Everything She Wants

It's a myth that African Americans and other people of color can't get skin cancer. The truth is that s kin cancers, including melanoma, affect Black and Hispanic people at a disproportionately deadly rate when compared to white people. So if you see something suspicious like  a new, unusual growth or a change in an existing mole anywhere on your body , schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or dermatologist right away. Here are some key facts: An average five-year melanoma survival rate is only 67 percent in Black people versus 92 percent in white people. Late-stage melanoma diagnoses are more common in Hispanic and Black patients than in non-Hispanic white patients. When skin cancer is found in Black and Hispanic people, they tend to be diagnosed at a later stage and, as a result, have a worse prognosis. MedStar Health shares the following information to debunk common misconceptions around skin cancer and melanoma:    MYTH: SKIN CANCER ONLY AFFECTS F...

April is Stress Awareness Month .  But strategies to reduce and manage stress are welcome any time of the year.   Studies show that women are more likely  than  men to report high levels of stress, and for African American women  chronic or daily stress is even more problematic.  While we tend to think of approaching stress management from an emotional wellbeing and physical health standpoint, we don't often associate making  dietary  changes with reducing stress and anxiety.   While scheduling an appointment with your  primary  care doctor and seeking help  from a therapist or spiritual advisor may still be necessary to help address the underlying reasons for why you're feeling stressed and the degree to which your  stress  affects your life, here are a few food for thought tips from  Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RDN, CDCES, CDN, nutrition consultant and author Diabetes Guide to Enjoying Foods of the...

(Tracy E. Hopkins) I was thirteen when I took my first vacation alone with my Mom. We spent a week having fun in the sun in Freeport, Bahamas. On our way to dinner, I remember the fast moving cab ride along a winding road and the cabby blasting Jeffrey Osborne’s “Stay With Me Tonight.”  Tucked away in my jewelry box,  I still have a souvenir key chain with a beaming photo of us snapped that night. My Dad is a homebody content to recline with remote control in hand watching Westerns, tinkering in the  garden, and cooking and baking in the kitchen (his pumpkin breads and pound cakes are out of this world).  So after our Baha ma Mama fling, me and Ma became frequent flyer buddies, often accompanied by my Aunt -- passing the poi at a luau in Honolulu; breaking a sweat on Bourbon Street in hot and hazy summertime New Orleans; celebrity spotting in Hollywood; sharing rum raisin ice cream and taste buds burning ginger beer in Bermuda; shopping for flea market f...

It's hard not to be worried about the coronavirus (COVID-19). Here in New York City, more and more subway riders and pedestrians are wearing surgical facemasks, and stores are selling out of basic supplies like bathroom tissue, anti-bacterial wipes and canned foods. One quick and easy way to lower your risk is to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. And if soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty. In addition to washing my hands often, I regularly apply my handy travel size Desert Essence Probiotic Hand Sanitizer , which kills 99.99% of most common harmful germs; provides good bacteria and helps condition skin; includes inherently cleansing Tea Tree Oil plus They, Elderberry and Echinacea to help reduce bacteria; has...

CBD health and beauty products are all the buzz. And there are plenty of CBD pop-up shops and products on the market. But I got a chance to sample a trio of beauty products from CBD Living , a California company that ships worldwide to all countries where CBD is legal.  CBD Living's lavender bath bomb , coconut lime soap , and  daily lotion with a soothing lavender scent immediately helped to ease my aches and pains, and to sleep more soundly than I've slept in months.   But what exactly is CBD and is it safe?  Here, CBD Living COO  Sean McDonald gives us the skinny and explains what the CBD craze is all about. Everything She Wants: Please explain what CBD is?   Sean McDonald : CBD, or cannabidiol, is a molecule found in hemp and cannabis plants. THC is another cannabinoid that people are familiar with, because it is the molecule that gets you “high.” CBD is an entirely separate molecule and does not make you high.  E...

(Tracy E. Hopkins) I’m a city girl. But year after year the daily concrete grind – weaving in and out of foot traffic set to an ear ringing soundtrack of honking horns and piercing police, fire truck and ambulance sirens – wears me down. “I’m walking here!” So at least once a year I escape the skyscraper cluttered skyline into nature -- be it to the mystical desert out West or an exotic beach locale with tranquil blue water.  This year, I'm tempted to venture on a snowbound  excursion (not my usual choice of climate) to Quebec. One nature girl getaway that stands out was a solo trip to Southern Utah. Yes, Mormon country. After a girlfriend raved about her solo excursion to Red Mountain Resort in St. George, Utah, I booked my trip. At the time, my web content job had become tedious and my coworkers were working my last nerve. Although diversity is normally a consideration for me when I travel, this time I threw caution to the wind. I desperately needed ...

News flash.  I'm all about cats.  And in addition to writing and blogging, I'm the cat sitter in charge at HappyCat Brooklyn Cat Sitting .  Recently, I was introduced to a new modern cat furniture brand, Tuft + Paw .  Founded by Jackson Cunningham, the California brand has been dubbed the "West Elm of cat furniture," and  has a talented team of cat behavior experts, designers, and engineers. Everything She Wants asked Tuft + Paw 's veterinarian for tips on how to care for your feline friends while you're away for Labor Day vacay. Photos courtesy of Tuft + Paw Everything She Wants : Is it a myth or fact that you can leave your cat home by herself/himself for several days or longer as long as you leave out food and water?  Tuft + Paw : This is mostly a myth. While it's safe to leave a cat for short periods of time, I would not recommend leaving a cat home alone for several days. The biggest danger is that the cat could became ill...

The summer solstice is the longest day of the year. I t's an opportunity to appreciate and bask in sunlight and to nurture your inner glow.   Yoga is a great way to tune inward and tune out the internal and external chatter. To help you focus,  Carolan Hoffman, yoga instructor and f ounder of  Hot Spot Dupont  in  Washington, D.C., offers five  yoga poses you can do throughout the summer, to stay uplifted and inspired. 1.  Triangle Pose  - Grounding yet energizing. Stimulates and invigorates the spine.  How : Stand with legs open and arms stretched out. Wrists in line with ankles. Bend knee and lower hips. Place elbow at the inside of knee and both arms stretched apart.  Heart is open, torso stays lifted. Breath calmly through the nose. Hold the pose for 20 seconds. Repeat on left side. 2.  Chair Pose  - Exhilarating and stabilizing. Promotes a harmonious inner glow. How : Stand with feet hip width...