Public Service Announcement: Wear Sunscreen.....and a Deal!

Did you know that May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month? 

Did you know that I have had 4 pre-cancerous spots removed from my face?

And, when Luke was 6 weeks old, I went to my yearly dermatologist appointment and my doctor found a spot on my back (near my shoulder) that didn't look right.

I had to get it biopsied and turns out it was a basal cell skin cancer.

I had to get it surgically removed & had to get stitches.

Now I have a lovely scar on my shoulder.

 I wish I had worn more sun screen all those years playing soccer and enjoying the California sun. 

In my teens & in my college years I wasn't the best about wearing sunscreen. 

Swimming & laying out. No sunscreen.

Plus, I liked being tan. I mean, who doesn't love a tan?

I even went to tanning beds in high school and college. 

UGH.

What was I thinking? 

I am paying for it now, that's for sure.

But, in my 20's when I started having pre-cancerous spots removed from my face & body, I became a sun screen fanatic. 

I am ALL about sunscreen. 

In the summertime, when we are outside or in the pool, I make sure I wear sunscreen and I wear a sun hat. If I am not in the pool, I sit in the shade under the umbrella. 

I am terrified of getting more skin cancer!

 

Now that I am a mom, I make sure my kids are lathered up with sunscreen as well! 

What about you?

Do you want dermatologist created sunscreen for the whole family?

 Rodan + Fields has you covered! 

We have sunscreen for ALL skin types!

Sensitive skin, Acne prone skin, Sun damaged skin & Aging skin. 

We have sunscreen for just your face, for babies, toddlers & kids, body sunscreen, lip sun screen & hand sunscreen!

Even our Mineral Powder has SPF 20 in it! 
Makeup goes on top of sunscreen and it ideally should be a mineral makeup which gives you even more physical sun protection! 

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is an American environmental organization that specializes in research and advocacy in the areas of toxic chemicals, agricultural subsidies, public lands, and corporate accountability. EWG is a non-profit organization (501(c)(3)) whose mission, according to their website, is "to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment."

And they are loving R+F!

Our Essentials Body SPF 30 Sunscreen is the only sunscreen my girls will allow me to put on them.
They love it (and so do I!) It is not greasy, it smells amazing and feels like lotion rather than sunscreen!

All Rodan + Fields sunscreen products meet the FDA’s criteria to be labeled broad spectrum. This means they offer proportionate UVA and UVB protection and may be labeled for protection against early skin aging and skin cancer.

AND

All Rodan + Fields sunscreens have been awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation. This designation is only granted to sun protection products that meet stringent criteria and provide scientific data to demonstrate that the product sufficiently and safely aids in the prevention of sun-induced damage to the skin.

If you already have sun damage, you might want to look into our Reverse Line, it reverses sun damage that you have and gets rid of sun spots!

Please, please, please make sure you lather up yourself & your kids this summer.

And, make sure your daily moisturizer has SPF in it.  It needs to be an SPF greater than 15.

You would be surprised how much sun damage adds up from being outside just a few minutes at a time through out the day.

Protect your skin from those harmful rays!

I have used every single one of the R+F SPF products and I can tell you with confidence that they are great. What I love about them is that they aren't oily or greasy! They go on smoothly and smell nice. They don't leave your skin feeling sticky. You can't even tell you have on sunscreen! Know what I mean? 

Here are the Top 5 Skin Cancer Prevention Tips from the Skin Cancer Foundation:

Since its inception in 1979, The Skin Cancer Foundation has always recommended using a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher as one important part of a complete sun protection regimen. Sunscreen alone is not enough, however. Read our full list of skin cancer prevention tips and share them with your friends and family.  

1.  Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM 
2. Do not burn.
3. Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
4. Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
5. Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. 

As you can tell, I am very passionate about this because I learned the hard way.

It's not too late to start protecting your skin! 
Even if you don't buy products from me, make sure you SPF yourself this summer! 

Another reason I am so passionate about skin care & protecting your skin is because both my parents have had skin cancer, 2 friends I went to high school passed away from melanoma and last month my cousins husband had a Stage 3 melanoma on his ear and had to get half of his ear removed. Skin cancer is scary stuff and I don't think there is enough awareness about it!

