Pretty in the Queen City

Breast Cancer Advocate Switches from Fundraising to Education

After two years of riding her motorcycle across 32 states and 3 Canadian provinces with a pink bra strapped across the windshield to raise money and awareness for breast cancer causes, author Tamela Rich is switching the focus of her efforts. Why? She watched the powerful new documentary film, Pink Ribbons, Inc. 

The film exposes the breast cancer establishment's unwillingness to cooperate with environmental groups, the need for coordination between cancer researchers, and the lack of transparency on how profits on pink-ribboned merchandise are distributed. 

 

Rich is bringing Pink Ribbons, Inc. to Charlotte, NC on Thursday, May 3 at 6:00pm at the Jewish Community Center's Gorelick Hall. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion.

Tickets are $10 for individuals and $8 each when purchased in blocks of 10 or more, with proceeds from the event benefit Charlotte-based DRUMSTRONG.

Charity Navigator doesn't tell the whole story

Rich, who wrote a book based on her motorcycle travels with women affected by cancer, explains her change of heart: "Two years ago, when I joined the breast cancer cause, I checked the Charity Navigator scores of the beneficiaries I raised funds for, and thought my due diligence was complete. But as I deepened my understanding of the cancer charity landscape I learned that a well-run, high-scoring charity could nevertheless be pouring money into programs that have nothing to do with preventing or curing the disease," she said.

"I wondered why there was so little money being spent on the environmental and nutritional factors that contribute to cancer rates, and why so much money was channeled to pharmaceutical companies, which make drugs that don't prevent cancer at all. I started digging, and my research led me to the Pink Ribbons Inc. documentary, based on a book of the same name. Pink Ribbons lays bare the conflicting interests of those claiming to have a passion for curing breast cancer, including some of the most-recognized breast cancer charities. The movie also examines the pink ribbon culture--the sisterhood that has proliferated along with the incidence of the disease itself--and how people have been lured into shopping for a cure instead of holding charities, companies, governments and other institutions accountable for reducing the incidence of all forms of cancer."

Rich decided to bring the film to Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday May 3 at 6pm, and to round it out with a panel discussion with these experts:

• Tracy Cook-Brewton, of the Sisters Network Carolinas, Inc., which serves the breast health needs of African-American women, will address the point that breast cancer is marketed as a disease that strikes middle-class Caucasian women. She will provide information about how this affects access to care and treatment.
• Ann Fox, PhD,  Associate Professor of English and Gender Studies Concentration Coordinator at Davidson College, who is interested in the "prettiness" versus "power" factor of the ubiquitous pink ribbon.  
• Neel Stallings, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Outstanding volunteer of the year (2012) and Interim Director of the Charlotte Komen affiliate, will address the role of Komen affiliates, their degree of autonomy from the parent organization and the $5m granted in the local area to underserved breast health needs.
• Rosemarie Tong, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Health Care Ethics in the Department of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Applied and Professional Ethics at UNC Charlotte, will speak to the ethical questions raised in the film. 

What about this year's road trip? 

Rich will once again adorn her BMW motorcycle with a pink bra, but this time, when tourists and townsfolk across the US and Canada ask what she's doing, her message will be educational. "Pink Ribbons, Inc. made the point that less than 20% of chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products have been tested for safety by the industry’s safety panel. I want to help people prevent cancer or decrease their chance of contracting it, so I'll hand them cards with links to both the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database and to Good Guide, where they can research the products they buy for health, environmental and social responsibility."

 

Be a Trendsetter: Choose Flavor over Fizz

I have a confession. I am a diet soda junkie. It's true. I went from drinking ONLY water to being obsessed with diet soda. You don't have to tell me how bad it is. I KNOW how bad it is. 

I found out recently that Crystal Light has invited every woman to trade in her soda and "embrace the flavor" so I plan on choosing FLAVOR OVER FIZZ. Crystal Light has practically every flavor you could possibly imagine! 

Anything from Lemonade to Fruit Punch and even a variety of teas, Crystal Light wants you to love water but have FLAVOR without the calories. With as little as 5 calories per serving, you can have your flavor & drink it, too! 

It's Summer Time, the perfect time to give this challenge a GO and this is how I started. Check out how I dress up MY Crystal Light. 

 

Crystal Light in a Champagne Glass by the pool...why not?

Yes, we have Palm Trees in NC too! 

Crystal Light Lemonade.....Refreshing.......

Flavor over Fizz!

My new found HEALTHY obsession!

