I am SO pleased to be working with i play.® this year during A Blogtastic Extravaganza 2.0! My theme is “Safe Sunning” and it is a theme that is very near and dear to my heart. My family history is riddled with cancer, skin cancer being the most prevalent. I had an uncle who had [...]
Dec 102011
If cancer has taken or affected the life of someone you love, “Like” this post.
I’d have to “like” it several times for the number of people I know who have had cancer and survived, and a few more times for the people I know who were not so fortunate.
My first exposure to cancer was when I was in high school. My mom’s eldest brother, Noel was diagnosed with lung cancer when I was a junior. The summer following his diagnosis, he had lung surgery to remove the cancer and parts of his lung. I don’t know the particulars of what happened next but I know that they took the wrong lung. He passed away my senior year in high school as he lost his battle with cancer.
Shortly thereafter, my mom’s youngest brother, Quentin, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Malignant Melanoma. He had a spot on his scalp that he never got checked out. As a result of his lackadaisical approach to his healthcare, he eventually passed away after fighting cancer for a few years. He was 41.
Both of my grandfathers, my mom, my sister, and I have all had skin cancers removed from our bodies, so clearly the gene is there.
Most recently, an extremely close family friend lost her life to lung cancer. She had also battled and won a fight with breast cancer, but it was the lung cancer that eventually took her life. It is devastating to have so many people in my life being affected by cancer, which is why I am a proud supporter of the American Cancer Society.
I appreciate their efforts to find cures for cancer, and to figure out what causes cancers beyond the obvious offenders. If I told you that a simple diet change would drastically reduce your risk of developing cancer, would you listen? Would you make the change? Just food for thought, we’ll talk about that another day.
In the meantime, what do you think about The American Cancer Society’s Happy Birthday campaign? I find it inspiring. Here is my favorite video:
This post is sponsored by American Cancer Society.
Oct 202011
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I present to you:
I tried my darndest to find pictures of Snow White’s boobs but there were none to be found. You can see from this angle that she was relatively flat which is probably why she felt safe living with 7 dudes. I’ll bet she was quite the prude and probably didn’t visit her doctor on an annual basis to get a breast exam.
Cinderella has quite the perky rack. You would think that spending so much time on her hands and knees scrubbing floors would put gravity into practice and pull those puppies down a bit but man, the things I’d do for a small, perky set like that! I hope she got outdoors relatively often. Low Vitamin D exposure is actually a risk factor for breast cancer!
Princess Aurora is really sporting the 1950′s cone bra style, isn’t she? Cramming her girls into a bra like this is not likely to cause breast cancer like some people think. Her sedentary lifestyle, however; increases her risk factors for developing breast cancer. She should get between 4 and 7 hours of moderate to intense exercise a week to reduce her risk.
Ariel has a sweet little set and she’s not afraid to show them off! I hope she is aware of the bacteria and chemical levels in the water that she lives in. Local water sources aren’t always as safe as they should be. Her exposure to chemicals in water increases her risk for breast cancer. It’s a shame she doesn’t live in filtered water, she’d be much safer that way.
(Sorry Belle is a little blurry). Belle was pretty discreet with her puppies which might be why the Beast finally soaked up the courage to woo her; he knew she wasn’t a floozy. But she might have a family history of breast cancer. Belle’s dad was a widower so we’ll just go ahead and surmise that Belle’s mom passed from late-stage breast cancer. Because Belle’s mom had breast cancer, she has a much higher risk of developing it as well. Belle should be seen by a doctor on an annual basis to rule it out.
Jasmine might have my favorite boobs of all the princesses. She flaunts them and they bounce nicely back into place when she’s being active. Jasmine should check her hookah at the door, though. Smoking doesn’t just affect the lungs. It can also cause other cancers including breast cancer.
Pocahontas’ boobs are the biggest of all the princess’s. I’m not gonna lie, there has been more than one instance where I wished I had Pocahontas’ rack. She really should lay off of her time outdoors. I know Vitamin D is a good thing but her overexposure to the sun isn’t. I hope she uses sunscreen, but if she does, I hope that it is a chemical-free one. She’s better off wearing long sleeves and a wide-brim hat than wearing chemical-based sunscreen and that deer-skin-street-walker ensemble she runs around in.