In honor of May being Sun Cancer Awareness Month, for the rest of the month, I have a special going on for all new Preferred Customers!

Get $20 cash back, 10% off your order, Free Shipping AND a FREE Rodan + Fields item that has SPF in it, including one of these items:

 Essentials SPF 30 Body Sunscreen, SPF 20 Mineral Powder with Peptides, 2 pack of our SPF 25 lip shield.
 Unblemish Oil Control SPF 20 Sunscreen, Soothe SPF 25 Sensitive Skin Mineral Sunscreen, Reverse SPF 50 Sunscreen.

This is a great time to stock up on sunscreen for you & your family this summer! 

The most of the undesirable skin changes we see with age like wrinkles, age spots and skin thinning are actually due to sun damage.

Protect your skin from those dangerous sun rays!

My scare with skin cancer was also one of the reasons I started using Rodan + Fields and then becoming a Consultant. I realized I needed to take care of my skin. I was in my early 30's and had not been as preventative as I should have been.
When we are in our 20s & 30 we are still in our "preventative" stage & the best thing I could do for my skin is to use retinol regularly.
Anyone else looking for a great preventative to add to their skin care routine OR if you need to to fix skin issues that you have, Rodan + Fields has the products you need!

This past weekend I earned a trip Lake Tahoe for a weekend with the other Level 5 leaders from our incredible team! This was the 3rd trip I have earned since joining R+F 18 months ago.
I never imagined I would be growing an international team here in the US & Canada and helping others achieve their goals when I joined Rodan+Fields 18 months ago.

When you partner with the FASTEST growing skincare company in the nation, you can acheive your goals! We carry some of the hottest products....and They SELL OUT!
Our MULTI-FUNCTION EYE CREAM &  FOAMING SELF TANNER are Sold out because they are so popular. This is a good problem to have!

If you are interested in partnering with us to capitalize on Dermatologist Developed Products that are INSANELY high in demand, we need to talk. Our products are litterally flying off the shelves!
The time is NOW!

I want to help you get to where you want to be, with side income,  it truly is all possible with R+F.

  I had NO experience in Direct Sales (I even had a horrible perception of direct sales and said I would NEVER do it)
What I did know was that Drs. Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields were the worlds leading Dermatologists, they built a multi-billion dollar business with Proactiv and they doing it again in the aging market! I thought, if I don't try it, I will regret it..so I jumped in head first and didn't look back. I NEVER saw myself where I am today, earning free trips and LONG TERM RESIDUAL INCOME! 

 However, the best part for me is helping women who see the incredible opportunity we are sitting on, and helping them do the same! I am now a part of an inspiring team of entrepreneurs.
Maybe this business isn't a right fit for you personally, but you never know until you hear the facts! This business truly is a gift, and for those who take it and run ANYTHING is possible...I have seen it first hand.

For information regarding earnings under the R+F Compensation Plan, see the Income Disclosure Statement {HERE}

Email me to place an order OR email me if you have any questions about the business or products!

melissa_larson17{at}yahoo.com 

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!
Thank you to those who serve & protect our country. Military families are heros.
Don't forget to thank the service men & women this weekend.
And, if you are going to Memorial Day BBQ's or Pool Parties, don't forget to SPF yourself & your kids!

2015 Garden {Month 1}

I thought I would do an update on our 2015 Garden since it has been exactly one month since I planted it.

 Here is what it looked like when I first planted it:

Here is what it looks like now:

Despite the major California drought we are having, everything is totally growing!
YEAH!!!

I have not been watering as much since we are on water restrictions, so I am happy to report that my veggies are still growing nicely! I am only watering 1-2 times a week instead of 3-4. Luckily, we haven't had too hot of weather, so that is working for now. As our temps rise into the 90's and 100's I know I will need to water more. But for now 1-2 times a week has worked out nicely.

 You can see in the above photo how I have my tomato plants spaced out so that there is plenty of room for them to grow.

Let's take a closer look at some of the individual plants.

I planted 5 Early Girl Tomatoes in one of the boxes:

We are starting to get some green tomatoes. Yay!!!

I noticed one of my Early Girl tomato plants was not looking so good:

There were no green tomatoes on it yet & the leaves were droopy and had some brown discoloration on them. Has anyone had a tomato plant do this before?!?
I decided to just rip it out & plant a new one.
I have never had this problem before, but decided not to wait it out. Since the nursery was out of Early Girl Tomatoes, I decided to plant a new variety.

