May in Arizona = Plenty of Sunshine.
Wait, scratch that.
Every day in Arizona is bright. The sun is a permanent resident here…even in mid-January. It can be raining one moment, and then the sun will come out just like that. Sometimes the sun even shines while it’s raining. How cool is that?
Okay, I better zip my lips about that before you all pack your bags and head out here to the wild, wild west. On second thought, maybe that would be good for my property value…
Moving on.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness month, and skin cancer is no laughing matter.
Check out these sobering statistics from the Skin Cancer Foundation website:
- Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.
- Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon.
- One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.
- More than 20 Americans die each day from skin cancer, primarily melanoma. One person dies of melanoma almost every hour (every 62 minutes).
- One blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life.
- A person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns at any age.
Skin cancer is dangerous, and it can be deadly. As parents, it’s our responsibility to protect our children from harm…and keeping them (and ourselves) out of the sun is one important way to do that.
You can get your sun and have your fun and stay safe at the same time by…
- Slathering on sunscreen
- Wearing hats and sunglasses
- Wearing UV protective clothing
- Staying out of the sun during “peak” hours
- Being intentional about standing in the shade
- Avoiding “tanning” – outdoors or at a salon
Today, I have a giveaway bundle to help moms stay safe through the summer months:
First, I’m pleased to include some great products from SmartShield (“We’re serious about sunscreen“). The company specializes in sunscreens that are “non-oily, light on the skin, and eco-friendly.” The winner will receive all four of the below products:
KIDS SPF30 Sunscreen Lotion ($11.99) – Designed especially for children, this paba-free sunscreen is creamy and water-proof.
SPF30 Sunscreen Gel ($12.99) – If you’re not a fan of cream-based lotions, why not try a gel? It has a cooling alcohol base and is “great for people who have oily skin or acne.”
SPF30 Eyes Face and Nose Balm ($4.99) – Sunscreen in a stick! I love this concept! No need to get your hands all slimy.
SPF30 Lip Balm ($2.99) – Lips can get sunburned too! Don’t forget to smooth on some sunscreen-infused balm.
Second, the winner will also have his or her choice of any one item from UV Skinz. The company is known for sun protective swimshirts that carry a UPF rating of 50+, but they also sell UV shorts, sun hats, and shades.
My daughter looks absolutely adorable in her skinz (see below – she’s wearing the Carly Blue/Purple shirt and the Purple Girls Board Shorts). I much prefer her wearing this stylish shirt/shorts combo to a skimpy swimsuit (for a number of reasons actually…). It’s good to know that her skin is protected whether she’s splashing in a pool, running through the sprinklers in the backyard, or swinging “super high” on the swings at the park.

Interestingly, both companies began because the owners had a personal experience with skin cancer…and wanted to educate others about the dangers of the disease. Since one in five Americans develop skin cancer in their lifetime, it’s likely that you or someone you know will have it…or has it already. Let’s all do our best to decrease that statistic with the next generation…by protecting our kids and ourselves.
WIN IT! One winner will receive all of the above products.(SPF30 Kids Sunscreen Lotion, SPF30 Sunscreen Gel, SPF30 Eyes Face and Nose Balm, and SPF30 Lip Balm from SmartShield, PLUS any one item of his/her choice from UV Skinz). To enter, leave any topic-related comment on this post prior to Thursday, May 14 at midnight (Don’t forget to follow the rules…all generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified.).
Image Credit (Arizona sun, top right): via frekur’s Flickr page
*UPDATE* The winner is #87 beth shepherd. Congratulations!





