10.10.2012

Addicted

hellllo lovers! so yesterday i had to take maxx to get groomed. I really didn't want to because his scruffiness goes perfectly with what he is being for Halloween....which by the way is HILARIOUS but that's another day...so because it still has been warm here & i am still dying of sweat, i could only imagine how hot he must be with all that fur. 


so i had to take him in for a hair cut. i was nervous too because the last time i took him to get groomed they basically skinned him. It was awful. They really went overboard.  So this time I had to make sure they listened to me & did what I said. Have you noticed there seems to be this ongoing problem these days with customer service? no one is listening anymore....it looks like they are but really their head is else where ----> bad customer service is a huge pet peeve of mine. 


ok sorry, getting back on track...Maxx got a haircut & look how adorable he turned out --->

i love this little man
ok so moving on to a more serious note. i use to be a 'tan-a-holic.' no joke. it all started my senior year of high school when i was in the senior fashion show. after the show my mom had suggested that i get a little tan on my pale, white, white skin before prom because i was like a ghost on stage....thanks mom ----> so i had never ever thought about tanning in a booth before, & i really didn't think i was that white but i did it anyway.......fast forward to college when i was on my own, i decided to get a tanning package.... & it was all down hill from there. 

Pre Tanning - 10th grade 
i would tan every.single.day. I was so obsessed with tanning & being dark that I use to wake up early & go tanning before my 8am class! and if you knew me, you would know that is freaking crazy because all i do is sleep. it's a hobby for me. i think being up at 10am is still early......so going to tan before class, i really was addicted. i just thought it made me look prettier, when in reality it didn't. & no, i didn't look like 'tanning mom' if that's what your thinking. just a super dark brown girl. 

Winter 2004 - Sophomore year of college (I'm in the 'ditch him' shirt)
 to be honest i tanned so much i feel like it stained my skin forever. thankfully ,eventually i grew out of that stage & now if I need a quick tan i'll mystic....& thank god i was very lucky (so far- knock on wood) & i didn't develop any type of skin cancer from my tanning addiction. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't happen; because it does all the time & the tanning bed is still a big cause of melanoma. 
so with that being said, I have a very special & strong girl who unfortunately had stage 3 melanoma. However, she didn't  throw herself a pity party. She is one inspirational & positive girl. I was so impressed with her positive outlook on life & how strong she was. Really, she is something else. So without further ado


Hi Messy Family! Knowing that Kelly has such awesome readers, I am so excited to sponsor her blog this month. I have a goal and I'm hoping y'all can help me with it. Who am I and why am I asking a bunch of strangers for a favor? Well, I'm Chelsea, 25, a want-to-be Carrie Bradshaw, and a stage III malignant melanoma survivor. Up until the time an oncologist told me that melanoma would not kill me "right now," I used to believe that everyone looked prettier with a tan. Now it is my goal to openly share my story, show my scars, and encourage others to protect their largest organ: Their skin. This is where you all come into play! I challenge each of you to rethink your tanning bed membership, examine your skin for unusual moles, and schedule a yearly appointment with a dermatologist. Like Marc Jacobs says, protect the skin you're in!

 Eat pancakes and bacon in my PJ's, sip coffee on the beach with everyone I love, email the cast of Jersey Shore with the name of my dermatologist, and love, love, love.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis. I would love to hear her secret thoughts that she was too classy to share!

As you can imagine, being diagnosed with an incurable cancer at age 23 was terrifying. Instead of completely crumbling, I put on a happy face and faked it. I had a fight ahead of me and crumbling wasn't going to help make me better. Seeing how I was holding back my true emotions, my mom encouraged me to start a blog. Since that very first post I have been unable to stop writing. Blogging about my life with melanoma has introduced me to incredible people including Dr. Drew, and has allowed me to share my experiences with hopes of saving lives. I'm determined to put a face to this cancer. Melanoma is not just skin cancer.


sooo this fabulous lady is giving you messy readers a chance to win a $15 Target Giftcard & her favorite E.L.F. blush ----> They promote sun safety, so of course she is in support of them!



also you do not have to be a blogger to enter, this contest is open to everyone. i suggest being logged into your facebook, emails & twitter accounts. good luck ladies! 










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On a mission to lose the cushion

45 comments:

Taylor said...

I loved this! I used to be the same exact way I would tan early in the morning and then if i had a stressful day nothing an 8pm tan session couldn't help. now I spray and have invested in every tan in a can, tan towel, self tan lotion. I have to say in all honesty there is this part of me saying "this will never happen to me" which I know is horrible because i am sure that is exactly what Chelsea thought. What do they put in tanning beds to make you addicted?!?! I do swear I use more lotions and go in a tanning bed 3-4 times a month, that's not bad right?

