Remodeling Resource

If you need some ideas on remodeling your home, check out the new blog by A&E's Roger Hazard. Roger Hazard's Design Survival Guide shares tips, ideas, and resources online to help inspire “homeowners, homebuilders, kitchen remodelers and others who love great kitchens.” Hazard is a Texas designer, which is one of the reasons I like him.

"Not everyone has the luxury or budget to hire a design consultant. With Roger's blog, you get professional advice to create appealing living spaces," says Custom Cupboards president Mael Hernandez. Custom Cupboards is sponsoring the Hazard’s blog.

According to the news release: “Readers and newsletter subscribers will learn how to add functionality and personality to their homes through regular features:

Design Process – A step-by-step examination of what goes in to creating a functional, beautiful space. By breaking the renovation process into manageable pieces, Roger shows the planning and execution that go into every successful remodel.

Kitchen Inspiration Pinboard – featuring Hazard's favorite emerging styles and how to pull together a cohesive look using cabinets, flooring, countertops, color, furniture, and accessories – with complete sourcing information.

Deconstructing a Kitchen – You know a great design when you see one, but what makes a design great? In this feature, Roger will "deconstruct" a completed design to explain why it works.

Functionality – Everyone needs more storage. Roger highlights technology, tools, and planning concepts that will maximize the function and capacity of your space.”

“I want the newsletter to help empower homeowners, by giving them a fuller understanding of this process and inspiring them to seek out great, personal design,” says Hazard.

From Austin, Texas, Hazard is an internationally known designer and TV's original home stager on the Emmy-nominated "Sell This House," "Sell This House: Extreme," and "Move This House." Hazard is a featured columnist for The Statesman in Austin, Texas.

Source: Custom Cupboards via PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1gWz0)

Made in the USA Manufacturers

In celebration of the 4th of July, let’s support made in the USA manufacturers! Check out this year’s list of Made in the USA Hall of Fame winners as named by the Made in the USA Foundation. The Made in the USA Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1989 through matching grants from the United Auto Works and Ford Motor Company. The Foundation is dedicated to promoting products made in the United States, developing legislation supporting U.S. businesses and industry, and pursuing litigation against those misusing the "Made in the USA" label. The Foundation championed the Country of Origin Labeling Act for food and the American Automobile Labeling Act. Both were passed into law.

2012 Hall of Fame Winners:

Solar World-- SolarWorld Industries America Inc. is the largest U.S. maker of silicon solar cells and panels. SolarWorld, has led the U.S. manufacturers' complaints against Chinese subsides. It employs 1,000 workers in Hillsboro, Oregon, the largest solar cell manufacturing facility in the United States. SolarWorld has been manufacturing solar panels in Californiasince 1975.

Chevy Volt-- The Chevy Volt is the most fuel-efficient compact car with a gasoline engine sold in the United States, as rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Volt operates as a pure battery electric vehicle until its battery capacity drops, then its gasoline engine powers an electric generator to extend the vehicle's range. The Volt won the 2011 Green Car of the Year award, the 2011 North American Car of the Year and 2012 Car of the Year Award in Europe.

Zero Motorcycles-- Zero Motorcycles Inc., an American manufacturer of electric motorcycles, was founded in 2006 near Santa Cruz, California, by Neal Saiki, a former NASA engineer. Each Zero motorcycle is optimized from the ground up to leverage the revolutionary electric powertrain and uses a specially designed rigid, aircraft-grade aluminum frame to minimize weight. Zero launched a line of 2012 bikes specifically designed for police patrols and security agencies.

Herman Miller-- Founded in Zeeland, Michigan in 1905, Herman Miller is a major American manufacturer of office furniture and equipment, as well as furniture for the home. It is notable as one of the first companies to produce modern 20th century furniture. Among classic Herman Miller products are the Equa chair, Aeron chair, Noguchi table and the classic Eames Lounge Chair and ottoman. Herman Miller furniture is also credited with the invention of the office cubicle.

Channel Islands Surfboards-- Since 1969, Channel Islands Surfboards has been dedicated to performance and quality through hard work, innovation, and originality. Over the last 43 years, Channel Islands has grown from a local grass-roots operation to a cutting edge organization, catering to the best surfers in the world.
The driving force behind the company's success is greatly attributed to its star-studded team that includes some of the best surfers on the globe, including Kelly Slater. The original brains behind Channel Islands surfboards is pro shaper Al Merrick. Channel Islands Surfboards is based in Santa Barbara, California.