Mulan is a total tomboy and proves it with her conservative man-dress. Just because she wants to be one of the guys doesn’t mean she’s exempt from breast cancer. She might be onto something, though. She stays away from makeup which reduces her risk for breast cancer since chemicals in cosmetics are known to increase breast cancer risk. Nice work, Mulan!
Our beautiful dark-skinned Princess from Nawlins is certainly some serious eye-candy with a perky rack. But New Orleans is known for its fried, delicious food. Princess Tiana either stays far away from the grease or she has a pretty sweet metabolism. Either way, the food she eats can help determine her risk for breast cancer. No, Princess Tiana! Don’t eat that Beignet! And stay away from the red tide crawfish!
See? Even Disney Princesses are at risk for breast cancer. I’m absolutely guilty of refraining from the self-exam but I shouldn’t be. I have young friends who are breast cancer survivors, and know even more women in their 40s and 50s who have had it as well.
Don’t forget to check yourself often and know your risks! It helps to know where you’re going if you know where you’ve been.
I am so honored to be participating in “A Blogtastic Extravaganza 2.0″! There are over 100 blogs participating all with the intention to bring YOU, my lovely readers (and new readers) some serious awesomeness. You have the opportunity to win thousands of dollars worth of swag here, and from all of the other blogs involved.
You only have a short time to play and win. The event runs from August 17, 00:01 to August 21, 11:59 so get goin’, there are lots of blogs to explore for phenomenal prize packages! But before you go:
I have TWO packages to give away!
1. Safe Sunning Package includes:
1 full sized Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen & 1 full sized Goddess Garden Kid’s Natural Sunscreen valued at $18.99 EACH!
Your choice of i play.® tie dye rash guard sets (pink or blue) valued at $29.99!
2. Back to School Package Includes (Total Retail Value of $64.95):
*Back to School Pack from Lovable Labels (over 164 labels!) valued at $44.95!
*$20 gift card to WalMart to help with back to school shopping!
How to earn entries to WIN on Banana Hammocks & Tutus:
This is an easy peasy giveaway! ONE, SIMPLE MANDATORY entry with lots of extra entries IF you want them.
First, the “mandatory entry” is given for Following me via Google Friend Connect. If for some reason GFC isn’t working, subscribe to Banana Hammocks & Tutus via email. Leave a comment in the form towards the bottom of this page, telling me which one you did.
That’s it! That will earn you an entry into the drawing for whichever prize package you choose!!
Easy as pie!
Want MORE chances to win?? You didn’t have to pull MY leg.
1. Visit this Goddess Garden post and follow the instructions to gain more entries.
2. Visit this i play.® post and follow the instructions to gain more entries.
3. Come back to this site as often as you can during this event. Leave me a valuable comment on any of my blog posts… THEN, be sure to come back to THIS post and let me know where you left a comment! (this post will be at the top of my page for the duration of this event).
EACH comment will earn you another entry WHEN you come back to this post and inform me that you left the comment and where.
4. ”Like” Banana Hammocks & Tutus on Facebook then come back here and use the form to tell me you did so.
5. Follow me on Twitter SummerLenD then come back here and use the form to tell me you did so.
6. Tweet about this event using the hash tag #ABE2 and @SummerLenD in the tweet. Come back here and use the form to tell me you did so. Please leave me the permalink. (you can do this 3 times per day, must be spaced 4 hours apart).
7. Share this event on Facebook. Please tag Banana Hammocks & Tutus and one of my sponsors. Come back here and use the form to tell me you did so. Please leave me the permalink. (you can do this 2 times per day, spaced 6 hours apart).
TWO winners will be randomly chosen on Sunday August 21st, 2011. No entries will be accepted after 11:59 pm on August 21st. The winners will be given 7 days to respond and claim prizes. If the winners do not respond by the following Saturday August 28th at 11:59 pm, another winner will be randomly drawn.
*** Make sure I have your email address so I can contact you if you win!! ***
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Goddess Garden – #ABE2 Sponsor Spotlight *EXTRA ENTRIES*I am SO pleased to be working with Goddess Garden this year during A Blogtastic Extravaganza 2.0! My theme is “Safe Sunning” and it is a theme that is very near and dear to my heart. My family history is riddled with cancer, skin cancer being the most prevalent. I had an uncle who [...] |
Come to Our Nest 
