The Scary (And Personal) Truth About Tanning Salons

 After reading a really great article in Women’s Health magazine about tanning beds and skin cancer, it inspired me come forward with my own personal story to speak up and speak out against indoor tanning.  I wouldn’t call myself an abuser of tanning beds in my past – I used them here and there to get a nice even tan for a wedding, or for a Saturday night out on the town.  Even while living down in Florida, where the sun was abundant, I would still hit the tanning salon a few times a week to get a deeper, richer tan than the sun could provide.  Even after having an abnormal mole removed from my back in the summer of 2010, I still went back to tanning beds because let’s face it – everyone looks (and feels) better with a tan.  In November of 2012, during a routine skin exam at my dermatologist, they found a mole that looked suspect.  They took a biopsy, no big deal, I thought, I’ve had that before. 

Less than a week later, I received an urgent call from my doctor regarding my biopsy: “You have melanoma – your mole is skin cancer.” After taking in all the details and setting an appointment to have it removed 6 days later, I rushed out of work and just sat in my car for a minute to let it all sink in. Me? 28 years old – cancer? And in that moment in my life, I wish I had never stepped foot in a tanning salon in the first place.  But what’s done was done. 

I went in the Monday following Thanksgiving to have the surgery on my lower right back.  The worst part of the surgery are the shots of numbing agent – at least 12 of them in and around the spot on my back - and of course the feeling of your skin being tugged together by a piece of thread – that’s always a lovely feeling.  When they were all done, I had them snap a picture of the final product before they bandaged me up and sent me on my way:

 The mole itself was not huge – a bit larger than the eraser on a pencil - but they removed an area the size of a half dollar in diameter and about a half an inch deep into my skin leaving me with a 4-5 inch wound; the goal of the surgery is to not only remove the melanoma but also the surrounding areas to ensure they have captured every little spec of the malignant area.  I went home that night feeling defeated and of course once the numbing agent wore off, in extreme pain.  I could barely sit on the couch or a chair without there being sharp pain in my back.  In that moment I thought – what have I done to myself.  How could I do this to my own body? I’m not even 30 yet and I’ve had cancer – what is the matter with me!

At that point, the healing process starts and along with that comes the acceptance phase and realizing there is nothing you can do now but make better choices and by all means – take care of yourself.  The physical healing process was a rough one; it really took a full 2 weeks before I started feeling like the wound was healing and to this day I still have some pain at the site.  At my 2 week appointment to have the stitches removed and check on the area, my doctor recommended that I go see Dr. Pecora, a friend of his at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center.  He is an internationally recognized cancer expert and while they believe they got everything out, they want to take extra precautions to ensure that it hadn’t spread to my lymph nodes, or worse, my organs.  Your life at 28 years old really slaps you in the face when you are making an appointment with a cancer specialist because let’s face it, that’s the last doctor I thought I would be visiting at this point in my life.  But it was the right thing to do, better to be safe than sorry. 

Sitting in the waiting room at the cancer center was a doozy.  There were so many people around me that were really suffering, in so much worse shape than me, and I couldn’t help but have sympathy for them, and their loved ones, and a small part for me.  Believe it or not, I actually started to feel gratitude in that moment that mine was only a little skin cancer.  Dr. Pecora checked me out and after reviewing my information, he thinks that I will be ok, that we caught it early enough that the cancer had not traveled deep into my skin cells to reach the blood stream that goes to my lymph nodes (mine was .14 mm deep, they believe the melanoma gets into the blood stream around 1 mm).  I have one more appointment with him in April at which point he will decide whether I need to continue to see him for 3 years or if I’m in the clear. 

