I Promise to Put My Lipstick On When I Get There: The Complete Red-Carpet Guide to Staying Gorgeous Through Your Cancer Treatment

By Kim Becker and Michael Becker

If you are a woman who has heard the words, “You have cancer,” you need this book. The techniques in this guide can help you counteract the cosmetic changes your body can experience during cancer. The book includes makeup, skincare, beauty tips and techniques. It can help you produce the same transformational changes in your appearan

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hello Gorgeous of HOPE, Inc
• Release date: Aug 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9780991245178

Book preview

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img2.jpg img2.jpg img2.jpg img3.jpg img3.jpg I PROMISE TO PUT MY LIPSTICK ON WHEN I GET THERE

Copyright © 2014 by Kim and Mike Becker

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of the publisher.

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ISBN: xxx-xxxxxxxxx-xxx-x

Published by

CORBY BOOKS

A Division of Corby Publishing, LP

P.O. Box 93

Notre Dame, IN 46556

Manufactured in the United States of America

img3.jpg img2.jpg img2.jpg img2.jpg img3.jpg img3.jpg This book is dedicated to God, for giving us this amazing project that we, alone, could never have thought up or moved forward. We give all the glory to Him.

To our 12-year-old son, Seth Michael, for his patience, enthusiasm and for giving us our first dollar for this project from his own money when he was four. You are the greatest kid that ever lived.

This book is dedicated to every woman who has battled this ugly disease and showed it that she is boss, that she refused to give in and remained Gorgeous inside and out. That is our true inspiration. You have given more to us than we will ever be able to give to you.

And to the salon owners and stylists who work selflessly every month bringing the Hello Gorgeous! experience to these women battling cancer, in their own communities, across the United States, through our Affiliate Salon program.

This book is dedicated to you. May all of you win your battle, find your path, and live happy and healthy to 90 years old.

And may the last words you hear be Hello, Gorgeous!

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img5.jpg About Our Cover Girl

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If you can believe it, our beautiful cover girl Kendelle was battling cancer for the second time during the photo shoot for this book. Her vivacious spirit is contagious and we wanted to share her story with you.

It can be found in Chapter 14: Inspirational Stories. Thank you, Kendelle.

Bio, Executive Team and Cover Picture by Amy Reinert Photography

Cover Art by Elissa Schmidt

Makeup by Erica Morris

Video Production and Editing by Jeremy Stroup

img7.jpg Testimonials about the Hello Gorgeous! Makeover:

What a wonderful Day! This is the best day I have had, except for the day I was told I was in remission. Thank you so much.

– Kay

Words cannot describe how I feel today. An experience of a lifetime! You were outstanding! Bless you and all you do. I will remember this always.

– Linda

All I can say is you’ve made me feel like me again!! I can’t thank you enough!!

– Shelly

Just when I was feeling that everyone had forgotten about my struggle, you all gave me a whole new attitude. Thank you.

– Jackie

Thank you so much! You’ve made me feel beautiful again! AMAZING DAY!!!

– Kathy L.

"HELLO! Thank you for helping me to feel special, beautiful and loved—which is a reflection of you and the life-giving family, friends and people that you have surrounded yourself with to do these Gorgeous makeovers!!

– Elise

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img2.jpg img2.jpg img2.jpg img3.jpg img3.jpg This has been an outstanding day! I would have never thought to do this for myself. I feel great now. Thank you.

– Barb

Get up even when you don’t feel like it! Thank you, Hello Gorgeous!!

– Cheryl

Thank you for the wonderful experience. What a way to celebrate life! Never stop living…

– Kathy

Throughout this year, I have thought of you often and the wonderful day that you gave me. Never would I have thought that things done on the outside could effect such a change on the inside. What you do is nothing short of magical!

– Rose Ann

Our organization has had the pleasure of working with Hello Gorgeous! and their mobile unit for over 7 years. We too are a 501c3 who gives aid to women suffering from cancer. Without hesitation, we give the entire Hello Gorgeous! organization great applause for their tireless, cheerful, heartfelt approach to everything they touch. Their burning passion to bring & provide services, showing great concern for a woman to grow in strength, both physical & mental, gain confidence, is unmatched in our community. Watching the transformation, the reveal of a woman who was gifted a make­ over, will move anyone to tears of joy just being in that moment with them. Their faith is inspiring and evident in all they do and say. It is a priceless service they do to touch the lives of those who are in need and to those who are fortunate enough to bear witness. We look forward to all that they are to become in the months and years ahead.

God Bless,

Helping Her Heal, Inc., a 501c3

Susan Weaver, Treasurer

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Table of Contents

What Exactly Is Hello Gorgeous?