I went with a green grape tomato! They will be the size of grapes & since I have never tried this type before, I figure I have nothing to lose!

In my 2nd Garden Box I have 4 types of cherry tomatoes (Sun Sugar, Super Sweet 100, Husky Cherry Red & Sun Gold)

Those are all doing well so far (a few baby tomato buds!)

I also have my zuchinni & sqaush in those garden boxes:

Here is my zucchini plant, it is totally growing!

 And, I am getting a few zucchini that are growing!

These will probably be ready to pick in a week or so. If you grow zuchinni and/or squash, make sure you don't let them get too big on the vine. If you do, it will stall the growth of other ones.

{I have TONS of zucchini recipes at the bottom of THIS post}

Here is my squash:

 With some baby squash growing!

 My final box is where I planted my herbs, bean plant, strawberry plant,  lettuce, kale & red onions.

This box is also known as the salad box....I have already been harvesting veggies from this box to make salads & add to meals! SO fun!

 I can't keep up with all the lettuce & kale. It is going crazy!  

Butter Lettuce:

 Romaine Lettuce:

 My Kale is going crazy!

Kale:

 Look how big the kale leaves are! This is just 1 month in!

 Does anyone have any good kale recipes? What am I going to do with all this kale?!?

I used some of my kale with my Beet Salad!

 But I would love any other kale recipe ideas!

Kate's bean plant is doing great. 

It started from a seed in her science class. 

She brought it home in a dixie cup & we immediately planted it in our garden. Look at it now:

 Red Onions:

 Strawberries:

 Here are my herbs. I have Rosemary, Cilantro, Basil, Oregano, Dill & Chives:

I love fresh dill. I use it all the time.

I love using it when I make roasted red potatoes:

I used the fresh basil & fresh oregano in Spaghetti Sauce 2 weeks ago:

 I use the Rosemary for my Rosemary Beef Stew:

Here is the view of our 2015 garden from the other direction. 

This one was a month ago on April 19:

 And, here we are a month later on May 20:

I can't wait to see the difference in the next few weeks as the weather gets warmer!

Happy Gardening!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies + other Fun Stuff!

Happy Friday! 

Today,  May 15th is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

In honor of that, here is one of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes!

 One of my favorite combinations is peanut butter & chocolate and this cookie does not disappoint....Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies!

If you like soft & thick cookies, then you will love these!

Here is what you need:

 1 stick  butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter (I use Skippy)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 bag of chocolate chips (I use milk chocolate, but semi-sweet works also!)
2 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

 In a large bowl, cream together the butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth.

 Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the corn syrup, water, and vanilla

 . Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in another bowl & then stir it into the peanut butter mixture:

Fold in chocolate chips:

 Yum!

 Use a cookie scoop (THIS is the one I have) and drop onto a cookie sheet.

 I dare you not to eat some dough ;)

 Bake for 12 to 13 minutes at 375 (do not over bake!!!)

 Allow cookies to cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

These are so good.
Soft & delicious!

If you want to make other types of Chocolate Chips Cookies in honor of Chocolate Chip Cookie day , here are some of our favorites:

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies:

 Monster Cookies:
 
Chocolate Chip Snickers Cookies:

 Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies:

 Not only is today National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, but it is also my niece Olivia's 1st Birthday!
I love that Baby Girl Baker was born on National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, remember last Spring when I threw her a Cookies & Milk Baby Shower? 
And, then she ended up being born on National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! 
And her last name is Baker!  Love it! 
I sent this text to my sister last year on May 15th:


I forgot that I said I would make her cookies every year until yesterday, but don't worry! I didn't break my promise! I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies for her last night!

Me & Livvie on the day she was born:

 Happy 1st Birthday Livvie Lou!!!! 
 *****************
Speaking of the name Olivia, have you seen THIS website?
 It tells you what your name would be if you were born today based on the popularity of you name the year you were born!
Here is mine:

Isn't that awesome? My name would be Olivia since that is the #2 name and Melissa was the #2 name when I was born.
It also lists what your name would be in other decades:

 I love random stuff like this :)
HERE is the website!

Have a GREAT Friday!!!!