So, you may ask, why am I coming forward with this very personal happening in my life? My hope is that anyone reading this that currently goes tanning will stop and make a conscience effort to take their health seriously because it is not a joke.  When we are young we think, “that won’t happen to me” or “they are just trying to scare me.”  Well, the truth is, it can happen to you and take it from someone who’s been through it – it is scary. Very scary.  I never thought that at 28 years young I would be mumbling the words to my loved ones that “I have cancer” and I sincerely hope I never have to mutter those words again.  For now, I have a 4 inch scar on my back as an everyday reminder of this horrific experience and I will be staying away from anything that can harm my skin further because quite frankly, there is so much more left in life that I want to see, hear, taste, touch and experience.  I’m simply not done living yet. 

For anyone that is going tanning because they think that’s the only way to get some color on your skin, there are many safer alternatives that help you achieve a natural, sun-kissed glow without all the damaging effects! I was recently turned onto Dr. Gross Self-Tanning towels for both body and face by my best friend Lia who gave them to me as a gift for Christmas.  They apply nice, even color, and the face pads are the best I’ve found that don’t clog your pores like most facial tanning lotions do.  I bought a box of 50 on Amazon for $36 and it will last me the whole year (and it came with 5 free facial peels!). 

 Lastly, below is the article from Women’s Health January/February issue that inspired me to come forth with my own recount (it may be hard to read in the below form so if you want the PDFed version, let me know and I can send it to you).  If I can get one person who reads this to stop going to tanning beds for the rest of their lives then I’ll consider my efforts successful but I sincerely hope that anyone reading this really thinks twice before stepping into one of those death traps again.  There’s so much more to life than being tan.

 

Good Friends Are Like Stars

When I was in high school, I lived in the basement bedroom in my house.  Some would find this space cold, scary and uninviting.  I, on the other hand, found it to be a private place, a place I was allowed to decorate and rearrange to my liking - a place that was mine.  Above the horrible wallpaper border (sorry Mom, I do not share your love for glued wall patterns), I would scribe quotes and pithy sayings that I liked and felt connected to my life.  I recall one of them being, "Good friends are like stars, you don't always see them but you know they are always there."  To this day, this mantra rings true, especially since I have made friends in all of the different places I've lived and visited.  Maybe it's because I'm getting older and have a better appreciation of the good things in my life, or maybe it is simply the fact that I've been friends with people longer, but lately I find myself saying, "Man, I have such great people in my life."  And I wouldn't trade this feeling for any riches in the world. 

Whenever people ask me how Jessenia and I met, I usually start by saying, "I didn't really like her at first," and perhaps she is the number one example of why you don't judge a book by its cover.  Because the more I got to know her, the more I saw how saavy she was, how persistent and loyal she was, and most of all, how thoughtful she was.  We spent two years together in Miami making memories that even a movie star wouldn't forget, moved back up north together, maybe not in the same state but at least in the same state of mind.  And for all of the months that passed when I had her just a car ride away, I knew one day she would tell me, "I'm moving back to Miami."  That was always her dream; shit, that was always OUR dream, but she actually put the money where her mouth was and did it.  I remember being really resentful when I heard the news - how could she leave me?  How could she go back without me? And then I realized - it wasn't about it me.  Nor should it be.  How could I be mad at her for having the courage to do the thing I couldn't?  For taking a risk and acting on those personal qualities that I loved about her?  All I could do was celebrate her decision and hope and pray we would stay close. 

More and more, I am realizing that no matter how far away we are from each other, we are always going to be connected.  We have always valued each others' opinions, advice, and ideas whether its romance, style or careers.  We both work in advertising, we both work in media, and let's face it, we are both pretty fabulous - how could we NOT be connected to each other.  Either way, I absolutely love getting a call that starts with, "I know our lives are in sync because..." and listening to the story that follows.  It makes me smile because I know somehow, someway, our lives will ALWAYS be connected, that she will always want to tell me about her latest career success or send me the latest video of her sweet little dog - and I will always listen, watch or contribute.  And if any day I miss her and wish she were here or at least one state away, I can look up into the sky and know that friends really are like stars - they are always there when you need them.

Boy, How Time Flies!

