this is life in austin & aspen

So I’m on this buying things for a cause kick … Did you know that May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month? Austinites have already been soaking up the rays for months, while poor Aspenites are still wearing our down coats because it’s STILL snowing, but everyone needs a small reminder to protect ourselves from the sun’s rays. Whether you’re wearing sunscreen or pulling a Gisele and avoiding the stuff but also the sun, you need to protect yourself somehow.

I wear sunscreen on my face every single day. I wear physical sunscreen (my faves are Paula’s Choice, SkinCeuticals, John Masters, and La Roche-Posay) as opposed to chemical (don’t want that in my body), and I’m not opposed to some unprotected exposure on my legs and arms for short periods—natural vitamin D and all those benefits. BUT I also take caution to make sure I’m only exposed for short periods or I wear full sunscreen and that I wear hats.

Need a daily reminder? Try this beautiful pendant by up-and-coming jewelry designer PenelopeG, who created a necklace especially for The Skin Cancer Foundation.

$40 at penelopeg.com; 50% of the profits go directly to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

The circle represents the “sun” and the tree represents “shade.” The blue crystal represents the Skin Cancer Foundation, an organization that educates and informs the public of the dangers of skin cancer and ways to detect it and protect you from the disease.

Plus, I think it’s designed to leave an awkward tan line … so you have to cover up!

“As a new mom, I have become so much more aware of the dangers of the sun and tanning,” says Penelope. “The design of this necklace with the tree shading the sun should serve as a reminder that we should always protect ourselves from the dangers of the suns rays.”