Wordless Wednesday(a little late)

A place to rest...

 

Memorial Day--We Remember

 

Our Memorial Weekend has turned out to be one of the best ever--weather wise. Everyone is so happy to finally have warm weather! Lots of families are at the lake, camping, grilling and just plain having fun. However, we really shouldn't lose sight of what this holiday really means. 

 Memorial Day is a day we set aside to honor and remember those veterans who have died in the service of our country. It started out to honor those in the Union Army who died in the American Civil War. After the first World War, it was expanded to include American casualties of any war or military action. 

 I am very, very grateful for those who have served in our military and those that are currently serving. In our country, sometimes I think we take our national security for granted. The tragedy of 9/11 was a wake-up call for us. The fact that we have not had another major terrorist attack in the U.S. proves we have incredibly brave men and women who are working to protect our precious gift of freedom here at home and around the world.

Please take the time today to remember those in your family (or friends) who died serving our country.


 As Jerry and I were driving to my sister's cabin we passed a golf course along the highway that had American flags planted all along the course. Quite a touching sight!

Wordless Wednesday

Another use for this sad old chair...

 

Doe this Photograph Make Me Look Fat?

Does anyone really like the way they look in photographs? (Well, maybe the youngun's that are into taking selfies with their cell phones.) Most women I know aren't always happy with the way they look. Usually it's because they think they look fat (even if they really aren't). I have often cringed when looking at photographs of myself!

I was really happy to read this article "4 Big Reasons You Look Fat in Photographs" on The Haute Girl blog.  While the title drew me in, it was the great tips Alea gave on looking good in photos that kept me reading. These tips are pretty simple and looking at her examples, really seem to make a difference.

I love this quote from her post  "Make sure the reason you hate “That” photo of yourself is because it’s a bad photo, and not because you hate yourself. Remember that a bad photo isn’t a true reflection always of what you look like, that at the end of the day what is on the inside is more beautiful that a photo could ever capture!"

Six Nail Ideas for Spring and Summer

I haven't posted any fun things to do with nails for awhile so here we go: 

* A Tribal Look for your nails. 

 Go here for more info.


 *Butterfly Nails

Go here for more info.

 *Cool Ombre

Go here for more info.


*Nude Nails (using coffee grounds!)

Go here for more info. 

*Watermelon Nails

Go here for more info.

and one for the toes...


*Ladybugs 

Go here for more info.

Would you do your nails like any of these? I like those ladybugs!
 

Wordless Wednesday

First attempt using Lightroom to edit. 

 

Here Comes the Sun

 Yes, I did see it--even if it was for just a teensy weensy time today! The sun finally came out. It has been overcast and rainy for the past week. Our local weather guy did say today that the sun should come out and STAY out later this week. So that got me thinking about the sun and how we need to protect ourselves from its rays.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, prevention works best when consistent, healthy habits are adopted early in life. Considering that just one blistering sunburn during childhood nearly doubles the lifetime risk of melanoma, early education and protection is so important. (Wish my parents had known this when I was little.)

The three major types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas can cause substantial illness and, if untreated, can cause considerable damage and disfigurement. If detected and treated early, however, these carcinomas have a cure rate of more than 95%.

Malignant melanoma causes more than 75% of all deaths from skin cancer. This disease can spread to other organs, most commonly the lungs and liver. Malignant melanoma diagnosed at an early stage usually can be cured, but melanoma diagnosed at a late stage is more likely to spread and cause death.

Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays appears to be the most important environmental factor in developing skin cancer. This makes skin cancer a largely preventable disease.

UV rays from artificial sources of light, such as tanning beds and sun lamps are just as dangerous as those from the sun, and should also be avoided.

No matter what your skin type sun exposure can damage your immune system and make your body more vulnerable to infections and cancers.

To keep safe:

• Minimize exposure to the sun during the hours when exposure could be most damaging, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Typically, exposure at 8 a.m. or 4 p.m. is only one third that at midday. Try getting outdoor activities accomplished during minimum exposure hours. Remember, however, you can still get a sunburn even in the mid-afternoon.
• Remember that incidental time in the sun can add up to long-term sun damage, including the time spent walking the dog, window shopping, performing outdoor chores, or jogging at lunch. Even on overcast days, 30 to 60% of the sun's rays can penetrate to the Earth's surface.
• Wear a hat and other protective clothing, as well as sunglasses, to protect your body from too much sun.
• Use 'broad spectrum sunscreens,' which are those that contain active ingredients that absorb at least 85 percent of the UVA and UVB rays of the sun. Read labels carefully and choose a broad spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15, which filters out both UVA and UVB radiation. Check your sunscreen from last summer for its expiration date.
• Apply sunscreen liberally to all exposed skin, about 20 minutes before exposure, especially to areas like the rims of the ears, the back of the neck, and the tops of the feet. For an average adult, the recommended dose is 1 ounce, or what would fit into a shot glass per application. Reapply every 2 hours, after being in the water, or after exercising and sweating.

Performing a self-examine is easy and smart.

• Examine your body front and back in the mirror, then right and left sides, arms raised.
• Bend your elbows, look carefully at your forearms, back of your upper arms and palms.
• Look at the backs of your legs and feet, spaces between toes and soles.
• Examine the back of your neck and scalp with a hand mirror.

• Finally, check your back and buttocks with a hand mirror. 

In the June 2014 issue of O Magazine Dr.Oz says "A recent study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that people instructed to use sunscreen daily had 24 percent fewer wrinkles than those who used it at their own discretion."

 Hopefully the sun is shining where you are. Do you have a favorite brand of sunscreen?
 

Happy Mother's Day

Wordless Wednesday

                                               As seen on Mount Vernon Avenue, Delray VA.

 

Weathering the Storm

Watching the news and seeing the destruction caused by tornadoes in the south was heart-breaking. I can't imagine going through that and losing everything. It may me really take notice of an article in AAA Living on "Weathering the Storm". Lots of good information such as:

*Looking for things that might be affected by weather such as electronics (unplug them as bad weather approaches) or an old tree that could fall on your house. Take note also of outside furniture that could be blown in the storm. (My brother-in-law had the neighbor's trampoline fly through their front picture window.) 

*  You should have an updated inventory of all your possessions and valuables. Use a camera or your phone to take photos or a video of the contents of your house. Then store these in the Cloud or off-site. If a tragedy occurs, you may be hard pressed to remember everything you've lost.

*Review your home-owners and auto policies. Do you understand everything they cover?

* You should have a flashlight, extra water, food,batteries and a battery-powered radio.

All really good tips that we are going to implement. The May/June issue of AAA Living has more info on what to do during and after a storm. Hopefully you will never need it!