Wednesday, October 3, 2012

A Naked Pinkie Promise

I have joined a new cause near and dear to my heart.  For all of the Wednesdays in October, I will be participating in "Go Pink Wednesdays" with a group of amazing women.



Four years ago my mother, who is my best friend, was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Fortunately, because her sister is also a survivor (15 years and counting!) she got regular mammograms and it was caught while it was still stage 1.  She had a tiny micro-metastisis in her lymph nodes, but chemo was not required.  She is now among the ranks of amazing women who are breast cancer survivors. 

Having worked in cancer research for the past 17 years I can tell you unequivocally that early detection means drastically increased survival.  Breast cancer treatment has been so streamlined and tailored that they are able to treat most women so they can add their name on the list of survivors.

I've had a few mammograms (thanks family history!) and while they are rather unpleasant (never, EVER, go when you are PMSing.  OUCHY), the peace of mind you get from knowing things are all clear is so wonderful.  

So your breast cancer PSA is:  feel your boobies, if you feel anything abnormal, go get checked out.  Get your mammograms according to your lady docs advice.  If you have a strong family history (any mother/sister/aunt who had breast cancer before the age of 50 or who died from it), consider getting tested for the BRCA genes.

Onto the pretty:

I started off with China Glaze Naked, the perfect shimmery pink.  I can't do baby pink very well with my coloring, but this has enough of a deepness to it that I think it turned out pretty good.  I found like many of the CG shimmers, it tends to be a bit on the watery side, but still easily workable and cleanupable.  

This photo also shows off my new toy.  With rain and the coming winter, I wanted to invest in a light box to be able to still get decent shots.  So I think it came out pretty good, let me know what you think!  I'm showing you with both backgrounds as I think that changes the look of things.




Such pretty shimmer!

 Then I added Rainbow Honey Pinkie Promise on top, a tribute to the pony Pinkie Pie.  A beautiful mufti-fasceted glitter that just stands out. 


GUH, so amazing.  I just loved this, it was a smile on my nails!

The flecks in this work so amazing with the shimmer in the base.  

One of the reasons I chose to use a Rainbow Honey polish is they are having an AWESOME promotion this month.  For every "pink" polish of theirs you buy, they will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (where MOST of the money goes to programs and not administration).  For more details, please go here:  http://www.rainbowhoney.com/blogs/news/6658770-october-is-breast-cancer-awareness-month   Pinkie Promise is included in this promotion.  

I encourage all of you to share your beautiful pink manicures as well.  Funding for research is extremely important, but what that research has taught us is that early detection is key, ESPECIALLY in women of younger ages when your body still naturally produces estrogen in large quantities which often feed the tumors.  <3   So, please, give the twins a good squeeze! 

Here are the amazing bloggers who are joined into Go Pink Wednesdays, please check them out in support of this fantastic cause and leave them a comment!  <3








 


Clicking on the photos will enlarge them. Please see the disclaimer for this blog.

22 comments:

  1. Love this look. And thanks for the polish you gave me because I have it on today:) Your photos look great. Where did you get your light box? I would rather buy one than build one. If you want to send me an email of the link to where you got it, that would be great. I have been looking for one and never know what to get. I loved your breast cancer story. So happy that your mom is a survivor!

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  2. Touching story, like Helena said, thank you for sharing with with us. I am glad regular mammograms caugh it well in time (thank god). On a lighter note, I love the base colour.

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    1. Thank you! I remember about 10 years earlier yelling at my mom for not getting regular mammograms because of her sister, and then she started. I am so glad she did!

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  3. This is actually really pretty on you, Shannon :) Hooray for your mom and your aunt! <3 <3

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  4. Your story makes me believe even more in the healing of my mom, it means a lot to me.
    Love you mani :)

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    1. I'll keep your mom in my thoughts. I know for my mom, who only needed a lumpectomy and radiation, she got really down at the last 2 weeks of her radiation treatment. Her skin was so uncomfortable and she was just hurting. She would really just break down and sob. But she got through it and is now cancer free, so hang in there for your mom! <3

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  5. Thank you for sharing your story... gives hope for all that are suffering...
    xoxo

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    1. Thanks so much. I have several friends my age who are survivors as well. It affects so many wonderful women.

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  6. Thanks for sharing your story, the manicure is beautiful<3

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  7. This is a gorgeous mani and I'm so happy to hear about the survivors in your family!!!

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  8. I love love "Naked"!!! so much shimmer!!! beautiful pictures too, I think your light box really agrees with you =) unlike mine dammit, I just tossed it, I can't get it to give me good light!! =(
    Thank you for sharing your story =)

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    1. Thanks! I was pleasantly surprised with how the lightbox turned out. I needed something for the coming winter so I'm not standing outside in snowpocalpse taking manicure photos!

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  9. This is really beautiful. Going to follow :)

    Thanks for checking out my blog/post.

    sparkledust-beautyuk.blogspot.com

    Kate
    xx

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  10. First things first, Shannon! I am so happy your mom and aunt are well! They are living proof that breast cancer can = happy endings!! Second, thank you for the PSA! We all need to be reminded of the important self exam and mammograms, especially those of us with family history. And last, but certainly not least, check our those digits! Super pretty mani. I love ChG Naked, but that splash of Rainbow Honey is awesome!! Thanks so much for joining me in Go Pink Wednesday!! ♥

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    1. Thanks for organizing. I've enjoyed these manicures so very much. Plus, I got the added bonus of finding some great new blogs to read and enjoy. 50 posts! wow. <3

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  11. Thanks for sharing your story! And yay for breast cancer survivors! I love the polish....the combo is gorgeous!!!

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