Are you a trendsetter? If so, will you take the challenge with me and choose FLAVOR OVER FIZZ?

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 “No monetary compensation was provided by Crystal Light or Glam Media for this post. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Crystal Light”

The Relationship Between Inner Beauty, Health and Wellness (Guest Post)

Have you ever noticed that when you're feeling down or anxious, you're likely to get a cold? Some people have noticed how being stressed can affect their overall health as well. The good thing is you have the power to control your thinking and feeling, so you can prevent getting sick if by putting some effort into having a good positive attitude and practicing inner health.

The relationship between our feelings and our health is a growing topic among wellness experts, and with good reason. The connection between mind and body is a relatively new field expanding into traditional medicine, where we are beginning to understand how important it is to keep a healthy attitude to enjoy our overall health. The saying “Sound mind, sound body,” has never been more apparent as in our current lifestyle.

But how do we keep a sound mind? We all know the need to stay active and participate in physical fitness to stay healthy, but being active also determines our inner health. As we exercise, we not only burn calories and tone muscles, there is also a physical transformation inside our bodies that releases “feel good” substances called endorphins, which help us decrease our stress levels. When our stress levels are down, our body is healthier and we are less prone to illnesses. So listen to the doctor when he tells you, “Exercise is good for you.”

Another way to keep our inner health in check is to practice doing things we love, developing a hobby or craft that we can practice when we’re also feeling a little stressed or worried. These activities don’t need to be expensive nor complicated in order to enjoy them. Some people like crossword puzzles, other people like to meditate or read mystery novels. Whatever thing it is you like to do, and as simple as it may be, make time for it and time to enjoy it as often as you can. This helps you maintain your inner health because it promotes a happy state, contentment only you can enjoy, and eventually share with others.

Sharing with others is also a great way to keep your spirits up and your body healthy. Make it a point to see your loved ones and your friends. Go out and socialize, talk to people more often and you’ll be able to see you’re not alone in whatever daily troubles that may worry you. Yes, everybody has problems and it is easier to go on in life if you have a support group and friends to help you through them.

One of the best ways to connect health and inner beauty is to smile. Practice genuine smile more often, and as corny and cliché as it sounds, it WILL make the world a happier place. This in turn will make you look and feel better. A person who smiles, in good times and bad, is most definitely a beautiful person inside and out.

 

Check out  www.lulyforma.com for more advice on the latest exercise programs, health information, beauty, nutrition and well-being

 

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About Luly Mitchell :

Expertise: Exercise, Fitness, Training, Well-being, Lifestyle, Alternative Medicine, Olympics, Dance, and Tourism

TV Appearance: http://tvguestpert.com/guestpert_details.asp?guestpert=205

I was born in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico and lived in the city of Chihuahua since I was 5 years old. At that age my father enrolled me in the city gym and I began training in Olympic gymnastics. I was part of the Chihuahua State Gymnastics Team and I also participated in other sports such as swimming, tennis, racketball and volleyball.

My other activities always included dance and music. I participated in various dance schools: Jazz, Mexican Folkloric and Hip-Hop, among others. I always enjoyed the discipline of the rehearsals and was very pleased to see results when the audience was entertained and happy with our performances.

In 1985 I began to take aerobic classes. I always felt good to exercise to the beat of music. That same year I traveled to Los Angeles, CA to learn English for 6 months. I was staying at an aunt’s house and worked in a gym in Hollywood. She invited me to her gym where I learned more about aerobics and also took a course for certification as an aerobics instructor. The teacher that taught that class gave me my first opportunity as an instructor in that gym. It was a great time for me!

I had to return to Mexico to finish my university studies. Back in Chihuahua, I taught aerobics in the best local gyms. At the same time I was working as a model and had a TV show where I also taught aerobics to all the viewers.

To obtain my certificate as a personal trainer, I prepared and trained very hard. I consider myself a very active and creative person. I’m always looking for new ways to improve in everything I do. In 1987 I won the Aerobics Marathon in which over 150 people participated. This was a great personal accomplishment, I knew that all my efforts, discipline and training had paid off.

Another personal achievment was obtaining my bachelor’s degree in tourism and presenting my professional exam. Although my heart had always been in physical fitness, I tried to combine both careers. I worked for the Chihuahua International Airport as head of Public Relations and afterwards as the Promotions Director for an important chain of hotels in Chihuahua.

