Happy Tuesday! I am still reeling over the fantastic response to our sun savvy pledge!
With my bestie {ah}'s birthday in mind, I thought the easiest way to see how I've changed over
the years is to share some photos from my own sun savvy {r}evolution. You'll see the rapid uptick
in my tan in 2007 when I bought a tanning membership--and then the gradual decline after my melanoma diagnosis in mid-2008. It was my wake-up call to stop damaging my body and wasting my money in the tanning bed...and channel those funds into better things, like visiting {ah} in Texas and now in NYC.
In the first picture, I'm on the left, {ah} is in the middle, + {ch} on the right on the night {ah} first introduced me to {ch}!
the years is to share some photos from my own sun savvy {r}evolution. You'll see the rapid uptick
in my tan in 2007 when I bought a tanning membership--and then the gradual decline after my melanoma diagnosis in mid-2008. It was my wake-up call to stop damaging my body and wasting my money in the tanning bed...and channel those funds into better things, like visiting {ah} in Texas and now in NYC.
In the first picture, I'm on the left, {ah} is in the middle, + {ch} on the right on the night {ah} first introduced me to {ch}!
Spanning seven years, these photos show my gradual change from "too tan" to healthy.
{These photos are also a disturbing reminder of what I used to consider fashion. OY!}
I definitely am learning to embrace my natural color...which isn't so bad after all ;)
I definitely am learning to embrace my natural color...which isn't so bad after all ;)
All these things aside, it's also a fabulous reminder of my beautiful friend {ah}'s presence in my life in the last 84+ months. I'm so grateful to have friends like {ah} who stand by me in the happiest {and the hardest} of times. I look forward to adding photos from 2054 and beyond because my diagnosis in 2008 opened my eyes to sun safety.
I'm definitely happier in my paler skin because I know that {God-willing} I'll be around to see
that 50th anniversary of our friendship. Join me in taking the sun savvy pledge...so you can
that 50th anniversary of our friendship. Join me in taking the sun savvy pledge...so you can
keep making memories with your own friends and families many years into the future,
without the ever present worry of skin cancer because you have better sun safe habits.
What are you doing to change your skin care routine?
Can you identify when your skin consciousness shifted?
Thank you again for all of your support and encouragement!
Each and every day is a blessing...and we should all live with that in mind :)
Until tomorrow! xoxo {av}
P.S. And {ah}--thank you for being an unending source of love and support. Your friendship means the world to me and it always will! You deserve every happiness in the world for the kindness you always show to those around you. I love you for always!
P.P.S. Peek at my travel-inspired guest post on Bloom!
love this! you look fantastic lady, and i am SO proud of you for starting sunSavvy with DM. sun safety is SO important and its great youre spreading the word. i signed the pledge and added the ss button to my blog! much love. xo jillian
ReplyDeleteYou look gorgeous! So proud to see two of my favorite bloggers ambitions team together for sun savvy - what an amazing idea!! Both of your posts about your skin had me call up the derm and schedule an appt, so thanks to you guys I am now sun savvy! xo
ReplyDeleteI took the pledge! It took me a serious wake up call to realize that I should stop tanning, which I blogged about yesterday. Hop over and check out my post!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could tell my 20-year old self to put some sunscreen on. The damage I did...
ReplyDeleteReading this and taking pledges makes me realize how crazy I was to go to the tanning bed and lay on the beach with no protection. It's never to early to change your negative habits! Thanks for shining the light on this subject.
ReplyDeleteOMG such cute photos. Fun to see you guys evolve over the years!
ReplyDeletexo
Alexa
www.theshortandthesweetofit.com
I really do love that you're doing this. PS. Your natural color is BEAUTIFUL!
ReplyDeleteWay to be pale and proud! I'm a redhead so the sun has NEVER been kind to me- but now that I'm in my late 20's I fully embrace pale skin, and I have my dermatologists praise to keep me going. REALLY big high five to you- keep up the healthy sun habits! (and keep up the good work encouraging others!)
ReplyDeleteGood for you for taking care of yourself. many people ignore warnings - and even a diagnosis - just to be tan. Totally not worth it. This summer I've been thinking about how scary it is and if it's worth playing in the sun for too long.
ReplyDeleteIt’s great that you shared your story. A lot of people don’t realize the dangers of the sun. I always preach to my friends… sunblock always! Even on forecast, rainy days. Oh and don’t forget the neck and hands.
ReplyDeleteJust added the button to my blog this morning! :) And, I put sunscreen on before I went out for my run this morning at 6:30am! :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea, I'm all for being sun savvy and embracing skin minus a tan! I'm with you - used to tan WAY too much. Great to see some fellow bloggers spreading such an inspirational idea to others!
ReplyDeleteThese photos are so wonderful, and it's fascinating to see your skin evolution! Here's to 50 years of sun savvy!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this. I'd do the same but aside from the occasional spray tan I've always been very white. I couldn't tan if I wanted to..but burn like it's no one's business which is why I wear my sunscreen!
ReplyDeletexo
this is a great post and great reminder for sun safety. thanks friend! :) XO, A
ReplyDeleteThank you for the sweet comment on my blog! Sounds like I'm in good, Midwestern company :) So glad your comment led me to yours- what a great concept for a blog! (New follower!) I look forward to reading more XO
ReplyDeletehttp://honestelegance.blogspot.com
You are just so encouraging!! and it's definitely a breath of fresh air from the "tan is more beautiful" outlook! Takes off the pressure now to know that more and more are becoming comfortable in their natural, pale skin! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I have super fair skin but used to try to tan. Bad idea. I'm really good about staying out of the sun and wearing sunblock now. And there's always the lovely airbrush tan if you need a pick-me-up!
ReplyDeletei worked at a tanning salon for the first few years of college and of course got to tan for free. the tanner the better was how it went. i quit tanning every day in 2005, and i think this year is the first year that my tan lines had absolutely faded. crazy that it took so long. i have moles that i have keep my eye on and my grandma had skin cancer so i try to think im super aware. best of luck with sun savvy!
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