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I last blogged!  This is truly disheartening but is living proof that our daily lives can completely consume us and take us away from our passions in life.  It's amazing how writing can be so soothing, yet invigorating.  And I don't mean writing an email or a text message - but really taking the time to sit down and write about your inner-most thoughts and feelings.  I've always been a writer - I kept a diary when I was only in 2nd grade (A Little Mermaid diary no less!), had multiple journals through middle and high school, and even kept a log when I was college! My mom always tells me that I would leave her notes on the kitchen table, everything from "where is my allowance money" to telling her about my day at school.  I'm pretty sure she still has some of those notes. 

Lately, even with all the accomplishments in life, and all of the great things to celebrate, I've been feeling like something is missing, like the fibers of my being are just being, and not really LIVING - and maybe it is writing that has been missing from my life.  When I write, it forces me tap into my inner soul and while I don't always know why I am feelig a certain way, it certainly does make me understand that there's something there - something to hoan in on that may otherwise go unnoticed.  So no matter how busy work is, or how much time I spend working out or hanging with friends, I am making a promise to myself to just sit down and write sometimes.  I've read that making a goal specific makes it easier to achieve so I am going to say that I need to sit down and write once a week. There. It's done. No looking back now.  It's time to get back to my roots and start pouring my heart out with a paper and pen, er, laptop and keyboard.

Much love,
Lindz

God Bless America... My Home Sweet Home

This morning, while fixing my daily coffee to take with me to work, I broke out into full song, singing the Yankee's 7th inning stretch song (aka God Bless America, the version by Kate Smith) in light of this holiday weekend. Last year, I was out of the country for the 4th of July and I have to say, I really missed celebrating our country's independence. It's such a patriotic time of the year, paying thanks to all of the unpredictable steps that have gotten us to where we are today and the people that made that happen. There is so much talk of "doom and gloom" regarding The United States of America, thanks to our over-anxious media outlets, and at the end of the day, so many people forget how lucky we truly are to be American. So at the start of this holiday weekend, I just want to say: Thank You, America, for being my home sweet home.

A Tribute to the US of A via Yankee Stadium:

Closet Space-Saving Tips

Ok ladies, most of us are guilty: of over-stuffed, very full closets. We can't help it, we love to shop and keeping up with the latest styles is in our DNA. I am the #1 offender - I love shopping, especially when I find a great deal. But over the years, I've accumulated a huge collection and my closet space has not grown. While I have a fabulous wardrobe, it is useless if I can't find anything! Over the last few months, I've discovered some of the greatest space-saving tips for your closet. Some are no-brainers but other are down-right innovative. Here are some tricks to keeping your closet full of variety without being full of mess.

1. Utilize space-saving gadgets

People and companies make thousands of dollars coming up with "great ideas" especially when it comes to organizing. Make use of them! The best store for such gadgets is The Container Store. To organize my jewelry, I use their see-through pocket organizer. It is two sided with different size pockets so it is perfect for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc.

For my belts, I use the Hanging Belt Organizer. It has 5 rings, each of which opens up and you can slide your belts into the loop. Once you close the loop you have belts all in one place, which you can organize by size, color, season, whatever is easiest for you. I organize mine by size and color.

2. But also think outside of the box!

While the belt organizer is great for belts with buckles, it left me wondering, "what do I do with my buckle-less belts?" One day while strolling through Ikea, I found this great hanging organizer. It said it was for ties (which it would work well for, tell the guys!) but when I saw it, I saw the perfect buckle-less belt organizer. One of the best $5 ever spent.

3. Search for specific tips on YouTube.com

Today I was trying to think of a better way of organizing my scarves because I couldn't see every scarf so when it comes to finishing an outfit, I go for one on top that matches and run out the door. But there are so many options hidden underneath! So I took to YouTube for a solution. Sure enough, I found the perfect video that had the perfect solution!

I chose the second method - using a Pant Hanger to organize my scarves. Within 5 minutes I had all of my scarves in one place where I can see every scarf in my artillery.

You simply tie scarves onto each level of the pant hanger, just like you would if you were doing a knot when you are wearing it.

And just like that - perfectly tiered and organized scarves!

4. Enlist your local Dollar Store for Organizing Gadgets

I love The Container Store and Target, but sometimes you can find the same exact products at a fraction of the price at your local dollar store. At the Dollar Tree, they have a section for knock-off As Seen on TV products, and this week I found the BEST product, for $1! It's the knock-off of The Amazing Hanger. On TV, they want you to pay $19.95 plus shipping and handling. I got two Amazing Hangers for $1, that's 50 cents each!

You simply hang 5 items, one into each slot.

Then you drop one side of the Amazing Hanger and poof! Extra Closet Space! Plus, you can organize your closet by each hanger. For example, I used mine to organize my skirts. One for spring/summer skirts, one for work skirts, etc. I am so in love with this product, and even more-so since I saved a ton of money by purchasing it at the dollar store.

So if you have any other amazing tips, I am all ears - help a fashion-sister out.

Fave Places of the Day - Bethlehem, PA

I'm up in Bethlehem, PA enjoying this beautiful day with my brother. Just hangin' out. Charley needed to go out so we decided to walk up to the bank and grab some lunch. On the way back, we stopped at this place on Broad St. called Hello Burrito. I ordered myself a Southwestern Burrito, with brown rice and a whole wheat tortilla. Let me tell you - it was the best burrito I've had in a long time, not because it tasted like regular burritos but because they had an original taste to it. The ingredients were fresh, and perfectly matched together to make signature meals. As we were standing outside with Charley, waiting for the order, the owner came out with her cute-as-a-button little daughter. She wanted to pet Charley. She chatted with us for a moment, which gave me the chance to compliment the store and the food. All around, it was a wonderful experience.

Then, on the walk home, we pass this cute little clothing store called The Attic. Turns out it is a snazzy consignment shop with the cutest things! Pink plaid bermuda shorts - $1! And this awesome vintage white ivory ring, $4. It was really a neat surprise. Lots of selection and everything in great condition.



So if you're ever in Bethlehem, I highly recommend both of these places.

Family Ties

As I was taking Charley on an afternoon stroll, an older lady asked me what kind of dog he is. "To be honest, I have no idea," I replied, which is my standard answer for that question. It's the truth - he's the love of my life and I have no idea what breed he is. I suppose I should get one of those doggy-DNA tests to figure it out once and for all... I digress. So we start chatting (the lady and I, not the dog and I) and turns out, she knows my Great Aunt Kay and my Grandma that I live with. "I've lived in Highland Park for 80 years," she said. "I've known your family for a long time."

After a nice chat, we said goodbye and Charley and I continued on our way. It got me thinking: I really am lucky to have such a large, close family. I like being tied to that legacy, being associated with generations past and have people in my town that say, we know you. There's a comfortable and warm feeling that comes with these conversations, it makes me feel like I'm not just some random person on this huge planet but rather one person with many social ties in my little community of Central New Jersey. I used to think I was better off in Florida, where I didn't have much family, nobody "holding me down." But in hindsight, I realize my family doesn't hold me down - they are actually the support group that keeps my head and spirits high.

With Mother's Day around the corner, what I want to say is this: while it is nice to show the Mom's and Dad's in the world extra love on these "holidays", every day should be "I love my family" day because let's face it, they are one of the only things we can count on in this world. Well, that and the comforting effects of ice cream. Luckily, some things never change.

Oh the Weather Outside is... Weather

What is it about a sunny, hot day that puts everyone in such a good mood? Today was the first taste of summer 2011 with temperatures in the low 80s and bright blue skies and I did as much as I could to take advantage of it. Laid out with some light reading, did a deep-clean of the inside of the car, vacuum, wipe down of the interior, windows, the whole nine, then took Charley for a brisk walk. I love watching him move along the sidewalk, stopping at each bush or telephone pole to decide whether or not to pee on it. What a life.

My original goal was to take him down to the park but on the way the there I found a hidden trail that led into the woods and figured, what the heck, let's check it out. Trying to calm all the Law and Order SVU scenarios that were running through my head of creeps jumping out of the bushes, we trekked on... Sure enough, there is a great hiking trail that runs along this little stream and it made for a nice little afternoon hike.

Charley was tired afterwards, I got a tan (or should I say a slight forehead burn), everyone's happy. While we did spot a deer in the distance (which, I'm not gonna lie, I jumped when it moved towards us) there were no creepers waiting for me in the bushes. I guess my life is just not as exciting as a TV show. But for a day like today, I'll take what I've got.

Words with Friends

Since my boyfriend works on the Mobile Team for ESPN, he is always bringing home cool gadgets to try out and play around with. This past weekend, I saw him enthralled in some game on his Samsung Droid phone so I asked him what he was playing. "Words with Friends," he says. "You haven't played this?" Sure enough, I download the app and my life has never been the same. It's basically Battle Scrabble and you can find your friends based on their User Name and play against them interactively. I am not usually a gamer or an App freak, but this one has changed it all for me. I currently have 5 open games and am always looking for new friends to connect with. Do you play "Words with Friends?"

Products I am Currently Living By

Do you ever think to yourself, "man, what would I do without this shampoo or this pair of sneakers?" Well, in honor of this question, here is a list to pay tribute to the products that I just can't live without these days:

Avon Glimmersticks Eyeliners - in Regular, Waterproof and Diamonds

Bare Minerals Foundation

Reebok RunTone Sneakers

ProActiv

BioSilk Hair Serum

Jergens Body Lotion

Confetti Nail Polish Colors

Glamour Magazine

Jansport Backpacks

Dell Laptop

Bic Mechanical Pencils in .9 mm lead

IPod Nano - Gen 2

Blistex Chapstick

Advair

Claritan-D

DSW

Planet Fitness Gym

Starbucks Coffee (I know what you're thinking, how they don't support Fair Trade and blah blah, if you research Starbucks they spend more time and money supporting the Coffee Farmers through the Chiapas project and other programs...)

Capri Sun

Fiber One Bars

FaveRed Starbursts

NCAA Basketball Finals Tonight

Tonight is the end of this years March Madness tournament for Mens NCAA Basketball with Butler taking on UConn in the Finals. And like most of those bracketmasters out there, I did not have this predicted as the final game. Well, let's be serious, I was no bracketmaster and didn't even come close to the Final Four! This years NCAA Basketball Tournament was one of the hardest to predict - in fact, according to the ESPN Brackets, only two people out of 5.9 million had all final four teams correct! Two people! One of these 2 people was a local East Brunswick, New Jersey man and I am tempted to look him up and ask him whether he picked the Final Four based on some shred of intellectual knowledge or did he lose a bet to his friends over a round of beers?

Either way, should make for a great Final game. I am picking UConn to top Butler, but as my bracket suggests, that is clearly just a guess. Who is your pick for the Champ? And what will the final combined score be?

BodyCandy.com for all of your piercing needs

I know, belly button rings are so 1990s. But I never took mine out and occasionally I get inspired to switch it up and get some new rings. The ring I had in for over a year finally gave up on life last week so I decided it was time to put in an order. If you go to the mall or any jewelry store they will charge you $10-$20 for a ring and it's a rip off! I've been using BodyCandy.com for 6 years and I have to tell you, I have never been disappointed; this shipment was no different.

I got 10 rings shipped to my door for $25! All orders over $20 get free shipping and if you get on their email list they will always send you a 15% off coupon code. I did the free shipping offer, placed my order on Wednesday and had the package on Saturday, so they are quick to get the orders out the door.

I wanted to get a variety so I got:

5 dangling rings and 1 large stud (the pink butterfly, I am currently wearing this one and it's fantastic). The first one on the left with the crystal icicle is actual crystal, that was my one splurge for the purchase, coming in at $11.

And 4 standard bent bars in colors to match my bathing suits (I'm thinking ahead to beach time!)

So if anyone is still like me and rocking their belly button ring, or any other piercings (they have everything from tongue rings, nose rings, eyebrows, etc.) check out BodyCandy.com.