This also gave me the opportunity to continue preparing myself as a fitness trainer. Every 6 months I traveled to Los Angeles to take different master classes in aerobics, jazz and dance to prepare myself and be updated with the latest exercise trends. In 1991 I took one of the biggest and most important decisions in my life: I decided to live in Los Angeles, California. I was offered a job as a fitness instructor and personal trainer. It was a hard decision because I left behind family, friends and my old job. But I loved Los Angeles and thought it was a magical place with the beaches, mountains and people from every country in one great package. Wow!

I have worked very hard and my reward has been the popularity of my Fiesta Latina class. One of my greatest satisfactions is to have taught in the best gyms in Los Angeles, like Sports Club LA, Spectrum Club, LA Fitness, Sports Connection, Crunch, Madonna Grimes Studios, to name a few.

In 1995 I got married to my wonderful husband and 3 years later I received the greatest joy in my life: the birth of my son.

During the year 2000 I had several difficulties to overcome. One of them was that I was diagnosed with MVP, Mitral Valve Prolapse. One of my heart valves was not functioning correctly and for over six months I was not able to exercise. I studied extensively about this condition and found a remedy based on alternative medicine which helped me recover completely. I thank God that everything was resolved and that I could continue with my workouts, which are a fundamental part of my life.

In 2003 my good friend and producer Alejandro Munguia and I began working on a exercise video to fill the need to promote health and well being through exercise that results in improving your lifestyle. We created this DVD which is informative, fun and effective.

Certificates:

ACE: AMERICAN COUNCIL OF EXERCISE

FEMARA: FEDERACION MEXICANA DE ACTIVIDADES RITMICAS AEROBICAS

FITKID AND AEROKID (Exercise and Activities for kids from pre-school to 18 years old)

 

 

Get Your Skin Ready for Summer With Epsom Salt (Guest Post)

GET YOUR SKIN READY FOR SUMMER WITH EPSOM SALT

(Article Provided By the Epsom Salt Council)

Experts Say Epsom Salt is Perfect for Manicures, Pedicures and Relaxing Soaks That Will Brighten Your Skin

June 22, 2010 - As the summer heats up, several beauty experts suggest using Epsom salt to get your feet ready for sandals season, to brighten your skin and to lighten your stress.

"It's one of the least expensive beauty products on the market," says Marsha Bialo, an award-winning celebrity manicurist who has worked with the nation's top photographers and on advertising campaigns for clients such as Bebe, Nordstrom, Estee Lauder, Jessica Simpson and Victoria Secret. "It doesn't matter if you're a celebrity, or an average person on a budget. Epsom salt has a multitude of uses."

Bialo recommends bi-weekly pedicures to ease aches and pains, reduce swelling and disinfect blisters or lesions. Her step-by-step suggestions: give your feet a comfortable place to rest by folding a bath towel and positioning it at the bottom of a bucket. Mix half a cup of Epsom salt with some warm, soapy water to soften skin and calluses and dry out the bacteria from blisters. Next, remove old polish with a cotton pad soaked with nail polish remover, cut nails straight across with clippers then file them square to remove sharp edges. Soak for five minutes, dip a file into the water and use it to smooth your heels, the balls of your feet and the outer edges of your pinkie toes. Afterward, Bialo suggests Calcium Gel Fortifier or Ridge Filling Base Coat by China Glaze followed by a bright, summery coat of polish, and then finish with Seche Vite top coat for a lasting shine.

At the Spa at the Intercontinental San Francisco, you can pamper yourself with an ice cream manicure or pedicure that's made from Epsom salt, a blend of six oils, minerals and fragrances. The treatments are crafted to smell like ice cream - either chocolate, vanilla or pomegranate - and Spa Director Ryan O'Connor says it helps soothe muscles, reduce stress and improve your skin.

"It removes the outer layer of dead skin cells, so your feet and hands look rejuvenated, your skin is going to be more supple and it will look brighter," O'Connor says. "Relaxing your hands and feet is one of the best things people can do for themselves."

O'Connor says he also recommends people soak in Epsom salt and essential oils at home, once a week for 20 minutes, as a way to detox and reduce tension in the spine and throughout the body.

"It actually knocks me out, it's so relaxing," O'Connor said.

Here are some other tips for using Epsom salt to create an at-home spa:

* GLOWING SKIN EXFOLIATING TREATMENT: Mix 2 cups of Epsom Salt with 1/4 cup of petroleum jelly and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Use the mixture to gently scrub away dry skin patches.

* MICRODERMABRASION FACIAL: Mix 1/2 TSP of Epsom Salt into cleansing cream for a deep-pore cleansing. Massage on skin. Rinse with cool water. Pat dry.

