Celebrating Cancer Survivors: June 5th

My Mother and I, in 1986

When I was 6 years old, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was only 26 years old. At the time, I had no idea what breast cancer was or what it meant to be diagnosed with it. All I knew was that my mother was very sick. I watched my mother lose her hair, her appetite and even a breast. The thing I remember the most about my mother's fight was that she never lost her spirit or will to live. My mother is one of the strongest human beings I've ever met.

In honor of my mother's successful fight against breast cancer, I wanted to publicly recognize Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day. June 5th is national Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day. This is a special day where all cancer survivors including men, women and children, regardless of their type of cancer or when they were diagnosed are honored with a day full of complimentary pampering. Many local businesses voluntary choose to participate in this event by providing complimentary beauty services all day long to any and all cancer survivors.

I'm proud to announce that San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology will be participating in this event. If you are in the San Francisco area on Tuesday, June 5th, SFIEC will be providing complimentary hair cuts, blow-outs and facials to all cancer survivors. There are two ways cancer survivors can book their appointment for June 5th. Either "Like" SFIEC on Facebook and book the appointment through Facebook directly or call 415-355-1734 to make an appointment. Be sure to mention that you're a cancer survivor when booking your appointment.

For more information on Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day, please visit the Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day website.

Do You Think H&M Should be Blamed for Skin Cancer?

Photo: H&M

According to the Swedish Cancer Society, H&M should be ashamed for "promoting tanning as a fashion accessory" in their latest ad campaign. The clothing retailer is now apologizing for featuring a bronzed model in their recent swimwear campaign, just days after the story of Patricia Krentcil aka New Jersey's Tanning Mom came out, making "tanorexia" a household term.

It's hard to say if the model featured in the campaign sported the dark tan naturally or if she obtained her dark skin artificially through the use of photoshop, lighting, makeup and/or a bronzed spray tan. Regardless, people seem to be up in arms about H&M promoting tanned skin as beautiful skin and are quick to blame the retailer for any spike in people dying from skin cancer this summer.

Check out the full article written by Lylah H. Alphonse, Yahoo Shine: H&M Apologizes for Featuring Bronzed Model. Are We Too Worried About Tanning?

What do you think? Should H&M be blamed for promoting tanned skin and skin cancer or is all of the publicity from critics only fueling the ad campaign fire into selling more swimsuits?

Happy May Day!

Happy May Day!

I can't believe it's already May 1st! Even though this year is almost half way over, it feels like 2012 just got started. May 1st has always been a special day for me for two reasons. One, my mom's birthday is always the day after, on May 2nd. Two, my mom and I have shared a special May Day tradition ever since I was a little girl.

My mom once told me a long time ago that May 1st was May Day. On May Day, it was a popular tradition when she was a little girl that people would gather flowers, put them on someone's doorstep, ring the doorbell and then run away. I never knew the backstory behind the whole tradition. I just loved the idea of surprising someone with flowers. So every year, I would pick flowers for my mom and either put them on the doorstep for her to find or put them by her bed while she was still sleeping so that way they would be waiting for her when she woke up.

Sounds like my mom knew what she was talking about too. According to Wikipedia, May Day really does exist here in the United States:

"May Day was also celebrated by some early European settlers of the American continent. In some parts of the United States, May Baskets are made. These are small baskets usually filled with flowers or treats and left at someone's doorstep. The giver rings the bell and runs away. The person receiving the basket tries to catch the fleeing giver. If they catch the person, a kiss is exchanged."

Now that I'm older and don't live within walking distance of my mom, I simply post a picture of flowers on her Facebook page. I also sent her a text this morning filled with flower emojis to her iPhone. What can I say? I'm a big ol' dork who loves her mom and loves a fun tradition.

Happy May Day everyone!