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Hello Gorgeous! Experience

Chapter 2 Attitude First

Chapter 3 Comfortable in Your Own Skin

Chapter 4 Can’t Touch This…Or Can You?

Chapter 5 Nails…Your Second Best Feature

Chapter 6 The Balder the Head, the Bigger the Earrings

Chapter 7 My Hair Is Gone…Now What?

Chapter 8 My Hair Has Stayed, But It’s Not the Same

Chapter 9 My Hair Grew Back…Now What?

Chapter 10 Put Your Best Face Forward

Chapter 11 Let’s Play Dress-Up

Chapter 12 Showing One’s True Colors

Chapter 13 Celebrate!

Chapter 14 Inspirational Stories

Chapter 15 Stories from the Affiliates

Material Lists

Glossary of Terms

Works Cited

What Exactly Is Hello Gorgeous?

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Hello Gorgeous! of HOPE, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that provides a red-carpet experience for all women battling all cancers, with full spa ambush-style makeovers in one of our 36' mobile vans.

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Again, these are surprise makeovers. All women served by our program are nominated by family or friends and their nominations are looked over by a committee, which chooses the women based on merit, need and availability.

Once chosen, arrangements are made with the individual nominating the woman with cancer to have her at a prearranged location or salon for the event. We show up unannounced and:

• Roll out a red carpet

• Surprise them with candy, flowers and a big Hello, Gorgeous!

• Treat them to spa services including manicure, pedicure and facial

• Give a hair consultation and makeup application

• Gift them with a new clothing outfit

• And, many times, show off the Gorgeous woman and her new look at a prearranged, gathered group of their family and friends called a Reveal.

We have found that the services and education we furnish can allow these women a positive anchor during their battle with cancer; in addition, we provide cosmetic techniques that are education-specific to the effects of their cancer treatments and the side-effects of those treatments. We pamper them for a day and instruct them on how to help conceal the physical damages to their looks with

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Simply stated, our mission is to provide cosmetic aid and education to those battling cancer. It will work to strengthen the knowledge of cancer patients and survivors concerning their hair styling, hair substitution, skincare and cosmetic techniques that will allow them to return to their jobs, their families, their friends and to the general public eye with confidence and courage. We want to help them step back out into the world with some of that confidence and poise taken from them by the disease that they struggle to conquer.

This is the mission and passion of Hello Gorgeous! of HOPE, Inc.

img7.jpg img2.jpg img3.jpg img2.jpg img3.jpg img2.jpg img3.jpg img2.jpg img2.jpg img2.jpg img3.jpg img3.jpg Foreword

I personally can relate to the emotional, psychological and physical trauma that comes from a cancer diagnosis. My mother was only 49 years old when she died from lung cancer. She had never smoked, and before that time had been, overall, a very healthy woman. She survived only nine months after her diagnosis. I can recall watching her deteriorate and fearing the process as well as the outcome. I was only 23 years old and had a younger brother and an older sister. I can recall waiting for help to arrive in the hospital, but it never did. The only support I can recall is a person handing us brochures on death and grief during one of our mother’s hospital admissions.

As a result, (as an adult) I was blessed with the opportunity to create the EMBRACE program at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis in June 2007. I couldn’t bear knowing that there were women right here in our community that were facing cancer alone, and with very limited resources. I have been blessed to find many local organizations and individuals who have worked closely with us to support our patients throughout their journey as they fight this terrible disease. However, there has been one group that has not only offered love and support to our patients, but also hope and happiness in the midst of their pain.

We were so incredibly fortunate to have been introduced to Hello Gorgeous! of HOPE. There really are no words that can describe the happiness that our patients have experienced with this amazing group of extraordinary and talented people. A surprise day of pampering and a makeover is a thrill to any woman.

But, can you imagine the experience for a woman who is battling cancer and has NEVER had a makeover and has NEVER been pampered a day in her life!?!? Our patients struggle just to have access to food, medications and housing. A makeover would never even cross their mind as a possibility for them.

I recall one patient in particular who was chosen by Hello Gorgeous! of HOPE for a day of pampering. She was neglected and abused as a child and grew up in the foster-care system. She experienced homelessness as a teen and became a victim of domestic violence as an adult. She was on the verge of homelessness when we met her on the day of her diagnosis. She had stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. I can remember the terror in her eyes the moment she got the news.

We worked closely with this woman throughout her diagnosis and treatment. We were able to help her find a safe place to live, and were able to provide her with her medications and assist her with access to food and transportation; however, nothing that we did for her came close to what was done for her by the Hello Gorgeous! team! I will never forget the look on her face when she learned that she had been chosen for a day of pampering and a makeover. I don’t think I ever saw this woman with such happiness in her eyes before or after that day.