Viking-- Viking originated the professional segment of kitchen appliances with its introduction of the first restaurant-grade gas range for home use in 1987. Based in Greenwood, Mississippi, Viking has expanded with its increased success and currently manufactures ranges and cooktops in many sizes and colors.

Armstrong Tools-- The Armstrong Brothers Tool Company was founded in 1890 by four brothers, the sons of a Scottish immigrant blacksmith.
From its modest beginning the company launched into expansion that's continued to today, more than 100 years later, with a product line which includes nearly 5,000 items of mechanic's tools, pipe and tubing tools, machine shop accessories, and cutting tools. In 1994, after 104 years of private ownership by the Armstrong family, the company was acquired by the Danaher Corporation.

Tito's Handmade Vodka-- Tito's Handmade Vodka is produced in Austin at Texas' first and oldest legal distillery. Tito's is made in small batches in an old fashioned pot still by Tito Beveridge and distilled six times. Sales and distribution boomed in 2001 after Tito's Handmade Vodka unanimously won the Double Gold Medal for vodka at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, beating out 71 high-priced vodkas. Wine Enthusiast Magazine rated Tito's a score of 95. By contrast, other top-shelf vodkas, Ketel One, Grey Goose, and Belvedere scored in the 80s.

McIntosh Amplifiers-- McIntosh was founded in 1949 by Frank McIntosh. The first McIntosh amplifier included the patented Unity Coupled Circuit, still used in current products. McIntosh amplifiers were used at the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969. Home Theater Hi Fidelity said, the McIntosh "amplifier will drive any speaker to its utmost capabilities. . . . it is difficult to believe from its measured performance that the McIntosh MC275 was designed almost half a century ago." John Atkinson of Stereophile Magazine, said, "Good audio engineering is timeless."

Beaulieu Vineyard-- When Georges and Fernande de Latour first traveled to the heart of Napa Valley in 1900, Fernande took one look at the lovely Rutherford expanse and exclaimed "beau lieu," [bow loo] or "beautiful place." He also began selling wine to the Catholic Church, establishing a strong relationship that would allow Beaulieu Vineyard to become the onlyNapa Valley winery to remain in business during Prohibition. Wine critic Robert Parker awarded 95 points to a Beaulieu 2007 Reserve Cab. Parker said this wine "is the greatest BV Private Reserve made since 1970."

California Olive Ranch-- The California Olive Ranch has 10,000 acres of olives grown for olive oil. Olives were a part of the ranch's history, as far back as the 1880s, when they grew Mission olives for table and oil production. They found that many of the old trees were still viable for production, so they began by harvesting the original trees and then expanded the grove, gradually adding other varieties. The California Olive Ranch's extra virgin olive oils have won more than 38 awards in the past 7 years.

Google-- Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while both attended Stanford University. Google was first incorporated in 1998, and its initial public offering followed in 2004. The company's mission statement from the outset was "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful." The company's unofficial slogan is "Don't be evil." Google just released its first "Made in the USA" hardware: the Nexus Q, a video and audio streaming device.

Worksman Bicycles--in 1898 when Morris Worksman established Worksman Cycles, his belief was that a well-designed three-wheeled cycle could replace the horse and wagon by providing a less expensive and more reliable way to move people and products. America's oldest bicycle manufacturer, Worksman manufactures industrial and recreational bicycles inBrooklyn, New York.

Kala Eyewear-- Handmade in Northern California, Kala Eyewear crafts handmade plastic frames in classic styles and frames in a wide range of colors and shapes: Round frames, oval frames, and square frames.

Dodge Dart-- Mike Hanley of Cars.com raved, "The 2013 Dart is an athletic, refined and highly customizable sedan that gives Dodge some much-needed respect in the compact-car market. The brand set its sights on the class leaders, and it hit the bull's-eye." Every Dart has 10 airbags. Car and Driver raved, "the Dart's cabin feels more like a sports sedan's than a budget-conscious family hauler's."

Boyd Lighting-- William Boyd opened Boyd Lighting in San Francisco in 1920. Boyd Lighting is a family of luxury lighting brands renowned for excellence in quality and design. For over 90 years, Boyd has been bringing the architectural and interior design community premier lighting fixtures that beautifully complement exclusive interiors. Handcrafted designs, fine materials, and excellent customer service continue to be the hallmark of Boyd's lighting collections. Boyd Lighting won the Edison Award in 1996.

Zometool-- Zometool is a plastic construction set produced in Denver, Colorado. It is perhaps best described as a "space-frame construction set." Its elements consist of small connector nodes and struts of various colors. Zometool won the Child Magazine "the Year's Top Toys," award, Dr. Toy's 10 Best Toys and the Parents' Choice Award.

