I recently bought this fabulous Hinge "topper" at Nordstrom. My original plan was to wear it with a tee shirt and jeans--but then I had the idea that it could double-duty as a bathing suit cover-up. Brilliant isn't it?

Unfortunately, this Hinge topper is sold out--but I found some similar pieces at great prices for you HERE , HERE, and HERE .   Don't forget a straw tote, sunglasses and sandals too!  And off to the beach you go!

Photography by Cathleen Trainor
Location:  Seabrook Beach, Seabrook, NH

This post has nothing to do with clothes, but lots to do with our health....our skin health that is. Several years ago I noticed a small red mark on my neck, which looked like a mosquito bite.  After a few months it was still there, so I visited my dermatologist. It wasn't a bite, but rather basal cell skin cancer that had to be surgically removed. Luckily I caught it early on and I barely have a scar.

A month ago, I developed a red mark on my nose. Within a few weeks it went away so I thought nothing of it. However soon after, a little brown spot surfaced in the same place. Initially I thought it was an age spot, but because of my overly cautious nature I got it checked out.  Unfortunately, it was pre-cancerous--fortunately I caught it early on.  A quick hit with liquid nitrogen (cryosurgery it's called) was all that was needed...luckily this should wipe it out with minimal scarring (nothing that make-up can't cover anyway). Skin cancer on the nose can be very difficult to treat and can involve plastic surgery. I'm so glad I listened to my instincts.


So why am I sharing this with you? Because I want to stress the importance of yearly visits to the dermatologist for skin cancer screenings and to also be aware of skin changes (know your body!). Get suspicious spots checked--early detection is key!

Wear sunscreen religiously, wear a hat, and avoid those dangerous tanning beds.  If you want some color, I love Jergen's Natural Glow (this one actually has added sunscreen!) and it is SO worth the money to invest in a good sunscreen such as La Roche-Posay  Buy a pretty hat and look stylish this summer while keeping the sun off your face.

Growing up in the 60's and 70's, no one ever thought about the hazards of spending hours baking in the sun--back then baby oil was our sunscreen!  I remember going to the beach WANTING to get sunburned so my skin would glow (CRAZY!). Years of skin damage is now catching up to me and I'm paying the price. It pains me when I see women sizzling in the sun or going to dangerous tanning salons. There is a huge price to pay for a tan. Is it really worth it?  I'll take pale, thank you.

Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July and wore sunscreen!

XO Susan

Pull off the red, white and blue theme without looking like a flag!
Happy 4th!