It was so much more than just a makeover. It was a tangible representation of hope, love, faith, and value. It represented that she truly was a beautiful woman and worthy of something good. A woman with her history, even prior to cancer, seldom has the opportunity to experience emotions like this that deeply affect your self-worth, confidence, and feeling of being valued in this world.

I believe that her time with Hello Gorgeous! actually changed her life in her remaining days. When I saw her after that day, she walked a little taller and held her head a little higher. She smiled a little brighter and with more conviction. I genuinely believe that her spirit was changed because of the time, love, attention, and support she received from Hello Gorgeous! She became more at peace. It was almost as if she had waited all of her life for that one time when someone showed her that she really was a valued, beautiful, precious person.

img3.jpg THANK YOU, HELLO GORGEOUS! FOR GIVING HER THE GIFT OF A LIFETIME!

DeAnna R. Wesley, MSW, LSW

Director, EMBRACE Program

Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis, IN

img3.jpg img2.jpg img3.jpg img2.jpg img3.jpg img2.jpg img3.jpg img2.jpg img2.jpg img2.jpg img3.jpg img3.jpg A Very Humble Thank You

Our family and friends are our most loyal volunteers and we can never thank them enough for all the help and support they show us every day. We would like to thank our parents, Janice and Guy Chapman and John Becker, for all that we have learned and the endless love and support they give to us every day.

To our Creative Directors, Trisha and Dan Greenlee, and their daughter, Brianna, for volunteering hundreds of hours each month to the cause and working with us every day to serve our women battling cancer, and the endless tasks it takes to do just that. You truly have hearts of gold.

To our siblings and their families, Amy and Pat Hechlinski, Tina and Sean Frederick, and Maria and Jeremy Becker-Yates; and to those of our family who have gone before us: Jeanine Becker (Mike’s mother), Larry Scanlan (Kim’s father) and Sue Maggio, for the love you always gave and for all you taught us along the way.

To our friends and mentors, Tony and Tammy Magaldi, for your unbelievable support and the foothold that you give us to continue with this project, when footholds seem very tenuous and sparse. You give us hope and build our faith. And you always greet us with a smile! Thank you for everything.

I again need to thank my sister, my assistant, my Affiliate Salon Coach and one of our Creative Directors of Hello Gorgeous!—all

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of whom happen to be the same person. Trisha Greenlee has been with Mike and me on this adventure since Hello Gorgeous! began. I would not want to do this without her and probably would not. Love you, Trisha.

To Elissa Schmidt, our Art Director, for her work on our book cover and all of the amazing and complicated projects that she uses her graphic talents so skillfully to complete. Thank you for always making Hello Gorgeous! shine.

To Matt and Stephanie Slatner at PlanGenius, for their wonderful work on our website and for their continued help in making it a hub of knowledge for all who visit our Internet site.

We need to thank the members of our talented Executive Team: Trisha and Dan Greenlee, Julene and Javier Melendez, and

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Thad and Elissa Schmidt. Their diverse and passionate talents, their gifts of ideas and counsel, and their sacrifice of time away from their families to participate in this project will always be one of our greatest resources. We love you all.

To Diane and Larry Shoemaker, for sharing your talents with us and for being wonderful mentors and helping us to develop every crazy idea we come up with.

To Amy Reinert and Amy Reinert Photography for your brilliant talent, your eye for detail and your giving heart in producing our cover photo and team photographs. Thank you, Amy. Your passion is showing!

To Jeremy Stroup, our videographer and film editor, for creating all of our How-To videos on the Internet. You have no idea how many people you are about to help with your talents.

Thank you also to our army of Gorgeous Volunteers. There are literally too many amazing people to mention, but especially people like Julie Chrobot, Denise Longley and Darlene Tatay, who help to further this cause in so many ways; whether they spend a single Saturday sweating with us as we work a Notre Dame concession stand or spend many months with the donations and details of a large fundraiser. These selfless individuals see the value of Hello Gorgeous! and always step out in faith to help.

To all our generous Corporate Sponsors who understand the need for our services and who donate their support for the sake and care of our Gorgeous Women. May your kindness and sacrifices return to you tenfold, blessing you in the years to come.

To Jim Langford and Tim Carroll from Corby Publishing of South Bend, Indiana, who made this book possible and have given us the opportunity to give this gift to all of you.

To Josh and Isaiah at UR Phone Guy, for your amazing work on the Hello Gorgeous! phone app,