* HOMEMADE BATH CRYSTALS: Mix two cups of Epsom Salt with a few drops of fragrance to create a custom bath crystal. Add a few drops of food coloring or 1/2 TSP of glycerin if you like. Store in an air-tight container.

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About Spa at the Intercontinental San Francisco

The elegant I-SPA draws from San Francisco's diverse cultures, green practices and high-tech influences to create experiences that feel just right in today's world. Each visit begins with a guided consultation to address personal goals, and treatments are customized with Murad products, modalities, oils and music based on individual preferences and needs. After an indulgent foot soak, treatments are conducted in state-of-the-art rooms complete with iPod access. For more information, please visit http://www.interconspasf.com/.

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About Marsha Bialo 

Marsha Bialo's manicures have appeared on the hands of models and celebrities in magazine and television advertisements as well as fashion magazine spreads, including Vanity Fair, Harpers Bazaar, Allure, Self, Movie Line, ELLE, Glamour and Angeleno. In 2003, Marsha was awarded best nail artist of the year for her tissue paper nail art creation "Decoupage Couteur," which was developed for the movie Intolerable Cruelty. She is the west coast celebrity manicurist for China Glaze. For more information, please visit www.bpolished.com.

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About Epsom salt

Epsom salt - actually magnesium sulfate - is one of the most versatile household products, with uses ranging from creating at-home spa treatments to soothing achy muscles to helping start or improve gardens. It's been used therapeutically for hundreds of years, and it's gaining a new generation of fans looking for a safe, economical alternative in a sea of expensive, over-the-counter remedies. Epsom salt is easy to use, easy to find in your local pharmacy or grocery store and it costs about the same per use as a cup of coffee.

You can find the Epsom Salt Council on the Web at http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org or you can click the images below to find them on Facebook and Twitter! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Miss Me:Jenni Schaefer

Song + Yoga=Amazing. A gift of recovery.  Jenni Schaefer singing her song I MISS ME while Elisa Mott shares a beautiful piece she put together of yoga/dance. A beautiful way to start your weekend. 

 

Total Beauty Thursday: Tea Time-Make it GREEN

Tea Time – Make it GREEN

 

 

(Photo By: Tom Antony)

 

 

…and turn back the hands of time.  Yes.  It’s now a proven scientific fact, thanks to the work of Professor Iris Benzie.  A powerful new discovery helps explain why green tea drinkers seem to avoid weight gain, depression, cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

Amazingly, her discovery reveals this drink helps to protect your DNA, the tiny building blocks found inside nearly every cell in your body.

Radiation, UV rays, toxins, chemicals, free radicals, and unhealthy diet can all -- over time -- damage your DNA.  Your body is capable of repairing some of it, not all, however.  The good news is green tea can help prevent problems from even occurring in your DNA in the first place.

Iris Benzie and her team of researchers recruited 18 healthy volunteers to participate in a study examining the effects of green tea on DNA. They divided the volunteers into two groups. One group drank two cups of one percent green tea (longjing green tea or screw-shaped green tea) every day for four weeks. The other group drank water every day for four weeks.

Samples of the participants' blood and urine before and after the month-long study showed that the group who drank green tea reduced their DNA damage by 20 percent.  After just 30 days of drinking green tea!  

And it keeps getting better…

Research from earlier this year shows that drinking three cups of green tea every day may significantly increase your lifespan.

This time, scientists compared the length of telomeres among green tea drinkers. (Telomeres are DNA sequences at the end of your chromosomes. They shorten as your cells replicate and age. So the longer your telomeres are, the "younger" your cells.)

Scientists found that men and women who drank an average of three cups of green tea per day had a big advantage over those who only drank one cup. In fact, their telomeres were 4.6 kilobases longer.

Translation:  about five years of life.  Wow!

Make sure you’re drinking the real stuff, though, made by you with tea bags or the loose leaf kind. Don't fall for the sweetened kind found in bottles. These only contain a fraction of the antioxidants found in real green tea. Instead, it's mostly sugar and water.

Cheers, Professor Benzie.  I raise my glass (cup of green tea!) to all the beautiful work you do.

Loving you at Loving U,
Janice

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After 25 years in corporate America, Janice Ward pursued her lifelong passion in the wellness industry in 1999 by opening her first wellness spa. A fan of yoga and meditation since the age of 16, her wellness education and background comes from studies in the United States, Canada, Peru, Nepal, Tibet and Thailand.