Chelsea loved reading your story! I can tell you being 23 I couldn't imagine hearing that kind of news, I don't think I would be as strong as you. I would have broken down and been a sad crying face everyday. I am checking out your blog now!

Jen said...

Ok Max is absolutely adorable!!!!! I also was a tan-aholic, I couldn't get enough of it and then just decided to stop. Thank you Chelsea for sharing your story, you are awesome! :)

Kait said...

Oh my gosh, this post spoke right to my heart. I was a serial tanner for 6 years. I worked at a tanning salon where I could tan for free and as much as I wanted. BAD NEWS! This November, I will be tanning bed free for a full year. It doesn't sound like much but I knew that if I didn't stop, I'd be cancer ridden and dead before I knew it. Life is too short! Absolutely loved this post!!
XO
Kait

P.S. My favorite scary movie is Hocus Pocus. I know, I know, it's not even really a scary movie but I'm such a baby!

TheTinyHeart said...

The Ring is my fav scary movie.

-Sharon
The Tiny Heart
Jewelry Giveaway!

Cody Doll said...

Wow. What a story. And to think that there are people out there everyday that tan, just like you used to do. Being a redhead, I can't tan and it would be pointless of me to use a tanning bed since I am such fair skinned. I glad to see that you are okay and happy that Chelsea is sharing her story.

Cody
solemnsound.blogspot.com

P.S. favorite scary movie: Chucky. Because I find it funny.

Anonymous said...

Your dogs hair cut is ADORABLE! Yikes, tanning scares me so much, this is such a good story to share

Xo, Rachel
http://www.glitzyblues.com

Niki {Glossy Blonde} said...

Thank you so much to Chelsea for sharing her story! I used to tan all the time and recently just stopped. I am actually pretty certain that I have some questionable areas on my skin but I'm afraid to go to the doctor. This makes me light a fire under my bum. Tanning is SO bad and since I stopped I actually feel so much prettier!

Martha Hokenson said...

Lovely! Your dog is too cute. I love Chelsea's blog and it's wonderful that she's posting over here.

I wasn't a tanning addict per se in high school, I just hated sunscreen and burned very easily, which is a terrible combination. I think I got quite a lot of sun damage from my stubbornness, but (fingers crossed) no cancer. Now I preach relentlessly about sun safety.

I actually had one coworker tell me that sunscreen was too expensive and the recommendations for reapplication etc. were ridiculous, because no one could honestly afford it! I told her it wasn't nearly as expensive as cancer and that if you couldn't afford sunscreen you shouldn't go to the beach. Harsh but true!

Nicole said...

It's ironic you shared this today, because just this morning I was thinking I would look better with a tan, and thought about going tanning. Then thought better of it, not wanting to increase my risks. This just confirmed it-spray tan all the way! LOL.

Stesha said...

your puppy is super cute! I just love him! I never go into the sun anymore, and after a few scares I now visit the dermatologist every 3 months. Taking care of our skin is sooo important. I use self tanner now if I am wanting a tan!

xxS

Amanda English said...

Oh Maxx!!!!!!!!!!

Lynn | Motherhood in Motion said...

Thank you for sharing! I too was tanorexic at one time. Now, I'm a fan of the airbrush glow when need be!

Alana Christine said...

Great post! I used to think the same way. What a sweet lady you introduced us to, can't wait to read more!

BTW, my favorite scary movie is Paranormal Activity...because it's so funny.

Katie Wilkes said...

Your mom was the one who first encouraged you to start tanning? For me, it was the total opposite. I had to beg my mom to take me for months! Then, I got addicted, too. A few years later, I had an early-stage melanoma. Very scary! Thank you for posting this.

Amy Breckenridge said...

thanks for sharing this story. i used to go tanning in high school and college because i was a competitive dancer and i was told i looked better in costumes. i thought i wasn't pretty unless i tanned! now i embrace my pale self and i don't leave the house without spf 30 on my face! i hope that everyone reads this story and stops tanning...it is NOT good for you!
xoamy
www.cupcakesncouture.com

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for sharing! On Monday my husband and I were going out to lunch with the kids and noticed that the tanning salon parking lot was full... he looked at me and said: "Do people really still tan?" I can't believe people still do knowing what we know... how brave of Chelsea to share her story... happy to be following along...

PS- I hate scary movies... I'm a huge scaredy cat lol I think the last one I saw was I Know What You Did Last Summer lol

Just Another Shopaholic said...

My favorite scary movie is The Orphan

Tausha Wierlo said...

