’t invite someone to homecoming & then deliberately ditch the person they invited. At least none of the girls I knew did that.
As you all can probably guess, my daughter has been having problems making friends. It hasn’t been easy. She’s tried making with friends with 2 different groups of girls but they’ve all been mean & petty. What do you do when your daughter cries & begs you to home school her because she feels invisible & ignored at her school because she can’t make any friends?
I told her when she started junior high that she was getting into the age group where girls can be mean, petty, spiteful, & just downright bitchy. I didn’t actually think that the girls in Texas would put new meaning into that statement. All we heard was how nice everyone in Texas is & that she wouldn’t have any problems making friends at school. Well…………..
The adults in Texas are nice!! The high school girls… not so much.
I can tell my daughter that what happens in high school isn’t really gonna matter in the long run. That high school is just a drop in the bucket of your life. That she is better than these girls & if they are gonna act that way then she doesn’t need them. That these girls act this way because they are miserable in their lives & they are jealous of her.
I can tell her all this & more but in the end she is still just a 15 yr old girl who wants to have friends & not be the new girl anymore. All I can do is offer her a shoulder to cry on & a hug when she needs it.
And tell her to make friends with some boys because they don’t care if she is prettier or smarter then them.
When I went to high school, which admittedly wasn’t very often my junior & senior years, I don’t remember the girls being so mean, petty, & bitchy. Sure, we all had our own little groups that we all hung out with but I don’t remember them being so flat out mean. They didn’t invite someone to homecoming & then deliberately ditch the person they invited. At least none of the girls I knew did that.
As you all can probably guess, my daughter has been having problems making friends. It hasn’t been easy. She’s tried making with friends with 2 different groups of girls but they’ve all been mean & petty. What do you do when your daughter cries & begs you to home school her because she feels invisible & ignored at her school because she can’t make any friends?
I told her when she started junior high that she was getting into the age group where girls can be mean, petty, spiteful, & just downright bitchy. I didn’t actually think that the girls in Texas would put new meaning into that statement. All we heard was how nice everyone in Texas is & that she wouldn’t have any problems making friends at school. Well…………..
The adults in Texas are nice!! The high school girls… not so much.
I can tell my daughter that what happens in high school isn’t really gonna matter in the long run. That high school is just a drop in the bucket of your life. That she is better than these girls & if they are gonna act that way then she doesn’t need them. That these girls act this way because they are miserable in their lives & they are jealous of her.
I can tell her all this & more but in the end she is still just a 15 yr old girl who wants to have friends & not be the new girl anymore. All I can do is offer her a shoulder to cry on & a hug when she needs it.
And tell her to make friends with some boys because they don’t care if she is prettier or smarter then them.
The Never Ending Job Search, Losing Weight, & Looking Forward (05.01.09)
So, I've been in a funk lately. Ok. Let me change that. I’ve been depressed. I’m tired all the time, I don’t want to get out of bed, I cry every time some faceless generic email sends me a rejection email for a job. It’s time to change that. Today is the beginning of a new month & it was also the dreaded weigh day.
My sister read the scale while I stood on it. I hate scales!! I’m convinced they were made by some evil mad scientist man!! However, it was nice to me today. The last time I weighed was on Feb. 1 & I weighed 208. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. I KNOW!! Not good. I told you. I’ve been depressed!! Anyways…………
I got on the scale today & I weighed 205. Like my sister said, “At least you didn’t GAIN anything!!” I’m happy but I know that I should have been doing better than I have been.
The Never Ending Job Search doesn’t help. How can someone reject you when you meet or exceed their qualifications without even interviewing you? I don’t understand it. Maybe they just get so swamped with resumes that they just keep the first 50 & then reject all the others. If that is the case, employers should start putting that in the job descriptions…. “Only the first 50 resumes received will be considered.” I don’t understand it. I don’t get it. It’s frustrating as h***!! I have never been out of work this long. I went to my first interview last week in 6 years or something like that. I thought it went pretty good. I called the guy twice to check with him when he didn’t call me when he said he would. I’m still waiting to hear what his decision is. He told me to hang in there. WTH is that supposed to mean?! I’ll probably be waiting til the cows come home. Meanwhile, I’m still on The Never Ending Job Search!!
I have my vision board with my friends’ awesome email about “Living Aloha” on it that I will be looking at & reading every day. Next to it will be two pictures that I made my sister take of me today in a sports bra & shorts to motivate me. Let me tell you. My sister needs to be a personal trainer. She’s learned a thing or two from watching Jillian on The Biggest Loser. She wouldn’t let me suck & hold nothing in for these pictures. My nephew is a great motivator too. He tells me all the time I could be working out like the people on Biggest Loser since I’m not working. LOL!! Thank God for him & his sense of humor!! I’m also starting a food diary. Anyone got a good one I can use?
The bottom line is this….. I’m kicking myself in the butt today. I’ll be posting notes or blogs, whatever you want to call them, on regular basis too. Just something to get all the thoughts running around in my head out. So you guys can follow me on my journey or not. Up to you.
My sister read the scale while I stood on it. I hate scales!! I’m convinced they were made by some evil mad scientist man!! However, it was nice to me today. The last time I weighed was on Feb. 1 & I weighed 208. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. I KNOW!! Not good. I told you. I’ve been depressed!! Anyways…………
I got on the scale today & I weighed 205. Like my sister said, “At least you didn’t GAIN anything!!” I’m happy but I know that I should have been doing better than I have been.
The Never Ending Job Search doesn’t help. How can someone reject you when you meet or exceed their qualifications without even interviewing you? I don’t understand it. Maybe they just get so swamped with resumes that they just keep the first 50 & then reject all the others. If that is the case, employers should start putting that in the job descriptions…. “Only the first 50 resumes received will be considered.” I don’t understand it. I don’t get it. It’s frustrating as h***!! I have never been out of work this long. I went to my first interview last week in 6 years or something like that. I thought it went pretty good. I called the guy twice to check with him when he didn’t call me when he said he would. I’m still waiting to hear what his decision is. He told me to hang in there. WTH is that supposed to mean?! I’ll probably be waiting til the cows come home. Meanwhile, I’m still on The Never Ending Job Search!!
I have my vision board with my friends’ awesome email about “Living Aloha” on it that I will be looking at & reading every day. Next to it will be two pictures that I made my sister take of me today in a sports bra & shorts to motivate me. Let me tell you. My sister needs to be a personal trainer. She’s learned a thing or two from watching Jillian on The Biggest Loser. She wouldn’t let me suck & hold nothing in for these pictures. My nephew is a great motivator too. He tells me all the time I could be working out like the people on Biggest Loser since I’m not working. LOL!! Thank God for him & his sense of humor!! I’m also starting a food diary. Anyone got a good one I can use?
The bottom line is this….. I’m kicking myself in the butt today. I’ll be posting notes or blogs, whatever you want to call them, on regular basis too. Just something to get all the thoughts running around in my head out. So you guys can follow me on my journey or not. Up to you.
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