Cable Knit Canine

Cable knit sweaters: A must have piece for any complete wardrobe. A chunky cable knit is great for winter and colder seasons, while a lightweight cable knit is perfect for spring time and transitional seasons. Well, how could I leave my fashionable (pup) friend out of the stylish loop? Charley currently rocks a Cerulean cable knit but he also has a bright green version that he was seen wearing last week in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Here are some pictures of Chic Charley to show you how he rocks them, what's your preferred cable knit style?

My New Favorite Nail Polish

The latest trend for nail color ranges from wild neon colors to muted nudes and anywhere in between. Personally, I love the muted tones, like taupes and tans. I find them to be chic and classic. Unfortunately, after 5 months of winter and genetically pale skin, I have a hard time pulling off these shades because they just blend into my skin tone.

Yesterday, I found my new favorite color that blends muted chic with creative color and I am simply loving it. It's called Fine Pruned in the Ulta Nail Polish Line, and on top of being inexpensive, (I paid $2 for the bottle, they are having a sale right now 2 for $4) the color pops and the polish is great. It dried quickly and evenly and has already conquered 2 sink-fulls of dishes and some yard work.

It's a keeper!

Spring Cleaning!

What is it about the first warm day that makes me want to clean every inch of my house and car? Yesterday, with high temperatures around 60 degrees here in New Jersey, I was sent into a full-on cleaning frienzye with a spree that totaled 5 hours. I cleaned out my car, organized the inside and the trunk (with pop-up bins from the previously mentioned Dollar Tree), insert a new air freshener, and aired out the inside. In my loft, I oiled and waxed all of the wood furniture, cleaned all of the sheets and blankets, cleaned out drawers and started a new "giveaway bag", dusted all of my photo frames, organized certain "sketchy" areas to make better use of the space, and even had time to put together Spring Gifts for my boyfriend, mom and grandma.

By the time dinner rolled around, I was indulging in my annual corned beef and cabbage, and yes, I was exhausted. But the smell of clean and cool fresh air made me drift to sleep with a wide grin on my face.

Happy spring everyone! May the warmer weather and longer days bring cleanliness and organization to even your dirtiest of areas.

The Ultimate Dollar Store

Everyone knows and loves the Dollar Store. But has anyone else noticed those "dollar stores" that charge more than a dollar for items in their stores? How can they call themselves a dollar store, if anything it should be the "Few Dollars Store."

Alas, I have found a great dollar store chain, Dollar Tree, that has many locations throughout the northeast, a great selection of quality products, and nothing in the store is more than one buck! My favorite store is on Easton Avenue in Somerset, NJ (in the same shopping center as Stop & Shop, Chase and BK). I stopped there today and all of the spring and easter items are front and center. I'm not going to lie, I spent $36 in there today but I got SO many great things including but not limited to:

• Store bins, I put 1 in my car and 1 in the trunk to organize loose items
• Paper lantern lights, for a summery designing touch
• Easter and Spring gifts for my boyfriend and family, including their Easter baskets
• Cute ankle socks, 3 pairs for $1!
• Extend-a-bra, which are bra clips that you can use to loosen up a tight fitting bra (sorry boys)
• The Amazing Hanger, hang 5 items on one hanger, closet space saver
• Gardening Gloves, with cute spring patterns
• Reusable Shopping Totes, in strawberry and watermelon designs

Where's your favorite dollar store and what was the best thing you ever found in there?

The Grand Unveiling of Design Create Communicate

Today marks a special day for me: the unveiling of my personal website project Design Create Communicate. I started this project back in October with the help of my brother and his company Alpha Blue Technologies, LLC and can't believe the day has come that I can actually invite others into the project to see what I have produced. In celebration of this day, I have started this new blog that will coincide with the website where I can share my thoughts, work processes and perhaps inspire your creative juices to flow. At the very least, I hope you will put Design Create Communicate on your list of favorite websites and check back often!