Ohhh this is fun!!!! I used to be a TANNING addict to!! I went tanning at one salon, and then had a fake name and tanned at another salon! I was tanning in a bed 40 minutes a day, and then tanning at the pool! I am so surprised I haven't been diagnosed with anything - YET. So scary - I haven't been in years - and am so careful being in the sun. SCARY stuff.

My favorite scary movie is probably "Dawn of the Dead". I can't watch it without nightmares!!!

The Pink Growl said...

Sometimes it's sooooo hard to resist the urge to tan! I usually tan for about 3 weeks in the spring just to get some color on my pasty white winter ass. But luckily I tan really easily so I don't have to go much. I love spray tans, but they are more expensive. I know I should give it up! Maybe I will after next year and the wedding is over.

JMB said...

Thank you for sharing your story with us. You are such an inspiration and God is using you to speak to us through your story. I used to lay in the tanning bed a lot throughout the years, I think we're all guilty of it - men too. You will be in my thoughts and prayers!

Jessica said...

I hate scary movies so I don't have a favorite.

Sarah said...

What an inspirational gal! I loved this entire post. I am so glad you were able to showcase such a great person! Definitely keeping you in my prayers!

Jill said...

Jaws is about as scary as I can watch.

My-cliffnotes said...

Seriously I was you to go tanning today but now I feel selfish and crazy so I wont!

Thanks for sharing your story!! You're beautiful!!

Xx

My-cliffnotes said...

Ps I don't watch scary movies lol

Chelsea said...

Thank you all for the sweet comments. Say it with me, NO TANNING!!! :-)

Chelsea Olivia said...

Chelsea is amazing! I work for a skin cancer screening company and am constantly telling my friends off for tanning. they just don't get it...skin cancer is SO common.

Unknown said...

Thanks for co-hosting the blog/facebook/tweeter blog hop i'm your newest follower would love the follow back :)
Erica
www.ericastartwalking.com

Unknown said...

It is hard to pick one favorite, but I do like classics like Halloween!

Jesslyn Amber said...

The Strangers :)

Mia @ The Chronicles of Chaos said...

My favorite scary movie is I Know What You Did Last Summer. :)

Raven said...

ahhh I love this! I used to tan my ass into the ground in tanning beds and now I REFUSE!!! Mystic all the way!

also I LOVE scary movies. The Ametyville Horror remake was the scariest Ive seen in a while.

love you!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your story Chelsea. BTW love your name! People seem to forget about all the other forms of cancer out there. Right now a few of us are trying to bring more attention to childhood cancers because a little boy we know just got diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer. Keep on fighting your fight and hopefully more people will take better care of themselves so they don't have to go through what you're going through. Glad you decided to share your story with all of us!

Cramer Coffee and Jesus said...

I actually don't watch scary movies - I know, I'm probably the odd man out..I used to, but not being able to get sleep just isn't my thing. ha

Janna Renee said...

I loathe scary movies. End of story. Haha.

Tracy R said...

My favorite scary movie is The Stepford Wives (the original).

Amber Nicole said...

Dude. My favorite scary movie= Dead Silence. HOLY CRAP SCARY!

Amber Nicole said...

Or something like that. Haha

funsizetessa said...

I love scary movies! the strangers. the others. even dumb ones can be fun. unfortunately my husband doesn't like them.

Unknown said...

I hate scary movies! I seriously will get nightmares like a little kid if I watch them.

Brittany T. said...

chelsea, so glad i have found you and your blog through kelly.. going to check out your blog! :)

my fave scary movie--well im not into scary movies too much since because they freak me out, but i'll say Halloween or alice? i think is the name of it from the 80's..eeek!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! I am absolutely in love with yours already! I love the message your putting across and I couldn't agree with you more, messy hair is the best hair!! I used to spend SO long making my hair look "nice" and these days I feel prettier just leaving it to do what it wants, some times I'll give it a helping hand with French plaits here and there but I always feel better about myself that way, rather than worrying because "the wind will make my straight hair frizz out." X

lesley: the dream tree said...

wow, as a nurse, i have learned way too many bad things about cancer to ever lay in a tanning bed again. i love the natural sun unfortunately, but beds are horrible. on my way to read your story now!

Holly said...

I had a friend who is a melanoma survivor as well! She was diagnosed at 23 or 24 I believe. It's scary. But I love your outlook! You rock!

My actually HATE scary movies, but I used to watch the Halloween ones back in the day :)

Rachel Shearer said...

Oh I don't know about my favorite scary movie.... When I want to be scared, I watch The Haunting in Conneticut... I love Supernatural, but that's a TV show!

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