Marin French Cheese Co-- The Marin French Cheese Company is a manufacturer of artisan cheese located in Marin County, California. The company was founded in 1865 and produces cheeses under the Rouge et Noir brand name. In 2005, the company's Triple Creme Brie won top honors at the World Cheese Awards in London. Marin also won the America's National Trophy - Best American Cheese, for its Yellow Buck Chevre Goat's Milk Camembert, and many of other awards.

Master Lock-- Master Lock is recognized around the world as the enduring name in padlocks. Founded in 1921, Master Lock is the largest manufacturer of padlocks in the world selling 50 million locks a year. In 2012, Master Lock President John Heppner participated in the "Insourcing American Jobs Forum" at the White House. President Obama visited Master Lock this year and praised the company for moving production back to the United States.

Letarte Swimwear-- Letarte is a Maui-based brand created by sisters Lisa Letarte Cabrinha and Michele Letarte Ross. The Hawaiian authenticity and exclusivity of the Letarte label have blended a bohemian island essence with chic global aesthetics that the sister duo have made recognizable around the globe. Designer Lisa Letarte Cabrinha, who lives in Maui, infuses her island lifestyle into Letarte's signature trademarked prints, intricate adornments and lavish detail. Letarte's swimsuits have been featured in Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue every year for the past ten years.

You can find Made in the USA retailers here.

SOURCE Made in the USA Foundation via PR Newswire

Easy Roasted Vegetables

With summer in full spring, I love to hit the various farmers markets and take advantage of all the wonderful, locally grown vegetables. My two favorite markets are Chestnut Square, which is located in McKinney’s historic district and Georgia’s Farmer’s Market, near Downtown Plano.

During my swing through these great places yesterday, I picked up summer squash, snap beans, tomatoes, cucumbers among other delish goodies. I usually pick up enough for a couple of meals as I like to eat veggies as fresh as possible. The difference in taste is incredible.

Roasting is the quickest and most flavorful way to cook fresh veggies. Prep time is a mere five or six minutes – however long it takes for you to slice a squash. I use a cake pan and load it with four or five different vegetables. I try to make sure that there is at least one green vegetable, one yellow and one orange or red. I place about two servings of each in pan, mounding them in separate piles. I then brush them liberally with olive oil. Cover with foil and cook at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes and you have an amazing, healthy side dish or meal.

In this dish, I roasted broccoli, small yellow, orange and red peppers, summer squash, fresh snap beans and grape tomatoes. Earlier, I’d mixed olive oil with minced garlic and let that sit for a couple of hours. When I was ready to cook, I poured the mixture over the veggies.

In this version, I used Brussels sprouts, summer squash, fresh snap beans and carrots. I brushed the veggies with olive oil and then seasoned with Weber’s garlic and herb seasoning.

Eating healthy never tasted so good!

Fun Fact: Quenching Summer Thirst

n the past, hot summer days meant that some enterprising youngsters in the neighborhood would set up a lemonade stand at five cents a glass or the family would share a pitcher of iced tea on the front porch to cool off. While the summer heat does call for more to drink, Americans have a powerful thirst all year long. Today, the drink of choice is a soft drink, usually carbonated. As a result, we each drink about 49 gallons of soft drinks annually. And the increasing popularity of bottled water has lead to an even greater increase. In 1980, we each drank about 2 1/2 gallons of bottled water. Now that figure is over 29 gallons a year. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.
PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1goOu)

July is National Hot Dog Month

To celebrate the start of July's National Hot Dog Month, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) is proud to announce the winner of its t-shirt slogan contest. 'Hot Dogs: Relish the Moment' was America's top choice for the Council slogan, beating seven other finalists in a Facebook poll. Gadi Lefkowitz of Baltimore, MD, who submitted the winning slogan, wins a $250 gift certificate to the grocery store of his choosing to build the perfect summer picnic and a custom designed t-shirt with his slogan immortalized on it.

Contest runner ups were:

1st runner up: 'Make the Dog Days of Summer a Footlong' by Joe Lilli
2nd runner up: 'We Know How the Sausage Gets Made' by Susan Schonfeld

They will receive $150 and $100 gift certificates to their favorite grocery store respectively and each will get a t-shirt with their slogan. Altogether the contest drew more than 225 unique entries from around the country.

