Sun Smarts

Here are myths about sun, skin care, tanning beds, etc.

You don't need to wear sunscreen if you have dark skin. FALSE.
"Any skin color can get skin cancer," says Heather Woolery-Lloyd, a dermatologist in Miami, "Also, the number on complaint in patients with skin of color is uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation. Sunlight makes hyperpigmentation worst, and you can never address these issues if a person does not wear sunscreen."

I read somewhere that sunscreen can expire. TRUE.
The active ingredients in sunscreens can lose their potency, so check the expiration date on the bottle. "To be safe, toss them after a year," says Dr. Bank.

I don't need sunblock when it's cloudy. FALSE.
You need to wear sunscreen every day, full stop. Remember: It's a beautiful day above the clouds, which offer little UV protection. So never skip the sunblock--ever.

Oral sunblocks can protect you from sun damage. TRUE.
So-called "internal sunscreens" can be used as additional sun protection. These supplements--one is called SunPill--contain potent antioxidants like green tea extract and the fern polypodium leucotomos, which help skin resist sun damage. They're great insurance but should be used in conjunction with sunscreen--not as a replacement. "These pills prevent damage to skin cells after sunlight hits the skin," says Dr. Verallo-Rowell. "Unlike sunblock, where you prevent the sun from producing chemical changes, antioxidants act later to quench the fire that has already started."

Tanning booths aren't all that bad. FALSE.
A tan is a signal that cells have been damaged, says Fairbrother. When you use a tanning booth, you're getting deeper radiation than you'd get from the sun. "Tanning booths also give people a false sense of security," she says. "A tan only gives you an SPF protection of two to four compared to sunblock, which gives you SPF of 30 or more."

June 2010 Better Homes and Gardens Giveaways and more!

Great Grill Off $2500 Sweepstakes! Enter today at www.bhg.com/grilloff

Win a $25,000 Dream Room Makeover! Enter today at www.bhg.com/dream.

The first 500 people to log on to www.bhg.com/sunblock will receive a free bottle of Neutorgena's new Spectrm+ Sunblock Lotion SPF 100.

iCamp. A free app for iPhone or iPods, enables your phone or iPod to emit strong white light--handy for finding things. Also suggests age-appropriate stories to read aloud--eerie sound effects included!

First Weeks of Summer

Last night we went to the "big" *sarcasm* city of Poyen, Arkansas to watch my cousin, Ryan, graduate from high school. It was awful! LOL. No, not really but it was really hot! Great to see him walk and get his diploma though...and he gave his mom, his Nana, his Aunt Melissa and ME a rose! I was so happy. It's sitting on my dinning room table now! :)

Today, Sara, Matt and I got up and ventured into Old Navy for $1 flip flops. Matt was less than thrilled and Sara wanted every color she could possibly get. We walked away with ten pair of flip flops! Now, we can start summer because everyone knows...flip flops are the start of summer! LOL.

Then we went to Wal-mart. I saw online, somewhere, that they were giving away free ice cream sundaes so I thought that would be the great ending to our shopping venture. I didn't expect them to be soooo big though. Great deal! Three types of ice cream, strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate syrup! I also got Sara some SUPER cute shorts to wear over her bathing suit when she has her FOUR day Science tour in a couple of weeks (blog to come about that later...super excited for her though!)

I've decided that this summer, since I get to be at home with them, we're going to plan our weeks (not so strict though) so that we always have something fun to do at least once a week. I bought some fun games for us to play at home too! And of course PLENTY of crayons, markers, glue, construction paper, glitter, pens, pencils, scissors and more for rainy days. Matt doesn't know it yet but he's going to master his times tables this summer too! I hope to blog daily on our adventures so keep your eye out! Maybe I'll see some of you on our journeys.

I'm so excited that I am able to be at home with them this summer! SOOO Thankful...it gives me so much joy in my heart because I feel this is where God wants me! I get to keep my home clean, study His word more and since I've been at home we have dinner together AT THE TABLE every night! Amazing considering we've never been able to do that...it was always rush rush rush. We actually sit down and talk to each other. I LOVE it!

Until next time,
Leslie

June 2010 Food Network Giveaways

Bobby Flay autographed a grilling fork right after a photo shoot with Food Network Magazine. Enter to win it, along with a whole set of tools from his line at www.foodnetwork.com/magazine.

Win a trip to the Big Apple to see Rachael Ray (two tickets), tour of the Every Day with Rachel Ray and lunch at one of her favorite restaurants. Go to www.facebook.com/mccormickspice to become a fan and enter to win.

Want to win $100,000? Enter the Sutter Home Build a Better Burger Contest. See complete rules at http://www.sutterhome.com/

Enter the Bush's Grillin' Beans Ultimate Hostess Sweepstakes for a chance to win Dinnerware and Glassware for 12, a BBQ Set and more ($2500 retail value) at www.bushbeans.com/sweeps.

Save $1.00 on al fresco. See recipes and get coupon at http://www.alfresconatural.com/

Cook with Beer! Enter this month's home cook recipe battle and you could win $500 toward foodnetworkstore.com. Enter your original recipe at www.foodnetwork.com/recipecontest .The winner will also appear in the upcoming issue.

Check back next month for July giveaways! :)

Want to subscribe to Food Network Magazine? Go to Amazon.com

Love

Have you ever loved someone so much the very thought of them being taken away from you can literally bring tears to your eyes? After today's ridiculous events I realized that my husband is wonderful...he is a very hard worker...he goes to school...he provides for our family and pays child support on two kids he never gets to see (previous marriage...obviously)...and he's good to me. I am so thankful for such a great man!

Green Bean Salad

Green Bean Salad
Serves 4-6

1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
10 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and julienned
1/2 c chopped green bell pepper
1/4 c chopped fresh parsley

For dressing:
1 tsp Dijon Mustard
1/4 c olive oil
1/4 c fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/8 tsp salt

Wash green beans thoroughly. Drop the green beans into a saucepan of boiling water. Cook until slightly crisp, about four minutes.

Drain water off and let beans cool. Add tomatoes, peppers and parsley.

To make the dressing: Combine mustard, oil, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Stir well.

Then add pepper and salt and stir again.

Lightly pour the dressing over the salad, then toss. Transfer the salad to a serving bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least an hour until well chilled.

Fruited Pork Chops

Makes: 6 servings

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 4 to 4-1/2 hours (low) or 2 to 2-1/2 hours (high)



Ingredients

6 boneless pork loin chops, cut 1 inch thick

1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed

2 7-ounce packages mixed dried fruit

1 medium red and/or yellow sweet pepper, seeded and sliced

1 cup bottled barbecue sauce

Fresh thyme sprigs (optional)

Directions

Trim fat from pork chops. Place chops in a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker. Sprinkle with thyme. Add dried fruit and sweet pepper to slow cooker. Pour barbecue sauce over all in cooker.



Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 4 to 4-1/2 hours or on high-heat setting for 2 to 2-1/2 hours.



Transfer chops to a serving platter. Skim fat from sauce. Spoon some of the sauce over chops; pass remaining sauce. ,If desired garnish with fresh thyme sprigs. Makes 6 servings.



Nutrition Facts

Servings Per Recipe 6 servings Calories 450, Total Fat (g) 11, Saturated Fat (g) 4, Cholesterol (mg) 92, Sodium (mg) 421, Carbohydrate (g) 49, Fiber (g) 3, Protein (g) 40, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet