Breast Cancer Awareness

PINKRIBBON.COM

October is upon us. And I'm feeling very conflicted. 

On the one hand, I know of course, what the beauty industry has done for breast cancer awareness. I do, really. It's raised millions of dollars/pounds.

However, this last month, after the huge influx of press releases advising me of products donating '5% of profits' - for example - and especially after googling 'breast cancer awareness' and seeing a paid-for SEO ad for a very famous face cream, I'm just feeling a little - I don't even know - dubious? Hesitant?

Each to their own of course, but this year I've made a donation to Breast Cancer Care. I'd rather 100% of my money goes where its needed, not used to promote a brands CSR (at my most cynical moment).

I've experienced lumps - more than once, been to the Marsden, given the all-clear.
I've experienced my best friend's survival.
And this year all of Amica's friends and family experienced breast cancer at its worst.

If you collect the Limited Editions, feel its a great way to give, I'm not here to knock that - at all. Like I said, each to their own. I have plenty of friends that actively look forward to collecting all things 'pink'. 

It's just not for me this year.

Breast Cancer Care

Cancer Research UK

PinkRibbon.com

Wear it Pink

What do you think? Am I really off-base? Am I wrong? Do you agree its a bit 'bandwagon' and not always for the right reasons? And on another note, has it completely cannibalised cancer 'giving'? 

I just don't know.

In the meantime, look at these brilliant ads for breast cancer awareness from around the world.

Oh and while I'm at it, can someone explain why boobs are perfectly appropriate in a national newspaper - but breast cancer adverts are still being banned? 

That was Summer.....

Probably the best summer fragrance....

US shopping resulted in very few finds. Sorry girls! This one wasn't altogether heinous. 

The Promised Land

Real Techniques making an appearance in Grand Central - yes, I got stared at....

Fresh make-it-at-the-table guacamole 

Love New London Pharmacy in Chelsea

I love NYC.

Made this happy purchase....

C O Bigelow - bliss!

Lovely cleanser - unfortunately impossible to use - make a pump please!

Had the teeth whitened - and scared small children.

Tried to relax on hols. Tried.

Saved my face with Clarins....

And did the Perricone 3 Day Diet to kick-start healthier living after the summer excesses....

The face that says 'What? So I love ravioli - WHAT?'

Enjoying post-hols skin - while it lasted!

Beautiful new Jo Malone fragrance

A present from my brother. I love you too.

Assouline - my favourite bookstore.

The kids watching Nana put her make-up on... :)

Mum's 'regular' make-up. *eyebrow*

Stolen by Mum who was obsessed after one use.

My Mum is the only person I know that can grow grapes up North. 

Sorry I just had to. Source unknown - but I love it.

We said Happy Birthday to this chap....

We said Goodbye to Amica

We said Hello to a new addition in the family (she's not mine!)

And I went back to work - let the testing begin....

I hope you all had a wonderful Summer - I don't know about you but I'm looking forward to Autumn.

Housekeeping and The Faith Brothers

So many things popped into my head while I was on holiday that left me thinking 'ooh I must mention that on the blog!'

I thought a weekly (or more often) housekeeping post would help my brain put everything into one place - responses to some comments, newness, what I've been doing - and just general news.

First up:

Thank you for your lovely responses to yesterday's post. I'm so encouraged that you got where I was coming from and grateful for the support. Let us make no more mention of 'them' and move on to nicer people. :)
Some of you had recognised Amica and couldn't quite place where - she was one of QVC's longest-serving models - but to us she was much more. A longtime friend and neighbour - our kids go to the same schools and we we've witnessed her journey with cancer first hand. When I turned up to do my first on-air QVC show Amica was coincidentally booked as the model. Seeing her face in the Green Room immediately put me at ease to the point where Aly said on air: 'You two are like old friends!' - to which we both replied 'We ARE!'. She was a kind, generous, loving woman and will be greatly missed by us all.

Jetlag.

I used to travel a lot for work. Everywhere - the US, the Far East - but I have never been so jetlagged as I have been this week after getting back from our hols. Last night was the first time I've begun to sleep normally in a week. What is THAT about?

Kids.

Why don't kids get jetlag like adults? Ugh. Mine are like Duracell batteries while the Mister and I are sofa-bound sloths.

IBS (possible TMI for those of you that prefer to skip ahead to the next topic).

Unfortunately the food was not great while we were away and it triggered the worst bout of IBS I've had in years. Literally. I've managed IBS with diet for the last few years and had forgotten just how bad the cramps etc are. So many of you mentioned you suffer too - feel free to leave me any sworn-by remedies in the comments - I can do without that again!

Work.

All quiet on the retail front. It's August. The world is either away - or pretending they are away.

Everyone in beauty retail.

Let the September pre-Christmas madness begin!

One more before I go.

Many years ago (almost 30 - WHAT?!?!) - my girlfriends and I followed a band called The Faith Brothers. *waves to Cheryl, Heather, Michelle, Nicky, Jo and the Faith's gang*

Ah how we rocked a crimper.

Formed by Billy Franks and Lee Hirons (check the surname) they are ultimately how I met Jim.

Their first album has just been remastered by my very clever brother-in-law and has been released as a special deluxe edition. What kind of a platform is this if I can't plug family?




*throws hands in the air - shouts 'GRIP-PERRRRR!!!!!'*

The Faith Brothers music is available on iTunes, Amazon and through Cherry Red Records.
More info on Billy and Lee.
Fath Brothers FB page.

Thanks for letting me shamelessly plug the fam.

Have a great weekend.

Trolls - and what actually matters.

Last night I was reading some comments below posts where I had been mentioned on other sites. There were a couple of not-so-nice comments which gave me about 5 minutes of 'How very dare they?' mini-rage. *flounce*

When I woke up this morning I had a long discussion with one of my best girlfriends about the funeral arrangements for Amica. Not to come over all melodramatic but there's nothing like a death to give you perspective.

So, my feelings on (and last discussion on this blog re) trolls:

To give you (trolls), however few of you, a platform on my blog - my space - where I spend hours, literally, trying to help people with their skin/health - in however a small way possible, seems to me to be disrespectful to the literally hundreds of people who very kindly contact me via all social channels (and in toilets) to let me know how much this blog has helped them. I have no intention of giving you more attention than them. This is my platform. And theirs. If you have constructive criticism I will always reply. If you just want to be negative about me, my appearance, my age - and especially my readers - there is no room for you here.

You are not important. To me. Or my readers. I hope you are important to someone else and treat them with the kindness, because I wish you nothing but kindness. But there is no room for you here. 

So, I will leave you instead with a picture of our beautiful friend - who will remind me daily of what is important.