"The creativity and enthusiasm of hot dog fans is nothing short of amazing," said NHDSC President and 'Queen of Wien' Janet Riley. "Just as there are millions of ways to top a hot dog and everyone has their favorites, there were almost too many good slogans to choose from and the online voting was very tight."

The contest results were announced just as the Fourth of July week was about to begin – a week when Americans will eat more than 150 million hot dogs. That's just part of the seven billion hot dogs that Americans eat between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
"There's no better month for hot dog fans than July," said Riley. "Whether out at a ballgame, backyard barbecue or celebrating America's birthday, hot dogs are the perfect all-American food."

For more information about hot dogs and sausages including the winning t-shirt designs, visit the Council's website at http://www.hot-dog.org/ and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NHDSC. For hot dog videos including proper hot dog etiquette, visit our youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/hotdogcouncil.

Established in 1994, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council conducts scientific research to benefit hot dog and sausage manufacturers. The Council also serves as an information resource to consumers and media on issues related to quality, safety, nutrition and preparation of hot dogs.

Source: National Hot Dog and Sausage Council via PR Newswire

Experimenting with Bacon

Sundays are usually are “big meal” of the week, but today I really hadn’t planned anything and not a lot of options to work with: bok choy, mushrooms and steak-seasoned thick-cut bacon. Clearly, a little experimentation was in order.

I’d had grilled boc choy before and it was amazing! And of course everything tastes better with bacon, right? So I combined the two, wrapping a bacon strip around a piece of bok choy and pinned it with a toothpick. Simple.

For the mushrooms, I dug around in the freezer and came up with ½ pound of ground beef. I’d packaged it to use in spaghetti sauce, but we hadn’t eaten spaghetti in months, and being on a low carb diet, we had no plans to start. I combined the ground
beef with a can of Italian style diced tomatoes, a ½ tub of tomato and basil flavored Philadelphia Cooking Cream. I pulled the stems out of the mushrooms and scrubbed down the heads. Once the meat was brown, I drained the excess liquid, turned off the burner and stirred in the cooking cream. I mixed the ingredients together and spooned the mixture into the mushroom caps. And then I wrapped them in bacon as well.

John was out showing, so grilling was out. I opted for broiling instead. I broiled on high, turning every few minutes until the bacon was thorough cooked – and crisp. (John doesn’t like soggy bacon.)

The results were… mixed. The mushroom caps were amazing. Rich and flavorful! But because they were so rich, we couldn’t eat but a couple. This would make a great appetizer. I might try it again with Italian sausage.

The boc choy... that was a miss. The bacon overpowered the delicate taste of the Chinese cabbage. The grease from the bacon also made the bok choy soggy and tough to chew. In theory it sounded really good. I’m wondering if the results would have been different had they been grilled.

If you try out either one of these ideas, let me know your results.

From Trash to Flash

I hate throwing out glass jars and bottles. There’s always a way to repurpose and keep them out of a landfill. When I finish with a jar, I clean it up and then add it to my craft stash. I may night have an idea for right then, But I never know when inspiration might strike… Like it did a few days ago.

Digging through my craft stash looking for something to do, I came up with this idea for some quick Fourth of July decorations you can use year after year. For this projected, I used empty candle jars, but really, you could do this any kind of empty glass jar.

I used this project as an opportunity to see what kind of paint works best on glass – brush on acrylic craft paint or enamel spray paint. I matched the base colors to some scrapbook cut out decorations that I had. One set was rustic, muted reds and blues and the other was vivid, glittery sparkly red and blue.I don’t do scrapebooks, but I find that the cutouts come in handy for other projects – like this one, so I pick up them up when I find them on clearance.

I spray painted two jars a light tan and brush painted two a bright white. I put about three coats on all four of the jars. After they were dry, about four hours, I applied the scrapbook decorations to each of the jars using white craft glue.

The glittery pieces went on quickly and easily. Soft and rubbery, they were easy to work with on the curved surface. I accented the pieces with dots of red and blue paint. It took me less than 30 minutes to complete both jars. I set them aside to dry.

Next I worked with the rustic pieces. They were more difficult to work with because they were stuff and did not want to follow the curves and adhere to the surface. I ended up gluing down the middle first, allowing that to dry and then gluing down the sides. I took about three or four attempts to get them securely glued down.

After they were dry, I sealed all the surfaces by brushing them with white craft glue.

Three of the jars didn’t have lids, but they looked a little odd uncovered. I solved that problem by cutting squares of fabric twice the width of the jar opening. I edge the fabric with serrated scissors. Once the jars were completely dry, I secured the fabric to the jar with a rubber band and then tying a ribbon over it.

Keep Summer Pests at Bay

ATLANTA -- The first day of summer brings warmer temperatures and more time outdoors; unfortunately, that also means you are more likely to get stung by fire ants, bees and wasps and bitten by mosquitoes. As you barbecue with friends or work in your garden, watch out for the following insects that can spoil your outdoor fun.

Mosquitoes

“While fire ants, bees and wasps are dangerous because of their stings, the number one pest to look out for this summer is the mosquito," said Jim Warneke, Orkin's Southeast division technical services manager. "They can carry serious diseases, some of which are fatal."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some mosquitoes can transmit West Nile Virus, malaria, dengue fever and the virus that causes encephalitis, or swelling of the brain.

"The CDC reported 712 cases of West Nile virus in 2011, and dengue fever rarely occurs in the United States," said Warneke. "Prime mosquito-biting times are dusk and dawn, so be sure to take the proper precautions and spray an EPA-approved insect repellent on exposed skin, and wear long sleeves and socks if possible."

Mosquitoes only need a few ounces of water to breed and survive, making them very hard to control, so Warneke suggests removing any standing water from gutters, birdbaths or flower pots.

Fire Ants

Fire ants are reddish-brown and bite and sting when they are disturbed or feel threatened. They attach themselves with their mandibles to people or animals and inject venom through their stingers. Fire ant stings and bites are very painful and can be fatal, but most victims experience painful red bumps.

Fire ants prefer warm and dry, sunny weather and avoid shady areas. Mounds can grow up to 24 inches in diameter and 18 inches high. They are most common throughout the southern U.S. but have been found as far west as California and as far north as Maryland.

Bees, Wasps, Hornets and Yellow Jackets Flying, stinging insects like bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets are found all across the country, and they like to build their nests in inconspicuous places.

"Yellow jackets tend to build their nests in the ground, and paper wasps are notorious for building their nests under a building's eaves and soffits," said Warneke. "They also tend to build nests in ornamental plants and hedges. Bees, on the other hand, will build their nests in many different locations, from inverted, unused flower pots and barbecue grills to inside the walls of homes and buildings. They spend their time around flowering plants, so be careful when you are pruning your roses or other annual flowers."

Bee, wasp, hornet and yellow jacket stings are painful and can cause symptoms ranging from headaches, fever and fatigue to vomiting and convulsions. Stings can also be deadly to those who are allergic to their venom. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, bee, wasp, hornet, yellow jacket and fire ant stings are the cause of about 500,000 allergy-related emergency room visits each year and at least 40 deaths in the U.S. from anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction.

Africanized honey bees, also known as killer bees, are typical throughout the southeastern U.S., but can be found throughout the country. They, too, are opportunistic when it comes to building nests and will make their home just about anywhere, warns Warneke.

"It is best to stay away from all bees because they are difficult to identify," said Warneke. "All honey bees have a pheromone in their stingers that will attract other honey bees, and that could lead to additional stings."

Warneke recommends the following tips to help prevent flying, stinging insects from being attracted to your home:

Remove all unnecessary food and water sources.

Seal cracks and crevices around doors and windows.

Clean up spilled food and drinks immediately, and keep drinks covered.

Keep gutters clear, and direct water from downspouts away from your home.

Thin vegetation, and do not pile mulch or allow soil to accumulate against your home's siding. This could provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes and access for ants to enter your home.

Source: Orkin via PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1eSMQ)

Summer Sunscreen Reminder

In case you’ve forgotten everything your mom taught you about sunscreen, here’s a dermatologist to remind you about the basics.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- With outdoor activities in full-swing this summer, it's important to remember to protect your skin. However, with all the sunscreen products on the market, it can be hard to know how to pick the right one. A new survey also shows that the public is confused about how to apply sunscreen correctly. Tips from a board-certified dermatologist can help clear up the confusion.

"Consumers can be overwhelmed by the large number of sunscreen products available and because of that they avoid using sunscreen all together, resulting in sunburn and overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation," said board-certified dermatologist Henry W. Lim, M.D., FAAD. "Dermatologists can provide the public with the information they need to make smart choices when it comes to sun protection, which can help reduce their risk for skin cancer, and keep their skin looking healthy and youthful."

When looking for a sunscreen, the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) recommends that consumers:

Read the label on sunscreen products. Use only sunscreen that offers:

Broad-spectrum coverage (label may say "broad spectrum," "protects against UVA/UVB" or "UVA/UVB protection").

SPF 30 or higher.

Water resistance.

Dermatologists also recommend that consumers:

Re-apply the sunscreen every two hours when outdoors.

Seek shade whenever your shadow appears to be shorter than you are.

Wear protective clothing, which includes long sleeves, pants, wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses.

A new online survey of adults nationwide by the Academy found that confusion still exists about SPF numbers and how to use sunscreens correctly. Less than one in five respondents (18 percent) knew that a sunscreen with SPF 30 does not provide twice the protection as an SPF 15.

Among respondents who 'Sometimes' or 'Always' wear sunscreen to protect themselves from the sun, only 28 percent reapplied sunscreen at least every two hours.

Dr. Lim emphasized that UV protection does not increase proportionately with a designated SPF number. For example, an SPF 30 screens 97 percent of UV rays, while an SPF 15 screens 93 percent of UV rays and an SPF 2 screens out 50 percent of UV rays. However, not applying enough sunscreen or not covering all exposed areas may result in a lower SPF than the product contains

"For adequate protection, sunscreens are best applied 15 minutes prior to going outside, and re-applied every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating," said Dr. Lim. "Research demonstrates that most people only apply 25 to 50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen, which is one ounce for the entire body or enough to fill a shot glass. The relationship between SPF and amount applied is not a linear one. For example, if only half the proper amount of SPF 15 is applied, the actual in-use SPF would be approximately 5, which is then inadequate protection."

To make it easier for consumers to make informed decisions about choosing sunscreens, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) new sunscreen rules will take effect in December. Manufacturers will be required to follow specific testing and labeling rules. Specifically, labels will detail whether the sunscreen provides broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVB and UVA rays); reduces the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging in addition to helping prevent sunburn, or just protects against sunburn alone; and is water-resistant up to 40 or 80 minutes.
"While the new labels are not required until the end of the year, it's still important for consumers to select and use sunscreen this summer to protect their skin from UV exposure," said Dr. Lim. "Making sun protection a habit – like brushing your teeth or buckling your seatbelt – can ultimately reduce early signs of aging and your risk for skin cancer."

SKIN CANCER FACTS:

More than 3.5 million skin cancer cases affecting 2 million people are diagnosed annually.
It is estimated that there will be about 131,810 new cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, in 2012 – 55,560 noninvasive (in situ) and 76,250 invasive (44,250 men and 32,000 women).
The major risk factor for melanoma of the skin is exposure to ultraviolet light.
In 2010, new research found that daily sunscreen use cut the incidence of melanoma in half.
In an effort to increase the public's understanding of skin cancer and motivate people to change their behavior to prevent and detect skin cancer, the Academy recently launched the SPOT Skin Cancer™ public awareness initiative. Visit the SPOT Skin Cancer™ website – www.SpotSkinCancer.org – to learn how to perform a skin self-exam, download a body mole map for tracking changes on your skin, and find free skin cancer screenings in your area. Those affected by skin cancer also can share their story via the website and download free materials to educate others in their community.

One thing to remember is that if you wear sunscreen religiously, you might be setting yourself up for vitamin D deficiency. And that can cause another set of problems. For more on vitamin D deficiency, read here.

Source: American Academy of Demotolgy via PRNewswire

Recovering from the Family Vacation

How many times have you dragged into work on the Monday morning after a family vacation – and you’re glad you’re there? Apparently it’s a common feeling.

Cambria Suites has shed light on family vacation plans in a recent survey, including the good, the bad and the slightly irritating. Among all survey respondents who have ever taken a family summer vacation (49 percent), nearly one quarter of adults (24 percent) report that they usually need a vacation when they return from a family trip. Among adults living with children under the age of 18, the number increases to 29 percent. Seven percent of respondents even look forward to a "solo" business trip as a way to recover from a family vacation.

Research shows that kids ask their parents "Are we there yet?" an average of nine times during a week-long (seven day) family vacation, according to survey respondents who have been on a family vacation and have at least one child under the age of 18 living in their household. Parents with children six years old and younger can expect to be asked "Are we there yet?" about 13 times during a week-long trip.

Experiences of summer family vacations are overall very positive, as revealed by the Cambria Suites research. More than half (65 percent) of Americans with family vacation experience find them relaxing and admit that there is "nothing better" than a great family vacation.

"Industry data shows that consumers are regaining confidence in the economy and more families are taking a vacation this year compared to last year," said Michael Murphy, senior vice president of Cambria Suites. "It's safe to say that the great tradition of the summer family vacation is on its way back."

Source: Choice Hotels via PR Newswire